The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth United Church of Christ. Taking Flight and Getting Ready to Soar Rally Day

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1 October 2013 THE SPIRE The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth United Church of Christ Taking Flight and Getting Ready to Soar Rally Day Rally Day, September 8, was full of spirit at the Congregational Church of South Dartmouth. Our soon-to-arrive minister, Rev. Douglas Stivison, was present through video technology and passed on his wishes for peace and grace, delighting the congregation. As we were reflecting on Pastor Doug s words, we were taken even higher in our joy through the music of the teen Nichols sisters, Alexandra, Molly, and Sarah. Pastor Bob Naylor and Youth Director Nancy Lawrence delivered an entertaining intergenerational sermon challenging the congregation to break out of their cocoons and be open to the new beginnings that await our church. The challenge amid the innocent insights and humor of the sermon was clear be open to change or relive the past. Our children and youth gave witness to the possibility of our glorious future through the singing of an anthem under the direction of Jackie Maillet. In keeping with the theme of new beginnings, Nancy Lawrence and the RE Board had decorated the sanctuary with butterfly pictures by the children. And as the worshippers left the sanctuary with their spirits taking off, Pastor Bob gathered the congregation to reinforce the message. On the front lawn of the church, small envelopes were distributed to the children, youth and some of our long term members. All at once the envelopes were opened and out flew more than 60 live butterflies. It was obvious as the church family gathered at the Rally Day picnic that the Congregational Church of South Dartmouth is ready to soar to new heights in its ministry. (see more pictures on page 4 & 11) Pastor Bob releases a butterfly on Rally Day

2 Page 2 JOIN US IN OUR NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY! Dear Friends, We are excited to announce that we are going to create a new pictorial directory of our church family. Our past directory is out of date. Our new directory will help to connect names and faces and give us a ready source of contact information for fellow congregants. Most importantly, it will be a great help to our new minister, Pastor Doug, as he and his wife, Heather, get to know our congregation Please participate! All we ask is that you have your picture taken by the professional photographer who will be at our church on November 15 and 16 and again on December 6 and 7. Beginning October 8 and for the next several weeks we will be making appointments before and after services and meetings at the church. Please sign up as soon as possible to get the best appointment to fit your schedule. You will need to come to the church only once for photography and for portrait viewing. We anticipate the studio will be set up in Hay Hall. Every participating family/household that selects a pose for the directory will receive a free directory and a complimentary 8x10 portrait. The program is available at no cost to the church. You will have the opportunity to order additional portraits during your scheduled appointment time. There is a published price list for these. Whether you decide to dress formally or casually, you will want to make the most of this opportunity. If you have questions, please contact Jim Forbush. I can be reached at or jsforbush@comcast.net. We look forward to seeing everyone in the directory. Our new pictorial directory won t be complete without you! Sincerely, Jim Forbush, Membership Ministry The scheduled dates for photography and portrait viewing are: Friday, November 15 ~ 1:30-8:00 pm Saturday, November 16 ~ 10:00-5:00 pm Friday, December 6 ~ 2:30-9:00 pm Saturday, December 7 ~ 10:00-5:00 pm

3 Page 3 Greetings from Worship.. Reverend Naylor s last Worship service with us is Sunday September 29. Worship Ministry extends a huge thank you for his help and support and best wishes for a successful book venture and retirement. Worship Ministry has October covered for Sunday services as follows: October 6 Reverend Niehoff October 13 Reverend Lima October 20.Worship Ministry October 27.Reverend Doug Stivison Hey! Who Moved That Basket? One of our ongoing Outreach efforts is the collection of non-perishable food items for the Council on Aging food pantry. Please note that donations may now be left in a well-marked wicker basket in the Narthex. While you are at the market, please remember those who may have difficulty keeping their cabinets filled, particularly if they are caring for grandchildren before or after school. The COA food pantry is especially in need of cereal, peanut butter, and canned beans, although anything is gratefully accepted. Faith walks simply, childlike, between the darkness of human life and the hope of what is to come.

4 Page 4 Rally Day Pictures

5 Page 5 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION The Sunday School has transformed into three classes, plus a wonderful adult-attended Crib Room space. Our Pre-K class for 3, 4 & 5 year olds is being led by Katie Christianson, Jennifer DaPonte and Nicole Niemiec. A letter sent home to families reads: We will be praying for your child each week and we invite you and your child to pray for us as well as we prepare and lead the sessions. May these seasons be a time of growth and discovery for your child and your family. The 1 st 5 th grade continues to meet in Hay Hall under the leadership of Nancy Lawrence. Grades 6-8 are being led twice monthly during, this first quarter, by Kathy Pappas with Linda Gouveia leading the group in Yoga & Meditation on Sept. 22 nd & Oct 6 th. Obviously, more classes require more adult volunteers and gratefully, faithful teens in grades 9-12 continue to volunteer as mentors. We especially need leadership with the 6 th -8 th grade class on: Oct. 27, Nov. 10, 24 & Dec. 8. Please be in touch with me at congochurchnancy@comcast.net if you are able to lead the class one of these weeks (either by following the curriculum or sharing with that age group a special interest, faith practice). All age groups are using the Seasons of the Spirit a lectionary based curriculum. The last half of the Season after Pentecost/Ordinary Time begins on September 29 th and takes us through the months of October and November. During most of these weeks we will be exploring stories Jesus told that have been recorded in the gospel of Luke. We will also hear about God s dream for the world from the prophet Isaiah. CRIB ROOM VOLUNTEERS Sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Social Hall or congochurchnancy@comcast.net or Carol Flack cjflack@yahoo.com Registration Form for the Sunday School year can be found on the website: Any family not receiving my weekly letters PLEASE me at congochurchnancy@comcast.net, so that your address can be added to the Sunday School grouping. Nancy Lawrence, Acting Director of Religious Education

6 Page 6 Church Council News Council news: The Council met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 17, There will be a special coffee following worship on Sunday, September 29th to honor Reverend Bob Naylor's time with us as our interim pastor. As Sunday, October 27th will be Reverend Douglas Stivison's first Sunday with us, the Council voted to move the Quarterly Meeting to Sunday, November 3, following worship. An annual budget for 2014 will be presented for approval at this meeting. Plans for the Stewardship campaign were outlined and the Council agreed that we need to embrace stewardship as a congregational responsibility. This gives us an opportunity to support our new pastor and provide growth for the church. The Membership Ministry presented plans for the production of a church directory this fall with dates for photo sessions which the Council approved. This being Rev. Bob's last Council meeting, he shared his insights, observations and suggestions with the Council based on conversations with almost 100 members. The Council thanked Bob wholeheartedly for the time he has spent with us and the joyous ministry he has shared with our congregation. Next Council meeting, Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Youth Group News We enjoyed our first meeting of the year on Sunday, September 15, 2013 a Cupcake Cook-off Kick-off! Special thanks to Cecelia Roberts and Daphne Siegal! We could not have done it without you! Looking forward, youth group will be participating in the YMCA Ropes Course on October 6, 2013 from 12noon-4pm. Youth will need two permission slips to participate. Please remember to wear sneakers, sunscreen and exercise clothes. Water bottles and fruit will be provided. On October 20, 2013 from 3-4:30pm, we will enjoy a tour of Padanaram with local historian Judy Lund. After our tour, we will toast some marshmallows for S mores and play a quick (and challenging!) partner game! We will be outside, so please dress appropriately. We are looking for adult chaperones for both our October events. Youth Group is open to all youth in grades Any questions, please contact Troy and Lisa Tufano at or lisatufano@comcast.net.

7 Page 7 Women's Guild Upcoming Events With Pastor Stivison s arrival in early November, we have decided to reschedule the Guild Luncheon for November 17th. We will hold the event in our lower social hall and more details will follow as we get closer. Our Christmas Arts and Craft Sale is to be held December 7th. Our planning has already begun recruiting quality artisans to fill our hall. As always, we welcome all volunteers, both women and men to help out! Our main source of fundraising comes from our "Christmas Pick" auction. If you would like to sponsor a prize, donate a gift certificate or other new items, please contact Cecelia Roberts. As always, we thank the entire congregation for its ongoing support of the mission of the Guild. Simple Outreach Efforts Each Week Please support our ongoing Outreach efforts each week by bringing the following: Non-Perishable Food Items Small Toiletries Aluminum Fliptops Fall Rummage Sale Friday October 4th 5-7 pm and Saturday October 5th 8-1 pm Drop Off Your Items until Thursday! Clothing, shoes, costumes, toys, household items including furniture, linens, bicycles (in good condition), books and finer items for our Heritage Room. Remember we cannot accept TV s, computers, monitors, printers or fish tanks. Needed: Saturday 1 pm Clean Up Crew For questions or assistance Call Linda Paradise (508) Interim Advisory Liaison Committee Thank you! The Interim Advisory Liaison Committee has been active since September 2011 when Reverend Winston Baldwin first joined us as interim minister. As Reverend Bob Naylor comes to the end of his time with us and we anticipate the arrival of our settled pastor, our thanks go out to this Committee. For the past two years, the Committee has been committed to offering guidance and support to our interim pastors and we extend our grateful appreciation for their steadfast dedication during this time of transition. Members of the committee: Gene Antonell, Susan McLaren, Cyndi Mikkelson, Jeanne Paradise and Anne Whitney, Chair.

8 Page 8 Hello to all church family! I write the prayers about the requests I receive either by phone call(508) , mkhathaway@comcast.net or messages from the church office. I want to invite all of our church family to become a part of our prayer chain! As "members of the Prayer Chain," you would receive a copy of the prayer I write and your only responsibility is to read it- thus you too are "praying" for the requests put forth. I never put anyone "in" the prayer without a request, and I only disclose what has been shared. Marcia K. Hathaway, Breathe Deeply. Namaste. Children's Circle Nursery School Some highlights of the upcoming school year include a field trip to the Patchet Tree Farm, the Halloween parade, the Thanksgiving feast, a reading of the Polar Express at the Bridge Street fire station, this year's holiday 'Winter Illumination' performance, the Valentine's Day tea, the annual Arts Show at Artworks!, the Mother's Day brunch and the annual Graduation play. Come join us on our journey! Call Scarlett at for registration and enrollment forms. Thank You for Etching an Image of Hope and Joy in My Memory! Marvin Hayes was a southern artist who has given meaning to my faith journey through a series of etchings in a book entitled God s Images. Included here are two of my favorites one being his Christmas image and the other a post-resurrection image entitled Jesus Laughing. I carry the latter around with me in my wallet. These images are my thank you gift to you for your love and support as I have ministered with you for nearly six-months. They are a thank you for the spirit of hope and new birth (for CCSD) that I have seen growing in you. With the arrival of Doug Stivison may you join him in living out a spirit of innocence in your shared ministry with him it is the first day of the rest of your lives! Like a newborn be once again inquisitive about life in all of its aspects and what the Word of God has to say about living a fulfilling and faithful life? Doug will be a faithful guide in shaping the questions and seeking the answers with you. And remember to live with joy in your hearts! See the humor in your human foibles! That leads to humility the basic gift that both pastors and laity must hold sacred. The etching Jesus Laughing has a feel to it of I ve got a secret that brings me to joy and laughter. And the secret is.as the angels proclaimed at the time of Jesus birth fear not. May you trust fully in God as you walk with Doug on the journey of faith. Again, my deepest appreciation for your friendship and the ministry of this church. Bob Naylor

9 Page 9 Rev. Jeff & Kathy Larsen (40 years) October 6, 1973 Albert & Hazel Bosworth (59 years) October 16, 1954 Jeremy & Anne Whitney (53 years) October 22, 1962 Wedding Anniversaries are listed in the Spire every five years for the first 50, and then each year thereafter! Special dates World Communion Sunday, October 6, 2013 Columbus Day Observance, October 14, 2013 Reformation Sunday, October 27, 2013 Reformation Day, October 31, 2013 Pastoral Concerns: Pease don t forget to call or the church office with information on any hospital admissions or pastoral concerns. September Flowers Given By: September 1st Barbara and Larry Beddell who are sharing with us flowers from their garden. September 8th Ruth and Dean Cassell in memory of cherished friends. September 15th Jim and Leah McBratney in memory of Leah's parents, Carlos and Mary Ventura. September 22nd Susan Sullivan in loving memory of her brother, Major David E. Hanlon, (Ret.) September 29th Cecelia, Steve and Stephanie Roberts in honor of Pastor Bob Naylor for teaching us all how to become butterflies.

10 Page 10 The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth October 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat AA 7 pm LSH 4 Rummage Sale Rummage Sale am Worship Reverend Niehoff Boy Scouts 7 pm Ministry Meetings Girl Scouts AA 7 pm LSH AA 6 pm LSH 13 10am Worship Reverend Lima 14 Columbus Day Boy Scouts Girl Scouts 17 AA 7 pm LSH 18 AA 6 pm LSH am Worship Worship Ministry 21 Boy Scouts 22 7pm Council Meeting 23 Girl Scouts 24 AA 7 pm LSH 25 Wedding Rehearsal AA 6 pm LSH 26 Wedding 2 pm Guild Mtg 11 am am Worship Reverend Stivison Boy Scouts Girl Scouts AA 7 pm LSH Calendar Subject to Change

11 Page 11 More Rally Day Pictures

12 Rev. Douglas Stivison Robin Lake, Office Administrator Church Telephone: Church Fax: (508) The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth United Church of Christ 17 Middle St., PO Box South Dartmouth, MA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Happiness comes from within and is found in the present moment by making peace with the past and looking forward to the future The Spire Newsletter is available in paper form. If you would like a copy mailed to your home please let us know at 508/ or at congochurch@comcast.net or leave a note in the church office.