Notes from the Diaconate

Christmas Eve services were held at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM December 24th, and both services were well attended. The earlier service focused on families and was especially aimed at the many children in the audience. The 7:00 service included the solemn candle-lighting ceremony and prepared us for the coming of the Christ.

It was wonderful to hear Rev. Katherine Adams lead our service for the first time as our new settled minister on December 7th. The excitement in our congregation is palpable! There are so many new and wonderful changes surrounding us this Advent Season, so many blessings to count.

Thank you to all of you who have made poinsettia donations for shut-ins. Your kindness is contagious! Through your generosity, we were able to deliver poinsettias to many people to brighten their day.

Thank you also to Gene Guild and Kathy Regan (Mary Anne Durand's sister) who came to help the Deacons decorate and prepare the sanctuary for Advent on Saturday, November 29th. Many hands made light work!

The Deacons have purchased new wreaths hanging on the candles in the sanctuary. Kevin and Jean Button have donated two large wreaths hanging on either side of the pipe organ.

Along with Rev. Katherine Adams, the Deacons invite you to hang your Christmas cards on the bulletin board across from the mailboxes in the downstairs hallway. In lieu of sending one of your cards to Rev. Katherine or to the church, we invite you to bring in your card and hang it up on the board where all people can see and enjoy your Christmas greetings.

We wish you and your family a Christmas filled with the blessings of friends and family and wrapped in God's love.

The Deacons
Jean Button, Secretary

 
Trustees

The Trustees would like to extend a thank you to Joanne Pendergast and Gene Guild for their many hours serving on the Board of Trustees. Joann extended her three years for an additional year and during that time worked with Gene as Co-chairs of the Trustees. Much of the work completed over the last two (2) years was due to their efforts.

A small list of projects completed this year includes:

Ongoing projects:

Those people who have ideas for a project and/or can assist in completing that project are urged to bring it to the attention of the Trustees by placing a written note in the Trustees mailbox.

Wayne Thompson
for the Trustees

Mission Committee Report

Billerica Food Pantry

For the month of December, you contributed 138 food items bringing our 4th quarter total to 475 items. This is the best ¼ collection in 2 years. As the local needs increase, your generosity increases; as we said on December 7th, this congregation really does understand why we're here.

Alternative Christmas Market

What a wonderful expression of Christian caring. Local pantry "clients", farmers in the U.S. and elsewhere, families in Nicaragua struggling toward self-sufficiency, and families in the U.S. poverty pockets, all will benefit from your generosity and compassion. The final tally for the Market was $1,869.25.

The breakdown is as follows:

Chacocente $328.00
Billerica Food Pantry $428.00
Fair Trade $195.00
Church World Service $918.25

Recent Contributions

We continue to serve as a conduit for your corporate giving having recently contributed:

$200.00 to OXFAM America
$200.00 to the Salvation Army

Refugees

Following an extensive investigation, we've decided to recommend to the congregation that we become involved with the Interfaith Cluster in our area that assists refugees seeking asylum in the U.S.

We are satisfied with:
a. The screening process used to determine that these are indeed legitimate, worthy asylum seekers
b. The medical screening to determine that these folks are indeed "safe" to have in our midst, and
c. The voluntary nature of our involvement, which can be as great or as small as we choose to make it.

We will now seek endorsement from the congregation at a general meeting. Should we fail to receive endorsement from either of the above, our committee will withdraw from participation in the Interfaith cluster.

Finances

It appears that your Outreach Committee may well have much less money to work with in 2009. Know that whatever is provided to us, we will exercise diligence in awarding grants. We believe this is your money and we will stretch it to do as much good as we possibly can.

Letter Writing

Here is some bad news/good news:

The attempt to end protectionist subsidies to affluent agricultural mega-businesses failed. However, it wasn't our fault! We sent more than 60 letters calling for change. We did help to influence the biggest- ever increase in funding for food stamps and food banks - an additional 10 billion over the next 5 years. This continues to be a fight worth fighting, and we'll have another chance in the future.

Bob Miner
For the Outreach Committee

Notes from the Senior High Sunday School Group

The Bridge to Hope for the Mission Project for the Senior High Sunday School class is being built right now! More information.

Thanks to your donations to the bridge, we have raised over $300 towards this years Mission trip! The will be our continuing fundraiser this year so please help us continue to build the bridge!! To view the bridge's progress look up and to the right before leaving through the back door….that is where our bridge is displayed.

