This Week August 29, 2017

Dear Folks,

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.  If you would like to help, please write a check to HCCUCC with "Hurricane Harvey" in the memo, or go to our website, www.huntingtonucc.org, click the "Online Giving" button at the top, use the "General/Miscellaneous" category, and then put "Hurricane Harvey" in the provided box.  Or, visit  http://www.ucc.org/disaster_hurricane_harvey directly.

Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the Dallaire Family on Seth's passing. Calling hours for Seth are at the H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home, 210 South Main Street, Bradford, MA  01835 on Thursday, August 31 from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M.  The funeral will be there on Friday, September 1 at 11 A.M.

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped out and/or donated to the 5th Annual Bruce E. Hartel Car Show!  It was a great success!  We raised $800 for the HCCUCC current operating expenses, $1,000 for the HCCUCC organ fund, and $325 for the American Cancer Society.  We also gave out $1,500 worth of prizes, all donated!  We received enough water and soda for future events, like our All Church Picnic and the Pumpkin and Holly Fair.  Thank you so much! 

Tomorrow night, Wednesday, August 30, is our final Concert on the Green outreach.  Stop by, say hi, and grab a hotdog and a bottle of water!

This coming Sunday, September 3, is the Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost.  The scripture is Romans 12:9-21.  The sermon is "Love in Action".  We will be celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion.  We will also be taking our Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF) offering.  The HCCUCC Mission Committee developed the Emergency Assistance Fund 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.

New Members' Class will be held after worship on September 24.  All potential members and even present members are invited!

The Pumpkin & Holly Fair will be held Friday and Saturday, November 17^th & 18^th. We need your help to make this event a success. Future Belfry articles will discuss the different areas of the fair where volunteers are needed, but it’s never too early to think about how you would like to contribute. Please contact the co-chairs: Terri Johnston, Jaqui Olivo, Judy Tucker, Justine Connery.

Let us pray.  O God, please strengthen and comfort those suffering in Texas and anywhere where there is disaster, natural or human made.  And, please inspire us help however and where ever we can.  Amen.

Peace,

Rev. Lucille

This Week August 23, 2017

Dear Folks,

Hope you are all well!

This coming Sunday, August 27, is the Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost.  The scripture is Matthew 16:13-20.  The sermon is "The Rock".  No, the sermon is not about Dwayne Johnson.

The 5th Annual Bruce E. Hartel Car Show is on Sunday at noon.  Come on down and see the great cars! There will be great food as well.  Make an afternoon of it!

The 3^rd Annual F.A.D.E. Walk/5K Run for Overdose Awareness will be held on Thursday, August 31, 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. at the Shelton Pavilion & Riverwalk. All proceeds will benefit BHCare’s Alliance for Prevention & Wellness, formerly known as VSAAC (the Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council) to support its drug awareness/prevention programs.

Mark you calendars for our All Church Picnic on September 17 at 11 A.M. at Pemberley (the parsonage).  Rally Sunday is September 24.  Get ready for a new church program year!

The Pumpkin & Holly Fair will be here before we know it – November 17^th & 18^th. We need your help to make this event a success. Future Belfry articles will discuss the different areas of the fair where volunteers are needed, but it’s never too early to think about how you would like to contribute. Please contact the co-chairs: Terri Johnston, Jaqui Olivo, Judy Tucker, Justine Connery.

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.

Huntington Center Nursery School 3 & 4 yr. old registration is now open. Registration forms can be found on the HCNS bulletin board in the alcove or contact our Director, Linda Rizzitelli at 203-929-7197.

Let us pray. O Holy One, how magnificent is your creation!  We thank you for the beauty all around us, above us, and below us. May we never take your creation for granted.  May we treat it with care respect.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week August 15, 2017

Dear Folks,

Reminder that I will be leading a prayer service this evening, "Hate Will Not Win", 6:15 in the sanctuary.

The Rev. Carol Rawls will be preaching this Sunday, August 20.  Rev. Rawls is a retired Disciples of Christ pastor, now living in Redding, CT.  The scriptures are Genesis 45:1-15 and Psalm 133.  The sermon is "Unity: The Precious Gift".

5^th Annual Bruce E Hartel Antique Car Show will be held on August 27 starting at Noon. We are in need of gift cards to present as awards. If you can solicit or donate, it will be very appreciated. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with the car show, please contact Robin Hartel.

As the end of Summer draws near, it’s time to shift our attention to the Fall. The Pumpkin & Holly Fair will be here before we know it, November 17^th & 18^th. We need your help to make this event a success. Future Belfry articles will discuss the different areas of the fair where volunteers are needed, but it’s never too early to think about how you would like to contribute. Please contact the co-chairs: Terri Johnston, Jaqui Olivo, Judy Tucker, Justine Connery.

Let us pray.  O Holy One, strengthen us with your courage to stand up to any form of hate, oppression, intolerance, and injustice.  Help us to be Christ to our world, living love and peace.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week August 8 , 2017

Dear Folks,

Did anyone see the lunar eclipse last night?  Probably not, too cloudy!

