Glimpses of Faith Newsletter

Transcription

1 November 2018 Glimpses of Faith Newsletter Faith UCC Church Phone N. Loop New Braunfels, TX Rev. Scott B. Martin, Pastor Cell Phone Rev. Ray Bizer, Pastor Emeritus Pastoral Assistant, Janet Sherman L.M. ======================================================================= The annual report for the United Church of Christ just came out. Here are just a few statistics from it. They don't provide the whole story of the UCC nationwide, none-the-less they are an interesting snapshot. The UCC currently has 4,956 churches with a total of 853,778 members nationwide. The majority of our churches are in New England and the Upper Midwest. We are few and far between here in the south and western states. Faith UCC is one of hundreds of UCC churches that are a "5 for 5" congregation (giving to all 4 national offerings & Our Church's Wider Mission). The following funds were received: Strengthen the Church - $626,385 Neighbors in Need - $1,170,189 Christmas Fund - $1,350,714 One Great Hour of Sharing - $2,108,331 Our Churches Wider Mission received $15,419,267. Of this $5,498,669 went to the national church to support our work there and around the world. $15,419,267 staid in the conferences to support their work. In addition to this the UCC received bequests in the following areas: Annual Fund $222,338; One Great Hour of Sharing Endowment $1,291,630 and the Haystack Society $127,504. Our General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer writes, " 2017 was a year of reflection, review, and realignment at the National Setting. Amidst the change and in spite of the anxiety and sense of loss that change creates, several promising new starts took shape in the Office of the General Minister and President. The launch of the 3 Great Loves denominationwide initiative puts into meaningful action the purpose, mission and vision statements of the United Church of Christ. Six of our staff gathered over many months to envision a way to bring those statements alive and created the 3 Great Loves initiative. The invitation to unite in Christ s love and engage churches in love of neighbor, love of children, and love of creation has infused us all with new hope, new energy, and a common cause." If you would like to see the full report, including details from the Office of General Minister and President; Local Church Ministries; Wider Church Ministries; and Justice and Witness Ministries go to this link Grace and Peace, Pastor Scott

2 Faith UCC to Participate in Bells of Peace Sunday, November 11th Bells will be tolled in communities across the nation, in places of worship, schools, town halls, public carillons, and cemeteries. Bells will toll in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. at an interfaith service to mark the centennial of the Armistice that brought an end to hostilities, in what Americans fervently hoped had been The War to End All Wars. Faith UCC will join in tolling our bell at 11 a.m. during the worship service on November 11th. The Armistice that brought an end to WWI was signed on 11/11/1918. Pastor Scott on Vacation November 26-December 6th I will be in Florida November 26through November 30th. If there are any pastoral emergencies please contact Pastor Janet Sherman. On Sunday, December 2nd Rev. Jeremy Albers, Slumber Falls Camp Director, will lead the worship service. November Birthdays! 11-2 Wil Brown Ava Perry-Clark Barbara Jaroszewski Steve Anderson 11-4 Ray Bizer 11-5 Denise Leonhardt Hulen Brown Sharon Wendel Hunter Leber Leo Gates If your birthday is not on here pleasee let Pastor Scott know so we can add you to the list for next year! Faith Church Garage Sale Saturday November 3rd We are already collecting items for this year's garage sale. You can bring them to the fellowship hall (small room on left side). Save the date & volunteer. We need people to help price items, set up & take down, day of, etc. Contact Karen Krammm for more info Also, if you need help getting items to the church call the church office or Karen Kramm at the previous number.

3 Heart of Texas Association News Our Association Fall Meeting was held on Saturday, October 20th. Many thanks to United Christian Church for its welcoming spirit in hosting, to the Austin area churches for helping supply food for lunch, to Ron Trimmer for leading the opening worship, and to Jeremy Albers for speaking to us in depth about the how the ministry at Slumber Falls Camp changes lives. Congratulations, too, to Will Nelson on the vote during his Ecclesiastical Council to affirm him for ordination in the United Church of Christ pending receipt of a call to ministry. At our business meeting, Bill Burns educated us about the Christmas Fund offering for support of retired ministers with low pensions and similar needs; Ron Trimmer showed us the vision in ministry being lived by the South Central Conference New and Renewing Churches Committee; and Ryan Hart gave us an inspiring update about Open Cathedral. We give thanks for our Association leadership, as well as all who came, for a meeting where we experienced uplifting fellowship and the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing us together. A great joy from our meeting is the spirit of generosity we shared. Our Association expressed our support of the SCC camping ministry by voting to pay the balance of the funds Slumber Falls needed for payment on the delivery of the new donated mattresses in the final amount of $387.80, with the Association offering of $276 going into the Slumber Falls general fund. We also voted to continue the longtime practice of the former Brazos Association and the longtime generosity to youth of the former South Texas Association by putting our youth budget of $1200 into an ongoing fund to support youth activities such as attendance at the National Youth Event. In the past month, we have received news of two ministerial transitions. Eric Dehmer, currently a Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church, has been called to serve Friedens Church of Washington. We celebrate with the Friedens community and look forward to welcoming Eric. We also join with United Christian in saying farewell to friend and for our pastors, valued colleague, John Gage. John is taking a call to be the Senior Minister at the Congregational Church of Needham, Massachusetts in the Boston area. His last Sunday at United will be on November 18th John has served all of us in a wise and conscientious way on the Committee on Ministry, in the past year as chair. We wish John God s blessing in his new ministry. Our prayers are with United as they embark on this time of interim and search. Finally, Nikki Stahl, Associate Pastor at United Christian, has responded to my request at our Fall Meeting for information I can share about how to help with the initial disaster response to the flooding in the Marble Falls area. First Baptist Church Marble Falls is accepting donations and spearheading volunteer clean up/mud out efforts. Their information is here: Blessings in Christ, Liz Nash, Association Minister

4 Saturday Night November 3rd! November Worship Assistant List 11-4 Liturgist: Bob Manning Acolyte: Kyle Kramm Council Rep: Kyle Kramm Greeter: Karen Kramm Hospitality: Jan Ziegler AV: Mikki Ward Communion: Julia Allison Ushers: Kyle Kramm; Karen Kramm; Joe Ward; Julia Allison Church School: Karen Dietz & Jan Ziegler Liturgist: Donna Myer Acolyte: Valerie Oates Council Rep: Valerie Oates Greeter: Sheila Angerer Hospitality: Sam * Lana Ward AV: David Reed Ushers: Valerie Oates; Sam & Lana Ward; David Bizer Nursery: TBA Church School: Elly & Jakob Beauchamp & Kathy Leber Liturgist: Youth Acolyte: Youth Council Rep: Dan Geisler Greeter: Youth Hospitality: Vicky Geisler AV: Youth Ushers: Youth Church School (no classes) Nurserty: TBA Liturgist: Mikki Ward Acolyte: Kim Beauchamp Council Rep: Kim Beauchamp Greeter: Sofia Beauchamp Hospitality: Jennifer Marlow AV: Tim Marlow Nursery: TBA Ushers: Kim Beauchamp; Mikki Ward; Jennifer Marlow; Joseph Guerrero Church School: No classes 12-2 Liturgist: Kathy Leber Acolyte & Council Rep: Carol Sisco-Martinez Nursery: TBA Hospitality: Tex Pantermuehl Greeter: Richard Leber AV: TBA Ushers: Richard & Kathy Leber; Mike Ziegler; Carol Sisco-Martinez Church School (No classes) Communion: Sheila Angerer 12-9 Liturgist: Curt Leonhardt Acolyte: Jason Chapel Council Rep: Jason Chapel Greeter: Nicolle Clark Hospitality: Mary Jean Owen AV: Quinn Perry Nursery: TBA Ushers: Jason Chapel; Jim Gossett; Will Gossett; Curt Loenhardt If you cannot serve on the date(s) shown, please try to find a sub. If that is not possible, please leave a message at the church ( ) as soon as possible. If you would like to be added or removed from all or part of the Worship Assistant List, please contact the church office.

5 Greyson Levi Caito to be Baptized on Sunday, November 25th Greyson Caito will be welcomed into the church universal on Sunday, November 25th. We invite you to join his parents Rob & Torie Caito and their family and friends on that Sunday to welcome Greyson into the church. Congratulations to Ediberto Ureste & Karrissa Leigh Garza Garza-Vale Beto and Karrissa will be married on Saturday, November 17th.. May they have a long life together and may their journey be filled with God's blessings. Forced From Home Nov4 Nov4-11 San Antonio Main Plaza Doctors Without Borders presents Forced From Home, a free interactive tour that takes you behind the headlines about the global refugee crisis crisis.. Guided by experienced Doctors Without Borders aid workers, you ll travel through a 10,000 10,000-square-foot foot space designed to convey the challenges facing a person forced to flee. You ll also learn about the humanitarian aid we provide along the way. Visitors experience virtual reality and video, and interact act with materials gathered from refugee camps, sea rescue missions, and emergency medical projects around the world. Forced From Home tours are free, fully accessible, and take roughly one hour to complete. Families are welcome, however the content is bes best suited to children ages 12+. Learn more and share on our Facebook page. General Public Walk up any time and join a guided tour: Weekdays 9am - 1pm, 4pm - 8pm Weekends 10am - 6pm Join Pastor Scott after church on November 4th to go!

6 Church Calendar for November 11-3 Faith UCC Annual Garage Sale 8 a.m. to? 11-4 Worship service 10:30 a.m. - First Sunday Communion Forced From Home Interactive Exhibit - (we will leave after church) Worship Service 10:30 a.m. - Bells for Peace (100th anniversary of the end of WWI) Church Council Meeting 7 p.m Worship Service 10:30 (Reed Hoke on vacation) December newsletter items due (goes out 11/17) Happy Thanksgiving! Worship Service 10:30 a.m. (Greyson Caito Baptism) Pastor Scott on vacation 12-2 Hanging of the Greens Worship Service 10:30 a.m. (with communion) Janet Sherman's Address 508 Ferryboat Lane New Braunfels, Tx December Dates to Be Aware of... December 9th Rev. Gerry Metzger does Mission Moment on Christmas Fund Offering (Veterans of the Cross) Faith Church Rings Bells for Salvation Army at J.C. Penny December 16-30th Faith UCC & Friedens UCC host Family Promise families at Slumber Falls Camp Monday December 24th Christmas Eve Service Candlelight Service 5:30 pm

7