Elm Street Congregational Church News

July/August 2009



Elm Leaves

“Dear Friends, let us love one another,
for love comes from God.” 1John 4:7 NIV


July-August 2009
Issue 7
The Elm Leaves is a publication of Elm St. Congregational
Church and is published monthly with a combined July/August issue.

CHURCH NEWS

Pastor Pat will be on vacation during the month of July.
The Rev. John Shaw, Sr. will be available for pastoral emergencies from July 1st -18th and July 26th – 31st. He can be reached at 508-764-7868.
For the week of July 19th – 25th, The Rev. Dr. Paul E. Samuelson of the Charlton City United Methodist Church will be available for pastoral emergencies. The Rev. Samuelson can be reached at 508-248-7379.
The Church Office will be closed the week of July 19th – 26th. The week of August 17th, the church office will be closed or open limited hours. Please see the Sunday bulletin for updates as the week approaches.


FROM THE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
The Deadline for submitting articles for the next Elm Leaves is TUESDAY, August 18, 2009 for publication in the SEPTEMBER Elm Leaves.
To all board secretaries: your meeting minutes are due in the church office on or before THURSDAY, August 20, 2009.
Correspondence may be e-mailed to:
ESCC_Office@verizon.net or left in the mailbox in the conference room. Thank you!


LUNCH BUNCH
We will meet on Tuesday, July 14th, at The Clambox in Brookfield at 11:00am.
For more details, or to arrange carpooling, please call Karen Horton at (413) 245-3000.


OFFICE HOURS:
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Tuesday through Thursday
Office (508) 764-8058
Kitchen (508) 764-2129
E-mail ~ ESCC_Office@verizon.net
Website ~ http://mysite.verizon.net/ESCC_Office/
Church Service and Sunday School - 10:00 AM
The Rev. Patrick J. McLoud ~ Home (508) 764-7569
Karen Fournier ~ Newsletter Editor

A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR
Dear Friends:
What plans are you making for the summer? I am assuming that the actual season known as “summer” will arrive. So far it feels like an extended cool, rainy spring. But if summer really gets here, what are your plans?
Some of you will be looking for work. In fact, depending on the economy all of us may be looking for work. Some economic data indicates that the Great Recession may be bottoming out, but unemployment figures continue to rise. No one knows for sure what may be coming.
To say the least we live in uncertain times. Unsettling news comes in from around the world. Will Iran have a democratic revolution, or will the dictatorship of the clerics win out? Will Iraq be able to take over from U.S. troops so most of our soldiers can come home? Will Afghanistan get worse, so that we will have to send more troops there? Will North Korea provoke a war that could go nuclear? And these possibilities cover only a few of the world’s political crises. We have not even mentioned flu pandemics, global food shortages, and climate change. Yikes!
What do we do? When I start feeling overwhelmed by crises I play bone soccer with my German shepherd, Freya. She has gotten quite good at it. The game goes like this. She finds her bone, brings it to me, and drops it on my foot. Depending on the size of the bone this can hurt a little. My job is to kick the bone in another direction. Freya responds by blocking the bone with her paws and pushing it back at me. Back and forth the bone goes until one of us gets it by the other. When that happens a goal is scored! Of course, sometimes the bone goes under the refrigerator. When that happens a time out is called while I fish the bone out from under the appliance. This is usually accompanied by a lot of complaining on my part. While I complain Freya stands by, wagging her tail and urging me to hurry up about it.
Freya is always ready to play bone soccer. It doesn’t matter what time it is, what day it is, or how many nuclear bombs North Korea has tested. When the bone lands on my foot all that matters is the game. She is totally focused on it. The game matters more than anything, even food. She would rather play than eat. As a Zen sports coach might say, she becomes the game.
I think Freya is far more spiritually evolved than I am. While I routinely ignore Jesus’ advice when he says not to worry, Freya is totally in tune with him. She doesn’t worry about anything. All she wants is a little love from her humans. A little bone soccer, or a little rub on the belly, and she is satisfied. She knows that getting a little love now and then is all that is important.
She is right. Love is all that matters, and I am surrounded by it. From my dog on up to the Lord God Himself love is all around me, touching my life all the time. A simple game of bone soccer can fill my heart with love and make me feel that, one way or another all will be well.
My plans for the summer include playing a lot of bone soccer with Freya. May the Lord find ways this summer to touch all of our hearts with His love, for then we can rest in His grace and know in our souls that all will be well.
God bless!
Pat


