Welcome to South Acton Congregational Church. The foundation of our beloved church rests on God's unconditional love and boundless grace. We seek to know God and follow the teachings of Jesus.
We welcome people of every race and culture who are young and old; single, married and divorced. We welcome people of every physical, mental and intellectual ability; sexual orientation and gender identity; every educational background and economic circumstance. We believe diversity enriches our faith community.
All people are made in God's image. You are invited to continue your faith journey with us. Welcome!
If you use a hearing aid, you can switch the setting to telephone (or T or Tcoil) and listen to the service through the microphones. Note: This works only in the pews.
In the summer, worship begins at 9:30am. From June 27th through July 25th, worship services will be held at the UCC, 723 Massachusetts Avenue, Boxborough, where Rev. Katrina Wuensch will be preaching. From August 1st through 29th, worship services will return to SACC, where pastors from Boxborough will preach. Nursery care will be provided throughout the summer. Katrina returns to lead worship on Sunday, September 5th at 9:30am. The time of worship returns to 10:30am on September 12th, Rally Sunday.
On Sunday, August 29th, please welcome our guest preacher, the Reverend Susie Allen. Susie graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in 2006 and was ordained to ministry in 2009. She serves as part-time Associate Pastor at UCC, Boxborough, focusing on youth and family faith development and intergenerational worship. In addition to her ministry at UCCB, Susie leads contemplative retreats and small groups for the Kairos Spiritual Life Center in Worcester, MA, and has completed both the spiritual guidance program and the small group and retreat leadership program at Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, MD. Susie is active in local community theatre and sings with the a cappella group, Custom Blend.
Have you ever wondered what your grandmother's silver pitcher is worth or the clock you picked up at a flea market? Learn the value of your antiques, when and where they were made. Appraisers from Skinner, Inc. will entertain and educate at the SACC Appraisal Day fundraiser on Saturday, September 11th from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Maynard Rod and Gun Club.
Individuals can bring items to be verbally appraised. This fun event needs enthusiastic volunteers to make it a success. We are looking for people to help with: publicity, the event program, soliciting raffle items, baking sweets, welcoming guests, cashier help... Sound like fun? Of course, it is! If you would like to help, contact Jessica Nelson at 978-897-1784 or gjnelson123@verizon.net. Thanks!
On Friday, September 24th at 7:30pm, SACC will have the uncommon pleasure of hosting New England folk trio, Kallet, Epstein and Cicone. Whether you love folk music or just plain good music, do not miss this concert! Kallet, Epstein and Cicone have been performing together in concerts, coffeehouses, and festivals since 1981. The trio performs music both a cappella and accompanied by guitar and hammered dulcimer, drawing their material from contemporary and traditional music of the British Isles and North America.
By many accounts, this group is comprised of three of the finest folk singers of our generation, and they have performed to adoring (yes, adoring) audiences throughout the U.S. for many years. The Boston Globe's Scott Alarik described them as "the best-kept secret in the New England folk scene" with "rich harmonies and inviting melodies." The Boston Herald describes their music as "sheer beauty" and "technically elegant" and as music that "summons up visions of a more simple, certain time." Martha Waide, LITMA News, says, "Their work is a healthy mix of the heavenly and the earthbound. Their heart- wrenching airs of beauty, love and loss are delicately balanced with gritty tunes of social or political concerns or songs of earthy everyday life."
SACC's simple sanctuary, constructed by unemployed shipbuilders in the late 1800's, provides the perfect acoustic venue for this performance. Tickets are $13 for adults and $11 for students/seniors in advance; $16 for adults and $13 for students/seniors on the day of the concert. Tickets are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, please contact Martha Rounds at 978-263-7227 or martha.rounds@gmail.com.
You are invited to a cool oasis of meditation every Tuesday from 12:30 to 1:15pm at the Boxborough church in the pastor’s office. Come when you can. Open to our South Acton friends and the wider community. Please contact the church at 978-263-7387 for additional information.
The UCC of Boxboro invites the women of SACC to join its annual Women’s Retreat on April 1st through 3rd, 2011. This retreat will be led by the Reverend Susie Allen at the Barbara C. Harris Conference Center, where the first retreat was held in 2010. The Conference Center is located in the scenic Monadnock region and set among towering pines on the shores of Otter Lake in Greenfield, New Hampshire. We loved it so much that we are returning!
The Center offers excellent facilities. In the Lodge, there are large rooms with private baths, an elevator, and a large meeting room plus break-out spaces. Delicious, healthy home-style meals that include homemade breads, soups and desserts are prepared by the professional food service staff. The food plus the setting of the Dining Center create a warm communal atmosphere.
The cost - $190 per person (shared room) or $290 per person (private room) - includes five meals. The topic is to be decided. Feel free to suggest topics, to help with planning, or to invite a friend. JOIN US! We WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU! For more information, contact Ginny Haskins at haskinsv@verizon.net or 978-263-0109, or refer to the sign-up poster on the bulletin board in the vestry.
Join our collection for Pennies for Peace, the children's arm of Greg Mortenson's Central Asia Institute. (Do you know Greg's book: Three Cups of Tea?) The money will go towards building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan! Please put your pennies (and large bills!) in the glass jar in the vestry. See pictures and read more about this inspiring work at www.penniesforpeace.org.
If you like to knit and enjoy spending time with fellow parishioners, you are the perfect candidate for this ministry. Even if you are a little rusty on your knitting, we can help you get started. There are two meetings each month; you can attend one or both, or if you prefer, you can knit shawls on your own. We provide instructions.
Finished shawls are blessed by the congregation and given to those in need of our support and prayers. If you know of someone in need, please contact Katrina, Laurie Thibodeau, or Angela Aaronson. Together, we will choose a shawl for this special person.
Here is the monthly meeting schedule:
| Day | Time | Home | Address |
| 2nd Friday | 10:00 to 11:30am | Angela Aaronson's | 111 Hosmer Street, Acton |
| 4th Tuesday | 7:30 to 9:00pm | Laurie Thibodeau's | 49 Drummer Road, Acton |
Drop by Savoury Lane (Arlington Street in West Acton Center) on Friday mornings between 9:30 and 11:00am to talk with Katrina and other SACC folks. Stay for five minutes or an hour and share your concerns, suggestions, and ideas! Please note: Friday Coffee will resume in September.
Equal Exchange coffee is now being served at SACC! Enjoy this delicious brew, knowing that you are supporting Fair Trade programs for small-scale coffee farmers in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
Equal Exchange coffee, tea, and cocoa are available for purchase in the library on an honor-system basis. This UCC project links congregations with small farmers in Latin America, Asia, and Africa through Fair Trade. Equal Exchange pays a fair price to small farmers by buying directly from cooperatives that they own and govern. Equal Exchange also provides these farmers with credit and encourages sustainable farming practices. Please refer to our pamphlets for more information about Fair Trade.
Serving as a liturgist is a wonderful way to participate in worship two or three Sundays a year, leading the opening prayers and reading the scripture. If you are interested, please contact Pam Hays at the church office at 978-263-2332.
Does the church have your email address? If we do not, and you would like to receive our weekly summary and our monthly newsletter via email, please send a message to our secretary, Pam, at info@southactoncc.org and ask to be added to the list.
Please consider ordering sanctuary flowers for a Sunday worship service. You may sign up for a particular week in the flower book on the table in the entry. You may have the church make an arrangement for $18.95, or you may bring your own.
A reminder to SACC members and friends: If you are able, please park in the School Street lot or behind the fire station. We would like to reserve the spaces in front of the church for those needing to park close and for our visitors.
If you have a pastoral concern and would like others in our church family to hold it in prayer, please contact a Deacon or email the Prayer Chain at prayerchain@southactoncc.org.
The Acton-Boxborough Community Supper needs volunteers to sort groceries, pick up food, or perform other various tasks once a month. Further information is located on the bulletin board in the vestry.
Come help us complete a home on Pine Street in Gardner for our newest Habitat for Humanity family. We will be working there every Tuesday and Saturday through July. We are also busy in Westminster, making two homes handicap-accessible for families with disabled children.
A full list of our volunteer opportunities is posted on our website. Register online at our volunteer sign-up page, or call Tracy Spiegel, Faith Partnership Coordinator at 978-348-2749 X205. Thank you!
Can you spare just one hour per week at lunchtime for once a month or more? Homebound seniors would love a friendly visit and need help with grocery shopping, delivery of a good mid-day meal, and rides to appointments! Volunteers receive 40 cents per mile reimbursement plus satisfaction in making a world of difference to someone else. Also ideal to do with a friend! Call Debbie at Minuteman Senior Services (781-272-7177 or 888-222-6171) or check out www.minutemansenior.org.
Household Goods Recycling Ministry is a wonderful Acton nonprofit that provides struggling families and individuals with household essentials. They are currently in need of sheets and towels. You may drop them off in the vestry in the box marked "HGRM."
--- Last Updated 26 August 2010 ---
South Acton Congregational Church • 35 School Street • Acton, MA 01720 • 978-263-2332