We have special bulletins or you can invent your own special Sunday observance at $10 for a single

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1 May 2018 Newsletter Lakeville United Church of Christ 1 Precinct Street - Lakeville, Massachusetts (508) admin@lakevilleucc.net The Reverend Greta MacRae, Pastor Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 My dear congregation, May 20 is Pentecost, the day we remember the Holy Spirit alit on Jesus disciples, and it is also the day we will confirm, or make firm in the faith, a group of our young people. We have a two-year confirmation program and in those two years we talk a lot about church: what our denomination believes, how we do the work of Christ here at Lakeville United Church of Christ, what being a practicing Christian can look like and we read the Bible and talk about what those sacred texts mean to us now. Mostly though, we ask a lot of questions about faith. How can we be sure about God? Why does God let terrible stuff continue to happen in the world? Does it make a difference if we pray? The questions that come up every week help all of us to refine what we believe right now- and by right now I mean that faith is a journey not a destination. I expect every one of our Confirmands to have shifts of faith and understanding in their lives. That is as it should be. God continues to be in relationship with us and relationships are always growing and changing. This year s Confirmation class is special. They have lived out the covenant our church adopted a few years ago. They are kind to one another and give each other the benefit of the doubt. They also can be wickedly funny and

2 each of them has many gifts to share with this congregation and with others outside this church. I invite you to be present on May 20 to be witnesses to our fresh crop of young people as they say before all of us that they believe in the love and hope of Jesus Christ. Peace and preparation, Greta Board of Diaconate We want to thank the Spring Cleanup Crew for making the grounds look fresh again, to Dave and Travis Corrette for dealing with our parking lots and walkways, and the Trustees for dealing with the odds and ends items and keeping us in sand this winter. We are so ready for spring weather! Flowers and greeters are greatly appreciated on a weekly basis. You can just surprise us with flowers or a plant. No advance notice is needed unless you want to have a dedication in the bulletin and you should contact the Church Administrator, Debra, as she prints the Sunday bulletins. If you do not get in touch with her in time, you can just list the information in the announcement book and it will be read by a Deacon at the beginning of the service. We have special bulletins or you can invent your own special Sunday observance at $10 for a single service. (Easter and Christmas Eve are two services so the cost doubles or you can do half of it with someone else.) Right now, we just need the Fourth of July bulletins. Please check the posted listed at the Church entrance. Blessings, The Deacons Bob & Nancy Oldfield, Bonnie Sparrow, Johnna Rowley, Scott Holmes, Sue Norton, Sue Stiller, Maggie Driscoll, & Nancy LaFave From the Trustees Mark your calendars for April 28 th, because there is lots happening at LUCC on the 28 th. April 28 th is Spring Clean Up Day from 8am-noon. Bring your rakes, shovels, carts and gardening gloves and come ready to help beautify the church grounds. This is always a fun Fellowship time and many hands make light work. This is also a time that the kids of the congregation can get Involved and add their hands to the work.

3 Coffee, tea, juice and muffins will be provided to all workers. The Boy Scouts are having their Pancake Breakfast on the 28 th as well, so they will be called on to join in the clean-up day as soon as they finish their fundraising breakfast. Then at 5:30pm that night, Soup and Song for The Soul is having their soup and breads supper in Fellowship Hall, followed by a wonderfully uplifting concert of music and singing in the sanctuary at 7:00pm. Come for both or just the concert, if that is all your schedule permits. In addition to fun events happening at LUCC, there are also improvements to the building and grounds that are planned for this summer. The parking lot will be getting its finish coat and we will let you know the dates as soon as that work is officially scheduled. The family of long time members of the congregation, has generously offered to pay for the painting of the sanctuary, so quotes are being gathered for that work to be done. Work is also being scheduled to replace the lighting in Fellowship Hall with more energy efficient and cost-effective LED lights. A grant from Middleboro Gas and Electric has been secured to pay for half of the cost of that improvement. So, very positive things are happening at LUCC and the Trustees thank everyone for their generosity, support and patience in making these improvements possible. Women s Fellowship At our April meeting on the 17 th, Women s Fellowship made May Baskets, which will be delivered to members of our congregation and community who are finding it difficult to get out and about and are in need of a little extra TLC and cheering up. Next time you are in Fellowship Hall, check out the Attitude of Gratitude bulletin board that has a bee skep and loads of bees flying around it. Look carefully at the bees, because each has written on it things for which we are grateful. Not only is the artwork, done by WF Co-President Corry Darling, a beautiful addition to Fellowship Hall, but the sentiments of gratitude are something worth noting. There is a basket of paper bees on the table, so add your thoughts to a bee and be part of the BEE grateful crowd.

