April 2011 Newsletter
CONGREGATIONAL CONNECTIONS
APRIL 2011 ISSUE
Maundy Thursday Service
THE LAST SUPPER
April 21st at 7 p.m with Tenebrae and Communion.
Readers are needed, so please let Pastor Doreen know if you are interested by April 17.
Easter Sunday Worship
April 24 at 10 AM
Please come and rejoice, celebrate the resurrection and the glorious homecoming that was begun, but is not yet finished, through Jesus Christ. Through him God cleared a path to our full reconciliation with God, with one another and with all of Creation.
Let us join together to sing praise and give thanks to the God who loves us so much to call to us this way, to call us to the fullness of our humanity, to our home in God’s love.
Worcester Fellowship Easter Lunch
Yes, we are the scheduled lunch providers for Worcester Fellowship. Quentin and Pastor Doreen, along with the Lathams, plan to stay and assemble the lunches, then enjoy Easter worship with WF. We understand that it is a day for family celebration for most.
It would be great if people are able to contribute food for the lunch, so please look for the signup sheet in Russell Hall on Palm Sunday, 4/17. Thanks for all you give. For more information on the work of Worcester Fellowship click here to view their home page.
Annual Reports Due
Last year at annual meeting the congregation voted to change our fiscal year to run from June 1 through May 30. The end of the year is fast approaching, and Committees can start working on their annual reports.
They are due the first week of June to allow preparation time for our Annual Meeting on June 26.
A Note from the Pastor
Greetings of peace to you, friends.
I promised in last month’s newsletter that I would update you on my Lenten Journey, including my progress on growing the church by becoming more aware of and responsive to the spiritual needs of the community. The Labyrinth Workshop was a great way to start the journey, as the workshop leaders encouraged us to think about something calling for our attention this season – the little pebble in your shoe – as we experienced the labyrinth. I thought about the things holding me back from getting out there in the community, things like self-consciousness, worries about how I will be perceived, uncertainty about how to go about it. While walking the labyrinth I became aware that my anxiety was about what I had to offer to others, and the pressure to have answers. It dawned on me that perhaps all I need to do when I go out is to be present. Instead of focusing on myself – what I have, who I am – I can focus on what is around me. I can listen for the questions and needs without worrying about whether I have an answer. So what I would like to take with me on the journey is a sense of sacred listening, full presence, and trust in God. What I would like to leave behind is self-absorption and perfectionism.
The Social Committee, charged with implementing ideas from the Church Growth Seminar, has scheduled its first meeting for March 30, but had not occurred at press time. I am eager for the exchange of ideas and to have people who will help me be accountable on this important journey. Blessings to all on your continued Lenten journey, and I hope to see you all at the Easter celebration.
Pastor Doreen
Supporting Our Church
I can’t say often enough what a giving and supportive congregation we have here at FCC. You are all very generous with your time and talents and treasure. I know you think about the support of our church all year ‘round. But we are coming to the time when you will be asked to make a financial commitment for the year ahead, allowing us to plan our budget.
Be on the lookout for a letter from the Stewardship Committee. We hope to have pledges in by May 15, when these commitments will be blessed during worship.
Welcome New Members!
For more pictures click here
On March 20 we welcomed four new members to our church family: Kim Carney, Bobby Grant, and Ellie and Ken Latham.
Ellie and Ken Latham live in Spencer, have been happily married for 38 years, have one daughter, Lauri, two grandchildren; Brent, 8 yrs old and Molly, 6 yrs old and two cats. Ken is a sheet metal mechanic, a musician (guitarist & mandolin), has a recording studio and enjoys reading, gardening and his grandkids! Ellie is Administrative Director for Worcester Fellowship, bookkeeper for Lake View Congregational Church, and enjoys backyard bird-watching, shopping sprees with her daughter, playing with her grandkids and springtime!
