November Circuit Rider

Transcription

1 November Circuit Rider First Congregational Church of Lebanon, UCC 588 Exeter Road ~ P. O. Box 125 Lebanon, CT Rev. Dr. Sharon Ledbetter, Pastor Nancy Magnuson, Secretary Pastor s Office Phone: Phone: Cell Phone: LebFirstCong@att.net PastorSharonLed@att.net Derek Waldron ~ Organist Judi Larsen, Mission Coordinator rockinmyboot@yahoo.com judimccaw@hotmail.com Phone: Phone: Rev. Mary Horan, Director of Christian Education mchoran@att.net Phone: Web Site: Church Kitchen Phone: Jim McCaw, Moderator Jennifer Blevins, Chair of Board of Deacons hap-geri@sbcglobal.net jgblevins@hotmail.com Phone: Phone: Jim Gillespie, Chair of Board of Trustees Lynn Manning, Chair of Board of Outreach Phone: Phone: Audra Holmes, Co-Chair Board of CE Nancy Magnuson, Co-Chair Board of CE Phone: Phone: Joyce Cady, Chair of Music Comm. Ellen Bauwens, Chair of Stewardship Comm. Phone: Phone: Our Prayer List George Markow Shirley Madley John Kendall Barbara Pitcher Dave Foley Barbara Rodman Bill Jahoda Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

2 Pastor s Letter Dear Friends, Did you know that there are 138 pages of scripture devoted to the subject of thanksgiving? For example in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 the text read, IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST FOR YOU. (RSV) And, from Psalm 118:1 GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR THE LORD IS GOOD; HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. (RSV) On these beautiful fall days, it is so easy to feel grateful as we look around at God s creation the bright colors of the fall leaves against the clear blue sky sends my heart to a place of great thanksgiving! Of course it is so difficult to find overwhelming gratitude in our hearts when bad things are happening. Martin Rinkart ( ) was a Lutheran pastor during the years of the Thirty Years War in Germany. He witnessed people being wounded and dying daily. He spent his days caring for the sick and dying and conducted as many as fifty funerals a day. In all that chaos and loss, he held to his Christian teachings and knew that there was no healing without thanksgiving and so he composed the hymn NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD for the survivors of his town. (Paraphrased from Then Sings My Soul, Robert J. Morgan, p.17) Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices. Who from our mother s arms, has blessed us on our way, With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. My prayer is that in ALL THINGS we will open our hearts in thanksgiving to God. Love and joy, Pastor Sharon

3 If wrinkles must be written on our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old. -James Garfield, Born November 19, 1831 I believe in the sun Even when it is not shining. I believe in love Even when I feel it not. I believe in God Even when He is silent. These words were found written on a cellar wall in Cologne, France after WWII. A few weeks ago, the choir sang these words in an anthem, with such beautiful music accompanying it. It is hard to imagine the circumstances of the one who had the courage to state his beliefs in, perhaps, dire times. It is November - the falling leaves are just a memory, skies become dark and threatening, we seek the comfort of home and hearth at day s end. Winter is at our doorstep. But, November, for me, is also a time of homecoming. We celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving; and many hop in their cars, take planes, or buses to re-unite with family members for what has become, the most travelled holiday in our states. The celebration starts with the gathering at the table, inhaling the many calorie-laden foods and fragrances assaulting our senses, the college football games after dinner, walks around the block (after the pumpkin pie), then, the long good-bye, knowing that it may be awhile before we meet again. So much crammed into one day!! Sometimes the table is smaller, and other times when one or two have to share the piano bench. It is a great day and most of us understand the meaning of it: be grateful for your life and its abundance. (You have what you need maybe, not what you want.) Say thanks to God for the grace you have received every day sometimes visible, but mostly invisible. Beauty surrounds us where we live. When the snow flies and we are confined to our nests, remember the days of gold and red, yellow and rust; the trees burning with color. What a magnificent God to give us so much to delight our senses. Thank you, and, Happy Thanksgiving! Just a note, Jean Souter

4 Our Sunday school lessons continue to explore the Old Testament during the month of November. Perhaps you ve noticed, we have been following Moses and the wandering Israelites in our curriculum. The children have been studying what it means to keep God s commandments. This month we will be reading from Numbers and Joshua and will be working on ways to challenge our congregation for our next Jeopardy Sunday on the 18th. On November 11th, we invite parents to join their children in the classroom for a Pick-Me-Up Sunday event. Children will be sharing their lessons and work and afterward, we ll all gather in the Lathrop Room for cider and donuts. Information about our December pageant will be distributed on this day as well. Please note that any children wishing to participate in choir or sacred dance will have opportunities to rehearse beginning in November. Sessions will be conducted in the last quarter hour of Sunday school and any extra rehearsals will be arranged with parent schedules in mind. We will be celebrating our children s creative spirit through dance and music throughout worship services in November and December and invite any and all members of your family to get involved! It is with a thankful heart that I serve as your CE Director. The children willingly volunteer to offer morning prayer and lead us in the responsive reading each week. I am grateful for all the ways in which our congregation has received their participation and I encourage you to let the children know what it means to you to have them be active members of our spiritual community. Praise the Lord! Severe Weather Cancellations In the event of severe weather, please check for cancellations of Sunday morning worship services and church activities on WFSB TV Channel 3, church website or you may contact any deacon. Ham and Bean Dinner November 3rd ~ 5:00-7:00 p.m. Lebanon Fire Safety Complex Menu: Ham, beans, potato salad, cole slaw, bread and dessert Tickets: Adults $8.00 and Children 10 & under $5.00 Raffle baskets available. Sponsored by the Lebanon Churches

5 SACRED MUSIC CONCERT We take this opportunity to invite you to our sanctuary on Sunday afternoon, November 4, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. for a Sacred Music Concert. This year the concert will have a theme, For God and Country. We are so fortunate to have Mrs. Bertie Hawkins help us in putting this concert together. Bertie has worked with each choir to help them learn the combined numbers. Bertie will direct one of the pieces and Derek Waldron and Molly Lathrop will also direct. A very special THANKS to the American Legion Post No Honor Guard as we salute our Veterans in performing Heal Our Land. Your ticket to the concert is a non-perishable food item for "Neighbors Helping Neighbors." Notes from Round Robin An invitation is extended to come down to our room for a visit. We have a stack of crib-size quilts as well as some lap quilts. There are several table runners which would add a bit of color to your table. We are working on patchwork Christmas stockings that would look festive hanging from your mantel awaiting a visit from Santa Claus. A fleece throw over a comfy chair looks homey. How about a lap quilt spread over the sofa inviting someone to cuddle up? We will have many hand-crafted items to offer you and our prices are extremely affordable with all monies earned going to our Church. Give us an opportunity to help you with your Christmas shopping. Look for our tables at the bazaar. For Round Robin - Sandy Rose A note from Inspired by South Africa Sunshine and Shadow Quilt The Thursday night Quilting Group has been busy all summer sewing a queen-size quilt to be raffled off at the 2012 Holiday Harvest Bazaar. In the beginning, we were each given the task of choosing three blue fabrics a dark, medium and light shade of blue. When we brought our choices together, we were amazed at the beauty of the blues together. The result is a simply beautiful quilt. The raffle tickets are available either as an individual ticket or a book. The Sunshine and Shadow Quilt Pattern is a favorite of the Amish. Some say it portrays the balance of human nature. The darks and the lights represent good and bad, joy and sorrow, as well as the spiritual and actual body form. It s not a choice between the two it becomes the balance of human existence. I am reminded of the wedding vows for better or worse, in sickness and health, richer or poorer. I am also referred to Eccles. 3:2-8 which I will read again and again. The challenge of life is to bring the two opposites together in perfect balance. Our quilt is hung proudly in the Fellowship Hall. ~For the Quilting Group - Sandy Rose I spent most of my growing-up years by a lake, because of this I have always been drawn to Dragonflies. To watch them flit and skim across the water brought me peace and joy. To realize that a Dragonfly s life is only for a few weeks brought me to the realization that our lives are also very short by comparison. We must live and inspire others around us to live with peace and joy as well. Remember the Dragonflies flitting and skimming across the water with peace and joy. Inspired by South Africa will introduce a collection of necklaces with Dragonfly pendants. Some will be combined with opal beads from South Africa. Remember us when making up your Christmas list; we will be at the Bazaar Sandy Rose ~ for Inspired by South Africa

6 Holiday Harvest Bazaar November 16th & 17th, 2012 With the new plan for our Church s Holiday Harvest Bazaar 2012 in full swing, there is a new excitement buzzing about our Church. Our entire congregation is involved with either setting-up or tearing-down tables and chairs, putting together small to medium themed baskets or planning to donate baked goods. We have several new vendors coming; the Country Store and Round Robin booths will have a new look. If you are searching for a gift for someone special, take a look at all the small to medium themed baskets. There will be plenty of fun for the children. So come to the Fair with your Christmas list in hand, enjoy the luncheon and make plans for dinner, stay for the Quilt drawing and the Silent Auction. See you at the Fair Sandy Rose & Stan Fuller Wednesday s Sunday school has started!! Rev. Mary has begun sending her Wednesday s to the Sunday school families and those in the congregation who are interested in receiving it. The s include the schedule and the scripture for the upcoming week. If you would like to receive this , please contact either Mary or the church office. Bible Study Wednesday Mornings Beginning October 31st, we will study the Letters of Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians. Please bring your Bible and join us in the Memorial Room Wednesday mornings at 9:30. Watch for information on our upcoming Advent Bible study. Fall Cleanup Saturday, November 3rd ~ 9:00 a.m. (Rain date - Saturday November 10th) The Trustees are seeking all able-bodied members and friends to help out in the fall leaf cleanup of church grounds and interior cleaning of the sanctuary pews and woodwork. Please bring rakes for outside work, or buckets, sponges, and appropriate cleaning agents for inside work. Your contribution will be much appreciated. Coffee and donuts served. Neighbors Helping Neighbors Over 100 boxes of sweet cereal (one box per every two kids) will be needed for the November and December Holiday baskets that Neighbors Helping Neighbors will be giving out this year. This is only one item out of approximately 20 that are packed into the baskets that have children. Can our church family meet the goal of providing all of the sweet cereal needed? Baskets will be packed on November 12th and December 10th but we will be collecting through December. Please think of your food pantry next time you see a great bargain on sweet cereal. Thank you. The flower committee invites anyone who would like to share flowers from their yard for our church s communion table on any Sunday to please do so. It never has to be for a specific occasion or event. If you feel inspired, and we hope that you will, just let Linda Wallace, Tracy Kelley, or Stan Fuller know by Saturday each week or sign up on the calendar in the foyer. Thank you. Bread feeds the body indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. - The Koran

7 Confirmation Class November 4th ~ Attend Service at Madina Masjid, Windsor CT (MENTORS AND STUDENTS) November 11th ~ Class November 18th ~ Class November 25th ~ No Class - Thanksgiving Weekend December 2nd ~ No Class - Community Tree Lighting December 9th ~ EXTENDED CLASS to prepare for Christmas Eve 5-7 p.m. December 16th ~ Class December 23rd ~ Rehearsal for Christmas Eve 5-6 p.m. December 24th ~ LEAD 11:30 CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE (meet at 10:30 p.m.) December 30th ~ No Class - school vacation January 6th ~ Dinner for Students and Mentors at Pastor Sharon s home 5-7 p.m. January 13th ~ Class January 20th ~ No Class - Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 27th ~ Class All classes are Sunday evening 5-6 unless otherwise noted. Friday, November 2nd ~ 6-9 p.m. The Ultimate Gift (PG) Lesson: Gift of Friendship / Helping Others in Need Friday, November 16th & Saturday, November 17th Harvest Festival (sign-up for a shift to help with the Kid s Corner) Sunday, November 18th ~ 2:30 p.m. - Walk for Warmth Two mile walk starts at St Joseph s Church (99 Jackson St., Willimantic) Middle School Youth Group Friday, December 7th ~ 6-9 p.m. The Nativity Story (PG) Lesson: Luke & Matthew s Christmas Stories

8 Open-Hearted Living In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches the gathered crowd, Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, and overflowing will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will be measured back to you (6:38). Throughout the same chapter, Jesus warns about the smallness of a life that only gives what it gets, a life in which a person only gives back once they have received something. Instead, he urges his followers to take the lead, to be generous first, and in doing so discover that you get what you give. It is not enough to say that Jesus wants us to give; he really wants us to be shaped by generous living. He wants our lives to turn in a new direction, a direction not shaped by a grasping kind of living, but by an open-hearted life lived in delight and gratitude. Such a life generates so much that what comes back is overwhelming in its abundance. Inherent in this promise of blessing is a delight in both the giving and in the receiving, a delight not limited to material gifts. In fact, for many, delight itself is the gift that comes back when life is lived with an open heart. And who of us could not do with more delight in our lives? This stewardship season, become an open-hearted person. Let your giving determine your joy. Your Stewardship Committee, Ellen Bauwens, David Fields, Chris Jordan, Al Manning, Marjorie Page, and Jack Pelto Holiday Harvest Fair First Congregational Church of Lebanon Friday, November 16th ~ 4-8 p.m. Saturday, November 17th 9:00 a.m. ~ 3:00 p.m. Roast Beef Dinner Saturday, November 17th 5:00 7:00 p.m. Menu: Roast beef, mashed potatoes & gravy, vegetable, salad, desserts, and beverages. Tickets: Adults - $10 Seniors - $8 Children Under 12 - $6 Children Under 5 - Free Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve Service St. Francis of Assisi November 21st at 7:00 p.m. Please bring a non-perishable item for Neighbors Helping Neighbors Annual Reports Board and committee reports are due by the end of December. If you would please them to the office, it would help tremendously.