This Thursday, August 10, is my prayer day.  If you have any joys or concerns for me to lift up, please let me know.

This Sunday is August 13, the Tenth Sunday After Pentecost.  We will be outdoors again in the back of the lower parking lot.  In case of rain, we will be where ever it is cooler in the church building!  The scripture is Matthew 14:22-33.  The sermon is "Walking on Water". 

Get your new HCCUCC T-shirts!  Just $10!  See Gail Schoennagel. 

Sunday, August 27 is the 5^th Annual Bruce E Hartel Antique Car Show.  Donations of  of water and soda that can be left in Fellowship Hall marked with a "Car Show" sign. Food and beverage proceeds will benefit HCCUCC’s General Operating Fund. Also, we are in need of gift cards which are presented for awards. If you can solicit or donate, it will be very appreciated. Sign up sheets are in the alcove. Please take a yard sign for your yard & place it 10 feet away from the city road. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help, please contact Robin Hartel.

Gifts of the Heart School Supplies Needed: HCCUCC Women’s Fellowship will be participating in filling the Gifts of the Heart school bag kits in the spring of next year. Since school supplies are now readily available and reasonable, please help us fill our goal of 50 school kits by donating one or more of the following items: ~ 3 spiral notebooks (70 count) ~1 pair blunt scissors (rounded) ~ 1 hand-held pencil sharpener ~ 6 new pencils w/erasers ~ 1 12” ruler (30 centimeters) ~1 box 24 crayons (only 24) ~ 1 large eraser. Please leave any gifts in the CWS Box in Fellowship Hall.

The Concerts on the Green continue through August 30. The Men’s Group will sell hot dogs in our parking lot. Our Vitality Team will hand out free water and hold a free gift card give away. If anyone would like to help, you are more than welcome. We are asking people to donate water for the remaining concerts. We thank all who have and will be donating. It takes a community to make this outreach possible!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The Pumpkin & Holly Fair will be here before we know it, November 17 & 18. We need your help to make this event a success. Future Belfry articles will discuss the different areas of the fair where volunteers are needed, but it’s never too early to think about how you would like to contribute. Please contact the co-chairs: Terri Johnston, Jaqui Olivo, Judy Tucker, Justine Connery.

Thursday, August 31 is the 3rd Annual F.A.D.E. Walk/ 5K Run for Overdose Awareness. All proceeds will benefit BHcare’s Alliance for Prevention & Wellness, formerly known as VSAAC (the Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council) to support its drug awareness/prevention programs. Drug addiction does not receive the funding or awareness of other leading social causes yet it has a tremendous rippling effect on families and communities. The F.A.D.E. Walk/Run was created to put the spotlight on the disease of addiction and raise much-needed funds to support substance abuse prevention, raise awareness and help save lives. See the poster on the bulletin board for more information.

Let us pray.  Holy God, how awesome is your creation!  May we never forget to look up, to look down, and to look around with wonder and thanksgiving!  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week August 1, 2017

Dear Folks,

Happy August! Can you believe it??!!

This Sunday, August 6th, is the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost.  The scripture reading is Genesis 32:22-31.  The sermon is "The Struggle Is Real".  Holy Communion will be celebrated.  We will also be taking the month collection for the Emergency Assistance Fund.  The Mission Committee developed the Emergency Assistance Fund to assist people within the Shelton community and/or our church community who have an urgent, unexpected need for financial assistance.

The 5^th Annual Bruce E Hartel Antique Car Show will be held on Sunday, August 27^th We are collecting donations of water and soda that can be left in Fellowship Hall.  Please mark donations with "Car Show". Food and beverage proceeds will benefit HCCUCC’s General Operating Fund. Also, we are in need of gift cards which are presented for awards. If you can solicit or donate, it will be very appreciated. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with the car show, there is a sign up sheet in the church alcove or contact Robin Hartel.

The Concerts on the Green continue through August 30! The Men’s Group will sell hot dogs in our parking lot. All men are encouraged to come and help. Our Vitality Team will continue to hand out free water and hold a free gift card give away during this time. If anyone would like to help, you are more than welcome to come. We are also asking people to donate water for the remaining concerts.  We are all set on gift cards. Please mark donations with "COG". Thank you to everyone who has donated and will be donating! It takes the whole church community to make this outreach possible!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  As the end of Summer draws near, it’s time to shift our attention to the Fall. The Pumpkin & Holly Fair will be here before we know it – November 17^th & 18^th. We need your help to make this event a success. Future Belfry articles will discuss the different areas of the fair where volunteers are needed, but it’s never too early to think about how you would like to contribute. Please contact the co-chairs: Terri Johnston, Jaqui Olivo, Judy Tucker, Justine Connery.

Let us pray.  In the stillness, in the chaos, in the calm, and in the struggle, O God, your ever present love gives us hope and strength.  Help us to claim it and live it.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille