Newsletter of The First Congregational Church, Canton Center, CT. And then I came across this delightful one that aims to say everybody this way:

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1 THE CHURCHMOUSE Newsletter of The First Congregational Church, Canton Center, CT November 2018 From the Pastor Rev. Brenda Pelc-Faszcza YOU RE WELCOME HERE IF YOU. This month, our congregation will be re-engaging with the topic of becoming an Open and Affirming (ONA) church, something we began discussing several months ago. In preparing for a Second Hour conversation on November 4 (see info. on p. 9), members of the committee and I have been looking at what some examples of ONA/welcoming statements look like, as used in other churches. Overall, they are strikingly similar. They contain language about fully welcoming persons of all ages, races, nationalities, physical or mental ability, socioeconomic status, marital status, family configuration, gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. In other words, they mean everybody, which, of course, is the point. Everybody. And then I came across this delightful one that aims to say everybody this way: The Welcoming Statement of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Daytona, FL We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no habla Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or, like our pastor, can t carry a note in a bucket. You re welcome here if you re just browsing, just woke up or just got out of jail. We don t care if you re more Catholic than the Pope or haven t been in church since little Joey s baptism. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you re having problems or you re down in the dumps or if you don t like organized religion, we ve been there too. If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don t work, can t spell, or showed up because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid, or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts... and you! Yup everybody. Amen. Faithfully, Rev. Brenda

2 The Churchmouse Page 2 Music Notes Mary Lou Keefe, Director of Music WORSHIP MINISTRY The Senior Choir has been rehearsing for Thanksgiving Sunday and also the Christmas season, including Advent and Music Sunday. As usual, the Sr. Choir, augmented with guest singers will provide music for the celebration of Lessons and Carols which will be on December 16th during the regular service time. The Senior Choir welcomes soprano Terry Getchell to our midst. The Bell Choir has also been preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas and will perform for the first time this year on Thanksgiving Sunday, November 18th. We are still looking for new members and in fact may have one. More on that next month. The Cherub Choir under the direction of Judy Robinson will start up on November 4th. This choir is for children ages four through third grade who like to sing. We will be preparing a song for the Christmas season, probably to be sung on December 16th. The choir meets in the music room after church on Sundays at 11:15 am. Mark your calendars for the traditional Thanksgiving Interfaith Service for greater Canton that will take place at the Church of the Latter Day Saints on November 18th at 4:00 pm. There will be a choir made up of singers from various churches in Canton including ours. Refreshments will follow. Special thanks to Jerry Alonzy who is in charge of getting the sermons and music on the website. Special thanks to Marilyn Larose who recently donated funds to the music department to be used for music purchases. Special Thanks to Karen Needham who led the congregation on October 21 in singing the canon, Go Now in Peace. It sounded wonderful.

3 The Churchmouse Page 3 WORSHIP MINISTRY WORSHIP IN NOVEMBER Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 18 Nov. 25 All Saints Sunday; Communion Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost Thanksgiving Sunday; 4 p.m. Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service* My Faith and My Work * Message delivered by two members of the congregation* *See additional information below COMMUNITY INTERFAITH CELEBRATION OF THANKSGIVING Sunday, November 18, 4 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 27 Lawton Road, Canton An interfaith celebration of Thanksgiving with leaders and choirs of local faith communities participating. All welcome! Please bring non-perishable food items for the Canton Food Bank MY FAITH AND MY WORK A Special Theme for Worship on November 25 On November 25 th, we ll be a having our second annual My Faith and My Work service, where the message in the morning service will be delivered by members of the congregation who will share reflections on how their faith and their work (currently and/or over the years) speak to, inform and challenge each other. Because we hold a faith that makes a claim on our whole lives, it is a significant thing to reflect on how that claim shows up in the context of our work, and to share that reflection with others. And, learning more about the daily lives of fellow church members helps all of us get to know each other better. Our two lay speakers on Nov. 25 will be Jerry Alonzy, who s worn quite a few hats since college and is currently a web publisher, and Stacey Violante Cote, an attorney and Director of the Teen Advocacy Project with the Center for Children s Advocacy in Hartford, which provides legal assistance for homeless children and youth.

4 The Churchmouse Page 4 Deacons Bench Bev Sealand, Senior Deacon WORSHIP MINISTRY For the past several months, you have heard about the new organizational structure the Church Council is piloting in the form of four ministries Worship, Faith Formation, Community Outreach and Fellowship/In-Reach. Part of this new organization is encouraging church members to temporarily volunteer to assist with any aspect of these ministries on an event-by-event or case-by-case basis. One way in which our church s families and friends have already been involved is by serving as greeters and ushers for each service. Greeters welcome people as they arrive before the service, and ushers receive the offering during the service. It is always uplifting to have a smiling face greet you at the door on Sunday morning, and if you happen upon Karen Needham, then you know it s always Holy Hugging Sunday in her book! I would like to encourage everyone to give some serious consideration to signing up as either an usher or a greeter over the coming months the signup sheet is on the bulletin board in the hallway just outside the Parish Hall. These are very simple tasks, that only require showing up a little earlier than usual on Sunday morning, and the duty deacons will guide you through the rest. The Diaconate is also looking to expand on the involvement of parishioners during the Sunday services, and would like to open up the opportunity to anyone who might be interested in serving as the lay reader: leading the congregation in the opening prayer, the gathering prayer, or possibly the scripture reading. I m certainly not the public speaker that Dad was, but if I can do it, any of you can do it, too! Deacons and/or Rev. Brenda will be happy to provide all the information you need if you re new to the role. And lastly, one more way that folks can get involved is as candle lighters during Advent. We will need 6 teams, groups or families to assist with the Advent candle lighting, starting on Sunday December 2nd through to the two services on Christmas Eve. If you are interested in being a lay reader during one of our regular Sunday services, or would like to be an Advent candle lighter, please feel free to reach out to Rev. Brenda or any member of the Diaconate (Dave Heyer, Karen Needham, Charlie Hammond, Darryl Haberern, Andy Kerr or myself), or see sign-up sheets that will be on the church bulletin boards. Certainly, if there are other ways in which you d like to participate, please let us know. As we come into the Thanksgiving season, let us be thankful for each other, our families and friends, our faith, and for the love of God that brings us together. Blessings and Peace, Bev Sealand Sarah Pradhan, Dir. of Faith Formation and youth enjoying Church School. Bob Oswald & Connor Walker Singing We are the church (on the conga).

5 The Churchmouse Page 5 Director of Faith Formation Sarah Pradhan FAITH FORMATION MINISTRY We are entering the season of gratitude and thanks! I particularly love November because talking about our blessings becomes habitual, and it is something that I do all year round. I am truly thankful to be a part of FCCCC. Your congregation has welcomed me and my family and we have fit right in. I m grateful for the opportunity to engage the children (and adults as well) every Sunday morning during my message for all ages. My gratitude list is endless, for I truly have abundant blessings in my life. The CE Committee discussed our church school mission for this year and we decided to give locally, where some of our own may be struggling and unable to see many blessings in their lives. One way we are giving back is by fundraising for Hands Of Grace in New Hartford, a nonprofit that provides basic necessities to families and individuals experiencing financial crises. The Missions Committee has worked with this great organization, and the need is definitely there. All funds gathered this school year are going to be donated to Hands Of Grace. In addition, our Church school kids will be collecting non perishable food items from the congregation, every 4 th Sunday during worship. Food donations will be given to the Canton Food Pantry. Through food donations, we are sharing our abundance with local folks who may need an extra hand at the moment. Please remember to bring your donation item every 4 th Sunday. Our CE program is open to all children. We encourage families with children of all different abilities and needs to join our program. Our Christian Education committee welcomes all of God s children. As always, we invite all youth grades 5-8 to join our JYF leader Bob Oswald Sunday mornings for time to connect with friends, and chat about the scripture text for the week. If you have a little one under the age of 3, please let me know so we can have a volunteer in the nursery on Sunday mornings so that you may enjoy worship. Our Christian Education program is happy to announce that we are on Facebook now! Find our page, Canton Center Church Kids, the next time you sign on. Don t forget to like us and share with your family and friends! We are always looking for volunteers to help with our classes. If you d like to volunteer your time on a Sunday, please see me, or Diane Mankowski. Thank you to all who have purchased Butter Braids. Please pick up your Butter Braid on November 11 during coffee hour. Blessings, Sarah Pradhan Director of Faith Formation

6 The Churchmouse Page 6 Missions & Outreach Carole Fisher COMMUNITY OUTREACH MINISTRY With the start of a new school year then Missions Committee has become busier than ever. Included here is a cross section of the areas we have been servicing. See where you may best fit in. Extra hands are always welcome! As weather becomes progressively colder, the growing season is coming to a close. The Missions Gardens next to the Parsonage have been most productive! The super variety of fresh items has ranged from pretty flowers, to potatoes, tomatoes, fresh herbs, corn, squash, beans and almost anything you can think of. If some of you lack a sunny spot for a vegetable garden, this might be a great project to undertake with your whole family! The look on a child's face when he realizes that one small seed became a real vegetable for someone to eat is priceless! Check for availability of garden plots come spring on the missions board! Bounty for others and a wonderful family group experience! Be proud of great success of our church's gardens. Lots of wonderful fresh vegetables have been shared with the food bank located at Trinity Episcopal Church. (If you know people in need, check with Trinity Episcopal to see which days they are open - usually in the morning - great diversity of food items available to those in need.) During the next weeks take note of the children's wagon in the area of the Sunday School rooms, awaiting a new collection of non-perishable goods to take to the Food Bank. All offerings of food (with current freshness labels are graciously accepted! Thank you! Hands of Grace - have provided both personal hygiene products to supplement their dwindling supply as well as other items. (One suggestion is if you take your rubbish to the transfer station see if there are items in the swap shack which could be useful to parents of young children on short budgets. I found a lovely "like new folding stroller there. It was happily accepted by Hands of Grace. Following a different request for items of personal hygiene, a thank you to those who created hygiene bags - a good sized zip lock bag containing a washcloth, soap, and perhaps some lotion or toothpaste - to send to the schools we are supporting in Tanzania. Can you imagine the smile on a girl's face as she discovers how magically a zip lock bag can both open and close while holding items to make her cleaner? In the next few weeks check out the Missions Board for two activities related to food and cooking to assist with Thanksgiving Dinners for those in need. You have already been given a list of the types of foods which are needed to all in the community who wish to will be able to create their own Thanksgiving diner at home. While shopping for your own item, think back over this list and purchase a few extra items which could be shared with others in need... a can of cranberry sauce, gravy, green beans... whatever you most like. Second, today I was finally told what role Canton Center Church will have in the production of Thanksgiving Dinners for those who are shut in or unable to create a meal of their own. Our two items are responsible for are the traditional Green Bean Casserole (recipe to be supplied soon) and a total of 50 cans of Campbell's 10 oz. cans of gravy. Our goal is for the members of our church to divide up these items (dividing the loan on any one person) so they may be delivered to the Masonic Hall where these dinners will be completed, assembled and then delivered to those who requested them Thanksgiving Day! You'll hear more details in Church, and then can sign up for your part on the Missions Board just to the right as you leave church going to the Parish Hall. Thank you for all your assistance in this large community project! During the forthcoming weeks: Start to collect warm items of clothing in the missions box - hats, gloves, long underwear (that is attractive enough that it can be used for daily clothing - eg tights), coats, etc. For both children and adults. Keep an eye out for - start of collecting items to assist Wellmore in finding holiday gifts for children on their case loads. Thank you all for being the super giving folks you are! Any questions - call Carole Fisher

