Publications

Worship Services
Sunday unless otherwise noted

November 9th, 2008, 8am and 10am
 Stewardship Sunday
Sermon:“Tending God’s Light”     
 Scripture:Matthew 25: 1-13   
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Douglas Nielsen


November 16th, 2008, 8am and 10am
 Bible Sunday
 Sermon: “Tight-Fisted Fear”      
 Scripture: Matthew 25: 14-30  
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Douglas Nielsen


November 23rd, 2008, 8am and 10am
Twenty-sixth  Sunday after Pentecost
 Sermon:  “Of Sheep and Goats”   
 Scripture:  Matthew 25: 31-46
Theme: Thanksgiving and the great judgment/call  
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Douglas Nielsen 

 

Every Sunday at First Parish

CAR COURTESY CONSIDERATIONS:  It is our desire to keep the parking spaces in our lot available for those who would physically benefit from being closer to the church.  Your choice to utilize our street or off-site parking will help those people a great deal.  There is a wheelchair in the Coat Room located off the Atrium that may be used to assist anyone who needs help transferring from a vehicle. We also thank you for remembering to turn off your cell phones as you enter the Sanctuary. Bless you for your courtesy and cooperation.

OUR “QUIET ROOM”- (at the back of the Sanctuary) is available for anyone who needs to leave the service but would still like to remain connected with the worship.   Simply ask an usher for assistance

DID YOU FORGET YOUR GLASSES? Borrow a pair of "Readers" (Mag +1.5 to +3.5) at the Listening Receiver Table. They are bagged to keep them clean. An enclosed alcohol wipe will help keep them clean..

AUDIO / VISUAL MINISTRY: Each Sunday worship service is recorded and is available on DVD shortly after the service.  If you would like to experience an aspect of the morning again, or if you would like to bring the service to someone who could not be here this morning, please look on the table next to the office for the DVD’s.

FIRST PARISH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH is committed to maintaining an environment free of peanut/tree nut allergens on the lower level of the church.   Therefore, only food that is free of peanut/tree nut allergens are allowed on the lower level.  This includes foods that may have trace amounts of allergens introduced during the manufacturing process.  Please read all labels carefully.  Signs will be posted and a brochure with more information will be available.  Please remember NO food is to be brought into the nursery.
 

CHECK IT OUT! Please visit the Green Table just outside the Sanctuary. You will find updated church calendars, inserts, opportunities to recycle and the church’s efforts to keep America green by reducing the amount of paper you receive in your weekly bulletin.

Publications

First Parish Sunday Update 
November 16, 2008

Deacons and Ushers today are: Troy McGahey, Pam Mohlin, Jane Campbell, Sue Worster, George and Norma Gorham, Jo and Dan Dearborn.

The Greeters  today are:  Jo and Dan Dearborn. 

Coffee Fellowship this morning is hosted by the Flower and Altar Committee.    

Attendance Last Sunday:
8:00AM  Service  29           10:00AM   Service 261
 Nursery &  Church School: 75

THE NURSERY is staffed this morning by our coordinator Lisa Duchaine and Lori RaftusOur nursery is located on the Lower Level.  There is an easy to use pager system available and all parents are asked to take one when dropping off a child.  Please do not leave any food with your child. Cheerios are available if a snack is needed.  Baby bottles/sippy cups are allowed.   The nursery is available for little ones up to age three. Your little ones are important to us OUR “QUIET ROOM” (at the back of the Sanctuary) is available for anyone who needs to leave the service but would still like to remain connected with the worship.  (Simply ask an usher for assistance.)
 

FIRST PARISH YOUTH FELLOWSHIP has their own “CLYNK” account.  .  There is a special green bag that has our own “barcode” on it.  Just fill up the bag and drop it off at Hannaford’s or bring it back to church and we will take care of it. Thanks to so many of you we have $258.85 in the account. Please see Kris Galasyn, or email Kris:  kris@firstparishsaco.org if you need a bag.  Thank you.    

 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FIRST PARISH 
The totals for giving for
Sunday, November 9th  

                      Congregational Pledges     $  3905.50

                      Loose Offering                    $   404.37

The budget that we approved for 2008 included total pledges of $234,747 which if you average it over 52 weeks comes to $4514.36 per week.  First Parish needs our support to maintain the programs that we all enjoy.

 

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP will NOT be raking leaves today.  We will be having our “Giving Thanks Lock in starting this Friday, November 21st (7PM) to Saturday, November 22nd (9:30 AM).  Please bring a non perishable food item for the Thanksgiving Baskets and a cake/ brownie/cookie/ bread mix to make for our Bake Sale for next Sunday.
 

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP BAKE SALE will be happening NEXT Sunday, November 23rd  following morning worship.  All the money raised goes to fill Thanksgiving Baskets (including a turkey) for those in need in our tri city area.  Our Turkey shopping cart will also be accepting nonperishable food items for the baskets.  We especially will need:  can vegetables and fruits, cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy mixes.  We appreciate your help.

 

NEW ORLEANS WORKCAMP will hold their FIRST meeting TODAY from 1 to 3 PM at First Parish.

 

2008 ANNUAL SURVEY  The responses to the 2008 annual survey have been compiled and the reports are  available on a table in the narthex for those who wish to read the results.   Please return the report when you have finished reading it.

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SPURWINK ADOPT A FAMILY  Nancy Babyak has graciously donated her time and energy to organize Holiday gifts for a few Spurwink Families that need some special help this holiday season.  She will be in the atrium  today, and on November 23rd, hoping that parishioners will make a monetary donation or buy a specific item for a certain child.   Thank you. 

FREE THE CHILDREN Today, following coffee hour, the First Parish Mission Committee invites you to a luncheon where Whitney Despres will share her experience with Free the Children by presenting her recent mission trip to Ecuador.  If you are interested in attending please sign up on the yellow pad in the atrium. Hope to see you there!

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WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP invites you to an angel ornament workshop on Tuesday, November 18t at 10:00AM.  It will be held at the church  Fellowship Hall. Come and make 2 ornaments. Bring a sandwich, dessert and coffee will be provided.

 

SACO FOOD PANTRY NEEDS
 “Open your hand, to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:11
Changing your routine grocery shopping from a chore into an act of service and ministry? 
Prayerfully consider adding these requested items to your shopping list and bringing them with you to worship on the Sunday’s noted below.
How about changing your routine grocery shopping chore into an act of service and faithful ministry during this season of Lent?  Please prayerfully consider adding these requested items to your shopping list and bringing them with you to worship on the Sunday’s noted below.

TODAY-  Cake Mixes
NEXT WEEK - Tea (Regular- not flavored)     

Nov 30           

         Paper Products
 

Our food pantry is grateful for any food item and money is always appreciated. During the playing of the Doxology, we will bring forward and bless a basket of food which is illustrative of the items that have been donated, along with the morning offering during each of the identified weeks.   Thank you for your participation.   

SWEAT SUITS NEEDED The York County Homeless Shelter is still in need of sweat suits of all sizes, toddler to adult. Donations of bedding and personal care items are also requested. Please place donations in the purple laundry basket in under the table in the Atrium.

 MMj02868270000[1]IT’S ANGEL TIME AGAIN The Angel Tree for the York County Homeless Shelter will be set up in the Atrium by November 23rd.  Select a gift tag from the tree. Purchase the gift. Return the gift, unwrapped, with the gift tag on it, back under the tree by December 14th. We will deliver the gifts to the York County Shelter in time for the gifts to be distributed by Christmas. Be an Angel and brighten someone’s Christmas day!

 

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WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP GINGERBREAD FAIR will take place on Saturday, December 6.  One way you can make a contribution is to bake your favorite recipes for the Bake Table, muffins for the Snack Bar, or a batch(s) of cookies for the Cookie Walk. The Candy Table is looking fudge, peanut brittle, etc. Homemade jams, pickles, and relish are always welcome. Please bring your goodies to the church on Friday, Dec. 5th or early on the morning of the fair. Thank you for your support in making the Gingerbread Fair a success.

MCSO02085_0000[1]POINSETTIA PLANTS It’s time to order Christmas Fair Poinsettia Plants. Plants are available in Red, Pink and White for $18.00 each. A sign-up sheet will be in the Atrium or contact Joyce Bissell at 282-6798.


MCj04300010000[1]COLLECTIBLES TABLE It is time to start thinking about your treasures for the fair.  We are accepting articles in good condition, clean, and ready to sell, something people would purchase.  Any electronics need to be in working order.  If you have items to donate or have any questions, please call Barbara Prentiss at 282-0310.  Pick-up service for large items will be available.  Thank you.

MCj03360500000[1]CHRISTMAS WREATHS  It’s time to sign up for your Christmas wreaths. Beginning on Sunday, November 16th Nan Cone will be taking orders for wreaths. She will have a sign- up sheet in the Atrium after worship. The cost is $10.00 for undecorated   and $12.00 for decorated wreaths.

We are a faith community of diverse people whose common ministry is to rejoice in God's love, as well as to heal the brokenness with each other and with God. Responding to that call, we welcome all persons of every age, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital standing, physical and mental ability, economic status and family structure into the life, membership, leadership and ministry of this church. We affirm each person as a child of God, worthy of God's love and our love, and covenant to support one another in our celebrations, sorrows and spiritual growth. We invite all over the threshold of Christ's open door to engage with us in the work of this church in the world. As a result of our Statement of Inclusion, the United Church of Christ recognizes First Parish as a part of the family of Open and Affirming UCC Congregations throughout the United States.
 For the full statement, please click here.