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1 The TCC Connection
Dear friends,
As summer opens up we enjoy the amazing col-ors of the azalea's, viburnums and mountain lau-rels. The early June colors belong to bushes and not just flowers, bushes that were planted years ago and are now flourishing for our pleas-ure.
Jesus used images of growth in his ministry. The tiny seed of faith would become the great mus-tard tree in his parables. He too appreciated the natural world and the lessons it has for us with patience and organic growth.
Seeds have already been planted at our church. JoJo Scharmer, who is a beloved member and has been on the staff of the church for a number of years, is branching out in her work. Three years ago she gathered a group of women who wanted to grow in their ability 'to ask for help'. The group has grown and changed but has become a loyal group of spiritual friends... women who have come to love each other, even if they wouldn't have chosen each other from the start as friends.
This is JoJo's seed bed. She is hoping to make this great small group her seed bed for planting more groups at TCC.
I hope over the summer that you will give this some thought. I am wondering if a number of you will want to be in a monthly small group that goes deeper in faith and friendship. Come to JoJo (as some are already) and talk to her about your interest. Something good will grow over time here. I know it!
And have a restful and renewing summer. This is a season when we not only gather Sunday mornings, but experience a quality of worship and time together that is unique to the summer. We wander off the beaten path and explore topics in worship that are more personal and less 'main stream'.
There will be child care every Sunday and a class for younger chil-dren almost every week.
See you soon!
Pastor Jonathan
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE
ZERO WASTE DAY 2
MISSIONS 3
LADIES AID and
FRIENDSHIP
CIRCLE
5
RELIGIOUS ED 6
VBS 7
NOTES FROM
LINUS
8
TRI-FOLD 9
The TCC CONNECTION Volume 3, Issue 3 June/July 2013
It was you who set all
the boundaries of the
earth; you made both
summer and winter.
Psalm 74:17
2 The TCC Connection
5th Annual Zero Waste Day, September 21
st In just a few months, the TCC Missions Committee and the Tewksbury Recycling
Committee will partner once again to coordinate Zero Waste Day, Tewksbury’s drive thru donating and recy-cling event. It will be held on Saturday, September 21
st,
from 9am-1pm in the Wynn Middle School parking lot and will feature 14 local non-profit organizations eager to fill their trucks with gently used items and recyclables. Thanks to a fantastic pool of nearly 75 volunteers, this event runs smoothly and with a true spirit of stewardship
to the environment and to our neighbors in need.
How can you help? Promote: Tell your neighbors, share an email, distribute a handout, hang a poster, host a lawn sign, and (for Facebook users) join the Zero Waste Day, Tewksbury
group and RSVP to the 5th Annual Zero Waste Day event.
Supply: To keep our volunteers happy and ener-gized, we’ll need cases of beverages, some baked treats, paper goods, coolers and ice and quick
shade canopies.
Volunteer: Early birds are invited to sign up for our 8:30am-11am shift (donuts and coffee when you arrive) and second shifters will be treated to pizza and cookies while working 10:30am-1pm. We have traffic control jobs for those who can-not lift and car unloading roles for those with the capacity to carry items ranging
from bags and boxes to furniture.
Stay tuned to TCC Flash for the link to the two Sign-up Genius lists (supplies and vol-unteers) or contact Missions Project Coordinator, Beth McFadyen, at [email protected] or 978-851-4867. To learn more about Zero Waste Day,
visit our website through the TCC home page or directly at www.zwdtewksbury.org.
Congratulations to all new Board
and Committee members and tons of
gratitude to those who have served
and are now taking a well-deserved,
revitalizing rest.
3 The TCC Connection
TCC MISSIONS 2013-2014 Future
“I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” Leviticus 26:12
September 2013
All Month: School Supply Collection for CWS
Zero Waste Day, September 21
October 2013
All Month: Outerwear for The Wish Project and CWS School Kit Dedication
November 2013
Halloween Candy Collection,
Potatoes for Food Pantry, 11/10 & 11/17
Giving Tree Holiday Program Begins, 11/17
December 2013
Giving Tree Holiday Program End, 12/8
Veterans of the Cross Collection, 12/24
Tewksbury Community Pantry Advent offering
January 2014
Toiletry Kit Project (7&8 grade class?)
Pajama collection for Hart House
Missionaries in training store 1/26?
February 2014
Blanket Sunday (s), 2/2 & 2/9
April 2014
Heifer Program Begins, Sunday, 4/?
