Notes from the Diaconate

Change is in the air here!  We are excited to be coming to the end of our interim period and are beginning to think about our goals for the future.

One of the ways we are doing this is by planning a deacons’ retreat.   On November 15th our board of deacons will come together at the UCC Conference Center in Framingham.  Our hope is to use this time to do some forward thinking, talk about the role of deacons in the church and plan ways in which we can better serve our members.  We have realized that most of our meetings consist of day to day planning and that if we wanted to really explore and expand our options for the future, we would need a greater chunk of time to do this.  We invite present and past deacons to join us on November 15th.  If you would like to come, please call Glenda Lovegrove (978-667-3596) and let her know you will be attending.

We thank all of you who have been willing to assist as greeters, readers and the call to worship.  It is refreshing to see so many of you participating in our service.  

Jean Button, secretary

 
Trustees

Committee Chairpersons, please complete your budget requests and submit them to the Trustees as soon as possible for consideration in the upcoming 2009 budget year.

The Trustees are still looking for those who wish to make a donation or memorial gift to help defray the costs of the landscaping completed earlier this summer. Your donation or gift may be placed in the offering plate.

The cap for the retaining wall will be installed to complete that project.

The Coke machine recently moved from Dale Hall to HP entrance will be in service once a new key is obtained and it is stocked.  The proceeds will be used for The General Fund for the church.

Last call for anyone interested in the surplus Sunday school furniture.  If it is not claimed, it will be removed in November.  As always, contributions are welcome but not mandatory.

The definition of a “member” vs. “non member” regarding the Church fees for room rentals is currently being redefined to be fair to all parties.   

Ongoing projects:

• New church security key & keycard system coming soon. 
• The EXIT signs and emergency lighting are being upgraded for the safety of the church family.
• Moving name tag board to first floor across from mailboxes.  If you are able to assist in doing this please contact one of your Church trustees.
• Clearing of stage in Dale Hall.

Wayne Thompson

Mission Committee Report

Fuel Assistance
If you think you MIGHT qualify for fuel assistance for this winter, contact Community Teamwork at 877-451-1082 and make an appointment to apply.  Assistance is based on income and varies based on the size of family.  For example, $28,000 for 2, $20,000 for 1, and $35,000 for 3.  Appointments are held at 45 Kirk Street in Lowell and you must apply in person.  It takes 4-8 weeks for approval and you must document your income for 4 weeks.

Pantry
What a super collection for October!   You donated 133 items. With what are traditionally our 2 best months of the year in front of us, we are on track to set a record.

Recycling
We continue to work on recycling with cans, bottles, and paper being collected every Sunday to be recycled on Monday.  Much of the lighting at the church is already fluorescent and we are encouraging the use of CFL’s as replacement bulbs wherever the beauty of the church interior will not be negatively affected.  National Grid has performed an energy audit and we await their plan for improvements.

Contributions
In your name we have purchased 4 cases of Fair Traded Coffee to be shipped to Holy Joe’s Café in Baghdad.  Holy Joe’s is an interfaith outreach program to front line troops by chaplains of various faiths.  Each chaplain provides 20-25 worship services each week and then provides coffee for the troops in an informal setting.  Counseling and a degree of relaxation make this a hit with the literally thousands of troops who visit a Holy Joe’s Café each week.

We have also contributed $100.00 to the Save Darfur Coalition.  This is intended o help victims of state sponsored genocide by the government of Sudan.  It will purchase food, blankets, medical care; whatever is most needed.  Please pray for action by the international community to end this genocide and to bring President Bashir and others to justice.

Did You Know?
Did you know that the average American family spends about 7% of its income on food?  Those at the poverty line spend about 30% of their income on food.

Bob Miner
For the Missions Committee

Religious Education

The Annual Ingathering is November 16th.   We will be asking the Sunday school children to bring in non-perishable items to make up Thanksgiving baskets that will be donated to families in need.   A notice will be given out in Sunday school prior to the date with more specific information.

We are still in need of volunteers for the nursery and hall monitoring.  A sign up sheets are posted on the Sunday school bulletin and on the nursery bulletin.  Parents, please consider signing up for one Sunday for either the nursery or hall monitoring.  Thank you to those who have already made commitments to help.  Your time and support is greatly appreciated.

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.  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 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.

From the Pilgrim Fellowship Advisor

Oct. 26 - 3-5 PM- Halloween Party
Haunted Hallway, Games, Costume Contest and more Bring a friend – It is open to all!
Nov. 2 - Sunday 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Thanks giving Crafts for shut-ins
Nov. 8 - Sat. - Sunday - 6 PM-8 AM - Lock-in
Nov. 16 - Sunday - Family Lazer Tag 1st_4th gr.
Nov. 23, Sunday 11:30-1:30-Angel Tree set-up-11:30-1:30

Stewardship Notes

It was heartwarming on Stewardship Sunday to see worshippers come forward with their pledges for next year.  The Stewardship committee has worked hard to make members aware of the financial challenges we face next year and it appears that many of us are rising to the occasion.

Unfortunately there is still much to be done.  During the fall congregational meeting following Stewardship Sunday the Treasurer pointed out that only 50% of expenses were being met by pledges, the remainder being financed by investments and facilities rentals.  It was also clear from watching the pledge ceremony that most persons who received the Stewardship mailing had not responded.  If you are one of those non-responders, we urge you to prayerfully consider the blessings that God has bestowed on you and to make the appropriate response.  As you consider these issues we ask us to remember that Stewardship is “What I do with all that I have, after I say I believe.”

 

Aim Hi

 

NEXT MEETING: Thursday November 20 , 12 Noon.

