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1 2 B e a c h S t r e e t , S a c o , M a i n e 0 4 0 7 2
P h o n e 2 0 7 - 2 8 3 - 3 7 7 1 w w w . f i r s t p a r i s h s a c o . o r g
Deborah Breault, Interim Minister [email protected]
Kristine Galasyn, Director of Christian Education [email protected]
Jacqueline Savage, Music Director jacqui@firstparishsaco. org
Glen Ellen Roth, Interim Office Manager [email protected]
Johnson Atkinson FundApplication Deadline
February 28th
First Parish Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
The Church with Love &Hope to Share 2018
Bean SupperSaturday, February 10th
5-6:30 PM
Super Bowl SubsSunday, February 4th
11:30 AM
All Church WF MeetingSunday, February 11th
11:30 AM
Prayer Shawl Sunday
February 11, 2018
Ash Wednesday Service
Wednesday, February 14th
7:00 PM
It may be February according to the calendar, but it still feels like the New Year to me. The busy
month of January filled with annual reports, nominating and the annual meeting sped by. I am grateful for a
few more weeks to settle into 2018. We are blessed by all the ministry teams and talented leadership of First
Parish.
On Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2018, there will be an evening worship service with the imposition
of ashes at 7:00 pm. The season of Lent calls us to go spiritually deeper together.
We all learn and grow in different ways, but there is one Spirit that nourishes us all. We recall the
wisdom of the Apostle Paul “there are varieties of gifts…of services…and activities, but it is the same God
who activates all of them in everyone.” (1 Cor. 12:4-6) As we continue the interim journey we desire to be a
community that is God-centered in all things. I offer this poem as a guide as we continue our spiritual
journey together.
“Sacred Mystery,
waiting on the threshold
of this new year,
you open the gates
and beckon to me:
“Come! Come!
Be not wary of what awaits you
As you enter the unknown terrain,
Be not doubtful of your ability
To grow from its joys and sorrows.
For I am with you.
I will be your Guide.
I will be your Protector.
You will never be alone.”
Guardian of this new year,
I set aside my fears, worries, concerns,
I open my life to mystery, to beauty,
To hospitality, to questions,
To the endless opportunity
Of discovering you in my relationships,
And to all the silent wisps of wonder
That will draw me to your heart.
I welcome your unfailing Presence
And walk with hope into this new year.
-Joyce Rupp
I am eager for the ways the Holy One will reveal new opportunities for spiritual growth in us all. The
first thing we must do is to find stillness and allow the voice of God to reach us as we strive to attune the
“ears of our hearts” for service and fellowship in Christ. May the winter season provide us the space and
time and warmth of the Spirit to engage this holy work. See you in church,
Faithfully,
Deborah
This fund provides grants to First Parish
groups, members, and staff in the form of
grants that facilitate spiritual growth. It is
intended to serve as a catalyst for new energy
and commitment to grow in the knowledge and
love of God in Christ and radiate God's love in
an ever-changing world. We are grateful for the
thoughtfulness of this gift from Bill and Mary
Johnson who established the fund for the
church. In 2018, money is available to fund
grants. Application deadlines are February 28th
and September 28th. Applications and more
information on past grant recipients are
available on the website at:
http://firstparishsaco.org/ci/mf/pages/view/chur
ch3343/4b
THE JOHNSON/ATKINSON
SPIRITUAL GROWTH FUND
Here we are already in February and the last month of the Winter Quarter. How quickly those 13 weeks fly by. March begins ourSpring quarter, and the last one before summer. If you haven’t already signed up to be a church school teacher, we hope that you will do so, for our Spring Quarter. There is a sign up on the Christian Education kiosk.
Our Spring quarter beginsMarch 4th and goes through May 27th.Thank you to Jen and Nathan Poore who will be teaching the 5, 6 and 7 grade class,Feb. and March, while the Campbell’s are away.
Schedule
January 7th Andrew Reiche
January 14th Johanna Fitzgerald
January 21st Alex Savage
January 28th Cameron Zelensky
February 4th Sage Guerrette
February 11th Jackson Vincent
February 18th Andrew Reiche
Thank you to all our Acolytes. They are
doing a wonderful job preparing us for
worship. There will be another Acolyte
training early spring.
“Every summer,
like the roses,
childhood
returns.”
Marty Rubin
There is no better way to embrace childhood and anticipate summer than to register for
camp!
