20/20 Challenge

A challenge to return the Church to a new normal.

The Council agreed to introduce a fundraising program called the 20/20 Challenge.  In the year that has passed with COVID the Church’s operating income was just over $100,000.  With many activities canceled the Church made it work.  In years before COVID the Church averaged just over $120,000.  The best year totaled nearly $125,000.  If the Church is to return to a fuller service of offerings, we need to challenge ourselves to make up the difference.  Hence the idea of the 20/20 Challenge.  Would or could 20 who have not traditionally given, give $20 a week for the remainder of the year.  While we know many are being challenged in this time, if others can assist, we can look to Easter and beyond to strive to fulfill God’s plan for the Church.

You can go on line to donate bcc1857.org, or mail you offering to the office or drop your offering in the plate after the service beginning on Easter.  Many hands make light work.

News…News…News…THE APPLE COUNTRY FAIR IS ON!!!...News…News…News 

 

      We are so excited to think we have something special to look forward to this fall.  May it be a day of sunshine with everyone coming out to partake in a beloved yearly event.  Our church is planning on holding our annual tag sale on that day, and to be ready, we need to begin collecting items now.  

     If you might have items at home that are no longer being used and they are in good working order, or gently used clothing, we would appreciate all donations.  Our cut-off date for donations is September 30th.  Items may be dropped off at church Sunday mornings 11:30 to 12:30, Mondays 9:30 to noon.   

 Items we are looking for:

 Jewelry 

 Small pieces of furniture only – nothing big 

 Glassware, dishes, silverware, clean with no visible chips, kitchen items/utensils 

 Curtains, bedding, blankets and towels – clean with no stains 

 Linens – clean with no holes or stains 

 Shoes and boots – gently used 

 Children’s books, toys, games, puzzles  

 Clothing – clean and gently used / shoes & boots gently   used/pocketbooks/men's items

 Electronics in good working order with all needed pieces 

 Pictures of all kinds / home decor/ mirrors

 Holiday decorations 

If you have any questions concerning your donations or seek other times available to deliver items to the church, please call

Patti Coltey at 774-479-2763 or Jane Snyder at 508-637-1378 

WE ARE ALSO IN NEED OF:
8…10X10 tents to help shade our tables
Plastic shopping bags for people’s purchases
Newspaper/packing material

Open to ALL Youth Grades 6th to 12th
Youth Leader: Jim Joyce Jr.         Asst Youth Leader: Tammy Taquino
Fusion.yg.bcc@gmail.com      (508) 867-6262

Be the “change” you want to see in the world

One of the many things I’ve thought about while sitting at home is that as we have been unable to gather in our beloved church, Gertrude, our hungry goose has not been fed either.   

     I quote an article I found and believe it still holds true today, props do work.  Whether it be a plastic goose, a shopping cart or a plastic bank shaped as a Church.  The children, and some of us adults, loved feeding Gertrude during coffee hour.  Kudos to the person who started with this prop.

     From article of 2012 in the South New England Conference United Church of Christ

     “Paul Shailer, a deacon at the Brookfield Congregational Church, believes the goose -- which is put out at coffee hour -- is very visible and stands out.  "Gertrude the Goose" (as she has been named by the Sunday School children) has become the church's ambassador for mission donations.

      "Kids love to put money in its bill and watch it swallow the change," explained GwenYaskoski, a trustee and treasurer at the church.  "The prop really gets the children involved and they have become very curious as to not only where the money goes after it's eaten by the goose, but who is being helped by the donations." 

      Whether it's a faux fowl or a real shopping cart, unique props can be helpful to mission and fundraising programs”

     We have a post of our focused Missions for each month.  If your heart is being called to support any of these focused Missions, please submit your donation to the church at P O Box 457, Brookfield, MA  01506.  In the memo line, please note:  feed Gertrude - Focused Mission (and the month). 

     Our Lenten giving mission, which was to benefit Dismas as well as Abbey’s house, was impacted by the outbreak of Covid19 and as we will be unable to plan a Suicide Awareness and Prevention vigil in May, as hoped, I would request that we allocate any funds raised during May to donate to Dismas and Abbey’s Feel free to visit their websites for ways you can help…at: http://www.dismasisfamily.org/donate/”  and https://abbyshouse.org/donate/

I’ll sign off with the following….perhaps til we can be together and you can feed Gertrude directly, a fun little prop to make with the kids...a “feed” bag with scraps of material to stick your loose change into...

                                                                                    In His light and love,

                                                                                    Tammy, aka “T”, Mission Chair

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY DONATIONS

Patti Coltey would like to call anyone who can knit or crochet to join this important mission.  There is nothing like being wrapped in a shawl made with love – care – blessing when you need some comfort!

CHURCH SCRAPBOOK

Calling All People

We are looking for pictures for the Church Scrapbook.  We only have ten pages for the 2019 book.  If you have snapshots of any of our church activities such as:  Fusion Youth Group (let’s get our teens in this book), Boy Scouts, spaghetti suppers, pie baking  for Apple Country Fair, tag sale pictures, nursery and Sunday School pictures please contact Jane Snyder.  We do have pictures of VBS.
Thank you, Patti Coltey