Forest Street Footprints

Forest Street Union Church 15 Forest Street Methuen, MA 01844 (978) 683-8523 foreststreet15@verizon.net www.foreststreetucc.org Forest Street Footprints OCTOBER 2009 Dear Friends in Christ, A man named Jim Hager had a dream. He wanted to be listed for something in the Guinness Book of World Records. In 2003 he accomplished this feat by eating 115 M & M candies in three minutes...with chopsticks! I don't know how long it took Mr. Hager to perfect this skill of eating M&M's with chopsticks. And I have no idea why he undertook this task, but I do know this...all of us have our dreams. A number of people at Forest Street Union Church have the dream of growing in numbers and resources and accomplishing mightier things for God. That dream will only be accomplished if enough of the members share the dream and work toward it. Whether or not enough people share that dream is an unknown, but I do know it is time for many people here to begin to realize that this is a church, Christ's body in the world. Ed Mackenzie spoke wisely at our congregational meeting saying that the church needs to be shocked into realizing what it will take to stay alive. I believe strongly in the potential of Forest Street Union Church and hope that you share that feeling. Yours in Christ...Scott

Council Meeting October 12, 2009 7:00PM We are looking forward to seeing someone from every committee at the meeting. Nancy Pollock, Moderator 978-681-8976 or nancyandjim95@comcast.net Liturgists are needed to read at Sunday service. Please sign up on the sheet on the board in the vestry. We need your voice! CORE COMMITTEE FINAL ARTICLE As of the Special All Church Meeting held 20 September 2009 The CORE Committee has completed it s work and has turned it s records Over to the Pastoral Search Committee. The members of the Pastoral Search Committee elected are Jim Hathaway Fran Lajoie Robin LaTorre Bill MacKenzie, Ken Scherig Elaine Thibeault-Vandette Amy White. We wish the new committee God s Blessing as they begin the task of Searching for the next full time settled pastor for Forest Street Union Church.

COMMUNITIES TOGETHER Visit our NEW office: 276 Essex Street, Lawrence COMMUNITIES TOGETHER MOVED TO ESSEX STREET! Communities Together moved to 276 Essex Street in Lawrence in mid-september. We are renting first-floor space from the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, which owns the building and has offices on upper floors. This arrangement provides us with much needed office and storage space at a very reasonable rate. Our mailing address will continue to be our post office box in Lawrence. Our phone and fax numbers will remain the same. Our email service changed, and we now have a Comcast email address. (See contact info above.) We invite you to visit us at our new space. Just call ahead to make sure we are available to greet you. Position Opening at Communities Together Administrative Assistant, 6 to 8 hours a week, mornings. (POSITION FILLED by Frances Lajoie. Welcome Fran!!) CT s Radio Program No Longer on the Air Communities Together s radio program, Living Faith, is no longer on the air. Due to lack of sponsorship and advertising revenues, the cost of this program became prohibitive and had to be cancelled. We owe many thanks to Rev. Michael Shirley, our skilled and dedicated host, for his service in this capacity. And we apologize to our listeners for having to make this change. Annual Rummage Sale in October Communities Together is holding its Annual Rummage Sale (our annual delegates fundraiser) on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at FirstCalvary Baptist Church, 586 Massachusetts Avenue, North Andover. Come and browse for household items, clothes, jewelry, books, and special treasures. If you have items to donate, you may bring them to the church for storage in the church garage beginning September 14. If you need help getting items to the church or can volunteer for Friday set-up and/or Saturday during the sale, contact the CT office. If you are a CT delegate, please advertise this event in your church and community and let us know if you can volunteer for a few hours. Drinks and a light lunch will be available for a small charge on Saturday. We now have party sponsors committed for months through and including May 2010, but we need a sponsor for March 2010. If your congregation or organization might be interested in sponsoring a party for March 2010, please let us know. A sponsor is NOT required to stay for or supervise the party, but sponsors who do stay say it s a rewarding experience. Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley (ESMV) needs volunteers Everyday volunteers are strengthening their communities through service. (President Obama) Help ESMV assist your elderly neighbors by becoming a volunteer companion, shopper, and/or driver for medical appointments. ESMV provides training, mileage reimbursement, and ongoing support for all volunteers. Volunteers decide when they drive. A useful and meaningful way to give back to your community! Please call Eileen or Gerry at ESMV @ 1-800-892-0890 and mention Communities Together! Merrimack Valley Hospice (MVH) opens new Hospice House June brought new life to the valley with the opening of MVH s new Hospice House on North Avenue in Haverhill. Starr Shallow, Director of the house, tells us that it is a place where lives can be celebrated, laughter is encouraged, children can play, and pets are allowed. It s as close to home as can be. Those who attended the open house in June found homey rooms with microwave ovens, refrigerators, pull-out sofas to accommodate loved ones, and skylights affording views of the sun and moon. A tranquil garden, a waterfall, and a nondenominational sanctuary provide needed solace. Patients who live at the house have 24-hour support from a physician, nurses, a social worker, a chaplain, aides, a bereavement counselor, and volunteers. This is your Hospice House, so please spread the word. For more information or a tour, call: Starr Shallow at 978-377-9015.

PRAYER CHAIN "I am happy to take over the prayer chain. I believe strongly in the power of prayer. The bible says Comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; (1Thessalonians 5:14-18)(KJ) Prayer is a spiritual gift from which we can all benefit. If you would like to be a "link" in our chain please contact me at 978-685-1948. If you have a prayer request please don't hesitate to call me at 978-685-1948 Sincerely, Terry Witkum Friendship Circle October 15, 2009 2:00PM At the church. All ladies of the church and their friends are welcome!

FUNDRAISING Penny Social! Here are some things you can do including: putting the date on your calendar, and spreading the word to friends. Saturday, October 24, 2009 VFW Hall - Methuen 4:00 PM Ticket sales start 6:00 PM Drawing begins How you can help: Collect new or handmade items. The items should be at least $10.00 in value. (Please do not donate used gifts or gently used items) You can bring the items to church now through Sunday, October 18th. Put your name and description of each item on the donation list on the table. Remember to bring in small items for the following theme baskets collected each Sunday before and after worship services: October 4th Kid s games and activities October 11th Kitchen gadgets and other kitchen items October 18th Movie night Spread the word to family and friends to come to the Penny Social on October 24th. Help make this fundraising event a success - the more people present the more fun for everyone! We also need people to ask local businesses for donations - Gift Certificates or other donated items are acceptable and appreciated. Thank you in advance for helping us to make this fundraising event a huge success. If you have questions please contact Elaine Thibeault-Vandette at 978-685-8038, or Nancy Pollock at 978-681-8976.

Stewardship Committee On Sunday, September 20, we as a church, made a giant leap of faith. We elected a search committee, charging them to search for a full time settled pastor to serve Forest Street Union Church. Then we went a step further, voting to use a sizeable portion of our unrestricted invested funds toward paying that person for three years. Now, we each need to do our part in making our church a place that a pastor will want to settle. We each need to prayerfully decide what programs we want to see here, and what our individual role will be in those programs. We each need to prayerfully decide what our financial commitment will be in the future. We each need to continue to build on what our predecessors did nearly 100 years ago, when they literally carried rocks from their fields to build this church building that we cherish. Their goal was to provide Sunday School for people in what then was a rural area of Methuen. I m sure they are pleased and proud of where we are today, and that another 100 years down the road, Forest Street Union Church will still be here, as it is today, serving not only the community of Methuen, but through our covenant with the United Church of Christ, serving the world that God has created for us. Meeting Thursday 6:00PM Weigh in starts at 5:30PM Friday 9:30AM Weigh in starts at 9:00AM

WORSHIP WATCH October 4 Communion Food Cart, Best Wishes Scripture for the Day: Mark 10:17-31 Sermon: Good News About Money Liturgist: Mary-Ann Thibeault-Vandette October 11 Mary-Ann Thibeault-Vandette Preaching Scripture for the Day: Sermon: Liturgist: Rev. Scott Raeburn October 18 Scripture for the Day: ll Corinthians 8:7-15 Sermon: Giving God the Leftovers? Liturgist: Zack Zuill October 25 Scripture for the Day: Mark 10:46-52 Sermon: Good News About Faith Liturgist: POINT TO PONDER Church Sign: Perfect People not allowed! Come as you are.

The Hospitality Committee / FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE How quickly September has flown by. September flew by with some hot summer like temperatures, and then coolness of the fall. The trees are beginning to change in colors now, and how beautiful they are, especially the deep reds. We thank again, to our volunteers who hosted the Fellowship Time in September. The Hospitality Committee has served many of the Fellowship Times, this month., as there are no hostesses signed up for a Sunday. September 6th: Ruth Yanagi and Ruth Hattori September 13: Charlotte Eichner and Carolyn Keatings September 20th: Robbin LaTorre September 27th Charlotte Eichner and Ruth Yanagi. Thank you, Barbara Lewis, again, for all your help in making the coffee. You have perfected the right strength in flavor of the coffee. Thanks to Trudi Driscoll, for your always -helping- outas-needed. Also this committee person has noticed that desserts has been place on the serving table - several times and we don't know who to thank.. Please us let know who you are so we can thank you properly for your yummmy desserts. Whomever you are, we truly thank you!!!. October has arrived and the fall weather is in with it's chill winds and dreary days. We are looking for volunteers to host a Sunday Fellowship time during this month so our worshipers can enjoy a hot cup of coffee to warm themselves up before going out into the cold. There is a sign-up sheet on the counter by the little kitchen windows. Won't you sign up for a Sunday? The Fellowship Committee: Charlotte Eichner, Ruth Yanagi, Carolyn Keating and Ruth Hattori FROM THE DEACON'S CLOSET From the Deacon s Closet: Mary-Ann Thibeault-Vandette s Ecclesiastical Council at 7PM in the sanctuary on Tuesday evening Sept 8th resulted in the unanimous approval for ordination, pending a call. There were 17 clergy and 27 delegates present as well as 15 guests who shared in her Spiritual, artistic and well delivered presentation. Congratulations have been and are continuing to be extended to Mary-Ann.

At the Sept Deacon s meeting Mary-Ann s status as an In-Care Student was dissolved, now that she is a candidate for ordination. Discussion of the value of, and lessons-learned, during the In-Care process was shared by Mary-Ann with the Deacons. Name tags for adults and children are available in the Vestry on the new board that was made especially for them. Please use them each Sunday (and return them to their places) so that we can be more helpful towards visitors and friends who will be more easily identified. As we all know there is nothing more important than a name. Thank you Jim for such a great name tag board. Plans to replace the aging Dossal curtain are continuing. Two very badly needed black leather bound guest registers have been placed in use at the upper entrance to the Sanctuary and at the front door entrance. They were purchased with Memorial Funds given in loving memory of Evelyn Herold. We are pleased to let you know that Terry Witkum has agreed to lead the Prayer Chain. Joyce Barden who has so faithfully shepherded us with the prayer line for many years is unable to continue this ministry. Please see Prayer Chain article elsewhere from Terry. Visitor cards have been placed in the pews to aid as a welcome and a communication aid if requested with the Pastor and church office. Bell ringers are needed for call to worship. Please see the Deacon(s) on duty for the month and let them know that you wish to ring our bell for call to worship at 10:45 10:50am each Sunday morning. Young and not so young invited age has no bounds all new attendees are encouraged to participate. Deacon s for October Elaine Thibeault-Vandette and Trudi Driscoll Deacon s for October Kasey Walko and Barbara Lewis If there is anyone interested in visiting our nursing home or shut-in members please see Trudi Next Deacon s meeting Oct 15, 2009 7 PM

Publicity I ha v e be e n ele c t e d pu b li c it y ch a ir m a n for the For e s t Str e e t U ni o n C h u r c h. In this roll I a m re s p o n s i b l e for getti n g all pu b li c it y for the ch u r c h to the pro p e r pu b li c a t i o n s, bot h pai d an d un p a i d. To ac c o m p l i s h this I will ne e d yo u r co o p e r a t i o n as follo w s : 1) N o ti fi e d 1 m o n t h or earli e r if po s s i b l e, ab o u t an y ev e n t s re q u i ri n g pu b li c it y. 2) Fo r m a t det a il s yo u wis h in the articl e in Mi c r o s o f t W o r d do c u m e n t. 3) Fly e r s ne e d to be in the for m a t that yo u w a n t pu bli s h e d. 4) A n y pai d ad s re q u i r e d will be fun d e d by the co m m i t t e e s req u e s t i n g a pai d ad Th e rol e of pu b li c it y ch a ir m a n als o incl u d e s the sig n on For e s t Str e e t. H O W E V E R, to ke e p th e sig n up d a t e d V O L U N T E E R S are ne e d e d m o n t h l y to ch a n g e the m e s s a g e. Pl e a s e se e m e or e-m a il m e at chi p n d a l e 3 8 @ v e r i z o n. n e t B a r b a r a Le w i s, P u b li c it y ch a ir m a n P E N N Y S O C I A L O c t o b e r 24, 200 9 at V F W 26 Riv e r Str e e t. M e t h u e n Tic k e t s on sal e @ 4:00 P M Drawing starts 6:00PM Family Fun-50/50 Raffle-Snack Bar-Door Prizes-Raffle, SCOTT SEZ... Now that the church has taken on this leap of faith toward having a full-time Pastor it is time for us to get more serious about growth. I have placed more of the church 'business cards' in a basket outside the door to the sanctuary near the elevator. Please take some and use them whenever you feel someone might be interested in finding a spiritual home.