THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 8, 2010
METHODIST CHURCH, WEIRS-1889
by Rev. Victoria Wood Parrish
Contributing Writer
In February, First Unit-
ed Methodist Church in Gilford decided to help in the relief efforts after the Haiti earthquake by mak- ing and sending health kits through the United Methodist Committee on Relief to the people who were made homeless. I wrote about that in this
paper, and encouraged everyone to find some- thing that they could do, whether it was working through their own church, supporting the Red Cross or the Salvation Army, or any of the other ways that help was needed. This became a wonderful experience for our church and for the community. At the church, we start-
ed by deciding on a goal. 250 health kits sounded like a lot, but very doable – so let’s double that goal! Then we started getting silly – why not set a goal that was far beyond logic? So we decided on 1000 kits. That would entail raising the equivalent of about $6,000 – far beyond anything we had done be- fore for a single project. We announced the goal
in church that week, and for several weeks after- ward. Randy stood up and reminded us that “The church can do anything it really wants to do.” The youth fellowship
started the process by going to the store during their meeting time and making the first twelve kits, using their own mon- ey. Two of them then took the idea to their schools. People started bring-
ing in completed kits or things to put in the kits. A member of AA who was visiting became involved and provided band-aids and bags. After church and before meetings, people counted
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COMMUNITY CHURCH MEDITATIONS
THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY
band-aids into bags, fold- ed towels and washcloths, and assembled complete bags as they sat and so- cialized. Riley, an eight-year old, organized a spaghetti din- ner, and he was assisted by the rest of his Sunday school class and some supportive adults. He raised over $1,000 at the dinner. (And it was good!) Sue, Roger, and Gail
found the best prices on towels, soap, fingernail clippers, etc. and shopped for supplies. Completed kits turned
up in bags outside the church doors as well as in baskets inside the narthex. A local dentist donated
toothbrushes and a hair stylist donated combs. My favorite day was
when a padded mailer came with the anonymous
gift of two toothbrushes. Someone from a distance went to the trouble of mailing them – and they were promptly added to kits. The Gilford Community Church sent over 39 kits and the United Methodist Church at the Weirs sent 14. The Community came together, and within eight weeks the goal was met – and surpassed! We have finished the proj- ect (please, don’t send more!) and have, with the help of the community of the Lakes Region, sent 1065 health kits and over $3000.00 to the Earth- quake Relief Fund. Thanks to everyone who participated in our proj- ect. Thanks to everyone who worked with other projects – sending medi- cal supplies from the hos-
pital, going on medical teams, sending tents with the nuns, giving dona- tions through the social service agencies, working through other congrega- tions. The people are still hurt-
ing there and in other places throughout the world – but you have made a difference for the better. The church is called to
care for those in need, in the name of Christ, and you have proved that to- gether we can do far more than we ever can alone. Thank you!
Rev. Victoria Wood Par-
rish is the pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Gilford, NH, located on Route 11-A. It is a congregation of open hearts, open minds, and open doors. We invite you to worship with us on Sun- days 10:30 AM. Children’s activities and nursery are available during morning worship. We also invite you to the United Method- ist Church in the Weirs, 35 Tower St., which wor- ships at 10:00 AM. There are also many other local congregations who would welcome you to worship.
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