This Week August 27, 2019

Dear Folks,

 

Hope you are enjoying this prelude to Autumn weather!

 

Tomorrow evening, Wednesday, August 28, will be the final Summer Concert on the Green for 2019. "The Barons" are featured with their sounds of Doo-Wop. The concert will be on Thursday in case of rain. Thank you to all who have helped out the Men's Group and the Vitality Team with our community outreach activities.
 

This Sunday, September 1, is the Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost. The Auction Sermon for David Beardsley will be featured.  The scripture lesson is Ecclesiastes 3:1-1-8. The sermon is "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time". We will be celebrating Holy Communion. Come and join the feast!

 

We are in are in the midst of our Season of Generosity. Please prayerfully consider your gift to HCCUCC and return your Faith Promise cards as soon as possible. Thank you for your faithfulness!

 

Due to the State Fire Convention in Huntington Center, THE ALL CHURCH WORSHIP & PICNIC will be held SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15^th at 4 p.m. at Pemberley (the parsonage), 160 Huntington Street. This year, we will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary as pastor and congregation! We will have worship and then a pizza and salad party following. You don't need to bring anything but a chair or blanket and a bottle if you would like. The cost is $5 per person, $10 per family. Please fill out the reservation sheet from the Belfry or bulletin and return with payment by September 8 to Sue Lindley.

 

CALLING ALL VOICES!! Choir is starting back up after summer vacation. The first practice will be Thursday, September 19 at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. Our first Sunday service will be September 22. No experience is necessary, just a desire to make a joyful noise for God! Any questions? Please see our Minister of Music, James Bruni. 

 

Women’s Fellowship will be collecting School Supplies for the Church World Service Kits in the spring. Now is the time to purchase the items as we ready for Back to School. We will be collecting: ~  spiral notebooks (70 count) ~ pair blunt scissors (rounded) ~ hand-held pencil sharpener ~ new pencils w/erasers ~ 12” ruler (30 centimeters) ~ large erasers ~ box 24 crayons (only 24) All donations may be placed in the large white storage box in Fellowship Hall. Any questions please contact Laura Salvio.

 

Let us pray.  O God, thank your for a variety of life: so much color, forms, flavor, persons, and circumstances. Help us to enjoy and celebrate the diversity.  Amen.

 

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

All Church Worship and Picnic September 15

Hi Folks,

We have our All Church Worship & Picnic coming up on Sunday, September 15, 4 P.M. at the Parsonage, 160 Huntington Street. Worship will be at 4 P.M. followed by the picnic.  The time change is due to the State Firefighters Convention parade which will pass through Huntington Center earlier in the day.

It's a very special one this year since we will be celebrating our ten years of ministry together.  Happy Anniversary!

To simplify things, we are having pizza and salad.  So, the only thing you will need to bring is a chair and a "bottle", if you wish.    

The cost is $5 per person, $10 per family.  You can RSVP by signing up with the form in the Belfry, which will be coming out this week, and returning it with payment to Sue Lindley. The deadline is September 8.

Come, worship, and celebrate!

Peace,

Rev. Lucille

This Week August 6, 2019

Dear Folks,

 

It's a week where my heart is heavy. How many times do we need to hear about the latest mass shooting? My opinion, and I stress, my opinion:  thoughts and prayers are great, but not enough. It is time for national commonsense gun laws. No one outside of the military or law enforcement needs an assault rife or an automatic or semi-automatic weapon. No one should be able to walk into a gun show or a Wal-Mart or any store and just buy a gun, no questions asked. Some people blame the shootings on mental health or violent video games. Those things do need to be addressed, but, they are present all over the world, yet, the United States has the most mass shooting by far. What's the difference?  Easily accessible guns. Some people claim the Second Amendment of the Constitution. Please note "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Well trained militia? I don't think any of these shooters were well-trained militia. Also, the guns of the day were musket loaders, not the firepower that now available. Background checks, licensing, training, and responsible gun ownership is a necessity for public safety. I know some people will disagree, and we can agree to disagree. If you would like to talk to me about it, please do.

 

Summer Concert on the Green is tomorrow night, weather permitting. The featured band is "Highland Rovers". Come out and say hi to our Vitality Team and our Men's Group!

 

My prayer day is this Thursday, August 8. If you have any joys or concerns for me to lift up, please let me know.

 

This Sunday, August 11, is the Ninth Sunday After Pentecost. The scripture is Genesis 15:1-6. The sermon is "Trusting the Promise". Elias Stone will be baptized. We congratulate him and his parents, Kristen and Jeffrey.

 

We are in are in the midst of our Season of Generosity. Please prayerfully consider your gift to HCCUCC and return your Faith Promise cards as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your faithfulness!

 

Please take note of the poster in the Alcove with suggested items for the Valley Food Bank bin in Fellowship Hall. Of course, all items are gratefully accepted, but the Missions Committee put together a list that attempts to target items that may be needed more during certain seasons or months. The need is great, so please be generous! 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:  Due to the State Fire Convention in Huntington Center, THE ALL CHURCH WORSHIP & PICNIC will be held SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15^th at 4 p.m.  at the Parsonage, 160 Huntington Street. Watch for more info!

 

Let us pray.  O God, may your hear our prayers that we cannot even utter. Amen.

 

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week July 31, 2019

Dear Folks,

 

Stay safe and dry out there today! 

 

The Concert on the Green is postponed from tonight until tomorrow night, Thursday, August 1.  The featured band with be "Gunsmoke" instead of "Terrapin". Sorry for all the Grateful Dead fans, glad for all the country music fans!

 

Thanks to everyone who has donated gift cards for our Concert on the Green gift card give away.  We are all set for the rest of the concerts!  But, we will still need water, so donations would be appreciated.

 

This coming Sunday, August 4 is the Eighth Sunday After Pentecost.  We will be celebrating Holy Communion.  The scripture is Luke 12:13-21.  The sermon is "Investing for the Soul". We will also be welcoming back our Minister of Music, James Bruni!

 

The Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF) offering will be taken this Sunday, as on every Communion Sunday.  EAF is to assist people within the Shelton community and/or our church community who have an urgent, unexpected need for financial assistance. EAF yellow offering envelopes will be available in the pews. Thank you for your generosity!

 

Please take note of the poster in the Alcove with suggested items for the Valley Food Bank bin in Fellowship Hall. Of course, all items are gratefully accepted, but the Missions Committee put together a list that attempts to target items that may be needed more during certain seasons or months. The need is great, so please be generous!

 

My Sister’s Place bin is back in Fellowship Hall for you to make your tax-deductible donations by filling out the donation form, take your copy and attach or enclose their copy in with your items.

 

Let us pray.  O God, for anyone in the way of storms, literally and figuratively, may you give strength, comfort, and hope.  Amen.

 

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

 

This Week July 24, 2019

Dear Folks,

Calling hours and the funeral service of Evelyn and Richard Steinis will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, July 23 at HCCUCC with calling hours from 9 to 11 a.m. and the funeral at 11 a.m. The burial will be at Lawn Cemetery East immediately following the funeral.  A repast will be served after the burial in our Fellowship Hall.  Please keep the Steinis Family in your prayers during this difficult time.

The Wednesday night Concert on the Green on July 24 begins with a children's program by "Lynn Lewis and Friends" at 6 p.m. followed by "Mia & the Riff" at 7 p.m.  The Vitality Team and the Men's Group will be out doing their thing!  Donations of water and 2 more gift cards would be greatly appreciated! 

This Sunday, July 28, is the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost.  The scripture is Luke 11:1-13.  The sermon is "A Chat With God."

Please mark your calendar for September 15.  It's our Annual Outdoor Worship and Picnic at Pemberley (the parsonage), but, this year, it's a little different.  The State Firefighters' Convention is being hosted by the Huntington Fire Company; HFC is celebrating its 100th anniversary.  The parade, which will encompass the Green and beyond, will block the roads.  The firefighters are also using our church parking lot as a staging area. So, our picnic will be at 4 p.m. This day is also the 10th anniversary of our ministry together as pastor and congregation. So, keep watch for more info!

Let us pray.  O Holy One, may your all encompassing love and compassion envelop all those who are mourning, all those who are suffering, all those who are crying out for relief.  May you hear their and our prayers.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week July 17, 2019

Dear Folks,

Try to stay cool in the hot and humid weather. Stay safe!

Please keep the Steinis family in your prayers on the passing of Richard.

Please check before venturing out for the Concert on the Green, especially if there are storms. If it's on, come on down and say hi to the Vitality Team and the Men's Group as we do our Wednesday night "thing". Tonight's featured band is "Gunsmoke".

This coming Sunday is our Outdoor Worship. We will be back on the lawn between the lower and upper parking lots. Please bring a chair and wear your favorite or funniest T-shirt! The scripture is Luke 10:25-37. The sermon is "Jesus' Definition".

Please take note of the poster in the Alcove with suggested items for the Valley Food Bank bin in Fellowship Hall. Of course, all items are gratefully accepted, but the Missions Committee put together a list that attempts to target items that may be needed more during certain seasons or months. The need is great, so please be generous!

My Sister’s Place bin is back in Fellowship Hall for you to make your tax-deductible donations by filling out the donation form, take your copy and attach or enclose their copy in with your items.

Let us pray. O Holy God, help us at all times to remember all people are your people; all people are our neighbors. You told us to love them; help us to do so. Amen.

In Christ's love,
Rev. Lucille