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The BellringerMarch - April 2010www.ucc-chicopee.org
Our Mission is: To Wear and Share the Gospel of Christ!
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OUR NEWLY BAPTIZED.
On Sunday March 14, 2010, Jennie Lee Carey and her five-year old son Dominick Ryan Fine were baptized in our sanctuary. Jennie is a stay-at-home Mom. Dominick is in Kindergarten at Bowe School, likes to play, and is learning how to read.
On April 11, 2010, Brady Michael DeCillis was baptized during worship. He is the son of Dana and Jason DeCillis, has an older brother Nathan, and is the grandson of Susanne and Michael Hayes.
Let us remember our church’s commitment to the spiritual life and development of our newest members of the body of Christ.
FROM Jim Johnson - Our Pastoral Intern
I find it hard to believe, incomprehensible actually, that our time together will be ending May 30th. To say that I have enjoyed my time with you immensely would be understating it. You opened yourselves to me back in September, and made me feel welcome and part of your community.
First Congregational Church of Chicopee is a special place. The people here are unique, special. I have been in several churches and places over the years and First Church stands unique. Your openness to new experiences (like becoming a field education site for non-traditional seminarians like me) ~ your willingness “to give it a go” is exciting to witness and be part of. This is true of the folks in the congregation and Susanne. The love and commitment you show to each other and to those outside of the church is energizing.
I have so enjoyed working and praying with you: the suppers, the fairs, the meetings, the times at worship, the shared prayer and laughter. I’m not sure it gets any better than this. Thank you all, Susanne especially, for gently pushing me to stretch, to move beyond my comfort zone.
Whether you know it or not, you have helped clarify my “call.”
Never stop broadening the circle of your love, never stop asking “why” and, to paraphrase Emiril Lagasse, never stop asking, “How can we kick it up a notch?”
As I prepare to leave you, my prayer for us is:
May the grace of God disturb us, the power of God overwhelm us, and the Holy Spirit split open our hearts to receive the deepest assurance made ours in Jesus. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. AMEN!
Thank you! God bless you! Aufwiedersehen!
Jim
THE CRACKER BARREL FAIR!
The women of the Ladies Benevolent Society are working hard to prepare for this year’s Cracker Barrel Fair - which will be held on Saturday May 8th, from 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. And they need your help!
In addition to your help setting up the fair and at the fair, they are looking for donations of craft items, tag sale items, “good-as-new items,” cemetery pots, vegetable plants, baked goods, fudge, jewelry, hanging plants, and books. Baked goods are best received the evening before the fair or on the day of the fair.
In addition to all of the wonderful items that will be for sale, there will be a snack bar with lots of good food. So plan to come to the fair, help out, shop, and have a bite to eat!
The women of the Ladies Benevolent Society have several fundraisers during the church year. The money they make at their events helps support the work of our church. So please support our Ladies Benevolent Society in any way that you can!
Our Choir on Easter Morning
Susanne, Carmen, Norman, Peg, Jim, Jim, Anne, Roxanne, Samara, Emily, and our Music Director Joan DeFilipi
OUR AUGUST BREAK
Summer is quickly coming! And for those who are new to our congregation, please note that we do not hold worship services during the month of August, and so we will conclude this church year on July 25th. We will resume worship on Sunday, September 5th, with Sunday School beginning on September 12th.
Also, August is Dr. Hayes' vacation month. If you have a pastoral emergency, please contact one of our two Lay Ministers - Steve Muise (536-0175) or Norman Sisson (593-5061).
_ TIME OUT FOR PARENTS! _ Healthy Snacks for Kids
Healthy snacks can help you grow, even when you’re on the go! It’s easy as A-B-C!
Apple slices with cinnamon. Broccoli with low-fat dip. Carrot and celery sticks. Dried fruit. English muffin with pizza sauce. Fruit juice pop. Granola bar. Honeydew melon. Ice milk. Jell-O. Kiwifruit. Lettuce and tomato salad. Milkshake with fruit, nonfat yogurt, and milk. Nuts. Orange slices. Pretzels. Quesadilla with low-fat cheese. Raisons. String cheese. Turkey slices. Unbuttered popcorn. Veggie pizza. Whole grain bagel with jam. X-otic fruit like mango or papaya. Yogurt (low-fat with fruit). Zoo animal crackers.
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“Newcomers Meet and Greet the Deaconate!”
On Saturday April 17th, our Deacons and Dr. Hayes shared coffee, donuts, and fellowship with seven of our new church friends. The purpose of this gathering was for our new folks to not only meet our deacons, but to meet one another, and also to answer any question they might have about our church or our denomination.
“Meet and Greet the Deaconate” was a very successful gathering and a wonderful way for everyone to get to know one another. We all shared our stories of life and faith; and all agreed that our church is one of welcome, love, fellowship, and support. We hope our newcomers will become members of our family of faith!
Easter Snapshots
Sean prepares to catch the The Sunday School students sing Glorious Easter tulips! innards of a real egg! “The Angel Rolled the Stone Away.”
A full sanctuary on Easter morning, as our Choir prepares to process.
Easter Sunday was a glorious and sunny spring day, full of flowers and hope, and worship and wonder, as we celebrated the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus the Christ. Our service was followed by a wonderful time of friendship and fellowship at our coffee hour, as well as by an Easter Egg Hunt for the children, that was coordinated by Emily Corriveau and Jessica LaFever.
A Joyous Resurrection Sunday to All of You!
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” ~ Matthew 6:19-21
ORPHANGE OUTREACH. For winter break this year, we (Beth Klopfer and Michael Murphy) have decided to donate our time working in an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. Others in our family may be joining us as well. The program is organized by a non-profit group called Orphanage Outreach, which has been working with orphanages in the Dominican Republic for over ten years, ever since the program's founder discovered the poor conditions under which these children were living. These are children who have already suffered through unfortunate circumstances in their lives, such as being the victims of abusive or irresponsible parents, or living in poverty.
The mission of Orphanage Outreach is to provide opportunities to orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children. Its goals are to help the orphanage provide basic necessities, to provide a quality education, and to help the orphanages become self sufficient.
Since 1994, nearly 4000 short-term volunteers and donors have joined Orphanage Outreach in the Dominican Republic and have made many significant improvements to the orphanage, provided upgrades to the living conditions for the children, and provided important educational opportunities.
Each Orphanage Outreach volunteer has two significant roles: to donate important volunteer time while in the Dominican Republic, and to help raise funds necessary to fulfil their mission. As a volunteer, there are several areas in which we may be working. Our trip is from December 25 - January 1, and so our primary objective will be to show the children God’s love in celebration of Christ’s birth and the gift of a new year. Also, volunteers often work on physical work projects, such as digging, building, painting, and planting.
As a fund-raiser, we are helping to raise funds not only to cover our expenses, but to also provide the basic necessities and educational needs for the orphanage. We have already paid for our airline tickets, and donated $200 of our own money toward our expenses. Our goal is to raise enough money to pay the program fee of physically going to support these children, as well as to raise extra money to help the orphanage continue to make improvements. We invite you to become involved in partnering with us in this effort. As we approach the departure date we will update you on items the orphanage is consistently in need of, and which we will bring with us to the orphanage.
Not only can you support us financially through your donations, and spiritually through your prayers, but you can support us physically by coming along with us! If you’re interested in joining us on this adventure, please email me at Betharoo55@yahoo.com so we can get you more information.
Orphanage Outreach is a small organization, is not government funded, and relies on the tax-deductible donations of individuals. If you are willing to help, please make out your check to Orphanage Outreach (a tax-deductible 501-C-3 organization: U.S. federal tax id #58-2197227), and send it to us at the following address so that we can forward your check onto Orphanage Outreach. (Beth Klopfer, 14 Homewood Rd. East Hartland, CT 06027)
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask either one of us. You can also call Tom Eklund, Executive Director of Orphanage Outreach, at (602) 375-2900. Orphanage Outreach also has a very informative web site: www.orphanage-outreach.org, and we encourage you to check it out.
Thank you so much for your help. Any amount and any way that you are able to donate will be greatly appreciated!
Sincerely, Beth Klopfer and Michael Murphy
SUNDAY SCHOOL BUSINESS.
Our Sunday School is already prepariong for Childrens and Baccalaureate Sunday, June 13th, by spending their Sunday School time rehearsing for their Childrens Day play. It is extremely important that all of our children be in church every Sunday as these rehearsals continue.
It has been a great year for our Sunday Schoool with our new teachers and assistants. We especially want to thank Emily Corriveau, who has put so much effort into our Sunday School and Senior Youth Group, and who is off to Salve Regina College in September. She has been a wonderful example and inspiration for all of our children.
Please remember that your children are our future. Without them, what will happen to us?
David Collina, Superintendent, and Carmen Scott, Assistant Superintendent
Who might this be???
CONFIRMATION 2010!
CONFIRMATION 2010 is getting closer and closer. And the class is working hard to prepare to say “yes” to their baptisms by the desire to be confirmed as adult members of our church.
Since everyone in the confirmation class participated in the 30-hour fast for hunger sponsored by the Senior Youth Group and World Vision, it was decided that this activity fulfilled their community outreach requirement. They are currently working on their own Affirmation of Faith as they examine the many attributes of our Triune God. This Affirmation will be used on Confirmation Sunday, June 6th.
Please be sure to be in church on Confirmation Sunday for this very special rite of passage for seven of our young adults.
Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow.
Our Senior Youth Group
During the Fast
Our Senior Youth Group participated in a 30-hour famine on February 27th and 28th. Sponsored by World Vision, the 30-hour famine raises money for malnourished children in third world countries. The Senior Youth Group raised over $400 together for World Vision.
After thirty hours of no eating - only having water and drinks - the group shared a dinner of homemade soup to end the fast.
What a fantastic group of youth and leaders we have that would commit themselves to participating in this wonderful cause.
Jessica LaFever, Emily Corriveau, and Rick Corriveau
“Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.” - Martin Luther
OUR NEXT BELLRINGER.
Our next edition of the Bellringer will be the September-October edition. PLEASE get your Bellringer articles and events to Dr. Hayes by the middle of August. You can e-mail her your input at suhayes@verizon.net; or mail it to her at 292 Munger Hill Road, Westfield, MA 01085; or give it to her at church; or drop by her house with it! We need YOU to make the Bellringer a success!
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Last modified: 03/01/09 |
