Notes from the Diaconate

The Diaconate reorganized in February and welcomed its newest member, Lynne Hildreth. Bob Slack and Glenda Lovegrove will continue as Sr. Deacons for their last year on the Diaconate, Jean Button agreed to continue as Secretary, and Mary Anne Durand as Treasurer.


Deacon-of-the-Month
In the months to come, we're going to try a new idea - appointing a Deacon of the Month to perform the service-related tasks. We thought this would be a good way for you to get to know your Deacons better, and also a way to spread the work among all the Deacons.

You may also see changes in services. Of course, most things will continue as usual, but some will inevitably be different, as Pastor Katherine brings the sweet breath of her personality to our worship, enlivening our services from time to time with new ideas and methods. Let us know what you think, and we'll try to work your "druthers" into the mix, as always.

Installation Service for Pastor Katherine
In the next few weeks, we will be planning Pastor Katherine's Installation service, to be held at our church on March 29th in the afternoon. This is an important service, for Katherine, for us, and for the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC. We will be inviting many UCC officials, and other out-of-town guests to attend the service. You'll hear more about this in the Bulletin and at church and may be asked to help out with specific tasks. We hope you will be as excited about this event as we are!

Levi Sunday
So it's a good thing that we're having Levi Sunday on March 22nd to spiffy up the church. Helen Carroll and Cindy Tomlin are planning this event to be both useful for the church and fun for the whole family. The goal is a fabulously clean Sanctuary and Dale Hall. So on the 22nd, plan to wear your jeans or other cleaning-appropriate clothing, and join us! A simple bag lunch will be provided after cleaning, and we promise that the whole thing won't take more than 2 hours - 11:30-1:30 p.m. You'll hear details in the next few weeks as Cindy and Helen continue their planning.

Volunteers Needed
We need a number of volunteers for projects that do not involve serving on a committee. Please see the Help Wanted article elsewhere in this Lantern for the list of positions we hope to fill. Please consider helping us out as you find that you have a few hours available for the tasks listed.

Upcoming Dates:

March 1st - Communion and Billerica Pantry
March 22 - Levi Sunday, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM (after church)
March 29 - Installation of Rev. Katherine Adams
April 9 - Maundy Thursday, 7:30 PM
April 12 - Easter Sunday

 

Mission Committee Report

Billerica Pantry Collection
As expected, we are "back on track." Our February collection totaled 145 items. You know the need is greater this year and this February's response is just about perfect. Thank you for what you are doing for our needy neighbors. We voted to take items from our monthly collection and create 3 bags of groceries for Pastor Katherine. She will take these on her parish visitations and give them to our own families wherever she decides they are needed. If you have comments regarding this decision, please speak to any member of the Missions Committee.

Your 2009 Missions Committee
Our members this year are: Jenny Carmichael, Jackie Gullage, Don Lovegrove, Bonnie McLay, Bob Miner, Linda Miner, and Nita Owin. We welcome your suggestions, comments and feedback.

Conference Commitment
We voted to give $375.00/mo. To the U.C.C. Wider Mission work; in 2008 we gave $475.00/mo. While this represents a substantial decrease, it still totals roughly 50% of the amount of money committed to the Missions Committee for 2009.

Economic Stimulus
The energy audit that the church completed this year is resulting in our own economic stimulus plan. We are creating jobs for the people who "build" the new fixtures and bulbs we'll use. We are creating jobs for the contractors who will install the lighting and handle the clean up. And, interestingly, we will use less energy and be able to pay for this over the next 2 years from the anticipated savings from our lower electric bills. Talk about a win - win situation. Praise and thanks to the Trustees for seeing this project through to its completion.

Recent Thank Yous
Letters have been received from Project Chacocente, the Salvation Army, the Billerica Food Pantry, and the U.C.C. Church World Service division.

Recent Contributions
We voted to give $100.00 to the Protestant Campus Ministry of Lowell, $100.00 to the Protestant Fellowship of UMASS, and $300.00 to support the Andover-Newton School of Theology.

Refugee Work
We continue to attend monthly meetings of the area Refugee Ministry and also attended a celebration dinner in honor of a woman from Rwanda who recently received asylum status and her work permit. We are now involved in helping her find a place to live, a "basic" job, and furnishings for an apartment.

Did You Know That -
a. An incandescent 100-watt bulb consumes $22.00/yr. in electricity while a compact fluorescent uses $6.00/yr. What do you have in your home?
b. $1.00 in tax cuts for wealthy individuals provides .35 in economic activity while $1.00 in unemployment benefits provides $1.65 in economic activity.

- Bob Miner

The Senior High Sunday School Invites you to a......

Disaster Dinner*

February 28th, 5-8 PM
Dale Hall, First Congregational Church

18 Andover Road

(*Note: Not a dinner that's a disaster but a fundraiser for disaster.)

We all see the news reports showing the devastation caused by natural and man-made disasters as they disrupt and change the course of people's lives, but we rarely see reports of what is happening with those people a year or two or three or yes, even four or five years later…..these events don't last just for the time we see them on the news….they are long lasting, life changing and extremely difficult to live through.

The Senior High Class is inviting you to a Disaster Dinner in order to share what they have learned about the impact of disasters on people and communities in our world today…and what you and I can do to work with others to bring relief to those affected - long after the news teams and politicians have gone home.

Please join us! The proceeds will benefit the Senior High Class Mission Trip.

Tickets: Adult $8
Child (under 12) $5
Family (2 adults, 2 children) $20

Tickets can be purchased from members of the Senior High Class as well as their advisors, Brent Davis and Barbara Daverin, 978-663-3115.

Religious Education

We are in great need for volunteers for the nursery. Please consider signing up for one Sunday for the nursery. There are many Sundays that we do not have any volunteers and would greatly appreciate any help that could be offered. A sign up sheet is posted on the nursery bulletin. There are also a few weeks where volunteers are still needed for hall monitoring. The sign up sheet is located on the Sunday school bulletin. Again, we would like to thank those who have already made commitments to help. Your time and support is greatly appreciated and the little ones appreciate it too!

Attention Parents: Every Sunday from now until the remainder of the school year, all Sunday school children, except the nursery children, will go upstairs with their families at the start of church for the children's sermon. At the end of the sermon, the children will be released to their teachers and be brought to their classes.

Attention Sunday school teachers: The RE Committee would like to invite you to attend one of our upcoming meetings on March 8th or April 5th at 11:30am after church. This will be your opportunity to learn more about the Sunday school events for the remainder of the school year, the Lenten project, and curriculum and to discuss any concerns or recommendations you may have regarding the school year. Any questions or concerns, please contact Katie Verrocchio at 603-505-7263 or Dawn Salter at 978-262-9927.

What is Lent? Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 and lasts 40 days until just before Easter. It is a time of prayer, meditation and reflecting on the meaning of Easter. "The heart of Lent is inner penitence and reconciliation with God", sorrow for sins, spiritual growth, commitment, perseverance. Common practices were fasting (giving up something), special commitments (reading, studying meditating, helping others), good deeds, prayer and reflection, Christian study (reading Bible), Church activities. (From Channing Bête company materials).

February 22nd Theme: Jesus cares for each of us. Story of the lost sheep Project: send cards to classmates that haven't come in a couple weeks. Invite a friend to come with you.

February 22
Theme: Jesus cares for each of us. Story of the lost sheep.
Project: Send cards to classmates who haven't come in a couple of weeks. Invite a friend to come with you to Sunday School.

March 1st
Theme: Food and more, Generosity: Jesus feeds us; feeding the 5,000
Project: bring in food for the food pantry

March 8th
Theme: Kindness/welcome.Jesus blesses the children
Project:Do a kind deed, come back next week and put on the bulletin board what you did. Invite someone to come to Sunday school.

March 15th
Theme:Jesus the Healer
Project:Pray for sick and hurting people. Put their names on a prayer list.
Optional; make cards for prayer list people and shut ins

March 22nd
Theme:Patience, story of the mustard seed
Project:help someone, pray for them, read other parables in Matthew 13. Draw a picture of the parable to share.

March 29th
Theme:Self-discipline/prayer Sermon on the Mount
Project: Write down your worries, crumple up the paper and put them in a container to give them over to God. And/or prayers of thanks, read the Bible story again at home

April 5th
Theme: Palm Sunday- celebrate, praise God
Project:Read the story of Palm Sunday and Easter with your parents. Matthew 21:1-11, (Matthew 27:32-66 edit for younger or sensitive children); Matthew 28:1-10, Palm Sunday Procession

- Dawn Salter

Pilgrim Fellowship

March 1 - Plan Easter & lock-in- 11:30- 1:30
Mar 7-8 - Lock- in 6:00-7:00
Mar 14 - Plan for Easter service and youth conference 11:30-1:30
Mar 22 - Write prayer for Easter 11:30-1:30
Mar 28 - U.C.C. youth conference-3:00-8 PM

Mark your calendars Flowering of the Cross Service is at 7:00am Easter morning.
We know it is early - please feel free to come as you are (in pajamas).

Stewardship Notes

There are many myths and superstitions surrounding mirrors. One of the most common is that mirrors are said to be a reflection of the soul. A part of this mythology is that the soul is completely regenerated every seven years and that part of the soul is broken when a mirror is broken. Thus follows the myth of seven years of bad luck when a mirror is broken.
Science has debunked many of the myths about mirrors, but the myths do illustrate the widespread belief in the spiritual nature of humans and the desire to understand the soul or spirituality. Matthew 6:21 has Jesus saying, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Clearly Jesus implies that how we acquire our treasure and what we do with it is an indicator of our inner self or soul. So perhaps it is reasonable to say that the Tax forms we are now preparing could be construed to be a mirror of the soul.
If this be the case, what do our tax forms show about us? Of course there is the question of how much we donate to charity, but there's also the question of what we do with the rest of our money. A tithe is not a "get out of jail free" card. As we fulfill our duties as citizens to file required taxes, we should ask ourselves if those tax forms reflect the kind of people we think we are.

In particular, do they reflect that we are good stewards according to 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: March 19TH. at 12 noon.

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 new officers of the music committee area:

Stephanie Norman, chair
April Goss-Baker vice chair
Phyllis Jennings, secretary
June Orne, treasurer
Ruth Boutilier, member at large.

We plan to meet the first Sunday of the month, after church.

Please "give grace" to our new staff and our volunteers. Everyone is trying their best to offer meaningful worship to God. Suggestions, comments and complaints should be directed to the music committee although complements may be given directly to the person involved.

The adult choir is pleased to have new members and more are welcome. Especially needed are those willing to try parts like alto, tenor and bass. The children's choir, too is open to all who are interested.

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.

 

Lay Shepherding
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday March 18, 1:00 P.M.  

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

Next event will be a card game of Military Whist, easy to learn and fun to play.

Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share and your own beverage. If you have a card table that could be used, please call the hosts. There is a fee of $3 per person.

For those wishing to attend, there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board going into Dale Hall or call us if after 3/8. Call if you would like a ride.

Lynne Hildreth 978-663-4727 / Maryanne Durand 978-667-4239

 

United Church of Christ

Summer Camps

Star Island off the coast of New Hampshire offers youth conferences (High school) and family camps. This is a wonderful way of developing faith while having fun.

UCC Youth camps are Aug.2-8, or Aug. 8-15. Family camps run the same schedule. There is also a Laity weekend Sept. 5-7. Information is available at http://www.starisland.org. In the past our church has offered scholarships if needed through the mission funds.

The UCC at Craigville on the Cape has also had an adult music camp in July. Information is not yet on the website.

 

The United Church of Christ and You

This June will be a meeting of General Synod. This is the every other year national meeting of delegates from all the conferences in the United Church of Christ. Our conference is Massachusetts. Within Massachusetts, churches are grouped in geographical associations, ours being Andover Association.
The United Church of Christ churches join together in covenant while each retains its autonomy. This means we basically govern ourselves but should respectfully and prayerfully consider any recommendations made by conference or synod. We also should support connections with other UCC churches.
In that regard, there is an Andover Association newsletter in electronic form that list events in our area churches that we can attend. If you are interested in church suppers, educational and spiritual programs, ask Christopher Jenkins at jenkins@gwu.edu to put you on the list or ask me to print you a copy.

Phyllis Jennings
MACUCC delegate

Flowers: March

March 1 - Given in loving memory of John F. Rankin, Jr. from Jane, Paul and Heather Johansen.
March 8 - Given in thanks to the church for its continuous support in the Girl Scouts of Billerica.
March 15- Given in memory of Earle Coke from Jeremy and Katie Verrocchio and also flowers are given in loving memory of my grandmother, Lillian Lewis, by Diana Saunders.
March 22 - Given by John Stephens in loving memory of his wife, Mary Stephens and his parents, John and Clara Stephens, and Mary's parents, Alan and Edna Hampton, and daughters, Suzanne and John Marie Stephens
March 29 - open

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

PASSAGES: Births, Baptisms, Weddings and Memorial Services

Baptisms

January 25, 2009 - Hope Elizabeth LeDoux and Ava Joyce LeDoux
February 8, 2009 - Jacob Andrew McLay

FROM ALISON

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

Thank you and love, Alison

FROM JUNE ORNE AND DONNA RICARTE

Aim Hi wishes to thank all who participated in our "Have a Heart" donations for the service people serving overseas. These donations will be sent to the four current service people on our prayer list. We encourage you to also take one of the lists posted on Aim Hi's bulletin board with the current overseas addresses of these four people and send a personal message of support to each of them. A simple note or card to let them know they are being thought of means so much during the time they are away from their families.

Thank you again for your help.

Next Lantern Deadline: Sunday, March 15

The newsletter written and mailed the week of March 15 will include the end of March and April news.