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

4/27/08

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 27^th:

Monday 1 – 4 p.m

Tuesday 1 – 4 p.m.

Wednesday 10:15 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Please note that Rev. Dee will be off on Friday, May 2.

SCHEDULE

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

Tues. 29 Heart Walk, 10 a.m.

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 and film entitled,

“Flame” about love, sex, and the Christian faith.

Wed. 30 Prayer Group, 9:15 a.m.

Sr. Choir, 6 p.m

Community Chorus, 7 p.m..

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.

Wed. May 7 Holy Rollers, Schaffers’ home, 2-4 p.m.

LOOKING AHEAD

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

Sat. May 17 Men’s Breakfast, Easthampton Diner, 8:30 a.m.

Church School Tag Sale

Pasta Dinner and Social, 5 – 9 p.m.

Material for June Cornerstone is due by May 20^th

Members and friends in need of healing prayers

Prayers for Healing: Terry, Michael, Ruth, Deb, John, Paula, Dan, Marian (at Loomis) and Len, Jim (at Calvin Coolidge), 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

CONGRATULATIONS! We extend our congratulations to Leisl Marie (Brbovic) McKinney and Preston Shawn McKinney who were married on Saturday, April 26^th, in our church sanctuary. Congratulations to the couple and to their respective families!

GOD IN LITERATURE BOOK GROUP: A special film entitled, “Flame,” which is about love, sex, and the Christian faith will be shown in advance of discussion of this month’s book, The End of the Affair, and Chapter 11 of Reading is Believing, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29th.

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.

CHURCH SCHOOL TAG SALE: This event will coincide with the Southampton Library Book Sale, the Woman’s Club Plant Sale, and the above-mentioned Pasta Dinner. Clothing, stuffed animals, magazines and junk will not be accepted. Collectible toys sell well. Check your attics and basements. Watch for drop-off times and locations. This event is sponsored by the Church School and directly helps to support our Church School classes and activities.

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)

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 4/27/08 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 27^th: Monday 1 – 4 p.m Tuesday 1 – 4 p.m. Wednesday 10:15 a.m. – 2 p.m. . Please note that Rev. Dee will be off on Friday, May 2. SCHEDULE Mon. 28 Confirmation Class #8, 7-8:30 p.m. Tues. 29 Heart Walk, 10 a.m. 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 and film entitled, “Flame” about love, sex, and the Christian faith. Wed. 30 Prayer Group, 9:15 a.m. Sr. Choir, 6 p.m Community Chorus, 7 p.m.. 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. Wed. May 7 Holy Rollers, Schaffers’ home, 2-4 p.m. LOOKING AHEAD Thurs. May 8 All-Church Meeting Night, 6:45 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Sat. May 17 Men’s Breakfast, Easthampton Diner, 8:30 a.m. Church School Tag Sale Pasta Dinner and Social, 5 – 9 p.m. Material for June Cornerstone is due by May 20^th Members and friends in need of healing prayers Prayers for Healing: Terry, Michael, Ruth, Deb, John, Paula, Dan, Marian (at Loomis) and Len, Jim (at Calvin Coolidge), 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 CONGRATULATIONS! We extend our congratulations to Leisl Marie (Brbovic) McKinney and Preston Shawn McKinney who were married on Saturday, April 26^th, in our church sanctuary. Congratulations to the couple and to their respective families! GOD IN LITERATURE BOOK GROUP: A special film entitled, “Flame,” which is about love, sex, and the Christian faith will be shown in advance of discussion of this month’s book, The End of the Affair, and Chapter 11 of Reading is Believing, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29th. 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. CHURCH SCHOOL TAG SALE: This event will coincide with the Southampton Library Book Sale, the Woman’s Club Plant Sale, and the above-mentioned Pasta Dinner. Clothing, stuffed animals, magazines and junk will not be accepted. Collectible toys sell well. Check your attics and basements. Watch for drop-off times and locations. This event is sponsored by the Church School and directly helps to support our Church School classes and activities. 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) 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.