The Church Mouse
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Reverend Craig L. Cowing, Pastor [email protected] Georgette L. Huie, Minister of Children and Youth [email protected] Mary DeLibero, Minister of Music [email protected] 860-529-4167 Church The December 2015 Newsletter RHCC e-mail address – [email protected] Church Mouse Website: www.rhccucc.org Office Hours – 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Friday Sunday Worship Services – 10:00 a.m. Childcare Available/Handicap Accessible ADVENT CHRISTMAS EPIPHANY SEASON WORSHIP & EVENTS st Sun. Nov. 29 10:00am 1 Sunday of Advent – worship Wed. Dec. 2 1:00pm Advent Bible Study Sat. Dec. 5 8:30am Men’s Christian Fellowship nd Sun. Dec. 6 10:00am 2 Sunday of Advent – worship and communion 5:00pm Advent Family Night Tues. Dec. 8 1:00pm “Images of Christmas, East and West Wed. Dec. 9 1:00pm Advent Bible Study Thurs. Dec. 10 7:00pm Blue Christmas Service rd Sun. Dec. 13 10:00am 3 Sunday of Advent - Worship 4:00pm Lessons and Carols Tues. Dec. 15 7:00pm “Images of Christmas, East and West Sat. Dec. 19 10:30am Cookie Walk th Sun. Dec.20 10:00am 4 Sunday of Advent – worship 11:00am Snow date for Cookie Walk 2:00pm Christmas Caroling Thurs. Dec. 24 5:00pm Christmas Eve Intergenerational Service 11:00pm Candlelight and Communion Service Sun. Jan 10 10:00am Epiphany Pageant 1 I’m writing while listening to a webinar on the future of Andover Newton Theological School, where I attended seminary in the 1980’s. The school is looking at selling the campus outside Boston and relocate to a place that is more financially sustainable. As I listen I realize that I am having to re-hear what I’ve preached about often during the last three decades: that the church cannot expect to carry out its mission by looking backwards, that we can’t be burdened by the past when the past no longer gives us guidance into the future. In other words, we need to distinguish between what we do, which never changes (mission) and how we do it, which is always open to change. This is a part of my concern over the school because I love the campus where I went to school. I believe that my reluctance to see the campus go is similar to the tie that many people have to a particular church building. I understand how deeply ties to a particular place can form. Considering Christmas, there’s a common thread here. What we find in the Incarnation is the model for God doing something new, and doing it in a new way. In a way that we can’t understand God was present in the birth of Jesus. I have to admit that I lean towards Luke’s version of the Christmas story, in which everyone is surprised, and the message of Jesus’ birth is made to ordinary people such as shepherds and Mary. This is the surprise of Christmas. The message of the Gospel isn’t for just some, but for all. Luke’s gospel makes it clear that God favors the marginalized. This thread runs throughout Luke’s gospel. People who are outside the pale are those who understand what God is doing. Mary’s song in Luke 1, known as the Magnificat, celebrates the toppling of the rich and powerful from their thrones. That’s a revolutionary message. I pray that during our first Advent and Christmas season together we will learn together as we celebrate this ancient tradition. In Christ, Craig 2 A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols December 13, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. Rocky Hill Congregational Church United Church of Christ Established 1727 An Open and Affirming Community of Faith 3 FAITH FORMATION @ RHCC S.P.I.R.I.T. Church School News Attendance continues to grow in church school: in November, we reached a high of 23 students in class! The children get along and have made their time together fun and inspiring for each other and the adults as well. Here are the topics for November 15 through December 6: Pre-K to 1st grade: Hannah and Samuel Grades 2-5: Who Is Jesus? Discover the meaning of the word Messiah Recognize that Jesus was not the Messiah people expected Explore who Jesus is to us Grades 6-8: Seeking God’s Help, Choosing Our Actions, God’s Promise, Faith For December 13 and 20: Pre-K to 1st grade: Advent and Christmas Grades 2-5: In the Manger – Luke’s Christmas Story Grades 6-8: Waiting, Courage December 27: Worship, but NO CHURCH SCHOOL January 3: EPIPHANY PAGEANT REHEARSAL during Church School January 10: EPIPHANY PAGEANT If you are able