Lenten Offering-Mission of Deeds
May 2014
Walk for Hunger, Sunday, 5/4
Mother’s Day Card Sale for Heifer, 5/4
Heifer Program Conclusion, Sunday, 5/11
June 2014
Missionaries in Training “store”, 6/1
MYSTERY MEMBER
I have a BA in Accounting but never worked as an Accountant
Born and raised in upstate New York
Lived in Ohio for 13 years and Dallas for 1 1/2 years before moving to Boston area
My mother is a member of the Daughter's of the American Revolution. Her family came to the US in the late 1600's (my grandfather would joke that
they missed the MayFlower)
My 4th great grandfather was the first Episcopal minister to be ordained in the Colonies in 1785.
I love music and reading
I have two kids
Member of TCC for 12 years
One day, when stuffing letters seemed insurmountable, a wonderful pair of hands and a willing heart ap-peared in the form of Joanne Kenney. Her efforts were so appreciated that day and let me tell you—she is re-
markably fast!
OFFICE HELP!
4 The TCC Connection
TCC HAPPENINGS & NOTES
Summer Office Hours
Beginning the Week of
June 9th
Tue, Wed, Thurs.
TTC Photo
Directories
are now available in
the church office
TTC Photo
Directories
are now available in
the church office
Welcome
Summer
BE WATCHING FOR…
End of the Summer
Women’s Day
SWEET Retreat
SAME GENDER MARRIAGE FORUM
May 17, 2004 Massachusetts became the first state to allow same gender marriage. The deacons studied the issue that next year and had several forums on the topic in 2005 and 2006. We adopted our current statement of inclusion that spring of 2006. The board of deacons and Pastor Jonathan are holding an open conversation on the topic in June. Please join us if you would like to learn about the process we took. As we con-sider re-engaging the topic of same gender marriage in our church we would like to provide a roadmap for how this conversation can be embraced in faith as a community
that seeks God's will together. Join us in the vestry June 19 at 7:30 PM
5 The TCC Connection
Submitted by Sue Trepaney, L.A./H.F. and Friendship Circle’s Secretary!
LADIES AID AND FREINDSHIIP CIRCLE NEWS
Recently our church office received a note from Linda Hertel and her sister Leslie Jacob. The Hertel women read in The TCC CONNECTION about the Pew Cushion Fund and in memory of their father, Herb, who at one time was on our Sanctuary Committee; they sent a generous donation to the fund. I am sure that if I went through my old cookbooks, I’d find a note from Herb Hertel. He was a prolific letter writer. Ask any member in Ladies Aid about Herb, and I am sure someone can tell you a story about him!
We also received a generous donation to the Pew Cushion Fund from Eleanor Corey our La-dies Aid president. She’s been recuperating lately but never misses an opportunity to keep in touch with our group. We are thankful for her generosity.
At our June meeting, members of Ladies Aid will go out to lunch! A restaurant has not been named as yet, but information will be given to the ladies prior to our outing that ends our sea-son until September.
Members of Friendship Circle enjoyed a morning at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston walking among the spring flowering perennials and trees. Pat Takach coordinated our May meeting and nine members participated in this event. Follow-ing their walk, the ladies enjoyed lunch at Twigs Café. This too ends the season for Friendship Cir-cle. We will resume our monthly meetings starting September 12
th at 9:00am at which time we will
discuss our upcoming season and determine hosts. We’ve had fun, enjoyed each other’s com-pany and look forward to a relaxing summer so that we can return in the fall refreshed and filled with enthusiasm for a new year of fun and fellow-ship.
The Daffodil Garden at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA
photo by Pat Takach
I don’t know what it is about library book sales but they are a cause of great excitement. When visiting my mother recently, I went to a book sale spon-
sored by the Friends of the Library in Sun City West, Arizona, and could-n’t resist purchasing two cookbooks. In one of the books, “Kudos to the Cook from The Ladies at Lafayette”, I found a handwritten note – appar-ently the book was given to a friend as the note was penned by one of the women who had included recipes in the book. My own cookbooks also include notes, extra recipes, and letters stuffed in various places within the pages or between the covers—when searching for a recipe; I often find the history of my family!
6 The TCC Connection
IF I COULD ASK GOD ANYTHING
Submitted by JoJo Scharmer
From: If I could ask God anything (Kathryn Slattery)
Religious Ed
Why Does the Word “Selah” Appear in
the Margins of Psalms?
