16 minute read
Faith & Footprints
First Parish Church – Plymouth, Massachusetts
As we approach Thanksgiving, many of us reflect on the history of the Pilgrims coming to North America in search of religious freedom. With this in mind, First Parish Church in Plymouth, Massachusetts has a steep history and culture reflecting back hundreds of years.
First Parish Church is the birthplace of religious freedom in America. The congregation was founded in 1620 by the Pilgrims that landed in Plymouth. With continuous records dating back to 1606 from Scrooby, England, where these freedom-seekers were forced to worship in secret, Plymouth’s First Parish Church is possibly the oldest continuous Western spiritual institution in America.
During the Pilgrims’ first winter in Plymouth, described as the ‘winter of death,’ the settlers worshipped in a small, wooden structure near the harbor. A fort was constructed in 1622 and served as a place of worship until the Pilgrims built their first church in 1648—a simple square structure.
As the congregation grew and the structure fell into disrepair, it was replaced in 1683 by the second church. In 1744, the town gave the church land to build the third church to replace the 1683 structure and remained in use until 1831, when a fourth building, a large, gothic, wooden church, was constructed.
In 1892, the Pilgrims lost a fourth church to fire and set out to build yet another church that would “enshrine the values and faith that have made our nation great.” That vision became reality thanks to many generous donors throughout America and was completed in 1897 and dedicated in 1899. This is the current building that still holds worship services today. Envisioned to be a lasting memorial to the Pilgrims, the present 1899 church sits on the site where the Mayflower’s brave sailors gathered to worship nearly 400 years ago. The church represents the freedoms founded by the Pilgrims—freedoms that continue to draw immigrants to America from around the world. In 2014, the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior due to its historic importance and architectural significance.
At the dedication in 1899, Arthur Lord, president of the Pilgrim Society, proclaimed: “To this generation came the duty and the opportunity to erect upon the ruins of the old church, a memorial, simple yet enduring, to the religious life of its founders, the last and best of the great memorials to the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Long may it stand, sustaining, elevating and inspiring the life and thought of this community, its portals ever open to the ‘new light yet to come.’”
For more information on First Parish Church Plymouth Church, visit www.firstparishplymouth.org.
By Kelly Wise Valdes
“The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” – Colossians 3:16.
I want to talk about the evidence of life in church. You see, I witnessed a baptism recently and I’m not sure that anyone got wet! And I listened to a sermon where I’m not sure that anyone was inspired.
I understand that baptism is symbolic, and that sermons are not delivered so that people can feel entertained. But
Live Like You Mean It ... Evidence Of Life In Church
By Derek Maul
I want to see the water and feel the fire. I want splash, sparks, overflow or at least significant dripping. I want tears and laughter. I want to see the immediacy of the Spirit. I want to know that something important is happening, something that feeds my soul and infuses me with life.
Church may not be a place to be entertained, but people must know they have been in the presence of God. It’s not that the Holy has to be loud so much as palpable. I would like to think that people could come to church and feel in a sense that they have been baptized again, every time. That people could witness such irrepressible life in the preacher that there’s a splash zone for that too.
Church is where the love gets all over you, where the leaders are so filled up with Jesus that just the light of God in their eyes is enough to make you want to listen, where even the children sit on the edges of their seats sometimes and pay attention, where taking communion makes your eyes well up with tears because the truth of it is so evident in the community, where you look forward to your class or your small group because your heart is filled and your mind is challenged, where you invite your friends to join you because you know so truly that God is there. Where deep calls to deep.
Let’s not forget the kind of dynamic life Jesus has invited us into.
Derek Maul has written for many news outlets, including the Tampa Tribune, The United Methodist News Service, All Pro Dad, FOCUS Magazine, Newsweek, USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, Presbyterians Today, Guideposts, Chicken Soup for the Soul and many other publications. Read Derek Maul’s daily blog posts at www.derekmaul. wordpress.com
Friday Night Courtyard Concert
Grab your snacks, lawn chairs and blankets and head over to the Friday night Courtyard Concert being held on November 12 at 6 p.m. at New Hope Church. This family-friendly event filled with music and fellowship is a great opportunity for a socially distanced evening of great local music talent. The event happens rain or shine (it will be moved indoors if weather causes a problem). New Hope Church is located at 213 N. Knights Ave. in Brandon. For more information, email mandy@findnewhope.com or call 689-4161.
A second annual Arts and Crafts Fair will be held on Saturday, November 6 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, located at 701 Valley Forge Blvd. in Sun City Center. Vendors will have a wide variety of unique items and décor such as pottery, paintings, candles, wreaths, wood, glass, pillows, quilts, holiday items for inside and outside. There will also be personal items crafted of fabric and leather, crochet, purses, totes, unique jewelry, animal lover crafts, books, greeting cards and more. A food truck will be on site. Masks are recommended. Admission is Free. For more information, call 634-1292. Harvest Of Hope Needs Tanksgiving Meal Donations
On Saturday, November 20 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Harvest of Hope will provide the opportunity to collect and deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in need in Brandon and the surrounding communities. Partnering with Hope for Her (formerly known as the Women’s Resource Center), donations are needed, whether it’s your time, talents or resources, to support Harvest of Hope by purchasing items from the shopping list and serving.
Donations of the following items will be accepted through Thursday, November 18: 10-12 lb. frozen turkey, canned fruit and vegetables, cranberry sauces, instant potatoes, canned or packaged gravy, dry stufng, ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, pasta, pasta sauce, cake mix and fruit juice.
For more information on volunteer opportunities or to register for a Harvest of Hope Box, visit findnewhope.com/ harvest. Preregistration is required to receive a Harvest of Hope Box. Contact Amy Jo Rodriguez at aj@findnewhope. com or at 689-4161.
South Bay Genealogy Society Meeting
On Tuesday, November 16, the South Bay Genealogical Society (SBGS) will meet at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center in the Life Enrichment Center (LEC), 1210 W. Del Webb Blvd. in Sun City Center. Beginning at 10:30 am is an optional roundtable discussion, followed by a sit-down luncheon at 12 Noon and then the presentation by a guest speaker at 1 p.m. Guest speaker Donna Moughty will be speaking on ‘Saving a Life: Your Family’s Health History.’ This will be a live, virtual presentation. For many years, health professionals have known that common health problems run in families. Knowing your family’s health history may reduce your own risk of serious illness. The cost is $15 per person for the meal and presentation. For reservations and meal choice, call Dianna Loudermilk at 864-607-1330. Make your check payable to SBGS and mail it to SBGS at P.O. Box 5202, Sun City Center, FL 33571. Your check must be received by Thursday, November 4.
Our Lady’s Pantry Looks To Raise Funds For A New Refrigerated Truck
Our Lady’s Pantry is busy writing grant applications to philanthropic groups and reaching out to the community in order to raise donations for a much-needed new refrigerated truck costing $99,000. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Feeding Tampa Bay require that food be transported in a refrigerated truck. The pantry currently has two used trucks, but the trucks have more than 260,000 miles, which has become increasingly expensive to maintain.
Pantry volunteers are driving every day of the week picking up food from all over the county. Donations can be made to Our Lady’s Pantry at 16650 U.S. Hwy. 301 S. in Wimauma. Please designate your donation specifically for the refrigerated truck.
To learn more about the pantry, please visit https://www.ourladyspantry.com.
With the holidays coming up, a local retirement community is encouraging residents to start their shopping a little early this year. On Saturday, November 13 at 10 a.m., The Bridges Retirement Community will host its ninth annual Gifts & Crafts Fair at its clubhouse in Riverview, ofering a wide variety of arts and crafts made by local vendors and even residents of The Bridges.
Janet Noah, director of community relations and event organizer, is pleased the annual fair can take place after a year of last year due to COVID-19.
“We are excited to be back hosting our annual Gifts & Crafts Fair,” Noah said.
Vendors, such as those selling holiday gifts, pottery, greeting cards, photography, handmade jewelry and more, are needed for the event. To become a vendor, the cost is $30. The deadline to register will be on Monday, November 1.
Residents involved in the arts and crafts program at The Bridges Retirement Community will also get an opportunity to sell items that they created over the past several months as vendors during the fair. “The goal is to introduce and welcome people to The Bridges Retirement Community,” Noah said. “It also provides an opportunity for the people of all ages to enjoy shopping for the holiday season.” The Bridges Retirement Community is an active community which ofers many opportunities for residents to participate in a variety of activities, such as karaoke, crafts and more. It also provides memory care and assisted living. The Bridges Retirement Community is dedicated to providing housing and health care for the elderly. “The Gifts & Crafts Fair is just one of a number of events we hold at The Bridges Clubhouse, which is open to the community,” Noah said.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor or have questions, call The Bridges Retirement Community at 413-8900 or send an email to Noah at jnoah@ bridgesretirement.com. The facility is located at 5921 Stockport St. in Riverview.
