MEETING HOUSE CHIMES First Congregational Church, PO Box 350, Wiscasset, ME 04578 (207) 882-7544 www.uccwiscasset.org fccw@myfairpoint.net Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:45am-12:30pm Minister: Rev. Josh Fitterling Organist/Choir Director: Linda Adams Church School Teacher & Coordinator: Colleen Crowley September 2018 A New School Year Prayer The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 18:15 Over the last several days, I have seen so many posts online from friends and family members as the children in their lives get ready to head back to school. Many of the posts have a photo of these young people heading off to school for the first day of a new year and a written message marking the occasion. From this, I have noticed a pattern. Almost every message I have seen seems to come with at least two things. The first, is a sense of disbelief, whether it is disbelief that the summer is (almost) gone or the fact that their child is already a freshman in High School. My, how time can fly! The second is a prayer or message of hope, whether spoken or unspoken, for a good and safe year to come. This year, as we think of the teachers and students in our own lives and prepare to send them off for another year, I offer this prayer and hope that you will join me: Dear God, with the beginning of another school year, we ask for your presence to be with all who begin this journey once more. Bless our teachers with wisdom, compassion, and energy to guide and accompany their students for another year. Bless our students with knowledge, drive, and kindness as they journey with their teachers and one another. Bless all the administrative and support staff with guidance and care as they run and maintain the schools, feed and lead our children, and enhance our students experiences. Fill the schools with love, the hallways with kindheartedness, and the classrooms with the joy of learning, keeping all safe as they teach, learn, and grow! In the name of Jesus, our Teacher and our Christ, we pray. Amen. Peace, Josh Rev. Josh Fitterling
FOCUS GROUP: The Vitality of Our Church The Pastoral Relations Committee invites you to our next focus group on Sunday, October 7, 2018 at noon at Sarah s Café. We will be exploring your thoughts, ideas, and impressions of the vitality of our church. Everyone is welcome to attend! Feedback from all areas of our Christian life will help us as we continue to grow together in love. Look for the sign up sheet in Fellowship Hall in the next few weeks. From the Diaconate The Diaconate would like to welcome Oscar and Linda Wallace to the board. We appreciate their willingness to serve and look forward to working with them. A huge thank you to Dan and Zoë Bigley for their many years of service to this board. You will be sorely missed but we are glad that we will continue to see you in worship. Thanks to all of you who ushered over the summer and provided beautiful flowers to grace our altar. The need for both of these continues as we move into fall. Please find sign up sheets in Fellowship Hall.
Don t forget flockings are still available! Are you celebrating a milestone or event in the life of a friend? Do you just want to spread some cheer to a friend or neighbor? Then why not have them flocked! Our church s herd of sheep (pictured here), along with a personalized note from you, will be delivered by our shepherd and placed on the recipient s front lawn for 3 days (but can be removed earlier if requested. No problem!). During that time, the sheep will be a reminder of your and our love and care for them! So far we have had 12 flockings for a variety of reasons, including the celebration of birthdays, get well messages, or just to say thank you! This is a FUNdraiser and FUNDraiser for the church. There is a suggested minimum donation of $25 for the one arranging the flocking. All recipients must be approximately 10 miles or less from the church and all flockings must be done in good fun (no ill-intent allowed!). Do you have a friend you would like to flock? Contact the church office 207-882-7544 for more details or to schedule your flocking today! THANKS! from Suki Flanagan, Head Tide Church Committee President The Old Head Tide Church Committee sends its thanks to you and the congregation of the First Congregational Church for their thoughtful gift of the old pew cushions. They fit perfectly, still look very nice, and are very comfortable. They will be much appreciated at our organ demonstration this July, and for many years, I am sure. Fifth Sunday Hymn Sing September 30, 2018 at 10:00am Noisy Offering for August = $171.20! On the fourth Sunday of every month, First Congregational Church collects a Noisy Offering as part of the children s message. This offering of loose change and dollar bills goes in its entirely to the St. Phillip s Episcopal Church food pantry and is one way we partner with other organizations that offer important services to our community. We appreciate your generosity!
