Olly, Olly Oxen Free! - First Congregational Church

Rally Day Edition 2016 | First Congregational Church in Billerica
Lantern
Mark Your Calendar
Sunday September 11
Taize Worship 10 am
Saturday September 17
NE Boiled Dinner 5-7 pm
Sunday September 18
Rally Day
Worship, Sunday School, BBQ
Weekly 6pm Service Starts
Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 pm
Sermon Prep Bible Study
Sunday October 2
World Communion Sunday
Sunday October 16
Pajama Sunday
Sunday October 23
Fall Family Festival 11 am
Saturday November 12
Fall Craft & Vendor Fair
Sunday November 13
Ingathering
Thursday November 24
Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Olly, Olly Oxen Free!
Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in
you?
—Psalm 85:6
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
September! I love September. I’ve always loved September.
The air is cleared and there is room for fresh starts. Isn’t that
what grace is?
I’m praying for grace in your lives. Olly, olly oxen free! Come
home, you are safe, no one can tag you out. Come home to
church, a place to belong. Come home to church, a place to
heal and find wholeness. Come home to church, a place to
join with others and make a difference in our community and
in the world. When two or three are gathered Jesus is
present and don’t you just wonder what good works Jesus
will call us to this year?
So who are you inviting to join us this year? We have a
wonderful program for children, the music program is great,
and we worship from the heart. Invite your neighbors, your
family, your friends —it’s too good not to share.
We are geared up and ready to go. We’ll be in the Yankee
Doodle Parade this year. Do you want to help carry a banner
or hand out candy? We are looking to train the next
generation of folks to cook the boiled dinner. Is that you? We
are moving to two Sunday services —10 am and 6 pm.
Come to the one that best fits the schedule of your life.
The office is now open Tuesday through Friday from 9 am
until 5 pm. Come meet Taryn Gillis our Communications and
Office Manager. I’m thankful that she will be keeping us all
informed and updated. It’s going to be a good year. Come
home and be a part of something good.
Grace upon grace, Katherine
Rally Day
Two services each Sunday!
Sunday, September 18
10 am and 6 pm
Rally Day will soon be here! Come celebrate with
us as the new school year begins. As Billerica
celebrates its homecoming weekend with
Yankee Doodle Weekend, we, too, want to
welcome you back from your vacations and
summer activities with a special Rally Day
worship service and BBQ.
Following the service we will enjoy our annual
BBQ, grilled by our own church chefs, salads
made by our own cooks, and lots of yummy
sweets. Music will be provided and our activities
team has planned games for the kids.
Please plan to attend! We are always looking for
more volunteers to help out so please call us if
you can help. Also, please let us know if you are
willing to bring a salad or dessert to share. There
will be a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board next
to the Parlor. Thank you!
Paula Beardsley-978-667-0681
Carol Young – 978-663-5658
Pat Rogers – 978-663-8121
Our Sign Up Sheets Have Moved!
Please sign up to bring a dish to share for Rally
Day, or to be on the clean-up crew on the sign-up
sheet that is in the downstairs hall outside of the
parlor. Sign-up sheets for readers, greeters,
coffee hour and other events will all be downstairs
outside the parlor. We need you! All hands are
needed to keep our church moving along. Thank
you!
Sunday evening worship at 6 pm
begins on Sunday September 18
Because all are welcome and because we
have good news that can transform people’s
lives, we want to be able to accommodate
people’s schedules. We are adding a 6 pm
worship service on Sunday evenings Tell
your friends who have trouble getting to 10
am church because of family, sports, work,
sleep, etc. we added have an evening
option. Come for innovative, intimate,
invigorating, and inspiring services. All are
welcome.
Taryn Gillis
has joined the team!
Introducing Taryn Gillis, Communications
and Office Manager. Taryn will be in the
building Tuesdays through Fridays, 9-5, and
can be reached by email:
[email protected],
and by cell 978 502-7684, as well as via the
church office phone 978-663-8433. She will
be focused on communication in all forms,
including the Lantern, weekly bulletin and
announcements, and both social and print
media. Keep an eye out for articles and
listings in the local papers and BATV as we
move forward. Taryn is involved with lots of
community activities and brings a wealth of
knowledge about Billerica. Welcome!
Confirmation Classes will be starting soon!
Pilgrim Fellowship
All youth entering 8th grade or above are invited to
join this year’s Confirmation Class. Classes will be
held on Sundays. Parents and youth are invited to
an informational meeting on Sunday, September
25 from 4:45 – 5:45 pm in the Parlor. This meeting
is an organizational meeting and should include
both parents and youth. Thank you!
We would like to invite anyone 6th to 12th
grade to join us in our new year in PF. Our
first meeting is an informational meeting for
parents and youth. Sunday Oct 2nd at 7pm is
our first official meeting and on Oct 15th we
will have our first Lock-in, the group’s
favorite. We have lots of ideas, looking
forward to a fun year! Please join us, Cindy
Giardina and Andrea Doyle
Rev Katherine’s Doctor of Ministry Project
Rev Katherine has completed the residency
portion of her DMin program in Chicago. She is
now writing a thesis that looks at how the stories of
our lives are mirrored in the stories of our sacred
scriptures. She is using the work of W. Paul Jones
and his theological worlds to understand the
different lenses through which we see our faith.
Please help by:
1) Completing a Theological World View survey
2) Answering surveys on some “preaching
Sundays”
3) Speaking with the church support team
(PPG) on “preaching Sundays”
Sept 25th 7:00 Informational meeting for PF
Oct 2nd 7:00 1st meeting (planning, games
and catch up on thankful jars from the
summer)
Oct 9th No PF Columbus Day weekend
Oct 15th Lock-in, mandatory church
attendance on the 16th
Oct. 23rd & 30th Will be planned on the 2nd
(1 will be mission type and 1 will be fun
type)
Thanks for your help and support!
Billerica Food Market
FCCB Food Pantry
Please bring in donations for our food
pantry on the 1st Sunday of the month.
We are in need of:
Toothpaste/Toothbrushes
Box Macaroni and Cheese
Fruit Cups
Paper products
Condiments
The Billerica Public Schools will be
offering a Food Market again this
year. This is a farmer’s market style
distribution of assorted foods at no
cost to Billerica residents. Upcoming
Dates are: 9/22, 10/20, 11/17 and
12/15, 2016 and
1/19, 2/16, 3/16, 4/27, 5/18 and
6/8, 2017.
For more information or to register
send an email to
[email protected] or
call (978) 528-7920.
There’s no room for hunger in our community!
Make a difference. Donate and volunteer.
Come & Celebrate
YANKEE DOODLE WEEKEND
with our
NEW ENGLAND
BOILED DINNER
Saturday, Sept 17th, 5-7 pm
DALE HALL
Adults $10, Children $6
Hotdogs and chips also served
To order "Dinners to go", call the church at 978-663-8433 Mon-Fri (9 am – noon)
"Dinners to go" may be picked up Sat during the dinner or Sun morning 11:15-11:45am
Mark your calendars and plan to bring your friends to this delicious supper.
We will be needing help Friday morning to prepare the vegetables and throughout the day on
Saturday for setting-up, hosting and/or serving. Please contact MaryAnne @ 978-667-4239
([email protected]) or Lynne @ 603-508-6712 (LynneHildreth@ comcast.net) to offer
your help or sign up on the hall bulletin board.
This is a church event to serve the public and it takes many hands. You do not need to be
experienced. We offer on the job training.
Also, if any one would like to sponsor a family or couple by providing tickets to attend the
dinner, please see one of us.
Training the Next Generation
The Hildreths and Durands are looking for
two families who are willing to step up and
take on the Yankee Doodle Boiled Dinner
beginning in 2017. They would like to offer on
the job training this year. Is this your calling?
Hard work, but lots of fun.
Sunday School News
Dear Parents and Families,
Summer is flying by and members of Youth Ministry are
busy preparing for the start of the new Sunday school
year on September 18th. We are very excited about our
plans and looking forward to a great year of fun and
learning with all new and returning families
Our Program
Grades 1 – 8 begin each Sunday school period with a
brief time in the chapel. Together, we learn how to be
part of church by taking turns being an acolyte,
gathering the offering and doing simple readings. We
also learn the meaning behind some of our traditions
and symbols.
Our curriculum is customized for each age group.
In class, finding and reading scripture from age
appropriate bibles, joining in musical, art and cooking
activities help keep the learning fun.
Events
We’re bringing back some of our favorite events - Fall
Family Festival, Elves Workshop and Pajama Sunday.
We’ll make fellowship following the service fun for
families with Summer in January and Souper Bowl
Tailgate themes. Watch the Lantern and Bulletins for
dates and details.
Our Teachers
Nothing happens without our teachers. We’re very
excited to welcome new and returning teachers and
teacher assistants. We are very fortunate to have such
a great group of individuals who dedicate their time
each Sunday to inspire the children with learning and
fun.
In addition, we would like to welcome back Helen Pynn,
our nursery attendant. Our youngest children look
forward to seeing her each week and parents can be
confident that their children are safe and happy in her
care.
Registration
Please join us for the start of a new Sunday school year
on September 18th. Registration forms will be mailed in
advance for your convenience.
Additional registration forms will be in the parlor on
Rally Day. We look forward to seeing you all!
Questions and comments about our program are
welcome. Please contact any member of the Youth
Ministry or Sandy Galvin at 510-329-2169
Blessings,
We give thanks for the blessing of our teachers!
Willing hands and hearts to share the gift of faith
with our children.
Special thanks for all who are returning for
another year. We’re excited about new mother
and daughter teaching teams and recent
confirmands who join us this year.
When you see them, thank them for all they do
for our children.
Nursery
Preschool
Helen Pynn
Corrina & Samantha Lombardo
Leslie & Jackie Ayers
Andrea & Tianna Doyle
Kindergarten
Katie Verrocchio/Chloe Doyle
Jenny Carmichael
Grades 1 & 2
Lexi Giardina/Devin Salter
Elaine Keough
Grades 3 & 4
Traci Shostak
Sandy Raworth
Rachel Daughenbaugh
Grades 4 & 5
Dawn Salter
Brooke O’Connor
Grades 6, 7 & 8 Corrina Lombardo
Guiding your family in prayer through silence.
adapted from an article at Lords-Prayer-Words.com
Silence in the 21st century is a rare occurrence. So
too is stillness - when we are not checking our
phones, watching TV or browsing the web. Our lives
are crammed with information, emails and news.
Actually asking your family to close their eyes and not
do anything for a moment may be a new experience!
But this may also be a very valuable time for them.
Sometimes silence needs to be guided so that minds
do not wander:• (Parent) " I want you to think for a moment about
something that you are worried about and give this
thought to God" (wait a while)
• "Now think about somebody you know and what
they may be worried about. Give these concerns to
God and pray for them in your heart" (wait a while)
• "Take the last few moments to thank God for
something. This could be something you have learned
today, or an interest that you have, or anything else
that comes to mind" (wait a while).
• Then conclude with a short prayer asking a blessing
for your children/family
Senior High Mission Trip July 2016
The Senior High class would like to extend a very sincere thank you to
everyone who supported our trip this summer from the buyers of candy hearts
and carrot cake to the donations from the PF group and AIM High, from the
prayers of the congregation to the prayers of the Russian Orthodox Church
where we stayed, and from the extra care and love getting ready from parents
to the extra care and love from chaperones, from the help of a PF alum in SC
to the kindness and patience of the job foreman’s. We had a wonderful trip and
we did some wonderful work. We truly feel we shared the love of our church
with others and thank everyone involved for helping us do that.
This is a wonderful group of young people and I am so happy I was allowed
to spend a week with them in the sweltering SC sunshine. Please join us on
the 25th of September in Dale Hall to hear our stories as we put this work in the
past and look forward to where God is calling us to go in 2017.
Chery Cook’s Remarks on Recent Islam/Interfaith Forums from May 2016
Wednesday marked my third trip to the mosque in Billerica. There they call their house of worship a “masjid,” which in
Arabic means “a place where one’s head bows down to touch the ground in submission to God.” My first visit was in
2005, when I briefly lived in one of the homes abutting the masjid and received a flyer reaching out to welcome the
neighborhood to an open-house event. And my second visit occurred in accompanying our recent confirmation class. I’ve
really enjoyed the time spent together as Christians and Muslims, and Wednesday was another warm and educational
event among friends.
The masjid had partnered with a Chelmsford synagogue and a group called BRIDGES to host a screening for a short film
about a 2012 hate crime that resulted in the deaths of several Sikhs congregated at their temple in Wisconsin. The film is
one of many in the Not In Our Town series by an organization who describes themselves as “a movement to stop hate,
address bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all” by providing local leaders with materials to help “build
vibrant, diverse cities and towns where everyone can participate.” Groups like these promote the idea of communities
coming together to consistently and categorically reject expressions of hate and violence by reacting as if an attack
against any one group is an attack against us all, and many towns in this film series have found that standing up and
speaking out have forced the hate group to abandon the town and the foothold they’d been gaining there. I would
encourage anyone interested to look for these films on YouTube and occasionally on PBS.
The panel included the filmmaker, the mayor of Oak Creek WI, and members from the Sikh and Arab communities. The
fact that community leaders like the Billerica Police Chief and the US Attorney for Massachusetts also participated
underscored how important these discussions are to doing everything we can proactively to ensure these awful events are
less likely to happen close to home.
The panel discussion focused on the need for communication and acceptance, as well as the need to support community
integration rather than assimilation. There was pride expressed at America’s legacy of celebrating diversity, in contrast to
many Muslim immigrants to Europe perceiving an expectation of total assimilation at the expense of preserving culture,
language and tradition. This comparison was humorously analogized as a preference for salad (or variety) over soup (or
homogenization).
The audience small-group discussions that followed discussed broader issues like social identity, stereotypes and mental
health awareness, but mainly focused on generating concrete ideas for overcoming obstacles to taking action as
individuals and groups. I had expected folks to mention obstacles like our apathy or desensitization to news of terrible
events, but I’d forgotten how much we also blame our busy lives. Instead of overscheduling ourselves, making time to
get to know all the groups in our communities can encourage and inspire others to overcome their own fears and
participate. Sharing God’s love is contagious, and the small groups’ ideas for action and awareness included fun events
from block parties to interfaith book clubs to road races, and community service events from joint food pantry
distributions to Habitat for Humanity projects—all while continuing to support future forums for all ages at libraries and
houses of worship.
An April forum held at the Congregational-UCC church in Dudley MA (after a cemetery controversy there) featured a
panel from the Worcester Islamic Center, who offers an Islam 101 class to teach basics as well as demystify ideas about
what sharia law really means, why and when groups within Islam radicalized, and how words like “jihad” and “infidel”
have had their meanings twisted by terrorists. (An imam from Providence stated the Qur’an talks about Jewish and
Christian believers not as infidels but as “people of the book,” meaning fellow children of Abraham.) The basic
information shared taught me much about the commonalities of our faiths. I had no idea that the intent of the hijab worn
by many Muslim women is partly to honor and emulate the purity and modesty of Mary. Or that Islam subscribes to so
many of Jesus’ teachings since they consider him an important prophet. Or that their expression “ya Allah” is
linguistically related to our “alleluia” in reverse. The Dudley panel also shared a scholar's habit worth adopting:
examining morality in the news by focusing on the verbs and adverbs given, not on the nouns and adjectives. That way,
we get to the bottom of what happened instead of bogged down in our biased labels about those involved.
If anyone is interested in joining the FCCB members attending future interfaith events or services, or has ideas for how
we can all serve together alongside our neighbors, please make that known to others interested, or just go and bring a
friend (and then share the experience with our congregation)! Our neighbors have already shown that they share our
passion for focusing on what we have in common rather than what divides us. So let’s include intentional diversity in the
fun things our community already does every day!
Update on Ecumenical and Interfaith Activities
On June 14 we gathered in the sanctuary for a vigil for the lives lost in the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando.
We were joined by members of Anjuman e-Ezzi masjid in North Billerica (Muslim), members of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon), and members of First Parish (Unitarian Universalist). Together we
read the names of those killed, lit candles to honor their lives, and prayed for peace as one community in our
own ways. It was a powerful gathering, made stronger by our diversity.
As reported in the Billerica Minuteman: “Members of the First Parish Church and First Congregational Church
worshipped together on July 17 at FPC, on the common, in Billerica. Both congregations have a shared heritage
and history that is intertwined with the history of Billerica itself. Billerica was incorporated as a town in 1655,
three years after 12 families moved from Cambridge and Woburn, to what in the 1630s was the Shawshin
Praying Indian Village. Praying Indians were natives that the Puritans had converted to Christianity. A thatched
roof church was constructed in 1655. Samuel Whiting Jr. was called as the first minister, and in 1663, the Rev.
Whiting was ordained and the church was organized as a church of the Congregational Order. In the 1820s,
theological differences within the Billerica congregation led to certain members to “seek dismission” from the
congregation. What is now First Parish Church was the only church in Billerica for over 160 years. But in 1829,
the First Orthodox Congregational Society was organized with 25 members who had theological differences.
The First Orthodox Congregational Society has evolved into the First Congregational Church in Billerica.
The Rev. Katherine Adams, of the FCC, gave the sermon, titled “Offering Our Gift,” based on Matthew 5:21-24 a
portion of the Sermon of the Mount. That Scripture calls for reconciliation with one’s neighbor before offering
gifts to God. In addition to exploring reconciliation, the sermon outlined the historical connections between the
two congregations. Members of the congregations shared their ideas and concerns while candles were lit, and
joined in prayer and song. After the service, FPC provided refreshments as members of both congregations
socialized.The service may have been the first time the two congregations joined together in worship since the
split in the 1820s.”
We have now welcomed the Seventh Day Adventist Lugandan Church to worship at FCCB on Saturdays.
Natives of Uganda, they are worshiping in the chapel in their native language. Stop in and visit on a Saturday,
they will welcome you and translate for you.
Good Stewardship – It’s often the small things
When an article about new developments in the treatment of cancer appears, I often take the time to read it. My
interest comes because I had a malignancy removed in 2001. My daughter says I qualify for the title of “cancer
survivor”, but I do not like the term, and do not apply it to myself. My story is hardly heroic. During a visit to my
primary care physician for an entirely different reason, I pointed out to him a birthmark that had changed in color.
He didn’t like what he saw, and immediately referred me to a dermatologist. The decision was made to remove
the nickel sized birthmark. After it was removed, it was tested and it was malignant, but “in situ”. No radiation or
chemotherapy was necessary. But if I had ignored the change, the result would likely have been far different.
So an article I read last month talked about the promise of detecting cancers through a “simple” blood test.
Unfortunately, the “simple” isn’t quite so simple. To apply it requires some DNA sequencing, a process which
costs $5,000 per person. Until the cost of DNA sequencing comes down, it’s unlikely that you or I will receive
this when you get your regular physical. Like a lot of the articles about cancer, this one reported on hopes for
the future, but gave little practical advice for those of us who are not researchers for the present.
Except for one sentence, “The best way to beat late-stage cancer is to prevent it from happening.”
We know some of the best ways of preventing cancers and other diseases. It’s almost a mantra, “Eat right, get
exercise, use sunscreen, have a regular physical, don’t do drugs, brush and floss….” Good stewardship of our
bodies calls for us to make doing some simple things habits. Yes, I have made some simple changes in my life
since 2001. The most obvious is that you will rarely see me outside without a long-sleeved shirt or hat.
Good stewardship is not dramatic. We rarely are made aware of the cancers that did not develop. And even
when we practice good stewardship cancers do occur. But the ones that are caught early are often handled with
a minimum of pain and suffering.
So I encourage you as we journey together, to remember and practice those simple things that enhance our
lives and our health.
Andrew Jennings, for the Stewardship Ministry
FLOWERS
Sept 4 The altar flowers are in loving memory
of Gladys and Arthur Barnard from
Barbara and Richard George and
family.
The flowers on the lectern are in
loving memory of Ruth and Arthur
Blood from their family.
Sept 11 The flowers on the altar are in loving
memory of Leonard A Brown from his
wife Barbara Brown.
The flowers on the lectern are in
loving memory of Robert Swansburg
from his wife Barbara.
From Your Green Team:
Sept 18 The flowers on the altar are in
memory of Paul and Madeleine
Durand from JP and Mary Anne
Durand.
The flowers on the pedestal are in
memory of Lonnie Watts from Donna
Ricarte and family.
The flowers on the lectern are in
loving memory of Laurie Jollimore
from her husband Fred and family.
Sept 25 The flowers on the altar are in loving
memory of her parents Laura and
Leonard Barrett from Edna Battcock.
The lectern flowers are in loving
memory of Barbara and Paul
Johansen from Jane and Paul
Johansen.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE MORE WATER
“Only 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater and it’s found
in glaciers, underground, and in rivers and lakes.
Mulching lessens the need to irrigate your landscape by
up to 50% because it helps soil retain moisture.
The average person uses over 80 gallons of water a day.
Instead of lightly watering every day, give your plants a
weekly soaking to conserve more moisture. A depth of
6” is a good benchmark. The two best times of day to
do your watering are in the morning and early evening
to reduce evaporation.
Choosing drought-tolerant plants can help reduce the
cost of your water bill. Here are 10 plant picks –
Portulaca, Coneflower, Catmint, Agastache, Lantana,
Salvia, Lavendar, Russian sage, California poppy, and
Artemisia.”
This information was taken from the August/
September 2015 issue of Birds & Blooms.
Spinners Game
Vacation Bible School
Billerica Food Market
First Congregational Church
18 Andover Road
Billerica, MA 01821
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