STEEPLE SOUNDS

March 2025

We are a Christian community of people who are reaching out to our neighbors, 
at home and abroad, sharing our faith and our resources.

Central Square Congregational Church, UCC, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts is an open and affirming
church. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

From the Desk of Rev. Beth

Rev. Elizabeth Stotts, Pastor

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness”
Luke 4:1

It’s hard to believe we’re about to enter the season of Lent. It seems like we just celebrated Jesus’ birth and now we’re about to join him in the desert for 40 days. Traditionally, Lent is a time of fasting, prayer, and penance, as we journey with Jesus through the wilderness. Many of us use this season to reflect on our lives. This year, we invite you to explore how this season can be an opportunity to nurture not just our spiritual health, but our mental health as well.

Mental wellness is an essential aspect of overall health. Just as we focus on the health of our bodies, it’s important to take time to care for our minds and spirit. During Lent, we can reflect on the importance of mental health and commit to practices that promote peace, mindfulness, and emotional balance. This Lenten season our Board of Deacons will be introducing these kinds of practices to us in our weekly worship. 

Here are a few ways to incorporate mental wellness into your Lenten journey:

1. Practice Mindful Prayer and Meditation:
Lent is a time to slow down and connect with God, but it’s also an opportunity to cultivate mindfulness. Try setting aside time each day to not only pray but also to meditate on God's Love. This can help reduce stress and bring clarity to our thoughts. Taking moments of quiet, even for just a few minutes, can enhance our mental peace and provide a much-needed pause in a busy world.

2. Let Go of Perfectionism:
Many of us carry heavy mental burdens of striving for perfection in our personal lives, work, or relationships. During Lent, allow yourself the grace to let go of unrealistic expectations. The focus on Lent isn’t about being perfect, but about turning toward God, recognizing our imperfections, and seeking spiritual renewal. Give yourself permission to embrace your humanity.

3. Self-Compassion and Reflection:
Treat yourself with kindness. Lent isn’t just about giving things up; it’s about transformation. Take time to reflect on your mental and emotional health. Are there areas where you’ve been too hard on yourself? Allow God’s grace to fill you and extend that same grace to your mind, giving you peace.

4. Reach Out for Support:
Lent is a communal season. We are not meant to journey alone. If you find yourself struggling with mental health challenges, consider reaching out to me, a counselor, therapist, or trusted friend. Just as we support one another in faith, we should be there for each other in our mental and emotional journeys as well. Your church family is here to support you—never hesitate to share your needs.

As we walk through Lent together, let us remember that our physical, spiritual, and mental well-being are equally important. This season of reflection and renewal can be an opportunity to take intentional steps toward wholeness. May we find peace, strength, and hope in the journey ahead.

In Christ,
Rev. Beth

Until further notice beginning 3/3:

Tue-Fri, 10-1

and by appointment

Remote worship on Facebook and YouTube

Sunday Worship will continue to be livestreamed from the Sanctuary at 10 a.m. 
Use the link on the homepage of www.csccucc.org to access Sunday worship, or visit our Facebook page. Past worship services are also available in both places.

NEXT CABINET MEETING is Wednesday, March 19, 7pm

Monthly meetings of the church leadership are held in the Fellowship Hall. All church members are also welcome to attend.

CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Do you need a meal, a call, spiritual care, or even just a prayer or a chat?

Contact the Pastor, a Deacon, or a member of our Care Team.

To contact Rev. Beth, call the church office at 508-697-6016 or email her at csccpastor at hotmail.com. 

CSCC Deacons
Deb Sorgman – debsorgman at gmail . com

Anne Malmquist - amalmquist at comcast . net

Cristi Ciaramitaro

Savannah Wells, Jr. Deacon

Liam O'Connell, Jr. Deacon
 

CSCC Care Team
Carol Chaffee  *  Bev Mitchell  *  Rev. Beth Stotts  *  Nina Gabel-Jorgensen

Contact the church office if you need us!

The Bridgewater Food Pantry, hosted and supported by CSCC, is open Thursdays, 10am-1pm, and the first Mondays of the month, 6-7:30pm (except holidays). All Bridgewater residents who are in need of food are welcome.

