AUGUST 2012 NEWSLETTER

CONGREGATIONAL CONNECTIONS

AUGUST 2012 ISSUE

 

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Church Picnic at Stiles Lake: Saturday, August 18

Come and share a fun afternoon at the lake. Spend a few hours having fun in the sun (and shade), and visiting with your church family. All are welcome.

Date: Saturday August 18th
Time: Noon until…?
Rain Date: Sunday August 19th following Coffee Hour

Please Bring:
• Swimsuits, Towels, Swim Shoes (or old sneakers-for tender feet), Life Jackets for the children.
• Something to share: Snacks, Salads, Casseroles, Veggies, Fruit, Desserts, etc.

Hamburgers and Hot Dogs will be provided!

Please let Cindy LaPointe know when you have decided what you would like to bring for menu planning, and about how many will be coming. For directions, or if you have questions, call Cindy & Ron LaPointe at 508-885-9875. Hope to see you there.

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Welcome to our new Collector!

 

 

After many, many years serving as collector, Carol Mulrain is delighted to turn the position over to Diane Dwyer, who joined FCC in January 2012. Please help Diane out by writing both first and last names on your offering envelopes so she can credit the right person in her records.

 

 

 

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Weren’t able to make the Annual Meeting in June?

A limited number of copies of the Annual Report 2012 are still available.

Check it out, and learn more about what we’ve been up to.

 

 

 

 

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A Note From the Pastor

Finally, after three years of anticipation, I will become a citizen of Leicester later this month. Quentin and I will be moving into the parsonage on Pleasant Street over the month of August, and will be all settled in by August 31. We are so excited to join this community, and I am confident that it can only improve the ministry of our church. I look forward to experiencing first-hand the joys and challenges of living in Leicester, learning more about town governance, schools, library, and social activities.

To me, it is a wonderful blessing that the church has a parsonage to house its pastor. I know many churches have sold off their parsonages in response to the reluctance of clergy to forego home ownership. Personally, I’ve never felt called to own a home. I don’t know if it’s just because it seemed an awfully grown-up thing for a youngster like myself :-), or if there is a deeper reason. Some people take comfort in the security that owning a home offers, and others value the freedom they have to do to a home what they wish. I’ve never felt insecure as a renter since I am blessed with a large supportive family and knew I’d always have a place to stay. And for better or worse, I’ve never given lots of thought to buying a home as an investment, though that is what has provided my parents with a comfortable retirement. I also don’t mind accommodating myself to the basic limitations of a renter. As long as I can bring my own furniture, paint some walls, and hang some pictures, I can make a place feel like home whether I own it or not. There is, for me, a freedom in not owning, in not feeling a sense of possessiveness about a residence; a sense of flexibility of being able to fit myself into my surroundings instead of fashioning my surroundings to fit me. There is, for me, a sense of feeling free to listen for and follow God’s call, a sense of being open to the unfolding of my life. I can see how the custom of churches providing parsonages came about, allowing ministers of God to be freer to truly discern a call, putting their sense of security in God’s hands rather than in a house they own.
Over the last month, the lectionary has included passages from 2 Samuel about the rise of David to king of Israel. I have not been preaching on these texts, but I was very taken with the story in chapter seven, about David settling into his house and realizing that while he is comfy in his new home, the Ark of God (thought to hold a part of God himself) was housed in a tent. “This isn’t right,” he thinks, and says so to his prophet Nathan. At first Nathan thinks David is right on, and tells him to go on and build a great house for God. But God speaks to Nathan, and tells him to ask David, “Are you the one to build me a home?” Basically God reminds David that God hasn’t needed a home yet, but has been moving among the people. God says I don’t need you to build me a house, David. I will build you a house. I will build all my people a house – a house in which they can be safe from enemies, a house established in God’s name. This house, God says, will be established in the descendent of David who will be a son to God.

I just love this passage. I just love the idea of God establishing a house for me in Christ. I will joyfully reside in the parsonage in Leicester until it is time to move on, but I will always try to remember where my true home is – in God, in Christ.
And in response to the notion we so often share with David of us building a “home” for God, let us ponder this poem/prayer by Kwasi Kena:
Gracious God, too often we try to limit you. We build buildings full of comfort, we say, for your benefit. We pad and cushion the place we visit for an hour . . . to worship you. We expect you to bless us within the confines of our well-timed services.
Our raw intentions bark:
“Come!”
“Now!”
“Bless!”
“Me!”
But you do not live in houses built with hands. You live in our hearts, hoping to touch the world through us. May you live in six billion hearts today. Change us, so that through us, you can change others. Amen.

Blessings, Pastor Doreen

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Pastor’s Profile

At the Annual Meeting of the Central Association, a new requirement for clergy in the association was voted in. The Committee on Ministry, which oversees the standing of all clergy in the association, requested that all non-retired clergy have a current profile, within three years, on file with the Conference, and to update the profile every three years. My profile was developed in 2008, so I am required to update it by June 2013. Please do not be concerned if you hear me asking for references for my profile. I am not in the search process and have no intention of entering it. I am interested in thinking through how I see my role in ministry three years in, compared to how I saw it before I ever served as a pastor. It might be interesting to think together about how the church understood itself and its needs, what you hoped for in a pastor, and how our work in ministry together has changed or supported our expectations.
If you are interested in joining this conversation, let me know, or see one of our pastoral relations committee members: Jackie Henderson, Marie Frascolla, and Len Ivel.

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What’s Your Favorite Hymn?

On Sunday, September 2, the worship service will include a hymn sing. Make sure we include your favorites by letting Pastor Doreen know by August 28 what songs you would like to lift your voice to sing. We are not limited to the Pilgrim hymnal, and all suggestions are welcome.
Whenever possible, we’ll share background info on the hymn and/or composer. Please call, e-mail, or use the “I wish” card in the pew. If you don’t know the name of the song, but can hum a few bars, check with one of our choir members or music minister Bob Shauris. And then come on the 2nd and sing out your praise and thanksgiving to God.
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Worcester Fellowship Lunch Providers  – Sunday, August 26th

 

 

Lots of supplies and helping hands needed to assemble lunches for the Worcester Fellowship ministry of food and worship for housed and homeless people of Worcester. There will be a sign-up sheet beginning August 12 for food donations, and we will gather in Russell Hall right after worship on August 26 to assemble bag lunches. All are welcome to join in lunch and worship behind Worcester City Hall beginning at 1 p.m.

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Master Singers Celebration: Sunday, August 5th at 2:30 PM

All are invited to come for a brief performance of the Master Singers in our Sanctuary followed by a party. If you’ve been involved in the First Congregational Choir any time in the last 15 years, you don’t want to miss this celebration. Come enjoy the music, come enjoy refreshments, come enjoy friends old and new.

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Smart Parenting Tips from Good Housekeeping

A reader wrote in with the following question:

My ten-year-old son doesn’t want to go to church anymore and complains about having to say prayers. What can I do to make faith more important to him?

Response: Faith comes from the inside, but you can plant the seeds, says Michael Riera, Ph.D.,

a parenting expert in Berkeley, California. Listen to his complaints, but insist that he still attend services as part of the family. As for his prayers, try a middle ground. Have him recite some of the prayers, then ask him to come up with a suggestion for how he could have a personal conversation with God. This is how kids begin to internalize faith.

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Calendar of Events

• RE Committee August 5 at 11:30am

• Master Singers Celebration August 5 at 2:30 pm

• Pastoral Relations Committee August 8 at 12:15

• Church Picnic at Stiles Lake August 18 at noon

• Worcester Fellowship Lunch Providers August 26

• Women’s Association September 5

• Sunday School Registration September 9

• Leicester Harvest Festival September 15

• Council Meeting September 16 at noon

Sunday School News

Hi Everyone!

We are once again preparing for the Sunday School year. I find myself torn as I assess the needs of the Sunday School and see the lack of teachers for the children. I love this work and feel blessed to do it, but in facing this chronic problem I can’t help but feel frustrated and disheartened. It is a common situation in churches – a desire for a vital Sunday school program for children and a shortage of adults willing to contribute to it. I’m at a loss about what to do other than appeal to you once more . . . Please consider the gifts that God gives to us in the form of these young people. These children not only need you to impart your wisdom and love to them but they need to share their insights and love to you. It is a two way street, you get as much if not more than you give. It is part of the covenant of baptism to share ourselves in the nurture of our children’s faith.

