August Southwick Congregational Church UCC. United Church of Christ. The Good Newsletter of the. Southwick Congregational Church

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1 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Brittany Perras Deacons: Patty Banasik Diane Orson Finance: Patti Wood Flowers: Roxanne Cook Fundraising: Patti Wood Library: Sonya Murray Memorial Gifts: Karen Brzezinski Missions: Donna Sullivan Music: Joe Sullivan Roxanne Cook August College Highway P.O. Box 260 Southwick, MA Craig Perras Return Service Requested Buildings & Grounds: Christian Education: Nominating: Pastoral Relations: Church Office Hours: United Church of Christ 488 College Highway; P.O. Box 260 Southwick, MA VOLUME MMXVIII No. 8 The Good Newsletter of the United Church of Christ Southwick, MA Rev. Dr. Susanne Hayes, Interim Minister Please join us Sundays for Worship Service 9:30 AM Mid-Week Service Thursdays 6:30 PM Website: www. SouthwickUCC.org US Postage PAID Permit No. 309 Southwick, MA DATED MATERIAL Tuesday thru Thursday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Pastor s Office Hours: Tues & Thurs 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Church Office Phone: Susanne s Office Phone: Website: www. southwickucc.org Office southwickucc@gmail.com Facebook: UCC Staff: Interim Minister Rev. Dr. Susanne Hayes Choir Director/Organist Roberta Kowal Bell Choir Director Patti P. Wood Office Administrator Lyn Casey Custodians Matthew Kowal & Maria Lempke

2 2 11 MISSION STATEMENT is a faithful Christian presence in the community of Southwick since 1773, and we look to the future. We are a diverse and loving congregation, joyfully serving, teaching, and sharing with one another, according to the gifts we have been given. Worship Schedule Sunday Worship service at 9:30 AM Thursdays Midweek Service at 6:30 PM Ecumenical Service at The American Inn on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM Office Hours The Church office will be open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 9:00 AM~1:00 PM Tuesday from 11:00 AM~2:00 PM Friday from 8:30 AM~12:00 PM Rev. Susanne s Hours Rev. Susanne s Hours are Tuesday & Thursday 10~12 PM All Church Meeting Sunday, September 9, 11 AM OR Thursday September 13, 7 PM Church Refreshment Schedule August Sign up in Old Fellowship Hall 1st week If your last name begins with A - D, please bring something to share 2 nd If your last name begins with E - H, please bring something to share 3 rd If your last name begins with I - R, please bring something to share 4 th If your last name begins with S - Z, please bring something to share If there is a fifth week, the church committees will bring the refreshments. 10:00 AM Sunday Worship resumes September 9 A Date with God We met before dinner for a quick walk in the sand I didn t know which I d rather Look for shells? Hold His hand? I wanted to run like a child and play in the surf Yet also act like an adult and meet Him on His turf When we sat down to dine I wasn t sure what to do Do you still have to say Grace when God sits facing you? Would I have to make small talk or would God take control? It seems I needn t have worried and just let it all simply unfold Each bite was delicious a meal unto itself Such flavor, the texture the chef outdid himself No words were needed when I dined with God We enjoyed it immensely and it did not feel odd I hope I remember to bring God back home That He isn t just here when I am alone I hope I remember that each day can be A date with the Presence most special to me ~Evelyn Dean Casey The Missions and Outreach Committee would like to send care packages to those members of our church who are serving in the military. There will be boxes in the narthex for donations. The following is a list of suggested items: -foot powder; -energy bars; -shaving lotion; -gum; -lens cleaning cloths; -sunscreen; -bug spray; -beef jerky; -throat lozenges; -lip balm; - baby wipes; -powdered drink mix; -travel size mouth wash; - snack containers of pretzels, chips, nuts, etc. Thanks so much for your help.

3 10 Committee Communications See back page for chair contact information 3 Reverend s Reverie Missions: The Missions/Outreach committee has placed a collection box in the narthex of the church in order to collect items to send to those serving in the military from the church. We are ever so grateful to those who have dropped in their donations. If you are able to provide us with any addresses, please let one of the committee members (and church office) know. A couple of our members, along with Rev. Dr. Susanne, visited the Nehemiah House in Granby CT. This is a safe home for women who are navigating unplanned pregnancies alone and are temporarily homeless. We have invited Stephen Danalis and his wife Sherry, to one of our Sunday services in late September. They will explain more of exactly what they are about and how we may be a help to them. We are also looking forward to a successful Community Day/ Vendor Fair on September 15th. Please spread the word. ~Donna S. It is evening on this mid-summer day and the shadows run long from the steeple of our church. In architecture, a steeple is a tall tower on a building often incorporating a belfry, a lantern and topped by a spire or in our case a Gold Dome. For over a thousand years, such steeples have been a common element of religious architecture worldwide and are generally viewed as attempts to reach skyward toward heavens and the divine. With summer, we reach the mid-point of our Stewardship year. In summary, pledges for 2018 total $91,670 or about 61% of the annual budget of $149,785. These totals are similar to income and expenses for 2017 of stewardship offerings of $89,277 or 63% of the year s expenses of $141,677. Stewardship receipts for 2018 received through the end of June total $61,671. Between lowered expenses by virtue of Rev. Dr. Susanne Hayes as our interim minister and your support of fund-raisers, (lobster dinner take-out, soft-goods closet clean-out ) we hope to close 2018 with a deficit smaller that incurred in Psalm 24: The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. ~Virgil My husband Michael and I have finally found something we can do together that is good for us! Neither one of us have exercised for years, due to the aches and pains that have developed as we get older. There s not a whole lot we can do about that, but Michael discovered a place in Northampton that sells recumbent tricycles, which are tricycles that have a comfortable seat and have pedals that are straight out in front of you, so that you don t have to put your body weight on your sore knees and hips! Well, we both got one, and are now happily peddling down the local bike trails! Here s what the trikes look like: So not only are we peddling down the bike trails, we are also getting some much needed exercise! Not only that, we now have a way to enjoy the glory of God s handiwork all around us! We see chipmunks and squirrels, and birds and flowers, and trees and plants, and the sky and the clouds, and the sun and a whole lot of other people enjoying nature, and seeing one another, and greeting one another, and communicating with one another! In fact, on our last ride, Michael saw an animal that I myself would not necessarily want to see, as a baby bear ran across the trail right in front of him, and then right back into the woods. Of course we realize that if there is a baby bear, there must be a Mama bear somewhere. And neither of us would want to upset the Mama Bear. All this is to say that while we are doing something together, and something that is good for us, I can t help but be reminded of the many Biblical references to nature and God s creation. I know that last month I wrote about John being my favorite of the four gospels, so I m going back to John s gospel to show my appreciation of our world. This is another of my favorite sections of scripture from the gospel of John. At the very beginning of John, chapter 1, he writes, 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life

4 was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. Wow! Do you realize what that means?! First of all, it means that God created everything, meaning everything around us, and everything Michael and I see as we ride the bike trails, and much, much more that we haven t ever seen, and probably won t ever see in our lifetimes! But not only that, these words tell us that God created everything through the Word! And in the Bible, the term the Word refers to Jesus our Christ! So John is also telling us that Jesus, as well as the Holy Spirit, has always, yes always, been with our God, since the creation of time! I find this simply incredible! And the most logical reason why the Son of God is called the Word seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was Jesus eventually sent in order to reveal God s mind to the world. What John says of Christ maintains the fact that He is truly God. John asserts His existence in the beginning, and His coexistence with God! The Word was with God. All things were made by Him. Without Him, was not anything made that was made, from the highest angel to the creatures of the deepest sea. In his words, John shows us how well qualified Jesus was for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness does not comprehend it. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it, and that we will thus be made wise unto salvation, by our true faith in Jesus Christ. ~Rev. Susanne, Interim Minister 4 Saturday August 4, College Hwy TAKE-OUT ONLY PICK UP TIMES 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:30 Plan a lobster party! $25.00 Each Paid reservations must be in by now! Call (413) Payable to: Boiled Lobster with Drawn Butter Corn on the Cob Coleslaw Baked Potato Home Baked Brownie Aug ~ August 18 ~ Sept 9 ~ Sept 15 ~ Coming Events Clothing Drive Drop Off 9-1; & 8/ pm Clothing Drive 9-12 Fall Schedule Resumes (10 AM Service) Community Day / Vendor Day 9 Don t forget, you can read the weekly sermon on our website: on the page: From the Pastor Pastoral Care: Your joys and concerns are of the utmost importance to our community of faith, and pastoral care is offered for any and all personal and spiritual situations that might arise in one s life. Please call the church office at or southwickucc@gmail.com if you would like to speak with our pastor. Summer Music August 5* Jean Haughey August 12* Sean Uliasz August 19 August 26 September 2* Ron Shepard *Roberta is on vacation these Sundays Joe Sullivan & Friends Jack Yourous - guitar/vocal Mike & Steve Pitoniak Guitar/Vocal Geoff Gould - guitar/vocal Ron Shepard - Organ

5 Happy August Birthday 8 5 August 2 August 5 August 5 August 10 August 17 August 18 August 18 August 20 August 21 August 29 Dawn Turgeon Ted Kowal Charles Rood, Jr. Diane Rood Maria Lempke Beth Studer Keith Ireland Sonya Murray Martha Johnson Dan Warriner This year we will be collecting soft goods only: Clothing, Shoes, Bedding, Towels, Accessories: Handbags, Totes, Leather Belts, Wallets, Jewelry If we ve missed a birthday, please let the church office know! The music committee is sponsoring a calendar raffle in November! We are asking local businesses for donations which might include gift certificates, services, or products. These donations will be listed on a calendar for 30 days of prizes which will be drawn each day for the month of November. Winner s names are placed back in the drawing so everyone has multiple chances to win! The congregation is also welcome to make donations if they choose. We are asking that any donations be in by September 16 so that we can organize the donations, create a calendar, and be ready to sell the calendars in October. Donations can be given to a member of the music committee or dropped off in the church office during office hours (9am-12pm Monday-Friday). Please see a member of the music committee for more information. Calendars and therefore raffle tickets will be available for $10 apiece. Contact person: Patti P. Wood Date: 8/18/18 Time: 9-12 Location: New Fellowship Hall Drop off Days/Times: Tues 8/14 thru Sat 8/18, 9 am to 12 pm, and Friday eve 8/17 from 4-7. ALL ITEMS MUST BE IN GOOD, CLEAN & SELLABLE CONDITION. I will need help getting all that is collected to West Springfield. Please put all soft goods in plastic bags. Thank you in advance!!!! ~Patti P Wood You are needed...to help. We had a great end of year All church Committee Meeting night. Both Christian Ed and Finance Committees have some new ideas for the fall. MOST IMPORTANTLY~ We need to support Christian Ed!!! Please say yes and volunteer to help with Sunday School and or Nursery! The more people that help out, the lighter the load! Please, Please consider how you might help out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 Communion Service 9:30 AM 6 7 Office Open Fair Share Co-op Henrietta s Henrietta s Worship Service 9: Office Open 11-2 Clothing Drive Drop Off 9-1 NFH 15 Clothing Drive Drop Off 9-1 NFH 16 Clothing Drive Drop Off 9-1 NFH 17Gold Dome Articles Due Clothing Drive Drop Off 9-12 & 4-7 PM 18 Henrietta s Worship Service 9: Office open 11-2 American Inn 6:30 pm Henrietta s 9-1 Youth Group Outing 26 Worship Service 9: Office Open Fair Share Co-op 31