From the Minister
"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless God's
holy name - Psalm 103:1"
Grace and peace to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ,
Monday mornings usually find me curled up with a cup of tea in contemplation.
This morning was no different, except that I had a nagging sense of urgency
to pull myself back into the real world because I had once again missed the
deadline for the Lantern. So as I gazed out at the world, watching the leaves
succumb to the season, falling to earth through the aroma and steam of my Earl
Grey tea, I pondered what to write about. There is something about the stillness
of the morning that calls me to silent wonder at God's creativity and the activity
of the Spirit among us. Monday morning contemplation is special, for I am still
filled with the presence of the Divine that is so tangible when we gather on
Sundays- in the scurrying to prepare for worship, the voices raised in praise,
the Word come alive as it is read in community, and of course in the fellowship
and the preparation for our ministries in the week to come. These are the blessings
that I hold in silence, offering my praise to God with each leaf that falls.
Yet between the falling leaves lingers a sadness, perhaps for summer now gone
by, but more for the sorrows, losses, and the need for healing that we share
with each other. As the breeze of sadness blows through my heart I ask God to
bless each of you with what you need, and I ask God to bless all of creation.
As I was pulled from my contemplation by duty and my respect for Alison's time,
I found that it was blessing that was on my heart. And yet what is a blessing?
How do we bless? Does God bless us, or do we bless God? Or is it both?
I have a thing about closing my correspondences, including email, with a valediction-for
me it is a blessing, a way to speak the Divine over you. This may be out of
fashion, but it comes from the same sincerity of heart that had me close my
notes of younger years with Love! One of my favorites, grace upon grace, is
from the gospel of John; and pax tibi, is Latin for peace to you. The simple
word blessings is my go to closing, yet I worry that you may come to think it
has no more meaning than yours truly. I find that I struggle with how to bless,
or at least communicate my blessing, and more important God's blessing, even
as I encourage you to reach out and bless God and others.
I will be attending Bless! a UCC conference where we will immerse ourselves
in the theology and practice of the ancient art of blessing. My prayer is that
blessing will become a deeply rooted part of who we are. As disciples of Jesus,
responding to the needs of a complex and troubled world, we can learn to bless
God for God's greatness, God's sovereignty, God's faithfulness when we wander,
and God's infinite love. As children of our loving God we become aware of the
ways God blesses us. Blessing and blessed we then will be able to bless each
other in ways that encourage, build up, and inspire.
Grace upon grace, pax tibi, grace and peace, mercy in all things, shalom,
and Love!
Katherine
At
Home Bible Study
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is an ancient form of Bible study. It is Latin for "Divine
reading." It is a way to study our holy Scriptures, letting them wash over
you. It invites you to read, meditate, pray, and contemplate the Word of God.
Find a quiet place and read each Scripture aloud one at a time. Mediate on the
words or phrase that stand out to you. Pray for God to give you give you deeper
insight. Contemplate what this speaks into your life.
A Scripture that Blesses God: Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless God's holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all God's benefits:
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
A Scripture where God blesses us: Psalm 115:12-13
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord-
small and great alike.
Scriptures that call us to bless others:Amos 5:24
Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Micah 6:8
What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and
to walk humbly with your God?
Matthew 25:37-40
"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or
needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and
go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me."
Good stuff coming, so mark your calendars!
As we have been studying about and sharing at the Communion Table we are being
invited to a deeper understanding of how Jesus calls us to partake in a common
meal that connects us across all peoples, places and times. During our Communion
Service on November 6 we will dismiss the children to their classes prior
to the Communion Service. They will study, according to their age ability, the
meaning of Communion. We will partake upstairs while members of the Diaconate
go down to the Chapel to serve the children. It is our hope and prayer that
our continuing study and sharing of our sacred meal will enrich our understanding
of how God feeds our spirits as well as our bodies. I encourage parents to engage
in conversation with your children about the meaning of Communion.
On Veteran's Day, Friday, November 11 at 7:00 pm, we will gather in
the Chapel to give praise and thanks to God for all those who have served and
are serving our country. We are all too aware of the toll of war, and we give
thanks for the bravery and service of those who serve and have served. Let us
come together to honor them and thank God for their faithfulness.
On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, November 20, we will hold a Historic
Worship Service that celebrates our congregational roots. We will lift our voices
in praise of God in the manner of the early Pilgrims. Dress the part if you
would like. The women and their children (all girls and young men under sixteen)
will be invited to enter by the left hand doors, and the men by the right hand
(the front rows will be reserved for the historic manner of sitting, the back
rows for those who want to sit according to our new tradition of family units
worshipping together.) We will celebrate the calling that our forefathers and
mothers had to worship in spirit and truth. Please join us. We are sure that
it will give a new depth to your Thanksgiving celebration.
At 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, November 20 the town of Billerica
will gather at First Parish to celebrate all that we have to be thankful for
together. In honor of the 400th anniversary of the translation of the King James
Bible, we will gather as a community to lift up all of our sacred texts. Please
join us so that we can learn from each other, celebrate our common ground, and
learn to respect our differences. What better way to love our neighbors?
Continuing
& Special Events with Katherine & Office Schedule:
Wednesday Morning Worship with Communion
Come and be uplifted as we gather in the Chapel to worship God, hear Scripture,
and celebrate Communion. The service will run from 7 to 7:30 am, followed by
a light breakfast (or at least a cup of coffee to go!) More
Info.
Spirituality Groups
9 am Wednesday mornings - Mom's Spirituality Group
7 pm Wednesday evenings - Spirituality Group (unless previously announced)
Bible Study
6-7 PM on Tuesday evenings
10:30 AM on Thursdays
Play Groups
9 am Wednesday mornings
Church Office Hours
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 1 PM.
Ministry
Survey
The
Congregational Relations Committee has prepared the following survey which
it asks that all members complete and return so that we can evaluate the church's
ministry. Your responses will help us improve and adjust current programs,
activities, and procedures.
To
print out a separate page for your use, click
here. Please
complete by Sunday, December 11th,2011, and leave it in the box on the table
in front of the name tag board in the downstairs hallway.
Email: jeanbutton@comcast.net.
----------------------------------------
What is ministry?
The First Congregational Church's ministry encompasses a wide range of people
and programs.
In what direction do you see our ministry heading?
How do you see our church's ministry as a whole?
What ministries are you involved in? How can you be supported in your share
of the ministry of this church?
How are you being spiritually nourished?
Do you have suggestions to improve the ministry of First Congregational
Church?
Are you willing to serve in a greater capacity? Where is your heart calling
you?
Your name_______________________________________________________
Please email completed surveys to: jeanbutton@comcast.net or place hard
copies in the box on the table in front of the name tag board in the downstairs
hallway. Please complete survey by Sunday December 11, 2011.
FCCB BY THE NUMBERS
Offerings:
| Date |
General FD |
Outreach FD |
Deacons FD |
| Oct 2 |
$2960 |
$427 |
$85 |
| Oct 9 |
$2605 |
$211 |
$243 |
| Oct 16 |
$2362 |
$1051 |
$124 |
| Oct 23 |
$2673 |
$207 |
$611 |
Our average weekly General Fund expenses are $4370. Thank you for your continued
prayers of support and financial stewardship to support the work of the Church.
Trustees
Thank you to all who were able to help with the Fall Cleanup Day on October
16th after church. We were able to get a lot of extra cleaning projects done.
Thanks also to John Beaton for pulling supply carts together so we had what
we needed to get the job done!
We presented our proposed budget for 2012 at the October meeting and received
feedback and updates. This will be presented at the annual meeting in January.
You may have noticed some activity in the front of the church. We've done
some landscaping and replaced the concrete on the front walk. This was done
for safety reasons as the concrete was breaking up and to also open up the
front yard of the church.
Your ongoing comments or suggestions are welcomed. Please place a written
note in the Trustees mailbox along with your idea(s) to correct any issue.
If there is a project you would like to see completed or that you would like
to complete as a group please let us know.
- Jenny Carmichael
Notes from the Diaconate
The dedicated deacons are wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy holiday.
Nov. 20, 2011 - Historic service will be honoring their congregational roots.
See below for an order form for poinsettias .
Blessings! Tammy Potter
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA ORDER FORM
Poinsettias (7”) can be ordered for yourself or for shut-ins
(Orders taken from Nov.
21 – Dec. 5.) Flowers may be picked
up at the church on Saturday, December 11.
