Missions

The Sutton Community Food Pantry Needs Our Help!

Your continued support to the Sutton Food Pantry is greatly needed. They expressed a need for the following items, peanut butter; jellies & jams; hot & cold cereals; pancake mix & syrups; canned meats; canned stews (beef & chicken); soups & canned veggies.

Ministering to the Homeless

For many people who live on the streets or in Shelters in Boston, Common Art is a vital part of their weekly ritual. It is a place where all are welcome to come relax and to renew themselves in a safe, supportive and welcoming environment. And it is a place where, every Wednesday between 10am and 3pm, beauty is made. It is extraordinary to walk into the Parish Hall of Emmanuel Church, and see all that goes on there each week. With guidance from professional artists in residence and a variety of supplies (including acrylic paint, stained glass, plastic beads, and water color) Common Art, is not a place of “make-work” but a real beauty making-and all are invited to share in it.

With the down turn in the economy, however, the resources of Emmanuel Church are beginning to run dry for this program. They have already begun to cut back where they can. They cut their monthly trips to the Gardner Museum and have been stretching their supplies. If you would like to help contribute to this wonderful ministry to the homeless in Boston, please go to www.ecclesiaministries.org

We're here for you! Need a ride to church?

If you would like assistance in coming to church or know of someone who would like assistance, please contact the church office at 508-865-6914.

Is someone in the hospital or at home recouperating or ill? Please let us know.

Do you need our prayers?

We will bring to God the needs of others. The First Church prayer line will pray for any and all requests, by anyone, for anyone, at any time. Requests will remain confidential and prayed for daily. If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, please contact Cheryl .

A Prayer for Our Veterans

Eternal and Loving God, we are so thankful for the men and women that You have raised up to serve our country with honor, dignity and commitment in the past and present, in war time and times of peace, in combat or on the home front. We remember them today as they have served with honor, dignity, courage and commitment.

We ask You to bless them in the sacrifices they have made to give of themselves for the cause of freedom. We ask You to surround them and their families with your love and protection as many continue to serve on the front lines.

In their times of loneliness and despair, we ask You to be their unseen hand that will lift them up to see a brighter day. We remember those who have lost their lives in service, and we applaud their selfless acts as well as their families that released them to serve. As You have blessed this nation as the land of the free and the home of the brave, we extend this blessing to every branch of our military, and ask that your continued strength and power be with us in the days ahead.

We thank You that their service has not been in vain, and we salute them with honor today and every day. Believing that You are willing and able to hear and answer, we ask in Jesus Name, Amen.

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Altar Flowers

If you are interested in providing flowers for any of these open Sundays that are listed please email me at debstreble@charter.net or phone me at 508-865-5929.

Thanks

Deb Reynolds

Good Samaritan Offering

With the uncertain economy, many in our community need our help. The Good Samaritan Fund provides fuel assistance, helps fund the Sutton Food Pantry, and provides assistance to those who need help paying for prescriptions and emergency shelter. Good Sam envelopes are in the pews every week, to better serve those in our community who need our help.

Ushers Needed - No Experience Necessary

Would you like to greet people on Sunday morning and collect the offering too? We’d love to have you….contact the church office at 508-865-6914.

Support our Troops in Helping Children Overseas

See "Shop for our Troops" Fundraiser

The Missions Committee would like to let you know about our first “challenge”. One of our committee members, Dawn Coggins, has elected to “Adopt a Troop” of soldiers that are currently stationed in Afghanistan. Dawn’s husband, Andy, has been an Active Duty soldier in the Army for a little over 14 years. Dawn wanted to take on this project as it is important to her and her family to be supportive of those who are away from home. She has asked the Missions Committee to help her with this project. She is also working with the Sutton Elementary School. The soldiers she has been assigned to are from Fort Drum in New York and are a combined Medical/Hospital and Infantry division. While we are still working on all of the details, we wanted the Congregation to know that this will be a large undertaking and are hoping for strong support. The soldiers have asked for letters and pictures. As well, they are looking for specific donations (examples listed below) to hand out to the children in the Afghan neighborhoods. They feel the donations are important as they go into the neighborhoods to ensure the families are receiving the proper medical attention. Since they are in uniform and armed, they want the children and families to feel “protected” and not afraid. The information we have received about the current conditions for these Afghan communities is heartbreaking. Many children are not attending school simply because they can not afford school supplies. Details are still being finalized for this project. However, if you are interested in supporting or making a donation, we would greatly appreciate it. If you have any further questions, please contact Dawn Coggins at suttonadoptatroop@live.com.

Donations requested:

Pencils, pens, crayons, paper, hard candy, inexpensive toys such as inflatable balls (can be bought in bulk at orientaltrading.com).

My son Ben and his wife Charly have been deployed to Iraq with the 747^th Military Police Co. of the National Guard. What a year of contrast: They go from guarding frozen Fitchburg after the ice storm, to the western desert of Iraq where it can hit 120^o F in the shade.

The 747^th has a mission of training and equipping the local Iraqi Police in numerous towns throughout Al Anbar province (a.k.a., “The Wild West”). Given the nature of the region, the Iraqi Police stations resemble small forts with concrete barriers, tall walls and barbed wire all around. The families of the Iraqi Police live inside the “fort” to protect them from terrorists. This is a hardship for the children of the Iraqi Police. Ben and Charly tell me that the kids are “Totally nuts about Soccer.” They also love the occasional sweet. So, we could help the 747^th with their mission; a large part of which is WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE PEOPLE.

I’m asking the members of First Church to donate any used soccer equipment they might have lying around (balls, shin guards, cleats, shorts & jerseys). While you’re at it, donate the leftover Halloween candy that’s tempting you. As for our soldiers, they don’t need much: baby powder for the sweat, powdered drink mix (like Koolaid or Gatoraid), chapstick, and nutritious snacks.

BY FAR, the most frequently asked for item is a bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee. Loud and clear, this tells me our soldiers are missing HOME. So, please send a few of them Christmas cards this year. I can provide addresses. Just get in touch with me at: myfavdad@gmail.com

I’m in the choir every Sunday. After services you can simply hand me anything you want sent to our men and women in Iraq. Thank you for your support and prayers. Sincerely,

Dick Woehlke

Coffee Hour

We would like to find 2-3 volunteers from the congregation to coordinate this each week and to make sure that happens and things are cleaned up afterwards. All interested in helping us out, please contact one of the Deacons.

Altar Flowers

Deb Reynolds coordinates the flowers each week, if you would like to have flowers placed on the altar beginning January of next year please contact Deb. It is our understanding that the remainder of this year is already booked.

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First Congregational Church of Sutton

To serve God by sharing the teaching, faith, love and forgiveness of Christ.