First News For MAY-JUNE 2025 |
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BOARD MEETING SUMMARY – Tuesday, April
22, 2025
In open discussion, it was noted that
the outside
grounds had been cleaned up and mowed.
The church has a contract with Smitherz Landscape to mow and maintain
the church and parsonage lawns. We will
also look into the feasibility of returning to monthly newsletters.
In new business, the church has
received a bequest from Ron
Dickinson’s estate. For the time being,
it will be held in our Money Market account at North Easton Savings but will
eventually be transferred into the portfolio once it has been decided how the
money will be used.
The
Search Committee has
reached out to two strong potential ministerial candidates. One is interested in part-time and has
applied while the other is expected to apply soon.
In
Other
Committee Reports:
Trustees – The front corner fence has been sent to Duarte Brothers for repair. Mark Hall
and Mark Iverson have assembled a cart
which was included along with the new chairs.
Missions and Fundraising – Items left over from the recent Rummage Sale need to be
listed on Facebook or brought to a consignment shop. A list has been sent to Margaret for
inclusion in the newsletter which outlines church-related events or programs. Church members will be asked to circle
interested programs. A few program ideas
include Chair Yoga, Tai-Chi, CPR, etc.
Treasurer/Finance:
The
church continues a decades-long tradition of paying $78 monthly to Plan International to
sponsor a foster child, Joseph Ngulube.
The Board also voted
to fund expenses that have a corresponding
portfolio fund from those accounts, essentially rebalancing on an annual
basis.
Nick
also reported that he has begun meeting with our new bookkeeper, JoAnn Mattos, to train her in processing
invoices and payroll and maintaining the necessary records. All financial
reports and back-up documents
are now in the church office along with electronic copies. State payroll
taxes have been paid while a Federal 941 form will soon be filed
electronically.
Receipts through March totaled $16,064,47 against expenses of $30,787.00,
resulting in a deficit of
$14,722.53. Due to recent volatility in
the market, portfolio value
has dropped but is expected to rebound once the market settles more.
Next
Meeting – Tuesday, June 3, 2025 – 7:00 p.m.
Our prayers and sympathy are with the family and
friends of beloved 50-year church member, Richard Boyce, who recently died. Funeral
Service will be held at a later date to still be determined.
We will keep you informed as we receive updated information.
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We would
like to welcome several new people to our church staff:
Terry Jordan, Church Secretary,
Gisela Bauerle, Minister of Communication, Matt Berg, Director of Music,
and
JoAnn Mattos, Bookkeeper
If you see them, please say hello and
welcome them to our Church Family.
At this time, I would like to thank
the members and friends of the First Congregational Church of Whitman for all
the loving kindness that you have displayed toward me throughout my 18 ½ years
of employment as your Church Secretary.
It is with mixed emotions that I
retire. I have so very much enjoyed my work, and most importantly, my
relationship with all of you.
It is because of your support and appreciation
for the work I have done as your secretary, that I have felt valued, which is a
key reason that I will miss working at FCC Whitman!
I also want to thank you for the
absolutely fabulous retirement party that was hosted for me! You went
above and beyond with every detail of this amazing celebration. I am well
aware that a great deal of planning and work went into making it happen. My
sincere appreciation to each and every one of you who made sure that every
aspect of the celebration was perfect!
In addition, I want to thank those of
you who took time out of your Saturday to attend the party too. I can honestly
say I was overwhelmed with emotion to see so many of you, including some people
whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, as well as two of the church’s new
employees, Matt Berg and Terry Jordan!
I also am extremely appreciative of
those of you who sent messages of congratulations to me, but were for
various reasons, not able to come to the celebration.
On a separate note, my family had a
great time meeting all of you! The common theme I heard from them was,
“Everyone is so nice!” Of course, they received no argument from me!
Finally, I want to thank each one of
you for the beautiful flowers that I received, and the many wonderful
gifts! Your generosity truly went above and beyond. I will be forever grateful to all of you!
With My Sincere Gratitude,
Margaret
Mannke
Let's make the start of our 2025 Operation Christmas Child
SHOEBOX Mission Project "EGGSTRA" special year!! 😊
For the next couple of Sundays, after church during our fellowship time, there will
be a fun
activity set up for you to participate in.
On the card
table, there are some plastic-colored
eggs laid out along with a basket.
Please feel free to grab an egg or 2 or even 3! When you
"crack" it open, you will find
a piece of paper with an item written on it.
Please purchase and bring
the item(s) next week and place in the basket! Thank you
in advance for your participation.
P.S. please return your empty egg to the basket.
Ron Dickinson's small Christmas Tree will be set up soon along with an updated OCC bulletin
board
with sample items that we will be collecting to fill the SHOEBOXES.
Your friends, Barbara, Roberta and Frank
Please be sure to look for more frequent updates in your Wednesday Wonderings and Monthly
Newsletters. I have found some new and easy crafts that we can make during Fellowship
while we are sipping our coffee and tea.
All members and friends of our church, The Irish Step Dancers, The New Beginnings Group and the
Boy Scouts are all invited to participate in buying and donating items that will fill the SHOEBOXES
for boys and girls ages 2-14!
Your friends,
Barbara McLaughlin and Roberta
Spencer
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WHITMAN FOOD
PANTRY DRIVE
Saturday, May
10th
The Whitman
Food Pantry will be collecting donations to help families in need.
Leave
non-perishable items out by your mailbox. They will be picked up by your mail
carrier or a volunteer.
Thank you,
once again, for supporting this annual event.
TRUSTEES REPORT
We met with
Diaute Brothers Fence Company recently. They removed the parts of the fence
that had been damaged by a car last August and brought them to their shop for
repairs. They are also going to repair the Church Street end of the fence,
damaged by plowing ten years ago. Progress is being made.
Smitherz will
be mowing our lawns again this year. They just finished spring cleanup and will
be taking care of fall clean up as well.
Being the end
of April, the snow stakes for both the church and parsonage have been put in
storage.
The Cub Scout
pack #59 has been dissolved and no longer meets at the church.
The Boy Scouts
still meet at the church Sunday nights at 7:00 PM.
As all may be
aware, the church bought four round tables along with the appropriate amount of
chairs. Included was a chair cart that
needed to be assembled. It took six man hours to assemble, using both trustees.
The cart is very well designed and built solid. It should last many years.
~ Mark Hall, Trustee’s Secretary
Saturday May 10th 8:00am Men’s Breakfast@ Mo’s in Hanson |
Saturday May 10th 9:30am Women’s Breakfast - place
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COMMUNITY NEWS
ALL SAINT'S THRIFT SHOP: All Saints
Church in Whitman Thrift Shop is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10-2 and
the first Friday of every month from 4-7 p.m.
Drive-Thru
Rabies Clinic for Dogs, Cats and Ferrets. $20 per animal (cash only)
Saturday, June 21st from 10:00-12:00 N
Whitman VFW,95 Essex Street. Proof of prior rabies vaccine is required to
confirm that your pet is eligible for the 3-year vaccine.
Without prior vaccine, your pet is eligible for 1
year vaccine only. Please contact the Board of Health office with
any questions. 781-618-9755.
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WHITMAN FOOD PANTRY: Items most needed as of
04/24/25 are boxed
stuffing mix, canned chili, canned beef stew, dry cereal, pudding mix, baked
beans, napkins, Knorr packaged pasta in sauce and rice in sauce. Thank you as always
for your continued support of this important mission project, and much
appreciation to John Barr, who is our representative to the Food Pantry.
STRENGTHEN the CHURCH
Special Offering for May
The Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering reflects the shared
commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build
up the UCC Conferences and the national setting equally share the gifts given
by members and friends through their local congregations. The funds raised
support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in
existing congregations. By your generosity to this offering,
which will be taken up all month, you build up the Body of Christ. As God calls our congregations to be
the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new
ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and
young adults.
MAINSPRING BAG LUNCH PROGRAM AND CONWAY
HOUSE
June’s Special Offering Once a
month, bag lunches are made by volunteers, led by church members, Barbara & Dennis McLaughlin and Barbara
Derosier, for Mainspring residents. Food costs have increased, as you all
know, so your financial support is needed more than ever if we are to keep this
project going! We also take care of
re-supplying towels and linens in a room that we have sponsored for many years
at Conway House in Middleborough. Your generous help with this Special
Offering, which will be taken up through the month of June, is much needed and
sincerely appreciated.