FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC
200 Main Street, P.O. Box 1300
Wellfleet, MA 02667-1300
The Rev. Paul Cullity, Pastor
Phone (508)349-6877
FAX (508)349-7732
Email:
www.wellfleetchurch.org
Tidings- March/April 2015
Beyond the Ordinary
In a recent study, more than 500 congregations who have grown in numerical, financial and programmatic ways over the past 10 years were evaluated and interviewed. Several common characteristics of all these churches seem to emerge. Congregations that go Beyond the Ordinary excel in almost all the following areas:
1 Growing Spiritually — Beyond the Ordinary congregations help worshipers grow in their faith.
2 Meaningful Worship — Beyond the Ordinary congregations provide worship services that meet the needs of worshipers.
3 Participating in the Congregation — Beyond the Ordinary congregations are places where worshipers are involved in many of the activities of the congregation.
4 Having a Sense of Belonging — Beyond the Ordinary congregations provide people with a sense of fellowship with others.
5 Caring for Young People — Beyond the Ordinary congregations ensure that the children and youth in the congregation are nurtured in the faith.
6 Focusing on the Community — Beyond the Ordinary congregations reach out to and serve those outside their door.
7 Sharing Faith — Beyond the Ordinary congregations help their worshipers feel comfortable sharing their faith with others.
8 Welcoming New People — Beyond the Ordinary congregations ensure that new people become part of their faith community.
9 Empowering Leadership — Beyond the Ordinary congregations help worshipers to share in the leadership of the congregation.
10 Looking to the Future — Beyond the Ordinary congregations focus on a positive
future.
From an article found on UCC.org
Pastor’s Musings
Almost 300 years ago, the people of Billingsgate gathered themselves into a church, The Billingsgate Church of Christ. Officially we recognize our founding as 1720 or 1721 or 1723, depending on which sort of journal we rely on to describe the event. I have come to believe that it happened much earlier, possibly as early as 1715 or 1716, but in any event, we are still that church, connected to that early gathering of local people seeking to worship God in this place.
Almost 200 years ago, we adopted the name Congregational, to distinguish us from the new Methodist and Universalist churches in the region.
More than fifty years ago, we continued that journey of faith as we joined forces with the brand-new United Church of Christ, a denomination born out of the desire to restore Christian Unity, bringing four denominations into one fold. This decision has brought us to an unfolding journey of inclusion and growth.
25 years ago this season, we became a Just Peace Church, pledging ourselves to work for Justice and to overcome the forces of poverty and despair. In embracing others on this journey we have come to recognize the beauty of welcoming all who would come to share God’s great and good news in Christ, and so we have become an Open and Affirming church. We are welcome to all, and each week we affirm: “No matter who you are and where you are on your life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
Now we are poised to define and shape ourselves once again. We are at a cross-roads, which is a wonderful place to be, as we prepare for the journey toward the cross that is Lent. Our task, as it lies before us this year, is to imagine the kind of church we want to be for the next generation, to provide for not only our existence at the moment but for the possibilities of life and ministry in the years to come.
We are learning to listen to one another and to the voice of the Spirit, leading us onward in shaping the kind of church God is calling us to build. When we began this Envisioning journey over three years ago, we asked ourselves three questions: Who Are We? What is God Calling us to Be? and Who Is Our Neighbor?
These questions will shape this stage of our journey, as well. We listen, we reflect, we discover our purpose and our structure, and we plan for the future together. This pilgrimage of facing our history and acknowledging our future is much more than an exercise. Many churches have found themselves in serious decline as they attempt to maintain their confidence in structures and systems that no longer reflect the conditions of their world. We are beginning to enter our fourth century as a congregation, in the twenty-first century since the birth of the church, and there are new realities and challenges that we must face.
We now live in a community where most of the people are not from congregational backgrounds; where hardly anyone even attends church in a regular way. This has meant that new families, even those with children, no longer hold the same assumptions about the place of church in their lives. The challenge for us will continue to be that we must listen to the needs that are present, and to help shape our community of faith to be the place of comfort, of grace and of welcome that all who come are looking to find.
This is our Lenten task, not just this lent, but from now on; walking together toward the future that has this as its center: We are God’s people, drawn together by Christ’s love, and celebrating the everlasting joy that this journey can offer! Amen!
In hopeful service,
Pastor Paul.
WE EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO:
Rachel Lawson on the death of her husband, Brad who died on December 14th. Cards may be sent to Rachel Lawson, 403 Bridge Street, Bridgewater, MA 02324
Beth Berrio and her family on the death of her father, Raymond Crowell who died on December 26th. Ray & his wife, Ethel “Duch” became members of our congregation in the mid-1970’s and remained active until they moved from Wellfleet to Marshfield a few years ago. A Memorial Service was held in Marshfield on January 3, 2015. Cards may be sent to Ethel Crowell, Allerton House at Proprietors Green, 10 Village Green Way, # 227, Marshfield, MA 02050
Arleen Barnhouse on the death of her husband, Pete who died on December 31st. A service will be held on January 12th at 11:00a.m. at Nickerson Funeral Home, Wellfleet. Cards may be sent to Arleen Barnhouse, P.O. Box 744, Wellfleet, MA 02667
Betty Stoughton on the death of her husband, the Rev. Richard “Dick” Stoughton who died on January 13th. A funeral was held here on January 24th.
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Change of Address
Ethel “Duch” Crowell
Allerton House at Proprietors Green
10 Village Green Way, #227
Marshfield, MA 02050
Betty Stoughton (beginning in March)
8 Main Street, Unit 8
Jaffrey, NH 03452
Phone: 603-532-7050
Jean Barker – phone 412-489-3258
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Military List
Please call the church office with names of family members or other loved ones who are serving in the armed forces of our Country.
Andrew Porteus, son of Nancy & Jonathan Porteus; Simon Berrio, son of Beth & Buddy Berrio, grandson of Duch Crowell; Mark Spillane, son of Nancy Spillane; Danny James; Versalles Washington, brother of Frank Thomas ; Keith Lajoie, nephew of Holly & David Lajoie.
MARCH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS!
3/6 Brad Williams
3/7 Heidi Dyer, Irene Nelson & Alex Widrow
3/8 Patrick Winslow
3/12 Rachael Lajoie
3/23 Ronald Sloan
3/24 Mignon Barry
3/30 Joan Kirchner
APRIL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS !
4/6 Karen Murphy
4/7 Isabel Souza & Cora Laughlin
4/9 Carey Rea
4/11 Skylar Nichols
4/18 Karen Blewitt
4/21 Jane Corbin
4/22 Pearl Johnson & Susan Eenigenburg
4/25 Christina Laughlin
4/26 Barbara Kantor
4/27 James Cook
4/28 Karen Blewitt
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PRAYER LIST
Please contact the church office to add a name or update this list.
“If one member suffers, all suffer together…If one member is honored, all rejoice together.”(1 Cor. 12:26) May the presence of Jesus Christ be with those on our PRAYER LIST and with those who care for them. Pray for:
Bill Beik Joanne Berquist
Carol Carey Amy Costa
Joyce Dutton Cassandra Evans
Sueko Hall Bob & Donna Jordan Nancy Nye Elizabeth Pickering Vicki Schmidt Betsy Searcy
Nancy Spillane Ann Swanson Edwina Wright Old South Union Church
And for those who are chronically ill and confined to their homes, nursing homes and hospitals. Please notify the pastor when family or friends are hospitalized.
Lent in Our Church
Although we are already off to a rocky start due to our weather, we have many offerings for this Lenten season, that will bring opportunities for worship, study and contemplation as we move toward Easter and the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection
Continuing our Study of he History of the Christian Churches that was begun in the fall, we have several sessions left in the program: The History of Christianity: the First 3,000 Years. These presentations are held at eh Wellfleet Library on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm. There will be programs on March 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th. All are welcome, and each week’s topic stands alone, so missing one week will not be a problem.
Each Wednesday in Lent, we are once again holding our Soup and Bread lunchtime conversations at 12:30 pm on March 4th,11th, 18th, 25th, and April 1st. Each week, we’ll gather for food and conversation about the many spiritual practices and disciplines that lead to our personal spiritual formation and growth.
Palm Sunday comes on the last Sunday in March this year, and will feature the Palms worship readings, while we hold the Passion narrative for Maundy Thursday. We will hold a traditional light supper on Maundy Thursday, and celebrate the service of Tenebrae around the tables where we will remain to take communion as a community.
Good Friday here on the Outer Cape has meant our participation in the Ecumenical service conducted by the Nauset InterFaith Association. It will be held this year at Noon on April, 3rd at Brewster Baptist Church on Route 6A. At least ten communities of faith will participate.
On Saturday, April 4th, we are once again offering a contemplative Easter Vigil service, based on Readings and music from the Taizé community of France. We have met at 4 pm in the choir room for this service, and we invite you to join us this year.
Easter Sunday is always a big day in our church’s year. We begin with a Sunrise Service at 6:00 in the parking area for Newcomb Hollow Beach, and we return to the church for an Easter Breakfast from about 6:45 to 8:30 am. Our regular 8:30 Service of Holy Communion will be followed by our Celebration Service at 10:00 am. This year, in addition to the special music and readings, Easter falls on the first Sunday of the month, so we will have Holy Communion, as well.
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WORSHIP FOR MARCH 2015
March 1: ( Second Sunday in Lent)
Greeter: Nancy Cook
Ushers: Holly Lajoie
Communion Svrs: Donna Grout & Holly Lajoie
Reader: Peter Swanson
Coffee Hour: Erik & Carol Spencer
First Reading: Romans 4:13-25
Gospel: Mark 8:31-38
Sermon Title: What Return Can We Make
March 8: ( Third Sunday in Lent)
Envisioning – sandwiches served
Greeter:
Ushers: Peg Andre
Reader: Susan Eenigenburg
Coffee Hour:
First Reading: Exodus 20:1-17
Gospel: John 2:13-22
Sermon Title: Remembering
March 15: ( Fourth Sunday in Lent)
Greeter: Erik & Carol Spencer
Ushers:
Reader:
Coffee Hour: Nancy Porteus & Nancy Winslow
First Reading: Numbers 21:4-9
Gospel: John 3:14-21
Sermon Title: Paying Attention
March 22: ( Fifth Sunday in Lent)
Greeter:
Ushers: Peg Andre
Reader:
Coffee Hour:
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Gospel: John 12:20-33
Sermon Title: Letting Go!
March 29: ( Sixth Sunday in Lent)
Greeter:
Ushers:
Reader:
Coffee Hour:
First Reading: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Gospel: Mark 11:1-11
Sermon Title: Grand Entrance
WORSHIP FOR APRIL 2015
April 5: ( Easter)
Greeter:
Ushers:
Communion Svrs:
Reader:
Coffee Hour:
First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9
Gospel: Mark 16:1-8
Sermon Title: From Death to Life
April 12: ( Second Sunday of Easter)
Envisioning Pot-luck
Greeter:
Ushers:
Reader:
Coffee Hour:
First Reading: Acts 4:32-35
Gospel: John 20:19-31
Sermon Title: Great Grace Upon Them All
April 19: ( Third Sunday of Easter)
Greeter:
Ushers:
Reader:
Coffee Hour:
First Reading: Acts 3:12-19
Gospel: Luke 24:36b-48
Sermon Title: You Are My Witnesses
April 26: ( Fourth Sunday of Easter)
Greeter:
Ushers:
Reader:
Coffee Hour:
First Reading: Acts 4:5-12
Gospel: John 10:11-18
Sermon Title: Good Shepherds and Good Sheep
May 3: ( Fifth Sunday of Easter)
Greeter:
Ushers:
Reader:
Coffee Hour:
First Reading: 1 John 4:7-21
Gospel: John 15:1-8
Sermon Title: Abiding Love
The First Congregational Church
Of Wellfleet, UCC
Envisioning Meeting
January 11. 2015
The meeting was called to order at 11:40am by Dianne Eib, Moderator.
An opening prayer was offered by Pastor Paul Cullity
Upcoming Events were discussed. Further information will be available in the Sunday Bulletins
and the Newsletter.
Mary Cullity reported for the Crafts Team. The Christmas Fair took in $3407. 10% will be put
toward the Homeless Prevention Council and 10% will be reserved for next year’s fair expenses. Lots of new people helped and many people from town attended, providing a nice sense of camaraderie. All in all, it was a good event. Crafting gatherings will start up again on Mondays in the near future. In addition, she has received a $1000 donation to be put towards creating some additional storage space in Fellowship Hall.
Mary also reported for the Building and Grounds Team. She is concerned about how cold the kitchen is. Paul said that there is no source of heat in the kitchen. The team is thinking about creating some storage space in Fellowship Hall – specifically, moving the Library materials back into the corner Library area and using the shelf area for cabinets for storage. Donna Grout made a motion that the team look into some proposals. Peter Swanson seconded it. The motion was approved.
Donna Grout, Treasurer, reported for the Finance Team. The 2014 proceeds from the Endowment Fund that are to go into the Building and Grounds budget total $11,000. At the end of 2014 the general budget had a surplus of $189. She currently projects a deficit of $2400 for 2015. Brad Williams urged everyone to turn in their pledge cards as soon as possible so that money received can be properly credited. Donna brought up the subject of salary increases. She said that the average increase for similar jobs appears to be 3%. Denny O’Connell moved that the Finance Team recommend 3% increases in the 2015 budget. Ken Cheek seconded it.