November 2026

The Church Chat Room                      Westmoreland United Church                                      November 2026

A New Chapter in Our Church Family

With grateful hearts and excitement for the future, we are pleased to announce that on December 8, 2026, Reverend Richard A Koenig (Pastor Sandy) has been selected to serve as the new pastor of the Westmoreland United Church.

This journey has been one filled with prayer, careful thought, many conversations, patience, hope, and trust in God's guidance. We know that choosing a new pastor is about much more than filling a position. It is about finding someone who will walk alongside us, share in our joys and challenges, encourage our faith, and help guide our church family as we continue God's work.

We are truly excited about this new chapter in the life of our congregation. We recognize that change brings new beginnings, and with those beginnings come wonderful opportunities to grow, strengthen our relationships, and deepen our faith together.

We ask each of you to join us in welcoming Pastor Sandy and his wife Susan with open hearts and open arms. Let us surround our new pastor with love, encouragement, patience, and, most importantly, our prayers.

A new pastor is not simply the beginning of a new ministry; it is the beginning of a new chapter in our church family's story. May we open that chapter together with faith, love, and the confidence that God is leading the way.

May God bless our new pastor, our church family, and the wonderful days ahead.

With grateful hearts and great anticipation,

Pastoral Search Committee

Jo Ann LaBarre, Kathy DeFreitas, Nancy Hillier, Alan Bell, Kristin Bell

PS:   A Special Thank You to all those who helped in this journey!

On behalf of the Pastoral Search Committee, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to our entire congregation for your prayers, patience, encouragement, and support throughout the process of finding our new pastor.  Finding a new pastor is an important decision for our church family, and we are grateful that you walked alongside us every step of the way.

Thank you for your faithfulness, your understanding, and for being such a special church family.                                                        To my fellow Committee members - This has been an important journey for our church, and I feel truly blessed to have served alongside such a dedicated and caring group of people. Each of you brought something special to this committee—your time, your prayers, your wisdom, your honesty, and your willingness to work together toward a common goal.

I am grateful for each of you, not only for what you contributed to this committee, but also for the friendships and fellowship we have shared.

Thank you for your dedication, your faith, and your friendship. I could not have asked for a better group of people to share this journey with.

May God bless our congregation and guide us in the wonderful days ahead!

Jo Ann

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!                                                                                                   

Thanksgiving Special Offering

Our Thanksgiving Special Offering will go to Joan’s Pantry in Chesterfield NH.  An envelope is included for your convenience.

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.                                                             

Ladies Aid Holiday Bazaar Nov. 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

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.  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            Kleenix  Individually Packed Snacks Coloring Books                                                              AA-AAA Batteries                    Sun Catchers                                      Reader Glasses       Personal Spray Bottles                                      Fleece Vests         Battery Operated Candles                 Games                      Window Decorations               Chap Stick                     Mini Body Sprays                          Deodorant    Amazon & Wal Mart Gift cards      Paint Pens                                           Sweaters                                                              Lg Print Word Searches           Men’s T Shirts                       Warm & Cozy Throws   Crayons – Twist Up    Picture  Frames  Markers or Colored Pencils        Large Piece Puzzles         CD/DVD Players Hair Brushes & Accessories Nail Polish/Make up Color Your Own Blanket

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) labeled Keene Community Warming Center.

Notes From the Moderator

By Carol Austin

Relief, excitement, anticipation, and gratitude might describe the sentiment of members and friends of the church after they attended the Special Church Meeting on Sunday, November 8th, either in person or via ZOOM.

The one agenda item was to “Vote to Call Rev. Robert (Sandy) Koenig as our new settled pastor.” JoAnn LaBarre, chairman of the Pastoral Search Committee (PSC), and other members of that committee - Kathy DeFreitas, Kristin Bell, Alan Bell, and Nancy Hiller - all presented information about their search process and information about Pastor Sandy. All answered questions from those in attendance. A motion to accept the PSC’s recommendation to call Pastor Sandy was approved unanimously by the church members. Pastor Sandy will begin his pastorate with the Westmoreland United Church on December 1st.

The five members of the PSC were presented with a small floral arrangement that included a sunflower, symbolic of the sunshine they have brought to the entire church family.

A quote from St. Augustine seems appropriate. “Pray as if everything depends upon God; work as if everything depends on you”. The PSC, and all those associated with the church, have prayed “…as if everything depends on God…” We have kept faith in the search process and have worked hard in our individual ways “… as if everything…” depended on it. God has heard our prayers, and we all continue to be at God’s work. Thank you, God, and thanks to all of you!

Ladies Aid Bazaar at Fellowship Hall

 by Carol Austin, President

Saturday, November 21, 2026, 9 AM to 2 PM 

             Luncheon – 11 - 1

   Drawing - Winner of Quilt Raffle - 1:00

Upstairs: popular cookie walk, beautiful handicrafts, quilt raffle tickets (until 12:45), festive berry bowls and greenery items.

Downstairs: Grandma’s attic of interesting, elegant oddments and treasures, numerous Christmas items, jewelry, books, games, and puzzles for both children and adults, a selection of kitchen and household items, and much more!

Santa Claus will be strolling about and will be available for pictures. Be sure to bring your camera!

The annual Ladies Aid Bazaar is the group’s major fundraiser, and profits will be used to fund the many area missions it supports. We hope to see you there at this festive event!

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

      GAME NIGHT

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

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          

Christmas Greenery for the Brick Church By Carol Austin, Moderator, chaustin@myfairpoint.net

As the Christmas Advent season approaches, plans are underway to hang the balsam wreaths in the windows of the Brick Church and on the doors of the Church and Fellowship Hall. The wreaths will be purchased from the Westmoreland School P.T.A. to support their annual fundraiser.

If you would like to sign up for one of the wreaths to be designated for your family, for an individual, in memory of a loved one, as an honorarium, etc., please contact me by Sunday, November 22. The sign-up sheet will be available after church services during fellowship time until the 22nd. The cost per wreath is $22.00 on a first come, first reserved. Payment can be made with cash or by check made out to Westmoreland United Church.

The wreaths will be in place by Sunday, November 29th, the first Sunday in Advent.

A listing of donors will be included in the church bulletin each week in the month of December. Thank-you for supporting this project.

Baby Blanket Gift

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby.

To celebrate we have a handmade blanket and books for your family.

Please email Karen LeDuc @Karendenholmleduc@gmail.com or call 603-399-4880 if you know of someone with a new baby.

You can meet us at Fellowship Hall or we will deliver to you.

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Church Website…and Facebook

We are on Facebook. Just click on the Facebook symbol at the bottom of the church’s homepage to go to the Facebook page.

Our Church website is www.westmorelandunitedchurch.org

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“No person was ever honored for what he received.  Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”                     -Calvin Coolidge