committee chairs 413 6521615 march 2018...truly is, then we “get” lent and the blessing this...
TRANSCRIPT
Church Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Pastor’s Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Church Office Phone: 413-569-6362; Pastor’s Study: 569-5630
Website: www. southwickucc.org
Office e-mail: [email protected]
Facebook: Southwick Congregational Church UCC
Staff: Minister Reverend Bart Cochran
Choir Director/Organist Roberta Kowal
Bell Choir Director Patti P. Wood
Office Administrator Lyn Casey
Custodians Matthew Kowal & Maria Lempke
VOLUME MMXVIII No. 3
Buildings &
Grounds: Craig Perras [email protected] 413-652-1615
Christian
Education: Brittany Perras [email protected] 413-455-7417
Deacon Dawn Turgeon [email protected] 413-244-3977
Finance: Patti Wood [email protected] 413-977-2524
Flowers: Roxanne Cook [email protected] 413-569-6364
Fundraising: Patti Wood [email protected] 413-977-2524
Library: Sonya Murray [email protected] 413-221-0406
Memorial Gifts:
Karen Brzezinski [email protected] 413-569-6816
Missions: Roxanne Cook Donna Sullivan
[email protected] 413-569-6364 413-569-3356
Music: Joe Sullivan [email protected] 413-569-3356
Nominating:
Pastoral Relations:
Roxanne Cook [email protected] 413-569-6364
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Southwick Congregational Church
United Church of Christ 488 College Highway; P.O. Box 260
Southwick, MA 01077
of the month:
The Good Newsletter of the
Southwick Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Southwick, MA
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Minister: The Rev. Bart Cochran
Please join us Sundays for…
Worship Service— 10:00 AM
Mid-Week Service—Thursdays 6:30 PM
Website: www. SouthwickUCC.org
March 2018
As I’ve talked about before, I see Lent as a
spiritual journey. When we begin a journey, we need to know
where we are going and how we are going to get there. The
destination of Lent – the, “where we are going” – is Easter.
Let us look at this destination for a moment.
Easter is the celebration of life – but more specifically,
the life of Jesus who died for us but who was vindicated and
raised by the Father on the 3rd day. At Easter we celebrate
his resurrection as something that happened and still
happens to us. We all received this gift of new life through our
Baptism into Christ. The gift of life radically alters our attitude
toward everything… including death itself.
The character of this new life is love… the sacrificial love
of God for us in Christ. This is the quality of love we have
received, and that we now share with one another by grace.
Truth be told, this life of love is not always our daily
experience. The fact is we lose and betray this new life given
to us as a gift in Christ. Further, we often live as if Christ
wasn’t raised, as if this unique blessing and gift of God has no
meaning for us in our daily lives.
This happens because we are too busy, we forget,
things happen to us, and so our lives become old again –
petty, dark and even ultimately meaningless. Such is our
weakness and the impossibility for us to live the faith given us
in Christ on our own. It just happens.
If we understand this about ourselves and what Easter
truly is, then we “get” Lent and the blessing this Holy Season
can be for us.
In Lent, the Church guides us by the grace of God
through Scripture and worship on a journey of rediscovery
2
From The Pastor 15
Psalm 139
“Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?”
~Psalm 139:21
My mother was diagnosed with cancer two years after
I was. I want to gnash my teeth at the dividing mutant cells.
I want to destroy these beasts that rise up to destroy her. I feel
so frustrated. I want to protect her from what I had to go
through. What do I do with these feelings?
I talk to God. God understands. I don’t believe God gave
my mother cancer, and yet I find myself asking, “Why, God?
How could you do this to us?”
In the stillness I am reminded:
Jesus got angry, he did upend the tables after all. Anger
is a normal emotion and I am sure God is fine when I express
my anger even towards Him. Hatred isn’t. Hatred itself is a
cancer. It gets into every cell and multiplies and takes on a life
of its own.
The best thing I can do for
my mother, and for anyone
who is hurting, is love her,
listen to her and let her know
that I am here for her.
~Evelyn Dean Casey
Lyn Casey will be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on April 6th at Westfield State University. She is walking for herself and her mother and all women who have had endometrial cancer or endometriosis. If you would like to support Lyn, there are many ways to do so. Cash donations and checks made out to American Cancer Society can be dropped off at the church office. Or you can go to her page http://main.acsevents.org/goto/EDC to donate online.
Thank you in advance for your support!
14
#14 Southwick Historical Corner
As you recall, last article we talked about the building of the present meeting house. On June 10
th, 1824 the church
structure was ready for raising. I can’t describe it better than the historical book I am using so please enjoy this quote:
“Early on June 11 all the workers gathered to raise the structure. For three days horse and ox strained at the winches, the frames rose, came into place, and sweating men drove home pins and tightened nuts on bolts. Evening of June 13, 1824 saw the framework of the new meeting-house against the sunset sky.”
Erastus Hunt and his apprentice, Erastus Bardwell, completed the pillars that gave “grace and dignity to the portico”. Interestingly – in 1950 the steps and columns were replaced and a box of papers was found with notes from the builders. One of the notes went as follows: “This house erected for a place of worship to the one only living and true God. Was contracted for in the winter of 1823 and 1824….It cost about five thousand dollars…. They commenced the 2 day of May 1824. It was raised on the 11
th 12
th 13
th days of June following. No
accident happened of any consequence.” The box of papers also had a list of workmen, pew makers, and masons.
In November 1824, the Southwick Congregational Church meetinghouse was ready for its dedication service.
I found this picture from 1892 of our church (http://lostnewengland.com/category/massachusetts/southwick-massachusetts/)
~Martha Johnson
3
Don’t forget, you can read the weekly sermon on our website:
www.southwickucc.org on the page: “From the Pastor”
and recovery of what God made us through our own
baptismal death and resurrection.
As we journey through this time, we are prepared finally
to hear the words of Jesus:
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you,
you also should love one another. ~John 13:34
The Holy Season of Lent carefully prepares us to hear
those words and in the grace that God
provides us to joyfully receive them as the
core of our lives in Christ. The aim? That we
might love one another as Christ loves us.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Bart
Southwick Congregational Church
is a faithful Christian presence in the
community of Southwick since 1773, and
we look to the future. We are a diverse and
loving congregation, joyfully serving, teaching,
and sharing with one another, according to the gifts
we have been given.
Mission Statement
Join me for Bible Study on Sunday
Evenings at 7 PM or Tuesdays at
11 AM through March 20, 2018
4
Ministry and Outreach
Lenten Bible Study begins Sundays 7 PM
Lenten Bible Study Tuesdays 11AM
All Church Meeting on Sunday
Easter
All Church Meeting on Sunday
Historical Society’s Dinner planned
Sundays 18 ~
Tuesdays 20 ~
March 11 ~
April 1 ~
April 8 ~
April 26 ~
Call for Pastoral Care:
If a member of our church community knows of any-one who is ill, hospitalized, grieving, or
moving to a senior living facility, please be sure to advise the church office. We want to respond with caring support. Call the church office at 413-569-6362 or
email at [email protected]
Worship Schedule
Sunday Worship service at 10:00 AM Thursdays Midweek Service with communion at 6:30 PM
Ecumenical Service at The American Inn on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM
Office Hours
The Church office is open Monday thru Thursday from 9:00 AM~1:00 PM & Friday from 9:00 AM~12:30 PM Pastor Bart’s Study is open Tuesday thru Friday from
10:00 AM~2:00 PM
All Church Committee Refreshment Schedule March—Music Committee
April — Finance Committee
May— Mission Outreach
June, July, August—Open
September— Board of Deacons
October—Building and Grounds
November—Christian Education
December—Bell & Voice Choirs
January—Open
13
Deacons – Diane Orson, Eric Nitsch
Buildings & Grounds – Mike Pitoniak, Keith Ireland
Christian Ed – Brittany Perras, Kirsten Allhusen, Meredith Crosler, Emily Pitoniak as a Junior Member
Mission Outreach – Pamela Rovelli
Music – Jennifer Cotto
Finance – Joe Rovelli, Melanie Nitsch
Church Librarian – Sonya Murray
A motion was made, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands to accept all new names to the committees.
New Business
Roxanne Cook representing the Missions Outreach Committee no-ticed a slight maladjustment in Missions figures ($24?) and she will dis-cuss this with the church treasurer.
Melanie Nitsch and Roberta Kowal discussed that a new remote control to program the organ may soon be found and may have to be purchased.
Special thank you’s were offered to Lyn Casey as our office admin-istrator for all her hard work throughout the year and for advertising the annual handbell concert on WJMJ radio station in Connecticut which helped lead to a full house for the concert.
Fundraising for the upcoming year will include the Southwick Histori-cal Society Dinner the last Thursday in April. New fundraising ideas to be investigated include a chocolate sale, and a mattress sale with lots of discussion about fundraisers.
Roxanne Cook wanted to make everyone aware of the first annual fundraiser for “PinkWay” on May 12, 2018, to be held at the American Legion.
Eric Nitsch asked members to take the time to investigate the web-site for the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) with the hopes that there will be future discussion on this asso-ciation versus the United Church of Christ.
Brief discussion on the future process regarding Pastor’s Bart de-parture. The new Executive Committee forming in March will be tasked to start the process to hire an Interim Pastor. The Pastoral Relations Committee will conduct an Exit Interview with Pastor Bart.
Pastor Bart mentioned his many wonderful memories of this church as his first church and offered prayers for all of our members.
Moderator David Breton closed the 245th Annual Meeting of the Southwick Congregational Church at 12:40 p.m. All in attendance joined hands for the singing of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.”
Respectfully submitted, Melanie Nitsch, Clerk
12
245th
Annual Meeting Minutes
February 18, 2018
The meeting was called to order by Moderator David Breton at 11:35 a.m. An opening prayer of guidance was led by Pastor Bart.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to dispense with the reading of the Call to the Annual Meeting.
A count was taken around the room with 32 voting members attending – a quorum is 15.
The Moderator entertained a motion from the floor to accept last year’s Annual Report from the 244th Annual Meeting which was seconded and passed unanimously with one correction to remove Eric Nitsch’s name from the Buildings & Grounds Committee list as he was not a member of that committee during the 2017 year.
Treasurer’s Report – Ted Orson, Treasurer, was unable to attend the Annual Meeting. Julie Chase, as his stand-in, was availa-ble for questions. A motion was made, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands to accept the Treasurer’s Report.
Review of Proposed 2018 Budget
Revenue – A motion was made to accept this section, second-ed, and passed by a majority show of hands.
Expenses – A request was made to table discussion of line items 13 – 23 at this time due to the fact that these figures will be changing since Pastor Bart will be leaving his ministry at Southwick Congregational Church as of 4/1/18.
Office & Administration – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.
Music - A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.
Christian Ed – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.
Maintenance – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.
Utilities & Insurance – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.
Other – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.
A motion was made to accept the proposed 2018 budget which was seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.
Nominating Committee Report – Chairman Patti Wood brought forth the following additions to committees:
5 Committees for 2018
Moderator David Breton 2015
Treasurer Theodore Orson 2013
Assistant Treasurer Julie Chase 2013
Board of Deacons Patty Banasik 2016
Eric Nitsch 2018
Diane Orson 2018
Flo Pitoniak 2016
Dawn Turgeon 2012 Lee Zinnack 2017
Buildings & Grounds Bob Franzen 2017
Keith Ireland 2018
Craig Perras 2016
Mike Pitoniak 2018
Christian Education Kirsten Allhusen 2018 Meredith Crosler 2018
Kristy Johnston 2017
Ann Ottalagana 2017
Brittany Perras 2018
Emily Pitoniak 2018
Finance Committee Julianna Chase 2012
Melanie Nitsch 2018
Joe Rovelli 2018
Patti Wood 2018
Mission Outreach Roxanne Cook 2016
Pamela Rovelli 2018 Donna Sullivan 2017
Music Committee Lynn Coach 2015
Jennifer Cotto 2018
Diane Jennett 2016
Joyce Paggen 2013
Joe Sullivan 2017
Memorial Gifts Karen Brzezinski 2011
Board of Ushers Charlie Rood, III 2011
Flowers Roxanne Cook 2016
UCC Delegates Open
Julianna Chase 2011
Auditor David Howes 2011
Historian Karen Brzezinski 2013
Church Librarian Sonya Murray 2018
Pastoral Relations Roxanne Cook 2011
Dennis Day 2015
Diane Orson 2015
Nominating Committee Open
6
2018 Church Directory: there are new church directories available in the Narthex or in the Church office. PLEASE, look for your name and then email (or call) the church office with corrections and updates: [email protected]
Annual Report: A copy of the annual Report is available in the narthex or in the Church office.
The Office will be closed Monday March 5th and Friday March 30th. Please plan accordingly.
Please notify the Church Office if: You have a change of address Your phone number has changed Your email address has changed
You know someone else’s contact information has changed
You need to add an event to the calendar
You have an idea and you don’t know whom to tell
You would like to make a change to the Prayer List
You would like to reserve flowers for the altar
You would like to be added or taken off the Gold Dome
mailing list
You are going away for a few weeks and stopping your mail
You have an article for the Gold Dome
From the Office
Looking for something to do on a Sunday Afternoon?
On March 11, at 3:00 PM At Second Congregational Church in Westfield (487 Western Avenue — Across from Stanley Park)
Come hear the Greater Westfield Choral Association
perform Mendelssohn — excerpts from Elijah,
Thompson — Alleluia, Parker & Shaw — He’s Gone Away and more.
(Lyn Casey, your office admin, is one of the Altos ) $10 General Admission $8 Students / Seniors
A Spring Concert
11
Stewardship Journey
Stewardship – 2017 Recap
Each of us committed to grow spiritually and provide financial support as best we are able when we joined Southwick UCC. The good news is 2017 Stewardship receipts of $86,800 exceeded pledges by about $7,500. Fundraisers, rental income and other sources brought the year’s total income to $115,300. On the other side of the ledger, 2017 expenses amount-ed to $136,300. A breakdown of 2017 income and expenses is shown on the chart below. Seventy-three percent of our operating budget derives from Stewardship offerings while half of our expenses support the pastor.
The good news is that seventy-three pledges totaling $91,700 have been received for 2018 with the average pledge being $1,250 or $24 per week. Committee budgets are unchanged for 2018 but the uncertainty of Pastoral Expenses leaves the year-end budget projection uncertain.
~ Virgil
Lost & Found
Lost: Men’s XL Black winter jacket and boy’s small red puffy vest. Items were misplaced on Sunday, February 18, 2018. Please call the church office if you have information.
10
From The Mailbox
Looking Ahead
All Church Meeting on Sunday 11:00 AM
Easter
All Church Meeting on Sunday 11:00 AM
Historical Society’s Dinner planned
March 11 ~
April 1 ~
April 8 ~
April 26 ~
“Dear Lyn and all,
We’re kind of keeping you company today with a grey and overcast forecast. May I complain? No. I didn’t think so!
My friend B is here and worked a morning with me at church preparing for their garage sale. Yes - today we walked Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and enjoyed the birds and alligators. The best sighting was a female anhinga (a large, mostly black water bird) on her nest with three rowdy chicks ~ very near the boardwalk.
Wishing you all “happy sightings,”
Much Love,
Janey”
Thank you
2/3/18
THANK YOU to ALL for such a successful Souper Sunday!!! Thanks to my kitchen crew~ Robin Sklarski, Andrea Warrinar &
Donna Sullivan Thanks to Jim Putnam for the very yummy bread! Thanks to all who made & donated Soup,,,there are many of you
that dropped off soup that weren't on my "list"....Please let me know who you are and the name of the soup you left us.......
Lastly, Thanks to all of you that purchased soup!! Its ALL gone ! Total Profit was $856.00 !! ( $300 more than last year) ~Patti Wood
7
March
Lynn Coach March 7
Florence Warriner March 19
If we’ve missed a birthday, please let the church office know!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Lenten Bible Study Sundays 7 PM
Lenten Bible Study Tuesdays 11AM
All Church 11:00 AM
Committee Round Table Discussion 11:15 AM
Maundy Thursday 8:00 PM
Sundays ~
Tuesdays ~
March 11 ~
March 18 ~
March 29 ~
Committee Round Table Discussion Sunday, March 18
Thank you to those of you who agreed to serve on committees this coming year. As I am now on the Finance Committee, there is again no "Nominating" Committee.
It is getting harder & harder every year to fill these positions.....as a result.
I am hosting a Round Table Discussion about different governing models that other churches use. What other options might we think about?
This will be an informal chat to further some discussions that popped up at the Annual Meeting.
Join me on March 18th after coffee hour in Old Fellowship Hall. .....be ready to share POSITIVE thoughts, how the church you
grew up in was run, etc. See you then!!! ~Patti Wood
Sun Mon Tue Wed
4
Communion
Service 10 AM
Coffee Hour
Bible Study 7 PM
5
Office open 9-1
Music Together 10 A
Adult Guitar 7:30 P
6
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Bible Study 11 AM
Bell Choir 6:30
Boy Scouts 6:30
7
Office Open 9
Bart’s Hours 10
Cub Scouts 6:30
Voice Choir 7:00
11 12
Office open 9-1
Music Together 10 A
Adult Guitar 7:30 P
13
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Bible Study 11 AM
Bell Choir 6:30
Boy Scouts 6:30
14
Office Open 9
Bart’s Hours 10
Cub Scouts 6:30
Voice Choir 7:00
18
Worship Service
w Baptism 10 AM
Coffee Hour 11:00 Round Table Discussion
OA Anniversary3:30
Bible Study 7 PM
19
Office open 9-1
Music Together 10 A
Adult Guitar 7:30 P
20
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Bible Study 11 AM
Bell Choir 6:30
American Inn 6:30
Boy Scouts 6:30
21 Spring Begins
Office Open 9
Bart’s Hours 10
Cub Scouts 6:30
Voice Choir 7:00
25
Worship
Service 10 AM
Youth Group 10:15
Coffee Hour
OA 3:30 PM
26
Office open 9-1
Music Together 10 A
Adult Guitar 7:30 P
27
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Bell Choir 6:30
Boy Scouts 6:30
28
Office Open 9
Bart’s Hours 10
Cub Scouts 6:30
Voice Choir 7:00
Daylight Savings
Worship Service
Youth Group 10:15
Coffee Hour 11:00
All-Church 11:15
OA 3:30 PM
Bible Study 7 PM
Don’t forget the
All– Church Meeting on the 11th
Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Midweek Service
6:30
2
Office Open 9-12:30
Henrietta’s Open
Bart’s Hour 10-2
OA Meeting 6:00
AA Meeting 7:30
3
Henrietta’s Open
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Cub Scouts 6:30
Voice Choir 7:00
8
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Midweek Service
6:30
9
Office Open 9-12:30
Henrietta’s Open
Bart’s Hour 10-2
OA Meeting 6:00
AA Meeting 7:30
10
Henrietta’s Open
Boy Scouts
Spaghetti Dinner
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Cub Scouts 6:30
Voice Choir 7:00
15
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Midweek Service
6:30
16 Gold Dome
Articles Due
Office Open 9-12:30
Henrietta’s Open
Bart’s Hour 10-2
OA Meeting 6:00
17
Henrietta’s Open
Spring Begins
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Cub Scouts 6:30
Voice Choir 7:00
22
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Midweek Service
6:30
23
Office Open 9-12:30
Henrietta’s Open
Bart’s Hour 10-2
Girls Scouts Sock Hop
OA Meeting 6:00
AA Meeting 7:30
24
Henrietta’s Open
Police Association
Spaghetti Dinner
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Cub Scouts 6:30
Voice Choir 7:00
29
Office Open 9-1
Bart’s Hours 10-2
Maundy Thursday
Service 8:00 PM
30
Office Closed
Henrietta’s Open
Bart’s Hour 10-2
OA Meeting 6:00
AA Meeting 7:30
31
Henrietta’s Open