This Week October 30, 2018

Dear Folks,

Praise God for the colors of Autumn!

Remember to turn your clocks back on this Saturday night.  Daylight savings time ends.  You don't want to be early for worship!  Or do you???

This Sunday is the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost.  We will be celebrating Holy Communion.  The scripture lesson is Ruth 1:1-18.  The sermon is "Where You Go..."

The Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF) Offering will be taken on Sunday. The Mission Committee has 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. Yellow EAF offering envelopes are available in the pews for your gift. Thank you for your generosity!

Please bring or send in your "Faith Promise" cards for 2019 as soon as possible.  Electronic Fund Transfer forms are available in the Alcove if needed, as well as extra cards.  Thank you for your generosity! 

The Huntington Center Nursery School Fundraiser purchase is available for pick-up on Sunday.  See Denise Wilson after worship for your item.

The Pumpkin & Holly Fair signup sheets are posted in the alcove. Please see what is of interest to you & sign up today! Please contact the co-chairs with questions: Terri Johnston, Jaqui Olivo, Judy Tucker, Justine Connery.

Come join the fun as we decorate the already-baked & assembled Gingerbread Houses to sell at the Pumpkin & Holly Fair. No experience is necessary!! Learn as you go. For the past several years we have had colorful, decorated Gingerbread Houses and Gingerbread Boys and Girls. But YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. Check your November Belfry for dates & time listed or watch the bulletin calendar.

Donated items for Santa's Attic are greatly appreciated. The HARD DEADLINE for accepting items is Sunday, November 11^th. You can drop off items now to Reuman House on Sundays or contact the church office or Julie Markarian for a time during the week. Also, this area is always looking for volunteers to set up and price.

The Shelton Clergy Thanksgiving Interfaith Service will be held on Tuesday, November 20^th, 7 p.m. at 1^st United Methodist Church of Shelton. Following the service will be a time of refreshment featuring pumpkin desserts, please bring your favorite. A donation of non-perishable goods will be collected for the Valley Food Bank. Monetary donations will benefit Spooner House.

Let us pray.  All around us, O God, is the beauty of your creation, but, too often we only see the ugliness.  Help us to open our eyes and hearts to see and celebrate your wonder and loveliness.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week October 23, 3018

Dear Folks,

This Sunday, October 28, is "In Gathering Sunday", the culmination of our "Season of Generosity:  Overflowing Joy, Abundant Generosity".  Please take time this week to prayerfully consider how we can all spread the joy of God's love through our generosity to HCCUCC.

The Sunday scripture is Luke 6:27-38.  The theme is "How Does Our Generosity Inspire Our Joy?"  HCCUCC year's activities will be reviewed through pictures.

We will also be receiving the 2019 "Faith Promise" (pledge) cards.  Extra cards are available in the Alcove, as are Electronic Fund Transfer forms.  These were also sent out earlier today electronically.

Thank you to all who participated in the Advanced Care Planning, the CPR/AED training, and the NARCAN training.  Especially, thanks to Connie Glenn for coordinating all these important events!

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!

  

The Huntington Center Nursery School Fundraiser purchase will be available for pick-up on Sunday November 4^th.  See Denise Wilson after worship for your item.

The Pumpkin & Holly Fair signup sheets are now posted in the alcove. Please see what is of interest to you & sign up today! Please contact the co-chairs with questions: Terri Johnston, Jaqui Olivo, Judy Tucker, Justine Connery.

Come join the fun as we decorate the already-baked & assembled Gingerbread Houses to sell at the Pumpkin & Holly Fair. No experience is necessary!! Learn as you go. For the past several years we have had colorful, decorated Gingerbread Houses and Gingerbread Boys and Girls. But YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. Check your November Belfry for dates & time listed or watch the bulletin calendar.

Let us pray.  O God of extravagant generosity, may our hearts be stirred to share our gifts with joy that others may share in the bounty and abundance of your love. Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week October 16, 2018

Dear Folks,

Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers and the delicious cake for Clergy Appreciation Sunday.  I am so blessed to be your pastor!

My prayer day is this coming Thursday, October 18.  If you have any joys or concerns you would like me to lift up, please let me know.

Tonight, Tuesday, October 16, HCCUCC is hosting a Narcan Training, 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall.  Walk ins are welcome!

Saturday, October 20 is the AED/CPR training, noon, in the Fellowship Hall.  Please call the office ASAP if you are interested.

This coming Sunday, October 21, is our third Sunday in our Season of Generosity, "Overflowing Joy, Abundant Generosity".  This Sunday's theme is "How Does Our Joy Inspire Our Generosity?"  Robert Margolies will be sharing his thoughts on this.  The scripture lesson is John 10:7-10.

The Pumpkin & Holly Fair will be here before we know it – November 16^th & 17^th. We need your help to make this event a success. 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.

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!

Let us pray.  O Holy God, in times when people seem so much more eager to hate than to love, help us to show forth your compassion and love more and more and more to all. May our hearts and our hands be open to share.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week October 9, 2018

Dear Folks,

Greetings today on this dreary, warm, and muggy day!  Hmm, the calendar says October, but...

This evening, Tuesday, October 9 at 6 p.m., the  Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services invites all to join for a candlelight vigil honoring victims and supporting survivors of domestic violence on the Huntington Green. In the event of rain, the vigil will be held in our Fellowship Hall.

On Wednesday, October 10, the Valley Interfaith Council invites all to a screening of the National Geographic film, "Jerusalem".  Following the film will be a panel discussion with three representatives of the world's three major religions. This event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Center Stage, 54 Grove Street, Shelton.  Admission is free, but freewill donations are welcomed. Refreshments will be served.

This Sunday, October 14, our Season of Generosity, "Overflowing Joy, Abundant Generosity" continues.  Sue Lindley will be sharing during the Moment for Generosity.  The scripture is Psalm 95. The sermon is "How Do We Keep Joy Alive?"

During worship on Sunday, we will be taking the "Neighbors in Need" offering. Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to UCC churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice. This year, special consideration will be given to projects focusing on serving our immigrant neighbors and communities. 

Sign-up sheets are in the Alcove for our two upcoming training events: Tuesday, October 16 at 6:30 is the Narcan Training.  This event is free of cost.  Saturday, October 20 is the AED/CPR training at Noon. This event is $25, $30 if you want a book.  Both of these trainings are very important, so please make every effort to attend.

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!

Fundraiser: The Huntington Center Nursery School is holding an Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough & Lyman Orchard Crisps fundraiser! Orders will be taken through October 19^th. Delivery will be November 2^nd.  See any Nursery School Committee member or the office for order envelopes and more information and support our nursery school.

The Pumpkin & Holly Fair will be here before we know it, November 16^th & 17^th. Watch your future bulletins for more information or contact co-chairs: Terri Johnston, Jaqui Olivo, Judy Tucker, Justine Connery.

Let us pray.  O Holy One, may you open us up to appreciate all the diverse facets of your creation.  May we seek and find beauty in everyone and everything.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week October 3, 2018

Dear Folks,

It's that time of year: the Season of Generosity!  Sunday, October 7 begins our four week series, "Overflowing Joy, Abundant Generosity".

This Sunday, the scripture is Philippians 4:1-7.  The theme is "What Brings Us Joy?"  Jaqui Olivo will be presenting the Moment for Generosity.

This Sunday is also World Wide Communion.  Come, celebrate the feast with all Christians around the world!

This Sunday, we will also be taking our offering for the Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF).  The Mission Committee 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) will be available in the pews. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

After worship, we will be heading to Longhorn for our LEO (Let's Eat Out).  If you are interested, please contact the church office so we can have a count to give the restaurant a heads up on how many of us will be attending.

Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services invites all to join for a candlelight vigil honoring victims and supporting survivors of domestic violence. Tuesday, Oct. 9^th 6 pm on the Huntington Green. In the event of rain, the vigil will be held in our Fellowship Hall.

Sign-up sheets are in the Alcove for our two upcoming training events: Tuesday, October 16 at 6:30 is the Narcan Training.  This event is free of cost.  Saturday, October 20 is the AED/CPR training at Noon. This event is $25, $30 if you want a book.  Both of these trainings are very important, so please make every effort to attend.

October 14, we will be taking the "Neighbors in Need" offering.  Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to UCC churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice. This year, special consideration will be given to projects focusing on serving our immigrant neighbors and communities. 

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!

The Huntington Center Nursery School is holding an Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough & Lyman Orchard Crisps fundraiser! Orders will begin October 5^th – 19^th. Delivery will be November 2^nd.  See any Nursery School Committee member or the office for order envelopes and more information and support our nursery school.

Let us pray.  O God, may the circumstances of our lives never dampen the spirit of joy that being your beloved children brings us.  May our hearts be filled with a continuing sense of your loving presence.  Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille