This Week November 26, 2024

Dear Folks, 

May you all have a blessed and thank-filled Thanksgiving.

 

This coming Sunday, December 1, is the First Sunday of Advent.  The scripture is Isaiah 9:2, 6-7.  The sermon monologue is "A Witness to Isaiah".  We will be celebrating Holy Communion.  The service will be on site and live streamed.  Please watch for my Friday email with the online bulletin and the link.

 

As with every Communion Sunday, the Emergency Assistance Fund will be taken this Sunday. Envelopes will be in the pews.  Please be generous. 

The Longest Night Service will be held on Saturday, December 21 at 6:30 p.m. at HCCUCC.  It will also be live streamed.  Come for some quiet reflection.

 

The 2024 Christmas Fund/Veterans of the Cross Offering will be taken on December 22. The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the U.C.C. for over 100 years, with emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities, health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks to our lower-income retirees. Envelopes will be available 12/15. You may also give via our website.

 

VRRP is working to settle a refugee family of four in our Valley. Please help however you can.  For more info, contact Bob Margolies.

 

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. Our Spooner House Meal is on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month. Questions? See Holly or Gerry Fassbender.

 

Funds for Clean-up Buckets Urgently Needed – We are collecting monetary donations for Church World Service clean-up buckets. Please make checks out to HCC with “Buckets” on the memo line, then drop your donation in the bucket on Sundays, or use the on-line option on our website.

 

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.  Thank you, God, for all that we are and have.  May we live in a spirit of gratitude and generosity to show forth your light, life, and love, for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

 

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

 

This Week November 19, 2024

Dear Folks,

Another beautiful day, but we do need rain! Prayers for a soft and steady watering for our part of the world.

This coming Sunday, November 24, is the Reign of Christ and our Thanksgiving Sunday. The scripture is Psalm 111:1-9. The sermon is "It's a Vibe". The choir will be singing. The service will be on site and live streamed. Please watch for my Friday email with the online bulletin and the link.

Sunday, November 24 is our Shelton Community Thanksgiving Service, at HCCUCC, 4 p.m. Following the service, there will be refreshments in the Fellowship Hall. We will be sharing your thanksgivings during the service, so if you have one, let me know ASAP. Please bring a food item for the Valley Food Bank. Offering will go to Spooner House. Please write your check directly to Spooner House. All are welcome!

Advent starts on December 1. Get your Reverse Advent Calendar in the Belfry or in the Alcove. A suggestion is given for each day of Advent. May it remind us of God’s great gift to us in Jesus Christ, that in gratitude we too give!

HCCUCC is participating in the BH Care Under the Tree program to benefit disadvantaged adults & children in the Valley. Please sign up on Sunday for a gift tag listing gift requests in the alcove and help make Christmas a little brighter for someone in need. You can share the cost of a gift with one or more people. All purchased wrapped gifts (with original tag) need to be returned by Sunday, December 8th, or you may donate monetarily directly to BHCare: https://www.bhcare.org/giving/donate/

The Longest Night Service will be held on Saturday, December 21 at 6:30 p.m. at HCCUCC. It will also be live streamed. Come for some quiet reflection.

The 2024 Christmas Fund/Veterans of the Cross Offering will be taken on December 22. The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the U.C.C. for over 100 years, with emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities, health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks to our lower-income retirees. Envelopes will be available 12/15. You may also give via our website.

VRRP is working to settle a refugee family of four in our Valley. Please help however you can. For more info, contact Bob Margolies.

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. Our Spooner House Meal is on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Questions? See Holly or Gerry Fassbender.

Funds for Clean-up Buckets Urgently Needed – We are collecting monetary donations for Church World Service clean-up buckets. Please make checks out to HCC with “Buckets” on the memo line, then drop your donation in the bucket on Sundays, or use the on-line option on our website.

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 Holy God, Creator of all that is good, help us, in all time, good, and bad, to see the beauty of you and your universe and practice gratitude. May we know your presence will never leave us. Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

This Week November 12, 2024

 

Dear Folks,

Don't get blown away today!  It's so windy!

This Thursday is my prayer day.  Please let me know if you have any joys or concerns you would like me to lift up.

It's almost here!  The Pumpkin & Holly Fair is this Friday, November 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Baked good are needed!  Please bring them by 5 P.M. on Friday, wrapped or bagged with the list of ingredients in case of allergens.  Chocolate chip cookies and quick bread are the favorites!  Also, help is always welcome, especially for clean-up on Saturday. Thank you!

This Sunday, November 17, is the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.  The scripture is Hebrews 10:11-18.  The sermon is "Hearts and Minds".   The service will be livestreamed on Facebook and available for later viewing on Facebook and YouTube.

Thank you to everyone who has returned their Faith Promise/Pledge card.  If you have not yet done this, please be sure return it to the church as soon as possible.  With your generous support, we can extend our 300 years of faithful ministry well into the future.  Let's keep going!!

Our Shelton Community Thanksgiving Service will be held at HCCUCC Sunday, November 24th at 4 p.m. followed by refreshments in the Fellowship Hall.  We will be sharing your thanksgivings during the service.  Please bring a food item for the Valley Food Bank.  Offering will go to Spooner House.  Please write your check directly to Spooner House.  All are welcome!   The clergy are asking each of their members, for what are your thankful? So, please let me know.  You can email, text, jot it on a piece of paper and send it, hand it to me, put it in the offering plate or put it in my box in the Alcove. 

 Advent starts on December 1.  Remember Advent Calendars? Each day of Advent, you open a door and find a little gift. Like the last two years, we are doing the reverse! Instead of getting, we are giving! A suggestion is given for each day of Advent.  This year, we are doing a hodge podge of ideas. You can do all or just a few, whatever works for you. May it remind us of God’s great gift to us in Jesus Christ, and in gratitude we too give! The Reverse Advent Calendar is in the Belfry & will be available in the Alcove on Sunday.

HCCUCC is participating in the BH Care Under the Tree program to benefit disadvantaged adults & children in the Valley. Watch for tags listing gift requests in the alcove and select a gift request to help make Christmas a little brighter for someone in need. You can share the cost of a gift with one or more people. All purchased wrapped gifts (with original tag) need to be returned by Sunday, December 8^th, or you may donate monetarily directly to BHCare: https://www.bhcare.org/giving/donate/

Wednesday Evening Advent Devotions begin on December 4 through December 18 at 7 p.m. via ZOOM. Link will be in the “This Week” email. We will be using the booklet, “God’s Gift to the World”, available in the Alcove this Sunday.  A donation of $2 is requested.  All are welcome.

VRRP is working to settle a refugee family of four in our Valley. Please help however you can.  For more info, contact Bob Margolies.

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. Our Spooner House Meal is on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month. Questions? See Holly or Gerry Fassbender.

Funds for Clean-up Buckets are Urgently Needed – We are collecting monetary donations for Church World Service clean-up buckets. Please make checks out to HCC with “Buckets” on the memo line, then drop your donation in the bucket on Sundays, or use the on-line option on our website.

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. 

Please engage on our social media.  For Facebook, like and follow our HCCUCC page then like, share, and comment on our content.  For YouTube, subscribe to our page and click the bell for notifications then like, share, and comment on our content. Please also visit our website.  Every click helps get the word out about our church! 

Let us pray.  O God, no matter how changeable, calm, or tempestuous our lives may be, you are there.  Your love is constant and unchanging.  Thank you!   Amen. 

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille

 

This Week November 5, 2024

 

Dear Folks,

As you vote, please vote with your faith - to love God, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

This Sunday, November 10, is the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. We will have a moment to honor our veterans.  The scripture is Mark 12:38-44. The sermon is "Once Again".   The service will be livestreamed on Facebook and available for later viewing on Facebook and YouTube.  

Thank you to everyone who has returned their Faith Promise/Pledge card.  If you have not yet done this, please be sure return it to the church as soon as possible.  With your generous support, we can extend our 300 years of faithful ministry well into the future.  Let's keep going!!

The Pumpkin & Holly Fair is quickly approaching!  This year's dates are November 15th, 5:30 P.M. to 8 P.M., and November 16, 9:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. 

The Shelton Clergy Association is reviving our Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, here at HCCUCC on Sunday, November 24 at 4 P.M.  Come, give thanks!

VRRP is working to settle a refugee family of four in our Valley.  For more info, contact Bob Margolies, rmargolies@mac.com. Thank you to everyone who donated to the latest items needed. 

The Valley Food Bank at Spooner House – Items Needed:  Please see the list on the bulletin board 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.

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 especially urgent due to the recent hurricanes.

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.

Please engage on our social media.  For Facebook, like and follow our HCCUCC page then like, share, and comment on our content.  For YouTube, subscribe to our page and click the bell for notifications then like, share, and comment on our content.  On “X” (formerly known as Twitter), follow our feed, then like and share.  Please also visit our website.  Every click helps get the word out about our church!

Let us pray.  You, O God, are our refuge and our strength. Help us during times of unknowing and unease.  Help us to know and to feel your presence of love, hope, and peace, no matter what. Amen.

In Christ's love,

Rev. Lucille