Newsletter – Dec 2014
Congregational Connections
December 6th – Christmas on the Common
Tree Lighting 6-6:30 followed by free Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. here in our sanctuary.
The program, “Hope of the Broken World,” directed by Mrs. Linda Cross of the East Brookfield Baptist Church is performed by the Christian Community Choir. The choir consists of some 70 voices from many area churches including Brookfield Congregational Church, East Brookfield Baptist Church, First Congregational Churches of Leicester & North Brookfield, Lowell Assembly of God, Mary Queen of the Rosary, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, St. Anne’s & St. John the Baptist Catholic Churches, & The First United Methodist Church of Spencer. A collation will follow the performance provided by the Women’s Association. Please contact Judy Ivel, Cindy Lapointe or Marie Frascolla to sign up to bake or contribute.
Keeping Christ in Christmas
You are warmly invited to join us as we prepare for the coming of the Christ child, and then to celebrate his arrival. The Advent / Christmas season is so beautiful at First Congregational Church. Each Sunday of Advent (beginning 11/30), an Advent candle is lit and someone shares on the theme of the day. On Christmas Eve at 11 p.m. there will be a service of lessons and carols, with beautiful music and candlelight Readers and candle lighters are needed for Christmas Eve, so please contact Pastor Doreen if you would like to participate. Good readers of all ages are welcome. If you have friends or family members who do not have a church, Christmas is a wonderful time to invite them to experience worship at First Congregation. And if your path has taken you some distance from FCC, I hope you have found or will seek a faith community in which to satisfy your hunger, not only for Christmas, but for Christ our Lord. Merry Christmas.
Advent Offering
Enclosed in the newsletter is an envelope addressed to the church. This is for those who are interested in making an offering to the church in honor of Advent and Christmas. Blessings to all.
A Note from the Pastor
Grace and peace to you, my friends. When you receive this newsletter, we will just have entered into the season of Advent, which is the beginning of the liturgical year. This is in contrast to the calendar year, where we are at its end. It reminds me that the ancient Hebrews understood the start of a new day to be at dusk (“In the beginning… there was evening, and there was morning, the first day”–Gn 1). The Church begins a new year in the time of long nights and short days, increasing cold and decreasing warmth. It is a time to tuck in and wait.
What are we waiting for? On the surface, we are waiting for Christmas Day, the day we remember and celebrate that God came to be with us in the form of a man – Jesus. Jesus came to proclaim that the Kingdom of God has come, and is within and among us. But the waiting we begin in Advent continues long after the Christmas season, as we await the return of Christ to proclaim that the Kingdom has come in completeness; that God’s reign of love and mercy encompasses all – past, present and future. And this holy time of waiting asks more of us than crawling under the covers waiting for the days to lengthen, and the light and warmth to increase. It asks us to prepare. It asks us to help bring about an increase of light and warmth, of love and mercy.
For centuries and centuries, people had been waiting for the kingdom of God to come. They had certain ideas about what that would look like, and we can read some of these imaginings in scripture. They thought it would be a dramatic and triumphant ousting of the worldly, oppressive powers – shock and awe. But Jesus defied every expectation. When God came to dwell among us, God took the form of a tiny, helpless infant, born to humble people in a backwater town in Galilee. I wonder how the ancient Israelites waited and prepared for the coming of the Messiah. There were offerings and prayer. Prophets called the people to repent, to prepare for the wrath of God. They built a grand Temple in Jerusalem. They fought battles and studied diligently how best to follow the law. Did any of this help them to recognize the presence of God in the Christ Child, or did these things obscure their vision of what God was really doing?
Do we have certain expectations of how the full coming of the Kingdom – the return of Christ – will look? Are we anticipating a dramatic scene of judgment? It might be wise to adjust our expectations of what is to come based on what happened previously – that God will defy our expectations. Perhaps we would do best to look for signs of the growing Kingdom in the most unexpected places, in humble people. It might look more like vulnerability than power, more like love than judgment.
In this season of waiting, may you make room in your hearts for vulnerability, your own and that of others. And when it is time to celebrate again the birth of Christ into this world, remember that our waiting isn’t over, that there is more light and truth and love and mercy to break into this world, and God graciously invites us to be part of it. May you say yes, and rejoice.
Blessings,
Pastor Doreen
Share the Spirit this Advent
Christmas Season
Our alternative Sunday evening service continues through the holidays, meeting the second and fourth Sunday each month at 5:00 p.m. The next gathering on December 14 will be a PICK-UP CHRISTMAS PAGEANT. Whoever comes will be invited (not required) to put on a simple costume and take part in the telling of the story of the birth of baby Jesus. For this service we will meet in the Sanctuary. There will be Christmas carols and candlelight and much rejoicing. This will be the only pageant that the church will have this year, and we’d love for YOU to be part of it.
