This Week November 28, 2017

Dear Folks,

I do hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving!

This Wednesday night at 7 P.M. is "Pizza and Scenery", preparation for the December 10 Christmas Pageant.  Adults are welcome, too!  Just give Kirsten a call or an email and let her know you are coming!

This Sunday, December 3 is the First Sunday of Advent.  We will be lighting the "Hope" candle and Holy Communion will be celebrated.  The scripture is Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7.  The sermon is "What Keeps Us Going".

We will also be taking the Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF) offering.  Mission Committee has developed the EAF to assist people within the Shelton community and/or our church community who have an urgent, unexpected need for financial assistance. EAF offering envelopes (yellow) are available in the pews.

Friday, December 8, Holly Fassbender will be preparing a Christmas meal for the residents of Spooner House Homeless Shelter. Please look for Holly or Gerry in the alcove or Fellowship Hall after services on December 3 to make a donation to help cover the cost of both the meal and gifts for the children. Holly will also be selling her fabulous cupcakes.

This Sunday, December 3, there will be a meeting for all members of the Huntington Congregational Church UCC immediately following the worship service for the purpose of presenting a draft budget for 2018.

The Shelton Clergy Association will be sponsoring a Christmas Carol Sing on Sunday, December 3, at 4 P.M. at St. Paul's Episcopal "historic" church.

After the singing, come back to our Fellowship Hall for Troop 101's Pancake Dinner, 3 to 6 P.M, $8 per adult, $5 per children under 5.  Check out Troop 101's Facebook page to reserve your seat.

Stop by in between singing and eating for the Christmas Tree lighting on the Green at 5 P.M.  Sunday is a busy day!!!

There will be a Habitat for Humanity workday on December 9.  Please sign up in the alcove to take part, 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.

The Mission Committee is in the process of connecting with BH Care sponsoring the Under the Tree program to benefit needy adults and children at BH Care in Ansonia. Watch for tags listing gift requests on our Christmas tree in the alcove and select a gift request to help make Christmas a little brighter for someone in need. All purchased gifts need to be returned by Sunday, December 10. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Let us pray.  As the days of Advent draw closer, help us, O God, to clean our souls so the Christ Child may be born anew in us.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week November 21, 2017

Dear Folks,

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!  Don't forget to say grace!!

Thank to you everyone who made the Pumpkin and Holly Fair a great success!  It takes a village!

Tonight is the Shelton Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, 7 P.M. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal, 182 Coram Avenue.  The offering will go to Spooner House.  The imperishable food gathering will go to the Valley Food Bank. Pumpkin dessert are requested for the fellowship time following the service.

This coming Sunday, November 26, the Rev. Carol Rawls will be preaching.  The scripture is Matthew 25:31-46.  The sermon is "Where Love Is, There Is Christ".

Following the service on Sunday, the Diaconate will be decorating the sanctuary for Christmas.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

There will be a meeting for all members of the Huntington Congregational Church UCC

immediately following the worship service on Sunday, December 3, 2017 for the purpose of presenting a draft budget for 2018.

The Shelton Clergy Association will be sponsoring a Christmas Carol Sing on Sunday, December 3, at 4 P.M. at St. Paul's Episcopal "old" church.

After the singing, come back to our Fellowship Hall for Troop 101's Pancake Dinner, 3 to 6 P.M, $8 per adult, $5 per children under 5.  Visit Troop 101's Facebook page to reserve your seat!

Stop by in between singing and eating for the Christmas Tree lighting on the Green at 5 P.M.  December 3 is a busy day!!!

Let us pray.  The words of our mouths are never enough, O God, to offer you our gratitude for all that we have and all that we are.  But, may you accept them, as well as the good we do in your name.  In that good is our true thanksgiving.  Thanks and praise be to you, O God.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week November 14, 2017

Dear Folks,

Another day, another mass shooting.  Prayers, thoughts, and action...Lord, have mercy.

The Pumpkin & Holly Fair is this weekend, Friday, November 17, 5:30 to 8, Saturday, November 18, 9:30 to 2:30.  Lots of good stuff!!

Speaking of the Fair, we do need folks to help out tomorrow (Wednesday) night, around 6, to slice the cheese and package the pecans.  Any help would be appreciated!

Thursday, November 16 is my prayer day.  If you have any joys or concerns you would like me to raise up, please let me know.

This week will be celebrating Thanksgiving Sunday, November 19.  The scripture is Matthew 25:14-30. The sermon is "Good Stewards".  There will be a Children's Bag Message.

The Shelton Clergy Association Interfaith Thanksgiving service will be on Tuesday, November 21, 7 P.M. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal, 182 Coram Avenue.  The offering will go to Spooner House.  The imperishable food gathering will go to the Valley Food Bank. Pumpkin dessert are requested for the fellowship time following the service.

Let us pray.  O God, we pray for the day that we use compromise and discussion instead of bombs and bullets.  May that day come quickly.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week November 7, 2017

Dear Folks,

Our thoughts, prayers, and our hopes for action go out to Sutherland Spring, Texas, and anywhere violence is a reality.  Lord, have mercy.

Tomorrow is our next "LEO" (Let's Eat Out).  We will meet at 6:30 at Bull and Barley 350 Bridgeport Avenue.  The burgers are great!

This coming Sunday, November 12, is the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost.  The scripture is Amos 5:18-24.  The sermon is "Everflowing".  We will be celebrating the baptisms of Lea Boroski and Maya Boyd.

Also this Sunday, we will be taking an offering for Master’s Table. Master's Table’s goal is to help the less fortunate members of our community and includes veterans, elderly, unemployed, underemployed, poor, migrants and homeless – women, men and children. Master’s Table feeds the hungry by providing nourishment and clothing.  A basket will be available in the alcove for your offering.

Thank you to everyone who returned their Faith Promise/Pledge Cards.  If you have not yet returned yours, please do so.  Your support is vital and appreciated in keeping the conversation going.

The Pumpkin & Holly Fair is quickly approaching, November 17^th & 18^th. We need your help to make this event a success. Please contact the co-chairs: Terri Johnston, Jaqui Olivo, Judy Tucker, or Justine Connery if you would like to contribute and/or help in anyway.

Justine Connery, wrangler of the pecans and cheese, needs help slicing cheese and packaging the pecans.  If you can, please help out on Wednesday, November 15 at  6:30 P.M.  She especially needs some strong folks to handle the cheese. Thanks!

Be sure to mark you calendar for the Shelton Clergy Association Interfaith Thanksgiving service on Tuesday, November 21, 7 P.M. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal, 182 Coram Avenue.  The offering will go to Spooner House.  The imperishable food gathering will go to the Valley Food Bank. Pumpkin dessert are requested for the fellowship time following the service.

Let us pray.  O God, we know that the power of prayer is strong.  But, please inspire us to never us it as a substitute for action, if action is possible. Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille