First Congregational-Christian Church

We are entering a time of sabbatical on May 8th.  Rev. Gard will be away, first for a short vacation, and then pursuing some rest, inspiration, education and extra-pastoral service until her return to the office on July 17.  During that time, though she may return home to the parsonage from time to time, she will NOT be responsible for any pastoral roles(worship services, funerals, weddings, hospital calls, parade prayers).

Happily, we were able to make arrangements with Holly Morrison to fill in, in the role of Sabbatical Pastor, while Linda is away.  Holly was our ministerial intern 2 years ago, and is looking forward to ordination by the Cumberland Association. [NOTE:  By unanimous vote by pastors and representatives of area UCC Churches at her 5/6 Ecclesiastical Council, Holly was approved for ordination pending a call. Way to go!] While Holly will be working on a very part time schedule, she will be responsible for Sunday worship services, critical care visits, Tuesdays in the church office, and pastoral emergencies.

Office Administrator Cindy Mahan will be at her post most weekday mornings through the end of the school year, at which time she will have a summer schedule.  We may need the assistance of some volunteers at that time, so we hope those of you who have office skills and time will make Cindy or the Trustees aware of your availability.  (Please use the Contact tab above.)

Sunday, May 6, 11 am   (right after worship)

REGISTER NOW TO WALK OR SPONSOR

• 25% of proceeds stock the New Gloucester Food Pantry
• 75% feeds our global neighbors through Church World Service

The New Gloucester Crop Walk is a 6.2-mile loop from 19 Gloucester Hill Road, down Intervale to Woodman Road, to Meadow Lane, and back up(!) Cobb’s Bridge Road.  Water and popsicles at Meadow Lane.  A driver to help you get back if you’ve had enough.

You can register to walk at church.  For information, call 926-3260.

OR, you can registor and/or donate ONLINE at www.cropwalkonline.org.

Easter Sunrise, April 8

6 am     On Gloucester Hill.    Depending on the weather, we can drive out to the gazebo at Thompson’s Orchard.  If not so great, we’ll be at Opportunity Farm (park at the barn and walk up, or park beyond the red farmhouse–plenty of parking up the hill).   Bring a bell or other gentle noisemaker for the moment of dawn.   

Easter Sunday Sanctuary Service

9:30 am      Intergenerational Service for Everyone.  Lots of joyful singing and celebration of the holiest day EVER…and yet a service which is not too awfully long for families with children.  (The Nursery will be open, and the preschool class will meet, but not the classes above that in age. LATE BREAKING NEWS:  There WILL be Sunday School for both the Preschoolers and the Primary grades!  Thanks, teachers!)   The deacons are whipping up some specialties for fellowship hour afterward.  If you’d like to help them, please, by all means, bring something tasty to share! 

Sunday, March 18, 4 pm with Pot Luck 

Friends and Neighbors Welcome

A pysanka (Ukrainian: писанка, plural: pysanky) is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated using a wax-resist (batik) method. The word comes from the verb pysaty, “to write”, as the designs are not painted on, but written with beeswax. The word pysanka refers specifically to an egg decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs, and is not a generic term for any egg decorated using wax resist.

Many other eastern European ethnic groups decorate eggs using wax resist for Easter. These include the Belarusians (пісанка, pisanka), Bulgarians (писано яйце, pisano yaytse), Croats (pisanica), Hungarians (hímestojás), Czechs (kraslice), Lithuanians (margutis), Poles (pisanka), Romanians (ouă vopsite, incondeiate or impistrite), Serbs (pisanica), Slovaks (kraslica), Slovenes (pisanica, pirhi or remenke) and Sorbs (jejka pisać).  [Isn’t Wikipedia wonderful?]

Come and discover this ancient contemplative craft.   All you need are a few clean uncooked eggs and your imagination to guide you.

Bring several sheets of old newspaper, a couple of raw eggs, paper towels and something for the pot luck supper.

Joseph W. Ovády

What do we really know about the death of Jesus?

Please join Rev. Gard in a good read: The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus’ Final Days in Jerusalem, by John D. Crossan and Marcus Borg.

This book focuses on the earliest of the Gospels, Mark, and was written partly as a response to people’s questions about Mel Gibson blockbuster movie, The Passion of Christ. The authors became aware, trying to answer those questions, just how fuzzy most folks are on the details of “the last week.”

The book is available in Kindle($10), paperback($11) and audio editions.

Whether you join in the discussion is up to you.  The reading will be good either way.     UPDATE:  16 people joined in the first discussion session on March 4th.  We covered the Sunday and Monday chapters, and the book is very well received!  The second and third discussion opportunities will be on Sundays–March 18 and 25, after worship.  Join in any time.

No one you know.

CAN I DO IT?  WILL I LIKE IT?  DOES EVERYBODY WEAR SPANDEX?

THESE ARE OUR ONGOING CLASSES

Monday mornings, 9:00 am–Warm up for your week’s activities with yoga stretching.  Some folks call this CHAIR YOGA because we start off each session using a chair for support and balance…and some of us need it more than others.  We also use yoga mats, yoga blocks and straps—but we have some to loan if it’s your first time.  Payment?  Each class is $10.  Some people like to pay the instructor each time; others pay for a few weeks in advance.

and/or Thursday evenings, 6:30 pm–We start these classes sitting cross-legged on our mats, warming up with stretching and breathing exercise, then moving through yoga poses and variations(some folks are more flexible than others—adaptations are offered for those who need them).

If you’ve heard about yoga, thought you might like it and want to try it out without buying a gym membership you might never use…these opportunities are for you.   If you’re a yoga newbie, you should try the Monday class first.  Can’t do Mondays?  By all means, try the Thursday class.   You’ll need to wear clothes you can move in–sweats or knits are fine.  We have a few spare mats on hand if you don’t happen to have your own.

Kathy Moore, Instructor

Pastor sez:  ”I want you to know these classes have made a huge difference in my life.  If I can, it’s a good bet that you can.”