FEBRUARY   2010


From the Pastor's Desk.....

At the last meeting of the Deacons, I expressed a bit of passion over the make up of the Maundy Thursday service and really the entire season of Lent.  One brave Deacon noticed the vehemence and inquired the reason for such deep emotion on what seems to be the make up of just another one of many worship services throughout the year.  It was a fair question that deserved a fair response and so on the edge of my seat with as much calm as possible I explained my answer.

Personally, but more important pastorally, Lent is a church season that allows one to explore the faith in ways that are honest to the reality of life.  The services in Lent, especially Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday, allow us to bring meaning and depth to our faith like no other time for it challenges us to be faithful in the midst of life's difficulties.  We all experience trying times of death, illness, apathy, broken relationships, unfair circumstances and to be honest unfaithful behaviors, yet most Sundays we / I try to present a positive upbeat message of hope, peace, joy and love.  Lent is perhaps the one season when the Church Year [services, scripture readings, rituals] asks us to reflect more deeply on the faith and how we integrate the most challenging times in our lIves with faith in the divine presence of God and the abundant love of Jesus. 

Honestly, some simply cannot pull these two seemingly disparate aspects of life into a unified whole; a child, parent or spouse dies young, a natural disaster strikes your life, disease or sickness negatively shapes your being and all of a sudden your faith is unable to comprehend the hand of God within the fabric of life.  Like a sailboat off course by a few degrees, this leads in time to being way off the mark and separated from the divine in ways that are often unimaginable and at times unbridgeable.  Lent, coming around every year, forces us to do the hard work of being a Christian in a troubled world, of looking at the cross and human culpability, of looking at the intricate inner workings of God's activity in the world and our behaviors and lives. 

The divine irony of doing this type of spiritual work is that it leads to a healthier life.  We work through our issues.  We live honestly and do not have to take the energy it would require to live a bifurcated existence.  Our life and faith merge into a journey where God travels along with us during or perhaps especially within, those difficult times.  So honestly dealing with negative touchstones in a faithful way results in more meaningful and joyous life.  It allows one to celebrate more fully when the good comes. 

Thus, engulfing ourselves in services, rituals and struggles of the season of Lent opens up for us new vistas of Easter Joy.  Honestly dealing with death brings the fullness of everlasting life to bear upon it with ever increasing light.  Delving into the troubled areas of life is done with God by our side with tears and rolled up sleeves instead of snickering from on high. 
So I encourage all of you to take advantage of the season of Lent.  Come to the Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday services.  Participate in the Thursday night dinners and programs.  Make a point of attending all six Sunday Morning Worship Services.   Pray more.  Read the gospels as a spiritual discipline.  Love your neighbor and try to understand what loving your enemies would look like.  Forgive past grievances.  Journal through your anger and discomfort with the way the world is with your God the Creator.  And together, we will be healthier for the exercise and much better prepared to claim the joy of Easter.   As one fellow journeyer to another, I am

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Mark

SPECIAL SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY

Scout Sunday
February 7, 2010

First Church will again honor the Boy and Girl Scouts of America by hosting a Scout Sunday.  Boy and Girl Scouts will help participate in the service by greeting, reading scripture, taking the offering and assisting the ministers in their leadership of worship.  They will be dressed in uniform and come from a number of different troops in the area.  If you are or were a scout, wear your uniform or scarf that day to recognize the important ministry of the scout programs in our midst. 


Children's Sunday / Renewal of Vows
February 14, 2010

In the past at the end of each year, it has been the tradition of First Church to hold Children's Sunday, Teacher Appreciation and Ice Cream Sunday all on the same day.  It was a bit hectic and always rushed.  To honor our children for being a blessing to the church, this year we will be celebrating CHILDREN'S SUNDAY at the Second Service on February  14, 2010.  Each Sunday School class will help lead the service as all of us older folks watch closely to see the Christ's kingdom building instruments.  Come and join us as we all seek to become child like.

After each service, couples that are interested in renewing their vows are invited to stay in the sanctuary and wait for Reverends Mark and Ryan to join them and offer the Church's blessing on their ongoing marriage.  This will be a Valentine's Day treat that all are welcome to attend.  The brief ritual will include re-reciting your vows to your loved one, prayer, a brief scripture and blessing. 




Ash Wednesday Service
Wednesday February 17, 2010

Everyone is invited to begin the Lenten season by participating in one of the most ancient and powerful services in the Christian Church: Ash Wednesday.  Lent is a penitential season and the Ash Wednesday service centers us on the creative power of God and our great need of Christ's extravagant love.  Ashes will be offered to everyone and will be applied to folks either on their foreheads or wrists.  If you prefer not to take the ashes, a blessing will be offered instead.  The service will be offered at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.   Both Rev. Mark and Rev. Ryan will be officiating at this very special service.   


Pretzel Sunday
February 21, 2010

An old First Church tradition in Essex Junction is Pretzel Sunday.  This year it will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2010.  To spread the wealth of warm and delicious pretzels and a bit of culinary joy, the Sunday School program under the direction of Christian Education will be coming early and baking pretzels so that the FIRST SERVICE FOLKS can participate in this wonderful and tasty celebration.  If you would like to help with the dough or with helping our children roll and shape the pretzels, feel free to call Laurie Chipman at the Church Office: 878-5745.


Diversity and Community in our Vermont:
Overcoming Barriers and Encountering New Challenges

The First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, U.C.C. will be presenting a program entitled Diversity and Community in Our Vermont: Overcoming Barriers and Encountering New Challenges.  The presenter will be Dr. Daniello G. Balon.  Dr. Balon, the Director of Diversity and Equity for the Burlington High School District, was one of the presenters at last year's Annual Meeting of the Vermont Conference and is a national facilitator and speaker on issues of empowerment and inclusivity.  The program will consist of two Pot Luck Suppers and programs that will be a hands on interactive event.  The two sessions will be held on Thursday nights February 4th and 11th from 6 - 8 P.M.  All are welcome at the Pot Luck Series and or discussions.  The sessions will include....

SESSION I (FEB 4):

1. Defining diversity in Vermont/US in a current context
2. Identifying the next set of challenges - a community exercise


SESSION II (FEB 11):

1. Who are the new Vermonters? Addressing the structural
and subtle barriers towards moving forward
2. Acting towards social justice - what can I do as an individual?

IMMIGRATION SERIES
OFFERED AT A NEW TIME

Pete Schmalz, one of our members and a lawyer for the U.S. Government's Department of Immigration and Naturalization has been organizing a three week series to look at immigration issues and how they affect Vermont.  He has arranged three different groups to come in and share their story so that we might get a clearer picture of what life is like for the immigrants in our Vermont midst.  We will be meeting at a totally new time---in between the two Sunday morning worship services from 9:50 to 10:40 a.m. in the second floor youth room.   Be sure to come and support Pete, the groups that will be presenting and yourself as you increase your awareness and knowledge of this vital and timely issue.  The groups and the dates we will be hosting them are

February 7, 2010:  Refugee Resettlement Program
February 14, 2010: Addison County Agricultural farm Workers
February 28, 2010: The Association of Africans Living in Vermont


Thursday Night Lenten Dinner and Programs Planned


During the season of Lent, First Church will be offering a wonderful opportunity to deepen yourselves in the faith through the arts. Each Thursday night during Lent [February 25, March 4, 11, 18, & 25] there will be a simple meal offered along with a number of workshops. This year, Christian Education has decided on deepening our spirituality by using the arts. There will be workshops on memoir writing, increasing your photography skills, beginning drawing and perhaps even a yoga class.

There will, of course, be child care for our youngest children, a classic games time for our older children and a continuation of the biblical / theological DVD series entitled "Living the Questions." For those of you who would like to prepare and sing in this year's cantata, you are welcome to join the choir after dinner on Thursday nights. The dinner will start at 5:45 p.m., individual workshops will go from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and we will have a closing circle which will end by 7:45 p.m., just in time for an 8:00 p.m. bedtime. Be sure to come and perhaps even bring a friend.

Continuing Our Mental Health Ministries
Video Presentation

First Church has begun a Mental Health Support Group that meets once a month on a Saturday in order to offer resources and support to those within our church and community affected by mental health.  Bernie Profili, one of our members who is also one of the facilitators of the support group, will be showing the award-winning video entitled "Creating Caring Congregations" on Sunday, February 21, 2010 to anyone interested in making First Church more understanding, inclusive and friendly toward people with mental illness.   The excellent video will be shown in the second floor youth lounge in between the two Sunday morning worship services from 9:50 to 10:40 a.m.  Anyone interested in strengthening our church and responding to Christ's call to abundant hospitality should be present.  The video lasts half an hour, which will then leave about fifteen minutes for an open discussion.



Associate Pastor's Pen

I recently found myself in the middle of a very complex mixture of language and communication.  I needed to meet with two of our members.  Really they needed to work on something for worship together but needed my help to do it.   So, I called one at home but he had already gone to bed.  So I called back and left a message on his cell phone so he would hopefully find it in the morning about meeting in the afternoon and then I texted him just for good measure.  Knowing it was too late to call the other I sent her a Facebook message and an email hoping she would find them before it got too late in the day. 

I was out of the office all day in a meeting so I could only check voice mail on my cell phone and Facebook from my phone.  But I could not get to email or my church phone.  In the midst of feeling exhausted trying to orchestrate what seemed like a lunar landing through these 4 or 5 means of communication I began to consider how we approach and communicate with God. 

Yes, we have five to ten ways to be in touch with one another but how much more often does it seem we are not really connecting with one another in a meaningful way.  It reminded me that regardless of how many ways we have to communicate with one another, and regardless of how advanced our handheld devices get, communication with God is as simple as it has always been.  We need only simply pray.  We are called as people of faith to be in constant prayer.

It is as simple as stopping throughout the day and offering an intentional prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings in our lives or offering a prayer of support and help for someone and someplace that is in need of God's loving care and healing.  It can also be a way of being, through which we seek to be in constant conversation with God, more aware of God's movement in the world and through each of our lives.  It is simply recognized that in every person, in every living creation, in all of creation God is reflected in some special way.  And a part of prayer is recognizing when we see God before us throughout our lives.

Rev. Ryan

New England Regional Youth Event
Mark your calendars now!  June 24-27 2010!

All youth who have completed 8th grade through graduating seniors are invited to the NERYE!  This is an incredible gathering of UCC youth from across New England.  It is 4 days filled with laughter, fun, workshops, service, worship, fellowship, games, and much more!


Mark your calendars now, so you don't miss this great event.  It will be one to remember! June 24-27, 2010!  The brochures are at the church and on-line registration is available through the MA Conference website at macucc.org.

Ask Rev. Ryan, Shannon, Lauren, or Erica for details.

Sr. High Rock Climbing-March 5-6, 2010

The Sr. High Youth Group is going to Petra Cliffs climbing gym in Burlington for a night of climbing, laughter, games, and fun (and yes maybe even a little sleeping).  Mark your calendars for March 5th from 9 p.m.  Through March 6th at 9 a.m.  You are welcome to bring friends - the more the merrier.  The evening is packed with climbing, learning to belay, games, and much more.  Don't miss out!  The cost will be approximately $20.  There are still a limited number of spots available for adults to join us. 


All Youth Skating!!

February 7th the Jr. & Sr. High youth will go skating at the Essex Rink from 2-4 pm.  It's inexpensive and a lot of fun.  Bring your own skates if you have them or rent them when we get there!  See you Sunday, February 7th for ice skating (chuckles and falls).


Youth Leadership In Place

Be sure to congratulate your youth.  There is a new structure in place within the Sr. High youth group.  The youth are taking more of a leadership role in their own program.  They have chosen to have a Moderator and Chairs of 5 Committees.  Congratulations to the following youth:  Moderator-  Stefan Deutsch, Webmaster- Bobby Evans, Fundraising/Treasurer- Shannon McCullen, Events Planning-Lauren Lumbra, Weekly Planning-Brian Evans, and Secretary/Historian/Photographer- Josh Sharp.
Sr. & Jr. High February Youth Calendar

Saturday 6th: Penguin Plunge

Sunday 7th: Ice Skating 2-4 ($4 & bring your skates if you have them)
In Worship Communion

Sunday 14th: Night Light @ Williston 6:00
In Worship-Children's Sunday

Wednesday 17th: Ash Wednesday Service 7 pm

Sunday 21st: All Youth Game Night 2-4
Pretzel Sunday

Sunday 28th: NO Youth Group
10:45 Sunday School

Dan Balon will be presenting and facilitating a dialogue on Race Thursday Feb. 4th and 11th.  All YOUTH are invited to attend the potluck conversation 6-8 pm.


Children's Sunday

February 14th will be Children's Sunday this year.   It is so much fun to celebrate our children as they help lead us in worship.   Please mark your calendars and join us in worship on this special day!  Preschool up through 6th grade will be participating.  Sunday school classes will be getting ready in the weeks ahead.  We will end the Sunday school year with the Ice Cream Social on June 6th.    Hope you can join us.  God Bless!


Sunday School Offering Vote on Feb. 14th

On Children's Sunday, February 14th, there will be a display in Fellowship Hall of three possible organizations for the Sunday School offering to go to.  The children will be asked to vote by placing an item in the collection container in front of the organization of their choice.   The organization with the most votes will be where the Sunday School money goes to this year.  

Each year there will be a display of 3 organizations and the children will get to vote.  This year's choices will be Heifer International, Direct Aid International and Native Americans.  Look for the displays for more information on these great organizations. 

Offering envelopes are available.  This helps the Sunday School offering to go to the correct location.   During the opening sharing circle time each Sunday in class, a Sunday school offering is taken.   

Sunday School Teachers Needed

Have you been thinking about teaching?  Helping to lead a class or co-teach on a Sunday with another person?  What ages are you comfortable with?  You do not need to commit to every Sunday.  The year is half over and there are less than 10 Sundays left of class time for teachers to prepare lessons.  The curriculum we are using is laid out really user friendly and filled with resources.  All classes have openings, especially the K-1st grade class, 4th& 5th grade class  and Jr. High and Sr. High classes. 

Please let Pastor Ryan or Laurie know that you are interested and we'll be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you have. 


Laurie's Bulletin Board

Sign up sheets for the following our outside my office on the blue bulletin board.

Helpers are needed for Sunday School classes of Preschool up through 6th grade.  Join a class on a Sunday and just be an extra set of hands or read a story to the class. 

Spiritual Friends (senior high youth through all ages of adulthood) sit in conversation circles with the children during the 10:45 service at normal Sunday School time.  This is a simple and fun way of taking turns answering a question, sharing and getting to know each other on Sunday, February 7th, March 7th, April 25th, May 2nd, May 30th and June 6th.


Calendar Notes

February 7 - Faith Talks with an Agape Meal in class

February 14 - Children's Sunday
Sunday school classes lead our worship service
Children vote for which mission organization will receive their offering money in 2010.

