Come celebrate Summer with NCCUMC …

JULY/AUGUST 2017 SUMMER EDITION

FROM THE PASTOR

The grace and peace of the living Christ is certainly with us!

Every United Methodist pastor is encouraged to host an annual open house. All church

members are property owners and the parsonage is one of those properties. Your house is my

home, and I love the tradition of thanking the congregations where I'm appointed by having you

all over for some food and fun. So, on Saturday, July 15th you're all invited to the parsonage

from 4:00-7:00 pm. I'll be making the famous Cornell BBQ chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers,

deviled eggs, and salads. Soft drinks, water and ice tea will also be available. I don't make

dessert, so if anyone feels motivated, feel free to bring one, or not!!!

To help our church be more visible in the community, Laurie Bourque had a great idea. Is there

someone out there who could video the Sunday sermon so we can put it on our website? This

has worked in Laurie's mom's church in a few ways - the homebound can feel more connected,

and new folks might be more attracted to come and see. Is there anyone out there who feels

called to this new ministry? A decent cell phone and tripod would do the trick, along with the

tech knowledge.

To help our church be more visible in the community as people who care, I suggested in a

recent sermon that we take seriously the Gospel lesson from Matthew 10:42 where Jesus says, "I

assure you that everybody who gives even a cup of cold water to these little ones because

they are my disciples will certainly be rewarded." After spending a few days on my front porch

last week, I had a revelation. We think we are not visible here in North Canton, but the number

of bicycles, motorcycles, runners, and cars tell me differently! Could we, would we be able to

stock a cooler with cold water on the picnic table down by the intersection of Case St. and

Cherry Brook? All it would take is someone to get a case of water and some ice, and then leave

it out on Saturday mornings. If we want to get fancy, we could make labels with our worship

time. If we take turns, I see this as doable. Is someone interested in organizing this?

Dot Villano has been talking about Soles4Souls for a while now, but she did some research and

it doesn't seem to be a not-for-profit who is on the up and up. After talking a bit, I remembered

the relationship I have with a family I served on the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) in Inez,

Kentucky. I contacted this family, and they are willing to distribute the shoes there. Some will

be given away to those in need, and some will be sold to those who can afford a buck or two.

We would be employing a family of six who are in need (1 daughter is crippled from a recurring

brain tumor), and helping many other families in Appalachia. I trust this family implicitly. It's a

win-win, I think. More on that later!

The Shack is a book by Willie Young that was made into a movie earlier this year. I just got a

copy of a 5-week study on the book/movie. This fall, I'll show the movie and then we'll do the

study. This is a teaser for you to get the book for some good summer reading. There is some

really great theology in this amazing work. You won't be disappointed.

See you in church, in the community, and in the world,

Pastor Karen

OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Prayers are requested for:

Rob Normyle; John-Michael Whitney; the McClure

family; Ray Kinch; the joy of the birth of Oliver

Arthur Olson Parker; Ron Parker; Van and Barbara

Mason; Eileen Baedor, Evelyn Burnham; Bev Kibbe;

Marcin Kochmanska; Eileen Baedor; Betty Freytag;

Naomi Moulton; Connie Porter; Doug Clement; Dave

Bullock; Walt Kelly.

Sandy Barlow's family in mourning;

Czar "Ziggy" Barnowski's family in mourning;

Glenna Bracket's family in mourning;

Mederic Daigneault's family in mourning; and

Larry Gannon's family in mourning;

Cheryl Scott's family in mourning.

Please remember them all in your prayers.

If you know of anyone who should be added to this

list, please contact our office at (860) 693-4589, or at

nccumc@att.net.

SECRETARY’S CORNER

Well another successful Strawberry Festival and a

great job by all! Now on to summer to relax, have

fun and enjoy family vacations! I will be out of the

office on July 13 and 14 for some well deserved rest

and relaxation.

Pastor Karen has been here a year and I think we all

have gotten to know her and Luna. We are glad she

is here. My how time flies!

Marlene S. MacBain

FOOD BANK UPDATE

We have donated 47 bags thus far. If you find it

easier in the summer to donate money, please send

your check directly to the Canton Food Bank, c/o

Trinity Episcopal Church, PO Box 374, Collinsville,

CT 06022. Make a notation on your check that

you're from the North Canton Community United

Methodist Church. Thank you so much.

