Dear Friends,

So you can make your various plans, I’m recommending to Council that we have the official "Goodbye Celebration" for dearly departing Interim Pastor immediately following worship on Sunday, June 25^th. I’ll let Council figure out the details, but no elaborate plans need to be made. We simply need enough time to allow it be genuine. I’ll do my best to get through it with a measure of dignity, but I’m not making any promises. Emotions have a way of breaking through from time to time.

The Stewardship Season is upon us. Each of you will get a "score card" on which you can express your determination to give thanks to God for the work of this Church. I am confident you will make a generous and joyful commitment, which is the best way you can express your faith that God, who has begun a good work in you, will bring it to completion (to borrow a few words from scripture).

Confirmation Sunday (and Mothers’ Day) is this coming Sunday. I have had a GREAT time with your young people. They have written an excellent Affirmation of Faith which will be used in our worship this Sunday. The seven confirmands will be leading worship for us. Cake, of course, will follow!

Peace,
Mike

IN THE SANCTUARY

May 14, 2006 – Confirmation Sunday

Luke 18:18-30

10:00 A.M. Morning Worship

Service led by the Confirmation Class

"Packing for the Journey"

Children may worship with their families for the entire service.

Nursery Care will be provided for infants and toddlers in Room 14.

Service broadcast on Peabody Cable Channel 10 at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.

No video broadcasts in Lynnfield until further notice.

"Blue of a Kind" Concert

Be sure to join us Saturday, May 13 at 5:00 p.m. for a performance of the 15-member men’s a cappella singing group, Blue of a Kind. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Youth Mission Trip. Tickets are $10.00 or $8.00 for students and seniors and will be available at the church office or at the door. Youth Group members going on the Mission Trip are requested to be at the church at 4:00 pm to help set up refreshments. Please call Barbara Langill with any questions at 781-334-3050.

We need your help on Saturday, May 13^th from 9 am – Noon for landscaping clean-up and miscellaneous chores around the church. Please come and spend as much of the morning as you can.

The Properties Commission

Rotation Sensation andYouth Group

There will be no Rotation Sensation on Sunday, May 14. Please plan on attending the service with your family. The Confirmation Class will be leading the worship service.

There will be no Youth Group meetings on Mother's Day.

Mother’s Day Flower Sale

Back by popular demand: the Youth Group will again be selling flowering hanging plants on Sunday, May 14 after church. Be sure to keep your Mother in mind with one of these beautiful plants.

Pictorial Directories

Copies of the newest Pictorial Directory are available in the church office.

Golf Group Begins Season

The Centre Church Golf Group has begun its 4th season. Beginning on May 11 they will meet every other Thursday morning at 6:00 a.m. at the Center Golf Course for nine holes of golf followed by coffee and some light discussion led by one of the group on a scripture reading or a topic of spiritual interest. Golfers of all skill levels are welcome to join us on as many Thursdays as are convenient for you. If you have any questions, please call Chris Parker (781-334-4335) or Phil Johnson (781-598-5678).

Teacher Recruitment

On Sunday, May 21^st the Christian Education Commission will be hosting a teacher recruitment morning. Please come to our table which will be set up in the Narthex to volunteer your gifts for next season’s Rotation Sensation. If you have not yet experienced the thrill of being part of such a wonderful Christian Educational experience, please stop by, ask questions and talk with members of the Commission. In the meantime, take a minute to read about the volunteer opportunities we have available. We have posted them on the bulletin board outside of the Fireside Room.

News From Around the Parish

Our love and sympathy are extended to the family and friends of William Bruce Stevens who died on May 2. His funeral was held at Centre Church on Saturday, May 6.

We extend our love and sympathy to Kathy Randele upon the recent death of her mother, Dorothy Melchionda.

Art Appreciation 101

Jot down this date - Saturday May 20, members of the congregation will be exhibiting their artwork from 9-3. Come and view original watercolors, pastels, oils, woodcarvings and photographs. Find out who has hidden artistic talent. Many of our students have taken up the challenge and are entered into this showing. Be among the first to view the work of this fresh talent.

Art work for exhibition should be delivered to church on Friday, May 19 from 1-4 p.m. Please label your artwork with your name and telephone number on the back. In the meantime you should be thinking of a title for your masterpiece so that when Carol calls you will have a ready answer. The exhibit closes after church on Sunday. All work should be picked up at that time.

Questions: call Carol MacKendrick 781-334 6765 or Perry Hayden 781-334-6903.

Flamingo Flocking

The youth group would like to thank everyone who has taken part in our ongoing Flamingo Flocking. Currently we have flocked more than 30 homes and have requests for 30 more. Our flocking schedule is full and we are unable to take any more orders.

The flamingos will be traveling until May 18, so be sure to keep a lookout in your neighborhood. Be sure to check out the bulletin board outside the fireside room to see where the flock has visited.

5 Wishes Booklet

Because we experienced such an overwhelming interest in the 5 Wishes Booklet, we have ordered more. We will let you know as soon as they are here. Remember to set aside the date of June 4^th when we will meet with Mary Petersen in the Library after church. If at all possible, please bring the person you chose for your Health Care Proxy with you to the meeting.

Missions Update

The Missions Portion of our Special Easter Offering totaled $989.50. Half of that amount will go to the Mass Conference Disaster Relief Fund. The other half will go to the Heifer Barn Rebuilding Project at Overlook Farm in Rutland. It will be added to previous donations for the barn project making a total of $1124.75 to be sent to Heifer.

The Missions Committee is continuing to support hurricane recovery efforts. We have decided to focus our giving on two fronts: the ongoing UCC denominational efforts as well as the rebuilding programs of the Diamondhead Baptist Church in New Orleans. Please see the Mission Bulletin Board for more information – or speak to Chris Gehret or Sally Flickinger.

The Knitting Group making squares for the Peabody Red Cross is going strong. Join us on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room to chat and stitch.

The Missions Pantry is ready and waiting for donations of redeemable bottles and cans, aluminum can pull tabs, small housewares for Bridge House, used cell phones (with charger and numbers deleted), and used eyeglasses. As always, nonperishable food for Haven from Hunger is appreciated. No donation is too small.

Coffee House in Reading

On Saturday evening, May 20^th at 7:00 p.m. there will be a Coffee House at First Congregational Church in Reading. This musical evening will feature the Back Bay Ringers, a handbell choir which performs both sacred and secular music and has preformed widely in Boston and the surrounding area. The Coffee House is free and an event that will be enjoyed by people of all ages. Join us!

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Youth Groups on Retreat May 19-21

Our thoughts and prayers are with Joan Holmes at Lahey Clinic, Burlington; Hal Holappa at the Veterans’ Hospital, 200 Springs Rd., Bedford, 01730; Emily Jordan, (c/o her son, Hal Jordan, 11 Wheeler Rd., Bow, NH 03304); Mildred Lisi at SunBridge, 134 North St., N. Reading, 01864; Catherine Newman at Oosterman’s, 93 Laurel St., Melrose, 02176; Alice Savage, Rosewood Nursing and Rehab. Center, 22 Johnson St., W. Peabody, 01960; Jack Turner, at Arnold House, 490 William St., Stoneham, 02180; Carl Davis recuperating at home.

We also remember in our prayers, Dana Robinson in Kuwait and Dana’s cousin Michael Propeck in Iraq.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Head Usher: Karen Harrington
Coffee Hour: Barbara Arsnow