Notes from the Diaconate

We have had our first snowfall, here in Billerica, so that means the holidays aren't very far away! This Christmas Eve our worship services will be at 6:00 and 8:00 PM. The children's choir will sing at the first service. Advent begins November 29th.

Thank you to all of you who came by Deacons' Diner at the fair. It was a fun day for all of us. Thank you to Shirley Schult who made the apple strudel, Cindy Tomlin who made the sticky cinnamon rolls, Penny Hurley who made cinnamon buns and Barbara Daverin for the apple crisp with ice cream. It was all truly wonderful and I can attest to that as I had some of each! And Jane MacIntosh donated 96 bags of potato chips, something she has done for several years now. Thanks so much, Jane.

Thanks also to Bob and Linda Minor, Larry Carroll and Jim O'Connor who worked outside at the grills making sausages, hot dogs and hamburgers for our lunches.

We have three guests who will preach at upcoming services. First, during Rev. Katherine's vacation (10/19 -10/31) Kelly Cummins Pickens will preach on October 25th. Kelly is a National Guard Chaplain. On November 8th, Rev. Katherine will visit the Sunday School classes downstairs. Susan McLay will preach while Rev. Katherine is visiting the children. Then on November 29th, Anthony Zuba from Interfaith Workers Justice will lead our service.

Deacon of the Month for November will be Lynne Hildreth.

Trustees

Church Cleanup

The Board of Trustees would like to thank all those who dedicated their time during the Church work day in Oct. Many areas of the Church were turned-inside-out with a thorough cleaning as well as plenty of help cleaning out the "junk room" to make that room available for the Harvest Fair. A special thanks to Art Walsh & Tim O'Connor who dedicated their time and materials in helping to paint the Dale Hall Kitchen ceiling. Many of the projects still remain to be completed. Please see the list on the Trustees board. There will be an additional day to do some of the rained out tasks.

The Trustees would like to send the Religious Education Committee a note of appreciation for having their annual fire drill during fire prevention week. It is great to see we are very proactive with the safety of our children and teachers. Smokey the Bear says "way to go R.E!"

Church Expenses YTD

Financial Picture as of September 30, 2009

2009 Data as of 30 Sep, 2009	$219,164		2010 Data
Approved 2009 budget proposal	$160,298		Estimated 2010 Budget Proposal	$222,797
Amount left to spend	$58,866
% of budget spent to date	73%		$ Change from 2009 Budget Proposal	$3,633
2009 total expected expenses	$216,197
2009 Projected Gen Fd income	$160,000		% Change from 2009 Budget	1.66%
Asset Income needed for 2009	$56,197

Income Data as of Oct 14
00 General Fund	$98,674.52
Other General Fund	$15,557.77
Total General Fund	$114,232.29
80 Outreach Fund	$10,270
Other Outreach	$1,455.00
Total Outreach	$11,725.30
90 Build Fund Total	$3,455.50
Miscellaneous Fund Total	$17,577.33
Total Funds Deposited	$146,990.42

Respectfully submitted,
Board of Trustee

WORK DAY TASKS - OCTOBER 3, 2009
Note: Check Trustees' Bulletin Board for tasks remaining.

Sanctuary
Vacuum, dust & polish pews:_____________________________________
Clean windows, sills & screens (lower storms: ____________________________

Choir loft
Vacuum, dust pews: ____________________________________
Wash windows, sills & screens (lower storms): ___________________________
Dust & polish pipe organ: ____________________________________
Dust electronic organ: ____________________________________

Balcony
Vacuum, dust pews floor & stained glass window:_________________________
Clean & organize entry way, stairs and coat areas: _________________________

Hallway
Dust & polish balustrade: __________________________________________
Clean windows sills & screens (lower storms): ____________________________

Kitchen (Dale Hall)
Refrigerators: __________________________________________
Sinks: __________________________________________
Counters, tables & cabinets: __________________________________________
Wash windows sills & screens: ________________________________________

Dale Hall
Dry and wet mop floor: __________________________________________
Wash windows (inside): __________________________________________
Wash walls: __________________________________________

Kitchen (Parlor)
Refrigerators: __________________________________________
Sinks: __________________________________________
Counters, tables & cabinets: __________________________________________
Wash windows sills & screens: ________________________________________
Wash floor: __________________________________________
Vacuum carpet and upholstered furniture: ________________________________

Classrooms
Wash windows: __________________________________________
" " floors: __________________________________________
" " walls: __________________________________________

OUTSIDE
Parking lot:
Cut back overgrowth: __________________________________________
Sweep up piles of sand: __________________________________________
Paint shed: __________________________________________
*Weed around the building: __________________________________________
Lawn cut & Winterize: __________________________________________
OTHER as needed:

*Be careful of poison ivy under front shrubs

 

Outreach Committee Report

Outreach Committee Members

Jenny Carmichael, Jackie Gullage, Don Lovegrove, Bonnie McLay, Nita Owin, Bob & Linda Miner, co-chairs

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Responding to Pastor Katherine's exhortations, the Outreach Committee has been collecting refundable bottles and cans at the church and using that change to supplement the Outreach budget. We've also been collecting apple peals, cabbage leaves, potato and carrot peels, any vegetable/bio-degradables from church food preparation and transferring them to the Miners compost bin. Time and God work magic and it all becomes fertilizer for their organic garden. Thank you for sharing your garbage with us.

Billerica Pantry
Our October collection yielded 79 items for our needy Billerica neighbors. Thank you for continuing to share what you can with those in our community who are in need.

Neighbors In Need
Our conference wide, annual Neighbors in Need collection has provided $396.00 to the United Church of Christ to use for retired pastors, Native American's in poverty, and for our work around the globe showing people in distant lands that followers of Christ have not forgotten them. Your Outreach Committee has chosen to increase that amount to $500.00.

Can't Worry About Everything, All The Time?
Ever feel overwhelmed with all the disasters, needs, crises that seem to happen to so many people every day? Ever feel like you just can't worry about everything, all the time? Well … that's why you have us - that' s why you created this committee. It doesn't mean that you shouldn't care and shouldn't be concerned about what is going on around you but it is awfully easy to finally suffer compassion fatigue. As an Outreach Committee, we don't do our worrying alone - we do it together. You empower us with a mission and the funds to carry out that mission. Then together, in your name, we research and consider how to make the very best use, how to have the greatest impact, with the funds you provide us. We do not take this task lightly but we take it on proudly and joyfully.

Alternative Christmas Market
On November 29th we will hold our 2nd Annual Alternative Christmas Market in Dale Hall right after church. Please understand this is not an attempt to get you to spend more at Christmas rather it is an attempt to have you spend differently - to actually do some good with the purchases you make. Your options this year will be to choose among: (1) the Billerica Pantry; (2) Church World Service; (3) Equal Exchange; and (4) Lowell Transitional Housing. Last year you put over $2,000 to such good use; bringing hope and opportunity to those in need and showing your gift recipients the true meaning of Christmas. Please consider these opportunities as part of your Christmas celebration.

Our Contributions to the U.C.C.
Because we anticipated reduced contributions to the Outreach budget, we reluctantly voted to reduce our annual contribution by $1,200.00 for 2009. Since we have been able to successfully leverage several of our contributions this year and maximize their effect while spending fewer dollars, we find ourselves in the position of being able to "make-up" much of the reduction so we voted an additional $1,000.00 contribution to the U.C.C. general mission fund.

Did You Know That
1. 35 million Americans received food stamps in June 2009
2. worldwide, women work 2/3 of all the world's labor hours, earn 10% of the world's wages, and own less than 1% of the world's property
3. 93% of the world's people don't own a car
4. the total income of American church goers is 5.2 trillion dollars - $5,200,000,000,000.00

- Bob Miner
for the Outreach Committee

Religious Education

Ingathering is November 15th. 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 hall monitoring. A sign up sheet is posted on the Sunday school bulletin board. Parents, please consider signing up for one Sunday. Thank you to those who have already made commitments to help. Your time and support is greatly appreciated.

We are looking for an individual who would be interested in assisting the Youth Advisor with activities for the Pilgrim Fellowship Program. If anyone is interested in helping , please contact Deb MacEachern at 978-670-5768 or someone from the RE Committee.

 

Pilgrim Fellowship

Any adult looking to bring their youthful spirit out by working with the youth of our church, please feel free to volunteer anytime you see something interesting to you. I'm always looking for help at meetings and on trips. All adults are invited to participate in meetings and on trips; (you don't need to have child in the PF group.)

Fall Schedule

October 25 - Plan Halloween party-11:30 - 1:30
October 30 - Set-up for Halloween Party -5:00 - 10:00
October 31 - Halloween party 11-6PF 1:00 - 4:00 Party
November 7 - Lock-in 6pm - 8am ($20)
November 15- Holiday Craft for shut-ins 11:30 - 2:00
November 22 - Polish Sanctuary and set up Angel Tree 11:30 - 2:00
November 27- Movie night for kids potty trained and up 4-10; PF hours 5-9 (youths)

If you are in the 5th grade through the 12th grades and any you would like to attend any of these events, please come with your parents this Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 to learn more about PF. You do not have to attend all events but you need to let me know one week in advance if you plan on going on any of the trips. In order for this year to be successful, I do need parents to help with transportation to events and to stay for meetings. There will be a sign-up sheet at this meeting so parents, please come with your calendars so that you know when you can help.

Halloween Party

PF will be having a safe Halloween party for kids. It will include food, games, crafts, and safe trick-or-treating. We are looking for people to sponsor a room to greet some of the youth at the door when they go trick-or-treating in the hall. So for all of you that say they don't get any "trick-or-treaters" on Halloween, this is a good way to spend the afternoon and still make it home in case someone does happen to come by. (Signups will be on the PF board).

Stewardship Notes

Sunday October 18 was dedication day for our 2010 Faith Promises. As the Chairman of the Stewardship Committee, I found it heartwarming to see the pledges made by so many members of the congregation. However, I was aware that some members were not present, and some who were there did not turn in a pledge. As I considered the question of why some members do not make a pledge, I came up with a couple of possible answers.

The first is that one may not be willing to make a commitment to the church. Since we live in a world based on commitment, whether it is paying income tax, property tax, mortgage payments, or credit card bills, it seems somewhat strange that people would not be willing to commit a portion of their resources to an organization which is obviously important to them. Of course, that may be the central problem - the church may not be important enough to them to justify a financial commitment. It seems to me that there is a message here for both the Church and the members who are not willing to make a pledge.

A second reason may be that one is not sure that he or she can meet a commitment. In these uncertain times, that fear is quite understandable, as most of us are subject to losing our jobs or incurring unexpected medical or family expenses. However, we need to remember that our church pledge is not like a tax bill; it is our best guess at what we think we will be able to give, based on what we know or expect now. Its purpose is to set a goal for our personal giving and to give church leaders an idea of the monies they can expect to receive. Each year there are pledges that cannot be met; on the other hand, some people are able to give more that they pledge. In the aggregate, pledge amounts are generally met or exceeded. The pledge and the process for determining its amount is an important element of our total church experience.

If you have made your pledge for next year we thank you. If you have not, we hope you will think about the definition of Christian Stewardship-What I do with all that I have, after I say I believe.

For the Stewardship Committee,
Don Lovegrove

 

Aim Hi

 

NEXT MEETING: Thursday, November 19th at 12 noon.

We thank those who contributed to the "GI Foot Locker". This money is used for the "thank you" packages sent to the servicemen and women.
We encourage the congregation to use the address below to send a short note or greeting card to Ryan as it would mean so much to him and his family.

