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Our next rotation will begin on Sunday, March 4, and will get us
through Lent and ready for Easter by exploring the Easter story. On April 1,
Palm Sunday, Dana Barnes will join the entire Sunday School in our tradition of
having a Christian Seder (Passover meal). This is the same meal the Jesus was
celebrating during the Last Supper, and that we remember every time we share
Communion.
If your child is interested in singing in the Good News Kids Choir or
participating in the Youth Music Ensemble for Easter, please join Chris
Nickelson and Adam Isbitsky for rehearsals following Sunday School until 12:00
on March 18, 25, and April 1. We will have snacks after rehearsal.
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HEALING
PRAYERS AT 11:30 AM
ON
COMMUNION SUNDAYS
At 11:30 am, this Sunday, March 4 and on all
Communion Sundays (the first Sunday of each month), Pastor 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.
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Interested in joining our church?
Want to have your child baptized?
Please join us at our next series of
Beginning this Sunday, March 4,
we will again be holding a series of Covenant Classes for people who are
interested in joining our church and for parents who are interested in having
their child baptized. The next series will be held this Sunday and April 1 from
11:45 to 1:00 pm and on March 18 and (for new members only) April 29 from 11:30
to 1:00 pm.
Parents who want their child
baptized and are not regularly-attending Active Members of the church
are to attend these Covenant Classes which will cover in depth the covenantal
vows the parent(s) will be making during the sacrament. Once the Covenant
Classes have been completed and the parents feel ready to carry out their
covenantal vows, a date for the baptism can be scheduled.
Because the baptismal vows parents
make on behalf of their children are almost identical to the vows new members
make when they are received into membership with our church, any persons
interested in being formally received as a member of the First Congregational Church
of Stoughton are also to attend these Covenant Classes. A fourth class for
prospective members only will cover subjects specific to membership, including
spiritual gifts assessment, opportunities for serving the church, and the
importance of stewardship. New Members will be received during worship at a
mutually convenient date later this spring.
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Sunday
Evening Lenten Study
"BENEATH THE CROSS:
LETTERS
FROM A GOOD FRIDAY WORLD"
Sundays, 7 to 8:30 pm
This study focuses on a fictional series of letters that were
"written" on Good Friday immediately after the death of Jesus. The letters could
not be mailed the next day, as it was the Sabbath. By Sunday, the world had
changed. These "letters" are intended to teach and to provoke thought about the
importance of Christ's resurrection.
These studies are not cumulative, so if you were not able to join
us last week, please feel free to join us this week.
March 4 Letter #4 From: Simon Peter To: The Acme Fishing
Supply
Company
March 11 No Class
March 18 Letter #5 From: The Centurion To: His
Commander
March 25 Letter #6 From: Mary Magdalene To: Her sister,
Esther
April 1 Letter #7 From: Judas Isacariot To: Whomever Finds
This
Note
Led by Pastor Jean. We hope you will join us!
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You are
invited to
Student
Pastor Lance Wiser's
LENTEN
BIBLE STUDY
I invite you all to attend a Lenten Bible Study I am leading entitled
"The Terrible Surprise of Hospitality." We will begin at 11:30 am and finish up
before 1:00 pm on March 4, 11, 18, and 25.
Each Sunday, we will take a biblical story - two from the Old
Testament and two from the New Testament - pertaining to hospitality and weave
them into the narratives that have come out of this Holy Land experience, and to
also see how they connect with our own lives.
It is my hope that this will be an engaging experience that will
challenge our perception of the Holy Land, deepen our understanding of the
Abrahamic Religions, and practice further what Christianity teaches us about
hospitality.
I hope you will join us!
Lance Wiser, Student Pastor
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Join us for a time
of
Lenten Prayer and Communion
9 am on Sunday, March 11, 18,
and 25
During
this holy season of Lent, Pastor Jean will be leading a special time of prayer
and communion beginning at 9 am in Fireplace Room on three Sundays: March 11,
18, and 25.
If you
have special prayer needs, would like to pray for others, or simply desire an
extra opportunity for worshipful, sacramental time, please join us. We will
conclude no later than 9:45 am.
If you
have any questions, please speak with Pastor Jean.
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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
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.
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Office
Administrator on leave March 12 through 30
Our Office Administrator, Nancy Sullivan, will be on medical leave
from March 12-30. During this time, the office will not be staffed during the
normal hours, although Pastor Jean will be "holding down the fort," returning
phone messages, creating bulletins and Notes &
Notices inserts, doing the
weekly Constant Contact email, and getting the April Link started.
Needless to say, Nancy will be greatly missed, and she will be in our
thoughts and prayers during her surgery and recovery. Should you need to contact
the Church Office during this time, please be patient as we try to navigate
without her. If you have any Church Office business that can be addressed before
Nancy leaves or can be deferred until her return, your flexibility would be
greatly appreciated. Thank you for your cooperation!
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St.
Patrick's Day Dinner and
the
Wearin' of the Green
Come celebrate St.
Patrick's Day by joining together
for a delicious
old-fashioned dinner.
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012 Dinner served at 6:00 PM
Admission is $10 / $5 for children under 12
with a $25 max per
family.
Featuring your choice of traditional corned beef or tender smoked
shoulder, beginning with tasty appetizers, and ending with delicious home made
desserts and musical entertainment.
Buy your tickets or make advance reservations before the
deadline-Monday, March 12th. See John Baglole, Dottie Rother, or any member of
the Choir.
Don your favorite Irish (green) outfit and receive a commendation
from the Chancel Choir.
This dinner and evening of fun is sponsored by the Chancel Choir and
Deacons to raise funds in support of the Music Program at Stoughton UCC. Plan to
come and bring your friends and neighbors!
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EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS
Please complete and return
the purple insert in this issue of the Notes & Notices or the LINK
to the church office by Sunday,
April 1, 2012.
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A Special Announcement to All ladies of Our Church Family:
In 1978 the ladies of the UCC churches of New England joined together
in a weekend meeting of fun, worship, and learning. This time came to be called
CELBRATION I.
Now in the works are plans for CELEBRATION IX for March 28-30, 2014.
You see, these celebrations have taken place every four years since then. Most
of the ladies who have come, come back time after time. The last one expanded to
include the young ladies of the UCC, and girls 12 and over were invited with
special activities and plans for them. There were some women there of three
generations of the same family worshiping and learning together. The theme for
Celebration IX will be "Together" based on Psalm 131:1.
So mark your calendar now, start you Celebrations fund and plan to be
a part of this in Portland Maine in 2014.
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On Sunday morning when you
are sitting in worship and see the beautiful altar flowers, have you ever
thought you would like to sponsor them? Here is how you can!
Located on the board outside
of Fellowship Hall is a poster made by Alyssa McGillicuddy! Attached to the
poster are request forms to fill out and payment envelopes. If there is any
conflict with the date you request, Nancy or Gale will contact you.
The cost to sponsor a
standard arrangement is $25.00. If you would like to make a special request, you
can do so by contacting our church florist, Nancy Sullivan at 781-254-6261. For
special orders we ask for at least a weeks notice and an additional cost may be
incurred.
Checks can be made out to
Nancy Sullivan. Once you have completed your form and enclosed your check you
can leave it in the church office or in the offering plate. If you have any
questions you can contact Nancy Sullivan at the Church Office at 781-344-2371 or
the number above or Gale DeBeneditto @781-344-4728.
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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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