Number of poinsettias for shut-ins ___________ $12.00
each (red only)
Number of poinsettias for yourself ___________ $12.00
each
= _______
Total cost of all plants ordered
Red_____ White _____ Pink ______ Marblel______
Your name_____________________________________
Address _______________________________________
Phone number _________________________
For additional info call Ruth Boutilier
at 978-667-9654
or Donna Ricarte at 978-663-4043
|
Welcoming
and Name Tags
Our motto is "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." In an effort
to be more welcoming, your Deacons are asking everyone to wear name tags.
Although you may have been around for a long time and feel that if we don't
know you by now, then shame on us, but a newcomer meets many new people and
will be much more comfortable if we make it easy for them to remember us.
It also gives us the chance to see their name in writing so that we may welcome
them by name which will reinforce our memory.
We would like to ask those entering to please wear their name tags, and to
encourage those who have no name tag to make one for the day and put in a
request for a more permanent, designed as you like, name tag. Andrew Jennings
will provide the permanent one.
The Name Tag Board has been moved to the downstairs hallway for easy access
for the majorities who enter through the back or side door. For those who
prefer to pick up and leave their name tags at the front door, a tray will
be provided until we see how much room will be needed to hold them. Thank
you for helping us to live up to our motto.
Nominating
Committee Report
The Nominating Committee is asking that you prayerfully consider giving of
your time and talents. The church is organized by committees and many
hands are needed to do the work of the church. Please talk with the members
of the Nominating Committee about where your gifts and talents might further
the work of the church.
Members of the Nominating Committee will be contacting you, or feel free
to contact us.
Thank you for prayerfully considering serving your congregation.
- Nominating Committee: Andrew Jennings, Jon Adams, Jenny Carmichael
The
Outreach Committee Report
ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS MARKET
Our 4th annual Alternative
Christmas Market will take place on Sunday, December 4th in Dale Hall from
11AM to noon. The 4 groups that will be represented are: Church World Service,
Equal Exchange, the Middlesex Transitional Living Center and one group yet
to be chosen. More information on each of these caring groups will appear
in the next Lantern and in later Sunday bulletins. Please keep these choices
in mind as you think of thoughtful gifts you might give to family and friends.
DECEMBER 4TH - OFFERINGS
Christmas Food Vouchers
With several church members/attendees currently struggling to "make ends
meet", your Outreach Committee has decided to offer you an opportunity
to provide a Christmas Day ham or turkey voucher as 1 of 4 choices available
at our Alternative Christmas Market. Gift certificates will be available should
you choose to make your donation in someone's honor.
Church World Service
This agency is affiliated with our own UCC and its main goal is to reach out
to "neighbors in need near and far .. not with a hand out, but a hand
up." It tries to create a world where there's enough for all. This church
agency works with "partners in the U.S. and around the world to build
interfaith and intercultural coalitions to eradicate hunger and poverty and
promote peace and justice." It supports "sustainable grassroots
development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance." It operates like
Heifer but costs a lot less.
Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange "all started with an idea: what if food could be traded
in a way that is honest and fair, a way that empowers both farmers and consumers?
What if trade supported small farmer co-operatives that use sustainable methods,
rather than industrialized agribusiness that relies on exploited labor and
harmful chemicals?"
Today, Equal Exchange products include "fairly traded and organic coffee,
tea, chocolate, and snacks from small farmers all over the worlds, including
here in the United States."
NOTE - CHANGE IN PROCEDURE: In order to meet your requests
this year; please fill out a preorder form along with your check NO
LATER than Sunday, November 15th. Forms & instructions can be
found on the Dale Hall bulletin board.
Lowell Transitional Living Center
Their primary goal is to "get people housed, and then offer them continued
services to ensure that they remain housed."
This wonderful center meets the needs no only of their "90 residents
but also those living in poverty in the area who rely on us for meals, and
for those who need bagged lunches.
"The Center provides three meals a day to our 90 resident guests and
to those in need in the community. We offer nursing services, mental health
counseling, detox referrals and transportation, provide clothing, case management
and life skills coaching and encouragement to this often overlooked population."
Please consider making a donation to any of the above very special agencies
during our 3rd Alternative Christmas Market to be held in Dale Hall on Sunday,
December 4th at 11A.M.
Religious
Education
SUNDAY SCHOOL INGATHERING
Exodus 23.16b:You shall observe the festival of ingathering
at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your
labour.
Our Sunday School Ingathering is on Sunday November 6th.
The children will bring in non-perishable items to make up
Thanksgiving baskets that will be donated to families in the local community.
Each class will be asked to bring in different items, from the list below,
to contribute to filling the baskets. The entire congregation is also encouraged
to support Ingathering. Please speak to a deacon or our minister if you
know a family in need.
The baskets, gift certificates for turkeys included, will
be assembled with the help of Pilgrim Fellowship and distributed after
church on November 13th. Outreach will handle the sharing of any extra
items gathered-in.
Nursery: any of the items listed below
Preschool: Vegetables/yams
Kindergarten/1st grade: mashed potatoes/stuffing 2nd/3rd/4th
grade: gravy, cranberry sauce
5th/6th/7th/8th grade: quickbread/dessert Highschool:
juice/punch
- Bob Slack - Religious Education Committee
Pilgrim
Fellowship DATES: Fall 2011
|
Date
|
Event
|
| Sat
Nov 5 |
Lock-in |
| Sun
Nov 6 |
Mandatory
church attendance for Lock-in participants, no PF. |
| Sun Nov 13 |
Meeting
- put together Thanksgiving dinner packages for families in need |
| Sat
Nov 19 |
Make
apple pies night - 6 PM |
| Sun
Nov 20 |
Distribute
pies after church - no PF. |
| Sun
Nov 27 |
Babysitting
and Angel tree set-up |
| Sun
Dec 4 |
Make-your-own-Sundae
meeting (yum!) |
| Sun
DEC 11 |
No
PF |
| Sun
DEC 18 |
Christmas
caroling and Angel tree gift wrapping |
| Thurs
DEC 29 |
???tentative
mystery dinner/lock-in???** |
|
**???We
need 5 parents to make this possible. It's a week night, so let me
know if you can help by taking a shift during the night.
PF Advisors - Cindy and Craig Giardina
|
PF FUN RAISER
Now to November 6, 2011
Apple Pies for Thanksgiving
Name________________________
Phone number_________________
______# baked apple pies
______# freezer ready unbaked
$10.00 each
Orders due by Sunday Nov. 6
The pies will be ready for pick up after church Sunday, November
20
|
Aim
Hi
Meetings:
Third Thursdays in except January, 12:30 PM
Next Meeting: November 17, 2011 at noon in the Ladies' Parlor.
The ladies of Aim-Hi met on October 20, we
had a nice lunch and enjoyed the company of one another.
Our plans for our November 17 meeting are to make fruit baskets for the
shut-ins of our congregation.
We discussed the needs of our congregation and voted to donate $500.00 to
the Deacons' Fund for fuel assistance.
As always we welcome new members, come and join the fun and activities of
our group.
Aim-Hi was established in 1939 and our motto is "Thank
you I'd be glad to". We strive to be helpful and friendly to all and
especially to the church.
If you have any questions, please call Gerry Healey at 978-658-8871.
Just remember to support our servicemen. Addresses
are listed below to use, as a short note or card to them is always appreciated.
|
The current addresses of the service personnel
overseas are:
Ryan Allen
25 FS
PSC 3 Box 4308
APO AP 96266 - 0043
Blinn, Mark P.F.C.
Loc # 1718MCCES
Box 786253
29 Palms, CA 92278-8253
Cpl Shane Q. Gallagher, USMC
3rd Reconnaissance BLT
Alpha Co
Unit 36180
FPO AP 96602
|
Information about men or women in the service can be given
to June Orne at 603-883-6721 (june62123@aol.com,
or Gerry Healey at 978-658-8871 (GerAngell@aol.com).
Notes from the Music Committee
We welcome your requests for old favorites or new kinds of
music. We'll consider all of them. What kind of music do you listen to in
the car or at home? Would you like music in church of that same type (with
a Christian message)? Let us know.
Plans for a community Christmas musical program on the
evening of December 10 are progressing with the Latter Day Saints as
hosts.
Christmas Cantata rehearsals are starting. Additional
voices are needed. It is to be held at FCCB December 17, and the
18th in Peabody. See Brendan if you would like to participate and he can
try to find a way to accommodate your schedule.
- Phyllis Jennings
NEXT
MEETING
WEDNESDAY
November 9 , 2011
12:30 P.M.
