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WITHIN THE PEWS
Monthly Newsletter of the
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF GRAFTON, UCC Worship & Sunday School 10 am
OCTOBER EDITION
October Special Events: October 15 - Prospective new members gathering at Parsonage, 7:00
____________________________________________________________________________________________
A word from our Pastor…
What an incredible weekend. From the first apple pie baking in my oven to the splash of my final baptism in the dunk tank –it
was amazing. Nearly 200 people working and laughing together as we met our common goal of raising money for the church.
Money that will fuel our mission and purpose in this community and world. What is our mission and purpose? To love God
and one another.
And to do that in an active, deliberate, purposeful way we need three things: God’s help, the energy of one another,
and….yes, money. We raised approximately $12K at Harvest Fair which is awesome and amazing.
Here are some hard facts:
Our budget is about $180,000.00. The $12,000 from Harvest Fair is about 7% of our budget.
Our investment income is around $17,000.00 per year which is about 9% of our budget.
Our other big contributor to the budget is the thrift shop coming in at about $7,000.00 which is 4% of the budget. You can see that approximately 20% of the annual budget is funded by Harvest Fair, investments, and the Thrift Shop. Which
leaves 80% to be covered by our pledges and offerings. In other words, about $150,000 needs to be covered with pledges
and offerings.
Important fact: we have about 120 pledging units (individuals or couples) to cover the $150,000. You are one of them.
Disturbingly, about 10-15 pledging units cover nearly the entire budget. Most people either didn’t pledge at all or pledged a
very small amount. When only a small group pledges significantly, we end up with a precarious and unstable financial year.
Let’s make 2015 the year that everyone pledges and we cover our expenses together.
I am asking you to think about your pledge. Think about being a part of the $150,000. If there are 120 of us (at the very, very
most) and $150,000 is needed, what do you think you could pledge?
Stay tuned for more money talk.
See You in the Pews!
Reverend Jane
_________________________________________________________________________________ Staff & Office Information: How to contact us: Office Phone 508-839-4513 Rev. Jane Willan, Pastor FAX 508-839-9772 Kristen Graham, Admin. Asst., Editor Email: [email protected] Organist: Edward Smreczak Pastor’s email: [email protected] Music Director: Donna Blanchard Web Site: www.uccgrafton.org Jane’s cell 508-581-0786 Jane’s blog: http://uccgrafton.wordpress.com
Confirmation Class 2014-2015
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Dear Parents,
I’m looking forward to this year’s confirmation class! There will be an important Orientation & Information Session for parents and kids on an upcoming Sunday at 11:30 am (after worship) in the Fireplace Room. This is a great time to ask any questions you may have. We’ll introduce ourselves, review the schedule and discuss expectations for the year. I’ll also pass around registration forms and medical release forms.
Our approach to Confirmation Class is designed to speak to the whole person--questioning, doubting, faithful, and exploring. We’ll cover important topics like Jesus, the Bible, and the history of Christianity. But we’ll also play together, worship together, and do a service project. The kids will make friends and learn about being a part of a community that respects and cares for each other. Most of all, Confirmation Class should be a safe place for kids to explore and develop faith, ask questions, and consider the meaning and importance of the Christian faith for themselves.
Mentors
Each confirmand will be paired with an adult mentor, who is a member of our congregation. Mentors are carefully selected, screened and trained for their role in the Confirmation program. You may request a specific person to be your child’s mentor and we would be happy to approach that person on your behalf. Mentors will attend some classes as well as several special events—the service project, Christmas Din-ner, Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday services, etc. Kids are encouraged to get together with their mentors in pairs—arrange with a friend to go out to dinner, etc. Having a mentor gives kids a chance to relate to a safe and caring adult outside their family, for whom Christian faith is important.
Getting Started
The 2014-2015 Confirmation Class will be commissioned during the service of worship after we have our initial meeting. Following worship, there will be a get-together for Parents and Mentors in the Fireplace Room. This is a great chance to meet and get acquainted with your child’s mentor. Confirmation Class will start a week later. We will firm up the night and time of confirmation at our initial meeting.
How can I support my child?
• Put all the Confirmation Schedule dates on your family calendar.
• Provide transportation to and from Confirmation events. Notice if there are any confirmands in the group who do not have a ride and reach out to them.
• Make sure our child attends Confirmation Class, but take a relaxed approach to how it’s going.
• Get to know your child’s mentor; support that relationship.
• Share your own faith in ways that are genuine and comfortable for you.
• Be open to what your child wishes to share about Confirmation Class. They may tell you almost nothing, or they may want to have a deep conversation. Take the lead from your child.
Keep in Touch with Reverend Jane
I use e-mail a great deal to send out reminders and for quick communications—but you can also text me or message me on Facebook. You’re always welcome to call me at the church or at home—better yet, stop by the church office or parsonage and talk in person.
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Cell phone: 508-581-0786
• Home phone: (508) 839-5257
Are there any costs?
Yes. We ask each family to contribute $125.00 to cover the cost of the Confirmation Retreat in February. The church would be happy to find scholarship money if you need it.
I look forward to a great year!
Reverend Jane
CARE AND CONCERN CIRCLE October 2014
Join the Care and Concern Circle by keeping these people in your prayers now and throughout your week. To add or remove a name, speak with any deacon, email the church office at [email protected] or the deacon chairperson at [email protected]. Thank you!
We pray for recovery, well-being and comfort for:
Aldeth, Dan & Arielle Ron Mack Mark F. Hank Poler
Kelley Lennon-Hopkins Tom Overdorf Sadie Jean LaFlamme
Christina N. All our service men and women at home and away
.
‘All Are Welcome’ isn’t enough
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people of faith often experience emotional and spiritual
injury in churches that condemn their capacity to love and seek love. Because they’ve learned that “All Are
Welcome” usually doesn’t apply to them, they can’t assume that any church will be safe for them and their
families.
A public welcome by an Open and Affirming (ONA) church sends a clear message to LGBT seekers that
they have a home in the United Church of Christ.
A congregation’s affirmation and support through an ONA covenant can be a life-changing and life-saving
experience—especially for LGBT youth.
A public welcome to LGT seekers helps churches grow. When new ONA churches attract new members,
many of them are young straight couples starting new families: they identify with the values ONA repre-
sents, and want their children to learn the faith in a welcoming church.
By adopting an ONA covenant, a Congregation is taking seriously St. Paul’s admonition to “accept one an-
other, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7, NIV)
COME SEE JOSEPH & THE
AMAZING TECHNICOLOR
DREAMCOAT!
The Christian Education Committee is planning a
trip to Hanover Theatre in November to see Joseph
& The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! We have
reserved 25 tickets for Saturday, November 1st at 2
p.m. and the price is $41.50 each. Tickets will be
sold on a first come, first served basis. If you would
like to buy tickets for this great show, please email
Christine Brown ([email protected]) with the num-
ber of tickets you wish to purchase.
Adult Christian Education is essential to one’s
faith formation. Engaging in Christian educa-
tion as adults, allows us to increase our under-
standing of scripture and the Christian journey
thus increasing our faith and commitment to
God. Only through an open and questioning
study of the Bible can we discern the applica-
bility of the Scriptures in every day life. Please
join us at 9:15 Sunday morning for Adult Chris-
tian Education. We meet in the fireplace
room.
This church offers two opportunities for Adult
Sunday School: Thursday at 6:45 in the fire-
place room and Sunday morning at 9:15.
We will begin with our study of The Evolution of
the Word by Marcus Borg. You can order the
book on our church website Or you can pick
up a copy at the church.
Our NEW Workshop Rotation Sunday school model is underway! The Children began their first bible story, the 10 commandments, on September 14th by watching the movie “God Rocks! 10 Rockin’ Rules”. The next week they dove into the workshops.
Art with Elaine Hatch: Children made 10 com-mandment tablets using the Hebrew characters. Stop by the Sunday School rooms to view the finished products!
Bible Skills/Games with Justin Mussler: Chil-dren played “Broken Rule” Candyland, 10 Command-ment Pictionary and 20 Questions with Mr. Mussler.
Drama with Gabrielle McLean: The children reinforced each commandment with 10 Command-ment skits. Check out the new website to view the recordings!
Other with Don Lutz: The kids tested their memory outside while they play 10 Commandment hopscotch with sidewalks chalk with Mr. Lutz.
Up Next: The Greatest Commandment:
Oct. 19-Nov. 16th
For the next bible story, the children will be ex-ploring God’s Greatest Commandment. Love God with all your heart, and with all your soul and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. We are looking forward to the following work-shops:
Art with Elaine Bresnahan
Drama with Brenda Armstrong
Other with Karin Nolan
A Volunteer is needed for the Bible Skills/Game workshop! Please contact Amy Woodbury at [email protected] if you are able to donate your time!
Final Payment Now Due
The women’s retreat is fast approaching!
Please send in your final payment today.
Craigville Conference Center
October 24-26, 2014
Cost: $190
Got Questions?
Ask the Women’s Retreat Committee:
Liz Gallagher (508) 839-0081
Connie Hopkins (508) 839-2146
Betty Mack (508) 839-4287
Kathy Vandenengel (508) 839-5584
GRAFTON THRIFT SHOP
VOLUNTEERS FOR OCTOBER, 2014
Shop Hours: Thursdays 10-1, Saturdays 10-4
Thursday 10-1
Oct. 2 Mary Tulloch, Lois Scott
9 Diane LaLone, Kathy Schonberg
16 Elaine Hatch, Ann Robinson
23 Sandy Cooper, Diana Macfarlane
30 Bill & Jean Burke, Lee Paine
Saturday 10-1
Sept. 4 Elaine Hatch, Brenda Armstrong
11 Sandy Cooper, Mary Iram
18 Diane LaLone, Jane Nozzolillo
25 Bill & Jean Burke, Kathy Schon-
berg
Saturday 1-4
Sept. 4 Mary Tulloch, Joanne Hable
11 Bill & Jean Burke
18 Diane LaLone
25 Elaine Hatch
Scripture Readings for
October
October 5 Exodus 20:1-20
October 12 Matthew 22:1-14
October 19 Matthew 22:15-22
October 26 Matthew 22:34-46
Take Advantage of Those “Back to
School” Sales
School supplies are on sale at many stores in
the area and these are great items to fill the
shoe boxes with when we hold our OPERA-
TION CHRISTMAS CHILD campaign in No-
vember. Please think ahead and pick up any
items that can be used as gifts for the less fortu-
nate children of the world.
NEIGHBORS IN
NEED
Neighbors in Need is an all-church offering re-ceived on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October. Gifts to NIN are used to ben-efit disadvantaged neighbors of the United Church of Christ in the United States. The Council for American Indian Ministry receives one-third of the offering. The remaining two thirds of the offering are used by the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, Commission for Racial Jus-tice, Office of Communication, Office for Church in Society and Coordinating Center for Women. Checks may be made out to the church with the
Dismas House Meals
Dismas House was founded in 1974 by Rev.
Jack Hickey as the Vanderbilt University Prison
Project in Nashville. A Fall River, Massachu-
setts native, Rev. Hickey recognized the need
for former prisoners to have a stable housing
environment after release from incarceration.
Soon other houses followed, from Ireland to
Massachusetts. In 1988, concerned citizens
opened a Dismas House in Worcester, follow-
ing the example of Jack Hickey, and believing
that prisoner reconciliation with society was
an important mission. The Mission Outreach
Committee supports Dismas House in Worces-
ter by assisting with meal preparation
throughout the year.
Volunteers are needed to prepare a main
course, salad, two vegetables, bread and des-
sert for 16 men once a month. The Congrega-
tional Church of Grafton is responsible for
meals on Friday, October 17, Friday, Novem-
ber 21 and Friday, December 19. The food
needs to be delivered to the church kitchen by
5:00 p.m. on these dates. One or two church
members are also needed to join a member of
Mission Outreach to deliver and share the
meal. Please contact Elaine Hatch at
[email protected] if you would like to
help with one of the meals.
Thank You from the “Jewelry and
More Table”
I want to thank everyone for their contribu-
tions to the “Jewelry and More Table’ and to
Brenda Armstrong for all her help. We still
have some beautiful Vera Bradley bags that
will be going back to the thrift shop to be
put on sale.
Elaine Hatch
October Birthdays
Mike Gallagher 10/2 Daniel Whitney 10/2 Sheldon Cooper 10/3
Judy Overdorf 10/4 Jimmy Brawn 10/7 Eli Cahill 10/7
Rick Anderson 10/9 Owen Klumpenaar 10/10 Paul Praderio 10/10
William DiSenso 10/12 Jim Smonelli 10/12 Olivia Swason 10/12
Nicole Swanson 10/12 Bob Macfarlane 10/16 Edith Wood 10/16
R. MacCallum 10/17 Jayce Keeler 10/21 Claire Johnson 10/25
Ashley Johnson 10/25 Pan Spinazola 10/26 Jack Belfiore 10/31
Catherine Bresnahan 10/29
Thoughts on Teaching Sunday School by Don Lutz
I learned everything I need to know about the Congregational Church of Grafton by learning to play hopscotch. I have to admit that at first I was a little nervous about volunteering to be one of the teachers for the Sunday School Rotation Workshop. And I think I surprised everyone that first Sunday morning when I had to ask how to play hopscotch. I know my sisters played it growing up, but I was busy with other activities so it never made it into our weekends of football and baseball. But wow, am I glad I know how now. Not because I’m any good at it. Every one of the children I met being a teacher was way better than me. But that is what I actually learned, that these chil-dren have a lot more to teach me sometimes than I have to teach them. First, I learned about a wonderful program Amy Woodbury and her dedicated assistants are bringing to the children. The laughter, singing, and general happiness that fill the room downstairs with these leaders and children is contagious. Having the chance to play a quick game of hopscotch and talk to these children has been a wonderful and rewarding experience. But the real learning event came in watching the young leaders among these children. Each week I observed the children welcome with open hearts and arms new kids who just want-ed to be a part of the group. Every child was welcomed in with smiles, directions on where to go, and when necessary, a hand reached out to ensure that the new young person would know they are not only welcome, but celebrated as a new member of their group. I want to publicly thank Amy and all of the teachers, past, present, and future for your involvement. But I really want to thank the children for teaching me how to play hopscotch, and more importantly, for re-minding me of how great it is to reach out to someone who can become a new friend!
WITHIN THE PEWS
Monthly Newsletter of the Congregational Church of Grafton
Congregational Church of Grafton 30 Grafton Common P.O. Box 421 PLACE Grafton, MA 01519 POSTAGE HERE
Address Service Requested
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF GRAFTON 30 Grafton Common, P.O. Box 421, Grafton, MA; Telephone 508-839-4513
WORSHIP SERVICES: SUNDAYS, 10 a.m.
