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Hello Everyone!
As always, the Chancel Choir welcomes anyone interested in singing with us. It's a great way to get involved in the church, and we always have a good time!
If you're interested in learning more about the Chancel Choir please join us for our choir workshop this SATURDAY, September 17th for a fun day of music and fellowship. If you've ever been interested in joining the choir (or even if you haven't!), you should come and see what it's all about. The event will go from 10 am to 3 pm and lunch will be provided. I'm certain it will be an open and supportive learning experience for everyone, not to mention a wonderful time of fellowship through music!
Now wait a second, I can hear you now, "But... I can't sing." I'm here to say, "Yes, you can!" Even if you don't think you have the voice to join the choir, you'll never know until you try - and this is the perfect opportunity! You might even surprise yourself with a hidden voice that you never knew you had and a rewarding ministry that touches the hearts of many. So go ahead, put it in your calendar right now. You won't regret it, I promise. I'm looking forward to the coming church year! Thank you for your continued support of the music at the First Congregational Church of Stoughton. As always, it is a blessing to be surrounded by such loving people every Sunday.
Sincerely,
Christopher Nickelson
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| Don't be left out!
ALL-CHURCH PICTURE to be taken NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 at 11:30 am
It is time to update our all-church picture, which we use on our website homepage and other communications vehicles. So please join the rest of your church family at 11:30 am this Sunday, September 18, and we want EVERYONE in the picture! With everyone's cooperation, we will be able to snap a great photo in a minimum amount of time. Everyone is invited!
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NEW "FAITH-4-LIFE" YOUTH MINISTRY KICKS OFF this Sunday, September 18th with a Cook-Out!
"Faith-4-Life," our new youth ministry, kicks off this weekend with a cookout at Dana Barnes' home. All middle and high school students are invited to join us!
We will meet at the church at 5:00 pm and then carpool over to Dana's house in Avon. In additon to enjoying burgers and dogs, we will have an opportunity to get to know each other better and talk about the year ahead.
We hope you will join us!
Important: If you are in middle or high school, or have a child who is, and were unable to attend last Sunday's informational meeting, please see Pastor Jean. She will give you the various handouts from the meeting and also go over any questions you may have about this new program.
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YOUTH LOUNGE NEEDS YOUR HELP!
One of the areas hardest hit in our church's recent flooding was the Youth Lounge. Work is being done to make it usable again. To that end, all of the furniture has been moved out, the carpet removed, and our custodian, Al Mahoney, is replacing the floor tiles and putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls. And that leads to two requests:
First, we will need to work around this disruption. Church, scout and 12-step meetings that are usually held in the Youth Lounge, any gatherings that take place in the downstairs open area (where the Youth Lounge furniture has been temporarily located), etc. will need to find alternative locations. We ask that you be flexible in working around this disruption. The work will be completed and the room usable again by October 1.
Second, we need to replace much of the Youth Lounge furniture and are seeking donations of couches or comfortable chairs in good condition. Please let Rev. Jean know, and we'll arrange to pick it up.
Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and generosity!
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FOR OUR CHURCH FAIR
..........HELP.....HELP......HELP......
PERSON, FAMILY, FRIENDS, COUPLE OR GROUP NEEDED
TO RUN SNACK BAR FOR THE CHURCH FAIR.
ALSO
DO YOU LIKE THE JEWELRY TABLE?
WE MAY NOT HAVE ONE THIS YEAR IF WE DON'T GET MORE JEWELRY DONATIONS.
PLEASE ASK YOUR FAMILY FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS IF THEY HAVE ANY JEWELRY THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE.
DONATION OF IDEAS OR ITEMS NEEDED FOR FAIR RAFFLE
COME ON FOLKS!!!!......."IT TAKES A VILLAGE"
This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we need everyone's help to make it a success.
Don't be afraid to step up - there are plenty of people to help you!
Call Gale Porter at (781)344-7032 | <>
| 4th Annual South Shore CROP* Hunger Walk Sunday, October 16, 2011
CROP Hunger Walks help children and families worldwide -- and right here in the U.S. -- to have food for today, while building for a better tomorrow. Our local efforts are making a huge difference... and you can be part of it!
