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April 2015
THE SPIRE
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth
United Church of Christ
From Pastor Doug
An Easter People All Year Round
Every Easter, I feel it is one of my important
duties but also one of my greatest privileges, to
share with you all my conviction that Easter is
much more than a one-day-a-year holiday. I
believe profoundly that the message of Easter
defines both who we are and whose we are as
individuals and as a worshipping community
every day of our lives.
no age boundaries in reminding each and every
one of us of God’s love. Each week our choir
finds ever new ways to share the story of our faith
in music that touches the heart in ways that the
spoken word cannot. We are sharing the joy of
the Sacrament of Baptism more and more
frequently. We continue to embrace new
members and to attract more visitors.
We are an Easter people who are gathered in
one very special Easter church — the
Congregational Church of South Dartmouth.
And in this church we believe — both as
individuals and as the entire church family — in
the triumph of hope over despair. We believe in
vitality over stagnation. We know that Jesus
turned his church over to ordinary but faithful
disciples — just like you and me — to be “led by
the Spirit” in putting their faith into action in their
own specific place and time. And our time is
right now, and our place is right here.
The sense of excitement, mission, and vitality
that we are all feeling has one source. It all
springs from deep in our hearts in that place
beyond words and churches and doctrines. This
feeling of vitality, week after week, worship
service after worship service, meeting after
meeting is what it means to be Easter people.
This is how we live each day in light of the
absolute assurance of God’s demonstrated
affirmation of abundant life which is the miracle
of Easter.
We are truly an Easter people, moving forward
And we, the Easter people of this church, are
as a church family with optimism, with hope, with
being led by the Spirit to put our Easter faith into energy, and with faith. Let’s let those Easter
action. Our young people are serving meals to the “alleluias” echo off the sanctuary walls on Easter
homeless and packing gifts for our shut-ins. Our morning…and continue to echo in our hearts all
entire congregation is abuzz with interest in a
year long.
Mission Trip. Within each Sunday service, this
congregation of adults and young people are
hearing a “children’s message” that actually has
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC
Primary Movers
Multigenerational
Mission Trip Planning
Please Join Us
6 pm to 8 pm
Friday, April 10, 2015
Gallery X
Frederick Douglass Gallery
169 William Street
New Bedford, Massachusetts
To appreciate the art of
Children’s Circle Children
Wine & Hors d’oeuvres
Silent Auction
Parking available for Art Show in
Carter’s Parking Lot 55 William Street.
Page 2
Have you ever wanted to go on a Mission Trip, but never
had the opportunity? Have you been on one and would
like to go again? Would you like to go with your high
school age child? A parent? Friend? Well, this may be
your chance. We are forming a Mission Trip Exploration
Committee in preparation for a possible Summer 2016
Mission Trip. If you have any interest in planning for or
participating in this multigenerational group, please
contact Steve Starrett at kyrouz@aol.com, or 508-3352470, or just see him after church.
From The Church Council
Council News
The Council met for their monthly meeting on
Tuesday, March 17, 2015

The church website will be updated to make it more current. Membership Ministry is discussing a long term
strategy to shift to a different platform which will make the website more user friendly.
 Council received a report from the Property Committee: Snow removal has taken a toll on the budget. Work will
need to be done in the stairwell to the second floor where there was leakage. Plans are in place to replace the spire
lighting with LED lighting to save money. The parking lot lines will be repainted, as well as the front steps.
 A proposal to begin planning a mission trip was presented. Discussion included plans for the trip to be
multi-generational. It was agreed that this project be spear-headed by an enthusiastic group of congregants. A notice
will be put in the Spire and announcement made to the congregation to form an organizing committee.
 Adult Religious Education program was held on March 1st with 24 congregants in attendance with next program
scheduled for March 22. Based on the level of attendance, the RE Ministry would like to introduce some regularity to
an adult program.
 Lenten reflections with soup dinners have been well received. Thanks to the Fellowship Ministry, Women's Guild
and Men's Discussion Group for sponsoring and hosting these evenings.
Next Council meeting: Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Page 3
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC
Worship Ministry
Holy Week Services
April 2nd ~ Tenebrae service will be Maundy Thursday
This will be our traditional service with readings and the extinguishing of candles.
April 3rd ~ Good Friday ~ 12 noon
This service last year was very special; very moving.
March 30th - April 4th
Again the Sanctuary will be open 7-9am for anyone wanting reflective time.
Readings and Scripture will again be available.
Easter Sunday April 5th
We will have a sunrise service at 6:00 am at Roundhill Beach
Festival Service at 10am
On behalf of the Worship Ministry, God's Grace and Peace to all ~ Linda Paradise
A different sort of
church school
Because the ocean is vast, fish survive — and thrive — by living and
working together. A shoal is a loose grouping of fish that forage individually but deter predators by staying close together. A school of fish
is more tight-knit. Thousands of small creatures move as one great organism, shimmering through the water to confuse and fend off larger
fish on the prowl.
God also sets humans in groups to help us thrive. Worldwide
church denominations function somewhat like shoals, while our local
congregations are like schools — to teach us, yes, but also to nourish us
with both physical and spiritual food, give us a sense of belonging, and
empower us to accomplish good things together that we could never do
alone.
Jesus called his disciples to fish for people. The Holy Spirit,
gathering us as Church, calls people to live like fish!
When someone
you love
becomes a memory,
the memory
becomes a
treasure.
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC
Page 4
Religious Education
Learning Easter Expressions of Joy
Each Sunday morning our children leave the
sanctuary early in the service to go to their Sunday
school classes. Some may wonder what goes on at
this time. In subtle ways, seeds of faith are being
planted in them. We water and tend the seeds so that
they will spring forth in the hearts of the children
long after they grow into adulthood and take their
places in the world. We believe that this faith will
give them hope, whatever may come. Let me
illustrate how this works, by telling a story and then
providing a moral to the story…
The (true) story: During the darkest days of
the former Soviet Union a Communist Party rally
was held in one of the larger cities. It was an event
staged for the purpose of instructing the “ignorant
masses” on the virtues of Communism and the
foolishness of Christianity. The facility was filled
with common men and women who were forced to
attend.
A high-ranking Party official spoke first. He
mocked the religious “opiate of the masses” (as
Marx had put it) and then praised the superiority
of atheistic Communism. After his lengthy,
highly-charged attack on Christianity was done, a
local Orthodox priest was given the chance to say a
few words. The audience was eerily quiet as the
elderly man stepped up to the microphone. He
paused… and then he exclaimed, “Christ is risen!”
And the people shouted back, “He is risen indeed!”
The moral of the story: From the time of their
youth, the common folk had been saying these words
each Easter. They learned it as an expression of joy
and of victory over the sinister forces that oppose
human beings, principally death and the suppression
of freedom. The priest had the last word that
evening, and his last word said “LIFE!”
Here in the northern hemisphere Easter
occurs during the springtime. As the darkness and
chill of winter give way to the blossoming of trees
and flowers, and the daylight stretches longer into the
evening, we see signs that life has the last word over
death, and that light has the last word over darkness.
Those who view this with eyes of faith are
encouraged by the faithfulness of God. God always
has the last word -- LIFE! This is the good news of
Easter.
My hope is that the children of our church
learn expressions of joy that will last their whole
lifetime. Additionally, I hope that the adults of our
church will share in the joy of Easter with the
children. Sunday morning is indeed a precious time.
Doug Cederberg
Page 5
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC
Outreach Ministry needs your help!!!
Sharing the Harvest – May 16 - 9am-Noon
Come help us plant vegetable plants that will turn into
tons of food to help local food needs in our community.
The Dartmouth YMCA has several acres that are
planted, cultivated, harvested and then they distribute
these fresh wholesome foods to local people.
Please help us get this process started. We will be planting starter plants in the prepared
field.
After the planting session, we will break for a pizza lunch.
More details to follow in the next Spire
If you have any question please feel free to call Dave Neilson (508-642-3866)
Thank you
April
Anniversaries
Derrick & Margaret Jones
(50 years) April 3, 1965
Robert & Betsy Dubiel
(50 years) April 24, 1965
Richard & Diane Brown
(25 years) April 28, 1990
Wedding Anniversaries are listed in the Spire every
five years for the first fifty, and then each year
thereafter!
Margaret & Derrick Jones
will be going on a momentous
trip with their family to the UK
to celebrate their 50th wedding
anniversary with very special
friends.
We pray for traveling mercies and
many wonderful memories.
Page 6
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC
The Spring Rummage Sale will be held:
May 1st and 2nd
Please begin to gather items to donate. Below is a list of items we
would love for you to donate and also a list of items we cannot accept.
Please contact Linda Paradise or Cecelia Roberts if you can help with
the rummage sale, before to help sort and set up, during either as a
worker or cashier or after to help clean up.
Drop off will begin April 13th
Rummage Wish List
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
Clothing
Shoes
Toys
Household Items
Furniture
Linens,
Bicycles
Books
Glassware
Finer Items for Heritage
Room (jewelry etc.)
Thank you!!
Items we cannot accept:

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Skis
Ski Boots
Bindings
Cribs
Car Seats
TV’s
Computers
Monitors
Printers
Fish Tanks
Thanks for your consideration and generous
donations to our Rummage Sale.
The Flowers for March were given by:
March 1st - Elizabeth Nichols in love and celebration of life.
March 8th - Brian, Sharon and The Fernandes Family, in memory of Nicholas,
on the anniversary of his passing, and for all who have died by suicide.
March 15th - Bradford and Nicole Niemiec in loving memory of our
Grandmother, Claire Ellis.
March 22nd - Sue Lindblom in memory of Edgar Lindblom.
March 29th - Martha and Steven Shuster in celebration of our daughter
Molly’s engagement to Edward Clark Otocka.
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC
Page 7
April 2015
Sun
Mon
5
6
Easter Sunday
6 am Sunrise Service
Round Hill
Boy Scouts
Tue
7
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
Daily Reflection
7-9 am
2
Daily Reflection
7-9 am
3
Daily Reflection
7-9 am
Choir 7-8:30 pm
Maundy Thursday
7 pm Tenebrae w/
Communion
Good Friday
12 pm Service
AA Meeting 7 pm
AA Meeting
AA Meeting 7:30 pm 6-7 Beg 7:30 pm
8
9
10
AA Meeting 7 pm
AA Meeting
AA Meeting
6-7 Beg 7:30 pm
15
16
17
AA Meeting 7 pm
AA Meeting
AA Meeting
6-7 Beg 7:30 pm
22
23
24
AA Meeting 7 pm
AA Meeting
AA Meeting
6-7 Beg 7:30 pm
29
30
Sat
4
Daily Reflection
7-9 am
11
Choir 7-8:30 pm
Girl Scouts
10am Worship
12
10am Worship
13
14
Boy Scouts
Rummage Sale
Drop Off Begins
19
10am Worship
20
Choir 7-8:30 pm
7 pm
Ministry Meeting
21
Boy Scouts
27
10am Worship
Girl Scouts
Choir 7-8:30 pm
7pm
Council Meeting
26
18
28
Girl Scouts
Choir 7-8:30 pm
Boy Scouts
Girl Scouts
AA Meeting 7pm
AA Meeting
25
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC
Please note, we have large print bulletins,
as well as, large print hymns available
for you every Sunday in the narthex.
Please feel free to
pick up a copy as
you enter church
worship or ask for
one.
Page 8
Our E-Prayer Group
If you would like to become a member of
the prayer chain, please contact Marcia
Hathaway either by phone (508)993-5740
or email mkhathaway@comcast.net or
call the church office. As "members of the Prayer Chain," you
would receive a copy of the prayer. Your only responsibility is
to read it, thus you too are "praying" for the requests put forth. I
never put anyone "in" the prayer without a request, and I only
disclose what has been shared. Since we all know that prayer is
a powerful healing tool, the more members we have praying,
the more power we concentrate on a request.
