First Parish Church Congregational April 2013 located in downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea on the Village Green 2013 Heifer Talent Show The The Newsletter of the First Parish Church Congregational Thank you for your support!
Page 2 Heifer continued Care Team Have you shared the experience? Our Care Team provides meals, rides, & visits to sustain families in our Church Community through times of illness and loss. If you would like to become involved with this wonderful support system please call; Sheila Kafer 978-525-3253, smkafer@comcast.net Or Janet Groth at 978-526-8408, janbythesea244@gmail.com First Parish Church Congregational uses candid photos of church activities on its website and in its publicity from time to time. Any photos of children used will not contain personally identifiable information. Members of the community not wanting their photos depicted (or those of their children) should inform the church office. Contact us Phone: 978-526-7661 Ext. 1 We bsite: www.fi rstparishchurch.org Email: office.fpchurch@ve rizon.ne t
Christian Education Director Priscilla Duda Welcome to April, spring flowers and longer sunny days!!! Thank you to everyone for another successful Heifer International Talent show we are thrilled to announce that once again we were able to meet our goal. Thank you to all of the acts for you wonderful talent, to the friends that showed up to support the SS and to the many helpers that prepared sandwiches, set up the tables and stayed late to clean up!!! April will be a wonderful month for 18 of our Sunday school students as they receive Communion for the first time during worship. April 7 th will conclude a very successful and fun Communion program I can t wait to share this special occasion. The Sunday school schedule for the month of April: April 7 th Christian crosses April 21 st Synagogue and the Upper Room (one room schoolhouse) April 28 th Holy Eucharist and Good Shepherd Our teachers are one of the main reasons that our Sunday school has grown and is so wonderful. Next year we will need a few new parents to volunteer to help teach. It is not a huge commitment and is shared with another teacher. We will train you, set up the lessons and crafts so that all you need to do is review the lesson and show up for your students. I promise to walk you through the process and make it as easy as possible for you. Please let me know if you are interested and thank you in advance from all of us! Happy Easter, Priscilla The First Parish Cookbook makes the perfect Easter or Mother s Day gift. Full of First Parish history, favorite graces, and old and new recipes from church members and friends, it is great value at only $10.00. Drop by the office at any time to buy your copy or see the spring display in the church narthex.
Page 4 Youth Director Jared Hamilton Solace Easter Project Confirmation Retreat
Page 5 Faith Formation Dr. Judy Haley Not Just for Kids Yes, we have a fabulous Sunday school for our children! But we also offer adults opportunities to grow in faith and fellowship. Art for the Heart Lenten Mini-Retreat March 2 Upcoming Events Contact Judy Haley for more information. Bibles and Bagels every Sunday in April at 9:00 a.m. in the conference room. A guide to the Bible passages on which the sermon is based. Women s Spring Fellowship April 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room. Invite a friend for an evening of inspiring conversation. Soup & Conversation April 28 after church. Find out what ordination is all about as we prepare to celebrate Jared Hamilton s ordination this spring. Soups welcome. Growing Together discussion group Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Friday Bible Study Fridays at 4:00 p.m. (no meeting April 19)
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Page 7 Missions Committee Alice Eastland 2013 Chili & Chowder Fest Spread the Word On Saturday, April 6, the Chapel Hall will echo with the happy din of people lined up to sample what the ticket promises and at a bargain price of just $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under: GREAT FOOD BY THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA INCLUDES CHILI, CHOWDER, BEVERAGES, HOT DOGS, HOME BAKED PIES AND DESSERTS, ICE CREAM The lunch is a fundraiser for Wellspring House in Gloucester. First Parish Church has demonstrated a strong commitment to Wellspring for more than 25 years. All the proceeds from the Chili & Chowder Fest will be donated to Wellspring as a sign of FPC s continuing support. Executive Director Kay O Rourke will be on hand to answer questions about Wellspring. Its life-changing programs embrace the critical needs of Homes, Jobs, Education for the individuals and families served. Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to turn out for Wellspring and for a delicious lunch. There s still time to volunteer! Ask a Missions Committee member what you can do to help. Many Hands Make Plummer Home Easter Baskets The Plummer Home Easter Baskets are an annual tradition for the Mission Committee. Each spring for many years Lauren Gudonis has created artfully decorated baskets filled with Easter candy treats and small gifts for the boys such as beach towels, flip-flops, and much-prized memory sticks. The Plummer Home staff joke about Lauren s arriving each year with the Easter baskets crammed into her Austin Mini. Like a circus clown car, the baskets kept emerging. Few people in the congregation recognized Lauren s hard work and the huge amount of time she devoted to making scads of Easter baskets (16 or more each year)...continued on page 9
Page 8 Diaconate Praise for the singing, praise for the morning, praise for springing fresh into the new day our hearts lift as we celebrate the gentle greening of spring. Morning Has Broken speaks to the newness of each day, the simple joy of walking through green grass, the shared stewardship for our world. Morning Has Broken Morning has broken, like the first morning Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for the springing fresh from the word Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven Like the first dewfall, on the first grass Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden Sprung in completeness where his feet pass Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning Born of the one light, Eden saw play Praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day As sung by Cat Stevens; lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon; this hymn is set to a traditional Gaelic tune From the UCC web site: What is Mission 4/1 Earth? A shared witness for Planet Earth during 50 great days of greening up, powering down, and shouting out for the environment! It is an opportunity to live out our faith in unity, as one church for the sake of our fragile planet Earth. Mission 4/1 Earth links together four significant events Easter (March 31), Earth Day (April 22), Arbor Day (April 26) and Pentecost (May 19). Together, we will inspire and aspire to what we can accomplish as ONE CHURCH. Launching on Easter Monday, April 1, 2013, and continuing through the great 50 days of Eastertide, United Church of Christ congregations, colleges, seminaries, camps and outdoor ministries, and health and human service agencies will join together in a shared mission campaign: Collectively offer more than ONE MILLION HOURS of engaged earth care, including clean up, advocacy, education, and behavioral changes that will impact the environment; Collectively plant more than 100,000 TREES locally and globally in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation...continued on next page
Diaconate continued... and the UCC's denominational partners around the world. Collectively write and send more than 100,000 ADVOCACY LETTERS on environmental concerns to elected officials, local and national newspapers. And a prayer that celebrates spring: I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. e.e. cummings, (also from UCC.org) Thank you for sharing in the stewardship of caring for our sanctuary everything looks so clean & fresh! Our FPC Mission 4/1 Earth has begun what s next will you plant a tree, begin a garden, or take a walk in the woods. Deacons for March are Head, Jason Smith and Assistant, Jeff Bodmer-Turner In fellowship, First Parish Church Diaconate Missions continued... because it always happened behind the scenes. The Missions Committee is very grateful to Lauren for her efforts. Luckily, Lauren had the foresight to ask Plummer each year to return the emptied baskets and swirling curled ribbons. It streamlined this year s new direction in Easter basket making as described by Plummer Home s Development Coordinator, Jamie Ayer, when she visited the Chapel on March 17 and observed the purposeful and energetic activity. (The goodies were earbuds, sportsdrink cups, net sports bags, a cool pen, and fittingly, a battery-powered toothbrush.) Essex County community spirit was in full swing on Sunday at the First Parish Church, Congregational in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Under the guidance of Youth Director Jared Hamilton, a well-organized army of youth-group members made small work of a mountain of Easter candy. The boys and girls, as well as some interested parents, formed an assembly line and cranked out 18 Easter baskets brimming with Easter candy and goodies for the kids at The Plummer Home for Boys in Salem.
