Sign up sheets for the following Holy Week activities
are now on the board in the lobby.
Maundy Thursday, March 28 at 6:00 pm
Christian Seder and Supper - please let us know that you'll be joining us for this very special meal!
Good Friday, March 29, 12 noon to 3 pm
The sanctuary will be open for prayer and meditation
if we can enlist people to be "on duty" each hour;
please help us ensure that this tradition continues and sign up took take an hour!
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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 ideas for 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.
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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, remember 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!
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 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.
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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!
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"FAITH & WORD"
Last Sunday morning, we launched "Faith & Word," the newest element of our Faith-4-Life Youth Ministry. "Faith & Word" is a fun and engaging look at scripture taught by our very own Russ Clough, Stoughton's Middle School Teacher of Year, assisted by Kevin Monahan. It will continue to run Sunday mornings through March 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 or "A Time for All".
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EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS
If you wish to donate a plant in memory, honor, or celebration 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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