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The Messenger
First Parish Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
The Church with Love & Hope to Share
2019
Rev. Dr. Jeff Larsen, Interim Minister
Kristine Galasyn, Director of Christian Education
Jacqueline Savage, Music Director
Bob Mohlin, Church Moderator
Nadeen DeSilva, Office Administrator
Bean Supper Aug 10, 20195pm – 6:30
August 24th
Book ClubTuesday, Sept. 24
Summer of ‘69 by Elin Hilderbrand Book Club
Book Club
Summer drop-in choircontinues through Sunday
September 1st. Rehearsals @9AM Sunday mornings.All Are Welcome
Save the Date
October 5, 2019
Homecoming Sunday is September 8th.
A Message From the Bridge MinisterRev. Dr. Jeff Larsen
Dear Friends,
It has been a great honor to serve as your Bridge minister for these last
three plus months. On Sunday, August 18, Rev Scott Cousineau will
take over the office as our new settled Pastor. I am very excited to
welcome him here and return to civilian life. Well, almost.
Many of you asked if you will see me sitting in the pews after Scott
arrives and the answer is "sometimes." I am going to return to my
previous job as part-time Sunday coverage for the Congregational
Churches of West Newfield and Limerick. These two churches struggle
to keep their doors open and a couple Sundays a month I lead worship
there. But on other Sundays I will be right beside you in the pews
enjoying Scott's leadership and being part of our exciting community.
The way you have welcomed me has been very heartwarming. I am
very appreciative and will always feel blessed for these months when our
lives touched each other closely. I also feel very blessed about Scott's
arrival. His ministry will move us to exciting new places. I know it will
still be the middle of summer vacation time but please make every effort
to get here on August 18 to welcome him.
Peace to each one of you,
Jeff
Deacons’ Corner
We are so blessed to live in this beautiful state of Maine, with all its
natural beauty and scenic wonders. Even better, we are residents of
a state with a conscience and a wealth of compassion, as witnessed
by the outpouring of love and support for the recently arrived
asylum seekers. Nowhere is this more evident than here at First
Parish. Members of our congregation have donated a lot of clothing,
household goods and hygiene items to help these people adjust to
their new homes in the Portland area.
As deacons, we were eager to show our support for this mission, so,
with the blessing of Pastor Jeff, we designated the Discretionary
Fund collection of July 7 as a specific offering for the asylum
seekers. Your offerings for that fund totaled $744!! We are including
that money in our substantial contribution to the asylum seekers,
through the Maine Conference, UCC, where we believe it will have
a greater impact. A hearty thank-you to everyone who contributed
that day! Your love is felt!
We would also like to acknowledge with gratitude the preparation
work that is being done to ready the church and parsonage for
Pastor Scott and his wife Renee. The physical work is tremendous
(and appreciated!) but there is also a spiritual preparation that is
evident. We seem to be brimming with good ideas and good
fellowship. Pastor Jeff frequently reminds us that a new day is just
around the corner; his tenure as bridge minister has surely been a
blessing! Thanks so much, Jeff. Don’t forget to wear your
nametags!
Thanks and blessings,
Nadine Russell and Dan Carter, Co-chairs
ISRAEL: Experiencing the Holy Land
Led by Rev. Jeffrey and Kathleen Larsen
September 3 – 13, 2020, approx. $4300/person
(With optional Eilat/Petra extension, September 13-16, 2020)
Dear Friends,
Kathleen and I have led several group tours over the years to Israel,
Jordan, Turkey, and Europe. We are currently looking at the possibility
of another to the Holy Land in September, 2020. If this is something
that you or your friends are seriously interested in please let me know
(email: [email protected]). No commitment at this time but I
need to find out if a sufficient number are interested.
Included will be a first night in Tel Aviv, three nights in a kibbutz in the
Galilee where we will visit many places associated with Jesus’ life and
ministry such as Nazareth, Capernaum, Cana. There will be a time on
the Golan Heights including a jeep tour and wine tasting, and a stop at
the baptismal site on the Jordan River.
Then we will have 5 nights in Jerusalem - plenty of time to see the holy
sites of Christianity, Judaism, and the Moslem faith, including
Bethlehem. A day traveling to the desert and the fortress of Masada,
the caves at Qumran and a swim in the Dead Sea.
Included: Flights from Boston, most meals, 9 nights in hotels, entrance
fees. More details upon request.
Let me know if you are interested,
Jeff
All Choristers are invited to sing "Beautiful City" on Sunday August 18th for Rev. Scott's first Sunday with us!
Summer drop-in choir continues through Sunday September 1st. Rehearsals @9AM Sunday mornings. All Are Welcome!!
Choir's first rehearsal back is Thursday September 5th @6:15PM
Youth Choir Parents will be receiving a google form for registration this year in their email. If you have a child in 5th-12th grade that enjoys singing, please be in touch! Rehearsals for the 2019/2020 year are on Sundays from 11:30-12:00 (every Sunday except the first Sunday of the month.)
HAPPY SUMMER!
Music MinistryMusic Director: Jacqueline Savage
Email: [email protected]
August 14th
First Parish Congregational Church7:00 pm
What an exciting month August is
going to be with the arrival of our
settled pastor, Scott Cousineau. I
know everyone is very excited
about his arrival.
As he arrives, Jeff Larsen will depart as our
Bridge minister but, hopefully not as a fellow
parishioner. Thank you so much Jeff for the
stability, humor and wonderful stories you have
shared with us these past couple months. There
is much happening right now at First Parish.
Last month we had an incredible Vacation Bible
School. We were blessed to have a number of
children from Little Treasures child care from
Cleveland Street. They were a wonderful
addition to the program. Many thanks to all our
Bible Storytellers, Peter Gray, (Mon. and Fri.),
Judy Gray, (Tues), Jeff Larsen, (Wed), and
Faith Garnett, (Thurs). Every story was
fascinating and a number of the stories were ones
that we do not always here about at Church
school. The rest of the team included Marge
Belanger, who arranged for our Bible
Storytellers, Ella Marston, crafts, Susan
Marston, music, Camilla Roberge and mom,
Danielle Roberge, recreation, Nadine Russell,
science experiments, Aldene Walters, snacks,
Kris Galasyn, reflection time and helpers,
Heather Galasy, Sam (from Little Treasures),
Margot Levasseur and Will Marston.
Such a fun team for a fun and faith filled week.Check out a few pictures here and more on ourbulletin board in the atrium.
Our service project for the week, was to bring
in donations for the Asylum Seekers that
recently came into Maine. We appreciate all
the wonderful items that were donated. Gently
used clothing, toiletries, personal hygiene
products, shoes, suitcases and much more.
Thank you so much.
Our theme for next year, 2020, is already
revealed:Knights of North Castle.
At Cokesbury's VBS 2020, Knights of North Castle: Quest for the King's Armor, children grow strong in the Lord and in the strength God's power by exploring of how
we put on the armor of God.
Brave Knights (boys and girls) begin their quest each session by opening the King's Book. They explore Old and New Testament stories and discover different pieces of protective armor -the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Justice, the Shoes of Peace, the Shield of Faith, and the Helmet of Salvation - at work in the lives of familiar Bible characters, and explore how that armor works in their own lives as they follow and serve God.
Theme Verse: Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Ephesians 6:10 (CEB). See you then everyone.
Until then, we will see you at Church. Have a great summer, stay safe and know that God loves you.
K r i s
Was amazing with all
our campers. Here is a
picture from Arts
Alive.
I’m sure you will
recognize this young
man.
Then from July 14 to
20 we
had a change for Sagan Guerrette and
Aidan Fiske who ended up going toMiddler Spirit. Here is a picture from their
camp. So Cool!!!
July into August,
First Parish has 6
youth going to the
ever popular
Destination
Hogwarts. They
are:
Spencer Cook,
Johanna Fitzgerald,
Hope Poore,
Camilla Roberge,
Ella Walters and
Cameron Wiggins-Mehlman. I can’t waitto share some pictures from that camp next
month.
Jesus says:
“Let the little Children
come
to me”
-Matthew 19:14
Helping Lisa in the
Nursery for the month of July was:
7th Mary Sicard & Katherine Karbel
14th Jo Nancy Gunn
21st Lidia Macaia
28th Mary Coyne
Thank you to all who have signed up
for helping in our Nursery. Our new
sign up sheet for the Fall and Winter
is up and we hope you will continue
your generosity by signing up.
“Its Only One Sunday!”
First Parish Christian Education
Team appreciates your time.
Thank you
Homecoming Sunday is
September 8th.Church school registration is on thewebsite: www.firstparishsaco.org
Click on Worship, then Christian
Education. We appreciate your
registering all children as soon as you
can. It makes our registration process
flow better. All registrations will need to
be signed by a parent or guardian.
July at Pilgrim Lodge
Continue on next page
Summer News from “The Good News Team"
Hello First Parish Church!!The Beatles Concert was just
Great! A special Thank You to Kathleen Larson. She was such
a wonderful Hostess. I know you all had fun and were Glad You
went because I heard from many of you...Next Year we will plan
another similar concert outing.
The next double special event is on August 24th. We will be
taking a trip to the Sea-Dogs Right Field Pavilion. There, we will
be treated like VIP's enjoying an evening of the national past
time. First Parish will be eating like Baseball royalty, feasting on
Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Pulled Chicken, Baked Beans,
Creamy Cole Slaw, Coke products and the famous Sea Biscuits.
all for $26.00. The gates open at 4:30 and food will be served from
then until 7:00.
If that isn't enough some of our Choir members will be
preforming America the Beautiful before the game
starts. Plus, during the seventh inning stretch, one of our
distinguished choir tenors, Peter Gray will be singing God
Bless America.
You really should not miss this opportunity to rub elbows with
your church family and have a wonderful time!
Sign up opportunities are available at church. Or email Sue
Neumyer at; [email protected] or Jack Neumyer
Or Call me at 207-934-6217 leave a message...Thanks we will
have a great time.
It is here that I am going to borrow a page out of a dear friend's play
book. Be the first to come to me with the secret word "baseball" and I
will have something special for you.
We have more great opportunities for you to get out in or mingle
with the community and spread the Good News with these up-
coming events.
The Auction on October 5th,
The Saco MainStreet Pumpkin Harvest Festival October 19th
The Parade of Lights December 7th.
May God Bless You First Parish
Rick Campbell
Good News Team Continued
ONE MORE THING, don't forget the Saco Main Street Music in
the Parking lot on Thursday nights. These Popular events start
on July 11th at 6:30 and run until August 15th. They feature groups
like Pepperell Square Trio, the Joan Kennedy Duo and Don
Campbell. Look for your GNT and friends from First Parish at a
refreshment table. And try not to tap your foot as the bands play.
Now that is a Conga Line Saco Style
More News form the Good News Team
Please sign up to get your NEWFirst Parish T-Shirt. A new design will be ordered this fall and wouldn't it be great to all have matching T's to
wear to FPC events.
They will be available in V-neck and crew.
For August: the deadline for reservations & paying for the Sea
Dogs game is Sunday, August 4th. Please make your check to
First Parish-SACO and indicate Sea Dogs on the memo line.
Game: August 24th, Tickets are $26/each
This includes: hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled chicken, cole slaw,
baked beans, coke products, AND Sea Dog biscuits as well as a
ticket to the game.
We will be in the picnic area starting at 4:30. The game begins at
6:00, catering ends at 7:00.
Members of the Pick up choir will sing “America, the Beautiful “
before the National Anthem. During the 7th inning stretch, Peter
Gray will sing “God Bless America”...we will make an
arrangement for the distribution of tickets as the game draws near.
The deadline is absolute-August 4th-see Jack at coffee hour in the
next few weeks!
Jack [email protected] or 284-3708
.
First Parish Congregational Church12 Beach Street, Saco
(Corner of Beach and Main St.)Time 5:00 – 6:30 pm
$8.00 for Adults$4.00 for Children ages (6-12)Children under 6 years old free
Menu:Pea Beans
Kidney BeansHot Dogs
Macaroni & CheeseBrown Bread/Dinner Rolls
ColeslawDeserts
Beverages
Bean SuppahAug 10, 2019
2019Bean Supper Dates
February 9March 9 Aug 10April 13 Sept 14May 11 Oct 12June 8 Nov 9July 13
Volunteers WantedWe are looking for volunteers to help
with the Bean Suppers.Please sign up on the sign up sheet
outside the office door.
Book Club
Tuesday, September 24
Summer of '69Elin Hilderbrand
Perfect Strangers
Liane Moriarty
Tuesday, October 22
Tuesday, November 19
Stranger in the Woods
Michael Finkel
Tuesday, December 17
The Prayer BoxLisa Wingate
Missions
Paul Hazleton House
“Pancake Breakfast”
You can help with thePancake Breakfast on Saturday, August
17, from 8 am - 10 am at thePaul Hazleton House, 7 Smith Lane, Saco.
Volunteers make and serve breakfast to the residents of this senior housing.
Maine Seacoast Mission Trip is coming up
September 8-13.Volunteers needed to help
refurbish low income housing inCherryfield, Maine.
The cost will not exceed $325.00. Mission Team funds are available to defray some of
the cost.
Applications can be found under "Missions" on the bulletin board near the office. The first meeting
for all interested will be August 15, 3:00 pm at
Christ Federated Church, 6 Dame St., Kennebunk, ME.
Applications must be submitted by August 15.
Call Dick Cadmus at(207) 985-6788
or [email protected] more information.
Rick and Nancy Twomey will also collect mittens for school age children and lap robes for
the elderly for Seacoast Mission to distribute to those in need.
Donations may be given to Rick or Nancy.
Please sign up on the bulletin board near the office.
Flower & Altar
Altar Flower Signups
Sunday Altar Flower signup sheet is
posted on the wall in the Atrium outside
the office. There are openings in August
through December. Consider providing
flowers for the Altar in memory or honor
of a loved one.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Just a follow-up on my friend Keith.
I forwarded the prayer shawl on to Keith after receiving from you a few
Sundays ago. I enclosed my own note suggesting that either he, his daughter,
or maybe his young granddaughter might find some comfort from it.
A few days later, I received a text message from Keith on a Wednesday
evening. He said for the first time since his wife's passing, he had gone out to
dinner with a friend. He returned home to find a box on his porch with the
prayer shawl in it. He said words cannot convey what it meant to him to be
thought of and cared for by a group of people he's never met.
So know that this ministry is appreciated far and wide.
Thank you! Marianne
Dear Cheryl and knitters,
Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and loving kindness. I was so
surprised when I received my prayer shawl last Sunday. Every stitch with the
positive thoughts of God's love is so appreciated. Little did I know when I
blessed those "blankies" after church service on Sunday that I would be
receiving one for comfort and healing.
I so appreciate your thoughts.
Paulette Hester
Dear Cheryl,
Such peace and comfort your prayer shawl has given me! Thank you!
It's sublime softness and the love with which it was made make me happy, and
I use it every day! Thank you for your kindness. It means the world to me.
May God bless you always.
Charlotte
Please “Save The Date”
You Won’t Want To Miss This Event!
August 1stParimala Samuel
August 2ndCarol Spencer-
LemayKevin Levasseur
August 3rdWilliam Robidoux
Lee Perkins Allison DiMatteo
August 5thDennis Burnham
August 6thPeter Gray
Brett Meiler
August 7thSusan Upham
August 8thRobert Mohlin
August 24thHeather Galasyn
Cheryl Gray
August 25thErin Siulinski Sabena Allen
Elizabeth Johnson
August 26thBenjamin Steva
August 27thPhil Curry
August 28thBeverly Loring
August 29thEvelyn Steva
August 30thRobert Cronin Yvonne Shaw
August 11thEddie Cook
Jennifer Erickson
August 12thGenevieve Linquist Deborah Nielson
August 13thKyle Wentworth
August 14thJacob Steva
August 17thDavid Lovejoy
Kyle Gray
August 20thSusan Tarver
August 21stEmily Savage
August 22ndPriscilla Kelley
August 23rdPatrice Tripp
First Parish Congregational Church
Events Schedule07/23/2019 02:33 PM 1Page:
Time Event Name Event Type Room(s)
Top of the Hill Gang
Thursday, August 1, 2019
09:00 AM - 12:30 PM Fellowship Hall
Service
Sunday Service
Sunday, August 4, 2019
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
ConferenceCounters
Big Book AA
Monday, August 5, 2019
09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Facilities
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
06:30 PM - 07:00 PM Conference
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, August 8, 2019
09:00 AM - 12:30 PM Top of the Hill Gang
Saturday, August 10, 2019
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM Bean Supper Atrium
Fellowship Hall
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Service
Sunday Service
Baptism
Sunday, August 11, 2019
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Conference
Conference
Counters
Council Meeting
Big Book AA
Monday, August 12, 2019
09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Men's Group
WF Board Meeting
GNT
Mission
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
07:15 AM - 09:30 AM
09:30 AM - 11:30 AM
06:00 PM - 08:30 PM
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Parlor
Parlor
Conference
Parlor
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Top of the Hill Gang
Spurwink Graduation
09:00 AM - 12:30 PM
04:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Fellowship Hall
Atrium
Fellowship Hall
Kitchen
Service
Sunday Service
Sunday, August 18, 2019
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
ConferenceCounters
Big Book AA
Monday, August 19, 2019
09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Conference
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
06:00 PM - 08:30 PM Faithnetwork
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM Deaconate Meeting Conference
First Parish Congregational Church
Events Schedule07/23/2019 02:33 PM 2Page:
Time Event Name Event Type Room(s)
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, August 22, 2019
09:00 AM - 12:30 PM Top of the Hill Gang
Saturday, August 24, 2019
04:30 PM - 10:30 PM Sea Dog outing
Service
Sunday Service
Sunday, August 25, 2019
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
ConferenceCounters
Big Book AA
Monday, August 26, 2019
09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Faithnetwork
Men's Group
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
06:00 PM - 08:30 PM
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Conference
Parlor
Thursday, August 29, 2019
09:00 AM - 12:30 PM Top of the Hill Gang Fellowship Hall
Thank You to All Our Teams, Team Members, Committees and All our Volunteers for All the Work
That you Do!
The MessengerFirst Parish Congregational Church 12 Beach StreetSaco, ME 04072