A CROP Hunger Walk consists of friend and neighbors and congregations all over the South Shore gathering together to get pledges and walk to raise money for CROP's work, and in so doing take a stand against hunger. You can help by either signing up to be a walker or by sponsoring one. Walk Name: South Shore CROP Hunger Walk Walk Date: Sunday, October 16, 2011 @ 1 PM (rain or shine) Location: Christ Congregational Church 1350 Pleasant Street, Brockton
25% Proceeds: Mainspring House, Brockton, MA
Please help alleviate hunger by joining us for this fun 4 mile walk -- Up to 25 percent of it can go to local hunger agencies. The South Shore Walk will donate 25 percent of monies raised to the work of MainSpring House, a respected agency on the South Shore which addresses poverty, homelessness, hunger, healthcare, unemployment, substance abuse, and much more.
* CROP-Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty.
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| CRAFT NIGHTS continues.... but now on Thursday evenings from 7 - 9 pm in Fellowship Hall
We have got so many nice items ready for the Fair in November.
We will continue to meet on THURSDAY evenings at 7 p.m. during September.
I hope you can continue to come as we will concentrate on finishing up those items that need completion and begin to work on the Mason Jar delights. Even if you couldn't join us this summer, we would love to have you join us now!
For that we will need fabric circles. So if you have some interesting fabric, ribbon, pinking shears, please bring them along. There are also some glass items that could be used as candy jars...check out sales..... also, old glass ornaments look great in glass receptacles. Bring your ideas!
We will also search for ways to showcase the new items. The basement storage is a treasure store.
For further information on Craft nights contact:
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| JOIN US FOR AN 8-WEEK SUNDAY EVENING BOOK STUDY ON ROB BELL'S LOVE WINS
As part of a series on peacemaking in late 2007, Pastor Rob Bell's Mars Hill Bible Church (outside of Grand Rapids, MI) put on an art exhibit about the search for peace in a broken world.
An artist in the show included a quotation from Mahatma (Mohandes) Gandhi. A visitor at the exhibit stuck a note next to the Gandhi quotation: "Reality check: He's in hell." Bell was taken aback by this person's belief that the non-violent leader is suffering in hell because he was not a Christian.
Really? He recalls thinking. Gandhi's in hell? He is? We have confirmation of this? Without a doubt? And that somebody decided to take on the responsibility of letting the rest of us know?
So begins Bell's controversial new best seller, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.
Much of Bell's book focuses on our perceptions of God - if God is our friend, protector, counselor, and merciful parent throughout life, why would our death suddenly evoke a vicious, judgmental, condemning God? Are we to believe that God happily created billions of people only to turn around at the time of their death and eternally condemn them for not professing Jesus as Lord? And why is it that people who are so certain of whom is going to Hell are also certain that they themselves are going to Heaven?
Starting with the premise that we won't have definitive answers about Heaven and Hell in this life, we will use Bell's book to explore the theology of the ancient creeds, the cultural perceptions of Heaven and Hell, and - most importantly - what the God and the Jesus we meet in the Bible point us to.
The eight-week book study will run from 7 to 8:30 pm on the following Sunday evenings: September 25, October 2, 23, and 30; November 6, 11, 27; and December 4.
Please sign up in the lobby. I have copies of the book, which costs $14 (but if that's not in your budget, please speak to me in confidence).
Hope you will join us!
Pastor Jean
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| GET PLUGGED IN TO OUR CHURCH!
Internet users now have new and improved ways to receive the latest information about our ministries and programs. We have totally revamped our Facebook page ("First Congregational Church of Stoughton"-- look for our church logo). Facebook is now the way to keep in the loop and up-to-the-minute on things happening at our church. 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 reading Jean's new blog (revjeanlenk.blogspot.com) entitled "UCC Stoughton News & Happenings." It includes "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.
For those without computers, fear not! Any information on Facebook, Jean's blog, etc. that is not also communicated through Notes & Notices and The Linkis posted on the bulletin board at the lower entrance; look for the sign "Pastor Jean's Blog."
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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