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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 | October, 2011
2011 |
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Greetings!
 Greetings from Pastor Debbi
`Howard Thurman spoke about a special kind of joy that he witnessed in some people. He wrote, "There are still others who find their joy deep in the heart of their religious experience. It is not related to, dependent upon, or derived from, any circumstances or conditions in the midst of which they must live. It is a joy independent of all vicissitudes. There is a strange quality of awe in their joy, that is but a reflection of the deep calm water of the spirit out of which it comes. It is primarily a discovery of the soul, when God's... presence is found, where there are no words, no outward song, only the Divine Movement. This is the joy that the world cannot give. This is the joy that keeps watch against all the emissaries of sadness of mind and weariness of soul. This is the joy that comforts and is the companion, as we walk even through the valley of the shadow of death."
We live and worship in the midst of diversified and sometimes highly fragmented lives. It is no easy thing to be aware of "the cloudless night above the tempest, or the calm of the ocean floor beneath the surface tempest." Is it not our challenge to ponder these things in ourselves and in our world so that we can emerge from such reflection with a profound sense of joy in our souls?
If we experience Christian joy, shouldn't we present ourselves on the inside and the outside with an authentic sense of joy so that others can envision through us the joy of believing?
As we gather momentum in our busy schedules and increased church activities in particular, recall each day, at least one thing that brought you the kind of joy of which Howard Thurman spoke that says there is awe in it, and companionship, and a discovery of the soul.
Each day is a day that God has given to us; let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Rev. Debbi Carter
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| The Sundays of October
October 2
Rev. Debbi will be reflecting on Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 and Matthew 21:33-46in her sermon "The Thick Darkness"
October 9 Rev. Debbi will be reflecting on Exodus 32:1-14 and Philippians 4:1-9 in her sermon "The Golden Calf"
October 16 Rev. Karla will be reflecting on Exodus 33:12-33 and Matthew 22:15-22.
October 23 Rev. Debbi will be reflecting on Deuteronomy 34:1-12 and Matthew 22:34-46 in her sermon, "So What's the Story?"
October 30
Rev. Karla will will be reflecting on I Thessalonians 2:9-13 and Matthew 23:1-12.
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Eliot Church Leaders' Retreat
Saturday, October 15 - 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Eliot Leaders and Officers Retreat for all Eliot Commission and Committee Members has been moved to Saturday, October 15. We willl be meeting at Eliot from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm. Continental breakfast will be served.
Eliot is in the process of preparing for the next settled pastor. The Leadership Retreat and subsequent Church Forum days will be designed to enhance the work of the Search Committee (once it is activated), as well as helping the Eliot Church to move forward in its mission.
We will be reviewing the search process for the settled pastor and then reviewing the place of the church profile in the search process. One of the unfinished pieces from the Vibrant Church report has to do with church structure, governance and purpose. This is one of the concrete issues to be addressed before the church profile can be completed.
At the Retreat, our Moderator, Kevin Curtin will give a short re-cap of the Vibrant Church work already accomplished, and then we will be moving through a process with plenary and small group work to address the particular issues raised in a church profile, including church structure and governance. We will look at the various models of governance named in the report, but we will be "imagining" what is possible for Eliot in the future.
Your input helps make the work of Eliot vital! This is an opportunity for the church to work with its strengths and to rejoice in the collaboration of the faithful gathered. Please sign up for the retreat through e-vite that Pastor Karla sent or to the church office.
Remember, the place has been changed to Eliot!
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Join in a Sacred Conversations!
We are convening the Thursday afternoon Sacred Conversation group, on Thursday, October 13 at 5:00. Everyone is invited!
What Happens in a Sacred Conversation? Each week, we explore a topic important to our lives. The group selects the topic, and one of the members (sometimes a pastor) prepares a "topic sheet" with a Bible passage, some other resources for reflection, and some questions to consider for discussion. The sessions consist of a combination of pondering the scripture, personal sharing, and prayer. Participants have found this time incredibly fruitful. What if that time doesn't work for you? Please let Robert Young, Rev. Debbi, or Rev. Karla know! Would you like to be part of a group in an evening? On a Saturday? On Sunday after worship? Would you prefer a different format, such as more Bible Study, or reading a book together? Let us know, and we'll do our best to make it happen.