The Milkes

SOUP UPDATE

We have sold all our soup and gave Dawn $282.00

toward the kitchen fund. We saved $50.00 for start

up costs in September. Thank you all.

Soup to Go Planning Session

July 10, 9:00 am at church

Carolyn Milke and I would like to meet with anyone

interested in helping us continue to make soup to go.

Our initial three months sold out, and generated

enough money to continue to fund the project without

any out of pocket expenses for our soup makers. We

found that just two people working together for 2-3

hours per month could make this sustainable. We

invite anyone interested in making soup to meet with

us on July 10. If you have recipes to contribute bring

them along. If you are interested but can't make the

meeting, please let Carolyn or me know, and we will

get you the information. Thank you.

Marnie Cooper and Carolyn Milke

NCCUMC "Classified"

Suggestion has been made and concurred! Some of

you have serious skills. Some of you have serious

goods that need donating or trading. We would like

to collect that info and publish it here in the

Messenger. If you're good at something and would

like to be hired or to donate your skill, let our

administrative assistant, Marlene, know. If you have

extra stuff to give away or sell, let Marlene know.

We'll start a Classified section in the September

Messenger.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

Below is the semi-final report of the proceeds from

the 2017 Strawberry Festival. A great big thank you

to everyone who worked so hard, who donated and/or

solicited items to the Silent Auction, who donated

baked goods, plants and items for Grandma’s Attic

and School House, who made biscuits, who gathered

the items needed to prepare and serve the food, and

gave so generously of their time and talents.

Gross income as follows:

Strawberries: $4,082.95

Plants: $553.25

Grandma’s Attic: $ 1,593.00

School House: $520.10

Baked Goods: $797.70

Total (Gross): $7,547.00

Expenses: $2,118.77

Net proceeds: $5,428.23 as of 6/25/17

Silent Auction: $3,022.00 (there are still some

additional items to be picked up so amount will be

higher)

Men’s Burger Booth: $798.63 net proceeds

($1480.00 – $681.37)

Grand total net: $9,248.86

Again, thanks so much to everyone!

Dawn Harris, Treasurer

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SUNDAY SCHOOL Each Sunday

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

7th grade through Adults

(Case Hall)

EVENING SERVICES AT

WASHINGTON HILL

The 2017 Schedule of Sunday Services at

Washington Hill is as follows:

Sunday, July 9 6:00 PM

Sunday, August 13 6:00 PM

Sunday, September 10 6:00 PM

Sunday, October 8 2:00 PM*

(*183rd Anniversary)

Wednesday, November 22 7:00 PM

Sunday, December 17 7:00 PM

SEPTEMBER MESSENGER DEADLINE

All articles and notices for the September Messenger

are due by Sunday, August 21. Please leave

articles on the secretary’s desk in the office or email

articles directly to nccumc@att.net. Thank you.

LUNCH BUNCH

Lunch Bunch will be taking the

summer months off, as too many

people are away. We will resume

meeting for food, fellowship, and fun on September

19 at 12:30 pm. Location to be announced in the

September Messenger. Please call Pat McGarry at

(860) 693-0591 with any questions.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will not

meet in July or August but will

resume on September 7 at 1:00 pm at

Carolyn Milke's home. Please see or

call Carolyn Milke at (860) 693-2170 if you would

like to join our group or for more details.

ARE YOU CELEBRATING IN JULY?

July Birthdays 4 Isabelle Albin 9 Barbara Szydlo

11 Kyle and Zachary Cahill

25 Daniel Jones

July Anniversaries 14 Connie and Bob Porter

15 Chuck and Barbara Naugle

21 Paul and Marge Wickersham

ARE YOU CELEBRATING IN AUGUST?

August Birthdays 1 Richard Jones

2 Diane Yekel, Louise Albin

8 Mike Reuber

10 Ed Milke

12 Shelby York

14 Fred Swan

22 Diana Lawler

28 Deryk Parsons

29 Cyndy Donaldson

August Anniversaries 13 Bill and Dorothy Villano

21 Dru and Ray McNeil 25 Brenda and Scott Ransley

29 Ron and Deb Parker

Are you missing?

If your birthday or anniversary is missing, please email the

church office at nccumc@att.net, or drop a note on my

desk in the office.

ARE YOU SERVING IN JULY?

Acolytes No one has signed up in July.

Coffee Hour Barbara Mason (658-9422)

2 Renata Parsons and Laurie Bourque

9 Eva Bacewicz and Sue Gannon

16 Anne Tsimboukis and Amina Weiland

23 Sue Levesque and Barbara Naugle

30 Noreen Reuber and Elaine West

Flowers Deb Parker (693-6683)

No one has signed up in July.

Liturgists

No one has signed up in July.

Ushers Nancy Slauenwhite (860) 658-6326

2 Ray and Dru McNeil

9 Ed and Carolyn Milke

16

23 Paul and Marge Wickersham

30

ARE YOU SERVING IN AUGUST?

Acolytes No one has signed up in August.

Coffee Hour Barbara Mason (658-9422)

6 Pam Cahill and Pam Brunell

13 Barbara Mason, Eileen Baedor and

Deb Woodhall

20 Cyndy Donaldson and Dot Villano

27 Renata Parsons and Laurie Bourque

Flowers Deb Parker (693-6683)

No one has signed up in August.

Liturgists No one has signed up in August.

Ushers Nancy Slauenwhite (860) 658-6326

6 Ed and Carolyn Milke

13 Paul and Marge Wickersham

20

27

North Canton Community United Methodist Church

Church Council Meeting

May 16, 2017

Attendance: Pastor Karen Cook, Patricia McGarry, Sue Gannon, Mary Brevigleiri, Barbara Szydlo, Diane Yekel, Larry

Gannon, Elaine West and Luna

Excused: Marjorie Wickersham

Mary Brevigleiri offered a centering prayer.

March 21, 2017 Church Council minutes were reviewed, no changes noted, a consensus was reached.

There was no calendar distributed.

Committees:

Nurturing Outreach – Sue Gannon (The following from Sue’s minutes)

➢ Days for Girls

o Continues to meet with good turn out under the leadership of Barb Naugle and Pam Brunell.

o The Sunday school supply room has been turned into a Days for Girls quilting room.

o Pat Swan will continue to coordinate donations to the Home of Blessing in Haiti. We intend to get

donations to them when they fill a bus mid-PA in Sept. , and at that time drive the bus down to Miami to

get shipped to Haiti.

➢ 2nd Saturday Community Café

o We will begin on Sept. 9 and will be open 2nd Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

o Sue will commit to covering the times with assistance from the congregation.

o We will start simple and informal. Will add different options later.

▪ Potential speakers include Sheila Peiffer on prison ministry; Trudy on Alzheimer’s.

▪ Potential mission activities include health kits and maybe Days for Girls option.

▪ We will investigate further after we get the café running.

o We will begin with simple food priced at cost with options for chatting, puzzles, games.

o Begin with advertisements at dinners, Strawberry Festival and spots where we advertise the dinners.

o Need to have congregational support before we advertise heavily.

➢ Strawberry Festival Advertising

o Good opportunity to advertise 2nd Saturday Community Café, Days for Girls and the fall Blessing of the

Animals.

Membership – Did not meet.

Trustees – Larry Gannon (From Larry’s minutes)

Old Business

➢ Preparation for fire inspection – On hold and still pending due to lack of funds are the Ansul system and the fire

extinguishers. The Trustees are becoming very concerned about the lack of action on this issue. We are now two

years behind on our maintenance and inspections. If we get inspected by the Town fire inspector again, it will

result in serious violations and could effect our insurance.

➢ Snow removal contract – Now there have been some problems with snow plowing final bill which have been

resolved, but this did cost us more in the end.

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➢ List of repairs and improvements - The Trustees did prioritize the repairs and improvement list. They also moved

some items to a wish list which includes items that would be nice to get done, but are not necessary for the life of

the church. Trustees are getting estimates of cost for each of the items on the lists.

➢ Dorau Trust Fund – Karen had suggested that Finance and Trustees meet with someone from Bank of America to

review how the Dorau Trust Fund is managed. This meeting will take place at the next Trustee meeting on June 5

and will include a conference call with the fund manager. People from the Finance Committee should plan to

attend this meeting as well.

