1 P a g e. February Newsletter

Transcription

1 1 P a g e February Newsletter 2018 Every once in awhile the calendar does some funny things. This year Valentine s Day will be celebrated on the same day as Ash Wednesday. At first, I thought that this was going to be a big problem. I asked myself, how can we celebrate Valentine s Day while also honoring the beginning of the Lenten season? But the more I thought about this, the more I began to embrace this concept. While Valentine s Day is a holiday that was created by mark, it is an opportunity for all of us to sit back and give God thanks for the many different and wonderful kinds of love in our lives. The Gospel of John states, And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34). On Ash Wednesday each year, Christians are reminded that from ashes we were created and back to ashes we will return. It also marks the beginning of our journey to the cross, as we remember the teachings of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and all that he was willing to sacrifice on our behalf. The Gospel of John also tells us that God so loved the world that he sent his only son. What kind of love does it take for someone to be willing to sacrifice their life for another? Words cannot explain the kind of love God has for us. God was willing to be nailed to a cross and endure the pain and suffering of the human experience, to free us from our sins and give us the precious gift of eternal life? This Valentine s Day I invite all of you to give God thanks for the many and wonderful kinds of love God has blessed you with in your life. I also invite you to attend our Ash Wednesday worship service and to begin your Lenten journey, by reflecting upon the love that Jesus had and still has for humankind. May you begin your Lenten journey by giving thanks for the gift of love. As you go through each day of Lent, may you also find ways to live out the words of John 13:34, by exploring new opportunities to love one another. Victoria

2 2 P a g e We All need an Attitude of Gratitude! Lets share one with all we meet and remind our selves just what we are Grateful for! Coffee Hour this month is Hosted by:women s Fellowship Second Saturday Activities this month are wonderful. First up is the Silent Auction, Antiques & Collectibles,Bake Sale and used Book Sale: The late afternoon we have our Potluck Dinner which includes Music with Jim Wankers show choir. On Saturday, February 10th, 9 am to 2 pm. Is the Silent Auction and Antiques Collectibles Appraisal. Our thanks to Della O Shea, who has gathered some beautirul baskets and arranged to have them filled. She also arranged to have the antique dealer come for this event. Look on the Web site to view the photos of the baskets, just Click on Silent Auction to see them! Thanks also to the Womens Fellowship who pitched in with the Bake Sale items! Please contact Pamela Vasali ( 727) the chairperson of the bake sale seeking donations of baked goods from members of the congregation. Cakes, cookies, breads, muffins, pies, and quick breads would all be welcome. Baked goods should be brought to the church on February 9th so that everything can be set up before the next day s events. Pamela will also be at the table in Andrus after church on Sundays leading up to February 10th if you would like to sign up in person. Lets support this fund raising effort! Bring your friends! We are greatful that Jim Wanker s students from the Amplify Elite Middle School Show Choir will be performing at 5:30 in the sanctuary. This is part of our 2nd Saturday potluck dinner program. Please come at 4:00 with your dish to share, plate and silverware. Be sure to sign up your dish on Sunday in Andrus. Deacons to Meet on February 13th at 9:00 in the Parish. Junk in the Trunk February 3 rd at 8:30am. See you there???

3 3 P a g e Ash Wednesday Service at 7pm, Deacons are hosting a pre Ash Wednesday Service Soup and sandwich! Join us in breaking bread at 6pm followed by service at 7:00 Lets support Cindy s Pets February 17th from 7 to 4 in the Parking lot and Andrus.This group works with feeding pets of Meals on Wheels recipients! There will be vendors in the parking lot. Bring your pet on a leash! Music News! Feb 18th Choir Festival at First United Methodist Church in 3pm Come and support the choirs of our churches! The church family welcomes Leslie Ethridge to the pulpit from the UCC Florida Conference for service February 18th! Monday Nite Movie Group: Meet the first and third Mondays of each month at 6pm for dinner. If you wish to join us, there will be a sign-up sheet in Andrus the day before the dinner telling you where the dinner will be. You must sign up if your coming, as we have to give the restaurant a firm number the day before the event. On other weeks of the month we routinely gather for a supper and movie (but not always on Monday). Reservations are not necessary for this, as we are a much smaller group. Just check in at the table in Andrus to see what s on the agenda and join us if you can. The Bible Within the Bible: A Study of the Psalms This course with Rev. Dr. Lloyd Hunter meeting on Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:30 until February 7th A very interesting and enlightening study. We thank Rev. Dr. Lloyd Hunter for his patience, laughter and knowledge he shared with us, we are so grateful. All the Women of the church are cordially invited to attend the monthly meeting of Women s Fellowship on February 9th at 11:00am. Our own Betty Mitchell will present the program. We are collecting Items for the This n That Sale to be held in March. Items can be dropped off at the church office.

4 4 P a g e New Member from Sunday January 21 Welcome Jessica Beebe by Affirmation of Faith, to our church family. She is a business owner (Sugar Darlings, a cup-cake bakery in NPR.), and is married with two children. She would like to be active with Women s Fellowship, Greeting, Ushering, Bell Choir, Assitaning the Needy and Missions. Celebrations February Birthdays: James 2/2 Matt Diller 2/2 Kevin Slattery 2/3 Roy Pulaski 2/4 Jessica Shopey 2/8 Lloyd Hunter 2/9 Caroline Dager 2/10 Glenda Bobby 2/11 Della O Shea 2/13 Roberta Geis 2/19 Anne Chaffee 2/20 Chris Sweeney 2/20 Vic Huebner 2/25 Robin Kenna 2/28 Shirley Jacobs 2/28 February Anniversaries Larry and Jo Anne Thomas 2/19/67 51 years A Big Thank You to my Church Family for the Cards, Calls, Prayers, visits and Flowers. I appreciate Your Thoughtfulness. Take care and I hope to see you soon! Love Raola Bear

5 5 P a g e Lenten Study Wednesdays at 11:00am Beginning on Wednesday, February 21 at 11:00am in the Parish House we will be holding a five - week discussion on Max Lucado s Lenten study entitled, He Chose the Nails. This will be a video series and each week we will be discussing a different topic. Below is a listing of the topics we will be discussing. Our study will last approximately 60 minutes. All are invited to attend. If you have any questions, please see Victoria. Session include: 1. He Chose to Be One of Us 2. He Chose to Forgive Us 3. He Chose to Invite Us into His Presence 4. He Chose to Love Us Forever 5. He Chose to Give Us Victory Did you know?? The first offering envelope of the year is for your membership in the Florida Conference (Florida UCC conference) The cost for each member of the church is $ If you are not able to make this committment the church will pay it in your place. Please make sure if you can afford to pay that you do and help someone else out if you can!.. Do you know what ICE stands for? In Case of Emergency, Please include the Church on your contacts lists so we can visit you if in hospital or any other facility. We won t know if you don t tell us! Thank you to Karen Duffy and all who assisted in cleaning out the nursery in Andrus! Now we can certainly have a suitable place for young children who have come to church with their parents. We have one volunteer so far to come forward to be with the children during service if the need arises. We are looking for many more to sign up for this opportunity to sit with youngsters, read to them, cuddle etc. No formal training is required! You may even have the opportunity to change a diaper! Isn t that worth helping out? This Newsletter has been designed in an effort to cut postage and printing expenses. I am excited to be learning just how to get this done and hope that future newsletters will be up to standards. Please contact me for items to be included in next months publication at kenrom32@yahoo.com. Wish me luck, I need it! Robin

6 6 P a g e COMMUNITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC, NEW PORT RICHEY, FL February 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 10:15 Music Committee Choir Room 12:30 Games Group 2 3 8:30 Junk in the Trunk 12 Noon NA - AH 6:30 NA-AH 7 NA-AH 4 10 Worship 7:30 NA - AH Worship 11:30 Finance Board 1 to 5 District NA 7:30 NA Worship (FL. Conference visit from Leslie Ethridge) 3 Choir Festival First United Methodist Church, Hudson 7:30 NA - AH Worship Outreach Committee Pastor s Office Bible Study Parish 10 Knitters and Crafters - Noon NA AH 3 Psalm Study by Lloyd 13 9 Deacons Parish l 10 Bible Study Choir Room 11 Open Door Luncheon 6 PM Italian American Women Event Bible Study Parish 10 Knitters and Crafters - AH Bible Study Parish 14 ASH WEDNESDAY 12 Noon NA-AH 6 Soup and Sandwich 7 Ash Wednesday Worship Lenten Study 12 Noon NA Lenten Study 12 Noon NA 8 12:30 PM Games Group 6:30 NA - AH 15 12:30 PM Games Group 3:30 Exec Board 6:30 NA - AH 22 12:30 PM Games Group 6:30 NA - AH 9 11 Women s Fellowship 7 NA - AH 16 7 NA - AH 23 7 NA - AH 10 9 to 2 Antique Appraisal and Silent Auction 12 Noon NA Choir Room 4:30 to 6:30 Second Saturday Supper Jim s Kids Perform 17 7 to 4 Cindy s Pets rents Andrus and Parking Lot 12 Noon NA Choir Room 7 PM AA- AH 24 8 AM Men s Fellowship at Smith s Cafe 12 Noon NA - AH 3:30 Stump Hollow Concert AH 7:30 NA - AH 6 Italian American Women s Mtg.