FCC Newsletter Feb/March 2019
From the ONA Team
On Sunday, January 27, a Special Meeting was held at the church to vote on becoming an Open and Affirming Church. The motion passed by a large margin with little discussion. The Team is so grateful to the congregation for engaging so open-heartedly in this process. Many people participated in the events we hosted over the past year, and the fruit of everyone’s work was apparent at the meeting. Through this process, we had some difficult discussions. We challenged each other and shared our hopes and fears and hesitations. It seems to us that the bond between us all has been strengthened. As important as it was for us to communicate clearly why we thought FCC should be an Open and Affirming Church, it turned out to be equally important to hear from each of you about what you thought and how you felt. And as pleased as we are with the result, we are even more pleased with the Spirit of unity that flows through this congregation. One person at the meeting expressed a deep desire for the bonds to remain strong between us even if we have different ideas about how to be church. We also hold this desire, and commit to doing our part to live into our newly adopted covenant to “celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of each expression of God’s diverse family as well as our oneness in Christ.”
Thank you for going on this journey with us. There is still work to be done, as the congregation did not reach a decision on how to show our ONA status to those outside the church. It may be time for a new committee to be formed to move this piece forward. If you are interested in being part of this, please contact Pastor Doreen, who will connect interested people to each other. But we can also take a little time to just take in the work we have done, to feel gratitude and wonder and the love that flows between and among us.
In gratitude and love,
Deb Arsenault, Bonnalee Bohlman, Deb Entwistle and Pastor Doreen
IT’S SOUP -ER BOWL TUESDAY TIME!!
Every Tuesday during Lent (beginning on March 12th), First Congregational Church will be cooking up a variety of soups for lunch and the cost is FREE!
This is the 3rd year serving our church friends and neighbors and it has become a rousing success. Please join us for lunch and fellowship from 11:30 to 1 in Russell Hall (accessible from the parking lot behind the church). In case of inclement weather, lunch will be cancelled with no alternate date.
We gratefully accept all offers of help or donations to support this outreach ministry. Carol Mulrain is the contact person at 508-867-3741 or talk with me after church.
Ash Wednesday Service
March 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Please join us for this time of quiet reflection and worship to start of the sacred season of Lent. Includes Communion and Ashes.
A Note from the Pastor
Grace and peace, dear friends. I want to take a moment to thank everyone who came to worship with us over the Advent and Christmas seasons. Your presence added to the beauty of the season. We tried something new with our Advent series that focused on Silent Night, and it was such a blessing. The music was especially beautiful, and my heart overflows with gratitude for our hard-working choir and music director.
As I write, we are still over a month away from the start of Lent. I love when Easter falls a little later in the season so we are not rushing from one major Christian event into the next in the liturgical year. But before our next newsletter in April, we’ll have had our Ash Wednesday service and be well into the season of Lent, so I do want to say a little bit to that. On Ash Wednesday, we receive the ashes as a reminder that from dust we came, and to dust we will return. Our bodies have been made alive by the Spirit of God, but they will return to the earth when we die, though our soul, eternal and everlasting, will return to God, from whence it came.
I believe deeply in the eternal soul, the One Soul of God that each of us as individuals has or is contained by a part of the One Soul. I believe this One Soul connects us, and also holds truth and wisdom that each of us can tap into for guidance. But as I read a devotional by Rev. Quinn Caldwell, I was prompted to consider the difficulty of discerning whether the guidance we seek within ourselves is that of God, or something else. Here is his reflection, as he reflects on this passage from Jeremiah: “The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse—who can understand it?” – Jeremiah 17:9
“Follow your heart,” the purveyors of good advice will tell you. They’ll mean well when they say it, probably. They’ll be trying to free you from unhealthy societal strictures and parental expectations and inner voices. But what if your heart is perverse, like Jeremiah says? What if it wants terrible things? Or what if it just wants a new thing, like, every other week?
“Listen to your gut,” they’ll tell you. They’ll have good intentions, probably. They’ll be trying to free you from self-doubt and gaslighting and bullies and narcissists. But what if you’re white, and your gut is racist against your will and without your knowledge, and what if it warns you of danger at all the wrong times?
“Trust your instincts,” they’ll tell you. They’ll be trying to keep people from pulling the wool over your eyes. But most of your instincts were put into your brain a million years ago, when the best options were often running really fast or ripping something’s throat out. These days, fight or flight are good options in a very limited number of situations, and almost none of them are going to present themselves at work tomorrow.
Honestly, I just don’t think innards are all that trustworthy. Maybe yours are. Maybe one day mine will be. Until then, I’m trying to follow Jesus instead of my heart. Instead of my gut, I’m trying to listen to the prophets, both dead and living. I’m trying to ignore my twitchy and erratic instincts, and instead put my trust in a steady God.
This is the flip side to self-awareness and self-reflection, to seek out guidance outside yourself. As Christians, we have inherited wisdom and guidance that are centuries old, writings and scripture and song. We have the stories and example of Jesus, God’s love incarnate, born to us that Silent Night. Since you have a little time before Lent begins, perhaps you will take that time and consider if this is the year you will engage in a spiritual practice for Lent. You may want to do a practice of self-reflection, perhaps journaling or meditating. You may want to do a practice of service, perhaps helping with the Souper Bowl Tuesday Lenten lunches. You may want to do a practice of exploring our faith writings and scripture and song. I would be delighted to offer suggestions, guidance or just a listening ear. I am available to meet with you as you plan and get started, or even to meet/connect with you regularly through Lent to help you be accountable. The Monday night group will be reading “24 Hours That Changed the World,” by Adam Hamilton beginning in late March. It focuses on the last 24 hours of Jesus life before his crucifixion. Anyone is welcome to join us. Please let me know if you want me to order a book for you. Or you may want to make a commitment to weekly Sunday worship during Lent. Please let me know if there is anything in particular I can do to make this important time meaningful for you.
