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The Chimes Online
Federated Church of Ashland
118 Main Street
Ashland, MA 01721
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Volume Three, 9th Edition | October 2014 |
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A Note of Praise!
Join Us for a Bible Study We gather in the Church Parlor the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 6 PM. We have been following the Upper Room Devotional which is available at each meeting and is also available in the Church Office. No prior knowledge is required. It is informal and casual. Join us for a wonderful time of spiritual fellowship. All Are Welcome!
Office Hours
The Church Office is staffed Monday-Friday mornings from 9-Noon.
Larry is in the office as usual, Monday-Thursday and is also available by phone as needed.
*** As noted with the last edition of the Chimes-Online, we are testing it as a way to reach out to members and friends of the Federated Church of Ashland with current and updated news and information about what is happening in our church, some stories and reflections that might inspire you, and to take advantage of the speed and convenience of electronic media, such as email.
Your thoughts and suggestions are encouraged, and any feedback on how we might improve or even articles of interest, are welcome.
It is hoped that we can all become more familiar with the exciting things happening in our church, maybe inspire your involvement, and provide a means by which you can share this email with your family and friends. Simply "forward" it by clicking on the link below. |
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From Larry's Desk....
There always seems to be a lot going on here at the church. Over the past month we have had a very successful Pumpkin Patch event out front of the church. The Ashland Community has taken notice of our church and supported our Pumpkin Patch, while at the same time our dedicated volunteers have greeted and thanked all those who stopped by, while casually share bits of news and a note of welcome to our church. While many people may think of this event as primarily a fund drive in support of Native American farm workers, or to merely benefit our operating budget, the REAL reason for the Pumpkin Patch has been to extend a sense of welcome and introduction to our church.
Another recent event which was a big success was last Sunday's "Halloween Brunch" where a substantial number of our members and friends joined us to share a meal together. A special thanks to all those who brought in the food, and especially to Nick who spearheaded the event along with members of our hospitality ministry.
This past Saturday, 6 members of our church attended the "Super Saturday" event sponsored by the UCC, which was held at Keefe Tech. Approximately 500 people were in attendance from across churches in MA and some from RI. The most inspirational workshop was offered by the First Congregational Church of Somerville which has successful revitalized itself from a membership of 35 to a membership in the hundreds. Those of us who attended this workshop could see many similarities between that church and our own, and have come back anxious to challenge us all to do the same!
Lastly we are about a week away from the 61st Annual Federated Church Fair. (see info below). The success of our Fair depends upon the generous efforts of all the members of our church, and in "getting the word out". I hope to see you all there....and would encourage you to invite your neighbors and friends to come as well!
Blessings, Larry |
The Fair Is Coming..NEXT WEEK ! If you haven't noticed, next Saturday, November 8th is our church's 61st Annual Church Fair. It is the singular event on our church calendar that encompasses the time, the talents, the resources and the involvement of almost everyone who considers themselves a supporter of our church. As in years past there will be lots of do, lots to see, lots of fun stuff and lots to spend money on in support of the important work of our church in the town of Ashland. Just some of the many "booths" include: The Country Store The Boutique The Handicrafts The Bake Sale Candy Store Homemade Fudge Shoppe "New to You" (Flea market) Art Sales The Take Your Chance Raffle Traditional Food and Sandwich Caf� Thrift Shop "Kids Place" Join us for a day of fun and camaraderie, Sat. Nov. 2nd from 10pm to 3pm. See You There ! |
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For Kids !!!
Are you a kid? Do you have kids?
Are you looking for something FUN to do next Saturday? Well why not come to the Church Fair at the Federated Church at 118 Main Street in Ashland....
We will have a
"Bouncy House" for kids...
"Face Painting",
and the opportunity to make a "Tie Dye" T-shirt.
The Fair runs from 9am to 2pm. There will also be a Food Court with burgers and hot dogs, and a selection of sandwiches and goodies...
Bring the kids along for a fun day !
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Federated Church
Pumpkin Patch 2014
You can not have missed the piles of pumpkins spread across the front lawn of the church over the past three weeks.
We received over 1300 pumpkins in addition to many "mini" pumpkins and a wide variety of gourds. Despite several last minute delays, an army of volunteers arrived to unload the truck and set up our Pumpkin Patch.
Over the past three weeks a number of very dedicated volunteers have carried the day and staffed our sales tent, interacting with the many families who came by to buy some pumpkins. At this point we have sold more than 75 percent of our pumpkins which will mean a big return for the Navajo farm workers who supplied the pumpkins not to mention some significant financial returns for our church in addition to some great camaraderie among our members and an effective outreach to the community.
To date we have sold over $10,000 worth of Pumpkins and Gourds. Our success has depended totally on your participation !
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Leaving A Legacy
How many of us have lived our lives with an awareness of the pivotal role that our church has played in it? Whether through your attendance at Sunday worship, involvement with the many social and charitable events and activities offered by our church, bringing your children here for Sunday school, or youth group activities, your participation in the church choir, the deaconate, church council, as liturgist, the church fair or the whole host of ways that our church has enriched your life; you and your family were forever changed and supported by our church over the years.
While so many of you have been generous in your support of our church over the years, have you given thought to the opportunity you have to support our church in the years ahead, even after your passing and you have joined the Lord in the next life? As you make provisions for your final wishes, please consider leaving behind a legacy gift for our church, to assure the continuation of Christ's work here in Ashland.
Making such a gift to our church as part of your final wishes, helps to endow our church with the kind of financial security which will not only provide the ongoing means by which the church continues its mission, but also leaves behind a lasting memorial of your life and your faith.
If you choose to include the Federated Church of Ashland in your estate plans, the standard legal wording for a specific dollar bequest is:
"I give and bequeath to the Federated Church of Ashland, Inc., located at 118 Main Street, Ashland, Massachusetts, the sum of ______________________($__________) for its use and purposes."
For questions or more information, please contact Rev. Larry Iannetti, pastor.
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Our Members
November Birthdays
11/10 Angelina DeBernardo
11/08 Bryan Rivas
11/15 Arlene Ripley
11/23 Pam Dunham
11/28 John Robertson
Happy Birthday to One and All !!
If we missed your birthday it means we don't have it in our records, please call the church office and leave your information with Linda - thanks!
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This newsletter is produced by:
Federated Church of Ashland
118 Main Street, (P.O. Box 26)
Ashland, Massachusetts 01721
Church Office is staffed Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Linda Iarussi, Office Manager
Rev. Larry Iannetti, Pastor
Telephone: 508-881-1355 Office: Ext. 21 Pastor: Ext. 25
Webpage: www.federatedchurchofashland.org |
Calendar of Events
Adult Bible Study
Held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month @ 6:00 PM in the Church Parlor. Please join us anytime!
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