Monthly Archives: November 2018

Newsletters, Pastor's Perspective, The Forecaster Newsletter

THE FORECASTER: Rev. Dr. Art Suggs’ Last “Pastor’s Perspective” (and Upcoming FCC Events)

The Rev. Dr. Art Suggs in Worms, Germany. Photo taken by Clare Price.

Pastor’s Perspective

How does one say Thank You?

This is my final newsletter article. My message is a simple – Thank You and God Bless You to a church that renewed my faith. 
But allow me to elaborate just a little.

Thank you for allowing me to be myself, particularly in the pulpit, more than any other church I’ve ever known. To be loved for who I really am is a great gift.

My wife Tracy has an ever so consuming career as a teacher, and thank you for never placing “Wife of the Minister” expectations upon her. Her participation has been out of pleasure rather than expectation.

Thank you for allowing me to explore, particularly in the area of theology. I’m acutely aware I have departed from the standard party line, and I’ve tried to do it with integrity and for good reasons. But some churches simply don’t allow it at all. THANK YOU for that freedom.

Thank you for your generosity, both in terms of time and money. You have given me time off when I needed it, and you have paid me such that I feel my work has been respected.

Thank you for giving me such a wonderful staff, whether they are volunteer positions or paid. They all go above and beyond.

I would like to mention in particular Dubbie Agard, Bill Cuddeback, Cindi West-Davidson, Judy Giblin, Julie Ann Johnson, Cheryl Kindt, Bernie Lewis, Arlene Price, Marty Rorapaugh, Toni Rorapaugh, Sherry Shadduck, Barb Thompson, Jamie Walters, Vanessa Warren, Nancy Wildoner. And they might as well be staff with all they do, thank you to our Board Chairs: Clare Price, Doug Garnar, and Art Price.

However, I need to mention one in particular. Leslie began as church administrator one year before I arrived. And she has been a Godsend. Talented, smart, the perfect personality for the job, no one could have asked for a better administrator, as well as confidant and friend. Thank you, Leslie, for all you do, and for who you are. I will miss working with you, but will cherish many, many happy memories. (Remember – three hymns!)

I’m not sure if this is the best way to say this, but thank you for putting up with me. I’ve been a minister for 35 years, and in that amount of time one learns of one’s strengths and weaknesses.

Early on
 psychologists and counselors forewarned me that my personality was an ill fit for the ministry. “Go ahead and do it if you want,” they warned me, “but you will encounter some troubles.” And I did – I went ahead, and I encountered troubles. I have intended to leave the ministry twice.

So thank you for putting up with at least the part of me that never fit well into the normal clergy mold. When I arrive at the pearly gates, I don’t expect to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What I’m hoping for is “Well, ok, not too bad, could have been worse.”

And thank you for the good times. We’ve had good laughs on Sunday mornings. We’ve had precious moments when the angels showed up. We’ve had fun working together for parades, rummage sales, turkey dinners, and 570 coffee hours in the Parlor. We’ve even had good times in the church committee meetings…imagine that!

You are a blessing to me; for allowing me to leave with a sense of contentment in my heart, a smile upon my face, and a modicum of sanity in my head.

They say that we can have friends of silver, and friends of gold. Thank you for gilding my time amongst you.

Your friend, Art Suggs

Ramp & Accessible Entrance Construction Completed

The construction is finished and looks wonderful, and allows easier access for members and visitors.

Also in the December 2018 Forecaster:

• Advent begins –

The Advent season is a time of great anticipation and hopefulness. (More lovely reflection on Advent in The Forecaster, download below.)

• Congregational Conversation – December 9th following morning service.

• Member Zach DuBord progresses with his call to ministry (see The Forecaster for an update – download below).

• Christmas on the near-horizon – Be a Christmas Angel, Help Decorate the Sanctuary, and other rewarding and joyful pursuits!

• Christmas Cookie Exchange (coming right up, December 4th!)

• New Wireless Intel at F.C.C.

… and more.

Download the full Forecaster (December 2018) here.

 

The Forecaster Newsletter

THE FORECASTER: ‘Judge Not’ (and Other Ignored Teachings), Plus November FCC News..

The Rev. Dr. Art Suggs in Worms, Germany. Photo by Clare Price.

Pastor’s Perspective – November 2018 Newsletter

This is arguable, of course, but it is widely believed that the most ignored of all the sayings of Jesus is when he tells us not to judge.

Yet, there it is, right in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:1, followed by the story of the speck in their eye, and a log in your own.

On the face of it, it seems ridiculous. How could we possibly go through life without judging?

I have in mind the hundred or so decisions that have gone into the entrance and hallway renovation at First Congregational Church.

This wallpaper or that? How about the carpeting? Those decisions were all the result of considered judgment. It strikes me as impossible to avoid. And yet, I don’t think we can dismiss Jesus’ admonition so easily.

Two thoughts to share in defense of Jesus’ advice not to judge.

The first has to do with simple humility.

Even though we may feel like we are the most intelligent person around, and our thoughts are the best ones compared to others, and our experience on most matters is the most relevant, and our judgment has always been the most sound, we also know deep inside that is absurd. We actually only have our perspective, our tiny slice of perception which is never comprehensive.

Jane Goodall, the primatologist, put it beautifully.

“There are many windows through which we can look out into the world, searching for meaning …

…Most of us, when we ponder on the meaning of our existence,
peer through but one of these windows onto the world.
And even that one is often misted over by the breath of our finite humanity.

We clear a tiny peephole and stare through.
No wonder we are confused by the tiny fraction of a whole that we see.

It is, after all, like trying to comprehend the panorama of the desert or the sea through a rolled-up newspaper.”

There is a second, equally good reason not to judge.

This has to do with something we all have experienced. Something happens that we then judge as bad, and we find out later that it was a good thing. There are a thousand examples. We initially judged it bad because of reason #1, our perspective was too small, our knowledge too limited, and we weren’t able to foresee the way it could result in good.

“Do not judge!” has some stiff competition for being ignored.

“Don’t cast the first stone” comes to mind, as well as, “Don’t worry about tomorrow”.

But despite the fact we need to make daily decisions, not judging is healthy advice. A sense of humility befits us. And when we haven’t made up our mind about a person or an event, it opens us up to seeing from a wider, and perhaps more godly, perspective.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,

Art Suggs

Thanksgiving Feast – Sunday, November 18th

The Annual FCC Thanksgiving Feast – traditional favorites served up freely (and with Love).

Chris and Tim O’Neill have again offered to organize a Thanksgiving dinner for our congregation. It will follow the morning service on Sunday, November 18.

There will be a sign-up sheet for folks who plan to attend.

You are welcome even if you miss putting your name on the list, but it helps a lot with shopping to have an idea how many potatoes to put in the pot!

The meal is paid for by a free-will offering and the generosity of merchants like Weis Markets who donate the turkeys. Thanksgiving is the most celebrated of all US holidays.

Please put the date on your calendar. The food is great and so is the fellowship.

Decorating the Church for Advent & Christmas – Sunday, November 26th

Advent banners draped in the back of FCC’s sanctuary (after a service) for the 2017 Advent Season.

After the Sunday service on November 26th, we’ll decorate the sanctuary for the Advent Season and Christmas.

As you’ll know if you’ve seen the historic sanctuary decked in its Advent and Christmas decorations, it looks truly beautiful and moves the heart and soul.

Wear ‘work clothes’ that Sunday if you can spare 30-60 minutes to help with the decorating.

Other November News in the FCC Community

Read updates on the following in the full edition (PDF) of this month’s Forecaster newsletter (download below):

• Member Joseph Izzo defends his doctoral dissertation at Binghamton University.

• Armistice and Veteran’s Day on November 11th – That morning at 11:00 AM, Veterans for Peace will ring FCC’s historic church bell – as many churches did 100 years ago.

• Update from the First Congregational Church Board of Trustees.

Renovations underway — and more progress has been made since this photo was taken!

• Renovations of the parking-lot entrance are heading towards completion.

Says Church Elder Clare Price, “The new doors are in. The concrete ramp and curbs are poured, the inside walls, ceiling and floors finished – the construction is looking great!”

“Hand rails and canopy over the top of the ramp and some paving still need to be done. The goal is to be done by Thanksgiving. Sure is a much more welcoming entry from the parking lot.”

 Download the full November Forecaster (PDF)

Download here