Marcia K. Hathaway, Breathe Deeply. Namaste.
Pastoral Concerns
Please don’t forget to call or
email the church office with
information on any hospital admissions or pastoral
concerns. We do not receive notification from the
hospital so the only way we can be informed of anyone that may need a visit is if you let us know.
Please let us know if you have someone you would
like added to our Prayer List in the Spire.
Thank you for helping us stay in tune to the needs
of our church family.
Joys and Concerns
Just a reminder we have a book
on the podium in the Narthex for
people to write down their joys or
concerns. A deacon will bring the
book to the minister once the
service has begun, thereby giving
him an opportunity to read them before the time for
sharing. Those who prefer to voice their joys and
concerns may continue to do so.
In Our Prayers…
Belén Sullivan
Tim Goulet
Linda Shwartz
Please remember if you
would like us to add
someone to the list, we
would be more than
happy to - just let us
know!
Keeping
Terry Cryan
In our thoughts
and prayers
on the Passing of
her mother Flora
Gratitude is one of
the sweet shortcuts to
finding peace of
mind and happiness
inside.
No matter what is
going on outside of
us, there's always
something we could
be grateful for.
Page 9
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth
2015 Scholarship Application Form Information
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth is excited once
again to award scholarships to one or more qualified high school
seniors. Students graduating from high school this year and planning
to continue their education are encouraged to apply. Eligible
students are members and non-members who have had a close and
active association with the Church. Through this application
process, students will demonstrate their involvement in and service
to the Church and the community. They will also write an essay that
illustrates their faith journey. Finally, they will be asked to provide
letters of recommendation.
Applications will be available through the Church office
beginning on April 6, 2015 and will be due back to the office no
later than May 21st. Scholarship recipient(s) will be announced on
Baccalaureate Sunday, June 7, 2015.
The Scholarship Committee will review applications during the
month of May. The Committee reserves the right to reject any and
all applications. It is important for applicants to read the instructions
on the application form carefully, and fully comply with the
requirements. Incomplete applications may not be considered.
Should the Committee require further information, a Committee
member may be in contact with the applicant.
The deadline for submitting the application is absolute. Completed
applications need to be returned to the Church office by 2 pm on
May 21st, 2015. It is up to the applicant to confirm the office closing
time for that day. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AFTER THAT
TIME WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT BE CONSIDERED.
We wish all of our scholars luck and look forward to seeing them on
June 7.
Scholarship Committee
Attention all
high school seniors:
Baccalaureate Sunday
June 7, 2015
Baccalaureate is the worship
service we hold each year to
honor our seniors who are
graduating from high school.
We invite each of you to
participate in this special
service as we celebrate your
graduation and the time you
have spent as a part of our
church family.
If you are a graduating senior
and would like to be a part of
this service, please contact
Kathleen Pappas
(KMPappas@comcast.net or
call 992-4059).
We look forward to your
presence at worship on
June 7th.
Reverend Douglas Stivison
stivison@earthlink.net
Robin E. Lake, Office Administrator
robin@congochurchsd.org
Church Telephone: 508-993-6676
The Congregational Church of South Dartmouth
United Church of Christ
17 Middle St., PO Box 80608
South Dartmouth, MA 02748-0608
http://congochurchsd.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Holy Week Services
April 2nd ~ Tenebrae service will be Maundy Thursday
This will be our traditional service with readings
and the extinguishing of candles.
April 3rd ~ Good Friday ~ 12 noon
This service last year was very special; very moving.
March 30th - April 4th
Again the Sanctuary will be open 7-9am for anyone wanting
reflective time. Readings and Scripture will again be available.
Easter Sunday April 5th
We will have a sunrise service at 6:00 at Roundhill Beach
Festival Service at 10am