August-September 2011
From Our Pastor,
Albert Camus, the French author and journalist wrote the philosophical novel The Fall, published in 1956. The story is about a French lawyer, Clamence, who led what both he and others considered “a perfect life” as a successful and respected defense attorney. Most of Clamence’s work was directed toward widows, orphaned children, poor, and disenfranchised people. One night when he is walking home crossing the Pont Royal bridge he sees a woman leaning over the edge. He continues on his way but soon hears the sound of her body hitting the water followed by screams for help. Clamence freezes, and does nothing for fear that his own life would be threatened should he attempt to rescue her. For the remainder of his life he is haunted by his inaction. One night he finds himself standing on the same bridge contemplating suicide because of that evening years earlier, and he utters these words:
“Oh, young woman, throw yourself into the river once again that I might save the both of us.”
Regrets are almost impossible to overcome, and if time were reversible then many regrets would be undone. However, time does not go backward. I have observed over the years that the Church and the people of the Church are not immune to regrets. “If I had my life to live over, I would take my faith more seriously.” “I could have done more for and in the Church.” Good news, there is still time! The Church is, in my opinion, entering a new era just as the rest of the world is doing the same. The expectations and opportunities for the Church to be a voice in a time of uncertainty are now before us.
As people get settled in following the summer, I encourage you to commit to making a new start with the church. Be open to seeing everything in a new ways, for there are new needs. Commit yourself to participating in a new or expanded manner. By doing such, I think you will be surprised at the results, not only for you or the church, but for both. “Oh, young woman, throw yourself into the river once again that I might save the both of us.”
Peace,
~ Don
HAPPY SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Please let someone on the Growth Committee know if we have not included your birthday or listed it incorrectly.
September 2 Margot Wise, Allison Tracy
September 5 Cindy Brown, Sara Zanin
September 6 Jackie Hawkins
September 10 John Frelinghuysen, Lee Dixon
September 11 Christopher Niebuhr
September 18 Sandy Moore
September 22 Jane Cole
September 23 Patty Fadding
September 24 Barbara Kershner
September 26 Brenda Hawkins
September 27 Lois Hall, Linda Frelinghuysen, John McKinstry
September 28 Tracy Schneyer
September 30 Nancy Dartford
Please remember the following in your prayers:
Jane Waitt, W. Stockbridge
Allie Holmes, Lenox
Joan Selva, Stockbridge
Jan Lindstrom, Sweetbrook Nursing Home, Williamstown
Marge Szewczyk, Fairview Commons, Gt. Barrington
Anne Braman, Village at Laurel Lake, Lee
Pat Martin, Stockbridge
HISTORIC PROPERTY FUND SANCTUARY ROOF PROJECT UPDATE
Bids on the new Sanctuary roof have been received and the project has been awarded to David L. Lanoue, Inc.. The cost of the new roof will be $92,736. David Lanoue comes highly recommended by our architect on the project, Jack Sobon. Jack has worked on several jobs with David and says his work is excellent. David will be starting on the roof sometime in September and has estimated about six weeks to project completion.
The Sanctuary roof fund drive has received $41,000 in contributions to date. While this is a solid performance, we now have a project that is going to cost the Church $92,000. This is a difference of $51,000. This difference will have to be taken from the existing Historic Property Fund, which will put a huge drain on those resources. The fund campaign is ongoing and we expect to receive more contributions in the future. If anyone has $50,000 hanging around (or a lesser amount) that they would like to contribute to this excellent cause, please mail your check to the Church at PO Box 825, Stockbridge, MA 01262. Please indicate in the memo section of the check “Roof Project”. Of course, any contributions can also be placed in the offering plate on Sunday. Thank you.
~ Your Trustees
SERVICE LEAGUE
The start of the year for the Service League will be September 12 with a luncheon at 12:00 Noon. Please call Jackie at 413-274-3322 if you can make it.
The Summer Fair was highly successful – we cleared $1,200 and we thank everyone for their efforts. We also would like to thank people for their efforts toward the clean up buckets for the tornado relief. We were able to send 20 buckets.
SHARING THE HARVEST, RENEWING OUR VISION
Rally Day is September 11! We will be starting the year with a Sharing the Harvest Pot Luck lunch after church. Sunday School will be starting, so look for friendly faces in the classrooms.
Bring an easy luncheon dish AND your extra squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans – whatever is taking over your vegetable patch to share as well! We hope this year is one where we will be sharing a harvest of ideas, service, and renewal.
SUNDAY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Would you like to help out in the Sunday School Class?
We are looking for interested people to help introduce “Godly Play” lessons to our curriculum. We have lessons and material and enthusiasm about the new year. We don’t need you to come every week, but if you would like to be a part of the team, please let us know.
We are also looking for people who would like to share a “special” talent that can be related to Scripture and Bible stories with the students. If you would like to do a “special” using music, dance, story telling, writing, art – whatever is applicable – please let the CE committee know.
Lois Rose, Steve Alsdorf, Michelle Gillett, Wendy Nicolosi
MISSION AND ACTION
The Mission and Action committee is heading into the last four months of the year with new enthusiasm. From now until the end of the year we ask you to keep in mind:
The coat drive in October: We will put out a coat rack in the JE room for you to place your jackets, sweaters, coats and other outerwear items that M & A will give to local charities.
The Walk to Prevent Homelessness on October 16, 2011: Break in those walking shoes and join Construct, Inc. in the 23rd Walk to Prevent Homelessness at 1 pm at Butternut Ski Area on Rt. 23 in Gt. Barrington. Walk route is to Construct, Inc. building on 41 Mahaiwe St. from Butternut.
Our M & A committee has supported Construct for many years and we are hoping we’ll meet the congregational challenge to raise a minimum of $1000 with walkers/supporters from our church. Stay tuned to see how you can help us meet our goal.
Construct
Phone: 413-528-1985
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OPEN TABLE
We continue funding and staffing the Open Table at the Grange Hall in Stockbridge every Thursday at 5:30 pm. Anne Hutchinson has remained steadfast in her vision for our church to be a leader in helping feed our neighbors. Our church staffs the 1st and 3rd Thursday dinners, but it has been difficult for her to find local groups to staff the other two Thursday evenings. Please let Anne know if you can help this worthy cause in any way.
Stockbridge Grange
Grange Hall
51 Church Street
Nearest Route: on 102
CHRISTMAS TREE TAGS
Last year Mission and Action was very successful with gift giving to families in need of a blessed Christmas. Over 90 gifts were bought for needy families. We were able to support gift giving into the New Year as more donations continued after Christmas. Thank you all so very much.
This year we are planning to put up the Christmas tree with tags on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, so members can have a chance to purchase during the black Friday sales. We are also planning to add gift tags featuring our animal friends! Many members of our committee feel that our four legged friends in shelters or being cared for by local non-profit organizations like Animal Dreams can use a gift or two.
Anyone who wants our committee to be their personal shopper again this year, please feel free to send a donation to the church with “Mission & Action Christmas Gift” on the memo line. We will pull a tag and shop for you!
Our church volunteered at The People’s Pantry last Thursday and submitted donation requests. The pantry is in desperate need of paper goods, health and beauty aids like toothpaste and soap. Additionally, cans with tab tops are appreciated since some shoppers with arthritis cannot use manual can openers. Items in great need at the moment are brown rice, box cereal, oatmeal, and low sodium foods of any kind. Thank you for your donations.
Respectfully submitted,
Madonna Meagher
Chair, Mission and Action Committee
STOCKBRIDGE FESTIVAL CHORUS STARTS REHEARSALS
Hello every interested singer!
I know many of you look forward to the fall foliage colors, but I most look forward to starting up rehearsals with the Stockbridge Festival Chorus for our annual Holiday Concert. The concert date is Saturday, December 10, at 5 pm (I am still confirming this so as not to conflict with any other area choruses). The program will be Vaughan Williams’ Magnificat for women’s chorus and alto soloist, composed in 1932. The other major work will be Flor Peeter’s Magnificat for SATB choir and organ, composed in 1962. We will fill out the rest of the program with anthems by Mathias, Rutter, Howells, Ives, and Kodaly, and possibly a Fantasy by Gustav Holst.
All rehearsals take place in our church sanctuary from 1 pm to 2:30 pm, starting Sunday, September 25. The only exception is the first rehearsal, when we’re holding a potluck lunch at noon for everyone to get acquainted and re-acquainted.
Dues for the semester are $25 which include the purchase of your music and some of our overhead. Dues and registrations will be collected the first few Sundays. No one needs to audition and all we ask is that you don’t miss more than three rehearsals. We are especially looking for tenors and basses.
So – if you are interested and would like to sing, and if you can come to the potluck and can bring something, let me know!
Tracy Wilson
Conductor, Stockbridge Festival Chorus
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GROWTH & FELLOWSHIP REPORT
Can it be true? Rally Day is already upon us! The return of the choir, the kids(!), and the energy of September in the air!
Here’s what Growth and Fellowship learned from the All-Church Meeting last spring and the summer sermons and messages of interim pastor Don Hammond:
- We need to improve our focus on Growth
- We need to use our resources for Fellowship wisely
- At the All-Church Meeting, we identified our Church strengths: music, history, physical space, warmth, caring and connection, community.
For Growth and Fellowship, the big picture seemed about history, warmth, caring and connection, community. So, this summer we focused on:
- Developing a brief hand-out for tourists/visitors about the incredible history of this Church.
- Ways of welcoming visitors, relying on members of our Committee, Trustees, and Pastor Hammond, who convey a wonderful presence of outreach when they greet visitors at the door.
- The Coffee Hour has been wonderfully staffed, as usual, with Choir members “on vaca,” regular Church attendees, and some “disenchantees” whose lives have taken them away from First Congo. The bounty, as ever, is more than plentiful. Thank you all!
A prevailing wind in the Congregation, however, is that we’re overly generous in our Coffee Hour – especially in regard to children, who may scarf up sweets instead of real food later in the day. And, participating in our extravaganza exacts costs many of our members can’t afford in this economy. So, we are asking Coffee Hour volunteers to scale back on provisions: Think Small Planet.
Though it’s wonderful to see the homespun take on Coffee Hour fare, G&F provides simple back-up cookies and goldfish, as needed. It’s important to remember the main purpose of Coffee Hour is welcome and fellowship. Because Jesus did Table Worship, Coffee Hour is also about transferring that welcome through food. All Jesus used was bread, wine, and the grace of water. Real Simple!
What’s really needed are more people in the Congregation. We are discussing more adult education programs that would appeal to adults in the community. All suggestions are welcome.
Jack Brown’s innovative music program this summer brought a sizable Youth Choir here, which toughed out a whole Worship Service and should be a point of consideration for our future grown. Again, all ideas welcome.
Thanks to all!
~ Growth & Fellowship
SUNDAY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Would you like to help out in the Sunday School Class?
We are looking for interested people to help introduce “Godly Play” lessons to our curriculum. We have lessons and material and enthusiasm about the new year. We don’t need you to come every week, but if you would like to be a part of the team, please let us know.
We are also looking for people who would like to share a “special” talent that can be related to Scripture and Bible stories with the students. If you would like to do a “special” using music, dance, story-telling, writing, art—whatever is applicable, please let the CE committee know.
~ Lois Rose, Steve Alsdorf, Michelle Gillett, Wendy Nicolosi
SHARING THE HARVEST, RENEWING OUR VISION
Rally Day is September 11. We will be starting the year with a Sharing the Harvest Pot Luck lunch after church. Sunday School will be starting so look for friendly faces in the classrooms.
Bring an easy luncheon dish AND your extra squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans – whatever is taking over your vegetable patch to share as well! We hope this year is one where we will be sharing a harvest of ideas, service and renewal.