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The Eliot Church of Newton
474 Centre Street, Newton MA 02458
617-244-3639
www.eliotchurch.org
No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here. |
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The Columns | February, 2011 |
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Greetings!
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. Both Karla and I are active participants in the Communities of Practice and the educational colloquies.
In order to sustain and continue the excellent programs that the Lilly grants have seeded, the Conference is launching an Endowment 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 of UCC congregations and clergy in the United Church Of Christ.
Given that we here at Eliot are just completing our own five-year Capital Campaign, and are facing our own financial issues at this time, it seemed best to the Coordinating Council that rather than "joining" this Endowment campaign, we as a congregation contribute to it by holding a special offering one Sunday a year for this endowment, for the next five years. One suggestion by the Conference is to hold this annual offering on the anniversary of the call of the pastor. Since my call here started on March 1, 1995, it seems appropriate to hold the annual special collection on the first Sunday of March. I will speak more about this program during February, and on February 27 there will be an adult forum about the campaign. There will also be inserts in every Sunday's bulletins during February.
Our entire congregation benefits from this support and training network for clergy, and will continue to do so for years to come. Please consider adding your support to ensuring pastoral excellence for our churches in the future..
With care,
Pastor Tony |
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| Greetings from Pastor Karla
Dear Beloved,
Did you know that the United Church of Christ has a daily Stillspeaking Devotional that can be delivered to your email? I subscribe to it, and really receiving these little nuggets every day. For many of us, including yours truly, it is a challenge to take a tiny bit of time for the holy in our days. However, just seeing the daily devotional email is a reminder for me to take a pause, for a few breathing moments, and offer a prayer for awareness. I will be honest, some of the topics don't resonate with me and I quickly hit delete. In addition, I favor some of the devotional writers much more than others, and some of them I don't read at all. But still, seeing that Stillspeaking Devotional in my inbox is like a little piece of God, reminding me that in the midst of my busy life, a little daily reflection is a gift, and good thing. If you are interested in subscribing, go http://www.ucc.org/feed-your-spirit/daily-devotional/ to sign up. Below is a devotional by one of my favorite authors, Rev. Quinn Caldwell at Old South Church in Boston. Enjoy! With love, Pastor Karla
"In the first book...I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles..." Excerpt from Acts 1:1-5
Still Speaking Devotional: January 15, 2011
Evolve Reflection by Quinn G. Caldwell, Associate Pastor, Old South, Boston MA
At some point, Disciples turn into Apostles.
In today's passage, Jesus evolves the Disciples into Apostles, readying them to be sent out with a message (see that word "post" in "apostle"? Just like the mail!). I for one am glad they let it happen; if they had chosen not to change, Christianity would have died when they did.
What stage of Christian evolution are you in? Do you go to church, try to live a good life, and leave it at that? Or do you talk with other people about it as well?
For the sake of everyone else in the break room who doesn't know how sweet faith can be, isn't it time to stand up to that loud atheist/fundamentalist/whatever at work?
Or do what one member of my church does: she periodically sets her Facebook status to something like, "Can't wait for church tomorrow! Anybody want to go with and then get brunch after?" You'd be surprised how many take her up on it. Or you could just be sure your FB profile lists your religion and a link to your church. Or you could write a letter to the editor-explicitly as a Christian-on an issue of the day. Or...well, you get the point: be creative.
Do you think Christianity-or your flavor of it-matters enough to be kept alive, or are you happy to let it die with you? If the latter, then enjoy your discipleship. If the former, it's time to evolve.
Prayer: God, grant me the Holy Spirit so that I might be strong for the sharing of your Word. Amen.
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The Sundays of February
February 6 Fifth Sunday after Epiphay - Service of the Lord's Supper Pastor Tony Kill preaching First Sunday Spirituality Series February 13 Sixth Sunday after Epiphany Pastor Karla Miller preaching February 20 Seventh Sunday after Epiphany Pastor Tony preaching February 27 Eighth Sunday after Epiphany Pastor Tony preaching Forum on Sustaing Pastoral Excellence
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Flowers for the Altar
We are looking for a volunteer to help with ordering flowers for the altar for Sunday worship. This does not involve a lot of time or effort. If you would like more info, contact Liz Woodbridge (617-924-2048) or Terri WJ (office@eliotchurch.org or 617-244-3639 x 201)
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Meditation Mini-Retreats
Saturday, February 26 and Saturday March 5
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Led by our Seminary Intern, Brendan Curran, each of these days will be structured as a mini meditation retreat introducing the methods of mindfulness meditation, loving-kindness meditation, and zen with instruction and explanation regarding how these methods can complement and enrich a Christian prayer life. Taize' chant will be included during each retreat.
Brendan has been a meditation instruction since he was 19 and has been practicing meditation regularly in the Korean Zen tradition since he was 13.
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| Mission & Social Justice News
MLK Day in January
On Saturday January 15, 16 Eliot angels showed up at the Newton Community Service Center for a day of service - walls were painted, windows cleaned, and storage areas cleared. What we should all be particularly pleased with, is that three of the 16 were Eliot youth: Jasmin MacNeil, Gil Pettingell, and Jeremy Holt. Great job by everyone! After the work projects, several Eliot members gathered with workers from other churches for a soup & sandwich lunch at the United Parish in Brookline, with a time of reflection and sharing about the day, and renewed commitments to keep the spirit of Dr. King alive.
CAN-DO Annaul Celebration & Fundraiser
Sunday, March 6 4:00 - 8:00 PM at the Boston Marriott
"Yes! In my Backyard", on Sunday, March 6, 2011 from 4 to 8 pm at the Boston Marriott Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue in Newton. Tickets are available at $100 per person, and 8 tickets (full table) $700. We anticipate an attendance of approximately 200 persons, including many local elected officials.
At the event CAN-DO will celebrate 17 years of achievement in Newton. During that period it has created 39 units of housing in Newton. 32 of those units are permanently deed-restricted to provide housing for low income individuals and families. Among the populations served by the housing are women and children who are victims of domestic violence, formerly homeless persons, and adults with developmental disabilities. They have also developed 15 condominium units, 8 of which were sold to moderate income first-time homebuyers.
The Honorary Chairperson of the event is Congressman Barney Frank, a long time supporter of CAN-DO. The mistress of ceremonies for the evening will be Robin Young the host of WBUR's "Here and Now".
The celebration will begin with a reception and a silent auction from 4-6 pm.; followed by a seated dinner. CAN-DO's Third Annual Pillar Award will be presented to Kenneth Brennan, Chairman and CEO of The Village Bank for the bank's financial support of CAN-DO's affordable housing developments in Newton
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| Christian Education News
Valentines for Elders
The Sunday School will be making Valentines for our elders and shut ins on February 6th. If you want to add a name to our list, please talk to Sue Maraventano or Laura Seoane. Sunday School Schedule Update There will be no Sunday School on February 20th, due to School Vacation Week.
We really need teachers for the Spring Term, especially for 2-3-4 grades and 5-6 grades. If you have been thinking about teaching, this is a great time to do it. Members of the commission will work with new teachers to make sure they feel confident with our children in Sunday School.
Review of Fall 2011 Curriculum
This spring, the CE Commission will be reviewing new curriculum choices for Fall 2011-2012. Our meetings are the third Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 pm. If you would like to join us for these discussions, you are more than welcome!
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Capital Campaign Continuity Committee Update
January 12, 2011 Elizabeth Baker, Continuity Committee Chair
Since my last report in October 2010 when $131,060 was distributed, additional Capital Campaign contributions have come in. Once again the total is 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 some larger contributions came in at the end of 2010. 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 $50,000 threshold again, we will make another distribution.
Total Contributions Received to date:...........$ 781,158 2/10/09...........$378,000
10/15/09.........$ 49,985
1/15/10...........$160,148
10/04/10.........$131,075
1/12/11...........$ 61,950
Balances & Expenses since 10/4/10:
10/08/10 ........Balance:................$ 6.22
1/12/11..........New Contributions:........$ 61,950.00
10/4-1/12/11...Vanco (EFT) expenses..........(2.50)
10/04/10........Total acct. balance:...... $61,953.72
Total January 2011 Distribution:...................$ 61,950
Proportional Distributions
Membership @ 4.2%: .............. $ 2,602 Mission & Social Justice @ 10.5%: ..............$ 6,505 Building @ 85.3%:.....................$ 52,843 Total January 2011 Distribution: ....................$ 61,950 back to top |
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Finance Commission News
The Finance Commission will soon begin this year's annual pledge drive for the funds
needed to pay for the Eliot we all love. These monies will support the staff, the services,
and the programs that help us make Eliot a welcoming, vibrant, spiritually rich community.
In the coming weeks, please consider how you can contribute and then look for materials in the mail during the second week in March. Thank you.
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Church Family News
Happy February Birthday!
3 Isabella von Wendt 4 Ava Waitz 4 Virginia Munkelwit 4 Dennis Scott 8 Daniel Battat 9 Lisa Gonsalves 10 Josephine McNeil 11 Allyn Hawes 15 Connie Stubbs 16 Nadja Young 21 Jenny Horsburgh 22 Calder Reardon 23 Danny Flanagan 25 Dennis Becker 25 Dee McMeekan 25 Michael Rossner 26 Robert Abbe 26 Jonathan Dare 26 Jack Finegan Vasu 27 Michael Atkinson Book Discussion Group Anya Bassett has been reading a wonderful new book, American Grace: How Religion
Divides and Unites Us. The book reads beautifully; it is a serious work written for a broad
audience. It traces 50 years of American religious history, chronicling the decline of
mainline Protestantism, the rise of evangelicalism, and the recent turn away from religion by many young people. Authors Robert Putnam (a Harvard political scientist who wrote Bowling Alone) and David Campbell (a professor at Notre Dame) argue that in our own time religious identity has become more fluid, interfaith ties have strengthened, and Americans have become more tolerant. American Grace provides a compelling context for Eliot as we
reflect on our place in our community and in our world.
Anya is offering to lead an Eliot discussion group about the book. She would provide a list of chapters to focus on (the book is 500 pages long but we could easily have a great discussion based on much less than that) and a study guide. If you would like to join this group, please email her at anyabassett@gmail.com by February 1st. We would have the discussion after church in mid-late March. |
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Snow Policy - Event Cancellation
This is how we will communicate within the Eliot congregation about the cancellation of activities due to weather or other emergencies:
Since pastor Tony can walk to church, we have never cancelled a Sunday worship service, and probably won't. However, there are times when we may wish to cancel Sunday School, Chancel Choir, Children's Choir, and other planned programs.
Since most of the congregation is connected by email, we will use the Eliot Email list to "get the word out" about cancellations. For major events, an all-church email will be sent, as well as separate emails for special groups - e.g. the choir, church school families, etc. If possible, a special message will be put on the church telephone answering machine announcing the cancellations.
If you don't have email at home, or would prefer to get a telephone call (rather than email message) if a cancellation might affect you, please call Terri Whitney-Jackson in the church office at 617-244-3639 ext. 201 and asked to be put on the phone contact list..
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