7 Page 7 The Churchmouse FELLOWSHIP/INREACH MINISTRY Thank you to all who worked at the Chicken Pie Supper, those that came to eat on Saturday night and those that bought leftover food on Sunday! Phil and I really appreciate all of you!! We were very happy for all of the helpers that made The Chicken Pie Supper a success. We put all the names of the helpers in a basket and chose 6 names to win a gift card (Shop Rite, Barnes and Noble, Amazon). Two for the Prime Timers who helped peel and cut the veggies and the cut the chicken into pieces. Four for the rest of the helpers. The winners for the Prime Timers were Carol Heyer and Dave Heyer. The other winners were Gary Adajian, Hugh Anderson, Danny from Spain and Jim Magennis. If you bought a chicken pie, please return the pan so we can use it for The Strawberry Festival and The Chicken Pie Supper. We had to buy 9 new pans this year because we didn t have enough. Thank you!! Cora Mutch and Phil LeGeyt Chairs of The Chicken Pie Supper The Prime Timers will meet at Canton Center Church November 14, at noon Carole Fisher will prepare crepes and other interesting foods for us to sample. Bring your appetite and prepare to enjoy delicious food. No need to bring your lunch. We are grateful to Carole for her time and effort to give us this special, fun program! There will not be an out to lunch on the 28th. THANKSGIVING POTLUCK NOVEMBER 18 Our annual Sunday-before-Thanksgiving pot luck meal will take place after the service on November 18. Sponsored each year by the Wider Church Fellowship Committee, this event brings our church family together to enjoy a Thanksgiving-style lunch. We will need a few people to bring roasted turkeys, and others to bring side dishes and desserts. Please see the sign up sheet on the kitchen door.

8 Page 8 Trustees News Phil LeGeyt, Chairperson The Board of Trustees is planning the fall clean up day on Saturday, November 10th, 8:30-12:00 We ll be doing some outdoor things getting ready for winter. If you could, please bring rakes, leaf blower, hand or chainsaw, and hedge trimmers. Coffee and something yummy will be supplied. PLEDE CAMPAIGN The pledge campaign is on, please move the pouch through the list supplied with it - as quickly as possible. Thank you, Phil LeGeyt, Chairman The Churchmouse SUPPORT TO OUR MINISTRIES We're Looking for a Communications Coordinator We're looking for someone to coordinate the beyond-our-church communications that are such an important and necessary part of how we tell the community around us who we are as a congregation, what we do, and what we care about. We need someone good at planning and timeliness, and familiar with electronic communications, to help us advertise events and tell our church's stories in our wider community (Facebook and other social media platforms, website, newspapers and other local print publications, etc.). If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please contact: Rev. Brenda at pastor@cantoncenterchurch.org or October seemed to go from summer to winter overnight. Before we know it, the white stuff will be falling from the sky. And Christmas is less than 2 months away! While it would be downright un-christian of us to forget the reason for the season, we can t deny the fact that Christmas also means presents. Gift cards have become one of the most popular choices for gift giving occasions, especially Christmas. Whether you are looking for a present for that hard to shop for relative, a hostess gift for those holiday parties, a little something for a teacher or co-worker or even a small stocking stuffer or grab bag gift the scrip table is a great place to find just what you need! Cards are offered in various denominations and some start as low as $5 or $10. There are over 750 retailers and restaurants to choose from many local stores, national chains and online shops as well. When you purchase a gift card from our church s scrip program, a percent of the face value of every card goes to our general fund. You are supporting our church every time you buy a gift card! Stop by the scrip table during coffee hour to see all the participating retailers. We are there every week. Or you can even set up an online account and place your order from the convenience of your house any time of day or night! You ll be amazed at how quickly the funds raised add up and how YOU are making a difference. See Casey Levine or Karen Needham for more information or visit

9 The Churchmouse Page 9 SUPPORT TO OUR MINISTRIES Second Hour Conversation A Next Step in Considering Becoming an Open & Affirming (ONA) Church Sunday, November 4, 11:30 12:30 pm As a next step in our congregation's process of discerning whether to adopt Open and Affirming (ONA) status, the ONA Committee has planned a Second Hour conversation for November 4. ONA is the designation within our denomination, the United Church of Christ, for congregations that state publicly their full welcome of all persons. In listening to members of our church over recent months, it has been clear to the committee that our congregation already feels we are an open and welcoming church. To help us consider how we would communicate that to those who don't already know us, the committee offers the draft language below, to be discussed at the Second Hour on November 4. We are not voting on anything at this time. This is an important discussion for our whole congregation. Care for children, with lunch, will be provided so that all adults can attend. Please plan to participate! Draft ONA Statement for FCCCC Following the teachings of Jesus and the ongoing leading of the Holy Spirit, we, The First Congregational Church of Canton Center, affirm that all people are created in the image of God, uniquely gifted, and called into the life of community. We are an open congregation that fully welcomes and affirms persons of all ages, races, nationalities, faith backgrounds, economic and social status, marital status, family configuration, physical and mental health or ability, gender, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation. We welcome all into full participation in the membership, fellowship and ministries of this church, as we seek to practice a faith that gathers us inclusively and equips us joyfully for lives of love and service, in both the church and the world. Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here! These days call for the church to stretch itself out and create alternative spaces for building bonds and bridges. Neichelle Guidry

10 The Churchmouse Page 10 OUR MISSION STATEMENT We gather as a welcoming community in worship, learning, service and fellowship to embody Christ s message of love, compassion and justice. Joining faith with action, both within and beyond our church, we strive to build a community that serves all. to our long term members of 25 years: Linda Kessler Raymond Kessler our long term members of 40 years: Patricia Healy Walter LeGeyt Jennifer McCormick our long term members of 50 years: David Ayres Margaret Ayres Beverly Brandon Christopher Brandon Ellen Potter Frederic Potter our long term member of 60 years: Karen Ronan and our longest term member of 80 years: Muriel LeGeyt Congratulations to Matt & Laura Dunn Gabso on the birth of their son, John Dunn Gabso born on October 1 in Abilene, TX. Proud grandparents are Bob & Mary Lee Dunn of New Hartford. God is still speaking!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Visit our website at Listen to recorded Sermons and Music from worship services! Follow us on

11 The Churchmouse Page 11 NOVEMBER 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Cub Scouts 6:30 7:30 pm Handbell Choir 7:00 pm AA 11:00 p.m. 4 Missions Mtg 9 am All Saints Sunday Worship/Communion 10:00 am Second Hour ONA 11:30-12:30 pm Cherub Choir 11:15 am (Daylight Savings Time Ends) 5 Music Meeting 6:30 pm Choir 7:00 pm ACA 7:00 pm 6 Deacons Meeting 6:30 pm AA 7:00 pm 7 8 Handbell Choir 7:00 pm 9 10 FALL CLEAN UP DAY (8:30 - Noon) AA 11:00 p.m. 11 Worship 10:00 am Cherub Choir 11:15 am (return Thanksgiving brown bags) (Butter Braid pick up) 12 Prayer Shawl 10:00 am Trustee 7:00 pm Choir 7:00 pm ACA 7:00 pm 13 AA 7:00 pm 14 Prime Timers 12:00 pm Council Meeting 7:00 pm 15 Handbell Choir 7:00 pm AA 11:00 p.m. 18 Thanksgiving Sunday Worship 10:00 am & POTLUCK Cherub Choir 11:15 am INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING - 4 Church Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Canton Choir 7:00 pm ACA 7:00 pm AA 7:00 pm AA 11:00 p.m. 25 Worship My Faith & My Work 10:00 am Food Collection Sunday Cherub Choir 11:15 am Choir 7:00 pm ACA 7:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Handbell Choir 7:00 pm.

12 The First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) 184 Cherry Brook Road P O Box 133 Canton Center, CT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID AVON CT PERMIT NO 426 **Change Service Requested** Worship every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The First Congregational Church 184 Cherry Brook Road PO Box 133 Canton Center, CT Office (860) Kristen DiMattia, Office Manager office@cantoncenterchurch.org M-F 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Pastor (860) Rev. Dr. Brenda Pelc-Faszcza pastor@cantoncenterchurch.org Organist/Director of Music: Mary Lou Keefe music@cantoncenterchurch.org Director of Faith Formation: (860) Sarah Pradhan ce@cantoncenterchurch.org We re on the Web! Visit us at: