HORIZONS
      August 2015
  Hingham Congregational Church, UCC
366 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043
781-749-1276
Church photo
IN THIS ISSUE
Pastor's message
Christian Education
ARTICLE HEADLINE
HCC Capital Campaign
Outreach - Backpacks
Thank you from Haiti
Music News
Consignment Center
Prayer Requests

Dear Friends,

 

Summer Blues

We usually think of summer as a slower-paced season, full of opportunities to get outdoors, travel, have fun, and soak up the sun. Unfortunately, it is also a lonely time for many. Friends are away on vacation, coworkers are enjoying time off, and family members are busy with warm weather activities. Also in this season, many parents are anticipating the departure of their college age daughters and sons, which can be very difficult. Please be especially sensitive to neighbors, fellow church members, and others in your life who may be having a hard time right now. Reach out if you can. Part of our calling as Christian people is to care for those who are feeling isolated or sad.

 

Lots of Great Stuff on the Horizon!

As August gets underway, your church staff and volunteer leaders are busy planning for the upcoming program year. Various educational, spiritual, musical, worship, and fellowship opportunities await you. Please see the "save the dates" below, read through the rest of this edition of Horizons, and start filling in your calendar! It's going to be an exciting year.

 

See you on Sunday,

 

Pete

Reminder:

Worship service will begin at 9:00am beginning Sunday,  

July 5 - Sunday, August 30.

 

Christian Education

HCC family and friends,

Vacation Bible School was a success and we had community members from all over the Greater Boston area - how about that outreach!? While you peruse the church this summer and early fall, notice the 'God Sightings' (sheep) that the children and youth decorated while in Vacation Bible School. Each day adult volunteers and I helped the children think about how, where, and when they saw God - rest assured, their answers were insightful AND entertaining.

If you let the church borrow any items for VBS, please pick them up from the vestry by August 9th. Thanks again to everyone who helped make Hometown Nazareth a reality.

Furthermore, you may see a little something here or there that the young people have worked on during One-Room School house throughout the summer. Speaking of church school: **We are seeking a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Church School Teacher for upcoming year (Sept - mid-June) This is a paid position! Contact Sara if interested  [email protected] 


We are ready to start figuring out who will stand alongside our church school teachers throughout the year - shepherding. We're using VolunteerSpot (the leading online Sign-up and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming Sign-ups. To sign up to assist church school teachers and accompany our children in their learning, follow this link
http://vols.pt/eua5Hd

To serve as the Christian Education 'person of the week,' (the person of the week simply ensures full staffing of church school classes each week) follow this link  http://vols.pt/XE4ARx 

 

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot http://vols.pteua5Hd 

2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.

3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.

 

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

 

Sept 13th from 12 pm - 3 pm: Fall kick off / welcome back is just around the corner. Save the Date!

 

Calling all 9th graders! We are preparing for the upcoming group of confirmands. Save the date for September 20th at 9:15 am. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to the above email address. The first confirmation meeting will be on the evening of September 23rd.

Adult & High School youth education - Movie series and theological reflection as a community. Alex Haley's book (and movie based on) Roots continues to be historically relevant in a country where we struggle with race relations. Furthermore, many of the underlining ideas that have supported racial discrimination were those which people tied to Christianity. What does this mean for our faith today and how might it relate to the intersectionality of oppressions? This will serve as a follow up to the Symposium on Race from last April. This will take place on Thursday nights at 7 pm and the entire viewing will take 4-7 weeks. Begins September 17th. People will be welcome to come to all, one, or some of the viewings. RSVP preferred but not required; email [email protected].

 

Call for acolytes: rising 4th - 6th grade youth; if you think a young person in your family would like to assist with acolyte duties throughout the church-school year, please send me an email with specific dates in which your child may want to participate. Electronic Volunteer sign up to follow in the near future.

 

Middle School fellowship will resume on Friday, September 18th when we will play games or watch a movie together. Gluten free pizza will be served!

 

Wonderful Wednesday (3rd - 5th fellowship) will resume on October 7th and will occur when early release days occur throughout the school year.

 

Adult confirmation: If you are new to HCC or once went through confirmation and simply do not remember what the meaning was, no need to fear - Pete and I will be teaming up to host a 'class' for folks who want to learn more about being a part of a Christian community. This will begin on September 27th and go through November 29th (Sundays, once per week). 7:30 - 8:30 pm

 

CE office hours: Pete and I are still adjusting schedules but I am hoping my fall hours will be as follows: Sunday - available all day; occasionally gone at night for ordination meetings.

Wednesday - 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Thursday - 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Friday and Saturday office hours as necessary.

 

See you soon,

 

Sara

Save the dates:

9/11,  7 p.m.            Capital Campaign Gathering at Tosca 

9/13  12 p.m.           Homecoming Sunday/Church Picnic

9/13  6 - 7:30 p.m.  First Senior High Youth Group meeting

9/18  TBA               First Middle School Fellowship meeting 

9/27 - 11/29           Adult Confirmation: Sundays, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

                               (10 gatherings)

10/9 - 10/10           Church Campout

1/8 -1/9/16            Men's Retreat

3/4 - 3/6/16          Women's Retreat

More to come next month...

HCC Capital Campaign Cocktail Party

 

The congregation is invited to cocktail party at
Tosca Wine Room, 14 North Street, at 7:00 pm on September 11, 2015
to celebrate the kick-off of our Capital Campaign in support of the Long Range Planning initiatives.  

