Spire
July/August 2014
Barre Congregational Church, UCC
Welcoming & Serving the Quabbin Area
Phone—978-355-4041
Email—[email protected] website —www.barrechurch.com
̴ Pastor’s Pondering ̴
Let's Pray
Matt Fitzgerald, Matt Fitzgerald is the Senior Pastor of St. Pauls United Church of Christ,
Chicago, IL.
"Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?" - Psalm 139:7
Last Wednesday I took our two youngest kids out for dinner. We rode our bikes to a place
halfway between the Hancock building and our home. I looked across the table at my kids
who were all red cheeks and sweaty heads. And I felt overcome with gratitude.
At home we thank God before dinner. We join hands around the table and pray. Nothing
elaborate, but it happens religiously.
But not in restaurants. I don't pray in restaurants. I've never thought "Why not?" Maybe I
don't want anyone to feel awkward. Maybe I think religion is a private matter. Maybe I
don't want to feel awkward myself. Maybe I believe God is only alive inside the church and
at my dinner table? Maybe I have a problem.
None of these thoughts entered my mind on Wednesday night. I just felt grateful and full of
love. So I said, "let's pray" and I closed my eyes and bowed my head and immediately regretted it.
The world's skepticism came roaring into my mind as I started mumbling a prayer. I felt
embarrassed. And I heard "Dad!" I know, I know, you're mortified. I mumbled faster. A second voice, "Dad!" I opened my eyes and looked up. And here is what I saw: my two youngest children, holding hands, each with an arm stretched across the table waiting for my return grip.
Inside this Issue
These two little Christians, happily living out a truth they
learned in church: God is alive and good and everywhere.
Even inside the empire, even halfway downtown on a
Wednesday night.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for following us everywhere, even out
to dinner. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pastor Deborah is away on vacation so we thought this
might be a nice article for you to reflect on . Pastor Deborah
hopes you have a restful and relaxing summer. The next
Spire will be published at the end of August.
Pondering
1
Prayer Concerns/ Parish
News
2
Church Committee, food 3
Pantry, Collectors Report,
Community Supper
July calendar & lection-
5-6
August Calendar, Lectionary
7-8
1
Just a Reminder
Church Committee News
The 27 windows in the church have been replaced, the If you have not passed in your raffle tickets it
committee is proceeding with plans to refurbish the is not too late.
upstairs ladies parlor with a generous donation given to Drawing date
the church by the Jim & Lorraine Peddle. The church committee would like to take this opportunity to Sunday August 17, 2014
thank all of you who donated to the windows.
If you have any questions please call Sylvia &
The ceiling in the Ladies Parlor had been damaged by George, 978-355-2805
a hurricane two years ago. One wall has two large cracks and needs to be plastered.
Community Friendship Supper
We have received two donations toward completing Thursday, July 17, 2014 this project but we would like contributions to pur-­
&
chase paint, brushes, etc. and curtains.
Thursday, August 17, 2014
Please consider a donation toward restoring this room 5:30 pm
to create an inviting, bright place where our youth can meet. If you would like to make a donation please see or call Shirley Lewis, 978-355-9019. Checks can be Collector’s Monthly Report
made out to the Barre Congregational Church . Please give the check to Shirley Lewis.
Loose Offering
489.26
Thank you,
Missions
379.00
Jack Lathrop, chair, Shirley Lewis, Steve Morrall, & Bob Swindell
Barre Food Pantry
On June the 11th, we began with 100 premade bags of groceries and wound up making 26 more in the course of the morning to
meet the need. A total of 110 households
were served including 5 new client families.
For the July distribution the Food Pantry
could use the following: Tuna, peanut butter, green beans, pasta sauce, beef stew,
any kinds of soup, and canned pasta with
sauce.
Thank you to Goya Corporation through the
Quail Hollow Country Club in Oakham for
their donations it is with their help we are
able to fill our shelves.
The next distribution will be Wednesday, July 9th. Your help is always welcome on the
Tuesday before the distribution. Set up
starts at 9:00 a.m. and again at 6:00 p.m.
Next Spire
The next Spire will be sent out the last
week of August. Committee Chair personplease make sure your info is in the office
so that we can communicate to everyone
the Fall Happenings.
Current pledges
7,513.00
Church Rentals
140..00
Steeple
40.00
AA
100.00
Coffee Hour
50.00 Lenten Offering
19.50
Water Bottle Dimes
66.80
Total for May $,8,607.56
June Attendance for Worship
Children’s Sunday
1
65 Adults 23 Children
88
————————–————–—
8
32 Adults
2 Children
34
——————————————
15
42 Adults
15 Children 57 ____________________________
22
46 Adults
5 Children 51
____________________________
29
31 Adults
31
3
Sun
8
9-1 Wendy off
9:00 Food Pantry set-up
2:30-6:00 Music Les-­
sons
6:00 Food Pantry set-up
1
9-1 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6:00 Music Les-­
sons
Tue
21
29
6:30 Bylaw Com-­
mittee 27
9:30 Service
30
9-1 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6:00 Music Les-­
sons
22
9-1 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6:00 Music Les-­
sons
14
15
6:30 Bylaw Com-­ 9-1 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6:00 Music Les-­
mittee sons
Mon
20
9:30 Service 11:00 Birthday Celebration for 100 year olds
13
9:30 Service
6
7
9:30 Service /
Service on the front lawn
4
31
9-1 Wendy’s hours
23
9-1 Wendy’s hours
16
9-1 Wendy’s hours
9
9-1 Wendy’s hours
10-12 Food Pantry
2
9-1 Wendy’s hours
7:00 Church Commit-­
tee
Wed
July 2014
24
9-2 Wendy’s hours
7:00 AA
Fri
11
Fourth of July
4
25
17
18
9-2 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6 Music Lessons
5:30 Community Friendship Din-­
ner 7:00 AA
10
9-2 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6 Music Lessons
7:00 AA
3
9-2 Wendy off
2:30-6 Music Lessons
7:00 AA
Thu
26
7:00 AA
19
7:00 AA
12
7:00 AA
5
7:00 AA
Sat
Deacon of the month Sue Morrall
5
31
9:30 Service
26
9-1 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6:00 Music Les-­
sons
7:00 Choir rehearsal
24
9:30 Service
25
19
9-1 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6:00 Music Les-­
sons
17
18
9:30 Service 10:30 Raffle Ticket Drawing
11
6:30 Bylaw Committee 12
9-1 Wendy’s hours
9:00 Food Pantry set-up
2:30-6:00 Music Les-­
sons
6:00 Food Pantry set-up
Tue
10
9:30 Service
Mon
5
9-1 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6:00 Music Les-­
sons
Sun
3
4
9:30 Service /
Service on the front lawn
6
27
9-1 Wendy’s hours
20
9-1 Wendy’s hours
13
9-1 Wendy’s hours
10-12 Food Pantry
6
9-1 Wendy’s hours
Wed
15
8
1
28
9-2 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6 Music Lessons
7:00 AA
29
Fri
30
23
7:00 AA
16
7:00 AA
9
7:00 AA
2
7:00 AA
Deacon of the month
21
22
9-2 Wendy’s hours
5:30 Community Friendship Din-­
ner 7:00 AA
14
9-2 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6 Music Lessons
7:00 AA
7
9-12 Wendy’s hours
2:30-6 Music Lessons
7:00 AA
Thu
August 2014
Sat
7
Barre Congregational Church
P.O. Box 936
Barre, MA 01005
The world needs the distinct values, vision and voice of the United
Church of Christ– Continuing
Testament. Extravagant Welcome. Changing Lives.
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