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Tower Notes Centre Congregational Church We Welcome Everyone: An "Open & Affirming" Church Phone: (781) 334-3050; Fax: (781) 334-6463; Email:
Office@Centre-Church.org The Rev. Dr. Dennis C. Bailey, Pastor -
Pastor@Centre-Church.org Douglas W. Hodgkins: Organist/Choir Director June 27, 2007 |
Are You Seeking Something?
Do you feel as if you are not on the trail of God? Or, do you feel as if God is on your trail but not sure what it means, yet?
Early in college I felt as if I was on the trail of God. I felt as if I had found a spiritual direction and needed to follow it. Aided by the strong faith given to me by the church I grew up in, a congregation of the United Church of Christ via the Evangelical and Reformed traditions, I had no doubt of God's presence in my life. I felt that God wanted me to become an ordained minister (on most days) and I was out to change the world! I was seeking to find the way via college, a major in Sociology, a Master of Divinity Degree, and then, I hoped, a job in or near the city, urban ministry. There, I felt, I would beat back racism and be a change agent for God. I was hot on the trail to save the world!
Now, what I have learned is that not everyone who is a seeker of some kind is as confident as was I. I really wasn't that self-confident, but I had a vision, a passion, and a belief that I could make a difference, even if I was a farm boy with hay seeds still in my hair.
Some of us are seeking to get out of God's way. Some of us are seeking an escape from the way that God keeps coming after us. Some of us are seeking something but are not sure what it is and we hope that it will ride up on some kind of horse to hand us the answer.
Martin Luther once said, “I know not the way God leads me, but well do I know my Guide.” That speaks for a lot of us, I think. Yes, we believe in God but we are just not sure what God wants of us, what path to go, etc.
I have often met people in my work who feel something spiritual is going on inside of them, even around them. It can take some time to know exactly what it is. Sometimes there is some unfinished business that needs to be dealt with before the pathway can be made clear. It's kind of like how you have to do your taxes early in the year if you want to help your son/daughter apply for college loans. It's also like when my wife and I wanted to apply for a foster child. The social worker said we had to deal with some grief issues before we could welcome a child age 8 to 14 years of age. Children of that age have their own grief issues to deal with. The social worker didn't want our issues to be confused with a foster child's. So, through therapy we had to take care of them first and then, later, we applied and received a child.
Are you seeking something? Do you feel as if God is seeking you? Do you feel as if you have something spiritual going on inside of you? If so, I would be interested in hearing from you. Why? I'm giving thought to putting together a group of people who would be interested in sharing with each other along these lines in the hopes of giving each other mutual support. The group might be aided with the presence of a trained facilitator and meet for a limited period of weeks. I would like to convene such a group sometime this coming fall. Call me (781-334-3050) or email me (Pastor@Centre-Church.org). In the meantime, reflect on these:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
“When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:13-14)
Yours in the search,
Dennis
IN THE CHAPEL - 9:00 a.m.
July 1, 2007
Luke 9:51-62
Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Dennis C. Bailey
“Two Roads Diverged”
July 8, 2007
July 15, 22 and 29, 2007
These informal services in the air-conditioned Chapel are a wonderful opportunity for families to worship together.
All are invited to stay for punch and fellowship following the service.
Missions Pantry
(to the left as you enter from Summer Street)
Ongoing collections continue during the summer.
News from Boy Scout Troop #48
The scouts have finished their regular meetings for the summer. At the recent Court of Honor on the common, Kevin Mathews was elected and sworn in as Senior Patrol Leader. This summer while they are at summer camp, the boys will plan their program for the upcoming school year.
John Walsh, Scoutmaster
News From Around the Parish
A Memorial Service will be held for Dr. George Robinson on Saturday, July 14 at 10:00 a.m.
Dear Friends,
Many thanks for all the caring cards that I received after my recent heart surgery and the death of my brother. Rev. Bailey’s visits both in the hospital and at home were very much appreciated.
Marilyn Bommer
Lynnfield Fire Department Chaplain
Rev. Dr. Dennis C. Bailey was recently appointed Chaplain with the Lynnfield Fire Department. Previous pastors of Centre Congregational Church, Rev. Andy Richards and Rev. Raymond Patch, were also Chaplains of the Lynnfield Fire Department. Rev. Bailey was the Billerica Fire Department Chaplain, while he served the church there. Such a position is a natural extension of the ministry of Centre Congregational Church and its membership given its history of service in and to the Town of Lynnfield. Of course, Rev. Bailey's primary role of ministry is to the membership of Centre Congregational Church.
Rev. Bailey is a Charter Member of the Massachusetts Corp of Fire Chaplains (MCFC), an organization incorporated by the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1999. On October 21, 1999, Rev. Bailey was inducted into the membership during the formal Inauguration of the MCFC, hosted by the State Fire Marshal, Steve Coen, at the Fire Academy, Stow, MA.
