Westmoreland United Church,

An Open & Affirming church of the United Church of Christ.

Sunday worship services are at 10 am,

in-person at the Brick Church or via "zoom".

westmorelandunitedchurchnh@gmail.com

* * *

Sunday school December 21st!

* * *
Christmas eve service
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
7pm

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Upcoming events:

Bingo and tea party
Wednesday, December 17th, 1pm
Fellowship Hall
* * *
Christmas caroling at Maplewood
Saturday, December 20th at 10 am
* * *

THANK YOU!!!

By Tim DeFreitas

Hello, all church and town friends. I would like to update you on our progress on our fundraising effort.

We reached our goal of a total of $25,000. In fact we went over by about $500.

The church membership would like to thank all of the donors that made this happen. We had over 70 donors.

The total funding allows us to have the standing seam roof installed as well as new upgraded gutters across the front and back of the back. Again thanks to all. This is a great community we live in and it’s nice to see the support when needed.

Pastoral Ponderings, December 8, 2025, Advent

Dear beloved community of Westmoreland United Church,

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good… All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ… Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many… If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."

From I Corinthians 12 (NRSVUE)

You, beloved community of Westmoreland United Church, are a manifestation of God’s presence, compassion, mercy, love, justice-working, peace-making, and more in the world. And no matter where we are, individually or collectively, God is with us, loves us, and desires for us to live in the way of Christ. It is Jesus the Christ, Immanuel – God-with-us, whose birth among humanity two millennia ago we anticipate and remember in these Advent and Christmas seasons. And this Jesus of Nazareth “walked the talk” of what God asks of us – being just so that all have what is needed for life, loving others mercifully and steadfastly, and abiding humbly with God.

We need to encourage and support one another in our differing ways and giftings of living as God’s children, as the body of Christ, in our place and time. As written by the Spanish nun Teresa of Avila in the 1500's:

"Christ has no body now, but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth, but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which

Christ looks compassion into the world.
Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good.
Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world." ***

Our paths will diverge as I say good-bye at the end of this month and we rejoice that it has always been and always will be God who is breathing new life into the body, into us, even if our beings are weary and worn. It is still God who gifts and gathers and knits us together as the body for God's delight and purposes and work in the world. It is God who helps us delight in God with our purpose and meaning rooted in God, in God's love, and in God's work in the world. And we do this as others of old have: we gather together, we listen and discern together, we share our lives and our bread with one another, we open our hearts and hands in God's love and by God's grace to each other – to neighbor – to stranger – trusting/believing that God is loving us and working through us.

Shalom, Pastor Lynn

***http://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/teresa-avila-quotes accessed March 19, 2016 – The Order of Carmelites (Teresa 1515-1582)

December 2025 newsletter

We celebrate:

The beauty of snow and shelter from it!

+ + +

Children's books and Advent devotional books are inside the Brick Church.

+ + +

Community outreach includes:

MAPLEWOOD CHRISTMAS GIFTS

We are again collecting gifts for Maplewood residents Holiday bags. A box will be placed in the narthex of the Church to put them from now to December 21st. They are asking for some clothing items for men and women all sizes up to 6x. Their wish list follows:

Dry Shampoo 2-1 Shampoo Fixodent Bird Houses or Craft Kits Lotion Zippered Hoodies Costume Jewelry Stuffed Animals Fuzzy Gripping Socks Women’s Tops MuMu-House dresses Kleenex Individually Packed Snacks Coloring Books AA-AAA Batteries Sun Catchers Glasses/readers Personal Spray Bottles Fleece Vests Battery Operated Candles Games Window Decorations Chap Stick Mini Body Sprays Deodorant Amazon & Wal Mart Gift cards Sweaters Lg Print Word Searches Men’s T Shirts Fleece Throws Crayons – Twist Up Picture Frames Markers or Colored Pencils Large Piece Puzzles CD/DVD Players Hair Brushes & Accessories Nail Polish/Make up

+ + +

We receive food donations for Joan's Pantry located in Chesterfield

{spaghetti sauce, macaroni & cheese, tuna, and more always welcomed} -

there's a box in the Church lobby for them. Thank you!

*AND*

Community caring with prayer shawls and baby blankets

+ + +

For inquiries about use or rental of Fellowship Hall, please call Jo Ann at 603 399-9028.

+ + +

9 South Village Common, P. O. Box 214, Westmoreland, New Hampshire 03467 603-399-4880

Email addresses: westmoreland@myfairpoint.net or westmorelandunitedchurchnh@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/WestmorelandUnitedChurch

The church's virtual yardsale is on facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/Virtual-Yard-Sale-Westmoreland-United-Church-199621850722207

As the United Church of Christ likes to say,

"No matter who you are, no matter where you are in life's journey, ALL are welcome here!"

Covenant of the Westmoreland United Church

We the people of the Westmoreland United Church, have gathered together to worship God and to provide spiritual support for one another in our daily lives. Our common Bond is our belief in God’s love for all and our faith in Jesus Christ. We believe the Bible is just as meaningful today as when it was first written, and we strive to understand and practice its teaching.

Our mission is to help and support the members of our congregation, the people of our community and the people of the world to live meaningful and fulfilling lives. We support those things which promote equality, justice and peace according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Our church is a member of the United Church of Christ, working together with them to accomplish those things best done on a broader scale, and using them as a resource as we serve our local community.

We emphasize individual freedom of conscience and respect the beliefs of other people no matter where they are in their faith’s journey. The Westmoreland United Church accepts all people and excludes none. We welcome everyone to join us as we live out our faith.

Westmoreland United Church Open and Affirming Covenant

We declare ourselves to be an open and affirming church that welcomes all God's people. Regardless of religious beliefs, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression , we welcome you to join us. We invite you to worship with us, to be married in our church, to partake of the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, and to fully share in the life and fellowship of our congregation. We recognize there are differences among us and we believe that we can love alike even though we may not think alike. We proclaim this statement of welcome and affirmation to all including those who have known the pain of exclusion or discrimination in the church and society.

(approved unanimously on June 2, 2019)