New Year's Eve Party

The Men's Club is sponsoring a potluck dinner from 6:00-7:00 pm on New Year's Eve. Following dinner, there will be games, movies, and fellowship. Please plan to bring a dish to share, your favorite board or card games, movies, and have a fun night with your church family. For more information, please speak to Ed.

Memorial Flowers

Thank you to all who placed a memorial flower in the sanctuary in memory of their loved ones. They were beautiful in the church during the Christmas services!

Christmas Services

We are having our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 24th. We will have our Christmas Morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. Come join us for these beautiful services celebrating the birth of our Lord!

Epiphany Open House

There will be an open house at the parsonage from 4-8pm on January 8th. Drop in for refreshments and fellowship!

Christmas Day Service

We will be holding a Sunday morning wprship service on Christmas Day at 10:30 am. The service will be lessons and carols, so come and join us to hear and sing about the birth of our Savior!

Membership Classes in the New Year

The Diaconate will be holding membership classes for anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the church or who is interested in the history of our church and the governance of our church. The classes will cover the history of the Congregational Church, the history of our church, our faith statement and the church by-laws, and what it means to be a member of our church. If you are interested in joining the classes, please speak to Kathy about the class and what times you are available to meet.

Dove Singers

The Dove Singers will begin rehearsals for their Spring 2012 production of "Known by the Scars" on Monday, January 9th. Rehearsals will be held at the First Assembly of God, 45 Myles Drive, Auburn. Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m., and will continue every Monday night through March 19th. Performances will be held on March 17th, 18th, 24th, and 25th. The Dove Singers is a non-denominational Christian ministry dedicated to presenting the Word of God through music, drama, and dance. Last year, approximately 120 people were involved in the group, from more than 45 different churches, and you are invited to join them for this year's presentation. We are particularly looking for additional singers (especially first sopranos and men), orchestra members, and/or actors, but encourage any interested Christians to come on January 9th and learn more about the group.

Christmas Carolling a Big Success!

We went on our annual Christmas Carolling with the Youth Group and members of the congregation on the 4th of December, and it was a big success! We visited eight households of house-bound friends, bringing lovely music and good cheer to all. They were deeply moved by our visit. We also rang the lovely brass bells, which added to the lovely music. We also had our traditional birthday cake for Jesus. What a great way to share the good cheer and say "Merry Christmas"!

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

We are having our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 24th. We will have our Christmas Morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. Come join us for these beautiful services celebrating the birth of our Lord!

Thank you!

A big thank you to all who came and helped to decorate the church for Christmas! It looks beautiful!

Cabin Fever Quilting

There will be a Cabin Fever Quilting series starting in January on Saturday afternoons. In the series, participants will put together a split rail fence quilt. If you are a beginner, you will be taught everything you need to know, and if you are a veteran quilter, you are welcome to bring your latest project and work on it too. Each person will take home their own quilt at the end of the series! There will be food and fun. For more information, talk to Kathy.

Lights on the Hill at Candia Congregational Church

Celebrate Christmas at the annual "Lights on the Hill" festivities at Candia Congregational Church. The event is held the second weekend in December, this year Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 from 4-8 p.m. For more information, please see http://www.candiacongregational.org/loth/LOTH.html.

Memorial Flowers for Christmas

The deadline to have your name put on the Memorial Flower List is December 11th. This list will be in the December 18th bulletin, and also the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins. Please let the church secretary know or call the church office and leave a message on the answering machine. Please provide your own poinsettia this year. You may bring it with you to the December 18th morning service. It will stay through Christmas Day, and then can be taken home. Thank you!

Deck the Halls!

Don't forget that Saturday, December 3rd at 10am is  "Deck the Halls" at the church. There will be a tree to decorate, wreaths to hang, and garlands to put up! The carols will be playing and there will be goodies and drinks for all! Hope to see you all...the more the merrier!

Snow cancellation contact numbers

If you would liked to be contacted by phone in the event that church is cancelled due to snow or bad weather, please give Jodi the number at which you would like to be contacted so that you will be on the snow list. These numbers will only be used in the event of a service cancellation. Thank you!

Christmas Caroling on December 4th!

On December 4th at 1:00 p.m., the Sunday School will go on our annual Christmas Caroling here in Raymond. There will be a soup luncheon at noon, with a birthday cake for Jesus before the caroling. After the caroling, we will return to the church for hot chocolate. All are welcome to join in and bring cheer to members of our community! If you have questions, please see Lorna.

Thanksgiving Baskets

Don't forget that we are collecting non-perishables for our annual Thanksgiving baskets that we put together for those in need in our community. If you would like to donate food, please put it into the collection box at the rear of the sanctuary. If you would like to donate money for the perishables that we will buy for the baskets, please write out a check marked with "Thanksgiving Baskets" on it. The baskets will be distributed on Sunday, November 20th. Please contact a Deacon if you know a family who needs a basket. Thank you for your donation to help the people of our community!

Women's Group Fundraiser

The Women's Group will be sponsoring a fund raiser featuring the Old Farmer's Almanac. There will be a display showcasing the items available for your holiday needs for the next three Sundays. The program will close on 12/4 and the items will be at church on 12/11 for pick up. We will have brochures on Sunday that you can take to assist us in reaching our goal. The top two sellers will receive a gift. This past year, the women's group has helped families in need in our community and the funds we raise will help us continue this practice.

Checks should be made out to:

CCOR, The Christian Women's Group

If you have any questions, please contact Karen Currier.

Membership Classes to be Held in January

The Diaconate will be holding membership classes in January for anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the church. In the class, we will review the history of the Congregational Church, the history of our church, our faith statement, our by-laws, and what it means to be a member. If you are interested in taking this class, please see Kathy. We will choose a time that will work out for all involved.

Harvest Dinner

Many thanks to everyone who cooked and helped out at our Harvest Dinner! It was a delicious success! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Annual Meeting on Sunday, November 13

Don't forget that the Annual Meeting in on Sunday, November 13th! There will be a potluck lunch after the morning church service, and the meeting will follow. All are encouraged to attend and be a part of the governance of our church.

Harvest Dinner

The Diaconate will be holding a Harvest Dinner on November 6, 2011 at 5 p.m. in the social hall at the church. All are welcome! If you are not a regular attendee of the church, please call the church at (603) 895-2362 and RSVP so we can have an accurate estimate of how much food we will need. If you would like, sign up to bring a favorite harvest dish to share! Come and enjoy dinner with your church family and friends!

Pastoral Installation Service

We will have an Installation Ceremony for our new pastor, Ginny Slawnwhite, during the morning worship service on October 30th. This will be followed by a special coffee hour celebration. Help us welcome her as our pastor!

Thanksgiving Baskets

Soon we will start collecting non-perishable food for our annual Thanksgiving baskets that we put together for those in need in our community. If you would like to donate food, please put it into the collection box at the rear of the sanctuary. If you would like to donate money for the perishables that we will buy for the baskets, please write out a check marked with "Thanksgiving Baskets" on it. The baskets will be distributed on Sunday, November 20th. Please contact a Deacon if you know a family who needs a basket. Thank you for your donation to help the people of our community!

Boy Scout Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction

Boy Scout Troop 3 will be having a spaghetti supper and a silent auction on November 5, 2011, starting at 5:00 p.m. at the church. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. See Jon McCosh for more information and for tickets.

Annual Meeting on Sunday, November 13

Don't forget that the Annual Meeting in on Sunday, November 13th following the morning service! All are encouraged to attend and be a part of the governance of our church. All reports from the committees should be given to the secretary by October 23rd.

The Schmidt Family Will Be at Candia Congregational Church

This just in! The Schmidt family will be at the Candia Congregational Church this Thursday, October 6th at 7 PM to speak about Haiti and their work there with the children. This is the family that we sponsor two children with through Harvest International. If you would like to meet them and talk about their work, please take this opportunity!

