Inside this issue... November 2018

Transcription

1 November 2018 The United Methodist Church of Enfield 41 Brainard Road Enfield CT, phone: (860) Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 9:00AM-Noon Sunday Worship: 10:00AM Service Sunday School: Children ages 3 - Adult, 9AM Supervised Nursery: For infants and children up to 5 years Choir Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings 7:00-8:30PM Prayer Shawl Ministry: Wednesdays 9:30AM Men s Group: Thursdays 10:00AM Inside this issue... Page 2. Holiday Fair Page 3. Note from our Pastor Page 4. Birthdays/Anniversaries Thanksgiving Meal Thank you Liturgists Page 5... S.O.N. Committee Notes Page 6 S.O.N. Continued Prayer Ministry Page 7... Annual Church Conference History Day 2018 Page 8... Christian Education Page 9....Choir Notes Listening Sessions Advent Study Page 10.. November Calendar

2 Beautiful Holiday Crafts Homemade Fruit Pies Baked Goods Cookie Walk Vendors Light Lunch available Come join us as we celebrate the gifts of our church with the community. Please volunteer your time and energy!

3 I n November, the days get shorter and colder. Here in New England, the last of the local produce is gathered in from the fields, and we get ready for the season of winter. It is also the season marked by the opportunities in our worship services to give thanks to God, not only for the bounty of the earth, but also for loving relationships here on earth and with Jesus Christ. November opens with All Saints Day, when we remember the saints, those Christians who we remember with thanks for their service in Christ s name. We will mark All Saints Day on the first Sunday, November 4, during the communion liturgy when we raise up the names of those who have died in the past year. The second Sunday, November 11, will be the day when we give thanks to God through our commitment in giving for the coming year. God has given us so much, but first and foremost God has given us Jesus Christ, whose life, love and sacrifice make our relationship with God possible. Through our commitment, we give back to God in thanksgiving a portion of the abundance God has given us. Following this special service, we will have a dessert reception. On November 18, we will thank God for the bounty of the earth with a Thanksgiving service. We will have the opportunity to share the bounty that day through the giving of turkeys to those in need, and later in the week on Thursday through the making of Thanksgiving meal for the community. A week later on November 25, we will mark Christ the King Sunday, singing the praises of Jesus the Christ, our lord and savior. Both congregation and choir will raise their voices in thanksgiving for our brother, our Lord, our Savior Jesus. Let us come together in worship all through November, to spend time giving thanks to God for God s generosity in all of its beautiful, nourishing, life-giving ways. Peace & grace, Pastor Janet 3

4 4. Kirsten Hart 5. Ryan Browne Wendy Morse 12. Theresa Meyer 15. Sharon Hart 18. Connie Lamond 21. Dorie Justice 25. Eric Peterson 28. Jack Backus 30. Lisa Crouser Neal & Sue Peterson Greg & Sharon Hart November 3, 1973 November 11, 1989 Larry & Kathy Frechette November 17 Dear Church Family, Bob and I would like to thank everyone for their love, concern, prayers and support over the last month. It was a long two weeks being in Norway and Bob having brain surgery in a foreign country. We are thankful the Norwegian doctors and nurses speak English. They were wonderful and we felt their caring and concern for us. Bob is currently in rehab and is doing well. He has a long road of recovery ahead, from the stroke. Please, we ask that you continue to pray for Bob and our family as we help him recover. Blessings, Donna and Bob Phelps Dear UMCE Family, Thank you for the love and support offered to my family with the loss of my mom, Doris Scalia. I am blessed to have such a wonderful church family to lean on in times of sadness and to share with in times of celebration. With love, Dorie Justice Join the League of Liturgists! We will be having our 4th Annual Community If you have ever considered being a Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day, Nov liturgist, one of the people who 22 from 12-4PM. We need the help of the whole helps to lead worship by reading church to make this happen. We are asking for scripture or leading a prayer, now is donations of food for the dinner. We need turkeys, stuffing mix, green beans, butter and all the Pastor Janet is looking for people of all ages to your chance to try out this ministry! things for a traditional holiday meal. We will accept monetary donations. We also need help the training workshop on Sunday, November 18 at participate in worship. She ll offer a liturgist day before and Thanksgiving day. A signup sheet 11:45am (after worship). Please let her know if will be available. If you have any questions, you are interested! Current members of the please see Donna Phelps (860) or League of Liturgists welcome as well! dlp1022@snet.net. Thanks! 4