If you know for sure that you will come, and you are willing to participate in the pageant, please let Doreen know as it will help with the planning (e-mail to pastorfccleicester@verizon.net or call 508-892-3274. But feel free to just show up if you find you are free on Dec. 14 at 5 p.m.
Bible / Book Study
• Monday evening group will meet December 1, then break until January 19.
• Wednesday morning group will meet on December 10, then break until January 21. This group is open to new participants at any time (meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 10:30).
• Thursday evening group meets December 11, then breaks until January 22. This group meets monthly (varied schedule,
6 pm) in N. Brookfield (carpool from Leicester) and is open to anyone who wants to read and discuss a faith-themed book.
Please let Doreen know if you are interested, and she will let you know the next book selection.
Scholarship Application
It’s that time for the Dorothy Warren Scholarship. Applications may be obtained from the pastor. The first semester of school must be completed, and the application returned by December 31.
Women’s Association December 3
We will attend the Holiday Brown Bag Concert at Mechanics Hall.
We have 3 tables of 8 reserved on the floor. Performing will be the New England Conservatory Symphonic Winds & Concert Choir. The concert is free. Lunch is being arranged by Judy Ivel and costs $5.00, please bring your own drink though.
Make your reservation & pay Judy as soon as possible.
We will car pool from the church leaving at 11:00 a.m. that day. Concert begins at 12 noon sharp!
There will be no meeting in January, and the February meeting, on February 4, will be held at the church, where we will hear more about Norma Dodge’s mission trips.
IT’S SNOW-TIME! Worship Cancellation Procedure
The pastor, deacon and trustee will consult by 7:30 am on the day of the worship service to determine if the worship service must be cancelled or postponed due to inclement weather. Consideration will be given to travel advisories, weather outlook, and the condition of the church itself (i.e. confirm there is heat and electricity and that the parking lot and walkways will be cleared).
Regardless of whether or not worship is officially cancelled, all parishioners, staff and leaders are urged to make their own decision based on their individual circumstances: safety is our first priority.
Any worship or Sunday school leader unable to be present can notify Rev. Doreen via her cell (978-846-6498). By 8 am, information regarding the canceling or continuing of worship will be left on the outgoing voicemail. All staff and lay leaders are advised to check the outgoing voicemail for the information. If the power is out, the answering machine won’t be activated, and worship is likely cancelled. People may also call the parsonage in that situation for confirmation (508-859-8060). If the decision is made to cancel or postpone the service, calls will be attempted to the following individuals, but they should also check church voicemail: Organist and Choir, the Deacons of the day, any individuals participating actively in the service (e.g. special guests and worship attendants).
Hope for Housing Shopping Cards
We have joined with Christ Episcopal Church in supporting this worthy program. Hope for Housing is a non-profit program developed by the Interfaith Coalition to Prevent Family Homelessness. By simply purchasing cards for stores that you already frequent, you can make a difference. The stores donate a percentage of the purchase price to Hope for Housing, and it costs you nothing!
Here’s the process: ask Doreen to be included on the e-mail list. You will receive an e-mail each Tuesday of available cards. If you wish to purchase cards that week, respond to the e-mail by Thursday. Bring or send a check for the cost of the card by / on Sunday, and pick up your card at church. If you can’t make it to church that week, the card will be held until the next Sunday, or contact Doreen to make other pick up arrangements.
Panera$10, $25; CVS $10 and $20; Big Y $25, $50, $100; Shaws $25, $50, $100; Stop& Shop $25, $50, $100; Hannaford$10, $25, $50, $100.
Order Your Christmas Poinsettia – Deadline Dec 14
Christmas Poinsettias: FCC is taking orders for beautiful poinsettia plants. The orders are delivered to the church to decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas, then can be taken home Christmas eve. Please contact Marie Frascolla at 508-892-0038 to order, or fill out the order form in the Sunday Order of Worship.
Colors available: red, white and pink. Prices: Single $9.85, Double $19.50, Triple $29.50.
FCC Driving Ministry
We have several people in our church who do not drive at night, or at all, but hate missing the wonderful events at the church, such as the Christmas Tree Lighting and Concert, or Christmas Eve worship.
If you plan to attend an event and would be willing to provide a ride to the church and/or back home to someone in need, please let Pastor Doreen know and she will arrange the connection. And please let her know if there’s an event you’d like to attend, and need a ride.
Worcester Fellowship Outreach
December 28
We are scheduled as lunch providers for Worcester Fellowship, and all are invited to go help serve lunch and then stay for worship behind Worcester City Hall beginning at 1 p.m.
