PLEASE SAVE THIS DATE!

Volume 3, Issue 1, September 8, 2016

www.hillschurch.org

UPDATE ON SEARCH FOR ACTING ASSOCIATE MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES The Search Committee for the Acting Associate Minister for Youth and Families has had a busy summer! Matt, the Deacons and the Faith Formation Support Board carefully considered how to best fill this acting position and decided that this should be an acting ministerial position, as the permanent position will also be an ordained position. In mid-July, the Deacons asked that the search be led by the Faith Formation Support Board and other church leaders, including Mary Hill Canavan, Erin Johnson, Jack Morgan, Katie Tierney, Myralee Wilson and ourselves. The position was posted on the UCC Massachusetts Conference website as well as a website for non-profits at the end of July. We received several applications and have interviewed four people for the position. We are currently focusing on two very strong candidates who have had their initial interviews and are now meeting with senior church leadership. With the start of the Church School year upon us, we recognize the importance of filling the position promptly, and we are optimistic that the position will be filled soon. Carol Roede and Alex McAdam, Search Committee and Faith Formation Support Board Co-Chairs * Unlike an interim minister, an acting minister may be considered for a settled position; an interim minister may not.

THIS SUNDAY IS RALLY DAY! COME FOR WORSHIP! STAY FOR ICE CREAM!

PLEASE SAVE THIS DATE!

GAME DAY – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 RECEPTION ROOM UPDATE! Whoever said that, “A picture is worth a thousand words…” was a wise person. So, please plan to stop by the Reception Room on or after Rally Day to admire the design boards and floor plan Myralee Wilson and her very talented and hardworking ad hoc Reception Room Design Committee have created to showcase their committee’s work. This project, begun several months ago, has made great progess over the summer. Fabrics and furnishings are on order, certain existing pieces are slated for refurbishment, and paint colors will soon be selected. Inspired by the beautiful blues in our Sanctuary’s stained glass windows, the committee has selected a palette of blues, creams and beiges to serve as a lovely backdrop for the many events which take place in this space. The floor plan you will see on display reflects the pieces in a “ready” position. The furnishings selected - with chairs and tables that are easy to move – will provide us with the flexibility we need to accommodate the many different events which take place in our Reception Room each week. We expect most of the furnishings to be delivered by mid-November. In the meantime, we apologize in advance for any inconvenience if certain church functions have to be relocated to other spaces. We trust you will agree the outcome will be worth the wait! We are truly blessed that Myralee agreed to lead us in this effort. Many, many, thanks go to Myralee – and to Becky Epstein, Robin Swanberg, and Linda Thomas - each of whom has spent countless hours on this project.

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OPPORTUNITIES DON’T MISS GAME DAY – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 – FIND A TEAM THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU It's going to be a unique and memorable Community Hour where you will be able to join one of our Church teams – to enrich your life, have fun and fellowship and live out our faith together. The unique part is that when you sign up you earn points for a raffle - with some pretty cool items!

prize.

On Game Day, leaders of our ministry teams and support boards will be on hand to answer your questions about their missions, their activities and, most importantly, how rewarding (and easy) it is to join their teams. Each time you sign up for a team, you will earn a raffle ticket for a chance to win a

Want to learn more? Pick up a copy of our Opportunities Booklet from the church office today or call Cynthia at 781-235-4424. SERVING EACH OTHER What do you like best about community hour? The coffee? The fellowship? Meeting new people? The Oreos? If you could change Community Hour, how would it look? What would you keep? Up until now, the Parish Life ministry team and the Spiritual Care (Deacons) Support Board, with occasional support from the groups formerly known as standing committees, shouldered most of the responsibility for preparing, serving and cleaning up after Community Hour, and we thank them for hosting us. As we live into our congregation’s decision to use a Ministry Team model, it makes sense to gather a team of individuals who are willing to regularly or occasionally take part in hosting Community Hour. This transitional time is an opportunity to assess how to best deliver Community Hour. If you are interested in shaping and serving with a Community Hour Ministry Team, please plan to attend an idea gathering session on September 18, after worship, or reach out to Anne Marie Andrews ([email protected] or 508.653.5893) or Ruth Perrson ([email protected] or 781.710.9886). We welcome both those who have served regularly at Community Hour in the past and those who are looking for a new way to serve their church family.

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LECTIONARY BIBLE STUDY GROUP TO RESUME MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 18 This Bible Study Group meets in the Church Library each Sunday morning before Worship for an indepth discussion of the Lectionary readings for that week. Led by John and Dwin Schuler, the group’s Sunday morning meetings are dedicated to exploring in greater detail the reading materials for that week included in the Seasons of the Spirit series produced by Woodlake Publishing, copies of which can be found in the Church Library.

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TEA WITH A MINISTER – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 – AT 1:30 - TOPIC: PEOPLE WHO ARE GIFTS Please join Rev. Judy Swahnberg for a wonderful discussion and good company as we enjoy the first Tea of the church calendar year. Judy will be engaging all in a discussion about recognizing those people in our lives who themselves are Gifts…How have these special people enhanced our lives? What can we learn from them? The Seniors Ministry Team will offer Tea, fruit and some tasty morsels on Tuesday, September 20 at 1:30. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a break in your day and be surrounded by the warmth of fellowship at Hills Church. Please call Cynthia in the church office, 781-235-4424, if you would like a ride to and or from the church. GRAB YOUR HAMMERS – OUR FIRST HABITAT WORKDAY IS SEPTEMBER 24 This year our church has once again decided to support Habitat for Humanity. We will be working with the local chapter, Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity (MVHH) in Lawrence. Throughout the year we will donate volunteer hours and financial assistance to this worthy organization. Habitat for Humanity gives low-income families a chance at home ownership, providing them a “hand up, not a hand out.” The selected families are required to volunteer a minimum of 250 hours to build their own as well as other homes. They then purchase their home at no profit and with a 0% interest mortgage held by MVHH. New homeowners are also given home ownership classes and a mentor to work with them throughout the process. The first WHCC Habitat workday of this year is September 24. Our group will be leaving the church at 7:30 that morning and returning by 5:00 p.m. We will be doing any number of tasks such as building and insulating walls, clearing debris and possibly some painting. This construction group is limited to ten (10) folks, so please sign up as soon as you can! If construction is too much for you, we are also sending a group to ReStore. This is the Habitat warehouse of used furniture and building supplies. Proceeds from this store pay for two houses annually. Our group will work in the warehouse; sorting, moving stock and generally helping out. We will leave the church at 9:00 a.m. and return by 1:00 p.m. If you would like to join either group, please email Elaine Vildzius at [email protected] or contact the church office. BIKE RIDE FOR HONDURAS HOPE Join us for a Honduras Hope fundraiser and bike ride through the White Mountains on Saturday, September 24. This is an all-day event based in Franconia NH, with short rides (15 miles) for those who want a less strenuous ride through the emerging fall foliage, medium rides (45 miles), and the long ride (100 miles). Volunteers are needed to man the course and direct traffic. We will be going up Friday evening, and getting an early start on Saturday morning. Those who just want to come and cheer people on are welcome, too. Or you can stay at home and just donate or sponsor a rider. An afternoon BBQ dinner sponsored by the Common Man Restaurant is the destination at the end of the ride. The course starts and ends at the Franconia UCC church, where Barry Jacobson (a former Hills Church Seminarian) is the pastor.

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The mission of Honduras Hope is to empower economically and politically marginalized people in rural Honduras to create stronger, more resilient, and self-sufficient communities. A number of Hills Church members have gone on immersion trips to Honduras to support these communities. For details, contact Bill or Sue Spencer (Bill is doing the 45 mile ride), or google "Granite State Grind and Roll." THE PUMPKINS ARE COMING, THE PUMPKINS ARE COMING!! Ask someone who has built a secure, private home for a single mom in Belize City what the experience was like. Ask someone who has gone to rebuild New Orleans after Katrina what that was like. These service trips offer lifechanging experiences to our kids, giving them a taste of true Christian outreach to neighbors in all places and circumstances. And it all begins with pumpkins. Pumpkins? Yes, pumpkins. Pumpkins help our church help others in many ways. The sale of our pumpkins helps to support our kids on service trips near and far. And they are coming!!! Bring your wheelbarrows and your wagons! This year’s pumpkins are scheduled to be delivered on Saturday, October 15. We will need help from many hands to get the pumpkins off of the truck and onto our front lawn for our first day of business, so please Save The Date October 15 and join us. Once the pumpkins are here, we’ll also need lots of volunteers to help sell them. So if you can staff a shift or two, please sign up during Community Hour. If you have questions, please reach out to David Thornton, Rob Andrews, or Paul Bruchez. A PATH APPEARS: A MOVIE, A BOOK, A DISCUSSION GROUP Meeting at 7:30 p.m. on three consecutive Sunday evenings – October 16, 23, and 30, this group will read A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity, written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and watch excerpts from the movie "A Path Appears." This discussion of the path out of poverty examines questions of poverty in our own country, and around the world. It has both direct and indirect relevance to our own giving as a church, and our response through Honduras Hope, through the African Indian Alliance’s support of the Sidi in India, and through support of our neighbors in Waltham and Boston. What should be our Christian response to these problems? How do you measure the effectiveness of dollars donated to organizations dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and socialized inequality? Are there effective solutions to these problems? Interested? Contact Sue Spencer for details – [email protected].

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USHERING IS A GREAT WAY TO SERVE YOUR CHURCH The mission of the Ushering Committee is to provide a staff of ushers who serve and support the Congregation before, during and after the worship service each week. To paraphrase a quote from Rev. Lacy Scott, “An usher … is so much more than a seat finder. They are the meeters and greeters to our service … the people who meet our guests and our members alike on a person-toperson basis when they first arrive at church. They are the ones whose smiles and warm welcomes help to set the tone for our worship.” To volunteer to usher at an upcoming service, please CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK or contact Cindy Jaczko – [email protected]. FOOD PANTRY IN NEED OF PAPER TOWELS, GROUND COFFEE, COOKING OILS If you can help with these needs – or with food of every kind – please bring your donations to church with you any Sunday and put them in the baskets set out for that purpose in the North Narthex. You may also give them directly to a Food Pantry volunteer any Monday morning between 9:00 and 10:30. (The Wellesley Food Pantry is located directly below Wall ace Chapel – and can be accessed through either the east or west entrance.) Many thanks. FAMILY PROMISE METROWEST IS LOOKING FOR ON-CALL VAN DRIVERS. Van Drivers play at critical role at FPM. Without them, Family Promise has no way of getting families to their various destinations. If you know of anyone interested in this PAID position, please have them call Pam Green, the Office Manager at FPM at 508-318-4820. A special license is not needed to drive FPM’s 14 passenger van, but for insurance reasons, drivers must be at least 18 years old, have a good driving record and be willing to complete a background check. They must also be able to lift at least 20 pounds and climb stairs. Work hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays – from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Women’s Build September 10, 2016 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM This is an opportunity for women from ages 16-100. Make new friends and learn what Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity does. (For safety and insurance reasons we need to adhere to the

state requirements, and HFHI policy, of no person under the age of 16 on an active build site. Individuals between the ages of 16 – 18 have limitation of activities restrictions, including: no power tools or climbing ladders. They must be accompanied by an adult.) Another way to support us (not mandatory) is to consider sponsorship and the “Power of Ten”. Get 10 friends, co-workers, fathers, brothers or folks from your place of worship to contribute $10 each to your build day. You can easily reach a goal of $50, $100 or even $200 dollars. All monetary donations help Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity build simple and safe homes.

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Please wear closed toe shoes, bring sun screen, a hat, plenty of water and your lunch. The build day starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes to 4:00 p.m. Lunch is from noon -1:00 p.m. Please plan to stay the whole day. *You can sign up on www.volunteerup.com, and register with a profile and login. Or go to Habitat’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/MerrimackValleyHFH

Women Build - a national effort of engaging and empowering women in the building experience of making a piece of the American Dream a reality for our families.

Adult Education at the Hills Church – Fall 2016 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 NEW TESTAMENT: SETTING THE SCENE Adam Isbitsky, Seminarian Hills Church Rev. Pashington Obeng, Associate Minister, Hills Church 11:30 am – Reception Room Join Adam and Pash for a series of programs on the New Testament. This first program will set the scene for the New Testament including a rough timeline of composition and compilation of the New Testament and the birth of what came to be Christianity. Subsequent programs in November and next Winter/Spring will dive into the Pauline Epistles, the Synoptic Gospels and Acts, and the Johannine corpus.. SUNDAYS, OCTOBER 16, 23 & 30 A PATH APPEARS: A MOVIE, A BOOK AND A DISCUSSION GROUP Evenings – Times and locations to be announced Meeting on three Sunday evenings, the group will read and watch excerpts from the book and movie "A Path Appears," and other resources. This discussion of the path out of poverty examines questions of poverty in our own country, and around the world. It has direct and indirect relevance to our own giving as a church, and our response through Honduras Hope, through the African Indian Alliance and its support of the Siddi in India, and through support of our neighbors in Waltham and Boston. What should be our Christian response to these problems? How do you measure the effectiveness of dollars donated to organizations dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and socialized inequality? Are there effective solutions to these problems? Co-sponsored with the Christian Service Board. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19 THE END OF LIFE AND DYING WELL Harold Wilkinson, M.D., Ph.D., Hills Church member 6:30-7:00 pm – Supper 7:00-8:00 pm – Program – Reception Room In the light of medical advances of the past few decades there has been increased discussion about the definitions of life and death. We will explore those definitions in the context of history, religious views, and current medical challenges. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies in September 2014 issued a report entitled Dying in America: Improving Quality and Honoring Individual Preferences Near the End of Life. Consistent with that report and our wanting more control over end of life decisions we will also consider living wills and death with dignity. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23 RIDING THE ADOLESCENT SKATEBOARD: A WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS Jeff Levin, Dartmouth, B.C. School of Education, Smith College School of Social Work 11:30 am – Reception Room (lunch and childcare provided)

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This program will provide the space to gain knowledge, compare notes, share exasperation and joy, discuss the challenges, and acquire support and understanding for the unsteady, yet rewarding journey of parenting teens today. Details to come. Co-sponsored with the Youth Ministry Team.

HILLS CHURCH PUBLICATION DEADLINES Need to spread the word about an activity or event? Email your notice to Cynthia Gordan, Church Administrator, at [email protected], or call the Church Office at 781-235-4424. Weekly Newsletters Sunday Orders of Worship Submissions are due Fridays by 5:00 p.m. Submissions are due Monday by 5:00 p.m.

HILLS CHURCH CALENDAR THURSDAY, September 8 6:30 p.m. New Beginnings 7:30 p.m. Church Council 8:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) FRIDAY, September 9 7:00 p.m. AA Meeting 7:30 p.m. Friday after Ours (at the home of Judy Swahnberg, 29 Kenilworth Road in Wellesley) SATURDAY, September 10 SUNDAY, September 11 – Rally Day and Ice Cream Social 10:00 a.m. Worship Service 11:00 a.m. Community Hour 11:00 a.m. 7:8 Youth Group Planning Session This Sunday’s Scripture Readings: 7:30 p.m. AA Meeting 1 Timothy 1:12-17 MONDAY, September 12 Luke 15:1-10 7:30 p.m. Board of Deacons TUESDAY, September 13 5:00 p.m. Food Pantry Client Supper 7:30 p.m. Game Day Workshop and Planning Session WEDNESDAY, September 14 8:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal THURSDAY, September 15 9:30 a.m. Clergy Meeting 10:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 1:00 p.m. North Hill Tea 6:30 p.m. New Beginnings 7:30 p.m. Discernment Committee Meeting

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CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES NEWS AND EVENTS RALLY DAY IS HERE AGAIN! And church life kicks back into high gear. Welcome back to all our church babies! If you are new to the Hills Church, please say, hi! We would love to hear how we can best serve your family. Church School starts this Sunday. We look forward to welcoming your child to class. GOT A KINDERGARTENER? We would love to welcome your upcoming kindergarten student to the third floor routine. It’s new – it’s different – but it’s not scary! Please consider attending the Third Floor Kindergarten Orientation this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. on the third floor. Let Sally Tomasetti know if you can come. Our goal is to have all of our new third floor friends happy and comfortable. THIRD GRADE COMMUNION CLASS In preparation for World Communion Sunday on October 2, all third graders are invited to learn about why and how we take Communion, and what this sacrament means. This class is offered in three parts: during church school on Sundays, September 18 and September 25 – and after the Worship Service on Sunday, September 25, when the children will join Matt in the Sanctuary for a walkthrough. (Parents are welcome at the walkthrough, too!) Each Communion Sunday, all children in grades 3-8 are invited to join their families in Worship for Communion – so, if your child has missed this class in previous years, they are also invited to attend. FIFTH GRADE BIBLE PRESENTATION How cool is it to get your own Bible? Each September, we present all fifth graders (and any sixth graders who have not previously received one) with an age appropriate Bible of their very own. The presentation occurs during the Worship Service before the fifth graders attend their first Bible Survey class. This year’s presentation is set for September 18, and we would dearly like your fifth grader to be there. Please let Sally know this week if your child can attend. VISIT OUR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY TABLE THIS SUNDAY! Come visit our information table after the Worship Service this Sunday. We will be outside on the front lawn during the Rally Day Ice Cream Social – and we would love to chat! We still need teachers and other helpers throughout the year, so please consider volunteering. We have fun! CLUBNIGHT3:6 This is a night time fun gathering for kids in grades 3-6 – and it is always a big hit with the kids. For this night to happen this year, we are looking for two helpers willing to form a team with Sally. A young adult. A dad. A fun-loving older adult. We need you to share God’s joy with this age group. We do games. We play sports. We get messy. But mostly, we build relationships. Will you help? CHILDREN’S CHOIR BEGINS MEETING AFTER WORSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 18 Choir meets after worship in the Third Floor Youth Chapel. This is a wonderful opportunity to sing with friends! All young people – in grades kindergarten and up – are welcome. CHILDREN’S BELLS If you have a child in grade 4 or above who is interested in ringing, please contact Martha Stowell - [email protected]. Meeting times for Bells practices are flexible

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Children’s Ministry Coordinator: Sally Tomasetti – [email protected] Children’s Ministry team Co-chairs: Erin Johnson and Josh Waetzig

YOUTH NEWS

7:8 GRADE YOUTH GROUP SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, AFTER WORSHIP

7:8 will meet for the first time on Rally Day, September 11, during the Ice Cream Social to discuss plans for 7:8 youth group in the fall. This discussion group will be led by Scott and Mary Wells, parents of Charlie and Evie, on Rally Day, and we will announce further plans after the initial session. We look forward to welcoming a new Acting Associate Minister to this group very soon!

CONFIRMATION ORIENTATION FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, AFTER WORSHIP ADAMS BOARD ROOM (BY THE CORNER OF THE SANCTUARY)

All students in ninth grade (or older) are invited to join the Confirmation class in preparation for the Rite of Confirmation on May 14, 2017. Rev. Matt Wooster will lead the orientation, and will continue to co-lead the confirmation program throughout the year in collaboration with the new Acting Associate Minister and other clergy. Orientation will last until 12:15 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP KICK-OFF SUNDAY WITH REV. MATT WOOSTER SEPTEMBER 25, 6:00-8:00 P.M.

At the home of high school senior Allison Witt and family, 11 Sheridan Road in Wellesley. The Youth Ministry Team invites all high school students (and friends!) to kick-off the fall season with a dinner and program with Rev. Matt Wooster on the subject of fulfillment and success: when are they the same, and when are they different?

SEARCH FOR THE ACTING ASSOCIATE MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES

The church’s Faith Formation Support Board has been busy this summer, conducting a search for an Acting Associate Minister to shepherd our church’s youth ministry. The search team has interviewed multiple candidates, and has identified two strong finalists for the position, to begin in early fall. We hope that there will be good news to share with you very soon. Until then, the Youth Ministry Team is working with Rev. Matt Wooster to continue a program of relational ministry with youth, with strong relationships formed through play and service, trust, and opportunities to encounter God together.

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