 

Here is my dream for the structure of the Sunday school program. I would love to have a primary teacher or a team of teachers for each of the three grade levels. In my role as RE Director, I would be responsible for curriculum, supplies, and teacher support AND I would teach each of the classes once a month. Since the first Sunday of each month is worship for all ages, with no Sunday school, that means the primary teacher / team would be responsible for just 2 Sundays each month.

Here are the adjustments to this dream plan that I will have to make unless more people are willing to participate.

Angie Shea will teach the class for grades 4-8 and I will teach the class for grades 1-3. There will be no class for Preschool/Kindergarten.

This was not an easy decision and definitely not one that we are taking lightly as we realize that these kids need the Sunday School as well, but Christian Education must address the needs of the kids who are learning the most. Therefore, the younger kids will need to stay with their families in worship or attend the nursery (if a nursery staff person is found). If volunteers offer to teach a class on occasion with this age group, I will post a notice in the bulletin and contact families affected in as timely a way as possible.

I am hopeful that many will see the light that shines on these lovely kids and that they will reach out of their comfort zones and volunteer for a block of teaching (2-3 weeks). Without any volunteers we will not have a classroom for these kids. Please don’t wait for someone else to volunteer – Speak to Chris, Angie or Pastor Doreen. If we know soon that people are willing to step up, we can go back to plan A.

I am absolutely thrilled to once again be working with Angela Shea so welcome back and thank her for volunteering once again to teach the kids of our church. She certainly has a gift. We have lots of fun things planned for this year including a Christmas Play on our stage! We plan to try to integrate music more into our program and are trying to plan some outreach projects and outings as well.

Registration will be on September 9th. We will have activities planned for all of the children on this day and actual classes will begin the following week. I am looking forward to another great Sunday School year.

God Bless You All – Chris Cathcart

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A Moment For Missions
by Alice and Bob Kelly

The Salvation Army at Christmastime in the past has meant Red Kettles and the Bell Ringers and usually I would drop in some cash and feel I had “done my part.” When we started spending our winters in Tucson, AZ the Park that we lived in was the primary volunteer source for both goods and workers to support the Salvation Army Toy Drive in Tucson, Arizona. After hearing others in the pool and other groups go on and on as to how much fun it was we decided to join in; we have now participated the last 6 years and last Christmas our group serviced almost 10,000 children during a 5 day period. We feel we are being given one of the best gifts of the holidays by being able to help very needy families select a gift for their child(ren). Oftentimes the “client” will wait 2 to 3 hours outdoors (cold and rainy happens in Tucson too) to go through the process to obtain 1 to 2 presents for their child. It is so amazing to see how thankful they are for a set of underwear, a book, a pair of shoes and you should see the joy when there is a bike (which is done on a random basis). You even have people pass over an expensive toy because they are fearful for where they live or because their other child didn’t get something similar. Other groups from the park have also donated knitted items and there are always layettes available for expectant mothers. While we might be absent from our own family and it is hard at times. We are so uplifted because we are making life so much better for children that are often forgotten. This coming year we have started a book drive because so many parents want a book and we are hoping to honor that.

We never expected retirement to bring us such a wonderful opportunity to give to others but when we finish the distribution the day before Christmas we are exhausted but filled with the knowledge that we have truly helped others. Last year there were over 500 active volunteers – in fact others were turned away because there weren’t any places to use them. It definitely is a reason to arrive in our winter home in time to settle in before the “fun” begins. I have had a “sit-down” job and have become the Bag Lady — I give out the collection bag so I get to interact with every client that we serve and aid in identifying special needs. After Christmas as I go to Chapel or the movies or just around, I will be greeted by people who call me “The Bag Lady or just Bags.” Bob helps in the assembling and disbursement of bikes and other expensive toys and even gets to serve as an escort but so far he hasn’t gotten a new nickname.

 

 

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A Prayer:

Dear God, Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life. Remove the have nots, the can nots, and the do nots that I have in my mind. Erase the will nots, maynots, and might nots that find a home in my heart. Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life. And most of all, dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind all of the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough. Amen. (Author known to God but not to me)