FOCUS. December 2015 Vol. 38 Issue 10

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1 FOCUS - September 2012 Page 1 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEEDHAM FOCUS December 2015 Vol. 38 Issue 10 A Message from Rev. Heike Werder ADVENT REFLECTIONS When someone we love comes to visit we are full of anticipation and prepare to receive our guest with joy. We may even clean the house, polish the silver, and prepare them their favorite meal. So it is with Advent, the season set aside by the ancient Christian communities to prepare for the mystery we are celebrating at Christmas: the arrival of God with us, God incarnate. The season of Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which this year is on November 29, This is also the start of the liturgical church year. While our culture begins the process of celebrating Christmas right after Thanksgiving although this year it seems it started right after Halloween with relentless marketing and the endless soundtrack of carols and songs, we together with many other Christian communities will take a different approach during the four weeks of Advent. Advent is a more solemn season of preparation and anticipation. This is the time when we prepare and ponder the great mystery that is coming into our hearts. How are we preparing ourselves to receive God s greatest gift into our midst? Families are invited to come to the Advent workshop on December 5. On December 6, the choir, under the leadership of Valerie Becker, invites ites you to a wonderful concert in our sanctuary. Beginning on Monday evening, November 30th at 7 pm you are invited to an hour of quiet reflection, meditation, and prayer in Fellowship Hall. Join me at our Advent lunches on Thursdays. In worship we will light the Advent wreath. We also have ordered a devotional booklet for the days of Advent which you can pick up in our bookstore by the chapel entrance. The days of Advent help us to make room for the joy and gifts we receive at Christmas. If you are searching for peace, and hope, and love, look no further. God with us, Emmanuel, is coming! Peace, Heike Guest Preacher on December 13, 2015: The Rev. Judy Brain Judy Brain was a Field Ed. student here in Needham and began her ministry on the staff as Director of Educational Ministries and, briefly, Associate Pastor. She is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and recently retired from Pilgrim UCC in Lexington after 17 years as senior pastor. A primary focus of Judy s ministry has been social justice -- encouraging congregations to express their faith by promoting interfaith understanding, respect, civility, and peace.

2 FOCUS - December 2015 Page 2 Music Ministry News by Valerie Becker, Director of Music As we approach the Advent and Christmas season, our Chancel Choir is working diligently to prepare their holiday offering for our congregation A Winter Mosaic. Our concert will showcase pieces about winter, the Jewish holiday Chanukah and of course selections for the Christmas season. Featured will be The Christmas Cantata by Daniel Pinkham. This piece was written in 1957 for the choruses at New England Conservatory and has been a mainstay in Classical Christmas literature since its inception. Sung in Latin, it is scored for chorus and brass and is a monument of 20th century choral expression. Also performing are Soomi Lee Lowry on piano and our Friendly Chimers who will help accompany our opening song and then perform Hark the Herald Angels Sing under the direction of Nancy St Laurent. They are most excited to be a part of our concert this year. My heartfelt appreciation and wishes go out to everyone. Family Promise Metrowest On December 6th our Youth Choirs will perform a selection during our service and Shepherd s Staff will join us on Christmas Eve. Music abounds everywhere and we hope that you will have the opportunity to join us as we go into this very special season. I hope that you have a most joyous holiday season and a serene, peaceful New Year! We were delighted to support First Congregational Church Natick s Family Time on Sunday and Dinner and Family Time on Monday of Thanksgiving week. Please go to page/ /frontpage to learn about more ways you can participate. Thank you, Susan Kirk and Heidi Weisel FROM JUDY MONGIARDO FAMILY PROMISE- The reality of not having a home of one s own is never starker than at the holiday time. That is why your generosity to our families this past week was so very much appreciated. Not only did you provide welcoming shelter, food and hospitality, but you thought of the details which would make their time special from volunteers sharing their Thanksgiving evening, to providing familiar, comfort food of the family s tradition on Friday, and special invitations to holiday celebrations on Sunday. All this while each volunteer was also handling the responsibilities that come with Thanksgiving in their own lives. We cherish how each of your church communities came together to fill the 50 or so volunteer roles to serve our families during this busy week. Please share our deepest thanks with all. Gratefully, Judy Mongiardo Network Coordinator FOCUS Focus is published monthly. Contributions from members and friends of the Church are invited. Please submit materials by to office@needhamucc.org. January issue deadline: Monday, December 21. Rev. Dr. Susan Cartmell Sr. Minister revsusan@needhamucc.org Rev. Heike Werder Assoc. Minister revheike@needhamucc.org Maddie Downer CE and Youth Director youth@needhamucc.org Danielle Jurdan Administrator office@needhamucc.org Valerie Becker Music Director musicdirector@ needhamucc.org Cindy Sullivan Office Assistant office2@needhamucc.org Rev. Dr. Paul Clayton, Pastor Emeritus

3 FOCUS - December 2015 Page 3 Environmental Ministries Team News...earth stewardship for our lives today... Light Pollution We remember, as children, traveling out west or up north with our families, looking up in the middle of a desert or a lake and marveling at the night sky. Millions and millions of stars! It was overwhelming and awe inspiring! At this darkest time of the year, we hear the biblical story of Magi following a bright star leading them to the Christ Child. According to to the Dark Sky Association, that would have been one visible to the naked eye among 2500 to help them navigate. Today, in large cities, only stars are visible. You have to wonder how they would be able to do it today with all the light pollution. The only sacred really dark places left on earth are in registered Dark Sky Reserves! Consider these light pollution facts: Artificial lights disrupt the world s ecosystems. Nocturnal animals sleep during the day and are active at night. Light pollution radically alters their nighttime environment by turning night into day. Predators use light to hunt, and prey species use darkness as cover. Near cities, cloudy skies are now hundreds, or even thousands of times brighter than they were 200 years ago. We are only beginning to learn what a drastic effect this has had on nocturnal ecology. Artificial lights have devastating effects on many bird species. Birds that migrate or hunt at night navigate by moonlight and starlight. Artificial light can cause them to wander off course and toward the dangerous nighttime landscapes of cities. Every year millions of birds die colliding with needlessly illuminated buildings and towers. Migratory birds depend on cues from properly timed seasonal schedules. Artificial lights can cause them to migrate too early or too late and miss ideal climate conditions for nesting, foraging and other behaviors. Artificial lights can lead baby sea turtles to their demise. Sea turtles live in the ocean but hatch at night on the beach. Hatchlings find the sea by detecting the bright horizon over the ocean. Artificial lights draw them away from the ocean. In Florida alone, millions of hatchlings die this way every year. Light pollution wastes energy and money. Lighting that emits too much light or shines when and where it s not needed is wasteful. Wasting energy has huge economic and environmental consequences. Environmental responsibility requires energy efficiency and conservation. Installing quality outdoor lighting could cut energy use by percent, save billions of dollars and cut carbon emissions. Outdoor lighting should be fully shielded and direct light down where it is needed, not into the sky, eliminating light pollution. Check out our new chic Dark Sky Compliant sidewalk lights by the parking lot (include picture, attached). Fully shielded fixtures can provide the same level of illumination on the ground as unshielded ones, but with less energy and cost. Unnecessary indoor lighting particularly in empty office buildings at night should be turned off. LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs) can help reduce energy use and protect the environment, but only warm-white bulbs should be used. Dimmers, motion sensors and timers can help to reduce average illumination levels and save even more energy. Quality lighting design reduces energy use and therefore energy dependence. It also reduces carbon emissions, saves money and allows us to enjoy the night sky. Exposure to artificial light at night can harm your health. Research suggests that artificial light at night can negatively affect human health, increasing risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, breast cancer and more. Remember, there are simple ways to reduce light pollution around you. Light pollution can be stopped by just turning something off! Do you want to find out about light pollution and what you can do about it? Go to Interested in learning more? Check out this video for more on dark skies: com/news/

4 FOCUS - December 2015 Page 4 Youth Ministry News from Maddie Downer, Director of Children and Youth Ministries SUNDAY SCHOOL Infants, toddlers & Preschool: Childcare is offered throughout the service in the Noah s Ark Preschool room. Grades K-5: On most Sundays, children in grades K-5 join their families in the worship service at 10 AM for the first 20 minutes and then attend Bible Village, an interactive Sunday School experience with Art, Cooking, Theater, Story, Games, and Science workshops for the rest of the hour. On the first Sunday of the month, kids start in Bible Village for chapel and workshops and then are dismissed to the Sanctuary to join their parents at the Communion Table. BV 6-8 is our Sunday School program for students in grades 6-8. Fall classes are taught by Maddie and a volunteer. Students in BV6:8 follow the same morning routine as grades K-5 they begin with their families in the Sanctuary, are dismissed to chapel and then move to Stevenson Hall with Maddie. Please note, students should not wait in Stevenson Hall before church school begins. High school students are invited to teach our younger students! On Sundays following holidays, there is no church school. A movie or group activity may be offered as an alternative to childcare or your student may stay in the Sanctuary and worship with you. Sunday, December 6: Communion Sunday, students begin in church school Sunday, December 13: Students begin in Sanctuary, dismissed to Chapel Sunday, December 20: Students begin in Sanctuary, dismissed to Chapel Sunday, December 27: No church school or activities; children remain in Sanctuary. YOUTH MINISTRIES Sunday, December 6 No youth group. Attend the Advent Workshop with your families on Saturday or the Winter Mosaic concert on Sunday evening! Sunday, December 13: SCHEDULE CHANGE Junior High & Senior High 4:00 6:00 p.m. Giving Tree Wrapping Party We will join with Outreach and wrap all the gifts for the giving tree! The Outreach team will deliver the gifts we wrap during the week. Sunday, December 20: SCHEDULE CHANGE No PM programming PARENTS: Please check your for important information and forms regarding the ski trip! If you are not getting my s, please let me know by ing: youth@ needhamucc.org Grades We are compiling a list of possible adult leaders for a monthly or bimonthly weekdayevening youth meeting for our students in grades 3-5. Before we can plan dates or announce events, we need to have a group of leaders dedicated to this ministry. If you are interested in leading, please Maddie at youth@needhamucc.org. FOR ADULTS ALL adults are invited to volunteer to teach Bible Village and/or chaperone our young people in Youth Group. To signup, visit: ChildrenYouthSignUp Or contact Maddie, ext. 104 or at youth@needhamucc.org Save the Date! Annual Meeting January 31st

5 FOCUS - December 2015 Page 5 CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN The Giving Tree: Sun, Nov Sun Dec 13th Ornaments with wishlist items for the Elizabeth Stone House will be on the Giving Tree located outside the chapel. Take an ornament, purchase the gifts, and bring them back to the church by Sunday, December 13. Together with Outreach, the youth group will wrap the gifts and deliver them to the Elizabeth Stone House. Pickup Ornaments by December 6th Return Unwrapped Gifts by December 13th Advent Workshop: Sat, Dec 5th, 3-5pm Create edible winter creatures, sandart masterpieces, advent wreaths and sing Christmas Carols. Christmas Pageant, December 24th, 4pm: Preparations for our Christmas Pageant are now underway. Cast sign-ups are due by December 6th Sunday, December 6th: Casting Sheets Due Sunday, December 13th: 11:30am-2pm: Rehearsal Sunday, December 20th: 11:30am-2pm: Rehearsal Thursday, December 24th: 2pm-4pm: Dress rehearsal Thursday, December 24th: 4pm-5pm: Performance Friendly Christmas Luncheon December 2nd WOMEN OF THE CHURCH! You re invited (& your spouse &/or friend) to Friendly Society s Christmas Luncheon with a musical program featuring our cancel choir bass Crosby Goshgarian. Wednesday 12/2, noon, 1180 GPA. Tickets are $10/person. Contact Joanne Seiden w/ questions (jseiden@basic link. com, ) CHRISTMAS FLOWER OFFERING ENVELOPES AVAILABLE NOW We are collecting donations in memory of loved ones for the poinsettias that decorate the church at Christmas time. Christmas Flower Offering envelopes will be available in the church pews or the church office. Please return envelopes to the office by December 18th. After the Christmas Eve services, many of the plants will be given to people in our congregation who are sick, homebound or in need of a little extra attention.

