June/July 2019 Newsletter
Representing our church in Boston Pride Parade
Congregational Connections
The First Congregational Church of Leicester June/July 2019 Issue
Boston Pride Parade
Proudly marching with our sign
A contingent of six people from FCC will join the Massachusetts Conference group of UCC Open and Affirming Churches on Saturday, June 8. The theme of the parade is “looking back, loving forward.” We’ll start by attending worship at Old South Church, which includes music from the Gay Men’s Chorus, and preaching by Rev. Quinn Caldwell. Then we head out for the 2.27 mile walk from Copley to City Hall Plaza, where a festival continues through the day. We’ll march behind the Massachusetts Conference banner, but will carry a sign with our church’s name on it. We are so excited to be part of this event, celebrating the huge step we took this year in becoming an open and affirming church.
Stewardship Committee – 2019/2020
We would like to say THANK YOU to all who made the financial commitment to the church and filled out a pledge card for the upcoming fiscal year. “Growing as Stewards in Faith, Hope and Love” was our theme this year and in our annual letter we reiterated ways of what the church means to you. If you did not receive one or a pledge card please let us know. To date, we have received 16 pledges totaling $22,912.00 and 7 missions totaling $1,312.00. Once again, THANK YOU ALL – we are indeed blessed.
Annual Reports are Due!
Please get non-financial reports to Brielle (briellemacd@gmail.com) by June 2, and financial reports by June 9. We’d like to have the completed Annual Meeting Report ready for people to take home on June 16.
Annual Meeting Notice: June 23
To all members and officers of the First Congregational Church of Leicester: On Sunday, June 23, 2019, the annual meeting of the church will take place beginning at noon in Russell Hall.
Purpose: To hear the annual reports, to vote on the budget and the nominating slate, and any other business that may come before the church.
There will be a pot-luck lunch before beginning the meeting. Please sign up in Russell Hall on or by June 16 to bring a dish (or call the church).
Member Dues Requested ASAP
As we noted in last month’s newsletter and in the weekly bulletin, the church pays $21.65 to the UCC Association and Conference Dues. We ask individual members to pay as they can towards these dues, separate from the pledge to this church. We hope to send a check to the Association by the end of June and receipts by then would be most appreciated. Checks can be made out to First Cong. Church with notation “UCC Dues,” put in the offering plate. Thanks so much.
A Note from the Pastor
Grace and peace to you, my friends. This year we celebrate the Tricentennial (or Tercentennial – 300th anniversary) of the First Congregational Church of Leicester. According to our booklet, The Meeting House on Strawberry Hill, published for the 250th anniversary, “in compliance with Massachusetts Bay authority, Leicester’s town government and the early settlers were held accountable for ‘a meeting house, a minister and his support,’” which led to a meeting house to be built in 1719 on the corner of forty acres reserved for the ministry, and the call of its first pastor, David Parsons, who served for 16 years. Church business was conducted as part of Town Meeting until 1794, and the church was supported by poll taxes through 1869.
So much has changed over these 300 years. We worship in the fourth edifice established for that purpose, and the town / Commonwealth no longer collects a poll tax on our behalf (though we remain a tax-free entity). The ties between church and state, so tight at the beginning, have been all but severed. We went from being the First Congregational Church to being the Federated Church and back again. The first worshipers had to build their own pews, and worshiped segregated by gender – females on the west, males on the east. Now we have plenty of pews for choosing, accommodating the many who like to sit in the back 😊. Not only is worship integrated, but so are the committees and all work of the church. Back in 1969, there was still notable segregation of tasks, with officers (except clerk), deacons, trustees, nominating and pulpit supply all male; and clerk, coffee, visiting and flowers the purview of women. There was some mixing of the genders in religious education and music. I wonder what changes would have been anticipated in 1969, in 1869, in 1794, in 1719; and what changes would have shocked people of other times.
