Glimpses of Faith Newsletter

Transcription

1 November 2016 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 Licensed Minister, Janet Sherman ================================================================== Well we have wrapped up our 50th Year Anniversary! We have celebrated 50 years of weddings, confirmations, etc. We have remembered and heard from many past ministers and interims and the conference minister. We celebrated 50 years of mission and service to the community, conservatively figuring we have touched the lives of over 3,400,000 people in that time! We are still working on the new pictorial directory and the history book. We heard how at many points in Faith UCC's history the struggle to get this church off the ground almost foundered but a handful of faithful members continued work to establish this church, build our current buildings, and engage in mission in this community. I think it is fair to say that Faith UCC has made a real contribution to the South Central Conference, the United Church of Christ, the New Braunfels community and dare I say even the world throughout its 50 years. My thanks to pastor Janet Sherman for chairing the 50th Anniversary Task Force and to all who served on the task force! They did a fantastic job organizing and carrying out their plans for the anniversary. As we look forward to the next 50 years of Faith United Church of Christ let us be guided by the vision statement that was developed and passed by the congregation at a special meeting: Faith United Church of Christ is a welcoming community that seeks to embrace diversity, empower a spirit of service, explore the mysteries of God and life's complexities while engaging as Christians in the work of justice for all creation. Given what this church has done in the last 50 years I would love to have a crystal ball or a time machine to see what it accomplishes in the next 50 years! I'm convinced God has great things in store for this church. May God grant us the wisdom, the courage, and the strength to do our part to carry it out! Grace and Peace, Pastor Scott

2 Heart of Texas Association News Two of our Association churches had major anniversary celebrations this month. Congratulations to Faith UCC in New Braunfels on their 50th and to United Christian on their 25th birthday celebrations. Faith New Braunfels held the worship service on October 16th that was the culmination of many months of anniversary activities. The church has, since 2009, had a major commitment to extending an extravagant welcome as an Open and Affirming Church. Leading up to the October celebration, the church had former ministers preach, recognized past baptisms and confirmations, and celebrated the great mission work of the church and of its individual members. On the 16th, Rev. Dr. Don Longbottom, our Designated Conference Minister preached to an enthusiastic congregation. Following the service, we joined in their fellowship hall for a catered lunch together, capping off a full and festive day. United Christian, Austin celebrated its distinctive history on Sunday, October 23rd, preceded by an all church barbecue on Saturday evening. United, as many of you know, was formed 25 years ago by the union of Pecan Springs Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Trinity UCC, both congregations located on the east side of I35, north of what was Mueller Airport. As in most church merger processes, there were many challenges overcome by people of faith and determination. Both congregations made the difficult choice to give up their buildings, and the new church built in a different area of town, at the time on the northern edge of Austin. The church also made its own way in decisions about the differing practices of the two denominations -- how and when to baptize as well as how to celebrate communion. The congregation has grown into a vibrant Open and Affirming church, diverse in many ways, with young families, a large youth and children s ministry, and people of all ages. At the service, charter members were recognized and celebrated, and people from all eras of the church s life were called forward during the children s time to place paper flowers on a wide poster to form the beautiful garden that the church has become. ] Both churches have many ordained and licensed ministers as part of the church. Faith has Ray Bizer, Pastor Emeritus, as a treasured member, several retired ministers (some who live at nearby Eden Hill Communities, which has a longtime, historic association with the UCC starting with the Texas District of the Evangelical Church), and ministers serving currently in a variety of ways. United has both Disciples and UCC ministers who are currently serving in many capacities or are retired. I give thanks to God for the blessing to so many that these churches embody. In the peace of Christ, Liz Nash, Association Minister

3 Corridor Interfaith Alliance for Families Since September, I have been working with a number of congregations in New Braunfels, and other communities along the I-35 Corridor between San Antonio and Austin, including Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Casa Hermosa United Methodist, Gruene United Methodist, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, and St. James Episcopal. These churches are working together to organize the families of our communities to deal with the pressures that people are experiencing in their daily lives. We know what these challenges are: This year New Braunfels is the second fastest growing city in the United States; for the past two years, San Marcos was the fastest growing city. This rapid growth creates new pressures on families: affordable housing, the rising cost of living, education, affordable health care, the rising poverty in the area, drugs and juvenile delinquency. This project proposes to train people from the church to be leaders; to organize families, to understand these issues and teach people to work together as neighbors and citizens to begin to address them. Our communities will work together to develop effective solutions and work with public officials to create change for the better! If you're interested in being involved contact Pastor Sabrina at (512) or sabrinarjennings@gmail.com. Thanks! Rev. Sabrina Jennings Faith UCC Mission Opportunities: Karnes City & Family Promise Christmas season. Halloween is upon us. If you have any leftover Halloween candy, or your children have gathered more candy then they need, or need to eat, please bring excess candy to church. Rev. Helen Boursier is gathering candy for the children at Karnes City Family Detention Center. This candy will be distributed during the A car has been donated by a friend of Faith Church to Family Promise. This car needs some work before it can be given to a family to provide dependable transportation for that family to work and family errands. It is currently estimated that $1,500 is needed for repairs. If you would like to help with this project simply drop a check in the offering. Please write Family Promise Car on the memo line.

4 November Worship Assistants 11-6 Liturgist: Charles Stark Acolyte: Hayes Marlow Council Rep: Mikki Ward Greeter: Carol Martinez Communion: Mikki Ward Hospitality: Shirley Manning Ushers: Mikki Ward; Eddie & Carol Martinez; Charles Stark AV: Joe Ward Church School: Karen Dietz & Julia Allison Nursery: TBA Liturgist: Joseph Guerrero Acolyte: Will Gossett Council Rep: Wil Brown Greeter: Jim Gossett Hospitality: Chrissy Gossett AV: Mike Ziegler Ushers: Wil & Hulen Brown; Joseph Guerrero; Jim Gossett Nursery: TBA Church School: Jan Ziegler & Kathy Leber Liturgist: Kathy Leber Acolyte: Fischer Marlow Council Rep: Kyle Kramm Greeter: Jennifer Marlow Hospitality: TBA AV: Tim Marlow Ushers: Kyle Kramm; Rick & Kathy Leber; Jennifer Marlow Nursery: TBA Church School: Julia Allison & Wil & Hulen Brown Liturgist: Bob Manning Acolyte: Kai Perry Council Rep: Dan Geisler Greeter: Louie Heras Hospitality: Vicky Geisler AV: David Reed Church School: (no classes) Ushers: Dan Geisler; Quinn Perry; Kai Perry; Bob Manning 12-4 Liturgist: Curt Leonhardt Acolyte: Sofia Beauchamp Council Rep: Kim Beauchamp Greeter: Don Green Hospitality: Mikki Ward AV: Jakob Beauchamp Ushers: Kim Beauchamp; Joe & Mikki Ward; Curt Leonhardt Nursery: TBA Church School: Wil & Hulen Brown & Jennifer Marlow 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 November Birthdays Leo Gates 11-2 Wil Brown 11-4 Ray Bizer 11-5 Denise Leonhardt Ava Perry-Clark Hulen Brown Barbara Jaroszewski Hunter Leber Steve Anderson Bags For Bingo and Raffle Fundraiser For Michael Heras Saturday November 5, pm-6pm This special fund raising event will take place in the Fellowship Hall. It is a Bingo Fundraising Event and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to help pay for Michael's Cancer Treatments. Bingo Tickets: $ Guarantees You 12 Games! (Space is limited so we are selling 100 tickets) Prizes: Women's Purses, Travel and Sports/Gym Bags * There will be 3 Special Bingos ($3.00 each game) * We will have food and drinks for sale!!!! *We are selling Raffle Tickets ($5.00 each) and winners will be announced during bingo. Prizes: Various Gift Baskets *We have one San Antonio Spurs Gift Basket that we will raffle which will include (2) tickets to a Spurs game. (Tickets $10.00 each) (You do not have to be present to win) Contact Louie Heras (lheras67@hotmail.com) for tickets and more details

6 Welcoming New Members Sunday, November 13! If you would like to join Faith UCC we will be receiving new members on Sunday, November 13th during the morning worship service. As of now we have had four people express interestt in joining. Contact the pastor if you would like to join. Church Garage Sale on Saturday November 12th The church annual garage sale will take place on Saturday, November 12th. This year we will be able to hold the garage sale in the fellowship hall, which should make things easier. We are in need of volunteers to help put prices on items on Friday, November 11th. We will also need volunteers to help on Saturday. Usually we are done by about 1 p.m. or so, depending on how fast things sell. contact the church office. If you have any items you want to donate you can bring them by the church and put them on the stage in the fellowship hall, behind the curtain. If you need help transporting them Our thanks to Karen Krammm for coordinating this event. Contact Karen if you have any questions or want to volunteer. Her phone number is and her is mlwkkramm@yahoo.com Attend a Play at TLU - Rhinoceros - by Eugene O'Neil Sunday, November 13 at 2:30 p.m. Written in 1959, Ionesco s play is a staple of the avant-garde theatre and political/existential philosophy thatt followed World War II, combining reality with the ridiculous in a fierce commentary on the human condition. With themes that remain relevant and timeless, Rhinoceros explores authoritarianism, conformity, mob mentality, morality, and the formation of human identity. Recently revived in London, in a production starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Berenger, Rhinoceros continues to be what the New York Times called "An allegory for our times." If you would like to go please sign up on the kiosk so the pastor at arrange tickets. If you want to carpool we will leave the church at 2 p.m.

7 Save the Date: Christmas VBS Saturday, December 10 th Christmas VBS is coming to Faith on Saturday, December 10 th from noon to 5 p.m. The theme is The Symbols of Christmas. It is meant as a parents afternoon out to run Christmas errands while the kids bring a friend who does not know the Jesus story about Christmas. Parents can run errands and kids can learn and share the Christmas story. Registration includes an informal hot dog lunch from noon to 12:30, so parents can drop their kids and scoot. Afternoon activities include music, reading the Christmas story and lots of art projects. It is for children ages 4-14, but younger children are welcome if a parent or grandparent wants to stay with the child. Older kids are welcome to help as junior camp counselors to help little ones with the art. The children will share what they have learned the following Sunday morning, December 11 th for the 2016 Christmas Pageant during time with the children. If you have time to do some advance behind the scenes help, please contact Helen Boursier at helenb@boursier.us One of the art projects requires cutting out Christmas shapes from foam; another requires cutting Christmas shapes from art paper. The kids also will be decorating Christmas cookies, so if you are a baker and could bake and freeze sugar cookies cut in Jesus themed Christmas shapes (no Santa or reindeer), that would be super helpful. Stay tuned for more details on how you can help during Christmas VBS P.S. You will find a registration form and Christmas VBS Schedule attached to the this newsletter was sent with. We have attached them separately so you can send them to family and friends who might have children or youth who would like to attend. New Braunfels Community Chorus Thank you so much for letting the NBCC rehearse at the church. Love in Christ, Jen Johnson Note: Their concert "A Change Is Gonna Come" will take place at Cross Lutheran Church on Sunday, November 6th at 3 p.m. Tickets are $7.

8 November Calendar 11-5 Bing Fund Raiser for Michael (Tickets $12) 3-5 p.m. in fellowship hall 11-6 Rev. Sabrina Jennings preaches at the 10:30 service - Confirmation 12-2 pm Arun Gandhi speaks at the Seekatz Opera House at 4 p.m. Tickets $15 in advance 11-8 Book Study 6:30-8 p.m Camp Council at Slumber Falls Camp Church Garage Sale 8 a.m. to? & Charles Stark Retirement Party at Friedens UCC 2-6 p.m Worship & Reception of New Members at 10:30 - Confirmation 12-2 p.m. TLU Play "Rhinoceros" by Eugene O'Neil 2:30 p.m. (carpool from church at 2 p.m.) Book Study 6:30-8 p.m PFLAG meets in Seguin at 7 p.m. Ask pastor for location SOS Food Bank 1-4 p.m Church at 10:30 am.. - Confirmation 12-2 p.m Book Study 6:30-8 p.m HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Hanging of the Greens & Worship at 10:30 a.m. (no confirmation or church school) Book Study 6:30-8 p.m Second Sunday of Advent Worship 10:30 a.m. - confirmation 12-2 p.m. Salvation Army Bell Ringing 1-6 p.m. (both doors at Wal Mart) Please sign up in advance. Sponsored by Unity Church Nov 13 at 4 p.m. Tickets available at Unity Church $15 in advance and $20 at the door.