Pastor’s Page
Greetings to all!
Another month has passed and we are now into the Season of Lent! We pray you have been tuning in to the virtual services – starting with the Ash Wednesday evening Tenebrae and now with each Sunday morning at 10a.m. We are blessed to have a wonderful mix of Scripture (usually read by Ernie Evans) and music (vocals by Karin Foley and instrumentation by our Music Director, Mary Beth Courtright). And with the mastery technical skills of Deb Donna, who facilitates all the blending of the spoken words with the music and graphics, our services have resulted in an extraordinary time of spiritual nurturing and worship for all who share. It is then given to Jay Hodge and JoEllen Graham who upload the finished product onto the church’s website and available to the broader world on YouTube! And we celebrate hearing from people who have been touched by the worship services offered online.
Each week during the worship services, throughout the Order of Worship but particularly at the time of the Offertory, we pray you have heard a consistent message of ways in which to express that very gratitude – sometimes by sending a pledge or financial gift to the church and sometimes in acknowledging a kind or gracious gesture, etc., “just saying two simple words… Thank you!”
So, to Ernie, Mary Beth, Karin, Deb, Jay and JoEllen, on behalf of the people of First Church in Pembroke and the broader communities who tune in and are blessed by FCP’s virtual services, please accept our deepest gratitude for the ways in which you have blessed us, week after week, by sharing your gifts and talents… indeed, “Thank you, thank you, thank you all!”
It is Lent… and may the Peace of Christ be with us all, in all ways and always!
Pastor Matt
Missions
Missions for the months of February and March will be sending donations to our Food Pantries in Pembroke. We always support them monthly but in these months we will be giving just a little extra helping hand to help our neighbors during Covid. Also we are sending support to the Friends of the Pembroke Community Fund which is fuel assistance for our community. Thank you to our congregation for their support to Missions so that we can do this.
Usually at this time of the year we put together our Hygiene Kits. This year we are still going to proceed forward but we will be assembling them just a little differently. Mission committee will be putting them together and collecting all the items.
We will put together 20 Kits. These Kits will be then given to our Food Pantries to give out. They will be named Hygiene Personal Kits. Again thanks to our congregation for their monetary support through their offerings. We also have received money donations to help with our Kits.
Thank you to all; you know how we truly appreciate all your help.
The Lord upholdeth all that fall and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. Psalm 145:14
Deacons
The Deacons continue to meet each month via Zoom. Although worship has been online for the past few months, and the Diaconate’s main responsibility is to help with services in the sanctuary, we have remained active.
Before the first Sunday of each month you can stop by the Church to pick up individual Communion supplies from the mailbox on the bench outside of Fellowship Hall. We also supplied individually packaged ashes before the Ash Wednesday service. We hope that you are finding these efforts helpful in making online worship even more meaningful.
We remind you to contact the church office with news of any needs or news of any illnesses or deaths. This allows the Pastor and/or Diaconate to reach out to help and, with permission, share the news with the congregation.
We are very hopeful that with the downturn in positive Covid-19 cases we will be able to come together again in the sanctuary soon. Until then continue to take precautions to stay safe and healthy!
Stewardship
Hello from the Stewardship Team. Spring is slowly but surely approaching!
We are thankful for the many gifts all of you bring to First Church and for your ongoing support. Every donation of those three pillars of stewardship (time, talent, and treasure) is much appreciated.
We are confident that our church will be able to fully reopen in the not too distant future and we will be worshipping together again. Until then, remember that the mission and ministry of First Church is continuing with your help.
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
(Romans 12:6-8)
CNK
Community Nursery Kindergarten (CNK) is a non-profit preschool that runs under the auspices of the First Church in Pembroke. CNK provides a positive, enriching and developmentally appropriate preschool educational experience for the young child ages 2.9 – 6.0 years. Our goal is to provide the most encouraging, nurturing environment possible by offering classes designed to appeal to the interests of each child at their own individual stage of development. We have been caring, sharing, and learning for over 50 years.
We have been open all year with limited students and following all Covid precautions put out by the state.
Registration for the 2021-2022 school year starts in March. We have several different class options- including a full day option. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in signing a child up for preschool, please give our director, Jean Holland a call at 781-294-1654. Please check out our website www.cnkpembroke.com and visit us on Facebook @CNK Pre-school. This was a re-licensing year for CNK. They were approved with flying colors. Thanks to our director Jean Holland for all her hard work in preparation of this process, a lot of time and energy went into this. Thank you to all the teachers for all their hard work as well!
Search Team
Happy March, Everyone!
In the last few last months, The Search Team has been conducting second interviews. We have met one candidate in person since they live in the state, we did not have to worry about any Covid-19 restrictions. The Search Team is still in the interview process; more information to come. Please remember if you have any questions or concerns about the current process. You can contact Francine at FCPalmer@verizon.net or reach out to anyone on the search team. Thank you and be safe now.
Happy St. Patty’s Day!
Blessings,
Francine Palmer, Jay Hodge, Jim Lapham, Donna Pulselli, Julie Bosworth, Pat Small
Trustees
Parsonage: Outside work will be started in the spring. Trustees will be looking for volunteers. Gail Sim will be sending out more information regarding this ongoing project.
More information on the chimney repairs is being collected.
CPC: Linda has been in touch with the attorney regarding the deed restriction we hope to be completed sometime this spring.
Steeple Work: The trustees would like to start this project in the spring still need to get another quote. If anyone can recommend a contractor for this project, please contact Jim Lapham.
Painting: Hope to finish painting other areas in the summer.
Finances: Burt Palmer, Treasurer, presents the Financials every month at the Trustee’s meeting. A copy is given at the Council monthly meeting. Everything is under control as the Trustees review and approve them.
Job Description: The revised job description of the secretary has been approved and will be reviewed with the secretary by the pastor.
Red Cross: Karan Little, Amanda Little & Maddie Little will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive in memory of Lee Little beloved husband and father at First Church in Pembroke.
Saturday March 06, 2021
Saturday April 10, 2021
Saturday May 15, 2021
Please remember that you must make an appointment to donate. You can visit the Red Cross website at Redcrossblood.org, enter the name Little or the date of your choice to schedule an appointment, or you can call 1-800-733-2767 to make an appointment.
Full Trustee minutes are kept in a binder in the church office for anyone to view.