September 2013 Refreshed and Ready?

September 2013
Refreshed and Ready?
Hopefully you are, if you have been away, like Doffy Falk, elder of membership (see her about to get
into her boat to return from a summer at Lake Winnepesaukee) or if you got at least a week or two
of solid vacation. This marvelous summer is over, but “Refreshed and Ready Sunday” is this Sunday,
September 8. We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday morning at 10:30 am for the start
of our fall activities. After our service, we’ll have our grills sizzling with hot dogs and hamburgers
along with salads and desserts for a satisfying time of catch up with friends and neighbors at the
FLC. Plus, we’ll have a Ministry Fair with tables highlighting FCCB projects and programs, manned
by our leadership. It’s a great informational time, so don’t miss it!
Outreach Local - VBS
Vacation Bible School was a blessing once again with a wonderful team of volunteers in July. Thanks to Kerry Langlois for
expert leadership and for her effective team. Approximately one hundred children participated. Praises for all who played a
role in the very special week.
Boxford Apple Festival
We are quickly approaching Apple Crisp week here at FCCB, September 16 culminating in the festival,
September 21. Our tradition is to pick apples (a thousand thanks for Smolek Farms for opening their
orchards to us), peel, core and slice them, and prepare some outrageously delicious apple crisps for
selling at the annual Boxford Apple Festival. All the proceeds go to our outreach programs. So, grab a
friend, and contact Norma Rushton or Colleen Wages to schedule yourselves for some volunteer time.
It is also a time to have a “presence” in Boxford, where people can see FCCB in person!
Outreach Global - E3
Steve King and I appreciate your support as we represented First Church on short term missions/expeditions with E3 this
summer. New churches were planted, and the Kingdom extended. For example, during Steve’s week in Costa Rica, 497
people heard the gospel, 255 made a profession of faith, 94 were trained to share the gospel and 153 are now involved in
discipleship groups. Praise God!
Outreach Global - Stop Hunger Now!
To let you know about the 30,000 meals we packaged here at First Church last spring...they have been
shipped in a container totaling 285,120 meals from the New England warehouse and are on their way
to Haiti, via Stop Hunger Now partner Convoy of Hope. More than 50,000 meals are served per day to
children in schools and orphanages across Haiti! To learn more about Stop Hunger Now’s Convoy of
Hope and Mission of Hope visit mohhaiti.org, convoyofhope.org or stophungernow.org.
(continued)
News from the Pews
September 2013 (continued)
Get the Lead Out!
If you weren’t around much this summer you may have missed our
“Get the Lead Out” campaign! The parsonage exterior lead base paint
has deteriorated, and we needed to remove what we could, repair
siding and repaint. The crews have been at work and we anticipate it
will be done in the next two weeks at a cost of $25,000. Facilities Elder
Ron Giovannacci and Jeff Kruck say your response has been amazing, with more
than $19,000 in pledges and checks received to date. We are not at target yet,
however, so if you haven’t had an opportunity to make a donation, there are cards
at the back of the church on the table, ready for pick up. Personally, I feel that
this is a first step toward new pastoral leadership at First Church. In order to be
attractive to candidates, our housing potential is essential as part of that package. But we are well on our way to a spiffy and
safe parsonage.
Looking ahead...
Topsfield Fair Sunday church services will once again be hosted by First Church on October 6 and 13. We are
blessed with a unique opportunity once again. As last year, our normal Sunday morning activities will go on
as usual.
After a successful blood drive at the Family Life Center sponsored by the Red Cross and Boxford Fire Department in June, we
are going to have another “stab” at it Friday afternoon, October 11. Last June’s event yielded over thirty units of blood, with
about nine coming from our congregation. With more forewarning, I am sure we can do much better this time. Also, I would
like to have some volunteers to host the registration desk and refreshment table, neither of which is that daunting. Please let
me know if you can be available, or better yet stop by the Blood Drive table on September 8.
Special Visitors coming up!
Michael and Martha Martens of Wycliffe Translators plan to visit us on September 29 for Sunday School, as well as a moment
for missions during the regular service. Here is another chance to get caught up on the mission fields we support, and learn
what is going on specifically in Indonesia. Ward Coleman, familiar to many of you, will visit us on Monday evening, October 7,
at 7:00 pm to bring us up to date on his work with Josh Mc Dowell Ministries. Ward and his wife, Joan, recently toured the Far
East where they ministered in a number of countries. I am sure he will have encouraging words on the Lord’s work from his
perspective. Join us!
Place of Promise Benefit Concert - The Place of Promise let us know the
Bullock Brothers are holding a benefit concert for them at the end of the
month, September 28, at 7:00 pm at the Christ Church United, 1 Bartlett St.
in Lowell. Put it on your calendar, talk to friends and get a toe tapping group
together for the evening. An offering will be taken at the concert to support the ministry. By the way, a leading law firm has
agreed to represent PofP “pro bono” in their ongoing issue with town requirements for a new sprinkler system. Thank God for
His blessings.
Prayers:
Pray for Ginia Cahill as she recovers from surgery last month.
Pray for God’s healing touch as Susan Humerian preps for her upcoming spinal surgery, September 20.
Pray for Doug Walker and his sister as surgery to transplant one of Doug’s kidneys to his sister was recently completed. May
God give a strong recovery to each of them.
Pray for our church leadership, and in particular for finances to complete the parsonage project.
Prayers for Pat Jacopile as she continues her recovery from recent surgery.
Pray for Amber Haywood and her continued treatments.
Blessings,
Rick