First Church: Believing, Serving, and Growing, Together in Christ
                                                                     
                                         
                 November 21, 2008                    

MINISTRIES OF FIRST CHURCH:

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND
November 17-21 Items for the fair can be brought during the week.

November 20 2:30-6pm Youth Coffee House (see Will for details)

November 20 7:30pm - Choir Rehearsal

November 22 CHURCH FAIR 9-2pm

November 23 7pm – Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

November 30 First Sunday in Advent

PRELUDE 9:50am Take Back the Sabbath is a national initiative. Walter Brueggemann, biblical scholar and theologian states that “when the 7th day is recovered as the Sabbath, we will have time for generosity”. The prelude provides an opportunity for us to “take back the time” as we engage in prayer, meditation and reflection. As the organ is played let us enter into a time of “Sabbath rest.”

LEARNING
YOUTH COFFEE HOUSE – from 2:30 to 6pm every Thursday in the Library throughout the semester. A place for teens to come and study, get help from peers, and relax. There will be drinks and snacks available for purchase.*
For more info talk to Will Coley. *all proceeds go directly to the Youth Fund

COFFEE, FELLOWSHIP, and STUDY- Wednesdays at 10am in the Library. The study is open to all. The coffee is hot, the conversation lively, and the topics are designed not only to inform but also to inspire each person to grow and develop, spiritually. This year the study expands on experience of reading the 100 passages of scriptures (The 100 Challenge) that took place during the spring. As a result, we will explore Ten Key Passages from the Bible, Ten Key Events from the Bible, Ten Key Events in Jesus’ Life, and Ten Key People from the Bible.

ADULT STUDY- (EVERY SUNDAY) Everyone is invited to gather in the library each Sunday at 9am to explore the bible and the ways to apply it to our lives. This fall we will consider how worship shapes our lives personally and our life as a community of faith. We will learn about the nature of worship, the place of worship, the psychology of worship, personal attitudes regarding worship, worship and service, worship and justice, freedom in worship, styles of worship, the natural world and worship. The key passage in the bible for this study is John 4:19-24.

ADULT STUDY – (WEEKDAY) It’s a Bible Study for men and women regardless of age. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. We begin with dinner at 6:30pm and conclude at 8:30pm.
We will be studying the Paul’s letter to the Christians in Philippi. The curriculum is Life Application Bible Studies. The study book contains the full letter of Philippians, background information, and several questions that relate to each section of the letter. Lorraine Follis and Sue Burgess facilitate the study.

MENS’ STUDY - What are the seasons of a man’s life? What are the issues of intimacy, identity and ideology that concern men most? How can I grow spirituality without becoming a fanatic? Have you asked yourself any of these questions? Are there other questions that concern you as well? If you would like to be a part of a group that is interested in these questions and others please contact Jack Casteel or Pastor Dean. Jack and the Pastor are offering a study for men that will meet twice a month. The invitation is extended to all the men of the church and their friends. The setting is informal. The intention is to discover how we can grow together in Christ. Next meeting December 15

DISCOVERY DEVOTIONAL GUIDES- The Discovery devotional guides are available in the rack to the right of the Opportunities Table.

FAITH AT WORK Copies of the Faith at Work Magazine are available in the metal rack on the left of the Opportunities Table.

CHALLENGE 100 – The people of Scripture Union are interested in our assessment of the Challenge 100 program. If you participated in the program you are invited to fill out a response sheet and return it in the self addressed envelop. The forms and envelopes are on The Opportunities Table.

MEMBERSHIP SEMINAR - Are you thinking about First Church but need more information. There will be a membership class on Saturday December 6 in the library. The class begins at 9 and goes through lunch. The members of the leadership team will join all prospective members for lunch. Child care will be provided. Please contact Georgette Gagnon, the church secretary and tell her of your interest and whether or not you will need child care.

PRAYING
COMMUNITY PRAYER- The candles in the windows of the sanctuary will remain lighted until the war in Iraq is over reminding us of the hope and security we have in God.

MORNING PRAYER- Prayer changes things and people. Our vitality as a community of faith is connected directly to prayer. Come and join with others in the oldest of the spiritual disciplines. Lorraine Follis convenes the group. The group meets on Tuesday mornings at 7am in the Stephen Ministry room. Each week we focus on one Psalm as a basis for our prayers.


FINANCE
We continue to depend on your pledges and others gifts to operate our programs and ministries and to care for our property. Thank you for your support and your prayers.