and willing to help teach, lead an activity, or be a second adult in a classroom, please sign up in Chapin Hall or contact Georgette Huie or Kathy Morgan. Middle School Youth Group On November 1, Marie Antoinette, Wonder Woman, Kevin Durant, a ballerina, St. Patrick, and the Cat in the Hat all visited the Brookdale nursing home to sing pumpkin songs and hand out treats. The Middle School Youth Group first assembled 60 Halloween treat bags, and then did the reverse trick-or-treat, which brought a moment of levity and lightness to the residents at the home. We in turn, were greeted and welcomed warmly. On November 15, the group met at church to bake cookies for the Cookie Walk, and engaged in multiple rounds of Sardines (a hide-and-seek game). Here is our upcoming schedule: Sunday, December 6 – 5pm to 7pm – Advent Workshop Sunday, December 13 – 6pm to 7:30pm – Christmas Party Sunday, January 3 – NO YOUTH GROUP 4 High School Youth Group On November 8, the group took Georgette on a tour of Rocky Hill, which Georgette enjoyed very much. We ended at Praline’s for ice cream. On November 22, we held the Baked Potato Fundraiser after worship, and raised $286! We were also given the used CD’s and DVD’s from the Church Fair, to see if we could sell any to FYE in Meriden. We made $357! So far, we have made $643 toward our July trip to the UCC National Youth Event. Here is our schedule: Sunday, December 13 – 11:30am to 1:30pm – Baking cookies for the Cookie Walk Sunday, January 10 – 5pm to 7pm – after Christmas party Tuesday December 8 at 1 PM and Tuesday December 15 at 7 PM the Rev. Craig Cowing will give a presentation on “Images of Christmas, East and West,” in which he will display copies he has painted of Orthodox icons and Renaissance paintings with a Christmas theme. He will talk about the significance of Christmas in the Eastern and Western traditions and how that reflects on images of Christmas. On Thursday, December 10 at 7 PM we will have a Blue Christmas service. The purpose of the service is to acknowledge that the holiday season is difficult for many who suffer from depression or who have experienced loss. December is the darkest month of the year, and the coinciding with a joyous holiday season can be difficult. This will be a meditative service of music, prayer and readings. Rev. Craig Cowing will lead an Advent Bible Study on three Wednesdays, December 2, 9, and 16 at 1 PM in the Fiorilli Room. Each week we will look at the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. Sunday, December 20 at 2:00pm Join the Music Committee for an afternoon of singing your favorite Christmas carols. We will be visiting several nursing houses and our church family shut-ins and sharing our gifts. All ages welcome. We will meet at the church and car pool and come back to the church afterward for light refreshments. 5 STEWARDSHIP NEWS I would like to thank the congregation for an enjoyable and blessing filled Consecration Sunday. I hope everyone enjoyed the inspiring and energetic message from the Rev. Dr. Dale Acevedo as well as the delicious food arranged by Polly Pagnucco. Anyone who was not able to attend should have received an Estimate of Giving card in the mail. If you did not receive one, please contact anyone from the Stewardship Committee. Please remember to continue to make your offering based on your 2015 estimate through the end of this year. The new pledge year begins January 1, 2016 and that is when you should follow your new Estimate of Giving. If you would like offering envelopes for 2016, please contact Deb Copes at (860) 257-1099 or via email at [email protected]. If you are willing to receive your financial reports from Deb (and save on postage) please forward your email address to Deb. Remembering from Luke 19:1-10 the joy that Zacchaeus had upon meeting Jesus, we make our offering because we are happy that we have met God, through Jesus, and we want to know Him and be part of His plan. In Christian Love, Barry Wilcock Stewardship Committee Chair From the Financial Secretary: Please contact me, Deb Copes, either by phone (860-257- 1099) or email ([email protected]) if you need pledging envelopes for our 2016 pledge year. I can leave them for you down in Chapin Hall or another place in the church convenient for you to pick them up. If you are interested in signing up for Vanco/electronic funds transfer for your pledge, I would be happy to help you do that.