This Week May 30, 2023

 Dear Folks,

Hope you are all well!

This will be my last "This Week" email until August 29. I will be sending out the online bulletin on Friday and the links on Sunday. My sabbatical starts on June 5. Lillian Steinmayer, a seminarian from Yale Divinity School will be preaching. The Deacons and other lay leaders will be leading the service. The Sunday service will continue to be streamed on Facebook and will be available there for later viewing. The service will not be posted on YouTube. However, please check Facebook and YouTube for content I will be posting during the summer. I plan on vlogging and sharing some experiences and thoughts. During this time away, be assured that you will be in my prayers and in my heart.

This Sunday, June 4, is Trinity Sunday. We will be celebrating the baptism of Carter Miller and Holy Communion. Be sure to have your elements ready. The scripture is Romans 12:9-21. The sermon is "Behave Yourselves". This will be my final service before my sabbatical. I will be back in the pulpit on September 3.

The Strengthen the Church offering will be taken June 4. This UCC offering supports the expansion of ministry and growth of UCC local congregations. Support of this offering will help the UCC fulfill its commitment to creating a just world for all by investing in new ministries and practices that meet the needs of local communities. The Southern New England Conference of the UCC’s share of this offering goes to support Silver Lake Conference Center, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and Faith Formation.

We are in our Season of Generosity which culminates at our “In-Gathering” Sunday on September 24. Our theme is “Because of YOU, Our Church Changes Lives”.

Make sure your calendars are marked for our Community Tag Sale on June 10, rain date, June 17. If you would like to donate to the Women's Fellowship's table, please bring items pre-priced May 21 onward. It's $20 per space if you would like to rent one. Contact Denise Wilson for more details.

Bottled water is needed for our Concert on the Green (starting July 5) free water hand-outs. Please put water in the Fellowship Hall and mark it with COG. Thank you!

We are so pleased to have our Syrian family settled! Thank you to all who make this possible! Continued support is greatly appreciated!

The Valley Food Bank at Spooner House – There is a new list of needed items in the Alcove. Please pick up a copy. Please use the box in the Alcove for donations. The Blessing Box also needs to be stocked! Please note that our Spooner House Meal is now the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Questions--see Holly or Gerry Fassbender.

Funds for Clean-up Buckets Needed – Women’s Fellowship is collecting monetary donations for Church World Service Clean up buckets. Checks may be made out to HCC with “Buckets” on the memo line. You can drop your donation in the bucket on Sundays or you can use the on-line option on our website. The need now is urgent.

Please continue to support HCCUCC with your contributions. Now more than ever, our mission of being the beacon of love and light on the Huntington Green and beyond is vital. Contributions sent in by mail are welcome. Please consider donating at our website, www.huntingtonucc.org. Electronic Fund Transfer giving is also available. Please email the church, hcc@snet.net if you would like a form to set that up. Any way you give is a blessing and is greatly appreciated.

Let us pray. O God, no matter if we are gathered or scattered, your love binds us together as one. May we hold each other in our hearts and in our prayers. Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille