CHIME NOTES
The First Church, Swampscott (UCC)
February 2020 | Issue 65
Andrew Focks returns 2/23/20
Some will remember Andrew in his younger years on the North Shore, when he was Patty Clark's piano student. He went on to college, then graduate school, and gave several wonderful concerts as part of the Soli Deo Gloria series. On Sunday, February 23rd, Andrew (now Dr. Focks) will return to help provide some special music, along with Patty. LEARN MORE
4th ANNUAL Winter Walk 2020
Held on Sunday, February 9th! To learn more, click the link, and look for the video, featuring our own Amanda Grant-Rose!
HELD - SATURDAY, February 1st!
SCENES FROM prior years
INTL FOOD FAIR
THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH THIS EVENT, + THOSE WHO CAME TO EAT, LEARN, AND BID. OUR (36th annual) 2020 INT'L FOOD FAIR RAISED NEARLY $6000.
Godly Play for kids
What does Godly Play Look Like?  
Below, please find a typical class schedule (we recently moved the schedule around with the hope that children wouldn't miss the story if they arrive late. We know you are doing the best you can to get here at 10:00 am, and we really appreciate that as it minimizes interruptions), along with a pic of some of our young people re-creating the story of The Exodus.
10:00 Gathering Time, Attendance, and The Liturgical Cycle: Children are dropped off by parents at the classroom before church starts.
The students gather in a circle and share about what has happened in their lives over the past week as they manipulate colorful Beeswax or another engaging material.The storyteller talks about the current season of the church year and the children help track where we are at in the year through a wall calendar. Each Sunday is color coded with the color of the day or season.

10:15 The Lesson:  The storyteller presents a lesson from Scripture or the church’s tradition, using visual aids and materials.
Wondering:  The storyteller then introduces reflection questions, such as “I wonder what part of this story was the most important?” or “I wonder what part of this story we could have left out and still had all the story we need?” The children are invited to give their own responses. 

10:25 Response Time:  The doorkeeper helps the children, one by one, to decide how they want to respond to the story and helps them to find the materials they need.

10:45 Cleaning Up & Feast:  In the Godly Play model, children are encouraged to develop independence by cleaning up after themselves and putting materials away in their proper places. Our weekly "feast" is simply water and a couple of pretzels or crackers, practicing together a prayer of thanks and sharing the blessings of community.

10:55 or so...:  The children and teachers rejoin the congregation after the offering is collected and meet up with parents in the Narthex at the end of the church service.

STAFFING GODLY PLAY
Siobhan McDonald is the primary Storyteller and Julia Serino is the Doorkeeper and backup Storyteller.
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
Barbara F. (Slate) Eldridge
January 8, 1947-January 12, 2020
Remembering Barbara Eldridge
First Church lost a good friend last month in the passing of Barbara Eldridge, after a year's long, tough cancer diagnosis. Barbara reconnected with First Church about 8 years ago and was a faithful, vibrant, vital, and beautiful person of our congregation since then. Her service was held in the sanctuary on January 18th, and she was warmly remembered as a dedicated servant to her church, town, family, friends, as well as her beloved Camp Rotary.

Breakfast on Communion Sundays
Next one coming up
on March 1st, 2020
9:15-9:50 am, featuring
FRENCH TOAST!

LENT, key dates for 2020
ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020
PALM SUNDAY, April 5, 2020
MAUNDY THURSDAY, April 9, 2020
GOOD FRIDAY, April 10, 2020
EASTER SUNDAY, April 12, 2020
CRAFT FAIR 10 am to 3 pm, Sat. 3/28

Join us to view and purchase handmade crafts from local artisans and vendors! Proceeds from the fair will benefit “A Bed for Every Child,” an initiative that seeks to ensure that local children have a suitable and safe place to sleep.

Raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win an item from one of the participating crafters. One ticket for $1 or eight tickets for $5.

Receive a FREE raffle ticket if you bring a non-perishable item for the First Church food pantry: cereal, canned fruit, canned vegetables, tuna, soup, crackers, peanut butter, rice, etc.

Free and open to the public!
FUNDRAISER COMING 3/28/20
Lenten Coloring Book!
He is Risen! A Lenten Coloring Book

A great Holy Week activity for church school and at home!

Explaining Lent to young children without glossing over some of the solemn events can be challenging.
He is Risen! A Lenten Coloring Book  is designed to teach young children about Lent—especially Holy Week—in words they can easily understand and a format they're sure to enjoy.


Spring arrives on March 19th, and hopefully we will not have Sunday morning closures in what is left of this winter....
but we will try to get the word out if we do!
CHURCH COUNCIL
Karen Rose Brown (chair)
Dale Orzalli/clerk, DavidSilva, Bill Brauner, Lynn Lindsey, Anne Potts and Dan Ryan
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