What s new at. The Olde White Church. Love in Action

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1 January 2017 What s new at The Olde White Church Love in Action Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ 2 Corinthians 5: Greetings Friends in Christ, 2016 was a fantastic year here at The Olde White Church! I have memories of new family members, another confirmation class, exciting events and growth in ministry, transformative youth trips, inspiring UCC gatherings, new beginnings and affirmed traditions. The Spirit is alive and well within the hearts of this amazing congregation and I am genuinely excited to see what 2017 has in store for us! Beginnings can be both an exciting and daunting thing for many of us. There are some who create (or renew) a New Year s resolution; we choose a change that we want to make in our lives and we go for it! We start with a goal in mind and determination in our hearts. Then there are some of us who have brand new beginnings this year that was not our choice. Perhaps this is our first year without someone we love, perhaps this is our first year in a new place, even, perhaps, this is our first year at a new church. New beginnings afford us the opportunity to explore our faith and relationship with God in deeper and more meaningful ways has come, and it has brought newness and change for each and every one of us. Isn t it wonderful to know that there is something that the change in our lives can never touch? Isn t it comforting to know that we have something that earthly time and space has no governance over? This omnipresent gift, my friends, is the love that God has for each and every one of us. God s love dwells within our very souls, regardless of year, time, or circumstance. It is a love that eludes conditions, and overpowers prejudice. It is a love unscathed by the transitions of our lives. It is a love that is wrapped around every fiber of our being is a gift yet to be unwrapped, a mystery yet to be explored; but the good news for us, is that we do know one thing for certain; the love of God that was given to us, even before time itself, is waiting there, like it has been each new year past and will be each new year to come. As we take our first steps into this new year, let us also take the next step in our relationship with God! Let us move closer to God through the myriad of way that God is made known to us. Let us explore the corners of our faith-life yet unexplored. Let us celebrate this opportunity to see what God has in store for us in 2017! Blessings in Christ, Reverend Holly Norwick

2 NEWS FROM THE PEWS UPDATE ON SNOWSTORMS: In case of a major snow storm on a Sunday morning, we have arranged for news of the cancellation of our worship service to be streamed under TV News and Weather programs early in the morning. We will also try to have our phone message and Facebook carry that announcement. *************************************** Deaths Doris Ida Hoeft passed away on December 18, 2016 at the age of 97. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. Dorothy Louise Cardin passed away on December 20, 2016 at the age of 97. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. All are invited to the Annual Meeting of The First Christian Congregational Church that will take place on Sunday, February 26th immediately following morning worship. IN OUR PRAYERS: Gwen Donald s grandniece, Helen Adams, who will be having surgery to repair a shunt in her head that has begun to leak. Rosemary Marshall, who is recuperating at home, 63 Luther Street, Seekonk, MA 02771, and would appreciate cards, calls & visits. Nancy Richards, who has moved to 500 Swansea Mall Drive, B125, Swansea, MA Ken and Nancy Bosworth. Louise & Tom Keane. Dorothy O Neil, who has moved to Buckley Health Care Center, 95 Laurel Street, Greenfield, MA and would appreciate cards and well wishes. ****************************************** Pastor Holly Norwick will be out of town from January 8 thru January 11. In her absence, please contact Charlene Orton at or one of the Deacons for assistance. Our meets each Thursday evening. We invite all of you to come and have coffee with Pastor Holly Norwick each Thursday evening from 5:00 6:00 in the brand new lounge area of the Wilbur Avenue, Swansea Dunkin Donuts. Twas the Night Before Christmas 7 Christmas Eve Thrill of Hope 5 Christmas Eve

3 A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO: Ray Mullen Music Studio for the wonderful Recitals held in our sanctuary on December 3 & 4. Rev. John Wilson for participating in our of Comfort on December 11. All who made our Music Night such a special event enjoyed by all; Gregg LeMay for coordinating the special music, Shaun Schwarzenbach for coordinating and cooking the food and Dottie Waite and her volunteers for our beautiful Victorian Christmas. Jill Tavares and our children for our Kids Christmas Sunday, and a thank you to all who participated in the Christmas Eve s and Christmas Day. Children s Sunday Children s Communion Everyone who dedicated a poinsettia or plant, and a special thank you to Karen Rebello, for decorating our sanctuary with the poinsettias. The Advent Candle Lighting Families The DesLauriers Family, The Crossley-Simmons Family, The Norwick-Schwarzenbach Family, The Colbert Family, The Allard Family. Rev. Dr. John Wilson for continuing our Tour of the Bible held on Mondays from 6 7:30 in fellowship hall Gregg LeMay, all the s, Haylie Scharwarzenbach, Kacie Schwarzenbach, Catherine and Nathan Reilly for the beautiful music during our Christmas s. A Special Thank You to Waring-Sullivan for our new Shed!!!! Toosie and Abby for their beautiful music!

4 FELLOWSHIP NEWS.. Seems like it was Thanksgiving and then all of a sudden it s the New Year. What??!! December was a busy, beautiful month. There were so many events that made the Christmas season extra special. Of course one of those events was the Victorian Christmas concert, an event that involved so many of our congregation. People were generous with time, talent and baking delicious desserts for everyone s pleasure. Our fellowship time on Sunday mornings has grown in number and enjoyment; there is much conversation, laughter and lingering. All good signs. Thankfully, we have had plenty of food each week because of people like Dottie Waite, Gwen Donald, Martha Curtis, John Wilson, Jerry Grota, and Caroline Thibeault. The leftovers from the concert were a great help and gratefully used. Remember, donations do not have to be made in your kitchen; Walmart, Stop & Shop and Price Rite have a great bakery. Fruit is always a big hit with all ages!! Thank you, Sara Update from the Property Committee! The Property Committee would like to thank everyone for their support in maintaining this beautiful piece of property. We have a focus list of projects for next year and look forward to your support and prayers in moving forward with projects into Happy New Year!! Blessings, Martha Curtis Chair, Property Committee Thrifty Shoppe News.. The Thrifty Shoppe will re-open on January 4. We would like to thank everyone for their volunteerism during 2016, and we are looking forward to a busy, busy 2017! So please step up and make your New Year s Resolution to VOLUNTEER in the Shoppe!!! Thank you!!! Organ Restoration Project.. Thank you to everyone for all your donations towards the renovation of the organ in In 2017, we will be having another clam boil to benefit the organ project, as well as a Rededication Ceremony for the Organ on March 26. A WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE Mondays from 6 7:30 Every Monday from 6:00 7:30, you are welcome to join our tour and meet in Fellowship Hall. We start at 6:00 with a light supper and then from 6:30 7:30 we continue our walk through the Bible, picking up where we left off the week before. We will not read every word. We will only give the background of each book and then hit the high spots in it. Our Tour guide is Rev. Dr. John Wilson. You are welcome to join the tour at any point as we move along. Just be sure to bring your Bible. See you there! Rev. Dr. John Wilson

5 Journey of Ministry Greetings Friends in Christ! My journey in ministry here at The Olde White Church is so exciting and rich that I want to share it all with you! You already know that I am in the office Tuesday-Thursday from 9-2, and of course, on Sunday mornings; but some of the most powerful moments of ministry can happen outside of the office. I would like to share with you the amazing opportunities of ministry that I have with our family, our friends, our community, our denomination and beyond! Come along and enjoy my journey of ministry with me This month was full of amazing moments of ministry. In addition to my office hours, management of our four social media sites, preparation/writing time, and worship this month I had the pleasure of. *visiting over 20 people through the course of visits to home and hospital *providing the every Thursday *attending 3 church committee meetings *officiating the Greater Fall River Council of Churches Meeting *attending the local clergy meeting *participating in the Christmas Music Concert *offering a of Comfort *officiating the Thrill of Hope 5 Christmas Eve *officiating the Twas The Night Before Christmas 7 Christmas Eve *officiating the Christmas Day Celebration *hosting a New Member Lunch *hosting confirmation classes *caroling with the choir to people at home * enjoying 4 meetings with colleagues *participating in the 350th Swansea Celebration Kick-off *officiated the memorial services for Doris Hoeft *officiated the memorial services for Dorothy Cardin * attending the AM21 National Conference for Revisioning the Manual of Ministry for the United Church of Christ in San Antonio, TX from November 29 Dec 3 *going to Andover Newton Theological School to write my doctorate My church family is a part of my ministry everywhere that I go. I hope to be able to bring some of that joy back to all of you! Blessings, Rev. Holly WEEKLY MUSIC REHEARSAL SCHEDULE Tone Chime 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month at 11:30 am Each Tuesday from 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month at 11:30 am Each Tuesday from Each Wednesday from

6 MUSIC NEWS. Hello Everyone, What a wonderful and busy December we had. I want to take the opportunity to immediately thank all those who helped in anyway this December and for all those who helped with the Christmas concert. Many hours of practice were put into the concert. Many hours of work by Dottie Waite, and other volunteers were put into decorating the downstairs and preparing the wonderful Victorian decor. My thanks to Sara and the wonderful ladies of the kitchen. A Huge thank you to Shaun Schwarzenbach for his culinary skills and time in researching some of the Victorian cuisine such as the great chestnut soup. The Wassail was a hit as well. It truly was a great night of Christmas music and great food. We then had the opportunity to have 3 great services over the course of the holiday weekend. We were blessed to have the presence and musical skills of Nathan and Catherine Reilly. These two added so much to our worship service and experience. We give a BIG THANK YOU! to the both of them. The worked hard and put in many hours of rehearsals, and the chime choir blessed us as well with their piece of music. Thank you to all of the members of those choirs. Here we are at the start of the New Year, What lies ahead? March will bring us a wonderful memorable concert from a very skilled and talented organist that will feature our very own HOOK organ. At this time you will get to hear the many things that our organ can do, and enjoy a wonderful afternoon full of great music. You will also be able to learn about exactly what was done with the organ and why from the organ restorer himself. Look for the times and dates in the February newsletter. As I move into my second year with you, I continue to look at the goals of the music ministry here. Your feedback, time, support, and patience as I work diligently and methodically to continue to move ahead with God's guidance and help is much appreciated. I will continue to work with the choirs to teach, practice, and help in anyway I can to affirm and let each person take part in some form of music ministry that they want. We are in need of men's voices for the choir!!!! My Office is a work in progress. With everything now not being stored in there for the organ, I have the ability to now work on the completion of the music office; this will include fully organizing all musical and electronic music equient, and providing a place to meet with any who may need funeral music arrangements or wedding music arrangements. I'm enjoying the journey here, and am excited to see what God will do this year with the music here!! Blessings, Gregg LeMay Director of Music Ministries Greetings Friends, New Church Directory As many of you know, we are creating a new directory of our church family! Our family has grown so quickly over the last couple of years that a new directory will be the perfect way to help us to connect names with faces. Please participate! We will have sign-up sheets in the church office during the week and at fellowship after church on Sundays. Our next picture days are Saturday, January 28 from 10 am 5 and Sunday, January 29 from 12:00 to 7:00. Please sign up as soon as possible to get the best appointment to fit your schedule. Every participating family/household that takes a picture for the directory will receive a free directory AND a complimentary 8x10 printed portrait. This program is available at no cost to the church and no cost to you. You will, though, have the opportunity to order additional portraits during your scheduled appointment time if you so choose. Whether you decide to dress formal or casual, you will want to make the most of this opportunity. Each and every one of you is an important part of this church family. The directory will NOT be the same without you. ALL are invited to come and participate whether you have been here for 50 years or for 1 Sunday. If you have questions and/or to schedule your appointment, please contact Deb Gray at or Rev. Holly at

7 JANUARY Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 New Year s Day 10 am 11:30 am Thrifty Shoppe 9:30 4:00 Quilt Club at DD on Wilbur Ave. 5 6 Property Committee Meeting at 6:15 at DD Finance Meeting at 6:15 at DD 6 AA 7 8:15 7 Thrifty Shoppe 9:30 1: :00 am 11:30 am 15 10:00 am 11:30 am 22 10:00 am 11:30 am 29 10:00 am Picture Day Newsletter Deadline Thrifty Shoppe 9:30 4:00 Quilt Club Thrifty Shoppe 9:30 4:00 Quilt Club Thrifty Shoppe 9:30 4:00 Quilt Club with Pastor Holly at DD on Wilbur Ave at DD on Wilbur Ave with Pastor Holly at DD on Wilbur Ave AA 7 8:15 20 AA 7 8:15 27 AA 7 8:15 14 Thrifty Shoppe 9:30 1:00 21 **Church Office Hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 2:00 ** Thrifty Shoppe 9:30 1:00 28 Thrifty Shoppe 9:30 1:00 Picture Day 10 am 5 *Pastor Holly s Office Hours are Tuesday thru Thursday from 9:00 am 2:00 *

8 First Christian Congregational Church The Olde White Church 1113 GAR Highway Swansea, MA JANUARY 2017 First Christian Congregational Church The Olde White Church A Church Where Faith is Active in Love 1113 GAR Highway Swansea, MA swanseawhitechurch@meganet.net Website: Facebook:FirstChristianCongregationalChurch ofswansea Reverend Holly Norwick, Pastor and Sunday School at 10:00 am Coffee and fellowship following worship Church Office Hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 2 Pastor s Office Hours: Tuesday thru Thursday 9-2 at Dunkin Donuts on Wilbur Avenue Property Committee Meeting Finance Committee Meeting Picture Day for Directory Picture Day for Directory UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS All are Welcome!! Every Thursday from 5 6 Every Tuesday from And the 1st & 3rd Sunday at 11:30 am Every Tuesday from 2nd & 4th Sunday at 11:30 am Each Wednesday from Thursday, January 5 at 6:15 at Dunkin Donuts Thursday, January 5 at 6:15 at Dunki Donuts Saturday, January 28 from 10 am 5 Sunday, January 29 from 12 7