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

4/20/08

www.shcong.org

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

Office Administrator’s Office Hours:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday – 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Rev Dee’s Office Hours for the week of April 20^th:

Monday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Wednesday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Please note that Rev. Dee will be off on Thursday, April 24^th

SCHEDULE

Mon. 21 Confirmation Class #7, 7-8:30 p.m.

(Mentor/Mission Night)

Tues. 22 Heart Walk, 10 a.m.

Wed. 23 Prayer Group, 9:15 a.m.

Sr. Choir, 6 p.m

Community Chorus, 7 p.m..

Thurs. 24 Holy Rollers at Warrens’, 2-4 p.m.

LOOKING AHEAD

Tues. 29 G.I.L. Book Group, 7 p.m. The End of the Affair

by Graham Greene, and Chapter 11 of Reading is

Believing by David Cunningham

Thurs. May 1 Church Council, 7 p.m.

Sat. May 3 Community Chorus Concert, First Cong. Church,

So. Hadley, 4 p.m.

Sun. May 4 Community Chorus Concert in Southampton, 4

p.m.

Thurs. May 8 All-Church Meeting Night, 6:45 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Material for May Cornerstone is due by April 20th

Members and friends in need of healing prayers

Condolences: We extend our sincere sympathy to the Dods Family on the loss of Gwen Dods.

We also extend our condolences to Kevin and Cherilynn Boden on the passing of their dear friend, Ed Pisiewski.

Prayers for Healing: Terry, Michael, Ruth, Jocelyn, Wayne, Deb, John, Paula, Dan, Richard, Marian (at Loomis) and Len, Jim, Ron, Myrna, Debra, Laura, Ken, Nancy M., Colin Q., Heather, Jimmy W., Marilynn, Kathleen, Anne, and Alexis

Prayers for Presence: The Boden Family, The Family of Gwen Dods, Jennifer Tobiasz, Donna Vollert, Inez, for our country’s leaders, for our troops wherever they are stationed, for our world neighbors in their various needs, Israel/Palestine, and for our confirmands

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

INTRODUCING OUR NEW VOLUNTEER BOARD

NOTE FROM OUR MODERATOR: As you may have seen on the bulletin board in the hallway, there is a space called Volunteer Opportunities. I wanted to explain the plans for this space. At a past Church Council meeting we discussed the idea of having the various committees list out tasks or projects that need to be done. These tasks would then be listed on the bulletin board for the congregation to volunteer to assist the respective committee. The idea is that these tasks would be short-term in nature to fit into schedules that don’t always allow for full committee participation or for someone looking to help on a particular task that is of interest.

This is a call to committees to add items to the board and a call to members to look at the board and sign up to assist.

David Huntley, Jr.

Moderator

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PASTA DINNER AND SOCIAL ON MAY 17^TH:

Sign up now before all the opportunities to participate in this fun-filled evening are filled! Benefits include: spending time with friends and church mates; help the church make some $; taste all the food before the general public J; take home some left-overs (hopefully nothing left); have and make great memories…

Our executive chef will be Jeff Hotham and our Coordinator for this event will be Tim Huber. Please contact Tim at 527-1249 or hubersmd@hotmail.com if you can help in any way; --OR—Sign up on our new volunteer bulletin board in the hallway at the church. This event is sponsored by your Finance and Operations Committee.

CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations goes to church member Sharon Christian who was presented with the 2008 Northern New England Regional Directors Award from Church World Service for her “inspirational leadership in 2007 Hilltowns CROP Hunger Walk and her “commitment to ending hunger and poverty here at home and around the world.” Sharon was one of three recipients chosen in the Northern New England Region (Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire). The award was given by the Rev. Burt Marshall, Regional Director of CWS and presented by Rev. Dee during worship. Special thanks goes to member Dorothy Forster who nominated Sharon for this wonderful award.

CARDS FOR THE REV. CHARLES HUME: If you are planning to send congratulatory wishes to the family of Rev. Hume, please have your card/note/pictures in the office by April 23^rd, so that all may be mailed together. The family of Rev. Hume is planning a surprise celebration of his 50^th year of ordination.

BOOK RELEASE BY REV. BOB GARDINER: “Funny Stuff—A Cheerful Poetic Romp Through the Puddles and Muddles of this Goofy Planet”, by Bob Gardiner has recently been published. The cost is $11.00 plus shipping & handling if ordered from the publisher. A sign-up sheet will be available during Coffee Hour if you are interested in purchasing a copy.

PIONEER VALLEY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY is looking for low-income families to become homeowners. An information session will be held on May 4, at 3 p.m., at the First Churches, 129 Main St., downtown Northampton. The information session will last about 1 hour . Potential applicants will learn about Habitat’s selection criteria, and how to prepare to be successful in the process. The selection criteria include need, ability to make modest mortgage payments, and willingness to participate with Habitat in the construction of the home. Future home construction is planned in Northampton. Attendance at an information session is required to receive an application. For further information, including income guidelines, call 413-586-5430, or visit the website www.pioneervalleyhabitat.org Also, please see the bulletin board in the hallway downstairs for more information.

BIG Y STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: April is 6% month! Stock up on cards to feed you and your family and our church treasury! 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.

TREASURER’S REPORT for March :

Total Revenues $12,061

Total Expenses $14,461

March Deficit $ 2,400

2/29/08 Church Operating Balance: $(2,120.75)

GOD IN LITERATURE: The meeting for March 18, has been rescheduled for April 29^th, at 7 p.m. The book selection will be The End of the Affair by Graham Greene.

FROM OUR CHURCH SCHOOL: Each year the Sunday School children take on a mission project. In the past, they have helped build a house with the help of Habitat for Humanity, they have helped a village become more self sufficient with the help of Heifer Project International, and they have given poor kids the chance to enjoy fresh grow vegetables, with the help of Interval Farm in Westhampton. This year they will again be donating to working with Heifer Project International. HPI is a Christian based charity that helps poor families become more self sufficient, buy supplying them with animals and they educating them on how to raise the animals, the receiving families are they asked to give an offspring of their gift to another family, thus sharing the gift they have been given. The children are also going to be making up school kits to be distributed to children in need thru Church World Service.

The goal the kids have set is $1000, this will be divided equally amongst the two projects. The children have raised $500 thus far!!! We are halfway to our goal! Your help in reaching this goal is greatly appreciated; there are banks in the Parish hall, and a deposit station in the old Sunday school room (look for the red barn) Thank you for supporting our project and we will keep you posted about our progress.

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

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.

FLOWERS: Terry Vogel is 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.

