March 2015 Circuit Rider

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Sharon Ledbetter, Pastor Nancy Magnuson, Secretary Pastor s Office Phone: 860-642-2557 Phone: 860-642-6179 Cell Phone: 860-608-2701 Email: LebFirstCong@att.net Email: PastorSharonLed@att.net Rev.

1 March 2015 Circuit Rider First Congregational Church of Lebanon, UCC 588 Exeter Road ~ P. O. Box 125, Lebanon, CT We seek to demonstrate God s Spirit through worship, witness, and ministry to the needs of the people in the church and the community. Rev. Dr. Sharon Ledbetter, Pastor Nancy Magnuson, Secretary Pastor s Office Phone: Phone: Cell Phone: LebFirstCong@att.net PastorSharonLed@att.net Rev. Mary C. Horan Veronica Thomen Director of Christian Education Assistant to the Director of Christian Education mchoran@att.net mamav06@gmail.com Phone: Phone: Derek Waldron ~ Organist WaldronsStudio88@gmail.com Phone: Church Kitchen Phone: Teresa Bielecki, Website/Facebook Coordinator teresabielecki@yahoo.com Web Site: Bev York, Moderator Jennifer Blevins, Chair of Board of Deacons bevishistory@yahoo.com jgblevins@hotmail.com Phone: Phone: Duke York, Chair of Board of Trustees Skip Kuzel, Chair of Stewardship Comm. Phone: Phone: Ashley Meseroll, Chair of Board of Outreach Michelle Kersey, Chair Board of CE Phone: Phone: Sue Vigue, Chair of Music Comm. Phone: Our Prayer List Deanna Kokoszka Cathy & Gary Jarvis Judi Bergeron Norma Geer Stan Fuller Ellen Lathrop Jack Pelto Joyce Cady Fay Morehouse Jean Souter Carl Fernald Barbara Rodman Fred Wright Neil Whitehead Mary Horan And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

2 Pastor s Letter Dear Friends, February has been a challenging month not only because of the weather but also because we have had many illnesses in our congregation in addition to three deaths of church members. I found myself looking for encouragement searching for words to share with people that would be warm and uplifting. I was reading from Luke 8: 4-15, the Parable of the Sower. I realized that the seeds that were sown could be seeds of encouragement and that we are to sow those seeds through offering words of encouragement to those we meet daily. Jesus wanted our lives to be filled with uplifting thoughts and actions because God loves us and wants the best for us. I googled Encouragement Quotes and of course many turned up instantly. Franklin Roosevelt said, When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on! (inspirationalspark.com). An unknown author said, When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on so long in the first place. (inspirationalspark.com) and Winston Churchill who said, If you re going through hell, keep going! (inspirationalspark.com) There are so many ways to encourage each other. Some prefer texting caring words. Hand written cards are really appreciated these days and sometimes just keeping someone company for a while is the greatest encouragement you can offer. I read the following story, A Mom was looking out her window and saw her daughter in the newly planted garden. Her daughter was strategically placing artificial flowers around the garden. Mom came out and asked what she was doing. The little girl looked up at her mother and said, I m putting them here to encourage the real ones. The little girl got the idea we are here to plant seeds of encouragement. (Sermon by Billy Strayhorn, esermons.com) Let s encourage one another! Love and joy, Pastor Sharon

3 Pastor s Letter Dear Friends, Love I smiled and as I watched joy, my daughter Laurie and her daughter Hannah giggle and laugh out loud as they turned Pastor the pages Sharon of the small photograph albums they had found in my loft. Some of the pictures go back many years 10, 15, 20 years or more. Hannah has just celebrated her 15th birthday so seeing pictures of her cousins, aunts, uncles, and others that were taken way back when, intrigued and amused her, and also her mom who was in many of those photos. One of the funny things is the hairdos on the women (especially me as I embraced the current fad!) but for Laurie and me the pictures evoked a feeling of nostalgia, from seeing baby pictures; and my parents, brother, and Will, who aren t here to be in any more pictures; to observing the passage of time, and the growing up of all of us. And I think, from what I ve heard, for God it is a wink of His eye, but for us it seems so long ago. Memories, especially happy ones, are a gift. My generation worries about losing our memory as we age and see peers in that process. We joke about it with fingers crossed behind our backs. Recently I came across some pictures I took at the old house we lived in for 26 years. I went from room to room and snapped pictures the sun streaming in the living room window in the morning; the dining room where we would sit at the table, with the fireplace blazing away, and talk until it was time to go to bed; a section of the kitchen with the small round table, my homemade baskets hanging overhead; the phone on the wall, which had an Indian shutter and a sill on which the shutter would slide, this I was told as protection from attacks. The house was built around 1670 so it is possible that the stories of attacks are true. The attic held a space beneath a floorboard for those running away to be free the Underground Railroad. I wanted the walls to talk, to tell me who lived there, what they were like. It seems the past holds richness for the future. I always feel privileged to be part of that house and its history. Looking backward gives me the courage to move forward. I see in the long ago pictures the strength and character of my many relatives, their history, and how they dealt with the events of their lives. And I think of God and His greatness, how wonderful His love is, as the torch is passed from one generation to another. Just a note, Jean Souter

4 Trip to Nightwatch Meeting Sunday, March 1st ~ 5:00 p.m. There will be an informational meeting for any high school students that would like to attend the overnight trip to Nightwatch at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York on April 24th. If you would like to go on the trip but are unable to attend the meeting, please contact the church office ( or lebfirstcong@att.net). March 6th ~ 6:00-9:30 p.m. April 10th ~ 6:00-9:30 p.m. May 1st ~ 6:00-9:30 p.m. June 5th ~ 6:00-9:30 p.m. Youth group is open to all youth in 5th grade through 12th. Flower Committee The Flower Committee would like to remind the congregation that if you would like to place an arrangement in the sanctuary for Sunday service there is a sign-up calendar in the foyer or call the church office. If it is a last minute thought just call a flower committee member by Saturday morning. We also invite everyone to please consider sharing flowers, grasses, branches of beauty, from your gardens or yards for any Sunday morning. Thank you, Sylvia Ryan Nancy Magnuson Tracy Kelley Bread feeds the body indeed. But flowers feed also the soul. ~ The Koran Nominating Committee Update We are still in need of a Clerk and two members for the Board of Christian Education. If you are interested in filling any of these positions, please contact Bev York at bevishistory@yahoo.com. Lenten Services (All services are at 7:00 p.m. and are at our church unless otherwise noted.) March 18th March 29th April 2nd April 3rd April 5th Joint Lenten Service at St. Francis of Assisi Please bring a non-perishable food item for Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Deacon s Palm Sunday Breakfast 8:15-9:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Service ~ 10 a.m. Maundy Thursday Service Good Friday Service Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast at the Lebanon Baptist Church at approximately 6:00 a.m. Easter Service ~ 10:00 a.m.

CONFIRMATION SCHEDULE ~ March - June 2015 All Classes are 5:00-6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. March 1st ~ Class March 8th ~ Trip to Madina Masjid Mosque in Windsor.

April 12th ~ Class April 19th ~ Class April 24th ~ OVERNIGHT TRIP TO NIGHT WATCH in New York City April 26th ~ No Class May 3rd ~ Class May 10th ~ MOTHER S DAY No class.

REHEARSAL FOR CONFIRMATION SUNDAY AND DINNER WITH DEACONS JUNE 7th CONFIRMATION SUNDAY Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast On Sunday, March 29th, the Deacons will be serving their annual Pancake Breakfast

5 CONFIRMATION SCHEDULE ~ March - June 2015 All Classes are 5:00-6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. March 1st ~ Class March 8th ~ Trip to Madina Masjid Mosque in Windsor. March 15th ~ Class March 22nd ~ Class March 29th ~ 8am Help deacons with Palm Sunday Breakfast. (No class at night.) April 5th ~ EASTER SUNDAY No class. April 12th ~ Class April 19th ~ Class April 24th ~ OVERNIGHT TRIP TO NIGHT WATCH in New York City April 26th ~ No Class May 3rd ~ Class May 10th ~ MOTHER S DAY No class. May 17th ~ Class May 24th ~ Class - STATEMENT OF FAITH DUE & TEST May 31st ~ No class June 4th ~ THURSDAY 4:00-7:30 p.m. REHEARSAL FOR CONFIRMATION SUNDAY AND DINNER WITH DEACONS JUNE 7th CONFIRMATION SUNDAY Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast On Sunday, March 29th, the Deacons will be serving their annual Pancake Breakfast from 8:15-9:30 a.m. We hope you will plan to attend this special time together and enjoy a wonderful breakfast! Easter Egg Hunt April 5th The Board of Christian Education invites all children in fourth grade and under to our annual Easter egg hunt on April 5th. Please meet at the back of the Fellowship Hall following the service. Bags will be provided. Lay Down Your Burdens at the Foot of the Cross The deacons will place the Lenten cross in the church foyer beginning Ash Wednesday, where it will remain throughout the Lenten season. A basket of stones will be located alongside it. You are invited during this season of reflection to take a stone, as a symbol of your burdens, and lay it down at the foot of the cross Silver Lake Summer Calendar The Silver Lake 2015 summer conference calendar is here! They are located on the desk in the church foyer. Scholarships to Silver Lake are available; please see their website or Rev. Mary. Lenten Bible Study On March 11th we will begin a threeweek Lenten study on the Passion Narrative. Please bring your Bible and join us in the Memorial Room Wednesday mornings at 9:30. Sanctuary Open During Holy Week Beginning on Palm Sunday and continuing throughout Holy Week, the sanctuary will be open daily, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., for prayer and meditation. Please enter through the main doors facing Route 207.

The Board of Christian Ed is looking forward to the new year! We said goodbye to Karen Kowalyshyn, Veronica Thomen, and Chet Ryan, as their terms had expired.

6 The Board of Christian Ed is looking forward to the new year! We said goodbye to Karen Kowalyshyn, Veronica Thomen, and Chet Ryan, as their terms had expired. Many thanks go out to them for their service to our board. Moving forward, we welcome Kathleen Svedarsky and David Fields to our board. I am positive they will be a great asset to our team! There have also been some changes to Mary s position as Director. In our December (2014) meeting, upon Mary s request, the board approved to split her position with Veronica Thomen. With two great minds working together, we will surely see great things! GET WELL SOON, MARY! We ALL miss you! Spring is here and it's time to get to WORK! The children will be focusing on God s work made visible. We are building the spirit of God within us. And now, we will also be working on how do we make God visible in the world? The children will be going out into the world and learning how to be of service to their neighbors and those in need. Some activities will include WAIM, the soup kitchen, our own Stewardship Committee, and a Sunrise Service. Want to get involved...come join us every Sunday. A calendar of events will be distributed soon. Round Robin Challenge 2015 We are a small group of women who create items to be sold at our Church s Holiday Harvest Bazaar. We meet most Friday afternoons 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the basement of our Church. Please join us anytime. One of our best sellers happens to be an apron. A couple of people commented that it was so great to find an apron that was suitable for a guy. The aprons are styled as butcher aprons with a large pocket across the front. We are offering a challenge to all of you, can you go out and purchase fabric that you may like to see made up as an apron? Maybe the cloth could reflect your personality, hobby or passion. A yard is all you need to buy. We will display all at the Bazaar. Please print your name and pin it to the fabric. For Round Robin Crafters Sandy Rose, Sylvia Ryan, Evelyn Grabber, Dawn Drum & Gloria Costa One Great Hour of Sharing Service Sunday, March 15th ~ 10:00 a.m. Dr. Jeremiah Lowney, Guest Speaker Haitian Health Foundation Powerpoint presentation will follow service in the Fellowship Hall.

September 2015 Circuit Rider

September 2015 Circuit Rider First Congregational Church of Lebanon, UCC 588 Exeter Road ~ P. O. Box 125, Lebanon, CT 06249 We seek to demonstrate God s Spirit through worship, witness, and ministry to