ELLINGTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH A Congregation of the United Church of Christ phone: (860) 871-6606 fax: (860) 871-5932 e-mail: sec-eccucc@sbcglobal.net Web site: http://www.eccucc.org Church Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Mon. Fri. Announcements for December 23, 2018 WELCOME Welcome to all our visitors, friends and members. If you are visiting for the first time, please sign our guest book in the Narthex. Please join us on Sunday, January 6 th, downstairs in the Social Room for our next time of Fellowship and Coffee after the 8:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services. Large Print Worship Bulletins and Bibles are available for people with special vision needs. Please speak to an Usher for the use of one of these Bibles and a copy of the Bulletin. Children s Bulletins are available. Children of all ages are invited to remain in church with their parents. If it becomes necessary to leave during the worship service, please use the door at the rear of the sanctuary. And please, as best as you are able, try to step out during hymns or other active times, so as to respect the worship experience of your neighbors. Thank you. Cradle Roll will not be staffed this morning. Subject to change. NEXT SUNDAY: FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS ALL CHURCH FAMILY WORSHIP ONE SERVICE AT 10:30 AM December 30, 2018 LAST WEEK Last Sunday s Attendance 8:45 A.M. 65 10:30 A.M. 138 Sunday School Last Sunday s Offering Loose $160.00 2018 Pledge $7,129.00 Please do your best to keep your pledge current. Your giving makes such a difference. Thank you to everyone that placed poinsettia orders. They will adorn our Sanctuary today and throughout the Christmas season. Blessings!
THIS WEEK S CALENDAR Mon Tues FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT BELL SUNDAY 10:30 Worship No Fellowship Offered after service CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 4:10 Jr. Bells warm-up 4:20 Chime Choir warm-up 4:30 Jr. Choir warm-up 5:00 Christmas Eve Service 7:00 Christmas Eve Service 11:00 Christmas Eve Service Merry Christmas! CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED Wed CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED Thur 9:00- Noon Church Office Hours 10:00 Prayer Group Fri 9:00- Noon Church Office Hours ANNUAL REPORTS DUE 7:00 AA-social room Sat Meeting dates and times are subject to change. TODAY S GATEKEEPERS Greeter(s): 10:30 Pam Lombardo Welcomer: 10:30 Lay Reader: 10:30 Wade Overgaard Deacon(s): 10:30 Sharon Gluhosky Usher(s): 10:30 Elaine Duckett Chas Gross CALENDAR (continued) FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS ALL CHURCH FAMILY WORSHIP ONE SERVICE AT 10:30 AM 10:30 Worship No Fellowship Offered after service At all times the church answering machine provides instructions for urgent call service. Please call the Church at 860-871-6606 and listen to the directions provided on the answering machine. When contacting the Church Office by email, please update your address book and ONLY use the email address: sec-eccucc@abcglobal.net. Thank you!
Celebrate Advent and Christmas with Family, Friends and Ellington Congregational Church! All Are Always Welcome Monday, December 24 th ~ Christmas Eve Worship Services 5:00 p.m. A Family Service Featuring the Cherub Choir, Junior Choir, Junior Bell Choir and the Chime Choir 7:00 p.m. A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with the Sacrament of Holy Communion Featuring the Senior Choir and the Senior Bell Choir 11:00 p.m. A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with the Sacrament of Holy Communion Sunday, December 30 th ~ First Sunday after Christmas 10:30 a.m. (only one service) All Church Family Worship Sunday, January 6, 2019 ~ Epiphany ~ All Church Family Worship 8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. ~ Communion Sunday Christmas and New Years Blessings from the ECC Staff! Offering envelopes for 2019 are available in the Narthex in alphabetical order. If you are not currently using offering envelopes or a giving number, and would like to, please email or call the Church Office at 860-871-6606 to make arrangements. Thank you! Complimentary 2019 calendars are located in the Narthex and outside the church office mail box area if you would like one. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Pledge Receipts 2018 From the Financial Secretaries, During December there are two special giving occasions, the first being the Christmas Offering going towards the general needs of the church. The second is the Pastor s Discretionary Fund taken only during the Christmas Eve services. Christmas Offering envelopes, regardless of how/when they are received, go to Christmas Appeal/Church General Fund. Only cash/checks marked PDF on Christmas Eve go to the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. If a check comes in on Christmas Eve with a giving number, that check will be credited to that persons pledge account. We cannot read your mind regarding which mission you wish to support, but want to advise you of how we handle the offerings. The last day that donations for the 2018 year will be deposited is 8 AM, December 31, 2018. Any donations received after that date, even if postmarked before December 31, will be applied in January 2019 in accordance with church accounting practice. Thank you for your attention and understanding. Jon Allen and John Bird PLEASE remember when paying your offering by check to write your envelope/giving number on the memo line. This number is located at the top right hand corner of your giving statement, email or call the church office if you are unsure. Thank you. INCLEMENT WEATHER - Please be advised for Sunday and Wednesday Faith Formation delays and closings due to inclement weather, visit www.wfsb.com or watch the WFSB Channel 3 bottom screen streamer. The Church Office follows the Ellington Public School Closings and Delays schedule. Fragrance Sensitivity - For many people being exposed to perfumes, colognes and chemicals can pose a serious health risk. Please be considerate of your neighbor and think before you apply. Thank you!
2019 SANCTUARY FLOWER ORDERS The flowers we enjoy in worship each week are donated by church members and friends to celebrate, honor or remember loved ones. The 2019 Flower Chart is available in the Narthex, please consider signing up to provide sanctuary flowers for a week that is meaningful to you. When you do choose a date, it will be required that a YELLOW SANCTUARY FLOWER CARD and PAYMENT be turned in to the Church Office at the time of sign-up. The cost for flowers for 2019 will remain the same as 2018 ~ $35.00, which includes delivery to the church. The person ordering the flowers will have the responsibility of the flowers after the last morning service of the date chosen. Therefore, you are invited to take your flowers home with you or you may deliver them to a sick or shut-in person or someone you wish to have them. No Sanctuary Flowers, Poinsettia or Easter Flower orders will be accepted without payment. Thank you. TELOS Can & Bottle Redemption Drive Year Round! Thank you to everyone that has been supporting this TELOS project over the years we greatly appreciate the cans and bottles. PLEASE NOTE the indoor receptacle boxes have moved to the elevator alcove off the social room you may now sort by plastic, cans and glass. Quicker, easier and more room. NAME TAGS: There are many new guests among ECC this Advent/Christmas season with all the special services. Please assist with wearing a name tag. Fall into a pattern by wearing yours. Need a permanent one? Contact the church office by email, phone or request form found in the Narthex. Wearing a name tag is greatly appreciated! (Sticky name tags available in the Narthex.)
PRAYER CONCERNS - During The Gathering of the Community, please clearly PRINT a Prayer Request Form that can be found in the pew rack. When the Deacon on Duty comes around with the microphone you are encouraged to state your prayer concern aloud. Give the completed form to the Deacon or drop it in one of the Prayer Concerns Baskets at the front or back of the church as you exit and this will be used to provide information to the church secretary for our Prayer List. Admire Respect Enjoy! Let us all help ECC sparkle. If you see something that is in need of repair, cleaning, moved, replaced, painting, etc., please stop by, call or email the church office with the information so a Clean/Maintenance Request Form can be completed and submitted to the Board of Trustees for review. Thank you! Stewardship 2019 Reminder PLEASE return your pledge card by using the envelope provided in the pledge packet. You may also leave your pledge envelope in the Church Office or make your pledge online at www.eccucc.org CLICK ON Adult Ministry CLICK ON Giving CLICK ON Pledging - complete form CLICK ON Submit. The Church Office will send an email acknowledgement. Thank you for your prayerful consideration! The Stewardship Committee. (Blank pledge packets are available in the Narthex if you would like to consider a pledge.) IMPORTANT INVITATION REMINDER: CALL TO THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Ellington Congregational Church United Church of Christ Congregational Meeting Thursday, January 24 th Dinner Served at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be followed by our annual business meeting to elect officers, adopt a budget, and act on other matters of importance concerning our future.
ALL ARE INVITED! A New Look at Wellness Ellington Congregational Church Social Room Wednesday, January 16, 2019 7:00 8:30 pm Dr. April Little, D.C. This is a free presentation provided by Women s Fellowship. The evenings presentation by Dr. April Little, D. C., is an overview of the many opportunities for people to achieve and maintain wellness. Included but not limited to: chiropractic, massage therapy, yoga, exercise - including walking, proper eating habits, and even some old fashioned home remedies, just to name a few. "Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease". "The term Dis-ease simply means lack of ease or harmony with the body". Light refreshments will be served. Join us! ~ please RSVP by January 13 th by completing the attached and dropping it in the offering plate, handing it to a WF Executive or leaving it in the church office or you can call the church office during business hours or use email. ------------------------------------- --------------------------------- NAME: Best Contact:
Number Attending: SHOPPING CART REQUEST For the month of DECEMBER Hot or Cold Cereal Canned Soup especially: Cream of Mushroom Cream of Chicken Chicken Noodle Tomato Canned Green Beans Canned Corn Canned Fruit Dessert Mixes 5 th Sunday, December 30 th Cornerstone Collection 13 gallon (size) tall kitchen plastic bags ON-GOING PANTRY STOCK Canned Tuna; Canned Soup; Canned Spam; Boxed Macaroni & Cheese
Thank you for your generosity!