TTHHEE VVOOIICCEE of Second Church NON PROFIT

United Church of Christ ORGANIZATION

50 Park Street US Postage Paid

Attleboro, MA 02703 Attleboro, MA

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Permit # 122

May 2018

MAY BREAKFAST & PLANT SALE! SATURDAY, APRIL 28

TH, 7:30 TO 10:30

SOUNDS OF THE GREAT CATHEDRALS

OURE PLEASURE SINGERS

AND DR. WILLIAM A. MACPHERSON

SATURDAY, MAY 5TH

, 4 PM

INDOOR YARD SALE SATURDAY, MAY 19

TH, 9 TO 1

Second Congregational Church of Attleboro, UCC Reverend F. Vernon Wright V, Minister ruachwrights@msn.com

William A. MacPherson, PhD., Director of Music Kara Lehane, Executive Director, Jack & Jill School – 508-222-1149

jackandjill@attleborosecondchurch.org www.jackandjillattleboro.com Amie K. McCarthy, Director of Christian Education Fred Saunders, Administrative Assistant / Curator

BSA Charter Organization Representative, c: 508-918-0123

Jack Baptist, Sexton Church Office: 508- 222-4677 Fax: 508- 222-2148

office@attleborosecondchurch.org www.attleborosecondchurch.org Find us on Facebook!

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

AT SECOND CHURCH

As a covenant community we are committed to the belief that all people

are created equal before God, and that the love of Jesus Christ is inclusive.

We celebrate our diverse congregation, and we welcome persons of any race,

gender, age, marital status, family structure, sexual orientation, gender identity or

expression, ability, and economic circumstance to full participation in our

community life and ministry.

We strive to reflect these beliefs in the language and content of our worship

and in our lives together.

To receive TTHHEE VVOOIICCEE by email, call the office or send an email

TTHH EE VVOO II CC EE We seek to be a church of the open mind, the warm heart,

the aspiring soul and a vision for God’s world.

Outreach &

Missions Women’s

Fellowship

One Plus One

Jack &

Jill

Organ Benefit Concert

Women’s Spirituality

Group

Christian Education Committee Birthdays

Music &

Dance Calendar

Page 5 Page 3 Page 3 Page 6 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 3 Page 7

MINISTER’S MUSE The Opposite of Faith Isn’t Doubt, It’s Certainty

Over the centuries of bad theology we’ve become convinced as a culture that faith is the

opposite of doubt. “That man has such a strong faith that no matter what scientists say,

the earth is less than ten thousand years old.” This idea that doubt is the opposite of

faith is so pervasive we even dismiss our scriptural guides: When Abraham asks

“Where is this great nation that you have promised me?” We think, just hang in there

Abe baby, it will work out. When Sarah laughs and says “Me, pregnant at my age, are

you kidding me!” We say “Women…how cute, they say the darnedest things!” When

Jeremiah implores God, “Is there a balm in Gilead?” we invent a hymn: “There is a

Balm in Gilead.” Period. When Jesus asks on the cross: “Father, father, why have you

forsaken me?” we say, “That Jesus guy, always a kidder, he didn’t mean it, he’s just

quoting from the psalms…”

As Ann Lamott dryly observes in

Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith,

“The opposite of faith is not doubt,

but certainty. Certainty is missing

the point entirely.” If one is certain about something why would one even

need faith? Faith that is certain about itself isn’t faith at all its idolatry. It’s no

longer a living breathing, journeying thing it has become an effigy carved from

stone. This faith, like Facebook on steroids, has nothing to do with our

rollercoaster love affair with God. It’s a demonstration of fitness. “That guy

has such a great job! He must have really strong faith!” “Did you see that

church? They purchased a football stadium. They must be really close to

God! Quick lets all go there, they must be on to something!”

Faith is very often confused with a security blanket that you can get

somewhere. Even in my own church, the priceless stained glass windows, the

dulcet tones of our million dollar organ, and the pastor (me) with his fancy

robes and his advanced degree communicates a notion, “Come to us we have it

all figured out!” But faith isn’t something we figure out. It is something our

flaming heart requires of us. For the truth of our cross is not that Jesus died to

save us from our doubt, but that Jesus, God made flesh, died in the midst of the

very worst doubt and in the agony of having a real spear pierce his side and

1

SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ATTLEBORO, UCC G O D I S S T I L L S P E A K I N G

A monthly newsletter May, 2018

actual spikes driven through his hands and feet. Jesus reminds us that doubt and agony is human and part of the story of faith,

particularly our living, breathing faith. And yes there’s Easter too: the Grace of God is even bigger than this doubt and agony and

death. But it is only as we experience real death that we find new life. It is only in the wrestling with angels that we hear the

voice of God.

Faith, if it is faith at all, must always meet us where we actually are, not where we think we ought to be. God is bigger than what

we think. God doesn’t require us to wear the blindfolds of our certitude. God requires only our integrity; faith means that our

eyes should be open, not only to the Joy of the rapture of the sun rise upon the sea, but also to the horror of today's cross of

mortality, addiction, prejudice and arrogance. Faith requires our brain to be alive and our spirit of adventure to be aflame. Faith

wants us to be able to share our self with others. With faith we embrace the loss and hardship and doubt of other people and work

with them as they are, rather than as we would pretend them to be. We also call faith like this by another name: steadfast love.

Yours in Christ, Reverend Vern Wright

2

LITURGICAL THEMES

MAY 6

Communion Sunday

“I Have Called You Friends”

John 15:9-17

What does it mean to be friends with the

author of the cosmos? The implications

are significant. I was going to utilize

this theme on April 29th, but chose a

different topic on that particular Sunday.

MAY 13

Mother’s Day

“When A Mother’s Prayer Changed

the Heart of God”

Matthew 15:21-28

“Starting from the faith of the Canaanite woman who changed Jesus’ mind, we shall examine the radical roots of Mother’s Day. Far from a holiday celebrating the 1950’s domestic ideal of womanhood, this holiday from the 1850’s was created to address the societal problems that led to high infant mortality such as milk contamination and the vagaries of war.

MAY 20

Pentecost / Confirmation Acts 2:1-21

This Sunday confirmands will be delivering the sermon via their confirmation addresses. Please come and affirm our youth in their journey to adulthood.

MAY 27

Trinity / Memorial Day

“The Pure Mystery of God”

John 3:1-17 In the scriptural story the disciples encounter the raw mystery of God. Some think that the Trinity reduces God. I believe that the doctrine of the trinity actually preserves God’s infinite mystery.

Special Visit! May 6

th is a Special Sunday.

You are invited! The Executive Conference Minister of the Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, Reverend Dr. Don Remick, will help lead us in a process of discernment of how to move forward as a church in the face of some difficult financial realities. The meeting will be held from 11:20 to 12:50, after church, in the Conference Room.

BOARD OF DEACONS Lead Deacon this month is Adam

Hauerwas. Contact any Deacon if you

are interested in being a liturgist or

usher on a Sunday or sign up on the

bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. We’d

love to have your help. Call Ralph

Giannetti at 508-226-4618 and let him

know if you need a lift.

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP The Women’s Fellowship will have

signups for the Indoor Yard Sale, May

19th at Coffee hour. If you already know

what you want to do, you can lock it in

by speaking with Sandy Saunders, 508-

699-2738. As you start your spring

cleaning, keep the Yard Sale in mind.

Speak with Sandy or Fred Saunders if

you have questions about a donation.

ONE PLUS ONE One plus One is a group of adults who

meet to share Christian fellowship. It is

open to all members and friends of the

congregation and is a great way to get to

know new people and catch up with old

friends. Everyone is welcome!

Please join us on Saturday, May 12th at

8pm for a 1+1 outing to see the play

“Co-Creator,” a biographical play about

the comic book writer Bill Finger who

co-created Batman. The play is

performed by the Attleboro Community

Theatre located at the Masonic Lodge,

71 North Main Street in Attleboro. I

will be available from 7:30 to 8:00 pm

to check you in. Tickets are available at

a group discount rate of $15 per person.

If you are on our 1+1 call list, you will

be contacted beforehand. If you are not

on our call list and want to come, call

me at (508) 226-5457 or email me at

colincb@aol.com by Thursday, May

10th.

One plus One members will also be

present at the Concert for Choir and

Organ on Saturday, May 5th at 4pm at

the Church. We invite you all to attend

to help renovate our Church’s historic

pipe organ.

On June 23rd

at 4PM, One plus One will

close out the first half of the year with

its annual summer cook out at the

majestic Blair homestead at 20 Orlando

3

Lane in Attleboro. Reserve the date

and time now and details will be

forthcoming in the June Voice.

Colin Blair

WOMEN’S SPIRITUALITY GROUP

Our next meeting will go back to the

third Monday of the month. The

meeting will be held on May 21st at 7:00

pm We will be studying the book of

Jochebed who is known to be a

remarkable mother. This is in honor of

Mother’s Day. You can first learn about

her in Exodus among other chapters. If

you have any questions or suggestions

please let me know.

Dparziale10@gmail.com or 508-813-

6688. If you need a ride please let me

know. Deb Parziale

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY The PSM will meet on Monday, May

14th at 12:30 in the Ladies’ Parlor.

Shawls continue to be of tremendous

comfort to individuals experiencing a

loss, illness or other traumatic event in

their lives. New members are always

welcome. We will teach you the ropes.

Please contact me if you have any

questions. Roberta Ferguson

MUSIC NOTES

CHOIR SCHEDULES The Adult Choir will sing on all

Sundays in May. Rehearsals will be

held on April 26th, and May 3

rd, 10

th and

17th. The choir will continue to sing in

June other than the 10th, which is

Children’s Sunday. There will be no

Thursday rehearsals after May 17th.

The Hand Bell Choir will play in church

on May 6th. They will rehearse on April

26th and May 3

rd. Note a slight change

of time on May 3rd

: rehearsal will start at

6:45 instead of 6:30. There will be no

Thursday rehearsals after May 3rd

for the

bell choir.

On Thursday, May 24th, Bill will host

the annual end-of-season gathering at

his home, 6:30 pm until whenever. As

usual it’s pot-luck, and spouses, friends

and family are also invited.

SACRED DANCE

All ages and experience levels are

welcome to join dance practices

Saturday mornings at 9am in the

sanctuary. Please let me know if you

have any questions about how to get

involved! Diane Osborne

Music Committee

Thank you to all who have made

contributions to the Organ Restoration

Fund! It is not too late to make a pledge

of support. Forms can be submitted to

the church office.

We are busy preparing for the May 5th

concert, and excited to learn that the

first improvement to the organ will be

completed by that date. The swell

expression shade motor will be replaced,

allowing for more complete volume

control. This part of the organ has been

only partially functioning for a long

time, and you will certainly hear the

improvement at the concert! The Oure

Pleasure Singers have recruited several

additional singers to perform the

cathedral anthems, and Bill is preparing

pieces that will highlight the variety and

complexity of the organ. This is a

program not to miss! Look for an article

in the Attleboro Sun Chronicle weekend

edition on Saturday, April 28th.

On Sunday, May 6th, we will give an

update on the progress of the fund-

raising. Wendy Oliver

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

2018 Pledge Receipts

Pledge receipts are below budget

projections for 2018. While we were

tracking well for the first two months of

the year, the 4 Nor’easters we had in

March affected pledge receipts. We

encourage you to please look at your

pledge giving this year and get back on

track if you are behind.

Did You Know?

Amazon.com shoppers can help raise

funds for Second Church by using

Amazon Smile and designating Second

Congregational Church of Attleboro as

your charity to receive donations. By so

doing, the Amazon Smile Foundation

will donate 0.5% of the purchase price

from your eligible purchases to the

4

Church. A direct link to the Church’s

page can be found below where you can

log on using your Amazon sign-in

information. At that page, you can also

learn more about the Amazon Smile

program by selecting the link “Learn

more about Amazon Smile.”

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-

2137237

Submitted by Colin Blair

for the Administration Committee.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION It’s hard to believe that May is already

here! As we wrap up our Sunday

School year The Christian Education

Committee and Amie would like to say

thank you to everyone that has

volunteered in our nursery and in our

classrooms. Without volunteers like all

of you we would not be able to offer

Faith Formation to our Children and

youth.

As we finish out our school year the

children and youth will be finishing up

their exploration of what it means to

share the light of Christ in the

community and preparing for Children’s

Sunday. If your young adult is a High

School Senior we would like to

recognize them on Children’s Sunday,

June 10th. Please consider sending Amie

(amielghts@gmail.com) a short

paragraph telling what

sports/activities/hobbies your young

adult has been participating in

throughout high school and any future

plans they may have after high school,

as well as a photo to be printed in the

Children’s Sunday Bulletin.

The Christian Education Committee

would also like to remind everyone of

our schedule as we close out the year:

May 6th: Communion Sunday:

Gathering Sunday, the entire Second

Church Family will worship together.

May 13th: Discovering the Holy Spirit

through Science

May 20th: Confirmation Sunday: A

Gathering Sunday to celebrate our

confirmands!

May 27th: We will Have Faith

Formation on Memorial Day, we will

discover how the Holy Spirit moves

threw and among us while we Laugh

and Play together.

June 3rd

: Communion Sunday:

Gathering Sunday, the entire Second

Church Family will worship together.

June 10th: CHILDREN’S SUNDAY.

Peace,

The Christian Education Committee

and Amie K. McCarthy

Behavioral Covenant Adopted by Second Church in 2003

Under the Walking in the Way project

We will treat each other with love of

Christ.

We will listen carefully to another

person, without interrupting.

We will recognize and respect opinions

different than our own, listening to

understand, but not necessarily

agreeing.

We will be truthful and direct in our

communications, speaking respectfully

with candor about our own feelings

and thoughts, not those of another.

We will intentionally affirm the

positive in communicating with one

another.

We will agree on a process and, in

covenant, we will all work together as

the Body of Christ to use the process

to work toward an outcome,

implementing our conclusions with

action.

OUTREACH & MISSIONS The Food Pantry distributed bags of

food to 24 families on April 23rd

. As

always, please remember the food

pantry when you shop for groceries.

The next distribution is May 28th.

(Normally on the fourth Monday of the

month, 4-6 p.m.). Spaghetti sauce,

canned Ravioli and Beef-A-Roni, dry

cereals (especially children's), rice, real

fruit juices, tuna, peanut butter, hearty

soups, toiletries, detergent, and

bathroom tissue are always welcome.

The drop-off site is in the Ladies Parlor

with the Deacons each Sunday or in the

kitchen during office hours. Contact:

Betsey Pray, rlpbpp@verizon.net.

Knitters! Our Baby Cocoon and Hat

project will continue indefinitely. These

items are sent to World Vision, which

circulates them around the world where

needed. We recently sent off our first

batch. Details and knitting instructions

are available in the Narthex, where there

is also a collection basket for finished

projects. Thank you!

The City’s Expo for the Senses is

scheduled for August 18th from Noon

until 5:00 pm. O&M will be selling its

strawberry shortcake at this event. We

may also be doing this at the City’s

Fourth of July Fireworks, planned for

July 3rd

. Volunteers will be needed. It

requires some work and, at times, some

hustle, but the perks are delicious! As a

result of our participation last year, we

raised approximately $1,500 to add to

our budget for additional outreach.

June is Pride Month. The Boston Pride

Parade will be held on Saturday, June

9th. Please show your pride and

consider joining with others from 2nd

Church who will be marching. We

always march with other Massachusetts

UCC open and affirming churches.

Please contact Joe or Dianne Ordog for

details and for sign-up. If you have

never done this, it is always a fun and

utterly fabulous time! Also, Providence

PrideFest takes place on June 16th.

While we are not participating as a

church this year, we encourage you to

visit the event.

The next Family Café will be

Wednesday, May 9th

in Fellowship

Hall. Volunteers to set-up, prepare

food, serve beverages, greet, work with

children, clear tables, or wash dishes,

pots & pans are needed anytime

between 4 and 6 p.m. O&M recently

donated a new feather flag for our front

lawn to increase awareness of our Café.

The next Outreach & Missions meeting

is scheduled for Sunday, May 6th

at

11:15 a.m. in the Ladies Parlor.

Charlie Oliver, for the committee

5

May Birthdays

1 Chris Janson

Dawn McCarthy

Ella E Saunders

Alex Sawyer

2 Pam Middleton

5 Roberta Ferguson

Pearl Patrick

7 Audrey Sadler-Morse

8 Christina Renoni

10 Kevin O'Connor

11 Steve Withers, Jr.

12 Gladys Brander

13 Bret Brown

Jessie Macomber

15 Joan Blais

17 Bob Richardson

18 Diane Findley

19 Pam Raskin

20 Lorraine Lunt

22 Ben Macomber

Zach Ramsay

Chris Saunders

Nick P Saunders

23 Marilyn Freeman

24 Sandy Saunders

25 Janice Paul

26 Ted Moxham

27 Jean Beland

30 David M Keith

31 Kyla M DiBastiani

The teachers and children are busy with

spring time projects. Science lessons

include life cycles and each classroom

has a butterfly garden where they will

watch caterpillars transform into

butterflies! We are preparing for our

end of the year field trips and everyone

is smiling from ear to ear!

This is the most rewarding time of the

year for us as teachers. The children

have grown so much over the course of

the school year. They understand the

rules and structure of our classrooms

and we can truly ENJOY them for these

last weeks together!

We are looking forward to celebrating

the adults in our lives this month! We

will be hosting a teacher appreciation

luncheon, “Movie with Mom” on Friday

May 11th, and “Fun with Fathers” on

Wednesday, May 23rd

.

Plans for our pre-school graduation are

underway. We have many children

moving on to Kindergarten! We will be

holding a graduation ceremony on

Thursday evening June 7th for all family

and friends to attend!

We have been working hard to pull

together our second Pre-K classroom for

the 2018-2019 academic year. We had a

crew of painters over April vacation.

Everything is moving along nicely and

we should have a teacher hired within

the next few weeks!

Our 70th Anniversary celebration is

coming up fast and we will be sending

Save the Dates this week! We are

seeking out alumni to invite, so if you

have any addresses of former

classmates, don’t hesitate to let us

know!

We have been busy touring and

speaking with perspective families for

the 2018-2019 academic year. We have

limited openings in most of our classes

if you know of anyone looking for a pre-

school placement please encourage them

to call me at 508-222-1149! We do

have slots available!

Warmly, Kara Lehane

NOTICES FOR OP FANS! (CURRENT AND FUTURE)

Oure Pleasure Singers are having a busy

season under the direction of Christophe

Heidbreder. In addition to the benefit

for the church organ restoration, OP

participated in the February taping of

the fourth season of WGBH’s “SING

THAT THING”. We don’t know which

week(s) in May we are on yet, but the

first episode was on channel 2, Friday,

April 13th at 8:00 pm and they have

started posting the series on their

website and Facebook. Check out the

series. It was fun doing season 3 last

year (you can watch that on their

website too) and even more fun the

second time around. CHECK IT OUT!

AND EVEN MORE FUN! Oure Pleasure

has been selected to sing the National

Anthem for the Pawtucket Red Sox at

McCoy Stadium on Friday evening,

June 22nd

. We’d love to see you there!

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!

6.

M A Y 2 0 1 8 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

6:30 PM

Cub Scouts

3

6:30 PM

Bell Choir

Rehearsal

7:30 PM

Adult Choir

Rehearsal

4 5

8:00 AM

Girl Scout

Pancake

Breakfast

4:00 PM

SOUNDS OF

THE GREAT

CATHEDRALS

6

10:00 AM

Worship/Communion

7

6:30 PM

Boy Scouts

7:00 PM

Board of

Deacons'

Meeting

8

7:00 PM

Marketing

Committee

Meeting

9

5:30 PM

Family Café

6:30 PM

Cub Scouts

10

6:30 PM

Bell Choir

Rehearsal

7:30 PM

Adult Choir

Rehearsal

11

6:00 PM

J&J

Movie

with

Mom

12

6:00 PM

Confirmation

Class

7:00 PM

Contemporary

Worship

13

10:00 AM

Worship

14

12:30 PM

Prayer Shawl

Ministry

6:30 PM

Boy Scouts

15

7:00 PM

Administration

Committee

Meeting

16

6:00 PM

Cub Scout

Fishing Derby

7:00 PM

PFLAG

Meeting

17

6:30 PM

Bell Choir

Rehearsal

7:30 PM

Adult Choir

Rehearsal

18 19

9 AM to 1 PM

Indoor

Yard Sale!

20

Pentecost

10:00 AM

Worship

Confirmation

21

June Voice

Deadline

4:00 PM

Food Pantry

Distribution

6:30 PM

Boy Scouts

7:00 PM

Facilities

Committee

Meeting

22

7:00 PM

Christian

Education

Committee

Meeting

23

6:30 PM

Cub Scouts

Pack Meeting

24

6:30 PM

Music End-of

Year Party

25

8:00 PM

Sing

That

Thing

Finale

WGBH

TV

26

7:00 PM

Contemporary

Worship

27

10:00 AM

Worship

11:20 AM

Church Council

Meeting

28

Memorial Day;

Office is Closed

29 30

6:30 PM

Cub Scouts

31

MAY BREAKFAST & PLANT SALE! SATURDAY, APRIL 28

TH, 7:30 TO

10:30

SOUNDS OF THE GREAT CATHEDRALS

OURE PLEASURE SINGERS

AND DR. WILLIAM A. MACPHERSON

SATURDAY, MAY 5TH

, 4 PM

INDOOR YARD SALE SATURDAY, MAY 19

TH, 9 TO 1

7