First Congregational Church of Sutton

A First Church Primer

FIRST CHURCH DICTIONARY:

NARTHEX: The Narthex, (located between the front door and the doors to the sanctuary) historically was the 'waiting' area for those who were not yet full members of the church, is also considered the "entry point" or a transitional space between the earthly life and the heavenly realm. In other words - a place to 'prepare' ourselves for our symbolic entrance into the sacred area (the nave/sanctuary area) and a place to leave behind earthly matters (umbrellas, coats).

VESTRY: The Vestry is traditionally a place where people would 'vest' or dress in their liturgical attire. This is usually a space set aside where the priest/minister, acolytes and other liturgical ministers would store their garments as well. At First Church in Sutton, the downstairs social hall (before the addition was built) used to be the place where the choir robes were kept and the choir would enter the church via the back stairs and process to the front of the church. Hence at that time it was really a vestry. Seeing as though no one vests there any longer - it might be a good time to give it a new name more in line with its current function.

FYI:

Communion:  On the first Sunday of every month we celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The table is open to all who believe in Jesus Christ. The deacons of the church will serve you in the pew where we ask that you wait until all are served so we may partake together.

Choirs:

 
Baptisms are scheduled through the minister at both the convenience of the church calendar and the family. Baptism isn’t just for babies… anyone of any age who has not been baptized may enjoy this right of their faith by speaking to Reverend Snow.

^{We celebrated the baptism of Abigail Mae Brigham on Sunday, April 28, 2008.}

Membership:  Those interested in becoming a member of First Church should speak to the pastor or a member of the Diaconate. New members are welcomed into our church family throughout the year.  Almost all of the church operational budget is addressed through the support of our members.  Members are asked to make an annual pledged gift - as a rule of thumb, consider contributing one hour's wage each week in the name of our Lord and basing your pledge on this cumulative annual amount.  All are asked to give to the best of their ability in time and resources and to serve our church by acting as the hands of God.  

Sunday School is offered from 10 - 11AM every Sunday. Beginning at 10 AM, families worship together in the sanctuary until after the children's story, at which time teachers and students move to their individual classrooms. Children in the Nursery through 2nd grade must be retrieved by a parent at the end of the church service. Students in the upper grades meet their families in the Vestry a.k.a social hall for refreshments and fellowship.

The Sunday School Program concludes on Children's Sunday in June.

A collection is taken from the children during Sunday school and is used to support part of the expenses of the program.

The third grade children receive their Bible and take first communion at the same service scheduled in the spring.

Young people in ninth grade may elect to be confirmed into the church at that time.

Communications:

The Spire: First Church montly newsletter mailed to church members and special friends.  The deadline to submit information for the newsletter is the 15th of each month.

Pastoral E-Meditations:  You may sign up to recieve email messages from the minister regardless of your membership status.

Congregational Directory:  Periodically a directory is produced that assists members of the church to better become acquainted with others. 

Pastoral Relations Committee

The Pastoral Relations Committee has been formed, and has begun to meet on a regular basis.   This committee provides a forum where the Pastoral staff and Congregation can have a helpful and honest dialog, from which new understandings can arise and new commitments to ministry can be forged. The pastoral staff includes Pastors, Ministers, consultants, Deacons and other lay leadership providing pastoral care to the Congregation.

The committee seeks:

1.        To facilitate a relationship between the pastoral staff and   congregation that is constructive, rewarding, and satisfying

2.        To promote mutual ministry between pastoral staff and members of the congregation

3.        To facilitate the professional growth and well being of the pastoral staff

The group is available to the congregation and church staff as a confidential forum to discuss and resolve issues, both positive and negative.  If there are concerns, feel free to discuss them with one of the committee members or meet with the group.  Where issues are held in confidence, anonymous concerns cannot be addressed.

Events and Special Services:

Labor Day Breakfast on the Sutton Common. This is a wonderful opportunity to break bread with friends and neighbors or to roll up your sleeves and volunteer to help make the event a success.

We participate in the annual Chain of Lights in Historic Sutton during which the Women’s Fellowship sponsors a cookie sale, the social hall is open to crafters and lunch is served to our many visitors. Additionally, we have participated in a living crèche, caroling on the common and the lighting of the Christmas trees. The choir performs a wonderful holiday concert to celebrate the birth of our Lord.

We commemorate Holy week (Palm Sunday through Easter) with special services, a choral concert and Maudy Thursday service as well as the Easter sunrise service with the First Congregational Church of Millbury at Waters Farm in Sutton.

Other annual activities include: Men's and Women's Ecumenical breakfasts. Women’s Fellowship Group offer a number of special activities throughout the year: Hog dog lunches in September, April and June, a spring flea market and an August potluck supper for church, friends and family.  Special choral concerts are also held throughout the year.

Fund raising activities are held throughout the year to supplement our budget and provide opportunities for fellowship.

Musical Ministry

The Senior Choir sings from September to June. They practice both traditional and contemporary music on Thursday nights at 7 p.m.

Cherub Choir and the Junior Choir engage children in musical ministry. These choirs perform during special services throughout the year. They rehearse with the musical director after the church service for the time needed to prepare for their next performance (not every Sunday).

THE STRUCTURE OF FIRST CHURCH:

We are a congregational church that operates as a democracy. Every member has one vote exercised during congregational meetings. Non-members are welcomed to attend these meetings but may not vote.

All members and friends are encouraged to share their talents by volunteering from time to time. Members may wish to use their gifts to strengthen the capacity of committee to achieve its goals.

The Church Council represents the congregation when the congregation is not present.

The Diaconate is responsible for the spiritual life of the church, worship and membership.

The Financial Committee is steward of our church finances and manages our invested funds.

The Christian Education Committee oversees the Sunday School and summer youth activities.

The Mission Committee helps us to minister to the world, through giving and service.

The Stewardship Committee challenges us to make the church a financial and spiritual priority in our lives all year long.

The Music Committee supports the musical director and choir for our music program.

The Nominating Committee encourages people to serve the church fellowship in elected positions.

The Strategic Planning Committee assists to define the direction of our church.

The Pastoral Relations Committee works with the pastor to set goals and to offer support.

The United Church of Christ is the larger church organization to which we belong. They assist us in training those who serve the church, both clergy and laity. Programs and mission opportunities are also made available to us through the United Church of Christ.

UCC Web Site Offers Many Resources

THE PROTESTANT CALENDAR
As our congregation moves through the church calendar, we are presented the opportunity to talk about, reflect upon, and respond to all aspects of our Christian Faith. 

The Christian calendar is organized around two major centers of Sacred Time: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany; and Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, concluding at Pentecost. The rest of the year following Pentecost is known as Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time is used to focus on various aspects of the faith, especially the mission of the church in the world.

Advent: Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. Historically, the primary sanctuary color of Advent is Purple, the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King.

Christmas: Theologically, Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation of God in Jesus the Christ, the self-revelation of God to the world in human form for the reconciliation of humanity to Himself. The colors of Christmas, white and gold, the colors of celebration, newness, and hope that mark the most sacred days of the church year

Epiphany is the climax of the Advent/Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas, which are usually counted from the evening of December 25th until the morning of January 6th, which is the Twelfth Day. The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." In Western churches, it remembers the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King. The colors of Epiphany are usually the same as those of Christmas, white and gold.

Lent spans 40 weekdays beginning on Ash Wednesday and climaxing during Holy Week with Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and concluding Saturday before Easter. Lent is marked by a time of prayer and preparation to celebrate Easter. Since Sundays celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the six Sundays that occur during Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent, and are referred to as the Sundays in Lent.  We use this period of time for introspection, self examination, and repentance.

Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) This Sunday observes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds, who were in Jerusalem for Passover, waving palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king.

Maudy Thursday: This marks the Last Supper during which Jesus and his disciples were celebrating the Passover from which the institution of our communion was derived.    

Good Friday: On this day, the church mourns Jesus’ arrest (since by Jewish customs of counting days from sundown to sundown it was already Friday), his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial.  First Church has not historically held a service on this day but the sanctuary is open for those who would like to meditate.

Easter: The celebration of the resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox

Penticost: Christian holiday, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus at Easter.

Ordinary Time: The rest of the year following Epiphany and Pentecost is known as Ordinary Time. Rather than meaning "common" or "mundane," this term comes from the word "ordinal," which simply means counted time. This begins the first Sunday after Pentecost and ends the last Sunday before the beginning of Advent.
 

Do you have questions not answered here?  Or a suggestion to add information?  Or do you have a correction?  We want to know.  And remember, there is no question too silly to ask as it gives us a chance to reflect on something we old-timers may now take for granted.  Please email below: