ChurchChat Room (Newsletter)

The Church Chat Room                      Westmoreland United Church                                      October 2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: INTRODUCING OUR PASTOR CANDIDATE

Dear Westmoreland United Church Family,

After much prayer, diligent work, and guidance from the Lord, the Pastoral Search Committee is pleased to announce that we have unanimously and enthusiastically voted to recommend Richard Koenig as our next Pastor!  He prefers to be called Pastor Sandy or Sandy. Pastor Sandy comes to us from the North Congregational Church in Woodbury CT. He became an Ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ in 1987.  Sandy and his wife Susan, in their goal to live one day in New England, moved to Bellows Falls, VT this year. We believe that Sandy’s heart for ministry and community is a direct answer to our prayers.  We want our entire church family to have the opportunity to meet Pastor Sandy and his wife Susan before the official vote of the congregation. Sandy will be preaching during our morning service on November 1st at 10am.   We look forward to hearing him share God’s Word, share his faith and ministry experience and worship together with us. 

Following the service, there will be Meet & Greet in Fellowship Hall.  We encourage you to join us to chat, enjoy refreshments and welcome Sandy and Susan in person.  In the process of considering a new pastor, we have continued to value the thoughts and input of our congregation. We want everyone to have an opportunity to share their impressions, questions, and concerns regarding the candidate. Our official church membership vote to extend a formal Call to welcome Pastor Sandy as our new pastor will take place at 11am, Sunday, November 8th following the service.  As we prayerfully consider the future leadership of our congregation, let us seek God’s wisdom, maintain unity, and keep our hearts open to His guidance.              We look forward to worshipping together and sharing these special days of November 1 & 8 as a church family!

With joy,

Pastoral Search Committee

Westmoreland United Church

Volunteers Needed for Advent Sundays!

As we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth, we invite individuals, couples, or families to participate in our Advent Sunday services.  Dates are Nov 29, Dec 6, 13, 20 and 24 (Christmas Eve).

Volunteers are needed to light the Advent candles, read Scripture, and share a brief prayer or reflection as we celebrate Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.                                       

Please consider being part of this special tradition! To volunteer, please contact Jo Ann LaBarre at 603 399-9028.              

Thank you for helping make this Advent season meaningful for our church family!                                                                   

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We are coming to the end of the season Westmoreland United Church’s

Books and More Thrift Shoppe

Fall Schedule

·   Open 9am-12: pm Now through November 14, 2026.                  

 .  October 31. Last Day to Drop off Donations                                     

·   Ladies Aid Holiday Bazaar November 21                                            

·   November 28 Everything must go 

·   November 28 Last Day until Spring     

·   Watch for First Drop off Days and opening Day in the Spring                  

  9 South Village Common, Westmoreland NH Behind Brick Church             

·   Visit our Facebook Page

 Mark Your Calendar

Come join us for Sunday School  October 25th, November 1, and November 15th.

Missions

By Judy Rancourt

Hundred Nights is opening the Keene Community Warming Center at the United Church of Christ in Keene from December-April. They are asking for volunteers from area churches to consider sponsoring a week or more of their emergency shelter by sending evening or morning volunteers.  Volunteers will be trained.  Evening Hospitality (1.5 hrs) Set up coffee, snacks, assist with preparing beds and provide a warm, compassionate welcome on cold winter nights. Morning Hospitality (1.5 hrs) Offering a caring greeting as guests wake, clean up, and depart, ensuring everything is reset for the day. Training Dates are 10/19, 11/2,11/9, & 11/16 5:30-7:00 PM Keene UCC                          

If you are interested in volunteering please contact me jrancourt3@myfairpoint.net and I will forward you the necessary information to sign up for training. Another way to help is by donating Hospitality gifts: contributions of coffee, tea, sugar and prepackaged snacks are always welcome (put in box located in the Narthax of the Church)

You will see this poster at various sites in and around Westmoreland. We welcome

you to our annual fundraiser that allows us to provide support to many area agencies.

WANTED – CHURCH ORGANIST/PIANIST

Westmoreland United Church, Westmoreland, NH 03467

Church Organist &/or Pianist

 An Allen Organ and an electric piano will be provided by the Westmoreland United Church.

Responsibilities of the Organist/Pianist will include:

1. Sunday morning worship services, and special services such as Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

2. Playing the Prelude music, the hymns selected by the Pastor, the Gloria, the Doxology, and the Postlude music. Notification of the music for Sunday will be made by Wednesday of the week prior to the worship service.

The Organist/Pianist may be offered an opportunity to serve as Organist/Pianist for extra services such as weddings, funerals, or special events. Pay is negotiable.  Please call JoAnn LaBarre at 603-399-9028 for more information.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

                    GAME NIGHT

1st Friday night of every month at 7pm in Fellowship Hall

Nov 6, Dec 4, Jan 1, Feb 5, Mar 5, Apr 2

Games Include:  Bingo, Pictionary, Trivia Beverage & cookies!

No prizes – just family fun!                

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MOVIE NIGHT

3rd Saturday night of every month at 7pm in the Brick Church

Popcorn!

Nov 21- Paddington
Dec 19- Christmas Movie - TBD
Jan 16- Chicken Run
Feb 20- The Lego Movie
Mar 20- Big Hero 6
Apr 17- Mary Poppins

Questions on the above activities can be directed to Jo Ann LaBarre at

603 399-9028 or joann8@myfairpoint.net

All Are Welcome and All Events Are Free!

Events are presented by the Westmoreland United Church Community Action Group

News From Governing Board

By Carol Austin, Moderator

The in-person meetings of the Board have been an enjoyable way to interact, but October’s monthly meeting was on the Zoom format a prudent decision as we begin the season of earlier darkness and questionable driving conditions.

The income from the Thrift Shoppe has, in part, has improved the church’s income. Another fundraiser, a fall supper on November 7th, will add to that positive income figure. Many people are involved in the work of both fundraisers, and the camaraderie they both generate is certainly positive as well. Thank you to all involved, workers and patrons.

Two useful items have been donated to the church, a snowblower and an artificial Christmas tree. Both are timely, and appreciation is expressed to the donors for them.

The Pastoral Search Committee has waited patiently for a candidate who is interested in the position of minister/pastor of our church. The committee will be providing more information about the progress of their search elsewhere in this newsletter.