MESSENGER

MESSENGER
of the
First Congregational
Church
United Church of Christ
121 W. Foster St.
Melrose, Massachusetts
An Open and Affirming Congregation
Rev. Dominic Taranowski, Pastor
Janiele Allman, Director of Christian Education
Duncan Vinson, Music Director
OFFICE 781-665-2111 - FAX 781-665-8824
E-MAIL [email protected] Website www.fccmelrose.org
Cell phone: 781-526-3428
VOLUME 96
June 13, 2014
Number 40
Having to Make Two Trips
Did you know that TJ Max moved their location
in the Square One Mall? They are now in the same space
where Filenes used to be.
Noreen and I found something interesting about the new
store. The shopping carts are crazy small for one thing
but even more fascinating is the fact that you can’t leave
the store with one. As soon as you cross the threshold to
the parking lot, the rear wheels of the cart lock up. I am
not sure who would want to steal a shopping cart, but I
suspect it has more to do with not having to pay staff to
go out and collect the carts from the lot.
What does this have to do with church? Too
often our spiritual lives lock up as soon as we cross the
threshold of our church and head back to the parking lot
after worship. As much as we might like it to be
otherwise, we confine our faith to Sunday mornings and
to the worship experience in the sanctuary. It is an “in
store” experience.
It shouldn’t be that way, of course. We wheel as
much as possible out of the church and into the rest of
our lives. We should heap the cart of our hearts to
overflowing with inspiration, purpose and direction for
living every moment of our lives. We should leave
worship with bags of thought provoking questions and
boxes of new ideas for addressing the situations we face.
In fact, in an ideal world, you should leave
church on Sunday with so much that you can’t carry it
all. You have to make two trips. That second trip would
be the following Sunday--and the cycle continues...
If you come to worship because your cart is
empty, that’s a good thing. My prayer is that you will
leave filled and wanting more. I pray that the wheels of
your heart won’t lock up on your way home; that you
don’t “switch gears” too fast.
I hope you stay in a spiritual place as you encounter the
“real world” knowing that your spiritual place is your
natural state and the real world is one permeated by
God’s presence.
See you in church,
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Church School Sunday
Father’s Day
9:00 AM – Band of Praise Rehearsal
10:00 AM – WORSHIP
and Church School, Pre K - 12
11:15 AM – Coffee Hour
1:00 – 4:00 PM – Pool Party at the Oosterman’s
THE FLOWERS are given in loving memory of Dana F.
Batting and Richard E. Ahlin by the Ahlin/Krueger family.
DURING THE COMING WEEK
Tuesday, June 17
7:00 PM – Deacons and Trustees Meeting at the Brincheiro’s
– All Deacons and Trustees from the prior term and current
term (ingoing) invited to this planning meeting
Thursday, June 19
3:30 PM – Staff Meeting
Friday, June 20
9:30 AM – Youth leave on Mission Trip
Sunday, June 22
10:00 AM – Outdoor Worship Service on the lawn, followed
by the End of Year Cookout!
The following groups meet here regularly:
Boy Scouts – Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in the basement
Girl Scouts – Mondays, 2:45, Thursdays 2:45, Fridays 2:30, 7/8
Cub Scouts – Sunday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Al-Anon – weekdays at 12 noon, Sunday at 1 & 7 PM – Rm. 8
Blue of a Kind – Mondays at 7:00 PM in the Music Room
S.A.R.P. – Mondays and Tuesdays at 6:30 PM, lounge
A.W.O.L. – Tuesdays at 7:30 PM, 7/8, lounge, Rm. 1
Tai Chi for Arthritis – Wednesdays at 10:00 AM, Room 8
Vital Cycles - Thursdays at 7:00 PM, lounge
O.A. – Fridays at 7 PM, lounge
A.A. – Wednesdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays at 8:00 PM and Saturdays at
9:00 AM and 3:00 PM – Rm. 8
Parker William Colby, baby
grandson of Diane Bailot (heart
surgery June 24), Gem Colvin, Amy
Spollett, Becky Faro, Marilyn
McComas, Kate Watson, Dot Allen,
Bob Pierce, Anne Wing.
3rd Annual Church
Pool Party on Fathers'
Day, June 15th
1 pm until 4 pm
at the Oosterman's
Lawn games, pool toys
and snacks provided.
Feel free to bring your
own picnic, blanket,
games, snacks,
floatation devices, etc.
including added insulation and weatherization, plus
the replacement of the narthex flooring, will begin
over the summer months. A primary goal of our
campaign will be to retire this debt with funds
committed during the campaign. Our campaign is
scheduled to commence in the early fall, and will
“wrap-around” and include our traditional
stewardship drive. The campaign committee will be
formed soon, and begin its work over the summer
months. Watch for more details about the campaign
in the fall, and come back in September to see what
positive changes and improvements to our building
have already begun!
A Capital Campaign Is Voted!
th
At our Congregational Meeting held on June 8 , the
congregation voted unanimously and
enthusiastically to embark on a $400,000 capital
campaign of which not less than 10% will be
designated for mission, to form a capital campaign
committee, and to engage the services of a campaign
consultant. Based upon earlier meetings conducted
for our feasibility study, it was readily apparent that
the vast majority of people interviewed understood
the scope and urgency of the restoration work that
needs to be done to our facilities, particularly
replacing the carpeting in the church and repairing
the roof (including structural and weatherization
improvements) such that we may install solar panels
to reduce our overall energy expenses. Our
consultant reported that there is “a sense of
community that effuses enthusiastic support to
improve our church and enable us to attract new
members and grow!” The voting congregation
echoed these sentiments, and greeted the vote to
move ahead with applause!
Also, there was a considerable amount of discussion
about the congregation’s desire to start some needed
work on our facility prior to the campaign getting
fully underway. Reasons to borrow funds and
reasons to wait until funds are actually committed &
raised were vocalized, and the members present also
expressed questions, concerns, and comments both
in favor and against advancing funds prior to the
campaign’s kick-off. Following significant
discussion, it was unanimously voted at the meeting
that the church borrow up to $275,000 in order that
we commence some of the work on the building
immediately, even as the campaign will not have its
official “kick-off” until the fall of 2014. With this
vote in place, it is anticipated that work on our roof,
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These are exciting times for our church! Praise God
from whom all blessings flow!
Jim Oosterman,
Capital Campaign Steering Committee
HS: June 20-22 – HS Mission Trip
MS/HS: July 27th--Pool Party @Michelle and Stephen
MacIntosh's 12-2pm.
Christian Ed News:
Parents of High School Youth:
We will need your paperwork for the Youth Mission Trip
by Sunday, June 15th. Thank you.
MESSENGER DEADLINE for items to go in the last
Messenger for the season is Friday, June 13. That
Messenger will be sent out June 18.
We are looking forward to seeing summer items and also
previews of upcoming fall events. The first Messenger
after summer break will be out August 27.
MESSENGER
JOIN US FOR THE
END-OF-YEAR
ALL-CHURCH COOKOUT!
JUNE 22nd
(right after church!)
Who Wants Pie?!?!?!
Enjoy a Homemade Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie filled with
locally grown strawberries and rhubarb fresh from the
Klemm's garden! Pies are available fully cooked and
ready to eat, or prepared and frozen, ready for you to
cook at home when you desire!
Place your order for one of these delicious pies by
Sunday, June 15th! Pies are $20 each and will be
delivered to your home in Melrose between the June 19th
and 22nd or available for you to pick up at the church on
Sunday the 22nd.
The pie-man will be accepting orders for pies after
worship on Sunday June 8th & 15th, or email Lisa
Oosterman at [email protected] to order your pie online!
Sunday School Help
Wanted!
Are you interested in a very
rewarding opportunity to
work with our youth? We
have some wonderful
opportunities that may suit
you whether you have kids in the program or not!
1. We are looking for Sunday School teachers of
many different age groups. Typical Sunday
School teachers work on a rotational basis and
unique schedules are easily accommodated.
It’s that time of year again...time for the end-of-year
cookout hosted by our Deacons and Trustees! This
year it will be held on June 22nd, right after church
service, on the playground behind the church (in the
Narthex if it rains).
This cookout is always a great time to relax and visit
with friends, talk about summer plans, and enjoy the
great smorgasbord of picnic food that we always
have, including great burgers, veggie burgers, and
hot dogs.
To sign up for the cookout and what you’d like to
bring, see the signup board in the Narthex. Be sure
to note how many in your group will be attending.
Burgers and hot dogs are provided, so numbers
help us be prepared.
Also note whether you’d like to bring a salad, a
dessert, veggies, etc. to share.
Also, if you can help set up the morning of the
cookout, add your name under that column and
someone will contact you.
See you at the cookout!
Your Fellowship Deacons,
Theresa Pluskey and Donna Miner
2. We are looking for members who may not want
to teach but would be willing to be a 2nd adult.
No preparation is needed; you just show up and
may even learn a thing or two.
Thank You All
3. We have opportunities for Church members to
lead one-time activities during Sunday School on
non-classroom open Sundays. Activities in the
past have been baking, working on mission
projects, making cards or gifts for our
homebound members, special guest lecturers,
holiday lessons, earth day projects, special
lessons on any Christian topic or etc. New ideas
are also welcomed!
If you would like to find out how to get involved with this
important area of our Church, please contact Kris
Carbonneau at 781-665-5352 or
[email protected].
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For your tremendous
support of the
R.I.M Flower Sale
You have given help and hope to people
who are beginning a new life in America
“Building Community With Uprooted People to Serve
the Common Good”
MESSENGER
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MESSENGER