March 28th, 2024
Maunday Evening Services 7:00 Pm
March 31st , 2024
Easter Sunrise Services 6:15 Am
March 31st , 2024
Easter Services 10:30 Am
First Federated Church has a New Thrift Store
Open Tuesdays-Sunday 10 am- 1 pm
Come on in and check it out, new items weekly
The First Federated Church
News Letter
Personality profiles
By Joe W. Bebo
The following are stories of how some of our leading members first came to our church, as told in their own words.
Pat Patrick is a leading member of The First Federated Church and is still active in its affairs. He is highly respected for his knowledge, his strong faith, and his humor. Pat is a treasured asset whose main goal in life has been to teach others the words of the Holy Gospel, like a true disciple of Christ.
How I came to The First Federated Church by ‘Pat’ Patrick
Pat Patrick – tall stature, tall tales!
I came to Hudson from New Jersey with my wife Shirley at the end of April 2003 and immediately began looking for a church. Shirley went on the internet and looked up churches and we visited them on the following Sundays. We did this for several months, visiting various churches, some several times, from May through August
During this time, I also became acquainted with the pastor at The First Federated Church by working across the street from the parsonage at my son’s house. The pastor told me we would have to be re-baptized by immersion to join his church, so we crossed the church off our list.
In September God told me to join the Methodist Church.
I was driving my truck and asked God for guidance. I followed His advice and went to the First United Methodist Church of Hudson (on Pleasant and Fulton Streets). We had gone there several times and it seemed like something we were used to back home. The people were nice, and we liked the pastor. I told Shirley that God had told me to go to the Methodist Church and she said OK. She always went along when I made a decision like this.
We went there for three years, during which time we made many friends, like Herb Simpson, who was a leader at the church. I became a leading member there myself – studying in the disciples’ classes, growing as a person and disciple of Jesus, teaching others, and assisting in numerous ways.
After three years we decided to leave the Methodist Church. I became concerned with the move toward a more liberal interpretation of the Gospel in the disciples’ classes and the Methodist denomination in general. Shirley and I began searching for a church again. This went on for several months, from September to December 2006.
During this time, The First Federated Church had gotten a new pastor, whom I had a chance to talk with from time to time. I liked the way he described the church to me, although he told me they were quite liberal as well. He also gave me the correct information that I would not have to be re-baptized. It sounded like what Shirley, and I might be looking for. We went there a number of times and liked what we saw. Then just before Christmas 2006, God spoke to me, again.
We were visiting the Federated Church when He told me very specifically, “Start attending The First Federated Church on the First Sunday of the New Year (2007.)” I told Shirley and on the first Sunday of January, we were there. We became members a month or two later. We were questioned by the Deaconate for forty minutes. They seemed to be worried I’d think them too liberal and leave the same way I left my old church. In the end, however, after deliberating for a short time, they accepted us into the church as members. I’ve been coming here every Sunday since. I was honored when they elected me head usher a couple of months after becoming a member, and even more proud when Shirley was made a deacon a month later.
Shirley died in December 2011. It was a terrible time for me, but the church and all the people there helped me through it. Now I knew why God had told me to go there.
THANKSGIVING DAY PRAYER by Peter Marshall
Father, we around this table thank Thee: for Thy great gift of life, that Thy love for us is not dependent upon any unworthiness of ours, for good health, that we know neither hunger nor want, for warm clothes to wear, for those who love us best, for friends whose words of encouragement have often chased away dark clouds, for the zest of living, for many an answered prayer, for kindly providences that have preserved us from danger and harm.
We thank Thee that still we live in a land bountifully able to supply all our needs, a land which still by Thy Providence knows peace, whose skies are not darkened by the machines of the enemy, whose fields and woodlands are still unblasted by the flames of war, a land with peaceful valleys and smiling meadows still serene.
O help us to appreciate all that we have, to be content with it, to be grateful for it, to be proud of it – not in an arrogant pride that boasts, but in a grateful pride that strives to be more worthy. In Thy name, to whose bounty we owe these blessings spread before us, to Thee we give our gratitude. Amen.
**********
Dear Believers and Fellow Travelers,
May we be mindful this year of all our blessings, God’s forgiveness, and God’s grace which we have not deserved but which God chooses to lavish upon us. May we offer this grace, this same forgiveness to all we meet, with the same generosity we have received these gifts from our loving God. I pray that this will be a special holiday time for you and your families, not only to get closer to one another, but also to get closer to God.
Pastor Yvonne Miloyevich
OUR NEW JOURNALIST – JOE W. BEBO
Joe Bebo, a member of First Federated, was born in Plattsburgh, NY where he grew up and went to school. After graduating from high school in 1966, he went to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in music composition. Joe played drums professionally in and around Boston for many years, where he worked with people such as Van Morrison and Mose Allison. During this time, he also obtained a 2nd-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate and opened a school in Acton, MA where he taught for several years. After teaching himself how to program computers, Joe worked as a software engineer until retiring in 2017, working in such companies as Digital Equipment, Polaroid, Kurzweil AI, and Lojack. Joe is a very creative and prolific writer, self-publishing 18 full-length novels in a variety of genres. Joe loves writing, music, teaching, and martial arts.
PRAISE & PRAYER FRIDAY EVENINGS AT FIRST FEDERATED
Rev. Ryan Hosein of Attleboro, Massachusetts was born in Trinidad to a Christian family, one of 5 boys. He was ordained in 2007 with the Word of God Ministry out of New York and Trinidad. His parents were church builders and Ryan came to his belief in Christ at an early age. He has been involved in all aspects of ministry and church building since he was a teen. Trained by the Prisoners of Liberty organization in prison ministry, he has taught others in this area. Ryan was the senior pastor of Comforter Church in Abington, Massachusetts for 10 years. He currently works in counseling, healing, and deliverance ministry. Ryan is married for 10 years to Anna who is a Messianic Jewish believer in Jesus. Pastor Ryan and wife Anna were acquainted with Pastor Yvonne at First Federated, through Central New England Christian Singles Ministry. The Hoseins have led the 6:30 Friday Night Praise and Prayer service at First Federated Church, a few times over the last year. Pastor Ryan, who is self-taught musically, leads praise and worship with his original songs and keyboard styling, along with Joe Bebo, our drummer at First Federated. At the end of the service, people are invited to come forward for individual prayer and anointing with oil.
NEW! THRIFT SHOP Tuesday – Sunday 10am to 1pm
Come & browse to find your treasure. Donations welcome.
CRAFT FAIR Saturday November 11 9am-3pm
Our annual Craft Fair on Veterans Day was a huge success. Tables of crafters filled Ross Hall with delightful hand-created items, including Joe Bebo’s original novels and Heather’s delectable jams. Kim served Cambodian honey chicken, and the First Federated kitchen offered soups, sandwiches, and sweet treats. Jeannie and others helped out. A raffle was held, and the event featured the opening of our new Thrift Shop and a Library Book Sale. Thank you to all who participated, especially Jeannie for organizing everything from beginning to end! So, if you plan on attending, please call ahead and let us know.
Thank you and hope to see you there!
Weekly at First Federated Church
Contact
The First Federated Church
200 CENTRAL STREET
HUDSON, MA 01749
Office: 978-562-9207
www.firstfederatedchurch.org
Sunday
10:30 Church Service
Zoom Meeting: 838 3778 1371 Code: 834 211
Call: 305-224-1968 or 309-205-3325
Monday
7:30 pm – AA Hot Dog Meeting (Open, public welcome)
Zoom Bible Study – Meeting: 818 5721 4301 Code: 532 609 (3RD Mon)
Call: 929-205-6099 or 301-715-8592
Tuesday
11 am – Kenpo Karate with Joe Bebo
Thursday
1-3 pm Bible Study at Peter’s Grove, hosted by Esther Folkes
7:30 pm – AA Women’s Meeting (Open, public welcome)
Friday
9:30 am – YogaFaith, Stretch and Prayer with Pastor Yvonne
6:30-9:30 pm – Praise & Prayer (monthly, call for schedule)
Saturday
11 am – Kenpo Karate with Joe Bebo
Pastor’s News:
Meet Oscar, my new rescue dog from Texas via Sterling Animal Shelter. He loves bunny patrolling in his Halloween costume.
Also, I’d like to introduce my fiance Mark Abasciano, a Shrewsbury resident who led a Singles Bible Study at First Federated this Spring. Although semi-retired, Mark works as a Real Estate Broker and Financial Adviser.
Pastor Yvonne and Mark will tie the knot in 2024.
Dear Church Family:
We would love to see you face to face at our Sunday Morning Service at 10:30 am, We are still offering a Zoom church service at 10:30 AM. Zoom information is below to join by telephone or computer. Please contact the church by phone or email with any questions.
ZOOM CHURCH 10:30 AM SUNDAYS
(Use these numbers and # when asked)
BY TELEPHONE: 1-929-205-6099
MEETING ID: 838 3778 1371 #
PARTICIPANT (press): #
PASSWORD: 834 211 #
OR BY COMPUTER:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83837781371?pwd=ZDRzalFNTmFrOVJOa1lXRWRaamsyQT09
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Chapel in the Woods
Our chapel in the woods is open for quiet reflection and meditation. It is located behind the church up a slight incline. Feel free to spend time in God’s beautiful space.