Larry Picard, our new director of Music
Ministries, will start on Sunday, January 21.
Crossroads
News from South Congregational Church,
United Church of Christ
January/February 2007
Larry Picard, our new director of Music
Ministries, will start on Sunday, January 21.
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Mustard Seeds...from the Pastor
Every year it’s the same thing. I pray I can get through Christmas with good humor and joy in my heart and without falling in an exhausted heap somewhere. I catch my breath ever so slightly between Christmas and New Year and then next thing I know I’ve hit the ground running. This year that’s certainly the case. Don’t get me wrong— everything that is coming up in the next couple months is exciting. If you want to diminish the winter-time blues and keep yourself busy, then this is the place to be.
Larry Picard, our new Director of Music Ministries begins mid-January, and I’m looking forward to getting to know him and basking in his musical enthusiasm and talents. It will be wonderful to have the Bell Choir back in worship. And who knows what else Larry might have in store for us.
The church retreat the first weekend in February promises to be fun and inspiring.
Black History Month and the activities that we are participating in with Unity First News will make you want to get up and move and sing. I thought Jazz Sunday last year was amazing; well this year promises to be just as good, if not better.
Now maybe you just come to worship on Sundays and never venture past the parish hall and sanctuary. If so, you might not be aware of some of the amazing work that has been going on around here. This fall while we were between live-in security guards we discovered, much to our chagrin, that the apartment was in horrible condition. Through the wisdom of the property and finance committees the rooms were stripped of wallpaper and old carpet, walls were rehabbed and painted, and new carpet laid along with a much needed purge and cleaning of the kitchen. As we were completing that project and thinking of creating an office for Larry Picard, we realized that the High Street classrooms and office space on the second floor was also in need of some real TLC. Again, wallpaper was stripped, windows scraped and caulked and carpeting replaced and walls painted. What a difference!
"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." We have much to rejoice about these days at South Church. Blessings to you and your families.
Pastor Chris
After worship during January we will be taking pictures in the Guild Room of individuals and families for a South Church photo directory. This is not about selling you photos. It is an in-house system that we purchased to make directories so that we get to know one another a little better– at least matching names and faces. Smile, say cheese! We will distribute directories as soon as we have all the pictures we need.
For the past few years we have celebrated Black History Month in February thanks to Teri Wilson. Even though Teri has moved away, the tradition continues. This year some of our events are being done in partnership with UNITY FIRST NEWS.
On Friday, February 9th at 7:00 PM Ralph Carter who played Michael on the TV show ‘Good Times’ will be here at South as our guest speaker. Ralph has been a teacher and enjoys lecturing to youth about achieving their dreams and developing their skills. Sunday February 18th is our Annual Jazz Sunday with the Billy Arnold Quartet and our guest preacher that day will be Mary Taylor, Gospel singer and ordained minister.
"What’s God Got to Do With It?"
Friday, February 2nd 6-9 PM
Saturday, Feb. 3rd 8:30 AM—3 PM
This retreat is open to all members and friends of South Church but you must sign up by Wednesday, January 31st.
This retreat is about getting to know one another better and creating community.
Friday night will be dinner and a movie along with singing and prayer. Saturday will be worship, team building, faith stories, small group activities, lunch, hands on activity, large group reflections and closing worship. Child care will be available on Saturday.
Please circle January 21 on your calendar and plan to attend the 11 am worship service. On this Sunday we will say a heart felt thanks and God speed to our Interim Music Director, Charlie Page; and welcome our new Director of Music Ministries, Larry Picard.
FOR ITEMS:
Even though the holidays are over, your shopping is not. The Warming Place has put together a wish list of things that are depleted daily, as well as other larger, more long-term investments.
Toiletries for men and women in small travel/hotel sizes: Toothpaste and tooth-brushes, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, small bars of soap, body lotion, and disposable razors.
White athletic socks for men and women; underwear (all sizes) for men and women.
Zip lock baggies: sandwich, quart, gallon.
Towels, sheets, pillow cases, blankets, comforters (they do not need to match—just be serviceable).
Warm clothing (sweaters, sweatshirts coats, hats, gloves and scarves). Also practical winter footwear (many folks are outside for 11 hours a day. We have had many cases of frostbite in the past two winters).
Board games, playing cards, books and magazines.
Storage totes: you may donate money towards the purchase so that we get the size that fits under each bed—beds are donated and varying heights.
FOR PEOPLE SKILLS:
The following skills, interests, and talents are needed for overall house maintenance and to help provide for the feeding of the bodies and spirits of our guests via creative programming.
Basic carpentry skills—need simple pine construction of storage shelves for linens and other supplies.
Organizational skills—need people to help us sort, tag, and put away clothing donations.
Art talent—we want to decorate with some “portable” murals. We have some guests with artistic ability, but they need a coordinator to work with them.
Writers and “teachers” of Creative Writing—we want to design a program where people who want to get the opportunity to tell their stories in writing.
Teachers of Basic Computer Literacy—We have a computer on-site for guest use, but many (not all) have been left behind in the digital divide. We would like minimally to help people learn to navigate the web for jobs and/or staying in touch with family members.
Monetary donations may be made to: Open Pantry Community Services, Inc., P.O. Box 5127, Springfield, MA 01101-5127. Please note on the memo line if it is intended for us.
Prayer Shawl Ministry Thank You Letter
Dear Dorothy and Prayer Shawl Ministry:
Thank you so much for the lovely prayer shawls. Hospice staff were thrilled to receive them and they have already brought several to our patients. The shawls and the love and prayers with which they were made will bless the patients.
We are grateful for all the time, work and love that you share.
Baystate Hospice
Installation Service for Rev. Dr. Fontaine
As Associate Minister of South Congregational United Church of Christ
Sunday, February 25
3 PM Ecclesiastical Council
4 PM Worship in the SanctuaryRefreshments and fellowship to follow in the Parish Hall
Join clergy and lay delegates from churches of the Hampden Association UCC as they celebrate Chris’s ministry.
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January 14 |
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"Sarah: On Laughing Last and Well" |
Genesis 18: 1-15, 21: 1-6 |
Rev. Heinrichs |
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January 21 |
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"Jonah: On Finding Out It’s Not All About You" |
Jonah 3 & 4 |
Rev. Heinrichs |
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January 28 |
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"Moses: On Getting It Wrong. Seriously Wrong" |
Numbers 20: 1-13 |
Rev. Heinrichs |
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February 4 |
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"David: On Not Wearing Someone Else’s Armor" |
1 Samuel 17: 1-11, 32-40 |
Marrie Sypher |
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February 11 |
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"Ruth: On Starting All Over Again" |
Ruth 1: 1-18 |
Rev. Heinrichs |
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February 18 |
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Jazz Sunday |
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Mary Taylor |
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February 25 (1st Sunday in Lent) |
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"Remember" |
Deuteronomy 26: 1-11 |
Rev. Fontaine |
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During Lent Rev. Heinrichs will preach March 4, 11, & 18 and Rev. Fontaine will preach March 25 & April 1 |
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February 21:
6:00 PM Ash Wednesday Service and supper
February 28:
6:00 PM Supper followed by Lenten Worship
March 7, 14, 21, 28:
6:00 Supper followed by Lenten Worship
April 4:
6:00 PM Seder Service followed by supper
We would appreciate it very much if everyone coming for supper during Rejoice Nights would sign up on the attendance sheet in the Parish Hall. Or you may call the church office at (413) 732-0117 to let us know if you will be eating supper with us.
The Music Committee will host a Pre-Mardi Gras dinner on February 11th at 1:00 PM at the church. Tickets are $20 and proceeds will benefit the music program. The menu will feature Lucius Weathersby’s gumbo and jumbalaya. Space is limited and tickets can be purchased from any Music Committee member: Marita Bausman, Karen Buske, Bob McCarroll, Dan Myers, Ginnie Robbins, and Jo Woolridge.
Our annual Jazz Sunday and pre-Lent celebration will be on February 18th when the Billy Arnold Jazz Ensemble will be featured at both the 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship and noon Coffee Hour, where café au lait and fresh-made beignets will be served. The first 100 people to arrive will receive Mardi Gras beads, so come early and invite someone for this fun Sunday preceding Ash Wednesday.
Help is needed to underwrite the cost of music and food. If you would like to make a contribution, send your check to the church, attention “Jazz Sunday.” Donors will be acknowledged in the bulletin.
Wedding of Norman & Teri Hinch
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On Sunday, February 4th, during the 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM Coffee Hours, youth will be collecting money for the annual Souper Bowl of Caring. This money will be donated to the Open Pantry Services to feed the homeless. We ask you to be as generous in your donations as possible.
On Tuesday, January 9th, five South Church Cooks cooked and served lunch to 240 hungry guests at Christ Church Cathedral. This is a record number and your cooks were able to handle the crowd. There is no way we can know ahead of time how many to expect; usually, the end of the month the numbers are higher when the cash is low.
Here is how we try to figure out how many there will be: We start with 150 guests as the high average. We always check the number the day before, and on Monday, January 8th, the number was 126. Sometimes the weather is a factor. The only answer is to figure the average (150) and try to serve something that will stretch or use Open Pantry’s emergency supplies of tuna fish, cans of stew, or peanut butter.
This day we just opened cans of beans that are always available. The best part is no one goes away hungry, even though they may need smaller servings and people are always polite and thankful.
Who were the stalwart cooks on this day? Carolyn Sengle, Gordon Dodge, Bob McCarroll, Shirley Carpenter, and Carol Murphy. Shirley said the grace, and I was very moved when I heard a guest say softly, "my mother used to say that prayer".
The menu was Tex Mex (a mixture of hot dogs and beans from a Bert Montagna recipe), corn bread, and apple slaw. Dessert was yellow cake with chocolate frosting.
The next lunch for South Church Cooks will be Tuesday, February 6th with chefs Bert Montagna and David Carlson. If you want a feeling of accomplishment and of helping our city neighbors, do join us. Call me at (413) 732-0509; leave a message and I will return your call.
Bon Appetit
Carol Murphy