February 21 - Pretzel Sunday

February 28 - Praying in Color

March 7 - Communion with Pastor Ryan & Faith Talks


OUR CHURCH FAMILY


The condolences of the congregation are extended to

Marilyn and Allen Potter on the death of Marilyn's mother, Ethelda Graves, on January 10.
Ethelda was also grandmother and great-grandmother to Jodi Goliber and family and
Kim Panton and family; 

Bernie Currier on the death of her sister, Elsie Tourville, on January 13th, and to

David and Carolyn Antone on the death of David's mother, Beaulah (Bea) on January 24th.


We congratulate the following students:

Curtis Guild, son of Ed and Anita Guild, is one of 29 students from Keene State College to be                          included in the 2010 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities                              and Colleges.  Who's Who recognizes outstanding academic achievement and student                               leadership.  He currently is a peer advisor on campus and is a personal tutor to several                            students on campus. 

Stefan Deutsch, son of Erna and Scott Deutsch, was named an Academic All Star at Essex                               High School;  Top 5 accomplishments: 97.3 GPA, running at New England cross-                                            country championships, 2009 cross-country team coach's award, National Merit                                         Semifinalist, four years of EHS Peer Helpers.  In the community: Reading mentor at                                 Brownell Library, Community Martin Luther King Day Celebration Committee, Church                         Youth group.  After graduation: Accepted to UVM Honors College, also applied to                               Dartmouth College and several others in the Northeast.   Career plans: Possibly                                  engineering or chemistry. 

Liam John, son of Alex and Monica John, is a cellist with the Vermont Youth Philharmonica      and organized a concert to pay tribute to his long-time friend, Aaron Xue, who died last spring.  The Aaron Xue Memorial Concert was held at the Elley-Long Music Center    at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester.  Proceeds from the concert went to the Aaron Xue                    Friendship Fund, which will pay for an annual VYOA concert, as well as an annual                     scholarship for a student member of the association. 


We received the following thank-you notes:

From Marjorie Bliss, LindaLou Parker's mother: 

I want to thank you for the beautiful shawl you sent me when I was sick-so pretty                               and comfortable.  You certainly do a nice job.  Thank you so much. 

From the DAR Green Mountain Chapter:

Dear Ladies, On behalf of the members from the DAR Green Mountain Chapter, we                           thank you for the delightful lunch.   Your good food and hospitality was truly                                             appreciated.  Many thanks.

From Rev. Bruce Comisky, Pastor of the Stowe Community Church:

Dear Ryan, On behalf of the Stowe Community Church, I would like to thank the Essex                    Junction Congregational Church UCC for the wonderful painting of the village of Stowe!                      We don't quite know yet where to hang it...as it is a large painting!  When we decide,                           I will send you a photograph.  God Bless You in your ministry. 

We received the following testimononial from Sue Eaton:

What an awesome mid-week experience it is to be attending the Wednesday morning '                   Sermon Talk Back' and evening Bible Study every week in the Marvin Lounge.  While                                 embracing and celebrating our beloved Christian traditions, our open and honest                                             dialogue under the leadership and guidance of Mark and Ryan is comforting,
enlightening and inspiriting.   How blessed I am to have this opportunity along my
faith journey toward a closer relationship with God and my fellow man. 


We celebrate with the following people their church membership anniversary:

1951:                      Eloise Merchant  

1955:                      Norma Edwards    
Lloyd Edwards

1971:                      Cheryl Ahokas   
William Jones

1973:                      Janet Martel
Leo Martel

1974:                      A. Joan Stoddert


NEWS FROM BILOXI...

Sunday, January 10, 2010
Where the treasure is
Time seems to always fly by while I am here! So much has happened in the past month. Oh, there was Christmas and New Year's, Epiphany and now into the season of Mardi Gras!

This past week a large group (actually two church groups) braved the frigid weather as we continued to work at three houses. One is a new build; another you might consider a "new" build as almost all of the house needed to be stripped away; and the third is a rehab. The enthusiasm and yes, "talents or treasures" of the workers is incredible.

