Greetings UCCB,
We are still struggling to take in the news from North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Many of the towns affected are "places in the heart" for us and many North Carolinians. We are so encouraged by the immediate response made by UCCB Faith in Action -- a gift has already been sent to the World Food Kitchen on your behalf! There are a number of UCC churches in Western NC, a beautiful Conference Center in Blowing Rock and also John's River Camp, a UCC summer camp which provides overnight camping experiences for children and youth. Already our National Setting is organizing a disaster response through Global H.O.P.E. We know from first hand accounts how deeply felt your gifts and prayers are to those who are struggling just to get enough water and food and most of all, news of loved ones.
We are so grateful for your response and the response of our United Church of Christ! Here is a prayer from the national UCC that we found to be helpful:
A PRAYER FOR AFTER HURRICANE HELENE
O God of infinite grace and generous love, our hearts tremble to see the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene. We lift our prayers to you.
Hold close all those whose homes & communities, businesses & places of worship have been overcome by water and wind, who awakened to upended lives and tossed landscapes.
Grant your blessing to all those who will rush to help & heal in the immediate aftermath, to all those who will follow over time to recover & repair what has been lost.
Stir resilience among all those who will walk the long road to full recovery. Receive their tears. Absorb their shock. Console their grieving hearts.
Resurrect what’s been broken & destroyed. Illuminate paths to the future when exhaustion & desolation overwhelm.
Move all of us to respond with hearts of compassion, acts of service, & generous giving.
O God, hear our petitions. And let our prayers endure and our response be sustained until fresh hope arises from the ruins. Amen.
See you on Sunday!
Peace, Richard and Jill Edens
Interim Co-Ministers
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SERMON SHAPING or TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY RESUMES
On Tuesdays at 10am, you are invited to a lively and far-ranging conversation with the Pastors on the scripture for the coming Sunday.
On Tuesday, Oct 01, we will discuss the lessons for Sunday, October 6
20th Sunday after Pentecost: Job 1:1, 2:1-10; Psalm 26; Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16
On Tuesday, Oct 01, we will discuss the lessons for Sunday, October 6
20th Sunday after Pentecost: Job 1:1, 2:1-10; Psalm 26; Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16
On Tuesday, Oct 08, we will discuss the lessons for Sunday, October 13
21st Sunday after Pentecost: Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:12-15; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
On Tuesdays, Oct 15 and Oct 22, we will NOT meet.
On Tuesday, Oct 29, we will discuss the lessons for Sunday, November 3
24th Sunday after Pentecost: Ruth 1:18; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 12:28-34
The meeting opens at 9:45 for visiting. Please join us. The Zoom link is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81402428901
Passcode: 7387
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UCCB Bake Sale
October 20th after Worship
The Fellowship Ministry Team will host a Bake Sale on Sunday, October 20th. The event will be held in the Gathering Room during Fellowship Hour and will feature a variety of home-made baked goods donated by members of the church community. Proceeds from the sale will be used to support the Fellowship Ministry Team’s activities.
If you’re interested in baking, please see the sign-up sheet at the Fellowship Table, contact Deb Simmons at 508-439-2891 or dlrmcgrath@comcast.net, or bring it in the day of the sale. Cookies, bars, breads, pies, cakes, and other baked goods are welcome! Items should be wrapped and labeled with the name of the item and allergen information (for example, “gluten-free”, “contains nuts”).
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Exciting News: Welcome Nikki Graham to the UCCB Team!
We are thrilled to announce that Nikki Graham has come on board effective October 1, as our new church Office Manager. She brings a wealth of experience in finance and non-profit organizations, and we are confident she will be a fantastic addition to the team.
Nikki is a long-term resident of Littleton and resides there with her husband and 2 young adult sons. She grew up on Martha’s Vineyard and in her spare time is a photographer, writer and blogger.
We are excited to have her on board and look forward to the great things we will accomplish together.
Please join us in giving Nikki a warm welcome! She can be reached at boxborochurch@verizon.net .
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IMMEDIATE HELP NEEDED FREEBEE for FRIDAY pickups in OCTOBER.
The next three Fridays in October Freebee is shorthanded for volunteers to do some local pickup gleanings of produce and food. Ralph has been doing this all season and needs a few extra hands, and will be away. If you can help, contact Mary Pavlik mary.j.pavlik@gmail.com or talk to Ralph directly. It's about an hour commitment. We also need some help unloading Friday at the church.
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Support for Victims of Helene
For the past two years, the Faith in Action team has supported World Central Kitchen (WCK) with a sustaining donation of $500 per quarter. The Faith in Action team recently sent an additional $500 to WCK to support that organization’s efforts in providing relief from Hurricane Helene.
Days before the hurricane hit, WCK’s Rapid Response Field Kitchen was being prepositioned in Tallahassee, FL. WCK is currently operating in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, providing hot meals to those impacted by the hurricane. Where roads and bridges have been destroyed, WCK uses helicopters to deliver food that is then carried by ATV or by foot over the last few miles, ensuring that everyone who needs nourishment is receiving it. Responding to the acute need for fresh water in Asheville, NC, WCK has deployed 5 tanker trucks of drinking water to the area. The trucks are capable of making multiple trips to the area, providing up to 100,000 gallons per day which equates to more than a gallon of water each day for each person living in the area.
Support from Faith in Action to organizations like WCK is only possible because of your pledges and donations. Thank you very much!
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Community Center Ramp Work Day!
Saturday, October 5th at 9:00am
Please join us to give new life to the Community Center ramp before the
winter weather arrives. The ramp is in desperate need of a new coat of paint. Bring your own paint brush and we will provide latex paint for easy clean up.
If you have questions or to RSVP please respond to Scott Spalding at scottspalding@masslogic.com.
Coffee and treats will be provided! Many hands make for light work!
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Check out the upcoming WEDNESDAY FAIR FLASHES to see how you can help! Let's support these hard-working table chairs as we share our talents and treasures. Here's the latest info: | |
Silent Auction Gift Registry
Thank you so much to all of you who have already donated to the Silent Auction. For others who are still thinking about what to donate, any item would be most welcome. Choose something you like, and others will like it, too. Gift cards are always popular. If you are stuck for ideas, you have heard of a wedding registry, right? Well, here is a Silent Auction Gift Registry with some ideas for gifts you can donate – or we could shop for you! Select an item to donate and let Mary Anne Vogel (voglfmly@gmail.com or 978-852-9637) know what it is by November 1. Your gift will be so much appreciated! Thank you!
$25 and Under
Jigsaw puzzles (for kids or adults)
Snow shovel
Snow broom and ice scraper combo
Work gloves (size L or XL)
Books (NY Times Best Sellers, children’s books)
Games to play e.g., Minute of Fun Game, Hedbanz, Zingo, Sleeping Queens, UNO, Chronology (teens and adults)
Gift card to a restaurant you love
Christmas ornaments & decorations
Sports equipment (balls of all types)
$50 and Under
Nuts/chocolate gift box
LEGO Set
Barbeque tools
Sled or snow tube
Gardening or yard work tools
Apple Air Tag
Roku
Advent calendar
Movie theatre gift card
$100 and Under
Kitchen small appliance
e.g., blender, coffee pot, toaster, etc
Portable mini projector
4K Drone for kids or adults
Pickleball set
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) or Echo Spot
$150 and Under
Snowshoes
MFA membership for two
Museum of Science family membership
Tower Hill membership
Battery-powered chainsaw (for smaller jobs)
Battery-powered leaf blower
Priceless!
Handmade items
Food you prepare
(cookies, casseroles, soup)
Weeding or planting you do for others
Adventure you share with others
(hiking, biking, canoeing)
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Crafters Invitation for the Ornament Table
It's not too late to join us for ornament making, first Wednesday in the Gathering Room at 10am. We also have kits, supplies and ideas if you want to create at home. For more info contact Gloria Roe gloria.a.roe@gmail.com or 978-502-9625 or Linda Morse kcmorese@verizon.net 978-266-2836.
Need your help filling the BAKE TABLE To all bakers!
You can help by starting baking and freezing those yummy cookies, pies, cakes, tea breads etc. Remember to label your items and note if they contain nuts, or are soy or gluten free. Please drop off the night before or early 8:45am fair day. Contact Suzanne Boyden sueboyden54@gmail.com
Jewelry Donations accepted!
There will be a basket left in the gathering room for donations the beginning of November. However, we would happily accept donations before that time. Please call Mary Rohwer (978-621-9705) or Dianne Jaworski (978-263-0762) for pickup or with any questions.
Greens Table
If you have any of these items below, the Greens table could use: Old wooden sleds and toboggans Old wooden window shutters, Old skates - any size or color (no plastic parts please), Wooden skis and bamboo ski poles, Old buckets, Old wooden or metal boxes - any size Baskets - any size Fresh cedar or juniper cuttings.
Please contact Anne Chandler (annechandler@masslogic.com or text/call 978-808-4316) if you have anything you would like to donate, thank you!
Attic Treasures
Save those treasures in good, clean working condition! Ideally drop them off starting Thursday Nov 21 at Town Hall. Drop off earlier Weds Nov 20 can be arranged by contacting Kellie Senghas ktsenghas@gmail.com.
We take: household goods, kitchenware, small appliances, electronics, toys, games, sporting goods, linens, office supplies/equipment, tools, luggage. We cannot take: clothing, shoes, curtain hardware, used pet items, medical equipment
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Becoming a Member of UCCB
If you’ve been attending UCCB for a while and would like to deepen your connection to the church, you may wish to consider becoming a member.
What does it mean to be a member of UCCB?
When you join the church, you covenant to walk together with us on our journey of discovering who we are and who God is calling us to become. Your part of the covenant is to support the church in whatever way is most fulfilling for you with your time, talents, or treasure. In turn, the church covenants to support you and your family on your journey.
As a member, you can vote in congregational meetings such as the vote to call a new pastor which will be coming up some months from now. Non-members may attend congregational meetings but cannot vote.
We’ll be receiving new members in worship on October 13. If you would like to learn more, or to join the church, please see one of the pastors or a Deacon.
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Do you have something you want to share in the weekly Flash?
Submissions for the weekly newsletter are due on Thursday morning at 9:00am. Please submit your camera ready announcement and the dates which you would like it run to boxborochurch@verizon.net. Any questions, please contact Jenn in the church office at 978.263.7387.
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