Feb Newsletter – 2012
CONGREGATIONS CONNECTIONS
FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE
Announcement
At the most recent council meeting on Sunday, January 15th, I gave the council my notice to retire from the collector’s position at the end of the church calendar year in June 2012.
Off the top of my head, I believe that I have been the church collector for over 15 years, taking over the job from Marge Riegel. It has been a very rewarding job that has allowed me to get to know everyone on a more personal level and to be involved in the inner workings of the church through the council.
The nominating committee and the council will be actively seeking someone to fill my position. I took the collector’s job without any previous knowledge or experience and worked closely with Marge for a few weeks to get to know the system.
I am confident that there is someone within the church who either has the experience or the ambition to take on this job that I know will be as fulfilling for them as it has been for me.
Sincerely,
Carol Mulrain
February is Blanket Month
Blankets available for only $5.00 each
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.
Checks payable to: Church World Service
Mail to: First Congregational Church of Leicester
A Note from the Pastor
It feels like the Christmas season just ended, but in just a few weeks the church calendar turns to Lent. Unfortunately we will not be having Ash Wednesday worship this year due to my vacation (scheduled for daughter’s school break).
I encourage you to be intentional during this desert time, considering your faith journey, your relationship to God and Christ, with yourself and those around you. Lent is set apart as a time for reflection and contemplation, sometimes aided by fasts or prayer disciplines. I encourage you to consider not just your personal faith journey, but the spiritual journey of First Congregational Church.
Are there ways we can be more intentional about spreading God’s love and justice, ways we can better minister to the community? Can we be more intentional in our service / committee work? Rather than drifting along, reacting as situations arise or not, how would our church fare if each committee met regularly to listen for God’s call? Could there be revitalization in education/formation, mission, stewardship (both financial and property), pastoral relations, music, and fellowship? Could whole new ministries spring up?
While my hope is that the ministry evaluations that started last year with Council and Worship will continue with every committee, we don’t have to wait for a formal evaluation session. We can start listening now, individually, as committees and as a church, to discern where God is calling us.
If anyone is interested in partnering up for specific Lenten fasts or prayer practices, please let me know by February 12. I can be reached by phone at 978-846-6498 or 508-892-3274, or by e-mail at pastorfccleicester@verizon.net.
As you walk through the desert time, know that you do not walk alone, but with Christ Jesus who walked it for you.
Blessings,
Pastor Doreen
Bunny Day – March 31
Bunny Day 2011
Now that winter has finally arrived it’s time to start thinking about SPRING and BUNNY DAY!
Saturday, March 31 will be the date this year and we will soon start to see Easter items in the stores.
We will collect baskets and items to fill them: stuffed animals, small toys, books, games, treats, etc., for boys and girls aged 10 and under. Also, plastic eggs and soft, pre-wrapped candy to fill them.
Bunny Day Raffle 2011
If you are willing to head up a table (or help someone else), or if you have an idea about a new fun thing to offer the children during that day, please let Cindy know very soon. Decorating the church will take place during the week prior to Palm Sunday and on the morning of the Eggstravaganza. Lots of helpers are needed in preparation as well as the day of the egg hunt. If you can help in ANY way we would be most grateful.
Sign-up sheet in Russell Hall and we will keep you updated in next month’s newsletter.
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A Moment for Missions
by Jackie Henderson
“…above all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness…” Colossians 3 : 14
Good news! Beginning in March, A Moment for Missions will become a regular feature in our monthly newsletter! Our congregation is full of generous people who donate their time, talents and money not only to FCC, but to their favorite charities as well. Let’s celebrate this by sharing our stories of what has called us to a particular cause.
After discussion with Pastor Doreen, I have volunteered to organize and “edit” the column. My first task will be to seek out contributors, so don’t be surprised when I’m asking YOU during coffee hour. I will also hand you a help sheet of writing guidelines: length of piece, what to include, deadline date, etc. If you can’t type or don’t have a computer, it’s not a problem. Let me know and I’ll be glad to type it for you myself.
With all the charitable giving coming from our congregation, we should have plenty of material. Who knows…this column could run for years!
UCC Connections
The Massachusetts Conference is offering some wonderful opportunities in the month ahead. The cost of all these events can be covered or subsidized, so please don’t let financial concerns keep you from taking part. Contact Pastor Doreen if you need financial assistance, or if you want to car pool with others who might be attending. Otherwise you can register for each event on-line at www.macucc.org. If you do not have a computer, speak to Pastor Doreen about registration.