Choir Request and Notes from the Music Committee

Although it is still October, as far as the choir is concerned, Christmas is just around the corner. If you enjoy music and singing, please consider helping us through this most joyous time. It may seem to the congregation that we have everything under control, but really the opposite is true. If illness depletes our number, or normal family activities prevent us from being here, it reflects in the choirs ability to provide you with the rich music that we all love to sing and hear.

We are not asking for a long term commitment. If all you could manage is helping over Christmas, that would be a blessing we would dearly welcome.

As far as statistics go, we have the very best in choir direction and organist with Ginny and Brendan. The Choir itself has an average of eight sopranos, only two altos, two tenors and two bases. As you can see, any unexpected absence causes a big hole in the three lower parts.

We rehearse on Friday evenings at 7:30 PM and prayerfully ask for your help

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend

WANT TO GET CLOSER TO THE ONE YOU LOVE?

The Marriage Encounter Weekend is an opportunity to enhance your communication with your spouse and rekindle that spark that brought you together in the first place.

Registrations are now being accepted for the next scheduled weekend in our New England area, November 13-15, 2009 at the 4 Points Sheraton in Meriden, CT.

For more information or a registration form, contact Lynne and Bruce Hildreth at 978-663-4727 or Hildreth4@comcast.net. Register soon and give your spouse the greatest gift of all - yourself.

PASSAGES: Births, Baptisms, Weddings and Memorial Services

 

United Church of Christ News

United Church of Christ
Annual Meeting

On Oct 16 and 17, 554 clergy, delegates and visitors gathered at the DCU center in Worcester to worship, share, learn and deliberate on the business of the conference.
In the business portions of the meeting the following actions were taken: One of the core functions of the conference was amended to read "Faith Formation" rather than just "Adult Faith Formation." Changes were made in the bylaws to reduce the number of members required on commissions. Clergy Compensation guidelines were basically kept the same as 2009 for 2010. Nominations for boards and commissions were voted. A balanced budget of $2,193,900.00 was passed. The distribution of the fellowship dues was changed so that 45% will be retained by the conference and 55% sent to National (from a 40-60 spit). Dues were increased modestly to $16.80 per member. A resolution to call upon members and congregations to take action to reverse climate change and protect God's creation was passed. There is more information about this on a downstairs bulletin board.
Celebrations included clergy who had been ordained 50 years, and the 25th anniversary of the Open and Affirming movement.
There were several exciting and inspiring speeches and seminars. Tidbits from these include:

Phyllis Jennings, delegate

Flowers: November

November 1- On the Altar, flowers are 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 Ginny Paavola and family in loving memory of Toby Paavola.

November 8 - Given by June Coke in loving memory of her husband, Earle.

November 15- On the Altar, flowers are given by Ruth Boutillier 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, Cindy LaPointe, and their families.

November 22 - On the Altar, flowers are given by Mary Pasho in loving memory of her father.

November 27 - Open

**NOTE: On October 18th, an additional donation of flowers was given by Mary Pasho in loving memory of her mother.

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

Help Wanted

FROM Helen Carroll

The Fair Committee would like to thank Everyone who helped in any way to make the Church Fair Fundraiser such a success.

FROM Donna Ricarte

Aim-Hi would like to thank all who baked for Our Daily Bread. The bakery at the fair was a huge success. We had four tables of baked goods"

FROM ALISON

THANK YOU TO Edna Battcock, Audrey Schwartz, and Edna McDewell for their help in the delivery of the October issue of The Lantern!

Lantern on the Web

The Lantern is on the web each month in its entirety. To reduce our mailing costs, if you would like to read it on line at http://www.firstcongo.org instead of having the newsletter mailed, please let me know.

Thank you and love, Alison

Next Lantern Deadline: Sunday, November 15

The newsletter written and mailed the week of November 15th will include the end of November and the December news

 

Life Line Screening at First Congregational - November 13th, 2009

Call 1-800-324-1851 for information or to pre-register. for the Life Line Screening day to be held at the church on November 13th, 2009.

Click here to review the flyer.