Many of the Psalms were written as songs of praise to God. The word Selah is a musical sign that means to ”lift up” or to exalt. It was written in the margins as a direction to the sing-ers and/or instrumentalists who performed the Psalms - the hymnbook of the Israelites. Each time “Selah” appears in a Psalm, the musicians paused, either to take a breath, or to sing a cap-pella or let the instruments play alone.
The work Selah appears seventy-one times in the book of Psalms. It also appears 3 times in the third chapter of the minor
prophet Habakkuk.
Volunteers Needed
We are beginning the search for adult
and teen volunteers to teach Mini Sun-
day School during the summer months
as well as to staff the nursery. We
need volunteers for nursery beginning
June 16th and running through Sep-
tember 1st. Summer Sunday School
will run from June 23rd through Au-
gust 18th.
Summer Sunday School involves
teaching with a small group of multi-
aged youth. Lesson plans and story for
the week are provided so that minimal
work is required on the volunteer’s
part. All supplies needed for the les-
sons are provided. If you are interested
in working with children over the sum-
mer, or would like more information,
please contact Sue Panilaitis
TCC HOLY FOLDERS
Every time the TCC CONNECTION is
printed, Evelyn Frasier and Doris McPhail
arrive to compile, fold, staple, label, and
sort the 200+ newsletters. They set up in
classroom #8 and have such a good time
completing the tasks set before them!
They chat and laugh and enjoy each other’s company. We are
so grateful for their help – it relieves a HUGE burden created by
the publishing of this bi-monthly communication. This is just
ONE way, you can be of service to this great church of ours - lots
of opportunities abound! Thank you, ladies, for your generous
contribution.
7 The TCC Connection
Tewksbury Ecumenical Vacation Bible School
KINGDOM ROCK WHERE KIDS STAND STRONG FOR GOD
Children Ages 4-10 Saint William’s School
July 29—August 2 9AM—12PM
Register NOW at all Tewksbury churches!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Email us at [email protected] Or call Laurie Meuse at
978 685 5503 For more details!
ALL ARE WELCOME!
8 The TCC Connection
NOTES FROM LINUS… In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing my owner and I were wondering
about a way in which we could assist in the recovery effort. Through DOG
B.O.N.E.S., the group that we are certified with, we found out that the Human Re-
sources staff at the Sacks Fifth Avenue store in the Prudential Center had requested
teams to come in for the comfort of both the employees and their customers. We
jumped at the chance to be of help.
Our visit was very exciting for me. There was the ride to the city, walking in the
underground garage and on the city street, taking elevators, walking up and down the
main staircase in a big department store, and meeting so many new people. Of
course, the best part was that everyone wanted to give me treats. Unfortunately for
me, my owner will not allow eating everything that comes my way. I just have to wait
for another adventure!
Linus
Answer to
Mystery Member:
Marilyn
San Clemente
9 The TCC Connection
It is over! All good things must come to an end!
So sad, but so happy. What a fantastic year this
has been. We have covered many parts of the Wor-
ship in a non-traditional way. We learned about con-
templative prayer; we confessed and gave our sins to God
by writing them in sand and wiping them away; we re-
dedicated ourselves with water which we each brought in from
various locations; we did a Lord’s Prayer Walk with separate
stations located through out the church building; we had a
communion dinner together; we gathered nature items from
around the church, laid them on our Altar and spoke about how
they connected us to God and our Faith; and we had
games galore and food, too. This group came together
because of our connection with each other and be-
cause of our belief in our three F’s. Pastor Jonathan
and Audrey Spencer Collins added tons of ex-
pertise and wisdom and fun to our evenings.
Thanks to God, the workers and the
outstanding Youth!
TRI-FOLD UPDATE
10 The TCC Connection
Tewksbury Congregational Church
10 East Street Tewksbury, MA 01876
phone: 978-851-9411
fax: 978-851-9413
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.tewksburycc.org
Return Service Requested
Place Label Here
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 1
TEWKSBURY, MA 01876
June/July Newsletter
Time-Sensitive Material
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! College
Jenn Carr—UMass Lowell Graduate Program
Andrew MacKenzie—MBA from Boston University
John San Clemente—Clarkson University
Brian Goodell— Wesleyan College
Ashley Marotte—University of Hartford
Jesse Roux - UMass Lowell
High School
Rob Charbonneau—Tewksbury Memorial HS
Alex Hogan—Shawsheen Tech
Emily San Clemente—Notre Dame
Cody Lafortune—Tewksbury Memorial HS
Justin Stewart—Tewksbury Memorial HS
C L A S S of
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