6 FOCUS - December 2015 Page 6 Men s Breakfast Sunday December 20th Breakfast Fellowship will welcome all church men to breakfast. The Men s Breakfast brings men of all ages and persuasions together in the Library on the 3rd Sunday of the month before worship in honest and lively discussion touching our faith and our lives in today s complex world. We welcome men of all ages and accommodate those with scheduling challenges. Arrive at 8:15 AM for fellowship and breakfast or by 9:00 AM for the discussion. Contact: John Baldwin (jsbaldwin@comcast. net) or Rob Dunlavey (rob@robd.com) for more information. chapel chairs, chairs, chairs!! Now that the chapel renovation is completed, we need to give everyone a lovely place to sit. To consolidate shipping, we will be placing chair orders a few times a year. The next order will be placed November 20th. If you are not able to get your order in by 11/20 don t worry we ll be ordering another set in March 2016! You may purchase one for $175 which can include a plaque denoting a memorial or tribute. This is a fine way to honor a family member, celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion. Other monetary donations are welcome and will be applied to additional chairs. Checks and inscriptions can be sent to the church office. Thank you -- The Chapel Committee Alternative Giving Program to Benefit Computer Center The church s August delegation to Santa María Tzejá learned that the community s Computer Center, funded largely by outside donors and student fees, has experienced declining support recently and has had to double the monthly fee it charges to middle school students. This is simply beyond the means of some families, so regrettably some students are dropping out or postponing their middle school studies. In order to keep the computer center (and a 9th grade education) accessible to virtually all students, the Guatemala Partnership has decided that the Computer Center will be the focus of our annual Alternative Giving program. The increase in student costs that we are attempting to offset is about $35/year per student for the approximately 100 students enrolled. So if you would like to honor a relative, friend, or teacher with a meaningful holiday gift, please consider this opportunity. Donations in any amount are appreciated. In return you will receive a decorative card describing your gift to give to the special person you are honoring. Please visit our table in Coffee Hour during December, or Val Kistler at any time: valk228@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for making a difference Calendars for a Cause This year, the Guatemala Partnership will once again sell beautiful calendars created by the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA). This human rights organization links people in the U.S. with people and social justice movements in Guatemala. Sales of these calendars help support both NISGUA and our partner village, Santa Maria Tzeja. The calendars are $18 each or $30 for two. They will be available at the Guatemala table after worship during the Sundays in December, or through Val Kistler at valk228@gmail.com or (781) Partner Family Letters Due Dec. 15th for February Delegation: Partner-Family Letters for the church s upcoming February delegation to Guatemala are due DECEMBER 15TH, to allow time for our volunteer translators to work their magic of helping Needham families communicate with their families in Santa María Tzejá. With approximately 130 letters going to partner families and 18 to scholarship students, this is no easy or quick feat, so please do your part by getting your letter in on time. Letters should be sent to: Davebjohnson@verizon.net. Photos or other attachments may be dropped off later at the Johnson s or the church office/guatemala box. (Anyone wishing to sign up for a new partner family should likewise contact Dave Johnson.) Thank you.

7 FOCUS - December 2015 Page 7 Welcome New Members! Betty Blume and Cyrus Hopkins Betty and Cy first came to Needham Congregational Church because of the angels -- two little ones named Kiersten and Leyna. That was about four years ago and since then, Betty and Cy have been in the pews for every Christmas Eve pageant and every performance of the children s choirs. Their church home has been the Anglican Parish of the Good Shepherd in Waban where they were married in (Those same 2 angels were the flower girls!) They recently realized that they wish to claim the priceless gift of sharing worship and service activities with extended family in this vibrant congregation. They met in 2007 when each of them had been widowed following long and happy marriages. Although both of their lives had been centered in the Boston medical community, they had never encountered one another prior to a serendipitous encounter at Tanglewood. great decision. For the past 10 years Marie has lived a wonderful active life at Fox Hill Village in Westwood. She is fortunate to have her two wonderful children close by along with her 5 talented grandchildren ages Marie has worked in various fields from retail, banking computers, and real estate. Before moving to Westwood, Marie lived in the Old Town of Marblehead managing her own Bed and Breakfast. Her hobbies include travel, browsing the computer for medical knowledge, reading nonfiction, playing bridge, enjoying the BSO, theatre and a good movie and entertaining friends and family. Betty has been in the Boston area since 1979 when her late husband accepted a post at Beth Israel Hospital. By the time he passed away in 2003, their three children were grown and she had served as the office manager for his surgical practice for many years. Following his death, she chose to be retired and now participates in diverse volunteer activities. These include singing with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and tutoring English in various venues. Cy was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and came to Boston for medical school over fifty years ago. After medical school, he joined the staff of the Massachusetts General Hospital specializing in infectious disease and patient safety. He retired from those duties in July 2014 and now he just does what he wants. That includes taking art classes, participating in study groups, playing the violin and swimming as much as possible. He did not have children until he married Betty; now he relishes being part of a family that -- in addition to Kevin, Teresa and the girls here -- includes two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandsons in Seattle They look forward to many years of worshipping and serving with us. Marie Puffer Marie grew up in Wellesley with four sisters attending its public schools and then went west to a Colorado college so she could continue to ski on beautiful Rocky Mountain powder. Great fun and a Marie knew last spring after attending her first service here that this church and its congregation was the community she wanted to share in and call her spiritual home. Its members were so warm and friendly and she immediately felt like she belonged. It is an honor for Marie to become a new member of this special place. Tom Richter Tom graduated from Lincoln Sudbury High School in Sudbury where he lived with his mother. He was married in the Congregational Church in Randolph and lived there, commuting to Needham for work until the Blizzard of 78. After the blizzard, he moved to Needham Heights with his family. Both of his daughters graduated from Needham High School. Tom served in the military for 36 years until his retirement from the service in There was little time for attending church but he was able to attend many of the beautiful holiday music services in our church. This past year he has had the time to attend more regularly and decided to join and become a member. We welcom Tom, Mary, Betty and Cyrus to our church family!

