Brookfield Congregational Church Announcements
Be sure to check out the Moderator's Moment, it's new!
Be sure to check out the Pastor's Page, it's new!
NEW CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
The Church building will be closed to all meetings and services until further notice. In the meantime we will be providing pastoral 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. Planning is underway to offer services Sunday’s at 10 AM via Facebook. Look to the Church’s Facebook page for the coming Sunday’s. It may not be pretty but it will be that ray of hope we can all use.
Vacation Bible School 2020
This is the time of year Brookfield Congregational Church likes to start sending out notices in preparation of our annual Vacation Bible School. Unfortunately, due to the current pandemic and understanding it is going to take some time for us all to return to some sort of normalcy the church council has sadly been forced to cancel this year's preparation of our regular program. We so enjoy having all the children come together the last full week of July offering them an opportunity to be with their friends while perhaps making new friends and having the chance to hear God's word. We look forward to once again offering this valuable program next year 2021 at our regularly scheduled time when we will present To Mars and Beyond as our Theme.
In the meantime, please use our website www.BCC1857.org for updates on our activities as well as our current Sunday services which can also be found on our church's facebook page.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A VIRTUAL
THURSDAY PRAYER GROUP
Thursday Evening Prayer Group 7PM
On your Computer, Click here to Join Our Service
Or dial by phone 1-646-876-9923
Meeting ID – 925-1652-8189
Dear Brookfield Community Church Friend:
MUSIC—no better communication, contact with each other, with the world, with God. Listening, performing, practicing—whatever "kind" is your choice.
Music is such a magical part of our Sunday worship. It accompanies Sue and me at everyday work, and quite straightforwardly eliminates all sense of that work as a chore. Mya Angelou composed a wonderful poem, she wrote it another time and occasion, called it PEACE, timely for 2020, Ms Angelou published a work ages ago, which she entitled,"I know why the caged bird sings"—you need go no further than that, resident of earth in 2020!!
But we go further. Johannes Brahms, the musician, (probably an understatement of greatest kind!) wrote a Requiem in 1866, a requiem is music setting for the church service at time of a person's passing, death, and the "requiem" means rest as in rest in peace, beloved. Then follow parts in the church's liturgy on—Lord, have mercy, deliver from hell!, take away sins, deliver from eternal death.
Brahms Requiem starts totally different, a comfort for those who are now bereaved, have the loss—"Blessed are those who mourn, they shall be comforted" and then, a turning to God—home now, home then, home forever with the haunting "How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord". Some say Brahms wrote his piece mourning his mother's passing, and it was the memory of his mother that shaped his music; the experts say, "No, No". I wonder, and say, "Yes, Yes". Music and mother come together; and it is one of the great gifts of a mother that governs the music. That is as true to my experience as anything I know. And why this year, Mother's Day, I think not just my honor of mothers (had several! But it is NOT me as the centerpiece of mothers day) but who those mothers were in themselves and how much they brought not just to me but to everyone, everything the whole world-wide over! And I too know why this (at least this year), This "caged bird" SINGS!!
Blessed indeed are all of You, Mothers,
Pastor John
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.
FLOWERS FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP
We invite you to contribute flowers for Sunday worship. The flowers may be from a florist or in season, home gardens. Please see the Flower Chart in Fellowship Hall to sign up for a Sunday of your choice. Sundays already designated will be marked on the chart. If you wish to give flowers in memory or in honor of someone, please leave information for the worship bulletin with the office on TUESDAY BEFORE THE SUNDAY that you give flowers. Questions? Speak with Robin Dennehy.
COMING EVENTS
This Week
The Church building will be closed to all meetings and services until after May 18th, 2020.
Deacons for the Month of April
Cathy Farr
Jan Wilson
Volunteers
|
READERS |
CHILDREN’S SERMON |
GREETERS |
|---|---|---|---|
04/05 |
Child Reader |
Communion Sunday |
Jo-Ann Gorham |
04/12 |
Alan Hoffsommer |
Brian Oxman |
Michelle Bonneau |
04/19 |
Brian Oxman |
Cheri Carty |
Paul Shailer |
04/26 |
Jane Snyder |
Tammy Toquino |
Robin & Wayne Dennehy |
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
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
Sundays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at Brookfield Congregational Church.
Need Community Hours for School?
Here are some ways to get community service hours for school.
- Would you like to help cheer someone up? Spirit Lifters is looking for helpers to make gift baskets and assist with delivery.
Fusion Youth Group Update
The Fusion Youth Group band, Holy Intentions, has finished the tracks for their first song! The youth group recorded at Abraham’s Closet Recording Studio located at Greenville Baptist Church. They recorded a cover of ‘On My Own’ by Ashes Remain. The mechanical license has recently been obtained. With the license, the youth will have CD’s made to use as a fundraiser. Keep your ears open for the CD release!
Calendar
March 17th
NO Youth Group Meetings
Calender Notes
-
There will be NO meetings until after May 18th
Love People – Love God - Connect – Grow - Reach
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.
YEAR-TO-DATE INCOME REPORT: MAY 2020
ANNUAL BUDGET $150,708.00
PROJECTED MONTHLY AVERAGE $12,559.00
RECEIVED INCOME FOR MONTH OF MAY $16,509.00
Offering $7,125.00
Paycheck Protection Program 8,800.00
Other Sources 584.00
PROJECTED INCOME YEAR-TO-DATE $62,795.00
RECEIVED INCOME YEAR-TO-DATE $49,643.00
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.