Thursday, July 28, 2011

Latest News from the First Congregational Church of Stoughton

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Last Chance to order your UCC Stoughton T-shirts at this discounted price!

The order will be placed for the T-shirts on August 1.  So, this Sunday, July 31, is your last chance to get the T-shirts at this discounted price (you can pay when your shirt is delivered).  

We have two different t-shirt designs:  Style "A," which has our "Forming Disciples, Transforming Lives" logo on the front, and our church name and address on the back; or Style "B," which has our logo and church name on the front and our Welcome Statement on the back.  T shirts are 100% cotton and cost $10 each. 

Samples are on the sign-up board in the lobby, along with an order sheet.  Or email Rev. Jean at revjeanlenk@uccstoughton.org and let her know what style and size you would likke.  

Let's show our pride in UCC Stoughton!




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CALLING ALL BUDGETS!


Please submit all budget requests for 2011 by August 1. You can leave a copy in both the Trustee AND the Treasurer's mailboxes in the church office, or email them to Bob Kuver (rkuver@comcast.net).

If you would like to see your actual expenditures vs. the budget from this year to help you in your planning, be sure to contact Bob Kuver for that information.


If we do not receive a budget request from you, we will assume that you wish to remain level-funded for next year.

Please feel free to contact any of the Trustees with questions.


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Massachusetts Conference UCC Joins Church World Service
In Urgent Call For Clean-Up Buckets

CWS bucket 

 
Due to the frequency and severity of the storms and flooding that struck communities across the United States this spring - conditions that continue to devastate and challenge many areas and their residents - Church World Service has responded with material aid on a scale that has depleted warehoused and pre-positioned supplies. In particular, the supply of emergency clean-up buckets has run precariously low.

Church World Service provides clean up buckets & supplies to enable communities to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood, hurricane, tornado or other disaster. (Because of the volatility of some contents, Emergency Clean up Buckets are not shipped internationally.) Kits include bucket, sponges and cleaning materials. The cost of a bucket is $56.

Our church is asking for people to donate to the cost of one bucket (or make a joint donation with someone else). The MA Conference has set a goal of 1,111 buckets. The deadline for collection is Friday, Aug. 5.
Can we help them meet this goal?

Theses buckets are a tangible sign of support and concern and a practical gift of materials and supplies. CWS has issued an urgent appeal for buckets. Buckets that are not shipped immediately will serve to replenish the supply and re-establish a higher level of disaster preparedness as we respond to the spring storms across the U.S., including the tornadoes that impacted western Massachusetts, and prepare for the onset of hurricane season.

Please contact Marcia Olson at baglole.olson@verizon.net or call her at (781) 244-9547 to find out how you can help donate to this cause.

Thanks to everyone who can contribute to this effort.



SUMMER CRAFT NIGHTS
Wednesdays
will continue throughout the month of August
 from 7 - 9 pm in Fellowship Hall

arts

We had lots of fun learning how to do glass painting and "dressing up" up some terra cotta planters in different shapes and sizes.

You too can be part of the fun - we really need your ideas and creativity to make our Church Fair Craft and Christmas Room better than ever.  We have glass painting and terra cot pots ready for you to begin working on - or bring your own project already in progress!  We needs lots of variety. 

Some other ideas - cleaning up some old mason jars and decorating them so we can add in baking ingredients, or fudge sauce, or homemade salsa. 

Do you have big ol' costume jewelry pins that might make lovely kitchen magnets - bring them along - it only a little glue and magnetic strips!


So - if you have some uniquely shaped or unused old vases, stemware, even Mason Jars, and Baby Food Jars, clean terra cotta pots that can be transformed into a treasure for someone - bring them along.  If you have rub-ons and stencils you would like to donate to the cause - we would sure appreciate those as well.

You never know what you can do if you don't just give it a try. If you have other ideas please share them with the Fair Committee. 

For further information on August craft nights contact:
Charlene Smith, 781-344-8819 (cjts107@comcast.net)
Marcia Olson 781-344-9547(
baglole.olson@verizon.net)
Gale Porter, 781-344-7032 (
eporter574@aol.com), Fair Chair



mediaCheck out our new online communications!

