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Please join us for worship, Sundays at 10am in the Fiske Chapel.
Rev. Ross Varney leads worship. Children experience a mixture of worship with
family and classroom time. Refreshments and fellowship follow after the service.
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey, you are
welcome here!
Visit our website at:
http://bellevillechurch.org
Belleville Congregational Church
An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ
MISSION OF BELLEVILLE CHURCH Centered in the inclusive love of Jesus Christ, we seek to be a welcoming,
affirming, and healing congregation. Led by the Holy Spirit, we are
inspired to grow and be renewed through our sharing of our gifts.
Strengthened by God’s love and guidance, we strive to serve with
compassion those in need, both near and far.
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CONTENTS
Calendar 3
Pastoral Ponderings 4
Newburyport Choral Society Concert 5
Rick Lange Christmas Concert 6
Bible Exploration & Mitten Tree 7
Service Club 8
Men’s Fellowship Dinner and
Women’s Coffee & Conversation 9
Happy Birthday 10
Adult and Youth Choir 11
Thrift Shop 12
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 13
Ushers & Scripture Readers 14
Coffee hour 15
Contacts 16
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2018 CALENDAR
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1
9-12 Thrift Shop
8pm Merrimac
Heights Academy
Event
2
10am Worship in
the Chapel with
Communion
11:15 Youth
choir rehearsal
3
7pm CODA
4
7pm NCS
rehearsal
5
9-12 Thrift Shop
6pm Men’s
Fellowship
Dinner
6:30pm Choir
rehearsal
6
1pm Bible
Exploration
7 8
9- 12 Thrift Shop
8pm NCS
Concert
9
10am Worship in
the Chapel
11:15 Youth
choir rehearsal
1pm NCS
Concert
10
7pm CODA
11
1:30pm
Service
Club
12 9-12 Thrift Shop
6:30pm Choir
rehearsal
7:30pm
Stewardship &
Finance
13
1pm Bible
Exploration
14
15
9-12 Thrift Shop
9am Women’s
Coffee &
Conversation
8pm Rick Lange
Concert
16
10am Worship in
the Chapel
11:15am Youth
choir rehearsal
17
7pm CODA
18
19
9-12 Thrift
Shop
6:30pm Choir
rehearsal
7pm Executive
Board
20
1pm Bible
Exploration
21 22
9-12 Thrift Shop
23
10am Worship in
the Chapel
11:15am Youth
choir rehearsal
24
7pm CODA
25
26
9-12 Thrift Shop
6:30pm Choir
rehearsal
7pm Executive
Board
27
1pm Bible
Exploration
28 29
9-12 Thrift Shop
30 31
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Pastoral Ponderings
by Rev. Ross Varney
Dear Friends,
I am almost at a loss of words for what feels like desperate times, in the midst of
Christmas preparations. Indeed we continue with polarization everywhere, now in
some kind of crescendo, awaiting possibly dramatic conclusions. I admit to watching,
reading or hearing too much political news; it seems more like a fast paced
intercontinental espionage movie, with talk of “double agents”, fall guys, and who is
gaming who. Amidst it all, can we say anything about Christmas and "Peace on
Earth"???
I sure hope so. Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Way: Jesus
says, follow me, come to me. The Truth: seldom seen these days, but Jesus reminds us
that “what is in darkness will eventually come to the light.” The Life: As in “A
Wonderful Life,” there can even be Joy, or “fullness of Joy” as Jesus says.
I hope we can all take breaks from the news cycles full of deception, crimes, bold
face lies and murders. JESUS is indeed the “reason” for this season, and our focus is
his INCARNATION, his coming in the flesh, walking this earthly path with people
then and with us now. We call him EMMANUEL, because it means God-With-Us.
“Truly he taught us to love one another” as we hear in a favorite Christmas Eve solo.
So we also must walk with each other, accompany each other, love each other. If Jesus
is known as the Prince of Peace, it is not because he magically makes peace for all of
us, but because he our supreme role model, and shows us his own example of making
peace. And his forgiveness wasn’t an easy “get out of jail free” card. Truth, Justice,
Repentance and honest Contrition always came with his peacemaking, as with all the
Hebrew prophets.
Lord have Mercy on our world this Christmas time, but give us strength to keep
working for Peace.
Ross
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NEWBURYPORT CHORAL SOCIETY
PEACE and REMEMBRANCE
WINTER 2018 CONCERT
Saturday, December 8th at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 9th at 2:30 p.m.
Belleville Congregational Church ● 300 High Street, Newburyport
Please join us for our Winter 2018 Concert “Peace and Remembrance,” a joyful and reflective evening to ring in the holiday season, with music that will appeal to all ages and musical
tastes!
The concert will explore the concepts of peace and remembrance through music of the season, both secular and sacred. The centerpiece of the concert is the Messe de Minuit de Noël by
Marc-Antoine Charpentier. This masterpiece from the French Baroque era incorporates French carols within the framework of a traditional Christmas Oratorio/Midnight Mass.
We will also feature Armistice Sonnets, a very special piece by Utah composer Andrew Maxfield commemorating the centenary of the signing of the Armistice after WWI. The
Newburyport Choral Society will be the only chorus in Massachusetts to perform this piece in 2018 and will join choruses across the country in a special nationwide presentation of this
work and this important commemoration!
And of course, our concert will include favorite carols of the season, professional vocal soloists, the NCS Orchestra, accompanist Dr. Kirsten Helgeland and the delightful voices of
the Greater Newburyport Children’s Chorus: All under the baton of NCS Music Director Dr. George Case.
THIS WILL BE A MUSICAL EXPERIENCE NOT TO BE MISSED!
Advance Tickets: Adults, $22; Seniors/Students, $20
Day of Concert/At door: All tickets, $25
For tickets, go to www.newburyportchoralsociety.org, or visit one of our convenient ticket outlet locations:
Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, 38 Merrimac St., Unit 101
Jabberwocky Bookshop, 50 Water Street, Newburyport
The Book Rack, 52 State Street, Newburyport
The Natural Grocer, 334 High Street
Conley’s Drug Store, 146 High St. —Ipswich
Starbird Jewelers, 80 Main St. —Amesbury
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“Christmas In Historic Newburyport”
When: Saturday December 15th, 2018 Where: Belleville Congregational Church, 300 High Street, Newburyport MA
Time: 7:30 PM (doors open at 6:45 PM) Tickets: $15 at the door (general admission only)
The "Christmas In New England" Concert Tour will kick off its 15th season this December.
This one of a kind Christmas show features a seasonal blend of traditional, contemporary, and
original Christmas Music performed with acoustic instruments and vocals. The cast of performers
include some of the most talented musicians, vocalists and songwriters in the New England
region: Amy Gallatin, Karen Lincoln Wilber, Dave Dick, Roger Williams, Ken Taylor,
Krissy Dick, Bob Dick & Rick Lang.
Together they put together a unique performance guaranteed to entertain and dazzle audiences
wherever they play. "Christmas In New England" is fast becoming an annual tradition all across
New England. This lively upbeat concert offers a welcome relief from the Holiday rush, providing
simple moments to treasure, and a chance to slow down and savor the season. Please join us for
this truly uplifting Holiday event.
Contact:
The Belleville Congregational Church, 300 High Street, Newburyport MA 01950
Contact: Pastor Ross Varney
Tel 978-465-7734
E-mail: [email protected]
www.bellevillechurch.org
For more info about the 2018 "Christmas In New England" Concert Tour (including the performer bios, photos, performance videos) log on to: www.christmasinnewengland.net
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Thursday afternoons at 1pm in the parlor.
When you’re Christmas shopping please remember our Mitten Tree. We need gloves,
hats and scarves.
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Service Club
Tuesday, December 11th at 1:30 in the Bannister
Room. Yankee Swap, refreshments and Christmas
carols with Ross. Please join us!
9
Men’s Fellowship Dinner
Wednesday, December 5th
Gather at 6pm, dinner at 6:30pm
Women’s Coffee and Conversation Saturday, December 15th from 9 – 10:30am, in the parlor
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December January
1 James Marshall 1 Bob Locke 6 Cathy Morrow 5 Kip Tyler 10 Jennifer Allard 10 Caden Allard 10 Tyler Jay 12 James Guyette 11 Scott Smith 16 Jennifer (Locke) Donovan 20 Jean Kirkpatrick 23 Robert Crofts 21 Michael Allard 23 Nicole Samuelson 21 William DeGiovanni 26 Jim Samuelson 25 Norm Hansen 26 Andrea DeGiovanni 26 Joe DeGiovanni
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Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm
Youth choir rehearses Sunday mornings after the 10am Worship
service.
12
Come by and see what’s new!
The thrift shop is
Open every Wednesday and Saturday
From 9am till noon.
The Christmas extravaganza room now
open and ready for you holiday shopping.
13
Monday, December 24th at 5:30pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
in the Meetinghouse
Join us as we celebrate the gifts of hope,
peace, joy and love, brought into our world
through Christ’s birth.
We welcome everyone to the warmth and joy
of this candlelight service.
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USHERS
December January
2 Jean Kirkpatrick & Gail Gandolfi - Communion 6 The DeGiovanni Family – no communion
9 Joe DeGiovanni & Ben Heersink 13 James & Tracy Gorman
16 Jean Kirkpatrick & Mike Conaway 20 Jean Kirkpatrick & Kathy Raywood
23 Gail Gandolfi & Shirley Locke 27 Mardee Beauparlant & Carol Beauparlant
24 Christmas Eve TBA
30 Gail Gandolfi & Peggy Utterback
December 2 Peggy Utterback
9 Kelly Burke-Anderson
16 Lynn Varney
23 Gail Gandolfi
24 Christmas Eve TBA
30 Ben Heersink
15
December
2 Peggy Utterback, Mary Lou Tyler & Carol Beauparlant
9 Sue Wolfendale, Norma Dean & Diane Crofts
16 Sue Heersink, Tracy Gorman & Tim Conway
23 Audrey Clarkson, Lynn Varney & Janet Woodman
30 No Coffee Hour
January
6 Sue Heersink, Dorothy Williamson & Carolyn Kyle
13 Nancy Canali, Gail Gandolfi & Sean Goguen
20 Shirley Locke, Karen Conway & Marcia Samuelson
27 Mardee Beauparlant, Diane Crofts & Jennifer Allard
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Church Staff & Contact Information
Pastor Ross Varney 978-462-4899
Office hours: Tuesday 11 AM – 12:30
Wednesday & Thursday 10:30 AM - Noon;
or by appointment.
Church Office 978-465-7734
Valerie Gates, Office Administrator
Office hours: Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Church Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bellevillechurch.org
Andrea DeGiovanni, Organist & Music
Director
James Gorman, Sexton
Newsletter Submissions
Do you have an article that you would like to include in
the monthly newsletter?
If so, please submit your article to the church office by the
20th of each month.
Thank you!
Church Officers
Moderator: Kelly Burke-Anderson
Clerk: Kathy Raywood
Treasurer: Jim Samuelson
Collector: Norma Dean
Memorial Fund Treasurer:
Auditor:
Members-at-Large (Ex. Board)
Shirley Locke & Ben Heersink
Contact Persons
Board of Fellowship & Outreach:
Martha Kelleher
Board of Worship & Education:
Gail Gandolfi
Board of Stewardship &
Finance: Hans Erwich
UCC Delegate:
Sunday School Coordinator
Flower Coordinator
Hospitality Coordinator Audrey Clarkson
Belleville Congregational Church An Open and Affirming Congregation
of the United Church of Christ
300 High Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
978-465-7734
bellevillechurch.org