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| Welcome Seminary Intern, Earl Rogers
Sunday, September 25, we welcomed Earl Rogers, who has been chosen to be the seminarian for Eliot Church for this year, Please be sure to give him a warm welcome! Although the church had made the decision not to have a seminarian this year, a number of factors came together to make this opportunity possible for Earl as well as Eliot. You will be hearing and experiencing more about Earl over the next few weeks, but below is a brief introduction from Earl.
"Earl Rogers is a second year Master of Divinity student from Andover Newton Theological School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and a Minor in French from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He hails from South Paris, Maine, but currently lives on the Andover Newton Campus in Newton Centre. He has been involved in church since before he could walk and talk and loves being a part of church life. He is an Eagle Scout, and enjoys camping and other outdoor activities. Earl is looking forward to a great year working with the Eliot Church, and getting to know everyone at Eliot."
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| Eliot Concert Series - Sunday, October 16 at 3:00 pm
Don't miss the opening event of the new ELIOT CHURCH MUSIC SERIES!
Our Minister of Music, Charles Raines will be joined by four of the Boston area's finest Baroque musicians in a program of solo organ works and chamber music.
The repertoire includes organ works by Nicolaus Bruhns, (Prince) Johann Ernst/arr. J.S. Bach, Louis-Nicolas Clérambault, and J.S. Bach. Joining Charles in chamber music will be soprano Rachel Gitner, oboist Joyce Alper and baroque flutist Sarah Cantor performing four of Handel's exquisite Nine German Arias. Viola da gambist, Angus Lansing, with Charles at the harpsichord, will offer Bach's gamba sonata in G major. Joyce, Sarah, Angus and Charles will present Georg Phillip Telemann's trio sonata in A minor.
Whereas for many concert-goers, "a little organ music goes a long way," this program is sure to delight everyone with a variety of 18th century music for organ, voice and various other instruments.
Plan to bring family, friends and neighbors (AND potential Eliot Church new members) to this event. A friendly festive reception follows. Tickets may be purchased at the door: $15, general admission/$10, seniors & students. This event is sponsored by the Eliot Church Music Commission.
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| It's NOT TOO LATE to Join our terrific Chancel Choir!
De-stress your work-a-day life. Our dedicated Chancel Choir is a non-auditioned ensemble of singers from teens to adults supported by four professional section leaders who provide choral music for Sunday worship as well as special services and occasions. Choir member need not be members of Eliot Church to participate, but they need to be willing to make a commitment.
Chancel Choir Job Description Physical Qualifications:
Must be able to carry light musical notes part way across the Sanctuary. Must have sufficient vision to see the director.
Experience:
No applications will be accepted from persons who have not sung, hummed, or whistled in the bathtub or shower at some time.
Beginning Wage:
Increased satisfaction and joy in the service of God.
Fringe Benefits:
Social Security. We promise you the security of social fellowship with other choir members.
Hours:
Thursday evenings from 7:15 - 9:15 and Sunday mornings at 9:00. There is an occasional opportunity for overtime.
Retirement:
Generally determined by the printed notes getting too small, the hymnal too heavy, notes too high, the sanctuary too hot or too cold, or the organist unable to play the notes you sing.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER!
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Say It with Flowers!
This is an opportunity for you to honor a loved one, celebrate an occasion or give thanks. You can sign up on the web at http://www.doodle.com/bwargnfh9zispfh7 or on the bulletin board in the hallway to provide flowers for the altar for worship. We'll print your dedication in that Sunday's bulletin ( please email Terri Whitney-Jackson with your dedication at terriwj@eliotchurch.org.) You can provide your own or we can order them for you. Please coordinate this with Carol Brown. She can be reached at 617-965-2646.
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Help Make Eliot Church a Warm & Welcoming Place!
Here's an easy and fun way to serve your church community...be a Welcomer for our worship services! Signing up has never been easier...Just visit our online signup at http://www.doodle.com/awhmxzifb25mye7v and check off the Sundays you'd like to participate. You can also sign up on the bulletin board in the hallway.
You don't know how to be a Welcomer? Not to worry, we'll send you all the info you'll need. We can email it to you, snail-mail it or both! You can also speak with Pastor Karla.
Remember, having Welcomers is a vital part of showing visitors that Eliot Church IS a warm and welcoming community.
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| Eliot Staff Emails have Changed!
As we've implemented our new computer network at the church, we have revamped our email system. Each of the staff members have a new Eliot Church email address.
Please use the following email addresses for the staff:
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The Annual Eliot Fall Fair is Coming!
Saturday, October 22
9:30 am - 3:00 pm
We need you to help make this annual event both fun and profitable! Flea Market items may be brought to the Backstage area in Fellowship Hall . No clothes, computers or large pieces of furniture, please. Contact Ann Sharp for more info (617-95-1545). Pie Baking: Please call (617-527-5071) or email Josephine McNeil for the weekends you would be available to help make our delicious plum pies and apple pies. Books and Media may be brought to the Sanctuary Narthex, the space inside the entrance from Centre St. Homemade goodies are always good sellers and the more we have the better. This includes not only baked goods, but anything homemade such as jams, beans, pickles, etc. Cafe Donations - In order to maximize profit in the cafe, we are again asking members of the congregation to donate items such as hot dogs, rolls, soda, cider and water. Sign up during coffee hour or contact Susan Nason at nasonse@aol.com or 617-965-1811. HELP is needed especially with sorting and pricing Flea Market items during the week before the Fair, set up on Friday, October 23, staffing all activities on the day of the fair, and clean-up at the end of the day. Even if you're going to be out of town on Fair Day, there are many ways that you can help ahead of time!! Questions or suggestions?
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| Reverse Trick-or-Treat
Think about Reverse Trick or Treating this Halloween! The inspiration for Reverse Trick-or-Treating rests on the belief that the simple act of one person saying to another "There's a problem. There's a solution. Let's do something" can be very powerful. And if a child says this to an adult - it's doubly powerful. Further, we believe that such acts will demonstrate to the large corporations, and to public officials, that people are paying attention, people care, and they want action' - Equal Exchange This Halloween, you can help end the exploitation of adults and children working in the cocoa industry and raise awareness of Fair Trade! Trick-or-treaters will be handing Fair Trade chocolate back to adults, with informational cards attached, to explain the problems of the cocoa industry and how Fair Trade presents a solution. Through providing children with an opportunity to have their voice heard, hundreds of thousands of households in the US are getting the message that child labor and forced labor will not be tolerated by our kids.
Be part of it!
This year Global Exchange https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/703/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=6515 is offering 1,000 Reverse Trick-or-Treating kits to individuals on a first come, first served basis so get your order in quickly! Each kit contains 15 mini chocolates, informational cards and an instruction leaflet. The kits are free; you only pay $7.50 for shipping and handling. We are also asking participants to "add up" by contributing more than that to help us keep this program FREE FOR ALL! If you don't manage to get one of the kits, you can still take part! Download free flyers here http://www.globalexchange.org/sites/default/files/RTTFlyer2011.pdf and pass them out on Halloween. You can purchase Fair Trade chocolate at any of our Global Exchange Fair Trade Stores, http://www.globalexchangestore.org/
Ask Karla for more information!
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| Church Family News
Happy October Birthday1 Marianne Iacuzio 3 Maggie Pond 3 Alice Pratt 4 Joanne Hults 4 Barbara Oppenheimer 7 Bo Ly 8 Chris Clark 8 Chris Dame 8 Joe Esbenshade 8 Jeremy Holt 10 Carolyn Clark 10 Jack Garvey 11 Daniel Smith 12 Howard Johnson 16 Nate Fritz-Kill 17 Diane Price 21 Jessica Bibbo 21 Thomas Byrne 22 Abbi Sauro 23 Clara Minehart 23 Klaudia Shepard 24 Calvin Carey 26 Fawn Dare 26 Jennifer Smith 29 Emma Brown 29 Rachel Hargreaves 30 Robbie Benner 30 David Wood 31 Gill Pettingell 31 Steve Stiriti Happy October Anniversary 9 Katrina & Logan McCarty 15 Sue & Vince Maraventano
If we've missed your birthday or Anniversary,
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