October 29, 2025,
Just a touch of frost on the strawberry leaves
Dear Friend,
Today’s email is a hodge-podge. There is a lot going on and I want you to be in the know.
This morning I was part of a four-member team that hosted a gathering in Milford with faith leaders from across NH to discuss immigration, how we are responding, and how we might respond in more meaningful and effective ways. We took a deep dive into the scriptural foundations from Jewish, Islam and Christian texts to create a framework and I found it incredibly helpful. Your support of me as pastor and teacher allows me to serve our wider community in this way, so I wanted to pass along my thanks and let you know that there are many positive efforts underway across our state.
Locally, there has been a flurry of activity around meeting immediate needs in our community that are arising due to the lack of SNAP benefits. It looks like a sight has been located in Dublin where we could establish a temporary food pantry for Dublin and Harrisville residents. I will keep you in the loop about that effort as it develops. In the meantime, the Peterborough Food Pantry is a tremendous resource for folks who can get there. Here is the link to their website: FOOD
They are open M,W,F 9-12 and Saturdays, too.
Coming up later this week we have a trio of days of interest: All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. This three day period from October 31 through November 2 is sometimes called “Allhallowtide” and it dates back to the 4th century church. For a fresh take on All Hallows Eve (Halloween), check out the following from the SALT Project out of Keene, NH: HALLOWEEN You’ll never view it the same after reading that, I promise you.
I invite us, Friend, to find meaning in the coming days, beginning with viewing All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, as an example of what a kinder world may look like. Saturday is All Saints’ Day and Sunday is All Souls’ Day. In our tradition in the UCC (and in other Protestant traditions, as well) we observe All Saint’s Day as a time to reflect on all those who have come before us, their contributions that have opened the way for us, and how we may be affecting the future for those who will follow us. We will consider this, in part, on this upcoming Sunday.
I will leave you with the following video I took of the sunrise yesterday morning. I have been anticipating the time change coming up on Saturday (remember to set your clocks back an hour) and so I offer the video along with an invitation to challenge the illusion that it is the sun either rising or setting. It is us on earth that are either turning towards the sun or turning past it. See if you can gather a sense of that in the following time-lapse video that captures about 15 minutes of planetary motion in 27 seconds.
“There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. The sun has one kind of glory while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.” -1 Corinthians 15:40-41
We have ten people potentially interested in membership either now or in the future. We had a meeting this past Monday, but it is not too late if you would like more information before we welcome new members on Sunday Nov. 9th. Please contact me at Traceymaykalvaitis@gmail.com or 603-715-0990 (replying to this email will not reach me)
Soup Luncheon this Sunday after Church
(rescheduled from last week)
The Stewards are hosting us for a lunch of delicious homemade soup and bread as part of the launch of our 2026 pledge campaign. Please plan to stay and enjoy a good meal and time to visit.
Please join me in prayer.
Beloved, thank you for this life experience. Teach me all I can learn of love so I may be a kind neighbor, a generous friend, a present family member, and an asset to my community. This I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
“Be not conformed to this world but be transformed in the newness of your mind.” – Romans 12:2
Changing and learning alongside you,
Traceymay
603-715-0990
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295 Cobb Meadow Rd
Dublin, NH 03444-8217
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