September 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Rev. Josh Vacation Sept. 24-30 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Family Worship & Communion 10am No Bible Study 9 LABOR DAY OFFICE CLOSED Game Night 6pm 10 Healthy Kids 10am-12pm Garden Club Board Mtg 1:30pm 11 Organ Society 9:30am No Bible Study 12 Garden Club 10am-12pm Choir 4pm 13 14 15 10 am Worship & Church School Potluck & Picnic CHOIR back! T-Shirt Delivery Civility 7pm 16 10am Worship & Church School Diaconate AW 4pm Blessing of the Animals Civility 7pm 23 Game Night 6pm 17 CIS 4pm Trustees 5pm Game Night 6pm 24 HK 10am-12pm Sheepscot Chorus 7pm 18 HK 10am-12pm Sheepscot Chorus 7pm, 25 Organ Society 9:30am Civility Study 11:30am 19 Organ Society 9:30am Communications 11am Civility Study 11:30am 26 OFFICE CLOSED Choir 4pm 20 Choir 4pm Council 7pm 27 Stewardship 9am Speedway Opening Prayer by Rev. Josh 21 22 28 29 10am Worship & Church School HK 12am-12pm Organ Society 9:30am Summerfest AW Civility Study 7pm 30 Game Night 6pm Sheepscot Chorus 7pm Civility Study 11:30am Choir 4pm 10am Worship 5th Sunday Hymn Sing 10am
Church School Barbeque Picnic Lunch Sunday, September 9th at 11:15am Come celebrate the first day of the Church School Year with our parents and children after the church service. Please bring a salad or dessert to share. Hot dogs or burgers provided as well as drinks. For more information, call Sarah Joyce (207) 882-7567 or Colleen Crowley (207) 837-4013 To our Coffee Hosts for September: Christian Education Oktoberfest is Coming! Oktoberfest will be on Saturday, October 13, 10am to 2pm. We will be selling yard sale items left over from Summerfest, Organ Society crafts, limited Silent Auction items, apples, hot drinks, baked goods, pumpkins, and bratwurst and sauerkraut and hot dogs with chips. Volunteers are needed to bake harvest-themed items (think pumpkin and apple goodies), set up and clean up, and staff the kitchen to sell hot drinks, lunch items, and a griller or two for the brats and hot dogs. Look for the sign up sheet in Fellowship Hall. Please contact Beth Maxwell (phone 207-882-6180, or email emaxwell@myfairpoint.net) with questions or ideas. Join us on September 2 to celebrate these birthdays! Shirley Barton Gail Burke Dianne Davis Josh Fitterling Pam Frenier Bill Leibenguth Deborah Miller Ron Sanchez Sally Sherman Bill Speed Ken Sullivan Raymond Whitney Jim Wright
Civility: American Politics and Christian Responses A 3-week study group offered and led by Rev. Oscar Wallace What happened to civility in public discourse? While civility has long been a factor in Christianity and even in American politics, more recently it seems that our society suffers from an appalling lack of it. When everyone is screaming at each other it becomes difficult to conceive of a different, better way of thinking about politics and public debate. In three sessions we will explore ways to think about political discussion between people who disagree in light of the four virtues of civility and the principles of civility found in Christianity. There will be two opportunities to join the conversation each week on Sunday evenings at 7pm or Wednesday midday at 11:30am. First session Sunday, Sept 9 @ 7pm or Wednesday, Sept 12 @ 11:30am. The ideal of civility is deeply rooted in American politics. Key scriptures are: Matthew 5:1-16, Matthew 5:38-48, 1 Peter 3:8-12 Second session Sunday, Sept 12 @ 7pm or Wednesday, Sept 19 @ 11:30am. Civility has deep moral roots in Christianity. Key scriptures are: Genesis 1:27, Luke 6:37-38a, John 15:12, Ephesians 4:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 5:13-14, 2 Timothy 4:2 Third session Sunday, Sept 23 @ 7pm or Wednesday, Sept 26 @ 11:30am. What kinds of commitments, behaviors, and practices does civility actually require? Key scriptures is John 13:34-35 If you have any questions or would like to know more, please contact Oscar at (508) 207-3537 or oscar.wallace@gmail.com. Thank you Bob Bond! Bob Bond of 40 Federal Studio in Wiscasset, volunteered his time, energy, and expertise to design our new t-shirt logos (pictured here). We give thanks for his wonderful gift to our congregation! Church in Society We will be having the Neighbors in Need offering on October 7th! This offering supports the UCC s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Two-thirds of this offering is used to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts and direct service projects including voting rights, immigration, health care, hate crimes, civil liberties, and environmental justice, and onethird supports our American Indian neighbors in the UCC. For more info, visit ucc.org/nin.
Third-Quarter Giving Statements In recent years we have changed our tradition of distributing giving statements on a regular quarterly basis, instead attempting to make them responsive to individual needs throughout the year. This fall all individuals who made a 2018 pledge will receive a third-quarter giving statement in October, letting them know what they have contributed to date. Thank you to all who have supported and continue to support the ministry of our church financially and through the offering of many other gifts! Know that anyone who has contributed financially to the life of the church can also receive a giving statement at any time throughout the year! You can request this by contacting Office Administrator Janet Leonard (882-7544 or fccw@myfairpoint.net) or Financial Secretary Bud Lewis (563-1433 or shlewis@tidewater.net). Thank you! Directory Update! As of Sept. 1, Rev. Josh will officially be a Wiscasset resident! His new apartment is located at 60 Main Street, Apt. 2. His mailing address will be: P.O. Box 813, Wiscasset, ME 04578 The phone number to reach him at will be his cell: 610-750-2688
Meeting House Chimes First Congregational Church, U.C.C. P.O. Box 350, 28 High Street Wiscasset, ME 04578 September 2018 First Congregational Church United Church of Christ 28 High Street, PO Box 350 Wiscasset, Maine 04578 We welcome you to the First Congregational Church of Wiscasset. We are an open and affirming congregation and are open theologically, growing spiritually, and concerned socially.