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

12/06/2009

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

SCHEDULE

Tues. 8 Finance, 7 p.m.

Wed. 9 Prayer Group, 9 a.m.

Choir/Community Chorus, 6-9 p.m.

Thurs. 10 Church Council, 6:45 p.m.

Sat. 12 Community Chorus Concert, First Church of Ludlow, 4

p.m.

Sun. 13 Christmas Pageant

Community Chorus Concert, 4 p.m.

LOOKING AHEAD

Fri. 18 Women’s Missionary Luncheon and preparing baskets

for the Wright Home and Viking’s Landing, 12 noon

Sat. 19 Men’s Breakfast, Easthampton Diner, 8:30 a.m.

Thurs. 24 Christmas Eve Service, 6:30 p.m.

Rev. Dee’s Office Hours for the week of December 6th:

Tuesday, 1-4 p.m.; Wednesday, 10:15 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday, 1-4 p.m.

*Please note that Rev. Dee’s office hours are subject to change and that Friday is her day off. Please call in advance.

Administrative Assistant Hours: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

FLOWERS this morning are given by Dave and Bunny Huntley in loving memory of Ray and Bertha Pease.

THANK YOU

. . .you for gracing us with your presence

. . .to Lay Readers, Paul Tetreault, Carlene Osborn and Kate Carl

. . .to our talented and dedicated choir

. . .to Ushers & Greeters, David and Susan Huntley

. . .to Pam & Ken Gaspar for hosting Coffee Hour

. . .to Nursery Care providers, Nancy Theroux and Adam

Federman

. . .Flower Chair, Terry Vogel at (413) 203-1742

Prayers for Healing: Debby H., Rev. Dee, Drew, Dale C., Jay S., Terry V., Blessing Sithole, Kim, Leanne, Joy, Elinor, Marion D., Adele, Norma, Nancy M., Heather, all teachers, for our country’s leaders, for our troops wherever they are stationed, for our world neighbors in their various needs, for those in our own lives who face new challenges, for those encountering job loss, for those encountering loss of their home churches, and for our church school.

Prayers for Presence: The families and friends of Jane Tetreault and Pam Gaspar, and Inez Delisle.

Prayers for those in the Military: Michael Alderman, Adam Buckley, Capt. David Moran, Lance Corporals Rachel Lacroix Keefe, and Matthew Keefe.

BIG Y STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: Bev Ruszala is the person to see if you need Big Y gift cards. She will receive your orders and distribute the cards during coffee hour. Order forms (available on the table in the Old Sunday School Room or online) may also be placed in the “Green Box” which Beverly checks each week. Please keep in mind that Big Y cards may be converted to other gift cards sold there at Big Y to be used as birthday, Christmas gifts, and the like.

KITCHEN CLEAN-UP: Please check to see if you have left baking pans, cookware or dishes in the kitchen. Any items not retrieved will be donated to the Northampton Survival Center.

CARDS FOR SALE: Flannery Wiemer has opened a store front on Etsy for the handsome greeting cards which she creates, and which were sold at the Fall Festival. She will donate a portion of any cards sold to members to benefit the church. Visit www.fjwiemer.etsy.com or Flannery at (413) 222-3660

NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL YOUTH EVENT: “Finding Our Way in God’s World”. This event is for high school aged UCC Youth who will entering 9^th grade in fall 2010, through those who graduated in June, 2010. It will be held on June 24-27, on the campus of Boston University and costs $350./person. Registration materials will be available after Janjuary 25, 2010. For more information, see the Wider Church section of the bulletin board.

POINSETTIAS: Again this year, Judith Miller Conlin is coordinating Christmas poinsettias to decorate our church for Christmas and to benefit the Diaconate Outreach Fund. Please fill out the enclosed form, and write your check to First Congregational Church, UCC, with “poinsettias in the menu space. Forms may be placed in the offering plate or mailed to the church, P.O. Box 145, c/o the Deacons. Orders must be received by December 13^th.

STEWARDSHIP/PLEDGE SUNDAY: Thank you from the Finance & Operations Committee for your financial pledges to the church for 2010! Pledging allows the church to plan its mission, ministry, and finances for the coming year. If you have not yet completed a pledge and need a pledge card, please let the church office, Ken Gaspar, or Deb Hawkes know.

DICTIONARIES: Our Youth Group has received a thank-you note from the Norris School for their very generous contribution toward the purchase of 40 New Scholastic Children’s Dictionaries to be sent to the George Washington Carver Elementary School in New Orleans. Also contributing 23 new dictionaries was Susan Teece’s 4^th grade class which spear-headed this project The complete list of contributors is posted on the Community bulletin board. Thank you to Susan for coordinating this effort!

CHRISTMAS FUND: This is a traditional UCC all-church offering which provides Christmas checks to low-income, retired clergy, and their widowed spouses. It also supplies emergency assistance and health benefits. Pastors who worked in rural areas with minimal salary often enter retirement with limited resources. Our generous contributions make a difference in many lives. This Christmas Fund offering will be received on Sunday, December 20^th.

CHRISTIAN ED NOTICE: We are grateful to all teachers and volunteers who have helped in the Church School thus far. We are seeking teachers to fill in and help teach our youngest disciples, particularly after the holidays and into the new year. Please look at the Church School Calendar also posted in the hallway and sign up for this most important mission. Curriculum is readily available! A Church School Coordinator (s) is still needed to help with organizing and planning.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: Please make sure that coffee hour refreshments do not contain any form of peanuts or tree nut products! Any contact (even when not consumed) can trigger serious health danger for some in our congregation. If you have any questions, please see Rev. Dee or contact Diana Belisle at # 527-8235. Also, there is a list posted on the refrigerator with suggestions for coffee hour snacks, in case you need it.

FLOWERS: Terry Vogel is our Sunday flower coordinator. She may be reached at (413) 203-1742. 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.