TEAMS FOR JULY
DEACON FOR JULY - Lou-Ellen Corkum
COMMUNION TEAM – Michelle Hicks & Dianna
Silverman


ALTAR FLOWERS
7/5 - A donation to the Mission of the Month will be given by Dave & Barb
Lammert in Celebration of their Wedding Anniversary
7/12 - given by Louis & Millie Broughton
7/19 – A donation to the Mission of the Month will be given by Irene Waisenen
in memory of her mother, Alice Barnes
7/26 - given by The Lapriore Family in memory of James Lapriore, Clarence
Miller & Richard BucknamPlease Note: The price for the altar flowers is $30.00.

OUR PRAYER LIST
Please keep the Church Office updated regarding your prayer requests. Names listed in bold print will remain on next month’s list. Name not listed in bold print will be removed. Thank you for your assistance.
Janett Addy Stella Anderson Hope Bertelson
Butch Bonin Millie Broughton
Nancy Chicoine Donald Clayton Barbara Cleri Dennis Curboy Mark Desmarais Norma Digregorio
Melissa Donnell Frank Dungey Risa & Megan Falvo
Gaelle McLoud Harold McLoud, Jr
Lisa Mercure Amy Ouellette Susan P.
Toby Parent Mark Peterson Elva Procopio
Kim Proulx Lisa Pryor Yvonne Salisbury Robert Sheldon Ruth Sheldon Anna Soukkavong Mark Walker Sue Zappone
American Service men, women and Civilians in areas of conflict around the world

ESCC PRAYER CHAIN
If you are in need of private prayer for any reason, Please call one of the following people, and we will pray for you. This is completely confidential!
OUR PRAYER CHAIN LIST
Julie Bruinsma- (508)765-0416
Marcy Menard- (508)765-9761
Butch and Debbie Bonin- (508248-5941
Elva Procopio- (508)765-3485
Lou-Ellen Corkum- (508)248-5463
Amaret Johnson, and Pastor Pat- (508)764-7569
Renee Smith- (774)452-5709
Jeanne and Mark Arsenault- (508)764-7830
Judy Rask- (508)347-5546
Millie Broughton- (508)764-7613
Fran Lamprey- (508)347-0942
Dianna Silverman- (508)248-5566
Any questions? Call: Marcy Menard (508)765-9761 (home)
(508)344-0683 (cell)


TEAMS FOR AUGUST
DEACON FOR AUGUST - Norman LaFleur
COMMUNION TEAM – Dawn & Hamer Clarke and Tom & Kathy Lapriore


ALTAR FLOWERS
8/2 -
8/9 -
8/16 - A donation to the Mission of the Month will be given by Dave & Barb
Lammert in celebration of Gordon’s birthday
8/23 - given by Hamer & Dawn Clarke in memory of Leslie & Frances
Carleton
8/30 - given by Dave & Sharon Bond in memory of Carolyn Foisy
Please Note: The price for the altar flowers is $30.00.

IN OUR RECORDS FOR JULY
Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!
1 Justin Adler 5 Dave & Barbara Lammert
1 Julia Olson 13 Norman & Nancy Chicoine
1 Christine Salviuolo 16 Bill & Julia Olson
3 Connor Plue 22 Louis & Mildred Broughton
5 Tommy Normandin 24 Scott & Kathi Grenier
5 Luke Wandelear 30 Patrick & Pamela Leaming
6 Anna Soukkavong
7 Art Bainton
8 Vanessa Bourque
9 Louise Walker
11 Matthew Bond
14 Jean McGee
15 Fred Young
16 Joe Gay
17 Corey Hazzard
19 Christabell Bond
19 Marcy Menard
24 Pam LaRue
24 Mark Walker
25 Butch Bonin
28 Gloria Curtis
28 Kathy Lapriore
29 Heidi Bunker
29 Sean Curtis
29 Don McGee
29 Patrick McGee
29 Matthew Rock
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICE HAS THE CORRECT DATES FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAYS OF CELEBRATION.

THANK YOU !Pampered Chef Fundraiser
Holly Christo is holding a Pampered Chef cookout at her home on High Street in Southbridge to benefit the church. The date is Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 PM. If you would like to attend or would just like to order, give Holly a call at 508-764-5370. Holly says, “The more, the merrier!”


WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP
All women who attend Elm Street Church are invited to participate in the activities and meetings of the Women’s Fellowship. Monthly meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month, usually at 7:00pm, October through June.There will be no programs and no board meetings in the months of July and August. Enjoy your summer!Please save your coffee cans of all sizes. We will be collecting them in the fall. You guessed it – We will be having another coffee can cookie sale! Stay tuned for details!


MEN’S FELLOWSHIP
All men of the church are invited to attend the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast Meetings on July 5th and August 2nd at 8:00am at the Elm Centre Café. Hope to see you there!
Worcester Tornadoes Game – August 2, 2009 at 1:05pm
Sign up on Sundays in Fellowship Hall. Don’t miss out on the fun! Children of all ages welcome!

On The Lite Side…
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, 'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!' While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again! As she ran she once again began to pray, 'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't shove me either!'


THE MODERATOR’S MESSAGE
The July Board Meetings will be held at the discretion, time & location of each individual board. The Christian Education Board will meet on Friday, July 10th at 7:00pm in the church vestry.
Prudential will meet on Tuesday, July 14th at 7:00pm.
There will be no council meeting in July.
The August Board Meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 11th at 7:00 PM.
The August Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 26th at 7:00 PM.
Please notify David Curboy (508)764-4112 or your board’s chairperson if you will be unable to attend.


IN OUR RECORDS FOR AUGUST
Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!
2 Devin Salviuolo 4 Mitchel & Rosalina Smith
6 Richmond Clemence 5 Ernie & Dale Decoteau
9 Thomas Hardy 11 Jeff & Tricia Gay
10 Sharon Bond 17 Gerald & Cindy Giroux
11 Richard Whitney 27 Fred & Carol Young
17 Jessica DaSilva 31 Wilson & Tammy Plue
18 Patricia Johnson
18 Ethan Plue
18 Anne Shaw
20 Gordon Lammert
22 Dan Curtis
22 Warren Donnell
23 Katrina Curboy
23 Madison Shaw
23 Nancy Cook
26 Phill LaCroix

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICE HAS THE CORRECT DATES FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAYS OF CELEBRATION.

THANK YOU !CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
The Christian Education Board is planning to reinvent and reinvigorate the Sunday School. We will be offering a one-room Sunday School beginning in September. We are looking for adult teachers and helpers to work with the children as well as ideas for a new Sunday School. There is a suggestion box available in Fellowship Hall on the green table if you have ideas or would like to volunteer to work with the children. You can use the suggestion box or speak with a member of the CE Board. Beginning in August, we will be visiting parents in teams of two in an effort to understand what parents are looking for and need from the Sunday School.

Parents and all concerned members of the church are encouraged to join us at our July 10th board meeting at 7:00pm in the church vestry and our August 11th board meeting at the church.
Board Members: Renee Smith, Joe Fournier, Mark Arsenault, Elizabeth Eckhardt, Joan Bejune, Judy RaskRemember that we promise at their Baptism to support, love and care for each child as they learn and grow in Jesus Christ.

SOUTHBRIDGE INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK
Our Hosting Dates for 2009 are as follows:
August 2nd – 9th?
November 8th – 15th
Please mark your calendars!

