Thoughts for All Hallows Eve

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Sophie Byrd
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Thoughts for All Hallows Eve HAUNTER OF ALL THAT IS Like an ethereal presence, you hang out everywhere.

You haunt territories we ignore, hoping we will find you there.

You haunt the territories we ignore, hoping we will find you there I prefer to take this line out of context and hear it as that challenge of Christ to go to the dark corners of society that I ignore

But this haunter of all that is is visiting the niches and closets of our lives not dark corners of the world.

Why does God want to be found in places we don t even want to go? Sadly, many of us have been taught that God is waiting in those places to scare us, or judge us, or condemn us.

1 Thoughts for All Hallows Eve HAUNTER OF ALL THAT IS Like an ethereal presence, you hang out everywhere. Not a naughty or scary goblin, rather, an inquisitive observer, A concerned, caring custodian visiting every niche and closet where we stuff the undesired of our messy, blemished lives. You haunt territories we ignore, hoping we will find you there. It s the last line that gets me every time I read it it is the scariest line; like opening your closet door in the dark bedroom when you were a kid. You haunt the territories we ignore, hoping we will find you there I prefer to take this line out of context and hear it as that challenge of Christ to go to the dark corners of society that I ignore and serve the marginalized and outcast of our world. This call doesn t scare me, it challenges me and I m a strong, independent woman who can handle any challenge! But this haunter of all that is is visiting the niches and closets of our lives not dark corners of the world. The haunter of all that is wants to be found in the midst of our darkest secrets, our deepest shame, our greatest hurts inflicted on ourselves or on others. Why does God want to be found in places we don t even want to go? Sadly, many of us have been taught that God is waiting in those places to scare us, or judge us, or condemn us. In reality, God is waiting in those places to heal us, to remind us that we are wholly accepted by the One who created us. Wholly accepted not just the parts of us since we got sober, or finally got our act together, or had our conversion experience. But all those things we used to be the cheat, the hothead, the addict, the overeater, or just a plain old jerk these parts of ourselves we keep hidden away, God accepts wholly. So as Halloween approaches, I invite each of us to open those closet doors, even if only very tentatively, and find the Haunter of all that is waiting for you caring and concerned. It is scary to go to the dark hidden places, but we will find God there with a loving hand telling us there is nothing to be afraid of. THE WEEKS AHEAD OCTOBER 18 Isaiah 53: 4-12 Psalm 91: 9-16 Mark 10: OCTOBER 25 Jeremiah 31: 7-9 Psalm 126 Mark 10: Stewardship Month Trust in the Promise NOVEMBER 1 ALL SAINTS SUNDAY Ruth 1: 1-18 Psalm 146 Mark 12: NOVEMBER 8 Ruth 3: 1-5, 4: Psalm 127 Mark 12: NOVEMBER 15 1 Samuel 1: 4-20 Psalm 16 Mark 13: 1-8 NOVEMBER 22 Guest Preacher JIM THOMAS, Conference minister on Stewardship and Church vitality. NOVEMBER 29 5 th SUNDAY & 1 ST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

The Prayer Room is a peaceful corner of the sanctuary

from the lock box outside the front door.

There are books and LED candles to guide you, or you

2 The Prayer Room is a peaceful corner of the sanctuary open and available any time for you to quiet your soul and open your heart. Feel free to stop by the church and access the key from the lock box outside the front door. The code is There are books and LED candles to guide you, or you can simply sit and enjoy the quiet space. We invite e you to find some time to make this detour to be in God s presence. Enter, Rest, Pray.

3 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CORNWALL, UCC What a great day! October 11 was our special service for the blessing of the animals. The sanctuary was filled with dogs and cats and JOY!

4 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CORNWALL, UCC

station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck

Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian

"They use him to keep crowds back," said one youngster.

5 I want to join the choir! Purpose of the Dog Sunday School helper was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children began discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one youngster. "No," said another, "he's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close. "They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrant."

6 News from the Church Council. The September meeting was jam-packed with discussion about many topics, ranging from finance (boring!!) to Blessing of the Animals (fun!) The church windows will continue to be monitored regarding the beginning stages of rot that has been detected. Jack will contact the Preservation Trust, or other agency, to see if they would provide an assessment of the situation. Preserving historic buildings is sometimes the spark needed for loans or grants that could be helpful in our situation. While the condition of the windows is not an urgent problem yet, we will need to address the situation and have some plans in mind. Has anyone in your family or in your circle of friends ever said, Don t buy me anything for Christmas! Chances are. they probably really mean it! So, how do you feel about the church sponsoring another Alternative Gift Market? Think of it as a one-stop-shopping marketplace where you don t buy any THING. The Market is open to the general public for a few hours on a weekend in late November or early December. If we were to sponsor another such market, we would need volunteers to coordinate the non-profits who set up tables; make sure they have promo materials; arrange for light refreshments; and other organizational duties. Who s interested? Please contact a member of the Council to express your opinion. A decision whether or not to have the Market must be made by late October. There was some discussion on organizing the distribution of some lunches during the Christmas school vacation. There are a number of Cornwall kids who are on the free-andreduced-lunch program at school whose families struggle during school vacations to still provide noontime meals to their children. Contact with the Cornwall School principal would make sure that lunches were distributed only to the families who most in need. More discussion at the next meeting. Any opinion? Next Council Meeting is October 21 st at 6:30. You are welcome to attend. MY TO DO LIST for Church Council: Let council know if you agree? disagree? About having Alternative Market Suggestions: Let council know how you feel about organizing/ providing lunches to Cornwall school children in need. Suggestion:

7 Cornwall School Harvest Fest, Oct. 23 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CORNWALL, UCC As we look at ways to revive our Chicken Pie Supper, one promising avenue is a collaboration with the Cornwall School. For the past decade or so the school has staged a fall event of its own: an annual Harvest Fest in October. It takes up a school afternoon, with teachers, staff and parents all pitching in. It's a chance for each grade to prepare a food item that's shared with everyone present, and an opportunity to play games, make crafts and otherwise be kids in a seasonally appropriate way. From time to time the school has made an effort to spread the word beyond the school's circle, inviting townspeople to make the Fest a real community event. Both Jen Kravitz, the new principal, and Dena Greenman and Lilly Devlin, the co-chairs of the Friends of Cornwall School, have expressed interest in exploring ways we might fold into or graft on to the Harvest Fest our trusty old standby, the CPS. With this year's Harvest Fest set for Friday, Oct. 23, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm, it's too late to do anything like that this fall. But Dena and Lilly welcome anyone in our congregation who would like to supervise an activity or craft at the Fest or offer a tasting--you can reach out to them at dglucy1@gmail.com or lilly.devlin@gmail.com. Just to get a sense of the "vibe" of the afternoon, it's worth swinging by. If a school-church collaboration were to take place, it might involve extending the Harvest Fest into the dinner hour. It might involve using the next evening--after all, we typically have had the Supper on a Saturday--and creating a kind of "Harvest Weekend." Or perhaps we'd choose an entirely different weekend for the CPS, conscripting parents and school staff as helpers in staging the Supper, and sharing the proceeds with FOCS--subject to the ACSU's current review of its policies governing use of school space by outside groups. We'd probably sort these things out with a joint committee down the road, which (beware!) I'd ask some of you to join. In the meantime, please make a note of this fall's Fest: Friday, Oct. 23, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Alex Wolff

8 OCTOBER DATES October 17: Leading action on climate. This is VT interfaith power and light s annual conference. An exciting opportunity to learn and share with other faith communities about our work to faithfully act on climate change. This year it is held in Montpelier talk to Mary Kay if you want to join her. October 18: Addison Association Fall Meeting. Delegates and visitors are welcome to attend the meeting held at Vergennes Congregational Church. The meeting will include discussions of the book, Real Good Church. October 21: Church Council 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. October 25: Church-wide Vision and Planning! Stick around after worship for a lunch provided by the church council and conversations about our ministry hopes and dreams! Share your ideas, your gifts, and talents!

of Lynne Balman) Our Church, Community, and the World The Ministry of

9 IN OUR PRAYERS Cornwall Friends and Family Our Homebound Members Brian Mattison Anne Payne (Rosemary s daughter-in-law) Debra Lentine (friend of Lynne Balman) Our Church, Community, and the World The Ministry of Cornwall Church Refugees in Europe Victims of wildfires in California

First Parish Church Congregational United Church of Christ 180 York Street, York, Maine;

First Parish Church Congregational United Church of Christ 180 York Street, York, Maine; www.firstparishyork.net First Parish is a quintessential New England church in the heart of historic York Village