February Southwick Congregational Church UCC. United Church of Christ. The Good Newsletter of the. Southwick Congregational Church

Transcription

1 Buildings & Grounds: Christian Education: Craig Perras Dan Warriner Ashley Halacoglu Deacons: Flo Pitoniak Finance: Beth Studer Flowers: Roxanne Cook Fundraising: Patti Wood Library: Joyce Arnold Memorial Gifts: Missions: Karen Brzezinski Roxanne Cook Donna Sullivan Music: Melanie Nitsch Nominating: Patti Wood Pastoral Relations: COMMITTEE CHAIRS Roxanne Cook February 2018 Southwick Congregational Church 488 College Highway P.O. Box 260 Southwick, MA Return Service Requested Church Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Pastor s Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Church Office Phone: ; Pastor s Study: Website: Office Facebook: www. southwickucc.org southwickucc@gmail.com Southwick Congregational Church UCC Staff: Minister Reverend Bart Cochran Choir Director/Organist Roberta Kowal Bell Choir Director Patti P. Wood Office Administrator Lyn Casey Custodians Matthew Kowal & Maria Lempke Southwick Congregational Church United Church of Christ 488 College Highway; P.O. Box 260 Southwick, MA VOLUME MMXVIII No. 2 Minister: The Rev. Bart Cochran Please join us Sundays for Worship Service 10:00 AM Mid-Week Service Thursdays 6:30 PM Website: www. SouthwickUCC.org The Good Newsletter of the Southwick Congregational Church United Church of Christ Southwick, MA DATED MATERIAL PAID Permit No. 309 Southwick, MA US Postage

2 From The Pastor For the first time since 1945, Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday will fall on the same day. There s a unique contrast between these two holidays. Valentine s Day relates to excess cheesy love songs, overthe-top romance, elaborate gifts and special attention is given to the act of love. On the other hand, Ash Wednesday focuses on moderation. It s officially the start of Lent, when most people give up a vice for 40 days. Lent is a time of focusing on spiritual needs while in some cases denying physical pleasures. Christians attend services and receive ashes upon their forehead, usually with the words "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Seemingly, the two holidays could not be more different. There is one point of connection between these two days love. Valentine s Day revolves around romantic love. And Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of Christ s sacrificial love for us. What is the church to do when one of our traditional Christian holidays falls on the same day as a flower-filled, Hallmark-driven, love-fest? Well, this is actually a great opportunity to connect the two events. Why not (on this odd day) take to heart the message of love and do something real for someone you love? Cards and candy and flowers are sweet, but maybe on this Valentine s / Ash Wednesday we can focus on sacrificing something of ourselves for those we love. Use your imagination. It could be anything. Maybe you could give up leaving towels on the floor. Or always bringing up that one 2007 fight every time things get tense on the home front. Or, maybe doing the dishes. Well, you can come up with your own list. It s your call. One might argue, though, that love deserves our best. 2 3 P.S. Easter and April Fool s day are also on April first this year! Just like six-years ago when I became your Pastor. Yours in Christ, Pastor Bart Call for Pastoral Care: Join me for Bible Study on Sunday Evenings at 7 PM and Tuesdays at 11 AM beginning February 18, 2018 Worship Schedule Sunday Worship service at 10:00 AM Thursdays Midweek Service with communion at 6:30 PM Ecumenical Service at The American Inn on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM Office Hours The Church office is open Monday thru Thursday from 9:00 AM~1:00 PM & Friday from 9:00 AM~12:30 PM Pastor Bart s Study is open Tuesday thru Friday from 10:00 AM~2:00 PM Annual Meeting: Sunday, February 18, at 11:00 AM All Church Committee Refreshment Schedule February Open If a member of our church community knows of anyone who is ill, hospitalized, grieving, or moving to a senior living facility, please be sure to advise the church office. We want to respond with caring support. Call the church office at or at southwickucc@gmail.com Don t forget, you can read the weekly sermon on our website: on the page: From the Pastor

3 Ministry and Outreach 4 5 HELP WANTED February 11 ~ 11 ~ 14 ~ 18 ~ Sundays 18 ~ Tuesdays 20 ~ March 4 ~ April 1 ~ April 8 ~ April 26 ~ New Member Sunday Youth Group Valentine s Day Bake Sale Ash Wednesday 6:30 Service Annual Meeting on Sunday Lenten Bible Study begins Sundays 7 PM Lenten Bible Study Tuesdays 11AM All Church Meeting on Sunday Easter All Church Meeting on Sunday Historical Society s Dinner planned Mission Statement Southwick Congregational Church is a faithful Christian presence in the community of Southwick since 1773, and we look to the future. We are a diverse and loving congregation, joyfully serving, teaching, and sharing with one another, according to the gifts we have been given. UCC Statement of Mission As people of the United Church of Christ, affirming our Statement of Faith, we seek within the Church Universal to participate in God's mission and to follow the way of the crucified and risen Christ. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are called and commit ourselves: To praise God, confess our sin, and joyfully accept God's forgiveness; To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our suffering world; To embody God's Love for all people; To hear and give voice to creation's cry for justice and peace; To name and confront the powers of evil within and among us; To repent our silence and complicity with the forces of chaos and death; To preach and teach with the power of the living Word; To join oppressed and troubled people in the struggle for liberation; To work for justice, healing, and wholeness of life; To embrace the unity of Christ's church; To discern and celebrate the present and coming reign of God. Tis the time of year to fill committees. This year I have a huge need!!! Positions are available on ALL committees at the moment. I understand we ALL lead busy lives, but truly - the more the merrier! And... sitting on a committee is part of being a church member. Christian Ed, Music, Nominating (as I am moving to the Finance Committee), Board of Deacons, Buildings & Grounds, Missions, and Finance! I encourage you - as you pray about which committee you would like to try this year - to please consider the words I read in church last week from a piece the choir sang (see below). If you have any questions, please call me or the church office. I look forward to seeing you all at the Annual Meeting on Sunday Feb 18 at 11 AM. Sincerely~ Patti Wood, Nominating Committee Come, Share, Rejoice We are one in the name of the Lord Sharing joy, sharing pain, sharing strife. We are one in the journey of faith as we move to the heart beat and rhythm of life. We are one through the body of Christ, clasping hands as we join in the search, For the message and meaning in God s holy word. For the purpose and task of our church. Come, Share, Rejoice and with cheerful songs lift your voice! In praise and thanksgiving, for life we are living, to God be the glory, REJOICE! Come, Share, Rejoice and with cheerful songs lift your voice in praise and Thanksgiving For life we are living, to God be the glory, rejoice! REJOICE! With the memory of those who have died, with our vision uniting as one, May this church be a people committed to Christ. That his work on this earth shall be done. Though the evil we see overwhelms, though at times we seem destined to fail, May we frim our resolve as we conquer with LOVE, That the kingdom of God will prevail. Come, Share, Rejoice And with cheerful songs lift your voice In praise and Thanksgiving. For life we are living, to God be the Glory, Rejoice!

4 From the Library 6 7 February Our library is fortunate to offer Catherine Clinton s book Mrs. Lincoln: A Life. Clinton is a distinguished historian of women during the Civil War Era. She divulges details of Mary Lincoln s role as a wife, mother and her unconditional love that sustained Abraham Lincoln s journey to greatness. This is an excellent read and a wonderful glimpse into one of the most enigmatic women in history. Good reading, like good company, stimulates the soul; and helps to pass many idle hours in our lives. It has been my great pleasure serving as church librarian for many years. Regrettably, I will not be able to continue as interim librarian going forward. February 11 ~ 11 ~ 14 ~ 18 ~ Sundays 18 ~ Tuesdays 20 ~ New Member Sunday Youth Group Annual Valentine s Day Bake Sale Ash Wednesday 6:30 Service Annual Meeting on Sunday Lenten Bible Study begins Sundays 7 PM Lenten Bible Study Tuesdays 11AM February 11 11:00 AM Youth Group Annual Bake Sale Cherish today. ~Joyce Arnold NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: The Annual Meeting of the Southwick Congregational Church, UCC will be held on Sunday, February 18, 2018 immediately following Sunday Service. The business meeting will be for hearing reports from 2017, election of officers, adopting a budget and the transaction of any other business that may come before the meeting. The regular all-church will not be taking place in February. Committees are welcomed to make arrangements to meet. Coffee hour that day will be pot luck and it is suggested members bring their own utensils and plates to expedite the clean-up. Sonya Murray Erica & Keith Ireland and their family On February 11 at 10 AM HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ricky Pitoniak February 1 Jodi Potts February 11 Diane Jennett February 25 Melanie Day February 29 If we ve missed a birthday, please let the church office know!

