The Evangel The Congregational Church of Westborough, United Church of Christ

Westborough Massachusetts

1724-2014

"Open Doors - Growing Faith!"

Volume 34, Issue 7 Aug 27, 2014

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

All of our Sunday services are at 10 AM, and there is

nursery care and Sunday School for kids up through

the 8th

grade. The kids are in church for the first 10

minutes or so, and then they go to their special session.

Everyone is invited to join us for coffee hour after the

service downstairs in the vestry (or fellowship hall)!

SUNDAY, SEPT 7TH

WELCOME HERE! COMMUNION SUNDAY

We will begin our new church year in a special way

today, and Sunday School will begin for the year!

Pastor Paul will be preaching. Don’t miss our

“Welcome Here!” picnic after church on the side

lawn! There will also be tours of the Kirkside building

by “Right at Home” during the picnic, so we can see

the beautiful work they have done!

SATURDAY, SEPT 13TH

5PM Please join us for our second annual prayer walk, at

5 PM in front of the church! We will walk through our

community, praying for teachers and community

leaders, and for the power of the Holy Spirit in our

church and lives. Hope you can join us!

SUNDAY, SEPT 14TH

Pastor Paul will be preaching today about “Hope

in…finding Truth”, based on John 14:5-6.

SUNDAY, SEPT 21ST

Rev. Elaine S. Gaetani will be preaching today.

SUNDAY, SEPT 28TH

Pastor Paul will be preaching today about

“Hope…for Creation”, based on

Philippians 4:10-13

PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND

NEIGHBORS TO JOIN US HERE FOR WORSHIP!

PASTOR’S COLUMN

Summer is drawing to a close, which is sad, but it makes

me very happy to think about our new church year! We have

many exciting things going on, starting with our “Welcome

Here!” Sunday on Sunday, Sept. 7th! Wendy Reardon, our

children’s ministry director, has an exciting year planned for

the kids and youth, and it all begins that day! Our special

service at 10 AM will be followed by an all-church picnic on

the church lawn, with games and activities for the kids, and

good food for everyone. I hope you can come, and please

bring a friend too!

I will be preaching about “Hope” this fall. In our crazy

world, we can sometimes lose hope, both in our own lives,

and in our families and in society, so we will be talking

together about how we can find more hope as we face life’s

challenges. We’ll be talking about finding hope through

financial difficulty, divorce, parenting, facing bad news, and

dealing with illness. I think you will find much that will apply

to your life! See you in September!

Faithfully yours,

Pastor Paul

NEW PERSON GET TOGETHER

If you are new in our church, having come sometime in the last

six months, please join us for a new person get together after church

on Sunday, Sept. 27th. It will be a great chance to meet some other

new people, and learn a bit more about the church. It will be in the

parlor downstairs-hope to see you there!

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PRAYERS & CELEBRATIONS

Bereavement: The Cavanaugh family upon the passing of Neil’s brother Brian. New Prayers: Carol Moore; Lisa Newark Larson; Continued Prayers: Jean Hall; Charlie Flood; Norris & June Lukey; David Samson; Scott Penniman (co-worker of Jack Barry; Nancy Dazy (Bonnie’s Rossi’s sister); Rev. Richard Jones; Carol-Ann Uhlman; Mary Gilson; Sue Menzel’s brother, Thom; Al Vigil; Sara Gannon; Pat Ainsleigh’s son, Michael; Helena Engberg; Jamie Goodall; Jean Newton; George & Nancy Reimann’s grandsons (Brody, Brennan, Landon & Jason); Kathy Todd’s friend Julia; Richard Hopkins; Steven Gray; Jeremy Inman; the Marriott family; Marty Newark. Whitney Suites: Kay Wentzell. Beaumont: Rhoda Lehmann (Cecilia Temple’s mother); Richard Clapp; Shirley Hero; Gerry Green Jordan. Beaumont, Northboro: Catherine “Pete” Bryan. Kindred Health Care: Bea Ladner. Oakdale Rehab: Marjorie Paulson. You can place prayer concerns on the church’s email distribution list at eprayers@uccwestboro.org. To add or renew an ongoing concern, please call the church office 366-2000 or westboroucc@verizon.net.

Regular Office Hours Resume Sept. 2nd

.

Monday & Friday 9am – 1pm

Tuesday, Wednesday , Thursday 9am – 2pm

UNBINDING THE GOSPEL GROUP

Have you ever wished your faith was more alive? That you could explain it better to others and to yourself? Well, please plan on joining Pastor Paul as we take a look together at the popular book “Unbinding the Gospel”. This book seeks to help us live out our faith in new and powerful ways, and to understand how better to communicate what we believe. It is a perfect group for those who have already taken Alpha, or anyone who wants to grow in your faith! We will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 30th at 7 PM, and go for 8 weeks. We hope you join us!

KIRKSIDE TOURS

After the service on Sunday, September 7, Gail Hansen and Shelby Marshall, owners of Right at Home and the folks who purchased and refurbished Kirkside, will offer tours to church members and friends as part of the Welcome Here festivities. This is a good chance to see all the wonderful work they have done and their careful and respectful treatment of this building which meant so much to us over the years.

MEN’S BREAKFAST SAT. SAT SEPT 20

TH AT OUR

CHURCH AT 8AM !

All men and boys of the

church 12 and up are invited

to our men’s breakfast on

Saturday, Sept. 2oth at

8 AM here at our church,

and men from several other churches will be

joining us. There will be great food and

Doug Uhlman will be our speaker, so please

join us!

MISSIONS

ATLANTIC CITY MISSION TRIP

We heard the call to serve and so we went… On Sunday, May 17th, thirteen hardy volunteers from across the state headed to Atlantic City, New Jersey to help rebuild homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy in October, 2012. Sonia Massie, the Volunteer Coordinator for the Atlantic City Long Term Recovery Group (ACLTRG), welcomed us upon arrival. After breakfast on Monday morning, we met the site supervisor and his crew. He told us about the devastation from the storm and how many families still needed help. He took us to the home of Freddie and Diana Restrepo where we would work for the week. Freddie and Diana’s home was flooded during the Superstorm by several feet of water. Mold

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quickly spread and made the house uninhabitable. Not long after the storm, their six month old baby died of a genetic disease. They were turned down by three organizations when they requested help. Freddie told us that he and his wife cried all the time as they missed their baby and their future seemed hopeless. They were still paying the mortgage on a home they could not live in. Then Diana had a dream. She dreamed that they would have another baby, it would be a boy, and she would name him Alejandro. Early in 2014, Freddie met the folks at ACLTRG and they offered to help him rebuild his home. At the beginning of April, Diana gave birth to a little boy and named him Alejandro. When we arrived, the house had been gutted and some work had been done. We got right to work and framed a small room to enlarge the kitchen (this brought tears to Diana’s eyes), finished insulating the walls, completed dry wall on the first floor and most of the second floor, replaced several windows, applied tape and mud to the walls, sanded and even did some plumbing. Freddie worked with us on Tuesday and he was so full of joy. He and his wife could not believe the amount of work we completed in four days. Our talented crew consisted of Kathryn Converse, Doug and Annie Wales, Al Mosher, Bart Temple, Lynn Caldwell, Rev. Paul Thomas, Gary Fix, Terry Wise, Jane McDuff, MaryLou Ryce, Patricia Doyle, and myself. Thanks to the good stewards in our church who generously contribute to One Great Hour of Sharing, families like Freddie, Diana and Alejandro have hope for their future and have witnessed God’s love first hand. We are blessed to be a part of such a caring church. Pam Faustine

THRIFT SHOP OPENS ITS DOORS

“Twice as Nice” Thrift Shop is opening its doors on Thursday afternoons during the Farmers Market! – which runs through mid-October. We are located in the garage of 7 Church Street and will be selling items for the home, including dishes, glassware, lamps, pictures, small appliances and decorative accessories...come check it out!! All money raised will go directly towards our Church's Missions. If you have any items you would like to donate please call Karen Hutchinson at 508-870-1782. Thank you!

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

WE’RE SET TO LAUNCH…

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!!!

OUR NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS ON….

SEPTEMBER 7TH!!!

DON’T MISS A MINUTE!

Registration will take place at the picnic following worship! Forms will be available or you can print them out from our website and bring them with you.

We will be having our first Mission Project this fall… Please bring in “back-to-school” supplies to donate to local children and youth in need. We will be collecting supplies, as

well as backpacks, during the month of September. Join us in helping ALL students to start their year off right, with everything they need! Thank you!

