Announcements
Dear Church Family,
No, it’s not Pastor Mary. We pray she has been enjoying her leave from pastoral duties and finding time to rest, rejuvenate and visit with family. We look forward to welcoming her back in September. So, this month, you are stuck with me. What an unsettling summer this has been. After a glimmer of returning to something to resembling “normal”, the troubling surge of the delta variant instead has us watching helplessly as the death toll among the unvaccinated continues to rise. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July was hottest month in recorded human history. The warming climate is making heat waves, droughts, and floods more intense and frequent. People across the globe are suffering loss from wildfires, earthquakes, and political unrest. It is hard not to feel helpless and overwhelmed. As people of faith, we are called to carry God’s message of love and hope to people in crisis. A quote attributed to Mother Teresa resonated with me this week, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” Please reach out however and wherever you can to alleviate suffering, heal our planet, offer kindness. Acts of giving, large or small, can make a big difference in a hurting world. While church activities have slowed over the summer, those who have gathered for Sunday worship have been grateful to see beloved and familiar faces, to share our joys and concerns, and to lift our prayers up to God together. Stoughton Extended Day has moved in and we look forward to welcoming this new preschool program in September along with the return of Head Start. The sound of children back at school is a blessing. Church leadership has also been busy. After the congregation voted to authorize Church Council to begin an exploratory process regarding a potential merger with another UCC church in the Pilgrim Association, we met virtually with our Area Conference Minister, Rev. Patty Kogut, for guidance on how to begin. We will be sharing more with all of you when we gather together in September. I have missed you all. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Yours in faith, Marcia Olson, Moderator
Per CDC guidelines face masks MUST be worn when inside the church building.
Welcome to Stoughton Extended Day
We are excited to welcome our new tenants, Stoughton Extended Day! Led by executive director, Alan Hoffman, SED is a comprehensive year-round support program for working families in the town of Stoughton. They are a private, non-profit organization providing a safe, fun, educational environment for children. While SED operates at multiple school sites, The Preschool at Stoughton Extended Day and their main office has moved from the Jones school to our church. Stoughton Extended Day lease began on July 1 and they have been gradually moving in as we have been working to clear out the furniture and office equipment left behind by our former tenant. They now lease the former Giggle n’ Grow preschool space and play area, five office spaces formerly occupied by NASDI, and the open area next to Pastor Mary’s office. They will also have access to all common areas on the lower level including the kitchen and rest rooms. We ask that you respect SED’s workspace and refrain from any unnecessary activity on the lower, especially while the preschool is in session, except to visit Pastor Mary or use the church office. In addition to the church office and the Pastor’s office, our church has retained the use of the 3 rooms at the end of the hall near the handicap entrance as well as the storage room in the back. The pastor of the Boston Renewal Church is now using the room just outside the Head Start classroom. We are delighted to be able to share our space with two organizations whose mission is to provide educational and care services to families in our community. Please reach out to any member of Trustees or Church Council if you have any questions. We are grateful to Leanne Kerman, Laura Kittery, and Ed Porter for all they have done to make this process move so smoothly. Be sure to give Alan and the SED team a very warm welcome!
No, it’s not Pastor Mary. We pray she has been enjoying her leave from pastoral duties and finding time to rest, rejuvenate and visit with family. We look forward to welcoming her back in September. So, this month, you are stuck with me. What an unsettling summer this has been. After a glimmer of returning to something to resembling “normal”, the troubling surge of the delta variant instead has us watching helplessly as the death toll among the unvaccinated continues to rise. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July was hottest month in recorded human history. The warming climate is making heat waves, droughts, and floods more intense and frequent. People across the globe are suffering loss from wildfires, earthquakes, and political unrest. It is hard not to feel helpless and overwhelmed. As people of faith, we are called to carry God’s message of love and hope to people in crisis. A quote attributed to Mother Teresa resonated with me this week, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” Please reach out however and wherever you can to alleviate suffering, heal our planet, offer kindness. Acts of giving, large or small, can make a big difference in a hurting world. While church activities have slowed over the summer, those who have gathered for Sunday worship have been grateful to see beloved and familiar faces, to share our joys and concerns, and to lift our prayers up to God together. Stoughton Extended Day has moved in and we look forward to welcoming this new preschool program in September along with the return of Head Start. The sound of children back at school is a blessing. Church leadership has also been busy. After the congregation voted to authorize Church Council to begin an exploratory process regarding a potential merger with another UCC church in the Pilgrim Association, we met virtually with our Area Conference Minister, Rev. Patty Kogut, for guidance on how to begin. We will be sharing more with all of you when we gather together in September. I have missed you all. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Yours in faith, Marcia Olson, Moderator
Per CDC guidelines face masks MUST be worn when inside the church building.
Welcome to Stoughton Extended Day
We are excited to welcome our new tenants, Stoughton Extended Day! Led by executive director, Alan Hoffman, SED is a comprehensive year-round support program for working families in the town of Stoughton. They are a private, non-profit organization providing a safe, fun, educational environment for children. While SED operates at multiple school sites, The Preschool at Stoughton Extended Day and their main office has moved from the Jones school to our church. Stoughton Extended Day lease began on July 1 and they have been gradually moving in as we have been working to clear out the furniture and office equipment left behind by our former tenant. They now lease the former Giggle n’ Grow preschool space and play area, five office spaces formerly occupied by NASDI, and the open area next to Pastor Mary’s office. They will also have access to all common areas on the lower level including the kitchen and rest rooms. We ask that you respect SED’s workspace and refrain from any unnecessary activity on the lower, especially while the preschool is in session, except to visit Pastor Mary or use the church office. In addition to the church office and the Pastor’s office, our church has retained the use of the 3 rooms at the end of the hall near the handicap entrance as well as the storage room in the back. The pastor of the Boston Renewal Church is now using the room just outside the Head Start classroom. We are delighted to be able to share our space with two organizations whose mission is to provide educational and care services to families in our community. Please reach out to any member of Trustees or Church Council if you have any questions. We are grateful to Leanne Kerman, Laura Kittery, and Ed Porter for all they have done to make this process move so smoothly. Be sure to give Alan and the SED team a very warm welcome!
We Are Blessed
Thank you to Ed and Gale Porter for their maintenance of the church grounds. Thank you as well to Ed Porter who has done so much work getting our new Stoughton Extended Day tenants settled into their new space on the lower level. We also thank all who faithfully provided casseroles for the MainSpring dinners in June and August and Anita Keenan for coordinating this important outreach. We once again thank Marcia Olson who has continued to sell Attic Treasures on Facebook Marketplace. Thanks to the donations of so many, more than $13,800 has been raised in 2021 for our church. We are very blessed!
Wednesday Phone Prayer Service
Pastor Mary will be hosting a brief prayer service by way of a conference call each Wednesday morning at 10:00 until we are able to resume our in-person gatherings. Dial 1-253-215-8782 and when prompted, enter meeting ID 862 2469 5175. There will be a scripture reading and time for the sharing of our prayer concerns.
ATTIC TREASURES ONLINE
Our Church Fair may have been postponed until spring 2021, but you can still shop for just that right gift, find that hidden gem, or snag a bargain. Don’t miss out! We have been regularly posting selected items from Attic Treasures on Facebook Marketplace - and you can shop now! Here’s how:
CHURCH FAIR - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13 9 AM – 3 PM
Plans are underway to hold a holiday fair once again this November if Covid-19 health and safety protocols permit it! Maurine Upton has been busy making calls asking people to commit to take an active part in making our Church Fair a success. Not only is the fair important to our church’s financial health, it also brings old and new friends together and to have a few minutes to”catch up” as we begin the holiday season. If you did not hear from Maurine, please give her a call (781-344-4609) and let her know how you can help. If you led a specific area last year (Attic Treasures, Books, Jewelry, Baked Goods and Candy, Raffle Baskets, Knit Goods, and Crafts) we hope you will do so again. There may also be a lunch area. You can also help out in other ways – donate an item to Attic Treasures, make a craft, knit good or baked good for one of our tables, help set-up tables so they are ready for sale time, offer to work at one of the tables, or help with cleanup. This year's fair will be smaller than in the past as the whole fair will be on the upper floor of our building using the Library, Fireplace Room, Lobby, and the Fellowship Hall. We are ready to hear from you so we know who we can depend on. Talk with your family and friends, get a partner to work with, mark your calendar NOW!
Ways to stay connected:
Sunday Worship at 10:00 AM. We worship together each Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. Please pay careful attention to Pastor Mary’s weekly emails and other church communications for any changes in Covid-19 health and safety protocols. The Safe Opening team, after monitoring the current data on the Delta variant surge and recent CDC recommendations, has asked that all who attend indoor worship wear face masks and observe social distancing. If you do not get the weekly email, contact the church office at office@uccstoughton.org. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pastor Mary at 774-571-7307.
On Wednesday mornings at 10:00 AM Pastor Mary leads a 30-minute conference call Prayer Service. Dial 1- 253-215-8782 and when prompted, enter conference code 862 2469 5175. There is a scripture reading and a time for the sharing of our prayer concerns. This weekly gathering is open to all, so if you have a friend who might find this opportunity helpful, please share the information.
Pastor Mary has set up a private Facebook group called UCC Stoughton Prayer. No one sees the posts except group members, so it is a safe place to share your prayer requests, pray for others in our community, or just vent. If you have a Facebook account and would like to join the group let Pastor Mary know.
Also remember to check our church Facebook page and church website (http://www.uccstoughton.org/).
Church Council has been meeting on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm via Zoom. These meetings are open to everyone, not just Council members. If you would like to attend, please contact Pastor Mary and she will send you the link to the meeting. If you prefer to call in by telephone, dial 1-646-876-9923 and enter Meeting ID: 837 8927 2962
Food Pantry Collection
Donations are still urgently needed. Now that we have resumed indoor worship, you can bring your non-perishable food items to church on Communion Sunday each month or leave them in the Giving Corner in the church lobby at any time. Please check the expiration dates. If you are looking for practical ways to help your neighbors, please consider making a monetary donation to the Stoughton Food Pantries.
To donate by credit card:
Food Pantry Foundation of Stoughton
To donate by check please mail to:
Food Pantry Foundation of Stoughton
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Although we cannot yet meet in person, we encourage you all to continue to knit prayer shawls for those who need to feel God’s loving care wrapped around them. You can also work on knit goods for the church fair.
October 20(Wed): Mainspring House: This is this next date we are scheduled to provide dinner for Brockton’s homeless shelter. Although we cannot serve dinner due the pandemic, food donations are still needed. If you can make a casserole or make a monetary donation to defray the cost of salad and dessert, please contact Anita Keenan keenans21@gmail.com (781-244-7742). It’s a busy time of year so you can make your casserole early and pop it in the downstairs church freezer any time before Sunday, October 17. Contact Anita if you need a foil baking pan and recipe or to arrange drop off.
Seafarers Clothing Drive: Once again help us gather warm clothing for the men and women who serve us upon the sea. These Seafarers help to bring us items we need daily. Friendly Service will collect and deliver your clean clothing items in good condition between September 1 – October 15. Place your donation in the large baskets in the church lobby. Thank you.
Bottles and Cans: Please donate your clean, redeemable bottles and cans. Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted and the money collected is used for various church ministries and operational needs. Cans and bottles can be left in the drop-off container at the bottom of the stairs just before the church office or contact Maurine Upton for more information.
Sunday Worship
10:00 AM in the Sanctuary
Wheelchair Accessible
Coffee Hour
After worship in the
Fellowship Hall
The Link
Download our latest newsletter
"The Link"
Church Bylaws
Current bylaws
Have a Prayer Request?
Let us know here.
Thank you to Ed and Gale Porter for their maintenance of the church grounds. Thank you as well to Ed Porter who has done so much work getting our new Stoughton Extended Day tenants settled into their new space on the lower level. We also thank all who faithfully provided casseroles for the MainSpring dinners in June and August and Anita Keenan for coordinating this important outreach. We once again thank Marcia Olson who has continued to sell Attic Treasures on Facebook Marketplace. Thanks to the donations of so many, more than $13,800 has been raised in 2021 for our church. We are very blessed!
Wednesday Phone Prayer Service
Pastor Mary will be hosting a brief prayer service by way of a conference call each Wednesday morning at 10:00 until we are able to resume our in-person gatherings. Dial 1-253-215-8782 and when prompted, enter meeting ID 862 2469 5175. There will be a scripture reading and time for the sharing of our prayer concerns.
ATTIC TREASURES ONLINE
Our Church Fair may have been postponed until spring 2021, but you can still shop for just that right gift, find that hidden gem, or snag a bargain. Don’t miss out! We have been regularly posting selected items from Attic Treasures on Facebook Marketplace - and you can shop now! Here’s how:
- Go to Facebook Marketplace (https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/109554902404443/).
- Type “Online Church Fair” in the Search Marketplace box.
- Most items that pop up at the top of this search have Stoughton MA listed as the location of the seller.
- Click on one of those items, scroll down to Seller Information and click on Marcia Olson. You can also scroll down that post and see all the treasures currently for sale that day.
CHURCH FAIR - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13 9 AM – 3 PM
Plans are underway to hold a holiday fair once again this November if Covid-19 health and safety protocols permit it! Maurine Upton has been busy making calls asking people to commit to take an active part in making our Church Fair a success. Not only is the fair important to our church’s financial health, it also brings old and new friends together and to have a few minutes to”catch up” as we begin the holiday season. If you did not hear from Maurine, please give her a call (781-344-4609) and let her know how you can help. If you led a specific area last year (Attic Treasures, Books, Jewelry, Baked Goods and Candy, Raffle Baskets, Knit Goods, and Crafts) we hope you will do so again. There may also be a lunch area. You can also help out in other ways – donate an item to Attic Treasures, make a craft, knit good or baked good for one of our tables, help set-up tables so they are ready for sale time, offer to work at one of the tables, or help with cleanup. This year's fair will be smaller than in the past as the whole fair will be on the upper floor of our building using the Library, Fireplace Room, Lobby, and the Fellowship Hall. We are ready to hear from you so we know who we can depend on. Talk with your family and friends, get a partner to work with, mark your calendar NOW!
Ways to stay connected:
Sunday Worship at 10:00 AM. We worship together each Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. Please pay careful attention to Pastor Mary’s weekly emails and other church communications for any changes in Covid-19 health and safety protocols. The Safe Opening team, after monitoring the current data on the Delta variant surge and recent CDC recommendations, has asked that all who attend indoor worship wear face masks and observe social distancing. If you do not get the weekly email, contact the church office at office@uccstoughton.org. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pastor Mary at 774-571-7307.
On Wednesday mornings at 10:00 AM Pastor Mary leads a 30-minute conference call Prayer Service. Dial 1- 253-215-8782 and when prompted, enter conference code 862 2469 5175. There is a scripture reading and a time for the sharing of our prayer concerns. This weekly gathering is open to all, so if you have a friend who might find this opportunity helpful, please share the information.
Pastor Mary has set up a private Facebook group called UCC Stoughton Prayer. No one sees the posts except group members, so it is a safe place to share your prayer requests, pray for others in our community, or just vent. If you have a Facebook account and would like to join the group let Pastor Mary know.
Also remember to check our church Facebook page and church website (http://www.uccstoughton.org/).
Church Council has been meeting on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm via Zoom. These meetings are open to everyone, not just Council members. If you would like to attend, please contact Pastor Mary and she will send you the link to the meeting. If you prefer to call in by telephone, dial 1-646-876-9923 and enter Meeting ID: 837 8927 2962
Food Pantry Collection
Donations are still urgently needed. Now that we have resumed indoor worship, you can bring your non-perishable food items to church on Communion Sunday each month or leave them in the Giving Corner in the church lobby at any time. Please check the expiration dates. If you are looking for practical ways to help your neighbors, please consider making a monetary donation to the Stoughton Food Pantries.
To donate by credit card:
Food Pantry Foundation of Stoughton
To donate by check please mail to:
Food Pantry Foundation of Stoughton
- Box 757 Stoughton, MA 02072
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Although we cannot yet meet in person, we encourage you all to continue to knit prayer shawls for those who need to feel God’s loving care wrapped around them. You can also work on knit goods for the church fair.
October 20(Wed): Mainspring House: This is this next date we are scheduled to provide dinner for Brockton’s homeless shelter. Although we cannot serve dinner due the pandemic, food donations are still needed. If you can make a casserole or make a monetary donation to defray the cost of salad and dessert, please contact Anita Keenan keenans21@gmail.com (781-244-7742). It’s a busy time of year so you can make your casserole early and pop it in the downstairs church freezer any time before Sunday, October 17. Contact Anita if you need a foil baking pan and recipe or to arrange drop off.
Seafarers Clothing Drive: Once again help us gather warm clothing for the men and women who serve us upon the sea. These Seafarers help to bring us items we need daily. Friendly Service will collect and deliver your clean clothing items in good condition between September 1 – October 15. Place your donation in the large baskets in the church lobby. Thank you.
Bottles and Cans: Please donate your clean, redeemable bottles and cans. Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted and the money collected is used for various church ministries and operational needs. Cans and bottles can be left in the drop-off container at the bottom of the stairs just before the church office or contact Maurine Upton for more information.
Sunday Worship
10:00 AM in the Sanctuary
Wheelchair Accessible
Coffee Hour
After worship in the
Fellowship Hall
The Link
Download our latest newsletter
"The Link"
Church Bylaws
Current bylaws
Have a Prayer Request?
Let us know here.