July 2025
In the Newsletter this Month
A Message from the Moderator
Financial Update from the Council
About Crop Walk 2025
Backpacks for the Homeless Prevention Council
Missions & Ministry Coffee
Juneteenth Celebration
Don’t Forget
Monday Meditations
Scallop Dinner Fundraiser
Pastor’s Musings
Glory Days and Duck Creek Nights
FROM THE MODERATOR
You never know what treasures you’ll find in an old Wellfleet attic. Last month, while exploring my grandparents’ attic, my cousins and I stumbled upon a remarkable collection of Reader’s Digest magazines from the 1930s and 1940s, all in pristine condition.
What makes these magazines fascinating is twofold. First, they serve as a window into the values and challenges of their time. Second, they reveal just how enduring many of our so-called “modern” concerns really are.
Take, for example, the August 1933 edition. It includes an article titled “I Am on a Church Strike!” The author describes life in a small town with four struggling churches—each “clinging tenaciously to a mere breath of life.” None can afford a resident pastor, all have trouble paying their heating bills.
The author describes how some church members seem comfortably stuck in their ways despite the clear need for reform. Content in their personal comfort zones, they resist change. Some would-be reformers urge the author to use patience as a strategy to wait out intransigent church members since “it is merely a question of waiting for enough funerals.” Others propose to rely on denominational or inter-faith leadership for solutions. But the author criticizes these approaches as passive and detached, arguing they ignore the power of local energy and collective community action. “It is a waste of time to urge me to be patient and to hang on a little longer.” That frustration leads him to take a bold step—what he calls going “on a church strike.”
Instead of clinging to outdated models, the author advocates for a revitalized, inclusive approach to faith. He calls on churches to open their doors—and hearts—to the broader community, focusing on shared human and spiritual needs rather than narrow lines of politics, race, or doctrine. Such distinctions must be dismantled, not embraced; a focus on differences between people and groups sets a trap that unintentionally narrows a church’s message. Congregations must grow as bodies that welcome and integrate the general community without distinctions between groups— and in doing so, grow not only in spirit and purpose, but in numbers and active stewardship. Lasting renewal, the author suggests, depends on welcoming new voices, inviting greater participation, and cultivating the kind of engagement that sustains both mission and ministry.
Real change, in the author’s view, begins not with waiting or outsourcing solutions, but by building an active, generous, and growing congregation that is broadly and deeply connected to its surrounding community.
Nearly a century later, the article is still relevant. Our church wrestles with dwindling attendance, aging membership, and financial
instability. The call to create a vibrant, outward-looking congregation remains as urgent now as it was then. If our church is to thrive, we must look inward with honesty—and outward with courage — renewing our commitment to serve, to welcome, and to grow.
Respectfully,
Pete Cook, Moderator
LETTER FROM THE COUNCIL — FINANCE UPDATE
Dear Members and Friends of First Congregational:
The First Congregational Church has served as a vibrant, welcoming center of faith, service and fellowship for visitors, locals and washashores for more than 300 years.
We operate and serve the community year-round; in addition to two Sunday worship services, we offer pastoral care, outreach, and support for parishioners. Our doors are always open to the public, with groups who meet regularly in our building or conduct activities on our grounds.
The upkeep of our beautiful 175 year-old building and facilities is significant. Costs continue to rise each year. In just the past few months, we’ve incurred additional, unanticipated expenses:
The cost of our church building insurance has nearly doubled to almost $30,000 per year;
Our electricity costs have skyrocketed to averaging nearly $2000 per month.
And there are other periodic costs, such as upcoming repairs to our historic organ estimated at $10,000.
Thanks to your generosity, our revenues are projected to grow this year. However, rising expenses are currently projected to exceed revenues by approximately $35,000.
If we were not able to close the gap this year and achieve more sustainable financing going into 2026, we will be compelled to look at deep cuts— including reductions in services and staff.
The Church Council, supported by the Financial Management Committee, is working to find savings and explore ways to trim expenses and monitor our current projected deficit. Going forward between now and the end of the year, we will present an overview of the financial picture on a regular basis to the congregation.
We’re hopeful and prayerful that once again our congregation can generate the necessary resources, whether through increased stewardship or volunteering to lead fund-raising activities. The situation is manageable if we act now, with each contributing what they can, to address the budget gap.
Thank you for your fellowship, stewardship and taking a moment to consider how we can all work together to end the year on a financially sound footing.
The Church Council
2025 CAPE COD CROP HUNGER WALK
October 12, 2025
Twenty-five percent of the money we raise stays here on the Cape. This year we are concentrating our support on the Wellfleet Food Pantry and other pantries on the Cape. Did you know that the Wellfleet Food Pantry is the busiest Food Pantry on the Lower Cape!
This year supporting the work of the Food Pantries is more important than ever. Because of anticipated cuts to food from the Department of Agriculture, local food pantries will have trouble meeting the needs of their clients. The Greater Boston Food Bank anticipates cuts to Massachusetts of many millions of dollars of food. On top of that, Congress is considering cuts in aid to people of low income. The demand for Food Pantries is likely to increase. The Greater Boston Food Bank anticipates a 70% increase in use of Food Pantries. More demand and lower supply spells trouble.
This year we are concentrating our local support to help out Food Pantries. Thank you for considering supporting our Cape Cod CROP Hunger Walk. And thank you to all of you who have donated to the walk so far!
This is another example of how your support for the CROP Hunger Walk is helping people around the world. This year more than ever we need your support. Severe cuts in Federal funding have impacted the ability of Church World Service to provide the help that so many need. You can make a donation in three ways:
Online: go to the website, crophungerwalk.org/capecod and scroll down to our church team
Check: you can donate by making a check out to CWS/Crop Walk and leave it in the morning offering or dropping it off at the church office. You can support us also starting in May at the Farmer’s Market. Thank you so much.
BACKPACKS FOR THE HOMELESS PREVENTION COUNCIL
The Deacons are upholding the tradition of collaborating with the Homeless Prevention Council to provide backpacks and school supplies for children in need. Supplying these materials helps boost confidence and promotes equity while ensuring that all children are adequately prepared. As a community, we can contribute to fostering curiosity, experiences, and a love of learning. Please consider supporting efforts to equip children with the necessary school supplies. This is an investment in our future!!
The Deacons will be providing a collection box both in Fellowship Hall and in the Vestibule prior to going into the Sanctuary. We will put together the backpacks with the donated supplies and take them to the Homeless Prevention Council.
Please provide donations No Later Than SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 2025!
Some school supplies needed this year are:
COLORED PENCILS
CRAYOLA CRAYONS (24 count)
HIGHLIGHTERS
TICONDEROGA #2 PENCILS
PENCIL CASE (Blue, Red, Yellow or Green) (Hard Plastic and Soft Zipper)
PENCIL TOP ERASERS
LARGE ERASERS
ELMERS GLUE BOTTLES
ELMERS GLUE STICKS
SCISSORS
SCIENTIFIC CALCULATORS
BACKPACKS
EXPO MARKERS THIN AND THICK
EXPO MARKER ERASERS
COMPOSITION NOTEBOOKS
2 POCKET FOLDERS
1.5 INCH BINDERS
1 SUBJECT NOTEBOOKS
EAR BUDS
BPA FREE WATER BOTTLES (No Metal)
CRAYOLA WASHABLE MARKERS (Thick & Thin)
24 COLOR WASHABLE PAINT SET
Thank you for considering to donate!! Your support is appreciated!
Deacons
First Congregational Church of Wellfleet
MISSIONS AND MINISTRIES COFFEE
Do you have an idea for a mission opportunity or outreach activity? New to the church or the Wellfleet area and want to learn more about what lies at the heart of FCC’s mission? Join us during Fellowship Hour, following morning worship on the second Sunday of the month, for an informal discussion of opportunities to engage with our local community. Our next sessions will be held on July 13th, and August 10th. We hope to see YOU there!
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
Last month our church celebrated Juneteenth for the first time with a vibrant, kid-centered event. The day featured storytelling and community art in partnership with Artpeacemakers, plus bounce houses, face painting, and snacks. It was hot—but our spirits were high. The Provincetown Independent captured the day in a recent write-up, linked here.
