TOGETHER Worshipping God

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1 First United Church of Christ 1017 Todds Lane Hampton, VA Tel: Website: Like us on Facebook First United Church of Christ Hampton Office hours: 9am- 3pm Monday 9am- 3pm Wednesday 9am- 12pm Friday In this New Year join with us In growing spiritually through participating in Sunday School, Bible Study, praying together and for each Happy New Year! other, our church and our community Worshipping and singing praise to God Volunteering at Forrest Elementary School Participating in mission opportunities Participating in All Church Ministry Meetings- January 22 following worship Financially sharing tithes to God to support the ministries of First UCC Fellowship with one another and offering support where needed Together we are First UCC! 12 F i r s t u c c h a p p e n i n g s F i r s t u n i t e d c h u r c h o f C h r i s t, H a m p t o n, VA Happy New Year Matthew 24: 36, But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only God. 42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Watch and wait! Haven t we just been watching and waiting during our Advent season. Christ, our Savior was born! In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus talks about leaving and later returning. Of course the question is, When will you come back? The disciples wanted to know. It would help them deal with Jesus going away. It would help them plan. What kind of calendar could they keep if it was only filled with question marks? In the chaos of our lives as we look at the New Year 2017, wouldn t it be nice if at least one part of our lives would be settled and planned out? And Jesus says, No one knows the day or hour of my return. The truth is the future is uncertain. When we wake up in the morning we don t know what the day will bring. We say, Thank you God for this day. Help me to live it to the fullest for you. Then we go about doing our best in those hours. As I look toward the New Year, I want to say, Thank you to each and every one of you for the love and support you have given me in It was truly a wonderful year at First UCC. Thank you for the wedding shower for Rich and I coming up on December 31. Yes, we have set the date for our wedding, April 22, the Saturday after Easter. We will get married in Pennsylvania at Laurelville Church Camp. Then, on April 29, all of our VA church family and friends are invited to join Rich and I in our sanctuary here at First UCC as we watch our wedding ceremony. A reception will follow. Will Rich be moving here or will I be moving to PA? I don t know yet. We are both still praying for God to show us where we need to be. In the unknowns of 2017, in our lives and in the world around us, we hold on to our faith knowing that God is walking with us on our journey offering us strength and guidance. Happy New Year, Pastor Lisa JANUARY 2017 TOGETHER Worshipping God Growing Spiritually Serving Others 1

2 Music Director s Notes Ring in the Season Raises Over $1,300 for Habitat On Saturday, December 3, we held our 31st Ring in the Season Concert to benefit Habitat for Humanity Peninsula & Greater Williamsburg. This year we raised over $1,300 for this wonderful mission in our community to build affordable housing. This was the second largest amount raised in the 12 years I have been hosting this event! We were richly blessed to hear music from our own Good Time Singers, Potter s Place Musicians, Worship, and Handbell. We were joined by musicians from Hilton Presbyterian Church, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, The Landing Place Fellowship, and H.E.L.P. Executive Director and concert pianist, Matthew Stearn. It was a beautiful afternoon of music and fellowship! Thank you to everyone who came and participated, brought food, helped with the reception, and donated to this very worthy cause. POINSETTIAS GIVEN TO THE GLORY OF GOD--DECEMBER 2016 IN HONOR OF: GIVEN BY: Our Families, near & far Lynn & Harold Sanderson Music Ministry Members Carol & Lary Diehl Dot & Everett Gaul Frances & Doyle Eckert Our Parents Bill & Julia Chapman, Forest & Pauline Eckert Frances & Doyle Eckert Music Rehearsal Schedule There will be no rehearsals for the Good Time Singers, Worship, or Handbell, during the week between Christmas and New Year s. The Men's Chorus will rehearse briefly after church on Sun., Jan. 1, and regular rehearsals will resume for all the other musical groups after Jan. 3. Good Time Singers On the Road Again The Good Time Singers will continue presenting their program, Accentuate the Positive, in January. Our first program will be at 11 am on Mon., Jan. 30, at the Golden Living Center at Bayside of Poquoson, where we will sing for residents, including our own Audrey Campbell. Everett & Dorothy Gaul IN MEMORY OF: Arlene Scherrer Our Parents Our Parents Mary & CJ Diehl, Florence & WJ Shaibley Delores Golembieski Mary Paige & Pete Granzeau George & Virginia Miller Francis & Ann Holloman Bill and Peggy Kivett Pastor Lisa Gaul GIVEN BY: Guy, Jeanine & Family Barry & Dianne Forbes Carol & Lary Diehl Frances & Doyle Eckert Emily Whitley Beverly Sledge Pat Kline & Family Troy, Kathy, & Blair Rary 2 11

3 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 11:30am Men s Chorus 8 7am PRM Youth 9:30am Sun. School 11:30am Prayer Team 15 9:30am Youth Cook Breakfast for Sunday School 11:30 am Heart2Heart Men s Chorus 22 9:30am Sun. School 11:30 Conversational Meal 11:30am All Church Ministry Meeting 29 9:30am Sun. School 11:30am Heart2Heart Café Men s Chorus 11:45am Deacon s Meeting am GTS am GTS GTS at Golden Living am Bible Study 6:30pm Bible Study 7:45pm Potter s Place Practice 11 10am Bible Study 6:30pm Bible Study 7:45pm Potter s Place Practice 18 10am Bible Study 6:30pm Bible Study 7:45pm Potter s Place Practice 5 9:30am BROM at Angelo s 12 6pm Handbell Trio pm Handbell Trio 6pm Handbell Trio 6 6-9pm Boy pm Boy pm Boy pm Boy 7 14 EVA Awards Banquet Sleep over 9pm Youth Sleep Over am Drive-Thru Breakfast 10 Worship Services in January at 10:30am January 1: Matthew 25:31-46 *Truly I Tell you January 8: Matthew 3:13-17 *Possibilities Unfolding January 15: Isaiah 49:1-7 *All That We Are January 22: Matthew 4: *Called Together January 29: Matthew 5:1-12 *The Vision Beautiful January Small Group Studies Come join us on Wednesdays at 10am and 6:30pm with soup and dessert! The Wonder of Christmas January 4: The Wonder of a Manger Luke 2:4-12, John 8:1-11, Psalm 145:8-9, Luke 15:1-11 Under Our Skin Getting Real about Race January 11: Look Around: The Ways We Set Ourselves Apart Genesis 3:1-24 January 18: Look Inside: The Problem with Racism Isn t Race Exodus 1:8-22 Treasurer s Report General Operating Checking Account Balance $17, As of 12/18/2016: Bills to be paid through Dec 31st $ 0.00 Youth Fund $2, Forward Through the Ages -$ General Fund $15, Reserve Fund Balance $1,

4 STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE: A Man Named Zacchaeus He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. Today, we meet one of the better-known characters in the Bible- Zacchaeus. He hears Jesus is coming to town, so he climbs a tree (he is on the short side) to get a better view. When Jesus passes by, he looks right up into the tree at Zacchaeus and invites himself over to his house. Then strange things unfold, as they will when people entertain Jesus. Are you ready for this? Zacchaeus decides to give half his possessions to the poor. And, because he has in the past engaged in some fraud, he says he will pay back four times as much as he owes. In the act of doing these things with his money, Zacchaeus not only enhances the material condition of the community, he also changes his own relationship with the community from that of active threat to positive contributor. Now your feet may not be stuck in the moral mud as deeply as those of Zacchaeus. And you may not be in a position to give half your possessions to the poor. But spending some time with this character might just awaken you to fresh thinking about giving. Perhaps like Zacchaeus who climbed the tree to get a better look at Jesus, we can stretch ourselves in faith and generosity, and in the process, we too might see a bit more clearly. If Jesus invited himself over to your house, what might he invite you to do? Are you ready and willing to respond? Nov 27 $1, Dec 4 $2, Dec 11 $1, Dec 18 $1, Thank you to all who have practiced stewardship through the gifts of your time, talent and tithes. Prayerfully consider your tithing to support the ministries and staff of First UCC. Thank you. 4 JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 1 Kathy Rary 2 Larry Molnar 4 Doyle Eckert 9 Kayla Jillson 11 Curtis Edwards 13 Marlene Read 18 Betsy Bocklet 28 Jacob Bryant 28 Ann Fordham 30 Amanda Bryant If you have a birthday and it s not on the list, please let us know so we can correct our records. January Anniversaries Are you celebrating your anniversary in January or February, please let us know so we can correct our records. None at this moment Happy New Year from your First UCC staff! Pastor Lisa, Diane Snider, Judith Coffman, Rosaleena Powell, & Jamilia Hamilton Church Wide Prayer Pray with us each day at Noon January 1-15 God, as we begin this New Year, we pray for your guidance. Show us how to share our faith with others. Open us to opportunities to invite others to our church. Please show us how to connect with those who might come and rent space at First UCC. Lead us in partnering with others in ministry. Amen January Jesus, help us to be your church. Lead us to see your will for us and the courage to live it out. Help us to continue to grow spiritually to be the people and congregation you are calling us to be. Amen 9

5 All Church Ministry Meeting January 22,2017 After worship on January 22, 2017 at 11:30am, we hope that all of our members will stay for lunch to participate in our All Church Ministry Meeting. We will have people sit at a table with others who are interested in the ministry. People will meet and make ministry plans for January - April. For our church to carry out the ministries of the church, we need everyone to participate in some way. There is something you can do. Together, we are the body of Christ. Together, God will lead us to do great ministry. It all begins with you! EVA Award Banquet The EVA Award Banquet will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 100 East Constance Road, Suffolk, Virginia at 11:00 a.m. Church Update: Cost is $40.00 per/person Please let Pastor Lisa know if you are interested. Mr. & Mrs. Albert Travis have a new altrv103@gmail.com. Please update your directories with the new listed here. Mike and Jane Smith are moving to Morningside of Newport News. FEBRUARY 12, 2017 at 11:30am Annual Congregational Meeting After Worship Prayer Team You are Invited As we begin a New Year and face many challenges as well as continue exciting ways to reach out to our community in outreach and mission I would like a team of people to join me in prayer on the 2nd Sunday following worship of each month to pray for our church. Please let me know if you would like to be part of the prayer team. Pastor Lisa WIDER MISSIONS Each Sunday we collect food for HELP. The food you bring in makes a difference to so many people! Thank you for your generosity. Thank you to all who participated in our Angel Tree project. We provided 8 children with their Christmas gifts this year, plus 3 families with food for their Christmas dinner & extra food for the Christmas break from school. Two of the families came from the Splash-a- Rific Summer Enrichment that we hosted this past summer. The other family has just recently moved from a shelter because the parent has obtained a fulltime job. We are Blessed as a congregation that we are able to share the abundance that God has given us & demonstrate the Love of Christ. Our Drive-Thru Breakfast continues on January 28th at 8am. We meet in Wallace Hall at 7am to assemble 60 bags to give to the community. If anyone would like to donate toward the cost of the breakfast program, you may mark your envelope for Wider Missions. We will be serving the Peninsula Rescue Mission in Feb. Date to be announced later. Please continue to remember to bring non perishable food for our HELP donations. Brotherhood of Retired Old Men (BROM) Breakfast Drive-Thru Breakfast January 28th Beginning at 7am If you would like to help, please contact Kathy Rary. NEXT BREAKFAST: January 5th at 9:30am Angelo s Restaurant, J. Clyde Morris Blvd. in Newport News. 8 5

6 First United Church of Christ, Thank You so much for the donation of gloves, scarves, and hats. This means so much and will be greatly appreciated by those who receive them. Darlene B. Outreach Coordinator, AAPCAA Dear Pastor Lisa, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. Davis Middle School would like to send a HUGE thank you to you, Mrs. Diehl, and the First United Church of Christ family for your gracious donation. Your donation assisted with providing Thanksgiving baskets to over 20 families at Davis. Words cannot express our deepest gratitude for your partnership in this opportunity to provide for our families. Thanks again! Blessings, Stephanie Cartwright Family Engagement Specialist Thank You s Youth Activities Families-on-the-go at First UCC! Aren t we all busy and on the go? But we want to learn about our faith and grow. Join us the 1 st Sunday of each month, fun, fellowship, and faith too! Join us as a family of many or a family of one. We ll grow together in faith while having fun. Families-on-the-go at First UCC! Sunday, January 8th Cook and Serve Breakfast at the Peninsula Rescue Mission The youth will be cooking and serving breakfast. We will leave the church at 7:10am. We serve at 8:30am and return to church at 9:15am. We will be serving breakfast burritos and fruit salad. We are accepting donations of eggs, tortillas, shredded cheese, salsa, sausage, bananas, and canned fruit or fruit cocktail. THANK YOU! YOUTH SLEEPOVER January 14 at 9pm to January 15 11:30am. Games, Bible Study, & Fun Sunday Morning we ll cook French Toast & Sausage for Congregation Breakfast. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Worship Sundays: Thank you to those who participate in the Worship Service and Junior Church on Sundays! Jr Church: Libbie Smith, Patrice Wilhite, Lea Yun Quach, and Pat Kline Liturgist: Courtney Philips; Acolyte: Wei-Yun Quach; Ushers: Diane Forbes and John Richmond Dear Rev. Gaul, Thank you for the recent donation over $1300 from your congregation during the Ring in the Season benefit concert to help support our mission! We are sorry that we missed you at the concert. We pray that all is well. With your help, Habitat for Humanity will continue to build and renovate affordable homes for hardworking, low-income families right here in the local community! Thank you for your support! Sincerely, Janet V. Green, Chief Executive Officer 6 Youth Retreat Grades 5-12 March 3 - March 5 All youth in grades 5 12 are invited to the Youth Retreat at Lancaster Theological Seminary. We will 5pm on March 3 and 4:30pm on March 5. On Saturday, we will do mission work at Water Street Mission and have group activities. We will worship in Santee Chapel at the seminary and then go to Hershey and a Hershey Bears game. Sunday morning, we will worship at a UCC church near Washington DC and then return home. Cost is $70 per person. This includes our rooms lodging at LTS, meals on Saturday and Sunday morning & the Hershey Bears hockey game. Please RSVP to Rev. Gaul by February 28. 7