This Week July 28

Dear Folks,

Lots like we are in for a hot week!  Stay cool!!

A BIG thank you to everyone who has donated gift cards and water to our Wednesday night Concert on the Green outreach.  We are all set for gift cards for the rest of the summer, so grateful!!  Stop by this Wednesday.  The band is "Backbeat".

This Sunday we will be celebrating Holy Communion.  The scripture lesson is John 6:24-35.  The sermon is "Bread of Life".

Hope you have the 3rd. Annual Bruce Hartel Car Show on your calendar for August 30.  It's a great time!  Please consider donating water and soda for that day.  There is a collection spot in Fellowship Hall.

Let us pray.  O God, help us to continue to breath deeply of the abundant life you give us.  May we then share that life with the world.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week July 21

Dear Folks,

Hope you all found ways to stay cool these past few days!

Come say "Hi" tomorrow evening as the Vitality Team and the Men's Fellowship do their things for the Concert on the Green. This week's featured band is "Gunsmoke".  Concert starts at 7 P.M.  The Vitality Team could use a couple more gift cards to give away during Wednesday's Concert on the Green.  Donations of water would also be appreciated.  Whatever we do not use will go for the Car Show on August 30.  See more below on that.

This Sunday the scripture is John 6:1-124.  The sermon is "More Than Enough".  We will be officially welcoming Muriel, Stephen, and Megan Csire into our church family.

Spooner House is in need of non-perishable food, especially these vital items:  canned tuna, canned chicken, baked beans, and cereal.  You may place your donations in the "Wishing Well" in Fellowship Hall or take them directly to Spooner House. Thank you!

The 3rd Annual Bruce E. Hartel Antique Car Show will be held on Sunday, August 30^th During the summer, we are collecting donations of water and soda that can be left in Fellowship Hall marked with "Car Show".  Food and beverage proceeds will benefit HCCUCC’s General Operating Fund. All other proceeds will benefit the Organ Fund and the American Cancer Society.  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with the car show, please contact Robin Hartel.

If you or anyone you know has a 3 or 4 year old, please note that the Huntington Center Nursery School (HCNS) is planning on offering the option of a full day preschool program starting September 1^st, 2015. We will continue to offer our regular and extended day programs. We want to be able to meet the needs of everyone in our community, therefore; the full time program will allow those families that need the longer hours to take advantage of our quality preschool program. Please contact our Director, Linda Rizzitelli at 203-929-7197 for more information. HCNS is open to the public.

Let us pray.  O God, may we feel you in the breath we breathe, in the love we share, in the life we live.  You are in all and through all.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week, July 14

Dear Folks,

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and are not minding the rain today!

Wednesday's Concert on the Green features "Silent Majority".  The Vitality Committee will be handing out water and offering a sign up for a free gift card and the Men's Fellowship will be selling $2 hot dogs.  Stop by and say "hi!".  Donations of water and gift cards are most welcome to help out in this outreach to our community.

This Sunday is our Outdoor Worship.  We will be in the back near between the parking lots.  Hope for sun!  If it does rain, we will be in  Fellowship Hall.

The scripture for Sunday is Mark 6:30-32.  The sermon is "Let It Be".

We had our Open and Affirming (ONA) process introduction meeting on June 28.  Thank you to everyone who came out.  Handouts from that meeting are available in the Alcove.  Also in the alcove is a box for any questions or comments you may have about this process.  Please note that only signed items will be accepted.  Watch for more information for future ONA events for Fall.

The 3rd Annual Bruce E. Hartel Antique Car Show will be held on Sunday, August 30^th During the summer, we are collecting donations of water and soda that can be left in Fellowship Hall marked with "Car Show".  Food and beverage proceeds will benefit HCCUCC’s General Operating Fund. All other proceeds will benefit the Organ Fund and the American Cancer Society.  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with the car show, please contact Robin Hartel.

If you or anyone you know has a 3 or 4 year old, please note that the Huntington Center Nursery School (HCNS) is planning on offering the option of a full day preschool program starting September 1^st, 2015. We will continue to offer our regular and extended day programs. We want to be able to meet the needs of everyone in our community, therefore; the full time program will allow those families that need the longer hours to take advantage of our quality preschool program. Please contact our Director, Linda Rizzitelli at 203-929-7197 for more information. HCNS is open to the public.

Let us pray.  May we never doubt, O God, the power of your presence in our lives.  In all times and in all places, may we seek you.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

New Website for the Huntington Center Nursery School

Check it out!

http://huntingtoncenternurseryschool.com/

7/7/15 "LEO" at Ruby Tuesdays, Good food, good folks!

Hi Folks,

I hope you all had an enjoyable Fourth of July holiday!

Tonight (Tuesday) is our latest "LEO" (Let's Eat Out).  There is still time to come!  Meet at the church at 6:15 or at Ruby Tuesday's on Bridgeport Ave. at 6:30. Come and join the fun!

Wednesday is the Concert on the Green featuring "The Highland Rovers".  The Vitality Committee will be handing out water and offering a sign up for a free gift card and the Men's Fellowship will be selling $2 hot dogs.  Stop by and say "hi!".  Donations of water and gift cards are most welcome to help out in this outreach to our community.

This Thursday is my prayer day.  If you have any prayers you would like me to lift up, please let me know.

This Sunday's, scripture is 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-15.  The sermon is “Joy!”.

Toys for "Halle's Closet" are still being accepted through this coming Sunday.  Thank you to all who already donated! as a reminder, the VBS outreach project this year was for "Halle's Closet", one of the projects of "Halle's Hope".  Halle was a five year old girl who passed away.  Her family wanted to do something in her memory to help other children.  They founded "Halle's Hope", an organization to make children's lives a little better.  This past winter, the HCCUCC Sunday School collected mittens and hats.  For VBS, they decided to collect toys for "Halle's Closet".  There is actually a closet in Bridgeport Hospital where they keep toys for the sick children and their siblings.  These toys can brighten a child's day.

We had our Open and Affirming (ONA) process introduction meeting on June 28.  Thank you to everyone who came out.  Handouts from that meeting are available in the Alcove.  Also in the alcove is a box for any questions or comments you may have about this process.  Please note that only signed items will be accepted.  Watch for more information for future ONA events for Fall.

The 3rd Annual Bruce E. Hartel Antique Car Show will be held on Sunday, August 30^th During the summer, we are collecting donations of water and soda that can be left in Fellowship Hall marked with "Car Show".  Food and beverage proceeds will benefit HCCUCC’s General Operating Fund. All other proceeds will benefit the Organ Fund and the American Cancer Society.  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with the car show, please contact Robin Hartel at 203-929-7689 or robin.hartel@yahoo.com.

If you or anyone you know has a 3 or 4 year old, please note that the Huntington Center Nursery School (HCNS) is planning on offering the option of a full day preschool program starting September 1^st, 2015. We will continue to offer our regular and extended day programs. We want to be able to meet the needs of everyone in our community, therefore; the full time program will allow those families that need the longer hours to take advantage of our quality preschool program. Please contact our Director, Linda Rizzitelli at 203-929-7197 for more information. HCNS is open to the public.

Please be sure to check out our HCCUCC website: www.huntingtonucc.org and our HCCUCC blog which can be accessed from the website or:  www.huntingtonucc.blogspot.com/. We are also on Facebook and Twitter!!

Let us pray.  O God, may we look to your earth for a glimpse of your majesty.  May we look to your people for a glimpse of your love.  Help us to be open and aware to your presence in everyone and everything.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille               

Hi Folks,

Move, care, follow, share:  these were the action words for this year's Vacation Bible School, "G-Force".  For four nights, we had close to 50 children learning about God and how we can be better people and make the world a better place.

A BIG thank you goes out to all our teachers, helpers, and cooks.  You rock!  a SPECIAL thank you to Jenny McCathy and her mad tie dying skills which produced our awesome T-shirts.  A LARGE thank you to Ace Ricker for the brilliant decorations.  And, a HUGE thank you to Kirsten Keith for putting it all together and fearlessly leading us in this fantastic community outreach.  We are so blessed here at HCCUCC with such faithful, dedicated people.  We really shared God's love!

The VBS outreach project this year was for "Halle's Closet", one of the projects of "Halle's Hope".  Halle was a five year old girl who passed away.  Her family wanted to do something in her memory to help other children.  They founded "Halle's Hope", an organization to make children's lives a little better.  This past winter, the HCCUCC Sunday School collected mittens and hats.  For VBS, they decided to collect toys for "Halle's Closet".  There is actually a closet in Bridgeport Hospital where they keep toys for the sick children and their siblings.  These toys can brighten a child's day.

Halle's mom came to VSB on Monday to tell all about "Halle's Closet".  Five year old Genna heard the story about "Hallie's Closet".  She wanted to do something to help, so she asked her mother if she could use her birthday money to buy toys.  Her mom agreed and matched her birthday money.  On the last day of VBS, they came in with four big bags of toys for "Halle's Closet".  Genna really embodied the message of VBS to move, care, follow, and share.  She showed Christ's love in a very tangible way.

With other children's gifts and Genna's special gifts, there are now 175 toys on our chancel at HCCUCC.  How about we add to it?  Let's follow Genna's and all the children's example and donate toys so a little child will have something to smile about.  We ask that the toys be small, what you can fit the the palms of your hands if you put you hands together.  Small stuffed animals are really appreciated, but they have to not have removable parts such as button eyes.  Also, Beanie Babies are not appropriate.  Maybe we can double our number of toys from 175 to 350!

God calls all of us to move closer to God and one another, to care about each other, to follow Jesus, and share Christ's love for all  the world.  This is not only the message of VBS, but the message of the Gospel.  Let's live it!

Peace,

Rev. Lucille