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

Aim-Hi meets once a month on the third Thursday.  We always welcome new members.
Thanks to all who donated to Aim-Hi’s Bake Sale.  It was a great success.
Aim-Hi will be donating four raffle items for the Nov. 1 supper.  –the Thanksgiving basket; Christmas gift basket; one pair of Christmas pillows; and one pair of lap desks.
In November, Aim-Hi will deliver 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

The Music Committee has some news! We have hired Ginny O’Connell as our new Choir Director. Ginny is a full-time high school teacher and also attends graduate school. She begins this week and we look forward to getting to know her better. Choir rehearsals will now be held on Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. due to Ginny’s school schedule. Please consider joining the choir! Unfortunately we will be losing a few or our faithful choir members who are unable to attend rehearsals because of the change of rehearsal night. We are very sad about this.

Thank you to Elliot Brown for being kind enough to take over the choir director position this past year. Without him, we would have had a very difficult time keeping the continuity of the choir.

For those of you who attended the Organ Concert given by Roger Mansen of G. Paul Music in September, you were given quite a treat! Roger played a variety of music, demonstrating the capabilities of our new electronic organ. Thank you to all who helped with the planning, setting up and baking. It is appreciated!

Thanks to April Goss-Baker for her hard work in making the Children’s Choir such a success. The children did such a nice job singing for us on Sunday, October 19th. We look forward to hearing them sing again in November.

Jackie Phippen

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 November 19, 12:30 P.M.

 

Lay shepherding is such a rewarding experience! It can be done in so many
Ways…. A visit, a card, a phone call and many more ways.

 

If you would like to share some of your time with our homebound members just come to one of our meetings or ask any of our members or give Barbara George a call 978 667-7335, or Audrey Schwartz 978-663-3239.

 

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.

PASSAGES: Births, Baptisms, Weddings and Memorial Services

Funeral - October 20, John Kula, father of Joanne Pendergast

 

Dinner and Raffle Night

On November 1, I will be at the church selling raffle tickets from 10 AM until 2 PM.  I will also be selling raffle tickets during the Harvest Supper. 

The supper will be at 5 PM with the menu being Lemon Chicken with noodles romanoff, dill carrots, Cole slaw, and dessert. You can buy your tickets that night at the door.  The price will be $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for seniors and children (under 12).

We will be having a Silent Auction, including a week at North Conway’s Cathedral Ledge Resort April 4 – 11, starting at $500.00 for the week. It will be announced on November 1 who is the highest bidder.  Any can call me with a price before November 1st.  We will be having the drawing for the raffles after the meal.
 
in addition to the raffles and the supper, there will be a white elephant table and bake table.  Please do not drop off any items for the white elephant table as we are selling what has been left over from last year.  Any questions?  Call me at 978-262-2298.

Thanks, Betty Rice

United Church of Christ News

 The MA Conference Annual Meeting will vote on a proposal to sell a parcel of Conference property when it convenes in Worcester on October 31 - November 1.

At a recent meeting of the Northeast Area churches, Conference President Rev. Jim Antal called on churches to make the environment a major focus. He likened the importance of "green" issues to the issues of slavery and Civil Rights for the Church in times past. Phyllis Jennings and Rev. Goss attended.

This month NBC has debuted a documentary that takes viewers on a trip around the world to see how ordinary people share talents and time for a better world. Called "Connecting Threads," it is produced by the UCC in cooperation with other religious groups.

A proposal has been put forth to simplify and economize denominational governance through a new 88-member body to be called the United Church Board. The proposal will be submitted to 2009 General Synod.

In light of high fuel costs the UCC Executive Council has rescinded an earlier selection of Hawaii as the site for General Synod 2011.

It's never too late: Phyllis Winslow, age 80, has been approved for ordination pending call in the Pilgrim Association of the MA Conference. She started seminary at 74.

In the wake of damages caused by the 2008 hurricane season, the UCC has issued an appeal for $250,000 and 1,001 cleanup buckets to support relief and rebuilding efforts.

On November 20, well known author Bill McKibben will speak on climate issues at Plymouth Congregational Church. He is sponsored by the MA Conference and others. To register contact Tina Clarke at tdarke@cleanwater.org. 

Flowers: November

Nov. 2 Given in loving memory of her parents, Blanche and Harold Shedd and her husband, Murray Johnson, by Doris Johnson.
On the piano, flowers are given by Ruth, Annette, Michael and Dave Stanford and Edie Mozer; and Marie, Brent, Janeen and Michele Davis; and Shirley, Tom, Anthony, Nicholas and Jessica Fulgani in loving memory of Claude Hodge.
On the lectern, flowers are given by Ginny Paavola and family in loving memory of Toby Paavola.
Nov. 9 – Given in memory of Doris and James Rice, by their daughter, Betty, and grandchildren, Jim and Chris.
On the lectern, flowers are given by June Coke in loving memory of her husband, Earle.
Nov. 16 – Given by Ruth Boutilier in loving memory of her mother, father, and two brothers.
On the piano, flowers are given in loving memory of our parents, Vera and Gil Wiggins, from Fred Wiggins and family, Barbara Blanco and Cindy LaPointe and their families.
Nov. 23 – Given by Mary Pasho in loving memory of her parents.
Nov. 30 - Open

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

Spring Ahead, Fall Back

Daylight Savings Time ends the first weekend of November. Remember to set your clocks back one hour when you go to bed on November 1 (not the last weekend of October, as in past years).

Thank You's

From Alison

THANKS TO Audrey Schwartz, and Barbara George for their help in the delivery of the October issue of The Lantern!

Thank you and love, Alison

Next Lantern Deadline: Sunday, October 19

The newsletter written and mailed the week of October will include news from the end of October and November.

 

Can I Say the Lord's Prayer?