Church Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Pastor’s Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Church Office Phone: 413-569-6362; Pastor’s Study: 569-5630

Website: www. southwickucc.org

Office e-mail: southwickucc@gmail.com

Facebook: Southwick Congregational Church UCC

Staff: Minister Reverend Bart Cochran

Choir Director/Organist Roberta Kowal

Bell Choir Director Patti P. Wood

Office Administrator Lyn Casey

Custodians Matthew Kowal & Maria Lempke

VOLUME MMXVIII No. 3

Buildings &

Grounds: Craig Perras cperras85@gmail.com 413-652-1615

Christian

Education: Brittany Perras mrs.perras@gmail.com 413-455-7417

Deacon Dawn Turgeon jax12360@comcast.net 413-244-3977

Finance: Patti Wood pattiperusse@yahoo.com 413-977-2524

Flowers: Roxanne Cook rbcook1014@aol.com 413-569-6364

Fundraising: Patti Wood pattiperusse@yahoo.com 413-977-2524

Library: Sonya Murray smurray83@gmail.com 413-221-0406

Memorial Gifts:

Karen Brzezinski karenbrzezinski@hotmail.com 413-569-6816

Missions: Roxanne Cook Donna Sullivan

rbcook1014@aol.com

djsullivan135@hotmail.com 413-569-6364 413-569-3356

Music: Joe Sullivan djsullivan135@hotmail.com 413-569-3356

Nominating:

Pastoral Relations:

Roxanne Cook rbcook1014@aol.com 413-569-6364

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Southwick Congregational Church

United Church of Christ 488 College Highway; P.O. Box 260

Southwick, MA 01077

of the month:

The Good Newsletter of the

Southwick Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

Southwick, MA

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Minister: The Rev. Bart Cochran

Please join us Sundays for…

Worship Service— 10:00 AM

Mid-Week Service—Thursdays 6:30 PM

Website: www. SouthwickUCC.org

March 2018

As I’ve talked about before, I see Lent as a

spiritual journey. When we begin a journey, we need to know

where we are going and how we are going to get there. The

destination of Lent – the, “where we are going” – is Easter.

Let us look at this destination for a moment.

Easter is the celebration of life – but more specifically,

the life of Jesus who died for us but who was vindicated and

raised by the Father on the 3rd day. At Easter we celebrate

his resurrection as something that happened and still

happens to us. We all received this gift of new life through our

Baptism into Christ. The gift of life radically alters our attitude

toward everything… including death itself.

The character of this new life is love… the sacrificial love

of God for us in Christ. This is the quality of love we have

received, and that we now share with one another by grace.

Truth be told, this life of love is not always our daily

experience. The fact is we lose and betray this new life given

to us as a gift in Christ. Further, we often live as if Christ

wasn’t raised, as if this unique blessing and gift of God has no

meaning for us in our daily lives.

This happens because we are too busy, we forget,

things happen to us, and so our lives become old again –

petty, dark and even ultimately meaningless. Such is our

weakness and the impossibility for us to live the faith given us

in Christ on our own. It just happens.

If we understand this about ourselves and what Easter

truly is, then we “get” Lent and the blessing this Holy Season

can be for us.

In Lent, the Church guides us by the grace of God

through Scripture and worship on a journey of rediscovery

2

From The Pastor 15

Psalm 139

“Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?”

~Psalm 139:21

My mother was diagnosed with cancer two years after

I was. I want to gnash my teeth at the dividing mutant cells.

I want to destroy these beasts that rise up to destroy her. I feel

so frustrated. I want to protect her from what I had to go

through. What do I do with these feelings?

I talk to God. God understands. I don’t believe God gave

my mother cancer, and yet I find myself asking, “Why, God?

How could you do this to us?”

In the stillness I am reminded:

Jesus got angry, he did upend the tables after all. Anger

is a normal emotion and I am sure God is fine when I express

my anger even towards Him. Hatred isn’t. Hatred itself is a

cancer. It gets into every cell and multiplies and takes on a life

of its own.

The best thing I can do for

my mother, and for anyone

who is hurting, is love her,

listen to her and let her know

that I am here for her.

~Evelyn Dean Casey

Lyn Casey will be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on April 6th at Westfield State University. She is walking for herself and her mother and all women who have had endometrial cancer or endometriosis. If you would like to support Lyn, there are many ways to do so. Cash donations and checks made out to American Cancer Society can be dropped off at the church office. Or you can go to her page http://main.acsevents.org/goto/EDC to donate online.

Thank you in advance for your support!

14

#14 Southwick Historical Corner

As you recall, last article we talked about the building of the present meeting house. On June 10

th, 1824 the church

structure was ready for raising. I can’t describe it better than the historical book I am using so please enjoy this quote:

“Early on June 11 all the workers gathered to raise the structure. For three days horse and ox strained at the winches, the frames rose, came into place, and sweating men drove home pins and tightened nuts on bolts. Evening of June 13, 1824 saw the framework of the new meeting-house against the sunset sky.”

Erastus Hunt and his apprentice, Erastus Bardwell, completed the pillars that gave “grace and dignity to the portico”. Interestingly – in 1950 the steps and columns were replaced and a box of papers was found with notes from the builders. One of the notes went as follows: “This house erected for a place of worship to the one only living and true God. Was contracted for in the winter of 1823 and 1824….It cost about five thousand dollars…. They commenced the 2 day of May 1824. It was raised on the 11

th 12

th 13

th days of June following. No

accident happened of any consequence.” The box of papers also had a list of workmen, pew makers, and masons.

In November 1824, the Southwick Congregational Church meetinghouse was ready for its dedication service.

I found this picture from 1892 of our church (http://lostnewengland.com/category/massachusetts/southwick-massachusetts/)

~Martha Johnson

3

Don’t forget, you can read the weekly sermon on our website:

www.southwickucc.org on the page: “From the Pastor”

and recovery of what God made us through our own

baptismal death and resurrection.

As we journey through this time, we are prepared finally

to hear the words of Jesus:

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you,

you also should love one another. ~John 13:34

The Holy Season of Lent carefully prepares us to hear

those words and in the grace that God

provides us to joyfully receive them as the

core of our lives in Christ. The aim? That we

might love one another as Christ loves us.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Bart

Southwick Congregational Church

is a faithful Christian presence in the

community of Southwick since 1773, and

we look to the future. We are a diverse and

loving congregation, joyfully serving, teaching,

and sharing with one another, according to the gifts

we have been given.

Mission Statement

Join me for Bible Study on Sunday

Evenings at 7 PM or Tuesdays at

11 AM through March 20, 2018

4

Ministry and Outreach

Lenten Bible Study begins Sundays 7 PM

Lenten Bible Study Tuesdays 11AM

All Church Meeting on Sunday

Easter

All Church Meeting on Sunday

Historical Society’s Dinner planned

Sundays 18 ~

Tuesdays 20 ~

March 11 ~

April 1 ~

April 8 ~

April 26 ~

Call for Pastoral Care:

If a member of our church community knows of any-one who is ill, hospitalized, grieving, or

moving to a senior living facility, please be sure to advise the church office. We want to respond with caring support. Call the church office at 413-569-6362 or

email at southwickucc@gmail.com

Worship Schedule

Sunday Worship service at 10:00 AM Thursdays Midweek Service with communion at 6:30 PM

Ecumenical Service at The American Inn on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM

Office Hours

The Church office is open Monday thru Thursday from 9:00 AM~1:00 PM & Friday from 9:00 AM~12:30 PM Pastor Bart’s Study is open Tuesday thru Friday from

10:00 AM~2:00 PM

All Church Committee Refreshment Schedule March—Music Committee

April — Finance Committee

May— Mission Outreach

June, July, August—Open

September— Board of Deacons

October—Building and Grounds

November—Christian Education

December—Bell & Voice Choirs

January—Open

13

Deacons – Diane Orson, Eric Nitsch

Buildings & Grounds – Mike Pitoniak, Keith Ireland

Christian Ed – Brittany Perras, Kirsten Allhusen, Meredith Crosler, Emily Pitoniak as a Junior Member

Mission Outreach – Pamela Rovelli

Music – Jennifer Cotto

Finance – Joe Rovelli, Melanie Nitsch

Church Librarian – Sonya Murray

A motion was made, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands to accept all new names to the committees.

New Business

Roxanne Cook representing the Missions Outreach Committee no-ticed a slight maladjustment in Missions figures ($24?) and she will dis-cuss this with the church treasurer.

Melanie Nitsch and Roberta Kowal discussed that a new remote control to program the organ may soon be found and may have to be purchased.

Special thank you’s were offered to Lyn Casey as our office admin-istrator for all her hard work throughout the year and for advertising the annual handbell concert on WJMJ radio station in Connecticut which helped lead to a full house for the concert.

Fundraising for the upcoming year will include the Southwick Histori-cal Society Dinner the last Thursday in April. New fundraising ideas to be investigated include a chocolate sale, and a mattress sale with lots of discussion about fundraisers.

Roxanne Cook wanted to make everyone aware of the first annual fundraiser for “PinkWay” on May 12, 2018, to be held at the American Legion.

Eric Nitsch asked members to take the time to investigate the web-site for the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) with the hopes that there will be future discussion on this asso-ciation versus the United Church of Christ.

Brief discussion on the future process regarding Pastor’s Bart de-parture. The new Executive Committee forming in March will be tasked to start the process to hire an Interim Pastor. The Pastoral Relations Committee will conduct an Exit Interview with Pastor Bart.

Pastor Bart mentioned his many wonderful memories of this church as his first church and offered prayers for all of our members.

Moderator David Breton closed the 245th Annual Meeting of the Southwick Congregational Church at 12:40 p.m. All in attendance joined hands for the singing of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.”

Respectfully submitted, Melanie Nitsch, Clerk

12

245th

Annual Meeting Minutes

February 18, 2018

The meeting was called to order by Moderator David Breton at 11:35 a.m. An opening prayer of guidance was led by Pastor Bart.

A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to dispense with the reading of the Call to the Annual Meeting.

A count was taken around the room with 32 voting members attending – a quorum is 15.

The Moderator entertained a motion from the floor to accept last year’s Annual Report from the 244th Annual Meeting which was seconded and passed unanimously with one correction to remove Eric Nitsch’s name from the Buildings & Grounds Committee list as he was not a member of that committee during the 2017 year.

Treasurer’s Report – Ted Orson, Treasurer, was unable to attend the Annual Meeting. Julie Chase, as his stand-in, was availa-ble for questions. A motion was made, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands to accept the Treasurer’s Report.

Review of Proposed 2018 Budget

Revenue – A motion was made to accept this section, second-ed, and passed by a majority show of hands.

Expenses – A request was made to table discussion of line items 13 – 23 at this time due to the fact that these figures will be changing since Pastor Bart will be leaving his ministry at Southwick Congregational Church as of 4/1/18.

Office & Administration – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.

Music - A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.

Christian Ed – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.

Maintenance – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.

Utilities & Insurance – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.

Other – A motion was made to accept this section, seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.

A motion was made to accept the proposed 2018 budget which was seconded, and passed by a majority show of hands.

Nominating Committee Report – Chairman Patti Wood brought forth the following additions to committees:

5 Committees for 2018

Moderator David Breton 2015

Treasurer Theodore Orson 2013

Assistant Treasurer Julie Chase 2013

Board of Deacons Patty Banasik 2016

Eric Nitsch 2018

Diane Orson 2018

Flo Pitoniak 2016

Dawn Turgeon 2012 Lee Zinnack 2017

Buildings & Grounds Bob Franzen 2017

Keith Ireland 2018

Craig Perras 2016

Mike Pitoniak 2018

Christian Education Kirsten Allhusen 2018 Meredith Crosler 2018

Kristy Johnston 2017

Ann Ottalagana 2017

Brittany Perras 2018

Emily Pitoniak 2018

Finance Committee Julianna Chase 2012

Melanie Nitsch 2018

Joe Rovelli 2018

Patti Wood 2018

Mission Outreach Roxanne Cook 2016

Pamela Rovelli 2018 Donna Sullivan 2017

Music Committee Lynn Coach 2015

Jennifer Cotto 2018

Diane Jennett 2016

Joyce Paggen 2013

Joe Sullivan 2017

Memorial Gifts Karen Brzezinski 2011

Board of Ushers Charlie Rood, III 2011

Flowers Roxanne Cook 2016

UCC Delegates Open

Julianna Chase 2011

Auditor David Howes 2011

Historian Karen Brzezinski 2013

Church Librarian Sonya Murray 2018

Pastoral Relations Roxanne Cook 2011

Dennis Day 2015

Diane Orson 2015

Nominating Committee Open

6

2018 Church Directory: there are new church directories available in the Narthex or in the Church office. PLEASE, look for your name and then email (or call) the church office with corrections and updates: southwickucc@gmail.com

Annual Report: A copy of the annual Report is available in the narthex or in the Church office.

The Office will be closed Monday March 5th and Friday March 30th. Please plan accordingly.

Please notify the Church Office if: You have a change of address Your phone number has changed Your email address has changed

You know someone else’s contact information has changed

You need to add an event to the calendar

You have an idea and you don’t know whom to tell

You would like to make a change to the Prayer List

You would like to reserve flowers for the altar

You would like to be added or taken off the Gold Dome

mailing list

You are going away for a few weeks and stopping your mail

You have an article for the Gold Dome

From the Office

Looking for something to do on a Sunday Afternoon?

On March 11, at 3:00 PM At Second Congregational Church in Westfield (487 Western Avenue — Across from Stanley Park)

Come hear the Greater Westfield Choral Association

perform Mendelssohn — excerpts from Elijah,

Thompson — Alleluia, Parker & Shaw — He’s Gone Away and more.

(Lyn Casey, your office admin, is one of the Altos ) $10 General Admission $8 Students / Seniors

A Spring Concert

11

Stewardship Journey

Stewardship – 2017 Recap

Each of us committed to grow spiritually and provide financial support as best we are able when we joined Southwick UCC. The good news is 2017 Stewardship receipts of $86,800 exceeded pledges by about $7,500. Fundraisers, rental income and other sources brought the year’s total income to $115,300. On the other side of the ledger, 2017 expenses amount-ed to $136,300. A breakdown of 2017 income and expenses is shown on the chart below. Seventy-three percent of our operating budget derives from Stewardship offerings while half of our expenses support the pastor.

The good news is that seventy-three pledges totaling $91,700 have been received for 2018 with the average pledge being $1,250 or $24 per week. Committee budgets are unchanged for 2018 but the uncertainty of Pastoral Expenses leaves the year-end budget projection uncertain.

~ Virgil

Lost & Found

Lost: Men’s XL Black winter jacket and boy’s small red puffy vest. Items were misplaced on Sunday, February 18, 2018. Please call the church office if you have information.

10

From The Mailbox

Looking Ahead

All Church Meeting on Sunday 11:00 AM

Easter

All Church Meeting on Sunday 11:00 AM

Historical Society’s Dinner planned

March 11 ~

April 1 ~

April 8 ~

April 26 ~

“Dear Lyn and all,

We’re kind of keeping you company today with a grey and overcast forecast. May I complain? No. I didn’t think so!

My friend B is here and worked a morning with me at church preparing for their garage sale. Yes - today we walked Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and enjoyed the birds and alligators. The best sighting was a female anhinga (a large, mostly black water bird) on her nest with three rowdy chicks ~ very near the boardwalk.

Wishing you all “happy sightings,”

Much Love,

Janey”

Thank you

2/3/18

THANK YOU to ALL for such a successful Souper Sunday!!! Thanks to my kitchen crew~ Robin Sklarski, Andrea Warrinar &

Donna Sullivan Thanks to Jim Putnam for the very yummy bread! Thanks to all who made & donated Soup,,,there are many of you

that dropped off soup that weren't on my "list"....Please let me know who you are and the name of the soup you left us.......

Lastly, Thanks to all of you that purchased soup!! Its ALL gone ! Total Profit was $856.00 !! ( $300 more than last year) ~Patti Wood

7

March

Lynn Coach March 7

Florence Warriner March 19

If we’ve missed a birthday, please let the church office know!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Lenten Bible Study Sundays 7 PM

Lenten Bible Study Tuesdays 11AM

All Church 11:00 AM

Committee Round Table Discussion 11:15 AM

Maundy Thursday 8:00 PM

Sundays ~

Tuesdays ~

March 11 ~

March 18 ~

March 29 ~

Committee Round Table Discussion Sunday, March 18

Thank you to those of you who agreed to serve on committees this coming year. As I am now on the Finance Committee, there is again no "Nominating" Committee.

It is getting harder & harder every year to fill these positions.....as a result.

I am hosting a Round Table Discussion about different governing models that other churches use. What other options might we think about?

This will be an informal chat to further some discussions that popped up at the Annual Meeting.

Join me on March 18th after coffee hour in Old Fellowship Hall. .....be ready to share POSITIVE thoughts, how the church you

grew up in was run, etc. See you then!!! ~Patti Wood

Sun Mon Tue Wed

4

Communion

Service 10 AM

Coffee Hour

Bible Study 7 PM

5

Office open 9-1

Music Together 10 A

Adult Guitar 7:30 P

6

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Bible Study 11 AM

Bell Choir 6:30

Boy Scouts 6:30

7

Office Open 9

Bart’s Hours 10

Cub Scouts 6:30

Voice Choir 7:00

11 12

Office open 9-1

Music Together 10 A

Adult Guitar 7:30 P

13

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Bible Study 11 AM

Bell Choir 6:30

Boy Scouts 6:30

14

Office Open 9

Bart’s Hours 10

Cub Scouts 6:30

Voice Choir 7:00

18

Worship Service

w Baptism 10 AM

Coffee Hour 11:00 Round Table Discussion

OA Anniversary3:30

Bible Study 7 PM

19

Office open 9-1

Music Together 10 A

Adult Guitar 7:30 P

20

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Bible Study 11 AM

Bell Choir 6:30

American Inn 6:30

Boy Scouts 6:30

21 Spring Begins

Office Open 9

Bart’s Hours 10

Cub Scouts 6:30

Voice Choir 7:00

25

Worship

Service 10 AM

Youth Group 10:15

Coffee Hour

OA 3:30 PM

26

Office open 9-1

Music Together 10 A

Adult Guitar 7:30 P

27

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Bell Choir 6:30

Boy Scouts 6:30

28

Office Open 9

Bart’s Hours 10

Cub Scouts 6:30

Voice Choir 7:00

Daylight Savings

Worship Service

Youth Group 10:15

Coffee Hour 11:00

All-Church 11:15

OA 3:30 PM

Bible Study 7 PM

Don’t forget the

All– Church Meeting on the 11th

Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Midweek Service

6:30

2

Office Open 9-12:30

Henrietta’s Open

Bart’s Hour 10-2

OA Meeting 6:00

AA Meeting 7:30

3

Henrietta’s Open

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Cub Scouts 6:30

Voice Choir 7:00

8

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Midweek Service

6:30

9

Office Open 9-12:30

Henrietta’s Open

Bart’s Hour 10-2

OA Meeting 6:00

AA Meeting 7:30

10

Henrietta’s Open

Boy Scouts

Spaghetti Dinner

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Cub Scouts 6:30

Voice Choir 7:00

15

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Midweek Service

6:30

16 Gold Dome

Articles Due

Office Open 9-12:30

Henrietta’s Open

Bart’s Hour 10-2

OA Meeting 6:00

17

Henrietta’s Open

Spring Begins

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Cub Scouts 6:30

Voice Choir 7:00

22

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Midweek Service

6:30

23

Office Open 9-12:30

Henrietta’s Open

Bart’s Hour 10-2

Girls Scouts Sock Hop

OA Meeting 6:00

AA Meeting 7:30

24

Henrietta’s Open

Police Association

Spaghetti Dinner

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Cub Scouts 6:30

Voice Choir 7:00

29

Office Open 9-1

Bart’s Hours 10-2

Maundy Thursday

Service 8:00 PM

30

Office Closed

Henrietta’s Open

Bart’s Hour 10-2

OA Meeting 6:00

AA Meeting 7:30

31

Henrietta’s Open