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First News
For
JUNE 2023
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On behalf of Crystal, Josh, Xander, Matthew, and Emma, we have been honored to serve as
your Pastor and pastoral family. Our time in Whitman has been a gift from
God. Your friendship and love will
continue to influence and impact our lives. We love all of you and pray for
God's richest blessings upon this historic church in the years ahead.
In His grip!
Pastor Scott
Monthly
Men's breakfast will
meet at 8:00 am on June 10th at MO's Place in Hanson.
The Chosen
Bible Study will
continue Thursday evenings in June at 6:00 pm in the library.
Pastor
Scott will preach from the Gospel of Mark on June 4th, 11th, and 18th. The sermon series is
called "Our Time in the Boat".
May every
Church and Christian community be a place of mercy amid so much
indifference. Pope Francis
Christians
have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him
who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should
listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Our prayers and sympathy are with the Preskins Family as they mourn the loss of Robb’s mom, Anne, who passed away
on Saturday, May 13th.
REMEMBER
IN PRAYER THOSE
WHO ARE HOMEBOUND OR IN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
especially Dorothy Brundige, at home; Dianne Marcus, at Windrose at Weymouth, 670 Main Street, S. Weymouth, MA
02190, and Lillian Horner, at St. Joseph’s Manor, 215 Thatcher St., Brockton.
TRUSTEES: During
the past four to six weeks the trustees have been busy. Several things have
been accomplished at the parsonage, like mowing the grass & cleaning up
twigs, branches, etc. Inside the
parsonage, three toilets were replaced with modern ones and the railing going
up to the second floor was put back up after replacing some broken railing
brackets.
At
the church, the gutters were all cleaned out, the yard was cleaned up by the
scouts, and we are waiting for a price to replace the tile floor in the
corridor by the minister’s office. Also, we are looking for estimates to repair
the Broad Street iron fence.
Mark
Hall, Trustee’s Secretary
SUMMARY - BOARD MEETING - Wednesday, May
24, 2023
We were recently informed of two small parcels
of land in Hingham that were historically owned by a Hingham family and
later put into a family trust. Our church, as a member of the UCC, was named as
a part owner in the family trust. Someone wishes to buy all the surrounding
land as well as the two landlocked lots and cannot do so until all parties in
the trust sign off. John Travis has signed the document which will change the
name on the deed at the Registry of Deeds. In settlement, the church expects to
receive a check for our share of the proceeds.
The new office
computer and monitor have been
delivered, and we're happy to say that Margaret is 
back
in the office on Thursdays and Fridays!
The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss ministerial transition. A search
committee is forming immediately with
the goal of selecting the new minister within four months. Our last two
searches took a very long time, due to circumstances that no longer apply. We
will once again look for a part-time minister. Many of the components in
launching the search a few years ago have been set into motion which should
make this next search more expedient. We aim to post the job with the current
benefits package and assess the results. Four people have agreed to be on the
committee, and we hope for one more person in the congregation who would be
willing to serve. The committee will keep in touch with the Board, providing a
detailed report at each Board meeting, and the Board will participate in the
vetting process of the final candidate(s).
In the meantime, keeping ministerial coverage
on Sundays is crucial. Gail has reached out to several past pulpit supply
ministers and other clergy who have indicated a willingness to help us in a
number of ways. The goal is to have Sunday coverage from June 25 through the
end of the calendar year. The Board also discussed the essential need to
provide for the pastoral needs of church members.
Strategic Planning will continue to move forward. A second
meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 6 at 7:00 pm with an All-Church Meeting
planned for Sunday, June 11
immediately following the worship service.
Next Board meeting is Tuesday, July 11 at 7:00 pm. Church members are both welcome and encouraged to
attend.
Glenn and I are so very grateful to
the entire FCC Whitman congregation for your support, through the prayers,
cards, and notes that you have sent our way throughout the last several weeks
as Glenn underwent his stem cell transplant.
I’m happy to
tell you that Glenn is doing well, given all that he has been through. His
medical team is very pleased! Full recovery takes about a year, so he has a way
to go, but we are optimistic. Already
many prayers have been answered for sure!
Blessings,
Margaret
MAINSPRING BAG LUNCH PROGRAM AND CONWAY HOUSE (Our
Room!) June’s Special Offering 
Once a month, bag lunches are made by
volunteers, led by church members Susan Johnson 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 the Conway House in Middleborough. Your
generous help with this Special Offering, which will be taken up throughout the
month of June, is much needed and sincerely appreciated.
WHITMAN FOOD PANTRY: Dotty,
who works at the Food Pantry, gave me this updated list on Thursday. At this
time, the Food Pantry’s most pressing needs are Chef Boyardee products,
Hamburger Helper, shampoo, orange juice, regular mayonnaise, facial
tissues, kids cereals, jello
and puddings.
Please check the dates
of all donated food items to make certain they are not expired.
Lastly, cash or checks made out to the Whitman Food Pantry are always welcome. Thank you! A huge thank you also to John Barr, our
representative to the Whitman Food Pantry.
SOUL
SISTERS ANNUAL POTLUCK 
PICNIC will be held on Sunday, June 17th
Let us know please if you have anyone at Teresa Hayden’s home at 1:00 pm. in your family who is graduating this year
Bring your own chair, and please contact so that we can celebrate with you!
Kathy Talbot to let her know if you are coming. Email or
call the office and leave a message for Margaret, the church secretary.
Thanks.
Special Dates:
June 1, 8 & 15: “The Chosen” Bible
Study Series at 6:00 pm
June 4 - Trinity Sunday Worship Service w Holy Communion
June 6: Strategic Planning Mtg. at 7:00pm
June 10: Men’s Breakfast-8:00 am at Mo’s in Hanson
June 11: All Church Mtg. following worship
June 18: Father’s Day!