VOLUME LXXX, No.7
March 20, 2015
PALM SUNDAY
SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015
Worship Services—9:00 & 10:30 am
Sermon: The Rev. Dr. Ron Cousineau
The Right Man for the Wrong Job (John 12:12-19)
Calendar for Sunday, March 29, 2015
9:00 am Adult Bible Study (library)
9:00 am Chapel Worship Service
10:30 am Sanctuary Worship Service
(infant and toddler care provided)
10:45 am Church School
11:45 am Fellowship (vestry)
Memorial Flowers
The flowers will be given in loving memory of E.
Ashley and Priscilla F. T. Davidson and William F.
Connelly from their family.
Greeters: Joseph and Linda D’Agostino
Ushers: Frank Brown, Tom King, Leith Jones,
Tom Martin, Bill Watt, and Herold
Doherty (captain)
Minister’s Line Volunteer: Joan Potter
EASTER SUNDAY
SUNDAY, April 5, 2015
Holy Communion
Worship Services—9:00 & 10:30 am
Sermon: The Rev. Dr. Ron Cousineau
Calendar for Sunday, April 5, 2015
10:30 am Sanctuary Worship Service
(infant and toddler care provided)
11:45 am Fellowship (vestry)
Memorial Flowers
The flowers will be given in memory of Jane and
Joseph A. Bernabeo by their loving family.
Greeter: Mary Ann and Bruce Londino
Ushers: Joseph D’Agostino, Barbara Flynn, Dante
and Anderson Illanes, Kevin King, Stephen Gates,
Linda Sabatula, Dominic Mercurio (captain)
Minister’s Line Volunteer: Alwyn Van Cor
Communion Servers: Sharon, Jen, Mary Ann,
Peter, Rod and Bruce
The Sanctuary Choir would love to welcome a few more of you to join them for our Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter services; rehearsals will be held on March 25 and April 1 at 7:30 in the Choir Room. Please note that you don’t have to read music (although of course that helps!), and that joining them for these services does not obligate you to continuing, although of course we’d be happy for you to consider that. For any questions, see Don Hodgkins; otherwise, just join us for those two rehearsals. See you then!
May you keep them May you keep them May you keep them May you keep them in your prayers in your prayers in your prayers in your prayers and in your hearts.and in your hearts.and in your hearts.and in your hearts.
The Elliott Family
Roy Evans
Gina Gebhard
Warren Reeves
John Oliphant
Russ Bonanno
Bud Thomas
Nancy Gould is now at the Wakefield Genesis
Center, 1 Barthol Street, Wakefield.
Nancy is in Room #109. The telephone number in
her room is 781-557-2472. She sure would love to
hear from you.
We would like to thank our church family for
all the support, cards, flowers and meals we
received from you as we dealt with the loss of
our son-in-law Eric Johnston. Your kind
words made it possible for us to get through
this.
Joe and Linda D’Agostino, Jillian Johnston
WOOD-TUPPER SCHOLARSHIP FORMS
AVAILABLE
Application forms will be available in the church
office early next week for the Wood-Tupper
Scholarship. Please call or stop by the office and
pick up a copy for you or a family member. The
deadline for returning the application is April 30,
2015.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Chapel Sanctuary Total
Sunday, March 15 23 111 134
Sunday, March 22 27 75 102
Church School Attendance
Sunday, March 15 27
Sunday, March 22 32
Donald Van Wagner died in Florida on February 12, 2015,
joined FPCC on March 25, 1948
Safe in His armsSafe in His armsSafe in His armsSafe in His arms
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Would you like to do a good deed and put a smile
on the face of a member of our church family?
Please contact Linda D’Agostino and be one of the
helpers in the delivery of the Easter Lilies on April
5th. There will be over 50 lilies that Sunday
morning in our beautiful sanctuary and I’m going to
need some helping hands.
What a joy it is in being part of this. All I’m asking is
for a little bit of your time. Thank you and God
Bless.
Linda
78l-245-0243 Home
78l-258-8867 Cell
Talk to me at church
NEED FOOD?
During this long, cold, snowy winter Outreach is
reminding you that we have food resources
available to our church family and friends. The
FPCC Food Pantry contains non-perishable food for
short term needs. See Ken Wood or call Jim
Fosnock (781-224-0182) or the church office for
assistance.
Jen Black’s Meals Ministry has home made frozen
dinners for anyone in a stressful situation. Call Jen
(781-608-6727) or the church office.
The Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry provides 5
days of groceries including meats, dairy products
and fresh vegetables to any Wakefield residents. It
is in the Americal Civic Center on Main St. and is
open Tuesday and Thursday 9-1 and Thursday
evening 6-8.
Look around for elder neighbors or a single person
or a young family who might need a helping hand.
Let them know about these services and encourage
them to take advantage of these programs. It will
bless them and you!
FROM THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The Outreach Committee is planning a Sharing
Walk on Good Friday. As you recall, Pastor Rich
walked 20 miles around the lake on Good Friday for
over 20 years. Through your generosity in
supporting him and others who walked, many
thousands of dollars were raised for Sharing.
Sharing Inc. is grass roots organization started by
Kay Doherty in Hingham after she saw an article in
the newspaper about the plight of Southern black
children. She goes to Mississippi and Alabama
each year to distribute the money raised during the
Walk. Sharing supports day care centers, schools
and a land assistance fund. It also funds
scholarships and a youth leadership program. At
Christmas, books featuring African American
children, beautifully dressed dolls and sports balls
are sent for the children.
This is Sharing’s 44th year! Kay and a few others
have been walking for 43 years. From her
newsletter: “This year on Good Friday why not
walk ONE MILE sometime during the day
wherever you are and meditate on the forms of
crucifixion that have been visited on African
Americans in this .…’the land of the free and the
home of the brave.’”
Some of us will be raising funds and walking the
lake on Good Friday. Join us! Walk for any amount
of time and distance. Walk with a friend. If you are
unable to walk there will be an opportunity to
pledge or give a gift. On Sundays March 22 and 29
there will be a table in the vestry where you can
sign up or pledge.
Walk! Pledge! Pray! From Kay’s newsletter “The
Good Friday Walk is such an inspirational time to
think Jesus lived to show us a way of life, of love
and kindness, and died forgiving us of sin and
sorrow, and lives today offering love, hope and
grace…HOW AWESOME IS THAT!”
Judy Gordon for Outreach
Our church family will be hosting our Community Spring
Dinner on Palm Sunday, March 29. This dinner is for those
in need, the elderly, and the lonely that live in Wakefield
and surrounding communities and will be held at 2:00 p.m.
in the dining room.
We rely on monetary donations, as well as donations of gift
certificates (BJ’s, Costco, Market Basket) to make this
dinner possible. We also seek volunteers to work with us
in the kitchen or to provide transportation to our guests.
If you would like to make a donation, volunteer your time
or know of someone in the community who would benefit
from this dinner, please contact Steve Gates at the church
office—781-245-1539.
When you put on a luncheon or a dinner, invite the poor, the
crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the
godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay
you.
-Luke 14:12-14
Giving Opportunities – from our tax code
“Tax time” reminds me that many tax laws offer
benefits to charitable givers, to help non-profits
and churches.
If you are interested, here are some of the
provisions for charitable giving that can also help
our Church.
(NOTE: Because everyone’s tax situation is
unique, you should ask your tax advisor for
specific advice.)
Gifts of Stock:
If you sell stock, your capital gain may be taxed.
But if you give (transfer) the stock directly to a
church or IRS-recognized charity, there is no tax,
and you can take a charitable deduction for the
value of the stock. The church will sell the stock,
and apply your gift as requested (to your pledge
or a specific fund or project). Information your
broker needs to transfer a “gift of stock” is
available from the Church Office.
Corporate Matching Gifts:
To encourage employees’ charitable giving, and
to be good “corporate citizens”, many companies
have Incentive Gift-Match programs. As an IRS-
recognized 501(c)(3) organization, First Parish
may qualify to receive Matching Gifts. The TIN
for First Parish Congregational Church of
Wakefield is 04-2108360.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (from IRAs)
If you receive an annual “RMD” (required
minimum distribution) from an IRA, it is
considered taxable income. Under a special
provision for individuals over the age of 70½, an
IRA distribution (including RMDs) made directly
to a church or charity is not taxed.
Unfortunately, this provision expires annually,
and must be renewed by Congress. Although it’s
not currently effective for 2015, Congress has
extended the “QCD” every year since 2006, so
renewal is likely by the end of this year. If
Congress does not extend this tax benefit
through 2015, you can still deduct the
“transferred” IRA distribution as a charitable
donation on your 1040, if you claim itemized
deductions.
Lynn Arena (CPA), for the Church Council
44th HEIRLOOMS
AND ARTISANS SHOW AND
SALE Please come and show your support.
Friday Night and Saturday,
March 27 & 28 The Antiques Show Committee would like to
remind everyone that they are accepting
donations for the church table at the
Heirlooms and Artisans Show and Sale; they
would also be grateful for donations of baked
goods for the desserts table. In addition, many
volunteers, including strong helpful kids, are
needed as porters to help vendors move their
items, and to take orders and serve food at the
kitchen. Please talk to Donna Nicolai, Steve
Gates, or any other members of the Antiques
Show Committee if you can help. Thank you.
