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O P E N & A F F I R M I N G FAITH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Faithful Follower

The Faithful Follower is published monthly by Faith United Church of Christ. Editor: Faith Quici

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8

IN THIS ISSUE o From Your Moderator

pg 1

o Worship Volunteers

pg 2

o Church Happenings

pg 3

o New Members

Pg 4

o Church Photos

pg 5 & 6

o Council Minutes

Pg 7

o Staff Page

Pg 8

o January 2019 Calendar

pg 9

new council members will be

approved. If you would like a topic to

be added to the agenda please let

me know by noon on Sunday, January

20.

Mark your 2019 calendar for the

Jabberwocky potluck brunch on

Sunday, January 13. I’m sure you will

find an article on the Jabberwocky

event within this issue of the

“Follower”.

Also, mark your calendar for Dinner &

Dessert to be at the home of Denny

and Judy Wetter on Friday, January

18. It is always a good time at the

Wetter’s home!

As I complete my first year as your

Moderator, I hope I have done a job

that you have been satisfied with. I

feel my first year was a learning year

and as I enter into the second year of

my two-year term, I will be following

my own instincts for the better of Faith

Church. I do thank you for your

support, both praise and constructive

criticism and I welcome both in 2019.

In closing my first message of the New

Year, I wish you peace, good health,

and happiness in 2019. Happy New

Year!

Fondly,

Richard

From Your Moderator As we close out one year and open

another, the first thing that comes to

my mind is to thank those volunteers

who have devoted many hours to

Faith Church. I know I will miss some

very important players, but please

know if I fail to mention your name it

is not because your work was any

less important than others.

I would like to thank the following

council members: Dorathy Gallo,

Donna Blakey, Linda VanBuskirk,

Sheryl Overheidt-Smith, Barbara

Brownell and Marge Hooie. Also on

council, I would like to thank those

members who will not be returning

to their roles: Richard Card and

Teddy Sotis and a special thank you

for their years of service to Denny

and Judy Wetter.

Of course, there are those who serve

on Faith’s various committees and

who help keep Faith Church running

smoothly from behind the scenes –

thank you to those members!

Thank you to our Sunday morning

volunteers: Anita, Bruce, Wade,

Earleen and Hatti. Thank you to all!

We need each and every one.

Please sign up to get your picture

taken for the church photo

directory. In order to make this

directory a success, we need each

and every member to participate.

The dates are January 28 and 29.

We need each and every one. (Did I

just say that?)

Mark your calendar for the Annual

Congregational Meeting on Sunday,

January 27, immediately following

the service. Of course, the budget

will be submitted for your vote and

PICTURE

DAYS January

28 & 29, 2019

REMINDER ANNUAL

CONGREGATIONAL

MEETING Sunday, January 27 immediately

following the service.

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W O R S H I P

VOLUNTEERS

If you are interested in signing up to

be a greeter, usher or scripture

reader, please contact our Worship

Team Leader or simply sign up on

the bulletin board.

JOIN US WEEKEND SCHEDULE

J a n 6 , 2 0 1 8

Council Sunday

Scripture: Marge Hooie

Sunday school: Hatti Damianos and

Earleen Nutting

J a n 1 3 , 2 0 1 8 Flowers Available

Greeters: Available

Scripture: Connar Felix Ushers: Available

Sunday school: Hatti Damianos and

Earleen Nutting

J a n 2 0 , 2 0 1 8 Flowers Available

Greeters: Available

Scripture: Joan Sheehan Ushers: Available

Sunday school: Hatti Damianos and

Earleen Nutting

J a n 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 Flowers Available

Greeters: Available

Scripture: Marge Kirchner Ushers: Available

Sunday school: Hatti Damianos and

Earleen Nutting

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CHURCH HAPPENINGS

Winter Adult Study Sunday Mornings at 9 AM and Thursdays at 7 pm we will study the

History of Christianity: The First 2000 Years, an A&E documentary. After

doing the first 4 episodes last January, this year we will start with the

year 1,000 AD and trace the movements and historical events that

brought us to where we are today. Each episode reveals the

struggles and victories of each time period. This study was very

popular last year. We will start on Thursday evening, January 10, and

will run through Sunday, February 3.

If you were not part of the first study you can review episodes 1-4 on

YouTube at the address below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WftBqgqd_FE&list=PLhYCEEAvQE

0gINi3JNXZm_Eo7h2LA7mfV

All Church Retreat Please mark your calendars for the evening of Friday, March 8, and

the day of Saturday, March 9, when we will be holding an All-Church

Retreat.

In terms of content, planning will begin in earnest after the holidays.

But we do know the retreat will be loosely on the topics of God’s love,

spiritual growth, and growing closer to one another as a community.

Neal Watkins, who will lead us, is the Florida Conference Director of

Faith Formation and will be working closely with a small committee of

church members, and Pastor Jude, to plan. Please pray for Neal and

The Planning Committee as we seek God’s will for this special time

together.

Final Details about location and times will be forthcoming.

Social Action and Missions MANATEE COUNTY FOOD BANK for JANUARY is: Pet Food

Downtown Ministries: Every first and third Tuesday of the month. We

are meeting January 1 and 15.

SAVE THE DATE: Kiwanis Food Packing Event: February 9

FAITH PRESCHOOL Wendi Steinbach, Director

Greetings from Faith Preschool.......

Our "Pancake Breakfast with Santa" at Applebee's was a wonderful

success! The children really enjoyed seeing Santa and it was so nice

to see so many families from the past and present come out and join

us.

The children did a fantastic job performing for their families at our

preschool holiday program. It was a joy to see their smiling faces on

stage. After the program, the families enjoyed refreshments together.

We will be closed from December 24 until January 7 for winter break

and the preschool will be back in session on Tuesday, January 8.

We wish everyone a “Happy New Year”!

FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT –

November 2018 Total income $ 23,626.61

Total expenses $ 22,670.62

Net Ordinary Income $ 955.99

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This January

WOMEN’S BREAKFAST

SAT, JAN 5, AT 9:00 AM We will enjoy breakfast at Sage Biscuit

located at 1401 Manatee Ave W,

Bradenton, FL 34205, in downtown

Bradenton. After breakfast, join us for

a stroll around the Bradenton

Farmer’s Market. Please sign up by

January 3 if you would like to attend.

MEN’S BREAKFAST

SAT, JAN 5, AT 8AM We will gather for breakfast together

at D’s in Palmetto. Please sign up if

you would like to join us.

DINNER AND DESSERT

FRI, JAN 18, AT 6:00PM Thank you to Denny and Judy Wetter

for hosting the January Dinner and

Dessert pizza party. Please sign up

and list your favorite pizza and also

with what you would like to bring as a

dessert, appetizer or salad. Pizza and

drinks will be provided.

JANUARY BIRTHDAY

HOSPITATLITY

FRI, DEC 30, AFTER SERVICE

COMING UP… The Crop Walk is coming up at the

end of February. Information and a

sign-up will be available soon.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Do you want to see Faith’s

children’s ministry grow? Then

let’s be prepared. Please

sign up to serve once a month, in

either the nursery or Sunday school

class. Please contact Babs Brownell

if you would like more information.

Call: 941.747.964

ONECO FLORIST 941.756.1556 When ordering flowers through the

church, please sign up on the Flower

Chart. Flowers orders are $25. Oneco

Florist is offering Church members $5

off their first arrangement. Just

mention this article.

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FELLOWSHIP HAPPENINGS

It’s Gonna’ Be Fun! Faith UCC is having a Jabberwocky Brunch Potluck on January 13, 2019,

immediately after the service. What’s THAT you ask? It is a silly, nonsense

brunch with excellent potluck dishes and mismatched everything!! Maybe

you’ll have an Easter napkin and a Halloween plate, a Christmas cup on

a bright blue tablecloth. It is a great way to use up our leftover paper

products. So wear a crazy outfit, don a foolish hat, create a tasty dish, get

in a silly mood and ATTEND. Sign up on the bulletin board by January 10.

Need more info?- ask Sheryl Overheidt- Smith.

Fellowship and Fun Abound The beginning of the New Year is filled with many social events for our

Faith family and friends. There are brunches, potlucks, a Chili Cook-off

(yep, it’s back), themed hospitalities, birthday hospitalities, men’s and

women’s breakfasts, outings, a Mardi Gras Pancake Supper, Dinner and

Desserts, a Blessing of the Animals event, a Crop Walk, Pride Fest and a

beach service/barbecue. Our church is growing and thriving and we

need your help at all the events to make sure of their success. Please talk

with Sheryl Overhedit-Smith to see how you can help.

Education and Embracing Marge Kirchner

As part of SAM's committee, the area I chose to work with is finding help

for transgender people in Manatee County; I continue to work with that

issue and hopefully, we'll be able to find some support for our transgender

residents.

Here at Faith, we have our special guys, Jeff and Connar and they are a

loving part of our Community of Faith. In the New Year, there will be a

program to help us reflect on their particular challenges. We love them

and support them, but do we know about their challenges?

There is a TV show on TLC called “I Am Jazz” which examines the life of a

transgender young person and her family involvement. She is now a

young woman, but she knew she was a girl from the time she was about 2

years old. Her amazing family has embraced her and supported her

throughout her life and have given TV watchers insight into this often

neglected area of our populace.

The new season of “I Am Jazz” begins on January 1 at 10:00. P.M.

(Channel 46 – Spectrum or channel 139 on Fios). It would be wonderful if

our congregation could watch the weekly shows to bring knowledge to

ourselves as we embrace Jeff and Connar.

Spirits and Spirituality After a successful trial run in November, Spirits and Spirituality will return in

January with two groups.

One group will meet the first and third Mondays at 6 pm (discussion

doesn’t start until 6:30) and a second group will meet at lunchtime on the

second Wednesdays of the month (starting on January 9)

We are still searching out a quieter and more comfortable location. If

you have a favorite place that might work let us know and we will

contact them!

You, in Choir? "No Way!" "Yes, Way!" Our new Music Leader, Carly Rafferty is doing a great job leading the

choir. We will resume rehearsals on Thursday, January 10 at 5 pm! We

are always looking for new voices to join our merry band of music makers,

so come on down and give it a try!

4 NEW MEMBERS

The following members were received on

December 2, 2018: (L to R)

Liv Coleman, Matt Lepinski,

Connar Felix, Barbara Edens, Donald

Coveleskle, and PJ Widerman.

NEW MEMBER PROFILES:

Don Coveleskie

How long have you lived in Bradenton - a little over two years.

Where did you live prior to moving here - in Collegeville Pennsylvania.

Are you retired? Yes

What is/was your occupation? I did technical software sales - mostly SAP related.

What is the name of your home/most recent church? Trinity United Church of Christ in Collegeville.

Why did you pick Faith UCC as your church? Reminded me of home and the people are so friendly.

Hobbies, Special Interests, etc... Gardening, reading, and getting people to register and vote.

Barbara Lynn Edens

How long have you lived in Bradenton – 11 years.

Where did you live prior to moving here - Colorado

Are you retired? Yes

What is/was your occupation? Retail

Why did you pick Faith UCC as your church? I like the people and enjoy the service.

Hobbies, Special Interests, etc... Reading, using my computer and talking to people.

PJ Widerman

How long have you lived in Bradenton – 1 year.

Where did you live prior to moving here - Baltimore County, Maryland.

Are you retired? Yes

What is/was your occupation? Environmental compliance officer- Baltimore County Government

What is the name of your home/most recent church? Maryland Presbyterian Church.

Why did you pick Faith UCC as your church? Relocation from Maryland to Florida left us with a large gap to meet

our spiritual needs in a church that could provide what we had at Maryland Presbyterian, i.e., welcoming,

affirming and progressive faith community. With the help of our former Pastor’s research, we found it at Faith

UCC.

Hobbies, Special Interests, etc... Reading, walking, swimming, golf, bowling (for fun, not blood), gardening,

social gatherings with friends, volunteer with OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College, Travel.

Connar Felix

How long have you lived in Bradenton – lived in Tampa 18 years.

Where did you live prior to moving here - Illinois

Are you retired? No

What is/was your occupation? Probation specialist for Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

What is the name of your home/most recent church? MCC Tampa

Why did you pick Faith UCC as your church? Started coming because of my then partner/now husband. Felt at

home and decided to switch churches.

Hobbies, Special Interests, etc... Reading, Art, Music, going to the beach, going to museums, etc.

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Church Council Minutes Faith United Church of Christ

December 10, 2018

The meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM. Those present

were, Richard Dilts, Donna Blakey (via Facetime), Dorathy

Gallo, Linda VanBuskirk, Marge Hooie, Pastor Brian, Sheryl

Overheidt-Smith, Denny Wetter, and Judy Wetter. Visitors were

PJ Widerman, Jennifer Hargis and Marge Kirchner.

Pastor Brian opened the meeting with prayer.

Moderator, Richard Dilts introduced the visitors.

A motion was made by Linda VanBuskirk and seconded by

Denny Wetter to accept the minutes from the November 12,

2018 Council Meeting as printed. The motion passed.

A motion was made by Marge Hooie and seconded by

Donna Blakey to accept the Financial Secretary’s October

report. The motion passed.

Dorathy Gallo made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s

Reports for November. The motion was seconded by Marge

Hooie and passed. The Treasurer reported that the Stock

Account has been opened with United Church Funds. If

anyone chooses to donate stock to the church it can now

easily be sold through this account.

The December, January and February calendars were

presented and added to throughout the meeting.

Pastor’s Report – Pastor Brian mentioned that Christmas

caroling will be held on December 23 at 1:30 PM ending at the

Bagley-Bonners. Beginning on January 13 and January 16

there will be a study of the video “The Last 1,000 Years of

Christianity.” February will see a return of Dreams and Visions;

Ash Wednesday will be March 6; Blessing of the Animals on

March 2; Easter is April 21 and April 28 is our next beach

service. He also mentioned recent visitors. Pastor Judy was not

in attendance but Pastor Brian gave her report. There will be

an all church retreat on March 8 with a focus on Spiritual

Growth and Community. Sylvia Hull will lead the worship

service on December 30. Carly will be gone on June 6 for a

previously scheduled family cruise, Rob West will provide

special music that day and Anita will be at the piano.

Old Business:

The following have agreed to serve on the Council in 2019:

Richard Dilts, Moderator; Marge Kirchner, Deputy Moderator;

Financial Secretary, Dorathy Gallo; Treasurer, Donna Blakey;

Secretary, Connar Felix; Building and Grounds, PJ Widerman;

Christian Education, Marge Hooie; Community Outreach,

Linda VanBuskirk; Events and Fellowship; Sheryl Overheidt-

Smith; Faith Care, Jenny Crocker and Lynne Keane; Social

Action and Mission, Babs Brownell; Worship, Jennifer Hargis.

The January meeting will include outgoing and incoming

members and will be held at Richard’s home.

Volunteers will be needed during the time LifeTouch will be

taking pictures for our new directory.

Linda VanBuskirk reported on the Policy and Procedure

Manual. Two people have turned in their procedures.

The deadline is January 14 for this information.

There was no update on the sign.

New Business:

Pastor Brian discussed the new UCC program for a Medical

Savings Plan for all employees. After a brief discussion a

motion was made to set up the plan for Faith UCC

employees, for those who wish to participate. A motion

was made by Richard Dilts and seconded by Linda

VanBuskirk to open the account with the fee of $100 and

adopt the following resolution: Resolved that, the Flexible

Benefit Plan for UCC Ministries that operates in and is

administered through The Pension Boards-United Church of

Christ, Inc. be, and the same hereby is adopted for the

employees of Faith United Church of Christ of Manatee

County, Inc. and

Resolved further, that such Plan shall include provision for

participating clergy and lay employees to elect a health

care reimbursement account, a dependent care account

or both according to Plan provisions that are substantially of

the manner described in the attached materials; and

Resolved further, that this Plan shall be made available to

our clergy and lay employees as soon as administratively

feasible.

The motion passed.

A brief discussion was held concerning the sound system

and the Media Shout program.

There was a discussion on the Stewardship campaign and

the proposed budget.

Department and Committee Reports:

Committees:

Building & Grounds: Denny Wetter reported that the

solution to the commode problem is water pressure and

recommended that a bladder tank be installed. He is in the

process of getting additional quotes since the first was $950.

Events and Fellowship: Sheryl Overheidt-Smith reported on

upcoming events, December 30 Birthday Hospitality;

January 13 Jabberwocky Church potluck; January 18

Dinner and Dessert at the Wetter’s; January 20 Birthday

Hospitality; March 5 Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper.

SAM: The committee is exploring a spending plan for mission

money.

Worship: Marge asked for volunteers for Sunday, January 6.

Communion– Sheryl Overheidt-Smith, Donna Blakey,

Dorathy Gallo and Judy Wetter; Marge Hooie – Scripture.

Un-decorating the Christmas tree will be on January 9 at

10:00 AM

Pastor Brian closed the meeting with prayer at 8:14 PM.

The next Council Meeting will be held on Monday, January

14, 2019 at 6:30PM at the home of Richard Dilts.

Respectfully Submitted

Judy Wetter, Secretary

8 Your Staff

Pastors Rev. Brian and

Rev. Judy

Bagley-Bonner

Cell:

941-718-3132

(with Janie)

PASTORS’ OFFICE HOURS Monday- Thursday mornings

Please contact us to make an

appointment.

We are not in the office Fridays.

Church Office Hours MONDAY-FRIDAY

9 AM - 12 PM

746-8890

Fax 746-0670

Secretary Faith Quici

Music Leader Carly Rafferty

Anita Porter – Pianist

Bruce Covey – Media Specialist

Arlene Smith – Hired Treasurer

Hatti Damianos & Earleen Nutting -

Sunday school Teachers

Don Duncan – IT Support

Faith UCC Email:

faithchurchucc@verizon.net

Faith Website:

faithchurchucc.com

Members of the Prayer Team want to keep the prayer list current.

Please advise us when you would like a name removed from the list.

SUBMIT A PRAYER REQUEST

If you, a member of your family, or someone you know is ill or

hospitalized, please let the office know as soon as possible. A member of

Faith Church would like to make a visit to bring God’s word of comfort.

The church office telephone number is 746-8890 or email at

faithchurchucc@verizon.net

Joan

Sheehan

941.748.2498

Janis Groth

941.779.6988

Marge Hooie

941. 447.4193

Helen Nutting

941. 747.2734

Sheryl

Overheidt-

Smith

941.776.5589

Prayer Team If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, call one of the following:

2019 Church Council Please see Moderator, Richard Dilts, if you are interested

in joining the 2019 church council. We will vote on

nominations at the annual congregational meeting on

Sunday, January 27, immediately following the morning

service.

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JANUARY 2019 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 Office is closed New Year’s Day 6:30pm Downtown Ministries

2 7pm BAC

3 7:15pm NA and NarAnon

4 7:15pm NA 7:30m BAC

5 9am Women’s Breakfast 9am Men’s Breakfast 10am NA and NarAnon

6 10:30am Service with Communion 1:30pm BAC 7:15pm NA

7 6pm Spirits & Spirituality (every 1st & 3rd Mon)

8 Preschool resumes

9 Un-decorate 10am 12pm Spirits & Spirituality (every 2nd Wed) 7pm BAC

10 7pm Christian History 7:15pm NA and NarAnon

11 Church Women United – annual meeting at Pathways Christian Fellowship 7:15pm NA 7:30m BAC

12 10am NA and NarAnon

13 9am Christian History 10:30am Service Jabberwocky Potluck after service 1:30pm BAC 7:15pm NA

14 6:30pm Council Meeting at Richard’s Harbor Walk HOA (every 2nd Monday) Final Annual Reports are due

15 11:30am Prayer Mtg. 6:30pm Downtown Ministries

16 7pm BAC

17 7pm Christian History 7:15pm NA and NarAnon

18 Follower Reminder Dinner and Dessert at the Wetter’s home 7:15pm NA 7:30m BAC

19 10am NA and NarAnon

20 9am Christian History 10:30am Service Birthday Hospitality after service 1:30pm BAC 7:15pm NA

21 Follower Deadline No preschool (MLK day) 6pm Spirits & Spirituality 7pm BR HOA

22 23 7pm BAC

24 7pm Christian History 7:15pm NA and NarAnon

25 7:15pm NA 7:30m BAC

26 10am NA and NarAnon

27 9am Christian History 10:30am Service Annual Congregational Meeting 1:30pm BAC 7:15pm NA

28 Photo Day for Directory 7pm Inlets HOA

29 Photo Day for Directory

30 7pm BAC

31 7pm Christian History 7:15pm NA and NarAnon

Happy Birthday 1/6 Jeffery William Hunter Felix 1/7 Rose Smith 1/18 Hatti Damianos 1/28 Scott Duncan

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Visit our website: www.faithchurchucc.com

o In our worship, we are an inclusive community, a family of faith, which through

prayer, song, the sacraments and liturgy seeks to feel closer to God, to praise God,

to give thanks to God, and to seek forgiveness from God in order to grow in

discipleship.

o In our Christian Education, we seek to develop a community of people with a

mature Christian faith; meaning a faith which leads us to care for others, that opens

our hearts to service, an evolving faith that is the product of critical thinking and

questioning. Our education is for all ages and is conducted in places inside the

church and out.

o In our missions, we seek to share the excitement of our Christian faith without judging

others. In our missions, we seek to take our faith and beliefs from the inside out, and

know that our missions require that we must also bring the outside in. We take

Christ’s admonition—to go forth and share the good news—as our own, which we

strive to do in word and deed both locally and globally.

FAITHFUL FOLLOWER

Faith United Church of Christ

4850 SR 64E

Bradenton, FL 34208-5527

JANUARY 2019

The Vision of Faith United Church of Christ