Crossroads Notes:

Ash Wednesday Service February 6, 7:30 p.m. Join the church family, and help us welcome others, to this traditional service marking the start of Lent. We will welcome members of the Waltham Presbyterian Church and possibly another. Rev. MacDonald will be sharing the brief message with Rev. Rob Mark from Waltham. There will be ashes and an opportunity for placing them on our foreheads as the sign of our humility and dependence upon God’s grace (use of ashes will be voluntary). We will gather around the table for communion. The choir will sing. This can be an important start, in the right spirit, to the journey of Lent toward Holy Week. Please plan to make it part of your life. A Night of Song for everyone! Saturday, March 1, 7:00 p.m. Mark your calendars now! We’re planning an evening of great fellowship and good music (and refreshments). In response to conversations that were part of our “Ways to Grow” process in 2007, we’re inviting everyone to bring samples of the music you like to sing—or would like to sing—in church. Bring CD’s, songsheets, hymnals or songbooks from other places, or just suggestions from our own hymnal, or just yourself and a willingness to make a joyful noise. We’ll try as many things as we can; we’ll learn more about musical tastes and desires, and explore something of the meaning of song in response to God. Please come; and if you can’t, send in a musical request or comment. If the response is overwhelming, we may plan for a second event. Children’s Bible Stories for Adults Much of what we know of the Bible we learned as children in Sunday School. Stories like Noah’s Ark and Jonah and the Whale are full of wonderful images that can capture any child’s imagination – and our own. But the stories in the Bible were not written to be children’s stories. What messages were the authors trying to send us? Please join the Adult Sunday School class as we revisit several of the most popular children’s stories and delve into the story beneath the story. If you will need help with heating costs this winter, now is the time to apply for fuel assistance. Joanne Stephen has applications available. If you would like to make an appointment with her for help in filling out the application, please contact her at 781-572-0219. One Great Hour Of Sharing In March 1949, in response to the devastation in the aftermath of World War II, Christian leaders organized an hour-long national radio broadcast. Some of the best-known stars of the day joined in highlighting the need and inviting people to give through their church the next day. More than 75,000 churches responded. Over the years, the offering has grown from just emergency relief and rebuilding after disasters to addressing more long-range problems. In the Presbyterian Church (USA), 36% of the money goes to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 32% to the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and 32% to the Self-Development of People. Our children will receive the traditional fish banks at the beginning of Lent. Watch for the informational bulletin enclosures. The One Great Hour offering will be received on Palm Sunday. The founders of this program recognized both a responsibility to their brothers and sisters around the world and an opportunity to witness to a loving God. These responsibilities and opportunities are still with us. “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have.” Hebrews 13:16 Missionaries Of The Month Les and Cynthia Morgan, both medical doctors, are health advisors for the Church of Bangladesh. They are stationed at Christian Mission Hospital in Rajshahi, which serves Muslims, Hindus, and Christians from the greater Rajshahi area. The hospital is now the government’s regional referral center for patients with complicated tuberculosis. Les cares for the hospital’s adult patients. Cindy looks after pediatric patients and helps with a new preventative medicine clinic. Les and Cindy have served in Bangladesh for more than a decade. For more information on the Morgan’s, check their website at: www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/morganl.htm

The Deacons are planning two upcoming special events. Planning for Later Stages of Life Saturday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m. The focus of this event is to help all of us make sense of options for preparing for the later years of our own lives and of older family members. The program will include speakers, handouts, time for questions and, of course, light refreshments. Guest speakers include: A representative from Minuteman Senior Services speaking about Everything You Need to Know about Eldercare…But Didn’t Know Who to Ask! Attorney Allen Margulies, addressing legal matters such as health care proxies, wills, trusts and more Kevin Sullivan of Sullivan Funeral Home in Burlington. The topics they will cover include information that everyone needs to have in order to make informed and timely decisions. Please plan to join us for an informative evening. If you have not signed up yet, please let us know that you will attend by contacting Jennifer Dewar, Lynda Graham-Meho or Joanne Stephen. See you there! The 2008 Auction!!! Deacons have voted that in 2008 we will have an Auction as our major fund raising event. This means that, at least for this year, we will not be sponsoring a church yard sale. Instead, we want to involve everyone in the congregation in a lively and spirited Auction experience! Mark your calendar now for Saturday, April 5 at 6:00 p.m., BPC Auction 2008. We’ll begin with a silent auction, followed by dessert and coffee and then the Lively and Spirited Live Auction at 7:00 p.m. Proceeds of this event will benefit BPC’s Mission Program and the Burlington Food Pantry. The Deacons are counting on your support! You can donate an item or a service to be auctioned. You can help by asking local businesses for donations. You can help with publicity, be a ‘runner’ the night of the auction, provide desserts, prepare the display of items for the silent auction, and/or serve on the planning committee and share your ideas. You can invite friends and neighbors to come with you to the auction and bid and have fun while helping to raise funds for two important causes. In a few weeks you will receive a letter with donation forms, forms to give to merchants who donate items or services and all the details you will need to know about this great opportunity to help the church while having a really great time. We will also be contacting you to find out how you will be using your talents to help make this event a huge success. So be creative and start planning what you will do to participate in the 2008 BPC Auction! For more information, ask Jennifer Dewar or any other deacon. Many thanks to Anne Denier, outgoing Secretary of Deacons, for all she has done keeping track of the business conducted in our meetings, writing an article for Crossroads each month and so much more. Thanks also to Betty Doubek, flower person and temporary Deacon Coordinator for her willingness to take on just about any task. We are very happy that Betty will continue as an active deacon for another term .