Notes from the Diaconate

The Deacons will be gathering on Saturday, November 29th at 10:00 AM to decorate the sanctuary for the Advent season.  We welcome any and all people who would like to help with this joyous task.  If you are interested, just come, the spirit of the season will be contagious!

Rev. Katherine Adams’ ordination service will be held in Bridgewater on Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 4PM.  The deacons would like to organize a bus for people who prefer not to drive.  If you are interested in joining in on the bus, please sign the interest sheets either in Dale Hall or the Deacon’s bulletin board.  You may also contact Jean Button at 978-663-7807 or jeanbutton@comcast.net .  The bus fee will be divided among the riders, so the more riders we have, the better. 

Poinsettia sales begin November 16th and conclude December 7th.  Delivery will be Saturday, December 13th.  Deacons will be delivering plants to shut-ins this weekend.  Have you considered purchasing an extra poinsettia for a shut-in?  Please see enclosed order form for more details. 

Christmas Eve services will be held Wednesday December 24th at 5:00 and 7:00 PM. 

Jean Button, Secretary

 
Trustees

On December 6th at 10:00 AM, the Trustees will be meeting with designates from each department to tour the church for a review of items that have been stored and abandoned.  We have to determine what may be saved for a Spring Flea Market or disposed of. 

If anyone has something stored on the Dale Hall stage, in rooms or closets, please remove it as soon as possible.

Committees - last chance for your budgets to be submitted.

Trustees

Mission Committee Report

Holy Joe’s Café
In cooperation with Aim-Hi, we have purchased 5 cases of fair-trade coffee to be sent to frontline interfaith pastors who set up for coffee and counseling with our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Refugee Families
On November 9th, we met with Doreen Rinus, Chairperson of the area Refugee Ministry, and with an asylum seeker named Rosine who has escaped from Rwanda.  There are currently 4 churches in our cluster who work with refugees, providing every possible type of support for these folks until they are approved by the U.S. government and allowed to work to support themselves.  The 4 local churches are: 1st Baptist in Chelmsford, All Saints Episcopal in Chelmsford, Trinity Lutheran in Chelmsford, and Lowell Congregational Church United.  Asylum seekers and refugees are LEGAL visitors and remain in the U.S. unless the government disapproves their application.  If disapproved, they are returned to their last country of residence.  IF we join the cluster, we would be invited (not required) to provide whatever help we could from temporary housing, clothing, transportation, financial support, etc.  We would NOT, however, deal with illegal immigrants.

Pantry
You do go on, don’t you?  Our collection on November 2 generated 204 items; our second highest monthly total this year.  As things get tougher, just surviving in our society; you simply become more generous. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, lots of people come forward; you stand with the poor 12 months a year. What a marvelous congregation to be part of.

Computer Recycling
IF you have an old computer to recycle, go to www.MyBoneYard.com.  They are a licensed electronics recycler and guarantee to strip and permanently delete all personal information.  Register your product on their site, print a prepaid shipping label, pack it, and mail it.

Recent Thank Yous
From the Mass. Conference UCC for our consistent and faithful support on the church’s Wider Mission

From Project Chacocente, Nicaragua for helping make possible the feeding, clothing, education, training, and spiritual guidance of the families rescued from the city dump.

Recent Donations
In your name, we sent $200.00 to OXFAM AMERICA and $200.00 to the Salvation Army.  Both of these groups spend little of their money on fund raising and give a large percentage of money raised to "the cause".

Christmas Fund
On December 21, we are invited to make a contribution to the 2008 Christmas Fund.  This is one of 3 opportunities during the year to give through the conference and this specific collection is used to provide gifts to clergy and lay persons who have faithfully served churches throughout most of their adult lives.  We all know what it is like to live on a retiree’s income and church pensions are often small.  Last year, 1,500 families received assistance through this fund.  Your generosity can make a real difference in the later years of those who have served us so faithfully.

How About Some Good News?
More solar panels were installed in California in the first 9 months of 2007 than in the previous 26 years combined.

Three times more new wind energy was deployed in 2007 than from new coal.

The Society of St. Andrew salvaged 17,440,078 lbs. of food in the first 9 months of 2008.

In the first 3 months of 2008, Americans burned 400,000,000 fewer gallons of gas than the same period in 2007.  From November 2007 through June 2008, we drove 53.3 BILLION fewer miles than the same period 1-year earlier.

The Greater Boston Food Bank provided 23, million meals in 2007.

Did You Know That –
If you have CFL bulbs, when they finally wear out, IKEA & Home Depot have free in-store recycling programs.

Bob Miner
For the Outreach Committee

Notes from the Senior High Sunday School Group

A Bridge to Hope - this is a new project for this group; they have decided to use a bridge as their them for their 2009 mission trip!  Note the detailed note by Barbara Daverin in your upcoming bulletins which explains how you can build a real bridge! More information.

Religius Education

The Sunday school classes made up Thanksgiving Day baskets with the food donated from ingathering and donated them to the Salvation Army for families in need this holiday.  Thank you to those who helped with donating the food and assembling the baskets.

The Sunday school Christmas pageant is Sunday December 21st and rehearsal will be on Saturday, December 20th at 9:00am.  All Sunday school children will have the opportunity to take part in the pageant.  If your child will not be able to attend rehearsal or will not be able to take part in the pageant, please notify your child's teacher.  Further details about the pageant will be sent home with your child in class.

The Youth Choir is working hard and preparing to sing pieces for the Christmas pageant and the Christmas Eve service. It is not too late to join the Youth Choir if your child is interested.  Youth Choir meets on Sundays from 9:30am to 10:00am in the Chapel.  For more information, please contact April Goss-Baker at 978-670-6035.
  
We are still in need of volunteers for the nursery.  Parents, please consider signing up for one Sunday for the nursery.  We have a few Sundays that we do not have any volunteers and would greatly appreciate any help that could be offered. A sign up sheet is posted on the nursery bulletin.  Again, we would like to thank those who have already made commitments to help.  Your time and support is greatly appreciated and the little ones appreciate it too!

Dawn Salter

From the Jr. and Sr. Pilgrim Fellowship Advisor

Please support the PF with the annual Angel Tree for families in need.  We have adopted three families this year plus plans to help the UCC Spanish church in Lowell. The tags will designate a specific gift, perhaps a set of clothes, a special gift, gift cards, or a movie, for example. Please return the gifts by Dec 14.(some tags will have just the age and gender of a child so you are free to buy whatever you want)

Dec 7-  Wreaths will be on sale @ $8.00. Anyone who preorders may pick them up if you’re in church; otherwise, we will call to set up delivery or pick up. You can order after church the next two weeks.

Dec 14 -  The Youth group will be going to laser quest -  this is open to the whole church. We will be selling tickets after church. We  need 30 people for a triple quest; the cost of tickets will be $20 per person.

Dec 21 -  We will have a birthday party for Jesus in conjunction with the RE and Christmas pageant

Yours in Christ, Deb MacEachern - Jr & Sr PF

Stewardship Notes

The phrase "perfect storm" originates from the 1997 book The Perfect Storm which refers to the simultaneous occurrence of weather events which, taken individually, would be far less powerful than the storm resulting from their chance combination. Since the 2000 movie by the same name, the phrase has gained popularity and grown to mean any event where a combination of circumstances will aggravate a situation drastically.[1]

A "perfect storm" is an apt description of what is happening to the financial health of the Billerica First Congregational Church.  A downturn in pledging and a steep stock market decline which affects our investments will make it very difficult to meet our financial obligations next year. 

