This Week December 19, 2023

Dear Folks,

As we approach the longest night of the year, remember that God's light never fails.

The Longest Night Service will be held on Thursday, December 21st at 6:30 P.M.  The service will be on-site, and Facebook live streamed and will be available for viewing later on Facebook and YouTube. The bulletin for this service is attached.

 

This Sunday, December 24, our 9:30 A.M. service is the Fourth Sunday of Advent.  The scripture is Isaiah 11:1-10.  The Special Christmas Program is "Where?"  You may want to brush up on your Bible reading!

 

Our Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols and Candlelight service will be at 4 P.M.  Both Sunday services will be on-site, and Facebook live streamed and will be available for viewing later on Facebook and YouTube.  I will send out the online bulletins on Friday.

 

Looking ahead to December 31:  We will be having an informal 9:30 A.M.  service, so come as you are!  Christmas sweaters or P.J.'s are encouraged!  Say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024!

 

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 of Love, may you fill our hearts so full that we cannot but help to love all people, your creation, and ourselves.  May our lives reflect Christ's love and light into the world.  Amen.

 

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week December 12, 2023

 Dear Folks, 

The Advent Season is marching on!  I hope your preparations are well under way!

 

Thank you for the generous gifts to the BHCare "Under the Tree" project.  Because of your generosity, people will have a merrier Christmas!

 

This Sunday, December 17, is the Third Sunday in Advent.  The scriptures are Matthew 1:18-25, and Luke 1:26-38.  The sermon is "Who?"  The choir will be singing, "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne".  Sunday School will be meeting in the C.E. office.

 

The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees. This offering will be taken on December 17. Envelopes will be available in the pews and in the Alcove. You may also give via our website at: www.huntingtonucc.org.

 

The Longest Night Service is on Thursday, December 21^st, 6:30 P.M., on-site and Facebook live stream.  December 21^st is the longest night of the year. For many people, the lack of light is symbolic of the harsh things of life. And those harsh things become more evident in the light of the "shoulds" of Christmas time: we should be happy, we should be glad, we should be joyful. But sometimes life is not conducive to the shoulds: we lost a loved one, or a relationship, or a job, or whatever. We don't feel joyful. The Longest Night Service is a time for us to face the darkness, but also look to the Nativity for hope and light. 

 

Our Christmas Eve service of Lessons, Carols, and Candlelight will be held on Sunday, December 24 at 4 P.M., on site and Facebook live stream.  We will have a Fourth Sunday of Advent service at our 9:30 A.M. time.

 

The Valley Food Bank at Spooner House – There is a 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 3^rd 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 of Joy, we know that our lives are a mixture of good and bad, joy and sorrow.  Help us to see, in Christ, your presence that is with us in all circumstances, offering a joy that transcends all.  Amen.

 

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week December 5, 2023

 Dear Folks,

 

Hope you are all well!

 

This Sunday, December 10, is the Second Sunday in Advent.  The scripture is Micah 5: 2-5.  The sermon is "Why?"

 

Immediately following worship this Sunday, there will be an in-person Congregational Meeting for all members of the Huntington Congregational Church UCC for the purpose of presenting the proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year.

 

The BH Care Under the Tree gifts are due Sunday.  You may also donate monetarily directly to BHCare.  Thank you! https://www.bhcare.org/giving/donate/

Be sure to keep your Reverse Advent Calendar up to date!

  

The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees. This offering will be taken on December 17. Envelopes will be available this Sunday. You may also give via our website at: www.huntingtonucc.org.

 

The Longest Night Service Thursday, December 21^st, 6:30 P.M., on-site & live streamed.  December 21^st is the longest night of the year. For many people, the lack of light is symbolic of the harsh things of life. And those harsh things become more evident in the light of the "shoulds" of Christmas time: we should be happy, we should be glad, we should be joyful. But sometimes life is not conducive to the shoulds: we lost a loved one, or a relationship, or a job, or whatever. We don't feel joyful. The Longest Night Service is a time for us to face the darkness, but also look to the Nativity for hope and light. 

 

The Valley Food Bank at Spooner House – There is a 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 3^rd 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 of Hope, even in the most uncertain times, help us to know that you are with us, guiding us with your goodness and grace.  Amen.

 

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille