VOLUME LXXXIII, No. 26

December 11, 2018

Third Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 16, 2018 Aaron Wolgamott, Associate Pastor of

Youth and Family Ministries Sermon: Step of Faith

Key Passage: Matthew 14:22-33

Calendar for Sunday, December 16, 2018

9:00 am Bible Study of the Gospel of John

9:00 am Chapel Worship

10:00 am Prayer in the Chapel

10:30 am Worship Service (Infant and toddler care provided)

Sunday School follows the Children’s Chat

Coffee Hour follows the service

Noon: Junior Choir Rehearsal

Memorial Flowers The flowers will be given in loving memory of my

Grandfather, Ralph Scott Wheeler, and my Mother,

Phyllis Reed Wheeler on their birthday,

December 16, by Dexter Wheeler.

Greeter: Claire Atwater

Ushers: Joe D’Agostino, Steve Gates, Richard

Jackson, Linell & Michael Nester, Linda

D’Agostino (captain)

Coffee Hour Host: First Baptist Church/CE

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Christmas Sunday

December 23, 2018

One Service of Worship Rev. Dr. Robert Leroe

Sermon: An Unlikely Christmas Card

Key Passages: Revelation 12:1-6, 13-17

Calendar for Sunday, December 23, 2018

9:00 am Bible Study of the Gospel of John

10:00 am Prayer in the Chapel

10:30 am Worship Service (Infant and toddler care provided)

Sunday School follows the Children’s Chat

Coffee Hour follows the service

Noon: Junior Choir Rehearsal

Memorial Flowers Poinsettias will adorn the sanctuary given in

memory of loved ones.

Greeters: Linda Govostes O’Neil and Chloe

Ushers: Joe D’Agostino, Steve Gates, Richard

Jackson, Linell & Michael Nester, Linda

D’Agostino (captain)

Coffee Hour Host: First Baptist Church

Church Office Hours Monday - closed

Tuesday 10 am – 4 pm

Wednesday 10 am – 4 pm

Thursday 1 – 7 pm

Friday 10 am – 4 pm

Variations may occur from time to time

The Church Herald FIRST PARISH CONGREGATIONAL

CHURCH Rev. Dr. Robert Leroe, Interim Minister

One Church Street, Wakefield, MA 01880-

2301

(781)245-1539/1644

www.FPCCWakefield.org Conservative Congregational Christian Conference

www.ccccusa.com

Our Mission is to reflect the Love of God by welcoming all people into

a life-changing, ever-growing relationship with Jesus.

Prayers for healing:

Prayers for healing: John Bohn (Nancy Jackson’s

brother), Trefina Fox, Janet Manning, little Samuel

(Kellie’s cousin), MaryAnn Doherty, Lenny and Julie

Hart, retired CCCC Navy Chaplains, Ken Winters

(cancer diagnosis)

Please continue to keep us in your prayers:

Bonnie and Gene Mullen as they grieve the loss of

Bonnie’s dad, Harvey Spector, Betty Inco as she

grieves the loss of her mom, Theresa Inco, Chaplain

(CPT) Scott McGowan, MA Army National Guard

– deployed to Kosovo, Julia Mores (cancer treatments),

Evangeline Brown, Barbara Costas, Charles and

Maria Arthur, The Laboy Family, Stephen Taylor,

and Steve Wallace

Our missionaries around the globe:

“Praise the Lord” for the healing of Alexandria

Brennan, recovered from hip surgery, she is back to

work. Thank you Lord for the healing of the bones

of Ali Wolgamott and Thank you, Father, for the

safe arrival of Samantha Fuller born on December 3

to Joy and Jamal Fuller. Samantha is the Lisa and

Brian Carpenter’s new granddaughter.

Please connect with our church family, with a call,

a note, or even a visit!

Kathryn Millheim, Albert Simkins, Barbara

Sullivan, Richard Pratt, and Irene Whitehead

When you know of a prayer need that has been met

and no longer needs to be on our prayer list, please

let the Church Office know.

Please contact the church office if

you know of someone who could

benefit from receiving a prayer

shawl.

Stephen Ministers provide

confidential, one-to-one

Christian care to people

experiencing a crisis or going

through a difficult time. Stephen

Ministers meet weekly with

their care receiver for around an

hour to listen, care, encourage,

pray, and provide emotional and

spiritual support for the person.

Caring relationships last for as

long as the person’s need

persists.

Stephen Leaders: Pam and Ken Hodgson

Stephen Ministers: Barbara Flynn, David and Susan

Frey, Judy Gordon and Donna Woodland

Diaconate: Andy Black, Jen Byam, Angela Faylor,

Barbara Flynn, Susan and David Frey, Jacob

Jackson, Doug Jackson, Rodrigo Illanes, Janice

Jones, Bruce Londino, and Ruth Ross

Council Members at Large

Barbara Flynn and Heather Hulse

If you would like to have positive feedback, a

question or concern brought before the Church

Council on your behalf, please contact either

Barbara or Heather.

CHURCH ATTENDANCE Chapel Sanctuary Sun. School Total

December 2 21 103 Not taken 124

December 9 25 87 Not taken 112

2018/2019 Family Sunday Dates

On family Sundays, Sunday School for children grades 3 and

up will not be offered, instead we welcome the whole family

to use this opportunity to worship together during our service.

Childcare will be available in the toddler and baby rooms for

all children in grades 2 or younger.

December 30th

New Year’s Weekend

March 10th

Daylight Savings

January 20th

Martin Luther King Weekend

April 21st

Easter Sunday

February 17th

President’s Day Weekend

May 26th

Memorial Day Weekend

Prayer Needs with Lisa after the 9 am

service in the Pastor’s Office.

Two members of the Diaconate/Stephen

Ministry Team will remain in the front

of the Sanctuary after the 10:30 am

service for those who need prayer.

Please join us.

SETTLED PASTOR SEARCH

UPDATE

Important dates coming up:

Sunday, January 6th Following fellowship time,

The Search Committee will be holding a Q&A.

Saturday, January 12th There will be an opportunity to meet

and greet the candidate.

Sunday January 13th The candidate will be preaching.

There will be a meet and greet opportunity before the worship service.

Active members can look forward to an email

that will give more insight into our search

process and information on our chosen

candidate, including a Redacted Resume.

Yours in Christ,

Search Committee: Rhonda Brown, Teddie

Fitzpatrick, David Frey, Mark Hatheway, Doug

Jackson, Russ Porter and Kellie Roden

Shepherd’s Table

For those in need in our community.

Hosted by the First Baptist Church

FPCC Dining Room

2nd Monday of the

month @ 6p

FOOD PANTRY: If you or someone you know is in

need of a little help from the FPCC Food Pantry, please

contact Jim Fosnock at 617-680-4986.

If you have seasonal clothing to donate, it is appreciated

to supplement our monthly clothing closet.

Fall Clothing is now needed.

Blankets and towels are welcome as well.

HOSPITALITY/FELLOWSHIP TIME: Check

out the blank dates on the board in the vestry. If you

would like to host a Sunday to pour coffee, supply

cream for coffee and Goldfish crackers and apple

juice for the children, please see what

date may be best for you or get a

group or your committee to sign

up. Please be mindful that we

share fellowship time with the

First Baptist Church. If you can

add to the hospitality table, please

do.

Save the Date! Friday, December 14, 7:30 pm Please plan to attend our annual Community

Messiah Sing, held in our sanctuary with a 15-piece

orchestra (thanks to the Upham Fund) and

professional soloists. In this event, the audience is

the chorus, and we want you to join in singing the

choruses of the Christmas section of this marvelous

work of George Frederic Handel, finishing with the

well-known Hallelujah Chorus; scores will be

provided, so borrow one and sit with other people

singing your part. Although we’d love for everyone

to sing, you’re also welcome to just come and

listen. Admission is free, but an offering will be

taken to pass on to the charity Housing Families, as

we recognize the fact that Handel wrote this work

as a benefit for a Dublin orphanage. A reception in

the vestry sponsored by the Music Committee

follows. If you can provide baked goods, please

leave them on the table in the vestry Friday

afternoon or evening.

Thank you and do join us!

Christmas Choir As we do every year, the Sanctuary Choir invites

interested singers to join us for our festive

Christmas worship services on December 23

(Christmas Sunday) and the 11 pm Christmas Eve

service. Although you’re welcome to attend any

rehearsals in December, the only requirement is to

attend our choir rehearsal on Wednesday, Dec. 19,

at 7:30 pm. If you’re unable to commit to choir

“full-time” right now, this is a great opportunity to

do some singing and see what choir is all about!

And hopefully you’ll have some fun too, while you

help our choral music to become even more of an

enhancement to our Christmas worship! Any

questions, please talk to Director of Music

Ministries Don Hodgkins.

You’re invited to a Christmas band

“concert!” The Wakefield Retired Men’s Club Band (which

actually includes many women too!), one of the

groups FPCC sponsors, invites anyone and

everyone to an “open rehearsal” in our dining room

downstairs on Monday, December 17, from 10-11

am. The band will “play through” their Christmas

music informally, and maybe even invite the

audience to sing along for a few of the selections.

What a nice way to spend a Monday morning a

week before Christmas! Please join us!

Poinsettia Sign Ups

Our sanctuary will be beautified on the Sunday before

Christmas, December 23 with poinsettias, due to the

generosity of our church family who give donations to

purchase these beautiful flowers in memory of loved

ones. Contributions will be received through

Wednesday, December 19. After that date, any names

received may not appear in the worship bulletin.

Please do not remove poinsettias from the sanctuary.

The plants will be distributed by the Flower

Committee, members of our Diaconate and other

volunteers.

I/We wish to contribute memorial poinsettias in

memory of:

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Amount enclosed: $_____________

Donor: ___________________________________

Please enclose $5 for each name (Mr. & Mrs. counts as two

names). Make check payable to “First Parish

Congregational Church.” Checks may be mailed to: One

Church Street, Wakefield, MA 01880-2301 or

left in the church office. Linda D’Agostino will also be in

the vestry after church on December 9 + 16 to receive your

contributions.

The Gospel of John: The Word, The Messiah,

The Son of God Starts Wednesday, December 12th at

7:00pm

Starts Sunday, Dec. 16th

in Library at 9:00am

John refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus

loved.” He writes with simplicity in the original

Greek, which makes this Gospel a good book for

new believers. However, below the surface of

John’s writing are layers of rich and profound

theology.

Week 1: The Incarnation of the Son of God

Week 2: The Presentation of the Son of God

Week 3: You Must Be Born Again!

Week 4: The Living Water

Week 5: Unheeded Miracles

Week 6: Reactions to the Son of God

Week 7: The Resurrection and the Life

Week 8: The King Enters Jerusalem

Week 9: With Christ in the Upper Room

Week 10: With Christ in the Garden

Week 11: Execution of the Son of God

Week 12: Resurrection of the Son of God

The Diaconate: Bruce Londino, Andy Black,

Jennifer Byam, Angela Faylor, Barbara Flynn,

Susan & David Frey, Doug Jackson, Jacob

Jackson, Janice Jones, Rodrigo Illanes and Ruth

Ross

If you are

looking for a

great Bible for

studying…

Check out

the

MacArthur

Study Bible at

CBD

Searching for the

Ad Hoc Worship Team Are you passionate about Worship?

The Diaconate is putting together a team.

The purpose of this team is to

determine the needs, substance and

logistics of a traditional and a

contemporary worship service.

This team will be comprised of the

FPCC Pastor: Pastor Leroe: Chair of

Diaconate: Bruce Londino; Chair of

Music: Gene Mullen; Music Director:

Don Hodgkins; Cornerstone Lead: Doug

Jackson; Chair of CE: Nancy Kunz and

3 additional church members.

If you are interested in submitting your

name to be considered for this

important task, please see Bruce

Londino or Ruth Ross for an

application. You will need to return

your application to the office by the

January 6th deadline. Diaconate will

notify the members selected after the

Diaconate meeting on January 8, 2019.

Thank you for your consideration.

Stewardship and Year-end Giving The new 2018 tax law did not change tax benefits

for charitable giving. Here are some FAQS on the

subject:

1) Are charitable donations still tax-deductible?

Charitable giving (up to 50% of income) is still

deductible. However, you may not need to itemize

charitable giving and other deductions to get the

same tax benefit for 2018, because the optional

“standard deduction” is almost double the 2017

amount.

2) Can I pay my 2019 pledge in calendar 2018?

Yes. If you want to pay part or all of your 2019

pledge before January, just indicate “2019 pledge”

on your check (or in a text box, if you give online)

so the Collector can apply it to your pledge. Prepaid

pledges are included on 2018 Giving Statements

(for tax purposes), and they are treated as 2019

income by the Church.

3) What is an “IRA Charitable Rollover”?

For those over 70 who receive RMDs (required

minimum distributions) from IRAs, this tax benefit

provides that RMDs paid directly to a church or

charity are not reported as income.

Donations from IRAs can be applied to a pledge or

any other fund; just let our Collector know about an

expected payment from your custodian (a bank,

Fidelity, Schwab, etc.).

IRA custodians need the following information to

arrange charitable IRA distributions:

First Parish Tax ID: 04-2108360

FPCC Brokerage Acct: Charles Schwab #4512-

0726

Schwab Tax ID: 94-1737782; DTC Clearing

#0164, Code 40

As we give to our Church this year, may we trust in

God’s faithfulness and promised blessings – better

than any tax benefit, any day!

Gratefully,

Lynn Arena

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so

that in all things at all times, having all that

you need, you will abound in every good work.

-2 Corinthians 9:8

Christmas Special Collections Each year a special collection is taken on Christmas

Sunday and Christmas Eve. This year the donations

on Christmas Sunday will be sent to Samaritan’s

Purse Disaster Fund earmarked for the recent

storms in Florida and the Carolinas and the

California fire devastation.

The Wakefield Salvation Army will receive the

gifts from the Christmas Eve offering that will be

earmarked for their Fuel Fund. This money is used

locally for those families who need help with

heating their homes this winter.

Christmas Drive My Brother’s Table (MBT), the North Shore’s

largest soup kitchen, is in need of NEW sweatshirts

and sweaters to distribute to its guests on Christmas

Day. Men’s and women’s adult large and XL

sweaters/sweatshirts are needed the most. MBT is

also seeking new gloves, mittens, socks and thermal

underwear.

Unwrapped items can be dropped off at My

Brother’s Table, 98 Willow St., Lynn during

office hours Monday-Friday 9:00-5:30pm, or call

to schedule a time. Please try to drop items off by

December 19th to allow time for sorting/wrapping.

Since 1982, My Brother’s Table has served over 3

million meals to people in need. The Table receives

no government funding and is not a United Way

affiliate. Instead, it relies on the generosity of

individuals and local businesses.

For more information, please call My Brother’s

Table at 781-595-3224.

Online Giving is available on the FPCC website,

and the mobile phone app GivePlus. You can

choose from several funds to support, including the

General Fund (Budget), Building Improvements,

and current needs.

OUTREACH NOTES

A Great Gift to Give

To celebrate our

upcoming 375th

Anniversary, we are

offering these

beautiful, illustrated

cards and

ornaments. The

note cards can be

used to send love

and encouragement to a loved one or are ready to be

framed to be placed among your family photographs.

These beautiful cards are $5 each or a pack of six for

$20.The ornament is not just for the Christmas tree!

Hang this in the home year-round as a remembrance

of your beloved church, cherishing the memory

throughout the years. ($15 each)

You may order your cards or ornaments by emailing

office@fpccwakefield.org. Shipping is available for

$1.50 per item.

All proceeds go to the 375th Anniversary Fund.

A Cup of Gratitude Thank you to all who donated food, set up,

cut up and served pie, greeted our guests

warmly, cleaned up. The Pie Social

was a grand success because of you.

Thank you,

Barbara Flynn

Dear Church Family, I stood

before you weeks ago asking

for help. And I am so grateful for

the outpouring of love and help I have

received. Many people thank me for the Nativity

and I don’t deserve a bit of thanks, it all the

collective folks that came and helped. We had

roughly 150 people watching us, folks in their cars,

on the sidewalk. Lots of faces that weren’t from the

church, which is exciting because our purpose was

to reach out to the community and we did. I wish to

thank all the folks herein.

Ruth Ross, Ken wood, Dom Mercurio, Judy Gordon,

Steve Gates, Rose Porter, Amy Jean & John McKeown,

Barbara Donavan and family, Sarah Bardet and the

Robertson family, Teddy Fitzpatrick, Heather and Elijah

Hulse, Black family, McGee family, Roden family, Jim

and Becky Fosnock, Barbara Flynn, Doug, Nancy

Jackson and Jacob, Jessica Jackson, Cornerstone, Diane

Deminski and Linda Sabatula and all those that baked.

Mark Hathaway and his family, Jo Lynn foster who

generously brought me a chair and blanket. Will and

Claire Barden and their beautiful baby Jesus and Lamb,

All my angels, shepherds, wise men, soldiers, My

siblings: Preskella, Rhoda, Phil and Mark, My sons

Andrew and Matthew, My wonderful husband who

worked for a few days grabbing the stuff and driving me

around to get stuff to make the costumes better. Pastor

Leroe who has been a great supporter! And please

forgive me if there are other names that I didn’t include.

You are all a precious gifts.

Most of all my thanks to the Lord. To Him be the

Glory.

In Christ, Trefina

Gift of Service…Soon it will be

time to think about the year 2019 and we still

have openings on various committees for 2018. The

openings include Assistant Treasurer of Trust

Funds, Auditor, Advisory Committee on Trust

Funds, Antiques, Fair, Music and Usher

committees. If I can be of help to answer any

questions, please get in touch with me. Thank you.

Linda D'Agostino, (H) 781-258-8867 or (C) 781-

245-0243

SNOWSTORM POLICY: If there is a snowstorm

and our 9 am service needs to be canceled, the outgoing message on the church office answering machine will inform callers of any service cancellations. The 10:30 am service will usually be conducted. If the 10:30 service must be canceled in the event of a severe storm, the cancellation will be announced on the WBZ Storm Center (TV Channel 4 in Boston). You may also check the WBZ website: boston.cbslocal.com.

Love gift for Aaron from FPCC

Deadline December 21st If you would like to do your own words of

Love or gift, please feel free to spread love.

A basket will be available on Dec 16

during Fellowship time.

•Pastoral Perspective•

On the Trinity -Pastor Bob Leroe

St Peter opens his first epistle with these words:

“To God’s elect, strangers in the world…who have been chosen

according to the foreknowledge of the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to

Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood.” Peter reveals the basis of our salvation and the multi-faceted

nature of God.

The Trinity is a theological doctrine most Christians accept but do not understand; it is a unique mystery in

that we believe it, yet we have trouble grasping how 1 + 1 + 1 = 1. We are taught in Scripture that God is

both one and three. Three persons does not undermine God’s oneness. God is infinite and boundless, not

limited in any way, and because of this, He is incomprehensible. We understand part of who God is, but not

the whole. God is beyond number, or we can say He is three in oneness, not in number. He is the source of

all plurality. His creativity implies internal distinctions and functions, which implies the Trinity.

Trinity defined→ We worship one God, Who is manifest in three distinct Persons. In the

tri-unity of the Godhead, these are Three-in-One, of the same substance: God the

Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are equally God in their being,

power, holiness, and eternality. God is one in essence and three in Person.

A young woman reflected on her journey of faith. She stated: “I got to know God through the three Persons

of the Trinity. I first encountered God as Father in church, where I learned that God is holy, deserving of my

worship. Later as a teenager, I became acquainted with Jesus, a man I wanted to follow for the rest of my

life. And then—it was almost a second conversion—I became aware of the power of the Holy Spirit, of God

living inside me.”

One of the best descriptions I’ve heard of the Trinity is this: “Three toll-free numbers that are never busy.”

Distinct works of our Triune God:

Father Son Holy Spirit

Election Redemption Comfort

Providence Atonement Sealing

Creation Incarnation Drawing

Sustaining Prophet Indwelling

Judgment Priest Illumination

Forgiveness King Inspiration/Guide

Refuge Teacher Sanctification

Office Hours

Wednesdays and Fridays

10a – 3p

Sermon Series on the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12

“Suffering Saints” ~Pastor Bob Leroe, First Parish Congregational Church, (9 Dec 2018)

Jesus saved His toughest teaching for last.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. Rejoice and

be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were

before you,” Matthew 5:11-12.

We take our religious freedom for granted. Yet in many countries, there are people living daily with religious

persecution…

A few months after I returned from Desert Storm, a Philippine family living in Saudi Arabia was arrested and

sent to prison. Their crime? Conducting a Bible study in their living room. In 1980, I was part of a Military

Police security force for the Cuban boatlift at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. I handed out Spanish Bibles

to refugees, and you’d think I was handing out hundred-dollar bills. One Cuban told me that if he’d been found

with a Bible in Cuba he’d have been executed. A few years later, the Pope visited Cuba, and thanks to his visit,

Cubans were allowed for the first time to celebrate Christmas. This Beatitude is definitely for today.

Jesus lived among an oppressed people. Taxes were exorbitant, freedom was unknown, survival was uncertain.

In this environment, Jesus taught that happiness was still possible. He spoke from personal experience; He

leads us on a path He walked Himself. In John 15:19 Jesus explains, “If you belonged to this godless world,

people would love you. Because I chose you, the world is going to hate you.”

Paul writes in Philippians, “You’ve been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege

of suffering for Him” (1:29). He tells Timothy, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life will suffer

persecution” (II Tim 3:12). We walk the way of the cross.

Today social pressures intimidate people of faith as never before. The world is trying to squeeze us into its

mold. We’re persecuted because we’re different; we don’t fit in. We have a choice--we can conform to the

world, or to Christ. The world is going one direction and we’re headed in another. We’re suffering for

“righteousness.” If we compromise our convictions, we lose our identity and effectiveness as disciples in

proclaiming the Gospel message.

This final Beatitude appears different from previous ones in that it doesn’t describe the Christian life; it gives

the outcome of being a believer. Persecution is a result of living the Beatitudes. For instance…

-The poor in spirit offend the self-reliant.

-Those who mourn over sin are an affront to those who are indifferent.

-The meek aggravate the proud.

-The spiritually hungry upset those who live lawlessly.

-The merciful rile those who demand justice.

-Those who have pure hearts unmask hypocrisy.

-Peacemakers anger people who thrive on conflict.

If we’re living by the first seven Beatitudes, it’s inevitable we’ll experience the last one.

The condition of this Beatitude is “because of righteousness,” for a just cause. A soldier came to see me,

claiming that he was being persecuted for his faith. He was being threatened with non-judicial punishment for

sharing his faith with other soldiers. I called his commander who explained that this soldier was neglecting his

job. Instead of working, he was reading his Bible and preaching to others. I sat down with the soldier and

encouraged him to continue to share his faith…but on his own time.

There is no blessing here for being obnoxious, judgmental, rude, inconsiderate, or pompous (or witnessing

when you should be working). Nor does Jesus want us to have a “martyr complex,” an unhealthy desire to be

bullied. We not looking for trouble, but we accept trouble if and when it comes. Followers of Christ don’t seek

persecution; persecution seeks us because of what we are and Who we serve.

Persecution isn’t always obvious, like being burned at the stake. It can take more subtle forms of resentment,

ridicule, and rejection. These emotional attacks can shake our faith and self-esteem.

What should be our response to persecution? The previous Beatitude: We try to be peacemakers, even when

people refuse to live at peace with us. We need to view persecution as an opportunity to live the Gospel

message.

Another response to persecution is found in verse 12--we rejoice. If we’re suffering for our faith, we’re part of

a noble heritage. Our next response is in verse 44: “Pray for those who persecute you.” We can’t control how

people treat us, but we can control our response…

Viktor Frankel was imprisoned by the Nazis and his entire family was killed in the Holocaust. When the

Gestapo arrested Frankel, they forced him to strip. There he stood, defenseless and degraded. They then

noticed his wedding ring and demanded he remove that too. As he did, Frankel said to them: “You can take

away my family, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there is one thing you cannot take away

from me, and that is my freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me.”

A sure way to avoid persecution is to love the world. In Luke’s account of the Beatitudes, Jesus adds this

warning: “Woe to you when people speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false

prophets” (6:26).

Are we prepared for persecution? It’s probably the furthest thing from our minds. In 1968, an American Navy

vessel, the USS Pueblo, was captured by North Korea. One crewman was killed in the assault; the other 82

were taken to prison where they were held captive for nearly a year. They were without a Bible, and their

request for one was denied. And so they compiled as many verses as they could recall. How many Scriptures

could we assemble if we were denied God’s word?

Some people discard their faith in times of suffering. They abandon God, figuring that He has abandoned

them. Job was tempted to do just that, but instead he declared in the midst of his intense suffering: “When God

has tried me, I shall come forth as gold…though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (23:10 & 13:15). We need to

cling to God and live by faith when we face the fiery trials of persecution.

But will our faith work in the midst of persecution? Faith works as we walk with Jesus. He tells His disciples,

“In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Few people have understood persecution better than German Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He never

wavered in his criticism of the Nazi regime, even though it brought him imprisonment and ultimately death. He

was hanged by direct order of Heinrich Himmler in April 1945 at Flossenberg concentration camp, just days

before it was liberated. Bonhoeffer wrote in his book The Cost of Discipleship: “Suffering is the badge of true

discipleship…it is not at all surprising that Christians should be called to suffer; in fact, it is a joy and token of

God’s grace.”

In the Beatitudes Jesus describes the nature of true happiness. What we do and what we possess are indicators

of happiness, but the Beatitudes describe what we are. These inner qualities determine our attitude toward life

and result in a life that is pleasing to God. Living the Beatitudes brings us true joy: present and eternal

happiness.

Prayer: Loving Father--All too often our happiness is conditional upon our circumstance. Help us to be joyful

no matter what is going on around us. The Christmas season is often one of sadness for many. Whether the

season meets our hopes and expectations or not, help us to rejoice in the Child who came to save and heal us.

We pray in His Name, Amen.

For more information on modern-day persecution of Christians, go to www.persecution.com the website of

The Voice of the Martyrs.

The Voice of the Martyrs is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian mission’s organization dedicated to

serving our persecuted family worldwide through practical and spiritual assistance and leading other members

of the body of Christ into fellowship with them. VOM was founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand,

who was imprisoned for 14 years in Communist Romania for his faith in Christ; his wife, Sabina, was

imprisoned for three years. In 1965, they were ransomed out of Romania, and soon thereafter, they established

the global network of missions of which VOM is a part. The Wurmbrands based these missions on Hebrews

13:3, which instructs us to “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since

you yourselves are in the body also.”

October 31, 2018

Dear Church Family,

It is time again to encourage our church family in renewing our pledge commitments for the coming year. James

1:17 tells us: Every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows. God is always reminding me that everything I have comes from Him.

Even my health is a gift, to be able to work and have a job is a gift and I am very grateful, my family is a gift, my

home is a gift and my finances are also a gift from His hand. The ability to do that which He gave me to do, the

talents and uniqueness of each of us, all Gifts ~ Attitude of Gratitude.

In the Old Testament, the example of giving a portion of our wealth (what we have) is one tenth. One penny from

every dime and ten cents from every dollar—as the examples increase, we seem to have difficulty with the math

equation. Our hands become tighter as we hold on to what He has given to us.

A friend gave me a formula which actually makes me sad because it reveals a lot about our church family and

where we are spiritually in how we may respond to James 1:17. She said if we take a combined family income of

$50,000 (which is low) and use 10% which would be $5,000 per family and we have just over 200 active members,

just take 100 active members, and multiply an offering of $5,000 per year, would result in $500,000 for our

budget! This is possible. Presently, we struggle to reach $300,000. It showed me that we have a problem with

being able to give back to God. Why is that?

In the New Testament, Jesus’ example of giving was sacrificial. In Mark 12:41-44, He used the example of the

woman who gave all that she had when she gave her only coins as an offering. She gave out of her poverty. It

exposed where her trust was, in her Lord and Savior, Jesus. Who or what are you trusting in?

The Lord wants our giving to be from a grateful heart, without compulsion ~ joyful. I experienced this several

years ago at a seminar for Stewardship. The seminar ended with a worship service. They asked you to come

forward with your offering, the song; “The Lord of the Dance” was playing. You were to place your offering in a

basket at the altar. As the music played, I couldn’t wait to get out of my seat to go forward with my offering. This

was new to me. It was truly a joyful experience. The person I went with didn’t want to go forward because they

wanted to be able to get coffee on the way home!!! We were supposed to learn something at this seminar. In the

end, it does come down to the choices we make.

Please take the time to evaluate your giving including thinking about what percentage of your income you are

currently giving, and prayerfully asking God about stepping into 2019 with an increase, perhaps working toward

tithing and sacrificial giving. Let giving have a chance to work in your heart. Let us allow the Lord to work in our

hearts. Please step out in faith in Jesus Name. He wants you to trust Him, completely. $500,000 is reachable.

Please prayerfully think about your response and prepare to commit to trust Jesus even more in 2019. A pledge

card is patiently waiting to be filled out.

Grace and Peace in the journey,

Ruth Ross for Stewardship

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is

at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and

ever! Amen –Ephesians 3:20-21

PLEDGE COMMITMENTS/CARDS ARE NOW BEING COLLECTED FOR 2019

If you have made your pledge commitment, thank you.

If you have not yet made your pledge commitment, please prayerfully consider doing so.

Pledge cards are available in the rear or the Chapel and Sanctuary

Please mail your pledge commitment to First Parish Congregational Church, One Church Street,

Wakefield MA 01880 Attention: Eleanor Elliott

CHURCH HERALD First Parish Congregational Church

One Church St. Wakefield, MA 01880-2301

Phone: 781-245-1644

E-mail: office@fpccwakefield.org

Fpccwakefield.org

December 11, 2018

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

DEADLINES CHURCH HERALD

Thursday, December 20, 2018

(Will cover the dates from December 30 – January 12, 2019)

ORDER OF WORSHIP 3 pm on Wednesdays.

Meeting Minutes for Council The Thursday before Council