We’ve made a great start in our planning for celebration – visual displays, some recorded interviews, a time capsule, and a special worship service in October. It’s a great time to think about what and who we have been as a church – before we got here and during our time here. For some of us, that spans 7-8 decades, for others less. And it’s a great time to think about where we are going, who we want to be, who God is calling us to be as a church. We are not a museum, but a living body of Christ. We can look back and celebrate the past for a moment, but our focus must be forward, anticipating change, being open to God’s call, even if it doesn’t sound the same as it used to.
I was thinking about how charming it can be to see an old one-room schoolhouse. There was one in Westford, where I raised my children, and there was a field trip where they all dressed in period costumes and learned what school was like in the olden days. It was an informative and fun historical lesson, but I would have been horrified had there been any efforts to return to those ways of educating our children. The purpose of “school” is to educate people for the world they will enter. Likewise, the purpose of “church” is to bring God’s love and justice to the world we live in today, not the world of 1719 or 1969 or even 2009. It is important to honor and celebrate our past and our persistence as a church, but longing for the good old days doesn’t help us further our mission for today or tomorrow. Instead we can identify the values we want to carry forward, and do the work of understanding that some of the things that felt right and good to us may have been harmful to others (i.e. gender segregation of roles; support through taxes).
Will we exist as a worshiping body at this site in another 300 years? No one can say. It is a time of great change for the institution of Church. But I believe it is not our call to focus on that question, but instead we must ask “are we a meaningful expression of the Body of Christ for today?” and “What must / can / may we do to get or stay so now and in the near future?” We deserve to pause and celebrate, but are called to keep changing.
Blessings,
Food Pantry
For the month of June and July, we will be collecting the following items:
• Condiments (mayo, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, salad dressings)
• Kid friendly juice boxes
• Peanut butter snack crackers
Women’s Association
Installation & Luncheon June 5, 12 noon, Hartman’s Herb Farm in Barry. Carpools leave from the church at 11 a.m.
Pastoral Relations Committee- 2018/2019
We have been having quarterly meetings, as requested by Pastor Doreen. In February we discussed that ONA went well. We talked about a new committee for the signage as some members have talked about. Foremost at every PRC meeting, we asked Pastor Doreen how visitations are progressing. If you know of someone that needs pastoral care; a visit or phone call, please let her know. In April, nothing was brought to our attention, so we discussed a retreat, visitations, and the 300th anniversary this year. We welcome your concerns, questions and comments at any time as this is what we are here for. While encourage concerns communication with Pastor Doreen, you also can contact us. Confidentiality is our utmost concern.
Ellie Latham
Carol Mulrain
Bonnalee Bohlman
Ellie Latham 508-885-6021 or elliemay2222@gmail.come
Carol Mulrain 508-867-3741 or mulsey@charter.net
Bonnalee Bohlman 508-755-6743 or bonnalee20@charter.net
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 Sue Olivo and the Children’s Church program, in thanks for all she has done, and that the program continues to nurture our children and becomes a beacon for other children in the community.
– For Alex and Michelle Brownewell, as they undertake the tasks of moving back to Portland, Maine. We have been blessed to walk with them for this portion of their journey, and pray the move brings many blessings.
– For FCC that it continues to listen and respond to God’s call, that people encounter Christ here, in worship, in service, in each other.
– Prayers for exploited children.
– Prayers for those suffering with dementia and their caregivers.
– Prayers for Judy in her recovery to good health.
Souper bowl Tuesday Lunches Update
I am thrilled to report that First Congregational Church sent a check to the Leicester Food pantry for $459.60 gathered from donations made during the Lenten Souper bowl lunches. While the soup lunch was free, there was a donation basket for “free will offerings” on the table every week. Our lunch guests not only enjoyed delicious home cooked soup and conversation, they gave generously In support of the food pantry. Another round of thanks to those who helped in any way. You are so loved and appreciated.
June / July 2019
The First Congregational Church of Leicester P. O. Box 122 1 Washburn Square
Leicester, MA 01524-0122
