First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield
Welcome to the community of the First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield. Devoted to community growth and compassion through faith, togetherness, and spirituality.
Holiday Candelight Service
On Sunday, December 18, 2011, at 5:00 P.M.,we will host its annual Holiday Candlelight Service. The service will be conducted by Reverend Arthur Reublinger.

The Holiday Candlelight Service has been an ongoing tradition at the First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield since the 1960's. The service, consisting of traditional hymns and songs, community readings, and Christmas stories from scripture, is one of the most unique and spiritual services throughout the year.

At the conclusion of the service, the entire congregation and guests are asked to take the candles that they received at the beginning of the service and form a circle around the church sanctuary. This circle is referred to as "the circle of light and life". As the lit flame passes from one candle to another, it symbolizes how one person's life can affect another and how spiritual belief can affect us all. The light is passed until all of the candles are lit, embodying our community of individuals that carry and share the light of love and life with each other, a fitting and moving tradition for this holiday season.

The church will also host its annual outdoor Holiday Luminaria display to take place during the annual Holiday Candlelight Service, from 5-7 p.m. A luminaria, or farolito, is a light or little lantern, usually a candle inside a paper lamp shade, which is significant in Mexican culture at Christmastime. In New Mexico and west Texas, luminaries are made from brown paper bags weighted down with sand and illuminated from within by a lit candle and traditionally displayed on Christmas Eve. These are typically arranged in rows to create large and elaborate displays. The hope among Christian believers is that the lights will guide the spirit of the Christ child to one's home. In recent times they are seen more as a secular decoration, akin to holiday lights, and have gained popularity in other parts of the country.

Community members are invited to donate luminarias in memory, honor or appreciation of a loved one, and the names of all those who are being honored will appear in the service program. The display will serve as a year-end fundraiser for the church. Donation forms may be downloaded from the church's website at www.chesterfielduu.org and returned by Wednesday, December 14th. For further information, please contact Nancy Brooks at 603-256-6346.

The Holiday Candlelight Service will conclude all weekly services for 2011 at the church. There will be no Sunday morning service that day. The church will reopen on Easter Sunday 2012.

The community is invited to attend and participate in this very special community event. Coffee, refreshments and fellowship will follow.
Updates
New Building Update.
Planning for a new Sunday school building has led to...
Building Repairs.
The winter of 2010-2011 was an unusually harsh...
2011 Holiday Bazaar.
The 2011 Holiday Bazaar is just around the corner...
RE Update
September brings the return to school...
Water Ceremony.
The First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield resumed...
This Weeks Sermon
10 Main Street
West Chesterfield, NH 03466

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First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield
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Volunteer Organist/Musician Needed
The First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield, New Hampshire is looking for a volunteer organist/musician for our Sunday morning services. The individual will work with our interent ministers to choose appropriate musical selections/accompaniments for our weekly services. While in the past, we have enjoyed organ accompaniment, we are receptive to other instrumental offerings. We are seeking an individual who can commit weekly, but we will consider those musicians willing to offer their
talents on an intermittent basis. Sunday services are generally an hour long and are held at 10 a.m., Easter through July and
September through Christmas.

Founded over 200 years ago, the First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield is a small, friendly,
country church with approximately 25 members. We are located in southwestern New Hampshire,
only 3.5 miles from Exit 3 on I-91 and 15 miles west of Keene, NH.

For further information, ple
ase contact Nancy Brooks at
nsbrooks@yahoo.com
We will be closed for our annual winter hiatus from Christmas to Easter.

Have a wonderful new year and we will look forward to seeing you in the spring.
From Nov. 27th through Dec. 18th, the First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield will be collecting toys for Opperation Toy rop.

Drop offs can be made on Sundays from 8am - 12 noon in the church foyier. A drop off bin can also be found by the picnic table on the side of the church. Please give what you can to a child in need.
We Are An Operation Toy Drop Collection Site!!!
The First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield will also host its fifth-annual outdoor Holiday Luminaria display to take place during the church's Holiday Candlelight Service on Sunday, December 18th, from 5-7 p.m. Community members are invited to donate luminarias in memory, honor or appreciation of a loved one. The names of all those who are being honored will appear in the service program.

A luminaria, or farolito, is a light or little lantern, usually a candle inside a paper lamp shade, which is significant in Mexican culture at Christmastime. In New Mexico and west Texas, luminaries are made from brown paper bags weighted down with sand and illuminated from within by a lit candle and traditionally displayed on Christmas Eve. These are typically arranged in rows to create large and elaborate displays. The hope among Christian believers is that the lights will guide the spirit of the Christ child to one's home. In recent times they are seen more as a secular decoration, akin to holiday lights, and have gained popularity in other parts of the country. Last year, approximately 175 luminarias were on display at the West Chesterfield church, located at 10 Main Street.

The display will serve as a year-end fundraiser for the church. Donation forms may be downloaded from the church's website at www.chesterfielduu.org and returned by Wednesday, December 14th.
For further information, please contact Nancy Brooks at 603-256-6346.

FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF WEST CHESTERFIELD TO HOST FOURTH-ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUMINARIA DISPLAY