Welcome to week 1- day 1. Okay, here is my initial attempt at creating a blog as a way of sharing with one another. I realize the board is currently very busy with preparations for this Sunday's meeting but my hope and prayer is that each day you will take a few minutes (honest, that is all it will take), read the daily reading and reflect on the questions offered or offer your own thoughts and insights. Please for now let's keep our conversations amongst the Board so we can share honestly. Hopefully my order of books will arrive in a day or so and we can widen our circle to include other staff and youth leaders.
For today we are asked in the reflection: "Do you remember walking into our congregation for the first time? What was it like? Who reached out to you?"
This Sunday I was aware of the whole "name thing" and tried at points in the service to see if I knew all the peoples names. Also I tried to be aware of new people. At the end of service I shook hands with a man who I had not met before, his name was George. He was somewhat disheveled and his hands shook. I thought to myself.... okay could this be Jesus? Boy he sure looks like he could use a cup of coffee and a treat. I felt so blessed that I could simply turn to the next person in line, Jack G. and say Jack, this is George, can you take him in and get him a cup of coffee. After a quick hug, Jack did as was requested. I realized that for the most part people are eager to help a newcomer or guest when asked. Would anyone have invited this "shakey" man in on their own? I am not sure. Does how a person looks impact our eagerness to approach? I know the anwser is "of course" but I think the question is a good one to ask ourselves. I just pray George got what he needed yesterday. And if all he or anyone needs on a Sunday morning is a warm place to come and a cup of coffee to drink, well welcome to them too!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on our daily reading and the questions listed above. I love you all and am excited about embarking on this journey of fruitfulness together.
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Yes I do recall my first visit in September 2004. I was alone; Mark had Deacon duty at another church and I had decided it was time to move on and find a new church home. The first person to greet me after worship was Debbie Cipolletti. I remember very clearly her extended hand, warm welcome, smile, and invitation to return. I also got a call that evening from Dale Horton who I knew through Hospice. She said she was glad to see me and shared a bit about what she liked about belonging to NCC. She also told me she hoped I would come again. The following week Patty greeted me with her big, happy smile and introduced to some other new folks, the Bardwells. Those experiences coupled with finding a few familiar faces in the pews –Gwen and Ted, and Mary M. helped me to feel extremely at ease and comfortable. It also radically shortened my search!
ReplyDeleteI guess I found the right place - the blog I mean. I know we found the right church. We had been to RB dinner and so Jane Bagdon was waiting as we arrived at church to welcome us and introduce some others.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember many details of my first visit to NCC back in the summer of 2003 but I do recall the overwhelming warm feeling leaving! That is what caused Joe and I to want to come back the very next and subsequent weeks and years. I had not been to church since my pre-teens and our family was split with Mom being Protestant and Dad Catholic. I met Rev Patty at a birthday party of a mutual friend and instantly connected, evidenced by our 2.5 hour conversation there. I explained our desire to have a church wedding someday and also wanted to offer our children a chance to grow spiritually. Rev Patty immediately invited to marry Joe and I and I accepted the invitation to come to church on a Sunday a few weeks after we first met. Admittedly, that first day - I didn't even know what denomination NCC was! But I knew I wanted to be open enough to visit no matter what the background. That first Sunday I do recall looking around the church and the Fellowship hall for signs of exactly what denomination church I was in (there were no obvious signs to the newcomers, but there are now!) I didn't ask but still returned and later learned more of our church and denomination. I guess it didn't matter, it was all about the message and the way in which Rev Patty delivered it. We stayed for coffee hour briefly and each week we stayed longer and longer as we bacame more comfortable. There were no other churches in the running - we knew right away this was OUR church. Now, I endeavor to meet new faces each Sunday and have formed lasting friendships with so many people in doing so!
