Greetings!
We've got some very exciting things happening at Eliot Church this month, and we'd love to have you be a part of them! |
 | A Note from Pastor Tony | |
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
As part of our considerations for a Vibrant Future of Eliot Church, we spent time at the October 3 Leaders Retreat exploring several questions concerning our best spiritual practices, and our current leadership structure. All 30 participants offered their input in response to these questions. I would like to lay the questions out here, so that everyone in the congregation who did not attend the retreat also has an opportunity to respond. We really do want your input. You can respond by email, written note, or phone call, or personal conversation with one of the pastors or a member of the Implementation Task Force (Susan Jeghelian, Kevin Curtin, Marge O'Reilly or Robert Young). (For those of you who did attend, if reading these questions sparks any new ideas or responses, please let us know.)
Regarding Strategic Initiative #5: Spiritual Practices:
"What provides spiritual fulfillment to the Eliot Congregation"
1. What do you value most about this spiritual community & its activities?
What first attracted you to this congregation, and made you decide to join?
What has touched, moved, nourished you most?
Share a story or a specific example.
2. What are the core values or primary spiritual assets of Eliot Church?
From what from you've experienced at Eliot already
what would you most want to bring into the future?
What is Eliot Church at its best?
How has God touched or transformed your life,
or your family's life through Eliot Church?
What healing or transformation have you seen in others?
Be specific. Tell a story.
3. Envision what could be:
How might we build on the best, to do it better, or more?
Be as specific as you can.
Regarding Strategic Initiative #5: Lay Leadership structure
1. What is meaningful for you in serving on a commission or committee or task force?
Give a specific example/story of a transforming moment
while working with a committee/commission/task force
2. What works well in our lay leadership structure? Give an example or tell a story
3. What do you think are the challenges or possible changes we face at Eliot regarding our lay leadership structure?
gain, we really do want your input, because each and every member and friend of Eliot is an important part of the whole. Let us know what you think.
With care,
Tony
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| Greetings from Pastor Karla | |
I've been thinking a lot about prayer, lately.
What is right prayer? Is there such a thing?
What does it mean, as my colleague Molly asks, when people say, "I will pray for you." Does it mean lighting a candle? Does it mean sitting down and going through a laundry list in your mind of all those whom you have promised that you will pray for them? Does just saying, "I will pray for you" constitute a prayer?
What about saying, "I will hold you in my thoughts and heart..."? Is thinking about people, about their predicaments and joys, actually prayer?
I contribute weekly to a ministry of the RevGalBlogPals which is called, " A Place for Prayer". Each Tuesday, I post a prayer, and then people can check in, and share prayer requests,joys or just comment on the prayer. Obviously, because it is the world wide web, people carefully craft their words for need for prayer, because it is a public, and not a private prayer. What does it mean, I wonder, to pray for sisters and brothers I have never met, to pray for them, even though I don't know their stories...just their personal cry for prayer.
I don't know the correct answer to these musings, but frankly, I don't think there is a "right" answer, or a "proper" way to pray. I just think we do the best we can do...whether we are the Pharisee or the humble Tax Collector, whether we lament or praise like the Psalmist, whether go away by ourselves like Jesus....it's all prayer.
The point, is that we pray. There is not one way to do this pray thing...we just do it, however, whenever we can. If it is from our hearts, from our souls, from our love, then our supplications are heard, and we have connected to the Divine. So, friends, just pray. Pray unceasingly.
Yours in faith,
Pastor Karla
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| The Sundays of November | |
November 7: All Saints - Memorial Sunday
Rev. Tony Kill preaching
During this Communion Sunday Worship Service, we will remember all those who have died in our congregation and among our families and friends in the past year.
There will be a First Sunday Spirituality Forum after worship.
Anya Bassett will share some of her spiritual journey.
November 14: Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Brendan Curran (our seminary intern) preaching
Congregational Forum and LUNCH following worship:
Update on the explorations for a Vibrant Future for Eliot Church
November 21: Thanksgiving Sunday
Rev. Tony Kill preaching
We will celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving, both in worship and in a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast for the entire congregation in Fellowship Hall.November
November 28: First Sunday of Advent
Rev. Tony Kill preaching
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| Looking Ahead to December | |
"Hanging of the Greens" and Christmas Caroling
Saturday afternoon, December 4
Everyone is invited to join the Spiritual Life Commission in decorating the sanctuary with evergreen wreaths, garlands, Christmas tree and window candles from 12:30 to 3:00 PM Saturday, December 4
AND everyone is invited to join the Eliot Care Team on a Christmas Caroling tour to local nursing homes and to homes of Eliot shut-ins from 3:00 to 5:00. These visits are always very much appreciated, and are a great family activity for all ages. You are encouraged to come to either event, or join in both on December 6. Both events are great fun, and wonderful ways to get to know other Eliot members and friends.
Advent Workshop Sunday, December 5
CMS Christmas gifts collection Sunday, December 12
Christmas Music Sunday December 12 at 10:00 AM
Christmas Pageant Sunday December 19 at 10:00 AM
Christmas Eve Services at 5:30 and 7:30 December 24
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| CMS Christmas Shops | |
Gift Collection Sunday, December 12
Once again, Eliot Church will be participating in the City Mission Society's Christmas Shop, which brings the joys of giving and receiving to many people in the Greater Boston Metropolitan area annually. In 2009, over 2,000 people benefitted!
Gift Suggestions: NEW Items Only! (listed by priority)
- Winter coats, sweaters and sweatshirts. (large sizes especially)
- Hats, mittens, gloves and scarves.
- Socks and underwear.
- Blankets and backpacks.
- Toys, games, and books for all ages.
- Gift cards from Target, Walgreen's, CVS, Kohl's or other merchants.
We will collect our gifts on Sunday, December 12 and transport them to first Church in Winchester. For more info, contact the church office 617-244-3639 or office@eliotchurch.org or Patrick O'Reilly 617-964-4593 or patevan@aol.com. If you would like to volunteer time to this project see the flier on the Mission & Social Justice bulletin board or contact CMS directly at (617) 742-6830.
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| Winter Coat Collection | |
The Eliot congregation has been wonderfully generous in donating
good used winter coats and other clothing for the homeless and
disadvantaged over the past several years. This year, working in
collaboration with Alex Kern and Cooperative Metropolitan
Ministries, we will collect winter clothing for clients of the
Community Day Center, an service center in Waltham,
(www.communitydaycenter.org) and the Haley House, a soup
kitchen and service center in Boston (www.haleyhouse.org). The
Haley House needs mens' clothing and shoes, as well as blankets,
backpacks, toiletries, etc. The Community Day Center can use
adult mens' and womens' coats, especially large and extra large.
Please bring in clean clothes at any time over the next few weeks. We will have a table in the entrance to the sanctuary for your contributions.
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|
Immediate Special Collection: | |
Medical and Sanitary Supplies for Haiti
Dr. Arielle Adrien will be traveling to Haiti with the Boston Haiti Health Care Support Team in early November, and Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries is helping collect supplies to send with her.
Please donate:
Masks, Gloves, Gauze, Ace Bandages, Stethoscopes, Blood Pressure Kits, Hand Sanitizers, Wound Cleaners, Bacitracin, Neosporin, Pain Killers (over-the-counter), Vitamins (adults & children), Nutrition Bars, Sanitary Pads, and Eye Glasses that you may no longer use but are still serviceable.
Please collect goods and leave them outside the CMM office (in the basement of Eliot Church) by Thursday, November 4! The office is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but items may be left any day, 9-5 pm.
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| Eliot Family Retreat | |
This in from the Spiritual Life Commission:
The Eliot Family Retreat evening, "Nurturing Body, Soul and Spirit" which was scheduled for November 6, has been moved to January 8, at a time which is a little less busy, so we hope more people will be able to attend.
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| Facilities Commission | Eliot has gone GREEN!
As you mak know, over the last several years, we have been working to improve our energy efficiency and lower both our costs and our carbon footprint. We have made quite a few upgrades to accomplish our goal.
We were recently cited as a "Success Story" by the Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light organization and we are featured on their website.
The article was written prior to our "sealing the envelope" by the completion of the installation of storm windows througout the building, so our numbers will get even better this year!
Thanks to your support and your Capital Campaign dollars, we are GREEN!
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| Mission & Social Justice | |
Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light
Take the Noah Challenge!
Lower your carbon footprint and your energy bills.
The story of Noah and the flood moves from God's anger at humanity's corruption of Creation's harmony, to God's blessing of Noah and future generations. The turning point is when God remembered Noah. It is in that remembering that God had a change of heart and caused the crisis to abate. Today we need to remember God's will for a harmonious creation so that we can change our hearts and change the way we live. After all we are all in the same boat.
The NOAH CHALLENGE asks you to obtain a free home energy assessment, & then take advantage of available rebates, loans and tax credits to implement the recommendations. The average American family can lower their carbon footprint by 25%. Can you?
You get free CFLs and other energy and money saving devices and become eligible for:
A 75% instant rebate (up to $2,000) for insulation and other approved weatherization measures (Boston residents may be eligible for instant rebates of 100% (up to $2,000) Details at: http://renewboston.org/residents.htm.)
Rebates on select energy efficient appliances, heating and hot water system upgrades
0% to 3% APR HEAT loan for amounts up to $15,000 and periods as long as 7 years.
Federal energy efficiency tax credit covering 30% of costs up to $1,500 is also available. For more information go to: www.energystar.gov/taxcredits.
For more information on financial incentives go to www.MIPandL.org and click on the NOAH CHALLENGE. Make the NOAH CHALLENGE a project for your faith community! The congregation that signs up the most members wins a free MIP&L Environmental Stewardship Assessment for your house of worship. The Challenge continues until 12/15/10. Take the NOAH CHALLENGE today!
Here's how:
2. Recruit two others to do the same.
Can one person make a difference? Noah did. Will you?
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| Music Notes |
Kammerwerke Concert
Sunday, November 7 at 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Under the direction of Alan Perlmutter, the Kammerwerke orchestra will present "Retroactive Renaissance and Baroque". The concert will explore a twentieth century perspective of early music, including some of the dances of those periods. Works will include pieces by Respighi, Ferenc Farkas, Peter Warlock and Maurice Ravel.
Join the Festival Choir!
Rehearsals begin soon for our Christmas Music Sunday, December 12. Featuring several of the perky carol arrangements for choir with instruments by John Rutter, the repertoire for the morning should delight both performers and listeners. A commitment to the Festival Choir includes the Thursday evening rehearsals in November (excluding Thanksgiving Day, of course) and the first two Thursday rehearsals in December. Festival Choir rehearsals are from 7:15 -8 p.m. To sign up or for information, please contact Minister of Music, Charles Raines at email address: music@eliotchurch.org. |
| "The Elephant Man" |
A Reading of "The Elephant Man"
Monday, November 1 in the Parlor Join us for a dramatic read-through of the award-winning play, "The Elephant Man," by Bernard Pomerance, Monday, November 1st, 7-9 PM in the Eliot Church Chapel.
"The Elephant Man" is loosely based on the life of Joseph Merrick (called "John" in the play), a 19th century Englishman who had such a terrible disorder that he made a living in the sideshows. Merrick was taken in by an eminent surgeon, Frederick Treves, who arranged for him to have a permanent home in the London Hospital
The play is quite different from the David Lynch film, emphasizing Merrick's spiritual growth and artistic vision. As Merrick achieves social acceptance, Treves begins to question whether he has done the right thing. But there's no doubt that knowing Merick is the most extraordinary chapter in his professional life. Our talented cast includes Pastor Tony Kill, Fred Balfour, and Siu Wai Stroshane as director and producer. Refreshments will be served. |
| A Vibrant Future for Eliot Church |
Vibrant Future Implementation Task Force
First Congregational Forum and Luncheon
Sunday, November 14
All Eliot Members and Friends are invited to the Vibrant Future Implementation Task Force's first Congregational Forum (including lunch) on Sunday, November 14 at 11:30 am.
The forum will have two parts:
Brief Presentations in the Chapel by each of the seven Working Groups on the progress they are making on their action plans, immediately followed by Small Group Discussions in the Parlor over lunch among congregants and Working Groups representatives. Congregants will be given an opportunity to share questions, comments and suggestions, and to sign-up to help out with initiatives of particular interest.
Since last spring, the Working Groups have been undertaking research and data-gathering in seven strategic areas that focus on strengthening the vitality of the church and its financial sustainability. The strategic initiatives identified through last year's congregational discernment process are:
#1 - Development of an Expense Reduction Plan to balance the operating budget
#2 - Development of a Revenue Generation Plan to build on and develop new income streams
#3 - Evaluation of the Lay Leadership Structure to streamline and build in efficiencies
#4 - Evaluation of the Staffing Model to meet needs and draw on the strengths of the staff
#5 - Creating an inventory of the Spiritual Practices that nourish us
#6 - Exploration of Local Church Collaborations for enhancing resources and increasing visibility
#7 - Research on what is involved in Church Merger as an option for the future if needed
Please join us! We need you! There will be two additional forums this year - on January 23rd and on March 20th. The goal is to provide a forum for congregants to deliberate on the new information being developed by the Working Groups and prepare for congregational decision-making in the Spring. For any questions or further information, contact Susan Jeghelian, Task Force chair, sjeghelian@gmail.com or by phone at 617-529-6202 or Kevin Curtin kjcurtin@gmail.com or by phone at 508-423-0140. Or speak with Robert Young, Carolyn Clark, John Clark or Marge O'Reilly.
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| Representing Eliot Church |
Would you represent Eliot Church among the Newton
Congregations?
