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From the MinisterDear Friends, On the national front, all the news now is about candidates and votes. Here in the church, as the ministerial search process draws to a happy close, our talk is also moving toward candidating and voting. What does it mean for a minister to candidate? It means they come to meet the congregation and lead it in worship, after which legal members decide whether to call that person as the next pastor. |
Unlike the national election, here there won't be two people fiercely competing. Here one person is recommended by a representative group known as the Search Committee, after they've winnowed through applications, weighed the church's needs, and prayed to know God's will. But even though there's just one candidate, the congregational vote is important. It says that our really big decisions require the congregation's approval.
On the national scene, the election of a candidate this November will be followed by a two-month period of transition that allows one leadership group time to do an orderly exit and the other time to do a smooth entrance. Here too we'll have a transition period, and those weeks will be important. They'll allow me to wrap up work-in-progress and evaluate with our leaders what we've learned during the interim period. Most important, they'll give us all time to say goodbye. While two years is not a long time as the history of a church goes, it's long enough for us to have shared a lot of experiences, created some good memories, and built some deep bonds. As you prepare to say hello to your new future, I pray that God will go with you.
Blessings, Sharon
CANDIDATING WEEKEND -- OCTOBER 25 & 26!!!
Notes
from the Diaconate The Diaconate's main task is to foster and improve the spiritual growth of our church. We work together in so many ways, each bringing our own strengths as gifts to our church. Do you know us? If not, please introduce yourself to us when you see us. Most of us wear "Deacon" name tags. Current members include Senior Deacons Bob Slack and Glenda Lovegrove, members Maryanne Durand, Helen Carroll, Bruce Hildreth, Betty Rice, Andrew Jennings, Cindy Tomlin, Christa Brown and Jean Button. We would love to hear from you!
Recently, we have been working on formulating wedding guidelines and adding lay people as leaders to our worship service. Baptismal consults with several families have been held over the last few months. Our membership is thriving and it is great to see new children and families coming to First Congregational Church and forming relationships with all of us.
We are planning a spiritual retreat for our committee with the goal of having an extended period of time when we can reflect and form goals for the following year. We have come far during the interim period, now is the time for us to identify what yet needs to be done and make plans for how we will accomplish our goals. Our retreat is scheduled for November and we are eagerly looking forward to it.
We will need a few new members for 2009; if you are interested in being a deacon please speak to the minister or one of our chairs, Bob Slack or Glenda Lovegrove.
Jean Button, Secretary
The
Search Committee Based on your input,
the Search Committee has spent much of this past year looking for someone
skilled in preaching, interested in children and youth, compassionate in visitation
and excited about guiding this church to a bright future.
Good News! The Committee has unanimously voted for a candidate, and we will
be presenting that person to the congregation for approval in October.
We have written a letter introducing this person to you. The letter invites you to meet the candidate on October 25 and worship together on October 26. Worship will be followed by a special church meeting where members will be able to vote to call this new minister to this church.
Please save the dates and keep this church and the prospective candidate in your prayers as we take this next step into the future.
TrusteesWorking on new church security key & keycard system
Upgrading EXIT signs and emergency lighting for the safety of the church family.
Working with Music Committee on their charge to obtain a Choir Director.
Moving name tag board to first floor across from mailboxes to promote use.
Clearing stage in
Dale Hall.
Congregational
Relations Other ways in which the Congregation can help prepare for the next settled pastor include:
If you have other ideas, or items, please contact Jenny Carmichael (978-262-0251, Carmichael _ Jenny @ yahoo.com, or Cong. Relations Comm mailbox) or Donna Ricarte (978-663-4043).
As you may know, this year we are not having our annual Harvest Fair on Nov 1st; instead we will be having a dinner and raffle night.
I will be at the church Saturday morning, Nov. 1 from 10 AM until 2 PM to sell raffle tickets, so if anyone can't make the dinner they can come by and purchase some tickets. (The tickets will be a one for a dollar or ten for five dollars.)
The dinner menu will
be planned at a later date.
Thanks,
- Betty Rice
Mission
Committee Report
October 5th has been designated
as the Sunday each U.C.C. church is invited to take up a collection for our
Neighbors in Need. This is our time
when we contribute directly to the work of the Council for American Indian
ministries and for additional justice and witness work in the U.S. It is the
one time we make direct contribution to the U.C.C. organizations that advocate
for the poor and work to lift at least some of the 37 million Americans out
of poverty. If we want the world to be different we must act to make it different.