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 12/06/2009 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 SCHEDULE Tues. 8 Finance, 7 p.m. Wed. 9 Prayer Group, 9 a.m. Choir/Community Chorus, 6-9 p.m. Thurs. 10 Church Council, 6:45 p.m. Sat. 12 Community Chorus Concert, First Church of Ludlow, 4 p.m. Sun. 13 Christmas Pageant Community Chorus Concert, 4 p.m. LOOKING AHEAD Fri. 18 Women’s Missionary Luncheon and preparing baskets for the Wright Home and Viking’s Landing, 12 noon Sat. 19 Men’s Breakfast, Easthampton Diner, 8:30 a.m. Thurs. 24 Christmas Eve Service, 6:30 p.m. Rev. Dee’s Office Hours for the week of December 6th: Tuesday, 1-4 p.m.; Wednesday, 10:15 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Please note that Rev. Dee’s office hours are subject to change and that Friday is her day off. Please call in advance. Administrative Assistant Hours:* Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. FLOWERS this morning are given by Dave and Bunny Huntley in loving memory of Ray and Bertha Pease. THANK YOU . . .you for gracing us with your presence . . .to Lay Readers, Paul Tetreault, Carlene Osborn and Kate Carl . . .to our talented and dedicated choir . . .to Ushers & Greeters, David and Susan Huntley . . .to Pam & Ken Gaspar for hosting Coffee Hour . . .to Nursery Care providers, Nancy Theroux and Adam Federman . . .Flower Chair, Terry Vogel at (413) 203-1742 Prayers for Healing: Debby H., Rev. Dee, Drew, Dale C., Jay S., Terry V., Blessing Sithole, Kim, Leanne, Joy, Elinor, Marion D., Adele, Norma, Nancy M., Heather, all teachers, for our country’s leaders, for our troops wherever they are stationed, for our world neighbors in their various needs, for those in our own lives who face new challenges, for those encountering job loss, for those encountering loss of their home churches, and for our church school. Prayers for Presence: The families and friends of Jane Tetreault and Pam Gaspar, and Inez Delisle. Prayers for those in the Military: Michael Alderman, Adam Buckley, Capt. David Moran, Lance Corporals Rachel Lacroix Keefe, and Matthew Keefe. BIG Y STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: Bev Ruszala is the person to see if you need Big Y gift cards. She will receive your orders and distribute the cards during coffee hour. Order forms (available on the table in the Old Sunday School Room or online) may also be placed in the “Green Box” which Beverly checks each week. Please keep in mind that Big Y cards may be converted to other gift cards sold there at Big Y to be used as birthday, Christmas gifts, and the like. KITCHEN CLEAN-UP: Please check to see if you have left baking pans, cookware or dishes in the kitchen. Any items not retrieved will be donated to the Northampton Survival Center. CARDS FOR SALE: Flannery Wiemer has opened a store front on Etsy for the handsome greeting cards which she creates, and which were sold at the Fall Festival. She will donate a portion of any cards sold to members to benefit the church. Visit www.fjwiemer.etsy.com or Flannery at (413) 222-3660 NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL YOUTH EVENT: “Finding Our Way in God’s World”. This event is for high school aged UCC Youth who will entering 9^th grade in fall 2010, through those who graduated in June, 2010. It will be held on June 24-27, on the campus of Boston University and costs $350./person. Registration materials will be available after Janjuary 25, 2010. For more information, see the Wider Church section of the bulletin board. POINSETTIAS: Again this year, Judith Miller Conlin is coordinating Christmas poinsettias to decorate our church for Christmas and to benefit the Diaconate Outreach Fund. Please fill out the enclosed form, and write your check to First Congregational Church, UCC, with “poinsettias in the menu space. Forms may be placed in the offering plate or mailed to the church, P.O. Box 145, c/o the Deacons. Orders must be received by *December 13^th.* STEWARDSHIP/PLEDGE SUNDAY: Thank you from the Finance & Operations Committee for your financial pledges to the church for 2010! Pledging allows the church to plan its mission, ministry, and finances for the coming year. If you have not yet completed a pledge and need a pledge card, please let the church office, Ken Gaspar, or Deb Hawkes know. DICTIONARIES: Our Youth Group has received a thank-you note from the Norris School for their very generous contribution toward the purchase of 40 New Scholastic Children’s Dictionaries to be sent to the George Washington Carver Elementary School in New Orleans. Also contributing 23 new dictionaries was Susan Teece’s 4^th grade class which spear-headed this project The complete list of contributors is posted on the Community bulletin board. Thank you to Susan for coordinating this effort! CHRISTMAS FUND: This is a traditional UCC all-church offering which provides Christmas checks to low-income, retired clergy, and their widowed spouses. It also supplies emergency assistance and health benefits. Pastors who worked in rural areas with minimal salary often enter retirement with limited resources. Our generous contributions make a difference in many lives. This Christmas Fund offering will be received on Sunday, December 20^th. CHRISTIAN ED NOTICE: We are grateful to all teachers and volunteers who have helped in the Church School thus far. We are seeking teachers to fill in and help teach our youngest disciples, particularly after the holidays and into the new year. Please look at the Church School Calendar also posted in the hallway and sign up for this most important mission. Curriculum is readily available! A Church School Coordinator (s) is still needed to help with organizing and planning. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: Please make sure that coffee hour refreshments *do not contain any form of peanuts or tree nut products!* Any contact (even when not consumed) can trigger serious health danger for some in our congregation. If you have any questions, please see Rev. Dee or contact Diana Belisle at # 527-8235. Also, there is a list posted on the refrigerator with suggestions for coffee hour snacks, in case you need it. FLOWERS: Terry Vogel is our Sunday flower coordinator. She may be reached at (413) 203-1742. 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. 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.