Blessings,
Pastor Doreen
February is Blanket Month – Have a Heart – Give a Blanket
This fundraiser for Church World Service has been an annual event for our church for more than 3 decades. The blanket is the basic concept of every disaster response program. When people are homeless, cold and alone a warm blanket provides both primary protection as well as shelter. The cost of each blanket is now $10 but donations in any amount are greatly appreciated. Every $10 will provide a blanket to someone in need here in the US and around the world.
Checks made payable to First Congregational Church of Leicester – memo, Blankets – can be placed in the collection plate or checks/ cash can be given directly to Nancy Desautels.
Celebration Time!
First Congregational Church, Town Hall, Unitarian Church, Leicester Academy 1900
As many of you know, our church will be celebrating 300 years in 2019. There is much history and memories to share and we need your help to prepare for this special event.
If you or anyone you know has pictures, newspaper articles or information about the church through the years, please contact Ron Lapointe at 508-885-9875.
Pastoral Relations Committee, 2018-2019
Our new members may not know that our primary job is “to serve as liaison between Pastor and membership on job related issues, concerns and expectations” as well as any issues you may have.
In the past, this committee has done the Minister’s Evaluation, Hot Topics, and Pastoral Care Interviews to name a few. We have a meeting scheduled for February 3rd to discuss how Pastor Doreen is doing on her goals. We welcome your questions and comments at any time. While we encourage communication with Pastor Doreen, you also can contact us. Confidentiality is our utmost concern. We be reached at the Pastor Doreen, you also can contact us. Confidentiality is our utmost concern.
We be reached at the following: following: following: following: following: following: following: following:
Pastor Doreen 978-846-6498 or pastorfccleicester@verizon.net
Bonnale Bonnale 508-755-6743 or bonnalee20@charter.net
Ellie Latham 508-885-6021 or elliemay2222@gmail.com
Carol Mulrain 508-867-3741 or mulsey@charter.net
Food Pantry Collection
Baby it’s COLD outside!! What could be better than a steaming bowl of soup to take the chill off? During the months of February and March, we will be collecting cans of soup to help support St. Joseph’s food pantry.
Won’t you consider picking up a can or two next time you’re out grocery shopping? Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those struggling to make ends meet.
UPDATE: This past Christmas Eve service, a basket was placed in the back of the church for a free will offering dedicated to the food pantry. From that collection, we sent a check for $34.00 to St. Joseph’s.
“Walk a Mile in Eddy’s Shoes”
Leicester Town and School officials are seeking donations of “gently used” or new shoes of all types and sizes which can be exchanged for cash. The money raised will go towards the purchase of a wheel chair accessible van for Eddy Besse and the shoes collected will support people in need throughout the world. Several fundraisers held over the past four months have raised over $25,000 of the $40,000 needed. The goal is to be able to purchase the van for Eddy and his family by the spring. A box for donations will be located in Russel Hall through March. Monetary donations may also be made. Checks should be made out to Deja New with memo: “Eddy Besse Van” and placed in the collection plate or given to Nancy Desautels.
UCC Connections
Super Saturday
Join hundreds of delegates, pastors and lay leaders from all over Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island for a day of worship and workshops. Saturday, March 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbraham, MA. See the Mass Conference website (www.macucc.org) for information about workshops offered and to register, or ask Pastor Doreen for a flyer. There is money in the budget to pay the way for your participation. Registration deadline March 2.
Cluster Meeting on Faith Formation
Memorial Congregational Church in Baldwinville, Wed. 3/13, 6:30-8 p.m.
Ms. Debbie Gline Allen, Christian Education & Youth Ministry Consultant for MACUCC, will be talking about Today’s Faith Formation. Many congregations are noticing that the Sunday School model is not meeting the needs of today’s children and families. Many youth ministry programs are not attracting the teens like they used to. It is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and train the volunteers needed to offer these programs. It’s time to take a look at our goals for faith formation and determine how best to raise today’s children and youth in the Christian faith. Come with your questions and your visions, and together we’ll develop a plan for making disciples. We are asking that you register for the meeting so that we can plan accordingly. You can register by using the link to the right or you may contact Deb Holmes at holmesd@macucc.org or 508-963-8106.
Women’s Association Meetings
Wednesday, February 6 at noon in Russell Hall – We will be viewing the film “Let There be Light” about the Rose Window at the National Cathedral in Washington DC The film was produced by Leicester’s own Peter Swanson and is narrated by PBS’s Garrison Keillar.
Wednesday March 6 at noon in Russell Hall. We will be having a Birthday Party Please bring a small gift to exchange and a favorite Birthday memory to share.
Worcester Fellowship Lunch Providers
Sun, Feb 24
Please look for the contribution signup sheet in Russell Hall beginning February 10 if you wish to donate lunch supplies. Many helping hands are needed to assemble the lunches on Feb. 24, so please join in. All are welcome to join us for lunch and worship on the Common behind Worcester City Hall beginning at 1 p.m.
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 Ellie’s sister Carol as her health declines
for Deb B. that her financial troubles ease
for the person killed in a house fire in Worcester on Feb. 2
healing prayers for Carol Mulrain’s brother in law Gary and brother Joe.
prayers of comfort for those coping with the loss of loved ones.
Stormy Weather
We’re all hoping for a mild and gentle winter, but just in case it doesn’t go that way, you can check for church cancellations by calling the church.
Cancellations announcement will be on the outgoing voicemail by 8:30 a.m.
The First Congregational Church of Leicester
P. O. Box 122
1 Washburn Square
Leicester, MA 01524-0122
Telephone: 508-892892-3274 www.leicesterfcc.org