We have sessions for all ages and walks of life. From families to teens, youth to seniors, artsy
to sporty, and everyone in between. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s
journey, there’s a camp session for you! Mark your calendar, tell your friends, shout it from
the rooftops:
Registration starts Thursday, February 1, 2018!
Some sessions do fill up fast. Please contact us
at 207-724-3200 or email our administrator
Karen [email protected] with questions
or to learn how to register offline.
There will be a Pilgrim Lodge Sunday, March
18th. First Parish Camperships will be available
at that time.
See you at Church,
Kris
Jesus says: “Let the little children come to me”
-Matthew 19:14
Helping Lisa Edstorm in the Nursery for the month of January was:
7th Jen Erickson
14th Mary Coyne
21st Giselle Cantin
28th Nancy Twomey
F i r s t P a r i s h C h r i s t i a n E d u c a t i o nT e a m a p p r e c i a t e s y o u r t i m e .
Thank you
“I was hungry and you fed me.”---Matthew 25:35
FellowshipAll youth, 6th grade and up, are encourage to attend our Souper Bowl of Caring overnight on Saturday, Feb. 3rd beginning at 7PM. Please eat dinner before you come. Bring your sleeping bag and pillow and get ready for a FUN night. We start off the evening by preparing our veggies and meat etc. for the subs on Sunday, February 4th
First Parish Youth are getting ready for the BIG Super Bowl Game. We invite you to be a part of it by participating in all three ofour Super Bowl activities. First: Please order a delicious Super Bowl Sub.Second: Please bring in a can good between now and Sat., Feb 3. We are hoping to get enough can goods to go up our center aisle—gaining as much yardage as possible.Third: Give to our Souper Bowl offering on Feb 4th.This offering will go to Stone Soup which is a food pantry in Biddeford. Anyone is eligible to receive food from Stone Soup. They also provide service opportunities for MLK day.
We enjoyed a sledding party complete with cupcakes and this cool picture as we said“Good bye” to Eric. Eric, we will miss you and wish you all the best.
Martin Luther KingDay of Service
January 15, 2018
Our 10th annual MLK Day of Service has come
and gone but what a GREAT day it was. The
weather was cold (12 degrees), and by 8:45 we
had around 40 “clients” waiting to participate in
our services. After a 15 minute wait in the
sanctuary our providers were in place and we
were ready to go. We had over 30 volunteers
helping with food, being host/hostess, who
helped take people around the church for the
services, and 30 service providers. From
haircuts to foot care, blood pressure checks to
osteopathic medicine. Also donations of New
underwear and socks, clothes and jackets to
health and beauty items to nail polishing and
head checks. First Parish Shoe Ministry, gave
away over 70 pairs of shoes. Read More Saco
was back giving away books, puzzles and games
and information. Out in our community we had
24 youth participating in Service Projects and 10
of our Church school children were present and
helping. We even had a Boy Scout troop
involved.
The GREAT news is we provided: 50 Haircuts,
19 Blood Pressure readings, 20 Osteopathic
manipulations, 8 Foot Care, (in 2 hrs) services, 1
person did laundry (she came in with three
children).
Everyone ate breakfast and/or lunch and all this
in a four hour span. Ninety-three clients, who
fought the bitter cold, in our community were
given a helping hand.
If you are interested in being part of a Core
Group to organize MLK Day of Service please
email Kris. [email protected]
If you have some great ideas for donations,
service providers, food etc, just GO FOR IT.
Thank you, to EVERYONE, who helped by
being at the event, by bringing in donations, or
by being a provider. The day was amazing.
One of my favorite quotes is by Anne Frank
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a
single moment before beginning to improve the
world”.
Not A Day Off, But A Day On
Next MLK Day will be
January 21, 2019
Life’s most urgent question is?
“What are you doing for others?”
-Martin Luther King
A Message from the Moderator
As I begin my term as moderator I look forward to working with the minister, church council, and all the ministries of the church to help our church function more smoothly and to achieve its full potential. As we enter 2018, we are faced with significant issues including finding a new minister, developing new ways to assure the financial security of the church and creating an atmosphere to allow better communications between all teams and parishioners.I believe we have a council full of dedicated, hard working individuals who have the best interest of First Parish at heart and are willing to work together to make our church a truly welcoming, functional and financially stable house of worship.Please feel free to contact me to voice any concerns, to provide ideas to improve the way the church operates, or just to become more acquainted with your new moderator.
Sincerely,
Music Ministry Jacqueline Savage: Music Director
Special thanks to everyone that is supporting the Music Program by giving their time and talents
and/or are giving financially for the 2018 year! I have enjoyed the past 6 months here at First
Parish and look forward to what this year has in store!
Senior Choir: The adult choir is looking for some Altos!! We
are currently having rehearsals on Thursday
nights from 6PM-7:30PM and Sunday
mornings at 9AM. If you feel called to sing
with us, please email me! We are also still
looking for an acoustic guitar player. If you
would like to play for some services, please let
me know!
Upcoming Events: Service the Youth Choir will be singing in: Sunday February 11th
Services the Junior Choir will be singing in: Sunday Jan. 28th and Sunday February 11th
Service the Bell Choir will be ringing in: Sunday February 4th
Junior Choir: Directed by Susan Marston The Junior Choir finished the month of December with two beautiful services. The Christmas Pageant was filled with the story of Mary & Joseph and their journey to Bethlehem. The Choir sang of the night in the stable with the Friendly Beasts and then sang to Mary about her Boy Child. The service was touching and very meaningful. The Junior Choir also sang at the 5:00 Christmas Eve Family Service. We sang the same two songs from the Pageant, but the music had a wonderfully spiritual feel that night. We are now working on songs for the coming months, including Palm Sunday, Easter, Music Sunday, and Children’s Sunday. Jacqui and I also have plans for a combined choir piece with all the choirs. The Junior Choir loves singing with “Big Choir”. We look forward to sharing our music with the congregation.
Meet the Musician:
Stephen Shinman Born in 1940, I began playing the oboe at age 12, and after
studying at Yale I received BS and MS degrees from The
Juilliard School. Initially I did a lot of private teaching and
free-lance performing in the New York area. I subsequently
began a long career in management of private arts schools
in New Jersey, New York and Maine. I also have been and
continue to be a software developer for management of arts
organizations. Since moving to Maine in 2010, I have done
some oboe playing, including at the Congregational Church,
and I have been active in local affairs. I currently serve on
the Saco School Board, the Dyer Library Board, and the
Steering Committee of Age Friendly Saco, for which I have
volunteered software.
I have an active interest in photography, for which I have
had two exhibitions at the Dyer Library. My wife and I enjoy gardening, and we are members of the
local Garden Club.. We spend time summers on family property at Long Lake in Naples, ME.
Dates are 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4 and 3/11
Time 8:45 to 9:45 In the conference room.First Sunday Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1-3, 6, 8-
16. Also Revelation 21:1-4.
Everyone should bring their favorite Bible and (well worn and marked up are even better) write down your favorite passage of scripture on a piece of paper. These will be placed in a bowl and each week one or two will be selected and become the focus of our study for the following week.
Service of
Comfort and Hope
on Wednesday,
February 28th at 7 P.M.
Dear First Parish Congregational Church, Thank you for the wonderful prayer shawl. The prayers have been heart felt and appreciated. Thank you all very much.Donald and Cheryl Morin
Dear Kathleen,Thank you so much for the beautiful prayer shawl, what a thoughtful surprise! You can't imagine how much it means to me that you also had it blessed at your church. I will definitely be wrapping up in it during radiation and anytime I feel the need for the comfort of love and prayers. Thank you again for your love, support and prayers. Love, Barbara
Dear Kathleen,It's hard to know where to start to say thank you for putting me on the prayer list at your church and my lovely shawl. My needs and this weather is exactly what the prayer shawl is meant for and it couldn't be softer or warmer.Thank you for thinking of me at this very difficult time. Love, Carolyn
Dear Glen Ellen,
I want to thank you and First Parish Church for making
the bath chair available to me after my knee
replacement.
I am sure many people appreciate the church making
these useful items available to them when they are
needed.
Thanking you again,
Mary K. Shaw
ONE OF THE MANY THINGS
OUR CHURCH QUIETLY DOES
Shoe Ministry News
Have cold feet ? Check out the shoe
cart in the atrium. The Shoe Ministry
recently received donations of boots
and shoes from Lamey Wellahan. You
are welcome to take them, they might
just help your feet stay warm and dry.