5 A thought for November 2018: Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2 (NRSV) November already! Thanksgiving! Remember to pause and give thanks for his awesome Love. As the psalmist said in Psalm 95, let us raise up songs of praise for all our blessings. November is here, which means the Enfield Food Shelf will be providing some extra assistance for the Holiday season. They are conducting their annual Turkey Drive. We will be collecting turkeys on Sunday 11/18 for delivery to the EFS. Please keep your turkeys at home until that Sunday, then we will transport them all on Sunday. Thank you for helping our community! It is not too early to be thinking about Christmas. We will be sponsoring some children from The Network (formerly NADA, Network Against Domestic Abuse) for Christmas. These youth often have left their homes without any personal items. These gifts must be unwrapped: however wrapping paper, boxes, and tape are appreciated. May we offer them God s Love through our sponsorship. If you really love to wrap presents, there will be a collection of the Enfield Loaves & Fishes (EL&F) Dove gifts. These gifts are given to EL&F guests during their holiday party. Come for Breakfast with Santa on December 8 at 8:00-11:00. Bring your friends and enjoy a great breakfast. Children will have some activities to keep them busy after breakfast until Santa arrives at 10:00. Be sure to bring your camera! Rejoice and celebrate His birthday with our community. More information and scheduled dates will be announced at the end of November. Communion Offerings Our communion offering for November will be directed to The Network (formerly known as NA- DA). Next month (December) will be directed to EL&F (Enfield Loaves & Fishes) Meals. Thank you for supporting these missions through your communion offerings. Join us in the Fellowship Hall for coffee and snack after church on every Sunday. Take time to relax and enjoy your church family. Enjoy the good company, good coffee, and good snacks. Share your thoughts with Pastor Janet. Please remember to wear your name tag, so Pastor Janet will have an opportunity to learn our names. We will have a basket where you may leave your badge in the Fellowship Hall. - continued on next page - 5

6 Do you have your UMCE t-shirt? Remember the beautiful yellow shirt with the Methodist cross on it. Let s wear them to celebrate our faith during our mission and fellowship activities. If you need a t-shirt, then please see a member of the SON committee or Linda Thorn to get one! Enfield Food Shelf Please continue to help your community Food Shelf help our poor. Look for the sales in your favorite supermarket. They will be needing items for school lunches, snacks, and easy meals (canned or boxed). Thank you for your support of our community Food Shelf. Emergency Meals We have some special dinners in the freezer for emergency use. All are made with love and filled with prayers. Please remember this resource for anyone in need : friends, family, neighbors, etc. If you need a meal for yourself, family or friends in need, please see Pastor Janet or a member of the SON committee. Please let us know if the freezer is getting low on meals, so we will know when to start cooking our next set of meals. THANKS! If you would like to join this ministry, please see Linda Thorn about the next scheduled cooking day Remember: All church members are welcome to attend the following community events. Parkway Pavilion Bible Study Monday 10:15 AM - 11:30 AM Parkway Pavilion Services Tuesday 11/13/ :30 Praise Him for His eternal Love of His world, Linda Thorn, Chairperson of the SON Committee This is the list of names we have been praying for. We encourage you to keep them in your daily prayers. Our Leaders (prayers & guidance); Our Troops & families (prayers); Homeless; *Janet Bosley (health & guidance); Candy Morgans (surgery); Norway Medical Staff (thanks ); Cory (job search); Joan Hess (health concerns); * Mike DeBidart (foot surgery); David & Judy Merrill (health & guidance); Dot & Katherine Snyder (depression); Debbie Stein (knee problems); John Nadonly (faith & guidance); Claria Sanbern (heart health); Grace Hilderth (gallbladder opperation); Walt Skukowski (knee operation); Karen Cruise (faith & guidance); Heather (back surgery); Champagne family (loss of Carl Champagne); * Joanne Tait (healing); Bob Phelps (health concerns); Jim Foraker (healing); Michele Pattee (son s healing); Lorraine Creedon (30 th wedding anniversary); Jason (continued recovery); Peter Oakes (birthday); David (birthday); Deb Wielhouwer (health concerns); *Janice Holmes (health concerns); Sue Justice (upcoming surgery); Susan & Bill (hope & strength); Cathleen (comfort & direction); Michele (job search); Rich (loss of father); Creedon family (loss of Bill s aunt); Holter family (nephew s premature son s birth; Don (travel mercies); Justice family (loss of Dorie s mom) Please continue to be praying for your Prayer Partner. 6

7 Annual Church Conference Sunday, December 9, 2018 SPRC will meet with the D.S. at 9:00AM Worship Service 10:00AM Church Conference 11:30AM All Committee Reports are needed by Nov. 20th UMCE History Day 2018 On Sunday, September 30, 2018 a group of us gathered to share a potluck meal and talk about our history as a church. Of those attending: 1 person admitted he had been coming since said they had been here in the 60 s and before 8 had started since marriages 3 stated that they attended UMCE as a child 16 children or grandchildren baptized here We remembered things like: Appalachia Service Project & Habitat for Humanity with Gary Nettelton Enfield Food Shelf with Gerry Wilson Serving food at the Big E with Wes & Betty Martin Jack Tait starting us serving at Loaves & Fishes, now led by Lorraine Creedon The crew that moved the church from Thompsonville in 1964 Those that moved the steeple bell and tried to clean it 3 times at a car wash. Barbara Seilhammer and how she could crochet 3 prayer shawls a week We even had a float in the Enfield July 4 th Parade honoring those fallen in the Vietnam war Did you know that: Wes Martin made the Prayer Box in the parking lot Lorraine and Pastor John helped start the Enfield Safe Warming Harbor Sue Peterson collects sleeping bags for the homeless That pesky Food Boat has been sailing for 30 years feeding those in need in Enfield. Finance committee meetings were once held during a bowling league We had a couples club that met monthly 40 and 50 year anniversary parties were great successes We ve done plays like Godspell, Murder She Didn t Write and Beneath the Upper Room We continue to look for ways to support our Enfield Community and beyond: Donna Phelps dream of Thanksgiving dinner open to all Imagine No Malaria Walk Butterfly Release Services Breakfast with Santa Bill and Mrs. Santa Cindy Being a church family is a theme that we all shared. From meals to hospital visits, we always support each other. We are a group that has bonded in faith and love. Doug Oakes 7

8 Christian Education All classes meet from 9:00 9:45AM. All are welcome! No previous experience is needed, just your curiosity about God s Word. Adult Class with Don Crouser meets in the Fellowship room (Blue room). Youth Classes with Lorraine Creedon and Linda Thorn meet together in the green room. The older class then moves to the nursery (peach) room. After Sunday School, youth will be brought to the Sanctuary to sit with their teachers until time for A Moment with Young Christians. In the adult class, Don Crouser is leading a new Bible study, Unshakable Hope, based on Max Lucado s book. This is a 12 session study using study books and videos to learn about the unshakable love of God for his people and how that love can guide us through the difficulties in our lives. Join this group anytime. You are always welcome. If you would like more information, please see Don Crouser or a member of the Education Committee. In the youth classes, we are continuing to dig into the life of Jesus. We are working with the third quarter now. And there is not a requirement to know the first or second quarter material. These lessons focus on a scripture teaching us about our Lord. Upcoming lessons include: Parable of the Lost Sheep Parable of Prodigal Son Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead Jesus Heals Ten Men of Leprosy Each lesson is tailored for the way that our youth learn. The lessons may include opening, core bible (scripture), crafts, games, object lesson, music, and deeper bible (older youth). Ask our youngest disciples what they learned in Sunday school this week. Women's Breakfast and Bible Study will be scheduled for the first and third Saturday mornings of the month at 9:00 AM. We will NOT be meeting on Nov 17, so be sure to come for our Nov 3 breakfast meeting. Using the devotional guide Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, the group reflects on the reading and scripture to share personal experiences of God at work in our lives. There is always plenty of food for everyone, so come and join us. Check the weekly bulletin and/or Office Notes for dates. The UMCE Men's group continues to meet on Thursday morning at 10:00 for breakfast and fellowship. Great discussions and wonderful breakfast fare in the UMCE kitchen! Advent is coming! Although Advent officially starts December 2, our Advent study will begin November 29. Pastor Janet will be leading us in a weekly Advent study on Thursday evenings. Soup will be available at 6:00 PM. The Bible study follows from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. HUMC will host our gathering on Nov 29 and Dec 13. UMCE will host our gathering on Dec 6 and Dec 20. Be sure to mark your calendars. More information on page 9! Blessings, Linda Thorn 8

