Church on the Green — Fall 2024

FCCSM.org | FALL 2024

CHURCH ON THE GREEN

CULTIVATING COMMON GROUND SINCE 1723 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, SHREWSBURY, MA

A tremendous thank you to Jeanine Vitale for capturing so many of the incredible images used in this edition of Church on the Green. Jeanine is an active church member and owner of Prism Point Photography.

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Contents

KIDS’ ZONE. Summer

LEADERSHIP TEAM HIGHLIGHTS 4 COMMON GROUND

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DEACONS 8 WELCOMING MINISTRY

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HANDS FOR HOPE

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BUDGET & FINANCE

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SOCIAL CIRCLES

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MUSIC MINISTRY

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EARTH STEWARDSHIP

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LEAH CIRCLE

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MARTHA’S CIRCLE

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GOLF LEAGUE

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KEEPERS OF THE HOUSE

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HISTORIANS 24 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

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COMMUNITY 26

OUR MISSION First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury (FCCS) is a vibrant, inclusive and compassionate community of worship and mission. We want our faith to transcend the things that separate us, to be tangible to endure tests of life and time and to be environmentally responsible, protecting God’s creation. Led by the Holy Spirit, we look to Jesus Christ to guide us toward companionship, justice, and the inspiration to serve God and our community.

WELCOME TO CHURCH ON THE GREEN Welcome to the new look of Church on the Green!

For over 300 years First Congregational Church has been making a difference in people’s lives.

Our church continues to serve God and neighbor in new and creative ways. Within the pages of this magazine you will find ways both big and small where FCC is making a positive impact.

Check out the stories about our leadership goals for 2024, our thriving music ministry, the activities of the historian’s, Earth Stewardship Ministries and so much more.

Throughout this edition of Church on the Green there are stories and images of God’s presence as we strive to live more deeply into our church’s core values of Spiritual Discovery, Inclusive Community and Compassionate Service.

FCC is an amazing place to be- looking forward to seeing you here!

Pastor Holly

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE

CHURCH LEADERSHIP NOTEBOOK

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We began 2024 with a couple of brainstorming sessions. The first session focused on developing goals for 2024 which resulted in this list aligned with our Core Values: • Spiritual Discovery • Revitalize Middle School Sunday School • Inclusive Community • Outreach to the Community • Social Justice • Earth Justice • Compassionate Service • Increased Volunteer Engagement • Next Gen Leadership • Financial Sustainability • Building Use Improvements • Building Needs Then we moved on Financial Sustainability by answering the question: “How do we know when we have arrived at Financial Sustainability?”

This exercise generated markers of Financial Sustainability summarized into 5 themes: •

Income

•

Operating Finances

•

Managing our Resources

•

Institutional Sustainability

• Aspirational We closed the first half of the year by working through an unique “Out of the Box” proposal to create additional pastoral support. This work led to an unanimous Council vote to hire Rev. Karen Dorshimer-Chaplin as our part time Acting Associate Minister.

-Jay Salsgiver, Moderator

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COMMON GROUND WORSHIPING on the common First Congregational Church has been worshiping on the Common for generations.

Jennifer Shaw found a photograph of FCC worshiping outdoors during WWII. We are part of a long tradition of people of faith gathering in chairs, singing hymns, and offering prayers to God. Our faith binds us to our Creator and to one another across generations. Handed down to us from earlier generations and gifted as a beloved inheritance to those who will follow, the love of God and neighbor permeates our existence as First Congregational Church.

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DEACONS As Deacons, whose concern is the spiritual de-

sionate service. In response, an addition we have

velopment and welfare of our members and the

made to our worship experience is a monthly

wider community, we are always highly pleased

mission moment featuring one of the community

as the church becomes increasingly active.

organizations we support. We have had excellent speakers and positive response to each of these.

Some of this information will be covered in other articles in this issue, but we are grateful that our

We were particularly excited about an event in

congregation has grown with 7 new adult mem-

September. Each year the Deacons participate in

bers in the last few months. We have also grown

a mini-retreat with the minister to expand our

the Christian education program with several

understanding and skills. This year we includ-

additional children from these and other fami-

ed the Care Team in a program on practices for

lies. Yes, we have had a bounty of baptisms as

effective and supportive visitation. While we

well, with 5 completed and 5 more scheduled for

want to reach out to others in times of need, it is

the fall.

common to have questions and hesitations.

These increases mean that we have more peo-

Pastor Holly and Pastor Karen Dorshimer-Chap-

ple to equip and expand our mission. One of the

lin, both of whom have extensive experience in

effects we have particularly appreciated is that

these skills, led our retreat. This opportunity

many of our new members have embraced a

gave us useful information that will help us to

variety of ministries or committees and become

interact meaningfully with the people we are

active as close-knit members of the community.

striving to serve.

The Spirit is moving among us.

Growth seems to be the theme of our focus, and Speaking of activity, one part of our new church

we look forward to doing our part in making it a

mission statement is a commitment to compas-

focus of our congregation.

growth seems to be the theme of our focus We look forward to doing our part in making it a focus of our congregation.

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SHARING COMMUNION. Taste and see that God is good.

NEW MEMBERS. Welcoming new members in June

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WELCOMING MINISTRY 10

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WHAT IS IN THOSE GIFT BAGS? If you have been at church on a Joining

Come grow in God with us!” It is a message to the

Sunday you have seen the bestowing of

child that we learn about God together, and that

gifts on the new members and their chil-

they will be nurtured along the way.

dren. Did you ever wonder what is in those gift bags?

As a symbol of love and friendship, the adults receive a freshly-baked mini-loaf of quick bread,

The preschool- and elementary school-

either pumpkin or banana! That tag reads “Blest

aged children are given plush happy-faced

be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.

potted tulips! This soft, non-gendered

The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that

toy wears a gift tag that reads, “Welcome!

above.”

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HANDS FOR HOPE The Hands for Hope Ministry at the First Congregational Church consists of artisans who create home-made items – sewn, knitted, crocheted, crafted – which are sold for fundraising or are donated to many different charities. A great way to enjoy your hobby while helping others! Some of the charities supported in the last year are: La Romana Mission in the Dominican Republic, St Anne’s Human Services, Abby’s House, Project Linus, CityReach, Kits for Kids, and Compassus Hospice.

Last November members of Hands for Hope decided to support our church by holding The November Sale. All proceeds from this sale, held before and after church services, were donated to the General Fund to help with the Church’s financial success.

We sold: Hats and Scarfs, Dollies, Bags and Purses, Baby Sweaters and much more!

On October 6, 2024, Hands for Hope is going to sponsor The October Sale: A Preview of our Upcoming Church Fair featuring Items for Babies and Children. Again, all profits will go to the General Fund. Please stop by our table and see if we have the perfect thing for you!

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BUDGET & FINANCE The world of the Budget and Finance Board

ferring excess funds to the Money Market (where

moves quietly behind the scenes and most mem-

we earn interest) whenever we can. We still have

bers of the congregation are not aware of what

immediate access if we need it, but we appreciate

we have been doing. So, we are pulling back the

having the ability to earn some interest.

curtain and giving you some insight.

FCC Shrewsbury has been focusing on our misWe have increased transparency into the annual

sion and we are looking at how to support and

financial position of the church in recent years

fund the mission we have agreed on.

and this year are assisting with the “Dollars and Sense” monthly financial disclosure.

Therefore, the largest project we are working on is approaching the church operating budget

We have supported adding the ability to accept

differently. Instead of from the “top down” which

credit cards in anticipation of our upcoming

has historically been our approach, we are work-

church fair in November. This will enable the

ing from the “bottom up”. We have started work-

committees to benefit from increased sales, as

ing on the budget very early this year, and have

many people don’t carry cash with them on a

an early first draft in August. We will be working

regular basis. Accepting credit cards will become

with church leadership focusing on financial

available for all cash collecting activities that

support of our mission.

would like to use it.

In addition, members of Budget and Finance have We are watching the funds kept in operating ac-

made themselves available for any questions the

counts (non-interest bearing) and we are trans-

congregation has about our financial situation.

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SOCIAL CIRCLES 14

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Social Circle has been busy this past year hosting a number of fun-filled fellowship opportunities. The Coffee House was held in Gifford Hall on February 10th, which showcased an array of talent from our gifted congregation. On July 12th, fifteen members met on a beautiful summer evening at Broken Creek Winery in Shrewsbury.

BROKEN CREEK VINEYARD. July

COFFEE HOUSE. February

WINE TASTING. Great Social Circle event at Total Wine in Shrewsbury on our Tour of Italy wine tasting, April

CHURCH PICNIC. September

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MUSIC MINISTRY

training choir and youth singers These choirs are made up of grades 2-4 and

It has been a long period of rebuilding since

grades 5-high school. Rehearsing weekly, they

COVID, and we have finally seen promising (and

have been singing on a schedule of approxi-

exciting!) growth in the choirs, starting with 9

mately every other Sunday service and have at

singers in the fall of 2023 and ending the spring

times joined with the adult choir for a combined

2024 season with 14. We look forward to welcom-

anthem – in particular, this past Palm Sunday

ing more members in our next season, having

turned out to be a favorite for them.

fun, and working on a whole new list of song offerings for the congregation.

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NEGRO SPIRITUALS PROJECT The world looked very different when First Congregational Church was founded over 300 years ago, especially if you were an enslaved person.

The title above might be a little jarring and that’s the point. Today we use the term African-American, but It’s important to remember that enslaved people were not considered citizens and they didn’t have rights. This is a difficult subject to discuss and the discomfort you may feel with the term Negro Spiritual is the tip of the iceberg. We can avoid the subject, or we can muster up the courage to face history.

The work songs that slaves sang in the fields or used as coded escape songs were not written down, they were passed down aurally. Because of

CONCERT. Thank you Olga Rogach, piano, & Ron

this, no composers are mentioned, and no royal-

Williams, baritone, for a beautiful concert of African

ties are paid on Negro Spirituals. These songs are

American Spirituals and Storytelling. The audience

now staples in the church music repertoire and

was captivated and mesmerized throughout this

have influenced composers of church music for

incredible musical journey, as we learned about

many years.

escaping slavery and the injustice that followed next generations of free Americans. This program

In May of 2024, the Music Ministry announced

was supported by First Congregational Church of

our new Negro Spirituals Project. As a belated

Shrewsbury, Arts on the Green, Shrewsbury Cultural

acknowledgment of the contributions of Black

Council, and Mass Cultural Council.

communities to church music, we pay for the use of African American Spirituals in our worship services and performances by supporting community programs geared toward people of

When performing Bach or Mozart, we strive to

color. Starting in 2024, the Music Ministry began

use historically accurate performance practices

donating to help support the Black Excellence

and avoid the heavily romanticized and edited

Academy in Worcester. While more indirect than

versions that were common in the early twenti-

the official copyright licenses that we pay, we

eth century. As we learn more about the coded

are excited for this Social Justice opportunity.

messages in Negro Spirituals, we strive to honor

The Black Excellence Academy is an after-school

their original intent. These were soulful songs

program based at All Saints Episcopal Church in

with deep meaning, not jolly tunes intended to

Worcester. They partner with Pakachoag Music

make us feel good. It’s tempting to perform only

School to offer music programing.

upbeat happy tunes all the time. But grief, sadness and shame are a part of life. They remind us

Another facet of this project is to ensure that we

to experience the joys even more fully and stop

are honoring the original intention of the songs.

taking them for granted.

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EARTH STEWARDSHIP Becoming a Creation Justice Church

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You may remember that our Congregation

ensure that the tree could prosper in the

was recognized by the UCC Environmental

coming years. Perhaps one day it will be

Ministries as a Level 3 Green Congregation

adorned by holiday lights as a symbol of

on Earth Sunday, 2023, and we celebrated

Christmas. Take a look at the tree the next

by planting a Christmas tree on the Com-

time you go by the Common and witness

mon. Although the weather was dreary and

the new growth, because like our congrega-

rainy, many families gathered with their

tion, it has certainly grown substantially in

umbrellas and rain coats to lend a hand

the past year and half. This is part of what

in carefully planting a small pine tree,

had come to be known as Creation Justice,

protecting the roots with nourishing earth

taking care of God’s Creation, protecting its

and spreading mulch around the base to

abundance and diversity of life, for future

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generations as well as our own.

The Earth Stewardship Ministry (EMS) had now embarked on a journey toward helping us become a Creation Justice Church, a step in becoming a UCC Level 4 Green Congregation. The glee of the children as they shoveled soil around the roots of the Christmas tree and the willingness of so many to stand out in the rain in celebration, points toward us already being a Creation Justice Church so why not codify that as a formal proclamation for all to hear and see?

There are several steps to becoming a Creation Justice Church, the first and foremost being to discern where we’ve been and to discern where we can go. The second and perhaps most important part is to draft a Creation Justice Covenant. In the UCC, the most solemn and sacred commitment one can make is that of a covenant. It marks a serious promise to God on the part of a congregation. A covenant also entails a promise among congregants to each other as they seek “to walk together in all God’s ways”. After a prayerful process of discernment, the ESM and other volunteers will draft a Creation Justice Covenant to be presented to the congregation for a vote. The Church Council has approved this process and the vote is proposed to take place at the next annual meeting in January

EARTH STEWARDSHIP. Tree planting on the

2025. More detail will be provided during the Fall.

Common

To begin the process, let’s consider more fully what Creation Justice means, since it may seem somewhat vague on the surface. Perhaps the

We are in it, and it is in us. If we are to embody

simplest explanation is that we are all part of the

Creation Justice, we must not only work to heal

created order, and being inspired by our Creator,

and restore Creation, but also to protect the plan-

must work to redeem and sustain it, all of it. Cre-

et and it’s people from exploitation, recognizing

ation is not something external, separate from

the interactions between all living things and the

humanity, but the very ground of our existence.

importance of those interactions.

Please join us in the coming months as we seek to articulate what Creation Justice means for our congregation and how we can work together to achieve the goals we decide upon.

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LEAH CIRCLE Leah Circle is open to all women of the church and we would love to welcome YOU to join us. We meet the third Monday of the month from Sept.June, at 7:00 PM in the Youth Room, and have a variety of activities that are planned at our meeting each June.

At our meetings we could be listening to a speaker about Preservation in Shrewsbury, learning about the practice of Mindfulness from members of the Shrewsbury school community, learning about the art of decorating Ukranian eggs, sharing great book recommendations, gathering for our special holiday celebration, filling bags with birthday treats for children in the community or watching a movie on a cold winter night. We also support needs within our church and the community with activities such as filling the freezer to help the Care Team, donating needed items to Abby’s House, organizing the annual 90th birthday celebration for church members, donating pans for Mustard Seed meals, and collecting pennies in the Blanche’s Penny bowl in Gifford Hall.

This November we will take part in our church’s bi-annual fair. You can find information about

BLANCHE’S PENNIES. Please bring in loose change

upcoming meetings in the church’s Looking

to support the work of Leah›s Circle.

Ahead weekly news.

We invite you to be a part of our group whenever you can make it, and would love to welcome you to the Leah Circle.

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thecrafttrain.com

MARTHA’S CIRCLE During the Easter Season Easter lilies are delivered to certain church members. In March, Martha Circle crafted washcloth bunnies and decorated wooden crosses to accompany the lilies. Some chocolate treats were included. It was a fun project and there were lots of laughs. As one member commented “we look and sound like a group of kindergartners.”

Martha’s Circle meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 11:30 a.m. in the Adkins Room. You are welcome to join us!

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GOLF LEAGUE We began our 2024 season on April 13 and have played 9 holes each Saturday morning at 1 of 6 local courses. Three to 10 people have played each week with an average of 6 and most of us have stopped for coffee after. It has been an excellent year so far, a great way to spend time with friends as well as to get some exercise!

To join us on our next outing contact Don Alger.

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KEEPERS OF THE HOUSE Keepers of the House were very busy at the beginning of this year as can be seen by the upgrades made to the church office and the Building Superintendent’s office. The Keepers found an additional box pew panel from 1766, like the one that has been installed in the History Staircase. This panel was added to the north wall of the Building Superintendent’s Office and nicely completes the decor.

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HISTORIANS the 300th book 300 years of history.

2 years in the making.

256 pages.

544 images.

Honoring Our Past, Cherishing Our Present, Looking To Our Future is a comprehensive look at the history of FCC and the celebration of our faithful journey over three centu-

english language learners tour Coordinated by church member, Christina Manos, in May we welcomed over 60 English Language students from the Shrewsbury High School.

Hailing from over a dozen countries, speaking multiple native dialects, these High School students represented the diversity of our town and came to learn about its history. Carol Baker, Sherry & Scottie Robertson, Nancy Burnett and Elaine Shaw, dressed in period clothes, led the students through the building sharing important historical details along the way. Here’s one: did you know that the original gazebo, a gift from the King’s Daughters, was located directly on the corner of 140 and Main?

It is a joy that for over 300 years our building has been a meeting place for both the church and the town. Later that month we also invited students from Paton Elementary for a similar tour.

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ries. Books will be published later this year.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Our Christian Education Ministry offers some-

concurrently with worship on Sunday mornings.

thing for everyone.

Throughout the summer our youngest Christians were invited to explore their faith with activities

This summer the High School Youth Group went to

on the Common.

Dexter Maine to help community members with various projects. We also offer youth group for Teens

Our Nursery program welcomes infants and tod-

and Middle School throughout the school year.

dlers to a safe and inviting environment coordinated by Katie Salsgiver each week.

Kids’ Zone, for preschool through Middle School age children, is active and growing. We regular-

Thank you to all of the volunteers who make our

ly have over 20 students in our classes that run

faith formation program possible.

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COMMUNITY a place for all ages and stages First Congregational Church is a place of Inclusive Welcome — no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey you are welcome here! Members of our congregation range from birth to 101 and everything in between. Together we baptize infants, celebrate milestones, and support one another throughout the process of aging. Together we can and do make a difference in people’s lives.

JAMMERS. September

BIRTHDAY. Conrad visiting WEDDING. Andrew and Mia Ambra, July

Don Gray on this 95th birthday

INTERFAITH PEACE VIGIL. September

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BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS. July

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS. July

SPIRIT OF SHREWSBURY. September

SPIRIT OF SHREWSBURY. September

CHURCH PICNIC. September

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Giving

COMMUNITY HARVEST. Grafton, July

Your financial contributions make our shared ministry possible. Please consider a donation to FCC through our website, QR Code, mail or in person.

First Congregational Church 19 Church Road, Shrewsbury, MA Worship weekly, Sundays, 9:30 a.m.

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