|
WEDNESDAY
MARCH
20
7:00 TO
8:30 PM
Please plan to attend an important meeting on
Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 to
8:30 pm
In recent issues of
The Link, we have talked about "Crossroads,"
a church vitality
training program sponsored by the
United Church of Christ's
Massachusetts Conference.
We have just learned that
our church has been accepted
into the Crossroads
program.
Representatives of the
program will be visiting our church on
Wednesday, March 20, to gather data for its
initial assessment.
A critical part of this
data-gathering is to meet with our congregation
in a meeting scheduled
that evening from 7:00
to 8:30 pm.
We are asking that
EVERYONE in our congregation
make an effort to attend
this important meeting.
Should you have any
questions, please speak to
Marcia Olson
(781-344-9547) or Paul Christensen (781-344-4793).
.
Thank you!
|
|
BEGINNING THIS
SUNDAY!
"FAITH &
WORD"
During Lent, we are expanding our
"Faith-4-Life" youth group ministry to include "Faith & Word," a fun
and engaging look at scripture. Our very own Russ Clough, Stoughton's Middle
School Teacher of Year, will be leading this 4-week program, assisted by Kevin
Monahan. It will run on Sunday mornings March 3, 10, 17, and 24. All Middle and
High School students are invited to attend 10 a.m. worship in the sanctuary and
then leave for the Youth Lounge downstairs after Communion (on March 3) or "A
Time for All" (other Sundays).
|
HEALING PRAYERS AT 11:30
AM ~ this Sunday
 At 11:30 am on March 3, Communion
Sunday Rev. Jean will be available in the sanctuary
to wrap you in a prayer shawl, hear your
private prayers, anoint you with
oil, and lay hands on you.
If you are in need of any kind of physical,
emotional, or spiritual healing, or wish to pray for someone who is... If you
are need of reconciliation with someone or wish to make a confession to God...If
you need to share your concerns, your fears, your troubles with someone
else...If you simply need to know
that God
cares... please come.
|
EASTER FLOWER
MEMORIALS
If you wish to donate a plant in memory, honor, or
celebraion of a loved one, please complete and return the purple insert
in the LINK or the bulletin to
the church office by Sunday, March 24.
|
The Stoughton food
pantry shelves are low and we are all feeling the pinch of high gas prices and
food costs. You all have responded so generously to our seasonal food drives to
benefit the local food pantries and we asking you to step up once again by
dropping an item or two in the basket in our church lobby when you come to
worship throughout the month of March.
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we encourage you to bring some "green
food" -- a jar of pickles, a can of peas or green beans - but here are some other
ideasfor
non-perishable items that will provide high-quality proteins, good
carbs and healthy fats- plus offer a little variety: canned or pouched tuna or chicken,
canned black beans, canned chickpeas or lentils, canned soups, salsa (whole
grain chips optional), peanut butter, jarred spaghetti sauce (and pasta),
cereals and snack bars, oatmeal, microwave popcorn, herbs, spices and spice
blends, canola, olive, flax seed (linseed) or peanut oil, instant white or brown
rice, raisins and other dried fruit, olive oil, mayonnaise and other condiments,
wheat crackers, can of coffee or box of tea bags.
|
To help you prepare for the 40-day Lenten period
of reflection,
Pastor Jean has created a booklet entitled
Lent: A Season of Spiritual
Renewal. It contains information about Lent and Holy
Week, as well as scriptures, prayers, and reflections. We invite you to take a
copy, available in the back of the sanctuary, to aid you on your Lenten
journey.
|
 PANCAKE
BRUNCH
MARCH 17
immediately
following worship
The blizzard may
have put a damper on our attempts to celebrate Mardi Gras, but we can still
celebrate a little "wearing of the green" during Lent as we hold our rescheduled
pancake breakfast on St. Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17 immediately following
worship. It may not be green eggs and ham, but we will be serving up pancakes,
sausage, bacon, fruit salad, and muffins. The suggested cost is $5 per person,
with a family maximum of $20. Coffee and juice will be available to all free of
charge. Kids will be able to make a Trinity Lucky Shamrock Ornament after they
eat. All proceeds will go toward purchasing equipment and making improvements
to our kitchen.
|
ONE GREAT HOUR OF
SHARING
SUNDAY, MARCH
17
"And Jesus replied, "You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it:
You shall love your
neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the
Prophets." Matthew
22:37-40
This year, the theme for One Great Hour of Sharing is "Sharing Brings
Joy."
God knows joy when we take actions that restore the well-being of
God's children everywhere. When we reach out to others with helping hands, we
share love and justice with our brothers and sisters, with whom we are one. God
loves our joyful attitude when we share from our abundance!
The gifts made real by our support are transformed into gifts of
love, joy and restoration, as:
- families displaced by natural disaster or political unrest are
comforted by food, shelter and a safe place to begin rebuilding their
lives.
- worried mothers caring for their children in times of food
insecurity; are transformed to deep peace when sustenance arrives.
- a woman who has had to walk for miles for potable water smiles as she
draws fresh water from the new well placed in her community near her
home.
As you make your offering to One Great Hour of Sharing this year,
remem ber the numerous ways your gifts bring joy - to you, to all
of God's cherished children, and especially to the Holy One. Share cheerfully
and abundantly, knowing that you are not only sharing your resources, you are
helping to change lives.
May God be made glad by your cheerful generosity!
|
Please Be Considerate
Where You Park
Due to the limited number of spots that are in the parking lot, many
members of our congregation who have difficulty walking have not been able to
park close to the entrance of our Church. Therefore, we have put up signs that say, "Reserved For Those
Requiring Proximity Parking," and ask
that you leave these for
individuals who can only walk short distances. We ask all people who are
physically able to consider
parking in one of the spots in front of the park on Pierce Street. This frees up
spots in the lot for those who really need to park
closer to the entrance.
We would also remind you to not park in any spot that has a "No
Parking" sign, or in the Fire Lanes. Thank you for your cooperation.
|
If you would like to sponsor Altar Flowers, please contact Gale
DiBeneditto at 781-344-4728, or leave your information with the church office,
781-344-2371.
Please give specific information as to when you would like the
flowers placed on the altar and if it is in celebration, remembrance or in honor
of someone and a telephone number where we can contact you. The cost to sponsor
a standard arrangement is $25.00. Checks for flowers can be made out to "Nancy
Sullivan."
If you have any questions you can contact Nancy Sullivan at the
church office @ 781-344-2371 or Gale DeBeneditto @ 781-344-4728.
|
Blessed Children's
Nursery
Blessed Children's Nursery is open every Sunday morning, (even when
Sunday School is not in session) from 9:45 am - 11:15 am during worship and
Sunday School Classes for children up to age 3. For parents of children who will
be attending the Bible Top 40 Program, child care is also available following
worship for children ranging from nursery ages through Grade 5 until 1:00 pm.
Age appropriate activities will be provided during the Bible Top 40 Program. It
is staffed with two adults at all times, our Childcare Coordinators, Lisa
Antonius-El Kary and Rosemary Amadeo.
Our nursery room is located on the lower level; take a left after the
church office, it is the first room on your right. You can drop off your
children through age 3, prior to worship, get them settled, and come up to
church OR you can bring them down at anytime during the service. After worship,
children up through Grade 5 are welcome, if parents are attending the Bible Top
40 Program.
|
|
|
First Congregational Church
of Stoughton
United Church of
Christ
An
Open and Affirming Congregation
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.
|
|
| Quick Links...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
