WEEKLY GOOD NEWS EMAIL
First Congregational Church of Hanover, Massachusetts
An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ
SUNDAY WORSHIP INFORMATION
OCTOBER 3, 2021, REV. ERIC STROSHINE, GUEST PREACHER
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Psalm 8, Matthew 9:35-38
SERMON: The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
Covid and the Delta variant are very much with us. Masks are expected for services in the church building until further notice. Masks will be available when you enter the sanctuary.
For the same reason, indoor Coffee Hour will be suspended until further notice.
Link to the church YouTube home page to get the most recent Sunday service
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGOZdozbwpMp1qbJeHbwAaA
GREETINGS FROM ANDREW TALBOT
Good morning,
I wanted to send greetings to all of you and give you an update on my situation, since it has been nearly two months since I've last spoken with many of you. I wanted to share that I am doing well in Westfield and have settled into a new community and new church.
I've remained in the UCC, and your new incoming minister knows mine quite well. I am enjoying the daily challenges of being a Special Education teacher in Southwick, and am fitting in nicely with my colleagues and the student body. I know from many of our conversations that you have been rooting and cheering for my success, and to this point, those encouragements of hope and prayers have borne fruit.
While the scenery is different, (and there is a lot more space) the community is friendly, and the church I've settled into does have a good music program. (But no one can be Chad!) I look forward to seeing you again soon, so if I happen to come up those stairs some Sunday in the near future, please don't hesitate to come over and say hi. I miss all of you, and it will be nice to see you again. ~Andrew Talbot
THE BELLS ARE RINGING…REHEARSAL OCTOBER 3 @ 8:30
Sunday, September 12, marked the reactivation of the First Congregational Church Bell Choir, as Ken Cheo, Ginny Hunt, and Chad Weirick rang the first presentation of bells at Sunday morning worship. Now it’s your turn. Beginning this Sunday, October 3, at 8:30, in the choir room, Chad will commence rehearsals for future pieces to augment our Sunday services with bells. Anyone interested in participating should show up this Sunday or notify Chad if you can’t make it this time, but would like to join later. All you need is the ability to count and to read music. We all miss our chancel choir, but the bells are lovely, too. Come join this appealing endeavor!
CHURCH FAIR PREVIEW IN OCTOBER
Please visit the Church Fair sign up table in the Church Vestry on Sunday October 3rd, 10th and 17th. We will have a small showing of Fair items for sale. Baked goods will be available.
YOUTH REGISTRATION 2021-2022
The goal of Christian Education for 2021-2022 is to rebuild, grow and strengthen the fellowship and bonds between the children and young adults in our church.
Please use the link below to register your children for youth activities. You will need to complete one form per child. If you are not able to access the form, please contact Kate Gilligan, katgilligan@gmail.com
FCC Hanover Youth Registration link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18BNNpqyxegmPHX5OcvZg99qRpGjej99--SBp1RNc3A8
Please keep an eye on your email -- a youth activities schedule is coming soon!
SEAFARERS’ FRIEND COLD SNAP HAT DRIVE Outreach and Service will collect woolen hats, scarves and neck warmers during the month of October to donate to the Seafarers’ Friend organization. International crewmen are away from home for extended periods of time and need basic cold weather gear. Please, no acrylic! Drop off in the narthex or at the church office. Contact: Karen Tripp (klt@aol.com)
DONATE SUPPLIES TO THE SOLDIERS CARE PACKAGE OUTREACH
The First Baptist Church in Hingham has invited us to participate in the Soldiers Care Package Outreach (Joy Thomson, Director, www.SoldiersCarePackages.com) to help the displaced and destitute Afghanistan refugees. If you wish to donate supplies, the request list is short:
- Individually packaged snacks * Feminine hygiene items
- Coloring books & crayons * Various sized flip flops Drop off your donation in the trunk in the parking lot to the right of the First Baptist Church. If you would prefer to give financial support, send a check made payable to Soldiers Care Package Outreach and mail to 85 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043.