Please contact Julie Bruinsma, Coordinator, if you have questions or would like to volunteer (508)765-0416.

Faith Promise Money
The idea of Faith Promise Money is to make a promise in faith that any “found” money or “off-budget” money you get will be donated to God’s work at ESCC. This money might be found when you:
Find money on the street
Get an unexpected bonus or tax refund
Have a loan repaid after you had ceased to expect it
Save money on a large purchase for which you had budgeted
Get a product rebate
Find money you had put away and forgotten
These amounts of money could be large or small. Share the bounty God gives us; it will come back as a blessing.


~ Les Wandelear PRUDENTIAL- Together We Will Make It HappenSummer Pledges – Please keep up with your pledge commitment during the summer months. You may mail your pledges to the church office if you will be away. Thank you for your support.


Here’s a great part time job opportunity:
Renee Smith will be stepping down from Sunday sexton. Her last day on the job will be July 26. If you are interested please talk to Renee Smith, Barb Lammert or Emily Fournier for details about the job.


This is also Pat Taylor’s last year as Church treasurer. If you are an organized and detailed person with a little bit of computer experience, please consider God’s calling. Pat has done a marvelous job and will help you along the way. Please pray about it. The church needs you!


Do you have a Key to the church? If so, please notify the church office. We need to update our key list. We need to know which type of key and the number. Anyone who holds a key to the church is an agent of the church and will be named individually in a lawsuit. If we do not have an accurate list of key holders, then every member of the church is considered an agent of the church and will be named in any lawsuit. Please call (508-764-8058), email (ESCC_Office@verizon.net) or come in to the church office so that we may update our records. THANK YOU for your cooperation!


Fiscal Snapshot
YTD 04/30/09 Operating Income $ 52,884 Operating Expenses $ 44,031
2009 Budgeted Income $131,163 Budgeted Expenses $160,087
Pledges, Offerings and Collections
Total Amount Proposed for 2009 $105,950
Actual as of 04/06/09 $ 40,594

Please remember Elm Street Congregational Church, U.C.C. in your will and estate planning.


DIACONATE
Guest Preachers for the month of July will be:
July 5th – The Rev. John Shaw, Sr.
July 12th – Marcy Menard
July 19th – Pastor Bob Wiles
July 26th – Paul Rask will lead the All Music Sunday

JULY - AUGUST MISSION OF THE MONTH
The Mission for the summer is The Southbridge Interfaith Hospitality Network. We will be collecting monetary donations as well as items that are needed for Grace House and the families living there. Help is also needed the week of August 2nd – 9th as we are hosting at Grace House that week. There will be a sign up sheet to help at Grace House and there is now a box for SIHN household donations in Fellowship Hall. The items that can be donated are personal items such as shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, band-aids, diapers and sunscreen. There is also a need for household items such as dish soap, toilet paper, sponges, laundry soap etc. This continues to be a very important mission in our work for the Lord here in Southbridge. If you wish to learn more about SIHN, please speak with anyone on the Diaconate board or Julie Bruinsma, our SIHN coordinator. We thank you in advance for your support for this mission!In Support of Local Missions


“The mission of ESCC is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Mark 12:29-31)”

“As a committed Christ-centered community we make real the call of Jesus through faith, fellowship and outreach!”


BUDGET CORNER “Take the wheat and leave the chaff”
This month’s topic is charitable giving. Whoa!!! I thought we were trying to save money, not give it away! But haven’t you ever said, “I’d like to do more, but I just can’t afford it”? This column will address that concern. But first, if you haven’t felt the urge to give more, perhaps you should consider it. Giving is a vital part of our Christian practice. God commands us to share our worldly goods and our talents as a way of living out our recognition that our lives come from God and belong to God. Here are some ways to do this:
Pay God first. Financial planners say to ‘pay yourself first’ to build your savings. Write out your check for God’s work first, then pay yourself, then manage the rest as efficiently as possible, and you will have your priorities in the right order.
Pray about your desire to give. Then look for an answer to your prayers. This could take many forms, including new insights, timely financial advice, or even money. One member of our church felt an urgent desire to give to the Youth Fellowship’s collection for tsunami victims a few years ago, but he had absolutely no money to spare after his living expenses. He prayed for a solution, and an odd job was unexpectedly offered him. He recognized this as an answer to prayer and gave the money to the collection. He felt blessed that the Lord was using him to help others.
Look at what you could sacrifice. We don’t always recognize how well we are treating ourselves, often preferring to focus on what we don’t have. St. Paul assures us that, “You will always be rich enough to be generous” (2 Corinthians 9: 11). One lady in our church had difficulty buying school clothes for her children. We were taking up a collection of clothing for a family in Appalachia at the time, and when she learned that her son wore the same size as one of the boys, she unhesitatingly ripped open a new three pack of underwear and contributed a set for the collection. One less iced coffee a week or one meatless meal a week might be the answer for someone else.
Buy one extra. Could you buy one extra roll of toilet paper or paper towels? Give it to Julie Bruinsma for Grace House. One extra bottle of dish soap could go the church kitchen. One extra package of washable markers or construction paper could go to the Sunday School. One extra ticket for a church supper could go to the Pastor to give to a fellow Elm Streeter who can’t afford to eat out.
Give Faith Promise Money. This is money that comes into your life unexpectedly. Les Wandelear has some suggestions in this Elm Leaves about where you might find this money.
Use your talents to raise money. We all have things we are good at, God-given talents. Think creatively about what you might do. One lady in our church knits year-round and gives the afghans and shawls to the church to sell.
Give your time. You’ve heard it said that ‘Time is Money’, and in this case it is true. Could you mow the church lawn? This would free up Norman Chicoine to use his limited hours for another church task. Could you head up a fundraiser or help with one?
Give your gifts in non-monetary ways. Do you love children? Help with Sunday School or host at Grace House. Do you love to meet people? Sign up to greet on Sunday morning. Love to clean or do small repairs? Ask Norman Chicoine how you can help out. Are you organized about paying your bills and managing money? Speak to Pat Taylor about serving as church treasurer. Love to sing? Have a heart for teens? Like to chat with the elderly? Feel called to pray for others? Dedicate these gifts to God’s service.
Pair up. Like to bake but don’t feel comfortable in the church kitchen? Someone else who hates to bake can help set up for coffee hour. Love children but don’t feel qualified to teach Sunday School? Someone else may want to teach but doesn’t want to be alone.
Apply the flow-through principle. As humans, we can’t see the future and so we understandably get anxious about having enough and sometimes find it hard to share. Throughout the Bible God instructs us that everything we have is a gift and is to be shared with others. As we let material and spiritual blessings flow through our lives and out to others, we are letting the love of God flow through us and thus are experiencing that love more and more ourselves.


2 Corinthians 9: 6-15 gives a good summary of this principle. Check it out!



FROM THE ALL CHURCH MEETING JUNE 14, 2009


Elm Street Congregational Church Capital Campaign 2009


The following is a list of concerns and questions that we will discuss this morning. The Capital Campaign committee has been meeting over the past month and now is the time for the congregation to vote on our recommendations. If you have other questions, please ASK because you are likely to be one of many people who want to know.
What is the financial goal of our campaign?


Our campaign goal is $175,000
What will this money be used for?


Projects
The money will be used for the following major projects, listed in order of importance to the members of our church:
1. Replace the existing heating system $50,000
2. Fellowship Hall roof project $45,000
3. Repair work to the parsonage $10,000
4. Replace Exit signs $ 5,000
FOR A TOTAL OF $110,000


Missions
Our committee also voted to increase our campaign by 10% - giving this additional money to various missions supported by Elm Street Church. The Massachusetts Conference of the UCC will receive 5% and the following five agencies will each receive 1% – SIHN/Grace House, Abbey’s House, Blessings Farm, St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry and WYCM.


Unexpected costs
An additional amount has been added to our goal to cover any unforeseen costs associated with any of the projects and to pay for campaign costs


Additional monies
Our committee has discussed and agreed that any amount collected over the total needed for each project will be used to repay the various church funds that money was removed from in 2005. Also other projects have been identified that could be funded if additional monies are pledged.


When will the heating system project be started and completed and who will be doing the work?
After receiving various bids we have chosen Southbridge Tire to replace our heating system. They have agreed to do this in phases, with phase 1 to begin on June 15th following this vote.

When will the Fellowship Hall roof project be started and completed and who will be doing the work?
Numerous bids have been received and the Building committee has decided to hire John K. Leecock of Palmer, Ma. to complete the work including replacing gutters and repair work to columns at the Park Street entrance. Work could begin on this project as soon as the fall.


When will the parsonage project be started and completed and who will be doing the work?
The Building Sub Committee has talked with a few contractors; bids have been requested and once in a contractor will be chosen. Work could begin on this project as soon as the fall.
This project will include re-pointing the chimney and solving the existing mold problem.


Why are we doing this work now?


1. We have been struggling with our current furnace for the past few years; it is not energy efficient and is in constant need of repair. Many of us have attended church or been to meetings where we must wear our coats or use blankets to keep warm. This has also discouraged people from attending church during the colder months. Of course the price of oil has been working against all of us and this new heating system will save on this expense in the future.


2. The main asphalt roof is in obvious need of repair. The important element in this type of restoration is properly connecting the different roof systems together to prevent leaking. This project would replace the asphalt roof, replace the existing materials used on the two flat roofs, install aluminum drip edge, extension of side entryway leaderpipes and side entryway step repair, exterior painting of all wood trim, masonry repointing and column base replacement.


3. In 2005 work was done in the parsonage to remove the mold from the basement area of the house. Four years later we are once again battling this problem but this time in the 2nd floor bathroom. This is a health issue for our pastor and his family.


What is the overall financial condition of our church?
Currently we are able to maintain our operating budget at a bare minimum. Through God’s help we have been able to meet our obligations and like many Americans are living “offering to offering.”

What do we presently owe on our church property?
Our buildings and property have no mortgage attached to them.

How will the projects be financed?
Our recommendation is that the projects be started using bequested gifts, an equity line of credit on the parsonage and money raised from this Capital campaign


How much money is available in Memorial Funds, Bequested Funds and/or Special Funds?
Currently we have $20,000 that was bequeathed to us from the estate of Florence Herwig and $1,240 from the Andre Lamprey Memorial Fund


How much money has been pledged to the campaign at this time?
We have a pledge from Women’s Fellowship of $10,000, a donation from Hyde Dexter-Russell Charitable Foundation of $6,000 and a $1,000 donation from the Eckhardt family.


How can gifts be made to the project?
Gifts will be gratefully received in any manner in which donors feels is appropriate. Pledges can be made over a three year period and paid on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually or in complete installments. Pledge envelopes will be provided to all those who request them.


What about stewardship pledges made each year?
It is important to note that the gifts made to this campaign should in no way interfere with regular stewardship and giving to the operations of the church. It is crucial to the life of our church to maintain the giving of its members to continue the work which we do.


When will Pledges to the campaign be received and dedicated?
We are scheduling a day in October as Dedication Sunday for our congregation. At that time pledges will be received and dedicated. Commitment cards will be distributed prior to Dedication Sunday.


When will giving of pledged gifts begin?
Gifts can be given anytime after the individual pledge is made.

Who should I contact to ask another question that is not on this list?
Lou-Ellen & David Corkum Liz & Bob Eckhardt
Pastor Pat &Amaret Johnson Karen Horton
Paul & Judy Rask Barb Lammert
Hamer Clark Fran Lamprey
Jeff Gay Tom & Kathy Lapriore
Dick and Pat Taylor Sarah & Dick Hardy