This Week December 20, 2017

Dear Folks,

I hope your holiday preparation is coming along.  Just remember to keep breathing!!

Speaking of breathing, our Longest Night Service will be tomorrow, Thursday, December 21 at 6:30 P.M.  This is will be a quiet time to breathe, to acknowledge the darkness that surrounds us, but also to rest in God's loving light.

Sunday, December 24, we will have two services of Christmas celebration: 

11 A.M. is a inter-generational service, starting with the Fourth Sunday of Advent, then moving into a more Christmas Eve vibe.

11 P.M. is our traditional candlelight Lessons and Carols. (My favorite service of the year.)

The choir, bell choir, and sacred dancers will be featured at both.  Come to one service or both!!

December 31, we are back at 9:30 A.M., but we will be in Fellowship Hall for an informal "Aloha" service:  Aloha to 2017 and aloha to 2018!  Wear a Hawaiian shirt or something tropical, if you have it!

If you have not already given to the Christmas Fund, envelopes are available in the Alcove.  THE CHRISTMAS FUND for the Veterans of the Cross and Emergency Fund is the primary source of annual income used to support and honor those who have served and are serving the United Church of Christ. Your gift to the Christmas Fund helps provide a lifeline of hope to many lower-income active and retired clergy and lay employees of UCC. Please remember that your generous contribution can and will make a difference in the lives of many.

Just a reminder to please have your 2017 pledge up-to-date by December 31, 2017. The church 2017 financial books for accepting pledge contributions will close on January 1, 2018 – all checks must be dated December 31, 2017. PLEASE NOTE 2017 in the memo. Any contributions received after this date will be credited to the year 2018. Also, if you have not returned your 2018 Faith Promise/Pledge Card, please do so as soon as possible.  Your generosity is vital to our continued ministry here at HCCUCC.

On a personal note, I want to thank each of you for the gifts, cards, and well-wishes I have received this Christmas time, also for your love, support, and care that you show me all year long. You are very special people; I feel truly blessed to be your pastor.  I love you all.

Let us pray.  O Holy One, may this Christmas time reignite in all of us the love and the compassion that will help our world be a better place for all people.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week December 12, 2017

Dear Folks,

Thanks to all who participated in the Christmas Pageant this past Sunday.  What a fun and memorable way to remind us of the reason for the season, Jesus!

My prayer day is this Thursday, December 14.  Please let me know if there are any joys or concerns you would like me to raise up.

This coming Sunday, December 17, is the Third Sunday of Advent. Two candles are lit for hope and peace.  This Sunday, we will be lighting the candle of joy. The scripture lesson is Luke 1:39-55.  The sermon is "More Than Just Happy".  I will also be doing a Bag Message.

This Sunday is the deadline for the Christmas Eve poinsettias.

THE CHRISTMAS FUND offering will be taken this Sunday.  Envelopes are in the pews and in the alcove.  The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and Emergency Fund is the primary source of annual income used to support and honor those who have served and are serving the United Church of Christ. Your gift to the Christmas Fund helps provide a lifeline of hope to many lower-income active and retired clergy and lay employees of UCC. Please remember that your generous contribution can and will make a difference in the lives of many.

The 2017 Longest Night Service will be held on Thursday, December 21 at 6:30 p.m. December 21^st is the longest night of the year. For many people, dark is symbolic of the harsh things of life. Those harsh things become more evident in the light of the "shoulds" of Christmas time: we should be happy, we should be glad, we should be joyful. Sometimes our life is not conducive to the shoulds: we have lost a loved one, or a relationship, or a job, or whatever. We don't feel happy and glad. The Longest Night Service is a time to realize that for some, all is not goodness and light. We can come, acknowledge the darkness, but also look to the Nativity for our hope and our Light. 

Please note that will will have two services on Sunday, December 24, one at 11 A.M. and one at 11 P.M.  There will not be a 9:30 A.M. service.  The morning will start as the Fourth Sunday of Advent and then move into the celebration of Christmas.  The 11 P.M. service will be our traditional candlelight lessons and carols service.  Please join us for either or both!

Women’s Fellowship is offering Keep Christ in Christmas magnets for $4.00 located on the table by the coat rack. Please leave your money with Sue Lindley or Karen in the church office.

Please have your 2017 pledge up-to-date by December 31, 2017. The church 2017 financial books for accepting pledge contributions will close on January 1, 2018 – all checks must be dated December 31, 2017. PLEASE NOTE 2017 in the memo. Any contributions received after this date will be credited to the year 2018. Also, if you have not returned your 2018 Faith Promise/Pledge Card, please do so as soon as possible.  Your generosity is vital to our continued ministry here at HCCUCC.

Let us pray.  O God, in these uncertain times, we thank you for the lights of Christmas that remind us of your ever bright and illuminating presence.  Thank you for your hope, your peace, your joy, and your love.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week December 5, 2017

Hi Folks,

The Advent Season is here.  The time to make room once again for Christ to be born into our lives.

There will be a Habitat for Humanity workday this Saturday, December 9.  Please come and help, along with other UCC volunteers, to help build a house from 9 a.m. to approx. 2:30 p.m. or whatever time you can give. Contact Bob Moseley for questions.

Thank you to everyone who took a tag for the Under the Tree program to benefit needy adults and children at BH Care in Ansonia. Please return the wrapped gifts with tag attached this Sunday, December 10. We are making someone's Christmas a little brighter!

This Sunday is our Sunday School Christmas Pageant.  It's going to be great!  Come, join in the fun as we retell the greatest story ever told in a very special way!

THE CHRISTMAS FUND for the Veterans of the Cross and Emergency Fund is the primary source of annual income used to support and honor those who have served and are serving the United Church of Christ. Your gift to the Christmas Fund helps provide a lifeline of hope to many lower-income active and retired clergy and lay employees of UCC. Donation envelopes can be found in the pews December 10 and 17. Please remember that your generous contribution can and will make a difference in the lives of many.

Huntington Center Nursery School is accepting donations for Toys 4 Tots. If you would like to donate, please drop them off in the box in the hallway outside the nursery school rooms. The deadline is Friday, December 15.

If you haven’t purchased one of our HCCUCC “Good Taste” cookbooks, now is the time. These make great hostess gifts and stocking stuffers, not to mention the terrific recipes you can use for the holidays. Cookbooks are only $5.00! See Denise Wilson or Sue Lindley if you don’t find them in Fellowship Hall.

Women’s Fellowship is offering Keep Christ in Christmas magnets for $4.00 located on the table by the coat rack. Please leave your money with Sue Lindley or Karen in the church office.

Let us pray.  O Holy God, in this time of lengthening shadows, hardened hearts, and unchecked greed, may the soft, yet powerful light of your image grow ever brighter, calling us to work for hope, peace, joy, and love for all the world.  We pray this in name of Jesus.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille