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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