Page 10 Worship Schedule Sunday, April 7 th 1 st Communion Sunday Scripture: Acts 5:27-39 John 20:19-31 Sermon: Witness for the Resurrection Hymns: For the Beauty of the Earth In the Bulb There is a Flower Guide Me, O, Thou Great Redeemer Sunday, April 14 th Scripture: Rev. 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 Sermon: This Language of Faith is Very Perplexing Hymns: Jesus Calls Us o er the Tumult What Wondrous Love is This Alleluia! Gracious Jesus Sunday, April 21 st Scripture: Rev. 7:9-17 John 10:22-30 Sermon: A Life-Giving Voice Calls Hymns: From All That Dwell Below the Skies The Lord s My Shepherd Lift High the Cross Sunday, April 28 th Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 John 13:31-35 Sermon: The Mystery of that Crowing Hymns: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Precious Lord, Take My Hand God s Eye is on the Sparrow
Daily Lectionary Mon., Apr. 1 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Joshua 10:16-27 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 Tues., Apr. 2 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Judges 4:17-23; 5:24-31a Revelation 12:1-12 Wed., Apr. 3 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 2 Samuel 6:1-15 Luke 24:1-12 Thurs., Apr. 4 Psalm 150 1 Samuel 17:1-23 Acts 5:12-16 Fri., Apr. 5 Psalm 150, 1 Samuel 17:19-32 Acts 5:17-26 Sat., Apr. 6 Psalm 150 1 Samuel 17:32-51 Luke 24:36-40 Sun., Apr. 7 Second Sunday of Easter Acts 5:27-32 Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150 Revelation 1:4-8 John 20:19-31 Mon., Apr. 8 Psalm 122, Esther 7:1-10 Revelation 1:9-20 Tues., Apr. 9 Psalm 122 Esther 8:1-17 Revelation 2:8-11 Wed., Apr. 10 Psalm 122, Esther 9:1-5, 18-23, Luke 12:4-12 Thurs. Apr. 11 Psalm 30 Isaiah 5:11-17 Revelation 3:14-22 Fri., Apr. 12 Psalm 30 Isaiah 6:1-4 Revelation 4:1-11 Sat., Apr. 13 Psalm 30 Genesis 18:1-8 Luke 14:12-14 Sun., Apr. 14 Third Sunday of Easter Acts 9:1-6 [7-20] Psalm 30 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 Mon., Apr. 15 Psalm 121 Ezekiel 1:1-25 Acts 9:19b-31 Tues., Apr. 16 Psalm 121 Ezekiel 1:26 2:1 Acts 26:1-18 Wed., Apr. 17 Psalm 121 Isaiah 6:1-8 Luke 5:1-11 Thurs., Apr. 18 Psalm 23 Ezekiel 11:1-25 Revelation 5:1-10 Fri., Apr. 19 Psalm 23 Ezekiel 20:39-44 Revelation 6:1 7:4 Sat., Apr. 20 Psalm 23, Ezekiel 28:25-26 Luke 12:29-32 Sun., Apr. 21 Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 9:36-43 Psalm 23 Revelation7:9-17 John 10:22-30 Mon., Apr. 22 Psalm 100 Ezekiel 37:15-28 Revelation 15:1-4 Tues., Apr. 23 Psalm 100 Ezekiel 45:1-9 Acts 9:32-35 Wed., Apr. 24 Psalm 100 Jeremiah 50:17-20 John 10:31-42 Thurs., Apr. 25 Psalm 148 Ezekiel 2:8 3:11 Revelation 10:1-11 Fri., Apr. 26 Psalm 148 Daniel 7:13-14 Revelation 11:15 Sat., Apr. 27 Psalm 148 Daniel 7:27 Revelation 11:16-19 Sun., Apr. 28 Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 11:1-18 Psalm 148 Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35 Mon., Apr. 29 Psalm 133 1 Samuel 20:1-23, 35-42 Acts 11:19-26 Tues., Apr. 30 Psalm 133, 2 Samuel 1:4-27 Acts 11:27-30
First Parish Church, Congregational 1 Chapel Lane, P.O. Box 187 Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944 Address Correction Requested Chili & Chowder Fest Spread the Word Saturday, April 6, 11 am-1:30 pm Soup & Conversation April 28 Find out what ordination is all about as we prepare to celebrate Jared s ordination this spring.