First Congregational Church of Southampton

First Congregational Church of Southampton
United Church of Christ
212 College Highway, P.O. Box 145
Southampton, MA 01073
Phone: (413) 527-1173

Weekly Update

01/20/08

Rev. Dee’s E-mail: revdee@shcong.org

Church Office E-Mail: churchoffice@shcong.org

Church Office: 527-1173

http://www.shcong.org

WEEKLY CALENDAR

Wed. 23 No Prayer Group

Sr. Choir, 6 p.m.

Thurs. 24 “Holy Rollers”, Schaffer home, 2-4 p.m.

LOOKING AHEAD

Sun. 27 Food Basket Sunday

Annual Meeting, following worship service (Snow

date, Feb. 3)

Mon. 28 Confirmation Class #1, 7-8:30

Tues. 29 GIL Book Group, 7 p.m. – Animal Dreams by

Barbara Kingsolver and Chap. 9 of Reading is

Believing by David Cunningham

Tues. Feb. 5 Capital Fund committee meeting, 7 p.m.

Wed. 6 Ash Wednesday service, sanctuary, 7 p.m.

Rev. Dee’s Office hours for the week of January 20^th:

Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Thursday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Members and friends in need of healing prayers

Prayers for Healing: Carolyn, Dan, Bonnie, Richard , Roger, Marian, Jim, Ron, Mike, Sally, Corinne, Susan, Myrna, Sarah, Debra, Laura, Ken, Lew, Nancy., Colin, Heather, Jimmy, Marilynn, Kathleen, Anne, and Alexis.

Prayers for Presence: Michelle and the Raney Family, Sansom Family, the Bashista Family, Inez, for our country’s leaders, for our troops wherever they are stationed, and for our world neighbors in their various needs, and our confirmands.

Prayers for those in the Military: Capt. David Moran, Rachel, Eric

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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PALMS: The Diaconate requests that folks bring their old palm crosses back to the church by Sunday, February 3^rd, so that they can be used to make “ashes” for the Ash Wednesday Service on February 6^th. There will be a basket set up in the Old Sunday School room to receive your old palm branches and/or crosses.

ANNUAL REPORTS: Copies of the Annual Report (excluding a separate Nominating Report) are available at Coffee Hour. Please take one home to read before next Sunday’s Annual Meeting on the 27^th, and please remember to bring it back with you to the meeting. Also, bring along your copies of the proposed By-Law changes. CHILD CARE will be available during the Annual Meeting.

OPERATION SOLDIERS: The TRIAD S.A.L.T. Council of Southampton is collecting for our soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Items will be picked up weekly by a committee member for packing and shipping. There is a collection box in the Parish Hall if you care to make donations. Please note carefully the suggestions written on the box. These are approved items for shipping. Thank you.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: Please make sure that coffee hour refreshments do not contain any form of peanuts or peanut products! Any contact (even when not consumed) can trigger serious health danger for some in our congregation.

PLEDGE ENVELOPES and GIVING STATEMENTS are available on the bench in the Old Sunday School room.

CONFIRMATION: Thank you to ALL of the volunteers who helped and participated in our Confirmation “Kick-Off” Lock-in!!! We have a great group of young people who have undertaken the journey to confirmation. Some of these youth might approach YOU to be their mentor for the journey. Please consider supporting them in their faith life!

FOUND: A blue and silver earring in the sanctuary. May be claimed in the church office.

FLOWERS: Terry Vogel has generously volunteered to be our new flower coordinator for 2008. She may be reached at (413) 203-1742, and at foghollowfarm@charter.net Please let Terry know if you would like to donate your flowers to those who may be shut in, hospitalized, or in need of a cheerful pick-me-up. The Flower Sign-Up clip board is hanging on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

FAVORITE HYMN/HYMNS: Please tell us what your favorite hymns are and why you enjoy them—Forms are available in the Parish Hall. Please fill it out and place it in the designated basket in the Parish Hall.

YOUR PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED: Our Church By-Laws and Constitution help us to exercise good church governance. These By-Laws have been under revision. In order to “pass” the revised by-laws, it takes two “all-church” votes. The first all-church meeting will was held on December 9^th. The second will be held on January 27^th at our regular Annual Meeting. Please mark your calendar for this important date. Copies of the Revised Church By-Laws are available for your church family on the table in the narthex (outside the sanctuary). We request and need the participation of all voting members. Thank you.

