The First Federated Church
200 Central Street Hudson, MA 01749
978.562.9207
ffchudson@yahoo.com www.thefirstfederatedchurch.org
September 2010 Newsletter
Success Is No Substitute for Fellowship
“Then Moses said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
Exodus 33:16.
I wish you health and prosperity, now and always! But I wish you more than that. Success does not insure that you experience the presence of God. Actually, sometimes we may have chosen earthly success over our walk with the Lord. I wish you God’s presence!
Moses led the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to the very point of entering the Promised Land. But Moses wisely concluded that if God didn’t go with them that success was of no value. Success, no matter how great, is not a substitute for fellowship with God. Worldly achievements may disappear. Moses’ security came from his relationship with God. Remember that success in the world’s eyes can possibly be an indication that you have substituted success for intimate fellowship with God.
I want you to have it all. I want our church to have it all. May we continue to have new visitors and new members. Let us be an inviting people, but may we grow and deepen in faith at the same time. May our guests find here, and may we find here, the presence of God. May we accomplish much through our boards and committees! But may we do so to experience the presence of God. As we begin a new program year may our prayer be, above all: more of Him!
Blessings!
Pastor Jay
Without the Way, there is no going;
Without the Truth, there is no knowing;
Without the Life, there is no living.
Thomas a Kempis
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 NIV
On my desk at work there is a perpetual inspirational calendar. Sometimes I use it in the weekly bulletin where there is a quote of some kind at the end of the announcements. I am part of a small prayer group and often use these quotes as a thought for the scripture of the day. Most of the time I just read them every day that I am at work to give me peace and encouragement. Everyone needs some form of encouragement and I am sure that we get these words or actions from various sources. I get them from just being able to come to church almost every day. Yes, reading the little inspirational words on the calendar is nice, but I also read my Bible every morning. It is a great way to set my day on the right Way, although I seem to take an awful lot of wrong turns. Thankfully they aren’t “one ways” and I am able to find my way back. Where else but the Bible can you get the whole Truth? It is also a reminder of the Life that was lived for me, died for me and was resurrected for me. The same was done for YOU. Take is personally, as it was meant to be.
Marge
What’s happened at First Federated
Pulpit Fill-Ins: While Pastor Jay was away we had some able people filling in for him. Pat Patrick was asked to preach the sermon on very short notice for June 27, as Beth’s father unexpectedly passed away. His topic was “Be Careful What You Pray For”, taken from the Gospel of John 8:1-11. How often do we pray for something on a desire or to condemn another person and not give thought to our own indiscretions?
July 4, was a hot day, but Rev. Larry Loring delivered a wonderful sermon “Dying for Independence”, based on Matthew 10:7-15, which he compared to the Declaration of Independence. Rev. Loring is the Head Master of Caritas Academy and besides giving an inspiring sermon he stayed for refreshments and a little meet and greet after the service.
Pat Patrick was back in the pulpit again on July 18, which was a scheduled day when Pastor Jay first announced his vacation days. Pat’s scripture was Matthew 28:18-20 and the title of his sermon was “Sharing Your Faith With Family and Friends.” Pat has a way of making the Bible more “real”, not lecturing, but explaining the whys and wherefores. By sharing our faith with others, we are following a commandment of Jesus when he said, “go and make disciples of all nations.
July 25, the last Sunday in July, we saw Marge Thomas in the pulpit. She referenced two scriptures for her sermon, Psalm 139:1-8, 23-24 and 1 Samuel 16:7, which was titled, “Who Is That Behind Those Foster Grants? Do we really know our friends or do we just look at the exterior and go by that? Marge told of a woman who was sort of non-descript, by most standards, but by God’s standards, the heart, she was a very beautiful human.
Lastly, but by no means least, on August 15, we were privileged to hear from Craig Korowski. “Communication Breakdown” stemmed from 1 Chronicles 5:18-20 and Matthew 5:44-45. Craig had some great props and ideas of ways that he has tried to communicate with God. In the end he discovered, as we all do, that the best way is through prayer.