Adult Bible Study

Next Sunday morning, October 9th, we will be starting a new Bible study discussion group for adults. The group will go from 9:00 to 10:00am, and all are welcome! Come join the discussion!

Ladies Monthly Craft Meeting

The next Ladies Monthly Craft Meeting will be at noon on October 22nd. Kathy will be giving a demonstration on cake decorating. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Kathy or Dee, or call the church office.

Welcome to Ginny!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to Rev. Ginny Slawnwhite, who has been called as our permanent pastor. We are glad to have you with us, Ginny!

Interested in Hosting Coffee Hour?

Are you interested in hosting our Coffee Hour, a long-standing tradition we hold after our morning service each Sunday? This fellowship time is lively, tasty, and cherished in our congregation. If you are interested in hosting one Sunday morning, please speak to a Deacon.

Search Committee Presentation

On Sunday, September 25th following the service, the Search Committee will be presenting a candidate for our part-time, permanent pastor. All members and friends are encouraged to attend this meeting and this important vote.

Fall Back to Regular Service Hours

We will be switching from our summer worship service hours back to our regular service hours on September 11th, 2011. The morning worship service will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m., with Sunday School from 9:00-10:00 a.m. for all ages. As a reminder, Sunday School classes will begin on September 18th.

Women's Monthly Craft Meeting

The Ladies of the church will be getting together to work on their crafts and projects at noon on September 24th at the church. Bring a project to work on, and enjoy the fellowship and goodies!

For the October meeting, there will be a cake decorating class. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Kathy or Dee, or call the church office. All are welcome!

Many Thanks!

Many thanks to all who participated in the annual Chicken Barbeque this year! It was a great success! It takes a lot of hands to make this work, and we appreciate all the hard work and effort. What a great day of fellowship, fun, and great food! Thanks again!

Baptism of Kyleigh May Elderd

We welcome Kyleigh Elderd, who was baptized this morning during our morning worship service. She is the lovely daughter of Justin and Cassie, and the grand-daughter of our long-time members Mike and Diane Elderd. Blessings on Kyleigh and her family!

Church Council Meeting on August 14th

Our next Church Council Meeting is on Sunday, August 14th. The Deacons will be hosting a luncheon after the worship service, with the meeting beginning directly after the luncheon. See you there!

Ice Cream Social Sunday, June 26th

We invite you to come to an ice cream social, which will be held on Sunday, June 26th after the morning worship service. The worship service is at 10:00 a.m., and the ice cream social is at 11:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall. All are welcome to come!

Annual Chicken Barbeque

Our Annual Chicken Barbeque will be held on Saturday, July 30th at 5:00 p.m., rain or shine. A sign-up sheet is in the social hall for people who want to volunteer to help out with the activities. Tickets will be on sale soon!

The Church Mourns the Passing of Ed Moulton

The church mourns the passing of Ed Moulton, a longtime member of our church family. He passed away on May 26, 2011 at CMC in Manchester, NH. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and loved baseball. He was very active in the community, and was a beloved member of our church family. He will be greatly missed.

Please keep his children, Bob, Don and Ellen in your prayers, as well as his many family members and friends.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, May 30, 2011 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brewitt Funeral Home in Raymond, NH. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 11 a.m. at our church. Burial with Military Honors will be held at the Pine Grove Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Raymond Congregational Church, PO Box 372, Raymond, NH 03077.

To view Ed's obituary in the Union Leader:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/unionleader/obituary.aspx?n=edward-w-moulton&pid=151343355

To sign the online guest book, please go to


http://obit.brewittfuneralhome.com/obit_display.cgi?id=934303

Summer Worship Service Hours

We will be switching to our summer worship service hours on June 12th, 2011. The morning worship service will be from 10-11 a.m. throughout the summer months. As a reminder, there is no Sunday School during the summer.

Collection for the American Red Cross for Tornado Relief

Many thanks to everyone who made a donation for our collection for the American Red Cross for the people affected by the terrible tornadoes down South. Please keep the tornado victims and their families in your prayers.

