A P R I L 2 0 1 9

I N T H I S I S S U E

Pastor’s Message 2

Worship Schedule 3

Good Friday 4

Book Discussion Falling Upward

5

Missions 5

Music Sunday 6, 7

Baby Shower 8

Mission Stock Sales 8

Bits & Pieces 9

Vestry News

April Services Holy Week and Easter at UCCB

Palm Sunday We celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on April 7

with palms and communion by intinction. We will look at how

each of the Gospel writers tells the story, and talk about why they

are different.

Palm/Passion Sunday– Readers Theatre Play This worship service on April 14 doesn’t look like what you would expect. It is a retelling, in a read-

ers’ theatre play format that includes the elements of worship in a different order than is typical. The

story begins at the birth of Jesus and finishes with his death on the cross. It is interactive, inviting peo-

ple to speak lines, hold objects, and sing many variations on the hymn “Were you there? “ This is a

multi-generational service for elementary age children and older.

Lent and Easter services continued on page 3

Potluck Brunch Celebration After Service Sunday, April 28th

Believe it or not the end of the Sabbatical is quickly approaching and it’s time to start planning a celebra-

tion! On April 28, immediately after the Sunday Service, please join us for a potluck brunch to celebrate

the return of Rev. Cindy and her family and to thank Rev. Betsy for the phenomenal care and leadership

she has provided for the last 3 ½ months.

Much has happened at UCCB since Rev. Cindy’s departure at the start of January. We’ve been fed by

the words of Rev. Betsy, Rev. Nancy Stillman, Larry Wellington, Cindy Blanchard, Rev. TJ Harper, and

Rev. Catherine Michael. At the same time, Rev. Cindy’s journey has been full as well. Please join us as

we reconnect and learn more about how all of us have been working towards Building a Beloved

Community.

Please keep your eyes on upcoming Weekly Vestry Flash announcements for details of the event and

opportunities to help make this welcome successful.

Your Sabbatical Team,

Mary Pavlik, Wendy Abetz, Karen Hamlin,

Peter Senghas, Nancy Stillman, Nicolette Wellington

P A G E 2

Past

or’s

Mes

sage

Pastor’s Message

Lent

Lent is a time to take the time

to let the power of our faith story take hold of us.

a time to let the events

get up and walk around in us,

a time to intensify

our living unto Christ,

a time to hover over

the thoughts of our hearts,

a time to place our feet in the streets of Jerusalem

or to walk along the sea and listen to his word

a time to touch his robe

and feel the healing surge through us,

a time to ponder and a time to wonder…

Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of God.

Ann Weems

Kneeling in Jerusalem

We have many ways to let the power of the faith story take hold: Jesus Christ Superstar Movie, a break-

fast discussion about spirituality in the second half of life, connecting the Hebrew Christian scriptures

with palms on April 7, a reader’s theatre spanning Jesus’ life on Palm/Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday

meal and worship, a hands-on worship encounter on Good Friday, a virtual Easter Vigil, and then glori-

ous Easter Sunday with a Sunrise Service, breakfast, Celebration Worship with the flower cross and an

Easter egg hunt after worship. We will also welcome Rev Cindy back from Sabbatical on Easter and enter

into a new day here at UCCB.

Come

Rev. Betsy

P A G E 3

April Worship Schedule-continued

Maundy Thursday We recreate Jesus’ last night with his disciples on April 18. Just as Jesus and his friends did, we will share a meal in the upper

room (the Gathering Room) and then go out into the Garden of Gethesemane (the sanctuary). Through readings from the

Gospels, we will experience Jesus’ love for all of us and the shock of his betrayal and arrest. Please see the poster in the

Gathering room for more information and a chance to sign up to help with meal preparation or setup. We will

leave the church in silence that night, so those who bring food are asked to pick up their dishes after worship in the Vestry

(downstairs).

Thresholds of Good Friday – See more info. on page 4 This is an open house hands -n worship event on April 19 for all ages. Come anytime between 3 and

7 PM. Visit as many of the stations as you wish and stay for as long as you wish. You will experience

Jesus’ final hours on earth, and reflect on the meaning of the events which occurred on your life and

the world today. There are two paths: one for adults, and one for children or youth with adults.

Virtual Easter Vigil Prepare for Easter with a home based time of prayer and reflection on the night of

April 20-21. A buffet of materials--books, crafts, images, and other objects--to help with

your reflections will be available to take home from the Thesholds Event or contact Rev.

Betsy or Larry or Nicolette Wellington to make other arrangements. There will be also be

resources available online.

Easter Sunday - April 21 Sunrise Service 6:15 at North Cemetery (top of Middle Road)

Join us as we joyfully share the news of Jesus’ resurrection with singing, storytelling, communion, and the

sharing of daffodils. The service will be led by Rev. Cindy.

.

Breakfast in the Community Center

Following the Sunrise Service, join us for breakfast at 7:15 in the Community Center. All are invited.

9:30 Worship Service

Our 9:30 service will have joyful music and pageantry. As is our tradition, we will decorate the cross with flowers.

Following worship, children are invited to join in an Easter egg hunt outside (inside if the weather doesn’t cooperate).

April 28—Celebration! We celebrate Rev. Cindy’s return from sabbatical and Rev.

Betsy for her leadership and guidance through the months.

P A G E 4

Thresholds of Good Friday

A Worship Event at your own pace.

Friday, April 19th

Come anytime between 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Two paths: One for Adults One for Children/Youth with an Adult

Create and pick up your cross Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane Walk in the sandals of Judas Wash your hands with Pilate Wrap yourself in a Prayer Shawl with the women Touch a crown of thorns Pound nails; hear the curtain tearing Carry a Jesus doll to the tomb and wrap the body Let your roadblocks dissolve in the waters of forgiveness Create a community mural of a resurrected world

Spirituality for the Second Half of Life “In the second half of life, we start to understand that life is not only about doing;

it’s about being.”

-Richard Rohr

In his book Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, Richard Rohr talks about “the two halves of life.” In

the first half we go to school, go to work, perhaps find a life partner and raise a family, and reach a point of stability. Rohr calls

what we do in the first half of life “building a container.” The traditional view of the second half is that we enjoy the fruits of what

we have accomplished: go traveling, enjoy our grandchildren, or just take it easy. Nothing wrong with that, but many who reach

this stage are restless, thinking there must be something more than that.

Rohr calls what we do in the second half of life “filling the container.” It’s all about finding out who we really are. He suggests that

following a spiritual practice is a way to do that. Meditation, going on retreats, yoga, and similar activities are forms of spiritual

practice, but so is reaching out to help others, or working on handicraft projects or constructions.

If you’d like to engage in a discussion about spirituality in the second half of life, Rev. Betsy and Larry Wellington are hosting a gath-

ering on April 6. We will be focusing on Falling Upward, so it will be helpful to have read the book. Please see either of us if you

have questions.

Missions Teams with Community Supper During the cold winter months, UCCB has been doing its part to warm things up by providing hot food and sharing the warmth of

fellowship with our neighbors. In January, UCCB sponsored a meal at the Mt. Calvary Community Supper. Four members of the

Missions Ministry Team volunteered as servers at that meal and had the opportunity to witness first-hand the impact that this

weekly gathering has on members of our community. At our February Worship in Action service, members of the congregation

packed the Gathering Room to prepare “Soup in a Jar”. In less than an hour, 80 jars of soup were assembled and labelled, with

nary a dried bean going astray. The soups were delivered to guests at the February 27 Community Supper, and according to the

supper’s publicity director, “Everyone was thrilled to carry a jar home”.

Members of the Missions Team were impressed and humbled by the organization, tireless effort, and compassion of the Commu-

nity Supper volunteers. The supper serves not only as a means to address food insecurity, but also to help alleviate social isola-

tion. We hope to continue to offer assistance when we can to this important local organization. To learn more about the sup-

per and how you can help, visit http://mtcalvaryacton.org/communitysupper.

P A G E 5

Kristen Shade and Laura Loverud display the “Soups in a Jar”

http://mtcalvaryacton.org/communitysupper

P A G E 6

Music Sunday So much talent in one afternoon!

8 yr old Kendall sang a Disney tune. She takes

voice lessons from Todd Waddington.

David DeLise, sang and played guitar ac-

companied by his father Chris on piano. Avery—Marlee Roberts grand-

Daughter.

On the left:10-year-old Elliott sang and played guitar

Elliott has played at the coffee house.

Bottom left-hand corner: Natalie and Vanessa played

the clarinet and the horn. They also participate in our

Junior choir.

Bottom right-hand corner: Cindy Blanchard who is

also our choir director.

Continued on next page

P A G E 7

An close up of the above picture. The men are holding ice breakers

The men are singing the opening song from the movie Frozen with props.

Upper left: Brian Dupuis & Anson Sta-

ple, college students who came back to

participate in the concert. Brian is the

grandson of George and Peggy Boyden.

Above: The Ring—A –Lings

Wendy, Deb, Gloria, Marlee, and Glynis

Below: The Junior Choir

Back row: Damon, Natalie

Front row: Vanessa, Torben, and James

Not shown but who also contributed

were the Saturdays, Suzanne Boyden,

Todd Waddington, and the senior choir.

P A G E 8

Mission Trip Stock Sales Begin

We invite you to support our Senior High Youth Group Mission Trip by buying “Stock in Our

Youth”. Stock Certificates will be on sale during Fellowship on March 17, March 31, April 7,

and Easter Sunday, April 21. This year we will be traveling to Brooklyn, NY. We look forward

to helping the community by working with local organizations such as food pantries, soup kitch-

ens, elderly services and youth services. Our summer mission trips have been life-changing ex-

periences as we strive to set an example of God’s love in our world and be touched by those

we serve.

In thanks for your support, you will receive a personal Stock Certificate, a postcard during our travel, and an invitation to our

Stockholder’s reception in the fall! Our reception will feature a slide show of our trip and first-hand stories of the experience.

To purchase Stock in Our Youth, look for the table at coffee hour after church on March 17, March 31,

April 7, and Easter Sunday, April 21. You may purchase as many Stock Certificates as you wish. If you wish to do-

nate directly:

Each Stock Certificate: $25

Please provide your name, address, and email address

Send to: Jack Pearson

3 Magnolia Drive

Acton, MA 01720

Please make checks payable to "UCC Boxborough" with “Mission Trip stock” on the memo line.

Or, you may donate online at http://www.boxboroughucc.org . Click on “Giving,” then “Donate,” and then fill in amount next to

“Youth Mission Trip.” Your donation may be tax deductible subject to IRS rules and requirements.

Thank you in advance for your support of this important mission outreach experience for our youth.

On Sunday, March 31, the congregation pitched in and threw a baby

shower for Jennifer & Chris. Jennifer is Megan’s sister who moved up

from the south. There baby is due any day now. Jennifer and Chris

are very grateful for our generosity. Thank you to Laurel for organiz-

ing this. Rev. Betsy is saying a blessing.

Baby Shower

http://www.boxboroughucc.org

P A G E 9

Bits

and

Pie

ces

E very year we offer scholarships to the broad church family funded by Doris Custance and

Eleanor Voorhies for health and education fields. You can pick up an application in the vestry or

click below to download a copy. Applications are due April 14th.

http://www.boxboroughucc.org/wp-content/uploads/Eleanor-Voorhies-Memorial-Scholarship-Application-

2019.pdf

http://www.boxboroughucc.org/wp-content/uploads/Doris-Custance-Memorial-Scholarship-Application-

2019.pdf

Auburn Comfort Blankets

Please take note that the last day to contribute blankets this year for

this cause will be Sunday, April 14th. If more time is needed, please let

me know. Thank you, Evelyn Parkes

April Birthday Blessings Eric Loverud, 4/2

Spenser Worthington-Berry, 4/5

Emily Glidden, 4/6

Rod Hodgman, 4/6

Greg Turner, 4/6

Haley Grieco-Page, 4/7

Kenneth Morse, 4/7

Brenda Lyons, 4/8

Sarah Robertson, 4/8

John Deyst, 4/10

Pam Gardella, 4/11

Shirley Warren, 4/16

Ginny Harris, 4/17

Karen Whitcomb, 4/18

Nancy Warren, 4/19

Jack Harry Habersaat, 4/20

Jim Howie, 4/21

Timmy Dwight, 4/23

Linda Batstone, 4/25

Griet Dehandschutter, 4/25

Julie Schoenfeld, 4/25

Peter Senghas, 4/26

Steven Louie, 4/27

Linda Nichols, 4/27

“If your birthday doesn't appear in the appropriate edition of the Vestry News, please

inform the church office of your birth month and day. We'd love to celebrate you!"

www.boxboroughucc.org

978-263-7387

boxborochurch@verizon.net

Vestry News articles, ideas and

submissions are welcome and due the

third Sunday of each month. The Vestry

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Please submit to:

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April 2019

United Church of Christ, Congregational

723 Massachusetts Avenue

Boxborough, Massachusetts 01719

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