TCC Flash - Weekly News
Musings About Father's Day
| Rev. Baxter Chism.
Three young fathers were in the waiting room waiting for the birth of their children. The first was told that his wife gave birth to twins. He was amazed and said, "I play ball for the Minnesota Twins." Later, the nurse came out and told the second father, 'Congratulations, you are the father of triplets." He said, "That is amazing! I work for 3M." The man next to him fainted. When he work up they asked, "What's wrong?" He said, "I work for 7Up."
Most sources report that the idea of Father's Day began on a Mother's Day over 100 years ago. The Website LiveScience reports that a lady in Washington State, Sonora Smart Dodd, was listening to a sermon on Mother's Day in her church and came up with the idea. Apparently, Sonora's mother died during the birth of her fifth child and her father, William, raised her and her other four siblings. She wanted to honor her father. The first Father's Day to ever happen was on June 19th, 1910. The holiday did not become official until President Richard Nixon signed it into public law in 1972.
I want to acknowledge those of you who have a hard time on Father's Day for various reasons. Sometimes things don't go as planned with our parents and we may be reminded of something from the past or even a current event. I have a friend who has mixed emotions every Father's Day. His father was an alcoholic and was verbally abusive to him and his sister (a story we hear way too much) and they don't have a relationship today. In saying this, he has used it as motivation to be the best father he can be to his two children.
Proverbs 23:24 (NLT Translation) says, "The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise."
When I apply this verse to my own life, I want my daughters to grow up and be godly. They might choose another path if my words and examples don't match. I think of spending time with my daughters now and in the future to come preparing them for life based on Christian love and charity. Even with the high probability of them failing from time to time, my prayer and hope for them are that the wisdom I will share will one day be used.
Where does this wisdom come? It comes from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works in and around us to understand things in godly ways. It inspires us to be the best person we can be. In turn, the Spirit helps us be the best father we can be.
To all you fathers out there, "Thank you!" Thanks for doing the best you can to be a good father. Don't be too hard on yourself if you feel like a failure. It is tough sometimes. I pray that Proverbs 23:24 is true in your life.
Blessings,
Rev. Baxter
Board of Ministries Update
| Board of Ministries.
Board of Ministries is happy to welcome Sue Henderson, Julie Marotte and Bruce Panilaitis to the team and have elected the Chairs and the following liaisons to the respective Committees (for June 2019 - May 2020) below:
Debbie Adams & Bruce Panilaitis - Co-Chairs of BoM
Julie Marotte - Outreach
John Avery - Finance & Trustees
Debbie Adams - CE & Deacons
Bruce Panilaitis - Time & Talents
Mary Lou Adams - Missions
Sue Henderson - Music
The next ABCs meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th at 7:00 pm in Vestry.
Not To Be Missed!
| Lucinda J. Ellert.
A brand new musical group, called the Commonwealth Orchestra Outreach Project, is excited to announce that we will be presenting an event at Tewksbury Congregational Church on June 21st at 7:00 p.m. This event is kind of a concert and … kind of not. They’ll be performing some really nice tunes on strings, winds and piano, yes. They’ll also be recording this concert free and open to the public, yes. And, yes, they’ll be doing some fundraising. There will also be some stories and poems, and … classical music.
Commonwealth Orchestra Outreach Project (“COOP” for short) is a new take on the grand old dame of music: the Symphony Orchestra. Instead of doing re-runs of old European music played by a rather remote ensemble in a stuffy concert hall, we’re fresher, more nimble, newer and more engaged with you. And we think there is plenty of music that was written “locally” (think the Americas) that we curate for maximum enjoyment.
This is a little different from what you might expect at a Symphony concert, so if you enjoy hearing classical music, you’ll definitely want to come. And, if you don’t usually go to the symphony but like a fun show, you’ll definitely want to check this out.
When: Friday, June 21, 7:00 p.m.
Where: TCC Sanctuary
Free and open to the public, free will offering. Proceeds to be split with the church.
Summer Office Hours
| Mercy Delgado.
Please note that the church office will begin its Summer Hours schedule on Monday, June 10th, 2019. The church office will be closed on Mondays and Fridays and will be open Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm during the months of June, July and August.
The church office will resume its normal schedule of Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm right after Labor Day weekend, and will be open on Friday, September 6th, 2019.
Have a wonderful Summer!
Crib Sheets
In order to access the Sunday School curriculum information, important dates to remember or about particular programs designed for youth, please visit our Crib Sheet page.
Sunday School Teacher Directory
Planning Ahead?
General Overview of Christian Education Program
We Need a New Cherub Director!
| Lucinda J. Ellert.
Marilyn San Clemente has done a fabulous job as Interim Director of the Cherub Choir (K-3rd grade) this year, but alas, the year is about up. We need someone to volunteer to work with these talented young singers – piano skills are very helpful (at least to play the melody line), but not essential, as Lucinda will play for the performance and final rehearsals.
This iconic church post just requires a love of music and children. Lucinda and others in the Music Ministry are on hand to train, support, and help out in any way possible.
We need volunteers! If you want to get involved with the Music Ministry and love to work with kids, this is a great opportunity for you. Some music skills, as well as skill working with children, are needed. We will provide an accompanist.
Summer Newsletter from Place of Promise
| Joanne Kenney.
We thought you might enjoy reading the attached, latest newsletter from our friends at Place of Promise. Through our donations and the donations of many others, they are helping broken people to heal, know our Lord, and to feel complete. Amen and Amen!
Attached File: 51place-of-promise-place-of-promise-summer-2019-newsletter.pdf
Called to Care
As a community of Faith, we are Called to Care for one another. Please visit our Called to Care page to learn how you can offer or request care for yourself or for a member of our church family.
Welcome to Called to Care!
Join the Care Team
Request Care
View the current Care Calendars
Make a Care Connection
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Click HERE to view all TCC Sign-ups!
| Church Secretary.
Click HERE to launch our TCC Sign-up Genius page. Use the tabs to switch between the sign-ups. Thank you for lending a helping hand!
Celebrating Pentecost
| Rev. Baxter Chism.
Happy Birthday! This Sunday we once more celebrate the birth of the Church. Our Sanctuary will be adorned in red, the color of Pentecost and representative of the flame that often represents the Holy Spirit. We also end the 50-Day Easter Season.
We also celebrate Youth Sunday. This will be my first and I'm excited. Please don't miss this wonderful service. Let's support our Youth! Many thanks to all of our leaders and volunteers who teach our Youth.
Acts 2:1-21 tells the story of Pentecost. Peter is speaking to the crowd that day in what many consider the first sermon ever given in Christianity. He had come a long way from being one of the Disciples who had followed Jesus. A new reality was beginning to take place and Peter was a big part of what was about to happen.
Just before Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven. Like "tongues" of flames rested on each person there. Those in attendance were from different places and spoke different languages. But on this day, they were all able to communicate and speak the same language.
I've often thought about this diverse group of people who were there the day the Church was born. I know they lived in a different time and culture but I'm sure there were similarities to our time. Their common connection would be Christ. Jesus till connects people of diversity together today.
My point? I often talk about Pentecost from a standpoint of unity. But what is unity? Is it always having to agree on every issue important to us? I don't know if that was the case then and today.
Those in attendance were from different places with cultures. Yet on this day, they were one. I'm sure that when they returned to where they were from they didn't stop practicing what was different in their cultures. The big change was that Christ would change how they interacted with the culture. But also, they were introduced to plurality on Pentecost.
Plurality is different than unity. It celebrates a reality that we are all different in many ways. We read in later parts of the Book of Acts and the Epistles that Jesus broke down walls. People from different backgrounds came together in the common bond of Christ. However, they were plural because of their different backgrounds.
So many of the messages of Pentecost are that we can celebrate plurality when that can be unifying. Let us celebrate today that Christ brings people together.
Happy Birthday! Happy Pentecost!
In Christ,
Rev. Baxter
New UCC Events
| Association Registrar.
LOCAL CHURCH PUBLIC EVENTS
Friday – June 14, 2019, at 7:00 PM
Children’s Book Reading at CCU-Dracut
Saturday – June 15, 2019, at 7:00 PM
Lantern Festival at West Parish Garden Cemetery
Saturday – July 13, 2019; 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
Old Sloop Rummage Sale at FCC-Rockport
CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL EVENTS
Please click the links for more information and to register (WATCH DEADLINES!).
CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY EVENTS
(All events in this section are at the Congregational Library, 14 Beacon Street in Boston unless otherwise noted.
More information and registration can be found at www.congregationallibrary.org or by calling 617-523-0470.)