The Board of Lay Life & Ministry’s mission is to nurture and care for our church family by providing hospitality, social activities, and in-reach programs. Our many events are labor intensive and would not have been successfully accomplished without the full participation of the board members every month and every event. With many thanks to the board: Suzy Fisher (incoming Chair), Sarah Betts, Avril Fritzer, Jennifer Giguere, Jen Jalbert, Charlene McFee, Ruth Miller, Bertha Nollman, Karen Rhode, Rebeka Scalia, Maryleah Skoronski, Pat Zendzian and Rev. Ruth Martz. We could not have done the luncheons without the enthusiasm, guidance, and direction of gourmet cook Sallie Graves. Wanda Bates coordinated organization of the Progressive Dinner. The following is a brief overview of the activities for the period of June 2007-May 2008:

Coffee Hour: Every Sunday, Fall through Spring, coffee hour is served in Schultz Hall between services offering Free Trade coffee, decaffeinated coffee, hot tea, decaffeinated tea, specialty tea bags and hot water, cold apple juice and iced water. Worshipers at both services have the opportunity for fellowship with one another. Volunteers coordinated from Time and Talent sheets and Lay Life members perform the weekly duties. Overwhelmingly successful has been the reinstatement of caffeinated coffee. Most weeks, sixty cups of coffee and twenty cups of decaf are enjoyed. Punch on the Lawn takes place in the summer months with cool beverages such as lemonade, juice, punch, tea, and iced water. Lay Life purchases the supplies (coffee, tea, napkins, stirrers, juice, hot and cold cups) while the host will bring in the cream or milk and punch. Detailed instructions and assignment lists can be found inside the Lay Life cupboard in the kitchen. Pat Zendzian undertook coordinating assignments and shopping for supplies.

Homecoming Picnic September 9, 2007: Lay Life organizes the setup, decoration of tables and chairs outside as well as the buffet tables in Schultz Hall. Lay Life supplies the paper goods (cups, plates, plastic ware, napkins, plastic tablecloths, trash bags) and cold beverages; lemonade, punch, iced water, and coffees. At June, July & August council meetings, coordinate with other boards to buy burgers, buns, and moon bounce. The past two years Norm Higgins provided a trailer and transport of grills for cooking. Grills operated by their grill masters Chuck McFee, Mark Zendzian, Bill Graves, and Gary Williams. Crafts provided by LLM and supervised by LLM daughters Laura McFee & Wendy Williams. Utilized four LLM cold beverage dispensers, borrowed four more from Christian Ed, and one from Suzy Fisher. Congregation assigned to bring desserts if last names A-J, L-Z salads or side dishes. Attendance in 270 ranges. Great kickoff to the new church-school year!

Naubuc Green Birthday Party September 25, 2007: LLM brought cake and sugar-free dessert, festive paper goods, balloons, coffee, gifts for 16 August and September birthday celebrants (gift bags containing toiletries) to residents of Naubuc Green Senior Housing, serving 45 party attendees. LLM provided lively entertainment by church member Don Donegan who sang requests and played guitar. Seven board members attended the event.

Harvest Supper November 18, 2007: Riverfront Community Center another sell-out event with capacity sign-up limited to 272 seats available. Cash Donations, $3 per person, $10 family collected to help offset rental $1,200 fee, paper goods (dinner and dessert plates, placemats, additional plasticware, napkins, table decorations, hot and cold cups, coffee, punch, nametags.) Considerable supplies brought from church. Ruth Martz coordinated Talent Show with Angela Salcedo featuring children and adults from the congregation, MC’d by Meg Taylor and Jessica Sit. ½ of bread donated by Great Harvest of Manchester. LLM supplied crafts for table supervised by LLM daughters Laura McFee and Wendy Williams. Board members arrived at 3 o’clock for set up and left just before 9 p.m. A grand time was had by all.

Women’s Fellowship Christmas Luncheon Saturday December 8: Sallie Graves planned and coordinated a wonderful luncheon cooked, served and cleaned up by LLM for 55. Luncheon included cream cheese wreath, snowman with pepper jelly, Butternut Squash Soup, Cheese and Spinach in Filo, Cranberry red Jell-O salad, Green salad with Mandarin Oranges, Bread Pudding with tasty sauce. Wanda Bates coordinated guests bringing table decorations. Tables and chairs set up by Bob Johnson & Gary Williams. Extra cooking volunteers Ellen McNab and Shirley Warren. Entertainment provided by Ruth Martz and Angela Salcedo, including singing of carols. Bill Graves and Frank Scalia assisted, as well. Lovely luncheon during a busy time of year. Maybe consider having on a Sunday, instead of Saturday for larger participation of younger mothers.

Opportunity Fair January 27, 2008: Green was the LLM theme adorned in our aprons and decorated with balloons, displaying photographs of congregation participating in the many events hosted by LLM. Suzy Fisher coordinated the picture boards and developed prints, Jennifer Giguere designed the hallway bulletin board.

Lenten Suppers February-March: LLM is to coordinate and sign up other boards at Council meeting to prepare the soup for the suppers. This year, LLM provided the butter for the bread, (frozen and left over from Harvest supper.) Since no boards volunteered, Ruth Martz made the assignments and provided some recipes.

Meal of the Upper Room March 20, 2008: LLM orders and picks up the lamb (purchased with gravy from Gardiners Market for 50), buys, and cooks the Minute Rice and spinach, serves the meal, and washes the dishes. Beautiful meaningful service and luncheon.

Progressive Dinner March 29, 2008: Wow! Another sell out social event, near 90. Wanda Bates coordinated who goes where and got green by coordinating carpooling as well. Appetizers at Katharyn & Vincent Laudone, dinners at: McFee, Betts, Espenshade, Haught-Foley, Flynn, Ruddick, Berwick, Fisher and Williams. Dessert at Susan & Steve Jackson. $6 per person to offset beverages, van gas, & expenses. Guests signed up to bring salad, appetizer, or dessert. Extra money to purchase new coffee pots used by LLM for coffee hour and events.

Gold & Silver Member Brunch May 4, 2008: Sallie Graves has a delicious menu of Swedish meatballs over noodles, salad, vegetable, and dessert planned to honor our Gold members of 50 years and the Silver members of 40+ years. LLM will help cook, serve, and clean up. Nancy Higgins has volunteered to decorated Schultz hall and tables. Guests will be pinned with corsages going into the meetinghouse and honored during both services. Entertainment by Rev. Christopher Adams, the Singing Chaplain.

Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Williams
Chair of Lay Life & Ministry Board

BOARD OF LAY LIFE AND MINISTRY
        Rev. Ruth Martz

2009 Susan Fisher-chair
2009 Rebeka Scalia
2009 Pat Zendzian
2009 Maryleah Skoronski
2009 Barbara Campbell
2010 Charlene McFee
2010 Jen Jalbert
2010 Jennifer Giguere
2010 Sara Betts
2010 Avril Fritzer
2010 Ruth Miller
2011 Kathy Harris
2011
2011