All Saints much-loved parishioner Fenton Friend died Sunday morning at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, May 25, 2014. She was 76.

Upon recommendation of Joy Jones, then a young mother of three and member of the rector search committee at the time, Fenton gave All Saints a second try in 1978 and she never looked back. Like her mother before her, she engaged in parish life with generosity and enthusiasm.

Fenton took part in just about every ministry open to members of the congregation, senior warden when the church school wing was being built, flower guild chair, co-directress of altar guild, scheduling maven for LEMs, readers, ushers, presenters, altar guild - serving in many of these roles simultaneously and for many years. Her husband Peter used to sometimes refer to her as "the deacon."

A passionate gardener, Fenton's floral arrangements were the best, lavish and beautiful with a natural flow to them, never an "arranged" look. For years she had a small wedding flowers business, Fenton Friend Flowers, and she and I shopped Boston's Flower Market on Albany Street, where she could purchase flowers for Christmas and Easter at wholesale prices due to her membership. She worked in All Saints church gardens for many years as a volunteer.

Fenton upped All Saints flower ministry by training interested parishioners to make Sunday church flower arrangements instead of ordering from a florist, thus empowering members of the congregation in a new way and saving the church money at the same time.

Beyond All Saints walls, Fenton was an active supporter of parish initiatives such as Hospice and Caregivers, for whom she used to drive regularly. She served as president of the Wolfeboro Garden Club, and co-authored a cookbook with me, Dinner in Wolfeboro, with Buzz as executive editor. Years earlier, she was proprietor of a gourmet kitchen tool shop, Chrysanthemum, on North Main Street.

Fenton was widely known for her hospitality and amazing culinary skills. In the earlier days of feminist awakening, she used to host a consciousness-raising group in her living room. She belonged to the Thursday Club and recently provided a spring luncheon meeting at her home.

Fenton's family includes her daughter Dabney Tonelli of London and husband Stefano, her son Jonathan of Wolfeboro, her brother Thompson Goodwin of Virginia, her grandson Lorenzo Tonelli, her sister-in-law Gretchen Friend, and nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service is being planned for Friday, July 25th at 11am. The Women's Worship group, of which Fenton was an honorary member (it being founded in her living room!) held an informal service this past Tuesday.

 - Cate McMahon

 Many have commented on service music that has blessed them in recent weeks, such as singing "The Lord's Prayer", or a favorite anthem folded into worship.  Some enjoyed the choir's response of five enthusiastic "Hallelujahs!" this past Sunday on the announcement of our new pastor's calling and acceptance.   Celebrating our God, and our community together weekly, brings much joy amid life's many challenges.

 Do feel free to email me (holly.simons@gmail.com) with a favorite worship hymn, song or anthem you enjoying hearing.  I can't promise "when", but I'll do my best to fold it into our services at some point, and try to let you know when it is upcoming.   Both Louise Locke and Jeannie Newcomb expressed gratitude for this process.        

In June, we begin a journey of corporate worship with FCCW, and an ending process with our faithful and wise interim rector. Beginnings, endings, joy, sorrow, birth, death..... the cycle is eternal.    I chose to focus on our joint worship times for this small reflection:

              Psalm 133 declares "How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together unity.  

                                                It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes".   

A bit obscure for our generation?  So I looked up the significance of oil in Hebrew times, and found this:

              "Though it might seem messy to us, oil symbolized luxury, abundance and joy in ancient cultures.  It was used for cosmetic and grooming purposes; no oil was a sign of mourning.  

                This picture describes the joy of harmony among God's people."  (From the NIV Quest Study Bible, p.850)

As we begin a month of significant worship together with FCCW, it seemed fitting to be reminded from Scripture how good and pleasant it is to be worshiping and living together in unity.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Holly

The funeral service for Eleanor Jones, mother of Brock Jones, will be held here on Saturday, June 7th at 11 am.