The Good Newsletter of the Southwick Congregational Church United Church of Christ Southwick, MA

Transcription

1 P.O. Box 260, 488 College Highway Southwick, MA Return Service Requested Minister: The Rev. Bart Cochran Please join us Sundays for Worship Service 10:00 AM Mid-Week Service Thursdays 6:30 PM The Good Newsletter of the Southwick Congregational Church United Church of Christ Southwick, MA February 2015 US Postage PAID Permit No. 9 Southwick, MA DATED MATERIAL

2 Dear Friends, Happy Valentine s Day! If the truth be told, I never liked Valentine s Day when I was growing up in Texas. Valentine s Day ranked near the bottom of my favorite holiday list. Every year it was the same thing, we would be forced at school to make mailboxes for our desks, which was really big pieces of construction paper folded and stapled into a huge envelope that was then taped to our desks. We were allowed to decorate these mailboxes, but I was never really allowed to draw the things I really wanted to draw. For example, in second grade I thought it would be a wonderful Valentine s Day theme to color a war between robots and dinosaurs. But for some inexplicable reason my teacher told me that robots and dinosaurs having a battle just was not an appropriate theme for a holiday devoted to love. So, with my creativity stifled, I would end up drawing things like hearts and flowers. But the worst part was the cards. We would have to buy a box of Valentine s and write something to our fellow classmates and then deliver the card into their mailbox. I lived in constant terror that one of my friends would see me dropping a Valentine into a girl s mailbox. Oh, Bart is in LOVE with Irene Smith, followed by kissing and smooching noises. I think it is safe to say I was a normal kid when it came to forced displays of false sentiment. The funny thing is that as I got older (like with most boys) I WANTED to know how to let a girl know that I liked her and was suddenly unable to figure it out. If only I had heeded the message of Valentine s Day and learned to write her a love sonnet in a card! I think that is the way it is in life. There is an

3 old saying that goes, Youth is wasted on the young. Many times in life we may reject those things with which we do not have experience, only to discover later that we have come to desire the very thing we once rejected. The Bible talks about the cornerstone that was once rejected by the builder. Psalm 188: 22 says, The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. The very thing that was thrown out and discarded has now become central to the entire project! Christ was refused and rejected to the point of crucifixion but is now the very foundation for the lives of millions of people around the world. Sadly, there are those who still reject the need for Jesus Christ in their life. They focus on their own selves and their own egos to save them. They place themselves as the cornerstone of their own lives but all too often they find that life has become unmanageable under their own direction. It isn t until we hand ourselves over in trust to God s loving care in Christ that we can know real, true and lasting hope, meaning and value in our life. But the hardest part always seems to be just dropping the Valentine into the mailbox. Forget what people say or think of you, Jesus is waiting with open arms. Find out what you may have been missing. Your Valentine in Christ, Bart

4 January 2015 Dear Friends, The tumult, the quiet, and the hope of the 2014 holidays is behind us. We are on a new page, and I m thinking of you at the beginning of May it treat you well. Love, Janey Dear Members and friends of Southwick Congregational, I ve been hitting the ground running, and despite my recent injury, am pleased to come to the office every day. I ve met many of you and look forward to meeting you all over time. That said, I would love to offer online opportunities to you for the future. I m updating the mailing list and would like to add addresses, if you have ones you would like to share. Then we can offer the Gold Dome to you as a PDF file if you wish, as well as the Annual Report and the member list, upon approval of the Deacons. I ll be adding info to the Facebook page, as Flo has been doing so well (don t stop, please!) and updating the church website soon. Perhaps, too, we can soon have a member list with photos! Thanks to you, many kind and dedicated volunteers for your help, Sabine Prather Church Administrator

5 Events! New, Local Parkinson s Support Group Launched Nearly two dozen people gathered at the American Inn on January 10 th to set afloat a support group for those living with Parkinson s Disease, their caregivers and friends. The voyage through the storms of the disease is made smoother by the company of those who are sharing the course. For information, support and a sense of hope, join others each second Saturday of the month, from 10-11:30 a.m. in the ground level auditorium at the American Inn, 796 College Hwy, (Rtes. 202 & 10), Southwick. The next meeting is Saturday, February 14, Child care can be provided with pre-arrangement. For more information, contact Mike and Susan, or Lynn and Shirley, Please mark your calendars for these important Christian Education events! February 1st- The youth group will go ice skating at Amelia Park February 15th- Valentine's Day Bake Sale During Coffee

6 February Sun Mon Tue Wed 1 10:00AM Comm. Service 10:15 Sunday School/ Nursery 11:00 AM Coffee Hour 3:30 PM O.A :30 PM Bell Choir 6-8:30 PM Boy Scouts, Girl Scout Leaders 4 7:00 PM Choir 8 10:00 AM Worship Service/ Bells 10:15 Sunday School/ Nursery 11:00 AM Coffee Hour 3:30 PM OA :30 PM Bell Choir 7-8:30 PM Boy Scouts, Girl Scout Leaders 11 7:00 PM Choir 15 10:00 AM Worship 10:15 Sunday School/ Nursery 11:00 AM Coffee Hour/Youth Group Bake Sale 3:30 PM OA % 16 Presidents Day holiday office closed 17 6:30 PM Bell Choir 6:30 PM Amer. Inn Service 7-8:30 PM Boy Scouts, Girl Scout Leaders 18 7:00 PM Ash Wednesday Service 22 10:00 AM Worship Service 10:15 Sunday School 11:00 AM Coffee Hour 3:30 PM OA :30 PM Bell Choir 7-8:30 PM Boy Scouts, Girl Scout Leaders 25 7:00 PM Choir

7 2015 Thu Fri Sat 5 6:30 PM Mid Wk. Service 7:00 PM T.O.P.S. 6 6:00 PM.O.A. Mtg. 7:30 PM A.A. 12 Step PM Thrift Shop Open 12 6:30 PM Annual Meeting/ Potluck 13 6:00 PM.O.A. Mtg. 7:30 PM A.A. 12 Step PM Thrift Shop Open 19 All Day Fair Share Co-op 6:30 PM Mid Wk. Service 20 6:00 PM.O.A. Mtg. 7:30 PM A.A. 12 Step PM Thrift Shop Open 26 6:30 PM Mid Wk. Service 27 6:00 PM.O.A. Mtg. 7:30 PM A.A. 12 Step PM Thrift Shop Open

8 All Church Committee Meeting January 8, 2015 James Putnam, Moderator, called the meeting to order at 8:20 p.m. Pastor Bart was not present this evening so Jim Putnam offered a prayer of many thanks. Minister s Report: No report this month. Treasurer s Report: Ted Orson reported that the church income has exceeded our budget by about $12,000. A motion was made and accepted unopposed to approve the Treasurer s report. Memorial Gifts: Karen Brzezinski reported that there is nothing new this month. Buildings and Grounds: Eric Nitsch reported 5 members present for the meeting. They reviewed the past month s projects, obtained new threshold rugs, a new fire door into the furnace room, and received a key list with approximately 40 requests. They also reviewed the security system and will do some more research. Their budget and annual report are all set. Music Committee: Melanie Nitsch mentioned the great holiday concert the Gold Dome Ringers had last Sunday and a thank you went out to Jim and Terry Putnam for organizing refreshments after the concert. Christian Education: Ashley Greco reported 3 members present. They spent their meeting getting their annual budget in order for the annual meeting. Mission-Outreach: Valer ie Eastwood r epor ted 2 member s pr e- sent. The Christmas season mission projects were a great success: 26 shoe boxes were sent, 15 families were supplied with Christmas gifts, and they again had a mitten tree and white socks collection. They are looking ahead for 2015 to have a winter support for needy families (3/14/15) and they are discussing and hope to plan an Easter food collection. Finance Committee: Ellie Bates reported 4 members present. She reported the committee is getting the new church budget in order for the annual meeting. Deacons: Melissa Day reported 5 members present. They stowed

9 away the Christmas decorations from the sanctuary during the first part of their meeting. She also mentioned Jim Johnson will be our pulpit supply for the January 11 th service while Pastor Bart is away. A discussion was held about New Member Sunday to be held 1/18/15. Pastoral Relations Committee: No report this month. Capital Campaign Study Committee: The committee will be interviewing their first candidate on 1/18/15. A candidate will be chosen to lead the study about the feasibility for this church having a capital campaign. New Business: Jim Putnam reminded everyone that our next monthly meeting will be our Annual Meeting held on February 12, 2015, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a pot luck supper. The annual business meeting will follow at approximately 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend, members or non-members, but only members are allowed to vote on issues. Jim also asked for volunteers for the Nominating Committee to help find new members for all the committees. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Melanie Nitsch, Sub-Clerk January 8, 2015 Executive Board Meeting The meeting was called to order by Jim Putnam, Moderator, at 8:40 p.m. The Deacons related they have one new family ready to join the church. A brief discussion was held on how to attract new members and get current members more involved in church activities. The Treasurer, Ted Orson, reported the end of the year tax reporting is going well. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Melanie Nitsch, Sub-Clerk

10 Happy Birthday and many happy returns to. Shirl Hamilton 1/4 Ellie Bates 1/20 Mike Wolak 1/26 Buddy Vecchio 1/30 Ricky Pitoniak 2/1 Anne Alise Pietruska 2/3 Emily Comee 2/9 Carrie Wilson 2/16 Diane Jennett 2/25 James Wilson 2/28 Condolences go out to Marge, David, Carolyn and Roger Liberty, wife and children of Virgil Liberty, who passed away Sunday, January 11 th. He was 100 years old.

11 2015 Prayer List: Lois Reynolds Florence Warriner Elsie Gosselin s niece, Patti Wood Terry Putnam s daughter Rachel and friend Joanne Sue Sanders Family of Marlene Jacobowski Cheryl Clark Don Hess Diane Arnold s mom, Eunice Roxanne Cook Flo Pitoniak s sister, Becky Steve Larson Ashley Greco s friend, Katie Jim Babinski Kay Pease (Barbara Huntoon s mother) Harrison Goodkin Sarah Cain Ellie s step-granddaughter, Samantha Marge & Virgil Liberty Dan Warriner s cousin, Debbie Andrea Warriner s nephew, Scott Patti Wood s nephew, Matthew Marilyn Chunglo Glenn Spear Jeanne Stromgren Diane Arnold Connor Turgeon Family of Shane Laford Barb & Dave Gunn s granddaughter, Kaylee Jim Putnam s daughter, Jodie Norma Cagney Family of Bill Taylor Delnegro family Family of Jeremy Johnson Olive Larson Nursing Homes: Pat LaBombard Barbara Miffert Marian Hardy Mary Currier Serving in our Military at home and abroad: Josh Davis Robert Goodman, III Nolan Kononitz Jim Putnam, III Jared Bowe Tyler Arnold Jim Shaw Jody Miller Jeremy Thornton Please also pray for all those unnamed who are suffering or in need of prayer in our community and worldwide

12 Save the date! Annual Meeting February 6:30 PM, Supper, 7:15 PM Meeting Church Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Pastor s Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Church Office Phone & Fax: ; Pastor s Study: Website: southwickucc.org Office s: swkucc@verizon.net, southwickucc@gmail.com Look for us on Facebook: Southwick Congregational Church UCC Staff: Minister Reverend Bart Cochran Choir Director/Organist Roberta Kowal Bell Choir Director Patti P. Wood Church Administrator Custodians Sabine Prather Matthew Kowal Florence Pitoniak