First Congregational Church Billerica

Fall Update

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Sun Oct 16 Pajama Sunday

Tue Oct 18 Playgroup 9:30 am

Lay Shepherds 10:30 am

Bible Study 6:30 pm

Wed Oct 19 Book Group @ Dunkins 10 am

Council 7 pm

Thu Oct 20 Aim-Hi 12 noon

Choir 7 pm

Sat Oct 22 Fall Festival Set-Up 6 pm

Sun Oct 23 Blood Pressure Screening 9 am

Fall Family Festival 11 am

Deacon’s meeting 11:30 am

PF Bowling @ Wamesit Lanes

Tue Oct 25 Playgroup 9:30 am

Bible Study 6:30 pm

Wed Oct 26 Book Group @ Dunkins 10 am

Thu Oct 27 Choir 7 pm

Sun Oct. 30 Fall Congregational Meeting 11:30

am

Ingathering

PF going to Witches Woods

Tue Nov 1 Playgroup 9:30 am

Bible Study 6:30 pm

Wed Nov 2 Book Group @ Dunkins 10 am

Thu Nov 3 Choir 7 pm

Sat Nov 5-6 PF Lock-in

Tue Nov 8 Playgroup 9:30 am

Bible Study 6:30 p

Wed Nov 9 Book Group @ Dunkins 10 am

Fri Nov 11 Veteran’s Day Service 7 pm

Sat Nov 12 Fall Vendor Fair

Sun Nov 13 Ingathering Food donations due

Blood Pressure Screening 9 am

Tue Nov 15 Playgroup 9:30 am

Bible Study 6:30 pm

Wed Nov 16 Council 7 pm

Thu Nov 17 Aim-Hi 12 noon

Choir 7 pm

Sun Nov 20 Youth Ministry meeting 11:30am

PF Assembling Ingathering baskets

Tue Nov 22 Playgroup 9:30 am

Community Thanksgiving Service @

First Parish UU 7 pm

Wed Nov 23 Dinner Prep 10 am

Thu Nov 24 Community Thanksgiving Dinner in

Dale Hall 2 pm

Tue Nov 29 Playgroup 9:30 am

Bible Study 6:30 pm

Your Pastor’s Musings

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the crisp autumn mornings have arrived and I’m finding them refresh-

ing. The high energy preparation for the program year is developing into a rhythm of worship, educa-

tion, and spiritual development. A couple of new things to note are the Sunday Evening Worship at 6 pm

and the Book Group at Dunkin Donuts at 10 am on Wednesdays. The Sunday evening service is a small,

casual, and intimate service designed to fit the needs of busy lives. For the book group we will be read-

ing Carry On Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy Beautiful Life by Glennon Doyle Melton.

Just a chapter at a time. Come and join us at Dunkin Donuts in the Center of Town at 10 am on Wednes-

day mornings. The coffee is on me.

We have new folks joining us, and many new children in Sunday School. Please take a moment and

introduce yourself to folks that you don’t know. Friendly faces and kind words truly do carry us through

the tough spots in life. Our congregation models itself on Jesus’ words in Matthew, “I was a stranger and

you welcomed me.” Our denomination, the United Church of Christ, uses Jesus’ words from the Gospel

of John, “That they all may be one.” Let us reach out into the community with a radical welcome!

Grace and peace in believing, Katherine

Taryn Gillis is our new Communications Office Manager, She is in charge of publicity, scheduling, the pro-

duction of all written materials (bulletins, announcements, newsletters etc) and anything else that frees up Rev

Katherine to do what she does best, minister to us!

Taryn has lived in Billerica for 21 years, with her husband, 3 children and dog. Her children attend Billeri-

ca public schools and the Shawsheen Tech. Taryn is, as her husband likes to call her “A serial volunteer.”

She’s on the Billerica Partners for Education, the Yankee Doodle Homecoming Committee, 2 school councils

and 2 PTO’s.

You can expect to find Taryn in her office next to the main church office, on Tuesdays through Fridays

from 9 am-5 pm. Stop in and introduce yourself, if you haven’t already!

October 16 is Pajama Sunday at FCCB

•Wear your favorite PJ’s to church and Sunday school

•Bring a new pair of pajamas for a child

•We’ll donate them to the Lowell Wish Project

•Your gift of love will help keep a child warm this winter! A donation basket will be in the Sunday School Hallway until Oct. 30. For more information contact Sandy Galvin: Sandragalvin@comcast.netT 2 TO OCT 30

October 23 is the Fall Family Festival •Wear your Halloween costume to church and Sunday school

•Join our Costume parade!

•There will be a magician balloon artist

•Enjoy games, crafts and Halloween snacks!

•There will be a fall-themed picture taking spot.

•Come to Dale Hall directly following Worship and Sunday

school.

•Invite your friends!!

LAY SHEPHERDING

Lay Shepherding is an outreach to our homebound members. It is an opportunity for sharing our joys

and concerns together. We welcome new members, as everyone has something to share with others.

We have been fortunate to have been helped by the youth, music ministry and others. If anyone would

like to be included for a visit or if anyone would like to become a lay shepherd, please contact Barbara

George (978) 667-7335, Glenda Lovegrove (978) 667-3596 or Rev Katherine (978) 663-8433

US Postage Paid

Permit #10

Non-Profit Organization

First Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

18 Andover Road

Billerica, MA 01821

We have set a print media schedule for the year. Lanterns will be published quarterly and you will receive Up-

dates like this one about once a month to keep you informed about happenings at the church.