SHARING
MISSION GRANTS AVAILABLE- The Board of Missions will be using a fraction of its budget this year to fund individuals or pairs who are doing some sort of missions project or related between now and May 2009. This is an application process which asks for information about the project, and how the funds will be used. The application is available from Janet Fischer, by email at jfischer@mit.edu, or call 781-598-0839. The first grant was awarded to Jesse Stowell in October 2008 for his work with InterVarsity in Pennsylvania.
LYNN HUNGER NETWORK - 300 Turkeys are needed for the Lynn food pantries, social service organizations and schools. The turkeys are needed by Thursday, November 20th. Turkeys may be dropped off for storage and distribution at My Brothers Table from 9am to 7pm Monday thru Friday and from 12-4pm on Saturday and Sunday. For more info call MBT at 781-595-3224.

FAITH STORY- Humans are story tellers. The scripture is filled with stories of faith. Several members of the congregation have shared their “faith story’ during the worship service. These stories help to nurture and encourage the people who are gathered for worship. Do you have a story that you would like to share? If so please contact Lorraine Follis. She will provide a guide for you to follow.

FIRST CHURCH FOOD PANTRY – Last week was the in gathering for the pantry. Thank you for your contributions of food. You may still make contributions to the pantry. At this time the need for food is not going away. The pantry is one way in which we as followers of Christ can respond to the needs of others.

CELEBRATION OR MEMORIAL FLOWERS There are Sundays available for Celebration or Memorial Flowers during the church year. A sign up sheet is on
the board at the Opportunity Area outside Clarke Hall or you can call Becky Robinson at 781-631-6312 or email her at rob.farm@worldnet.att.net.
FROM THE MODERATOR – If you have comments, questions, concerns, etc. you may email me at the following email address: cmhwillis@comcast.net
Cynthia Willis.

THE PRAYER SHAWL KNITTERS- For more information call Lily Merson (781-592-1527) Leslie Harris (978-535-8152) or Jane Pedersen (978-468-4640).

PLEASE COME! The best holiday fair on the North Shore will be the 162th “Let It Snow” Fair on Saturday, November 22 from 9am to 2pm. Shop the many tables full of jewelry, hand-made gifts, baked goods, books, children’s toys, antiques and more. Along with our annual white elephant sale, you will surely be able to check a few people off of your holiday shopping list. Don’t forget out Frozen Feasts to Go. The kitchen will be open serving coffee, snacks and lobster rolls for lunch. New this year is a Clothing Boutique with “gently used” clothing. Hope to see you there!

SERVING
READERS: There are a group of people in the church who are known as readers. They help us as we worship God and follow Christ and they are guided by the Holy Spirit. They lead us in prayer and read the scripture. Have you been asking yourself about where you can minister? Would you like to join them? Please see Pastor Dean of Dolores Yoder of the Board of Worship and Music.

                    

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STEPHEN MINISTRY

Stephen Leaders: Gaye Carpenter, Lila Foster, Dean W. Pedersen, Roy Young

Stephen Ministers: Lorraine Angel, Dot Bergman, Sue Burgess,  Jack Casteel, Darby DesRoches, Janet Fischer, Lorraine Follis, Ruth Heggie, Jane Pedersen, Jim Scofield, Sharon Thomas, Eileen Young,

Ministers can bring the love of Jesus back into your life. To learn more about Stephen Ministry, talk to one of our Stephen Leaders: Gaye Carpenter, Lila Foster, Dean Pedersen, and Roy Young: Our Stephen Ministers are ready to care for you!

What Do Stephen Ministers Do? Stephen Ministers are members of First Church who have gone through 50 hours of training to provide confidential one-to-one Christian care to people who are facing a crisis or simply going through a difficult time. Your Stephen Minister will meet with you once a week for around an hour to listen to you, care for you, pray with and for you, and provide emotional and spiritual encouragement. Men are matched with male Stephen Ministers, women are matched with female Stephen Ministers. To find out more about how you or someone you know could be matched with a Stephen Minister, talk with one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders: Gaye Carpenter, Lila Foster, Dean Pedersen, or Roy Young.

 

MINISTRY LEADERSHIP

THE FIRST CHURCH CABINET  2007-2008

Moderator	Cynthia Willis
Clerk	Terri Beckett
Treasurer	Sharon Scofield
Cabinet at Large	Jack Casteel, Steve Townsend,
Board of Finance	John Willis
Board of Worship	Dolores Yoder
Board of Missions	Ellie Casteel
Board of Stewardship	Don Fullerton
Board of Friendship	Gail MacGregor
Board of Christian Ed	Scott Heggie
Senior Pastor	Dean W. Pedersen

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

 

President and Conference Minister	the Rev. Dr. James Antal
Association Minister	the Rev. Carol Atwood-Lyon
Chair: NE Area Board of Directors	the Rev. Alice Eriksson
First Church delegate: Essex Assoc.	Joan Caradonna Jennifer Gilday
Mass. Conference delegates	Joan Caradonna    Jennifer Gilday