Where are we going? Good question! Last year's trip, as you may recall, was working in a rural area in Southern Colorado at a Habitat for Humanity site, a homeless shelter and a community garden. This year's trip will focus on a different area of mission - disaster recovery. We are currently waiting for an assignment from UCC to either work in the Midwest - flooding disaster or in Florida - hurricane disaster. Disaster recovery is a different and sometimes very difficult type of mission trip. These young people are so mature and handled themselves so well and with such compassion on this last trip that I know they will be able to manage this experience very well.

In January we will be having a dinner and will discuss the effects of natural disasters on communities and individuals. The effects of a natural disaster last long after the news stations have stopped reporting and long after the politicians have stopped visiting. We hope you will be able to join us to hear about the type of mission we will be participating in the summer of 2009. Please watch for more details….tickets will go on sale after the 1st of the year. Taylor Federchook and the class will be making a delicious baked chicken dinner - the same one we served to our guests from Habitat when we were out in Colorado. Please join us!!

Thanks for all your support!

Barbara Daverin,
for the Senior High Class

Religious Education

Because of the weather, the Sunday school Christmas pageant was moved to Sunday January 4th, "Little Christmas." All Sunday school children will have the opportunity to take part in the pageant.  If your child will not be able to attend rehearsal or will not be able to take part in the pageant, please notify your child's teacher.  Further details about the pageant will be sent home with your child in class.

The Youth Choir is working hard and preparing to sing pieces for the Christmas pageant and the Christmas Eve service. It is not too late to join the Youth Choir if your child is interested.  Youth Choir meets on Sundays from 9:30am to 10:00am in the Chapel.  For more information, please contact April Goss-Baker at 978-670-6035.

Dawn Salter

From the Jr. and Sr. Pilgrim Fellowship Advisor

Jan 4   Celebrate meaning of Little Christmas, 11:30- 1:30
Jan 11   Movie
Jan 18   No PF
Jan 25  Parent-Child Dance 12:00-4:00
Feb 1   Valentines for shut-ins 11:30-2:00

The PF would like to thank the congregation for their support with the Angel Tree, Christmas Wreath sale, and Chunk's tickets. (We still have more tickets!)

We put up more gift tags on the tree for the Spanish church, and all were taken for distribution on Little Christmas, January 4..

Yours in Christ,
Deb MacEachern - Jr & Sr PF

Stewardship Notes

The holiday season is here, the time of year when we think of gifts and resolutions. As usual we will hear the arguments that Christmas is really a pagan holiday because Jesus was probably born in the Spring, but Christians know that this traditional holiday is the time to celebrate the birth of Christ and the time to reflect on our response to this gift.
During this period of gift giving and reflection, is it the time to finally return that pledge card that has been sitting in your To Do Box for two months? There's also the unreturned call from the Nominating committee. Have you been putting off the call because you don't know what to say? How about just saying "Yes"?

No doubt many of you wish that we could talk less about money, and you will notice we have extended our stewardship messages to include service as well as money. Both are important, and in some cases can be substituted, but the reality is that people who are most willing to donate their time are usually also the most generous monetary givers. It's highly unusual that a person who is not a regular contributor is serving on a committee or other church group.

As you consider your pledge and the request from the Nominating Committee, we hope you keep in mind the definition of Christian Stewardship - "What I do with all that I have, after I say I Believe."

For the Stewardship Committee,
Don Lovegrove

 

Aim Hi

 

NEXT MEETING: FEBRUARY 19TH. NO MEETING IN JANUARY.

Aim Hi is having "Have a Heart" Sunday, January 11 and 18. We are asking the children and the congregation to take a heart and purchase the item that is on that heart. If you wish to include a note or a card with the item please do so, the servicemen love to receive mail. These items will be used to fill the "Thank you" packages that will be sent to the servicemen. Collection boxes and hearts will be located in the front and back of the church.

There is no meeting of Aim-Hi in January. The next meeting will be held February 19. We always welcome new members.
Aim Hi has been sending our love, prayers, and Thank You packages to several young people serving overseas. We encourage the congregation to use the addresses below and send a short note or greeting card to these young people while they are away from home. It means so much to them and their families.

Donna Ricarte & June Orne

Notes from the Music Committee

The Music Committee has been busy catching up on the business at hand. We welcomed Ginny O'Connell as our new Music Director. She is doing an excellent job leading the choir and is trying out some new music.

