T H E T O W E R A Monthly Publication of The Golden Hill United Methodist Church An Open and Affirming Congregation January 2013 Volume 50 Number 1 This year, instead of just making resolutions, look for opportunities to take action during 2013. How will you touch other lives make a difference...affect change...improve the lives of those in need...volunteer your time...donate...contribute to a food pantry? Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10 NIV) In the months ahead, what will you choose to do to make a difference in the lives of others around you, in our community and around the world? The mission of the Golden Hill United Methodist Church, a unique, diverse and dynamic Christian community, is to serve Christ in the city and the world through members who are ambassadors for Christ. GOLDEN HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 210 Elm Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604 http://www.goldenhill.org Telephone: (203) 336-0152 Fax: (203) 336-9457 THANK YOU to Roena Littlejohn for leading our two Golden Hill adult classes of the Advent study CHRISTMAS gifts that won t break. WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR MINISTRIES BACK PACK MINISTRY This year the Weekenders Program provides backpacks for 36 students in grades K-2. Current grocery lists are posted on bulletin boards and on the church s website: www.goldenhill.org SHOWER MINISTRY- The Shower Ministry needs men s socks & underwear Medium, Large and 2X and women s underwear Size 7. Also toothbrushes, toothpaste & travel sized lotion. Christmas Baskets 2012 were packed and ready for delivery to 114 families on December 23.
January 2013 The Tower Page 2 From the PC of Pastor B A new year is upon us with great expectations. Every New Year is full of promise, yet we carry so much of the old year into the new that it should give us all pause. Normally we do things by remote control and proceed with many things in life as business as usual. Case in point I didn t really notice that my Verizon wireless bill had gone up. I assumed it was an increase in rates. Such is life. However, this month I decided for whatever reason to read my bill. To my surprise, I was being billed for a service I no longer needed and hadn t used since my return from Ghana. The global service was supposed to stop as soon as I returned from Africa in September. It didn t and I was billed for it in October, November, and December. I explained to the customer service representative that there had been no international calls since September 15, 2012. Well, the best they could do for me was to give me one month credit. My lack of attention to detail cost me $90.00. However, a lesson was learned. Take nothing for granted and pay attention to detail. Now we have moved from Advent and Christmas into the season of Epiphany. Let me share with you these words by Howard Thurman in The Mood of Christmas. When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among people, To make music in the heart. This is the beginning of a new year for Golden Hill. Let us give attention to detail in our ministry. Come let us reason together and be the kingdom builders we are called to be. Grace and Peace, Pastor B Christmas Basket 2012 food collection awaits packing in the Oak Room.
January 2013 The Tower Page 3 Are You New or Experienced Knitters or Want to Learn How to Knit? Start the New Year with the Golden Hill Knitting Group Have you ever wished you could learn how to knit? Or would you enjoy meeting with a nice group of folks for some conversation and a chance to work on your favorite craft? If so, the Sunday evening knitting group may be perfect for you. We have the needles and yarn available at no charge for beginning projects, and Janice & Elizabeth will be glad to show you the basics to get you started. Beginning knitters can make scarves, hats, shawls, tote bags, even blankets, either for themselves or friends and family. If the cost of gifts has you stumped -- a gorgeous scarf costs about $5 to make -- a hat is about $2.50. Or perhaps you would like to knit Prayer Shawls for the sick or bereaved, or hats and scarves for the homeless or lap robes for nursing homes. We have folks of all ages--starting as young as 7 or 8 and including people in their seventies. Boys and men are wel- come too! Knitting is a great stress reliever and can lower your blood pressure (after the first lesson is mastered!) We meet starting at 6:30 on Sunday nights in the Elm Street lounge and go until 8 PM, although you are welcome to stay a shorter time if you choose. If you have a youngster coming for the first time, please plan to come along, since not everyone is ready for a long lesson, and we don't offer any alternative activities. Also, if you are a lefty, please let us know ahead of time since left-handed knitting requires Elizabeth to teach. We only meet on Sundays when UMYF is also meeting. If you are not sure of the date, check the Grace Notes or call the church office, or e-mail Janice at bbmaui@optonline.net. Thanks for a wonderful year. Although this year has passed by so quickly, it was filled with lots of activities. The Weekenders are back in full swing, even though Long fellow school has closed, we have continued with the