5 Looking Ahead Stewardship Journey March 4 ~ April 1 ~ April 8 ~ April 26 ~ All Church Meeting on Sunday 11:00 AM Easter All Church Meeting on Sunday 11:00 AM Historical Society s Dinner planned Thank you THANK YOU to all who attended the Handbell Holiday Concert on such a cold winter day!!! It was so wonderful to see a FULL Sanctuary. It certainly makes all the hard work well worth the effort! Thanks to Lyn for advertising on WJMJ radio in CT as that brought in several new fans. Thank you to my ringers! You all rang sooooo well...now we start preparing for next year! Love & Hugs~ Patti Wood, Director Thank you to Patti Wood for her energy and excitement! Her enthusiasm in all that she does is infectious. Come, Share, Rejoice, a Choral Anthem for the Offertory was sung by the Choir on January 14. Meditate on these words from the Anthem as they relate to our Stewardship mission We are one in the journey of faith as we move to the heart-beat and rhythm of life; join in the search for the message and meaning in God s holy Word. May this Church be a people committed to Christ, that his work on this Earth shall be done. In Praise and Thanksgiving, for the life we are living, to God be the glory; Come, Share, Rejoice. A more fitting message for our Stewardship Journey is naught to be found. Be encouraged in that Pledges for 2017 amounted to $79,254 while Stewardship receipts reached $90,220. For 2018, we are thankful that Pledges are currently $88,950 with $19,937 already received through mid-january. Hopefully, by the end of 2018 we will find that Stewardship receipts will have exceeded pledges by a similar (~ 14%) amount. ~ Virgil From the Office Please note: February Coffee Hours are OPEN Do you want to sign up for a Sunday with a new friend? The Office is scheduled to be closed on Monday, February 19th for Presidents Day Please notify the Church Office if: You have a change of address Your phone number has changed Your address has changed You know someone else s contact information has changed You need to have an event added to the calendar You have an idea and you don t know whom to tell You would like to make a change to the Prayer List You would like to reserve flowers for the altar You would like to be added or taken off the Gold Dome mailing list You are going away for a few weeks and stopping your mail January 14, 2018 Executive Committee Meeting The meeting was called to order by David Breton, Moderator, at 12:35 p.m. Beth Studer from Finance Committee stated a performance evaluation will be scheduled for Lyn Casey, our office administrator. This will be conducted by the Chair of the Finance Committee, the Pastor, and at least two other Finance Committee members. Beth Studer also nominated Patti Wood for the Finance Committee. A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to accept the nomination. The need for prayer list and military list addresses will be mentioned again. Roxanne Cook reported that the Executive Board and the Board of Deacons are scheduled to meet with Jill Graham from the UCC on January 28 th at 6:30 pm to discuss the process of hiring an interim minister. There was discussion among all present about the necessity for taking time to decide what direction the church wants to proceed regarding our future. The meeting was adjourned at 1:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~Melanie Nitsch, Clerk

6 All Church Committee Meeting January 14, 2018 The meeting was called to order by Moderator David Breton at 12 noon. Pastor Bart opened the meeting with a prayer. A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to accept the Minutes of the December 2017 All-Church Meeting. Minister s Report: Pastor Bart will be leaving our church on April 1 st which is coincidentally his six year anniversary as a pastor at this church. He has an exit interview scheduled for March 13 th with the Church & Ministry Committee of the Hampden Conference. On Thursday, 1/18/18, he will be attending Flo Pitoniak s first Member in Discernment meeting. The Ash Wednesday service will be held on 2/14/18 at 6:30 pm. There will be a New Member Sunday on 1/21/18* with one new member joining and hopefully a second New Member Sunday to be held in the near future. A new Lenten Bible Study will be held beginning 2/18/18 each Sunday evening at 7 pm and also on Tuesday mornings. Pastoral Relations Committee: No report. Deacons: Patty Banasik reported 4 members present. One committee member has resigned so the group is re-organizing their duties. They have let the Nominating Committee know they are in need of new members. They discussed future Deacons duties since Pastor Bart will be leaving. They discussed whether the All-Church should consider a change in the by-laws regarding the number of members that are required for each committee. Mission-Outreach: Roxanne Cook reported 3 members present and 1 potential new member. They are requesting again that people send them addresses for the people who are on our prayer list. The group will be assembling care packages for the nine names on our military list their addresses are also needed. They discussed their annual report. They discussed various ways that the committee can do outreach in the community one idea being a movie night and pot luck supper. Finance Committee: Beth Studer reported 4 members present with 2 additional individuals sitting in. The group also talked about the numbers of members required for each committee and perhaps changing the by-laws. Their committee budget will be level-funded this year. They discussed their annual report. Their co-chair Elaina Lempke has resigned due to work/school commitments. Beth Studer will also be resigning due to her impending move to Wisconsin. Treasurer s Report: Ted Orson ran a preliminary 2017 summation and reported an approx. $21,000 deficit for Approx. $115,000 came into the church with approx. $136,000 being spent. Happily the church surpassed its fundraising budget of $9,000 by bringing in $11,000. Ted cautioned the church to steer away from being too dependent on fundraising to meet our financial needs. We are currently running a little below budget in our expenses which is good. Ted mentioned he will be away for a month so Julie Chase will be filling in for him. Christian Education: Ashley Halacoglu reported 3 members present. The Youth Group will be holding a Valentine s Day bake sale on Feb. 11 th. They are looking at a new curriculum for Sunday School next year. They are planning a Youth Group lock-in at the end of January or early February. Memorial Gifts: Karen Brzezinski worked on the Annual Report. Buildings and Grounds: Dan Warriner reported 4 members present. The church s annual report from the Fire Dept. will take place next week. An electrician will need to come in to check our emergency lighting and exit signs to make sure they are up to code. A tree will need to be taken down as it damaged the garage roof of the parsonage. Dan mentioned the committee is losing 2 members so will need replacements. Library Committee: No report. Fundraising Committee: Patti Wood reported the Cookie Sale Fundraiser raised $1,566 which is a great effort. The Soup Sale fundraiser will be held on January 28 th. Nominating Committee: Patti Wood spoke with lots of members about joining committees. She is requesting committees provide her with a calendar list of what each committee does throughout the year. She will try to fill each committee to the best of her ability. Music Committee: Melanie Nitsch reported 4 members present. They discussed the group s annual report and the organist s annual contract which will be voted on during the February annual meeting. The committee s 2018 proposed budget was handed in to the Finance Committee and from a financial standpoint there were no changes. Melanie will be stepping down from the committee for the upcoming year so a new member is needed. Flower Committee: Roxanne Cook will advertise for Easter plants early this year. Anyone interested in taking home a poinsettia plant from the church is welcome to. New Business The Annual Meeting will be held following coffee hour on Sunday, February 18, Coffee hour that day will be pot luck and it is suggested members bring their own utensils and plates to help cut down on the clean-up. The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Melanie Nitsch, Clerk *Note: New Member Sunday has been changed to February 11, 2018