What is Lay Shepherding? The committee was formed to assist
the Pastor and the Diaconate in maintaining communication with our homebound
members. Our goal is to help these members feel connected to the larger church
community . Through visits, calls and cards we try to be aware of the changing
needs of our homebound members. Our committee is open to anyone who would
like to share their time with any of our homebound members. We also welcome
ideas for how we can better serve this community. If you are interested in
joining us or is you would like someone to visit, or call you, please do not
hesitate to call Rev Katherine or one of your shepherds. Barbara George, 978
667-7335 or Audrey Schwartz 978 663-3239. You are welcome to speak to any
of our shepherds: Dennis & Betty Blanchette, Pat Hefler, Glenda Lovegrove,
Wanda Lorden, Andrew Jennings, or Ruth Boutilier.
United Church
of Christ News
Fall Meeting of the North East Area of the United Church of Christ
-
Worship
and songs were in Lao, Spanish, Lingala (Congo), English
-
Impressions
from General Synod - UCC is very diverse and is interested in justice
-
New churches
or re-imagined churches are starting in Haverhill and Middleton ( and
can use our support)
-
Hispanic
ministries are also no longer grant funded and need financial help
-
Rev. Nick
Carter, President of Andover Newton shared some thought provoking ideas:
-
The
average UCC congregation has 50% of its members who grew up in
a different tradition or none
-
The
number one reason given for joining a church is for community
-
People
are also searching for meaning, spiritual life and relevance (but
not always finding it in the churches)
-
The
primary way young families find a church is via the web
-
What
is our "brand"? What unique compelling proposition do
we bring to the world? -
-
What
is the good news that we bring to our town?
-
Read
First Corinthians chapter 14
-
The
church's budget is a theological statement
-
Many
churches struggle with finances, aging buildings and the tension
between property and mission.
-
"Border
crossing" - ways to overcome religious differences and understand
them with respect is sorely needed
-
To
change we need a sense of urgency though not crisis
-
Complacency
will likely lead to the demise of many churches in the next 15
years or so
-
God
is good all the time. All the time God is good.
Open
and Affirming (ONA) Committee
Open and Affirming Process
Please join us for a Movie Night on Sunday November 6th, 6:30-8:30
PM
The Open and Affirming group will be serving free pie along with a movie
depicting Christian families moving through the Open and Affirming process
with their loved ones.
Come and watch and partake of some pie!
Questions? email: jeanbutton@com-cast.net
or call 978-663-7807
From Your Go-Green Task
Force
5 of 10 Easiest Ways to Cut Your Energy Use in Half
UPGRADE APPLIANCES -
Save 12%
Appliances use 20 percent of the energy in the average US home. When
it's time to buy new appliances, look for the most efficient Energy
Star model you can find. The biggest energy hogs in a home are usually
the refrigerator (particularly if it was built before 1993) and clothes
dryer."
Taken from Green America
When using water from your teakettle, you can save energy by adding
only the amount of water you plan on consuming.
Correction
Last month, I made an error in listing what items should be deposited
in the recycle paper bins. It should have read - (NO Kleenex or paper
towels.)
- Linda Miner on behalf of your Go Green Task Force
Recycling Guidelines
|
Material
|
What
to Recycle
|
How
to Prepare
|
Do
Not Include
|
| Paper |
Newspaper
& Inserts
Magazines
Junk Mail
Catalogs
Office paper
Glossy paper, etc.
|
Place
in paper bag or place in recycle bin. |
DON'T
use plastic bags to hold any recycling
NO soiled paper |
| Cardboard |
Corrugated |
Flatten
& cut no larger than 30"x30" & no thicker than
8"
Tie or tape
Remove all packing & liners. |
NO
pizza boxes
NO soiled material
NO milk or juice cartons |
|
Paper
& Cardboard go together
|
| Plastic |
Containers
1-7
Food & beverage containers
Detergent bottles
|
Rinse
clean & remove lids
Labels OK |
NO
plastic bags or shrink wrap
NO Styrofoam |
| Glass |
Jars
& bottles (all colors) |
Rinse
clean & remove lids
Labels OK
|
NO
broken glass
NO Pyrex/ceramics
NO window glass |
| Metal |
Aluminum,
steel & tin cans |
Rinse
clean
Labels OK |
NO
other metal items
NO aerosol or paint cans
NO aluminum foil or pans |
|
Plastic
- Glass - Metal go together
|
Flowers:
November, 2011
November 6 - Given by Doris Johnson in loving memory of her
parents, Blanche and Harold Shedd and her husband, Murray Johnson
On the piano: given in loving m emory of Tovio
Paavola by Linda and Jerry Simmons and Brenda and Jeff Hopkins.
November 13 - Given by June Coke in loving memory of her husband
Earle Coke.
On the piano: given in loving memory of Philip Saunders
by his wife, Shirley Saunders and their children, Philip Saunders, Jr,
Russell, Elizabeth Cerra and Penne Shea.
On the lectern: Given by Fred Wiggins, Barbara Blanco,
Cindy LaPointe and their families in loving memory of their parents
Vera and Gil Wiggins.
November 20 - OPEN
November 27 - Given by Sal and June Gibelli in loving memory
of deceased loved ones.
If you would like to donate flowers any Sunday, contact
Barbara Reinecker at 978-667-5336 .
PASSAGES: Births, Baptisms, New
Members, Weddings and Memorial Services
Baptisms
October 23, 2011
Brayden
Thomas Bennett
Mason Scott Verrocchio
Wedding
October 8, 2011
Conrad Anctil
and Susan Merrrow Roy
HELP WANTED
|
Help!
We
are looking for a few good men and women who might like to help
with one-time or occasional tasks. We know that some people are
unable to commit to a committee, but that they understand the need
for many hands. See if you have some time to offer for one or another
of the tasks below.
- Telephone
duty on Sunday mornings from 9:00-10:00 am to answer any questions
or take messages. Please sign up on Bulletin Board across from
Pastor's office.
- Nursery
room aides during church service.
If you love little ones, the sign-up list is near the nursery.
- Volunteers
to assist with the Sunday school program for next fall.
We are looking for teachers (weekly or every other week),
substitute teachers, classroom helpers, hall
monitors and nursery coverage. Anyone who would be
interested, please contact Sunday School Superintendent Bob Slack,
or the RE Committee..
- Organizational
tasks involving books,cabinets, shelves, bulletin boards, etc.
There is no time limit. This could be done on your own schedule.
See Rev. Katherine for suggestions.
- Providing
coffee/tea/cold drinks for Sunday morning coffee hour. (See
Bob Miner if you'd like to help..)
- Providing
a snack for Sunday morning coffee hour. Sign up on the list
beside the kitchen door for a specific week. Suggestions /directions
are posted.
- Posting
newspaper notices of upcoming events and sometimes articles
in the Religious section of the Lowell Sun and Billerica Minuteman.
This is a job that can be done from home via the Internet. Speak
to Rev. Katherine.
- Membership
Database help. A lot of work is needed to maintain our database
and keep the data current. If you have simple computer skills
and some time to help out, speak to Lynne Hildreth.
Please help.
Alas, there is no monetary reward, but you will have our heartfelt
appreciation and, of course, many stars in your crown.
|
Pie Tasting
November 20th in Dale Hall
Sponsored by the Sr. Sunday School Class Mission
Join us for a fun snack after church on the 20th of November
in Dale Hall.
For a mere $5 you can support the Sr High Sunday School Mission
Trip and taste some of the best pies in New England. All the
best pies will be there …and you know the people in this church
can cook!
So please join us and help us determine the best pie of the
day. The pie voted as the best will gain its owner a nice dinner
gift certificate to Stromboli's and of course bragging rights!
We are hoping you will join us for this fun event.
Please buy tickets from any Sr. High Sunday School class member….please
call 978-663-3115 if you know your pie can win! We want to be
sure all our best cooks get the opportunity to enter this competition!!
You can't miss this!
|
Thank
You's and Notes
FROM ALISON
Thank you to Audrey Schwartz, Barbara Reinecker and Barbara George
for their help in the collation and mailing preparation of the November
issue of the Lantern!
Lantern Online or by Email
The Lantern is on the web each month in its entirety and Joe Bowker
has also volunteered to email the newsletter to anyone who requests
it. To reduce our mailing costs, if you would like to read it on line
at http://www.firstcongo.org
or have it emailed to you, please let me know.
You can also read the Lantern on Facebook. For information on accessing
it there, please go to
First Congregational Facebook
Page.
If you are willing to read or receive your Lantern on line, would
you please send Alison or Lynne Hildreth an e-mail or you could mark
your okay on the pewpads.
Next Lantern:
Deadline is November 27
Note: All material for the month of December is in the November
newsletter.