Church Council Meeting on May 15th

The next church council meeting is on Sunday, May 15th after the morning Worship Service and coffee hour. All church members are invited to come and be a part of the governance of our church!

Children's Day

May 15th is Children's Day. The Sunday School children will be participating in the service, providing the special music for the service, and will receive their attendance pins for this year. Come and show your support to the children of our church!

Easter Services

Here are our Easter Services this year. Come and join us as we worship our Risen Lord!

Sunday, April 17	10:30 a.m.	Palm Sunday	Palms will be distributed to the congregation
Thursday, April 21	7:00 p.m.	Maundy Thursday	The word Maundy comes from the Latin for mandate and refers to our Lord's mandate, or new command, given to the disciples, "Love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34)
Friday, April 22	noon to 3:00pm	Good Friday	A Vigil for the three hours Jesus hung from the cross on the first Good Friday. The Vigil will include silent prayer and a message from Scripture at half-hour intervals. Those who attend may come and leave as needed during the three hours.
Saturday, April 23	TBD	Easter Egg Hunt	A special Easter Egg hunt at the church with a set of Resurrection Eggs.
Sunday, April 24	10:30 a.m.	Easter Sunday	"The Lord is risen indeed." Celebration service

Thank you for your generosity!

Many thanks to everyone who made a donation for our collection for the Red Cross for the relief effort in Japan! Please keep the people of Japan in your prayers.

Women's Craft Circle

The Women's Craft Circle is exploring the possibility of having an Adult Basic Sewing Class at our regular May 29th meeting. There may be a fee, so we need to know how many women are interested as soon as we can. Christine Proctor will be teaching. She is very knowledgeable on all the basics of sewing: maintenance of your machine, selecting the proper needles and thread, and all the basics! Enrollees need not be members of our church. Please contact Dee Katz, Diane Eldred, Kathy Fongeallaz if you are interested asap. Thanks!

Memorial Flowers for Easter

As is our tradition, the church will have memorial flowers to decorate the sanctuary on Easter morning. If anyone would like their name on the Easter memorial list, they need to call Jodi (895-2362) or e-mail her (cong_church@myfairpoint.net) before Sunday, April 17th. The flower committee will be accepting plants on Saturday, April 23rd from 10:00-11:00 AM, or people may bring the flowers on Easter morning early before the service begins.

Thank you for your contribution!

Youth Group

The Youth Group, the "Christian Soldiers", meets the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month. They meet from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. The group is made up of children from third grade to ninth grade, and they do all sorts of fun and educational activities while they learn about Christ and spread God's love to our community. For more information, please call Ed Fongeallaz at 895-3463 or call the church. Come join the fun!

Ash Wednesday Service on March 9th at 7:00 p.m.

We will be holding our Ash Wednesday Service on March 9th at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Ginny Slawnwhite will preside over the imposition of the ashes. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent; come join us for this service and for the rest of the Lenten season.

Church Memories

Do you have any old pictures of church members or friends tucked away in a drawer that you would be willing to share? A group will be meeting on Saturday, March 5th, at 9:00 a.m. to begin assembling a memory board or book. We would love your input. The coffee pot will be on and we will have refreshments. For further information, call Jodi at 895-2362.

Lenten and Easter Services

Wednesday, March 9	7:00 p.m.	Ash Wednesday	The distribution of ashes
Saturday, April 2,	5:30 p.m.	Youth Group Lenten Program	A special Lenten Program by the Youth Group, with a potluck dinner and homemade desserts.
Sunday, April 17	10:30 a.m.	Palm Sunday	Palms will be distributed to the congregation
Thursday, April 21	7:00 p.m.	Maundy Thursday	The word Maundy comes from the Latin for mandate and refers to our Lord's mandate, or new command, given to the disciples, "Love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34)
Friday, April 22	noon to 3:00pm	Good Friday	A Vigil for the three hours Jesus hung from the cross on the first Good Friday. The Vigil will include silent prayer and a message from Scripture at half-hour intervals. Those who attend may come and leave as needed during the three hours.
Saturday, April 23	TBD	Easter Egg Hunt	A special Easter Egg hunt at the church with a set of Resurrection Eggs.
Sunday, April 24	10:30 a.m.	Easter Sunday	"The Lord is risen indeed." Celebration service

Lenten Program by the Youth Group on April 2nd

On Saturday, April 2nd, our Youth Group will be presenting a special Lenten program about the events of Holy Week. There will be a potluck at 5:30 p.m., followed by the presentation of the program by the Youth Group, and then the evening will be finished on a delicious note with desserts prepared by the members of the Youth Group. Mark the date on your calendars!

Special Meeting of the Congregation

There will be a special Meeting of the Congregation to be held on March 13th, after the morning worship service. The topic is a vote on whether to retain our membership in the CCCC's. Please come and be a part of making this decision for our church's future.

Women's Group Social and Special Sewing Club Meeting

• Women's Coffee Klatch will meet on February 26th from noon till 3:00 pm. Stay the whole time, or drop in for a few minutes of female companionship, coffee and snacks. For more information, call the church office at 895-2362.
• The Women's Sewing Club will be meeting in April with a representative of a local sewing shop to learn how to properly clean and care for sewing machines, so stay tuned for the date!
  

Christian Education Classes

There are some announcements about the Christian Education classes to be held this winter/spring:

• Church membership classes have been postponed until March due to the work schedule of the teacher, but please stay tuned for the new dates!
• Communion classes will be held throughout Lent for young people in the church who feel ready to learn more about this sacrament. Please speak to a deacon if you are interested.
• Acolyte training classes will also be held this spring for any young people in the church who are interested. Please speak with a deacon if you are interested in becoming one of the acolytes.

Congratulations on a Successful Plunge!

It was a great Penguin Plunge this year for Bob, Darcy, and Andrew, and for the Special Olympics of New Hampshire; $537,000 dollars were raised by the Plunge. Thank you all for your support and for your prayers!

http://www.sonh.org/penguinplunge/index.asp

Many Thanks to The Capstone Trio

Many thanks to the Capstone Trio, the talented group of Thomas, Anna and Silas Philbrick, who provided the music for our Sunday morning worship service today while our organist Barbara was holding a warm coat for Bob as he participated in the Penguin Plunge. The music was beautiful, and we count ourselves blessed to have been able to enjoy your group.

Council Meeting on February 13th

Don't forget that the next Council Meeting is on Sunday, February 13th after the morning Worship Service. All church members are invited to come and be a part of the governance of our church!

There will be a potluck luncheon before the meeting. If you would like to join the luncheon, please bring a dish to share!

January Newsletter from the Schmidt Family

The January newsletter from the Schmidt family in Haiti can be found here:

http://harvestinternational.org/tomschmidt.html#110101

The newsletter has news on how things are going with the building of the temporary structures for the Shiloh Children's Home.

Don't Forget Bob's Penguin Plunge!

Bob is taking part in the 12th Annual Penguin Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics of New Hampshire. On February 6th, 2011, Bob will be making his 11th Penguin Plunge to benefit Special Olympics of New Hampshire!

This year, he is dedicating his plunge to the memory of his son, Jim MacLaren, who overcame countless obstacles as a severely challenged athlete before his passing in August of 2010.

If you are able, please make a donation by visiting his FirstGiving page:

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/robert-maclaren/12th-annual-penguin-plunge

You can donate online with a credit card. All donations are secure and sent directly to Special Olympics of New Hampshire by FirstGiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation.

Prayers are also greatly appreciated!

Special Music on Sunday, February 6th

On Sunday, February 6th, while our organist is at Hampton Beach watching Bob take the Penguin Plunge, we will be having special guests doing the music for the morning worship service: the talented trio of Thomas, Anna and Silas Philbrick (The Capstone Trio) will be playing for us during the service. Please invite your friends and family to this special, music-filled service, and take a moment to think of Bob as he braves the icy water for a great cause!

Women's Group Meeting

The Women's Group is meeting on Saturday, January 29th, from noon to 3 p.m. in the fellowship hall. All ladies are invited! Many ladies will bring crafts to do, but you are welcome to come and share in the conversation and company of the ladies in our church. For more information, call the church office at 895-2362.

The Church Mourns the Passing of Sylvia Saunders

The church mourns the passing of Sylvia Saunders, a longtime member of our church family. She passed away on January 13, 2011 at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, MA. She was a wonderful lady, and a beloved member of our church family. We will miss her terribly.

Please keep her sons, Miles, David and Steven in your prayers , as well as Ed and Ellen Moulton, and all her extended family.

Visiting hours will be Saturday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Brewitt Funeral Home in Raymond, NH. A memorial service will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. at our church.

To view Sylvia's obituary in the Union Leader:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/unionleader/obituary.aspx?n=sylvia-f-saunders&pid=147787777&fhid=4798

To sign the online guest book, please go to
http://obit.brewittfuneralhome.com/obit_display.cgi?id=882806.

Congratulations to Jessalyn McCosh!

Congratulations to Jessalyn McCosh, who received the Sacrament of Baptism this morning. She is the daughter of Jonathan and Kristen McCosh, and a cherished member of our congregation, where she attends our Sunday School, serves as an Acolyte, and is a member of our Youth Group. Rev. Ginny baptized Jessalyn this morning with the waters of the Jordan River, which were brought back from the Holy Land by Dee and Michael Katz from their recent trip there, and given to the church for Jessalyn's baptism. Many thanks to them for their gracious gift, and congratulations to Jessalyn on this special day!

Bob's Penguin Plunge

Bob is taking part in the 12th Annual Penguin Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics of New Hampshire. On February 6th, 2011, Bob will be making his 11th Penguin Plunge to benefit Special Olympics of New Hampshire!

This year, he is dedicating his plunge to the memory of his son, Jim MacLaren, who overcame countless obstacles as a severely challenged athlete before his passing in August of 2010.

If you are able, please make a donation by visiting his FirstGiving page:

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/robert-maclaren/12th-annual-penguin-plunge

You can donate online with a credit card. All donations are secure and sent directly to Special Olympics of New Hampshire by FirstGiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation.

Prayers are also greatly appreciated!

The Dove Singers

The Dove Singers will begin rehearsals for their Spring 2011 production of "Forever Triumphant" on Monday, January 3rd. Rehearsals will be held at the First Assembly of God, 45 Myles Drive, Auburn, NH. Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 p.m., and end at 9:30 p.m., and will continue every Monday night through March 21st.

Performances will be held on March 19th and 20th and on March 26th and 27th. The Dove Singers is a non-denominational Christian ministry, dedicated to presenting the Word of God through music, drama, and dance. Last year, approximately 130 people were involved in the group, from more than 50 different churches, and you are invited to join them for this year's presentation. We are particularly looking for additional singers (especially first sopranos and men), orchestra members, and/or actors, but we encourage any interested Christian to come and learn more about the group.

If you are interested, speak to Kathy, or go to the website at www.DoveSingers.org for information.

Announcements for our Church Family

Sylvia Saunders has been moved to a hospice facility. She is not able to receive visitors, but would be happy to hear from her church family. If you would like to have her address at the hospice facility, please contact the church secretary. Please keep Sylvia and her family in your prayers during this difficult time.

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Long time member Ruth Gerth has now moved to Florida to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law. She would love to hear from her church family. If you would like to have her new address, please contact the church secretary.

Church Council Meeting on February 13th

The next church council meeting is on Sunday, February 13th after the morning Worship Service and coffee hour. All church members are invited to come and be a part of the governance of our church!

Membership Classes to be Held in January

Starting at the end of January, we will be holding Church Membership Classes for those who are interested in joining our church as full voting members. If you are interested in becoming a member, or are just interested in learning about Congregationalism and the history of Congregationalism in New England and Raymond, please speak to one of our Deacons.

Winter Snow Duties

Now that winter is here in full swing, we have placed shovels and sand by most doors of the church. Feel free to use them to help keep our church safe for all those who come to the building.