Week of June 22, 2025 – Vision Sunday

"Ordinary Time" - Nothing Ordinary!  As we've noted before, the church year season after Pentecost is sometimes referred to by the paradoxically banal term Ordinary Time. It's "ordinary" in the sense that there are no major church festivals in the summertime, but summer is the time for growth and change both on God's earth and in God's church. This year, we're particularly attuned to the changes in the offing for our church! The next few announcements address some activities and alterations that are approaching as rapidly as is the summer solstice (Friday, June 20).

Green, symbolizing growth, is the traditional color for the church season of Ordinary Time

Vision Sunday: This Sunday, June 22, we will conduct a focused Vision Session working lunch after our Sunday morning worship service in Trumbull Hall, Etna. There will be a pot luck lunch available immediately after the worship service in Trumbull Hall. Please bring a dish to share if you're able to. Experience has demonstrated that there's always plenty of food to share, so even if you're unable to bring something to church on Sunday, please join us for the session if you can. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your input on our vision for the future as we begin our pastoral search – our search for the next shepherd, whom God has already chosen for us!

Summer Schedule: Our summer worship schedule will also be a little different this year. This summer, we will remain in Etna for Sunday worship through the month of July. Our current plan is to conduct our Sunday worship services for the month of August at the historic church in Hanover Center (approximately two miles up the road from the Etna church). Please check our weekly email and/or the church website regularly for updates on the summer schedule and plans.

Website and Livestream changes:  As we prepare for Pastor Chris's departure and an interim ministry period, we are looking at streamlining our website hosting services and also our livestream process. As a result, there will likely be some changes both to the church website and also in the way our livestream will operate in the not-too-distant future. This is still in the planning phase. We'll keep you informed via our weekly email updates.

We thank Pastor Chris and others whose dedicated efforts have markedly improved our online presence and communication over the past four years.

Men's Breakfast – Date Change:  (from Jim Bullion) A change this month - breakfast is this Saturday the 21st, 8:00 am, in Trumbull Hall. As always, bring a friend, a son, a cousin, a father, a grandfather... Looking forward to seeing you there!

Missions:  We've just received the most recent quarterly update from Rise Again Outreach. The committee reports that the Rise Again Outreach ministries associated with healing, prison, aftercare, etc. are really doing well. The commmittee also notes that we have increased their support level this year and we are so proud of the work they are doing on behalf of God's Kingdom. To read their latest update, just click here.

Hanover Center Fair is June 28, 2025:  For more information, just click here.

Old Timers Fair Book Sale:  One of the Fair's ever-popular features is the Book Sale: the pews in the lovely old church building are filled with used books of every genre, priced to sell.  
 
For the next 3 weeks, we will be accepting and sorting boxes and boxes of donations, and we need your help! Contact Christine Seward for more info, or to sign up for a 1-2 hour time slot.
 
If you have some books to donate, you can bring them to the Hanover Center church, side door, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, or Saturdays - times TBD depending on how many volunteers we can get! Items for the "White Elephant" sale can be brought in at the same times.
 
 PLEASE NOTE:
 - For the White Elephant - anything in good condition and clean except no clothing, electronics or furniture.
 - Book Sale - We cannot sell video or audio tapes, old calendars, textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, or books that are badly torn or musty.
 
 THANK YOU!

COUNTRY AUCTION
Saturday, July 12, at noon until sold out
Under the tent on the Etna Baptist Church lawn
195 Etna Road, Etna, NH
Cash or check only!
 
Please consider making donations of furniture, collectibles, artwork, and tools.
For drop-off details, contact Susan Johnson  
Food will be available for sale!
Albert Roberts, Auctioneer, #2802
Proceeds to benefit the Upper Valley community and service organizations.
Thank you for your support!
Sponsored by the Etna Ladies Aid Society. 

Bible Discussions - Spend some time in the Word with friends:
Our Sunday morning Bible discussion group is currently reading and discussing John's first epistle (1 John).  Our Wednesday morning Bible discussion group meets weekly at 10 am in Trumbull Hall to talk (usually!) about Sunday's Scripture reading and sermon.
Our Bible discussions are lively, thought-provoking, and delightfully Spirit-led. They also offer coffee and snacks! Please join us whenever you are able to do so. No previous experience required!