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Associate Pastor's Note
As the leaves fall and the weather cools,
sweaters come out and fall activities are in full force! The life of the church offers so many places to participate whether in worship, study, fellowship, social justice and much more. I hope you will find places that resonate with you and where you are in your lives right now, and know that you are welcome to experiment and play as you find the most life-giving places for yourselves in this community!
We have the Called to Care Team that visits and calls those members and friends who are ill or homebound; our Prayer Shawl ministry socializes while sharing the meditative and healing practice of knitting, then sends out into our community shawls for the sick or hurting and blankets for those newly baptized. The Mission Team guides the spending of mission monies our church dedicates each year, while Women’s Benevolent combines learning, socializing, creating and giving through monthly lunches with speakers, the amazing Christmas Fair and their fundraising donations. The Environmental Justice Team seeks to expand our ecological practice and witness both inside and outside our church, while Adult Education Team explores programs to stimulate our minds and hearts with faith-based studies and topics throughout the year. Our Property Team and Landscape Team work hard to sustain and beautify where we live as a church, in building and grounds and garden, and our Leadership Team brings together members from all over the life of the church to help us strategically plan and live out our faithful vision as a congregation. We have Teams that guide our discerning around personnel, stewardship, investment and finance issues so that Right Living and Gospel Call is reflected through all the ways we interact as employers and stewards of our income and expenses; there is the Worship Planning Team and the Altar Flowers Team, the Deacon Team and the Music Team that bring faithful witness and artistic expression to the liturgies of our communal life together – and so many more!
If you are not on a team yet, please look at our Leadership Circles chart in Bailey Hall and imagine more what may call to you. If you are already serving, then thank you thank you, and may you know the blessings of service and of giving your time and your talent.
All gifts are welcome! All gifts are needed. Together, with all these interweaving circles of church life, we praise our God and spread God’s love into the world – our prime directives as disciples of Jesus Christ! It is an honor to worship and serve with you here at First Church of Christ in Longmeadow!
Blessings of the fall season to all of you,
— Pastor Marisa