AUGUST 2014 IN THIS ISSUE Pastor’s Page 2, 3 Mission Trip Photo 3 Reflections from Our Members 4-6 Coming in Sept. 7 Merrie Xmas Fair 8 Bits & Pieces 9 Vestry News This picture was taken during a stop at Niagara Falls on the way to the Toronto Youth Mission Trip July 13th—18th. Twenty-one youth and four leaders enjoyed the entire week and all of the experiences they shared together. Quick Stop on the Way to Toronto! CONT. ON PAGE 3 SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE Aug. 3 Worship in South Acton, Rev. Cindy preaching and celebrating communion Aug. 10 Worship in South Acton, Rev. Cindy preaching Aug. 17 Worship in South Acton, Rev. Katrina preaching Aug. 24 Worship in South Acton, Rev. Cindy preaching Aug. 31 Worship returns to Boxborough with outdoor Communion (in the parking lot, weather permitting) Back row: Justin Parkes, Ernie Fournier, Alex Boyd, Romie Boyd, Lisa Kidd, Caroline Loverud, Sam Griffin, Jared Wilber, Johnny Bourne, Matt Allaire Middle row: Sarah Griffin, Aidan Holt, Tori Nelson, Alli Sedler, Mark Allaire, Julia Evans, Emily Shade, Haley Greico-Page, Allie Pearson, Paula Greico-Page Front row: Kira Murphy, Cassi Nelson, Maya Murphy, Sam Senghas, Jennifer Royce
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 4
I N T H I S I S S U E
Pastor’s Page 2, 3
Mission Trip Photo
3
Reflections from Our Members
4-6
Coming in Sept. 7
Merrie Xmas Fair 8
Bits & Pieces 9
Vestry News
This picture was taken during a stop at Niagara Falls on the way to the Toronto Youth Mission Trip
July 13th—18th. Twenty-one youth and four leaders enjoyed the entire week and all of the experiences
they shared together.
Quick Stop on the Way to Toronto!
C O N T . O N P A G E 3
SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE Aug. 3 Worship in South Acton, Rev. Cindy preaching and celebrating communion
Aug. 10 Worship in South Acton, Rev. Cindy preaching
Aug. 17 Worship in South Acton, Rev. Katrina preaching
Aug. 24 Worship in South Acton, Rev. Cindy preaching
Aug. 31 Worship returns to Boxborough with outdoor Communion
(in the parking lot, weather permitting)
Back row: Justin Parkes, Ernie Fournier, Alex Boyd, Romie Boyd, Lisa Kidd, Caroline Loverud, Sam
Griffin, Jared Wilber, Johnny Bourne, Matt Allaire
Middle row: Sarah Griffin, Aidan Holt, Tori Nelson, Alli Sedler, Mark Allaire, Julia Evans, Emily Shade,
Haley Greico-Page, Allie Pearson, Paula Greico-Page
Front row: Kira Murphy, Cassi Nelson, Maya Murphy, Sam Senghas, Jennifer Royce
P A G E 2
Past
or’s
Pag
e
Greetings Friends,
It took exactly 1.5 hours. That was even quicker
than I expected. I thought we might make it through
at least one day. But, no, just 1.5 hours until those
famous words of school vacation: I’m bored!
Since that first day of summer vacation, my children
have splashed with friends at our local pond, taken
the dog camping, helped me on some cleaning pro-
jects at church, played Minecraft for hours (if you
have to ask, count your blessings), organized their
bedrooms and done (most of) their summer home-
work. They are having a great summer. They com-
plain about the daily list of chores, and when friends
aren’t immediately available, and the fact that we
don’t have a pool or a vacation home. But even they
admit - they are having a great summer.
Meanwhile, several thousand miles away, children
riding on a bus are yelled and spat at. They are
called “invaders” and “transmitters of diseases and
infections”. They have fled poverty and violence in
Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. But they are
met, in “the land of the free and the home of the
brave” with xenophobia and hatred.
These children are just like my children. Except that
for my children, their greatest problem is boredom.
For the unaccompanied children seeking refuge in
the United States, their very survival is at stake.
When my heart makes the connection between the
children on the buses and my own children, it feels
more than I can bear.
Our denomination - the Massachusetts Conference
of the United Church of Christ - has already started
a list of individuals and churches who will want to
respond if and when some of these children are
brought to Massachusetts, as Gov. Deval Patrick has
requested. I hope you don’t mind, I’ve already put
us on that list.
Meanwhile, a few more thousand miles away, chil-
dren are being pulled from their cots as rocket fire
rains down on their shelters. Three Israeli teens
were senselessly killed, followed by the retaliatory
killing of a Palestinian teen. Four young lives, cut off
in the name of a war begun long before they were
born. And now, after their deaths, the violence ech-
oes on and on, killing more and more children, espe-
cially those who live in the squeezed, choked,
starved, occupied territory of the Gaza Strip.
If the immigrant / refugee children situation is very
difficult to resolve, the Israeli - Palestinian crisis ap-
proaches the impossible. And there is no denomina-
tional effort afoot to offer refuge for Palestinian chil-
dren - we just keep passing resolutions calling for
cease-fires and talks, with occasional debates about
divestment. But what if it were MY children watch-
ing their homes destroyed, their friends and family
killed. What if we were scheduling my son’s funeral
between bombing campaigns? If nothing else, can we
pray for the children who cannot find time for bore-
dom as they fear for their survival?
The heart of God breaks at what we do to each
other. Jesus said, “Love one another.” He said,
“Love your enemy.” He said, “Let the children come
to me.” I keep drawing distinctions between MY
children and the children in the news. But, truly,
In May, we partnered with Pease Greeters to prepare care packages for men and women serving in the military.
We recently received this email of thanks:
Cindy, I wanted to thank you and all your members for the cards that I received in my package the other day. It really is special when people take their most cherished commodity – their own time – to express thanks to someone whom they do not know. I wish you guys could see the expressions on folks faces as they get these notes from home – it really does make a difference. Thanks for all you and your team do! LTC Gary Davis Bagram AFB
Youth Group and leaders gathered here in front of church before they ventured off to East York, a suburb of Toronto for the
2014 Youth Mission Trip. They will share their experiences with the congregation on November 16, hope you can join us that
day!
C O N T . F R O M P A G E 1
P A G E 4
Refle
ctio
ns fr
om O
ur M
embe
rs
A Reflection from Sarah H. Maker
Is Heaven Real?
OR
An Ode for Charlie, and anyone who has ever loved, and lost
a pet....
Finding What you Didn’t Lose
By John Fox
When someone deeply listens to you
it is like holding out a dented cup
you’ve had since childhood
and watching it fill up with
cold, fresh water.
When it balances on top of the brim,
you are understood.
When it overflows and touches your skin,
you are loved.
When someone deeply listens to you,
the room where you stay
starts a new life
and the place where you wrote
your first poem
begins to glow in your mind’s eye.
It is an if gold has been discovered!
When someone deeply listens to you,
your bare feet are on the earth
and a beloved land that seemed distant
is now at home within you.
I admit I do not remember where, when, or from whom I first heard this poem. I just know it has always
been one of my favorites. I have always assumed the writer spoke of a friendship between two humans.
Now, I’m not so sure, for you see, I have just come from having to make the decision to put to sleep my
best friend of twenty years because of symptoms that came on very suddenly and are irreversible. I’m talk-
ing about Charlie, my cat. I know it is the right thing to do, since her quality of life is slipping away, and I
don’t want her to suffer. Still, it is so hard. This experience has got me thinking that no matter who John
Fox had in mind when he wrote this beautiful poem, to me, it describes Charlie, and her immeasurable gift
of friendship!
I’ve heard of theological debates over the idea of whether or not animals go to heaven. I cannot help but
wonder if those who claim no animals exist in heaven, have ever owned a pet whom they cherished? Cer-
tainly we’ve heard of the folks who have a near death experience, see a white light, feel peace beyond meas-
ure, and come back to share about it. If we are honest, this is probably the closest we ever come to proof
of a heaven beyond our present existence.
C O N T . O N P A G E 5
P A G E 5
Labyrinth Walk at Annual Meeting
(Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ) By Nicolette Wellington
Inside a bare conference room:
beautiful Labyrinth, green paths grounded in brown,
I didn’t think much, I removed my shoes (we didn’t have to) and walked to the entrance,
drawn in by the group circling the paths
“Walk gently this good earth”, Pearl Buck’s words rise up within me.
So many walked this Labyrinth of creation; each day a circuit or path (7 there were).
Music guided our steps.
Such community.
At the center we stood together; moved from petal to petal.
On the path out (the same as the path in), a stranger walking toward me, stopped me and took my hands;
looked straight into my eyes;
I don’t know who it was, but it made all the difference.
After that encounter I looked up, smiling into the faces of those I encountered on the path.
After the walk, sitting at the lake outside: peace.
Or, is it? Simply put, I am definitely in the camp that animals and heaven go hand and hand. Through knowing Charlie, and now
accompanying her through her final stage of life into death, I realize that she has given me the gift of experiencing a slice of heaven
here on earth. All you pet owners out there who are gaga about your animals, haven’t you heard yourself state, from time to
time, how your animals are there no matter what--ready to greet you, love you, play with you, simply be present to you no matter
your mood? Sounds like unconditional love to me, and I for one, believe that where God is, there is unconditional love.
Sounds like a slice of the heaven described in Genesis, does it not? The humans are the ones who eventually leave the Garden.
The animals don’t leave. Rather, I think the Garden--a metaphor for heaven--stays in them, and they are one of God’s ways of
reminding us humans of it when we forget that beauty, love and possibility do exist.
Through the years, my various dogs and cats have certainly “[held] out [the] dented cup” of my childhood, reminded me amidst
life’s dings of the “first poem” within my own heart--the song of love within me that brings perspective and buoyancy. And how
they reminded was so simple in the midst of life’s complexities: My dogs seemed to say at every turn, “Do you want another
slurpy kiss from me? Can we play fetch? What could be more important than being with, and enjoying each other, right now?”
Or my cats would look up at me wide eyed, ready for a frolick with strings and things that reminded me to hold myself lightly, so I
myself wouldn’t become a tightly wound ball of knotted yarn. Instead, through their frolicking, my feline friends reminded me to,
“Play with the string mom, don’t let it play you! Stay loose and it’ll work out.”
So here’s to you Charlie--my good friend and constant companion for over twenty years--for sharing
the life-giving lessons of heaven that I would sometimes forget, but you never did! Thank you
Charlie, good and faithful friend! Because of what you’ve showed me, I know beyond a question
of a doubt, that heaven is indeed real.
C O N T . F R O M P A G E 4
P A G E 6
P A G E 6
Photos by Ginny Harris
P A G E 7
Family Folk Chorale Georges Island, Boston Harbor
Aug 2nd, 1:30 PM
Fun for the whole family! Family Folk Chorale
(Andy Migner sings in this intergenerational chorus) is performing with Alistair Moock on George's
Island out in the Boston Harbor. Free concert, free ferry ride. To reserve your seat, e-mail Barbara