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D o o r w a y s
N e w s l e t t e r
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SHARON
29 North Main Street, P O Box 423, Sharon Ma 02067
Rev. Steven Alspach, Minister Susanne Mullin, Adm. Asst
E-Mail: [email protected] Office: 781-784-2631
http://fccofsharon.org [email protected] Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday-Friday
VOLUME 55 September 4, 2015 No. 1
Welcome to All!
I hope that you and your families have a good summer. We treasure the change of pace that we find in the
summer, it helps to restore our spirits for the rest of the year. Often this comes as we become more
connected with nature. In our worship services this summer we sung the Call to Worship song “Ocean is a Call
to Worship” and adapted it on succeeding Sundays to “Mountain, Garden, Country, Community…is a Call to
Worship” and we shared stories of how our faith journeys have been impacted by experiences in nature.
Buoyed by our memories and experiences of the summer, our attention shifts as we move into the fall. As
people woven together in our Church Covenant since 1740, the focus of our faith journey is renewing our
commitment to “walk together in the ways of God.” Based on the work of our vision and goals process last
year, we begin this fall with a theme that guides us, “Growing in Light, Service, Table.” In these upcoming
months we invite you to contemplate this theme, and to enter into our growth process as fully as possible. We
believe that this will bear fruit in our lives- of faith, hope, peace, love, and joy!
I am happy to report that this summer the efforts of many toward “growing in Light, Service, and Table” over
the last year, has borne some wonderful fruit, and that there is a good chance that the fruit will continue. I think
of our much-anticipated Mission Trip to Pine Ridge Reservation to work with Re-Member and the Lakota
people, in early August. The trip was an intense serving, learning, and growing experience for all 13 of us, that
many would describe as “life-changing”. It changed our lives, made an impact on the lives of the people of the
Reservation, and has encouraged our congregation to continue to grow in Service.
The trip was fully supported by the congregation’s fundraising, sharing of individual financial gifts, and by all
the prayers and concern. We especially felt this support upon returning with the burden of having encountered
a fatal motorcycle accident on Mount Rushmore Rd., on our last day. The Mission Team will share more fully
about their experiences in the next two months, in Worship on September 20th
and at a Church Supper in
October – date to be announced – don’t miss it.
I also think of our congregation’s decision to hire Mindy Hinkel as interim Sunday School Coordinator, as
another example of fruit-bearing efforts in Light, Service, and Table. Our Christian Education Committee led
by interim Chair, Kris Webster, have worked very hard since our Annual Meeting at the end of February to put
into place a Sunday School curriculum and schedule that will enable our children and youth to more fully “form
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their faith habits”, and to grow in their faith over the next year. A key component was to have a person who on
a weekly basis would bring administrative attention and faithful enthusiasm to our Sunday School program. We
feel that we have found that person in Mindy.
Many of you have already met Mindy in musical contexts in our church, and as our Music Director Brett
Hinkel’s spouse, we invite you to talk with Mindy about our vision and hopes for Sunday School. See the
article on our Worship and Sunday School Schedule for September below .
Many blessings in the Light,
Steve
R A L L Y D A Y
September 13th !
Come one and all as we re-gather for Worship with the return of the Full Choir at the 10 am Worship Service. Our Theme will be our call to Find the Quiet Center of our Lives revealed to us through the stories and images of God in Scripture. We will join the children in hearing the story of “Moses and the Burning Bush” in Exodus 3, followed by the New Testament Lectionary Passage, Mark 8:27-30, Jesus’ words to his followers, “Who Do you Say that I Am? There will be a 10 minute Sermon time to reflect on this passage. In this busy fall season, our goal is for hour-long worship each Sunday (a bit longer with Communion).
SUNDAY SCHOOL RETURNS!
Sunday School Programming begins again with a new, dedicated interim Sunday School Coordinator on September 13th but first…
Thursday, September 10th – OPEN HOUSE ICE CREAM SOCIAL, 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Join us in welcoming our new interim Sunday School Coordinator, Mindy Hinkel. Please come greet her and learn more about our upcoming Sunday School programs and how you might get involved. Weather permitting we will be on the lawn.
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September 13th, 9:30 - 10:00 am Sunday School Registration for all ages from Cradle Room through High School begins.
Our Sunday School programs will be Forming Faith Habits Together (FFHT) offering a variety of activities for each of the following levels:
Cradle Room
Pre-K to K
Grades 1 – 5
Middle School
High School In Forming Faith Habits Together, we weave the spiritual learning of our youth to the congregation through song, crafts, games, discussion and social activities appropriate to their age level. September - October Sunday School programming includes: Activity examples for Pre-K – 5. Middle School & High School activities will vary. 9/13 Special Guest Leaders, Reverend Jeff Johnson and Dr. Ann Searing, guide us in centering prayer, a tool to find quiet focus, as we draw pictures to describe our own images of God, from the story of Moses and the Burning Bush in Exodus 3. 9/20 Exploring our own call to serve through the story of Moses call to “set his people free” and the Mission trip connections with Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Each class writes a note to teachers at Pine Ridge to reach out asking “how can we serve?” We personalize the fabric for a bean bag game to send to Pine Ridge.
9/27 Some of our Deacons will joins us in discussing gardening and finding the seed of Christ within us as we prepare for communion on 10/4. We also take our seeds across the Red Sea to another land to share beans in the form of bean bags game gifts to send to Pine Ridge. Bring a bag of beans to Sunday School! 10/4 World Communion Sunday – “It’s raining MANNA” in the wilderness! We explore Journey into Service as we package our bean bag gifts for the Pine Ridge Schools then take communion with the congregation. 10/11 One room school in the Parish Hall – We take our journey into service “on a walk” to the Promised Land with an introduction to Crop Walk and the call of Joshua in Joshua 1:1 – 9. 10/18 Crop Walk Sunday – Weather permitting, we take our own Crop Walk with a twist on Centering Prayer, finding our own “Faith Walk” and crossing over Jordan in our crafty Quahog boats!
Contributed by Mindy Hinkle, Interim Sunday School Coordinator
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FOOD DRIVE RALLY DAY – September 13th - Do you like chunky or smooth peanut butter? Natural or
commercial, peanut butter substitute? Teddy Bear, Skipping, Jiff
or Shaw’s brand? Let’s vote by bringing in your favorite kind of
peanut butter and placing it in the boxes on the stage for Rally
Day! All donations will go to the food pantry.
few notes FROM THE MUSIC COMMITTEE WELCOME BACK FCC CHOIR FOR THE 2015-2016 SEASON!
Music Director Brett Hinkel would like to welcome back the FCC Senior Choir for the 2015-
2016 season, starting with a rehearsal at 7:15 pm on Tuesday, September 8th . The Senior
Choir is always welcoming of new members from the congregation, adults and high school
students alike! Rehearsals are every Tuesday evening from 7:15 to 9:00 p.m. The choir sings
every Sunday (with a couple exceptions), with pre-service rehearsal at 9:15. If you are
interested in singing with the choir, please come to the first rehearsal and/or speak with Brett
SHARON’S 250TH
PARADE and the FCC Float
The Float Planning is well under way! We will need many hands to pull it all together. The Men's Club is
working on the Float for Sharon's 250th Year Parade.
We have been tasked with covering the floor of the trailer, mounting the skirting, and
attaching the signage. We need people to help. The actual assembling / construction
will start on Saturday, September 12 at 9 am, and will continue up until parade
day... but the earlier the better! We are also looking for Youth connected with the church to work on the Float,
march in the Parade, carry signs, etc. -
Feel free to contact Bob MacKenzie with any questions: [email protected] or by phone at 508-660-0455.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Bible Study on the Lectionary passage of
Scripture for each Sunday. Come when you can. We are open to offering
this at other times also, early Friday morning at Starbucks anyone?
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Video Series, "Centering Prayer - a Training
Course for Opening to the Presence of God." Connecting to our
emphasis on the ancient Christian prayer practice of Centering Prayer in
Worship and Sunday School in September, we will offer a six-week Video
Series by Father Thomas Keating, one of the founders of the Centering
Prayer movement that originated at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer,
MA. The series is called If you would like to join in our "Table" fellowship
beforehand, we continue to offer our Simple Suppers from 5:30-6:30 this
fall. The Supper will end promptly at 6:30, with cleanup to follow, and the
Course with start right at 7:00 and end right at 8:00. Please contact Pastor
Steve, [email protected], if you think you will be able to take part
in this course. You don't need to attend every session to take part. This
course can also be offered at other times, let us know.
"ADULT
FAITH
HABITS
FORMATION
THURSDAYS"
begins
September 17th
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WORSHIP ON 9/20 –
MISSION TRIP AND 250TH
PARADE SUNDAY
- Special Pine Ridge Mission Trip Moment/Children’s Time combined - sharing in words and pictures by some
of the youth and adults on the Mission Team
- New Testament Lectionary Scripture Mark 9:30-37 - “Called to Be Servants”
- Sermon – Reflections on the Scripture in light of the Mission Trip - sharing continues by Pastor Steve and
another adult Mission Team member.
- After Church – 250th
Anniversary Parade with our own church float featuring FCC singers, Pantry Soup
makers, Signs of Mission youth walkers etc.
WORSHIP ON 9/27 –
Picnic Sunday
-Scripture - The Great Commandment "Loving God and Neighbor"
-Guest Preacher, Reverend Sharon Williams, Triage Manager at Father Bills and Mainspring House. FBMH
will receive 25% of the funds raised by our Crop Walk for the Hungry in Sharon on October 18th.It is an
organization that is noted for being pioneers in the Housing First movement that is transforming the
effectiveness of outreach to people without homes.It commonly partners with Bridge Over Troubled Waters in
Boston and School without Wheels in Brockton, who we support.
-Picnic after Church 11 – 1
ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC
(and yes “The Best Pie in Town Contest”) will be on
Sunday September 27
Help is needed with set up and clean up. Contact Ed Lukey [email protected] for questions. This is a great day to bring a friend to church.
Men’s Club - grill and cook, provide hamburgers, hot dogs, rolls Dorcas, Leadership and Deacons – provide salads Administrative Committee – provide beverages Christian Ed. Committee – provide paper products - coordinate games/races for kids – Christian Service Committee - provide condiments and Chips Anyone and everyone - Bring Desserts Pie Contest - Outreach Please, could two-three members from each committee and any other volunteers help with set-up and clean-up?
EVERGREEN BAZZAR NEWS
Meetings are for:
September 27, October 1, October 11, October 25, November 8, November 22. Anyone who is interested in helping at our Annual Evergreen Bazaar is welcome to attend. We
have a job for everyone!!!!! This is a very important FUNdraiser for the church.
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WORSHIP ON 10/4 –
World Communion Sunday –
Journey into Service After Church
-Children continue to learn about Communion then join us in Communion
-N.T. Scripture Matthew 10:2-16 Enfolding Love – Welcoming all to the Table in Light and Service
-Journey into Service after Church - how will you serve this year in the church and in our community?
Sunday, October 18, 2015 1 pm We are hosting!
Join FCC and FCC of Stoughton and Christ Congregational Church, Brockton, in the nation’s oldest walk for
hunger. Start or join a team. Can’t walk? Sponsor someone. Our goal- 100% FCC participation
TIME TO REGISTER IS NOW! – 3 people signed up! http://www.crophungerwalk.org/southshorema to join the FCC Team
or start your own team
The email contact Valerie Gundlah for more information or on how you
can help. [email protected]
KITCHEN CLEAN-UP SCHEDULE FOR 2015-2016 September Dorcas Group 2
October Dorcas Group 20
November Men’s Club
December Dorcas Group 3
January Dorcas Group 2
February Dorcas Group 20
March Men’s Club
April Dorcas Group 3
May Dorcas Group 2
June Dorcas Group 20
July Men’s Club
August Dorcas Group 3
Dorcas Group 13 will be responsible for maintaining the kitchenette throughout the year.
Tasks Clean Refrigerator inside and out – throw old food away
Cabinets – organize table cloths, wipe shelves
sink, under sinks, fans, microwave & counters
Straighten coffee hour supplies
Polish Stove
Wash towels and return
CROP HUNGER WALK
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THOSE CRAFTY FOXES are meeting on Tuesdays at 9 am if you would like to drop in. We
have two non-church members now, who are enjoying the comradery. No talent required. Bring
a friend!
THURSDAYS SIMPLE SUPPERS AT 5:30 PM – 6:30 pm yard games. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, …ECT. Will continue as long as the weather holds out, then we will move inside. All are always welcome! Thank you to our FCC Grill Master – Bob Weeks and his assistant Carolyn Weeks.
*PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY continues to meet every other Thursday at 3 pm
(September 10th
) for tea and knitting. Baby shawls needed as well. People who would like
to learn to knit are welcome!
PANTRY SOUP DATES 2015-2016 Mondays: Choppers at 10:00 am, packers at 2:30 pm, delivery at 8:30 am Tuesday
October 5th
, October 26th
, November 2nd
, December 7th
, December 14th
January 4th
, January 11th
, February 1st, February 8
th, February 29
th
March 7th
, March 14th
, April 4th
, April 11th
This schedule avoids holidays and gives Ilsa Marks Food Pantry guests soup 7 times for
each group, because they can only use the food pantry once every two weeks.
Donations of vegetables, broth, cookies and cornbread are always welcome. Thank you
all for your continued support of this mission of the church! Please call Susanne 781-
784-2631 if you have any questions.
and Bric-a-Brac Sale Saturday October 17, 8am to noon
donations may be left on the Parish Hall Stage. We will cheerfully
accept donations of clothing, linens, and small household items. Set up
will be on Friday October 16 at 10 am PLEASE come and help!
Money raised will go to the churches missions.
SUMMER THANKS! Many thanks to those who made special contributions to our church life together over the summer:
* Our Musicians who shared their talents
* Our Deacons and Brent Gundlah for shepherding worship
* Diane Blair, Faith Berkland, Gail Menees, and Carolyn Weeks for helping out in the office .
* THANKS to Ed and Paula Lukey for taking care of the lawn mower and vacuum cleaner this summer. And
for the summer gardening that Ed , Paula, Sally Morandi, and Pat Simmons did!
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MACUCC NEWS: Super Saturday, October 17, 2014 8:00 am to 3:45 pm Keefe Regional Technical High School 750 Winter Street, Framingham, MA 01702
Come spend the day! Enjoy a variety of workshop offerings, marketplace and
networking. Classes fill up fast. Brochures about the programs are scattered throughout the
church. Or check out:
http://www.macucc.org/eventdetail/112024?month=10&year=2014&day=1&display=m
FRIENDS IN THE NEWS: We have been saddened by the pasting of Rev. Martin Perry who passed away on Monday, July 6th. Rev.
Perry filled in on many Sundays over the years at our church.
Karin and Jim Messina have moved to Willow Crossing. There new address is: Unit B, 102 Willow
Crossing, 25 Cobb St, Mansfield MA 02048 508-339-4101
"Fiddler on the Roof" directed by Brett Hinkel, at The Footlight Club in Jamaica Plain. A fellow choir
members and a fellow congregation members will be part of the pit for this show (Marty MacMillin on cello,
Bob Miskey on violin), so even more reason to come see it! The performance dates are:
Saturday, November 7 @ 8:00, Sunday, November 8 @ 2:00
Friday, November 13 @ 8:00, Saturday, November 14 @ 8:00, Sunday, November 15 @ 2:00
Friday, November 20 @ 8:00, Saturday, November 21 @ 2:00 AND 8:00
Tickets are available through the theater's website, www.footlight.org, by clicking Tickets in the upper left. $25
for adults, $22 for seniors and students.
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT FOR: Erin Parker, a friend of Leandra and Christina McLean lost her
battle with cancer on Wednesday August 12th
.
Doris Taft Spofford, sister of Hazel Wellins, who passed away at the age of 90 on August 3.
William Taft, Hazel’s brother, passed away on Monday August 24th
Larry Snow, with health concerns.
David Blocker, a friend of many in the church, who recently had a heart attack.
Mary Peltier has returned home after knee replacement.
John Mann is at Charwell House in Norwood where he is having rehabilitation.
Herb Gagnon continues his recovery from pneumonia at home with care givers.
John Colaneri, is now home!
Diane Blair’s cousin, Janet Eddy, she was just diagnosed with cancer
Grethe Reddick, with health concerns.
Nick Ward, a friend of Pam Johnson’s with health concerns.
Jonathan Stanford and the Stanford family.
All those who are facing uncertain employment situations.
CPT Blake Robbins, Alicia Chevalier’s brother, serving in Afghanistan.
Please also keep these people in your prayers: Chuck Sands, Connie Hodgkins, Frannie Hall, Jan Stewart,
Rev. Jean Link, Grace Vicari, Ethel Morse, Ronnie Wilson, Mark Hodgkins, Mary Murchie,
Perhaps you would like to send a note of sympathy, cheer, or simply ‘thinking about you’ to people who are on
our prayer list. This offers a way of reaching out to those who have been unable to join us in church. Cards and
addresses are available in the Parish Hall. Susanne would be glad to mail them for you.
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Doorways N e w s l e t t e r
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SHARON 29 North Main Street P O Box 423, Sharon, MA 02067
DATED MATERIAL:
September 4, 2015
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
God’s dream
is that
you and I
and all of us
will realize
that we are family,
that we are made
for togetherness,
for goodness,
for compassion. Desmond Tutu