September 2025 Steeple Sounds

Dear Friends,

One of the beautiful truths of our faith is that God gives us endless chances to start fresh. No matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, God’s love meets us right where we are and invites us to move forward in love and grace. That’s the gift of forgiveness—it clears the slate and opens the door to new beginnings.

I don’t know about you, but I need that reminder often. We all carry things we wish we could have done differently—words spoken too quickly, opportunities missed, moments where we fell short. Yet in God’s grace, those things don’t have the final word. Forgiveness lets us breathe again, and it helps us extend that same grace to others.

As we move from summer to fall, my prayer is that we can embrace both giving and receiving forgiveness, and step joyfully into the fresh beginnings God places before us each day.

In Christ,
Rev. Beth

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.

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

Talinn Muurisepp, 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.

PLEASE NOTE: The pantry will not be open the first Monday of September due to the Labor Day holiday.

As we return from summer vacations and a more relaxed schedule, let's gather after worship for coffee, maybe some goodies, and conversation. After worship fellowship time will resume on September 7th, and will be held on most Sundays during the year.

There is no coffee hour team or committee so the frequency of coffee hour will depend on all of us pitching in to help. There will be a sign-up sheet posted near the kitchen door in Fellowship Hall, or you can contact the church office. Please sign up with one or two others to prepare the coffee, serve it, perhaps along with some baked goods, and clean up. Coffee will always be provided.

Looking forward to seeing everyone back at worship.
Connie Chandler

Did you know we have a volunteer opportunity page on our website? Visit www.csccucc.org and click on the blue box in the middle of the page for what the upcoming opportunities are for you and your family to participate at one of our events, or perhaps one of our ongoing ministries.

ATTENTION STUDENTS! Most of our events qualify for community service hours, and they’re easy and fun... preparing and serving food, setting up for an event, helping folks carry stuff around. Check out the website or contact the church office. And tell your friends!

Our wider community coming together, be at the table together, give thanks together and Be the Church together.

Friday, November 7: Pie Night!
Pie and Shopping
6:30 – 8:30pm
Saturday, November 8
Shopping 9am – 1pm
Lunch served 11am – 1pm
Turkey Supper 5:30pm

In the past, we have hosted the following tables, plus a Saturday luncheon and turkey supper: Holiday Crafts and Gifts, Jewelry, Baked Goods, Raffle Baskets, Harvest Table, Attic Treasures.

Do you have an idea you want to try? Let’s chat!

Mary Barnsley, Carol Chaffee, Connie Chandler, Lynn Pietras, Gail Wright

Have you heard? Anne Malmquist and the Community Engagement Team have planned the first community meal for this year. On the menu are hotdogs and baked beans with watermelon for dessert and a little cornhole game on the side. Weather permitting, we will eat out on the front lawn of the church.

We are welcoming the community as well as the church family to enjoy a meal together on Friday, September 5th from 5 - 7 p.m. The cost is $5 per person or $15 for a family of 4. Share the information with your friends and invite them to come! We hope this will be a fun social event for all.

CLICK HERE for information about this event, how you may volunteer, and learn about other events like this to happen each month.

You can tell Fall is near when you hear AutumnFest is happening. AutumnFest takes place on the BSU quadrangle Saturday, September 27, from 10 to 4. This is an opportunity for our church to give out information telling people who we are. We set up a tent and hand out flyers explaining all the happening events at Central Square Congregational Church.

If you would like to be a part of this event and volunteer an hour or two that Saturday, please speak to one of the Community Engagement Team members (Heather Ciaramitaro, Stephanie Holmgren, or Terry Reynolds), or contact the church office.

New hours for Central Closet Thrift Shop: effective September 13th we will be back to being open on Saturdays. We are changing our hours to be 10-2, so every Wednesday and Saturday 10-2! Stop in often to take advantage of our sales and the ever-changing merchandise.

If you have not yet signed up for our special email or text message notifications, be sure to do so now. Below is the form for you to fill out. Drop it off at the shop or at the church office, or go to our website and fill out the form on the home page.

