DECEMBER ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY DATES
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35 Years
The Rev. Karen Dorshimer-Chaplin
25 Years
The Rev. Sarah Maker Deyst
20 Years
The Rev. Virginia Fadden
Please contact Deb Holmes if we have missed your anniversary.
Anniversaries are listed from 5 years and forward in increments of 5.
ASSOCIATION CLUSTER MEETINGS
Re-imagining Your Church's Mission Ministry
Don't forget to register!
January 14, 2020 (snow date: February 11th) (Tuesday)
United Parish of Lunenburg
39 Main St., Lunenburg
March 12, 2020 (Thursday)
The United Church of Ware
49 Church St., Ware
April 22, 2020 (Wednesday)
The First Congregational Church of Rutland
264 Main St., Rutland
All cluster meetings are scheduled for 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
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ASSOCIATION & CONFERENCE EVENTS
January 15, 2020
Ecclesiastical Council
Marcy Menard
Elm Street Congregational Church
61 Elm Street
Southbridge, MA 01550
7:00 PM
March 8, 2020
Installation
Rev. Nena Radtke
Christian Union Church
37 West Main Street
West Groton, MA 01472
3:00 PM
March 22, 2020
Installation
Rev. Amie McCarthy
First Congregational Church UCC
207 Main Street
Spencer, MA 01562
3:00 PM
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CHURCH & OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST
Festival of Carols
First Congregational Church of West Boylston
26 Central Street
West Boylston, MA 01583
Friday, December 6th at 7:30 PM
A Musical Showcase of Familiar Christmas Carols. WeBo Chancel Ringers, WeBo Chancel Choir all directed by Kristjon Imperio. Free admission with a suggested donation of $10 individual or $20 family. Click here for a flyer to share.
"Gifts that Give" Holiday Fair
Edwards Church
39 Edwards Street
Framingham, MA
Saturday, December 7th
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wondering what to get for your Aunt Flora who has everything? Looking for a Santa without going to the mall? Want to make the world a better place? Come to our Holiday Fair! We have Handicrafts from Artists' Co-ops; Scarves for a Place to Turn Food Pantry; Homemade goodies to eat or to gift; Socks for Worcester Fellowship; Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolate; Children's Holiday Project Table too! Plus come take a picture with Santa on a Fire Truck!
Click here for a shareable flyer.
SONGS of HOPE II
WamsWorks, (Worcester Area Mission Society)
6 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609
Sunday, December 8th
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
The Worcester Black-Jewish Alliance & Jewish Federation of Central MA, and WamsWorks Present a concert to celebrate the historic partnership between the African American and Jewish communities. Performers (partial list): Lydia Fortune, Mitch Gordon, Charles Ketter, Knights of Zion, Myra MacLeod, Mike Ladd, Steve Schuster, Shir Joy, and Cantor Rachel Reef-Simpson.
Click here for a flyer to share.
December events at Trinity Church of Northborough
Trinity Church
23 Main Street
Northborough, MA
Saturday, December 7th: Holiday Trolley Stop, Handbell Concert & Carol Sing:
Noon - 5 PM: Wreath Raffle, Thrift Shop, Kids Only Gift Shop, and Boy Scouts live wreath sale and hot cocoa. 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Handbell Concert. 5:00 PM: Tree Lighting at Blake Street
Sunday, December 15th 2 - 4 PM: Trinity Church will hold a Service of Light, in cooperation with Jeff and Rachel Koopman from Hays Funeral Home. Christmas is a difficult time for those who recently lost someone or who are estranged from family. We invite anyone, regardless of religious affiliation, to come together as a community for comfort and support. You will have the opportunity to light a candle in memory of someone, to fill out a memory card or make a button, and to participate in a time of prayer, reflection and song (at 3 pm.) Refreshments will be served. Come and go as your schedule allows. Children are welcome to participate.
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Paint Class Fundraiser
First Congregational Church of Millbury
148 West Main Street
Millbury, MA
Saturday, January 20th at 1:00 PM
Sue Dion of Inspired Painting and Instructions will be teaching us to paint an 11” x 14” acrylic painting, “Home Fires Burning’’. No experience is necessary. The $40.00 fee includes an 11”x 14” canvas, all supplies needed and complimentary refreshments. Come join us to support the church and enjoy a fun, informal afternoon. Fellowship hall is accessible to all and there is handicapped parking available. Register online: Suedionart.com. If you have any questions about Paint Night please call Janice Fortin at 508-826-6381
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What are Your Five Wishes?
First Church in Sterling
6 Meetinghouse Hill Road
Sterling, MA 01564
Sunday, December 15th, 1:00 PM
A Unique Approach to Discussing and Documenting Care and Comfort Choices. A Workshop led by Rev. Lee Atherton. Five Wishes is the beginning of a conversation. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Rev. Atherton at 508-308-7116 or Lee@CoachRev.com. Suggested donation of $10.
In the Five Wishes© Workshop, you will learn the steps to take to ensure you and your loved ones have the type of end of life care you want and deserve. Attendees will have an opportunity to work through challenging topics like selecting medical treatment options, choosing a medical proxy, describing palliative care preferences, capturing what you want your loved ones to know, and clarifying how you want to be comforted in a safe and supportive environment.
“When we think about end of life, one of our greatest hopes is to end peacefully and comfortably without burdening our family and friends wondering what they should do for us, wondering what our wishes are,” says Rev. Lee Atherton, co-host of the workshop. We don’t discuss our final wishes because death is a difficult and unpleasant topic, and many people just don’t have the words to use. However, using simple tools like the Five Wishes© Workbook, makes the difficulty of putting our wishes into words as easy as checking a box, crossing out a sentence and adding a few words. Once your wishes are written down, it is much easier to have that difficult conversation. And when it is completed, signed and witnessed, it becomes a legal Advance Directive recognized in Massachusetts.
Caregiver Support Group
First Congregational Church
19 Church Road
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Expanded Fall Caregiver Support Group Schedule. In the months of September, October and November, we will now be meeting 2x per month on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. On the 2nd Monday, we will be having informational meetings facilitated by Beth Anne Doan and guest speakers. On the 4th Monday, we will be holding informal caregiver support meetings. Meetings will be held in the youth group room on the second floor.
Finally, in December, Beth Anne Doan will lead a service of Loving Care for Christmas.
Please see the attached FLYER for the Fall Caregiver Support Group Schedule.
New Grief Support Group
Beginning November 20th and continuing weekly from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM.
The Rev. Lee Atherton is starting a New Support Group from the comfort of your own home. We will gather online using an easy-to-use platform called ZOOM. Pre-registration is required in order to get login information. Please call or email Rev. Atherton at 508-308-7116 or Lee@CoachRev.com.
Third Floor Coffee House -
Now held on the first floor!
2nd Friday of the month, 7 PM to 9 PM
Trinity Church
23 Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532
Office: (508) 393-8156
www.trinitynorthborough.org/coffee-house
John Fraize is December 13th's special featured guest.
Coffee and refreshments will be served with a suggested donation. BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug). A $5 per person donation will be accepted at the door ($10 max family) or buy a VIP season pass! $50 for individual and $100 for family. Passes can be purchased at the door.
Contact Pat Faldetta for more information, thirdfloorcoffeehouse@gmail.com.
LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS, FOOD PANTRIES, & COMMUNITY DINNERS
Please click here to see the list of thrift shops,
food pantries,and community dinners.
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
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ReachOut Worcester 2020
(February 7th & 8th 7:00 PM Friday to 2:30 PM Saturday)
ReachOut Worcester (ROW) is a 20 hour overnight immersion program for youth ages 13+ and their leaders that is sponsored by WAMS in partnership with Worcester Fellowship, a UCC church dedicated to ending isolation through pastoral care and nurturing community and All Saints Church Worcester. A detailed overview / information packet and a registration form are available on our website.
Worcester Fellowship
Available lunch providers and youth dates are currently on our website.
Youth group dates are available for groups of 15 or less.
Lunch and worship are Sundays at 1 PM behind
City Hall on Worcester Common.
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TRANSITIONS
More: macucc.org/transitions
OBITUARIES
Rev. Ms. Jo-an Bott passed away on November 16, 2019. Rev. Bott served Trinity Congregational Church in Fitchburg, MA from 1984-2010 and is a Presbyterian minister.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 14th 2019 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the United Congregational Church (6 Institute Rd, Worcester, MA).
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ether the Abby House Inc., 52 High Street, Worcester, MA 10609, Seminarian Scholarship Fund, c/o Central MA Association Office, 6 Institute Road, Box 5, Worcester, MA 01609, or to the United Congregational Church, 6 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609. Please click here for more information.
Please click here to view all MACUCC Obituaries.
CLASSIFIEDS
Part Time Church Sexton - Holliston, MA
Organist - Leicester, MA
Church Administrator - Longmeadow, MA
Part-Time Church Secretary/Receptionist - Milford, MA
Looking for Used Bibles - Worcester, MA
Please click here to view all MACUCC Classifieds
ASSOCIATION INFORMATION
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Association Meetings
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The Committee on Authorized Ministry
Meets the 3rd Thursday of
each month at 9:30 AM.
The Board of Director's
Meets the 3rd Thursday of
each month at 2:30 PM.
Both meetings take place at:
WamsWorks
6 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609
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NEW IN 2020!
Proportional Giving
For 2020, the Association will only be sending pledge invoices to churches for the
ASSOCIATION PORTION OF FELLOWSHIP DUES
(currently $1.65 per member)
We will no longer be collecting and forwarding any portion of Conference Fellowship Dues.
This change also effects any church that is currently part of United Church Mission. Which will be invoiced for the yearly amount received from the Conference while part of UCM.
Please click here to read more on Proportional Giving.
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