Please consider a contribution to this annual effort of the United Church
of Christ.
Our plans continue to evolve and develop for an Alternative Christmas Market to be held in Dale Hall, after church on November 30th. This missions committee will be providing the coffee and refreshments since we are sponsoring this event. So please hold off on buying those socks and ties until you see what is available on the 30th. More information will follow.
Since our committee has received less income in 2008 than we have spent, we held in abeyance any requests for financial contributions.
You continue to do a wonderful job with contributions to the Billerica Food Pantry. When we include the 74 items in September, our 3rd quarter collections totaled 314 items. Please remember those less fortunate on October 5th.
Our recycling efforts continue to expand in a gradual, measured way. All of the cans and bottles used for the New England Boiled Dinner were recycled, as were the cardboard containers everything came in. We even collected all the vegetable peels from the dinner and put them into the Miner's compost pile.
In the US, we pay only .002 cents/gallon for municipal water while bottled water can cost 1,000 times more? Well … duh! What makes the most sense (cents) to you?
Bob Miner
For the Missions Committee
Religious Education
We are still in need of volunteers for hall monitoring to maintain the safety of our children. A sign up sheet is posted on the Sunday school bulletin. Parents, please consider signing up for one Sunday as a hall monitor. Thank you to those who have already made commitments to be hall monitors. Your time and support is greatly appreciated.
What a wonderful trip the Sr. High Sunday School class had a few weeks ago as we served the people of the Alamosa in a variety of ways and had an absolutely wonderful time together. Amazing how hard work becomes fun when done in the spirit of giving and with the support of friends.
Thank you all for your support- we couldn't have done this without you. You were with us with every shovelful of dirt we moved, every adobe brick we lifted, every fence post we set, every plant we planted, and every spoon of lasagna we served. Thank you so much.
And on the way home…we started talking about next year… The Senior High Sunday School class is excited to say they are starting to plan the 2009 Mission Trip. All 9th - 12th graders are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings. Since this age group has so many activities, it is understood that everyone will not be able to participate in everything but we hope for your enthusiastic support when possible for fundraisers and events.
- Barbara Daverin
September 28 11:30-2
PM - Movie: lst - 4th grade (AA room)
Oct. 5 - 11:30- 1:30 PM - Planning Halloween Party (parlor)
Oct. 12 - No PF
Oct. 18 - 7 - 9 PM
- Sr. P.F. Game Night (Dale Hall and classrooms)
Oct. 19 - 11:30 - 2 PM - Bowling
Oct. 26 -
Time: TBA (see Sunday bulletins) - Halloween Party:1st-4th grades
Dear
Members and Friends:
The Stewardship
Committee has planned the annual campaign, and celebration Sunday is scheduled
for October 19th. On that day we will once again ask you to bring
your faith promises forward in the service. Forms will be mailed at least one week prior
to October 19th. We are
asking for your support of the ministries of this church. Please return your promises as quickly as possible
this year as we are approaching a time when we may have a new settled Pastor.
The Church
will not hold the annual Harvest Fair. It
was voted at the Spring meeting to have a dinner with raffles and entertainment.
This was decided because many of the members of the various committees
are feeling burnt out and they needed a rest for this year.
The fair will be re-evaluated for next year.
It will stay in its usual time slot of the first Saturday in November. Please keep the date open.
I will be
stepping down from the Stewardship Committee effective immediately to pursue
Graduate studies. It has been my pleasure to serve you as Chairperson
of this committee for more than one year. The Committee is short on members and could
use your help. If you would like to
help the Committee through the annual campaign please contact me at your earliest
convenience.
Thank you
to the Committee members Don Lovegrove, Dave Rappoli, and Shirley Sprague
for all your hard work.
Sheila Vitali
Aim
HiAim-Hi meets once a month on the third Thursday. We always welcome new members.
Our annual bake sale will be October 5 following the church service. We appreciate all bakeed goods donations.
Aim Hi has
been sending our love, prayers, and Thank You packages to several young people
serving overseas. We encourage thecongregation 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.