For the last three years, they both have been involved with Worcester Fellowship and came to know Pastor Doreen through WF. Since the fall of 2009, they have been worshipping with us sporadically while searching for a church home. While pursuing their spiritual growth and journey further, they started worshipping with us more frequently for the last year. They found FCC Leicester to be most welcoming, inviting, friendly, and people who care deeply for God and one another creating fellowship. They feel the worship experiences are inspiring, enriching and motivating. Ellie and Ken are looking forward to a long, happy, and spiritual relationship with FCC Leicester.
Kim Carney and Bobby Grant live in Leicester – Kim’s a native and Bobby a recent transplant from New York. They have been worshipping with us for about a year. Kim is a nurse and mother of three – Lilian, Devon and Arriana. Bobby just started at Walmart in shipping and receiving. Pastor Doreen is very excited to be the celebrant for their wedding this June.
Welcome to Our Family of Faith, Ethan Rodriguez!
Ethan Rodriguez Baptism
On March 13 Ethan, age 10 months, was brought by his parents, Peter and Heather (Sutter) Rodriguez to be baptized into the Christian faith and in covenant with FCC. They were joined by Ethan’s brothers and sister, as well as grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. It was a joyful celebration, and Ethan couldn’t get enough of the baptismal waters, reaching his hand out to splash in it. May blessings abundant fall on the Rodriguez family. For more pictures of the baptism click here
Sunday School News by Chris Cathcart
Video of the March 20th Children’s Sermon
Untitled from Deborah Arsenault on Vimeo.
Greetings everyone,
Between snow days and family illness, the Sunday school is slightly behind in the curriculum, so we WILL hold class on April 3 rather than staying in worship as we usually do on the first of the month. We will all celebrate Easter together in worship on April 24.
The Core Truths are beginning their studies about Jesus. The topics will be covered in this order:
• “Jesus’ Birth.”
• “More than Mr. Nice Guy”
• “Jesus’ Suffering and Death”.
• “The Resurrection”.
The High-Pointers will begin their studies on Hope. The topics will be covered in this order:
• “What is Hope?”
• “What if my hope doesn’t match God’s plans?”
• “What happens when I lose hope?”
• “Can I have hope when others disappoint me?”
• “What is the greatest thing I can hope for?”
We will be “traveling” to New York City and learning these lessons through the Bible stories that begin with Palm Sunday and end with Jesus rising.
The Boz kids will begin their Easter lessons in the section “Jesus is Alive!” They will play games, make crafts, listen to stories, and have lots of fun.
Pot Luck Lunch and Family Games
Sunday, April 3 after worship
• If your last name begins with A-L, please bring a side dish or dessert.
• If it begins with M-Z, please bring a main dish to share.
And by all means bring your favorite family game.
Save Your Stuff!!
When cleaning out the house/garage this spring, think of the Church. We need good stuff for a big Yard Sale on the side lawn.
We also need volunteers to help organize your treasures and work that day. Anyone interested in helping in any way with this project, be it with treasures or labor, should contact Judy Ivel 892-3321 or Cindy Lapointe at 885-9875.
PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE ORGAN FUND
SAVE THE DATE:
Church Yard Sale
May 21st, 2011
Paxton Street Side Lawn
Clip-on Bow Ties Needed
The ladies of the Christmas room at the Church Fair are working on some projects early this year. They are looking for donations of – clip on bow ties! Not your good ones but ones you might toss away. They will be disassembling the bow ties and using the “metal bow tie clip” itself. Please contact Judy Ivel at 892-3321 or bring to church.
Service of Prayer for Healing of the World: April 5
Tuesday, April 5, 7:00 p.m. There has been so much happening in the world, near and far. In the past several weeks we have been global witnesses to earthquakes, floods, civil uprisings, and the threat of nuclear disaster. Closer to home we have faced soaring energy prices, the recent tragic death of a 4-year-old, as well as on-going economic, environmental and personal health concerns. What better time to turn to God, to bring our worries, our despair, our aching hearts into the comforting hope and promise of our faith. Prayer matters, and there is power in communal prayer. Please join us for this time of candlelight, music, petitions to God on behalf of the world, and comfort in our unity.