THE BRIDGES SEEKS LOCAL VENDORS FOR ITS 9TH ANNUAL GIFTS & CRAFTS FAIR
By Tatiana Ortiz
Te Bridges Retirement Community’s Gifts & Crafts Fair is back this year, taking place on Saturday, November 13.
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BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY WITH DAYLIGHT CONCEPTS
By Amy Schechter
Natural lighting has many benefits, including helping people be happier, healthier, more productive and calmer. Daylight Concepts offers lighting and ventilation solutions for your home and garage through innovative Solatube technology.
Daylight Concepts is the only premier Solatube dealer for the southwest coast of Florida, including all of Hillsborough and Polk Counties down to Naples. Fully licensed and insured, its factory-trained installers and team of customer service experts can help tailor solutions for any space. Do you have a dark hallway, laundry room or pantry? Do you have a bedroom or garage that becomes an absolute hotbox? Then call Daylight Concepts for your free estimate.
Rene Ayala, managing director, explained the process: “We have two different solutions for our customers. One is a daylighting solution, which basically, if there is a dark area in the home, we can figure out a way to bring natural daylight to that space. The second one, which is widely popular during summer, is our ventilation solutions. We can design a proper ventilation system for the entire attic space or focus on one specific area like the garage.”
In only a few hours, you can have a ventilation and lighting solution with multiple benefits. Ayala added, “The most immediate benefit is a drop in your elec-
tric bill, yet there are many hidden benefits.” In layman’s terms, he explained, “A proper ventilation system in your attic space adds to the lifespan of your roof because you are not cooking the plywood or the shingles from the inside as well.” The Florida sun can easily create a convection oven in your attic, and Solatubes can help alleviate the heat. Furthermore, by lowering the temperature,
Daylight Concepts elegantly brightens your day. you make your air conditioner run more efciently,
extending the life of your unit, and you prevent mold and mildew buildup. Of course, you also get the immediate comfort of cooling of a warmer room or garage. Want to see how it works? Visit its beautiful showroom, where you can see Solatubes in action and view real before and after pictures. You’ll get a true idea of what to expect and time to discuss your situation. Take advantage of its special ofer where if you bundle any daylighting or ventilation systems, you receive free installation on your third system. For more information, call 522-6944 to speak to a Tampa consultant directly. The Ayala family has been working together for nearly 35 years, and their focus is helping you make the most of your home. Visit Daylight Concepts online as well to schedule a consultation or installation or to find out more information at daylightconcepts.com. The Daylight Concepts showroom is located at 6710 Benjamin Rd., Ste. 100 in Tampa.
BRANDON NEWCOMERS CLUB BUILDS FRIENDSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY
By Tatiana Ortiz
Are you new to the area or just looking to get out and meet people locally?
The Brandon Newcomers Club began building friendships since 1961 through a couple named Donna Hilbrands and her husband, Ben Hilbrands. The group meets from September through May on the third Wednesday of every month at the Brandon Community Center, located at 502 E. Sadie St. in Brandon. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 20 at 10 a.m.
Barbara Babiarz, who resides in Valrico and is the secretary at the Brandon Newcomers Club, mentioned what the club is all about.
“We look for people to come and make new friends,” Babiarz said.
To become a member, the cost is $20 for the year. The group offers numerous activities, including a book club, arts and crafts as well as card games, along with dominoes, Sudoku and more. At times, some of the members venture out to either grab a bite to eat, partici-
pate in a gals’ night out and much more. The Brandon Newcomers Club consists of nearly 100 members and there is always room for more. Those considering joining do not need to be new to the area; people can be longtime residents.
Some members of the Brandon Newcomers Club attended a luncheon With most of the memtogether at Ulele in Tampa. bers here being ages
50 and up, it welcomes everyone. To join, one does not need to reside in Brandon. The club is open to those living in the surrounding areas, such as Valrico, Seffner, Plant City and more. Last month was the first meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic. Babiarz stated that people were ready to meet again. Lilly Zeij, who resides in Brandon and is the president at the Brandon Newcomers Club, also said that the club is trying to get everyone back in the swing of meeting again. Throughout the pandemic, members remained informed by a monthly newsletter. Babiarz provided her input on what she believes makes the Brandon Newcomers Club special. “We offer friendship and women a place to go to meet friends,” Babiarz said. “It can be hard for some at times to meet people,” she added. For more information, call Zeij at 653-4381 or Babiarz at 685-1230.
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