A Note From Our Senior Pastor:

Transcription

1 NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE ON LIFE S JOURNEY, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. A P u bli catio n o f Ri n co n Co ng reg atio n al U CC N O V E M B ER A Note From Our Senior Pastor: Dear Friends. I N T H IS I S S U E Pastor s Note... 1 Stewardship Moment 1 Pastor s Corner 2 Events & Groups 3 Health Ministries 3 Service Opportunities 4 Prayers & Celebrations 5 November Calendar 6 This coming Sunday commemorates what is commonly known as Reformation Sunday, in which the Church celebrates Martin Luther s posting in 1517 of the 95 theses of questions and propositions for debate in the Roman Catholic Church. Rincon member and retired minister Rich Smith was going to preach on that theme this Sunday, but as it turns out, he is under doctors orders to lay low. I usually don t preach about the Protestant Reformation, but having found a way in and out the Reformation of five-hundred years ago that is relevant to the ministry of Be-ing the Church today, am excited to do so! Partly my inspiration for preaching this Sunday comes from my own thoughts about how to preach a word that consoles and emboldens us as Church to journey with Jesus to the cross and beyond. And partly, my inspiration comes from an unexpected quarter, the floor of the U.S. Senate and Republican Senator Jeff Flake s words to the President and Congress on Tuesday. I am surprised, I guess, because it is hard to find hope in much coming out of Washington these days. Senator Flake, a member of the Republican majority party and (Mormon) Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, broke rank with ultra-right continued on page 2... Stewardship Moment I believe one of the best ways to support Rincon is by attending service when possible. When I'm at Rincon my spiritual hunger is always satisfied after hearing Reverend Delle deliver "the Word" and the beautiful music and hymns quench my spiritual thirst. Rincon is involved in many wonderful and meaningful community projects and programs, so such a caring and sharing church and it's people deserve support on every level to aid in the continuing involvement of these projects and programs. The beliefs that Rincon stands behind, and displays so beautifully in the sanctuary, is the main reason I support Rincon. Reverend Delle, reminds us of what Rincon is all about each time she delivers her sermon. Rincon is a fine church with good people, and my hope is that someday soon, the pews will be full of giving and caring people. I will continue to share with others my positive experiences at Rincon and by inviting them to come see and hear for themselves. I plan to step up more readily and volunteer to assist our church when needed and I urge all of you to do the same. Let's walk the talk...rincon is our church home. Let's all "Be The Church". Financial support...plain and simple, tithing is something we all must do, because it is the right thing to do. Victoria E. Crutchfield

2 A Note From Our Senior Pastor: Continued from page 1. conservatives, and spoke against the prevailing political winds of, reckless provocations, personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms and institution, the flagrant disregard for truth and decency to remind us of our foundational principles as a democracy... at a moment when it seems that our democracy is more defined by our discord and our dysfunction than by our own values and principles. Flake was the third Republican leader in a few days who confronted his own party with no small measure of regret... because of the state of our disunion... because of the disrepair and destructiveness of our politics... because of the indecency of our discourse... and because of the coarseness of our leadership. Senator Flake s and other Republican leaders bold and courageous actions in the face of enormous opposition from the dominant and dominating forces are, at this point, only words, but speaking out against death-dealing practices is foundational to our faith and understanding of democracy. Speaking out against death-dealing practices is a significant step toward reform that brings people together across party lines to remember what our organizing principles are, and envision how we might return to them. Scripture reminds us that God is made manifest in and through all people, all things, in all places - even on the other side of the aisles of politics and religion! While Martin Luther did not use the exact phrase, priesthood of all believers, he did challenge the medieval notion that Christians were divided into two classes: secular and spiritual. He put forth the doctrine that baptized Christian were and are priests, and spiritual in the eyes of God. Each of us has the gift of Spirit. Each of us is a priest, and as such has the powers of prophesy and protest - to call out the practices which erode and compromise life-giving practice and re-form our secular and sacred spaces for the betterment of all people, all nations, all of creation. May it be so. Pastor Delle Pastor s Corner Finding our Way through Stories: A narrative non-fiction workshop Facilitated by: Rev. Delle McCormick Wednesdays 5:30 7:00PM in Room 1A November 15, 29, and December 13 Stories are holy and nutritious and crucial. Stories change lives; stories save lives They crack open hearts, they open minds poet Brian Doyle Join us in reading Chartis and writing pretium short dos essays quotus as arroget a means quos of both refer storytelling endus erit debet and discussing the author s experience arnsi scrip on tor his abhincar or her faith nos journey. centum We vilis will atqu start decidit out by inter reading per. resne and finis an inter discussing a few published quid cidit pieces inter perfectos as well as veteres going que through poe principles tas an quos of narrative et praes nonfiction essay writing in referri general. debet Then an inter everyone vilis atque will no- be encouraged post era respuat to create aetas their decid. own sto- ste ens et ries to share with the vos. group Excludat for further iurgia discussion finis est vetus in future quidem meetings. veteres Ideally, inter we ponetur could an have 2-3 essays of a atque few pages probus, each vet centum to read qui through ut perficit in small honeste, groups qui vel and mense discuss brevi. altogether. No experience in arnos. creative Quid writing qui needed! deperit brev All are welcome! A suggested reading minor list uno and mense other materials vel anno inter will be a sent out prior to the first class, but no preparation is required. Bring a friend and a brown bag supper. Join us as we make our way through stories! For more information, please contact Pastor Delle through the church office or , revdelle@rinconucc.org. To register for the class, contact Nancy Congdon at nancy@rinconucc.org.

3 Finding our Way through Stories: A narrative non-fiction workshop THE SEWING OF THE EASTER PARAMENTS Wednesdays 5:30 7:00PM in Room 1A November 15, 29, and December 13 Stories are holy and nutritious and crucial. Stories change lives; stories save lives They crack open hearts, they open minds poet Brian Doyle Join us in reading and writing short essays as a means of both storytelling and discussing the author s experience on his or her faith journey. We will start out by reading and discussing a few published pieces as well as going through principles of narrative non-fiction essay writing in general. Then everyone will be encouraged to create their own stories to share with the group for further discussion in future meetings. Ideally, we could have 2-3 essays of a few pages each to read through in small groups and discuss altogether. No experience in creative writing needed! All are welcome! A suggested reading list and other materials will be sent out prior to the first class, but no preparation is required. Bring a friend and a brown bag supper. Join us as we make our way through stories! For more information, please contact Pastor Delle through the church office or , revdelle@rinconucc.org. To register for the class, contact Nancy Congdon at nancy@rinconucc.org. SOCIETY OF ST. ARIUS Meets every other Sunday 12:15 1:30 pm (October 1, 15, and 29th in Room 11) facilitated by Rincon member Scott Shumaker this book and spiritual discussion group focuses on the history of Christian theology and its relevance for today. Contact Scott (sshumaker048@gmail.com) for more information. Monday Nov 13 and Friday Nov 24 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Classroom 1A Please bring your sewing machine, scissors, and medium-colored gray thread (if available). Not a sewer? We need people to help cut the fabric. Not able to bring your sewing machine? You are welcome to sew at home. Just come without your sewing machine to pick up a copy of the directions as well as look at the project directly. A COMPANY OF READERS Rincon s book group meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00PM in a participant s home. The November book selection is The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. Meeting November 27th. NAOMI CIRCLE Naomi Circle invites all adults of Rincon Church to join us on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:30PM in Classroom 1A (in back of the patio to the north of the kitchen). For our November meeting, the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation Director, Adam Ragan, will be our guest speaker. He will tell us about the many programs and services they provide including EON, the special service for teenagers. New Member Inquiry November 12 9:50 10:30 Room 12 & New Member Reception November 19 We will be welcoming new members Sunday, November 19th at both services. If you plan to join, please contact Nancy at to let us know which service you will be joining. HEALTH MINISTRY PROGRAMS GENTLE HATHA YOGA ~ Every Monday at 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Instructor is Heidi Shirk, Rincon member, BA Ed., RYT 250 hrs. The class is free. Contact Heidi at for more information. FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC ~ 1st Sunday at 10 AM in Fellowship Hall and 2nd Sunday at 12 PM in Room 12.

4 Primavera Meal Prep On the fourth Tuesday of each month (October 24th) at 3:00 pm Rincon volunteers prepare a meal in the Rincon kitchen for the Catalina House transition housing unit run by Primavera. The meal is delivered to the Catalina House by a volunteer in time for dinner. For more information or to volunteer contact Ann Geiger at Casa Maria Feeding Program Every four weeks we purchase supplies and make about 1,600 sandwiches for the Casa Maria Free Soup Kitchen. The 2017 dates are: 10/28, 11/25, 12/23. A soup-making volunteer is also need on each Sunday following each Saturday sandwich making date. This task is completed at the Casa Maria soup kitchen. For more information contact the coordinator, Anne Esborn at Sunday Morning Greeters We are in need of Greeters for the 10:45 AM service. As a greeter you can help our members and visitors feel welcome as they come in to worship. If you can help, please contact Nancy in the church office at Hospitality We are in need of volunteers to help with the hospitality project. If you are able to help, please contact Dean Hokel. Prayer Shawl Ministry Every Wed, 12-1 pm, Stedman room. Knit or crochet prayer shawls to be blessed and given to those in need comfort or celebrating a joy! Bring your own yarn and needles. Contact: Nancy Congdon CELEBRATE - As we begin the new church school year, we are looking for additional Celebrate teachers. We are looking for people willing to teach once a month as well as people willing to fill in as substitutes as needed. As a Celebrate teacher, you will be using the Sparks curriculum which has a story the first week then builds off that with art, cooking, and bible games for our elementary school aged children. If you are able to assist please contact Rebecca Egbert at msharrietlane@yahoo.com. TIHAN Traveling Tree - Each year, the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) partners with the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) on two winter events to help brighten the holidays for people living with HIV and their families. We hope to ensure that every adult living with HIV and their children can receive a holiday gift. We will have 20 ornaments hanging on a Christmas tree in Fellowship Hall and the Narthex. The ornaments will designate a gift recipient for a new and unused, unwrapped gift within a price range of $20 to $30. Gift suggestions will be posted on the donation boxes. Donation boxes will be in Fellowship Hall and the Sanctuary from 11/12 12/3. Please bring the gifts to church no later than December 3rd. November 11 ~ 8:00 am The Building and Grounds Ministry Team invites you to help around the church during our Fall Work Day. Bring your gloves and can-do attitude and help keep our campus beautiful and safe!

5 P R AY E R S & C E L E B R AT I O N S WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES 8:45AM in Fellowship Hall 10:45AM in the Sanctuary in Rooms 9/10 POINSETTIAS Let s make our worship space beautiful and fill it with red poinsettias. Order forms are available on the front tables in both Fellowship Hall and the Narthex. You may also call Nancy in the office. Please have your order in by November 12th. ADVENT DEVOTIONALS (THE STILL SPEAKING WRITER S GROUP) Watch: 2017 Advent Devotional is a unique collection of devotions that includes an insightful scripture verse and prayer for each day of Advent. Copies of the Advent devotional are $6.50. To order your copy, please contact Nancy in the office. Supply is limited! ON-GOING CARE Jeanne Dursi Doris & John Eiland Davin Franklin-Hicks Ted Goodridge Dean Hokel Jack Root Barbara Thompson Randy Decker s sister (Pat) LaVern Rahn s son (Jeff) Jessica Larriva s mother (Susan) HOSPITAL Hal Gilbert NURSING HOME Dorothy Singer (Devon Gables #55B) HOSPICE Edna Strayer Bob Franz Nursery Attendants: Ashley Kendrew and Kathy Kolmer Children are an important part of our community and are encouraged to remain in worship with their families. Child care is available in Rooms 7/8 during both worship services. ANNIVERSARIES 11/3 Jean & Vicent Granillo 11/12 Fred Pace & Gail Gibbons-Pace 11/12 Debra & Ed Shapiro 11/12 Shirley & Felix Schoenberger 11/19 Bev & Gene Buell 11/19 Ted & Georgia Petranoff 11/29 Ann & Gordon Geiger BIRTHDAYS 11/1 Jerry Pipes 11/3 Diane Root 11/4 Tom Merson 11/5 Lucy Weber 11/6 Shari Murphy 11/8 Dorothy Stowell 11/10 Nancy Franklin-Hicks 11/11 Ross McGuire 11/11 Jessica Walker 11/13 Devin Depew 11/13 Ted Petranoff 11/14 Camille Harris 11/15 Donald Collier 11/15 Donna Harrison 11/22 Felix Schoenberger 11/24 William Sulzer 11/25 Vickie Young-Chiverton 11/27 Barb Kuelbs 11/30 Alex Keyes 11/30 Manny Palacios CELEBRATE Following the Children s Blessing during the 10:45AM Worship Service, children may move to Celebrate and will be accompanied to Room 9 by adult leaders.

6 pm Student Recital Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 5:30 Yoga 6:30pm Room 10 rented :30pm The Learning Curve 5:30pm Biblical Female Prophets 8 12:30 The Learning Curve 5:30pm Biblical Female Prophets 5:30pm WM&A 6:30pm B&G 2 9;30am PCOA 7pm Choir Practice 9 3:30pm Congregational Life 7pm Choir Practice am S&F am Church Work Day 10 am TransParents 8:30am Sonatina Festival 12 9:50am New Member Inquiry 12pm Faith Development 12:15 Society of St Arius 1pm Fran Buss Event 2pm The Christines (FOM) 5pm Inward/Outward 19 New Member Reception 9:50 am Stewardship Luncheon 13 11am Easter Parament Sewing 5:30 pm Yoga 6:30pm Room 10 rented 20 5:30 pm Yoga 6:30 pm Room 10 rented 14 9:30 Alzheimer s Support 5 pm JAWM 6 pm Personnel 21 7:30pm Naomi Circle 15 10:30am Called to Care 12pm C2C Luncheon 12:30pm The Learning Curve 5:30pm Stories pm Choir practice 23 Thanksgiving Day Office Closed 17 7:30pm Recital 24 Office Closed 11am Easter Parament Sewing 18 7pm If Music Be the Food concert 25 8:30am Casa Maria am Mary Magdala 12 pm Council 12:15 Society of St Arius 5:30pm Yoga 6:30 pm Room 10 rented 7pm A Co of Readers 9:30 Alzheimer s Support 3pm Primavera 12:30 The Learning Curve 5:30pm Stories 7pm Choir practice