Baptism
Natalie Rae LaPointe
Natalie Rae LaPointe was baptized on Sunday, May 15, 2011 by Rev Doreen Oughton. Congratulations to her parents, Kristina and Mark LaPointe, her brother Ben, sister Ava, grandparents, Ron & Cindy LaPointe and Kathy & David Stango and Godparents David & Jessica Stango. Both sets of grandparents were able to attend along with many other family members and friends. Welcome Natalie to our church family. May you always be so blessed.
For lots more pictures of the baptism CLICK HERE
Easter
Rev Oughton giving the Easter Children's Sermon - April 24, 2011
Maundy Thursday Service
Eggstravaganza Eggstraordinaire
It takes more than one rabbit to put on an eggceptional Bunny Day. Thank you to all who helped and for all who came an enjoyed the fun. There were at least a 100 children at the event, the weather was on our side – it was a great day for everyone.
For more pictures of the event, click here.
Happy St Patrick’s Day
Leprechauns showed up at coffee hour, Sunday March 13, 2011 in the shape of Judy and Lenny Ivel. They put on a
Judy & Lenny Ivel - St Patrick's Day Coffee Hour
delicious spread, which included Swedish bread disguised as Irish for the day. Have a Happy St Patrick’s Day.
Click here for more pictures
Baptism of Ethan Vance Rodriquez
Baptism of Ethan-son of Peter & Heather Rodriquez - - - - March 13, 2011
Ethan is the son of Heather (Sutter) and Peter Rodriquez. Heather has been connected to the FCC since childhood and Ethan is the fourth of their children to be baptized here at the First Congregational Church. Many family and friends attended the ceremony. Ethan was so cute, after he was baptized he so wanted to put his hands in the water. Click here to see more pictures of the baptism, including Ethan swishing his hands in the baptismal water.
Book Study
The Monday Night book club will be discussing the book “Finding Your Religion” by Scotty McLennen beginning on March 14 and continuing for about 4 weeks. If you would like to join this discussion group, please contact Rev Doreen Oughton (see contact information on this web site).
Amazon.com Review
Finding Your Religion is a guidebook for the perplexed–those who have lost faith in the religion of their youth and are not sure how to continue their spiritual lives. The book’s author, the Rev. Scotty McLennan, has plenty of experience with the perplexed; he is a Unitarian minister and the chaplain at Tufts University. (He has also inspired and entertained millions of people indirectly, as the model for the freewheeling character Reverend Scott Sloan in Garry Trudeau’s comic strip Doonesbury.) McLennan has structured Finding Your Religion on a model of six stages of faith–Magic, Reality, Dependence, Interdependence, and Unity. The book describes each of these stages in detail, drawing on McLennan’s experience with students’ spiritual searches and on his own search (which led him, among other places, to Harvard Law School and to ashrams in the Far East). McLennan’s prose is clear and direct; he is very open to exploration, and very tough on laziness. “Pick a religious path and start walking,” he writes. “Even if it turns out not to be the right way later on, you won’t get anywhere spiritually without starting.” –Michael Joseph Gross –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
For more information about the author, click here.
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
You are warmly invited to start the season of Lent in community at this service with ashes and Communion on March 9, 2011 at 7 Pm.
Labyrinth Workshop
Labyrinth Workshop & Open Walk
Begin your Lenten journey with a Labyrinth walk. Join us for an introduction to the labyrinth followed by a quiet contemplative walk on a pattern provided by Labyrinth Alchemy. A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Location:
First Congregational Church of Leicester
1 Washburn Square, Leicester, MA
Time:
1-3 p.m.
Snow Date: March 26
Contribution:
$10 for workshop and open walk
$5 for walk only, 2-3 p.m.
To register:
Call 508-892-3274 OR
E-mail pastorfccleicester@verizon.net
Click here to read recent interview with Doreen Oughton regarding to Labyrinth on thedailyleicester.com
Labyrinth and workshop provided by Labyrinth Alchemy info@labyrinth-alchemy.com
Thirteen people participated in this workshop. Many of us did not know what to expect, most were just curious – trusting that our minister was opening our minds to new ideas. I do not believe anyone was disappointed and for many it exceeded our expectations. Barbara Ducharme and Mia Corinha from the Labyrinth Alchemy conducted not only a very informative workshop but challenged us to think about the Lenten Season and how we can use this labyrinth as one way of thinking about our spiritual journey. It is hard to explain what walking a labyrinth is like, it needs to be experienced. It is safe to say that although this was the first walk for most of us it would not be the last. We will keep you posted if we go as a group to another labyrinth.
Children’s Christmas Pageant – Dec 19, 2010
Our Sunday School children put on a Christmas Pageant during church service, Dec 19th. The story was adapted from the book, Hurry Hurry, Have You Heard?! by the Sunday School Superintendent Chris Cathcart. The video below is of the middle section of the play. Enjoy ! For more pictures, click here. Members of the cast are:
Kitten: Bella Ferraro Pup: Jillian Morrison Spider: Liam Cathcart
Hummingbird: Abigail Morrison Camel: Tyler Burnor Bunny: Emily Butkus
Elephant: Ben LaPointe Frog: Arunas Orloff Bird: Ben Cathcart
Sheep: Caitlin Morrison Ladybug: Kiley Shea Squirrel: Tristan Shea
Donkey: Ayden Burnor Bee: Skylar Ferreira Butterfly: Ava LaPointe
Cow: Dilon Butkus Fox: Andrew Cathcart Mouse: Sammy Shea
Tortoise: P.J. Ferraro Chipmunk: Michael Spaulding Star: Alexi Orloff
Wolf: Nida Orloff Mary & Jesus: Angela & Johnny Shea
Children’s Christmas Pageant – Dec 19, 2010 – FCC of Leicester from Deborah Arsenault on Vimeo.