ORDER ALTAR FLOWERS TO MARK A SPECIAL OCCASION
You are invited to sign up to donate flowers for $25 in honor or in memory of a loved one. The order forms and sign-up sheet are in the coat room off the narthex.
PRAYER SHAWL STARTS UP OCTOBER 6
After a long period of not meeting due to the pandemic, we will be easing into a renewing time by having a Prayer Shawl meeting on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:30pm in the Church Office. At this time we will make arrangements for a Fall Prayer Shawl blessing. We will continue to meet in the Church Office on the first Wednesday of every month, thereafter. You don’t have to be proficient at knitting or crocheting, as lessons will be included. *Mask wearing is recommended at this time.
CELEBRATIONS AND CONCERNS
Please email your celebrations and concerns to the church office and to Rev. Aaberg at rev.ann@fcchanover.org.
• Ava and Bob Sigsby celebrated with Janet and Alan Cook at the wedding of their son Andrew Cook and his new bride Claudia
• Mary Dunn will attend the wedding of her son James this week
• Sue Conant’s grandson turned 21
• Ruth Hall was in NC to celebrate the 50th birthday of her daughter
• Success of lung transplant for Amy Kelly’s friend Carol M.
Let’s Pray for:
• Tom Evans, cousin of Marilyn Melchin, starting chemo therapy
• Lynn White, recovering at home
• Family of Sally Gray (friend of Ruth Hall) who passed September 28
• Family of Charles Wilburn (friend of Bob and Jessie Berry) who passed September 28
• Brandi, daughter of Gary and Linda Gilardi, who is going through medical tests
• Ericka, daughter of Ginny Hunt, at Brigham & Womens for tests
• Eli (and family), friend of Lisa Boucher, undergoing chemo for pancreatic cancer
• Those with COVID-19
• The family of Karyn Hall, Lynn White’s sister, who passed September 10
• Kerrin, niece of Ginny Hunt, with health issues
• Joan, friend of Glenda Larson, facing cancer treatment
Please continue praying for those with long-term needs
• Don White
• Aaron Lowman, Debby Zawalich’s cousin, in rehab
• Dolly Johnson’s son Steven
• Dave Durand, friend of Sandy and Dave Vaughn
A NOTE FROM OUR BRDIGE PASTOR
As we approach World Communion Sunday this week, my mind is swirling around the mystery, the significance and the many aspects of the sacrament Jesus instituted to remember him. The one lens through which to view Holy Communion, which has always had significance for me, is Jesus’ extravagant hospitality at the Last Supper. This was cemented for me over a decade ago when I read a reflection by the Rev. Quinn Caldwell, parts of which I often incorporate into Communion invitations. In fact, I used it on September 5 during our first worship service together:
“The story comes to us of a prison chaplain, who in celebrating Communion, invited the prisoners this way: ‘The first time Jesus sat down to this meal, among those gathered there were one who would doubt him, one who would deny him and one who would betray him and they would all desert him before that night was over. And he knew it. Still he sat down and ate with them. If he ate with them, surely he’s ready to eat with us. All you have to be to eat at this table is hungry; God will do the rest.’ And the story goes that the prisoners came forward, many with tears in their eyes, realizing for the first time that they, too, were welcome at the table where Jesus had welcomed sinners.”
You may ponder other aspects of Holy Communion this week but this one aspect of Jesus’ wide welcome and radical inclusion of all who are hungry for God, no matter the condition of their souls, no matter their lot in life, no matter their age, is one that has taught and inspired me to try to do the same. “Welcoming all, excluding none” is sometimes difficult for us but what better place to imagine it than at Jesus’ table? This Sunday may you get a flash of the countless Communion tables all over our God-given world where every kind of person you can possibly imagine is eating bread and drinking from the cup, all blessed by His eternal and infinite presence.
Wishing you all God’s blessings,
Pastor Ann