Pastor Jean came back from General Synod energized about getting our church better plugged in to new technology, and now we have some "new and improved" online communications vehicles.

We have totally revamped our Facebook page ("First Congregational Church of Stoughton" -- look for our church logo).  Facebook is a great way to keep in the loop and up-to-the-minute relative to our various ministries, activities and events.  Check us out, and be sure to "like" us!   Also, if you have any recent (i.e., less than a year old) pictures of various activities and ministries of our church (e.g., worship, the fair, small groups, fellowship suppers, mission activities, etc., etc.), please send them to Pastor Jean at revjeanlenk@uccstoughton.org so she can put them on our new Fb page (you might even be tagged!).

In addition, you are now reading Jean's new blog (revjeanlenk.blogspot.com) entitled "UCC Stoughton News & Happenings."  Check it often to get "the latest news about the ministries, programs, activities, and happenings at the First Congregational Church of Stoughton, United Church of Christ (with occasional observations and opinions from its pastor)."  You can also follow her on Twitter; her handle is @jeanlenk.

You can find links on the homepage of our church's website, www.uccstoughton.org and also at the bottom of this email.


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 CHURCH OFFICE HOURS for the SUMMER:


The church office summer hours will continue through September 4:


 Monday              8:30 am-12:30 pm
 Tuesday             8:30 am-12:30 pm
 Wednesday        8:30 am-12:30 pm
 Thursday           8:30 am-12:30 pm  
 Friday    Closed from July 15-September 2


Regular Office Hours will resume the week of September 4th.




pantry

Please remember the hungry among us as you enjhoy the summer BBQ's and savor the delicious fruits and vegetables of the season.  The Stoughton food pantry shelves need replensihing so as you cruise the grocery aisles keep this simple phrase in mind-

Buy One, Get One- Give One! 


As you shop and see the Buy One, Get One Free promotions - why not get one for you and then pick up the free one to share with your neighbors who are struggling to feed their families -
it's a win-win for everyone! 

There are many ways you can drop off food items:  Leave your items in our church lobby when you come to worship.  Make a delivery on Tuesday mornings directly to the food pantry, located behind the Methodist Church on Seaver Street.  Drop non-perishable food items at the Stoughton Public Library.  Call Stoughton resident Peg Carbone (508-889-1385) who will pick up items every Thursday.
 Or send her an email at peg.carbone@comcast.net.



sale
Cleaning out your closet, garage, attic?
  
Ready to get rid of "stuff" you'll never use again?


From now until the end of October, I will be collecting items for our church's annual Holiday Fair.
 
I'll be accepting the following items in good condition:
White elephant/attic treasures, jewelry, small working electronics, small furniture or home décor items, fiction books, CDs, DVDs,
holiday decorations, children's books and toys

Please -- NO computers, clothing, non-fiction or textbooks, exercise equipment or other large items.

You can drop them by the church on Sunday mornings or during regular church hours (mostly mornings before noon) or contact Marcia Olson and make arrangements to have them picked them.

We are also seeking donations for our Silent Auction - if you are able to make a donation of a gift certificate, gift cards, tickets to a play or sporting event, movie tickets, sports memorabilia, or some other item,
we would be most grateful. 

Many thanks, Marcia Olson, baglole.olson@verizon.net, 781-344-9547.



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JEWELRY NEEDED -- Old, New, or Gently Used
                                                                 
 

Have you cleane d out your jewelry box lately? 

Is your accessories drawer overflowing with unwanted baubles and gems?

Our church fair Jewelry Corner is looking for  new stock for the next fair, coming up in November.  If you have any treasures that you'd like to part with, please consider donating them to the fair.  Just put  them  into a clear zip-lock bag and give them to Elaine Henriksen or Dee Hayes, or  drop  them off in the church office.  Please do not leave them in the downstairs  storage area where they might get lost or buried. Thank-you!


      First Congregational Church of Stoughton 
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Congregation 

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Our Vision
  
We are called together
 to embrace God's transformation
 of our lives and our world
 by becoming and serving
as Christ's disciples.


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