Newsletter March 2015
The First Congregational Church of Leicester
March 2015 Issue
Maundy Thursday Service of Tenebrae and Communion: Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. Come hear the story of the Last Supper and the events that followed.
Good Friday Stations for Reflection: Friday, April 3. The deacons are once again hosting a time of quiet reflection with seven stations to engage you in prayer, in thanksgiving, in reflection. The Sanctuary will be open from noon through 8 p.m. Drop by at any time, stay as long as you like. I am confident you will find it moving, and will draw you into the gift of Jesus’ great love for us.
Easter Sunday: April 5. Come celebrate the Good News of Christ’s resurrection. The Sanctuary will be adorned with spring flowers and it will be a joyful occasion. Please join us if you can, and invite a friend or family member. It’s a great season to share the good news.
Easter Flowers
Each year we offer you the opportunity to order flowers at reasonable prices for Easter that will be used to decorate the Sanctuary on Easter morning, and then can be taken home to give away or enjoy. There is a wide selection, including lilies, mums, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in several colors and sizes (except the lilies are white and the daffodils are what they are). You may dedicate the flowers in memory of someone or in honor of someone, and this will be noted on an insert in the order of worship on Easter morning. Order forms will be available beginning March 22, either in the order of service or in Russell Hall. Or you can contact Marie Frascolla at 508-892-0038.
Lent/Easter Offering
For those wishing to make a special contribution in honor of Lent/Easter, there is a donation envelope enclosed. May your sacrifice bring you many blessings, as it blesses First Congregational Church.
Sunday Morning Lenten Reflections – Speakers Needed!
We’ve been so blessed to have people willing to share their thoughts in worship during the special seasons of Advent and Lent. This year I am asking that reflections focus on the seven attitudes / mindsets that lead us away from God’s kingdom, and contrast them with the seven mindsets that lead us into the kingdom. The three pairs still available to speak on are pride/humility, greed/generosity, envy/gratitude. Dates available are March 8, 22 and 29. The reflection can be quotes from someone else, an academic perspective, or personal sharing, or some combination. Please let Doreen know ASAP if you are interested.
Community Christian Choir: The Journey
First Congregational is well-represented by four of us in this program that unites about 50 people form over 15 churches for an uplifting musical performance inspired by Jesus’ journey to the cross, made in such love. There are three showings (all, four, but one is on Easter morning and I want you to be at FCC for worship) FREE and open to the public.
Friday, March 27th 7 PM at St. John the Baptist Church in E. Brookfield
Sunday, March 29th at 4 PM at United Methodist Church in Spencer
Sunday, April 12th at 2 PM at The Overlook in Charlton
It is a great way to move into the Easter season. Hope you will come and see and hear.
A Note from the Pastor
I am writing this in the last week of February, two-thirds of the way through what the calendar tells us is winter. Yes, according to the calendar, winter Is a season no longer than any other, just three out of twelve months. And the other nine months are abundant with blessing – the bursting new life of spring, the warmth and relaxation of summer, the beautiful colors and brisk air of autumn. Yet for many of us, those seasons seem to fly by as winter drags on and on. It is a loooong season. And February is definitely the longest month, no matter what the calendar says.
I can’t help but make the comparison to the liturgical seasons. The seasons of preparation and waiting are the four weeks of Advent and six and a half weeks of Lent. So about ten weeks out of fifty-two. We spend twelve days celebrating Christmas, and seven weeks celebrating Easter, with occasional special celebration days throughout the year, including monthly Communion. And yet the more somber periods feel much longer.
Just as winter invites us to hunker down, take care of things at home, maybe declutter, dust the cobwebs away, so does Lent invite us to dwell inward with an eye to clearing out some of the messes in our hearts, souls and minds. The mounds of snow, the icy and slushy walkways demand that we take care when we step out. We must move slowly, proceed cautiously, ease onto the road, test the ground as we step forward. Along with our inward examination during Lent, we might look more closely at our relationship – considering the impact our words and actions have on others, and proceeding more gently.
We need breaks from the hardships of winter – whether it is getting away somewhere warm for several days, going to a garden show, or watching a clip of flowers blooming on Facebook. We need reminders that winter will pass; that the snow will melt (but probably not by Easter); that spring, summer and fall will have their time. Winter will complete its work and make way for new life. Likewise in Lent we need reminders that the resurrection has come and is coming, that forgiveness and mercy are already ours. We get “mini Easters” each Sunday in Lent; we break bread at Christ’s table; we take a break from looking inward and look outward, sharing our gifts, our time, our reflections, our laughter. Lent will complete its work, making way for new life in Christ, and we will rejoice and give thanks. Praise God.
Blessings, Pastor Doreen
Blanket Month Has Been Extended
Have a Heart- Give a Blanket
Church World Service says the $5.00 blanket is the basic concept of every disaster response program. When people are homeless, cold and alone, a warm woolen blanket provides both primary protection as well as shelter. Your $5.00 donation will provide that blanket to someone who needs one, here in the US and around the world.
Checks made payable to: First Congregational Church of Leicester Note: Blankets
Can be placed in the collection plate or checks/cash can be given directly to Nancy Desautels
Bunny Day Cancellation
We all know what a difficult winter this has been and, unfortunately, we have decided to cancel our Bunny Day Celebration this year. Assuming the front lawn will be encased in snow for some time, difficulties accessing the building, and key people not being with us for that day, the decision to cancel our festivities this year seemed the only answer.
In order to fulfill our purpose regarding this event (collecting food and donations for the Leicester Food Bank), it was decided to hold another “food challenge” as well as collecting prewrapped candy, plastic eggs, small toys and games, etc., to donate to their tables where parents can make a basket for their children according to their age and likes/dislikes or possible allergies. If you have already purchased items or wish to provide something to our collection boxes, we will gratefully deliver them to the Food Bank along with our “Food Challenge” canned hams near the end of the month. You will find further information regarding the food challenge elsewhere in this newsletter.
We sincerely thank you for your continued generosity for this worthy mission and feeding the needy in body and soul.
Food Pantry Challenge for
Feb and March
Thank you all so much for all you do for the Leicester Food Pantry!
Once again they are in need of help for Easter baskets. Specifically; 1lb hams – are you up for the challenge? They fill 150 Easter Baskets for families in need.
Also, something a little less challenging but oh so important to the wee-folk, if you would like to donate small packets of candy or small toys (coloring books, crayons, stickers, etc.) for the kids Easter Baskets, that would be awesome! Leicester Food Pantry puts Easter baskets, grass, and small candy or small toys along a table and asks the paents to fill them for their age appropriate children.
We have until March 24th to achieve our goal. Once again, thank you!!
Moving Forward
Our Next Meeting with Church Consultant Rev. Dr. Betsy Waters
March 15 after worship (11:30 a.m.) Upstairs
It was a wonderful session on Feb. 1, as we learned more about world-wide shifts in church attendance, participation and perception. We discussed FCC history, our strengths and challenges, and our visions. We were given an important assignment: to talk to our neighbors. Each person was asked to talk to people in our lives – family, friends, neighbors, service providers – and ask what they need. This is a listening exercise, and we do not need to frame it as “what can the church do for you?” We are just listening carefully for what people are longing for, or are missing in their lives, especially people in this community. One suggestion was to sit in a coffee shop and offer to buy a cup of coffee for anyone who will answer your question. There are lots of ways to go about it, and we can share ideas. But there is also a deadline, so let us get going.
Again, all are urged to attend. We need your voice, your perspective, your participation, and your prayers. There will be food to tide you over. Please come.
Super Saturday: Saturday, March 21
Join hundreds of delegates, pastors and lay leaders from all over the Massachusetts Conference for a day of worship and workshops. Saturday, March 1 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Ludlow High School. See the Mass Conference website (www.macucc.org) for information about workshops offered. Let Pastor Doreen know if you are interested in attending, and she will register everyone together for a discount.
Christ Episcopal Church in Rochdale will once again be hosting a food-packing event this spring, and would love for it to continue as an ecumenical effort. The packing event is scheduled for May 17, and the fund-raising efforts have begun. There is an anonymous donor willing to match FCC donations 2:1 up to $600, and the coin collector has been set out in the back of the Sanctuary. Paper money and/or checks should be put in a separate envelope and/or marked “Stop Hunger Now.”
