Weekly Update

1/7/07

www.shcong.org

Rev. Dee’s E-mail: revdee@shcong.org

Church Office E-Mail:  shcongchurch@peoplepc.com

Church Office: 527-1173

Dear Church Members,

Here’s what’s happening at YOUR church this WEEK:

Rev. Dee’s office hours are by appointment this week.

MONDAY                  Office Administrator’s Hours                            8:30AM-12:30PM

TUESDAY                  Heart Walk                                                      10:00AM

                                    Junior Choir                                                      4:30-5:00PM

WEDNESDAY           Deadline for Sunday Bulletin

                                    Final Annual Report Deadline

                                    Office Administrator’s Hours                            8:30AM-12:30PM

                                    Prayer Group                                                   9:15AM

                                    Sr. Choir Rehearsal                                          6:15PM

                                    Bi-Polar Support Group                                   6:00PM

                                    Finance & Operations Meeting                         7:30PM

THURSDAY              Trustees Meeting                                              7:30PM

FRIDAY                     Office Administrator’s Hours                            8:30AM-12:30PM

SATURDAY              

SUNDAY                    Morning Worship                                           10:00AM

                                    Church School

Cornerstone Deadline:          Deadline for February edition is January 19th.

Today’s News

Annual Reports:  Any Committee Reports not received by Wednesday of this week will need to be submitted separately at the Annual Meeting on January 21^st.  Please leave reports either in the “Annual Report” folder in the slot outside the Church Office or in the folder on Dorothy’s desk.  The Final Report must be completed early, so it can be distributed one week prior to the Annual Meeting.

2007 Pledge Envelopes are available in the Old Sunday School Room for pick up.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the supplemental Epiphany class (part of Advent Study) has been cancelled.

The Rev. Frank Groggett’s installation as pastor of the First Church in Ludlow will be held on January 28^th, at 3:00PM.  All are invited to attend.

A Bowling Challenge:  We have been challenged!!  The First Church of Ludlow (Rev. Frank’s church) has planned a bowling afternoon with our church at the AMF Lanes in Chicopee on Sunday, February 18^th.  The lanes are on Burnett Road, where I-291 terminates, just beyond the Mass Pike.  Grab your bowling shoes and prepare for a good time!  Please sign up in the church office so we can know how many are going.  More details will follow.

Website News:  Don’t forget to visit our church’s website: www.shcong.org.  You can now find copies of past sermons on the website. 

Members and friends in need of healing prayers

Prayers for Healing:  Bill, Kathleen, Sharon, Norma C., Ed and Gen, Mrs. D., Kim, Doug, Marilyn, Ruth, Marion, Anne, Tom, Wally, Bobby, Bart and Sarah, Paula, Donald, Richard,  Heather, and Alexis.

Prayers for Presence:  The Family of Myrtle King, Richard Krzanowki and Family, Glen, Len, Cora, Lew, Peg, Inez, Elizabeth,  for our world neighbors in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Israel, North Korea, for our country’s leaders, for those who hunger around the world, and for those who feel alone this season.

Military Service People:  Ron

If you have a prayer concern, please notify Rev. Dee.  Please let her know if the concern is confidential.  Confidential concerns will not be shared at Prayer Group or in public worship.

Worship Items

Coffee Hour:  In an effort to share the privilege and responsibility of offering refreshment to our members and friends each week, designated committees are asked to provide light refreshment (coffee and juice) for designated months during the year.

• January Host Committee:  Trustees

• February Host Committee:  Christian Ed / Sunday School / Youth

Note to Ushers:  If you are serving as an usher, please remember to take attendance (including Sunday School kids) and record it on the board located in the narthex.  The church clerk needs this information for her reports, as well as, the Cornerstone.  Thanks.

Church Flowers:  If you are dedicating flowers for the Sunday Service, would you consider leaving some of the bouquet for sharing with members who find it hard to get to church.  There is nothing more cheerful than a few blossoms on a gray day.  Please speak to Kate Flemming if you wish to share your posies!!  Please note that the Flower Sign-Up Clipboard has been moved to the Parish Hall. 

Finance & Operations News

Stewardship Sunday:  Thank you to everyone who participated in Stewardship Sunday.  If you were not able to be present, you may still return your pledge card.  Pledge cards may be placed in the collection plate, given to the collectors, or mailed to the church.  Additional pledge cards can be found on the table in the Narthex.  To date, pledges received total $96,311 toward our 2007 proposed pledge budget of $115,000.  If we do not meet our proposed pledge budget, we will either have to reduce the budget or rely on additional fundraisers to meet our commitments.

2007 Nominations:  Between now and the annual church meeting in January, the Nominating Committee will be actively seeking candidates for 30 positions on our church’s standing committees.

There will be opportunities to serve beginning in January 2007 on the following committees: Diaconate, Church Council, Historian, Pastoral Relations, Finance, Trustees, Missions, Music, Nominating, Christian Education, Stewardship, Church Life, Delegates to MACUCC, Hampshire Association, and the Hampshire Interfaith Council.

Not sure where your talents will best serve the church?  Please feel free to ask any member of the committee and we can certainly help you to determine the best fit for your interests and skills.  It will make our job much easier if we know you want to be involved.

If you have an interest in one or more of these positions, please contact:

                        Don Warren, Chairperson

                        230 College Highway

                        Southampton, MA                    01073

                        Phone:              413-527-4991

                        Email:               dwarren4991@charter.net

Big Y Gift Card Program:  Big Y sells $50 gift cards to the church at 2% discount thus providing the church with a fundraising opportunity.  Order forms can be found in the Old Sunday School room.  Place order forms in the “green box” located on the nametag table or see Beverly Ruszala at coffee hour.  Beverly will check the box each week and will be available at coffee hour with a supply of cards.  Please note that Beverly does not have e-mail so you will not be able to place e-mail orders.  Beverly can also be reached at 568-5173.  NOTE:  The church has purchased a supply of 6% cards.  So you may be able to do your Thanksgiving food shopping with a 6% donation to the church! 

Church School News

The Church School year will run from September 6^th though June 7^th.  A format change this year will allow all Sunday School Teachers one Sunday a month off from teaching duties.  On that Sunday, April West will teach a group lesson to all classes with the help of parent volunteers and the youth group.

Help Wanted:  Are you being “nudged” to help our young people set out on their spiritual journeys?  The following positions are open on the church school staff:

Assistant Teacher 3-4 – this class is expected to have 14 students so Lynn LaPlante needs some help!!

Come be a part of this vital and exciting team ministry!  Please see Rev. Dee, Karen Duncan, or April West for details. 

Sunday School Recycling Program (Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe Program) – Remove the laces and deposit old sneakers in the collection box now located in the Parish Hall.  The Sunday School will deliver the old sneakers to one of the Western Mass collection sites. 

NOTE: We can recycle any brand of shoes, no laces, no metal, and no cleats.

Note:  Deborah Lambert has been heading this program for 3 years now.  She is ready to pass the “shoe baton” to anyone interested in taking over this program.  It would be good job for someone who works up the Hadley/Amherst way as the drop off is at Boyden Gym at UMass.  If you would be interested in administering this program, please contact Deborah Lambert.

Hospitality Committee News

The Hospitality Committee is excited to announce that we have started the process to create a new pictorial directory of our church family.  PLEASE PARTICIPATE!  Without you the Directory will not be complete.

            All we ask is that you have your picture taken by the professional photographer from Olan Mills.  There is NO charge to have your photo taken.  Every participating person/family will receive a FREE Directory and a FREE 8x10 color portrait.  You will be able to purchase additional portraits and directories.  There are no charges to the Church for this directory service.

            There will be a sign up sheet at the church so you can schedule your time slot.  The two photography dates are January 24^th and 25^th, 2007 at the church.  There will be 20-minute time slots going from 3:00PM – 9:00PM on each of the days.  Please sign up as soon as possible and stay tuned for more details!!

Christian Education

We invite you to deepen your faith journey and your walk with God by joining us for the following Christian education opportunities for the fall season.  Most groups follow and informal “discussion” model; all meet at the church at the times listed.  You do not have to be a member to join us.  Invite a friend.

