The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth United Church of Christ

THE SPIRE October 2017

News from the Pastor

I have been officially serving as your pastor now for a month! Time flies when you are having fun! Seriously, though I remain ever grateful for all of the walks and talks and cups of coffee and bread broken. If you want to come in and chat, please call the office and I will gladly put you on my calendar. I love lingering and being with you all. Also, if anyone is involved in anything outside of the church walls…. perhaps you sing in a local community chorus…. or play an instrument in a local symphony…. or your child plays in the band or plays football…. I would love to be at those places as well! Please send me an email letting me know so that I can come sit on the sidelines and cheer or sit in the audience and soak in the music. I have even been known to go to a hockey rink at 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning cheering on a youth or two! I have come to walk with you…. not just on Sunday mornings but alongside you in this life! The Capital Campaign is under way. I am grateful to all who have served on the committee and to those folks who are hosting Faith Gatherings. If you have not signed up, please call the office; there are still some openings. The youth met about the youth mission trip and currently we have around 22 youth interested in going! All of the committees have been meeting and are handing in their minutes to be filed in the church library. The Guild is getting ready for the rummage sale! The children are enjoying church school and we are grateful for all who help with them and with our youth. Confirmation class will start soon as well. These are busy and full days at the church. I would urge everyone to make time to replenish your own souls. Time spent in quiet is never wasted. It can be life giving in this fall season! I would urge you as well to remember in your prayers those affected during the recent hurricanes. May we be faithful about taking the gospel out of our walls seeking to be the Light out in the world! Deep peace to each of you this day, Rev. Emily J. Kellar (Rev. EK/Pastor Emily)

Reverend Emily J. Kellar, Pastor

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Music

Thank you to everyone who helped with the festivities for Gerry Dyck! We so appreciate Gerry’s musical contributions to the Congo church! The reception was lovely! We will

have a guest organist the first two Sundays in October. Dr. Sarah McQuarrie will be our interim organist beginning on Sunday October 15th. Her husband, Dr. Ronald Sherwin will direct the choir and have a weekly rehearsal as well.

Reverend Emily J. Kellar, Pastor

Lunch with Pastor Emily

Wednesdays from 12-1pm in through October.

Bring a brown bag lunch and Pastor Emily will provide ice tea or water.

Coffee with Pastor Emily

Mondays from 9-10am through October at Sunrise Bakery come drop by and grab a cup of coffee and get to know Pastor Emily and chat. (Please note there will not be coffee drop by on October 9th due to the Holiday.)

A few reminders from Pastor Emily

Deadline for the Youth Mission Trip $50 nonrefundable deposit was October 1st. Please make the check payable to Congregational Church of South Dartmouth with your child’s name and “Nola ‘18” on the memo line. The first trip payment is not due until the end of November.

Calling all youth to help clean up after the rummage sale on Saturday October 14th at 1 p.m.! Pastor Emily will be present to help as well. Pizza after we clean up!

Confirmation meeting after church in the sanctuary on Sunday October 1st at 11:15 a.m.! If your child is in 8th or 9th grade and wants to get confirmed this year please attend! Parents and youth please come!

Thank you to the Women’s Guild

I would like to thank the Women’s Guild for all the work they did during the month of September.

The church was very busy during September and they were responsible for handling; Pastor Emily’s first Sunday, the Capital Campaign Kick-Off and Gerry Dyck’s Retirement Reception.

They put so much time and effort into the food, decorations, cake (thank you Cecelia Roberts), not to mention the set up and clean up.

All your efforts were greatly appre-ciated!

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Religious Education Ministry

Sunday School News

The Rally day kick off was so amazing! 31 children were in attendance! It was so wonderful to see so many old friends and some new friends too! RE is looking forward to a year of “New Beginnings!” We are excited to offer the crib room to our youngest friends, 0-2years old, a pre-school/kindergarten class: ages 3-5, an elementary class: ages 6-10, a middle school class: ages 11-13, and a high school class that meets twice per month: ages 14-18. Our exciting new curriculum, “Dig In, The Bible in One Year” by Group Publishing, is an on-line bible based program that will get our children excited about coming to Sunday School. Each lesson can be tailored by the teacher, to provide the most effective faith-building experiences for our children! Thank you to everyone who helped to make Rally Day a success! It was fabulous to see so many people working together!!!

Youth Group Happenings

Our Youth Group is off to a great start with 19 teens at their first meeting! Pastor Emily outlined the details of the June Youth Mission Trip. She has many years of experience with Youth Mission Trips and we are so grateful for her knowledge and expertise! Ice Cream Sundaes and fellowship concluded the evening. The Youth Group has planned to meet twice per month as requested by our enthusiastic Teens! Their focus will be on service and fellowship.

RE Happenings

The RE is excited to have Mrs. Swift join our team. She will be covering the crib room weekly! We are also working on a Safe Church review board that will review our safe church policy for the upcoming year.

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Outreach Ministry News

Do you have a favorite charity? Outreach would like to help. When you support Outreach Ministry projects, you are extending a loving hand to those in our community and those far beyond. Each fall we ask you to recommend organizations that you think would benefit from a donation from our Outreach Mission Funds. We don't have the deepest pockets, but often for smaller groups or for specific needs within an organization, we can make a difference. Recommendation forms will be in the Sunday bulletin. The Outreach Ministry will be reviewing them and granting gifts at the end of the year. Thank you for your help.

Reaching out, right now. There are lots of ways you and your family can put your faith into action this month and help our neighbors in need. Participate in One Great Hour of Sharing October 1st. Look for donation envelopes in the Sunday

bulletin. Consider volunteering at Sister Rose Soup Kitchen. Sign up sheet in the Lower Social Hall. Help fill the collection baskets for the Council on Aging Food Pantry. October is Pasta Month. Bring

dry pasta and sauces and maybe some Parmesan...all the makings for a little comfort food. Baskets located as you enter the church and the Lower Social Hall.

Need never stops. And neither does your generosity. Outreach is ever thankful for the generous gifts that our church family gives so willingly. You opened your hearts to the hurricane victims filling the Hurricane Relief envelopes with generous donations. "You walked the Walk" with over 20 church friends and family to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, raising at last count over $1300. This generosity of spirit is awesome. And like the loaves and fishes, we don't know how it happens, but it just keeps multiplying.

Thank you. Outreach Ministry

Upcoming Outreach:

Turkeys - Nov. 12 and 19

Holiday Hope - Nov. 12 and 19

Mitten Tree - Dec 3, 10, 17

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Howard & Susan Means

(30 years) October 10, 1987

Albert & Hazel Bosworth (63 years)

October 16, 1954

Jerry & Anne Whitney (57 years)

October 22, 1960

Pastoral Concerns

Please don’t forget to call or email the church office with information on any hospital

admissions or pastoral concerns.

Thank you for helping us stay in tune to the needs of our church family.

Deadlines for our

Communication Tools

The deadline for our monthly Spire Newsletter is the 20th of each month.

The deadline for our Weekly Contact and Sunday Bulletin is Wednesday at 9:00am.

Next Council Meeting will be:

Tuesday, October 24th at 6 pm

Please Note: Council Minutes are always

available in the library after they are approved.

Wedding Anniversaries are listed in the Spire every five years for the first 50, and then each year thereafter!

Congo Church Weekly We will be sending out a new Congo Church Weekly to keep everyone informed and up to date on all the wonderful things that are happening at our church.

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Guild Tidings

2017 Fall Rummage Sale will be held

Friday, October 13th (5 PM-8 PM) Saturday, October 14th (8 AM- 1PM)

Drop off has begun!! Please begin to gather items to donate. Below is a list of items we would love for you to donate and also a list of items we cannot accept. Please contact Linda Paradise (llparadise@comcast.net) or Cecelia Roberts (caroberts59@comcast.net) if you can help with the rummage sale, before, to help set up, during, to work as a cashier or worker, or after, to help clean up.

Please do not drop the above items at Church as they add additional expense for us to dispose of. If you have car seats or cribs to donate please contact PAACA at 508-997-9051. They can accept these items and distrib-ute them to those in need. Computer monitors and old televisions can also be brought to Best Buy in Dart-mouth and donated at no cost to you.

Upcoming Dates

Christmas Sale - Saturday, November 18th

Rummage Sale Wish List: Clothing Shoes Toys Household items Furniture Linens Bicycles Books Glassware Finer Items for Heritage Room (jewelry, etc.)

Items we Cannot Accept: Skis Ski boots Bindings Cribs Car seats TV’s Computers Monitors Printers Fish tanks

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Fellowship Calendar Begins with November 5th Nature Walk

Celebrating 200 Years: Faith, Foundation, Future

Faith Gatherings Bring Us Together

Just over 80 people have signed up for Faith Gatherings, with four gatherings already held and four scheduled for October. There are still openings for the two gatherings on October 15, so email or call the office if you’d like to be added. It’s an opportunity to get to know Pastor Kellar in a small-group setting, share your reflections and hopes, and also get an introduction to the 200th Anniversary of our church building. Sunday, October 15, 4:00-5:30pm – Home of Gale Litchfield Sunday, October 15, 7:00-8:30pm – Home of Linda & Matt Mello To sign up: congochurchrobin@comcast.net; 508-993-6676 A special thank-you to the hosts who have opened their homes for these gatherings: Tenney & Ray Lantz, Lara & Jeff Stone, Grace & David Wyss, Terry & Peter Cryan, Sally & Mike Lemelin, Linda & Dave Neilson, Gale Litchfield, and Linda & Matt Mello.

200th Anniversary Celebration October 15! Sunday, October 15, is the 200th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of our beloved church building. Immediately following the Sunday service, we’ll celebrate with music, banners, ringing of the steeple bell…and birthday cake, of course. October 15 also marks the beginning of a two-year capital campaign to raise funds for much-needed repairs and upkeep; information and brochures will be available at the celebration.

Reserve Sunday afternoon, November 5, for a Fellowship nature walk (location to be announced). It’s a great opportunity for walkers of all ages – especially families and kids – to enjoy an easy walk, with the reward of cocoa and cookies at the end. Sign up will be available in October.

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September Flowers Given By:

September 3rd In celebration of the start of our joyous

journey with Pastor Emily from the Search Committee.

September 10th Celebrating Rally Day

and to begin together again!

September 17th Cecelia and Steve Roberts

God’s blessings for all creation. Honoring the present and celebrating

the future.

September 24th In grateful recognition of Gerald Dyck for his wonderful contributions to our music program. We wish him health

and happiness always.

Congregational Church of South Dartmouth Youth Group Schedule 2017-2018

Fun, Fellowship and Faith Sunday, Oct. 15 Youth Group Choice 7pm-8:30 Sunday, Oct. 29 Volunteer at Boo at the Zoo? 7pm-8:30 Or Haunted Hay-ride at YMCA? Halloween Service options??? Sunday, Nov. 12 Gratitude Bonfire at The Stones 7pm-8:30 53 School Street, Dartmouth Saturday, Nov. 18 United Way Thanksgiving Basket 2pm-4pm Repacking Volunteer Day for Homeless 2pm-4:30pm Wrapping Families (Location TBD) Sunday, November 19 NOLA Thanksgiving Bake Sale 11am-12pm (each person going on the youth mission trip bakes/brings 1 pie) Saturday, December 2 Gifts to Give Volunteering or Sunday, December 3 Sunday, December 17 Cookie Decorating & Delivery 3pm-5pm Saturday, January 6 Movie Night/Youth Group Sleep-In 6pm-until 9:00am Sunday, January 28 Youth Group Choice? 7pm-8:30pm Saturday February 3 NOLA Mission Trip Chili 9am-1pm cooking day/corn bread baking Sunday February 4th NOLA Mission Trip Super Bowl 11am-12pm Sunday Chili Fundraiser Tuesday February 13th NOLA Mission Trip Shrove 5pm-7pm Tuesday Pancake Dinner

Bolded dates represent the Youth Mission Trip fundrais-ers. Unshaded dates represent youth group events. Youth group is open to 8th-12th grades. The youth mission trip is open to 9-12th grades. 8th graders are more than welcome to help with the youth mission trip fundraisers! Dates subject to change.

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 10am Worship Family Worship Confirmation Meeting 11am World Communion Sunday

2 Coffee w/Pastor Emily 9am Sunrise

3

4 Lunch Noon w/Pastor Emily Lower Social Hall

5

6 7

8 10am Worship Family Worship Neighbors in Need Collection

9 Columbus Day Office Closed

10 RE Meeting 7pm

11 Lunch Noon w/Pastor Emily Lower Social Hall Worship Mtg 6 pm

12 Finance Mtg 6pm

13 Rummage Sale 5-8 pm

14 Rummage Sale 8-1 Youth Clean Up/Pizza

15 10am Worship Family Worship

200th Anniversary Celebration Youth Group Meeting

16 Coffee w/Pastor Emily 9am Sunrise Outreach Mtg 7 pm

17

18 Lunch Noon w/Pastor Emily Lower Social Hall

19

20 Deadline for Spire

21

22 10am Worship Family Worship Youth Group 7 pm

23 Coffee w/Pastor Emily 9am Sunrise

24 Council Meeting 6pm

25 Lunch Noon w/Pastor Emily Lower Social Hall

26

27 CCNS Halloween Parade

28

29 10am Worship Family Worship

30 Coffee w/Pastor Emily 9am Sunrise CCNS Halloween Parade

31 CCNS Halloween Parade

October is Pasta Month (Collection bas-kets in narthex and side en-trance.)

Calendar

Subject to

Change

October 2017

The Congregational Church of

South Dartmouth

The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth United Church of Christ 17 Middle St., PO Box 80608 South Dartmouth, MA 02748-0608 http://congochurchsd.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Reverend Emily J. Kellar, Pastor CCSDPastor@comcast.net

Robin Lake, Office Administrator Robin@congochurchsd.org

Church Telephone: 508-993-6676

The Spire Newsletter is available in paper form.

If you would like a copy mailed to your home please let us know at 508/993-6676 or at congochurch@comcast.net or leave a note in the church office. Also, if you would like to be

on our email list, please email the office and let us know.

Join us for Worship

and Sunday School

at 10 am

200th

Anniversary Celebration

Sunday, October 15th