THE BRANCH-LINE. From the Supply Pastor s Desk

Transcription

1 THE BRANCH-LINE I am the vine, you are the branches. Published Monthly * Yearly mail subscription $12 Submissions deadline: 15th of the month WILBRAHAM UNITED CHURCH Wilbraham, MA (413) x admin@wilbrahamunitedchurch.org Web Site: Church Staff Rev. Tom Howells, Guest Minister Mark Jacobson, Director of Music Monica Stiefel, Administrative Assistant/ Branch-Line Editor Eric True, Maintenance Paul Nesbit, Director of Christian Ed. Betsy Johnsen, Bookkeeper From the Supply Pastor s Desk February is here and "Love" is often associated with the month. We hear and read a lot about love this time of year. For one day a year we are encouraged to express our love for that special someone with card, flowers, candy or gift. We shouldn't need to be reminded that love unexpressed is no love at all. Nor that it is not a one-day a year occurrence. But maybe some do need to be reminded or opportunities will slip by, leaving some feeling unloved. The Scripture tells us that God loves us and expressed that love in a very tangible way. What is our response to that love? The Gospel tells us that the mark of a disciple (or follower) of Jesus is love. How are we doing? Long before St. Valentine (actually, I believe the day was the idea of a greeting card company and has become very commercialized - but still a nice idea) claimed a day in February in which we are to express love to those special to us, Jesus said it was to be an everyday experience among his followers. I believe that I have witnessed much love expressed by the members of this church for each other and for those outside our fellowship. Love is a verb. It is not just a feeling. It requires effort and sometimes sacrifice. It also means getting to know others so that you can help meet their need. If you don't know, you cannot act in love. Sometimes love has a cost, but the end result can be renewed strength and the wonderful quality of peace. You can't love or be loved if you are not here, if able. And it is not just being here - but being interlocked and connected together that makes the church work. I look forward to your growth as a church in following Jesus and enjoying it in the process. May our God richly bless you in all things in the days, months and years ahead! Love Pastor Tom - 1 -

2 The Branch-Line No. 795 FEBRUARY, 2018 JOIN THE CELEBRATION Natalie True will be 100 on Feb. 2nd!! Her family invites our church family to help celebrate this occasion at a special Coffee Hour on Sunday, Feb. 4th. There will be a basket for birthday cards. Come and celebrate Natalie! Call for Altar Flowers for February and March! The 2018 Altar Flower calendar is hanging in the Narthex, and there are quite a few dates to be filled. If you are interested please sign up or contact the office to pick your date(s). The cost for the single arrangement is $40 or for display in the memorial urns is $45. Following the service on Sunday, our wonderful altar flower delivery volunteers can bring the flowers to Church family members in need of a little cheer following a hospital stay or an illness, as a birthday wish to those who have reached a milestone year, or for various reasons of goodwill. If you prefer to bring them home with you after the service, please let the office know. Thank you! -2-

3 The Church Office is open weekly Monday Thursday from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Main Phone: FAX: website: STAFF & Phone Extensions: PASTOR Church Ext. 103 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Church Ext. 100 Mark Jacobson, MUSIC DIRECTOR Church Ext. 106 Eric True, BUILDING SUPER Paul Nesbit, DIR. OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Church Ext. 105 Betsy Johnson, BOOKKEEPER Through office Ext. 100 WILBRAHAM UNITED CHURCH NURSERY SCHOOL Church Ext. 108 Wilbraham United Church Directories of Members and Friends are available on a table across from the Sanctuary through Sunday, February 4th. After that they will be available in the church office during office hours. Also available are copies of the 2017 Annual Report and the Financials and Nomination Slates Addendum. One per family please! - 3 -

4 SPECIAL MEETING Sunday, February 11, 2018 A Special Meeting of the Wilbraham United Church will be held in the Sanctuary directly following the 10:00am Sunday Service to transact the following business: vote to approve the call of the candidate selected by the Search Committee as the Senior Pastor for Wilbraham United Church. The meeting will be preceded by the 10:00AM Sunday Service at which the candidate will preach and by an 8:45AM informal coffee and light breakfast to give the congregation an opportunity to meet and get acquainted with the candidate. Nan Shepard, Church Clerk I am going to Florida for the month of February. There will be events taking place on the first and second Sundays of Feb. but we need people to do coffee hour on the 3 rd and 4 th Sundays of Feb. Please sign up to make the coffee and cold drink or to bring goodies. There are complete instructions on how to make the coffee etc. and some boxed cookies in the large cupboard at the end of the kitchen. We would like to get more people involved in coffee hour. Its s a wonderful way to meet and greet new and old members of our church. Sign-up sheets are in the Social Hall (through April). Please add your name. Thank you, Part-time companion sought for elder ly WUC par ishioner living at Loomis Lakeside/ Reeds Landing on Wilbraham Road. The family seeks a regular visitor to accompany her on short walks around the facility, provide companionship, conversation, and help with small errands, as needed. $15/hour for 2-3 mornings each week on a regular basis. Because of the hours, this job would be suitable for a male or female retiree, student, or someone with children in school. Please her daughter Susan O'Brien at smobrien29@gmail.com or call her at for details

5 Shopping Card News Thank you! Thank you! We are grateful to the many participants of our shopping program for we have set records in 2017! Record total annual sales of over $166,000!! Record monthly sales (December) of over $31,000!! Record annual online sales of almost $32,000!! This translates to over $8,000 in support of the many ministries of our church! We challenge you to think of ways you can increase your participation so we may set new records in 2018! Your Shopping Card Ministry Team Bob Law, Connie Stiefel, Wendy O Rourke, Lisa Fallon and Candy Dearborn FEBRUARY Happenings from Women s Evening Fellowship Women s Evening Fellowship cordially invites you to attend our next meeting on Tuesday February 27 at 7:30 PM in the Zeckhausen Room. Our guest speakers, the father-daughter team of Deb and Jim Trimble, will discuss the fascinating and heartwarming story behind the Honor Flight program and share their personal experiences with this important cause. Men are also invited to join us for this special event. Delicious refreshments will be served. Missed church? Watch the service on Wilbraham Public Access, Channel 191, 8 PM on Mondays and 8 AM on Tuesdays. Services are also available on-line. Go to On the left click Public Access Schedules - Channel 191. Find the service you d like to watch by selecting a date on the calendar and a time, 8pm Mondays or 8am on Tuesdays. Click Watch Now - 5 -

6 OUTREACH COMMISSION NEWS Called to Care: AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP During this time of transition, Called to Care invites church members to help Pastor Tom and us visit our members who are ill or unable to get to church. Please talk with one of our members for more information: Jane Godfrey, Judy Hoffman, Ruth Karlson, Connie Law, Judy Marek, Jo Miner, Herb Vieira or Phyllis Walsh. PIECEMAKERS The Piecemakers quilting group meets every other Monday at 10 am in the Bliss Room at church. Our upcoming meetings will be on February 12 and 26. New members or visitors are welcome to join anytime. LINK TO LIBRARIES The Outreach Commission is excited to announce our new Link to Libraries Program. WUC has been linked with Brunton School in Springfield and we need a couple of people to read to a class. It's a commitment of only about an hour a month. Please contact Nanette Bernard nanette.bernard@yahoo.com or Ruth Karlson ruth@thekarlsons.com Thank you for the donations to the Survival Center! FEBRUARY Ideas Canned meat of chicken Beef stew Anything on sale TRANSITIONS Death: Barbara Bosworth Our prayers are with the family and friends

7 - 7 -

8 To find the most up to date schedule throughout the week, go to our church s website and click on EVENTS