October 2023 Newsletter

A Note from Pastor Todd

A Note from the Pastor

Next Sunday, October 1, will mark my 2^nd Anniversary here at the Congregational Churchof Boothbay Harbor. Quite a bit has happened in this time. We moved three times, built a house during COVID, and Jeanne’s mother died recently. I have performed a dozen funerals, six weddings, two baptisms, preached almost 100 sermons, and led 15 services at St. Andrews Gregory Wing. In two years, we have added 17 new members, wrote a new church mission statement, I’ve become the Co-President of the Community Resource Council, a member of the Maine Conference Personnel Committee, and confused Genie at least 20 times by skipping something in the order of service.

No listing of happenings or numbers tell the full story. The more profound story is that moving to a new place leaves me feeling like both feet are planted firmly in mid-air for a long time. Finding my feet on the ground is slow, patient work of finding new rhythms and partnerships. As my third year begins, I feel more solid ground beneath me and am looking forward to how the future unfolds here at the Congregational Church. As you read this month’s newsletter, October is a full and delightful month. Jeanne and I are taking the first week off through the Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Weekend.

Here are upcoming events to read about as you look ahead:

On October 15, we are hosting the Midcoast UCC Association Meeting, including my installation ceremony;
A new Fall book group, “The Sacred Pulse,” will begin on October 18;
Rev. Eileen Sypher will preach on October 8 and lead a Blessing of the Animals service;
Stewardship month begins with a focus on how all of you help make a difference in church life;
Join our conversation about what the church may look like in 2050 on Saturday, October 28;
Magen is planning a family night on October 14;
And so much more. Enjoy the read!

Pastor Todd

October Worship Schedule

October 1 | World Communion Sunday | Neighbors in Need Offering

"Gushing Waters"

Exodus 17:1-17

October 8 | Guest Minister Rev. Eileen Sypher

"Everything That Lives Is Holy"

Job 12:7-10

Matthew 22:34-40

October 15

"Being Bearish on the Golden Calf"

Exodus 32:1-14

October 22

"The God Beyond Our Sight"

Exodus 33:12-23

October 29

"The Promise is Greater Than Us"

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Announcements

Stewardship Campaign Begins

Dear Church Family,

Thank you to all who returned your Time and Talent Cards. The Church Leadership has already begun using the information to inform the nominating process for next year’s committee slots.

The goal for this year’s Stewardship Drive has been set at $270,000.

Pledge cards will be mailed to the congregation in the second week of October. Every Sunday through October, you will have the opportunity to listen to a different church member talk about vital ministries that have made a difference in our community.

Stewardship Sunday is November 5 – you are invited to bring your Pledge Cards to the service for collection, and you are invited to stay immediately afterward for a church-wide luncheon organized by the Stewardship Committee.

Thank you for your faithful stewardship!

The Stewardship Committee: Lana Brandt, Chair; Joanne Annino; Richard Annino; Ella Long; and Holly Stover

Annual Meeting of the Midcoast Association of the

Maine Conference, UCC & Installation of Pastor Todd

The Annual Meeting of the Midcoast Association of the Maine Conference will be held at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor on October 15 at 2:00 PM. This will be in person and by ZOOM.

Call the church for the Zoom link.

The Association meeting will occur from 2-4 PM, with refreshments to follow. The program will be a discussion about how our churches can come together after COVID-19 and find ways to minister together and support each other. Please think about the following questions:

What gift(s) can you, individually or as the church you represent, bring to the Association?
What are your hopes for the Association?
How can we be stronger together?

The last part of the meeting will be a worship service, including Pastor Todd's installation, giving out ordination certificates, and welcoming new clergy to the region.

Reception Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed to make finger foods (no dips, please) for the reception following the annual meeting for about 50 people. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall or call the church.

Blessing of the Animals

Sunday afternoon October 8 we invite you to the Remembrance Garden at 2:00 PM for the traditional Blessing of the Animals with Rev. Eileen Sypher. St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is October 4th, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town, and all animals, seeing God’s love in them. He wrote, “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” Please bring your beloved animals!

Fall Book Group

The Sacred Pulse: Holy Rhythms for Overwhelmed Souls

By April Fiet

Wednesdays at 4:00 PM in-person or on Zoom starting October 18.

Call the church for a Zoom link.

From the reviews:

Our life's rhythm is often borrowed from the pace of life around us. Humans have created such a loud, fast tempo of perfection and production that we often forget--if we ever knew it at all--the rhythms designed for our well-being. In The Sacred Pulse, pastor and author April Fiet invites us to examine the frantic patterns of our lives to reclaim the deeper, sacred pulses that pattern our days. Through stories, scripture, and practical guidance for daily living, she lays out twelve rhythms--including gardening, handcrafts, friendship, and holidays--that are both sustainable and sustaining. Everyday acts like mealtime and shopping, and sporadic rhythms like the occasional snow day: reclaiming these patterns can remind us of the holy movement of God in the world.

In a world of hustle and bravado, silencing the noise takes practice. The Sacred Pulse shows us how to strip away all of the competing beats we have settled for so we can tap into the joyful, holy rhythms of life.

News from the Deacons

Deacons – when lighting hit our church this summer, it did something to the electrical system, and the doors do not automatically open on Sundays. Please keep the front doors open on Sundays; otherwise, folks cannot enter the church.

Senior Trustee, Mike Fritz shared that an electrician is scheduled for the first week in October – we will keep you updated.

Calling All Flower Lovers

Needed: a Flower Committee to organize Sunday Flowers for the Sanctuary.

We seem to have fewer volunteers and dedications than we used to, so to be sure we always have flowers or other plant materials for Sunday morning worship, I am forming a committee of folks who want to do arrangements themselves, supply flowers, and/or organize people to do the flowers for Sunday mornings. If this interests you, please call t he church. I am willing to arrange flowers for those who want to give them, but don’t feel confident arranging them if they let me know.

Thanks in advance,

Sandy Leonard

Save the Date:

Saturday, October 28

9:30-11:30 AM

Fellowship Hall

We had a wonderful turnout last fall for our first mission statement meeting. It was a fun time and lots of ideas were generated and shared. Our wonderful mission statement was the end result.

But we’re not done yet. Now that we have a mission statement we need to put it to work. What will our church look like in the future? How can we WELCOME everyone? How can we cultivate FAITH, JUSTICE AND JOY? We need your input. Please join us as we plan to GROW into our future together.

Sunday School News

October is here! We have a couple of dates to remember this month:

October 1

We will be glittering pumpkins!

October 8

We will spread the love, share our beautiful pumpkins with the

congregation, and host a Hot Cocoa Stand fundraiser for Heifer International during coffee hour.

October 29

Halloween Party during Sunday School. Come dressed as

anything from the bible! The sky's the limit! Make sure you can share with us where in the bible you got your inspiration from. We have had some very creative costumes in the past, and I can't wait to see what we

come up with this year!

Happy Fall!

Ms. Magen

October Family Fun Activity

Let's kick off fall with pumpkins! Come join the fun on Saturday, October 14, from 3:00-5:00 PM for pumpkin decorating and carving in Fellowship Hall. Bring your own pumpkin, and we will supply all of the decorating and carving supplies. Fun snacks and apple cider will also be provided. All families and friends are welcome!

Adult Education Class

Adult Ed has started a new Sunday morning class examining different views on death and the afterlife. We are using a video series from The Great Courses titled “Death, Dying and the Afterlife.” It is taught by Dr. Mark Berkson, chair of the religion department at Hamline University. The topics are far-reaching, from different religions' and cultures' beliefs about death to discussions about suicide, capital punishment, euthanasia, war, and near-death experiences. There are 24 lectures in all, and we will continue the classes into the spring. Each class is self-contained, so you do not need to attend each one.

This is a hybrid class, both in person and on Zoom. The link will be in the weekly Wednesday and Saturday emails. We meet at 8:15 AM in the parish hall for socializing and begin the 1/2-hour lecture at 8:30. We then spend the next half hour sharing our thoughts. It’s a fascinating topic that generates lots of discussion. We adjourn by 9:30 so folks can get to church. New participants are always welcome.

If you are planning to join us, please sign up for Adult Ed on Realm, where I facilitate any info or updates I need to send. Transcript books are available for $30. These contain the full transcripts of each lecture. Let me know if you would like one, and I will place an order for it.

Barb Fritz

Community Lunch Hosted by the Church:

Volunteers Needed!

Our church will host its second season of monthly Community Lunches beginning Wednesday, November 1 and including the first Wednesdays of Dec.6, Jan.3, Feb. 7, and Mar. 6. Lunch will be held from 11:30 AM-12:45 PM in Fellowship Hall. Volunteers from previous lunches have signed on to set up tables and chairs, place table settings, and serve lunch, followed by clean-up at 12:45 PM. Any member of our church is invited to participate in this program. By October 2, a sign-up sheet to participate will be posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. Three categories of foods are needed: soups, including casseroles, stews and chilis, breads, and finger food desserts. FMI, call Heather at 207-633-4757 or Sandra Seifert at 207-633-3546. We welcome your help. Donations received will benefit the Boothbay Region Food Pantry. Please join us for lunch.