January 2013 Newsletter - Lowell First Church-Home

January 2013,
Volume 23, No. 1
Pastor’s Perspective
Dear Friends,
What does the word, “multiplying” mean to you? Do you start thinking about
math homework? Do you start thinking about how your debt doubled or tripled in the past couple
months? Do you start thinking about how blessed you are, and how those blessings have themselves doubled
or tripled in recent days? What does that word conjure up in you?
Francis Chan in his new book, Multiply, suggests that for every disciple or follower of Jesus’ way of living life,
there should be an intentional and missional passion for seeing others find Jesus’ way of life too. At LFC, I
believe we have that passion! I see it lived out in our corporate decisions and our weekly worship gatherings–
we are together a people who desire to be disciples multiplying disciples!
But what about you? Do you personally have that passion?
Can I tell you some shocking news? The secret to the Good News of God’s love was not just Jesus. I know...I
am either going to be struck with lightning for making such a comment or I have at least peaked your interest
long enough to hear me out. I mean, really, if God’s Good News was introduced only in Jesus, the whole
mission and ministry would have been wrapped up in the three brief ministry years of Jesus. That would have
been it. Now don’t get me wrong, those three years were significant (especially if you are a healed passerby, or
if you happened to be a fisherman who hung out with the very Son of God)! But the story doesn’t end there,
does it?
The Story of God’s Good News doesn’t end because at the conclusion of his earthly ministry, the resurrected
Jesus promises His Spirit– the very Spirit of God– would come and empower the disciples to be disciple
makers! And it is an amazing story, albeit quite messy since humans can tend more towards human spirit than
Continued on page 2...
The Monthly Newsletter of Lowell First Church of the Nazarene
Phone: 978.453.1063; Fax: 978.453.1800; MVCDS: 978.452.2462;
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:
www.LowellFirstChurch.org
How & Who To Contact:
Church Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
9:00am - 4:00pm
Church Office
Contact Information:
Phone: 978.453.1063;
Fax: 978.453.1800
MVCDS: 978.452.2462
E-mail:
[email protected]
All God’s People
Ministers
Dr. John V. Megyesi
Senior Pastor
Kim Ho
Tom Quattrociocchi
Pastoral Staff
Denise Beausoleil
Office Administrator
Arlene Hardy
Director, (MVCDS)
Merrimack Valley
Christian Day School
LFC’s Weekly Ministries:
Sunday School (for all ages) ~ 9:30am
Cambodian Worship Service ~ 9:30am
Pastor’s Prayer Team ~ 10:30am
Pastors Perspective cont.
Divine, but it is an amazing testimony of what God can
do in those who daily follow Jesus, seeking to multiply
the effects of the “Kingdom Come On Earth” as they
did everything in their power and by the Holy Spirit’s
power to make fishers of men, women and children.
As we begin this new year, it will be our congregational call
to invite you (with everything you’ve got) to carry on that
mission of multiplication!
Beginning with our Wesleyan Covenant Service on
January 6th, we will be talking about attending to each
other and Christ as a faithful community in Christ.
(Remember, the words of this covenant will be very
pretty and sweet, but to join in such a covenant means
that we are willing to make the commitment to be there
for each other in the joys AND the pains of life, no
matter “who” they might be. And this also means that
we will consider more deeply our personal commitment
to Christ through the community– this means that we
need to ask God if we are being faithful in our giving of
time, talents and treasures!) And right away on January
13th, we will talk about how that commitment calls us
out into our local community and world with invitations
to the free life God offers to ‘disciples’ of Jesus spiritfreeing way of life.
I’m glad you are on that journey with us and I pray that
God stirs within you a passion to multiply. For He who
began a good work is faithful among the faithful to
complete it!
Making Steps To Multiply,
(Anyone invited!)
Sunday Worship Celebration ~ 10:45am
Sunday Night House Church ~ 6:00pm
Wednesday Night
Family Ministries
7:00pm
-Caravan Program (September-June)
-Apex Youth Ministries
-Adult Bible Study
-Choir Rehearsal (September-June)
Pastor Megyesi
To Mark & Joy Metcalfe on the birth of their
grandson, Levi Emmanuel Patnode
on Friday, December 14th!
and
To Arlene Hardy on the birth of her granddaughter,
Charlotte Kay Steiling on Tuesday, December 18th!
Nazarene Missions International
Kathi Brockman, Missions President
Work and Witness- Are you interested in participating in Work and Witness? If you are, please contact Kathi Brockman or Pastor
Tom. We are creating a planning team to begin thinking about how and where we may serve.