7 Southwick Historical Corner # Time Together Happy New Year fellow church members, As promised in my last article I am going to discuss in more detail the construction of the Church meetinghouse in Before any construction started the church needed to raise funds. An approximate $5,000 (!!!!!) was raised by subscriptions. I am assuming subscriptions is the equivalent of donations and pledges. I hope someone can correct me if I am wrong. Captain Isaac Damon of Northampton was selected as builder. He had great success in many other projects in the area. The history of the Southwick church lists four other churches as well as five bridges he had successfully completed. The construction workers were from all over western Massachusetts. Materials were gathered from many places as well; what I find most interesting in the material I use for these articles is the history of the beams that are the main support for the church. They were from New Hampshire and these huge logs were floated down the Connecticut River to Holyoke and then were transported over land to Southwick. I find it extraordinary that such a journey was possible without the advancements we have today. Truly remarkable! Construction of the church started on May 2, 1824 after the spring thaw with the intention of completing the building before the first winter freeze. Quite a timeline! To complete the foundation teams of horses pulled large scoops that effectively dug the foundation hole. Blocks of stone that had been pre-cut were put into place by four skilled masons from Springfield and South Hadley. Once the foundation was complete the structure frame (using the logs mentioned before) was prepared by drilling holes and cutting tennons and mortises. Every log was numbered for placement so that when it was time for the raising every timber was in its proper place and the building would stand as intended. I am limited on space for each issue so will stop here but next article will complete the construction of the church and its dedication services as well as some very interesting pictures of the church after its construction (before any additions). ~Martha Johnson Be still and know that I am God. ~Psalm 46:10 I used to think Lent was simply a do-over for whatever New Year s resolution I already broke. If I made the resolution to lose weight and had gone off my diet that I started January 1 st, then for Lent I would target a specific area and give up say chips. Or, if I had given up chocolate as my resolution and that hadn t survived past January 30 th, then for Lent I would sacrifice a certain favorite candy bar. I didn t realize I was missing the point. What is the point? In my humble opinion it is simply that God wants to spend time with me. I love this! He misses me. God loves me just as I am, I don t have to lose weight or give up chips or chocolate for God to love me more. (I also didn t realize I was using the chips and chocolate to block my relationship with God, but that s for a different article.) This year, I already know what Lenten discipline I will take on. I will be setting boundaries to my time on social media. I can t give it up completely because I use it for work and service. But I can say, Alexa, set timer for 15 minutes. The time I don t spend scrolling from one post to another I will use in meditation with God and other worthy pursuits. And, as Bart suggests, I could use some of the time I save to spend time with my husband and friends and show them I love them too. I wonder what I will find out during this extra time with God in the next 40 days ~Evelyn Dean Casey

8 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 Communion Service 10 AM Coffee Hour 11:00 OA 3:30 PM New Member Sunday 10 AM Youth Group 10:15 Coffee Hour 11:00 Youth Group Bake Sale OA 3:30 PM 18 Worship Service 10 AM Coffee Hour 11:00 ANNUAL MEETING OA 3:30 PM Bible Study 7 PM 25 Worship Service 10 AM BAPTISM Youth Group 10:15 Coffee Hour 11:00 OA 3:30 PM Bible Study 7 PM Don t forget the Annual Meeting on Sunday the 18th 5 Office open 9-1 Music Together 10 A Adult Guitar 7:30 PM Office open 9-1 Music Together 10 A Adult Guitar 7:30 PM 19 Presidents Day Office Closed Music Together 10 A Adult Guitar 7:30 PM 26 Office open 9-1 Music Together 10 A Adult Guitar 7:30 PM 6 Bell Choir 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:30 13 American Inn 6:30 Bell Choir 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:30 Girl Scout Ldrs 7 20 Bible Study 11 AM Bell Choir 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:30 27 Bible Study 11 AM Bell Choir 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:30 7 Cub Scouts 6:30 Voice Choir 7:00 14 Cub Scouts 6:30 Ash Wed Service 6:30 PM Voice Choir 7:00 21 Cub Scouts 6:30 Voice Choir 7:00 28 Cub Scouts 6:30 Voice Choir 7:00 1 Midweek Service 6:30 8 Midweek Service 6:30 15 Midweek Service 6:30 22 Midweek Service 6:30 2 2:30 Bart s Hour 10-2 OA Meeting 6:00 AA Meeting 7:30 9 2:30 Bart s Hour 10-2 OA Meeting 6:00 AA Meeting 7:30 16 Gold Dome Articles Due 2:30 Bart s Hour 10-2 Youth Lock-in 5:30 OA Meeting 6:00 AA Meeting 7: :30 Bart s Hour 10-2 OA Meeting 6:00 AA Meeting 7:30 Handbell Concert Jan 7 at 1: The next All-Church meeting is Sunday March 4 th!