UCC Connections
On Saturday, March 5, Quentin Lewis, Chris Cathcart and Jim Cathcart attended the Conference Super Saturday. Here are reports on the workshops they attended.
From Quentin:
For me, “Super Saturday” lives up to its name! I attended sessions titled “Demographics – Your Changing Community”, and “Telling The Story”. Both workshops were right up my alley, and left me with resources I will continue to access and learn from. The Demographics workshop discussed how a church might learn more about the changing population in their area so that they might better serve the community. (“Better serving the community” means more involvement with people addressing needs and perhaps gathering members.) As a part of the session, our church was given a free log-in to an online database called MissionInsite, which allows us to gather all sorts of information on the people, business and resources in our area. It might highlight a need right down the street that might have otherwise been hidden.
The second workshop talked about one of the five steps in what is called “The Development Cycle for the Church”. Telling the story is a way to get people in the church to understand how the works of the church enhance or support their life, and how they can spread that word / story to others. The workshop described many innovative ways to tell the story including doing so at meetings, in worship, via bulletin boards, even in what they call a narrative budget (annual report). I have notes and handouts from both sessions, and I would be happy to sit down with a small group and share those and my insights with anyone interested. I also recommend that people consider attending future “Super Saturday” events.
From Chris:
I had the pleasure to attend Super Saturday on March 5. I attended two workshops. The first one was “Youth Group is not Youth Ministry”. I learned a lot and will put some of what I learned into practice at our Sunday school. We were provided a wonderful lunch where we had great conversations and made good contacts. I attended a workshop about curriculum in the afternoon and was quite pleased with all I learned. I look forward to exploring more on this topic in the near future. I encourage all of you to consider attending the next Super Saturday. There are workshops for everyone. I look forward to it myself.
From Jim:
I recently had the pleasure of attending a super Saturday seminar. I admit I was lured into going simply because there was a seminar on pastoral relations committees. I am on ours and didn’t really know what to do about it. I learned a lot. I’d encourage anyone to attend one of these seminars. The worst thing that could happen is you get to meet lots of interesting people from all over the state. On the upside you might just pick up some great nugget of info that helps our church grow and have a bigger impact on our community.
Please hold in your prayers members and friends of our church family who are dealing with medical issues, financial strain, family complexities, isolation, loss and transition.
Ellie Skagerlind is finishing up medical treatments, and Helen Rancke and Doug and Brenda Ponton deal with on-going medical issues. Let’s pray for speedy and full recovery. Please pray for our church growth, and that we be a blessing to this community.
If there are others you wish to add to the prayer list, please contact Pastor Doreen.
Blanket Drive Update
As of March 20th we have collected $625 or 125 blankets to assist Church World Service in their disaster relief efforts. Thank You One and All.
Communion Visits
Just a reminder that I will gladly bring Communion to people in their homes who have had trouble getting to church. Ideally this would be on the first Sunday of the month, when Communion is served in church, but I would also bring it at other times if people feel the need or desire.
If you or someone you know might be served by this ministry, please contact me, Pastor Doreen by the Thursday before each Communion Sunday, or with a day’s notice Monday through Thursdays.
Deacon’s Schedule
3rd- Carol & Quentin
10th- Ann & Neil
17th- Nancy & Len
21st – Carol & Len
24th- Chase & Deb & Ann
Bible/Book Study
Mondays 7:00 p.m and Wednesdays 10:30 a.m.
Contact Pastor Doreen or see worship bulletins for locations, schedule and reading assignments.
Women’s Association
Wed., April 6, 12:30 p.m. at the church to fill eggs for Bunny Day.
The May meeting on the 4th will be at the church to elect officers.
On June 1st Pastor Doreen will install the new officers (location to be decided).
Council Meeting
Sunday 4/10, 11:45 in Administrative Office