If you are a Bridgewater resident unable to come to the food pantry, but are in need of food, please contact the church office by email (office@csccucc.com) or phone (508-697-6016) and arrangements will be made for you.

What brings us together, keeps us together!
Whether we join together for Sunday morning worship and fellowship time...
Whether we join together for Cabinet meetings once a month...
Whether we join together at the Food Pantry or the Thrift Shop...
Whether we join together in prayer, in person, online, on the phone...
We join together because we care.
We join together because we can see beyond our differences and embrace those differences with love.
We join together because WE ARE THE CHURCH and that is important.
We join together because of our belief in the Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!
Happy Spring!!
Carol Chaffee

On February 23, after a two-week weather delay, Kids Church had its Living Gift Market for Heifer! As of this writing, we don't yet have a grand total, but as of now the kids raised over $1,900! This money will go to providing impoverished people around the world with the means to have sustainable food, water, and energy. This is one of the kids' favorite sections of the church year and we're really proud of all the hard work they put in to make this possible. A special thanks to Krissy Cannizzo for her amazing ministry and leadership to make Heifer such a success again this year.

Coming up we are jumping right into Lent! We have a great curriculum planned that is from Illustrated Ministry / Mini-Revolution. This is a progressive Christian curriculum focused on the idea that "Revolution" (great change), doesn’t happen overnight but by noticing and acting to implement small practices or changes, we can have a larger effect down the road. The lessons taught will also mirror some of the themes of the WISE training that the adult congregation is doing such as "naming your feelings and practice responding to God through creativity".

I'll have more updates about what the kids are doing for Palm Sunday in April's newsletter but until then, I hope everyone is looking forward to the start of Spring as much as I am!

Eric Stotts
Kids Church Director

When It Feels Pointless
by Sheri Turner

I have wrestled for the better part of my life with depression. I have been on and off various medications aimed at giving me some relief. Some medications worked for a little while, and some have not worked at all. Some have had some intense side effects, and some have seemed to do absolutely nothing (Tic tac anyone?). Professionals, friends, family members and others have all offered advice, guidance, and support. I have been told to “hang in there,” to “pray harder,” and to “be more open to God’s voice” in my life. I have tried talk therapy, journaling, yoga, meditation, hiking, gardening, having a gratefulness practice, changing jobs and volunteer work (you know, to shift the focus off myself as I tend to get too much in my head) and joining community organizations. I have been a part of outpatient partial hospitalization programs and group therapy.

 I try to practice self care. Sometimes I get my nails done as part of my self care. At other times I get my hair done to feel better about myself. I get a massage once a month as part of my self care practice. I have three goofy but loveable dogs to cuddle with, three beautiful children that I am so proud of, a husband that would do practically anything to help me. I have developed some truly extraordinary friendships with individuals who give deeply of themselves. I have learned to set boundaries and to limit contact with some of the toxic people in my life. Despite taking all of these measures my depression persists. It feels like I am failing my family.

Sometimes I am convinced that I will NEVER overcome this depression. It really makes me wonder what the point of it all is. It can feel so hopeless. Recently I have been thinking about a proverb I have seen floating around on the internet. I’m not really sure of the origins of it, but it goes something like this, “Blessed is he who plants trees in whose shade he will never sit.”

I can see what the author is saying there. Maybe I won’t overcome MY depression, but maybe something about the way I endure or talk about my depression will help others overcome theirs somehow. If so, then what I am enduring is worth it. Is that maybe what Christ’s sacrifice is about? In no way am I trying to compare myself to Christ by the way. I would of course fall very short there. All I am suggesting is that he is perhaps trying to teach us that we can take a bad situation and use it to bring good out of it. Maybe we can use our pain to help others. How could someone suggest such a thing unless they had been through something awful themselves? I believe that in my deepest bouts of depression I can forget that is what God is trying to tell me. In Psalm 138, I believe God is trying to draw my attention to the fact that I am not as alone as I feel. Psalm 138:7 states, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.”

God never promises us that there will not be trouble in this life, only that he will be there with us while we go through it. He encourages us to not give up the work of helping our community in the midst of our troubles. I will continue to try to remember he is there with us feeling the pain too. Psalm 138:8 “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

February Cabinet minutes will be included as soon as they are available.