.
Thank you.
Donna Nicolai
Book Shelf News In March we are featuring books by Charles
Swindoll.
See our shelf in the Vestry for these selections:
• Growing Deep in the Christian Faith:
Essential Truths for Becoming Strong
in the Faith
• Hope Again: When Life Hurts and
Dreams Fade
• Living on the Ragged Edge: Coming
to Terms with Reality
• Rise and Shine: A Wake-up Call
• Fascinating Stories of Forgotten
Lives
Our New Additions include:
Christian Living
• Messy Spirituality by Michael
Yaconelli
• Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado
• Parables to Live By by John Samaan
Christian Fiction
• The Lost Letters of Pergamum by
Bruce Longenecker
DVD
• The Way of the Master by Kirk
Cameron
EXCITING NEWS: You can now view the listing of the books available
in our library online! Please go to the FPCC
website at
http://fpccwakefield.com/resources/library/ and
view the books that are available. You can search
by title, author, and category: Christian Living,
Christian Fiction, Audio Video, Youth and Other.
We do not have the resources to view if a book has
already been checked out of the library; however
you can view our wonderful book selection!
Please come check out our books! Just fill out the
pink card! Happy Reading!
THANK YOU
to all of you who have sent emails and cards, who
have called me and hugged me tightly, who have
prayed for me and offered words of comfort and
encouragement since Earl Sheaff’s sudden passing.
What a blessing you have been to me!
AND THANK YOU TOO
to all of you who have signed up to participate in
the upcoming sessions of The Journey. As you all
know, Earl worked tirelessly for First Parish in
many capacities and for our church family, most
recently, with the goal of holding things together at
First Parish during our transition time.
What better way could there be for us to
demonstrate our gratitude for all of Earl’s efforts
than to step up and sign up to see our transition time
through. Thank you all for demonstrating your love
and appreciation for Earl through your participation
in the final leg of our transition time.
Barbara Flynn
FPCC MEALS MINISTRY UPDATE
On March 14th, the FPCC Meals
Ministry prepared meals for those in our
extend church family who may be
grieving, ill, experiencing the joy of a
new life, or who just could use a hot
meal. If you are interested in any of the
following, please let Jen Black or the
office know:
1. Delivering meals;
2. Know someone who could use a
meal.
3. Donating money for the purchase
of food;
4. Donating freezer bags and
containers.
Jen can be reached at 781-608-6727 or
Thank you for all the helpers who helped
prepare, package, create lists and make
labels for this ministry!
We sure hope you are preparing to “come
aboard” for First Parish's Journey II!
We, as a church family, will gather together in
small groups for a 6-week study in church
leadership beginning the week of April 6. Your
input as you go through the study with your
group will be compiled with inputs from all the
other participants. We will then gather together
as a church family at the end of six weeks and
use these results to create a profile for our next
settled pastor.
It is important that you participate.
We grow in Christ when we all work together
and when we all work together seeking His
guidance, we will be part of a God-glorifying
journey. The result will be a pastor profile
created by our church family with His spirit
working through us. The best part of this
process is that we all work together through
Him.
Please sign up for one of our many Journey II
small groups. If you are unable to get out of the
house, but would like to participate we could
come to you. You can sign up after the church
service in the vestry or call the church office to
select your class.
These are very exciting days at First Parish!
COME ABOARD!
FACILITATORS AND PLACES FOR JOURNEY II
Sunday after the 9 am service: Sharon and Bruce will facilitate a group in Fireside room.
Monday, at 7:30 pm: Mark Hatheway and Andy Black. Location is 5 Sheridan Road in Stoneham. Telephone: for Andy 781-279-9932 Monday, at 7:30pm: Jo Lynn Foster's Bible study. Location is 4 Cardinal Road in Stoneham. Telephone: 781-438-8231 Tuesday at 7:30pm: Ken Hodgson - Location is 50 Federal Street in Reading. Telephone: 781-944-5477 Wednesday at 7pm: Rod Illanes - 5 Kirmes Road in Stoneham. Telephone: 781-572-3068 Thursday morning women at 9:30am in the Fireside Room, First Parish. Thursday evening women at 7:30pm - Jen Black's house, address is 5 Sheridan Road in Stoneham. Telephone: 781-279-9932 Thursday men's study group at 7:30 pm at Bob Blaser's house, address is 12 Montclare Avenue in Wakefield. Telephone: 1-617-943-4030
Friday, at 1pm: Marcia will facilitate group at her home, 17 Louise Avenue, Wakefield, telephone # 781-245-3527. Friday at 7:30 pm: Doug and Nancy Jackson's at FPCC in the fireside room. Telephone: 781-438-1417
With Pastor Ron
Why We Do What We Do
If you sit on any committee at First Parish, you’ll be part of a process at the beginning of the meeting where a
sheet of paper entitled, “Covenant for Working & Worshiping Together” is being passed from one person to the
other to be read aloud. For the longest time, I’ve wanted to add some umph to this thing. So I went to the Word
of God. Here’s what I’ve come up with.
SCRIPTURAL COVENANT FOR WORKING & WORSHIPING TOGETHER
(Preamble & Scripture Added March 2015)
Preamble
Believing that God has called us to order and to peace,1 we covenant before God and one another to
conduct ourselves in the following manner:
• The Word of God says: “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the
head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15, ESV)
Therefore, we will be as honest as we can with each other.
• The Word of God says: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans
12:10, NIV).
Therefore, we will speak to one another with respect.
• The Word of God says: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than
for people” (Colossians 3:23, NLT).
Therefore, we will all be responsible for the successful implementation of any action we decide to
take.
• The Word of God says: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for
we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25, NIV).
Therefore, we will communicate directly to each other using the first person “I.”
• The Word of God says: “Each one of you should look not only to you own interests, but also to the interests of
others” (Philippians 2:4, NIV)
Therefore, we will recognize and identify merit in another person’s idea before we note its
weakness.
1 “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people” (1
Corinthians 14:33, NIV).
• The Word of God says: “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it
out” (Proverbs 20:5, ESV).
Therefore, we will repeat what the other person has said to confirm we have understood them, and
ask them to do the same if we feel we have not been understood.
• The Word of God says: “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT)
Therefore, we will not jump to conclusions.
• The Word of God says: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to
speak, and slow to get angry” (James 1:19, NLT)
Therefore, we will listen to understand, but don’t necessarily have to agree.
• The Word of God says: “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (2
Corinthians 13:1, NIV).
Therefore, we will deal only with “Directly Observable Data” (D.O.D.), not rumors, and seek to
understand all sides.
God’s Word adds umph! Just saying the verse before reading the statement puts a whole new meaning behind
the statement. It adds power to why we do what we do. Don’t you agree?
This Pastor Who Loves You
From Pastor Ron
Please note our schedule for Holy Week this year: Palm Sunday, March 29th through Easter Sunday, April 5th
• First Parish will celebrate Palm Sunday with a wonderful recognition of Jesus’
entrance into Jerusalem leading up to His passion, death and resurrection. The
message for Palm Sunday will be "The Right Man for the Wrong Job," taken from
John 12:12-19.
• With the Passion Play cancelled for this year, we will offer a Good Friday service
on April 3rd. This service will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature a scriptural rendition
of the Stations of the Cross. You will also be invited to participate in a unique
communion you won't want to miss. We are planning very worshipful, beautiful
music during this service. It is one service you will want to invite your family,
friends and neighbors to attend with you.
• On Easter Sunday, we encourage those who desire to attend a sunrise service to
participate in First Baptist Church's service. Our Celebration of the Resurrection
will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary with a theatrical re-enactment of the
events on the first Easter morning on April 5th, A.D. 33. Expect to be blessed
during our worship of the Risen Christ!
The next installment from Historian Marcia Phinney in recognition of the
80th Anniversary of the Church Herald
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE CHURCH HERALD
First Parish Congregational Church PO Box M, Wakefield, MA 01880-0301
Phone: 781-245-1539/1644
FAX: 781-557-1000
E-mail: [email protected]
March 20, 2015
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
To Receive The Church Herald by
email: Simply email your request to the Church at
[email protected], or click the link
on our new website!
Why is there no Passion Play this year?
I can’t answer that question for certain, but I can say that God has something else He wants us to do this year.
God has something unique for us at this time at First Parish.
I want to invite you to participate with us in a Good Friday service in our sanctuary. I promise you it will be a
service you will remember for years.
Now this is important: Those of you who are able to do so, I’d like to invite you to participate in a day of prayer
and fasting—from 8 p.m. Thursday evening to 8 p.m. Friday evening. The purpose of this fast is to appeal to
God for His Spirit to move in our hearts to bring about repentance for sin and revival for our church. Every
time you feel a need for food, use that as a reminder to pray as the Lord leads you. We will break the fast
around the Lord’s Table on Good Friday evening.
God is doing some significant things at First Parish. There is a fresh movement of His Spirit among us. Such
stirrings call for renewed spiritual strength. Let’s join the Lord and one another this Good Friday.
This Pastor who loves you!
DEADLINE FOR NEXT CHURCH HERALD
Thursday, April 2, 2015
(will cover the dates from
April 12 -25, 2015)
April 3
7 p.m.
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