Last year I worked to support the needs of the homeless which I found incredibly rewarding. This year I'm working to support the needs of volunteer groups.....from pre-work camp planning thru the time they are here. Many have been coming to work at the Mission for decades while others are here for the very first time. It really doesn't matter for they treasure the work of the Mission and their hearts are so full of caring and sharing. One of the group leaders has been coming every year since 1973. The first years of service focused on repair of homes damaged by hurricane Camille. Now he is continuing to repair hurricane damaged homes. In between these two destructive storms, work focused on general repair of homes of the poor: patching roofs, repairing siding and broken windows, painting, and perhaps some landscaping. The jobs were smaller, but no less important.

As I tour around the area, I am amazed at the progress made since last winter. New businesses have opened, many homes have been repaired, lots where heavily damaged businesses or homes stood have been cleared. Some are for sale while others are waiting for funding to rebuild. The residents of the area still seek assistance from the Mission. The prelude to actually asking for help: "I know I should have asked earlier, but others needed your help more". Sometimes when staff go to visit a potential work site, the conditions are extremely bad. Folks have survived now for over four years without windows, without working heating/cooling systems, without interior walls. It hits your heart hard!

So in closing, remember the parable of the "Mustard Seed" found in Matthew 13:31-32: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.

The work of the Mission: the mustard seed....the volunteers who give of their time and talents: the branches.....those we help: the birds!

Peace & love!
Marilyn


FEBRUARY    WEEKEND     CALENDAR


Saturday, February 6:       8 a.m.-5 p.m., Marvin Lounge in use
12:00 noon, AA meets in Fellowship Hall
PENGUIN PLUNGE

Sunday, February 7:                          8:45 and 10:45 a.m., Worship Services
9:50-10:40 a.m., Immigration Series/Youth Lounge
1:00 p.m., AA meets in Fellowship Hall
2:00-4:00 p.m., Jr./Sr. High Ice Skating

Saturday, February 13:   12:00 noon, AA meets in Fellowship Hall
2:00 p.m., Mental Health Support Group/Youth Lounge

Sunday, February 14:      SCOUT SUNDAY / CHILDREN'S SUNDAY / RENEWAL OF VOWS 
8:45 and 10:45 a.m., Worship Services
9:50-10:40 a.m., Immigration Series/Youth Lounge
RENEWAL OF VOWS AFTER SECOND SERVICE
1:00 p.m., AA meets in Fellowship Hall
6:00 p.m., Jr./Sr. High Night Light @ Williston

Saturday, February 20:    9:00-11:30 a.m., Women's Spirituality/Marvin Lounge
12:00 noon, AA meets in Fellowship Hall

Sunday, February 21:        8:45 and 10:45 a.m., Worship Services
9:50-10:40 a.m., Pathways to Promise Video
PRETZEL SUNDAY
1:00 p.m., AA meets in Fellowship Hall
2-4 p.m., All Youth Game Night

Saturday, February 27:  12:00 noon, AA meets in Fellowship Hall

Sunday, February 28:       8:45 and 10:45 a.m., Worship Services
9:50-10:40 a.m., Immigration Series/Youth Lounge
1:00 p.m., AA meets in Fellowship Hall
NO YOUTH GROUP

Look inside!!!

From the Pastor's Desk
Special Sundays in February
Ash Wednesday Service
Adult Education: 
Diversity and Community in our Vermont
Immigration Series
Thursday Night Lenten Dinners and Programs
Mental Health  Ministries
From Associate Pastor Ryan
New England Regional  Youth Event
Senior High Rock Climbing
All Youth Skating
Youth Leadership in place
Junior and Senior High February Youth Calendar
Children's Sunday
Sunday School Offering Vote
Sunday School Teachers Needed
Laurie's Bulletin Board
Calendar Notes
Our Church Family
News from Marilyn DeTizio-Back Bay Mission in Biloxi
February Calendar


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FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
1 CHURCH STREET
ESSEX JCT., VT 05452

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