9 Join the Choir for Christmas! Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalm 95:2 If you like to sing, but can't make a full year's weekly commitment to the choir, join us for the Christmas Eve Service! Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, November 28th, from 7:00-7:30 p.m. Join us for Christmas Eve and/or join us for the whole Advent Season. Anyone age 14 or older is welcome! Call (860) or Lynne Tracy- Thim (Lynne30@cox.net) for more information. New England delegation to General Conference plans listening sessions The New England delegation to the General Conference wants to take time to listen to the concerns and questions from the people of New England Conference as we prepare for the special session of General Conference Feb , 2019 in St. Louis to decide on the future of the denomination relating to same-sex unions and the ordination of LGBTQ people. At the end of this listening period, the delegation hopes to have a clearer understanding of the diverse feelings within the Conference. The New England delegation asks that you pray as we all prepare for this listening session as well as for the General Conference session next February. The listening session closest to Enfield is: Saturday, December 1, 2-4pm. Location: Trinity UMC (Hale Room), 361 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA The people of Hazardville UMC and UMC-Enfield are invited to participate in an Advent study Rejoice! Reflections on Four Seasonal Hymns. The study will take place on Thursdays evenings from 6:30pm-7:30pm. Each class will begin with a simple soup supper at 6pm, followed by a discussion focused on one hymn of the season. Worksheets will be available before each class and at each class (no books to order). It will be helpful to read the worksheets before the class. Please bring your Bibles. The class will be led by Rev. Janet Deranian of UMC-Enfield. The class will be in place of the Advent worship services previously shared by the two congregations. Class schedule and locations (all on Thursdays): November 29 6pm supper; 6:30pm class O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Hazardville UMC, 330 Hazard Avenue) December 6 6pm supper; 6:30pm class Silent Night, Holy Night (UMC-Enfield, 41 Brainard Road) December 13 6pm supper; 6:30pm class O Little Town of Bethlehem (Hazardville UMC, 330 Hazard Avenue) December 20 6pm supper; 6:30pm class Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (UMC-Enfield, 41 Brainard Road) 9

10 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat AM Men s Group 9-11:30AM Hand of Hope 9AM Women s Bible Study 4 All Saints Sunday Daylight Savings Time Ends 9AM Sunday School 10AM Worship Communion Offering: The Network (NADA) 5 10:15AM Parkway Bible Study 6 7PM Trustee Meeting 7 9:30AM Prayer Shawl 5:30PM EPfP 7:00PM Choir CAAP, AA 8 10AM Men s Group 6PM SPRC Meeting 9 9AM-3PM District Committee Meeting :30AM Hand of Hope 11 25th Sunday after Pentecost 9AM Sunday School 10AM Worship 12PM Worship Meeting 12 10:15AM Parkway Bible Study 13 10:30AM Parkway Service 1PM Nominations 7PM S.O.N 14 9:30AM Prayer Shawl 6:30PM Girl Scouts 7:00PM Choir AA 15 10AM Men s Group Cookie Baking AM-2PM Holiday Fair h Sunday after Pentecost 9AM Sunday School 10AM Worship 1PM Loaves & Fishes Meal 19 10:15AM Parkway Bible Study 20 6PM Finance 7PM Church Council 21 9:30AM Prayer Shawl 7:00PM Choir CAAP, AA PM Community Thanksgiving Meal :30AM Hand of Hope 25 Christ the King Sunday 9AM Sunday School 10AM Worship 26 10:15AM Parkway Bible Study :30AM Prayer Shawl 6:30PM Girl Scouts 7:00PM Choir AA 29 10AM Men s Group 6PM Soup Supper & Advent HUMC 30