Featured

Minister’s Column

Welcome back to the fall! It has been an amazing summer at First Church, with so many happy things coming to pass, that I only can write to you that I am extremely grateful for all your faithfulness to the church. We have painted the Meetinghouse and are raising funds for the roof, we have welcomed Birth to Three and prepared for a refugee family, we have sung hymns of gladness and offered spectacular music to God, we have Baptized babies and laid to rest two dear friends of the congregation.
The fall brings with it special treasures for the church. The choir will begin to sing again, and the Sunday school will start up, all on September 11, as we come back to the Sanctuary for worship and the sacrament of Holy Communion. This will also be the time that we will hear the happy hammering of tools on the roof as we replace it. And we continue with our outreach to refugees, homeless people, and people struggling with addictions, as we offer compassion and welcome, to bring God’s healing and love to the world.

I am also glad to report that the book on which I have been working as an editor for many years has been published over the summer. Krister Stendahl’s “Roots of Violence”, based on a 1981 manuscript, is ready for reading. I am grateful to Paraclete Press and the Stendahl family. The messages of this book are available now to the broad reading public. I love to hold it in my hands.

Blessings!
Rebecca

Weekly Update September 24-October 1, 2016

FIRST CHURCH

Weekly Update:  September 24-October 1, 2016
Worship  Schedule

Sunday, September 25

Worship led by Rev. Rebecca Pugh    “Heaven and Hell” Liturgist:  Beth Viehmann

Music: Joanne McMahon and the Chancel Choir

Hospitality team: Judy and Mike Eldredge, Liz Krafchuk, Anne Reynolds
Youth Groups 
Middle School Youth Group:  Stay after church this Sunday for our meeting at 11:30 am, to paint pottery bowls for a soup fundraiser for the Ipswich Food Pantry, and to plan for the retreat.Our retreat is October 9 – 10, to Mount Agamenticus, for a beautiful hike and an overnight in a local church in York Maine. We will do community service at the mountain, and write letters for Amnesty International.

Senior High Youth Group: Stay after church next Sunday, October 2, for our meeting at 11:30 am, to paint soup bowls for the fundraiser for the Ipswich Food Pantry.

Our retreat is November 11 – 12, to do community service with a ministry of feeding.
Roof Project update 
Many thanks for the dozens of gifts that have come in towards  the roof fund.  The roof is going up even as we type this, and the team is working incredibly hard. We are so grateful to the church for coming together to work on this project.
The roofers on day three installing the new roof and trim boards.
Bible Study ~ Monday  
Come to the Ipswich Inn for coffee and pastries and Bible Study, 10:00 am Monday, as we study the Scriptures for the following Sunday’s worship.
Work for Peace
and Justice in the World
Address homelessness.  We work with the local organization “Family Promise”, which supports local homeless families as they transition out of homelessness. Our next week is December 19 – 25. In addition, there is a walk to end homelessness, at 8:00 am in Lynch Park, 55 Ober Street Beverly, on October 15. Please speak with Rebecca or Kalapi Johnson if you would like to get involved.Addiction Recovery in Ipswich: Fifteen angels from First Church and several other congregations and communities are standing by waiting to provide companionship, support, and kindness to addicts who might need help and present themselves to the police station.  We just completed our Narcan training, and soon will be carrying narcan as a part of our ministry. If you wish to be a recovery angel, please contact the church office.

Refugee Resettlement:  Join the growing community as we work to welcome a new family who are refugees in Jordan, as they come to Ipswich. They have almost completed their security check through the State Department and the United Nations, and this Sunday we will write letters to Congressman Seth Moulton to ask him to assist their case. This weekend we hope to complete the kitchen for the refugees’ new apartment, and next week we will finish moving furniture in and have it ready for business. Do you want to get involved? Let us know! We welcome help.
Donated Cars Welcome:
We are looking for three safe cars, donated to the church as a charitable donation, for refugees and a church member who need to drive to work. Four-door vehicles welcome, standard and automatic shift welcome.
This Week’s Calendar

Saturday, September 24 
10:30 am ~ AA  

Sunday, September 25 
10:00 am ~ Worship
10:15 am ~ Sunday School
11:15 am ~ Cabinet
11:30 am ~ Organizational meeting for Middle School Youth Group Retreat and  to paint soup bowls

Monday, September 26
10:00 am ~ Bible Study at Ipswich B & B                                        7:30 pm ~ Deacons

Wednesday, September 28
6:15 pm ~ AA
7:00 pm ~ Al Anon

Thursday, September 29
7:00 Choir

Friday, September 30
9:00 am ~ Women’s AA
12:00 pm ~ Old Clock installation

Saturday, October 1
10:30 am ~ AA  
Support First Church in Your Will

Leave a legacy that lasts, for the congregation of First Church and its outreach to the world, with a simple note in your will to leave the Church a percentage of your savings when you no longer need them. For more information, speak with the Finance Committee.

FIRST CHURCH     Weekly Update
September 10-17, 2016
Worship  Schedule

Sunday, September 11
Communion Worship led by Rev. Rebecca Pugh
with liturgy by Liz Krafchuk

First day of Sunday School

Music by Joanne McMahon, Liz Krafchuk, Nancy Mackinney
and the Chancel Choir
Sunday School Starts September 11
 

The Board of Education is pleased to announce that Sunday School starts September 11.  All ages are welcome, and newcomers are welcome gladly. Come at 10:00 am; we will all worship together until the Children’s Sermon, and then the children will join their teachers for Sunday School.

Nursery: For children ages 1-5, we gather for play and fun. Our teacher is Bella Palance. We will remain in our same traditional room, room 7, in the corner of the Sunday School, with the extra benefit of a lot of new Birth to Three Center toys..

Pre-K-1st grade:  For children enrolled in the last year of Pre-School through 1st grade.    The class is taught by Barbara Mahoney and Saesha Parent, and welcoming one more volunteer teacher.  This is our introductory class to study Bible stories and lessons. Our room is in Room three, shared with the Small World Pre-School.

2nd-3rd grade: In this class we get to dig in with the curriculum and really learn Bible stories and practice the lessons of the faith. Our room is in the newly renovated Birth to Three wing, room 5. Our teachers are Peg Coughlan and Judy Eldredge.

4th-5th grade:  This is our workshop for the synthesis of Bible stories and life practice. Our classroom is in the middle of the Sunday School. Our teacher is Cynthia Curtis, and we are welcoming one more teacher volunteer. We meet in room 2.

Teenage Sunday Program (6-12 grade):
This program is a study of the weekly Scripture and life lessons, with adventures and community service mornings, in the footsteps of the One who led and healed and fed the hungry. Our new classroom is room 4 in the corner of the SundaySchool, our comfortable living room that we have built with our own handmade furniture. Our teachers are Pat K and Jim Mahoney.

Pick Up: Parents of students in the Nursery and Pre-K-1st Grade rooms are asked to return to their children’s classrooms after worship to pick up their children.  Older children may head up to coffee hour on their own.  During coffee hour we ask that all children remain upstairs under the supervision of their parents.

Registration:  We ask all parents to come to the Sunday school classrooms after the first day of lessons to fill out registration forms.

For further information, please contact:
Robin Corder
978-312-1713
robincorder@gmail.com 
          Coffee House This Weekend
Join Orville Giddings and Bella Palance, with the exceptional upright bass player Blake Newmanat the Along the Way Coffee House

Here at First Church
at

The Meetinghouse
12 Meetinghouse Green

Saturday September 10
7:00 – 9:00 pm

On Saturday night we welcome our own Bella Palance, age 17, a crackerjack singer and song writer, and the teacher in our church school of our youngest children, as she opens for Ipswich’s own Orville Giddings, talented guitarist and singer of songs of joy, the blues, and a variety of melodies from the folk and country traditions in this concert of acoustic music.

$10. 00 per person; coffee and homemade desserts available

Roof Project update:

Many thanks for the dozens of gifts that have come in towards the roof fund.  We are now in the planning stages for the fall construction. The Trustees met last week and have voted to contact a roofer, settle the price, and we will be naming the contractor within seven days. We anticipate that the roof will be completed by the end of September.

Sincerely,
Jim Moon, Pat Kriksceonaitis,
and the Trustees
Work for Peace
and Justice in the World

Address homelessness.  We work with the local organization “Family Promise”, which supports local homeless families as they transition out of homelessness. Our next week is December 19 – 25. Please speak with Rebecca or Kalapi Johnson if you would like to get involved.

Addiction Recovery in Ipswich: Fifteen angels from First Church and several other congregations and communities are standing by waiting to provide companionship, support, and kindness to addicts who might need help and present themselves to the police station.  If you wish to be a recovery angel, please contact the church office. We meet Monday, September 12, for a NARCAN training and planning with police to make the program increasingly accessible.

Refugee Resettlement:  Join the growing community as we work to welcome a new family who are refugees in Jordan, as they come to Ipswich. They have almost completed their security check through the State Department and the United Nations. We are currently preparing a new kitchen floor and counter top for the refugees’ new apartment, and hoping to collect a washer and dryer, stackable (electric). Many thanks to the outpouring of kitchen and household donations.

Talk about Palestinian refugees after church on Sunday, and one First Church member’s experience

Lauren Jappe is a young adult member of First Church, and a volunteer for Jewish Voice for Peace. She was headed to speak at a Palestinian refugees’ conference in August and was detained at the airport in Israel, and unable to give her talk. She has just returned, and will speak after worship about her experience, and offer us the message she meant to bring to Palestine.
This Week’s Calendar

Saturday, September 10  
10:30 am ~ AA  
7:00 pm ~ Coffee House with Orville Giddings, Blake Newman and Bella Palance

Sunday, September 11  
10:00 am ~ Communion Worship
Sunday School starts today
11:30 am ~ Lauren Jappe

Monday, September 12
9:00 am ~ NARCAN training at Church
12:00 pm ~ Meeting with Police and Gloucester Angel
7:00 pm ~ Second NARCAN training to be scheduled,
if needed
7:15 pm ~ Finance
7:30 pm ~ Missions

Tuesday, September 13
7:00 pm ~ Board of Ed at the Corder’s House

Wednesday, September 14
6:15 pm ~ AA
7:00 pm ~ Al Anon

Thursday, September 15
7:00 pm ~ Choir

Friday, September 16
9:00 am ~ Women’s AA

Saturday, September 17
10:30 am ~ AA  
Support First Church in Your Will

Leave a legacy that lasts, for the congregation of First Church and its outreach to the world, with a simple note in your will to leave the Church a percentage of your savings when you no longer need them. For more information, speak with the Finance Committee.

FIRST CHURCH

Biweekly Update

August 27- September 11, 2016
Worship  Schedules
Sunday, August 28
Worship led by Rev. Rebecca Pugh
with liturgy by Judy Eldredge
and music by Joanne McMahon and Jan Schleyerbach
        Sunday, September 4          
Worship led by Melinda Trotti
with liturgy by Mark Allman
and music by Kristen Ledson
(Please note that Holy Communion will be served on September 11)
      Sunday, September 11       
This is the first day of Sunday School
Communion Worship led by Rev. Rebecca Pugh
with liturgy by Liz Krafchuk
and music by Joanne McMahon and the Chancel Choir  

Along the Way Coffee House

Jazz Concert

Saturday, August 27, 7:00 pm

A late summer’s evening of Jazz

‘Devil’s Footprint JAZZ Quartet’

featuring

Eric Duback
Chuck Johnson
Matt Naeger
Seth Persson 

Cost $10 per person
Refreshments available
Info:  978-356-7653,
978-465-0491Tickets available at brownpaperticket.com
Sunday School Starts September 11
 

The Board of Education is pleased to announce that Sunday School starts September 11.  All ages are welcome.  Come at 10 am ; we will all worship together until the Children’s Sermon, and then the children will depart for the Church School.