➢ State of Connecticut Health Dept. Inspection – Work to update the water systems in the church and the parsonage

to comply with State Health Department’s current requirement is complete and acceptable to the State DPH. We

also need to get the parsonage well certified as a public water supply. To that end we have received the Well Site

Certification with two issues still to be resolved. We are now working on getting the water quantity and quality

certification which will require more extensive testing of the well water at the parsonage. This will be critical as we

will need to use this well to supplement water supply for the Strawberry Festival in June.

New Business

➢ Painting of the School House: Karen has decided that this will be the Confirmands project this year. The Trustees

have agreed with this project but have not been actively managing it to date (This will not happen because the

building is not properly prepped for painting as per Karen at Church Council meeting.)

➢ Spring Clean Up: Don’t know how this project got scheduled for May 6th and 13th, but it didn’t happen. It is now

scheduled for June 3rd and there is a list of projects that need doing available. If anyone wishes to take on a project

from the list before June 3rd they are free to do so with our thanks. (Karen informed us that Cheryl Scott will be

interred on June 3rd so will need respect and quiet for that process. Also Days for Girls is scheduled for June 3rd.)

➢ HVAC Contract for 2017 – The Trustees did receive and approve a bid from High Tech Mechanicals of Torrington for

$785 for the annual maintenance contract for the HVAC system for the church and parsonage. This is the same

contractor and the same price as last year. There are some additional issues that will need to be addressed which

will be outside the contract when the work is done, i.e. thermostat in nursery and test antifreeze for whole system.

➢ Propane Supplier: While there were some concerns about the current supplier, it was determined that we should

wait and see how that situation plays out with the Simsbury Co-op of which we are a part.

➢ Making the church facility an emergency shelter for the community: This could be a very expensive undertaking

and it was decided that we should see what help the Red Cross could be in regards to planning and financing.

Pastor Cook also said there may be a possibility of a grant from the Methodist church. This will be looked into.

Tuesday Morning Work Group Project List:

➢ Replace support posts under main beam in parsonage.

➢ Install plastic cover over ground under sanctuary.

➢ Clean moss and other vegetation from the roofs of the church, parsonage and school house.

➢ Shampoo carpeting in Case hall and sanctuary.

➢ Install screen door on new back door of parsonage.

➢ Repair roof over front door of school house.

➢ Get light at north corner of rear parking lot fixed.

➢ Replace weather stripping on front doors to sanctuary.

➢ Replace weather stripping on front door of parsonage.

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➢ Make and install mahogany top rail for altar railing.

➢ Install vinyl tile on floor in lower level of church.

Friday Night Dinners – Diane Yekel

Need more help, bakers, clean up; sign ups are down. Helpers will meet Thursday morning at 10 a.m. for potato salad prep.

This is the last dinner until September.

Diane expressed the desire to scale down her involvement with the dinners.

SPPRC – Mary Brevigleiri –Met last month, will meet May 30th. Group is working through Dennis Winkleblack’s “Who Cares

for the Pastor”.

UMW – Mary Brevigleiri –

➢ Strawberry Festival on target. No meeting scheduled. Sign up for Festival.

➢ Hoping to get Doris Adams on board for plant booth.

➢ Fred Hudon will coordinate parking, hopefully with help from Frank Gronerman.

➢ Burger Booth ran out of help last year. If shorter times are scheduled, perhaps more people will sign up.

➢ Start-up cash for Festival could use more $1 bills.

➢ Pastor Karen Cook will be official photographer.

➢ Pulling back on pledge to National UMW.

UMM – Fred Swan - Who did Fred already meet with???? National leader of UMM?

Treasurer’s Report – Dawn Harris

Fund Balance Analysis:

➢ Problem:

o The operating fund has a deficit of $10,381.

o The checking account has a balance deficit of $71.

o There is money in CD’s.

➢ Restricted funds haven’t changed.

➢ Custodial – Income tax end of April, as well as Social Security and Medicare.

➢ Have not paid health and conference insurance.

➢ Paychecks are due Marlene, Diana and Pastor Karen.

➢ Have not paid apportionments. Have only paid January 2017 apportionments.

➢ Due are payroll, insurance and mortgage – need to keep that amount in checking account.

➢ Twin Landscaping bill is outstanding.

2017 Budget Final

➢ 34.5% of the year has gone by – pretty much staying within percentage of allocation.

➢ Have not received bill for Worker’s Comp yet.

➢ Salary on target.

➢ Only first month of apportionment paid (Jan. 2017). Repercussion of not paying apportionments is a part time

pastor.

➢ Reserves are down to ~$2,000.

➢ Will have mowing bill.

➢ Church heating season should be over.

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➢ Insurance bill due end of June.

➢ Mortgage is paid.

Income Side:

➢ We should have by now $32,000 in pledges; we are running ~$5,000 behind. Pledge period ends May31st. Working

on pamphlet for new pledge campaign this week. Theme for this year from George Tsimboukis - “Working to Bring

Our Community Together for 145 Years.”

➢ The Extra Giving Campaign (Envelope Challenge) produced ~$4,200. It will end at this time.

➢ General donations on target.

➢ Plate donations down.

➢ Strawberry Fund Raiser coming up.

➢ Dinners on track.

We took in $43,247 and spent $53,628.

Pastor’s Discussion

➢ Pastor Karen purchased a mold and a radon gas kit with $40 on each.

➢ Gloria Yasnay passed away December 13, 2017. She will be interred on Saturday, July 29, 2017.

➢ Bible Study begins Wednesday, May 17th and will continue for five weeks.

➢ Pastor instructed us to interact more with the community rather than each other during the Strawberry Festival

and, of course, any other opportunity.

➢ Ray McKay has gone to a church with a Praise Band. He would like to bring the band to the Strawberry Festival. Is

this a possibility? Where would we locate them? Most thought it was a good idea and area outside Case hall

entrance on lawn would work, has electricity outlet. Will ask them if it would work for them.

➢ Mary Brevigleiri is planning to hold Taize services in the summer. Also considering special service monthly for

which special needs families could come into our church. Would also like to have the Praise Band,

Pastor Karen offered an ending prayer.

Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine West

July 2017 North Canton Community United Methodist Church

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 Communion Sunday 10:00 AM

3

AA Meeting 7:30 PM

4

5

6

7

8

9 Worship

10:00 AM

Washington Hill - 6:00 PM

10 AA meeting 7:30 PM

11 Men’s Group

8:30 AM

Finance Ministry - 7:00 PM

12

13 Marlene on vacation

14 Marlene on vacation

15 Parsonage Open House 4-7pm

16 Worship 10:00 AM

17 Nurture Outreach - 7:00 PM

AA meeting 7:30 PM

18 Men’s Group

8:30 AM

Bible Study at Swans -1:30 PM

Church Council - 7:00 PM

19

20

21 22

23 Worship 10:00 AM

24 AA Meeting 7:30 PM

25 Men’s Group

8:30 AM

Bible Study at Swans -1:30 PM

26 27 28 29

30 Worship 10:00 AM

31 AA Meeting 7:30 PM

August 2017 North Canton Community United Methodist Church

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Nurture Membership 7:00 PM

2

3 Pastor Away through 8/7

4

5

6 Communion Sunday 10:00 AM

7 Trustee's Meeting 7:15 PM

AA Meeting 7:30 PM

8 Men’s Group

8:30 AM

Bible Study at Swans -1:30 PM

Finance Ministry - 7:00 PM

9

10

11

12 Pastor Vacation through 8/26

13 Worship

10:00 AM

Washington Hill - 6:00 PM

14 AA meeting 7:30 PM

15 Men’s Group

8:30 AM

Bible Study at Swans -1:30 PM

Church Council - 7:00 PM

16

17 Messenger Deadline - 9:00 AM

18

19

20 Worship 10:00 AM

21 Nurture Outreach - 7:00 PM

AA meeting 7:30 PM

22 Men’s Group

8:30 AM

Bible Study at Swans -1:30 PM

23

24

25 26

27 Worship 10:00 AM

28 AA Meeting 7:30 PM

29 Men’s Group

8:30 AM

Bible Study at Swans -1:30 PM

30 31