The Open Pantry Of Greater Lowell January Item–Canned Vegetables
CCKs (Crisis Care Kits) January Item–Hand Towels
LFC “Souper Bowl” Soup & Chili Fest- Do people gush about your soup, stew, chili, or chowder? Well, this is your chance to enter
your creations into the LFC Mission Council’s “Souper Bowl” Soup & Chili Festimmediately following morning service on Sunday,
February 3rd! Sign up at the welcome center and feel free to enter more than one item. All soup, stew, chili, and chowder recipes will be
voted on and certificates will be presented for the best entries. Don’t have an item to enter? Don’t fret! We also need donations of
bread, salad w/ dressing, and desserts so sign up at the welcome center today! Nonperishable food items for the food pantry will be
collected at the door.
The LFC Missions Council presents…Nazflicks’New Movies for the New Year! We’ve added new movies to the Nazflicks movie list and
invite you to sign up to rent one of our new films featuring Gigi: God’s Little Princess, Hoop Dogz, iShine volumes 1 and 2, Max Lucado
3:16, Paige Armstrong’s Sermonettes, The Public Life of Sissy Pike, Love at First Sight, Relapse, Sunday Bible Toons, and Veg gie Tales: Girl
Power, Larry Boy and the Fib from Outer Space, and Sweetpea Beauty. Haven’t rented a Nazflicks film yet? No need to worry! LFC is
making a variety of Christian movies available for you to borrow! From children’s films to teen films, family films to romance, comedies
to documentaries…there’s something for everyone. See Becky for more information.
NazFlicks brings Christian movies to you! Watch by yourself, with family, or with friends…share the life-changing word of God through film.
Coming to a foyer near you Sunday, January 6th, 2013!
*While LFC does not fully endorse the contents of each movie, we do encourage the watching of these movies as a way of informing or clarifying our personal convictions and faith.
For more information on any Missions item, please visit the Nazarene Missions International (NMI) table in the foyer .
Cambodian Congregation News
Pastor Kim Ho
Out with the old and in with the new! Year 2013 has arrived! Each year seems to arrive so
quickly. Every year I enjoy watching the ball drop at Times Square in New York City. This Ball
Drop is updated every year in accordance with new technologies. I am inspired with great joy in my
heart that I have Jesus as my Savior. I really thank God for His love and the riches of His grace provided so
abundantly to us as His dear children. In this New Year I pray that God will guide us into a new Vision, new Hope,
Peace, Joy and Faith, and will bring these promises into the lives of other Cambodians in the Lowell community. Let
us humbly trust in Him and praise Him for He has shown us such revelations of His will.
Happy New Year!

MVCDS News
Merrimack Valley Christian Day School
Our January events include Parent/Teacher conferences/ progress
reports, as well as Pastor John's Bible Story (Manna) Pizza from Heaven
on the 17th. Then, on January 30th we will talk about Martin
Luther King's dream and enjoy a Winter Festival!
We wish everyone a
HAPPY, HEALTHY and BLESSED NEW YEAR!
Arlene Hardy, Director
A Quality Education in a Distinctively Christian Environment
For information or a tour, please stop by the office or contact Arlene Hardy or
Sheila Robinson @ 978-452-2462 or visit us on the web at loveisthelogo.com
Music Ministries
Rick Hall, Worship Director
All the opportunities to celebrate Christmas go by quickly once the
season comes! Jazz Band, Children's Musical, Christmas Eve...probably
became a blur... hopefully a joyful blur that left your heart touched by
joy and gratitude underneath the tiredness!
Thank you to all musicians, directors and technical staff who
participated in all of these presentations; it is amazing that so many
events involving so much talent come to pass!
I would like to invite men and women from grade 9 through senior adult age
who are interested in musical involvement in singing, playing an instrument or
helping on the technical side to let me know. We would love to have new
people join us especially as we begin to look forward to the Easter season of
celebration!
Blessings!

Call me at 978-996-5351 (c) or 978-934-9896 (h) or
email me at [email protected] for more information.
St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen @ Eliot Church, Lowell
This month we serve on: Monday, January 28th
Questions? Contact Lorrie Arsenault, Pastor Tom or
the Church Office if you would like to volunteer…
Volunteers are always welcome!
“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the
timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
I Thessalonians 5: 14
“If we walk in the light as He is
in the light, we have fellowship
with one another.”
1 John 1:7b (NIV)
Sunday, January 6th, 12:30 pm
Taking Down
You are invited to join us once
The Greens
again following the 12 Days of
Christmas for a potluck after our
Morning Worship Service followed
by the return of decorations from
around the building- as you know,
many hands make light work!
Senior Adult Ministries
Laura McDonald, Coordinator
Making A Difference! Bible Study GroupGenerally we meet on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. as Pastor John leads a study
which is followed by a homemade lunch prepared by Laura McDonald. All you need to bring is your Bible
and an open heart!
This month we will meet on January 3rd and 17th for our Bible Study. Also, if you need more information,
please contact Laura McDonald at 978-226-5652. And remember, this is the group that will help plan our
upcoming Senior Adult Day Trips!!! Interested? =)
Sunday School Ministries
Denis Desrochers, Superintendent
This month I would like to ask everyone that currently attends one of our Sunday School classes to share your
experience with me either in person or by email as to how God has used your Sunday School class in your Christian
walk. I would like to take some of those experiences and begin sharing these stories. I would encourage you to reach
out to others and share how God is working in and through our Sunday School classes each week and show how
Sunday School is not only for kids.
In every one of our classes we offer each week we have open discussions as to how the Word of God applies to our
everyday life. I invite you to come out and join us for Sunday School so we in turn can encourage one another and
learn and grow together in Christ.
We have classes for every age group and multiple classes for adults.
Children’s Sunday School Classes
We offer Children’s Sunday School classes for pre-kindergarten – kindergarten ages, and
grades 1-6. The classes are filled with fun activities and engaging age appropriate class discussions. Each class also has
different Bible lessons, fun crafts, and interactive games each week.
We also have nursery and toddler care available during the Sunday School hour.
Teen Sunday School Classes
We have a class available for Grades 7-12. This interactive class encourages discussion with engaging age appropriate
discussions. We will also break the class into smaller groups depending on the subject being discussed.
Adult Sunday School Classes

Cheryl Conlin and Lillian Ferreira are teaching the curriculum offered by Nazarene Publishing House

Pastor John is teaching a conversational study of Psalms
Please note: We are still looking for people to help in supporting the Children’s Sunday School program. Please
contact Kristi Knepp or Denis Desrochers in the Lay Ministry Office (previously the Sunday School Office) or at
[email protected] for more information.
If you have any questions about any of the classes offered or any questions about Sunday School, please speak to Denis Desrochers in
the Sunday School Office or contact Denis Desrochers at [email protected].
Have you read this passion inspiring, book yet?
Be listening to how you can buy a copy from our
Sunday School Ministries this month...
Children’s Ministries
Kristi Knepp, Children’s Director
Caravan News
Becky Morse, Director
Our Caravan Awards Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, January 9th from 7-7:30PM in the
Sanctuary. All children, parents, and members of the congregation are welcome to join us in celebrating all
that our Caravan scouts have accomplished so far. Caravan will resume from 7:30-8pm that evening,
following the ceremony.
The Caravan scouts will be selling Valentine’s Day Lollipops for 50 cents each in the foyer before and after
Sunday church services. Lollipops can be purchased Sunday, January 20th, January 27th, and February 3rd.
When you purchase a lollipop, you will be asked to address it to someone at church and these small cards
will then be tied to the lollipops by Caravan scouts to be delivered to the recipients on Sunday, February
10th…just in time for Valentine’s Day!
On Wednesday, February 6th, there will be a Caravan Meeting at 6:30PM in
Room A5 for leaders, parents, and anyone interested in volunteering. We will be
discussing March and April events, including the Blue & White Dinner and the
Pine Car Derby.
Caravan is a Christian scouting program for children grades 1-6.
Benson’s Buddies is a weekly kids club designed for ages 4 years-first grade.
All children ages 4-grade 6 are invited to attend Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm.
Registration is ongoing and is $20 per child with a $40 per family cap.
The registration amount can be prorated if a child enters Caravan later in the year and does not make up missed badges.
Check our LFC Kidz Klub facebook page!
NURSERY SCHEDULE
More Children’s Ministries stuff...
Brenda Hitchcock , Nursery Director
JANUARY 2013
9:30 am
JAN. 6
Diane Smith
Brenda Hitchcock
JAN. 13
Kathi Brockman
Brenda Hitchcock
JAN. 20
Rachel Desrochers
Brenda Hitchcock
JAN 27
Ruth Allen
Brenda Hitchcock
10:30am
Meredith Debow
Cathy Stewart
Julia Hitchcock
Peg Jeffrey
DJ Jeffrey
Brianna Godwin
Jessica Sharpe
Charlene Babbitt
Joe Foley
Kendra Strickland
Kara Prahl
Hannah Maldonado
Cricket ChurchJanuary is a wonderful time of new beginnings. We will learn about
the Wise Men, how Jesus grew—just as the children in Cricket
Church are growing, and we will learn that Jesus went to church
when he was little just like all of us. Although the days are cold and
we cannot use the playground, we are certain to find ways to create
adventures indoors. Hopefully we’ll have a snowman visit our
classroom. Let it snow! And we’ll bake and play and sing and show
the love of Christ to all who
enter the Cricket Church
classroom!
Love,
Mrs. Pam and Pastor Tom
“And the child grew and became
strong; he was filled with
wisdom, and the grace of God
was upon him. “ Luke 2:40
BIRTHDAYS
2- Janice Lunn
3- Daniel Ruiz
4- Dennis Oliver
5- Rita Smith
6- Pam Duchene, Michael Goes,
Rachel Gray, Lilliam Trejo
7- Hannah Oliver, Eric Pape
8- Robert Linton
9- Jim Fulton
12- Jonathan Ruiz
15- Colby Arsenault
16- Bradley Marshall
17- Ron Martin
18- Dellorm Adu
20- Nancy Berube, Salvatore BinantiBerube, Harrington Frazier III,
Katherine Huang
21- William Holl
24- Aaron Drew, Taylor Homen,
25- Nathan Stewart
28- Brianna Figueroa
29- Rebecca Morse
30- Timothy Marshall, Milly
Mellonakos
31- Kathi Brockman, Kevin Coffey,
Victoria Hunt, Dylan Knoblaugh,
Emily Metcalfe, Matthew Prahl,
Janice Prime
ANNIVERSARIES
7– Justin & Jennifer Schaefer
The Newsletter deadline is
the 15th of each month.
Contact Lori Jeffrey with updates and
information
phone: 603-893-6298
e-mail: [email protected]
mail: 18 Gardner Avenue
NYI– Teen Ministries
Chris Knepp, Youth Director
Upcoming Activities:
Bible Quiz practices @ 6PM on
Wednesday nights!
Youth Group Meetings each week
@ 7PM on Wednesday nights!
Teen Sunday School @ the Cove
Ministry Center—9:30AM!
January 1st—Teen Snow Bowl—Tyngsboro
January 19th—Teen Tubing—Nashoba
January 25-26th—Teen Quiz Meet—Nashua
(be looking at our Lowell Youth Group Facebook page for
updates and additional activities)
Other News...
Teen and Adult Toonerville Rook
Join us as we meet together for food, fellowship, and fun at our
Teen and Adult Toonerville Rook Tournament on Saturday,
January 5th at the Metcalfe Manor. Those interested in learning
how to play can arrive for a 4:30PM tutorial while the
Tournament begins promptly at 5PM.
A sign-up form will be available at the Welcome Center and, as
always, players are invited to bring drinks or a snack to share as
well as any Rook decks they may have. See you there!
Tithes & Offerings...
Interested in e-giving to support LFC?
Check out the GIVE-DONATE tab on our website to register
for a very simple way to keep your giving
to LFC up-to-date and easy to track. So
far we are receiving over $600 each week
in e-giving– perhaps this opportunity
could really benefit you!
January 2013
Sun
6
Communion
9:30a Sunday School
9:30a Cambodian Worship—
Palm Parlor
10:30a Pastor’s Prayer
Team— Sanctuary
10:45a Worship Celebration
12:30p Taking Down The Greens
Potluck
1:30p CEC Congregation—
Palm Parlor
6p Pepperell House Church
7p Brazilian Presbyterian
Congregation—Choir Room
13
Mon
7 10:30a Pastoral
Staff Meeting—
Pastor John’s
Study
6
-8p STEP
Program—Lunn
Recrearium
Tue
Wed
Thu
1 MVCDS &
Church Office
are closed
12-3p Teen Snow
Bowl—Tyngsboro
2 Family Ministries
3 10:30a Making A
6p NYI Bible
Quizzing—S3
7p -Caravan—
Classrooms
-Youth Ministries—F1
-Adult Bible Study—
Palm Parlor
-Choir Rehearsal—
Sanctuary
Difference Bible
Study & Lunch—
Palm Parlor
6p DBSA Group—
Palm Parlor
6p STEP Program
—Lunn Recrearium
8 10:30-11a Living
Waters Center of
Hope Bible Study
with Pastor
Tom—10 Kirk St.,
Lowell
9 Family Ministries
10
6p NYI Bible Quizzing —
S3
7p -Youth Ministries—F1
7-7:30p Caravan Awards
Ceremony—Sanctuary
7:30-8p -Caravan—
Classrooms
-Adult Bible Study—Palm
Parlor
-Choir Rehearsal—
Sanctuary
6p DBSA
Group—F1
6-8p STEP
Program—Lunn
Recrearium
7p Church Board
Meeting—Palm
Parlor
14 10:30a Pastoral
Staff Meeting—
Pastor John’s
Study
6-8p STEP
Program—Lunn
Recrearium
15 10:30-11a Living
Waters Center of
Hope Bible Study
with Pastor
Tom—10 Kirk St.,
Lowell
16
6p NYI Bible
Quizzing—S3
7p -Caravan—
Classrooms
-Youth Ministries—F1
-Adult Bible Study—
Palm Parlor
-Choir Rehearsal—
Sanctuary
John’s MVCDS
Bible Story Time:
(Manna) Pizza From
Heaven—Sanctuary
6p DBSA Group—
Palm Parlor
6-8p STEP Program
—Lunn Recrearium
20
21
22 10:30-11a
Living Waters Center
of Hope Bible Study
with Pastor Tom
—10 Kirk St.,
Lowell
23 Family Ministries
24 6p DBSA
Group—Palm
Parlor
6-8p STEP
Program—Lunn
Recrearium
27
9:30a Sunday School
9:30a Cambodian
Worship—Palm Parlor
10:30a Pastor’s Prayer
Team—Sanctuary
10:45a Worship Celebration
1:30p CEC Congregation—
Palm Parlor
7p Brazilian Presbyterian
Congregation—Choir
Room
Sat
4
5 9a-1p SDA
Congregation—
Palm Parlor
11 7p-Living Waters
Coffeehouse —
Living Waters
Center of Hope,
10 Kirk St., Lowell
(Pastor Tom)
12
9a-1p SDA
Congregation—Palm
Parlor
10a District NYI
Executive Council Mtg.
2-5p GBNCC Board
Meeting —Mattapan
NED Youth Leaders Retreat @ WHC
9:30a Sunday School
9:30a Cambodian
Worship—Palm Parlor
10:30a Pastor’s Prayer
Team—Sanctuary
10:45a Worship
Celebration
1:30p CEC Congregation
—Palm Parlor
6p Pepperell House
Church
7p Brazilian Presbyterian
Congregation —Choir Rm.
9:30a Sunday School
9:30a Cambodian Worship—
Palm Parlor
10:30a Pastor’s Prayer Team—
Sanctuary
10:45a Worship Celebration
11a-1p Cambodian Congregation
Christmas Dinner—Lunn
Recrearium
1:30p CEC Congregation—Palm
Parlor
6p Pepperell House Church
7p Brazilian Presbyterian
Congregation—Choir Room
Fri
Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day
Merrimack Valley
Christian Day
School & Church
Office are closed
6-8p STEP
Program—Lunn
Recrearium
28 4:30p St.
Paul’s Soup
Kitchen—Eliot
Church, Lowell
29 10:30-11a
Living Waters Center
of Hope Bible Study
with Pastor Tom
—10 Kirk St.,
Lowell
Family Ministries
6p NYI Bible
Quizzing—S3
7p -Caravan—
Classrooms
-Youth Ministries—F1
-Adult Bible Study—
Palm Parlor
-Choir Rehearsal—
Sanctuary
30 Family Ministries
6p NYI Bible
Quizzing—S3
7p
-Caravan—Classrooms
-Youth Ministries—F1
-Adult Bible Study—
Palm Parlor
-Choir Rehearsal—
Sanctuary
17 9:30a Pastor
18
19 9a-1p SDA
Congregation—
Palm Parlor
10-11a CCAF—
New Life Int’l.
Church
Teens Snow
Tubing—Nashoba
(time tbd)
25
26 9a-1p SDA
Congregation—
Palm Parlor
District NMI
Council Mtg.—
ENC
NED NYI Quiz Meet—Nashua (Jan. 25-26)
NED Ladies Spiritual Renewal #1 for 2013 (Jan. 25-27)
31 6p DBSA
Group—Palm
Parlor
6-8p STEP
Program—Lunn
Recrearium
NED Ladies Spiritual Renewal ends
February 2013
Sun
3
10
17
24
Mon
4
11
18
25
Tue
5
12
19
26
Wed
6
13
20
27
Thu
7
14
21
28
My times are in Your hands.
Psalm 31:15, NIV
Fri
Sat
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23