United Church of Christ in Cornwall, Congregational s2

The Bridge February 2016 United Church of Christ in Cornwall, Congregational

STAFF: Minister Director of Music Dir. of Christian Ed. Church Secretary Church Sexton Micki Nunn-Miller Anne Chamberlain Tracy Gray Tracy Gray Donna Bielefield

PASTOR’S WORD Ash Wednesday comes early this year, beginning the season of Lent on Feb. 10. When Lent begins so soon after Christmas, it feels a bit like we are rushed out of our celebration of new birth and new light in the world into the wilderness, with all of its questions and uncertainties. But I suppose if we read carefully the narrative of Christmas and Epiphany, we find imbedded in it the danger of the cross looming ahead. In spite of angels and glorias and wise ones from the East, Herod lurks. The “principalities and powers” are still here, in spite of the incarnation. As Jesus begins the journey toward the cross chronicled in Lent, we are reminded again that God-with- us will not mean that we are somehow saved from the difficulties of this world. Emmanuel will not mean that we are free from dealing with those forces which prefer death and destruction. Starting with Ash Wednesday, let us reflect on how we take God’s Light with us into dark times. As we consider the deeper questions of life during this period, may the Light of God illuminate our path. Thank you for your gifts, both financial and spiritual, which all this community of faith to make a transformative difference in our community and world. Blessings,

Silver Lake Summer Opportunities! Silver Lake Summer Conference brochures are in the church office! Please speak to Tracy if you would like one for your child(ren). You can also see a brochure and register online at www.silverlakect.org. Kids have a wonderful week full of singing, crafts, games, swimming, active worship, ropes course and much more. The food is great too! Scholarships are available!!! IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Congratulations to the following young people who celebrate a birthday in February: February 1 Ciara Hurlburt and Kale Prentice February 22 Saoirse Fischer February 7 Jorie Welshans February 28 Layla Decker February 11 Jonah Folds and Lily Danforth- Gold

We extend our sympathies to the family and friends of Patsy Oliver who passed away on January 10. Patsy was the Chair of the Search Committee who brought us Pastor Micki!! She also served as a Confirmation Mentor. We extend our sympathies to the family of James “Jimmy” Scott who passed away on January 21. We extend our sympathies to the family and friends of Ellen Doubleday who passed away on January 22. Ellen and her husband David, were former members of our church who moved to Maine upon retirement. Ellen taught Sunday School “back in the day.”

PINE RIDGE TRIP SET-Funds Needed A group of 8 youth and adults will represent us this coming June at the Pine Ridge Reservation. Each person will pay for airfare and room and board. There will be some fundraisers this year to help offset this cost. Please plan to participate as you can in order to make our trip more affordable. If anyone wishes to contribute to the Pine Ridge Fund, please make a check to the church and put “Pine Ridge” in the memo line. Thank you in advance for your help!

GOODNEWS! GOODNEWS! GOODNEWS!

 Loads of pancakes and sausages were consumed by close to over one hundred people on January 1, and about $4000 was donated to the Torrington Soup Kitchen ($1032 from those present, plus a large donation which was matched by an employer!) Thanks be to God!

 Four large boxes of warm coats, hats, scarves, mittens and clothing were shipped to Pine Ridge Reservation in January, thanks to your donations to the Mission Cubby. They were received by the White Mouse family and given to their neighbors in great need. These many items will make a big difference during a cold winter. Thanks for donations and thanks for money from Stewardship, Mission, and Outreach to send them. Thanks be to God!

 The congregation successfully moved from the cold sanctuary to the warm Parish House for winter worship, and heating oil and money will be saved. Thanks be to God!

 A potluck dinner was held to learn about the work of Michael Joseph in Colombia as a “critical presence” Global Ministries missionary. Lots of good food and good information was shared by all gathered. Thanks be to God!  Three youth and 5 adults attended the Epiphany celebration of the Boar’s Head Festival at the UCC church in Winsted. Thanks be to God!

OUTLOOK Series: Continuing Education at the UCC LENTEN BOOK STUDY COMING SOON February 21, 28, March 6, 13 Lent begins with the words, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust”, reminding us of our creation by God from the dirt of the newly created earth and of our death which returns us finally to that earth. We are, all of us, mortal. This year we will read and talk about the book, Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande. The book is available in paperback, hardcover, and kindle editions. There is also an “Executive Summary” of the book if you prefer. It is written by a surgeon and carries the subtitle, “Medicine and What Matters in the End”. The introduction to the book says, “This is a book about the modern experience of mortality – about what it’s like to be creatures who age and die, how medicine has changed the experience and how it hasn’t, where our ideas about finitude have got the reality wrong. …I have the writer’s and scientist’s faith, however, that by pulling back the veil and peering in close, a person can make sense of what is most confusing or strange or disturbing. …Our reluctance to honestly examine the experience of aging and dying has increased the harm we inflict on people and denied them the basic comforts they most need. Lacking a coherent view of how people might live successfully all the way to their very end, we have allowed our fates to be controlled by the imperatives of medicine, technology, and strangers.” As the author points out, “mortality can be a treacherous subject”! Though not written from a theological perspective, this book nevertheless touches on important questions of the meaning of life and death, questions that touch on many aspects of our faith. So join us for discussion after Fellowship on Feb. 21, 28, March 6, and March 13. If you would prefer not to read the book but are interested in these issues, feel free to join us for the discussions anyway. Our first session on Feb. 21 will include chili lunch for our discussion! Please RSVP to the office ([email protected]) or let Tracy know if you would like help ordering a book. What's Your Idea? At our last Trustees' meeting, we talked about operating expenses. Just a few that we've thought how most of the fund raising we do is for of are: Pop-Up (one day) clothing thrift shop; empty mission...in other words...we raise it and give it bowl soup and bread dinner; basket raffles at away. This is of course is an important part of our various town functions; bake sales; performance church life and vital to our mission. But when it activities (play readings/musical). Let's put our comes to paying the bills, how long can we depend heads together and see what we can come up with. on pledge income and possible estate bequests to Interested? Got an idea? See Chris Gyorsok or keep our church going? We'd like to start some email [email protected] or speak to any serious talking about fund-raising activities for Trustee. Everything starts with an idea.

Red Cross Blood Drive 1:00 –5:45 on Tuesday, March 1 in the UCC Parish House Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 lbs. There is no upper age limit if you are in good health. If you have given in the past or if this will be your first time please come, and invite your friends and neighbors. To sign up please call the Red Cross directly at 1-800-GIVE LIFE. Walk-ins are welcome. Allow at least one hour in all. NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR FUN AND FELLOWSHIP New group forming - first gathering, February 3 in the Day Room at 7:15 p.m.

If you knit, crochet, spin, quilt, do needlework, etc. of any kind, you are invited to join this group. No cost, just bring your craft with you and enjoy the company of others while we work on our individual projects. Would like your input - about future meeting times or any ideas you may have to make this succeed. Call Debbie at 860-248-3034 or email [email protected]

ASH WEDNESDAY Our church is invited to worship this year with St. Peter's, at 7pm on Feb. 10th. There will be a service of Communion and the opportunity to receive ashes, for those who wish. This service is a meaningful beginning to the 40 days of Lent (not counting Sundays) that lead to Easter.

GLOBAL MISSIONARY SHARES INFO At a recent potluck dinner in the Day Room, we greeted Global Ministries missionary, Michael Joseph. He is a Critical Presence Missionary to Colombia, sent by the joint ministry sponsored by the United Church of Christ and our partner church, the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. Michael has served in Colombia for 10 years and is in the States for a few months to share with churches what Global Ministries is doing on our behalf. We learned about the 50 year civil war in Colombia between the FARC (pushing for a socialist movement) and the government, which is a democracy. As part of that war, there has been much displacement of people, fleeing the violence. Michael works to document human rights violations and he organized a peace movement through an ecumenical protestant group. He and representatives of several church groups support a pastor in the countryside where 320 families have taken refuge. They have worked the land there and subsisted since the 60’s. But a local land barren wants the land for himself, so our missionary and others are working to help the people in El Garzul to get title to their land. In the meantime, there are killings and other threats daily and the pastor has to wear a bulletproof vest. It was amazing to learn that local judges and land barrens are influenced in their behavior when they know that “the world is watching” what they do. So getting the word out to the world, shining a light on what is going on in El Garzul, helps to keep the leader of these people, their pastor, alive. We can learn about this mission and others through www.globalministries.org. Go to their website and sign up for regular updates about what is happening around the world or in specific places. Updates come to your email box. Our gifts through our budget to Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) help to fund our missionaries and their important work on our behalf around the world. PS – the good news in Colombia is that the FARC and the government are in peace negotiations and have settled on a 5 point plan. So far they have agreed on 4 of the 5 points and they are almost settled on the 5th point. Thanks be to God!

United Church of Christ in Cornwall, Congregational Congregational Budget Meeting December 6, 2015 Moderator Julie Brandfield called the meeting to order at 11:15. Clerk Barbara Gold read the call to the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to consider a proposed budget for 2015. Heartfelt thanks were offered to Assistant Treasurer Pam Longwell who has been working hard during Treasurer Charlie Milligan’s long absence on the Appalachian Trail. Pam presented the proposed budget and pointed out that in the face of financial realities this is a zero increase budget – which in no way reflects the evaluation of staff performance. Barbara Gold moved and Paul Baren seconded that the budget for 2015 as proposed by the Trustees and approved by Church Council be accepted. Motion approved unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 12:20. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Gold, Clerk

LENTEN TAIZE SERVICE

Sunday, February 21, 2015 5:oo p.m. United Church of Christ Day Room 8 Bolton Hill Road Join us in the Day Room for quiet singing, candlelight and extended silent meditation. The service is about 45 minutes and you will be able to reflect and feel renewed during this somber Lenten season. Sponsored by the UCC in Cornwall. All are welcome.

MAGIC EASTER COOKIES Ingredients: 1 cup whole pecans 1 tsp. vinegar 3 egg whites pinch of salt 1 cup sugar 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 2. Put pecans in Ziploc bag and break them into small pieces with a wooden spoon. 3. Add 1 tsp. vinegar into a mixing bowl. 4. Add the egg whites to the vinegar. 5. Add the salt and 1 cup of sugar 7. Beat the mixture with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks form. 8. Fold in the broken nuts and drop by teaspoons onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet 9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven off. 10. Leave the cookies will be left in the oven while you sleep. Cookie should be hollow when you take a bite!

February 2016 United Church of Christ in Cornwall, Congregational 860-672-6840 [email protected] Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 Food Pantry Christian Qigong, 6:00 – Food Pantry open, Cornwall open for Education 7:00, DR 9:00 – 10:00 Assoc. meets, Textile Craft patrons, 5:30 – Com. 6:30, Church 9:00, DR group, 7:15, 6:30 Lib. Council, 7:15, DR office

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 8:45 Choir Blood Pressure Food Pantry open, Office closes rehearsal Clinic, 12-1, Lib Cornwall Senior 9:00 – 10:00 at 10:30 10:00 Worship Valentine Lunch, and Church Food Pantry 12:00, PH Trustees, 7:30, School open for Qigong, 6:00 – Lib. 11:30 Deacons patrons, 5:30 – 7:00, DR meet 6:30 Ash Wednesday service, 7:00. St Peter’s 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 8:45 Choir Office closed Qigong, 6:00 – Food Pantry open, rehearsal 7:00, DR 9:00 – 10:00 10:00 Worship Food Pantry and Church School: Rev. open for Betsey Mauro, patrons, 5:30 – preaching 6:30

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 8:45 Choir Food Pantry Qigong, 6:00 – Food Pantry open, rehearsal open for 7:00, DR 9:00 – 10:00 10:00 Worship and Church patrons, 5:30 – School 6:30 11:30 Lenten Study 5:00 Taize 28 29 8:45 Choir Food Pantry rehearsal open for 10:00 Worship and Church patrons, 5:30 – School 6:30 11:30 Lenten Study

PH = Parish House DR = Day Room Lib. = Church UR = Upper Room

United Church of Christ in Cornwall, Congregational 8 Bolton Hill Road PO Box 35 Cornwall, CT 06753

Phone: 860-672-6840 Fax: 860-672-6840 Email: [email protected] Web:www.uccincornwall.org Morning Worship: 10:00 Church School: 10:00 Office Hours: M – F, 9 –1

God is Still Speaking! We are an Open and Affirming Church. All are welcome here!

Lenten Poem by Ann Weems Lent is a time to take time to let the power and feel the healing surge through us, of our faith story take hold of us, a time to ponder and a time to wonder…. a time to let the events get up Lent is a time to allow and walk around in us, a fresh new taste of God! a time to intensify our living unto Christ, Perhaps we’re afraid to have time to think, a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts, for thoughts come unbidden. a time to place our feet in the streets of Perhaps we’re afraid to face our future Jerusalem or to walk along the sea and knowing our past. listen to his Word, Give us courage, O God, a time to touch his robe to hear your Word and to read our living into it. and give us the faith Give us the trust to know we’re forgiven to take up our lives and walk.