The Good News S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : F I R S T C O N G R E G A T I O N A L U C C A N G O L A, I N N O V E M B E R R 2 0 1 5 Plan to attend our Community Friendship Dinner on Saturday, November 14, from 5-7 p.m. I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Pastor s 2 Screen Welcoming 2 Class Let s flourish, congregation! Join us after worship on Sunday, November 15, for lunch and round-table discussions on what it means to be a flourishing congregation! Each table will have a facilitator and we will have conversation around a variety of questions, we will make art, eat lunch, and envision our future together. For example, the United Church of Christ s new President and General Minister, Reverend John Dorhauer, has challenged congregations to educate ourselves about white privilege... is that something we want to do? Millennials are asking for a different kind of worship experience... do we have a responsibility to provide that? And as always... where do we want to be in five years? In 10 years? Please plan to be present because all our voices need to be heard... and this will be a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon... way better than football!! Church Council News in Brief Volunteer Schedule November Calendar Hanging of the Greens 3 3 4 5 6 Youth Group meeting on Sundays Our new Youth Group is meeting on the first, third and fifth Sundays of each month from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Under the leadership of Lois McEntarfer, Kim Couch and Jill Noyes, the youth gather to play and work together. They have fun and are also working on projects that will serve and uplift others. They share a meal together and have time for questions, devotions and prayer.
P A G E 2 From the Pastor s Screen Pastor Deb Davis Please come for dinner. On Saturday, November 14, we will offer our Community Friendship Dinner to our community. This traditional Thanksgiving Dinner will include turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetables and dessert. The goal of this meal is to provide an opportunity for members of FCUCC to sit down at table with members of our community, especially those who attend AA in our building, residents at the men and women s transitional houses and others who come for a good meal. We do not charge for the meal... it is our gift to the community... so we need monetary donations to purchase the food. We also need volunteers to help set up and clean up. And we need members of this community to come and eat dinner alongside our neighbors. Paul Nailor, Bun Mayer, John Eddy and Dave Syler will be in charge of preparing the food... Lauralee MacLeod and Sally VandenElst will be in charge of enlisting volunteers, and all of us are in charge of providing pies and cupcakes for dessert. Please say yes when you are asked so this dinner will once again be a big success. And please come and eat dinner... so we can offer an extravagant UCC welcome! Blessings, Mindfulness & Insight Meditation Mindfulness & Insight Meditation will be offered Thursday, November 19, at 6 p.m. in our sanctuary. We ll begin with a brief introduction by Jeff Smith. Meditation includes practices for the mind that develop calm and insight through sustained attention, and insight through reflection. This technique focuses on the awareness of the body. Meditation naturally teaches patience and tolerance; cultivating good will adds another dimension to the practice, as it encourages us to develop a more friendly and caring attitude towards others. Plan to join us and learn more about this spiritual practice. T H E G O O D N E W S
F I R S T C O N G R E G A T I O N A L U C C News in Brief Women s Book Study Women s Book Study will continue the book, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, on Thursday, November 12 at 4 p.m. in Pastor Deb s office. The group meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Women In Black Women in Black will stand on Saturday, November 14 in front of the courthouse. Folk are invited to gather from 10-11 a.m. and stand in protest of war and domestic violence. WIB is an international movement to end all forms of violence. Write Tribe Jennifer Decker will engage you with writing cues on Saturday, November 14, at 11 Church Council highlights a.m. at Cahoots! Bring a notebook and pen for Write Tribe! Soup & Scripture Pastor Deb leads a Soup & Scripture session at Cahoots each Tuesday at 12 noon. Join us for a look at the lectionary scriptures for the next Sunday. Friday Prayer Group The Friday Morning Prayer Group meets each Friday at 9 a.m. at Cahoots. P A G E 3 In November, Out-of-the-Bible Study will begin Putting Away Childish Things by Marcus Borg. We meet on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. in Pastor Deb s office. Church Council met on Sunday, October 11 and the following items were among those discussed/approved/ reported: Income is down $22,000 from budget, and expenses were higher last month due to three pay periods; Discussed sources of income to compensate Judy for increased preaching duties, and also how to lessen her secretarial duties; The stewardship letter was approved, with pledges due on November 8; The changing role of the parish groups was discussed; Youth Group has been added to children s ministry, and meets twice each month; Visioning Committee presented banner samples; Planning for the future of our Chancel and Bell Choirs and Jeanine Samuelson s retirement this year were discussed. Council will meet on Sunday, November 8 following worship; complete minutes and financial reports are available in the church office. The youth Christmas Eve play will be Broadcasting Christmas!
P A G E 4 November Birthdays & Anniversaries 5 - Deb McHenry 10 - Alexis Couch 15 - Roger Krueckeberg 16 - Wava Oberlin 26 - Jeanine Samuelson 5 - Anne & John Eddy 22 - Donna & George Hankins 24 - Carol & Veryl Carpenter 27 - Norma & Harold Baker 22 - Kevin Burnell 26 - Jim Harris November volunteers Date Liturgist Greeters Children's Sermon Nov 01 Lynn Simons John & Judy Behee Marj Lilley Nov 08 Ron Hays Joe & Linda Driver Michelle Olson Nov 15 Marj Lilley Steve & Betsy Eyrich Celia Motz Nov 22 John French Michelle Olson, Kevin Burnell Vicki Harris Nov 29 Jim Simons Gayle Newton & Deb Miller Rita Lechleidner Date Usher Refreshments Counter Nov 01 Veryl Carpenter Sponsored by Teresa Smith Ralph McDowell Nov 08 Veryl Carpenter Judy, Marge Mueller, Theresa Gayle Newton Nov 15 Veryl Carpenter Flourishing Congregations Lunch Jim & Lynn Simons Nov 22 Veryl Carpenter Bun Mayer and June Julien Marj Stoudinger Nov 29 Veryl Carpenter Gary & Sally VandenElst Linda Driver If you are willing to help with our annual Community Harvest Dinner, please let Pastor Deb know! T H E G O O D N E W S About the Community We extend sympathy to Rebecca, Gabby and Savannah Manns. Jeff Manns died October 7. Our sympathy extends as well to the friends and family of Eric Hauck, who died October 3. Homebound Maryellen Hays and Dave Frazier. Upcoming this fall November 8 - Stewardship Sunday November 14 - Community Harvest Dinner November 15 - Flourishing Congregations Lunch & Round Table Discussions November 22 - Rev. Dr. Carrie Call preaching
F I R S T C O N G R E G A T I O N A L U C C November Calendar P A G E 5 1 - Worship 10 a.m. 1 - Uppity Women adult class 11:15 a.m. 1 - Youth Group 3:30-5:30 p.m. Sanctuary 3 - Men s Breakfast 8 a.m. Mama s Place 3 - Soup & Scripture Noon Cahoots 4 - Out of the Bible 9 a.m. Fellowship Hall 4 - Bell & Chancel Choirs 5:45 & 7 p.m. 6 - Prayer Group 9 a.m. Cahoots 8 - Worship 10 a.m. Stewardship Potluck 8 - Church Council meets 11:30 a.m. 10 - Soup & Scripture Noon Cahoots 11 - Out of the Bible 9 a.m. Fellowship Hall 11 - Bell & Chancel Choirs 5:45 & 7 p.m. 12 - Women s book study 4 p.m. Deb s office 13 - Prayer Group 9 a.m. Cahoots 14- Women in Black 10 a.m. Courthouse 14 - Write Tribe 11 a.m. Cahoots 14 - Harvest Dinner Fellowship Hall 15 - Worship 10 a.m. 15 - Flourishing Congregations lunch & round table discussions 11:15 15 - Youth Group 3:30-5:30 p.m. 17 - Men s Breakfast 8 a.m. Mama s Place 17 - Soup & Scripture noon Cahoots 18 - Out of the Bible 9 a.m. Fellowship Hall 18 - Cancer support group 2 p.m. Rita s office 18 - Bell & Chancel Choirs 5:45 & 7 p.m. 19 - Mindfulness Meditation 6 p.m. Sanctuary 19 - Families of Inmates group 6 p.m. 20 - Prayer Group 9 a.m. Cahoots 22 - Worship 10 a.m. Rev. Dr. Carrie Call 22 - Uppity Women adult class 11:15 a.m. 24 - Soup & Scripture noon Cahoots 26 - Thanksgiving Day - office closed 29 - Worship 10 a.m. 29 - Uppity Women Adult class 11:15 am. 29 - Youth Group 3:30-5:30 p.m. Join us for Mindfulness Meditation November 19 From the Prayer Chain Listen to your life, see it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness; touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis, all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace. Frederick Buechner
First Congregational United Church of Christ 314 West Maumee Street Angola, Indiana 46703 Phone: 260-665-9362 Fax:260-668-1082 Email Office: angolaucc@frontier.com E-mail Pastor Deb: revdebdavis@aol.com Web Site: www.angolaucc.org First Congregational United Church of Christ, as an inclusive and caring Christian community, welcomes into its full life and ministry person of every race, ethnic background, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, criminal history and faith background. As we serve those within our church family, the community and the world in the name of Jesus Christ, we celebrate each person s uniqueness and look forward to the gifts they bring to us. God is still speaking, Hanging of the Greens Nov. 28th All are invited to help with our annual Hanging of the Greens as we decorate our church for Advent and Christmas! We will gather in the sanctuary at 4:30 p.m. to start working and when we are finished we will have dinner in Fellowship Hall. Each Christmas, we have an angel tree in the corner of our sanctuary. All families and individuals are invited to place an angel on the tree... be sure to put your name on it! We want a lot of angels on that tree! Under that tree we place newly purchased stuffed animals for the young people at Crossroads - Fort Wayne Children s Home. Place your animal under the tree any time during the Advent season. Crossroads is a United Church of Christ-affiliated treatment center for youth who have experienced trauma in their own homes. Calendar Marker Please join us in this effort to provide stuffed animals to hurting young people this Christmas season.