TCC CONNECTION Page 1

TCC CONNECTION Volume 1, Issue 1 June/July

2011

Dear friends at TCC,

Wedding bells often toll in late spring. I have had two

trips in May to celebrate the weddings, first of a dear friend, and

then of a family member.

I enjoy being at weddings and performing wedding

ceremonies . I ask a couple to do some significant reflection on their

relationship and the ways in which they hear love. I want to know

that they are working on practical issues such as budget concerns.

And I listen for the ways in which their roles in the marriage are

compatible and „in sync‟. The actual wedding becomes a moment

when I speak to the power of God‟s presence in making their

married love a reality.

Weddings bring us joy because they speak of the power of

covenant… the ways in which our promises are upheld and

supported by God‟s Spirit. They speak as well of the „Great

Marriage‟… the moment when all that divides humanity and God

will be healed and forgiven. That marriage is the final image of our

Bible, the marrying of humanity with God‟s presence, in heaven.

Our church is built on the power of covenant, much like a

healthy marriage. We understand that our life as a community is

built on the disciplines of caring and respect that make a

community whole and healthy. But underneath and around that

care is the awareness that “Unless the Lord builds the house, the

builders labor in vain” This is an old statement from a psalm in our

Bible. As in marriage, God pledges a deep commitment to our life

as a community. God provides the energy and perspective that

makes our church healthy and whole.

We have a resource in God‟s Spirit. God is truly the glue, in

difficulty and joy, that holds us together as we work at loving each

other at TCC.

I wish each of you a restful summer and a time of spiritual

deepening and growth. We will adopt a more informal sense of

worship in the summer….with programming for our younger children

and a sermon series on the adventure of walking with Jesus.

Peace and blessings,

Pastor Jonathan

IN THIS

ISSUE

1. Pastor’s

Message 2. Leadership

Update 6. Boards &

Committee News (This month Missions is highlighted)

9. DRE Report

TCC CONNECTION Page 2

Board of Ministries Submitted by Bruce Panilaitis

Joy in Leadership

Just over a year ago, our church

took a giant leap of faith. In a period of

a few months, we suspended our

bylaws and opened ourselves to the

opportunity to re-examine how we do

things. This was an amazing statement

of faith from our congregation and trust

in our leadership that a small group of

dedicated members would be

empowered to find another path. There

were questions, concerns, and fear

around this process. As we considered

this new structure in April of 2010, I was a

vocal member of the group questioning

this path. Once the congregation

spoke, and enacted this shift in our

governance, I had the privilege of

joining a wonderful team of faithful

leaders on this journey.

What a journey it has been! At

our first few meetings, we spent hours

trying to understand “What are we?”;

“What are our responsibilities?”; “Where

are we going?” While we have started

to answer these questions, some

aspects of each of these continue to be

asked. However, ours is a vibrant

church with a wide spectrum of

activities that quickly called us into

action. This brought us into the day-to-

day aspects of the work previously done

by Council, approving fundraisers,

checking in with committees on their

work, and taking a pulse of the larger

life of the church. We enacted small

and large programs. From a new

Pastoral Review Process to a set of

Policies &

Procedures

for our own

work; from

approving various fundraisers to

revamping our budget-building process;

from modifying our own make up as a

Board, to enacting a new Nominating

and Development Committee. It has

been a busy year.

Finally as we entered 2011,

standing on the foundation we had

established for the Board we were able

to pull out of the day-to-day

machinations of our work as a church

and ask larger questions. After an

extraordinary response to a church-

wide survey, we were blessed by more

than 30 members giving up a Saturday

to join us at the TCC Synod which

occurred in March. A day of

discernment, discussion, and

introspection has led to a renewed

energy in our work, and we hope in the

work of so many of the other volunteers

at TCC.

As we enter our second year of

this experiment, and we look to a

revamped membership of our Boards

and Committees, I would ask each of us

to search for the joy in our work. It is

there. Sometimes it is difficult to see or

feel during a long meeting or a debate,

but it is there. Regardless of your level of

service you should feel the joy of our

work as a church. It doesn‟t matter on

what committee or in what position you

serve, you are doing His work at TCC.

Take a moment during a Sunday

morning to look around the pews or

Fellowship Hall at coffee hour. How

many new faces do you see? This

growth is at least in part due to your

work. Take a look at the TCC Flash or

Faith Notes, and take in the breadth of

the work and activity going on at TCC.

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You have a part in that work. We

are a vibrant faith community, growing

and learning as we stumble along this

new path. We have indeed stumbled

at times, and we will again. However,

we are so blessed to have a dedicated

group of volunteers that helps each

other up, brushes off the dirt of the road,

and walks together on this path.

On behalf of the Board of

Ministries, I want to thank the

congregation for their support in our

stumbles, and I hope you have found a

place in this community to feel the joy

of leadership as I have. If you have not

yet found that opportunity, keep

looking, because each of us has

something to give, and there is no

better feeling than the sense of

satisfaction and accomplishment from

contributing to a larger goal. Only

through serving others are we truly

served.