Donations are what make the thrift shop so successful. We are blessed to continue to receive merchandise weekly from several of our regular customers. All donations for Central Closet Thrift Shop must be delivered to the shop during shop hours. Currently we are accepting Fall and Halloween items. Please limit your donations to 20 items per visit.

On Saturday September 6th we will be closed so our team of volunteers may attend the memorial service for our friend Anne Chaffee.

Hope to see you soon at the Central Closet Thrift Shop,
Connie, Sandy, Jane, Lynn, and Gail

August 17, 2025

Hello Kids Church Community!

It’s just about time for Kids Church to kick off for the year! I'm really excited at all we have planned! It all begins on Sunday, September 7.

This year we’re going to continue using the Illustrated Ministries curriculum, which is a progressive Christian curriculum. We are also going to do a six-week exploration into The Lord’s Prayer: how we pray, why we pray, who we pray to. The Heifer and Advent traditions we engage in yearly will continue. And as always, if your youth needs a Bible, please reach out to Rev. Beth and she will schedule a day for your youth to be presented with a Spark Bible in worship.

Our weekly schedule will loosely run like this:
   -   After we leave the sanctuary, we gather in the Kids Church room and settle in.
   -   We share in creating our worship space together. Youth are invited to bring things from home to
       place on the altar OR choose one of the preexisting items from the basket OR write words/draw
       pictures that represent their life.
   -   A volunteer youth leads us in prayer either in their own words or from the prayer box.
   -   Check-in: highs and lows (one of the most important parts of who we are as a Christian Community)
       and snack (peanut-free with a gluten-free option)
   -   Work on the lesson for the day
   -   Cleanup / collect personal items from altar

The Kids Church experience is important for helping children and youth understand not only what it means to be a person of faith, but a member of our community. Fostering the youth of our church in an inclusive and biblical story-based environment is vital for their spiritual development. We’ve included a Kids Church schedule for September–December with this letter (see below).

I’m looking forward to another great year! See you on Sunday, September 7!

Your Kids Church Director,
Eric Stotts
Text: 508-280-9369

eastotts @ gmail.com

Our pastor, Rev. Beth, is embarking on an exciting new chapter in ministry—one that blends her gifts for shepherding our church with a new role in the wider community. Beginning July 1, Rev. Beth began serving in what’s called co-vocational ministry.

What does that mean?
It means Rev. Beth continues to be our pastor—preaching, leading worship, visiting, and guiding our ministries—while also working part-time in another setting outside the church. This isn’t just about fixing the budget; it’s about expanding the ways she can be present in the world, building relationships, and sharing God’s love beyond our walls. Her new role in hospice chaplaincy will place her alongside those who might never step foot in a church, allowing her to live out her calling in new ways.

What has changed?
The biggest change is Rev. Beth’s office hours.
Church Hours: most Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Sunday mornings.
Community Hours: The rest of the week, she’ll be serving in her new role—and always just a call or email away for pastoral needs: csccpastor@hotmail.com / 508-659-2361 (Pastor’s emergency number).

What is the same?
Her heart for this congregation and our shared mission. Her dedication to thoughtful worship, compassionate care, and connectional ministry. Her vision for how God is at work among us.

In many ways, this change is an opportunity for all of us to think co-vocationally—to remember that ministry happens not just in a sanctuary or church, but in grocery stores, offices, classrooms, coffee shops, and living rooms.

Let’s pray for Rev. Beth as she steps into this new rhythm of ministry. And let’s look forward to hearing the stories of how God is moving—in church and in community—through her faithful witness.

Rev. Beth: Tallinn, tell me about how God called you to be a Jr. Deacon?
Tallinn: So I was at home thinking about how I really like church and how we welcome everybody and I wanted to do something to help.

Rev. Beth: What is your favorite part of worship?
Tallinn: I really like the Moment for All Ages.

Rev. Beth: Why?
Tallinn: I like it because it’s something for the kids to do in worship.

Rev. Beth: You have shared with me that your favorite color is purple. Do you remember what seasons of the church year are represented by the color purple?
Tallinn: Lent and Advent.

Rev. Beth: Awesome! Yes! Why do you like purple?
Tallinn: Because my dad works at a place called Curry College and their color is purple.

Rev. Beth: How do you plan to serve the church as a Junior Deacon?
Tallinn: I’ll go to some meetings, help out when I can, help out with communion, help lead worship, be the liturgist, help out with people who need prayers. Definitely I would sing in the Jr. Choir.

Rev. Beth: What else do people need to know about you?
Tallinn: My pronouns are they/them. My favorite bible passage is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” I have gone to Christian summer camp every summer my whole life. I love playing wiffle ball.

Rev. Beth: Thank you so much for sharing yourself and your ministry with our community! We are all so grateful for your spirit and leadership!

A “mustard seed prayer list” draws inspiration from the biblical metaphor of the mustard seed, primarily found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as being like a mustard seed, which, though the smallest of all seeds, grows into a large plant that provides shelter and a home for birds.

A mustard seed prayer list applies this imagery to faith and prayer. Here’s why such a list is used:
• Emphasis on the power of small faith: The mustard seed illustrates that even a small amount of genuine faith can have profound effects. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” -Matthew 17:20. A mustard seed prayer list encourages prayers, even if faith feels small, believing that God can still work powerfully.
• Believing in the potential for growth: The tiny mustard seed grows into a large plant. Similarly, small prayers on a list are believed to grow and yield significant results over time.
• Focus on the power of God, not the size of faith: The metaphor encourages believers to remember the effectiveness of their prayers depends on the greatness of God.
• Encouragement and hope: A mustard seed prayer list reminds people that even when things seem impossible, a little faith can bring about miraculous outcomes.
In essence, a mustard seed prayer list encourages individuals to pray with even the smallest amount of faith, trusting that God can bring about extraordinary results.

I can’t take any credit for this. The prayer list had been on my mind and I googled “mustard seed prayer list” and Google AI produced this. I can attest to the formation of our Mustard Seeds Prayer List as it was birthed during the ministry of Rev. Paul Nickerson, and with the strong faith of Jean Tobey, Margie Walsh, and Sally Burke.

Our prayer list is most important and would be missed if it disappeared, but it is imperative to be kept up to date. If you have prayers on the list, please provide an update within 2 – 3 months. We want our prayers to focus on the recovery, the struggle, the good news, the bad news, all, so we can pray to the best outcome. A prayer that sits may become stale and complacent and we don’t want that! Please keep your prayers coming and please keep your prayers current.

The Care Team
Carol Chaffee

Our Junior Choir provides a way for the younger members of our congregation to become involved in the musical life of our church. The Junior Choir generally rehearses two Sundays a month at 9:40am, with performances about once a month on an additional Sunday. On performance days, children will rehearse prior to the worship service at 9:40am.

Children are not required to read music to join the Junior Choir. The choir is a great way to build music literacy and confidence, as well as providing opportunities for young people to express themselves musically and spiritually!

If you have any questions, please contact the Minister of Music, Julia Scott Carey at juliascottcarey @ gmail.com or contact the church office at 508-697-6016 or office@csccucc.com. You can also CLICK HERE for information or to fill out the registration form for your child.

Have you ever thought about joining the choir?

Our senior choir consists of volunteer singers. We sing one anthem a week, in addition to an introit and a prayer response. We enjoy expressing our faith and spirituality through a variety of musical styles, from Renaissance to contemporary, spirituals to jazz. Our members have an inspiring love of music, often in addition to sight-reading and musicianship skills, but singers of all abilities are welcome. We rehearse on Sunday mornings before worship, performing in the worship service at 10am almost every week between Labor Day and Memorial Day. If you are interested in joining the choir, please contact the Minister of Music, Julia Scott Carey at juliascottcarey @ gmail.com or contact the church office.

SENIOR CHOIR STARTS UP AGAIN SEPTEMBER 7!

Rehearsal begins at 8:30am.
(New choir members are welcome at any time!)

“Good Soil” by Jeff Chu is about his journey to love and belonging via working as a farm hand at seminary — from experiencing a deep sense of exclusion in grade school from bullies who shamed him for his Chinese-American features to the subtle shaming he felt as a gay man from his family. “Every Sunday morning during Pride, we’d drive past queer folks on their way to the festivities. That night, she’d (his grandmother) include the ‘tung sing yan,’ literally ‘same-gender people’ – in her prayers. She’d urge God to free them from their bondage (to demons) and to turn toward repentance. I can’t imagine that she knew she was praying for me; at the time I was pretending even to myself that I was straight.” (page 12, Good Soil)

Contrasting this with David’s comments in Psalm 139:13-18, I am uncomfortable with the shame Chu struggled with: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand – when I awake I am still with you.” (NIV)

Chu is a proud, gay man who lives his truth. He has a loving relationship with his husband Tristan, he wrestles with important considerations of faith and those he loves, and takes pains to be honest with himself, his friends, and family.

Yet…Chu also acknowledges there are complicating factors involved in navigating important relationships. Chu could have chosen to shut out those who don’t accept who he is. He could have decided to choose his family even if that excluded blood relatives who didn’t want to acknowledge he is loved by God. However, he chooses to love them with grace through his discomfort.

A good example of the grace and love Chu chooses is on the day he graduates from Princeton. While his parents expressed pride and admiration for Chu’s accomplishment, they refused to include his husband. They insisted on sharing a meal without Tristan. In a gracious way, Tristan holds Chu while Chu expresses his anguish through tears. Tristan understands how difficult the situation is, gently encouraging Chu to join his family. He assures Chu they can celebrate together later. Chu meets with his parents for lunch.

The book sparked some debate between my husband Steve and I. On one hand my husband argued that Chu’s parents were wrong for excluding Tristan. Tristan is Chu’s chosen family. Loving their son means they should love all of him, including the person he married. Forcing Chu to celebrate with them separately, my husband argued, made the celebration about themselves and their values, not about Chu and his accomplishments. Steve felt Chu caved in to his parents’ demands and may have hurt his spouse. Over time, Steve argued that could irreparably harm the marriage between them.

While I don’t disagree with Steve, I feel there might be more nuance to what Chu was trying to do. Chu recognizes the importance of sitting in discomfort. Trying to negotiate between his family’s traditional values that focus on the good of all and not on individual/independent choices is not a simple task. Holding on to what he loves in both his blood-related family and his family with Tristan is a strain. His heart grieves, unsure what to do. He seeks to follow his heart and do as God would have him do.

Christ sacrificed himself for ALL OF US. He sacrificed his life, making choices to love us in spite of the pain he endured because of us. Many do things that are contrary to what God would ask, yet God loves us anyway. Chu’s parents should love and accept Chu and Tristan as they are. That is the loving thing to do. But I think Chu is also trying to honor the fact that God would have Chu love his parents no matter what as well, in whatever place in their journey they are. That means loving and accepting them even though they are rigid in their understanding of Christianity.

Chu experiences tension in his family relationships, his relationship to the farminary where he works the soil and grows things, his friendships and even his own ego. His choice to respond in humility to his friend Pearl who has told him he has made the farminary an unsafe space for her, and his ability to sit with his pain at the loss of an old friend can be important teaching tools for those who are open to learning.

Chu’s teachers said the students were expected to love one another. Being an introvert by nature, Chu wasn’t sure what that meant at first, but expressing that love culminated in his thesis, a meal full of love, culture, and flavor. With nods to his traditional Chinese roots and space for new approaches to entrees, Chu shows his love for his classmates, taking care to supply food he knows they will love.

Meeting came to order 7:00pm
Devotional from Rev. Beth

In attendance: Treasurer, Dave Sheibley; Pastor, Rev. Beth; Moderator, Anne Malmquist, Community Engagement Team, Terry Reynolds; Congregational Engagement Team, Carol Chaffee & Natalie Muurisepp; Property & Finance, John Sharland

Pastor’s Report: Pastoral care upon return from sabbatical, fall scheduling with staff, Prayground just about ready to build!

Treasurer’s Report: Things are going okay. July is never really a bad month. Balance is doing well left over from last year. John Sharland asked if the boiler has been paid for. Yes it has. He also asked if the elevator inspection has been paid for. Not yet. He also asked what the projected deficit was for 24/25. Roughly 40K.

Community Engagement Team: Aaron’s concert was lovely and the team put together a reception. BBA Christmas on the Common isn’t responding to Terry. She did get ahold of someone to get the August meeting date but it was a supper and Terry didn’t feel comfortable going. The individual said that COTC isn’t usually talked about until October. Team began working on the Old-Fashioned Cookout which will be on Sept.5. Volunteers have been secured and donations gathered. Discussed Neighbors in Need offering and asking congregation to increase giving. Magical event has been meeting since April. Some new ideas and some things to smooth out.

Congregational Engagement Team: Fair Committee meetings will begin soon. Articles have been written for the newsletter. 4th Parade went well with lots of involvement and bathrooms were available for community members. Will be meeting with Rev. Beth and the Moderator in mid-Sept. for planning meeting.

Property & Finance: Jack Melcher called John and said he was stuck in the elevator on a Friday. John authorized the elevator people to come same-day to fix. There will be a bill on the way. Annual elevator inspection by the state is scheduled for Aug. 28 and John will be present. Rich Sullivan has settled in a new home in Plymouth and will be staying on as the Sexton. He’ll come 2 or 3 days a week. The only issue will be putting the trash bins out weekly but the team will be covering that duty. Sidewalk repairs are still on hold. David Hanson has a concrete cutter.NRC blew a fuse on a heatwave day; probably from AC use. Problem resolved on its own. The oil tank was below ¼ full so Forni was called to fill while fuel prices are low.

Spiritual Engagement: Curriculum for Kids Church has been purchased. Letters for Kids Church and Jr. Choir have been drafted and will be mailed out this week. Prayground is coming together and will be ready by Sept. 7. Anne Malmquist is going to lead the fall book study on the book, “The Separation of Church & Hate”. World Communion Sunday is Oct. 5 and Spiritual Engagement Team would like Congregational Engagement Team to take it on. Natalie and Carol are planning to meet to go over it.

Old Business: Rev. Andrew Heintz was a great sub this summer. We thank him for his ministry. It’s fun to see new styles of worship. Fundraisers need to be promoted. Are we having a HoeDown Sept.26? Bellbottoms and Boots will be contacted

New Business: The office would like to get names and mailing address for folks who grew up in the church. Potluck lunch on Sept.21 might be a combined effort between the Ciaramitaro’s and the Congregational Engagement Team. Jenne will be in the office Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Sundays starting in September. Rev. Beth created an emergency pastoral care phone number that will be distributed in September.

Next meeting is September 17.

Closing prayer led by Rev. Beth.
Meeting adjourned at 8:03pm.

Church Administration
Pastor: Rev. Elizabeth Stotts, csccpastor at hotmail.com

Office Manager: Jenne Foronjy, office@csccucc.com
Minister of Music: Julia Scott Carey

Director of Video Evangelism: Paul Holmes
Treasurer: David Sheibley

Communications Coordinator: Diane Sheibley

Kids Church Director: Eric Stotts

Office email: office@csccucc.com
Office telephone: (508) 697-6016
Website: www.csccucc.org
Facebook pages: facebook.com/csccuccbridgewaterma (main page), facebook.com/groups/801550253194149 (youth page)

Instagram: @centralsquarechurch

Venmo: @cscc-ucc

Steeple Sounds submissions deadline is the 15th of the month prior to publication.