Do you remember the gathering of lay leaders and clergy from
churches and temples in Newton, called Newton Congregations,
that came together last fall before the Mayoral election, then
continued through the year to advocate for their concerns with
the new mayor's administration? That group is still active and
advocating, and wants to continue soliciting the concerns of the
members of our houses of worship for the good of our city. In order to function well, we need members of every church and temple to represent their congregation. Would you be interested in being involved in this ecumenical interfaith group along with pastor Tony?
Please contact him to gain more information and express your
interest. [back to top] |
| Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Endowment Campaign |
The Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ has
become a nationally recognized leader and model for continuing
pastoral education and peer support for clergy. Thanks to the
creative initiative of our Conference staff and a several generous
grants from the Lilly Foundation over the past several years, 373
UCC pastors have participated in New Clergy Groups and Clergy
Communities of Practice, and the Massachusetts Conference has
sponsored 120 learning events, in which 337 pastors from 210
congregations have participated. In order to sustain and continue
the excellent programs that the Lilly grants have seeded, the
Conference is launching a capital campaign to raise $3,500,000 as
an endowment for the Pastoral Excellence Program. The campaign
will run from 2010 to 2014. Our gifts to this fund will provide a
permanent source of income for programs designed to nurture
pastoral excellence for this and succeeding generations. Stay
tuned for more information. [back to top] |
| From the Finance Commission |
The Finance Commission is delighted to commend, congratulate and thank
the members and friends of the congregation for honoring their pledges in the last fiscal year, FY10. In the past number of years the total amount received from pledged gifts has been about 7% less than the amount originally pledged. This year the gifts received were much closer to the goal, coming in only 3.7% below the total. And...we still anticipate a bit more, which, if it comes, would put us less than 2% below the total pledged. Thank you all for your generous support of Eliot, the church we all love.
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| Capital Campaign Continuity Committee Update |
October 4, 2010
Elizabeth Baker, Continuity Committee Chair
Since my last report in January 2010 when $160,250 was distributed, additional Capital Campaign contributions have come in. The total is now well beyond the $50,000 threshold established by the Coordinating Council for the next distribution. Small to moderate sized contributions of around $1,000 or less have continued coming in monthly, many through the Vanco automatic payment program; but a number of larger contributions came in toward the end of the summer and in September. With this announcement I am asking our treasurer, Rich Stroshane, to transfer the bulk of the funds out of the Capital Campaign account and distribute them according to the policy and plan established by the Coordinating Council in 2008. When we reach the $50,000 threshold again, we will make another distribution. Total Contributions Received to date: $719,208
2/10/09 $378,000
10/15/09 $ 49,985
1/15/10 $160,148
10/04/10 $131,075 Balances & Expenses since 1/31/10:
1/31/10 Balance: $ 1.19
10/4/10 New Contributions: $131,075.03
1/15 - 10/4/10 Vanco (EFT) expenses: (10.00)
10/4/10 Total Acct Balance $131,066.22 Total October 2010 Distribution: $131,060
Proportional Distributions
Membership @ 4.2%: $ 5,505 Mission & Social Justice @ 10.5%: $13,761 Building @ 85.3%: $111,794 |
| Thanksgiving Dinner | Sunday, November 21
Surround yourself with good food and good company at the Eliot annual Thanksgiving Sunday Dinner immediately after worship on Sunday, November 21. This event is open to all. If you'll have friends and relatives visiting for the holidays, please plan on bringing them along. We'd especially love to see our Eliot young people who have been away for work and school. You'll soon see the sign-up sheets posted in the hallway where you can volunteer to make a turkey, side dish, bread or dessert or join in with set up, kitchen help or clean up. See you there! If you have questions, please contact Martha Totten in the evenings at 617-965-3939 or tottmarth@gmail.com. Watch the bulletin board in the hallway for your chance to sign up to help!
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| Advent Lunch and Workshop | Sunday, December 5 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm
Join the CE Commission on Sunday, December 5 for lunch and crafts! Following Christmas Pageant Rehearsal (after worship to 12:30) the CE Commission will serve lunch and enjoy crafting for kids and adults until 2:00 pm. We will make ornaments, advent wreaths, and other holiday crafts that you can use for gifts and decorations in your home. Join us! [back to top] |
| Eliot Fall Fair Thanks!! | Only 51 weeks til Fall Fair 2011...
But for now, all we have to say is THANKS!!!
Thank you to everyone who made our Fall Fair a huge success! Not only did we bring in a substantive financial return, we really felt the spirit and community of Eliot Church infused throughout the whole process, especially Fall Fair Day!We want to thank the chairs of the different events, because without their seamless leadership, planning, and organization, this event would never have happened.
We especially want to recognize:Ann Sharp, chair of the Flea Market extraordinaire, and her faithful crew:
Ann Lennihan, Pat Hunt, Nancy Dick-Atkinson, Larry Schafer, Corrine van Alstine, Betsy Harper, Connie Stubbs, Jane Leighton, Brenda Mason, Alison Stoner, and others who helped set up the Flea Market.
We also want to thank the countless others who helped run the market on Fair Day.Leslie Creedy and Terry Hackford, chairs of the Book and Media Sale, and their faithful crew, including Wheaton Wilbar, Elizabeth Baker, Barbara Couturier, Nancy Mann, Lisa Hines, Anya Bassett, Mary Anne Schoonover, Sarah Bassett and others who sorted countless books. We also thank the great team who worked on Fair Day.
Josephine McNeil, who headed up the baking of the scrumptious pies for the bake sale, and to all others who contributed goodies to sell as well. We also want to thank Josephine for putting out the sandwich boards around Newton.
Carolyn Clark, for publicity. Also to Nadja Young and others who posted flyers everywhere and anywhere they could!
Alice Holt, for operating the bake sale, and for her volunteers, including Jan Perkins.
Alex Boudette, for going above and beyond for taking over the raffle and recruiting a wonderful array of raffle items.
Susan Nason, for chairing the Eliot Café, for getting so much food items donated to sell.
And of course, to Diane Pullen for her wondrous homemade soups and cornbread. They also had an amazing team in the kitchen, including Margaret Shue who was the floating pizza and cupcake seller throughout
Nancy Lob, Lisa and Jan Paul von Wendt for leading Karaoke and International Folk Dancing.
Bill Powers and his band, Blue Pearl for performing on the sanctuary steps.
Siu Wai Stroshane for providing music on the steps, and of course,
Rich Stroshane and Nadja Young, Duo Harmonia, providing a concert, as well.
Amy McMahon and the Youth Group, along with Susan Jeghelian and Kevin Curtin, and Cammie Pettingell, for leading the children's activities.
Terri Whitney-Jackson and Megan Glock, for their administrative support.
Susan Nason, again, for her mentoring and help throughout the last couple of months. The Eliot Church community and friends, for spending your hard-earned cash on all of the treasures you discovered at the Fair.
...And to everyone else that we haven't mentioned above.
THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!! |
| Advent Open House | Sunday, December 12 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm
You are invited to an Advent Open House at the home of Tony Kill and Karen Fritz (182 Tremont Street in Newton Corner) [back to top] |
| | Church Family News | |
Happy November Birthday!
2 Chiara Castro
4 Barbara Avery
4 Jane Leighton
4 Diane Pullen
4 Rich Stroshane
7 Brenda Mason
7 Gabriela Mata
7 Mary Gwen Scott
10 Kevin Smith
10 Alex Stroshane
15 Susanna Peyser
16 George Lennihan
18 Ryan Byrne
18 Marcy Johnson
20 Lillie Rundlett
21 Mary Gomes
21 Kyle Pond
22 Chris Stuart
25 Virginia Schock
29 Richard McCann
30 Donna Rombauer
Happy November Anniversary
3 Terri Whitney-Jackson & John Jackson
Congratulations!
Kimberly Hults and Samuel Perez were married in the Boston area on September 5th. They are living in Kailua, Hawaii, where Kim is working as an Associate Dean of Admissions for a local college and Sammy is a watersports instructor.
Senior Travel Vouchers Available
If you are over 60 and in need of transportation (including a ride to church), the Newton Department of Senior Services can help. To arrange a ride to your destination, please contract the Newton Senior Center Transportation Services at 617-796-1288 to make a reservation. Vouchers are needed to travel. Vouchers are available to pick up or be mailed from 345 Walnut Street, Newtonville 02460. Please make your reservations 3 business days in advance. for more info, call 617-796-1644 or visit www.newtonseniors.org.
Ask Pastor Tony for more details about this senior transportation service, which the Newton Congregations helped restore.
Fred Rosene's autobiography "Making A Difference"
is now available. Fred was a member of the Eliot Church youth group when a toboggan accident left him a paraplegic at the age of 19. He went on to achieve Bachelors and Masters degrees at MIT, and became a senior scientist with Sylvania Electronics. He also ran a drop-in center for youth at Eliot in the 1970s. In his retirement, he moved to Florida, where he has been a valuable volunteer at a local school, and a lay leader at his church. His autobiography, "Making A Difference" is available online at www.xlibris.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com,
or by calling 888-795-4274 ext. 7879.
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The Eliot Church of Newton 
