October Crossroads

Deacons Corner

The deacons would like to send out care packages to people serving in the military. We would like to mail them in early November, so that they will arrive around Thanksgiving. If you have an address for someone who would like a package, please give it to one of the deacons by October 16.

Stewardship

One Sunday last summer, Elder Brian Davis led the Word for Children. He showed the children several sets of pictures. In each set there was a picture of people worshiping – singing, praying, etc. – and a picture of people doing something to help someone in need. Brian told the children both of these things were important, but asked which was the more important. They all knew the answer – helping others.

That morning, there were more children than usual in the class which followed. At activity time, the leader did not have enough sheets of stickers for everyone. She told the children those who received the sheets of stickers would have to donate 3 items so everyone would be able to do the activity. The donations were mostly small flowers and other things the children did not care about.

This is fairly typical behavior for young children. Unfortunately, many of us have not outgrown the “me and mine” attitude. Our own pleasure comes first. God and neighbor get the leftovers. This is a challenge to consider giving a tithe (10%) of our time, talents, and money up front and trusting God to help us meet our own needs.

Beth Denier

Arts and Crafts Fair

There will be an Arts and Craft Fair at our church, October 23. We are in the process of getting crafters who would like to display and sell their art. We need people to help set up and take down tables and set up for Sunday school. Most everything in Fellowship Hall will have to be moved out. Set-up will take place on Friday afternoon and early evening.

This fund raiser is being coordinated by Jane McIninch and Judy Brunner. The proceeds will go to the general fund, 10% will go into our mission fund.

See either Jane McIninch or Judy Brunner if you want to help.

Missions

Recently, Hunter Farrell, Director of World Mission for our denomination, wrote about the ministry of Cobbie Palm, a mission worker in the Philippines since 1989. Cobbie, the son of missionaries, grew up in the Philippines. Some of us know his parents, Jim and Louise Palm, from their work at Stony Point Center.

Cobbie and his colleagues at Silliman University‘s Divinity School prepare students for ministry in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. That church has had 20 pastors and other church workers killed since 2003. Many others have been abducted, tortured, and jailed because they have dared to speak out against injustice and corruption. Despite these threats, Cobbie and his colleagues continue to spread the gospel and work for peace and justice.

Our mission support makes ministries like this possible in more than 50 countries. Supported in part by a grant from the Presbytery of Boston, the Rev. Barton Kelso and his wife, Priscilla, will be spending the next six months in the Philippines teaching at Silliman University. Please keep them and other mission workers in your prayers.

46th Annual Choir Festival

The Choir Festival will be October 24, 2010 at
4:00 p.m., at Gordon College in Wenham. Rehearsals are 1:30 p.m. the day of the service and one other time in the week before. Singers should let me know as soon as possible so that music can be ordered.