The Parish Voice HOMECOMING POTLUCK. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST Following worship. Bring a dish to share. October, Here s What s Happening in October

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1 The Parish Voice October, 2017 First Congregational Church United Church of Christ 3 Gray Road, North Yarmouth, ME Church Office: nycc@maine.rr.com Church Website: Office Hours: M-W 7:00-8:30 a.m. Thursday 7:00-3:00 pm Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m. Interim Pastor : Rev. Nancy J. White nyccpastor@maine.rr.com Phone Number: Reverend Nancy s day off is Monday Here s What s Happening in October 10/1 The Wired Word 8:30 am 10/1 Youth Group 11:00 am 10/1 Homecoming/Potluck-After Worship 10/3 Fall Study The Shack 2:30 pm 10/6 Friday Lunch, 11:30 am 10/8 Drama Club 11:00 am 10/9 Columbus Day Office Closed 10/14 Pet Place Pantry,10:00 11:00 am 10/15 Trustees 11:00 am 10/15 Youth Group 11:00 am 10/17 Fall Study The Shack 2:30 pm 10/21 Men s Club Breakfast 7:00 am 10/21 Pumpkin Harvest/Potluck 5:00 pm 10/22 Diaconate, 11:00 am 10/22 Drama Club 11:00 am 10/23 Newsletter Deadline 10/23 Make Pie Dough Balls, 1:00 pm 10/24 Pick Chickens, 1:00 pm 10/26 Roll out pie bottoms, 9:00 am 10/27 Roll pie tops/assemble pies, 10:30am 10/27 Roll pie tops/assemble pies,12:30pm 10/27 Chicken Pie Supper, 4:30-6:30 pm 10/31 Fall Study The Shack - 2:30 pm ****************************** Ongoing Programming Tuesdays: Tuesday Gals, 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted on the monthly calendar. Tuesdays: Coffee, Refreshments, Games, Conversation Tuesday Social, 12:30-2:30 pm Wednesdays: Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm Sundays: The Wired Word, 8:30 am Altar Flowers To place flowers in memory of or in honor of someone or just because. October flowers will be taken care of by Sarah Balvin Pumpkin Harvest Pot Luck Supper And Pumpkin Carving When: Saturday, October 21st Where: NYCC Time: 5:00 p.m. HOMECOMING POTLUCK SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST Following worship Bring a dish to share Please bring a dish to share. Sign up sheet is in the Gathering Space. You Can Help! Want to volunteer for the Chicken Pie Supper? Here are a few ways you can help: Roll pie tops and bottoms Those work times are practically a party! Weigh and create dough balls Make coffee during dinner Keep water pitchers filled during dinner To express an interest in helping, call Lyn in the office at , or for more information Pam at james2@maine.rr.com Thank you! More on Page 7

2 Ponderings from the Pastor... There is a lot going on in our world these days from natural disasters here and around the world, to divisiveness among our national and world leaders, to poverty and need everywhere we look it can be overwhelming. We can easily go to the place of despair for we feel like it is all so out of our control. I know my hope for our lives and world is not misplaced even when I contemplate what is going on around me and sometimes even wonder where is God? Where is the loving presence of my compassionate merciful God in the world? My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. I see all around me the love of Christ. In September as a church, as the Body of Christ, we donated almost $2,000 to disaster relief and more than 6 cleanup buckets to help those in need. We donated $500 to help feed people in Washington County, Maine and are forging a new relationship with Centre Street Congregational Church in Machias to see how we may help in an ongoing way. We have adopted a child in Haiti. This has taken financial resources, for sure, but more importantly, it has taken our hearts, our hearts full to overflowing with the love of Christ. In that love we reach out to help people just like us in our community and our world. This is our hope built on the solid rock of Christ in all things. Blessings, Pastor Nancy On one Sunday in September, we offered up our individual needs in prayer. We took lavender pieces of paper and anonymously wrote a personal need on it. The Deacons went through these and prayed for each on every one of them. The volume of response to this was surprising to us - some of us need help with family matters, some want self-patience, some are lonely. The deacons are holding all of these needs in prayer and we will continue to have a time for a needs offering on Communion Sundays. We are brothers and sisters enveloped in God s love and we want to help one another in whatever way we are able. In God s love, Pastor Nancy and the Deacons The Shack Movie and 5 week discussion I know many of you have read this book previously and some have seen the newly released movie. The subject matter of the underlying story is difficult. I do believe that even if you don t want to watch the movie with the group, you will still be able to participate in the discussion which is Biblically based as outlined below. Please check these dates as some are changed from what was in the Sept newsletter. Tuesday October 3 rd 2:30 4:00 pm Where is God when I need him most? A discussion of our relationship with God. Tuesday October 10 th no meeting Pastor Nancy in Portland Tuesday October 17 th 2:30 4:00 pm How does God see me? In what ways do we look for the way out from what God wants to work within us? Tuesday October 24 th no meeting Pastor Nancy in Portland Tuesday October 31 st 2:30-4:00pm Why are you (God) doing this to me? A discussion on trust. Tuesday November 7 th 2:30-4:00pm How can I know the heart of God? A discussion on God s judgment. Tuesday November 14 th 2:30 4:00pm So you (God) just let him get away with it? A discussion on forgiveness. 2

3 Jewelry and Vintage Items Needed The Missions Committee is now accepting jewelry for the jewelry table for the Christmas fair AND vintage and antique items for the table at the fair sponsored by the Pet Place Pantry. All proceeds from that table will go directly to the pantry. Both jewelry and items for the pantry table can be dropped off at church with my name on them. If things come in just let me know and I will take care of them. Thank you, Dale King Men s Club Thank you to all who helped on the Fair Men's Club Food Booth! Men's Club Breakfast, Oct. 21 at Toddy Brook at 7:00 am. FMI Contact Norm Smith at smithnorman325@gmail.com Anniversaries Roger Nadeau and Janet Grinis October Birthdays 1 Art Rushton Amanda Stewart 2 Jeanne Golding 5 Jack Benoit 6 Sara Bartlett 7 Jean Goff, Sandra Golonka 9 Lyn Glassock 12 Gail Strattard 15 Nicholas Stewart 17 Kendra Elder 17 Alexis Elder 22 Marinna Emery 27 Donnie Strawbridge 31 Sharon Clark 31 Bud Sappington If we ve missed a birthday, please let us know, and we will update the list. Many Blessings. Happy Anniversary! 3

4 Trustees The Trustees have been coordinating with Rev. Nancy, the Pastoral Relations Committee and the Treasurer to ensure that Rev. Nancy s call includes the changes voted upon at the September Congregational Meeting. We hope that by the publication of this newsletter all will be in place for the changes to take place in When she moves to 30 hours per week in 2018 her call again will be updated. The Trustees also discussed an issue that literally has been scattered around the church for years Should the church be a resource to supply medical equipment for those who need it but cannot afford to rent or purchase it? The Trustees decided that if the congregants want to make loaning out medical equipment to those in need an official mission of the church, then the Trustees would provide a list of what would be necessary to do prior to taking on this project. First, the people working on this mission would need to organize and institute a plan for the mission. Then, the committee would need to determine how much space was needed in the church to house the project. Also the committee would need to investigate the necessary laws and legal implications regarding the lending of medical equipment what is our liability? What are the rules for cleaning the equipment? Does the church need a release for those using the equipment? What is the procedure for determining whether the equipment is sanitary and safe? Until these questions are resolved, the Trustees did not feel like the church would be able to undertake such a mission. This was reported at the Council meeting. Other Council Members suggested that until the lending of medical equipment becomes an official church mission, the church should perhaps collect and dispose of or donate the used medical equipment that has been acquired over the years. Submitted by Kristi Wright Rev. Sara Bartlett s Installation at Alfred Parish Church. It is also her transfer of membership from her standing in the Cumberland Association to the York Association and transfer of membership from NYCC to Alfred Parish. In the photo with Sara is the York Association Church and Ministry Chair, the Rev. Brian Gruhn, and photo was taken by Eric Ducharme, member of APC. 4

5 Drama/Music/Arts/Crafts For all ages (6-106) Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult Where: North Yarmouth Congregational Church 3 Gray Rd When: 2 nd and 4 th Sundays October through May 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Come join the fun! For more information contact Sandra Golonka

6 Activities, games, food, fieldtrips along with spiritual/faith exploration in a fun, safe environment. All youth ages 8th grade through 12 th grade are welcome! North Yarmouth Congregational Church,3 Gray Rd October 2017 through May st and 3 rd Sundays of the month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. 6

7 Christian Education Hello. Sunday school will begin on October 8 th. Looking forward to seeing all the smiling faces of our young group. Our lesson will begin with the scripture from Mark 10: where the children will see that we are all, young or old, children of God and that every person is someone of worth. We will begin work on our mission project- helping support the Grace Street Ministry. Our plan is to construct birdhouses and (if time permits) baby quilts to be sold at our church Christmas Fair, with proceeds to go toward our mission. If anyone is interested in helping guide the children with these projects- please see me. Save the date: Saturday October 21 is the day we will hold our annual pumpkin carving/ pot luck supper. All welcome. Bring a pumpkin and carving tools. Please bring a dish/item to share. Sign up sheet in gathering space. Peace, Janine Dransfield Save the Date! Chicken Pie Supper on Friday, Oct. 27 To all you wonderful, enthusiastic volunteers out there, Please mark your calendars right now and block out these dates: Oct. 23, Monday, 1-2 pm: Make dough balls Oct. 24, Tuesday, 1-3 pm: Pick chicken Oct. 26, Thursday, 9-11 am: Roll pie bottoms Oct. 27 Friday, 10:30-noon and 12:30-2:30 pm: Roll pie tops & assemble Chicken Pies! If working in the kitchen isn t your thing, we also need a few people who can do tasks of shorter duration; for example, set up the tables, cut up squash, peel and slice apples, mix topping and assemble apple crisp, etc. This event is a significant fund-raiser for our church, and it has earned a strong following, serving many people from surrounding towns. When we put on a successful chicken pie supper, we can give back even more to the community at large it s a win-win event! Please be thinking about how you can help; we have many types of volunteer activities, i.e. something for everyone. To express an interest in helping make this a big success, call Lyn in the office at , or Pam at james2@maine.rr.com. Thank you in advance, ~Mark Heath and Pam Ames 7

8 Missions Missions contributed $400 to the Red Cross towards the hurricane relief for Harvey. We also contributed $400 to the Root Cellar in Portland. The Root Cellar was established in 1984 as a place where teens could go as an alternative to the streets, and in some cases their homes. On Sunday, many of us were fortunate to hear the message of Rev. Susie Maxwell from the Centre Street Congregational Church in Machias. She explained the high poverty levels in Washington County and that they are serving up to 125 families a week at their food pantry, which is run out of the church s vestibule. She shared personal stories of several of the people they are serving and their struggles. Missions has been looking for a sister congregation to partner with and we are pleased to be able to help support their food pantry, Rev. Nancy handed Rev. Susie a check for $500 as a beginning step of our partnership. The missions committee is planning to support this endeavor on a monthly basis starting in January. Below is the address of their food pantry if anyone wants to make a donation on their own: The Machias Food Pantry C/o Centre Street Congregational Church, UCC PO Box 265 Machias, ME The Pet Pantry received a large donation recently. It included money, pet food and a lot of Frontline, which alone is worth hundreds of dollars. We are so appreciative of all the generosity people show to the Pet Pantry and of Mission s efforts. Karen Barter Animal Blessing! Sunday October 22nd at Twin Brooks in Cumberland from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Co-hosted by NYCC, Cumberland Congregational Church and Tuttle Road Methodist Church. And since we can never bless our furry friends too much, NYCC will also offer blessings at NY Kite day on October 7th at the Old Town House park. 8

9 From the Moderator If anyone was inclined to take an aerial view of the month of October in our church, one might wonder how can we do all that is being offered. There is a significant stress on programs for young people. There are after church activities for youth and mixed ages, there is a Tuesday afternoon group working its way through The Shack. We ve seen the movie and now will be struggling with trying to understand what we ve seen. Sunday School will be starting up( sadly this is Janine s last year, but boy, has she earned a break!) and the Stewardship Drive will start mid-month and end with the Consecration of our gifts Sunday, November 19. And, of course, ending the month with the Chicken Pie Supper. I would not be surprised if there wasn t a pumpkin carving/pot luck supper thrown in the mix. So, if you want a do little, boring church you just may need to look elsewhere! Just kidding. Come, join in whatever activities suit your liking. This is all good. Stewardship Drive is being prepped by Sandra, Kristi and Jeanne. They will be participating in the worship services as we get into the drive. Jessica and Nathanial Smith are going to be adding a piece for us and the kids have prepared a special treat for the cause. Vice-moderator, Butch, as the chair of Nominations, is actively looking at the committees for next year. He indicated that there will be no arm twisting, which I whole heartedly support, but if a board or committee looks interesting to you talk to Butch and see where it goes. As I have been saying right along, the way our church is organized now with so many committees, we may need to look at a more streamlined way of doing business. Folks today simply don t have the time for meetings etc. A church meeting used to be a social night out..does anyone look at it like that today? I know I don t. Kristi is working diligently on getting the pastor s new contract done and done right. There are so many pieces to contracts today and all need to be in order..not an easy task. Sincerely submitted, Jeanne Chadbourne, Moderator A Feel Good Story Last week we had a family wanting to rent 50 chairs from the church. Normally we would ask for a donation and expect maybe $20.00 if pushed for a figure. Well, the family gave the church $50.00 before they left with the chairs, and when they brought them back the next day they delivered 2 wagon loads of pet supplies worth well into the hundreds of dollars. Boxes and boxes of Frontline Flea and tick meds, plus the traditional pet supplies. They asked their guests to bring something for the church pet pantry as an entry fee. And besides all the supplies they also gave a cash gift of $ They are truly friends of the church who happen to have a soft spot in their hearts for pets. Jeanne Chadbourne 9

10 Chicken Pie Supper Friday, October 27, :30 to 6:30 p.m. North Yarmouth Congregational Church 3 Gray Road, North Yarmouth Come Enjoy Chicken Pie, Squash, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Cole Slaw, and Home-Made Dessert Adults $13.00 Children ages 4-10 $ 6.00 Children 3 and under Free 10

11 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Homecoming Potluck-after worship :30 pm Tuesday Social :30 am The Wired Word 9:30 Worship 11-Youth Group 2:30pm Fall Study-The Shack 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Friday Lunch 11:30-1:00 pm :00 am :30 am The Wired Word Columbus Day (Indigenous Women s Fellowship/ Tuesday Gals 9:00-10:00 am Pet Place Pantry 9:30 Worship Peoples Day) 12:30pm Tuesday Social 11-Drama Club Office Closed 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal :00 am :30 The Wired Word 9:30 am Worship 11-Youth Group 11 Trustees Women s Fellowship/ Tuesday Gals 12:30pm Tuesday Social 2:30 pm 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal 7:00 am Men s Club Breakfast 5:00 p.m. Pumpkin Carving and Fall Study The Shack Pot Luck Newsletter 24 10:00 am :30 am The Wired Word 9:30 am Worship 1:30pm Blessing of the Pets Deadline 1:00-2:00 pm Make Pie Dough Balls Women s Fellowship/ Tuesday Gals 12:30pm Tuesday Social 1:00-3:00 pm 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal 9:00-11:00 am Roll out bottom pie dough 10:30-12 Noon & 12:30-2:30 Roll out tops and assemble pies 4:30-6:30 p.m. 11 Drama Club 11-Diaconate Chicken Picking Chicken Pie Supper :00 am Altar flowers for 8:30 am The Wired Word 9:30 am Worship Women s Fellowship/ Tuesday Gals 12:30pm Tuesday Social October Sarah Balvin 11 2:30pm Fall Study The Shack

12 North Yarmouth Congregational Church 3 Gray Road North Yarmouth, ME THE PARISH VOICE deadline for November is October 23rd nycc@maine.rr.com Autumn 12