Luke 6:38

“Give, and it will be given unto

you”

In Faith, Bruce Panilaitis,

Chair Board of Ministries

Summer Mystery Member

1. Born and grew up in

Tewksbury 2. Owned over 25 motorcycles

(not at once)

3. Have lived overseas (Japan

& Philippines) 4. Worked in/for government for

36 years - USMC, USAF, USCG, and FAA 5. Met Danny Devito 6. Worked at Tewksbury Market,

Shawsheen & Foster near Heathbrook

School, from age 6 to 16. 7. Was Baptized at TCC as an

adult

Who Am I? _____________

BREAKFAST FUND RAISER

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Previous Month JUNE 2011 Next Month

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

29 8:30 AM Contemporary

Youth Ensemble 9:00 AM Junior Choir

Rehearsal 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:45 AM Cherub Choir 11:00 AM Open Door

Book Discussion

30 Memorial Day 8:00 AM Mexico

Mission Trip Breakfast

31 1 6:30 AM Men's

Discussion Group 11:00 AM Prayer

Circle 7:00 PM 495th

Radio Control Squadron 7:00 PM BSA

Troop 47

2 4:30 PM Weight

Watchers 5:30 PM Staff

Meeting 7:30 PM Senior

Choir Rehearsal

3 4 7:45 AM Diet

Workshop

5 8:30 AM Contemporary

Youth Ensemble 9:00 AM Junior Choir

Rehearsal 9:30 AM Sunday School

- Grades K & 1 Attend Communion 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:45 AM Cherub Choir 11:00 AM Open Door

Book Discussion 11:00 AM Semi-Annual Meeting

6 7 7:00 PM Members to

Missionaries

8 11:00 AM Prayer

Circle 12:00 PM Ladies Aid 7:00 PM BSA

Troop 47 7:00 PM L.T.L.C.

Brownie Baking 7:30 PM Board

of Deacons Meet

9 9:30 AM Friendship

Circle 4:30 PM Weight

Watchers 4:45 PM L.T.L.C.

Meal 7:30 PM Senior

Choir Rehearsal

10 11 7:45 AM Diet

Workshop

12 Pentecost 9:30 AM Sunday

Worship - Youth Sunday 11:00 AM Open Door

Book Discussion 4:45 PM L.T.L.C. Meal 7:30 PM Interfaith Choir

13 14 7:15 PM All

Boards and Committees

15 6:30 AM Men's

Discussion Group 11:00 AM Prayer

Circle 7:00 PM BSA

Troop 47

16 4:30 PM Weight

Watchers

17 18 7:45 AM Diet

Workshop

19 Father's Day Trinity Sunday 9:30 AM Sunday Worship - New Members 10:30 AM New Member

Reception 11:00 AM Music

Committee 11:00 AM Open Door

Book Discussion

20 21 6:30 PM Embroiderer's

Guild

22 11:00 AM Prayer

Circle

23 24 25 7:45 AM Diet

Workshop

26 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM Open Door

Book Discussion

27 28 29 11:00 AM Prayer

Circle

30 4:30 PM Weight

Watchers

1 2 7:45 AM Diet

Workshop

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

26 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM Open Door Book Discussion

27 28 29 11:00 AM Prayer Circle

30 4:30 PM Weight Watchers

1 2 7:45 AM Diet Workshop

3 9:30 AM Sunday Worship

4 Independence Day

5 6 11:00 AM Prayer Circle 7:00 PM 495th Radio Control Squadron

7 4:30 PM Weight Watchers

8 9 7:45 AM Diet Workshop

10 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 4:45 PM L.T.L.C. Meal

11 12 13 11:00 AM Prayer Circle 7:00 PM L.T.L.C. Brownie Baking

14 4:30 PM Weight Watchers 4:45 PM L.T.L.C. Meal

15 16 7:45 AM Diet Workshop

17 9:30 AM Sunday Worship

18 19 6:30 PM Embroiderer's Guild

20 Newsletter Deadline 11:00 AM Prayer Circle

21 4:30 PM Weight Watchers

22 23 7:45 AM Diet Workshop

24 9:30 AM Sunday Worship

25 26 27 11:00 AM Prayer Circle

28 4:30 PM Weight Watchers

29 30 7:45 AM Diet Workshop

31 9:30 AM Sunday Worship

Editor’s Hint: these calendars can be removed

and posted on your refrigerator or bulletin board!

JULY 2011

TCC CONNECTION Page 6

BOARDS AND COMMITTEE NEWS

Food Pantry Brownie Baking for LTLC Serving at LTLC Heifer

Sweatshirts for Solomon Mental Health Youth Treatment Center

Church World Services Blankets & School Kits Children’s Pajama Collection for Alternative House The Giving Tree

Outer wear collection for The Wish Project

Student Sponsorships (from Coffee Hour collection) Project Bread Walk For Hunger

Mexico Mission Trip Bandana Project Birthday Wishes

YOUR MISSIONS AT WORK 2010/2011

Mystery

Member is…

Jim Kenney

TCC CONNECTION Page 7

Submitted by JoJo Scharmer

From If I could ask God anything…(Kathryn Slattery)

When God Looks at Me, What Does He See? When God looks at you, He sees what other people see. He

sees the outside. He sees the color of your hair and your eyes. He sees you sitting at your table at dinner. He sees you in your car or on your bike. He sees you doing your homework or housework. He sees you watching TV, watching a soccer game or walking your dog. He sees you on your i-phone, telephone or computer. He even sees you when you are sleeping. God loves all these things about you.

But God sees something else. When God looks at you, He sees the inside of you, too. (1

Samuel 16:7; 1 Chronicles 28:9). In fact, God is more interested in who you are on the inside than who you are on the outside. This is because who you are on the inside lasts forever and ever.

Who you are on the inside is called your soul. Your soul is made up of the love in your heart. Are you kind to others? Are you honest? Do you like to laugh? These are the things that are important to God. These are who you really are. Even when your body dies, your soul lives on forever!

When God looks at you, He loves you completely…inside and out.

God loves you so much that He wants you to live forever and

ever with Him in Heaven (John 3:16)

Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister. Yours sincerely Arnold. Dear Pastor, My father should be a minister. Every day he gives us a sermon about something. Robert

Dear Pastor, Please say a prayer for our Little League team. We need God's

help or a new pitcher. Thank you. Alexander

TCC CONNECTION Page 8

Submitted by Sue Trepaney

Members of Ladies Aid enjoyed a

delicious luncheon Wednesday, May

11th followed by a social and food

auction at which $129.00 was realized.

We mourned

the loss of Mabel

Dewing on May 17th

but recalled the fun

we had at her 90th

birthday

coordinated by her

daughter, Sharon. It

was a grand party

held in the Vestry

with everyone

wearing 1920‟s feather boas, colorful

beads, and we shared two birthday

cakes and plenty of good food.

Goodbyes are always difficult but we

remember Mabel with happy memories

of her life and the joys she shared with

us.

Our last meeting for the season,

until we return in September, will be held

at Jackson‟s Restaurant in Methuen.

We‟ll meet in the church parking lot to

carpool to the restaurant at 11:15am on

Wednesday, June 8th. Reservations are

required and if you would like to join us,

please contact Eleanor Corey at 978-

851-2773.

TCC CONNECTION Page 9

Everyone enjoyed a mystery

adventure coordinated by Donna

Haines for members of Friendship

Circle‟s May meeting. The ladies were

treated to a Continental breakfast at

Donna‟s. During our journey that

morning, we saw one of Mico

Kaufman‟s works at the Oblate House

and then enjoyed a program at the

Tewksbury Library coordinated by

Joanne and Helen of the library‟s staff.

Did you know the library has over 17

authors of Christian fiction? You may

have heard or read some of their novels

by Beverly Lewis, Tracie Peterson and

Francine Rivers, but there are more. In

addition to providing us information on

Christian writers, we also learned more

about writers of mystery fiction, as after

all, we were in mystery mode!

In addition to the above, the

ladies serenaded Dottie Belida stopping

at her house as they made a quick stop

during their adventure. A group photo

was taken and later given to Jean

Metcalf as we pray for Jean as she

begins treatments for her illness.

Friendship Circle‟s last meeting

before summer‟s recess is being

coordinated by Roberta Kane. More

information will be provided in Faith

Notes or via e-mail to Friendship Circle

members. If you would like more

information, please contact Sarah

SanClemente at 978-667-9771.

This year has been truly a year of growth in the Religious Education area!

Whether it is by word of mouth, a church outreach activity, Facebook, or newspaper/Patch articles, families are checking out TCC and liking what they see. Teachers and nursery staff are certainly to be commended for their dedication, energy and effort they put forth each week making Sunday School fun.

Highlights this year include:

Adding 25 new children from 13 different families this year alone

a 58.8% increase in weekly attendance this fall over last year

hearing kindergartener and first grade voices say The Lord’s Prayer in

unison after returning to adult worship for Communion

Noting RE was rated the highest ministry area on the Board of Ministries’

Synod questionnaire. One individual summed up our youth programming

as “5 stars and 2 thumbs up”.

FROM THE DESK OF THE DRE…

FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE Submitted by Sue Trepaney

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CELEBRATIONS On this page we will be announcing special celebrations of our

Congregation. If you have one or know of one, please contact the church

office! For example – milestone anniversaries and birthdays, special awards and

achievements, and other notable events.

This month we are celebrating the many graduating Seniors from… High Schools!

Jacquie Fulton

Jenna Stanley

Ricky Santoro

Michael Stewart

Colleges and Universities! Sarah Goodell

LeeAnn Keddie

Jennifer Carr

Berit Richtsmeier

Sarah Mayer

Lindsay Lafortune

Timothy Jenkins

Mark Bliss

Katie Fulton

Tewksbury Congregational Church

10 East Street

Tewksbury, MA 01876

phone: 978-851-9411

fax: 978-851-9413

e-mail: tewksburycc@verizon.net

website: www.tewksburycc.org

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