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 4/20/08 www.shcong.org 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 Office Administrator’s Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday – 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Rev Dee’s Office Hours for the week of April 20^th: Monday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wednesday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Please note that Rev. Dee will be off on Thursday, April 24^th SCHEDULE Mon. 21 Confirmation Class #7, 7-8:30 p.m. (Mentor/Mission Night) Tues. 22 Heart Walk, 10 a.m. Wed. 23 Prayer Group, 9:15 a.m. Sr. Choir, 6 p.m Community Chorus, 7 p.m.. Thurs. 24 Holy Rollers at Warrens’, 2-4 p.m. LOOKING AHEAD Tues. 29 G.I.L. Book Group, 7 p.m. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, and Chapter 11 of Reading is Believing by David Cunningham Thurs. May 1 Church Council, 7 p.m. Sat. May 3 Community Chorus Concert, First Cong. Church, So. Hadley, 4 p.m. Sun. May 4 Community Chorus Concert in Southampton, 4 p.m. Thurs. May 8 All-Church Meeting Night, 6:45 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Material for May Cornerstone is due by April 20th Members and friends in need of healing prayers Condolences: We extend our sincere sympathy to the Dods Family on the loss of Gwen Dods. We also extend our condolences to Kevin and Cherilynn Boden on the passing of their dear friend, Ed Pisiewski. Prayers for Healing: Terry, Michael, Ruth, Jocelyn, Wayne, Deb, John, Paula, Dan, Richard, Marian (at Loomis) and Len, Jim, Ron, Myrna, Debra, Laura, Ken, Nancy M., Colin Q., Heather, Jimmy W., Marilynn, Kathleen, Anne, and Alexis Prayers for Presence: The Boden Family, The Family of Gwen Dods, Jennifer Tobiasz, Donna Vollert, Inez, for our country’s leaders, for our troops wherever they are stationed, for our world neighbors in their various needs, Israel/Palestine, and for our confirmands Prayers for those in the Military: Capt. David Moran, Rachel Lacroix, 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 INTRODUCING OUR NEW VOLUNTEER BOARD NOTE FROM OUR MODERATOR: As you may have seen on the bulletin board in the hallway, there is a space called Volunteer Opportunities. I wanted to explain the plans for this space. At a past Church Council meeting we discussed the idea of having the various committees list out tasks or projects that need to be done. These tasks would then be listed on the bulletin board for the congregation to volunteer to assist the respective committee. The idea is that these tasks would be short-term in nature to fit into schedules that don’t always allow for full committee participation or for someone looking to help on a particular task that is of interest. This is a call to committees to add items to the board and a call to members to look at the board and sign up to assist. David Huntley, Jr. Moderator VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PASTA DINNER AND SOCIAL ON MAY 17^TH: Sign up now before all the opportunities to participate in this fun-filled evening are filled! Benefits include: spending time with friends and church mates; help the church make some $; taste all the food before the general public J; take home some left-overs (hopefully nothing left); have and make great memories… Our executive chef will be Jeff Hotham and our Coordinator for this event will be Tim Huber. Please contact Tim at 527-1249 or hubersmd@hotmail.com if you can help in any way; --OR—Sign up on our new volunteer bulletin board in the hallway at the church. This event is sponsored by your Finance and Operations Committee. CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations goes to church member Sharon Christian who was presented with the 2008 Northern New England Regional Directors Award from Church World Service for her “inspirational leadership in 2007 Hilltowns CROP Hunger Walk and her “commitment to ending hunger and poverty here at home and around the world.” Sharon was one of three recipients chosen in the Northern New England Region (Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire). The award was given by the Rev. Burt Marshall, Regional Director of CWS and presented by Rev. Dee during worship. Special thanks goes to member Dorothy Forster who nominated Sharon for this wonderful award. CARDS FOR THE REV. CHARLES HUME: If you are planning to send congratulatory wishes to the family of Rev. Hume, please have your card/note/pictures in the office by April 23^rd, so that all may be mailed together. The family of Rev. Hume is planning a surprise celebration of his 50^th year of ordination. BOOK RELEASE BY REV. BOB GARDINER: “Funny Stuff—A Cheerful Poetic Romp Through the Puddles and Muddles of this Goofy Planet”, by Bob Gardiner has recently been published. The cost is $11.00 plus shipping & handling if ordered from the publisher. A sign-up sheet will be available during Coffee Hour if you are interested in purchasing a copy. PIONEER VALLEY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY is looking for low-income families to become homeowners. An information session will be held on May 4, at 3 p.m., at the First Churches, 129 Main St., downtown Northampton. The information session will last about 1 hour . Potential applicants will learn about Habitat’s selection criteria, and how to prepare to be successful in the process. The selection criteria include need, ability to make modest mortgage payments, and willingness to participate with Habitat in the construction of the home. Future home construction is planned in Northampton. Attendance at an information session is required to receive an application. For further information, including income guidelines, call 413-586-5430, or visit the website www.pioneervalleyhabitat.org Also, please see the bulletin board in the hallway downstairs for more information. BIG Y STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: *April is 6% month! Stock up on cards to feed you and your family and our church treasury!* 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. TREASURER’S REPORT for March : Total Revenues $12,061 Total Expenses $14,461 March Deficit $ 2,400 2/29/08 Church Operating Balance: $(2,120.75) GOD IN LITERATURE: The meeting for March 18, has been rescheduled for April 29^th, at 7 p.m. The book selection will be The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. FROM OUR CHURCH SCHOOL: Each year the Sunday School children take on a mission project. In the past, they have helped build a house with the help of Habitat for Humanity, they have helped a village become more self sufficient with the help of Heifer Project International, and they have given poor kids the chance to enjoy fresh grow vegetables, with the help of Interval Farm in Westhampton. This year they will again be donating to working with Heifer Project International. HPI is a Christian based charity that helps poor families become more self sufficient, buy supplying them with animals and they educating them on how to raise the animals, the receiving families are they asked to give an offspring of their gift to another family, thus sharing the gift they have been given. The children are also going to be making up school kits to be distributed to children in need thru Church World Service. The goal the kids have set is $1000, this will be divided equally amongst the two projects. The children have raised $500 thus far!!! We are halfway to our goal! Your help in reaching this goal is greatly appreciated; there are banks in the Parish hall, and a deposit station in the old Sunday school room (look for the red barn) Thank you for supporting our project and we will keep you posted about our progress. PLEDGE ENVELOPES are available on the bench in the Old Sunday School room. 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. FLOWERS: Terry Vogel is 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. 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.