Dear Folks,

We are facing a truly eventful week, a journey that defines our faith as Christians.

Our first stop along the journey is our Seder meal with scenes from the Last Supper at 6:30 P.M., Thursday, March 24.  Reservations are closed.

Following the Seder at 7:45 P.M., everyone is invited to the service of shadows, Tenebrae.  We will journey with Jesus through betrayal, denial, arrest, beating, trial, and to the cross. 

Our journey then takes us to Good Friday, March 25.  Services are at noon and 7 P.M.  We stand at the cross and see our Savior die.

But, death cannot hold the Christ!  Easter morning brings us to Jesus' day of resurrection.  Our journey takes us to the empty tomb.

The Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service will be held at 6:30 A.M. at Jones Family Farm, Sunday, March 27.  Worship at HCCUCC will be at 9 A.M. and 11 A.M.

But, our journey doesn't end.  This is only the beginning of our lives as committed, faithful followers of Christ.

Let us pray.  O God, as we walk with Christ this week, may we truly feel the enormity of it all and recommit our lives to Christ's service.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

P.S.  The choral choir, bell choir, and the Sacred Dancers will be practicing at HCCUCC at 4 P.M. on Saturday, March 26.

St. Patrick's Breastplate (partial) March 17, 2016

This Week March 15

Dear Folks,

We are swiftly approaching Holy Week and Easter.  Please be sure to join in the commemoration and celebration as much as you can!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 16, will be our final Quiet Hour.  We will be completing the book, "Learning to Walk in the Dark".

The final ecumenical Lenten worship service will be at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.  The Rev. Barbara Schaffer from the First United Methodist will be preaching on the Thieves.  Dinner is at 6, worship at 7.

This coming Sunday, March 20 is Palm Sunday.  The scripture is Luke 19:28-40.  The sermon is "Signs Along the Way".  The children will be handing palms during the first hymn, then off to Sunday School for a very special program.  Following worship, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for all children.  How fun is that?

There are still spaces available for the Seder dinner.  Deadline for reservations deadline is this Sunday, March 20.  Please be sure you secure your seat!

The bin from My Sister’s Place is in Fellowship Hall for you to make your tax deductible donations. It will be there until the end of April. Please fill out the donation form, take your copy and attach or enclose their copy in with your items.

Let us pray.  O God, as we approach Holy Week, may you fill us again with a sense of awe and wonder at your boundless, eternal love, that will stop at nothing to greet us.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week March 8

Dear Folks,

Enjoy the warm weather!

Two weeks ago, someone mistakenly took someone else's coat.  The remaining coat here at HCCUCC is a black, size 12, Larry Levine Design with dark maroon buttons.  The missing coat is a dark gray St. John's Bay.  The owner would really like it back!  Please check your closets to see if you have it!  Much appreciated!

If you are planning on attending the Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, please call the church office ASAP to secure your tickets.  The cost is $13 for adults, $8 for children.

Quiet Hour continues tomorrow morning at 10 A.M.  We will be looking at chapter 5.

The Ecumenical Lenten Service will be held tomorrow evening here at the First Baptist Church on Leavenworth Road.  Dinner will be at 6 P.M., worship at 7 P.M. The Rev. InKoo Chung will be preaching on Mary Magdalene. The offering will go to the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services.  Please make checks out to "Shelton Clergy Association".

My prayer day is on Thursday, March 10.  Please let me know if you have any joys or concerns you would like me to lift up.
 

This Sunday's scripture is Isaiah 43:16-21.  The sermon is Luke 15:1-3, 11b -32.  The sermon is "A New Thing".  Also, Leah Mae Imperio will be baptized.

Wrapped candy is needed for our Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt on March 20.   Please bring the candy to HCCUCC by this Sunday, March 13.  Many thanks!

LAST CHANCE!  The 28th Annual Bowl-2-Benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services will be held on Saturday, March 12th at AMF Milford Lanes. If you wish to join our Team or would like to make a donation, please see Judy Tucker, Gordon Harris or me.  You can also make a donation at

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/LucilleFritz/bowl2benefit2016

The bin from My Sister’s Place is in Fellowship Hall for you to make your tax deductible donations. It will be there until the end of April. Please fill out the donation form, take your copy and attach or enclose their copy in with your items.

Sign-up sheets are in the Alcove for the Seder dinner and readers for the Seder. Make sure to stop by and sign up! Seder dinner reservations deadline is this Sunday, March 13.  Please be sure you secure your seat! 

Let us pray.  O God of all, thank you for the changing weather that remind us of the glory of your creation and of the beauty of diversity.  You are magnificent; we are humbled.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

Easter Egg Hunt March 20

Hi Folks,

The HCCUCC Sunday School will be hosting its Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday, March 20 after worship.  All children are invited!

We are in need of wrapped candy for the hunt.  If you would like to donate candy, please bring it to the church by March 13.  Any amount is appreciated!

Also, the Christian Education Committee will be collecting after worship this coming Sunday, March 6, for the Bowl-to-Benefit for BHCare's Domestic Abuse services.  Watch for the basket and please be generous!

Thanks so much!

Peace.

Rev. Lucille

on behalf of the Christian Education Committee

HCCUCC's New Banner!

HCCUCC's New Banner!

This Week March 1

Hi Folks,

Happy March!  Spring is coming!

Quiet Hour continues tomorrow morning at 10 A.M.  We will be looking at chapter 5.

The Ecumenical Lenten Service will be held tomorrow evening here at HCCUCC. Dinner will be at 6 P.M., worship at 7 P.M. The Rev. Amjad Samuel will be preaching on the Crowd.  The offering will go to the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services.  Please make checks out to "Shelton Clergy Association".

HCCUCC will be sharing our space with St. Paul's for an Episcopal Mission conference THIS SATURDAY from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M.  If you are available, please consider volunteering for an hour or more.  We will be here to give direction or answer any questions about the church building.  You can also sit in on a workshop, if you would like.  We will NOT NEED set up before hand, but, I would appreciate help with take down a little after 1 P.M.  Many hands make light work!  Please let me know if you can help out.

This Sunday's scripture is Luke 15:1-3, 11b -32.  The sermon is "The Way Back".

This Sunday is the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.  Whether helping drought stricken Ethiopian communities, struggling refugees in Syria, or national disaster victims in the USA, our OGHS dollars help us to spread aid, comfort, and the love of God to our brothers and sisters whom we will never meet.  Please be generous!

The 28^th Annual Bowl-2-Benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services will be held on Saturday, March 12^th at AMF Milford Lanes. If you wish to join our Team or would like to make a donation, please see Judy Tucker, Gordon Harris or me.  You can also make a donation at

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/LucilleFritz/bowl2benefit2016

The bin from My Sister’s Place is in Fellowship Hall for you to make your tax deductible donations. It will be there until the end of April. Please fill out the donation form, take your copy and attach or enclose their copy in with your items.

Sign-up sheets are in the Alcove for the Seder dinner and readers for the Seder and the Tenebrae service. Make sure to stop by and sign up!

Let us pray.  O God of the Cosmos, we are grateful for your constant love and care.  May we be reflections of them into our world, make a difference for the better.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille