September - First Congregational Church

September 2014
Pastor’s page
The Newsletter of First Congregational Church Of Braintree
Faith’s Journey
Al Hoyt, Maternity Coverage Pastor  [email protected]
As I write this, I am looking out over our mature flower gardens The hydrangea
is in full bloom, the coneflowers, brown-eyed Susan’s, and dahlias are climbing towards the sunlight, the roses are about to burst with their third blossoming of the
year, ripe tomatoes and cucumbers wait to be picked and the hanging plants are all full
and colorful. But the first few cool nights are on us, reminding us that the fall is coming.
It is hard to believe that I have already been with you for nine weeks! I have
thoroughly enjoyed my time with you so far, I am looking forward to worshiping in the
beautiful sanctuary. I am really looking forward to Rally Day, the blessing of the backpacks and the barbeque afterwards.
September is a time for new beginnings, when we come back from our hopefully relaxing summer, when we begin our club, committee, and social activities, when school
and our new church year start. I will begin my next semester at Andover Newton.
To me, September is more like the new year than January first. I return to my
personal discipline of study and writing. I return to my daily devotional practices that I
am much more relaxed about during the summer. Several people have asked me
about my daily devotional practices. I regularly use two daily devotional guides: The
UCC’s email daily devotional and “The Upper Room” . I don’t always read the scripture
that is included but I always take the time to read the reflection and pray the prayer.
One of the new practices I have started this summer and will continue, hopefully for the rest of my life, is to practice Gratefulness. I read a book this summer
“Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer” by Brother David Steindl-Rast. I found practicing
the simple act of being grateful and making a point daily to remember to be grateful
has made a wonderful change in my outlook. Every morning I say out loud three things
I expect to be grateful for, every night just before bed I say out loud three different
things I experienced to be grateful for. Some people write them down in a “Grateful
Journal” but I am not very good at that. I try to make sure to look for different things
to be grateful for; after all, expecting to be grateful for that first cup of coffee every
day does not require a lot of thought and would quickly become just rote with little
meaning.
We all have things to be grateful for, but unless we get in the habit of looking
for them, we can easily slide into focusing on the negative. God’s grace is a gift, freely
12 Elm Street  Braintree, MA 02184  781-843-3616  www.firstchurchbraintree.com
given that we only need to accept, and is certainly a reason to be grateful. The
good news of Jesus Christ is part of that gift. We don’t need to say anything
special, we don’t need to do a particular act to receive that gift. We just need
to be grateful.
I am grateful for the family of faith that is First Church Braintree. For
the opportunity that you have extended to me and the wonderful way you
have welcomed me. I pray that I have been worthy of the trust and faith you
have placed in me, and have in some small way enriched your summer.
God Bless you all.
SEPTEMBER 2014
MEETINGS
Thursday, September 4th @ 3P – Missions Ministry
Tuesday, September 9th @ 7P – Diaconate
OCTOBER 2014
Wednesday, October 1st @ 7P – Leadership Team
All meetings are held in the Library unless otherwise noted.
Watch your email or the Sunday bulletin for additional meeting times.
Newsletter Submissions
For example, the deadline for the October newsletter is 9/20.
Thank you.
Deb McMartin
[email protected]
(781) 843-3616
Monday—Friday, 9 to1
FAITH’S JOURNEY
UPCOMING DEADLINE
If you have an item that you would like
to be included in an upcoming newsletter, please get the information to Deb
McMartin by 20th of the prior month.
Heritage Day Farm to Table Dinner
The Braintree Historical Society in partnership with Sustainable Braintree is sponsoring a Heritage Day Farm to
Table Dinner on September 20, 2014 from 6:30 -10:30
P.M. This event will be catered by Anthony Columbus
and feature locally grown produce from the farms at the
Braintree Farmers Market; C.N. Smith Farm, Second Nature Farm and Farmer’s Garden. Tickets are $60 per
person and $50 per person for members of Braintree
Historical Society and Sustainable Braintree. Tickets are
on sale at the Town Clerk’s office, Rockland Trust at 405
Washington Street and Braintree Farmers Market. Tickets can be purchased on line at
www.sustainablebraintree.org. You can also obtain tickets by contacting Cheryl Edgar at 781 484 9247 [email protected] or Chris McIntyre at [email protected].
Page 2
SEPTEMBER 2014
Get Involved...
It’s easy to get involved at First Church! You don’t have to dedicate hours and hours of your time to be an
active church member. (But we greatly appreciate those who do!) If you want to get involved but aren’t
sure what to do then start small! How about hosting a coffee hour this fall? Or maybe you want to purchase the altar flowers in memory of a loved one. Rally Sunday is coming...can you flip a burger or paint a
face? Or perhaps you wish to sign up as a lay reader. Whatever your talents are, First Congregational
Church of Braintree can use them! We appreciate the time, talents and treasure that you give to our beloved church.
Altar Flowers
Purchasing flowers for the altar is a great
way to honor a loved one or remember a
special date. If you would like to order
flowers for a specific Sunday, there is a
sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the
Lower Parish Hall (LPH)
Simply sign your name next to the date
that you
would like
flowers. Deb
will
place the order
with Barry’s
Flower Shop.
The cost is $25
per
arrangement
and a check can be mailed to the church
office. If you wish to write a short message to be included in the bulletin then
just send it to Deb via email or drop it
with your check.
Support Coffee Hour one Sunday this Fall
By Joanne Durham & Grace Reinelt
Can you bring up two different baked
goods for one Sunday this Fall for our “Coffee Hour”? If you
can, please sign up on the bulletin board in the Lower Parish
Hall.
The time after worship each Sunday is an important time for
all of us to connect and share with each other – but it doesn’t
happen without you! Help make a difference with your hospitality.
It’s easy! All you need to do is bring in two (2) different
breakfast or baked good items, a bottle of juice and some
small napkins. The coffee and coffee/tea and other supplies
are provided by the church. Thank you for your support!
SAVE THE DATE:
All Church Holiday Fair
Saturday, November 8
9 am – 2 pm
Setup Day: Friday, November 7 at 9:00 a.m.
If you have any questions, please call
Deb in the office Mon - Fri 9am -1pm:
781-843-3616
Sign-Up Sheets: On bulletin board, LPH
Free and open to the community!
[email protected]
FAITH’S JOURNEY
Page 3
SEPTEMBER 2014

Open House hosted by Durhams
on Sunday, September 7
By Joanne Durham

In gratitude for the prayers, meals and support we
received from members of First Church after pipes
burst in our home last January, we are hosting an
Open House to say “thank you!” A tour of the renovations and light refreshments will be offered
from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, September
7. All are welcome!

Written directions from the church to our home at
27 Ardmore Street in East Braintree will be available in
the Narthex, the Lower Parish Hall and the church office
through Sept. 7.


We are especially grateful for the work Glenn and Jared
Holton did to detect and stop the flooding after our pipes
burst since we were away, as well as follow-up contacting
the insurance company and us. During the months that followed we were grateful for the home-cooked meals provided by Lucile Baker and Carl and Diane Francis while we lived
in a motel room for three months. We also appreciate the
rebuilding advice Craig Barnes gave us and the prayers
which Nancy Mills extended.
Estelle MacDonald would love a
visit from you
As you may know, Estelle MacDonald recently suffered a stroke and she is currently recovering in Braintree Rehab Hospital. Estelle's son Ray has indicated that
she is a bit lonely and in need of company. He has requested that anyone who is
able could please pay Estelle a visit.
Estelle MacDonald
Room 320B
Braintree Rehab
250 Pond Street
Braintree, MA 02184
Visiting Hours:
Mon - Fri: 12-1pm & 4-8pm
Sat & Sun: 12-8pm
Ray has arranged it with the staff that Estelle is able to receive visitors in the
morning hours as well since mornings are
particularly difficult for her. If you are
visiting during a time outside of the normal visiting hours then please call the
desk first to confirm that Estelle is in her
room and not at physical therapy at the
time you wish to visit. The 3 North Desk #
is 781-348-2482.
We count you among our many blessings and look forward
to seeing you on September 7!
Ray can be reached at
[email protected]
Thank you and please keep Estelle in your
prayers!