YOUTH GROUPS

We’re getting ready for another great year of youth group! We want you to join us!!! Youth group is open to all youth

grades 6-12th. Our 1st meeting is September 14th, 1-3pm.

RIDE FOR A REASON

LET’S GO FOR A BIKE RIDE!!! SATURDAY, SEPT 27 @9AM

Our Junior and Senior YOUTH GROUPS will be riding in the 5th Annual benefit bike ride to support the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) of Greater Worcester. We invite people of ALL AGES to join us! Let’s “team-up” to help the homeless families in our community! If you can’t ride…you can sponsor us! www.mktix.com/ihngw/ride. We will have a sign-up sheet Sept 7th @ picnic.

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CE Board 2014-2016 Ted Jaworski (chair) Brenda Lord Mary Lynn Hackett Kristi Allen Lisa Ruberti Elizabeth Lombre Erin Dimick

PRAYER WALK – SEPT 13TH

PLEASE JOIN US FOR:

PRAYER WALK:

STARTING THE YEAR OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT!

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” - Romans 10:15 WALKING – STROLLING WITH CHRIST WHEN: Saturday September 13th @ 5:00pm WHERE: Meet on Front Steps of Church Come and join with us for our second annual prayer walk/stroll. Wheelchairs, walkers, dogs and little one's especially invited! We will pray, sing, walk to the HIGH SCHOOL and back, seeking God's Blessings upon our church, schools, students, places of worship, town and world. Come and take a stroll with Christ! Questions: Speak with Rev. Elaine 508-366-2000

MUSIC COMMITTEE

NEW MUSIC PERSONNEL AND CHOIR SCHEDULES FOR THE FALL

As most of you know, the church said goodbye to Curtis Richardson on August 17. He will be attending Morgan State University, first

finishing his Bachelor’s in Piano Performance, and then undertaking a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting. He will be studying in Baltimore for at least 3 years and during that time will accompany the college chorus as they tour.

Our church has hired Sue Menzel as our interim choir conductor as well as an interim accompanist, Jennifer Bastien, from Marlborough. Jennifer has substituted this summer as organist at the First Church of Marlborough and is a long-time piano teacher. She also teaches guitar and violin. The choir will sing beginning September 7. Current plans are to have a Sunday morning run-through of that morning’s anthem. In addition, Sue would like to have Thursday rehearsals as usual. She plans to do anthems we have done in the past and would welcome anyone who is interested in singing in the choir. We especially need Altos! Once a month, JoySpring will sing instead of the choir. Sue will continue to direct the bell choirs and children’s choirs. Those groups will resume in October. She will have more information in the coming weeks.

As we begin this new music chapter of the church, we ask for your support, and if possible, your participation. A search committee for both positions will begin work in the next week or two. It may take some time, because music is an important part of worship and we need to find the right people for the jobs. At this point, no decision has been made as to whether there will be separate director and organist positions. The search committee will explore all candidates and make a recommendation based on the best fit for the music program and the congregation.

Until September, I will play piano for the services, accompanying both “Thee Six” on Aug. 24, and Tom Erwin on clarinet on Aug. 31. More current information will be available in the bulletins.

Kathy Barry, Music Committee chair

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SANCTUARY WINDOW PROJECT

We are grateful for the donations that continue to come in for our Sanctuary Window project. Our goal was set at $16,500 and so far to date we have received $13,420.00. If you would like to make a donation you may place a check in an envelope in the weekly offering or mail it or drop it

off in the church office. Please make your check payable to the Congregational Church of Westborough and enter Sanctuary Windows on the memo line and on the envelope. If your contribution is in memory of someone, or if you would like your contribution to be anonymous, please include that information on a note with your check.

Sincerely, Sally Petersen, John Truesdell, Doug Wales

STOP & SHOP and ROCHE BROS. GROCERY CARD SALES

2014 Goal: $11,000 YTD Sales: $ 6,264.41

Sunday: On sale after worship Office: On sale during office hours Farmer's Market: Each Thursday from 12:00 - 6:00 Home Delivery: Just contact us anytime and we'll bring them to you! Thanks! Contact us: Karen Hutchinson at 508.870.1782 or millarhutch@aol.com, Sally Petersen at 508.366.5169 or sbpetersen4@gmail.com, and Nancy Quimby at 774.249.4431 or nquimby11@gmail.com.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Erin & Jesse Dimick 5 Elm Street Westborough, MA 01581

WORDS OF APPRECIATION

Dear Westborough Family, I want to take the time to thank each of you for the part you have played in my life and ministry over the past ten years. Last Sunday’s service was a major highlight in my life, and it is an experience that I will remember all my life. I was overwhelmed at the outpouring of love I felt during the service, so much so I felt God smiling through you in your words, singing and prayers. I am blessed to be able to touch people’s lives using a talent given to me by our God, even when I’m not aware of the effect it has on those around me. I’m grateful for the support of the pastoral staff, the music committee, and each of you who have encouraged me and helped me to grow into the musician I am. This church was more than a place of employment for me; it was my second home, and will always remain a part of me. I wish each of you God's richest blessings. With Warm Regards, Curtis Richardson

KEEP US POSTED PLEASE

Please keep in mind that as your

email addresses, phone numbers

or other vital communication

information changes, we need to

update our records in the office. Please email

Bonnie at brossi6@verizon.net

AROUND THE CHURCH

CHURCH WEBSITE

If you have church related information you would like posted on the church website, send it in a .pdf file or in a Word document to webmaster@uccwestboro.org. If you are interested in helping work on the website or have questions, call Doug Wales at 870-0086 or Lisa at the church office 366-2000.

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VIDEOS OF CHURCH SERVICES

Videos of our church services can be seen daily on Westborough public access TV: Verizon channel 24 and Charter channel 11. Times are 7:00AM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 8:30AM on Saturday and Sunday; and 9:00PM on Wednesday. In addition, any of these services can be viewed any time over the Internet "on demand" on www.westboroughtv.org: click on "WTV Shows" on the home page and then the "Congregational Church of Westborough" icon; or use "Show Search" to find programs with "Congregational" in the title.

*CHANCEL FLOWERS If you would like to grace our Chancel with flowers on a Sunday morning, please sign the flower chart in the Vestry. Flowers are given in memory of, in honor of, or for a special occasion. Please call Chris Mosher 366-2250 or Julie Labbe 366-1975 with questions.

*HOSPITALITY If you would like to be added to this committee, please contact Betty Gray, 366-1039.

*AUDIO VISUAL REQUESTS Please let Tom & Donna Morgan 366-0358 know at least one week in advance if you have AV requests of church services or events.

*HOSTING COFFEE HOUR If you would like to host, please sign-up in the Vestry or call Linda Borglund 870-5784.

*SUNDAY BULLETIN DEADLINE Submissions for Sunday’s bulletins must be received by 10 AM the preceding Wednesday.

*THE EVANGEL DEADLINE The next issue of the Evangel will be published on Sept. 24. The deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Copy received before deadline is appreciated!

(AVPCC)

The Pastoral Counseling Center at 7 Church Street in Westborough is again offering support groups in the following areas: divorce support,

caregivers support, grief and loss support and women's spirituality. All groups are small, begin when filled and have availability for daytime or evening. If you have questions or an interest in one of these groups, please call Mary Taber at the center at 508-366-4000.

COOPERATIVE METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES (CCM)

We are sharing this from CCM…. Dear Friends, We stand at the beginning of a new program year, thankful for a successful Interfaith Youth Institute but aware of all that impels us to the justice and peace ministries of Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries in Greater Boston. Whether we think of Ferguson, St. Louis or the multiple conflicts in what we refer to as the Middle East, the following prayer suggested by CMM Board member Maxine Lyons might well be our own.

God of Life:

You who heal the broken hearted, binding up our wounds. Please hear this prayer of mothers. You did not create us to kill each other Nor to live in fear or rage or hatred in your world, You create us so that will allow each other to sustain Your name in this world; Your name is life, your name is peace. For these I weep, my eye sheds water: For our children crying in the night, For parents holding infants, despair and darkness in their hearts. For a gate that is closing - who will rise to open it before the day is gone? With my tears and with my constant prayers, With the tears of all women deeply pained at these harsh times I raise my hands to you in supplication: Please God have mercy on us. Hear our voice that we not despair. That we will witness life with each other, That we have mercy one for another, That we share sorrow one with the other, That we hope, together, one for another, Inscribe our lives in the book of life. For your sake, our God of Life, Let us choose Life. For you are peace, Your world is Peace and all that is yours is Peace, May this be your will, and let us say, Amen. - The "Mother Prayer," written jointly by Sheikha Ibtisam Mahameed of East Jerusalem, and by Rabbi Tamar Elad-Applebaum of West Jerusalem, July 2014.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Pastor Paul Sangree, Senior Pastor phsangree@verizon.net

Rev Elaine S. Gaetani, Associate Pastor revelaineg@aol.com

Sue Menzel, Handbell Director, Interim Music Director

westcongmusic@yahoo.com

Wendy Reardon, Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry wendysreardon@yahoo.com

Pedro Silva, Pastoral Associate psilva@ants.edu

Serena Leiser, Seminarian sleiser1@verizon.net

Mike Jaworski, Seminarian send2mjsinbox@gmail.com

Doug Uhlman, Dir. of Men’s Ministry uhly222@aol.com

Rev. Matt Carriker, Mission Pastor

for New Church Start – mcarrike@hotmail.com

Office Administrators

Lisa Coffey WestboroUCC@Verizon.net

Bonnie Rossi

brossi6@verizon.net Church Office Phone 508/366-2000

General Church email

WestboroUCC@Verizon.net

Church web site www.UCCwestboro.org

www.facebook.com/TheCongregationalChurchofWestborough

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Work camp stories from Guilderland, NY from the week of July 7, 2014. 1st Installment

What an experience! On Sunday morning, July 6th, I set off with 32 of our senior high youth and 6 other adults for an amazing week at Workcamp! We arrived in Guiderland, NY, at the high school where we stayed, where we promptly set up our air mattresses on the floor, ate our first meal, and got introduced to our leaders at Group, the organization that planned everything for this week involving 400 teenagers. Every night they planned out a program that was both fun and spiritually fulfilling-I really enjoyed it! Each member of our group joined youth from other churches for a work experience during the week. My group was given a home to paint from top to bottom, and on our first day, we had the chance to meet our resident, Helen. She joined us in our devotions every day, and also was a real encouragement to us throughout the week. I did at times get pretty tired during the week, as we had a full day of work, and then a full program of activities back at the school until night, but every time I would feel a little run down, I would have a great conversation with one of our youth that would pick me back up again! The highlight of the week for me came on Friday night, when all the residents that we had helped during the week were invited to a celebration at the school! It was very meaningful for me to see many of our youth welcoming their residents, who often had such challenges to deal with in their lives, and to see them ministering in their lives. I was very proud of them, and we as a church should be as well! Thank you to everyone at our church that makes this experience possible! Paul Sangree The week before we left was when it hit me that we were actually going to work camp again. I couldn't believe that it had already been a year since we went to Harborcreek. Last year was my first time going to work camp, and when we left I was a nervous wreck. But this year was different. I was so excited to go back that the thought of being nervous had never even occurred to me. I couldn't wait to get all of my supplies and bags packed away in the vans so we could get on the road ASAP that Sunday morning. The rest of the "party bus" and I were cheering as we left the church parking lot, excited for what was to come. And through the many car jam sessions and the Dunkin Donuts stop that delayed our arrival by an hour, I knew that it was going to be an amazing week. But on that first Sunday I did not know to the extent to which it all would impact me. The theme of this year's work camp was "REPAIR: stories of transformation". And I would be lying to say that I did not experience transformation in many ways that week. It all started on Sunday night when I met my crew. Much to my surprise I discovered that there was only one other person who had been on a work camp before. So in a crew of six people, our adult leader and three of the youth had never gone through this kind of experience. I was very worried. And I was even more concerned when we looked at our project for the week which included lots of interior painting in addition to a deck demolition and repair. Last year I was on a double crew and we had to paint the exterior of a house, so I was very scared that we were not going to finish our task this year. My nerves were not calmed when we first arrived to our work site on Monday. The supplies that were supposed to be delivered to our site prior to our arrival were not there when we showed up. So we basically wasted half of a day with nothing to do but tape and move furniture. On top of that, our resident was not home. A friend of hers had notified us that she was in the hospital with a family member. We hoped that everything was okay but did not know what was going on. Our arrival sparked the attention of many of our resident's neighbors. Many watched us work from their porches and asked us questions as they walked by. The two neighbors that were most interested in our work were Nigeria and Niyema, ages 3 and 8. The two girls were playing in their yard while we worked and came over to us while we were doing lunch devotions that first day. They were very shy at first, but after accepting our gift of a few bags of Doritos and chocolate chip cookies, they became our best friends. They "helped" us paint the different rooms and kept us thoroughly entertained. Whether it be playing games with us or singing Frozen (over and over and over again), they always kept us focused on what really mattered at work camp. My favorite memory of them

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happened while we were fixing the stairs to the porch. We had spent the morning scraping off the old paint and then repainting it with a fresh coat. While the stairs were drying, a couple people from my crew and I had gone inside to paint the upstairs bedroom. Once we had finished that coat we went back outside only to find that the girls had taken a sharpie to the steps! We were panicked at first but as we approached them we saw that they had drawn a cross and hearts underneath the bottom step. They had written "repair people" and all of our names (some spelled more correctly than others). It was then that we realized that we were making a difference not only in our resident's life but in the girls' lives as well. Those two girls were my biggest God-sighting from the week. While the girls were opening up more and more to us, another transformation was taking place - but this one was within the members of my crew. When we first met each other on Sunday night it was very awkward. We were all very scared that we had too much on our plates and that with hardly any work camp experience that we would be in over our heads. I was worried that because we had separate projects inside and out that our crew would become divided instead of one big coherent group. And most importantly, I also learned that first night that I was the only Red Sox fan in my entire crew - an issue that continued on throughout the week. But the transformation that took place over the course of the week was incredible. People slowly opened up and came out of their shells. As we worked we would talk about our lives, interests, goals and aspirations. We could go from having a very serious conversation to joking with each other in a split second. Every day I would come back to the school covered in paint from our paint fights and with a Jonas Brothers song stuck in my head from our jam sessions. And every day I would come back so thankful for each and every person in my crew. The transformation that happens between the six people in a crew is incredible. It amazes me that a group of strangers from all over the country can go from awkward small talk in the beginning of the week to hugging each other goodbye with tears in their eyes by the end. It sounds cliche but your crew really becomes your family. And there will always be a special place in my heart for all of my family members from the amazing Crew 2. One of the most obvious but most important transformations that took place was the change in my resident's home. When we first arrived on that Monday morning, the front porch was rotten and the paint on the beams were chipping off. Faded paint and wallpaper covered the walls of the inside of the house. It was in rough shape. We were shocked by the difference that a single coat of fresh white paint did to each of the rooms. And after the multiple coats were done, the house was unrecognizable. We painted the crown molding and ceilings a bright white and (as our resident requested) walls of the dining room a burgundy color. The front porch looked incredible with new wood, no mold, new stairs, and fresh paint. But it is very important to note that when I say that a great transformation that took place, I'm not referring to the quality of the paint job, but to the fact that our work changed our resident's life. I will never forget the look on her face when we greeted her on Friday night for the evening program. We had finished our job early on Friday, so we left our site to go help another crew finish before our resident got home. We unfortunately did not get to see her reaction when she first saw her new home, but we can only imagine what it was. The second that she saw us that Friday night she started crying. We gathered around her in the school parking lot as she tried to put together words through her tears to thank us. It was her reaction and her kind words that made everything that we went through that week worth it. Sleeping on an air mattress, eating cafeteria food, the long walks to the locker room just to shower with nine other girls - none of it mattered. The fact that we were able to come together to make that much of a difference in someone's life was the only thing that was important. Marva kept saying that we were all a blessing in her life, but she has no idea how much of a blessing she is in mine. One thing that I think a lot of people tend to forget about work camp is that while you are making changes in the community, you yourself change as a person. I definitely went through a transformation during the week. I am normally a very shy and quiet person, but during the week when I was with my crew, I was much more outgoing and open. I remember coming back to the school one day and saying to my cousin, "Julie! You'll be so proud of me! I'm not the quietest person in my crew!!" The evening programs were another time where I felt transformation. There was a lot of time for self-reflection and talking with God about your life and your faith. On some nights there were times where you could sit and reflect for whatever time you felt was right, whether it be praying under the cross, holding prayer rocks, or just sitting in the bleachers. On the infamous "Cry Night" (as all of us youth call it) I was sitting and reflecting for a long time. After a while, LB came over to me and talked with me about what I was

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feeling. Going through any kind of transformation is not always easy, and I am so thankful that she was there to help me through it. I was not the only one going through a transformation that week. Our youth group as a whole grew stronger because of the experiences we shared. Whether it be from running through the rain on Wednesday night, going through devotions, or singing songs that Irene taught us, our youth group became a tight-knit family by the end of the week. The conversations that we shared, the games of Heads Up! that we played, and all of the Dunkin Donuts stops that were absolutely necessary all made us grow closer as a youth group. And I know that with work camps to come this transformation that our youth group is going through will only get better and better. Going to work camp this year was so exciting and leaving it was so heartbreaking. I'll never forget singing "Let It Go" with Niyema one last time or how I had to hold back tears as I said goodbye to Marva. I'll always remember literally running all the way back up to the room to make curfew on the last night because my crew and I lost track of time when we were spending our last minutes together, and how the "party bus" all had tears in our eyes as we pulled away from the high school because none of us wanted to leave. Work camp is an experience that is truly unique. There is no other place where you can build relationships with new people, your youth group, your friends, yourself, and with God that are this strong and that last a lifetime. Work camp this year was a week that I will never forget. And all I have left to say is that I can't wait until next year! Maggie Reynolds

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Coming soon…

The Alpha Course

Once again we will be having an Alpha Course. This is a 10 week

practical introduction to the Christian Faith.

A nyone can come. Anyone interested in finding out more about

the Christian faith is welcome.

L earning and laughter. Join others in a relaxed atmosphere.

P asta (or other great food). Each weekly session begins with

dinner.

H elping one another. Dinner is followed by large-group

presentation and small-group discussion.

A sk anything. Here’s your chance to ask your questions and

express your opinions.

WHEN: Wednesdays from 6-9pm, starting Oct 1 – Dec 3.

WHERE: The Congregational Church of Westborough,

57 W. Main St., downstairs in the Vestry.

For more information call: Rev. Elaine Gaetani or email her at

revelaineg@aol.com

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

Labor Day

7:30 AA/Cribbery

2

7 Mission Committee/Kerygma

7:30 Festival Ringers/choir loft

3

4- Journey Home Singers/Choir

Room

4 10:30 PCC/F.F.

Noon-6pm Farmer's Market

6:45 BSA/Vestry

7pm BSA/Kerygma & Classroom

7:30 Chancel Choir

5

6

Picnic set up in Vestry (if it rains

on Sunday)

7 WELCOME HERE SUNDAY

10- Worship & Picnic following

Tour of Right at Home 8 Church

11:30 Deacons/Kerygma

4:30 BSA Troop/Kerygma

5:30 GSA/Vestry

8

2:30 GSA/Vestry

6:30 Trustees/Classroom #1

7:30 AA/Cribbery

7:30 BSA Comm./Kerygma

9 7:30 Festival Ringers/choir loft

10

9-Weaver's Guild/Vestry,

Kerygma, classrooms

4- Journey Home/Choir Room

6:30 Alpha Planning/Kerygma

11

10:30 PCC/F.F.

Noon-6pm Farmer's Market

6:45 BSA/Vestry

7:30 Chancel Choir

12

13

14

10- Worship & Church School

5:30 GSA/Vestry

15

Noon/PCC Board/Kerygma

Room

7:30 AA/Cribbery

16

1:15 WILLOW'S COMMUNION

7- BSA/Kerygma/Classroom

7:30 Festival Ringers/choir loft

17

4- Journey Homes/Choir Room

7- Cabinet/Kerygma

18

10:30 PCC/F.F.

6- Rev Gaetani's PPRC/office

6:45 BSA/Vestry

7:30 Chancel Choir

19

20

8am Men's Breakfast/Vestry

21

10- Worship & Church School

2:30 Beaumont Nursing Home

Service

22

2:30 GSA/Vestry

7:30 AA/Cribbery

23 7:30 Festival Ringers/choir loft

24

4- Journey Home/Choir Room

6:30 BSA/Vestry

25

10:30 PCC/F.F.

6:45 BSA/Vestry

7:30 Chancel Choir

26

27

28

10- Worship & Church School

5:30 GSA/Vestry

29

2:30 GSA/Vestry

6:30 BSA Pack Meeting/Vestry

7:30 AA/Cribbery

30 7:30 Festival Ringers/choir loft

~ September 2014 ~

BSA & GSA – Scouts

PPRC/Pastor Parish Relations Committee

TPC/Teaching Parish Committee

F. F. – Fannie Forbes Room

PCC – Pastoral Counseling Center

PTF – Properties Task Force

FOC – Financial Oversight Committee

JHYG/SHYG – Jr and Sr High Youth

Journey Home Singers/Hospice Choir

13