Andover – On Father’s Day, June 16, a special “Mission Sunday” was held where the regular sermon was replaced with reports from our Mission Committee members on what we have been up to during the past year in fulfilling our Lord’s commands to love, give, and serve others as well as to go into all the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We were all astounded how a small church in Andover, New Hampshire could touch our community and people around the world!

For example, the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Campaign (2023) – an initiative to bring toys to children all over the world through filling shoe boxes – netted 123 boxes. The Aspire Baby Bottle fundraiser which ran from Mother’s Day through Father’s Day (2024) raised nearly $975 dollars for the Aspire Women’s Center in Laconia.

Just as the baby bottle fundraiser has ended, a new summer mission has now begun: the collection of monies for water scarcity projects in East Africa – in particular, to dig a bore well in Kenya. This  mission will run through the summer and end on September 15. We are partnering with other churches in the Diocese to raise the $28,000.00 needed to complete the project. Funds are already increasing from those within the church and even in the wider community. For example, if you bought cotton candy at our booth at the 4th of July Celebration in Andover, you helped build this well which will supply a large area in Kenya – including a school. Thank you!

Other areas given funds through The Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF) include: Turkey/Syria (earthquake), Maui Hawaii (wildfires), and Israel and Gaza (war victims). The Samaritan’s Purse and Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) – who assist persecuted Christians in hostile nations – have always been important to the life of Andover’s Community Church.

Locally, we continue to support the Franklin community through support to the Twin Rivers Food Pantry, and the giving of sandwiches, coffee, water, cookies, and prayer to the homeless, poor and lonely in Franklin on Wednesday afternoons. We assist the East Andover Preschool in their fundraisers, and of course, Rummage/Bake and Pre-made meal Saturdays happening monthly in the Grange Hall. By the way, this month the sales will be happening on the same day as the Town Wide Yard Sale on August 24. Hope to see you there!

Future local projects include seeking estimates for painting and/or vinyl siding the church and Highland Lake Grange Hall. If you’d like to throw your name into the hat contact our Jr. Warden, Eric Faller, ejfaller@nullyahoo.com.

We invite all to join us with our mission initiatives and we are happy to have you as our partners and coworkers as we continue being “all about others!” Other information regarding the church, our services, Grange Hall rental, and pastoral appointments are at www.andoverchurchnh.com.