We are very pleased with the growth of our choir. Parts are being filled and they sound great. Of course, there's always room for more singers so, if you enjoy singing and would like to be a part of our worship service, just visit a choir rehearsal at 7:30 on a Friday evening and give it a try!The Junior Choir, under the direction of April Goss-Baker, practices each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel. We have enjoyed their musical offerings this past fall. This group is preparing several pieces to present during the Christmas season. Special thanks to April. We thank Kathryn Norman for accompanying the youth choir on the piano during their practices on Sunday mornings. As you know, Elliot Brown, our organist, is leaving us. Although he can't be replaced, we do need a musician to play the organ! Our committee has advertised and will keep you informed of any developments. Finally, thanks to all who helped in any way with the farewell collation in honor of Elliot. We will miss him!

Jackie Phippen

Children's Choir

Expand your child's religious education!!!!  Youth Choir meets from 9:30am to 10:00am in the Chapel. Everyone is welcome! We will be learning hymns, Bible songs, Christmas carols, and Twentieth Century Christian songs. For more information, please contact April Goss-Baker at 978-670-6035.

 

Notes from the Nominating Committee  

The Lord Wants to Use Your Talents
When you seek God's plan for your life, you can be sure that he will bless the work of your hands.

You are absolutely unique and irreplaceable in the eyes of God.  And you have been given talents and abilities that are yours alone, whether artistic, leadership, financial, organizational, musical, literary...The key to achieving satisfaction and success with your talents is to place them always at the service of God.

Ask for God's direction and pray for his guidance so that you may use your gifts fruitfully and fully in his eyes.  God has a specific plan for you, and he has equipped you for your journey.  Your responsibility is to seek his will for you and to allow him to perfect and refine your endowments until they are functioning as they were intended.

"Every now and then, God's answer to a need is me."

Elizabeth Sherrill, Guideposts

Lay Shepherding

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday January 21st, 1:00 P.M.  

Your Lay Shepherds wish you all grand and rewarding times in this New Year. We are available for visits, a phone call or to send cards, so if you would like to receive or know of anyone, who would like to receive any these, please let us know. We are fortunate to have so many caring members in our community and it is greatly appreciated.

Please contact any lay shepherd or Audrey Schwartz tel. 978 663-3239 for further information.

 

The Pairs-n-Spares Adult Fellowship Group

We did not hold our usual Progressive Supper in December. We are considering the first or second Saturday in February. So think about offering to host a course.

We will also plan a night for Military Whist in March and possibly a game night in January.

Lynne Hildreth

 

United Church of Christ and You

 

 

Sometimes we wonder what it means to be part of the United Church of Christ. What do those start of the year envelopes that say Fellowship Dues have to do with us? The UCC is the modern day combination of Congregational, Christian, Evangelical and Reformed denominations. We join together in covenant while keeping local church autonomy. The fellowship dues go to support the denominational links and ministries. A dollar goes to our Andover Association. The rest goes to the conference which is Massachusetts. Our church reports the number of members we have as of December 31 and is assessed $16.40 per member.

We benefited greatly from support from the conference in the interim period with a wealth of resources and advice. The profiles we got were channeled through and criminal checked by the UCC. Katherine's path through seminary and her ordination were guided and approved with support of the conference. Materials and guidance are available to us on stewardship, mission, Christian education, and many other areas of church life. We also help church starts and small or struggling sister churches by being in this connection.

Phyllis Jennings
MACUCC delegate

Flowers: January

Jan. 4 - Given in memory of Irma, Warren, Ethel and Harold Wright from Chuck Wright and Cindy and Larry Dee.
Jan. 11 - Given by Ruth, Annette, Michael and Dave Stanford and Edie Moser; Marie, Brent, Janeen and Michele Davis; Shirley, Tom, Anthony, Nicholas and Jessica Fugoni in loving memory of Frank Stanford.
Jan. 18 - Given by the Durands in loving memory of Jean, Patrick, Tim Daley and Patty Neuhaus.
Jan. 25 - Provided by a memorial fund of the late Dorothy Richardson and are placed in memory of her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Albert Richardson.
On the lectern flowers are given in loving memory of Mary A and Roger T. Elliot by their family.

If you would like to donate flowers any Sunday, please call Jeannette at 978-663-6804.

FROM ALISON

THANKS TO Audrey Schwartz, and Edna McDewell and Barbara George for their help in the delivery of the December issue of The Lantern!

Thank you and love, Alison

Next Lantern Deadline: Sunday, January 18

The newsletter written and mailed the week of December 14 will include Christmas Events and January News.