G.I.L. (God in Literature): 

This group explores God and religion in works of fiction.  We meet once a month at 7:00PM for approximately an hour and a half.  Please join us for a lively discussion, for exploration, and for fellowship.  Led by Rev. Dee.  Open to all; invite your friends!!

• Tuesday, January 30^th:  The Time of Angels by iris Murdoch and Ch. 1 of Reading is Believing  by David Cunningham.

• Tuesday, February 27^th:  The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis and Ch. 2 of Reading is Believing by David Cunningham

Missions News

Food Collection:  The last Sunday of each month is Missions FOOD BASKET Sunday.  There will be a special basket in the sanctuary for this collection and donations will be blessed during the service.  Of course, nonperishable food may still be brought in each week to the church and placed in the collection baskets located outside the church office.  When the baskets are filled, members of the Missions Committee will transport the food to the local food bank. 

Crop Walk:  Southampton will be hosting the Walk and making all the arrangements for October 2007.  Start thinking about a “good walk”, water and rest stops and refreshments….all the details.

The Holly Rollers:  If you are interested in putting your hands to work to help a clinic in Africa, come and roll bandages (from sheets!).  Or if you have old or new sheets to donate to the group, the Holy Rollers will put them to good use!!  

Our Church’s Ministries

Called to Care Church Transportation Program: 

The Called To Care group will provide transportation to those in need of a ride to church!  If you would like to attend church but need a ride, we can help!!  Please call one of the following individuals for a ride:

§         Scott Cooper               527-5395

§         Richard LeClerc           527-4878

§         Bill O’Grady                 527-5166

The Called to Care Group respectively asks that you call to reserve your ride by Saturday evening so the drivers can plan for Sunday morning.

Heart Healthy Walk: 

Would you like to join a group of fellow walkers for a heart healthy walk once a week?  You are invited to join a group of walkers on Tuesday mornings at 10:00AM for an approximately 1.5 mile loop around the center of town.  We start at the church and walk down East Street to Clark Street to High Street to Center Street and back to the Church.  Everyone walks at their own pace.  We begin promptly at 10:00AM .  This may be just what you need to kick start your own exercise regime.   We invite you to join us this week!  (We walk rain or shine – sprinkles not pouring buckets!!)  Did you see the newspaper?  We have completed our 1^st marathon!!!  Come join us as we begin working towards our next marathon!

Aluminum Tab Collection for Shriners Hospital for Children:  Rachel Huntley is collecting aluminum tabs from the tops of soda, beer, soup, cat food, and other cans.  Rachel will periodically drop off the tabs to Shriners where they will be recycled and the proceeds used to buy medical equipment.  If you have tabs, please give them to any member of the Huntley family or leave them in the donation drop off spot on the new rolling bulletin boards.  Look for the Missions & Outreach board.  NOTE: Total Tab Count is 7,205! Rachel wishes to thank everyone who has helped by saving tabs!!  Please keep collecting.  Rachel’s next visit will be in April.

Looking Ahead

Tuesday, 1/16:            Heart Healthy Walk, 10:00AM – meet in church parking lot.

Tuesday, 1/16:            Diaconate Meeting, 7:00PM

Thursday, 1/18:          Holy Rollers at the home of Mickey Annis, 2-4:00PM

Saturday, 1/20:           Men’s Breakfast @ Easthampton Diner, 8:30AM

Saturday, 1/20:           Mass Conference Listening Sessions in Hadley, 9:45AM-12:45PM

Sunday, 1/21/07:         Annual Meeting (snow date 1/28/07)

Wednesday, 1/24:       Church Directory Photo Session, 3:00PM-9:00PM

Thursday, 1/25:          Church Directory Photo Session, 3:00PM-9:00PM

Tuesday, 1/30:            GIL Book Group, 7:00PM

If you no longer wish to receive this weekly update or other church news, please e-mail me and I will remove your e-mail address from the list.  Also, if you change your e-mail address, please let me know if you wish to continue receiving church e-mail.

I hope you all have a pleasant and peaceful week.

Susan D. Huntley