Pastor eLetter

8 July 2010 Dear Friends,     

On Sunday Rev. Sandra Pontoh will preach here, and she is bringing a number of members of her congregation, the Maranatha Indonesian UCC in Madbury, with her to worship here.  Some have been practicing a traditional Indonesian dance which, if they feel confident enough, will be part of the service.  A treat not to be missed!       Rev. Pontoh, who was ordained in Indonesia, came to America to study theology, and has been in New Hampshire since 2000, pastoring a growing community of Indonesian immigrants in the Dover - Madbury - Durham area.     

A lot of her time is spent helping people with immigration issues, and helping people with connections to family back in Indonesia.  Many of us no longer know the details of our immigrant ancestors' first generation experiences here, how complicated life can become even when you think you have planned for many contingencies.     

But all of us have these roots, roots in people who were not sure what to do next, who missed a culture, language, customs not present here, who came with great hope.  And, as the Apostle Paul wrote, "in Christ there is no east or west, north or south, male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free, but all are one in Christ."       In this faith and hope, Rev. Pontoh and her people come to us as sisters and brothers.  May we find joy in one another.        

 Blessings,      Nancy