Post on 14-Jan-2022
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Please join us for worship, Sundays at 10am in the Fiske Chapel.
Rev. Ross Varney leads worship. Children experience a mixture of worship with
family and classroom time. Refreshments and fellowship follow after the service.
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey, you are
welcome here!
Visit our website at:
http://bellevillechurch.org
Belleville Congregational Church
An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ
MISSION OF BELLEVILLE CHURCH Centered in the inclusive love of Jesus Christ, we seek to be a welcoming,
affirming, and healing congregation. Led by the Holy Spirit, we are
inspired to grow and be renewed through our sharing of our gifts.
Strengthened by God’s love and guidance, we strive to serve with
compassion those in need, both near and far.
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CONTENTS
Calendar 3
Pastoral Ponderings 4
Turn your clocks back
Bible Exploration s 5
Sunday School Update 6-7
Service Club
Men’s Fellowship Dinner and
Women’s Coffee & Conversation 8
Roots 9
Happy Birthday 10
Adult and Youth Choir 11
Thrift Shop 12
Ushers & Scripture Readers 12
Coffee hour 13
Contacts 14
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2018 CALENDAR
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1
2 3
9-12 Thrift
Shop
4
10am Worship in
the Chapel with
Communion
11:15 Youth
choir rehearsal
Daylight Savings
Time ENDS
5
7pm CODA
6
1:30pm
Service
Club
7pm NCS
rehearsal
7
9-12 Thrift Shop
6pm Men’s
Fellowship
Dinner
6:30pm Choir
rehearsal
8
2-3 Chair yoga &
tai chi
6pm Bible
Exploration
9 10
9- 12 Thrift
Shop
9am Women’s
Coffee &
Conversation
11
10am Worship in
the Chapel
11:15 Youth
choir rehearsal
12
7pm CODA
13
7pm NCS
rehearsal
14 9-12 Thrift Shop
6:30pm Choir
rehearsal
7:30pm
Stewardship &
Finance
15
2-3 Chair yoga &
tai chi
6pm Bible
Exploration
16
17
9-12 Thrift
Shop
8pm Le Vent
du Nord
18
10am Worship in
the Chapel
11:15am Youth
choir rehearsal
19
7pm CODA
20
7pm NCS
rehearsal
21
9-12 Thrift
Shop
6:30pm Choir
rehearsal
22
23 24
9-12 Thrift
Shop
25
10am Worship in
the Chapel
11:15am Youth
choir rehearsal
26
7pm CODA
27
7pm NCS
rehearsal
28
9-12 Thrift Shop
6:30pm Choir
rehearsal
7pm Executive
Board
29
6pm Bible
Exploration
30
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Pastoral Ponderings
by Rev. Ross Varney
Jew targeted once more. Good grief! Well, not good, unless some good can come
out of it. With many tragedies, we often point to things like first responders,
and acts of kindness or compassion. We assure ourselves that good is stronger than evil.
That is the promise of the ages in many spiritual paths, but it sure seems at times like
this that the world has gotten worse! Maybe it is just that bad news travels fast? And
that the internet and information highway make it travel even faster? We want to take a
break from the news, and should allow ourselves that respite…. before taking up the
“good fight” once more.
We need to say, without question or pause, that we seek to be PEACEMAKERS. We
will not give in to hate speech (which can lead to murderous hate crimes). We will not
return evil for evil, hate speech for hate speech. Let us put an end to hate speech and
hate crimes. We will not demonize others even if we may disagree strongly. James,
disciple of Jesus, reminded us that the tongue is like a fire, full of deadly poison, and
that a forest can be set ablaze by even a small fire! Put in the positive, we will keep
speaking up for oppressed people, and nurture the seed of goodness in all people if
possible. We will keep trying to transform our world, into communities of truth,
goodness, and peace, starting with ourselves.
Many Christian communities will join in support and solidarity with our Jewish
neighbors Friday evening at 6:30 for their Sabbath worship service with the mayor and
police present.
It is a small step, but at least a promise of ongoing respect while refuting hatred and
anti-Semitism. Would be good to see you, or be with us in the spirit of prayer.
Ross
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Daylight saving time ends at 2am on Sunday, November 4th
Turn your clocks back 1 hour on Saturday, November 3rd.
Thursday evenings at 6pm in the parlor.
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Update
This year Amy Schmidt, Gail Gandolfi, Peggy Utterback, Kelly Burke-Anderson, and
Sue Heersink are team teaching in the Sunday school. The curriculum will be based on
our children's Bible which covers all the biblical stories. Projects and art will be
included. The Sunday school will continue fund raising for our Kenyan student, 11 year
old Micah Salonik who is currently in grade 3. His thank you letter and grades are on
the church bulletin board. The youth are currently creating a Go Fund Me page with
Amy and Ron Schmidt for his education. We hope more young people will join our
Sunday school. It is going to be a very good year. Sue Heersink
Week one September 16
Creation story-we reviewed it and did a crossword puzzle that went with it. I gave out
the mailboxes and they decorated them. They each got a bookmark for their Bibles. We
read the Bible story of creation from their gift Bibles. They are bringing them to Sunday
school. Attendance has been low but they are keen. The Gorman boys and William and
Lauren came in the first week. The Schmidts filmed children in the class individually
for a presentation for Go Fund Me initiative for Salonik. This must still be finished.
Week two September 23
Only the Gorman boys were there. We did the serpent in the garden and when Adam
and Eve were expelled from Eden. I asked members of the church things they were told
not to do as children and the class discussed things they were told not to do and the
consequences of their decisions in their lives-interesting and insightful. Mail boxes
contained invitations to help at the bake sale to earn money for Salonik’s schooling.
(They like the mailboxes)
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Week three September 30
Only William and Lauren were present but they were engaged. They had Reese's peanut
butter cups in their mailboxes. We read the very difficult story of Cain and Abel. I had
envelopes with the words that Cain might have felt before he killed his brother
(jealousy, hurt, envy, anger, and passion). We discussed these and what would make
people feel that way. Another envelope had words in it of how we thought Cain would
feel after he had killed his brother (shame, regret, loneliness, making excuses for
oneself) and then we discussed what he could've done to avoid the act of killing his
brother (thinking, considering the consequences,) We discussed if these elements were
part of human beings at that time. We didn't come to a conclusion. We looked at the 10
Commandments to see what God would suggest later.
Pupils who were not there for the serpent in the garden and Adam and Eve having to
leave the garden readings decided to read them at home because they were curious about
the stories. That is a good thing.
I think this program is working well. They are engaged and conversational. They can
see various elements of these Bible stories in their lives. They have differing opinions
which is great. I did not do crafts because we had so little time and we wanted to really
look at the lessons.
I think having something for their mailboxes is a nice element. And they really like
their own Bibles and are proud to have them which is lovely. Ben joined us though he
would not have had to but it was nice to have another voice. Lauren really enjoys
coming. At our closing prayer she said God bless all the Nice people of the Belleville
church. I hope God is listening.
Service Club
Tuesday, November 6th at 1:30 in the Bannister Room. Join us
as Ross debuts a few songs from his new CD.
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Men’s Fellowship Dinner
Wednesday, November 7th
Gather at 6pm, dinner at 6:30pm
Women’s Coffee and Conversation Saturday, November 10th from 9 – 10:30am, in the parlor
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Le Vent du Nord Returns to the Belleville Stage
Saturday, November 17th
at 8:00 PM
Belleville Roots Music welcomes, once again, Le Vent du Nord from Quebec. This
5 member group specializes in the French-Canadian folk that locals refer to as
Quebecqois music. The award winning and highly acclaimed band is a leading
force in Quebec’s progressive francophone folk movement.
Members of the band are Nicolas Boulerice (vocals, hurdy-gurdy), Simon Beaudry
(vocals, bouzouki, guitar), Oliver Demers (fiddle, foot-tapping, vocals, guitar,
mandolin), Rejean Brunet (bass, accordion, jaw’s harp, piano, vocals) and Andre
Brunet (fiddle).
On stage these friends create intense, joyful and dynamic live performances that
expand the bounds of tradition in striking global dimensions.
“Featuring button accordion, guitar and fiddle, the band’s sound is defined by the
hurdy-gurdy, which adds an earthy, tough-hewn flavor to even the most buoyant
dance tune.” The Boston Globe
“Exceptionally skilled, exceptionally experienced, and exceptionally entertaining.”
Sing Out
Tickets are $30 in advance/$35 day of show/$10 children 18 and under.
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November December
4 Mike Conaway 1 James Marshall 8 Annika Ellis 6 Cathy Morrow 10 Jon Williamson 10 Jennifer Allard 10 Helen Hatcher 10 Tyler Jay 6 Sue Wolfendale 11 Scott Smith 28 Jonathan Pearson 20 Jean Kirkpatrick 28 Christina Grandoni 21 Michael Allard 21 William DeGiovanni 25 Norman Hansen
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Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm
Youth choir rehearses Sunday mornings after the 10am
Worship service.
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Come by and see what’s new!
The thrift shop is
Open every Wednesday and Saturday
From 9am till noon.
The Christmas extravaganza room now
open and ready for you holiday shopping.
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USHERS
November December
4 The Dean Family – Communion 2 Mardee Beauparlant & Carol Beauparlant -
Communion
11 Kelly Burke-Anderson & Kathy Raywood 9 Joe DeGiovanni & Ben Heersink
18 Jean Kirkpatrick & Gail Gandolfi 16 Jean Kirkpatrick & Mike Conaway
25 Audrey Clarkson & Amy Schmidt 23 Gail Gandolfi & Shirley Locke
24 Christmas Eve TBA
30 Gail Gandolfi & Peggy Utterback
November December 4 Bill Silsby 2 Peggy Utterback
11 Amy Schmidt 9 Lynn Varney
18 Gail Gandolfi 16 Kelly Burke-Anderson
25 Sue Heersink 23 Gail Gandolfi
24 Christmas Eve TBA
30 Ben Heersink
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November
4 Kelly Burke-Anderson, Nancy Canali & Diana Bondar
11 Marcia Samuelson, Amy Schmidt & Dorothy Williamson
18 Audrey Clarkson, Deb Moore & Jennifer Allard
25 Kathy Raywood, Marion Spark & Ben Heersink
December
2 Peggy Utterback, Mardee Beauparlant & Carol Beauparlant
9 Sue Wolfendale, Norma Dean & Lynn Varney
16 Sue Heersink, Tracy Gorman & Tim Conway
23 Audrey Clarkson, Diane Crofts & Janet Woodman
30 No Coffee Hour
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Church Staff & Contact Information
Pastor Ross Varney 978-462-4899
Office hours: Tuesday 11 AM – 12:30
Wednesday & Thursday 10:30 AM - Noon;
or by appointment.
Church Office 978-465-7734
Valerie Gates, Office Administrator
Office hours: Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Church Email: bcchurch@worldpath.net
Website: www.bellevillechurch.org
Andrea DeGiovanni, Organist & Music
Director
James Gorman, Sexton
Newsletter Submissions
Do you have an article that you would like to include in
the monthly newsletter?
If so, please submit your article to the church office by the
20th of each month.
Thank you!
Church Officers
Moderator: Kelly Burke-Anderson
Clerk: Kathy Raywood
Treasurer: Jim Samuelson
Collector: Norma Dean
Memorial Fund Treasurer:
Auditor:
Members-at-Large (Ex. Board)
Shirley Locke & Ben Heersink
Contact Persons
Board of Fellowship & Outreach:
Martha Kelleher
Board of Worship & Education:
Gail Gandolfi
Board of Stewardship &
Finance: Hans Erwich
UCC Delegate:
Sunday School Coordinator
Flower Coordinator
Hospitality Coordinator Audrey Clarkson
Belleville Congregational Church An Open and Affirming Congregation
of the United Church of Christ
300 High Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
978-465-7734
bcchurch@worldpath.net
bellevillechurch.org