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The Good News!
Keeping you informed about the mission and ministry of
Easthampton Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
February 2005 Growing Spiritually, One Day at a Time www.ecc-ucc.org
The Pastor’s Corner Some Thoughts
Christian cannot
It seems that only a few short weeks ago we were celebrating
Christmas, and now we are beginning our journey through Lent and into
Easter. February 9th is Ash Wednesday and it marks the beginning of a six
A have a personal
conversion
week period of self-examination, where we take a closer look at the way we experience without
live our lives. It’s a time to seriously look at the many ways that we have experiencing at the
drifted away from God and God’s ways, and try to get reconnected again. same time a change in
Traditionally, this journey through Lent includes “giving up social attitude.
something.” We often give up things that are very dear to us ~ things such - William Sloane Coffin
as chocolate, coffee, soda, cigarettes, alcohol, meat, desserts, etc, etc. We
give them up in the hope that this practice of self-denial might strengthen f our hearts are in
our resolve to resist pleasures that might be harmful to ourselves and/or
others. The reasoning goes something like this: If we can develop the
I heaven, then heaven
will be in our hearts,
willpower to resist our desire for a relatively harmless pleasure, such as and here we shall know
eating chocolate, we then might be able to develop the willpower to resist the joy and the peace
other pleasures that aren’t so harmless, such as extramarital affairs or the
that come from “sitting
desire to hurt someone out of anger or revenge, etc, etc. It’s a kind of
in heavenly places in
spiritual training that strengthens our self-denial muscles so that when we
need them to help us resist temptation, they won’t let us down. This is the
Christ Jesus,” even
traditional reasoning behind “giving up something for Lent.” whilst here on Earth.
But let me pose an alternative perspective. What if we replaced - Alexander Maclaren
“giving up something for Lent” with “becoming more like Christ”? What if we
early all men can
shifted the focus of Lent from a self-centered spiritual exercise to one of
Christ-centered servant-hood? What if our Lenten fast was more about N stand adversity, but
if you want to test a
“giving” than “giving up”? What if these six weeks were about fasting from
negative behaviors, so that others might have a feast of blessing? What if man’s character, give
we tried to… him power.
• Fast from criticism, so others might feast on praise. - Abraham Lincoln
• Fast from holding grudges, so others might feast on forgiveness.
• Fast from ill temper, so others might feast on peace. eople are like
• Fast from pride, so others might feast on love. P stained-glass
• Fast from apathy, so others might feast on compassion. windows. They
• Fast from selfishness, so others might feast on kindness. sparkle and shine when
Imagine what Lent would be like if we all tried to be a little more like Jesus? the sun is out, but when
A little more caring and compassionate? A little more loving and merciful? darkness sets in, their
A little more giving and forgiving? What if…? true beauty is revealed
only if there is a light
from within.
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
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Kids’ Corner
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Annual Meeting Leading up to Lent
February 6 Jazz Service February 6
Annual Meeting is now scheduled for
Sunday, February 6, after church. It
had to be postponed because of the Don’t miss the fourth annual “Jazz Service” on the
major snowstorm on January 23. last Sunday before Lent, February 6th. We will again
THE MEMBERS OF THE be singing jazzed-up versions of familiar hymns and
EASTHAMPTON will be accompanied by local jazz musicians.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ARE Improvisation and jazz can feed the life of the spirit
HEREBY NOTIFIED OF THE by helping us to be present in the moment, to be
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE open to what the spirit is saying, and to hear familiar
CHURCH ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY things in a new way.
6, 2005, AFTER THE WORSHIP
SERVICE, IN THE FELLOWSHIP
HALL OF THE CHURCH TO
CONDUCT THE FOLLOWING
Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper
BUSINESS: The Board of Fellowship & Support invites you to a
Pancake Supper. All you can eat! Fat Tuesday,
1. Receive and act upon the Annual February 8, at 6 pm. Includes pancakes, sausage, all
Reports of the Pastor, Church the fixins, beverages and dessert! Adults and seniors
Officers, and Boards and $4., children 12 and under $2. Sign up sheet is outside
Organizations as printed. the church office. Firm deadline is Sunday, February 6.
2. Receive and act upon the report Please join us for food, fun and fellowship! (…and bring
of the Nominating Committee. a friend!)
3. Receive and act upon the 2005
Budget of the Church as proposed
by the Board of Trustees.
4. Authorize the Treasurer, with the
Ash Wednesday February 9
We will start our Lenten journey with the Ash
advice and consent of the Board
Wednesday service on Wednesday, February 9, at 7
of Trustees, to borrow necessary
pm.
funds for the budgeted work of the
Church.
5. Empower the Treasurer to sell any
and all stocks given to the Church
Book Group
in payment of pledges, or The Book Group will start up again in Lent. We are
otherwise, with the approval of the reading Kathleen Norris’s book Amazing Grace. Norris
Board of Trustees. is known as a wonderful writer and this is a series of
6. Transact any other business that essays focused around developing a spiritual
may legally come before this vocabulary. We started the book in the fall, but each
meeting. section is self-contained and newcomers are welcome.
Speak to Audrey Walker if you are interested. We will
In case of snow cancellation on order books for those who want to join. The schedule is:
February 6, Annual Meeting will take Wednesday, February 16, from 10 am to 12.
place following the next Sunday Wednesday, February 23, from 10 am to 12.
morning worship service. Thursday, March 10, from 1 to 3 pm.
Wednesday, March 16, from 10 am to 12.
Paula Stratton
Clerk
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Missions at Home
and Around the World
Great
One Great Hour of Sharing Diapers
Please mark the date, March 6, 2005, as the date for the One February 13, 2005 – Pamper
Great Hour of Sharing Collection. As you watch television or the children with Huggies and
read the paper and ponder the horrific suffering that is going Luvs. The Board of Mission and
on all around us, please count your blessings and share what Outreach will be sponsoring our
you can to help our brothers and sisters who are wondering annual diaper drive. Please
how they can possibly survive. We are being called to bring a package of disposable
respond to the needs of strangers of our world. In the process diapers for a collection during
we may discover that participating in the offering is, indeed, a our morning worship. This
means whereby God’s presence becomes more real. By collection is a great benefit to
welcoming strangers, One Great Hour of Sharing not only the people who utilize our Food
relieves suffering, but also embodies essential aspects of the Cupboard.
realm of God. Thank you for your continued support of our
church’s missions.
The Board of Mission and Outreach
Tsunami Relief
The Board of Mission and
Souper Sunday Outreach would like to remind
people of the need for monetary
donations to the victims of
The Board of Mission and Outreach would like to remind December’s tsunami. There will
everyone about the following important dates: be a basket placed in the back
February 6, 2005 – “Souper of the sanctuary for the next few
Sunday” is a national coordination Sundays. All money will be
of UCC’s Local Church Ministries. collected and sent to CWS
It is a project that was first started Tsunami Recovery, c/o Church
by a church youth group. In 1996, World Service, P.O. Box 381,
fifty-one UCC churches first Ludlow, MA 01056.
participated. Last year 458 UCC
congregations contributed. The concept is simple. On the
morning of the NFL Super Bowl, all church participants will be Blood Drive
encouraged to contribute $1.00 or a can of “soup” (can be
stew, ravioli, chili baked beans – something that can make a We collected 76 pints of blood
meal). The donations will be counted (number of cans and at the December Blood Drive.
dollars) that morning and a tally turned into the national The Red Cross notes that this
committee. The “soup” and money remain local, but we will will serve 228 patients. Thank
be part of the national tally. Every dollar or can donated helps you to all who helped!
people in need feel the power of God’s love and care. The
Board of Mission and Outreach would also like to invite the
congregation to join us after church on February 6th for a taste
of our special “souper” bowl soup.
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Shoeboxes of Love The Parson’s
We collected and delivered more than 70
shoe boxes of love for children at Christmas.
The Board of Mission and Outreach would
Closet
like to thank the congregation for all the
support that they give to these missions each Accepting Donations
year. Their generosity is certainly well Reminder: The Parson’s Closet is now
appreciated in the community. accepting spring clothes (adult and children) and
small household items (dishes, small
appliances, linens, etc.). You may drop them at
Heifer Project Begins the side door (parking lot) of the parsonage on
Saturdays from 10 to 12 noon and on Sunday
after church till 12 noon. Please let your friends
During the month of February the children in
know that we welcome their donations. They do
the Learning Community will be raising
not have to be church members.
money for Heifer International. This is a
mission project the children take part in each
year. This year our animal will be the goose.
Geese are a good
Help Needed
source of meat, HELP! HELP! We need your help to make the
fertilizer, eggs, new thrift store a success. February will be our
and feathers. big push to get everything ready for our opening
They eat bugs on March 5. I am looking for people who may
too! not be able to work during the store hours but
could set their own schedule and would be
Children will be interested in managing the merchandise in a
getting a Noah’s part of the store. I need at least 3 people for the
Ark coin bank to adult clothes, children’s room and books. You
take home and fill might want to share the job with a friend. Please
with money along call Kris Furkey 527-2473 as soon as possible if
with a giving this might interest you.
chart. They will
be learning about Heifer in their classes and
holding a fundraising bake sale on the last Volunteer Meeting
Sunday in February, the 26th.
Store volunteer meeting – Monday, February 7th,
For those who are not familiar with Heifer 6:30 pm at the store (parsonage). We will
International, it is an organization that works discuss the store opening plans and schedule
to end hunger around the world. By giving workers for set-up and sales clerking. If you
young animals, plants and training, it helps cannot attend, please call because we will still
people to be able to feed themselves. The need your input and help. Even an hour a week
only condition is that they give their first will be appreciated. Thank you for your support.
offspring to another family, thus passing on
the gift. Kris Furkey, 527-2473
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News and People
Notes New Members
Children’s Bible We were recently blessed with new members joining their
paths with ours. Here is some information on some of them.
The next Bible study for grades
3-6 will be on Monday, February
Luann Archambault – Luann lives in Easthampton with
14. We will gather at 6 pm for her husband Ryan and daughter Emma, born last May. She
supper and dessert. This month first came to ECC because she wanted Emma baptized.
spaghetti will be served with a She is grateful for the welcome they have found here.
Valentine dessert! Please let me Before Emma was born Luann was an office manager. She
know if you are planning to be enjoys gardening, walking, crochet, Reiki, and baking. A
with us so I can have enough of high point of her life was the birth of Emma – the first time
everything. Call me a home at looking into her eyes was a dream come true.
413-667-3696 or the church at Jennifer Geertsma – Jennifer, also known as Jen, lives
527-4790. We meet from 6 to in Easthampton with her husband Matthew and son Erik, 2½.
7:30 pm. And they are expecting another child at any moment! Jen is
Jill Nuttall, R. E. Director a social scientist research analyst and enjoys reading,
knitting, and spending time with her family.
Note from Collector Sharon Malouin – Sharon lives in Easthampton with her
husband Mike and children Kyle, 5, and Jenna, 2. She is a
Please remember not to tape bank auditor. She is currently working with the children in
pledge envelopes – it makes the Learning Community and finding it rewarding. She has
them hard to open. Thank you. vivid memories of her own childhood in church and hearing
the church bell ring when her donation was made.
Newsletter Deadline
Because the month of February
is so short and because the
Birthday
Executive Committee meeting Mabel Ray will be 90 on February 5. Congratulations!
falls so late, the newsletter
deadline has been moved up to
Tuesday, February 15.
In Memory
Amanda LeBlanc passed away on
January 8. Our thoughts and prayers are
Dates Early March with her family and friends.
Board Night – Thurs., March 3
Oasis Dinner – Friday, March 4 Esther Knodel passed away January
23. Our sincere sympathy to her friends
Parsons’s Closet Opens –
and family.
Saturday, March 5
How could anyone ever tell you you were anything less than beautiful
How could anyone ever tell you you were less than whole
How could anyone fail to notice that your loving is a miracle
How deeply you’re connected to my soul
- Libby Roderick
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