The Pastoral Relations Committee has been focusing on evaluating Pastoral Care Ministries. Pastoral Care includes funerals, weddings, baptisms, hospital and home visits, crisis situations, and counseling. We have completed all our interviews however, we have had many trials and challenges to meet as a committee. We are hoping by the time you read this, the committee will have met and also met with Pastor Doreen then we will present a formal report to the Council at the next Council meeting. Thank you to all for your candid and confidential conversations with us. Especially, we would like to thank Pastor Doreen for not only her patience (it has been almost a year waiting for an evaluation) but for her passion, heartfelt teaching, and ministering with FCC! We are so fortunate and blessed.
The Pastoral Relations Committee welcomes your questions, concerns and comments at any time. While we encourage open communications with Pastor Doreen and with us, we also respect confidentially. We can be reached at: Jackie 508-637-1040; Len 508-892-3321; Ellie 508-885-6021.
Faith Formation: Sunday, March 8 and 22
“Share the Spirit” – Engaging Worship and Faith Formation, 5 pm Sunday, at the First Congregational Church of Leicester, 1 Washburn Square. The March 8 gathering includes a meal and Communion held in our Fellowship Hall. Please call the church at 508-892-3274 to let us know you are coming. This alternative worship service is held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month. It was developed with busy families in mind, and all who would appreciate a briefer, less formal, and more active worship experience combined with creative expression or deeper faith discussions. Come check it out!! Bring a friend!!
Feedback sought:
We are considering the schedule of this alternative service past April. Given conflicts with Mother’s Day and the Memorial Day weekend in May, we will not hold the service on the 2nd and 4th Sundays that month. If there is enough interest, we would hold one service on May 17, the 3rd Sunday of the month. We are unsure if people would be interested in attending over the summer, maybe once a month, say the 4th Sunday each month through August.
Please e-mail the pastor (pastorfccleicester@verizon.net) to let her know if you would or would not be likely to attend in May, June, July, August. The program will likely resume on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in September. But it would be so helpful to know if there is interest out there. Thank you.
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 hands. May this simple practice fill you with peace and hope.
• For all mourning the passing of Edie Henderson, who was a faithful member not only of the church but of the choir for many, many years. She is survived by her seven children and their families, including Jackie Henderson, who continues her parents’ legacy of sharing her musical gift. We trust that Edie and Charlie continue to make a joyful noise in heaven.
• For Our church. That we may discover and embrace the direction in which God is steering us.
• For Nancy; some much needed alone time to renew her energy so she can continue to care for her husband, Dick as his health continues to decline
• For Karl, nephew of Ken and Nancy Desautels, and his family as he battles cancer for the second time
• For Teresa, Doreen’s sister, who is undergoing chemotherapy
• For families with stressed relationships; for the homeless Earth creatures from people to animals
• For Ellie and Ken Latham on the death of their friend Hetty Lambert, and for Hetty and family.
Hope For Housing Grocery Cards
If you would like to participate in the program, but don’t often make it to church, please contact Pastor Doreen to make arrangements. It costs you nothing extra, and 5% of all purchases goes to help the homeless. Cards are available for Big Y, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Shaws, CVS and Panera. Checks for the purchases are made out to Hope for Housing.
Thank you for the Sacred Conversation on Race
It was a snowy day, so worship attendance was low, but nearly everyone who came to worship stayed for the conversation 
afterwards. Rev. Cynthia Maybeck gave a wonderful sermon based on the radical inclusiveness of Jesus in calling the disciples, and her own process of awakening to the legacy of racism in cherished places, events and people. We then moved to Russell Hall for a general conversation about race and racism. People shared their questions and perspectives in a respectful way. It took courage to open up about this difficult and painful topic, and I bless all of you who entered in. I look forward to continuing this and other difficult conversations as we seek to grow in understanding and compassion for each other and the world. Thank you, Pastor Doreen
Collector’s Report
Loose Offerings Envelopes/Pledges Special Totals
01-18 $ 18.00 $ 588.00 $ 6.00 * $ 612.00
01-25 $ 16.00 $ 377.00 $ 2.00 * $ 395.00
02-01 $ 37.00 $ 1,179.00 $ 4.00 * $1,220.00
02-08 $ 8.00 $ 58.00 $ 66.00
02-15 SNOW – Church Cancelled
02-22 $ 25.00 $ 784.00 $809.00
Totals $ 104.00 $2,986.00 $ 12.00 $ 3,102.00
*Initial