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12TH
Join us on the side lawn of the church for our second annual Blessing of the Animals.
All pets are welcome. Dogs on a leash ~ Cats in a carrier ~ Birds in a cage ~ etc.
FAITH’S JOURNEY
Page 4
SEPTEMBER 2014
What a week!
On Monday we kicked of VBS with amazing friends, beaming
smiles and lots of laughs. The rest of the week continued
with much of the same. Children and adults alike learned lessons of Jesus’s one-of-a kind love and the power it holds.
Online registration is
now open. http://
www.macucc.org/
eventdetail/112024?
month=10&year=20
14&day=1&display=
m
Join hundreds of
pastors and lay leaders from across two
Conferences for
worship, workshops,
forums, networking,
a marketplace and
keynote address by
the Rev. M. Linda
Jaramillo, Executive
Minister of the
UCC's Justice and
Witness Ministries.
Through videos, Bible stories, recreation games and crafts we
learned the Jesus loves us when we are left out, different,
wrong, misunderstood or afraid. In addition to the lessons, we
learned how to spread love throughout our community by donating goods to local animal shelters. We also had a visit from Curious Creatures who taught us how to treat wild animals and protect the wilderness. Vacation Bible School would be impossible
without all the help from volunteers. Thank you all for everything
this week! This week was a fabulous end to my great year and
First Congregational Church of Braintree. The love and support
that has surrounded me throughout this adventure has been
amazing. I look forward to hearing all the new adventures and
projects going on at FCC. Feel free to send me updates and pictures via email: [email protected] or to my new address 82
Brick Kiln Road apt 10-203, Chelmsford MA. 01824.
Missions
FAITH’S JOURNEY
Corner
Kid’s
MACUCC
Super Saturday
Sat., Oct. 25, 2014
Keefe Regional Technical High School,
Framingham
Corner
Mission Sunday
September 21
Sonya Shaw, founder of the Kids Clothes Closet in Braintree, will be our
special guest and speaker on Missions Sunday, September 21. Sonya
and her husband David have been residents of the Town for over 40
years, and she has taught in several of our elementary schools. She and
David have two children and three grandchildren. The Closet will be
holding an Open House, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on September 16, at
its location in the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 519 Washington
Street. Ther e will be r efr eshments.
Page 5
SEPTEMBER 2014
VACATION
BIBLE
SCHOOL
2014
Pastor Al Hoyt brought his drums!
Thank you to everyone who made
this such a special week,
especially Lisa Hulbert!
FAITH’S JOURNEY
Page 6
SEPTEMBER 2014
A visit from Curious Creatures
Unlocking the Word
Rick Durham  [email protected]
This article begins a series on the Gospels beginning with the Gospel of Mark. We will attempt to
unlock the history and the mystery of the work and put it in context with the Christian writings of the
First and Second Centuries A.D. (C.E.). We will be using as contemporary resources the following
sources: Asimov, Isaac. A simov’s Guide to the Bible Volumes I & II.; Josephus, Flavius. The
Works of Josephus, Complete and Unabridged. Metzger, Bruce M.; May, Herbert G. The New Oxford Annoted Bible with the Aprocrypha.; Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. The Oxford
Companion to the Bible.
THE GOSPEL OF MARK (PART 11 —CHAPTER 9:1 — CHAPTER 9:32)
9 1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death
before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
THE TRANSFIGURATION
2
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, 3 and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Eli′jah
with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Master,[a] it is well that we
are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli′jah.” 6 For he did
not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a
voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son;[b] listen to him.” 8 And suddenly looking
around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. (Jesus is transformed into the heavenly glory of the Messiah, joined by Moses and Elijah. Jesus says that the Messiah shall not
come until he rises from the dead, but the disciples do not believe him. Elijah has already made
an appearance in the form of John the Baptist and was subjected to the same fate as John the
Baptist. This passage repeats one of the many oral traditions that were passed from Christian
cell to cell.–Oxford Bible)
THE COMING OF ELIJAH
9
And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen,
until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what the rising from the dead meant. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say
that first Eli′jah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Eli′jah does come first to restore all things;
and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Eli′jah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is
written of him.”
THE HEALING OF A BOY WITH A SPIRIT
14
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing
with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and ran up
to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one
of the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; 18 and
wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid;
and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O
faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to
FAITH’S JOURNEY
Page 8
SEPTEMBER 2014
me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed
the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus[c] asked his
father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him
into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and
help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.”
24
Immediately the father of the child cried out[d] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And
when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it,
“You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” 26 And
after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that
most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28
And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it
out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark is
combining this oral tradition with Peter’s repeated theme: repent, believe, have faith in the Gospel and have faith in Jesus’ teaching, for the kingdom of God is at hand.(1:14). The disciples
could not heal the boy because they had not the faith. –Oxford Bible. Mark and Matthew, writing in the 60’s and 70’s, can best be described as “Apocalyptic” writers. The coming apocalypse
was a common theme in the first century Mediterranean world, commonly held by nearly every
culture from the Romans, Greeks, Medes, Persians, and Hebrews. Every culture had a foreboding that the end of the world would come within a generation. By the end of the first century,
apparently the mood had passed and was not repeated by later writers. --Asimov)
JESUS AGAIN FORETELLS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
30
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it;
31
for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the
hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But
they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him. (By returning to Galilee to
preach, Jesus is exposing himself to the wrath of King Herod, who is seeking his death. Jesus is
foretelling his eventual death and resurrection, which the disciples cannot comprehend. Mark is
beginning to build to the last Act and Climax of his Gospel.—Oxford Bible. Galilee was at the
time a hotbed of national revolt. Flavius Josephus writes that between 30 A.D. and 39 A.D. no
less than 10 “Messiahs” were put to death by the Romans. Referring to himself as “the Son of
Man,” Jesus is separating himself as the spiritual Messiah, not the earthly guerilla Messiahs of
the past.)
(to be continued….)
FAITH’S JOURNEY
Page 9
SEPTEMBER 2014
Donate Scrap Metal to Church Fundraiser on Saturday, October 4
By Joanne Durham
[email protected]
Did you know that the “junk” in our house can be recycled to help the environment AND raise money for
the church? Yes, a Scrap Metal Drive does both! Please bring items – like the ones mentioned below to
the church parking lot on Saturday, October 4, between 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. We appreciate Boy Scout
Troop #22 for helping us with this project. If you have questions or need assistance having an item brought to the
church, please call the office at 781-843-3616.
Common recycled metals include aluminum, steel, copper, nickel, iron, tin and brass. Best of all, scrap recycling diverts 145 million short tons of materials away from landfills!
ITEMS THAT YOU CAN DONATE
Look around your closets, drawers, garage, basement, and attic for the following metal items:
Basketball hoops
Fishing weights
Printers
Bathroom fixtures
Frying pans
Pots and pans
Belt buckles
Golf clubs
Screens
Bed frames
Gutters
Shovels
Bicycles
Gym equip-
Ski racks
ment
Speakers
Boiler
Brass items
Heater, space
Storm doors
Canned good containers
Hot water heaters
Storm windows
Car parts
Humidifiers
Teapots
Carriages and strollers
Irons
Tin household items
Chain link fence sections
Ironing
Door handles
such as cookie tins
board
Tire rims
Fans
Keys
Toaster ovens
File cabinets (metal)
Ladders
Tools (even rusty ones)
Fireplace tools
Lamps
Lawn mowers
Mail box
Metal lawn furniture
Metal drums
Metal Shelving
FAITH’S JOURNEY
Page 10
SEPTEMBER 2014
First Congregational Church of Braintree, UCC
Sunday, September 14, 2014
12 Elm Street
Braintree, MA 02184
All Children are encouraged to bring their backpacks to worship.
Help
us kick
off the
church
year!



A special FAMILY WORSHIP & Blessing of the Backpacks
will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School for
children ages 4-10,
Nursery Care for
Infants—age 3
A time of fun and fellowship will follow at 11:00 a.m.
www.firstchurchbraintree.com

12 Elm Street Braintree, MA
 781-843-3616
 [email protected]
First Congregational Church, UCC
12 Elm Street
Braintree, MA 02184
Reverend Leanne Walt
[email protected]
Al Hoyt
Maternity Coverage Pastor
[email protected]
Dr. Paul Kaatrud
Director of Music
617-471-2686
Valerie Fink
Bookkeeper
[email protected]
Al Giordani
Sexton
[email protected]
Deb McMartin
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Sundays in September
Please note that as of September 7th we will resume Sunday worship in the sanctuary at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, September 7th
Worship and Holy Communion, Pastor Al Hoyt preaching
Sunday School and Nursery Care resumes
Sunday, September 15th
Rally Sunday Worship, Pastor Al Hoyt preaching
BBQ on the side lawn following worship
Sunday, September 21st
Mission Sunday Worship, Pastor Al Hoyt preaching
Special Guest: Sonya Shaw, Director
Kids Clothes Closet
Sunday, September 28th
Worship, Pastor Al Hoyt preaching