For further information, please contact
Robin Corder at 978-312-1713 or atrobincorder@gmail.com 

Roof Project update:

Many thanks for the dozens of gifts that have come in this month towards the roof fund.  We are close to meeting our goal to installing a new trim board and roof. The Trustees meet next week to finalize the plans. Jim Moon says this is a great way to not get our heads wet at Sunday Service!

Sincerely,
Pat K. and the Trustees
Work for Peace
and Justice in the World

Address homelessness.  We work with the local organization “Family Promise”, which supports local homeless families as they transition out of homelessness. Our next week is December 19 – 25, and we are preparing to welcome them back. Please speak with Rebecca or Kalapi Johnson if you would like to get involved.

Addiction Recovery in Ipswich: Fifteen angels from First Church and several other congregations and communities are standing by waiting to provide companionship, support, and kindness to addicts who might need help and present themselves to the police station.  If you wish to be a recovery angel, please contact the church office. Our next meeting is Monday, September 12, for a NARCAN training and planning for step two in the program.

Refugee Resettlement:  Join the growing community to work to welcome a new family from Syria to Ipswich. They are almost ready to move to Ipswich; they have almost completed their security check through the State Department and the United Nations. We are currently preparing a new kitchen floor and counter top for the refugees’ new apartment, and hoping to collect a microwave, and a washer and dryer, stackable (electric). Many thanks to the outpouring of kitchen and household donations.
VOTE

“Our faith, our vote, our voice” is the UCC’s movement to invite congregations to participate in non-partisan political programs to engage the voting rights of all.  Pick up a button on the table in the Meetinghouse and speak with Rebecca or Jan Colter for more information, and vote! Get your friends and family to vote!  Register your children to vote! Register your grandparents!
This Week’s Calendar

Saturday, August 27
10:30 am ~ AA in the parlor
7:00 pm ~ Jazz Concert, Along the Way Coffee House
Sunday, August 28
10:00 am ~ Worship, Rebecca Pugh

Wednesday, August 31
6:15 pm ~ AA
7:00 pm ~ Al Anon

Thursday, September 1
7:30 pm ~ Trustees meeting

Friday, September 2
9:00 am ~ Women’s AA

Saturday, September 3
10:30 am ~ AA

Sunday, September 4  
10:00 am ~ Worship, led by Melinda Trotti and Mark Allman

Wednesday, September 7
6:15 pm ~ AA
7:00 pm ~ Al Anon

Friday, September 9
9:00 am ~ Women’s AA

Saturday, September 10
10:30 am ~ AA

Sunday, September 11
10:00 am ~ Communion Worship, led by Rebecca Pugh         and Liz Krafchuk
Sunday School starts today

Office closed for vacation,

August 31 – September 6

If you need an emergency minister,

please call the Rowley UCC church;

our friend Bob Hagopian is covering for Rebecca:

Rowley UCC:  978-948-3993
Support First Church in Your Will

Leave a legacy that lasts, for the congregation of First Church and its outreach to the world, with a simple note in your will to leave the Church a percentage of your savings when you no longer need them. For more information, speak with the Finance Committee.

Youth Groups

First Church has 3 Youth Groups which meet for community service, pilgrimmage, fellowship and prayer.

Middle School, Grades 6 -8

High School, Grades 9 – 12

Young Adults, ages 19-29

We offer several hikes and mountain climbs, a rich First Communion Program, and a Confirmation Retreat series in the Spring.  Our Youth Leaders are Beth Biehmann, Rebecca Pugh, Mary Lou Bates, and several winderful parent volunteers.

 

Music Info

First Church celebrates God’s goodness and wonder through music and arts.

First Church Chancel Choir: Sings every Sunday in worship, rehearses Thursdays at 7pm. Conducted by Joanne McMahon.  joannezpl@yahoo.com

First Church Children’s Bell Choir: Plays the First Sunday of the month in worship, rehearses after church. Conducted by Emily Allman emilyallman8@gmail.com

First Church Children’s orchestra, plays once a season, rehearses after church. Conducted by Lucas Callahan lpcallahan14@gmail.com

First Church Chamber Orchestra, plays once a season, conducted by Joanne McMahon joannezpl@yahoo.com