The signup sheet for donations to the lunch will be out in Russell Hall on Dec. 14 and 21. In addition to food donations, white socks, mittens, gloves, hats and scarves are always needed. Contributions to this effort are greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your support.
Survey Results
As you may recall, the Pastoral Relations Committee tucked something extra in the October newsletter – a survey requesting your thoughtful input and response to this question: Do you think the newsletter section entitled “A Note from the Pastor” is a suitable venue for discussion of racial, economic and LGBT issues?
The committee was delighted when 31 surveys were returned! Here’s what you thought: 23 of you felt that, yes, it is an appropriate venue; 7 of you said no; and 1 reader replied “no opinion.” We were also very pleased to see that only five surveys had no comments at the bottom. This means that almost 84% of you felt the question was important enough to include an explanation of why you responded as you did.
After the PRC had done its work and gone over every survey, they were given to Pastor Doreen so she could see the results and read the comments. On November 9 Doreen met with the PRC after worship for discussion and reflection.
As to the raffle, no one ever came forward with the winning ticket, so on November 9 we drew again. The winning ticket number is 817844. If you hold this ticket, please call Ellie at 508-885-6021 by December 9. If no one claims the gift card by that time, it will be returned to Pastor Doreen, who had donated it.
The PRC would like to thank all 31 survey respondents who took the time to help us out. Your comments were respectful, thought-provoking, heart-felt, and could very well become springboards for future discussions during our fellowship time after worship.
Pastoral Relations Committee:
Jackie Henderson, Len Ivel, Ellie Latham
Adult Spiritual Retreat – Discovering God’s Will Together
Friday, February 20, 2015, 5:00 p.m. – Saturday, Feb. 21, 5:00 PM
A Christian Spiritual Formation Retreat to discern where God is calling you in your life; seek God’s guidance in the midst of difficult decisions; give you practices to keep your cup overflowing; help you live your life and make decisions from a spiritually grounded place; discover spiritual tools for the ups and downs of life.
This 2- day long retreat is intended for people in all stages on the spiritual path (clergy and lay). Whether you feel like a beginner, or a long-time traveler, you will find nourishment here for your soul. Facilitated by Rev. Matt Carriker and Rev. Susie Allen. Come to explore, come to deepen, come to expand, and come to open.
Cost: $135 if you register BEFORE December 10, 2014. Price includes 2 meals (breakfast and lunch on Saturday, snacks, overnight accommodations at Edwards House and linens.) Late registration fees to be determined. Register on-line at www.macucc.org. Financial Assistance is available – See Pastor Doreen.
You Did It Again!
You took up the challenge to collect 150 canned pasta meals for the Food Banks’ annual Thanksgiving baskets. The results are 208 cans collected! Another goal not only met but SHATTERED! Thank you for your generosity and support of this challenge.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. By Melody Beattie
Mission Moment
On Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, the Missions Committee met to discuss the disbursement of funds in the amount of $1,053.00. After thoughtful discussion we decided upon giving $500.00 (50%) to the MAUCC with the designation of “Neighbors In Need” and the remaining $553.00 to our local “Hearts for Heat Organization”. These funds represent mission money collected through our weekly pledge envelopes during the previous fiscal year of June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014. Thank you to all those who have allowed us to extend a helping hand to those in need in the greater community.
Blessings,
Cindy LaPointe, Deb Entwistle, Ken Latham & Rev. Doreen Oughton
In Our Prayers
Never underestimate the power of prayer. You are invited, as you read this, to add your prayers for those listed. Take a moment to breathe in God’s Spirit, and channel your good will and hopes to each person or situation named. You might imagine them surrounded by a healing light, or held in God’s hand. May this simple practice fill you with peace and hope.
– For Peggy, who is still having health issues, prayers for healing of body and relationships.
– For Jack who has cancer.
– For all those suffering with depression and substance abuse.
– For our women and men in the military.
– For our homeless, in hopes they find warm and comfort through this winter.
– For those who are lonely this holiday season, that they find ways to connect.
– For Geri, who is so brave in facing new challenges and limitations. May she know how loved and supported she is, and how grateful people are to return to her some of the love she has shown others all her life.
– For Anna that she might have relief from the constant pain she is in and that her nausea will subside so that she can take in some much needed nourishment.
Collector’s Report
Loose Offerings Envelopes/Pledges Special-NIN Totals
11-02 $ 40.00 $1,178.00 $ 5.00 $1,223.00
11-09 $ 37.00 $ 443.00 $ 480.00
11-16 $ 27.00 $ 578.00 $ 605.00
Totals $ 104.00 $2,199.00 $ 5.00 $2,308.00
