Brookfield Congregational Church Announcements
Be sure to check out the Moderator's Moment, it's new!
Sep 19 Service Announcement
I am recommending that we have an on line service for Sunday and the in person service be canceled. We will look to record portions Saturday for the 19th. Because we can not openly identify those we know reporting Covid symptoms and those in close contact I offer the following communication to the congregation:
In person service at the Brookfield Congregational Church is canceled for September 19.
An attendee at the September 12 service has reported testing positive for Covid. Based on the information the Church has in all likelihood at least one individual came into close contact (within 6 feet for greater than 15 minutes). Out of an abundance of caution the Church recommends individuals consider being tested.
The Council will meet Wednesday September 22 to determine next steps.
If you have questions please contact me.
Clarence (Punk) Snyder
M 518-669-2509
NEW CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
The Church building is open to in person services, 10 AM Sunday’s. On line services recording are available, soon after. For use of the Church hall contact the Church Office. We are providing pastoral. This support that can be reached either by calling the church at (508)867-6262, or via email or the Church’s Facebook page. Pastor John may by reached at home (508) 222-2535 or Cell phone (774) 414-4452 ANYTIME. We will look to return calls as best we can.
A Moderator’s Thought
September 2021
As I reflected on the Moderator Moment for the September Newsletter, I had a thought.
Near monthly, I relate opportunities in areas our Church has traditionally supported where a gift of time or funding or both would be helpful. For some I might sound more like a broken record.
As I read the draft of the Moderator Moment for September, I remembered a time when a miracle happened. I’d like to share it with you to see if there might be the opportunity for another unexpected occurrence.
Fortunately, during my professional career, I was allowed time to volunteer in the communities where I lived or worked. I was successful with the help of many to find the support in people’s time or financial support. I chaired building committees to construct new schools, improved technical education resources, built new playgrounds and served in the role of scout leader for 101 cub scouts. Of all of these opportunities one stands out, the fundraising to allow for an addition to a library. In organizing the fundraising initiative, I called a meeting. That meeting included the director of the library who had served in the role for many years. After the meeting she came to me privately and was very forthright (and you might say strongly) suggested that she should not be seen as a “fundraiser”.
While I agreed, I interestingly asked that she consider speaking to her neighbors on how important she thought the expansion of the library meant to her. Remarkedly one of her neighbors was the machinist who manufactured the parts of the original Polaroid camera. He was paid in stock. As the fundraising continued state funding was found. Many contributed, but the “neighbor” funded the balance of the project and the centerpiece educational space of the library was named in the machinist’s honor because of his significant contribution. The power of a single conversation can hold incredible results. Both the library director and the machinist have long passed…yet both will be remembered for their gifts of time and support in the library’s growth.
Please consider what you might share with your neighbor about the work of our Church. Please consider the power of the gift of your time. Is there another miracle out there we don’t know about yet? God does work in mysterious ways.
Faithfully,
Clarence Snyder
P 508-637-1377
Choir Members Wanted!
Interested in being a member of the Choir?
Those interested in rejoining or becoming a choir member please join us at 9AM prior to Sunday service.
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.
SEEKING A CHURCH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
DO YOU LOVE TO WORK WITH CHILDREN?
ARE YOU ORGANIZED?
ARE YOU ABLE TO VOLUNTEER?
ARE YOU INTERESTED? CLICK HERE!
Just a reminder that we are still in need of Teachers and Teacher's Assistants along with Assistants for Nursery. Please Pray on this and let Jane know when you are called to commit.
ANNUAL TAG SALE, OCTOBER 9TH
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED !!
Our annual tag sale will be held on the long side of the church facing Fellowship Hall. Although we have put a request out for clean/gently used items for the tag sale, our team is looking for volunteers to help with the set up as well as work the tables during the fair. Any hour you might have available would be of great help to us. The Fair usually runs 10 to 4pm although we are usually done a bit before 4pm. If the weather allows, we hope to set everything up Friday evening (October 8th) which entails 12 tables in a row to accommodate the items that would usually be spread out in the sanctuary. We need folks to help unpack the boxes of items that go on the specific tables. The boxes and the tables will be marked with the matching number so everyone will know what they have to work with. If we are unable to unpack the items Friday night, we will have to do the unpacking Saturday morning and that means we really have to hustle and your help will be vital!
If you are able to offer assistance in any way please speak with Patti Coltey, Jane Snyder,
Cathy Farr, Gae Warman-Gold, Cheri Carty or Julie Buchannan.
PIE BAKING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED !!
A sign-up chart will be available in Fellowship Hall for volunteers to make pies for the Apple Country Fair held on October 9, 2021. Pies will be made Wednesday, October 6th and Thursday, October 7th.
If you would like to make a cash donation for the supplies needed to make the apple pies, please see Gwen or Darlene. This will help cover some of the costs this year. Every little bit helps!
Thank you in advance, Darlene
FLOWERS FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP
We invite you to contribute flowers for our Sunday worship! Flowers may be from a florist, something in season or from home gardens!
Please let Cathy Farr (508-450-6052) know if you would like to add to the beauty of our sanctuary to be sure your date is available.
If you would like to give flowers in memory or in honor of someone and would like that information to be printed in the bulletin please let the church office know by the Wednesday before the service date.
Thank you!
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
Meeting times for the upcoming weeks
*BCC – Brookfield Congregational Church
*EBBC – East Brookfield Baptist Church
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Love People – Love God - Connect – Grow - Reach
REMINDER
When an emergency is called during a church service – everything STOPS – 911 is called and everyone EXITs quickly and quietly to a designated area. Thank you for your cooperation.
OUR CHURCH COVENANT
We, the members of the Brookfield Congregational Church following the example of Jesus, who loved and served all, promise we will:
~Do unto others as we would have them do unto us;
~Faithfully support the Church with our time and treasures;
~Seek to do the will of God to promote the life of our church community and
the community at large.
~Listen to, speak with, and interact with each person in the church with
respect, honesty and love.
~Interact with open minds and hearts, considering perspectives that may be
different from our own and,
~Showing the charity of Christ, we will love and serve the people
of the church and community in the name of our Lord
Food Pantry reminder:
BCC is one of many churches that provides support to the Brookfield Ecumenical Food Pantry. Approximately 50 families in the community are receiving services through the food pantry. If you are willing and able to help support this program, there are donation baskets in the back of the Sanctuary near the stairs to the Narthex.
Thank you for your continued support. Non-perishable food donations are accepted. The Pantry can also really use paper goods and toiletry items, as these are items they are unable to get from the food bank.
Blessings to you all!
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!
Child Care
Child care is provided under the supervision of Ellie Blodgett during each Sunday service. All children from newborn to Sunday school age are welcome. Please speak to the deacon in charge if you need assistance.
COMING EVENTS
This Week
Deacons for the Month of September
Bill Simpson
Julie Buchanan
Volunteers
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READERS |
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE |
GREETERS |
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09/05/21 |
Child Reader |
Communion Sunday |
Gae Warman-Gold |
09/12/21 |
Donna Brown |
Tammy Tarquino |
Jo-Ann Gorham |
09/19/21 |
Bill Simpson |
Punk Snyder |
Michelle Bonneau |
09/26/21 |
Cathy Farr |
Darlene Dean |
Cathy & Lee Farr |
Recently we were graced with an outstanding mural in our nursery of Noah's Ark. This artistry was completed by Jordan Nugent, a college student who currently attends Nichols College. Jordan's work is so well done and super entertaining. Viewing the ark has brought smiles of delight not only to the children in the nursery but any adult who walks past the nursery. If you would like to see more of Jordan's work you may look for her at facebook.com/nugentcreations
Church Cookbooks from Helping Hands are available.
Our Church Cookbooks make a great gift!
Available in the Fellowship Hall. Only $5.00
each. Just think of those Christmas cookies
Senior Moments.
Susan Raymond, the Outreach Coordinator for the W.B. Senior Center has notfied us that the Brookfield COA and the W.B. Senior Center have collaborated by adding 10 hrs/month of her services for Brookfield residents. Anyone over the age of 55 who would like information about SNAP benefits (food stamps), answers to questions regarding fuel assistance or needs assistance with resources, please call the W.B. Senior Center at 508-867-1407 and ask for Sue Raymond.
The Council on Aging will meet at the Brookfield Congregational Church on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, except July and August, from 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
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
YEAR-TO-DATE INCOME FOR: AUGUST 2021
KITCHEN RECYCLING
Just a reminder to abide by our recycling rules when using the church kitchen: rinse out any recyclables before putting them in the receptacles, crush/flatten items when possible, etc. Guidelines are posted in the kitchen for your reference.