During the summer we were treated to some special musical solos by Terri Sparkes. Several Sundays Terri lifted her voice in song and that lifted our spirits. We thank God for her talent and her willingness to share it with us.
Visitors: Jane and Glen Sherman, paid us a visit on a Sunday, as they were back east to attend the wedding of their grandson. It was such a special treat to see old friends. They stayed for a while to enjoy some refreshments and catch up on the latest news.
One day as I was leaving the church, there was an unfamiliar car in the parking lot. As I asked the occupants if I could help them, a woman walked down from the front of the church. She introduced herself by saying that her father once pastored at First Federated. Yes, it was Debbie Aldrin, who now lives in California and was just visiting. She admired the stain glass windows and inquired about the “Little Church.” I have her snail mail address and email address if anyone would like to correspond with her.
Youth Activities: Tuesday, July 13 was a perfect day for the beach, several youth, chaperoned by Jane Harrington and Lynsey Sicksch, headed for Centennial Beach in Hudson. It was a very hot day and the cool water was very refreshing. They had a short praise sermon, said a prayer and enjoyed some pizza, drinks and ice cream.
Movie under the Stars, “Where the Wild Things Are”, attracted a good sized group of 22 folk. It was still light when people arrived, but there were kids and adults trying their best at hula-hoop, which was entertaining in itself! Bags of popcorn and drinks were waiting for those who wanted to munch. Candy bars for those with a sweet tooth, were available to purchase. Blankets and lawn chairs were spread on the grass on the far side the church and the movie started being shown on a paint tarp hung on the outside wall of the church. It was still a little light and viewing was a little difficult, but soon it became dark enough to really see. Then to everyone’s surprise the security lights came on! So heads were put together and it was decided to bring out the screen from the hall and place it on the grass side of the driveway. The movie continued with a very short intermission. Thanks to Mike Harrington for putting up the tarp! (That is how he celebrated his birthday!)
Worshiping at the zoo proved to be a real hit. Thirty–eight adults and children caravanned to the Southwick Zoo in Medway on August 1. The Zoo was really fun! Our RAP song was successful with the help of the mike. The world is a crazy place but if we keep God in our hearts, LOVE will pour out and we can change the world heart by heart. (that was the message I wanted to get across because the lyrics were negative). Everybody liked the tee shirts. Our Faith Hunt worked ! I had looked to the Bible for scripture to teach the kids what the Lord's word says about animals: Good stewards, trust in the Lord and do not worry as the birds do not reap or sow yet they have plenty. The Lions will lay with the lambs in God's Kingdom. Noah's two by two and New babies to the zoo. After visiting the animals and learning about them ( cold, warm blooded, mate for life). We ate lunch: pizza, drinks, freeze pops and granola bars. Thanks to all for donating !!!! Submitted by Jane Harrington
One Great Hour of Sharing: There was an excellent response to the call for helping others. To date your generous contributions have totaled $665.73. This money will go toward the many disasters both in the local communities and abroad. We may have a hard time imagining being swept away during a flood or watching all vegetation die due to lack of water, but know that your contributions, combined with other giving churches, will go a long way in relieving the tragedies others have endured. You truly understand what Jesus was saying when he said, “Feed my sheep.”
The Web Site: Terri and David Sparkes have taken over as Webmasters of our site. They are still in the learning stages, but if you have any questions or comments speak to them.
Wanted
Our Father’s Table is one of our Outreach Projects. It belongs to the whole church and is not designated to any one committee. The First Baptist Church in Marlborough is the host church and meals are served to whomever is in need of a nourishing meal, on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Different churches, business and organizations take turns providing and serving the food. For years we have faithfully been there on the second Monday, every other month. There is a need for someone to coordinate the meal for October 13 and December 8. Speak to either Barbara Diggs or Marge Thomas if you are willing to volunteer for either or both dates to find out what is involved.
SEPTEMBER
Looking Forward
Are you ready for Rally Day? Sunday September 12 is the day to “FALL INTO FAITH.” The theme for the Sunday school this coming year is “In God’s Hands.” The children, youth and teachers will do a presentation focusing on the things that they have learned this summer. They will also, take part in greeting the congregation, reading scripture and hosting coffee hour. Remember that September 12 is also the Sunday that we return to beginning the worship service at 10:30. So mark your calendars and get ready to get back into the swing of things. We will also have a dedication ceremony for our new sign.