Fire Department Chaplains are selected by his or her own Department. They provide spiritual and emotional support to Firefighters and their family members whenever necessary. This service is extended to the citizens of the Commonwealth when they become victims of fire, medical emergency or natural disaster.
Rev. Bailey has received extensive training as a Fire Department Chaplain and is required to update his training every year. As a member of the MCFC he was sent on two tours of duty at Ground Zero in New York City following 9/11.
Fire Department Chaplains are Professionals who are available to respond to emergencies on a 24 x 7 basis. They are able to provide counseling, tend the sick and injured, comfort the grieving and are often trained in the delivery of Critical Incident Stress Management Skills. They are present at major incidents, training sessions, memorials, social events, public functions and as part of the team in the Fire Station. Feel free to speak with Rev. Bailey about his new role.
Moving? Cleaning?
Save for the Special Needs Yard Sale to be held on the common on August 25. This will be 20th Year for this fundraiser. All donations are appreciated. Call 781-334-3437 if you have questions.
Fran and Karen Soderberg
Beach Towel Project Continues
The Middle School Youth Group will continue to collect beach towels throughout the summer. Their goal is to collect a minimum of 60 beach towels (new and gently used) which will be sent to Warm Blankets Orphan Care in Cambodia. The towels make nice blankets because they are just the right size for the smaller children, dry quickly in the sun and can be used to make cool tents in the dorms. A collection box is by the entry door to the Chapel. To learn more you may log onto: www.warmblankets.org.
Summer Schedule
Church Office
The office is open from 9-12, Monday through Friday.
Tower Notes
Tower Notes will be published once a month, the last week of June, July and August.
Cable Coverage of Worship Services
Our cable broadcasts of worship services will resume in the fall when we return to the Sanctuary.
Scripture Study Class
Will continue through the summer -10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Pastor’s Outer Office. Feel free to come whenever you can.
OUR OPPORTUNITIES
| Sunday July 1 |
9:00 am | Holy Communion - Chapel |
| Wednesday July 4 |
Church Office Closed No Bread & Roses Meal This Month |
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| Friday July 6 |
10:30 am | Scripture Study – Pastor’s Office |
| Sunday July 8 |
9:00 am | Worship Service - Chapel |
| Monday - Friday July 9-13 |
9:30-Noon | Vacation Bible School |
| Thursday July 12 |
6:00 am | Golf Group – Reedy Meadow |
| Friday July 13 |
10:30 am | Scripture Study – Pastor’s Office |
| Sunday July 15 |
9:00 am | Worship Service - Chapel |
| Wednesday July 18 |
7:00 pm | Membership Commission -Pastor’s Office |
| Friday July 20 |
10:30 am | Scripture Study – Pastor’s Office |
| Sunday July 22 |
9:00 am | Worship Service - Chapel |
| Wednesday July 25 |
Youth Groups Beach Day | |
| Thursday July 26 |
6:00 am | Golf Group – Reedy Meadow |
| Friday July 27 |
10:30 am | Scripture Study – Pastor’s Office |
| Sunday July 29 |
9:00 am | Worship Service - Chapel |
Our thoughts and prayers are with Helen Miller at The Meadows, 575 Osgood St., N. Andover, MA 01845; Edith Reed at Rosewood Nursing and Rehab. Center, 22 Johnson St., W. Peabody, 01960; Martha Nelson at Renaissance Gardens, 400 Brooksby Village Dr., Peabody, 01960; Gladys Davis at Haven Health Care, 20 Chester Road, Derry, NH 03038; Hal Holappa at the Veterans’ Hospital, 200 Springs Rd., Bedford, 01730; Catherine Newman at Oosterman’s 93 Laurel St., Melrose, 02176; Jack Turner at Arnold House, 490 William St., Stoneham, 02180; and Barbara Hoffman recuperating at home. We also remember Michael Blute in Iraq.
July Schedule
As you can see, we have many volunteers who make our summer services so enjoyable. As you can also see, there are some vacancies. Please call the church office if you can help out.
Sunday, July 1:
Ushers: Michelle Hagerty and George Hayden
Flowers: Barbara McCormick
Punch: Sue Gustavsen
Sunday, July 8:
Head Usher: Karen Harrington
Flowers: Marcia Stevens
Punch: Marcia Waugh
Sunday, July 15:
Head Usher: Jeff Law
Flowers: Greta Hellmer
Punch: Betty Hayter
Sunday, July 22:
Head Usher: Mark Meehl
Flowers: OPEN
Punch: OPEN
Sunday, July 29:
Head Usher: Linda Ladd
Flowers: Doreen DiFillippo
Punch: OPEN