For God so lo ed the world,
That he g ve
His on y
Begott n
So
hat whosoever
Believeth n him
Should ot perish,
But have ver lasting life
John 3:16
January7 Women’s Fellowship14 Women’s Fellowship21 Diaconate218 Council
February4 Hospitality11 Music and Arts18 Flower and Altar27 Women’s Fellowship
March4 Counters11 Prayer Group and Facilities18 Christian Education25 Council
April1 Program Development and Mission8 Investments, Charitable Gifts, JAF15 Music and Arts22 Diaconate29 Media and Good News Team
May6 Hospitality13 Counters20 Christian Education27 Women’s Fellowship
June3 Hospitality10 Flower and Altar17 Council24 Mission and Program Development
July1 Investment, Charitable Gifts, JAF8 Women’s Fellowship15 Prayer Group and Facilities22 Diaconate29 Council
August5 Hospitality12 Flower and Altar19 Personnel and Pastor Parish Relations26 Music and Arts
September2 Hospitality and Women’s Fellowship9 Council16 Counters23 Diaconate
October7 Calling Committee and Facilities14 Investments, Charitable Gifts, JAF21 Christian Education28 Women’s Fellowship
November4 Music and Arts11 Stewardship18 Stephen Ministers25 Calling Committee and Facilities
December2 Council9 Diaconate16 Counters23 Music and Arts30 Media and Good News Teams
Full Registration (Registrations are non-refundable.) $125 before February 15, 2018 $150 February 16 – March 26, 2018 Saturday-Only Registration (Registrations are non-refundable.) $100 before February 15, 2018 $125 February 16 – March 26, 2018 SPECIAL MEAL PACKAGE: $125 (includes all 5 meals / not box lunch)
Keynote Speakers Rev. Traci Blackmon, UCC Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries; Rev. Deborah J. Blood, Maine Conference Minister; Rev. Sarah Buteux, Associate Pastor Minister of Christian Education and Outreach; Founding Pastor of Common Ground; Leslie Adelson Lewin, Director of Seeds of Peace; Rev. Renee Rouse, Warner, NH Workshops 35 workshops over two sessions on Saturday. Holy Mall (vendors, displays, refreshments, and some surprises) Saturday Entertainment Women of Harmony- a cappella choir of local talent.
SAVE THE DATE
April 6-8, 2018
Holiday Inn By the Bay - Portland, Maine
Website: www.uccwomenscelebration.org
FACEBOOK:
UCC New England Women’s Celebration
Costa Rica
(Mercy Homes Ministry)
Mercy Home Ministries
has built more than 100
houses in Costa Rica for
families in need. Each
family is selected by a
local church, and the
family is gifted the
house at the end of the
week of construction.
Typical Mercy Home Ministries House:
20’x20’ - 400 square feet, 2 rooms and a porch
Wood or concrete floor
Corrugated Metal Roof
Windows and doors that
close and can be locked to
secure persons and possessions inside.
Electricity
*Bathroom and Kitchen are
often located in a shed/outbuilding
Building Labor & Materials: $15.00/ square foot
Total Materials & Labor Cost: $6,000/house
This is a typical house that is built.
Book Club meets at scheduled dates (see below). Books to be read this year should be
available at any local library..
February 27th
“Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders
March 28th
“Little Flies Everywhere: by Celeste Ng
April 25th
“The Stars are Fie” by Anita Shreve
May 23rd
“After the Eclipse: A Mother’s Murder, A Daughter’s Search” by Sarah Perry
June 27th
“Before We Were Yours” by Lisa Wingate
July and August – No Book ClubSeptember TBD
“Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty
October TBD“Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall Kelly
November TBD“Tell My Sons: A Father’s Last Letter
by Mark M. Webber
December TBDSocial Meal and 2019 Planning
Book Club
Bean Supper
First Parish Congregational Church12 Beach Street, Saco
(Corner of Beach & Main Streets)
When: Saturday, February 10, 2018Serving from 5:00-6:30PM
Cost: $8.00 for Adult$4.00 for Children ages 6-12
Children under 6 years old are free
Menu: Pea BeansKidney BeansHot DogsMacaroni & CheeseBrown Bread/Dinner RollsColeslaw DessertsBeverages
Proud Grandpa with Benji
The 2018 Flower sign-up sheets are ready for
your assignments. Please consider the times
you would like to remember or honor loved
ones, share the joy of an achievement or
anniversary, and give thanks to God by placing
flowers on the altar on a given Sunday. This is
the best time to find a date on or close to your
special day. Thank you.
Flowers Our paraments are now Green, symbolizing
growth and learning. The season following
Epiphany (January 7) continues the theme of
spreading Good News of Christ to the Gentiles,
from its source in the Jewish community to all
nations on earth. We began using Green on the
second Sunday after Epiphany and will continue,
except for White on Communion Sunday, until
Ash Wednesday, February 14th this year.
Altar
Service of Comfort & Hope
The Service of Comfort and Hope will be held February 28 at 7 PM in the sanctuary.
February 2018
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
6:00 Choir
Rehearsal
6:30 Women’s Step
Mtg. (Youth Rm)
2 3
Youth Group
Sleepover
4
8:00 Early Worship
9:00 Prayer Shawl
Ministry (Parlor)
10:00 Worship
5
5:45 Bell Choir
Rehearsal (Flex.
Use Rm.
6
9:30 WF Wrkshp
(Fellowship Hall)
5:45 Voices in
Harmony
6:30 GS of ME B
Serv. Unit (Atrium)
6:30 Facilities
(Parlor)
6:30 New Pastor
Search Comm.
(Conf. Rm)
7
9:30 York Assoc.
Clergy (Parlor)
10:00 Exercise (Flex
Use Rm)
10:15 Staff Mtg
(Workshop)
5:00 Dance Co.
(Fellowship Hall)
6:00 GS Troop 277
(Clsrm. 5)
8
6:00 Choir
Rehearsal
6:30 Women’s Step
Mtg. (Youth Rm)
9 10
BEAN SUPPER
11
8:00 Early Worship
8:45 Bible Study
(Conf. Rm)
9:00 Prayer Shawl
Ministry (Parlor)
10:00 Worship
11:30 Women’s
Fellowship Mtg.
(Sanctuary)
12
4:00 Pastoral
Relations Comm.
5:30 Personnel
(Conf. Rm)
5:45 Bell Choir
Rehearsal (Flex.
Use Rm.
6:30 Church Council
(Conf. Rm)
13
9:30 WF Wrkshp
(Fellowship Hall)
5:45 Voices in
Harmony
6:30 New Pastor
Search Comm.
(Conf. Rm)
14
10:00 Staff Mtg.
(Workshop)
10:00 Exercise (Flex
Use Rm)
5:00 Dance Co.
(Fellowship Hall)
7:00 Ash
Wednesday Service
(Sanctuary)
15
6:00 Choir
Rehearsal
6:30 Women’s Step
Mtg. (Youth Rm)
16 17
18
8:00 Early Worship
8:45 Bible Study
(Conf. Rm)
9:00 Prayer Shawl
Ministry (Parlor)
10:00 Worship with
Baptism
19
5:45 Bell Choir
Rehearsal (Flex.
Use Rm.
20
9:30 WF Wrkshp
(Fellowship Hall)
5:45 Voices in
Harmony
6:30 New Pastor
Search Comm.
(Conf. Rm)
6:30 Mission Team
(Parlor)
21
10:00 So. ME Theol.
Rndtbl (Conf. Rm)
10:00 Exercise (Flex
Use Rm)
10:15 Staff Mtg
(Workshop)
5:00 Dance Co.
(Fellowship Hall)
6:00 GS Troop 277
(Clsrm. 5)
6:30 Diaconate
(Conf. Rm)
22
6:00 Choir
Rehearsal
6:30 Women’s Step
Mtg. (Youth Rm)
23 24
25
8:00 Early Worship
8:45 Bible Study
(Conf. Rm)
9:00 Prayer Shawl
Ministry (Parlor)
10:00 Worship
26
5:45 Bell Choir
Rehearsal (Flex.
Use Rm.
27
9:30 WF Wrkshp
(Fellowship Hall)
5:45 Voices in
Harmony
6:30 New Pastor
Search Comm.
(Conf. Rm)
6:15 Book Club
(Parlor)
28
9:00 York Assoc.
(Parlor)
10:00 Exercise (Flex
Use Rm)
10:15 Staff Mtg
(Workshop)
5:00 Dance Co.
(Fellowship Hall)
The MessengerFirst Parish Congregational Church12 Beach StreetSaco, ME 04072