Moving From Talk to Action: Training for Anti-Racist White People:
Click Here for link on this workshop
Racism is not a thing of the past. It continues to permeate our institutions, granting unearned advantages to white people, creating inequities for people of color, and dehumanizing everyone. Now, as always, it is critically important that white people join people of color in naming and confronting racism in all its forms ~ personal, interpersonal, cultural, and institutional. This training is meant for white people who would like to deepen their commitment and skills in challenging racism and white privilege, and to move their own congregations forward on these issues. Pastor Doreen is registered and would love to have a few allies from the congregation explore this important work. Friday, February 10, 2012 at 9 a.m. to Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 5 p.m. at the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC in Framingham, MA. Pastor Doreen is commuting, but there are limited rooms available for a reasonable fee. Please contact Pastor Doreen ASAP if you are interested.
Christian Spiritual Formation Retreat:
Come to worship, to learn new spiritual practices and rediscover old ones, to sing and express yourself through the arts, to build community, to take Sabbath, and to play. Choose from a number of activity options that will make your heart sing! Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. through Saturday, Feb. 18 at 4:30 p.m. This experience promises to ground you spiritually; replenish your energy, joy and purpose; give you practices to keep your cup overflowing; discover your spiritual tools for the ups and downs of life. You can commute to the Conference Center in Framingham each day, or spend the night for an additional $25. Register early and save money. Register with a friend and save even more. $50 before Jan. 27, $65 after. Identify a friend who is also going when you register early, and save an additional $10 each. A group from FCC went last year and loved it!
Super Saturday:
CLICK HERE for more information
This event will feature excellent worship led by Patrick Evans, Assistant Professor of Sacred Music at Yale Divinity School. Professor Evans,
who will also lead two workshops, is committed to the reclaiming and renewal of congregational song
Join hundreds of delegates, pastors and lay leaders from all over the Massachusetts Conference for a day of worship and workshops. Saturday, March 3 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Ludlow High School. See the Mass Conference website (www.macucc.org) for information about workshops offered and to register, or ask Pastor Doreen for a flyer.
Holiday Mail for Heroes
Update on our participation!
By Quentin Lewis
I was recently volunteering at the Bedford VA hospital when I saw a couple of Christmas cards taped up on the wall in the room of one of the resident disabled veterans. He told me that he had received them from the Red Cross and that he was very happy and will be keeping them up on the wall to look at through the winter.
That made me feel great because this was the program we had supported with our cards early in December. I then remembered that I had not done my job in reporting on how many were sent! So I am writing to report that our church sent in 72 cards to the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes Program, and I am sure that all who received them were equally thrilled to get them!
Thank you all who participated!
Operation Outreach Afghanistan Update
By Robyn Desautels
I wanted to share the note I received in the mail thanking the Church for our contribution of school supplies I mailed a few weeks ago to a member of Operation Outreach Afghanistan.
I scanned the front of the postcard, and it is attached (now posted on the bulletin board in Russell Hall). The note on the back said:
“Thank you for the packages of school supplies. Without the support of people like you, we would not be able to provide support to the local schools here that so desperately need it.
God Bless America,” Cpt Ed Novak”
I am now collecting gently used children’s clothes and appreciate all donations. There will be a box in Russell Hall, or see Pastor Doreen or Judy Ivel for larger donations.
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Worcester Fellowship Lunch Providers – Sun, Feb 26
Please look for the contribution signup sheet in Russell Hall beginning February 12 if you wish to donate lunch supplies. Many helping hands are needed to assemble the lunches on Feb. 26, 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.
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Pick-Up Choir – Sun, Feb 12
If you love to sing but can’t make a commitment to becoming a full-time choir member, then our Pick-Up Choir is perfect for you! All voices are welcome, both women and men. And knowing how to read music is not necessary!
It’s a small amount of time for a HUGE amount of fun!
Please join us!
Give your name to Bob, Cindy or Jackie by Sunday, Feb 5, and we will see you at rehearsal!!
Here’s how it works:
1. Attend rehearsal Wednesday evening Feb 8 (specific time negotiable). Bob will teach an easier anthem as well as a simple introit and benediction.
2. Attend the Sunday morning “warm up” at 9:00 on Feb 12. Choose a choir robe, and you’re ready to go!
Women’s Association
Meets the first Wednesday of each month at noon, in Russell Hall unless otherwise notified.
All women connected with the church are welcome, whether members, visitors, or friends of members.
Bible/Book Study Groups
Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m.
All are welcome to attend regularly or drop in when they can.
Contact Pastor Doreen for locations and reading assignments. It is a fun, engaging and interesting way to learn more about our scriptures and our faith, and to build connections. Please join us.
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Collections
November 6 $ 6,793.00 (includes $5,000 gift from Adams Sq. Church)
13 937.00
20 607.00
27 1,874.00
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Total $ 10,211.00
December 4 $ 1,694.00
11 677.00
18 625.00
25 4,404.00 (includes $3,000 donation from Women’s Assn. fair)
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Total $ 7,400.00
From October to December there were five special collections:
Neighbors in need $295.00
Christmas fund $117.00
Leicester food bank $170.00
Advent envelopes $225.00
These amounts are reflected in the weekly figures above.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Mulrain