4 While in Fellowship Hall also check out the Opportunities Board. This board is a new initiative on which all committees and members, not just Women s Fellowship, will be adding information about events that are coming up. Check it out to see what you can be involved in either by working at an event or by going to it or by baking for it. There are always opportunities for Fellowship at LUCC. RAYS - Reap As You Sew Craft Group RAYS meets at Leslie Metzler s house every month and often twice a month at 6:30pm, to make hand-made items for the LUCC Women s Fellowship Christmas Fair. It is a fun, creative group and a great time of fellowship. All are welcome. If you are interested in joining us or finding out more, please call Leslie on or lesliemetz2@hotmail.com. If you are crafty but not interested in going out at night and prefer to craft on your own, we welcome that too. We welcome your ideas or can provide ideas and materials for you to be crocheting, knitting, and/or sewing things at home for the Christmas Fair. The next RAYS gathering will be on Thursday April 26 th at 6:30pm. Get in touch with Leslie to say you are coming or just come along and you will be welcomed. Social Outreach Committee Thank you to everyone who donated to the Easter Missions. Through your generosity, LUCC was able to send generous donations to three international missions that support children and families - Straight Ahead Ministries in Ukraine and two agencies in Manila Philippines including the Batang Munti Foundation and the Benny Hinn Ministries that provide nutritional food, home life services and residential care to people in need. A total of $504 dollars was donated and this money goes a long way in the countries supported. If you know of any individuals, families or non-profit agencies that are in need, please share this with the Social Outreach Committee as we are interested in knowing how to support our local and international community. Come to the 2018 Soup and Song for the Soul on Saturday, April 28th at LUCC! With the theme "Make a Joyful Noise" you will hear beautiful music by our talented musicians including songs dedicated in memory of Marilyn Fickert and Eunice Kelley. Delicious soups will be enjoyed by all too! Music Committee Sincere thanks to all who supported the Soup and Song for the Soul fundraiser. No matter what capacity you helped with: performing, cooking, set up and clean up, musician, helper, etc., your help is greatly appreciated. The choir will wrap up on May 20, the week before Memorial Day. Beginning July 1, for nine weeks, our Music Director and Choir Director, Brad Bates will be on vacation. Brenda Hartford and Dr. Gary Mazzola will be our

5 guest musicians until Brad returns in September. Respectfully submitted, Loretta Baldwin Stewardship Committee Dear Church Family, We need your help!!! Savers in New Bedford will be the recipient of this year s leftover Rummage sale items. We have organized to have the items not only received but also used in a fund drive way and the church will receive compensations for the donation. We will thankfully have a large truck available to move the items however as we never know how many items we will need to move it is always great to have other trucks and trailers available on move-out to help make things move smoothly. Our youngest daughter will be graduating from college on Rummage weekend and the festivities begin at 4pm on move-out day. This year we need to move out as fast as possible so we can enjoy our family celebration. We hope to have volunteers at the church on Saturday May 19 th by 11am ready to pack up and move out. We hope to have the items ready to transport by 2pm. Because Savers is just off Rt. 140 in New Bedford the turnaround time (allowing time for unload) should be approximately an hour and a half. We really want to donate as much of the leftover items as possible but this we cannot do alone. We truly hope the entire congregation will step up to the plate and either come along to help us pack up at 11am on Saturday and/or come with a vehicle at 1pm to help haul. Please contact us as soon as possible if you have a vehicle available to help. As previously mentioned this event makes thousands of dollars to help support the church budget. Please help us help our church, David and Renee Horton Rummage Sale 2018 May 17, 6pm-9pm May 18, 9am-9pm May 19, 8am-12pm Move-in May 12, 8am-12pm Move-out May 19, 11am-2pm It s that time of year again! Spring cleaning is just around the corner. All those wonderful, clean, useable, just can t through away items that have been accumulating in your attic, cellar and garage will be welcome and appreciated by the loyal workers of the LUCC for their Annual Rummage Sale. Clothing, shoes, knick-knacks, small household appliances,

6 all home goods and linens, books and videos, etc., are needed for this event. Please do not leave any articles outside the church unattended, due to the weather factor. Saturday May 12 th from 8am to 12 pm, is the scheduled day for item drop off and all hands-on deck will be needed for move-in. Items have already been collected and stored all over town and assistance will be needed to get them back to fellowship hall. This event takes a tremendous amount of set-up, organization and clean-up. Please plan to come out and help. There is always a way you can help even if you only have an hour to spare. If you have never experienced the sale first hand please make this year the year you check it out and help out. We cannot make this happen alone. Volunteer sign-ups are posted in Fellowship hall. We are proud to direct this fundraiser but we need all of your help to make it the production it can be and to raise the funds we need for our general budget. Renee and David Horton, Church and Family Life Church Picnic Spring is here! The weather is getting warmer, trees are leafing out and flowers are blooming. It is again time to get ready for our annual Church Picnic. All of our Church Family and Friends are invited to gather out in back of the church on Sunday, June 3 rd right after the church service. This is always an enjoyable afternoon of fellowship, games for the children, and good food (hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and great desserts). Look for the sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall on the bulletin board near the kitchen. Please mark your calendar and make plans to join us on the 3rd. Birthdays 6 Gail Evirs 6 Inez Marshall 7 Martha Vigers 9 Alica Erickson 12 Glenna Protami 17 Travis Corrette 18 Ken Creasy 24 Jack Mulgrew 29 Allie Goodwin 30 Lyle Strode 30 Bethany McMeekin 3 Monroe Macuch 4 David Cooper Anniversaries 8 Chuck & Gail Evirs 11 Paul & Janet Macuch 14 Dennis & Maggie Drsicoll 23 Stuart & Sue Norton 23 Scott & Kim Mulgrew 24 Mike & Barbara Pomeroy 25 Mike & Marie Nolan

7 28 Toby & Maureen Baird 30 Kevin & Deb Nee