CAPITAL FUND COMMITTEE: An ad hoc committee to evaluate anticipated capital projects for the church and the necessity (or not) of a capital fund drive recently held its first meeting. The charge of this committee is to gather feedback from the congregation on the need and desire of a capital fund drive in the near future and to report back to Church Council for determination of the next steps. The committee has started the laundry list of items and is soliciting suggestions/ideas from members. The initial list includes: new roof over the kitchen/parish hall (not the slate part); piano for the sanctuary (current one will not hold its tuning); improvements to the handicap accessibility such as a new ramp; and driveway work. As in prior capital drives, there will also be a missions component that is yet to be determined. Please provide any thoughts/ideas you have that should be added to this list. You can e-mail your suggestions to David Huntley (dbhuntley@comcast.net), or send a note to David’s attention at the church, or talk with any of the members of this committee—Bill Bray, Gene Duncan, Nancy Hughes, David Huntley, Jr., Richard LeClerc, and Curt McCarthy

BIG Y STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: Beverly Ruszala is the person to see if you are in need of Big Y Gift Cards. She will receive your orders and distribute gift cards during coffee hour, at a designated table. Order forms (available on the table in the Old Sunday School Room or online) may also be placed in the “Green Box.” Beverly checks the box each week.

Shriner’s Aluminum Tab Collection: Rachel would like to thank everyone again for collecting the aluminum tabs. Shriners uses the money from recycling the tabs to purchase medical equipment for the hospital. Keep collecting!!!

If you no longer wish to receive this weekly update or other church news, please e-mail Rev. Dee at revdee@shcong.org and we will remove your e-mail address from the list. Also, if you change your e-mail address, please let us know if you wish to continue receiving church e-mail.

We hope you all have a pleasant and peaceful week.

		First Congregational Church of Southampton United Church of Christ 212 College Highway, P.O. Box 145 Southampton, MA 01073 Phone: (413) 527-1173
	Home Information: Our Beliefs Worship Service Christian Education Pastor Staff Youth Group Directions History Committees: Trustees Church Council Diaconate Finance and Stewardship Hospitality Missions Nominating Publications: Weekly Newsletters(Email) Cornerstone Forms(Rental,Big Y) Special Programs: Big Y Gift Cards Links: United Church of Christ(Nat'l) United Church of Christ(MA) God is Still Speaking * Opens new window	Weekly Update 01/20/08 Rev. Dee’s E-mail: revdee@shcong.org Church Office E-Mail: churchoffice@shcong.org Church Office: 527-1173 http://www.shcong.org WEEKLY CALENDAR Wed. 23 No Prayer Group Sr. Choir, 6 p.m. Thurs. 24 “Holy Rollers”, Schaffer home, 2-4 p.m. LOOKING AHEAD Sun. 27 Food Basket Sunday Annual Meeting, following worship service (Snow date, Feb. 3) Mon. 28 Confirmation Class #1, 7-8:30 Tues. 29 GIL Book Group, 7 p.m. – Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver and Chap. 9 of Reading is Believing by David Cunningham Tues. Feb. 5 Capital Fund committee meeting, 7 p.m. Wed. 6 Ash Wednesday service, sanctuary, 7 p.m. Rev. Dee’s Office hours for the week of January 20^th: Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thursday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Members and friends in need of healing prayers Prayers for Healing: Carolyn, Dan, Bonnie, Richard , Roger, Marian, Jim, Ron, Mike, Sally, Corinne, Susan, Myrna, Sarah, Debra, Laura, Ken, Lew, Nancy., Colin, Heather, Jimmy, Marilynn, Kathleen, Anne, and Alexis. Prayers for Presence: Michelle and the Raney Family, Sansom Family, the Bashista Family, Inez, for our country’s leaders, for our troops wherever they are stationed, and for our world neighbors in their various needs, and our confirmands. Prayers for those in the Military: Capt. David Moran, Rachel, Eric 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.* ANNOUNCEMENTS PALMS: The Diaconate requests that folks bring their old palm crosses back to the church by Sunday, February 3^rd, so that they can be used to make “ashes” for the Ash Wednesday Service on February 6^th. There will be a basket set up in the Old Sunday School room to receive your old palm branches and/or crosses. ANNUAL REPORTS: Copies of the Annual Report (excluding a separate Nominating Report) are available at Coffee Hour. Please take one home to read before next Sunday’s Annual Meeting on the 27^th, and please remember to bring it back with you to the meeting. Also, bring along your copies of the proposed By-Law changes. CHILD CARE will be available during the Annual Meeting. OPERATION SOLDIERS: The TRIAD S.A.L.T. Council of Southampton is collecting for our soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Items will be picked up weekly by a committee member for packing and shipping. There is a collection box in the Parish Hall if you care to make donations. Please note carefully the suggestions written on the box. These are approved items for shipping. Thank you. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: Please make sure that coffee hour refreshments *do not contain any form of peanuts or peanut products!* Any contact (even when not consumed) can trigger serious health danger for some in our congregation. PLEDGE ENVELOPES and GIVING STATEMENTS are available on the bench in the Old Sunday School room. CONFIRMATION: Thank you to ALL of the volunteers who helped and participated in our Confirmation “Kick-Off” Lock-in!!! We have a great group of young people who have undertaken the journey to confirmation. Some of these youth might approach YOU to be their mentor for the journey. Please consider supporting them in their faith life! FOUND: A blue and silver earring in the sanctuary. May be claimed in the church office. FLOWERS: Terry Vogel has generously volunteered to be our new flower coordinator for 2008. She may be reached at (413) 203-1742, and at foghollowfarm@charter.net Please let Terry know if you would like to donate your flowers to those who may be shut in, hospitalized, or in need of a cheerful pick-me-up. The Flower Sign-Up clip board is hanging on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. FAVORITE HYMN/HYMNS: Please tell us what your favorite hymns are and why you enjoy them—Forms are available in the Parish Hall. Please fill it out and place it in the designated basket in the Parish Hall. YOUR PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED: Our Church By-Laws and Constitution help us to exercise good church governance. These By-Laws have been under revision. In order to “pass” the revised by-laws, it takes two “all-church” votes. The first all-church meeting will was held on December 9^th. The second will be held on January 27^th at our regular Annual Meeting. Please mark your calendar for this important date. Copies of the Revised Church By-Laws are available for your church family on the table in the narthex (outside the sanctuary). We request and need the participation of all voting members. Thank you. CAPITAL FUND COMMITTEE: An ad hoc committee to evaluate anticipated capital projects for the church and the necessity (or not) of a capital fund drive recently held its first meeting. The charge of this committee is to gather feedback from the congregation on the need and desire of a capital fund drive in the near future and to report back to Church Council for determination of the next steps. The committee has started the laundry list of items and is soliciting suggestions/ideas from members. The initial list includes: new roof over the kitchen/parish hall (not the slate part); piano for the sanctuary (current one will not hold its tuning); improvements to the handicap accessibility such as a new ramp; and driveway work. As in prior capital drives, there will also be a missions component that is yet to be determined. Please provide any thoughts/ideas you have that should be added to this list. You can e-mail your suggestions to David Huntley (dbhuntley@comcast.net), or send a note to David’s attention at the church, or talk with any of the members of this committee—Bill Bray, Gene Duncan, Nancy Hughes, David Huntley, Jr., Richard LeClerc, and Curt McCarthy BIG Y STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: Beverly Ruszala is the person to see if you are in need of Big Y Gift Cards. She will receive your orders and distribute gift cards during coffee hour, at a designated table. Order forms (available on the table in the Old Sunday School Room or online) may also be placed in the “Green Box.” Beverly checks the box each week. Shriner’s Aluminum Tab Collection: Rachel would like to thank everyone again for collecting the aluminum tabs. Shriners uses the money from recycling the tabs to purchase medical equipment for the hospital. Keep collecting!!! If you no longer wish to receive this weekly update or other church news, please e-mail Rev. Dee at revdee@shcong.org and we will remove your e-mail address from the list. Also, if you change your e-mail address, please let us know if you wish to continue receiving church e-mail. We hope you all have a pleasant and peaceful week.