merge, and the children are happy and taken care of, which is our goal as United Methodist Women to look after women and children. ( The Purpose: The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in global ministries of the church"). Congratulations to the unit for being a 5 star unit again this year, and being presented with a bronze certificate for the Mission Today achievement. May God continue to bless you all, any questions regarding UMW, contact Yvette Richardson, President, Nancy Delvecchio, Treasurer or Ruth Hurd, Secretary. Upcoming UMW dates to remember: UMW local meeting to meet in Jan 2013, TBA February 2, 2013: Resource Day at West Hartford UMC 10 am - noon, February 10, 2013: resource day at Stratford UMC 2 pm - 4 pm; February 9, 2013 CT District UMW Winter Gathering: Shelton UMC Shrove Tuesday: pancake supper TBA ( Look for information in the Grace Notes as time gets closer) March 2, 2013 " Rise Up, stop the violence against women and girls Asbury/Crestwood UMC, Tuckahoe, NY
January 2013 The Tower Page 4 Our Golden Hill Steel Band is preparing to play at a District Event in April. THANK YOU to all who provided special music and leadership during the Advent and Christmas Season. And thank you for the generous outpouring of gifts for my birthday and for Christmas. I feel blessed to be in music ministry with such a loving and supportive congregation. Dan Pettit Sunday: Golden Hill Music News & Notes January Music Schedule 12:00 Steel Band Rehearsal 5:00 pm Steel Band Rehearsal January 6 Chancel Choir Heavenly Star January 13 Chancel Choir Lord Come Down to the River January 20 Chancel Choir Let Us Walk in Peace January 24 Rehearsal - Young Glory Singers 6:30 pm January 27 YOUTH SUNDAY Young Glory Singers at 10:45 worship Tuesday: Handbell Choir Rehearsal, 2:30 pm Wednesday:, Chapel Here is How Our Golden Hill Rummage Sale Makes a Difference The Rummage Sale committee, once again, would like to thank everyone who helped in any way to make the October sale a success. The proceeds from the Rummage Sale made possible contributions to the following causes: The Conference of the United Methodist Women The Church budget The Youth Fellowship The Community Supper program The Christmas Baskets program Operation Christmas Child With gratitude and blessings to all for a happy and healthy New Year. Lillian Harcarik, Julie Lewis & Dianne Severance for the Rummage Sale Committee Shower Ministry at Golden Hill Early in 2012 we began our Shower Ministry at Golden Hill. We open the doors every Wednesday at about 1:45 p.m. Lots of folks are waiting for the opportunity to shower. We see between 15 and 20 people each week. We cannot serve 20 people before our 6:00 pm cutoff unless the mix of men and women is just right. But even if someone doesn t get to shower, we give them the means to clean up elsewhere. Everyone who comes to shower is so appreciative of the opportunity. We cannot thank you enough for all the support we have received. If you d like to know ways you can be part of this ministry, please feel free to email Melodye Merola at outreach@goldenhill.org or call the church office (203) 336-0152. IN THIS ISSUE From the PC of Pastor B... 2 Knitting Group Invites You... 3 United Methodist Women... 3 Music at Golden Hill... 4 UMYF Gingerbread House Auction Results... 5 Rose Window Campaign Results... 6 Christmas Baskets All Wrapped Up... 7 Methodist Coalition to build Habitat house... 7 Church Calendar... 8
January 2013 The Tower Page 5 UMYF: All youth entering grades 7 through 12 The United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) is open to all young people entering grades 7 through 12. UMYF meets at the church each Sunday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for worship, fellowship, service, games and all around fun. Activities and fundraisers are planned throughout the year and include day trips, overnight excursions and service activities. If you ve never come down, plan to join us soon; if you ve been to every meeting since your first, just mark your calendar. To learn more, speak with Melodye Merola. 2012 Gingerbread House Auction raised $335 for Habitat for Humanity Children s Book Corner Here are our monthly recommended books to read, available through libraries, bookstores or even your own bookshelf. Recommended reads are provided by Becki Anderson, who is a school librarian. One Cool Friend, by Toni Buzzeo. Grades kindergarten - 2. Elliot's father doesn t realize that his son is asking to have a real penguin for a pet, instead of just a new stuffed friend. Inside Out & Back Again, by Thanhha Lai. Grades 4-7. It is 1975 and her father has been missing for almost a year. Ha, her mother and brothers decide it is time to leave Vietnam and start their lives over in the United States. Told through a series of poems, Ha responds to her new life with humor and hope. Pastor Barton invited all the singers who came out for the UMYF sponsored Christmas caroling on December 16 to join him for pizza afterwards at his home. Despite cold, rainy conditions, the carolers of all ages visited several church members to sing favorite Christmas songs. Thank you to those who provided transportation, and to all who came out to sing and make a joyful noise in this Advent season.
January 2013 The Tower Page 6 The $40,000 Rose Window Campaign Goal Achieved Due to Extravagant Generosity Due to the generous contributions of the Golden Hill congregation, friends and family, we have reached our Rose Window Campaign goal of over $40,000. Thank you for your extravagant generosity in helping Golden Hill reach our goal. Without your generosity, we may have not reached the goal. This demonstrates your faith and love in God, sharing your gifts that He has given you. We appreciate your continued support of Golden Hill. The funds collected through this campaign will reimburse the cost for the Rose Stained Glass Window restoration and financially assist in the overall Golden Hill renovation projects. The Rose Stained Glass Window is an icon of Golden Hill UMC. The theme for the Rose window Weekenders Backpack Program Serves 36 Children at Columbus Annex for 2013 Weekenders is back on track with the new year 2013. UMW appreciates everyone's support in 2012. Thank you! The first backpacks will go home on January 4, and grocery lists for upcoming weeks will be posted around church and on the web site, www.goldenhill.org. The 36 children in this year's program are students in grades K-2 at Columbus Annex. We would like to form a third packing team this year. Packing can be done in the daytime or evening depending on people's schedules. It helps to have a consistent day and time from week to week. Anyone interested in packing backpacks is welcome to speak to Melodye Merola, Mary Agostino or Barbara Stinson. The packing schedule rotates, so you would be doing it every third week. If you have time to be a backup packer but would rather not be in the regular rotation, that's a welcome thing, too! Please let us know either way. If you have questions or suggestions for the Weekenders Program, please talk to Yvette Richardson, President of Golden Hill's UMW chapter, or to any UMW member. is "Praise", showing the Lamb of God as the central motif. In the center of the rose are eight circular medallions showing the figure of angels playing musical instruments, significant of Praise. The medallions are joined together by a pattern suggesting vines and foliage. The collection of pure rich colors suggest different flowers, typifying the term, Rose window, created by Wilbur H. Burnham. The date to dedicate the Rose Window Plaque has not been determined. The contribution incentives for your name/s to be placed on the plaque will be if your donations meet the following criteria, Bronze - $350 (1 name), Silver - $750 (2 names), Gold - $1500 (4 names), Platinum - $3000 + (6 names). There is still a week for the few procrastinators or those who are close to contributing enough to have your name engraved on the Rose Window Plaque. A contribution update will be sent to you so you know where you stand. As always we thank those of you who've helped us reach our goal of over $40,000, by contributing to the Rose Window Campaign. We appreciate your gracious and extravagant generosity and continued financial support of the renovation and restoration of our church. Allen Corry, Stewardship Chair The Tower is a monthly newsletter of the Golden Hill United Methodist Church, 210 Elm Street, Bridgeport, CT. Submission deadline for articles is the 15th day of the month. The Tower can also be viewed on our church website under Publications at: www.goldenhill.org Editor & Photographer: Jenny McLachlan Print Production Staff: Bill Hurd, Ruth Hurd Contributors: Mary Agostino, Becki Anderson, Pastor Walter C. Barton Jr., Janice Brown, Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, Allen Corry, Phyllis Machledt, Melodye Merola, Yvette Richardson,
January 2013 The Tower Page 7 All Wrapped Up, Golden Hill Christmas Baskets 2012 Thank you isn't big enough, especially this year! To all who donated food, gifts and funds to support their purchase; to all who shopped til they dropped to be sure there were enough of both; to everyone who came to church the week before Christmas to wrap gifts, lay out food, pack boxes and deliver them to the families, a million thanks. To Maura and Stephanie, from Sacred Heart University, the partnership continues to be a huge success. These two ladies not only coordinated at Sacred Heart, but they also brought their baskets to church after the students had left for winter break, came back to repack some boxes, and came with a group of "elves" to help with deliveries on December 23. All the people who referred families for Christmas Baskets in 2012 went above and beyond with follow up calls, reminders, deliveries, and a couple of Christmas Eve deliveries to people we hadn't been able to reach on delivery day. Special thanks in this regard to Eneida LaMourt from Cesar Batalla School and our own Lisa Nelson. And special thanks to Alicia Carter and the Bridgeport Rescue Mission for their generous donation of 55 turkeys. The Christmas Basket Committee all worked tirelessly to be sure that all the pieces of the puzzle were there and put together right--sonya Green, Becki Anderson, Leila Lawrence, Nancy DelVecchio, Phyllis Machledt and Melodye Merola--you are all terrific. In all 114 baskets went out to families in the greater Bridgeport area, referred by contact people at Golden Hill with ties to schools and agencies who serve families in need and by Melodye Merola and Pastor Barton at Golden Hill. It took all of us working together to help these families have a happier Christmas season. To all, THANK YOU and a blessed year in 2013. The Christmas Basket Committee Methodist Coalition to build Habitat house in Bridgeport in 2013! Golden Hill has embarked on a new local mission project, co-sponsoring and building a Habitat house in Bridgeport in 2013. New Canaan UMC has generous donors who have agreed to give $100,000 toward the sponsorship of a Habitat house. They have invited Golden Hill and other area Methodist churches to be part of a Methodist Coalition with Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County. The Society and Missions Committee, with the approval of our Church Council, has agreed to raise $5,000 over 2 years as our donation to the project. This will be the fourth Habitat house built by a Methodist coalition in Bridgeport or Stratford since 1995. The house will be one half of a duplex at 12-16 Laurel Court in Bridgeport. We will also be working with the future homeowners who must do 500 hours of sweat equity before they buy the house with a zero interest mortgage. Please watch the bulletins to see dates for vol- unteers to work in the Habitat warehouse (not outside!), building walls and painting siding. Possible dates are Feb. 2 and March 2. Usually the minimum age for volunteers to participate is 16, but children 12 and up can paint siding with supervision. If you can t participate in the physical labor, please consider making sandwiches or a simple lunch for the volunteers. You can also make a donation toward Golden Hill s pledge to the project. Checks can be made out to Golden Hill UMC with Habitat for Humanity in the memo. This is a great opportunity to work with others in our congregation to help create simple, decent, affordable housing. Working with other Methodist churches helps us expand our horizons and make new friendships. If you have questions or wish to volunteer in any capacity, please contact Phyllis Machledt at (203) 268-8737 or at pmachledt@gmail.com or John Blossom at jblossom@shore.com. While we renovate God s house, our beautiful Golden Hill building, let s reach out to create a house for a family in need in our community as well.
January 2013 The Tower Page 8 Jan 2 Jan 6 Jan 9 Shower Ministry, 2:00 pm Chapel Worship, 8:30 am Sanctuary Worship, 10:45 am UMYF, 6:30 pm Tracing Our Roots adult study, 7:00 pm Shower Ministry, 2:00 pm Jan 13 Chapel Worship, 8:30 am Sanctuary Worship, 10:45 am UMYF, 6:30 pm Jan 14 Worship Committee, 7:00 pm Jan 16 Shower Ministry, 2:00 pm Jan 20 Chapel Worship, 8:30 am Sanctuary Worship, 10:45 am UMYF, 6:30 pm Tracing Our Roots adult study, 7:00 pm Jan 22 Church Council, 7:30 pm Jan 23 Shower Ministry, 2:00 pm Jan 27 Chapel Worship, 8:30 am Sanctuary Worship, 10:45 am UMYF, 6:30 pm Jan 30 Shower Ministry, 2:00 pm Children & adults are invited to join us in Sunday School Join us in 2013 at Golden Hill in Sunday School classes for adults and children. The adult class meets at 9:30 am in the church parlor and is facilitated by Gerry Drew. Sunday School for children is held during the 10:45 worship service. Children s Sunday School grades are Kindergarten through 6th. Your child needs to be dismissed to go to Sunday school after Time for Young Christians and during the Ritual of Friendship. There will be No Sunday School on the last Sunday of each month. The children will take part in the church service. "Your faithfulness is growing by leaps and bounds, and the love that all of you have for each other is increasing." 2Thessalonians 1:3,CEB The children s Sunday school time consists of a one room school house format where students are taught together and by grade level. Students learn about the love of God through Jesus. They also learn about important people in the Bible through music, art, group discussions, imagination, food, hands-on activities, worship and prayer. This curriculum helps your child grow in faith as a child of God. They also learn to make connections with what they are learning and their everyday life. Thank you all for your support of our Christian Education ministry. Golden Hill UMC Sunday School Staff
You are invited by The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Sunday, January 20, 2013 4:00 o clock in the afternoon St. John s Episcopal Church 768 Fairfield Avenue (corner of Park and Fairfield) Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 Plenty of free and attended parking Procession of vested clergy forms at 3:45 p.m. Theme: What does God require of us? Micah 6:6-8 With special preacher: The Reverend Brian Bodt, Pastor Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church, Milford, CT Reception follows in the Parish Hall Sponsored by The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport 1100 Boston Avenue, Building 5-A, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06610 (203) 334-1121 www.ccgb.org