Vacation Bible Blast ROLLING RIVER RAMPAGE

Transcription

1 The First Congregational Church in Stoneham THE MEETINGHOUSE MESSENGER Summer 2018 United Church of Christ Upcoming Events: Aug VBB!! Sept. 9 Rally Sunday The First Congregational Church Presents: Vacation Bible Blast ROLLING RIVER RAMPAGE August 6-10, :00 am 12:00 pm Experience the ride of a lifetime with God! $50 per child Call for more info. Sept. 30 Bible Sunday Oct. 20 Movie Melodies Dinner Theater Oct. 28 Golden Age Sunday with Luncheon Let s Get Ready for Sunday School! RALLY SUNDAY IS SEPTEMBER 9 TH! Join in the fun as we start another successful year We are an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ of Sunday School. Meet old friends and make new ones! Bring your backpack to have it blessed! Enjoy a party at coffee hour! See you there!

2 Messenger Deadline The deadline for the September 2018 Messenger is August 17 th. Please leave all submissions in the Messenger box in the office, or them to the church office at The First Congregational Church in Stoneham 1 Church Street Stoneham, MA (fax) Come Worship with us! Sundays, 10:00 am First Church is on TV! Couldn t get the service this week? Loved the sermon so much you want to hear it again? First Church services are rebroadcast all week! The schedule and channels are as follows: Comcast users: Channel 9 Verizon users: Channel 34 RCN users: Channel 3 6:30 pm am 2:00 pm 11:30 am Staff of the Church Rev. Henry Schoenfield, Interim Minister Joyce Simpson, Music Director Leonard Levine, Sexton Sara Thompson, Church Secretary and Messenger Editor Heidi Bilbo, Sunday School Superintendent Lynn Haddad, Treasurer August 2 Andrew Clark 3 Claire Checca 4 Richard Wallace 4 Susan Jepson 10 Gina Wierzbowski 11 Ron Bergstrom 11 Nancy Muise 13 Ginny Cummings 14 Doris Green 14 Justine Sullivan 16 Marcelus Jacques 16 Michael Wall 16 Zachary Anderson 18 Ken Gerweck 20 Cynthia Wade 21 Danny Lumb 22 Jan Turner 22 Linda Paolini 23 Bette Biggio 26 William Wierzbowski 28 Robert Biggio If you would like to be added to the Birthday List, please the church office. July 1 Deborah Herook 5 Jane Gagnon 5 Dean Storm 7 Darlene Chapman 9 Ken Lumb 9 Frank Muccio 11 Michael Freeman 13 Darren Sawicki 14 Bryce Bardell 15 Al Freeman 15 Camila Devlin 17 Jill Geisler 18 Doris Parsons 18 Richard Perry 19 Jeanette Norton 22 Zachary Daly 22 Jennifer McGrath 24 Kathleen Daly 25 Valerie Dearth 25 Stephen Catalano 26 Susan Dunbar 30 Jon Machnik 31 Helen Collins

3 This year's envelopes are available on the table outside the sanctuary on the route to coffee hour. If you wish envelopes, but do not see any there for you, please contact Judy at During the summer months, we don t have many people who have signed up to put flowers on the altar. We would welcome flowers from your garden. If you are able to do this, please call the office by Wednesday and let Sara know. If you prefer flowers from the florist, they have to be ordered by Wednesday also. Thank you all for helping to keep the Sanctuary beautiful on Sunday morning. The Decorating Committee Marjorie Dearth would like to thank the Klucken family for the beautiful flower arrangement that she received. It surely brightened up her day and was greatly appreciated. Food Pantry News Here is our list of Items of the Week for the summer. Please remember to pick up these items when you are grocery shopping. Please do your part to help stock our pantry for those in need in our church community and in Stoneham and the neighboring communities. Items may be left in the colorful crates outside the Sanctuary. Strawberry jam, grape jelly Juice boxes, bottled juice Crackers Mayo Instant Potatoes Stewed Tomatoes Laundry Detergent Dear Members of First Congregational Church & Prayer Shawl Community, Hello, I am so very thankful for the beautiful prayer shawl I received from your ministry. It is wrapped around me often, keeping me warm and offering comfort. Thank you so very much! Michelle Sapienza Paul and I are deeply touched and grateful for all your generosity and prayers! The little white church has always held a special place in our hearts. We have a long journey ahead but together with the help of family and friends we will make it! Love as always, Jeanne & Paul Craigie & family

4 The Trustees are happy to announce that we received in the mail a letter from Marcia Gullette (Bill and Eleanor s daughter-in-law) enclosing a check for $25,000. A few months ago she had asked what she could do for the church in memory of Bill and Eleanor, and we sent her a list of 10 things the church needed. We did not expect that she would choose to fund all the items on our wish list. Some of the items are: new windows for the chapel and youth/community room, new heat pumps for the parlor and youth/community room, new altar bible, awning and upgrade of entrance to Purpose School, paint and materials for kitchen renovation, painting of steeple base, hall water dispenser, etc. The Trustees and the entire Church are deeply grateful for Marcia s generosity. New chairs! Stop down in Fellowship Hall at coffee hour and sit in one of our fabulous new to us lightly used stackable chairs. The closing of Montvale Plaza enabled us to purchase these at a tremendous discount. And they are super comfortable!

5 5K Run for Recovery at Town Day, Sept. 15 Friends and members of First Church are invited to put their feet into motion in the Run for Recovery 5K roadrace Sept. 15, Stoneham s Town Day. The race will begin at 9 a.m. at the Boys & Girls Club, and is open to runners and walkers, families and athletes. See the adjacent poster for registration details. First Church s grounds are looking lovely thanks to the hard work of a couple people. Everyone is welcome to help out just spend 5 minutes pulling up a few weeds when you have a moment to spare and you are in the area! Stoneham Bank s Annual Shred Day was a big success! They were able to bring a carload of food (left) to First Church s Food Pantry, as well as a very generous check (above). Thank you to all who participated!

6 Vacation Bible Blast Registration Form August 6 10, :00 am 12 noon First Congregational Church in Stoneham 1 Church Street, Stoneham, MA Student s Name Parent/Guardian Name Address Address Phone Numbers Home Cell Age Information Date of birth Age Last school grade completed Work Home Church Emergency Contact Information: Name Relationship Phone Numbers Home Cell Work Family Physician Phone No. Insurance Co. ID No. Does Your Child Have: Any physical restrictions: Food or other allergies: Special learning needs: Medical Release Statement: The child herein has permission to engage in all activities except as noted by me. I hereby give permission to Donna Wall to authorize a physician to order x-rays and/or routine tests and treatment for the health of my child and to secure proper treatment in the event that I cannot be reached in an emergency. Signature Date Photo Release Statement: The First Congregational Church in Stoneham may use any photographs of my child for advertising, art or promotional purposes. I waive my right to inspect or approve the finished photos. Signature Date Cost: $50.00 per child Make check payable to First Congregational Church in Stoneham *********************If Teenager or Parent of Child Volunteers the FIRST child attends free*********************** Office use only: Date Paid Check No. Cash Amount: Are parents/siblings helping with VBB?

7 Vacation Bible Blast August 6 10, :00 am 12:00 noon The First Congregational Church in Stoneham invites children of all ages to experience the ride of a lifetime with God at Rolling River Rampage Vacation Bible Blast! This white water rafting adventure includes exciting new music, amazing science, creative crafts, fun recreation, and memorable Bible stories that help children know God is always with them as they ride the rapids of life! The adventure will begin on August 6-10, 2018, 9:00 am 12:00 pm. Registration Forms are available on our website or in the church office. Costs: $50 per camper. If an adult or teen from your family volunteers their time during the week of VBB then the fee will be waived for the first camper of your family. Let us know what you want/can do for VBB this year. There are lots of ways anyone can volunteer their time towards VBB, either before, working on decorations or during VBB week. Ask Donna Wall how you can help. Join us for a ride of a lifetime at Rolling River Rampage VBB by call the church office at or visit us online at the church website: firstchurchstoneham.org. VBB Director, Donna Wall Items to Borrow: (need August 1st) Wish List 3 life jackets 12 Sterno cans 4 paddles or oars 5 bags/large Marshmallows 6 artificial Christmas trees 25 plain Hershey bars 6 boxes Graham Crackers 14 packs All Beef Franks Donations should be dropped off at the food pantry storage clearly marked for VBB. Keep your eyes open for updated items on our ever changing wish list. Thank you to everyone who makes this program possible!

8 VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART OF HOSPICE Hospice volunteers make all the difference. They offer a supportive presence to patients and their families at a challenging time by providing companionship, veteran to veteran visits, pet therapy and respite to caregivers... and so much more. Do you or someone you may know have a few hours a week to sit with a patient; or a friendly dog that would make a great therapy pet; or have served our wonderful nation and can share some stories with a fellow veteran on Hospice?? COME MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. The First Congregational Church Presents: Marvelous Movie Melodies Dinner Theatre Featuring Songs from your Favorite Movies October 20 th at 6:00 pm $25.00 per ticket Join us for a fun filled night of musical performances featuring smash hits from The Sound of Music, Titanic, Saturday Night Fever and many more! Tickets can be purchased week days in the church office or Sundays during coffee hour. Proceeds to benefit the cantata fund. Our next Hospice Volunteer Training will take place at our Malden office starting this September. To set up an interview, contact Allison Manheim Caplin, Volunteer Coordinator acaplin@hallmarkhealt h.org or (781)

9 Stoneham Town Day Craft Group READING PARTNERS serve as volunteer tutors who make a four hour weekly commitment to help elementary schools students improve their literacy skills in Everett, Malden, Medford, Reading, Stoneham, and Waltham. If you like to read with children and want to support them in becoming stronger readers, please contact Linda Cornell, Literacy Coordinator, or lcornell@mves.org Please save your ink cartridges and donate them to the church. The church earns $2 for every cartridge; up to $40 in rewards every month at Staples. This is one more way you can help! Town day this year is September 15. The Craft Group will again have a table on Central Street to sell our fall wares and promote the church s activities. The Craft Group will start up on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 12 in September, join us if you like to do simple crafts and socialize. Toiletries Collection Don t forget to bring home the complimentary soap, shampoo, and other toiletry items from your travels. These items will be delivered to New England Center for Homeless Veterans in Boston for distribution to their patrons. Unopened, travel-size toiletries may be left in the toiletries collection basket in the church office. Reminder about completing the transition team s congregational survey The Transition Team is working on filling out the church profile that will be used in our search for a settled pastor, and we need your help! There are a series of questions in the profile template that we'd like to have the congregation help us answer. An online form has been created that you can fill out here: S3L2ngZp2gBqD00Yq6iw/viewform?usp=sf_link In addition, there will be hard copies in the office, and available to mail to members who prefer a paper copy. Please let Sara know if you need her to mail you a survey. Many thanks for your help in this process! Amy Santiago Byrd, Kathleen Daly, Bea Griffin, Joe Haddad and Darren Sawicki

10 We celebrate our High School Graduates: Ryan Nolan Stoneham High School Attending University of Massachusetts/Amherst to study Marketing at the Isenberg School of Management Emily Paolini Stoneham High School Interested in pursuing a career in makeup art Liana Thompson Malden High School Attending Endicott College to study Biology We celebrate our Post Grad: Dawna Wierzbowski received her Masters of Education from Lesley University Camperships: Bryce Bardell, Autumn Bardell and Ava Thomas Dear Church Family Our annual meeting is now a few weeks behind us. I want to express my appreciation to all who attended and thank you for your patience. A first time at anything is a learning experience! If there is one thing that stays with me from the meeting it s the need for better communication. I think when we are not informed it causes anxiety sometimes perceived as distrust. Having said that... Our next church council meeting is scheduled for July 29th at 11:30 in the parlor. These meetings are open to all and are absolutely the best way to stay informed on what is happening in all aspects of our church life. This is the beginning of our new church year with new committee members. What a perfect time to start to become aware of what is happening during this time of transition for us. Please come! Your voice is important. Kathleen Daly Church Moderator

11 Where did slaves sit in church? You ve heard there were once slaves in Stoneham. But what you may not know is how deeply slavery was woven into Colonial life in our town, or the role of our church in accommodating slavery, then fighting to end it. In Ben Jacques just-published book, you will learn the names of slaves who were baptized and married in our church. You will also learn how brave members and our abolitionist pastor in the 1850s not only opposed slavery, but hid fugitives in their homes. These and other stories of our town and church are included in the 48-page, illustrated book, In Graves Unmarked: Slavery and Abolition in Stoneham, Mass. In one case, the same family that owned slaves in the 18 th century had become abolitionists in the 19 th, Jacques said. An English professor and Stoneham resident for 38 years, Jacques sifted through vital records, early histories, old newspapers and wills to uncover records of dozens of slaves, belonging to as many as eight Stoneham families. His book also follows the ending of slavery in Massachusetts by the courts and the struggles of abolitionists in Stoneham, including the forming of men s and women s chapters of the Anti-Slavery Society. My little book is just a start, Jacques said. I hope others, including our young people, will continue to uncover stories that reveal our shared past, and our shared humanity. In Graves Unmarked is available at The Book Oasis at 311 Main Street in Stoneham, or from the author. It can be ordered online at

12 Above: The Tuesday Night Book Club at their recent gathering. The group no longer meets regularly but the members still enjoy getting together occasionally! Left: First Church kids perform on Children s Sunday. The worship was enjoyed by al l and the picnic was fabulous!

13 Pastor s Corner EVERYTHING IS WAITING FOR YOU Your great mistake is to act the drama as if you were alone. As if life were a progressive and cunning crime with no witness to the tiny hidden transgressions. To feel abandoned is to deny the intimacy of your surroundings. Surely, even you, at times, have felt the grand array; the swelling presence, and the chorus, crowding out your solo voice. You must note the way the soap dish enables you, or the window latch grants you freedom. Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity. The stairs are your mentor of things to come, the doors have always been there to frighten you and invite you, and the tiny speaker in the phone is your dream-ladder to divinity. Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into the conversation. The kettle is singing even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots have left their arrogant aloofness and seen the good in you at last. All the birds and creatures of the world are unutterably themselves. Everything is waiting for you. -- David Whyte from Everything is Waiting for You 2003 Many Rivers Press

14 The Books & Chocolate Group in York, Maine for our annual field trip ~The Meetinghouse Messenger Summer 2018~ The First Congregational Church 1 Church Street Stoneham, MA Telephone: Fax: firstchurchstonehamma@gmail.com Website: Office Hours: Mon-Fri. 8:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Staff of the Church Rev. Henry A. Schoenfield, Interim Minister Joyce Simpson, Music Director Leonard Levine, Sexton Sara Thompson, Church Secretary and Messenger Editor Heidi Bilbo, Sunday School Superintendent Lynn Haddad, Treasurer