THANK YOU TO OUR
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to the following people, who have committed to giving their time and talent to the Christian education of our children, youth, and adults of our church community during the coming year. When you see them, please say "Thank You!"
Dana Barnes, John Baglole, Bonnie Bittner, Caroline Cesario, Janet Clough, Russ Clough, Carolyn Curtis-Mahoney, Susan Hill, Eileen Howell, Zoey Howell, Adam Isbitsky, Anita Keenan, Leanne Kerman, Nina Lindsay, Susan Lindsay, Kevin Monahan, Sally Monahan, Ed McGillicuddy, Julie McGillicuddy, Karen McMahon, Carol O'Connell, Marcia Olson, Jenn Ostrowki, Natalie Pohl, Joan Roan, Tom Roan, Fred Searcy, Sherrie Wade
...and to all who otherwise volunteer, we say thank you.
Your efforts will have an impact on the people you teach, their churches, and their communities for the rest of their lives. | <><><>
WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP POTLUCK ON SEPTEMBER 26
Women's Fellowship will begin a new year of fellowship on Monday, September 26 at 6:00 pm opening with a Pot Luck Supper. Everyone is to bring their favorite dish to share as well as their own plates and utensils. Coffee and dessert will be provided by the officers. A business meeting will follow after supper.
All women of the church are welcome. We are hoping for a good turn out! Peggy Webster | <><><><><>
SECRET SISTERS!
Who: All church ladies
Why: Because its fun and caring! A great way to get to know another lady better... secretly.
What: A SECRET giving and receiving of cards, messages, token gifts, little surprises... secretly.
How: By means of a secret name drawing (Chuck will keep secret sister names list) after each participant has filled out a basic form and made the commitment to actively participate. The form will consist of your name, address, celebration dates, hobbies, interests.
When: Forms for those participating will be available Monday, September 26 through Monday, October 24. These should be turned in to Bonnie or Chuck Bittner or Peggy Webster by October 24. The drawing for your Secret Sister will be on November 13. The fun starts after November 13. Let's all do it!
Love, Bonnie B | <><><><><>
HANDBELL CHOIR
Do you think you would like to play in our Bell Choir? We will have an evening to give people a chance to try out playing and learn about how the choir works. So come to the sanctuary on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 7pm and give the bells a try.
Anyone from high school age and up are welcome to be a part of the Grace Notes Handbell Choir. We would like very much to have enough people playing to make our music enjoyable for all.
| <><><><><>
TAIZE PRAYER SERVICE September 28 at 7:00 pm Do you long for peace in your heart?
Is your soul hungry for spiritual nourishment?
Do you yearn for something the world cannot supply? Then join us in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, September 28, for a Taizé prayer service, which will last approximately 45 minutes. Taizé (pronounced "Teh-ZAY") worship is marked by a spirit of contemplation, prayer, and extended periods of silence. The playing of simple yet beautiful Taizé music enables us to let go of the clutter of our minds and to listen and pray to God with our hearts. If you long for peace and quiet... If you want to pray for yourself or for others... If you love to feel the words of Scripture wash over you... If you yearn for a deeper connection with God...Then please join us. Additional services are tentatively scheduled for October 26, December 12, January 25, March 14, April 25, and May 30. If you have any questions, please speak with Pastor Jean. | <><><><><>
"INVITATION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT"
Pastor Jean will be offering a new bible study program starting this week called "Invitation to the Old Testament: A Short-Term Disciple Bible Study." There are two different meeting times: Tuesday mornings from 10 to 11:30 and Thursday evenings from 7 to 8:30. Please sign up in the lobby. If you have any questions, please let Jean know. | <>
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! | <>
Eat, Drink and Feed the Hungry at Nocera's Thursday, October 6, 2011
Here's another great way you can help support the South Shore CROP* Hunger Walk and MainSpring House just by coming out and enjoying a great meal. You may not be able to walk - but everyone can eat!
On Thursday October 6, 2011, bring the fundraiser ticket found in the back of the church or Link and enjoy lunch, dinner or order take-out from Nocera's Restraurant. When paying your check, give the waitperson your ticket. The ticket will be attached to your check. Nocera's Restuarant will contribute 20% of the total bill to the South Shore CROP Hunger Walk.
It's that simple. You get great food and you help out a great cause. Please email Marcia Olson at baglole.olson@verizon.net and she will be happy to send you a copy of the flyer so you can share it with your family and friends. Bon Appetit!
You can still make an online donation to the South Shore CROP Hunger Walk! 25% of monies raised from the walk will be donated to MainSpring House, a highly respected agency in Brockton which addresses poverty, homelessness, hunger, healthcare, unemployment, substance abuse and more.
* CROP-Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. |
NEIGHBORS IN NEED on October 2
Neighbors in Needs is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ supports ministries that address poverty, economic development, human rights, peace-making, violence, racial and economic justice, environmental concerns, and public policy advocacy.
Imagine today that we live in a land where justice and compassion flourish. Imagine a nation where: - Schools are well funded; beyond the classroom, youth and young adults are prepared to lead America into the first century ever to live in peace with justice.
- People who get sick and need to see a doctor are never sent away.
- Fair trade of goods and services between nations is standard practice, promoting genuine global harmony.
- Global resources are wisely used with the aim of providing everyone with fair wages and livable economic conditions.
- Pollution is cleaned up and further destruction of our environment is prevented.
- Condemnation of varied sexual orientations, races and ethnicities is nonexistent.
- We erect monuments to honor people who strive for justice and compassion instead of monuments to war; the legacies of these heroes who toiled to "make things right" would remind us never again to return to the dark days of bigotry, hatred and homophobia.
- Prisons worked from a philosophy of rehabilitation rather than punishment.
This is the land Neighbors in Need imagines and is working to achieve. We hope that you will give generously when our congregation receives the NIN offering on October 2 as part of World Communion Sunday. | <>
Theme Raffle Baskets It's that time of year again to start thinking about the raffle baskets for the Church Fair. In order to make the baskets a success, we need your help! We are asking that everyone please consider contributing towards one of the baskets or sponsoring a basket. Some suggested themes are: a Fall/Thanksgiving Basket, Christmas/Holiday Basket, Snowman/Winter Theme Basket, Baking/Cooking Basket, Fun & Games Basket, Sports Lovers Basket, Arts & Crafts Basket, and a Chocolate/Sweets Lovers Basket.
If you have any other suggestions or ideas, please let me know. I would like to have 6 baskets to raffle off at the fair.
I have the baskets and shrink-wrap so once you have purchased the items, I will pick everything up and put the basket together.
If you would prefer to make a cash donation I will do the shopping for you. If you have any questions or would like to sponsor a basket, please contact me at 781-297-7368 or email me at LeanneK462@comcast.net.
Thank you! Leanne Kerman |
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 |
JOIN US FOR AN 8-WEEK SUNDAY EVENING BOOK STUDY ON
ROB BELL'S LOVE WINS
Pastor Jean will lead a book study this fall Rob Bell's controversial new best seller, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.
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.
Books are available at Coffee Fellowship for $14 each. (but if that's not in your budget, please speak to me in confidence). Hope you will join us! Pastor Jean
| <><><><><>
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." |
|