ReplyDeleteI don't really remember the first time at NCC - it was a couple of years ago around Christmas. I do remember the first time back after "shopping" for a church with Chris. We tried a lot of them, and I remembered how beautiful the ceiling was and something about NCC drew me back. Finally, we had narrowed it down between NCC and the Pilgrim Cong. Church in Taunton. Rev. Patty reminded me of a supervisor at work- always positive, full of enthusiasm, and energy; and Scott reminded me of a good friend, plus I loved the music. When I heard "Let it Be" and other "pop" music I knew I had the right place. I do remember seeing Sandy Haworth, and knew her face from Lakeville UCC- where I attended many years ago, before Chris came into my life.
ReplyDeleteThe first few times at NCC, we didn't stay for coffee hour; then Rev. Patty asked us to stay, and so we did; Linda Bardwell was our first welcome and when I said I "knew" Sandy, she hailed her over to us, by saying "Sandy, new people, new people!" Cracked me up...
My first visit to NCC was not your typical one, as it was for Lynne's funeral. I left her Celebration of Life feeling like I had lost a friend I did not know, (I had come to support Lucy - a student at the school at which I was working) and in turn, had found a church to call home. It was evident that day that the community, compassion and care for eachother at NCC was unmatched by any other congregation of which I had been a part. As I watched the groups in the pews comfort not only Rev. Patty and the children but eachother, I was deeply touched by the threads that connected one to the other. All shapes, sizes, ages, gender, ethnicities, sexual orientation...clearly connected by love. Love for one special person, love for eachother, love for life....and for many there that day, a love for NCC as well.
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ReplyDeleteShawn and I first came to NCC in the winter of 2008. At that time we were looking for a church that would welcome us for who we are, without any stipulations. We were having some problems with our previous church and their stance on gay and lesbian people. We visited many churches (and when I say many, I mean many). We came to NCC right after Christmas. The church at this time was filled with the spirit of Christmas and many smiling faces. We visited for a few weeks and loved the service. We wanted to get connected immediately but were really unsure how. We didn't see many people around our age. We weren't sure what programs were offered at the church (Bible study, youth groups, fellowship groups, etc.). We ended up leaving for a brief period of time. Exhausted from our "church shopping" we decided to go back to our old church, First Congregational Church in Hanson.
ReplyDeleteIn November of 2008, after meeting with my old pastor about my interest and seminary and her advice for me to not pursue it because of my sexual orientation, Shawn and I decided that we had to find a more supportive spiritual environment. We remembered the folks at NCC. We remembered the enthusiastic preaching. We remembered the smiling faces and the welcome that we felt. We decided to come back.
We came back in November of 2008. I met with Rev. Patty over coffee and explained how I was interested and eager to get involved with ministry. She suggested that I get involved with the new youth program at church. Shawn and I were eventually introduced to John and Joe, Ellen, Sondra and Jan, and many others. We felt at home. We felt that we could be who we are, where we are, without any provisions. Since then we have been members at NCC and we are so glad God brought us back home.
The first time I came to NCC was in 1987 to prepare for my marriage to Brad Gledhill. We didn’t come back until Brad became ill. After Brad’s memorial at the church, I knew I needed help with the grief process, and I came back.
ReplyDeleteRev. John Williams had been so compassionate and understanding during the time of our need. When I came back for worship, he not only greeted me warmly, but introduced me to others (Gwen and Ted Lang come to mind that first Sunday) during coffee hour. I don’t remember a lot about that period of time, but it’s my time during Worship in the Sanctuary I remember most. Clayton Bemis became my rock of compassion. When the tears would overtake me, I could feel his hand on my shoulder as he leaned forward from the pew behind me.
The music became my balm, and the love I felt surrounding me like a security blanket kept me coming back and ultimately brought with it the healing. NCC became my home like no other I’ve ever known.
The first time I came to NCC was in the summer of 1999 with Charlette. It's important to know that part of what attracted me to Charlette was the fact that she was a Christian and wasn't afraid or shy to talk about it. I met a lot of people in a short time who were very protective of my new girl friend but they were discreet enough not to let me know. That was over 10 years ago and a lot of water has gone over the darn since then.
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