Save the Date!

The official installation service forthe Rev. Mark Brockmeier will be

held in the TCC sanctuary onJanuary 18, 2015 at 3 pm.

TOWNSEND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHUNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

È At the Heart of the Community - With the Community in Our Hearts È

In this edition . . .

“According to Mark” - Pastor’sColumn

Sylvia Beldan’s Mailing Address

TCC Birthdays

What is Going On in SundaySchool?

Cub Scouts Seasonal Salt and SandSale

Our Prayers

Community News: MSPP Interface

TCC Calendar

Turkey Supper!

Please plan on joining us for the firstsupper of 2015! We will be serving ourfamous turkey dinner on January 31from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm inFellowship Hall. The cost will be $10for adults and $4 for children 3-8 yearsold. The sign-up sheets for donationsof food and workers for that eveningwill soon be available after Sundayservices. Linda Ireland is overseeingthis supper - look for announcementsin the weekly Spirit for updates.Working at the supper is a wonderfulway to meet new friends, catch up onnews, and provide a night out for thosewho enjoy our meal! Sign up soon;you’ll be glad you did!

THE VISITOR

NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE:MONDAY, JANUARY 26 - NOON

January 2015

Volume 38 No. 1

Pastor: Rev. Mark BrockmeierPastor’s Line: 978-597-0157

cell # 603-818-2328home # 603-432-3255

TCC Administrative Asst.: John Mims

Office Line: 978-597-8925

Village Common Children’sCenter Line: 978-597-0834

Editor: Catherine Hill

TOWNSENDCONGREGATIONALCHURCH, UCCPO BOX 487TOWNSEND MA 01469

E-MAIL ADDRESSES:Pastor: revbrock@bu.edu

Church Secretary:secretary@tccucc.org

Newsletter:newsletter@tccucc.org

Village Common Children’sCenter: vccc@tccucc.org

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS:Tuesday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm.

PASTOR’S OFFICE HOURS: Wed. 10am-6pmThurs. 10am-1pm

Visit our web page atwww.tccucc.net

According to Mark

As we begin the new year, we resolve many things forourselves to begin anew. And that's only appropriate: this is the season, Christmas, where Christ comes intoour lives and we should take stock of those things thatwe need to start (re)doing to enrich our spirits, bodies,and what we can all do to honor God’s creation andlive into the blessings of our existence. And it’s a timeto celebrate those things we have accomplished.

We had a lightning strike in July that damaged ourspire, the weathervane, and knocked out the clock. With the help of all of you, we have reset and re-gildedthe weathervane, re-gilded and repaired the clock,refurbished the entire steeple structure (belfry, clocktower, and spire) and the bell will be ringing again bythe time you read this. We also had a generous gift thatreplaced the columns and refurbished the front porticothat was originally given to and added to the church in1931; with fiberglass columns in place of the originalwooden ones, it should last for the next 100 yearswithout worry. We also added a lightning suppressionsystem which will help ensure that lightning doesn’tstrike the same place twice! Thank you all for turningwhat looked like a “how will we ever do this?” eventinto a “look what we have done” accomplishment,prayerfully searching your hearts and helping move theChurch ever forward for the new vision andrevitalization we have committed to during mypastorate.

And now that the outside of our building has a new andspiffy look and feel through our prayerful and faithfulefforts, we can apply those same thoughts and prayersto our life as a church. Why are we gathered as a peopleof God? Who is our neighbor? What are we called todo in serving our gathered purpose? Where is our‘mission field’ to do what we are called? And how dowe go about that? We already have a team that isthinking about these things and learning lessons fromother churches who have asked these same questions,and we will be traveling to Portland, Maine at the endof January to learn more about our discoveries anddiscernments. But we would ask your help.

What are your passions, and what is the one things thateach of us can contribute to our common ministries? How can we each touch the lives of another for a fewhours a month beyond our common worship whichrenews our Spirit and faith in what we do? Can weserve God by serving one another, and what might thatlook like? Are we leaders, followers, mentors,spectators, participants, or all of these? During Lentwe will do the soul-searching that asks of each of us,not what we can give up for Christ, but what can we doto make Christ more real?

And so, for this new year’s resolution, as we commit to(re)do something for ourselves and others in 2015 . . .what can each of you do to make Christ more real foryour own faith and in serving others?

Blessings for the New Year,

Pastor Mark

Reaching out to a friend who has movedaway . . .

Sylvia Beldan is enjoying making new friends, reading,watching the birds, and being closer to her oldestdaughter, Kathy. If you wouldlike to keep in touch with her,please write to her at thefollowing address:

Sylvia Beldan656 King St #115Franklin MA 02038

“Faith is taking the first step,even when you don’t see thewhole staircase.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 4No Sunday School classes

3-Linda Modica; 9-Carol Clark;12-Michele Busler; 13-JasonGoyette and David Wilson;17-Bob Lorenzen; 18-JaneMisner; 19-Joseph Woodward;24-Nancy Lee; 27-LouisDuBreuil; 28-Linda Hatch

What is going on inSunday School?

January 11 Theme:

“Today marks the first Sunday in the Season afterEpiphany. Many churches simply call this the EpiphanySeason. ‘Epiphany’ means ‘manifestation’ – makingsomething evident. During the Epiphany Season weread of events where Jesus was made known to peopleas God’s anointed one, when he was recognized bypeople such as the magi, John the Baptizer, thedisciples, and a growing number of people whom hetaught and healed. This week we focus on the Epiphanytheme of God’s loving purpose being ‘shown’ to theworld, in creation and through baptism.”

Faith Question: Why do we baptize people?

January 18 Theme:

“How do we perceive or discern God’s call? Doeseveryone receive a call or only a select few? Canchildren receive a call from God? Our readings for thisweek explore the variety of ways God makes ‘call’known to us – all of us – even the very young.”

Faith Question: Does God really need me, too?

January 25 Theme:

Have you ever had that sense of a very special momentin time that stood apart from all other times of your

life? That would be a “kairos” event rather than achronological sense of the passing of time. Jewish andChristian scriptures use both these senses of time.Kairos is especially noticeable in the lessons chosen fortoday. Watch for the ways the writers of each passagedeal with special times.

Faith Question: What do people mean when theytalk about God “calling” them?

If you have ideas for TCC Sunday School activities-missions-outreach projects outside of Sunday School,please contact me and we can meet to discuss yourideas and put them into ACTION!

Sarah GoyetteSunday School Superintendent

Seasonal Salt and Sand Sale

To Support Cub Scout Pack 11 Townsend

4 Gallon Bucket of Sand or 50/50 Mix - $10 each or 3/$25

4 Gallon Bucket of Salt - $12 each or 3/$30

Free Delivery - Townsend, Ashby, Pepperell, Lunenburg

Call 978-597-2045 or email pack11townsend@gmail.com

submitted by Jason McCarthy

We have been entering prayers with only the first letterof last names for a few years, now. After manycomplaints of confusion about who we are praying for,I am reinstating full names in our prayer requests.Please let me know if you would prefer to not have yourfull name entered in our prayers. Thank you.

Cathy Hill

Our Blessings:

We give thanks for this time toreflect on the blessings of God.We thank the Sunday Schoolclass for their participation inour worship services. We givethanks for being a part of awelcoming church. Lyn Bennettis grateful that her children

arrived home safely despite the early winter storm.Sherrie Cloutier gives thanks for being able to spend awhole week with her grandson. Sarah Goyette givesthanks that her other grandmother just celebrated her96th birthday. We also give thanks that our HolidayFair was a success, both as a community event and as afund-raiser (raised over $6,200). We give thanks for thesafe return of Lorena Andexler and Kathy Duckett fromtheir travels to Peru. Emily Austin-Bruns gives thanksfor all the prayers offered for herself and hergrandmother. The Goyette family celebrates the 95thbirthday of their grandfather, and the McTighe familycelebrates the 2nd birthday of Tommy. Cathy Hill givesthanks to God that her brother-in-law, who hasstruggled fiscally for many years in Kansas, will becoming home soon to help care for his parents. CaroleGustafson gives thanks for all the angels in her life. Wegive thanks for the wonderful living nativity programput together by the Sunday school staff, volunteers andstudents, and for the worship service they created andran on 12/14. We also give thanks that Kyra andMelissa Genoter have both recovered from pneumonia;Meg gives thanks for the prayers and the medicalcommunity. Our NMRSD students have returned safelyfrom their national competitions for which we givethanks; they won second place. We celebrate with theOuellette family as Don has accepted a permanent jobin Greenfield, MA. Sarah Riggins gives thanks that herfirst college finals are done. We give thanks for thecheer spread by the caroling group on 12/14. We

celebrate the Baptism of Patrick Wakefield-Burnhamon 12/28. We give thanks for being able to reconnectwith family over the holiday season. Cathy Hill givesthanks to God for the many blessings in her life,including her 30-year wedding anniversary that shecelebrated with her husband on 12/25.

Our Concerns:

We offer prayers of consolation for the family andfriends of Tony Modica who passed away November30. We continue to pray for all those who areunemployed and underemployed. We offer prayers ofcondolence for Linda Whitman and her extendedfamily as they grieve the passing of Vera Polzer onNovember 24. We also offer prayers of condolence toKaren Baer and all those who knew her friend, Joe,who passed away in December after a struggle withcancer. We pray that our imperfect world may findpeace and healing. We pray for Lee McTighe’s friend,Debbie, who recently lost her son in a tragic accident.We continue to pray for couples dealing with maritaland custody issues. We pray for Michele Merenda’sson who is dealing with relationship issues. We prayfor Rebecca’s cousin who is not well, and her babieswho were born prematurely. We pray for the safety ofKen Bruns as he continues his volunteer work in theDominican Republic. We pray for the people of NewYork City, for those affected by the deaths of thepolicemen, and pray for peace amidst all the craziness.We offer prayers of condolence for the family andfriends of Richard Catalini who was killed in anautomobile accident on 12/26. We pray for the safety ofall those who are required to travel over the holidayseason.

Healing Prayers:

We offer healing prayers forSteve Cloutier who isrecovering from hipreplacement surgery (it was hisfirst time being a patient in a hospital); for Robbie whois recovering from serious burns; for Michele Merendawho is undergoing medical testing; for Karen Baer’sbrother, Joe, who is also recovering from hipreplacement surgery; for Tammy Blackburn’s father,Roger; for Meg Genoter’s cousin, Derrick, who haspneumonia, but has no white blood cells to fight theinfection; for Lee McTighe’s brother-in-law who isrecovering from surgery to have new stents inserted andis scheduled for more; for Becca’s (TCC nurserycaregiver) brother who is in ICU; for Lorraine M whois still seeking a cure for her skin condition, for ChrisClish who is recovering from a back injury; for

NEWSLETTERDEADLINE– NOON –

COMMUNITY NEWSBenjamin Hersey in hopes that his procedure on 12/19works & that it will be the last one, we also pray forBenjamin as he undergoes physical therapy.

Our Cancer Fighters:

We offer prayers of healing and hope for allthose in our immediate and extended familieswho are in the midst of battling cancer, and

for all those who care for and support them.Jodi Robinson’s aunt who is battling coloncancer, although the battle continues, she

has recently received news that the cancer has notspread and she has a break from treatments over theholidays. Louise Coalter’s cousin, Dorothy, who isstarting chemo treatments - may she remember thatGod is always with her. We continue to pray for ourongoing fighters: Carol Clark; Ed Cutler’s mom, Irene;for Bob Hotaling who has stage 4 lung cancer; for PamSnaith’s relative, Antoinetta S.; Lee McTighe’sneighbor, Carol Campbell, who has brain and lungcancer; and for Lorena’s friend, Tracy, who has thyroidcancer.

MSPP INTERFACE

MSPP INTERFACE is a mentalhealth referral service that is availablefor all residents in Townsend,Pepperell, and Ashby. Just call888-244-6843 x1411 during normalbusiness hours (M-F, 9-5) and youwill be able to speak with a licensed mental healthprofessional, or an advanced level graduate student, whowill discuss the situation with you, and then call you backwith a referral which meets your therapeutic needs,insurance, schedule availability and immediate openings.

This service was made possible by Teenage Anxiety andDepression Solutions (TADS) through a grant from theNashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund. Check outTADS web site at www.tadsma.org and check out the website for MSPP INTERFACE at msppinterface.org

Submitted by Pam Snaith

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

January 2015TO CONTACT THE NEWSLETTER

EDITOR, CATHY HILL:email: newsletter@tccucc.org

or call 978-337-0638

GOD IS STILLSPEAKING

1

TCC OFFICECLOSED

2 3

8am Saturdayteam

4 Worship/SS

COMMUNION &EPIPHANYSUNDAY

5 7

5:30pm Council

7:30pm Snr Choir

8 9 10

11 Worship/SS 12 13 14

7:30pm Snr Choir

15 16 17

18 Worship/SS

3 PM:INSTALLATION

SERVICE

19 20 21

7:30pm Snr Choir

22 23 24

25 Worship/SS 26 27 28

7:30pm Snr Choir

29 30 31

CHURCH SUPPER5-6:30 PM

Please go to the online calendar at www.tccucc.net for up-to-date entries.

OUR COMMON PURPOSE STATEMENT

Being in an intimate relationship with God in the present, we are anever-learning, action-oriented, justice-seeking, community-caringchurch. Our purpose is to use our gifts to make God's love real andalive for everyone.

We are committed to ministering through the use of our gifts,learning to live the Christian way of life, and being together in Christby seeking to fulfill these three commandments of Christ:

e To love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30)

e To love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31)

e To love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34)

Townsend Congregational ChurchUnited Church of Christ3 Brookline St., PO Box 487Townsend MA 01469-0487

Sunday School at 9:00 am & Worship at 10:15 am