December 2015 Issue
The First Congregational Church of Leicester
Telephone: 508-892-3274 www.leicesterfcc.org
December 2015 Issue
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 11/29), an Advent candle is lit and someone shares on the theme of the day.
− On Sunday, December 20, there will be a pick-up pageant during worship. Come take part in the Christmas story, and enjoy the Christmas carols.
− 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.
A Note from the Pastor
Grace and peace and Merry Christmas, friends!
How wonderful to anticipate the glorious season of Christmas, to look forward to celebrating once again the birth of God into our broken world. Before we get to the celebration, we go through a time of preparation and waiting – the season of Advent. The days are getting colder and darker. Even when it is light out, the landscape is barren – bare trees, hard ground, nothing flowering, no signs of life. The birds have headed south. The children have stopped riding their bikes, and it is the season for many indoor sports. The angles of the sun seem harsher somehow. At the time I write this, the world is still reeling from the terrorist attacks in Paris, and struggling with the problem of the people from Syria seeking asylum. The American presidential campaign is in full gear, playing out with divisive attacks on opponents and appeals to the fears of the people. We experience physically, mentally and emotionally that these are dark days.
They were dark days in Israel over 2000 years ago, as there have always been. But 2000 years ago, a light came into the world, and the darkness cannot overcome it. Think about this truth of the relationship between darkness and light. If there is a source of light in a dark room, the light has defeated the darkness. You cannot really add darkness to eliminate the light. The light always wins.
Jesus is the light to our dark days. No matter how much death, sadness, hopelessness, hibernation, cold, fear or hatred we encounter, we have a source of light that cannot be overcome. When we worship together, the light grows stronger. When we pray, alone or together, the light grows stronger. When we act out of love rather than fear, the light goes stronger. We might turn from the light, close our eyes to the light, draw the blinds on the light, but we cannot extinguish it. This light was a gift from God, and it is stronger, steadier, and more true than anything else. It is always there when we are ready to open our eyes, pull up the blinds, turn towards it. The light of Christ is always there to guide and warm you. And isn’t that something to celebrate. Let the light of Jesus shine in your life. Merry Christmas.
This poem/prayer/reflection by Maren Tirrabasi was shared in worship on November 22, 2015
A few words, in sadness from the faith of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 for those who mourn in France
But we do not want you ignorant, my friends,
about those who went out to dinner
on a Friday night,
or to a heavy metal concert,
or to watch a soccer game.
None of these expected to die
to have their hope snatched away,
because they were playing
because they were making a Sabbath
with family and friends.
We would not have you grieve, my friends,
as those do who have no hope,
but we do want you to remember
and the next time
you lift a glass to a friend,
cheer for a goal,
sway to the music of a band you love —
feel how precious that life is
and honor the lives
of those who died in France,
knowing this — Jesus died and rose again
and God will gather each of these
to sit down at the table,
share the laughter of angels,
and win the joy of eternal life.
Order Your Christmas Poinsettia
Deadline December 13
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
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.
Christmas on the Common
December 5th
FREE Christmas Cantata at 7p.m. here in our sanctuary.
The program will be “JOY, JOY, JOY: Celebrating the Season, the Story, the Savior,” created by Deborah Craig-Claar & David T. Clydesdale and presented by the Christian Community Choir under the 
direction of Kathleen Hosterman. The choir is an ecumenical ministry with approximately fifty people representing some sixteen churches. A collation will follow the performance. Please contact Judy Ivel or Cindy Lapointe to sign up to bake, work or contribute in any way. Also singing with the choir this season are Jackie Henderson and Pastor Doreen. If you cannot make the performance in Leicester, the Cantata will be performed on Dec. 13, 27 and Jan. 10 in various locations. See one anyone listed for more information.
The tree on the Common will be lit without ceremony this year.
Inclement Weather Worship Cancellation Policy
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 canceled 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 canceled, all parishioners, staff and leaders are urged to make their own decision based on their individual circumstances: safety is our first priority.
Any worship 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 canceled. 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).
Women’s Association
We have 3 tables of 8 reserved for the floor at the Mechanics Hall Brown Bag Lunch Concert for Wednesday, December 2. There may be a few seats left, so contact Judy Ivel ASAP if you are interested. The concert is free, and lunch is provided by the Women’s Association for a $6.00 fee. Carpool leaves from the church promptly at 11. Doors open at 11:30, and the holiday concert begins at noon. Performing is the New England Conservatory Symphonic Winds and Concert Choir, with Navy Band Northeast. Please bring your own beverages.
The Women’s Association will not meet in December or January, and the February program is still to be decided. Stay tuned! And please support Worcester Fellowship through the winter season if you can, by donating white socks, mittens, gloves, hats and scarves. Merry Christmas, and God bless.
We were challenged to collect 150 cans of Dinty Moore Beef Stew for the food pantry’s Thanksgiving baskets and we completed it in record time. 172 cans were amassed in just about out three weeks.
A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped to put the GIVING in THANKSGIVING. We truly embody the nickname “the little church with the big heart.”
Deacon Carol Mulrain
Thank You One And All!
Thanks for another successful year. We could not have achieved our goal without all your generous giving of tremendous time and talent. Many hands contributed to our successful day.
Here is just a short list of what/who was involved: the planning committee of Judy Ivel and Cindy LaPointe; table heads and workers; the many merchants’ contributions; all the donations of baskets, toys, handmade items, food, and second hand treasures; all the busy hands creating so many wonderful Christmas treasures; the busy fingers crochet, knitted & sewn items for those cold winter days; the bakers; the country store goodies and the cooks with their talent. Together we created an old-fashioned country fair that was enjoyed by all who walked through our doors.
And thanks to all of you who did walk through the doors, supporting us with your purchases, raffle chances, kind comments, and with festive and positive spirits! Thank you all!
Marie Frascolla
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.
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 Cantata, 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 27
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. 13 and 20. 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.
Storytelling Workshop
On Sunday, October 25th, Deb Entwistle and I attended a workshop given by Cynthia Maybeck on bible storytelling. I went with reservations, imagining that I would have to stand up in front of a group and recite something from memory. (UGH) I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was so much fun!
Cynthia showed us how we could bring the bible alive by simply telling it like the story that it is. First, she read a passage as if she had just seen it for the first time before telling it to the congregation. She read slowly, intentionally stumbling over the complicated names and places. It drove home the point of being prepared to read and sounding like you’re familiar with the story so that people will want to listen and understand what you’re sharing with them.
Cynthia then passed out a copy of the same reading to all of us and we went around the circle, each saying one line. First we read it as fast as we could, then slowly, then with different emotions (eg. bossy, angry, sarcastic), and lastly, we SANG the line. Everyone was laughing and hamming it up. Then, we paired off and one partner read the story while the other listened. Then we traded places, each one helping the other to fill in the blank spaces we may have forgotten. We closed by sharing our experience of the class with each other.
The hour and a half went by so quickly. Deb and I talked the whole ride home about the class and how glad we were that we had decided to go. Cynthia gave us information about more in depth storytelling classes that are planned. If anyone would like to hear more about them, just speak to either Deb, myself or Pastor Doreen.
Deacon Carol Mulrain