Committee Meetings: We are a church that has a lot of different groups and organizations using space in our building. It is important that committee chairs or secretaries contact the office to verify if a certain date is available. This guide line is even more important if you are scheduling an event other than a meeting. The information that is needed is the date, time and contact person and if it is for an event other than a meeting do you want an announcement in the bulletin and/or in the newspapers. We can also take advantage of the two denomination’s email by sending a file of a flyer that they will distribute to their email list. The other thing that we are asking is that the members take time to make sure that the room (or rooms) being used is picked up after meetings and that all materials are put away, especially if you are using a room that will host another group. Items that are used in or from the kitchen should be returned to their proper place. If dishes are washed they should be wiped and put away, not left in the dish drain.
Special Meetings, Events or Classes of and at the First Federated
Caritas Academy
Caritas Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Christian school, has been renting space from First Federated since, September of 2003. They teach grades 8 through 12 and a majority of the students are homeschooled. Admission is determined on the basis of a candidate’s strengths and abilities, potential for success, and a desire to contribute to the school community. The students participate in many activities beside their academics and usually go on educational field trips once a month. They have a fund raiser in October which will be held at the Portuguese Club, a Silent Auction to be held at First Federated in April and a play in May, with the location to be determined.
Anti - Bullying Seminar
Exciting series to be presented! The Marlborough Hudson Interfaith Association, Pastor Jay, Craig Korowski (Missions Committee), and Cindy Getchell, (FFC Clerk) are developing a four session evening workshop on anti-bullying in the community, and how, as people of faith, we are called to be involved in bullying prevention. The series will take place on Sunday, September 26, October 3, 17, and 24. Presenters will come together from school and religious organizations, legal and law enforcement, as well as community and social services agencies to address the issue, with an opportunity for group activities and discussion by the participants. If you are interested in attending, or baking some finger desserts for one or more evenings, please let Marge know.
Prayer in the Sanctuary
Now that the vacations are over, perhaps you would consider, “Prayer in the Sanctuary” at 9:00 on Wednesday mornings. You are invited to physically attend, but if you can’t, please don’t hesitate to send any prayer request to the office or Jay.
Zumba
Zumba is back and held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, except for the last Tuesday of the month. It is a fun exercise class that will get your adrenaline running. You can contact Loyda Burk, the instructor, at dburk1023@msn.com for updates or other classes that she may be teaching and she will put you on her email list. Put Zumba in the subject line.
Historical Society
Did you know that Hudson was once part of Marlborough and that it was also called Feltonville? That a good portion of Hudson, more than 40 buildings, were lost in a fire? That requests to have it become incorporated were refused in 1743, but were approved on March 19, 1866? Those are just a few of the interesting facts that you could learn if you attended a meeting of the Historical Society. They gather for their meetings on the last Tuesdays of each month from September through April starting at 7:30 pm. The first meeting will be September 28 and the speaker is Janet Zipes. Janet is digitizing and cataloging the Society’s artifacts and will bring some items. Janet holds a BA in American Studies from Cornell University as well as other degrees from other schools of higher learning and will invite questions from the audience. Refreshments will be served.
Girl Scouts
We have several troops that meet at First Federated on several different days and times. They are involved in a recycling program, which helps us and them. For our part, it is requested that we use the appropriate bins to dispose of our recyclable items. For the “Paper” bin, please do not include cardboard, plastic or phone books. These are the rules of the recycling company. In the “Plastic, Metal and Glass” bin, please rinse out the container before placing in the bin. The last bin is for containers that can collect a deposit and also it is request that the container be rinsed out. Each bin is appropriately labeled. Please do not bring your trash from home.
AA
The AA group has been meeting here for many years every Monday evening from 8:00 until 9:15 and is considered an open meeting. It is one of the most highly attended meetings of the area. They must have the same motto as letter carriers, as neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor dead of night, can keep them from coming to their meeting. They even go one better and meet on holidays!
12 Step Program
The 12 Step Program meets in the library every Wednesday evening from 8:00 until 9:00 all year round. Although all are welcome, it is considered a closed meeting. It is for those AA members who have a desire to stop drinking. Again, as with the AA meetings, nothing short of a national disaster will keep these people from their meetings.
Sobriety First
The Sobriety First meeting is also a part of AA and they meet every Saturday evening from 7:30 until 8:30, where attendees utilize various literature available through AA. This meeting is also a welcoming group of people, with a desire to help themselves and others.
Events happening elsewhere of interest to the First Federated
Many area churches have events scheduled throughout the year.. There are flyers on the bulletin board downstairs and newsletters in the bins next to the library door. Any one of them might be a fun day trip for the family. Most have very reasonable fees for the event and often a meal is included. Maybe if we support the events at other churches, they would be more inclined to support us.
Two big events will be happening at the DCU Center in Worcester. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 7, 8, and 9, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus will be performing. The theme of the circus is ZING ZANG ZOOM, a thrill-filled, mind blowing circus spectacular where family fun is no illusion. Tickets went on sale August 28. You can go to www.dcucenter.com for more information.
December 16-19, Thursday thru Sunday, the Cirque Du Soleil – Dralion, will be entertaining crowds with their daring feats. There is a flyer of this information on the bulletin board downstairs or you may go to www.dcucenter.com to learn more.
Interesting Items
The beginnings of Sunday school |
Englishman Robert Raikes, born in 1735, was a Christian layman who was pained to see unschooled children working six days a week in factories or mines. On Sundays, children roamed the streets, often getting into trouble. Most didn’t know how to read or write and knew nothing about Christ or the church. |
Oil |
In earthen vessels |
The dear Lord’s best interpreters |
Who are these people, anyway?
If you have any information about anyone, please pass it on, especially for those who haven’t been featured in the newsletter yet.
Betty and Harold Rouse
The Rouses were an active couple in the church. Harold was brought up in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, but after marriage, came and attended the First Federated with his bride, the former Betty Campbell. Betty grew up in this church and attended Sunday school when the church was located on Church Street. Her mother was very involved in the activities of the church, especially the suppers. Soon Betty was joining in with the preparations of the suppers which were headed up by her mother, Annie, and Gladys DeSantis. Betty sang in the choir and was on the Diaconate.
Harold served in the service and after he was discharged he happened to run into Joe and Connie Diniz . Joe convinced Harold to go out with them to the local “hang-out”, Harry Lovely’s, on Pope Street. It was there that he met the lovely Betty Campbell. They were married in the First Federated in 1949 by the Reverend Hays, pastor of the church at that time. Betty and Harold were members of the couples club that met once a month and enjoyed a variety of activities. The events were hosted by the members of the club, taking turns each month.
They continued to help out with the church fair and suppers. Harold could always been seen sitting at the ticket table collecting people’s money. Harold is the man who taught Rev. Rick how to bone and roll the turkeys that are served at our Thanksgiving Dinners. The Rouses still participate whenever they can in the preparation of any big meals that are served here and their assistance is much appreciated. They are a wonderful couple, full of fun. Harold has a great sense of humor despite the fact that he has to undergo dialysis three times a week.
Celebrations
If you don’t see your name, it is because, my information is very old. Please help me update the list by giving me the dates of your birthday or anniversary. Also, if any of the information is wrong, please give what is correct.
BIRTHDAYS
Jane Harrington September 1
Phyllis Roys September 8
Joe Diniz September 11
Terry Douglas September 16
Pat Girard September 19
ANNIVERSARIES There weren't any anniversaries listed for September, but Happy anniversary to those not listed. |
September 15 is the deadline for the September Newsletter. Committee chairs and secretaries, what is happening? Do you have any special projects or events planned? Marge
Special dates
• Labor Day, September 6, 2010
• Patriot Day (remembrance of Sept. 11), September 11, 2010
• National Grandparents Day, September 12, 2010
• Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15, 2010
• First Day of Autumn, September 23, 2010
September 12 is Rally Day and church begins at 10:30