The current address of the service personnel overseas is:
Cpl Adam N. Cisneros
A Co, 4-64 AR
APO AE 09361
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
--Donna
Ricarte & June Arena
Notes from the Music Committee
Mr. Roger Mansen of G. Paul Music, the company from which we purchased our new electronic organ, will present a recital. This is an opportunity to hear what our organ can do. We hope you will all try to attend. A basket for a freewill offering will be available. A $10 donation is suggested but any amount is appreciated.
We would appreciate any finger desserts you would be willing to share as there will be a collation following the concert in Dale Hall.
In regard to our search for a permanent choir director, the committee has been interviewing prospective candidates this fall. We will keep you informed of our progress.
We thank June Gibelli for accompanying the youth choir last year during their practices on Sunday mornings in the chapel. She is now stepping down from that role.
Finally, we need to plan fundraisers to help pay for our new organ. We welcome all ideas. Please talk to any member of the music committee if you have a suggestion.
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.
Sharing
Your Gifts Share their
'gift of hospitality'! We need volunteers to prepare and clean up
the coffee, juice, and light
Do you have
a 'gift of writing & technology'?
If so, you could work from home writing and sending information about
church happenings to the local newspapers and cable so that the community
can see what an awesome church we have. Some of these may be written
by committees and only need to be submitted to the media.
Sometimes
commitment to a committee is impossible, but people can find time for a single
event. Please help us out.
NEXT
MEETING: Wednesday October 15
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.
Funeral - September 18: Betty Anne Bemis
Baptism- September 28: Thomas Peterson
Marriage
- October 19: Mary Elizabeth Lydon and Gregory Alan Conway.
Marriage
Encounter Give your kids the best gift they can get - parents with a great marriage! And all you have to do is attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend!
Marriage Encounter is 44 hours where married couples can get away from jobs, kids, chores, and phones-and focus only on each other. If you'd like greater depth, growth, and enrichment in your relationship, you'll like the difference a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend can make!
The
next Marriage Encounter weekends are October 17-19 and
"Green Discipleship" will be the theme of the fall meeting of UCC churches in the Northeast area. Workshops will address climate change, energy solutions, and making churches more energy-efficient. The meeting will be held 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 PM on October 4 at Groveland Congregational Church. Rev. Goss and delegates Christa Brown and Andrew Jennings will attend. Others are welcome.
Thanks to member contributions, the United Church of Christ will soon be airing TV ads on CNN and other channels. Watch for them! And watch for new people coming to church in response to our denominational advertising.
Flowers:
September
Oct. 5- Given by the Gove family in memory of loved ones.Oct. 12 - Given by Marlene Richards and children in memory of George and Bobbie Richards.Oct. 19 - (open)Oct. 26 - (open)
If you’d like to donate
flowers any Sunday,please call Jeannette Rohnstock at
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
Yous
Thanks to all who sent me cards and "goodies", especially Sharon,
Jane, and Audrey while I had my surgical procedure last month.
Thank you and love,
Alison
To our Yankee Doodle volunteers who helped us put on a fabulous New England Boiled Dinner, we say THANK YOU! It is so heartwarming to see what we can all do together. We appreciate everyone from our peelers to our kitchen cleaners, our setup and servers, and cleaning the kitchen and hall again. Our church netted over $1000 and a great deal of ecumenical fellowship.
- MaryAnne & Lynne.
And thank you from all of us to Lynne and MaryAnne!!! Great meal!
Thank you to all who helped make Rally Day a success. The High School class, under the direction of their teachers, Barbara Daverin and Brent Davis, gave us a real feel for what went on during their work for Habitat for Humanity in Colorado. We enjoyed the special music of Earth Harmony as well as music by Elliot and our senior choir.
The Rally Day picnic was lots of fun with good food hot off the grill, a variety of salads made by our own cooks, corn on the cob and watermelon, as well as other unexpected treats. Thanks to Bill Griggs for giving us a discount on the corn.
The response to this idea was amazing! We received so many donations of time, help and money. Thank you all so very much. We hope to make this an annual fall event.
- Jackie Phippen
And thanks to Jackie for all her hard work on this wonderful idea we hope
will become a tradition.
The newsletter written and mailed the week of October will include news from the end of October and November.