 

 

We have worked hard to determine who we want to be as a church community and set forth many goals as stepping stones to that future vision. Financial backing is part of the plan to make those dreams happen. Leaders from the Long Range Planning committees will be available throughout the evening for discussion of the church plans and the capital campaign.  

 

Hors d'oeuvres will be served with the wine bar open for drinks.  

 

Phil Edmundson, [email protected], is available for discussion regarding the campaign, and Karen von Loesecke, [email protected], can be contacted about the evening event.

 

As a part of the church community, we hope you will come to engage in this important step in the life and mission of our church!  

 

Outreach

 

On behalf of the Outreach Committee, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to those who participated in the backpack drive!   We were able to deliver 30 backpacks filled with back to school supplies to the Interfaith Social Services Organization in Quincy - more than double what we donated last year.  These backpacks will be distributed to the children next week.  They were so very appreciative of our church's support.  Thanks again for your help.  We will continue to update you on more ways to give back

 

 

 

 

This poem was recited by my little friend Josuah at the talent show at the Haiti Summer Camp last week.  It translates.....

 

"The most beautiful word I know, is not a very loud word, but a soft word.  It is not very long, it is just simply thank you!"

 

I would like to use this beautiful word to thank you all for your love and generosity to me and the children in Haiti last week.  Through your kindness I was able to bring in over $225.00 in much needed supplies, cover those baggage fees as well as give out the 18 new pairs of shoes you all donated.  I was also able to bring a check in the amount of $500.00 for the special needs school so that 4 of our handicapped children can attend school for almost 5 months.  That is a huge gift!  I am so proud to be part of such a wonderful family in faith.

 

Mesi anpil!! Terri Fortin

 

 

Music News

   

Special Music Every Sunday this Summer!


AUGUST

2          Ariana Tomasi, soprano

9          Drew and Sebastian Hussar, pianists

16        TBA

23        TBA

30        Steve Waynen 

SEPTEMBER

6          Carol Ertman and friends from Linden Ponds

 

Call for Summer Music Volunteers!

During July and August, we need YOU to provide music for worship services--this is your chance to perform that piano piece you've been practicing, sing the solo you have always wanted to hear in church, get your old band back together, or practice your dijeridu, and make a joyful noise during the Sunday service! For encouragement or more info, call David Giessow at 617-847-1841. Sign-up sheet for summer music volunteers is on the choir room door (next to kitchen).

 

Junior Choir

 

Jr. Choir Completes Spirited Year of Music

 

My thanks to Mrs. England and Mrs. Ketchum for assisting me with Jr. Choir throughout this past year. This is Mrs. England's 11th year of piano accompaniment, and I continue to be most grateful for this, just one of the many gifts she shares with our church family. Also a very special thanks to David G. for his extra effort to get this largely young group of singers energized in September!

 

We had a quite a group of singers this year. David G., Sarah E. and Debbie K. got things started in the fall while I was out of commission, and the group has remained strong throughout the year with a core group of about fourteen children ranging in age from 3+ years through the fifth grade singing with almost every month. My thanks to all of them and their families for the unique contribution they make to the spirit life of HCC .

 

I thank the following children and their families for their participation this year. Some came almost every Sunday; others now and again - but always making their unique contribution. It is my hope that all will return in the fall to continue sharing their musical joy!!

 

Gratefully,

Mr. B.

 

2014-15 Choir Members:

Emelyn Rowan, Oisin Rowan, Emily Sebestyn, Drew, Sebastian & Sabrina Hussar, Callie Cease, Morgan Childs, Sophia Scott, Meghan & Ryan Sloan, Adelie & Evelyn Scoville, Will & Aila Litchfield, Sophie Kerr, Julia & Jessica Scipione, Lily Christopher, Lavinia & Christian Claydon, Addie & Walker Sibley

GUILD Consignment Center  

 

The Consignment Center noted significant accomplishments as it completed the 2014-15 season. Once again, ten-month sales exceeded those of any previous years, and our June proceeds were the highest of any month on record. Our customer mailing list has a wider radius, material resources are being distributed through an expanding network, and notification arrived of another community Readers' Choice Award.

 

Volunteer staff came together on June 24 for an annual meeting to assess the work, evaluate the effectiveness of the business, and plan for future initiatives. In addition to continued and regular gifts to HCC, the Consignment Center is dedicated to assisting local charities with specific financial needs. This year, the volunteers voted to allocate funds to the Friends of the Homeless, Womenaid, Hingham Girl Scouts, More Than Words, Hospice (Turkey Hill), New England Wildlife, and Hingham Veterans. Material donations have also been made to ASAPROSAR, Children of Haiti, Hingham Public Library, Bare Cove Fire Museum, and ministries of the Salvation Army.

 

The Consignment Center will be closed for the summer months for cleaning, maintenance, improvements...and staff respite. The yellow flag will fly again on Tuesday, September 8, when we open for the 2015-16 season. We again extend our thanks to all who have contributed to and assisted with this meaningful local Outreach.

 

Please consider sending a card or note as you pray for those whose names we whisper in our hearts:

    • June Pratt
    • Roland Bates, whole father died recently
    • Jane Finn, whose husband, Phil, died recently
    • George Childs, Ray's father
    • LaShaun Shaw, knee injury
    • Libby King, facing surgery
    • Galen Hersey
    • Tim Carpenter, Al and Linda's son
    • Betty Hulbert
    • BJ Gorczyca
    • Hermelinda, friend of the Muller's from Guatemala
    • Dot Wagstaff
    • Susan Johnson
    • Mary Ela
    • Lew Scotton
    • Barbara Watts
    • Bill Ketchum, student at Andover Newton
    • Suzy Burba, Member in Discernment