It is often said that adversity brings out the best in people, and it appears that we as a congregation will be severely challenged to meet the Christian objectives we have set for ourselves. But if we each do our share, we can get through this difficult period.  The first step is to make a pledge if you have not already done so.  The pledge is important because it gives our financial planners some idea about resources so that appropriate plans can be made.  The second thing we can do is to respond affirmatively when asked by the Nominating Committee to take on a specific task.  With a wide range of committees, its practically guaranteed that there’s something you want and are able to do.

As you consider your pledge and the request from the Nominating Committee, we hope you keep in mind the definition of Christian Stewardship - "What I do with all that I have, after I say I Believe."

For the Stewardship Committee,
Don Lovegrove
[1] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Aim Hi

 

NEXT MEETING: Thursday November 20 , 12 Noon.

Aim-Hi meets once a month on the third Thursday. We always welcome new members.

Our next meeting of Aim-Hi will be December  18 at 12 noon. A Christmas Yankee Swap and Pot luck Luncheon is being planned.

In November, Aim-Hi delivered fruit baskets to shut-ins and will send Christmas thank you packages to the servicemen.

Aim Hi has been sending our love, prayers, and Thank You packages to several young people serving overseas. We encourage the congregation to use the addresses below and send a short note or greeting card to these young people while they are away from home. It means so much to them and their families.

If anyone in the congregation knows of other young people who are serving our country overseas and feels comfortable providing us with their addresses, please contact Aim Hi through June Orne at 603-883-6732, (june62123@aol.com. or call the church office at 978-663-8433.

Donna Ricarte & June Orne

Notes from the Music Committee

It is with much reluctance that we have accepted the resignation of our organist, Elliot Brown.  Elliot has been our dedicated organist for the past eight years.  He has been a kind friend to all; always dependable and willing to take on additional responsibilities when asked.  He has educated us about hymns with his Music Notes which have often been found in the Sunday bulletins.  Elliott also rose to the need of the Music Committee by accepting the position of temporary Choir Director this past year.

We shall miss Elliot and his wife, Christa, his favorite alto.  Please join us for a special collation on Sunday, December 28, immediately following the worship service, to wish them well.  Any edible contribution to this occasion will be most appreciated.  Please check the Sunday bulletins for more information on this. 

The Junior Choir, under the direction of April Goss-Baker, practices each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel.  We enjoyed their musical offerings in both October and November, special thanks to April.  This group is preparing several pieces to present on Sunday, December 21 and during the Christmas Eve services.  Their young voices truly inspire all.  We thank Kathryn Norman for accompanying the youth choir on the piano during their practices on Sunday mornings. 

The Music Committee welcomes our new Choir Director, Ginny O’Connell.  Please join us in welcoming Ginny by introducing yourselves to her during the coffee and fellowship time after the worship service each Sunday.  The Committee also welcomes the new members of the choir and appreciates the dedication of the organist and all choir members.  The beautiful music shared by this group of wonderful people uplifts our Congregation each week.  Thank you all.  The Music Committee encourages all who are interested in singing with the FCCB choir to either attend the group rehearsals on Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. or to speak with Ginny. 

The Music Committee will have open positions beginning in January 2009.  Please contact the Nominating Committee with your interest in joining the group.  You may also contact any Music Committee member with your questions about this committee’s work. 

In regard to a search to fill the organist position, the Music Committee has begun advertising this position and is accepting applications for review.  

Finally, we’re still in search of fundraising ideas to help pay for our new organ.  All ideas are welcome.  Please feel free to speak with any member of the Music Committee to share your suggestions.  Thank you!

Musically Yours,
Jackie Phippen (chair), Larry Bliss, Ruthie Boutilier, Stephanie Norman, June Orne

Children's Choir

Expand your child’s religious education!!!!  Youth Choir is beginning on September 28th from 9:30am to 10:00am in the Chapel.  Everyone is welcome!  We will be learning hymns, Bible songs, Christmas carols, and Twentieth Century Christian songs. For more information, please contact April Goss-Baker at 978-670-6035..

 

Notes from the Nominating Committee  

The Lord Wants to Use Your Talents
When you seek God's plan for your life, you can be sure that he will bless the work of your hands.

You are absolutely unique and irreplaceable in the eyes of God.  And you have been given talents and abilities that are yours alone, whether artistic, leadership, financial, organizational, musical, literary...The key to achieving satisfaction and success with your talents is to place them always at the service of God.

Ask for God's direction and pray for his guidance so that you may use your gifts fruitfully and fully in his eyes.  God has a specific plan for you, and he has equipped you for your journey.  Your responsibility is to seek his will for you and to allow him to perfect and refine your endowments until they are functioning as they were intended.

"Every now and then, God's answer to a need is me."

Elizabeth Sherrill, Guideposts

Lay Shepherding

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday December 17, 12:30 P.M.  

The Lay shepherding program is open to anyone who would like to share a little time with our homebound members.  If you can't make the daytime meetings, but would like to be part of the program, please call either Barbara George. 978 667-7335 or Audrey  Schwartz, 978 663-3229.

You all can help us by keeping us informed of any of our members, who are ill or would like to have a visit.  Thank you for any help that you can give.

 

PLEASE let us know if you or if you know of someone who would like a visit, call or card. We welcome you and your ideas.

 

The Pairs-n-Spares Adult Fellowship Group

...is not planning to offer their usual Progressive Supper for the Christmas Season.  We are considering the first or second Saturday in February. So think about offering to host a course.

We will also plan a night for Military Whist in March and possibly a game night in January.

Lynne Hildreth

 

United Church of Christ News

Report from the Annual Meeting - November 1, 2008

Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ

The main theme of the meeting was Discernment, which was defined as “seeing what God is up to and what we are to do in response...When we gather as a church, it is not primarily to decide what we want to do, it is to discern what God would have us do.”   This was proposed as a way of doing business that connects the business side of church with the spiritual side.

This way of doing things is rooted in congregational history. We have lost it by too much reliance on Robert’s Rules of Order.  These rules were developed to make meetings run better but have a way of making winners and losers. The community loses in the end. In the way of discernment, it is not about pure democracy, and individual conscience - it is more about consensus , openness and continuing to affirm and listen to the minority’s feelings. We were told that all church meetings should feel more like prayer meetings than business.  We shouldn’t separate the spiritual and business parts of church. Prayer should be as much a part of the finance board as the board of deacons. Our budget is really a faith document.

The theology related to this includes the following according to Rev. Copenhaver, the presenter: God is active in the world. Not everything that happens is God’s will. God does have a will for us individually and as a community. God’s will is not always clear. Often God’s will CAN be discerned.

At the annual meeting we practiced tools for discernment which included saying after each person’s comments, “May the Holy Spirit Speak to us” and pausing for a moment. There were additional pauses for prayer and /or song throughout the business meeting.

The over-arching reason for trying this new (or old) way is that we hope to encounter God  as well as each other because God is present in the gathered community- the church community is not equal to the sum of its individual parts- it is greater than that because the Holy Spirit is there if we listen for it.

The business that was transacted included passing the budget, nominations, a $.40 increase in fellowship dues to $16.40 per member, authorizing sale of Warner Farm conference property, new clergy compensation guidelines, and tabling a resolution to urge formation of an innocence commission. We each attended a workshop: Bonnie - the Just Peace Players who have a new presentation on ecology and stewardship of the earth; Phyllis- ways to support families in developing the faith of their children. We will share more of these ideas with relevant committees. More information will be posted on a downstairs bulletin board.

Your delegates, Bonnie McLay and Phyllis Jennings

Flowers: December

Dec. 7 – Given by Mallie Monteforte in memory of loved ones.
On the piano flowers are given in loving memory of Bapa, Wayne’s father, Lester Thompson, by Wayne, Diane, Amanda, and Eddie.
Dec. 14 – Given by Barbara Brown, in memory of her sister, Alice McCabe. 
On the piano flowers are given in memory of my mother and father from their daughter, Donna Ricarte.
On the lectern, flowers are given in memory of Patricia Milinazzo by her sister, Marilyn Welch and Patricia’s daughter, Lynn Gaudett and her family, Mark and Rachael.
  On the table, flowers are provided by a memorial fund of the late Dorothy Richardson and are placed in memory of her grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. John H. Baker.
Dec. 21 – Given in loving memory of all our grandparents by Steven, Stephanie, Derek and Kathryn Norman and Wayne, Diane, Amanda and Eddie Thompson 
Dec. 28 – Given by Ruth, Melissa and Doug MacKinnon in loving memory of the Hallenborg family.
On the piano, flowers are given in loving memory of Agnes “Nessie” Tonks from her family who all miss her very much.
On the lectern, flowers are given by Rick and Bonnie McLay in memory of Dick and Lil.

If you’d like to donate flowers any Sunday, please call Jeannette at 978-663-6804.

From Sharon: Blessings on You All!

God bless you for your cards, gifts, and well wishes at the end of my service as interim pastor.  I especially want to thank the following:

Ed Reinecker, for all he’s done - much of it behind the scenes, and for being such an all-around great guy (and Barb and Mary, for their laughter and friendship).

Staff members Alison, John, Elliot, Ginny and Alex for their unwavering support (and also Audrey Schwartz, our faithful office volunteer).

Jenny Carmichael, for being my rep on CRC and for her help while chair of Deacons.

Jackie Phippen, for stepping up to lead Music Committee and for being a personal inspiration to me in so many ways.

Bob Slack, for his faithful support as co- chair of Deacons this past year.

The Trustees for their hard work and support. 

So many others who’ve helped the church move forward during the interim time.

Thank you for the opportunity to walk with you for awhile on your personal and congregational journeys. 

May God bless and keep you all.
Rev. Sharon

FROM Ginny Paavola

Ginny wants to thank all who sent cards, good wishes and made phone calls when she was in the hospital last month.

FROM ALISON

THANKS TO Audrey Schwartz, and Edna McDewell for their help in the delivery of the December issue of The Lantern!

Thank you and love, Alison

Next Lantern Deadline: Sunday, Dec 14

The newsletter written and mailed the week of December 14 will include Christmas Events and January News.

 

PASSAGES: Births, Baptisms, Weddings and Memorial Services

Funeral - November 21 - Hazel Williams

A Psalm for the Seasons –
Twenty Third Psalm for the Hungry

The Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want.

But there are those who do want, and they are all around us.

While we lie down in green pastures

Others lie down because they have no energy.

While we are led to still waters, and our souls are restored,

Others know no stillness in their worry about having enough for their children.

We are in paths of righteousness for the sake of God’s name.

But where is the righteousness in hungry children in the land of plenty?

Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and fear no evil,

Do we not all fear the forces of injustice and of change?

But you, O God, are with us, and we are comforted.

We trust that you are with us as we seek to join with those who do not have enough.

We have a table prepared for us in the presence of our enemies, and our cups overflow.

It should be such for all God’s creation

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell

 in the house of the Lord forever.

And with us will dwell all God’s children.  This is our vision and our call.
                                               
from the UCC Hunger Action Program
             
 

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                                                    CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA ORDER FORM

                Poinsettias (7”)  can be ordered for yourself or for shut-ins (Orders
               taken from   Nov. 16 – Dec. 7.)   Poinsettias for shut-ins will be delivered on December 13

               Number of poinsettias for shut-ins ___________ $11.00 each (red only)

               Number of poinsettias for yourself ___________ $11.00 each
 
                = _______ Total cost of all plants ordered

              Red_____ White _____ Pink ______ Jingle Bell______

             Your name_____________________________________

             Address _______________________________________

             Phone number _________________________

             For additional info call MaryAnne Durand at 978-667-4239 or Helen Carroll at 978-667-5504

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