Ministry Team Reports
Moderator/Coordinating Council Report (January 2008)
In 2007, the OCC successfully completed its process of interim work under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Stephen Austin. In this journey we focused on grieving and healing together as well as a structured and comprehensive approach to discerning our needs and desires as a congregation. On a parallel path, Bob Boissy led the Pastor Search Committee in an exhaustive search for our new settled-pastor culminating in the calling of Rev. Ken Landin. Rev. Landin will be our guest minister on January 20, 2008, and an all-congregation meeting will immediately follow that service to confirm his appointment as our new pastor.
The Coordinating Council has served with great dedication and devotion during this year of great change. The Council’s voting membership includes the Moderator, Clerk, and one representative from each of our six primary “hub” ministry teams; other non-voting members include the Minister and Christian Education Director. It serves as the governing body of the church, with oversight of all church activities. Below is a short summary of the key events for the Coordinating Council and the OCC in 2007:
The Council completed its work on organizational structure. Key milestones included:
Official recognition of a sixth ministry team – the Pastoral Care Team – with voting membership on the Coordinating Council.
The appointment of an “Organizational Taskforce” that provided key insights and recommendations to the Council for finalizing the organizational structure. The most instructive of this taskforce’s insights was the recognition that the best organizational structure for OCC would be a blend of the “old” and “new/experimental” models.
Full documentation of a new, revised organizational structure; subsequently approved by the church at an all-congregation meeting on September 30, 2007.
Formalizing the new organizational structure into our by-laws (to be submitted for approval by the congregation at all-church annual meeting on January 27, 2008.)
A new Personnel Team – including Tony Kopas (chair), Steve Becker, and Jill Connolly – was appointed by the Council and began working together in late 2007 to develop and implement policies and procedures for personnel administration at OCC. The team will be responsible for developing job descriptions and overseeing the review-process for all paid positions.
In mid-2007, we were successful in hiring Paula LaBonte as our part-time youth leader. In this newly-created position, Paula leads our junior-high and senior-high youth group programs (“PF”), while also teaching the senior-high Sunday curriculum.
Rev. Fred Anderson was hired as our part-time minister in December. Rev. Anderson will serve the OCC from January thru March, 2008, effectively filling the gap between Pastor Steve’s departure and the arrival of our new settled pastor.
While our budget position did not significantly change in 2007, the year was marked by great progress toward a true state of “readiness” for our new pastor reflected in an improved structural vitality and the completion of the interim-process. And (unofficially), the church halls (and classrooms!) seem fuller and more invigorated than just one year ago!
With humility and peace,
Trevor Knott, Moderator
Operations Ministry Team (December 2007)
The Investment Committee, Memorial Committee, Stewardship Committee and Treasurer (Mary Williams) report to the Operations Team and each submits an annual report. The Collector (Joyce Long), the Sextons (Sandy and Bob Cummings), the Auditor (Bob Odams) and the counters also report to the Operations Team. The Operations Team is responsible for the financial affairs of the church and the care of the church property.
The major accomplishments during 2007 were:
The parlor was renovated and dedicated as the Haskins Parlor on September 16th.
Other families donated their Memorial Funds so that some of the parlor furniture could be purchased and the parlor kitchen could be redone.
The area outside the office and the chapel was repainted and carpeted.
The 1A side of Fellowship Hall had rotted fascia boards and support beams due to water damage. This was repaired and we hope to recover all of the cost from the architect and/or the contractor.
We monitored the new alcohol policy during the year and as a result decided not to allow kegs of beer. In November, we significantly increased the rental fee and Sexton’s fee for large groups and will charge a higher rental fee when the large group event includes alcohol. The Committee will set the rental fee for medium size groups on an event by event basis.
The tenant in the Whiston House apartment moved and the apartment was rented to a new tenant at the start of the following month.
We started a list of repairs that would be needed in the future.
We monitored the finances throughout the year.
Many repair projects were done by Team members and others, saving thousands of dollars.
Many volunteers helped with the outside clean-up day and the ongoing maintenance of the church grounds.
A third antenna company is interested in installing a cell telephone antenna in the steeple. If we reach an agreement, the earliest we could receive a rent payment is the fall of 2008.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Operations Team,
Mike Foster, Rick Harper, Claire Harrison, Jerry Long,
Judy McCormack, Bob Odams, Jessie Parsons, Jeff Rowe,
Bill Wallhauser, Mary Williams
Worship Ministry Team (December 2007)
Members of the Worship Team who served during 2007 include: Leesa Burke, Marjorie Kellner, Joan Korslund, Deb Messier, Sue Schwarm, Carol Steinbrecher, Sally Tomasetti, John Wardle, Gordon Wetmore and Lesley Whittemore (Chair).
The Worship Team meets monthly with the Pastor to help plan weekly and special worship services, and to brainstorm and share new and creative ideas for worship. We are responsible for the various elements related to the worship service, including: Communion, Music, Ushers-Greeters, Liturgists, Acolytes, Flowers, Logistics, Décor-Design, and Creative Arts. Our goals are to enhance the worship experience for all, involve the talents of the congregation in praising God, and provide opportunities for people of all ages to participate in worship.
Worship Service Highlights: Four special services were held during the year including an Ash Wednesday service ushering in the beginning of Lent that concluded with walking the Labyrinth; a very moving Good Friday service; our traditional Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving with St. Mary’s and Trinity Episcopal Churches which was held at OCC this year; and a new Blue Christmas service was led by Pastor Steve and Carol Steinbrecher, which was designed for people having difficulty during the Advent-Christmas season.
Some of the youth group members participated in a Souper Bowl Sunday skit as part of their Souper Bowl of Caring mission to raise awareness, funds and food for local food pantries.
Easter was celebratory with the bells, choir, trumpet and an abundance of uplifting music. An upbeat Jazz Sunday was held on Mother’s Day, and four fathers shared their very special and heartwarming stories on being Fathers and Grandfathers on Father’s Day. State Rep Richard Ross was a guest speaker on Memorial Day Sunday, and the children
and youth groups provided a wonderful Children’s Sunday under the direction of Sue Schwarm at the end of the school year. A Baptism Renewal ceremony was held on the Sunday we celebrated Pentecost. Summer services were, for the most part, held in our Outdoor Chapel, and we were blessed with some beautiful weather that allowed us to be outside and enjoy worship in a natural setting.
Pastor Steve added a “Telling Our Stories” time during worship services in the Fall where individuals were given the opportunity to share their own personal faith stories which were very compelling. Sally Tomasetti created a beautiful movie that was shown during the All Saints’-Remembrance Sunday when we took time to remember those we have loved and lost. During Advent, families with all ages participated in the Advent Candle Lighting each Sunday (except for the third Sunday when church was cancelled due to a snowstorm!).
A pageant that included the children, youth narrators and the Bell Choir was enjoyed by all on the fourth Advent Sunday, directed by Marjorie Kellner and Renee Curry. On Christmas Eve, we had a service of Lessons and Carols, with Communion and Candlelighting. Finally, on December 30th we said goodbye to Pastor Steve who served our church as Interim Senior Minister for two years.
People and Changes: In August Carol Steinbrecher prepared to begin her studies as a graduate student at Andover Newton and stepped out of her roles as Chair of the Worship Team and Director of the Hand Bell Choirs. Marjorie Kellner stepped in to direct the adult Hand Bell Choir, and we so appreciate her outstanding music direction and talents. Lesley Whittemore took on the role as Chair, and continues to coordinate Communion and Liturgists. Sally Tomasetti and Gordon Wetmore devoted many hours as Worship Team
representatives on the Pastor Search Committee. Joan Korslund along with Christie Wardle, Jean Campbell and Rita Martino provided beautiful flower arrangements throughout the year. Deb Messier and Leesa Burke came on the team in the Fall to coordinate the Usher-Greeter schedule and have been actively recruiting people (“ush” is now a real word!). Paula Labonte and Pastor Steve provided some wonderful Children’s Moments during worship services. Many thanks to Steve Schwarm who has done yeoman’s work keeping us wired for sound and recording services and special events. Many special thanks to Heather Kent who keeps the line of communication going, and always has excellent suggestions and insight that keep us on track.
The Worship Team has enjoyed working with Pastor Steve over the last year, and we will miss his humor, passion, musical talents and innovative ideas for worship. Beginning in January, the Team looks forward to working with Rev. Fred Anderson who will fill the gap as our part-time Interim Minister.
In closing, we are blessed to be part of a congregation that willingly and faithfully continues to participate and support in many ways our worship experience. We thank all of you who have volunteered in many different roles that make our worship services possible, and invite you to continue to share with us in the coming year your thoughts, ideas and talents!
Fellowship Ministry Team (January 2008)
SUCCESSFUL VENTURES OF THE YEAR
Puppet Show with Lisa Batchelder
Wine and Apps twice during the year
Potluck suppers
Eggnog Christmas Cookie coffee hour
ONGOING EVENTS
Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 7:30am First Saturday of the month in the Fellowship Hall- includes
speakers and discussion of many topics
Women’s Breakfast 9:00 am on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Goochie’s Restaurant in
Plainville to which all are welcome
WORKS IN PROGRESS
Coffee Hour Volunteers needed on Sunday mornings to prepare, serve and clean up.
Panera Bread Friday 8 am. Volunteers needed to help with pick up, bagging, and delivery of products
to designated destinations. Total time involved approx. 2 hours. This is a much appreciated
Community Service.
NEW VENTURES
New membership and Greeting new faces we are working on a welcome packet for first time visitors. Our hope is to have this done by the time of a new pastor.
Respectfully submitted by the Fellowship Team,
Amy Kopas, Chair, Jean Campbell,
Lisa Lucas, Sally Tomasetti,
Education Ministry Team (January 2008)
We have had an exciting year. We hired a part-time Youth Advisor for our Jr. and Sr. High Youth Groups. She is also teaching our Sr. High Sunday School class. Welcome Paula LaBonte. Paula has volunteered to lead the Children’s Choir and is helping with the Children’s Moments in worship. Adult Sunday School continues to meet each week at 8:30 a.m. in the parlor with Steve Schwarm. They are using the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum and invite new members to join them for coffee and study. Our Nursery coverage is growing thanks to Cheryl Rowe, Renee Knott and Emily Shepherd. We hope our newer parents will take their turns during the year.
The Preschool through Senior High has been exploring Workshop Rotations and the Bible Quest Curriculum. This has enabled adults to take only a 4-6 week turn with teaching or leading the workshops. Both the children and adults are finding this combined program an excellent way to meet everyone’s needs.
Our Fifth and Sixth Grade Youth Group is lead by Kristin Lambalot and Becky Cuoco with parents helping as needed. They meet once a month on Friday nights. Our Jr. and Sr. High Youth Groups are meeting twice a month on Sunday afternoons and evenings with Paula La Bonte. Special thanks go out to Rick Harper and Lesley Whittemore who worked with our youth groups at the beginning of the year.
This year we have taken on a new mission project for the whole Sunday School. We are bringing food for the Wrentham Food Pantry on the first Sunday of every month. For Christmas this year we supported “The Christmas Child” by filling boxes of school supplies, clothes and small toys for children here and around the world. Debbie Bangs did a fantastic job pulling this all together as we delivered over 40 boxes.
We now have over 75 children enrolled in all our programs with weekly attendance around 60. In November we presented Bibles to our second graders and some older children who have recently joined the church. Seventeen youth have been trained as acolytes. Second and Third grades were combined as they had instruction in Communion before they received Communion with their families and the whole congregation on Palm Sunday.
The Education Team looks forward to adding more rotation workshops to the spring curriculum following “Joseph”, “Believers Around the World” and “Resurrection Revealed.” Our Family Sundays continue to be well attended with participation from all ages. We continue to end our year with the Family Cookout in June.
The Education Ministry Team would like to thank all the adults who participate in the various programs as they are the ones who make this curriculum truly work.
Submitted by The Education Ministry Team,
Sue Schwarm, CE Director and Acting Chairman,
Deb Bangs, Cheryl Rowe, Joan Korslund,
Renee Knott, Jim Lucas, Steve Langley
Outreach Ministry Team (December 2007)
TEAM MEMBERS: Renee Curry, Eric Dahler, Bob Steinbrecher, Joan Mello, Joe Curry, Pam Jennette (Chair).
This year the Outreach Team continued its support of local, national and international agencies as well as providing financial support to the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ for their use in Church World Service. Through your Outreach pledges, we were able to send financial assistance to Save Darfur
to help with humanitarian aid in that war-torn country. As well, we were able to provide financial assistance to the King Phillip School District to help those children who may need winter clothing or medical equipment not covered by insurance. We continued our local support of the Prayer Shawl and Kitchen Elves of this church.
We continued our support of the Food and Friends program by providing a meal in March and another in September. In addition, we were able to provide the Attleboro Council of Churches with needed support to help in their local outreach. In October we contributed to a large book drive sponsored by the City Mission Society
to help stock the shelves of the Prison Book Program. This Program continues to be an interesting and exciting way for our youth and their families to be involved in local mission. We continued with our Thanksgiving Ingathering to provide needed cleaning and personal hygiene products for New Hope.
This year we were fortunate to be able to form relationships between Outreach and the Youth Program of OCC through our youth liaison, Renee Curry. As well, Eric Dahler formed a mission liaison and through his contacts with Carl McDonald and the City Mission Society has planned two mission opportunities for early in 2008.
We continue our relationship with the Clermont Church in South Africa through the My-Church-Is-Your-Church program. Our friend, Thembi Mbhele, designed a banner as a gift to us which depicts the relationship between the two churches. This banner now hangs in the hallway outside of Fellowship Hall. A like banner hangs in the church in Clermont. This program continues to grow, and we look forward to a widening relationship in the new year. Bob Steinbrecher created a fund to support entrepreneurs in developing countries through the organization of KIVA. This is an exciting opportunity for our dollars to create loans for small businesses to buy equipment or help fund the start of local businesses. After about three months of investment, we are starting to see some of the loans being repaid. We continue our relationship with Hopital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti. This year, we changed our scholarship fund from the Bons Zammi School Fund, which had been established by Elizabeth Sargis, to an alternate scholarship fund named the Crosby Fund. This change was made as the Bons Zammi Fund was no longer being funded. The Crosby Fund provides scholarship monies to Haitian children who would otherwise not be able to attend school.
The Outreach Team looks forward to working with our new pastor in 2008 as we explore new avenues to extend our mission philosophy. We always welcome new members to help with our work and our fun.
Flower Committee (January 2008)
This year, as in the past, the Flower Committee has provided a floral arrangement for almost every Sunday worship. This dedicated group of members and friends has met the weekly challenge of creating a wonderful visual addition to our worship life. In addition, we have provided baptismal roses, poinsettia "trees" at Christmas and splendid massed arrangements of potted Spring plants at Easter. We held an open workshop in December to create our own wreaths and hope to be holding these sessions in the coming year on whatever subjects that will be most helpful in developing our individual skills.
We are always hoping to have new members join our group, so please watch the "Spire" or the weekly bulletin for an upcoming meeting where we always learn something new under the tutelage of Christie Wardle. Christie has enriched our knowledge of flowers and arrangements (as well as our supply closet) for which we are deeply grateful.
On behalf of the Committee -we thank you for your appreciative acceptance of our weekly offerings.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joan Korslund
Members: Jean Campbell, Dottie Weaver, Joyce Long, Rita Martino and Christie Wardle
Pastoral Care Ministry (January 2008)
The team serves Communion to our church family members in nursing homes as well as people who are unable to come to church. We have 5 or 6 people which we serve to every month. We serve to others when they cannot make it to church because of short-term medical problems. The “in-home” Communion service takes about 15-20 minutes. We spend about an hour or so visiting afterwards which gives us a time of fellowship together, and they enjoy hearing about what is happening in church. I find that this is a great gift that God and our church have given me, the ability to bring the Lord’s meal and companionship to our shut-ins.
The team also sends cards monthly to our shut-ins, elderly, and ill. These cards may be for a holiday or just a “thinking of you.” We try to send birthday cards to each of these people also.
We do visitation of people who are hospitalized, ill, or just in need of a visit. The team is on call to go on visits with the minister when needed. I accompanied Pastor Steve on his first visits to our shut-ins as a way of introduction for him.
The Pastoral Care Team is also available as back-up help for weddings or funerals, providing assistance to the minister as needed.
We look forward to working with our new minister to develop a stronger visitation team. If you are interested in any of these activities or would like to learn more about what we do, please let me know.
Sincerely submitted, Pearl Gottberg,
Team members: Muriel Beresford, Jean Campbell, Joan Korslund,
Heather Langley, Sue Schwarm, Steve Schwarm, Lesley Whittemore.
Memorial Committee (January 2008)
The Memorial Committee had a very good year approving expenditures for the good of the church family.
The Haskins parlor project funded with monies from Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood Haskins Jr was augmented by many restricted memorial funds. A new conference table and chairs was purchased with monies from the following funds in loving memory of members:
Clarence Browne, Katherine Burkel, Ernest Cook, Bruce Crowther,
Mildred Crowther, Virginia Gilmore, Virginia Maguire, Ada Riley,
Earle Stewart George Winter.
We also used monies in loving memory of Margaret Jellinek, Loel and Beth Raymond, and Harold Raymond to renovate the kitchenette off the parlor. It was also necessary to use unrestricted funds to pay for some of the overages on both the parlor and the kitchenette.
Unrestricted memorial funds were used to help pay for the painting of the hallways. All of these projects have improved the appearance of the church as we await the arrival of our new minister.
The Angel Fund was able to assist three in our church family with $2950 expended.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Memorial Committee,
Judy McCormack, Chair, Claire Harrison Cheryl Rowe
Lynette Beaudro Muriel Wicklund