November 2015 COMMUNICON Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Peterborough, NH Bob s Byte We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians1:3, NRS Harvest season is drawing to a close. Pumpkins are picked. Those last few veggies will be brought in from the garden unless you grew parsnips! The harvest of leaves has been collected. I have winter rye growing in one of the new gardens at the parsonage. And the smell of mulled cider can make the whole house feel like home. This month we take stock of where we have been this year. We count our blessings. We remember the delight of spring, the restorative power of summer, the beautiful autumn leaves. And as we remember, are we grateful? For what do we give thanks? For jobs and homes, for food and clothing, for surprises blessings unanticipated, these are good reasons to give thanks. For babies and children, for relatives and friends, for the energy of youth and the wisdom of age, these are gifts to be treasured. For new jobs, new homes, new possibilities this certainly applies to me! I am particularly grateful this year. The list is long, but what rises to the top is my gratitude for this congregation. Yes, Jodi and I have been warmly welcomed. Yes, the work on the parsonage will make that a comfortable home for many years. Yes, these are important gifts, for which I am grateful, but it is the faith of this congregation that really moves me to give thanks. This congregation is reaping a harvest of faith and love. This congregation has a passion for their church, their faith, and this is lived out in the love that people share. I have heard many wonderful stories about cards and calls to folks who needed a bit of encouragement. I have seen generations playing together, supporting each other, respecting each other. One of my favorite moments was watching Shirley White and Luke Schoel team up for extreme croquet. We could look at theology, or doctrine, or other aspects of our religious practice, but the bottom line for Jesus was to love God, to love others, and to love yourself. This is what it is all about. While we are celebrating and giving thanks, let s remember to give thanks for the most precious thing in creation: LOVE! See you in church, Bob
Worship This Month November 1 Revelation 21:1-6 John 11:1-45 Sermon: No More November 8 1 Kings 17:8-24 Mark 12:38-44 Sermon: Everything November 15 Stewardship Sunday 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Mark 13:1-8 Sermon: Letting Go November 22 Thanksgiving Sunday Joel 2:21-27 Matthew 6:24-34 Sermon: Why Worry? Ongoing Prayer Concerns We know there are many people who feel supported and blessed by our continuing prayers, and we understand how important this ongoing prayer is. Including this list in the Communicon will help us to remember those in need of our prayers, even when we re not in church to see the list in the bulletin. Please help us with this by contacting the office by the 20th of the month to add new names or to remove old names from the list. The Sunday bulletin will continue to have a prayer list for new or immediate prayer concerns. To add or delete names from the list below, please contact Martha CB in the office by e-mail (officeucc@comcast.net) or phone (924-3272). November 29 Advent 1 Luke 21:25-36 Jeremiah 33:14-16 Sermon: Time Will Tell; or Promises, Promises See you in church! Greening the Church Advent is just a month away, and the Flower Committee is making plans to decorate the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas. We invite you to join us in greening the church during coffee hour on December 6 and 13 to create swags, wreaths, and other arrangements, and to decorate the sanctuary windows. Donations of cut greens, pine cones, ribbons, wire, and other supplies would be great. We also invite you to bring in crèches to display throughout the church. For Christmas Sunday, the sanctuary will be decorated with flowers and plants. Flower envelopes will be placed in the pew racks, starting on Thanksgiving Sunday, November 22. You may order greens for the sanctuary by December 6, and Christmas plants or cut flowers for shut-ins by December 13. Your Flower Committee, Martha Dahl, Deb Fredericks, Kelly Kent-Kiburis, and Luciel Wilson Please Keep in Your Prayers Carl and Marilyn Britton Ruth Comerford, friend of Deb Hanson Leo Curley, Sarah Holgate s father Debra Doug Lisa and Patrick Foley Gerry, friend of Jo Putnam Emily Gibbons, friend of Carele Mayer Sue Henley Katherine, friend of Carele Mayer Larry Mayer Lynn Nelson Lorie Snyder Jim Suokko Roman Sypko and his family Jesse Taylor, Lisa Messer s father Alfred Whitney Joe Wilson and all in our church community 2
Calling All Vegetables! Veggies Needed for Altar/Supper Special Delivery to Shut-ins November 22 is Thanksgiving Sunday at Union Congregational Church. As in past years, we are asking for vegetables to decorate our altar. Any vegetables are welcome: squashes, all kinds of potatoes white, red, sweet carrots, turnip, onions, and red and green sweet peppers. All the vegetables will be used as roasted veggies at the Monday, November 23, Community Supper. Thank you! The Supper Crew Is delivering the altar flowers to shut-ins following the church service something that you would enjoy doing? The Flower Committee and the Deacons want to find out who sees this as their ministry. Delivering the flowers does not need to be done immediately following the Sunday service but can be done on Monday or Tuesday. Those who cannot attend our Sunday service are so appreciative of getting a visit and being remembered with flowers. If you would like to help with this outreach, please let Martha CB or someone on the Flower Committee or one of the Deacons know. Save the date! On December 6, at 1 p.m., plan to come andcarol with the handbells at local retirement/nursing homes. Join us! 3 Holiday Stroll on November 21 Once again, time flies by, and we're very busy preparing for the Holiday Stroll on November 21 from 9 to 2! We can use your help in a number of ways: As you gather attic treasures or jewelry, please put them in the marked boxes underneath the coatrack in the hallway. There will be one raffle basket chocolate that will need your contribution. Again, look for it in the hallway. The berry bowl sessions will be on November 11 and 12 at 1 p.m. Come and learn how to make one of our biggest sellers! We always sell out! The Country Store will need your baked goods: breads, cookies, pies, and so forth. Thank you! When Is That Due? Please help us help you let our community know of your church events, meetings, and special projects. Here are the dates when the office needs your information to spread the word: bulletins (brief announcements or weekly prayer list requests): by noon on Wednesday weekly Church Bytes: by 10 a.m. on Thursday (earlier if you can!) ongoing prayer list in the newsletter: the 20th of each month for the next issue of the Communicon Communicon articles: by noon on the 20th of each month for the next month s issue (November 20 for the December issue, for example) calendar (print version): by noon on the 20th of each month for the next month s newsletter calendar (online version): flexible deadline, as we can update this on an ongoing basis. Please allow a day or two for the update When you can type up your message, either in an e-mail message or as a Word attachment, and send it to Martha CB at officeucc@comcast.net, that speeds the process even more! Now you know! Thanks!
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS CROP Hunger Walk a Success 7 Kelly Kent-Kiburis 8 Marilyn Britton 10 Megan Millbauer 11 Debbie Hanson Greg Lefko 15 Rowan Inglis Peg Nichols 16 Bea Gove 22 Barbara Block 25 Elizabeth Grisafi Patti Inglestrom 27 Ann Lessard 29 Rose Constant Jim Murphy Don t see your November birthday or anniversary on this list? Please send an e-mail to officeucc@comcast.net or phone 924-3272 if you d like your birthday or anniversary included on our church list. If your name does appear in the list but you would prefer to keep the date private, let us know that too! Thanks! Neighbors in Need Thank You! The Christian Service Committee thanks everyone who has donated to October's appeal for Neighbors in Need. We'll publish a total soon! Women s Fellowship s Rummage Sale Many thanks to everyone who contributed to our Fall Rummage Sale! Our church raised $2,193 in the CROP Hunger Walk this year, a good amount from eleven walkers! The grand total from the nine participating churches is $7,970. Our church raised the most money! Twenty five percent of the total will be returned to our seven area food banks. The rest will be used where needed around the world and here in the United States. Congratulations to all of our walkers and sponsors! Off the Waldo What happened to churches like yours when you weren t looking? I mean, where did all those sizable teenaged youth groups go? And when did it seem as though even the largest churches were abandoned by many younger families? Was it all those magic handheld black boxes with everything in the world to hold your attention and tell you what you think you need to know... and especially to flash around for everyone to see that did it? What could churches tell you that those all-purpose phones tell you with much more authority? And... when did technology replace Faith as the true authority for anyone who thinks that they know what to think? But Where were all those good thinkers when God pulled a fast one on us and changed everything we thought we knew all over again? Look! said God, Now you know when I created everything! It was nearly fourteen billion years ago and it was from and in absolutely nothing! Your all-knowing agnostics didn t tell you that, did they? But apparently We didn't have as many clothing items, but the customers didn t seem to mind. At latest count, we had realized $612.52 from this endeavor! The coat rack is now set up for free warm clothing for anyone who needs it. Add to it when you can. Believing in a Creator is inconvenient for some thinkers... just as believing in science was (and still is, I guess) inconvenient for some others. It s so hard for us limited human beings to get our minds around new, larger Truths, isn t it? So, what can a good thinker think now, but that a caring Being created and creates a world moving toward goals that we can only imagine? Waldo 4
Union Congregational Church Income & Expenses as a % of Annual Budget September 2015 75% of Year Bible Studies Every Wednesday If you sometimes feel like you don t get it, don t worry: the disciples didn t always get it either. Come and engage with our sacred text as we continue to look at the good news according to Mark. Bible studies are led by Pastor Bob every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon in the church parlor. Come join us! Special Bake Sale on November 8 Christian Service is organizing a special bake sale after church on November 8, with proceeds going to benefit people struggling in the European refugee crisis. All baked goods are welcome. Please leave your contribution in the kitchen before worship on November 8. Thank you! 5
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For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Matthew 25:35-40 7
COMMUNICON November 2015 Vol. 61 No. 10 Union Congregational Church United Church of Christ 33 Concord Street Peterborough, NH 03458 The Rev. Dr. Robert Marrone, Pastor Thanks Worship Service: 10 a.m. Nursery Care Provided Church Office: 924-3272 officeucc@comcast.net www.uccpeterborough.org Editor: Martha Carlson-Bradley Proofreaders: Karen Loudon and Sharon Smith Silent Support Team: Janet Brown, Randy Brown, Carolyn Peacock Deadline for December issue: Noon, November 20 Union Congregational Church United Church of Christ 33 Concord Street Peterborough, NH 03458 8