The Chimes Newsletter 
  
                                  
Federated Church of Ashland 
118 Main Street 
Ashland, MA 01721-3112
  
                                                               
~ December 2018 ~
  
    
 
 Christmas Bake Sale
AND
Christmas Gifts too!

 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15th
 
10:00 AM -1:00 PM

Do you have a favorite holiday recipe? If so, would you be able to make it for our bake sale?  We are hoping to offer a variety of holiday favorites!  You may drop off your items in the Church Office on Friday, December 14th between 9 AM - Noon or just bring it with you on Saturday morning.  Also, it would be helpful if you would please label your item.      
  

Our 65th Annual Church FAIR was a HUGE success. THANK YOU to everyone who supported our Fair. 
We made over $4000! 

Pastoral Search Committee 
 
Incorporating input from the congregation over the last two months, the Search Committee and Deacons will be holding a second interview with two of the three Pastoral candidates that preached in October at the Federated Church of Ashland.  

The two candidates that will return are Rev. Mulligan and Rev. Yeaton.  Candidates will continue to be assessed based on the core competencies of the Pastoral position including relationship building, leadership, ability to articulate God's Word,  outreach/support to the community, and support of missions amongst others.  We will continue to keep the congregation posted about the process, and continue to welcome everyone's input.
 
Thank you for your participation and patience during this process.

The Search Committee
Ruth Hanning, Busi Maswoswe, Pete Russo, Brett Walker and Porter Woodward

nativity_scene.jpg
  From the Deacons Bench 

Advent is upon us, what a wonderful time of the year. Once again we have our sanctuary beautifully decorated, we especially love the star hanging on the altar!
  
During Advent, each week we will have people light a candle on the Advent wreath. Many thanks to those who participate. On December 16th Yucchi Cote will have the children present a Christmas program. December 16th is also Poinsettia Sunday, don't forget to fill out the form in your bulletin so that Linda Iarussi can include your information. This all leads to our Christmas Eve service which will be held at 7:00 pm. It will be a family service in which the children will have an active part.
   
Pastor Katie Keene will be leading us through this time of anticipation as we await the birth of our Savior. Please join us on our journey to find the Christ child.

We would like to take a moment to thank all the amazing folks that have offered to buy a gift, or more, for the children that we have adopted through the town. We are more than happy to say that every wish on every child's list has been met. We will also be giving a bathrobe to every woman in the shelter. It is heartwarming to know and to be a part of such a giving and generous group of people.

We leave you with great hope for the future of our church.

Blessings, Pam Dunham and Melanie Conner, 
Co-chair of the Deacons

Please plan to join us for our Christmas Eve Service at 7:00 PM

The Council had a very brief meeting in November. Most of the important projects regarding the Federated Church have been completed (steeple repair, new floor in Fellowship Hall, painting first floor). Council eagerly awaits "Calling" our next pastor by the Deacons when the activities of the Search Committee are completed. The one outstanding project, repair of the parking lot, has been completed. The financial condition of the church continues to get stronger as we accumulate monies not spent on a Pastor's salary in current accounts. As is the plan, this will reverse when the Pastor comes on board.

Family Promise

We are coming to the end of a very successful and fulfilling year with Family Promise.
 
There will be some changes in the coordinators for 2019. First, after many years of faithful service, Karen and Dave Wenzell will be stepping down from their coordinators jobs. They have been the ones who have supplied all the food/staple extras that they might need on a daily basis. This includes water, fruit, juice, paper towels and all kinds of things that help to make sure everyone is comfortable. Dave has also been responsible for making sure we had the occupancy permit that is required by the town before each stay. Thank you both for all the work you have done over the years.
 
Also, I will be stepping down as Lead coordinator. John Ellsworth has generously volunteered to step in and fill this roll. Although I will still be helping out where I can, I am giving up the daily responsibility that comes with that role. Thank you John!
 
We have been blessed with generous donations over the last couple of months:
 
Peter and Donna LeClair donated furniture for the families to use in our Youth room. They donated a 5-piece two recliner sectional, another 2-piece sectional and a rug. The room has not been put together yet, due to a possible painting project, but by the time the families come again in April, we will have the room looking very homey and I know it will be a comfortable place to spend some time after a long hard day.
 
We have also been blessed with a donation of six new blow-up mattresses and three new cotton blankets. This will take some of the stress and fear away as we setup the rooms for families and overnight hosts, knowing that we won't need to rely upon leaky mattresses.
 
We greatly appreciate the support we have been receiving from our two support congregations, Sha'arei Shalom and St. Cecilia. Sha'arei Shalom has been faithfully supplying Sunday night dinners for years and St. Cecilia continues to supply dinners and has expanded their involvement by volunteering in various ways including room setup and overnight hosts.
 
It has been a very good year and I want to thank everyone who has helped to make it possible for us to continue this mission.
 
Blessings,  Linda Russo
   
 
Brown Bag Sunday  
December 16th  
  
On the third Sunday of every month, we collect and bless the donations placed inside the bins in the Narthex of the Church.

There are many families in Ashland that rely on the generosity of others to supplement their limited grocery budget.

With Christmas fast approaching, would you please consider picking up a few extra non-perishable food items while you are doing your grocery shopping?
       
You may bring them to the Church on Sunday morning or  drop them off at the Church during the week.  All items are delivered to the Ashland Food Pantry.
    
 Thank you for your continued generosity!   


Thrift Shop
Holiday Schedule

The Thrift Shop will be OPEN ...
Wednesdays 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM 
December 5th & 12th
AND 
Saturdays 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM 
December 1st, 8th & 15th 
                 
We will be closed 
Decemb er 19th, 22nd, 26th, 29th
                                           And January 2nd.
      
    Thank you for your continued support!
   
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Our Member's Birthdays
 
December
12/13     Dave Hansen
12/14     Brett Walker
12/30    David Bethel
12/31     Laura Conner

January
1/1   Angela Lawson
1/2   Dotty Clowes
1/4   Bruce Scotland

Wishing you peace, love and laughter this Christmas and throughout the New Year!
Federated Church of Ashland
118 Main Street
Ashland, MA  01721-3112

508-881-1355

 

  Church Office Hours:   Monday - Friday 9 AM TO 12 Noon

 

Office Manager - Linda Iarussi

CE Coordinator - Yucchabelle Cote

Organist - Doug Shelburne

 

Church Office:   fcoaoffice@verizon.net

     Web Site:   federatedchurchofashland.org

 Follow us on Twitter @FCOAshland

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