8 1154 Great Plain Avenue 1180 Great Plain Avenue Needham, MA T: On the web at needhamucc.org Congregational Church of Needham UCC THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEEDHAM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1154 Great Plain Avenue Needham, Massachusetts stamp address

9 FOCUS - December 2015 Page 9 DECEMBER 2015 Sunday Mon. Tues. Wed. Thursday Fri. Sat. 6 Worship Bible Study Winter Mosaic Concert 13 Worship - with Rev. Judy Brain Bible Study 7 Cancer Support Group 14 Cancer Support Group 1 Community Dinner 2 3 Advent Lunch Advent Lunch Advent Lunch 4 5 Advent Workshop Worship Bible Study 27 Worship - Hymn Sing Bible Study 21 Cancer Support Group Christmas Pageant - 4pm Candlelight Service - 9pm Happy New Year 25 Merry Christmas 26 COMMUNITY DINNERS 6-7pm, December 1 & January 5 Linden Hall Once a month we offer dinner for the families of Baby Basics and the volunteers involved in the program. Everyone is invited to join us for dinner, and/or if you are looking for a volunteer opportunity for your family, this is an opportunity for children and adult alike. Dinners are on the first Tuesday of the month. Help is needed with shopping for food, meal preparation, eating with our guests, and clean up. Please contact Rev. Heike or Diana Conroy if you are interested in participating in the service project. ADVENT LUNCHES WITH REV. HEIKE Noon-1pm, Dec. 3, 10 & 17 at 1180 Great Plain Ave. season, and make time and space available to walk the labyrinth in Fellowship Hall. We will gather for the four Mondays of the Advent season Dec. 7, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21, 2015 The Good Book Don t forget to pick up your Advent Devotional at the Bookstore outside of the Chapel or in the living room at the new 1180 building. Please join us for our weekly Advent lunches on December 3, December 10, and December 17, 2015 beginning at 12 noon. Rev. Heike will offer a short program on God with Us - Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas following the meal. ADVENT MEDITATIONS Mondays, December 7, December 14 & December 21 at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall Would you like to find some quiet time as the holiday season begins? Starting the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday, Rev. Heike will offer guided Advent meditations and prayers for the

10 Christmas at the Congregational Church of Needham WINTER MOSAIC CONCERT Sunday December 6th, 4pm Our concert will showcase pieces about winter, the Jewish holiday Chanukah and of course selections for the Christmas season. Featured will be The Christmas Cantata by Daniel Pinkham. Also performing are Soomi Lee Lowry on piano and our Friendly Chimers who will help accompany our opening song and then perform Hark the Herald Angels Sing under the direction of Nancy St Laurent. We are so happy that they could be a part of our concert this year! CHRISTMAS PAGEANT AND CANDLELIGHT SERVICE Thursday, December 24 at 4 p.m. & 9 p.m., The Sanctuary At 4pm, the church Christmas Pageant, with 100 costumed performers act out the Christmas story. Enjoy the procession of camels, donkey, rooster, shepherds and angels. The service culminates with Silent Night, sung by candlelight. At 9pm, attend the church s beautiful candlelight service. Both services are open to the public. Please visit or call for more information. The Congregational Church of Needham 1154 Great Plain Ave Needham, MA