The Connection News from

The United Church of Warsaw

Who We Are: The United Church of Warsaw is called by the

Holy Spirit to follow Jesus Christ through loving and serving God and all God’s people.

Volume 3, No. 10 – October 2014

Reflections from ‘The Rev’

Pleasing People versus Pleasing God

“Remember that you are called to be faithful, not successful. A Minister of God is called to be faithful in the eyes of God, not successful in the eyes of the world.” These words were spoken by Rev. William (“Flan”) Flanagan. Flan was one of my clergy mentors who served at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, CA, where I experienced my spiritual conversion and call to ordained ministry. Flan followed those words of wisdom with these prophetic words: “Some church members think that the minister’s job is to please them and to make them happy. But ministry isn’t about people-pleasing. Ministry is about God-pleasing.” Flan’s words remind me of a provocative list of “ifs,” entitled “Keeping Everyone Happy?” The following is a summary of comments made about a pastor in a typical church:

If her sermon is longer than usual: “She’s putting us to sleep!”

If her sermon is short: “She hasn’t bothered to prepare!”

If she raises her voice: “She’s shouting!”

If she speaks normally: “She’s mumbling!”

If she is out-of-town: “She’s always on the road!”

If she is at home: “She’s not visiting people in hospitals!”

If she is out visiting: “She’s never at home!”

If she is in the Pastor’s Office: “She never visits home-bound church members!”

If she talks finances: “She is too preoccupied with money!”

If she doesn’t talk finances: “The church is going bankrupt!”

If she takes her time with people: “She wears everyone out!”

If she is brief: “She never listens!”

If she starts the worship service on time: “Her watch is fast!”

If she starts a minute late: “She holds everyone up!”

If she is young: “She lacks experience!”

If she is old: “She should retire!”

And, if she dies? Well, of course: “No one can ever take her place!”

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Reflections from ‘The Rev’ (Continued from Page 1)

Whether one serves as a minister or as another role, being consumed with people-pleasing is ultimately a lose-lose predicament. The 15th Century poet and monk, John Lydgate, said it well: “You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. But you cannot please all of the people all of the time.” Moreover, the expectation of a minister or of an individual to please all people all the time is both unhealthy and unrealistic. A minister or an individual will be rapidly depleted, and those who expect to be pleased by a minister or by an individual will be eternally disappointed. However, pleasing God is essential if one is a God-seeker and a Christ-follower. In the epistle of John, 1 John 3:22, we are guided by these words: “We receive from God whatever we ask, because we obey God’s commandments and do what pleases God.” Richard Baxter was a Puritan church leader and theologian in the 17th Century. Baxter’s essay on “Pleasing God,” written in 1682, is still honored today. 1. If you seek first to please God, you have but One to please, instead of a

multitude; a multitude of masters are harder to please than is one master.

2. That One is pure and is not pleased with deceit or dishonesty.

3. That One is acquainted with your heart and knows the motive of your actions.

4. That One is just and does not put upon you contradictions or impossibilities.

5. That One that is constant and is not pleased with one thing today and another thing tomorrow.

6. That One is gentle and does not require you to hurt yourself to please Him.

7. That One is divine and is not subject to human passions, which blind human minds and incite human

injustice.

8. That One is Truth and is not moved by gossipers or maligners or false accusers.

Richard Baxter makes the case that, if we please God in our day-to-day lives, then we will know heaven while still living upon earth. Certainly our North American culture and often our families of origin coach each of us to seek to please people. Consciously or unconsciously, people-pleasing is a full-time occupation for children, women and men. But within the universal family of God, we who are faith-seekers are principally called to please One greater than ourselves. So, who are you? A people-pleaser? Or a God-pleaser? Beside you in the journey of faith, Rev. BarbaraRev. BarbaraRev. BarbaraRev. Barbara

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A Blessing…and a Greater Blessing

Make no mistake about it!

Responsibilities toward other human beings

are the greatest blessings that God can send us.

--Dorothy Dix On Homecoming Sunday, members and friends of The United Church of Warsaw --of all ages and all sizes--gathered in a great circle inside our sanctuary to

say and to symbolize: “We are the family of God! We are a family of faith!” Indeed, we each are a blessing within our family of faith. We each are called to share our blessings with our family of faith. Our responsibilities toward one another are the greatest blessings that God sends us. We are a blessing to one another. And we are responsible to one another. Our season of commitment begins on October 26 and extends through November 16, Commitment Sunday. On the four Sundays in our Commitment Season, church members and friends will share aloud during Sunday worship how our family of faith is a blessing to them. This season, all members and friends are invited to be blessing to our family of faith and a greater blessing to our faith community. The United Church of Warsaw is not only a family of faith who cares for its members and friends, The United Church of Warsaw is also a faith community who serves two significant outreach programs:

Starburst Christian Preschool

Warsaw Food Pantry

The Starburst Preschool, now in its twenty-seventh year of operation, serves God and the greater community of Warsaw and surrounding towns by offering a faith-based and accredited learning environment for preschool-aged students. Due to local shifts in birth rates and multiple non-tuition preschool options, Starburst Preschool has experienced decreased enrollment. Thus, Starburst Preschool needs the physical and material support of our faith community in order to continue serving God and the greater community of Warsaw. The Warsaw Food Pantry, having operated for nearly forty years, serves God and the citizens of Wyoming County by offering one week’s supply of food to individuals and families who need and who cannot afford to buy such food. Likewise, due to increasing numbers of needful clients, increasing costs of food and significant decreases in food grants and corporate donations, the Warsaw Food Pantry needs greater monetary support from our faith community in order to continue serving God and the needful population of Wyoming County. A letter inviting all members and friends to participate in the life of our family of faith and in the life of our faith community’s outreach programs--Starburst Christian Preschool and Warsaw Food Pantry--will arrive in homes in late October. May you be a blessing to your family of faith. May you be a greater blessing to your faith community.

Be a blessing…and a greater blessing!

Our acolytes for October 2014 are listed below. October 5 Katie Fisher

October 12 Joe Fisher

October 19 Jyssica Fisher

October 26 Mason Johnson

Sunday Morning Ministries

Sign-up Sheets for Sunday Ministry for October are on the tables in the East Room. Following Worship and during Fellowship Time, please add your name to the lists for Greeters, Scripture Readers, Ushers, Communion Servers and Refreshment Providers.

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So, How’s Your Love Life?

On Sunday morning, September 14, members and friends of our family of faith returned to

The United Church of Warsaw to rekindle their connection with our faith community. We joined in singing. We joined in praising. We joined in a circle…

…all around the inside of our sanctuary. We joined in reading, hearing and lifting up the Word of God.

We joined in naming and expanding “our love life.” We joined in giving to our family of faith wherein we love and care for one another.

We joined in fellowship. We joined in sharing past memories and future visions.

On Homecoming Sunday, members and friends of our family of faith “came home” to strengthen, once again, their connection with our faith community.

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F.A.C.E. Group: Re-Grouping and Strengthening

The people of Nazareth who heard Jesus were astounded.

They said, “What is this wisdom that has been given to him?

What deeds of power are being done by his hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” Mark 6:2-3

Scripture records that Jesus was a carpenter by trade. Before his public ministry at (approximately)

age 30, Jesus earned his livelihood by working with wood.

It seems appropriate, then, that the F.A.C.E. Group (i.e., the Faith And Caring Encounter Group)

visited Clayton Carlson, a carpenter and a wood crafter of local renown, for its Reunion event last month.

On September 21, ten youth of The United Church of Warsaw, three parents and the pastor descended

upon Clayton and his wood-working studio in Wyoming, NY.

Clayton displayed wood-crafting projects in various stages of progress (beginning block of wood,

mid-project piece, finished product). He presented various samples of wood (bass, cherry, oak). He

demonstrated various pieces of machinery (saws, lathes, sanders) and various tools (chisels, gouges, clamps).

He showed the damage caused by weevils. He spoke of how he derived his inspiration for various pieces of

wood-crafting.

As a parting gesture to the F.A.C.E. Group, Clayton gifted each of the ten youth with an exquisitely

crafted wooden bowl. Each bowl was for its youthful recipient to buy or to sell, with all the proceeds going to

the F.A.C.E. Group.

Clayton delighted in speaking about and demonstrating his craft. The F.A.C.E. Group members

delighted in listening to Clayton and watching him at work. It was a mutual lesson about Clayton’s labor of

love: his wood-crafting.

On Sunday mornings, the congregation is invited to see Clayton’s woodworking pieces when the

F.A.C.E. Group displays his art in the East Room. Our family of faith is encouraged to affirm Clayton’s

artistic talent and to support the F.A.C.E. Group by purchasing any of these unique works of art…personally

crafted by Clayton Carlson.

The F.A.C.E. Group members, their families and Rev. Barbara are grateful to Clayton for opening his

heart and wood-working studio to them. Moreover, they are thankful for multiple choices and opportunities to

nurture their faith and to show their care within our faith community and our greater community.

Autumn Sermon Series: The Parables of Jesus

“Tell me a story!” Who has not said that? Or heard that? In his ministry, Jesus of Nazareth did just that. He told stories. And his stories--known as parables--are among his most vividly remembered words. During the months of October and November, the sermon messages on Sunday mornings will reflect on familiar and

lesser-known parables of Jesus: The Rich Fool, the Laborers in the Vineyard, the Treasure in the Field, the Fine Pearl, the Sower of Seeds, the Talents, the Unforgiving Servant and the Prodigal Son. Join your family of faith on Sunday mornings! Renew your spirits and rejuvenate your lives with lessons from the parables of Jesus.

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Written by George Ann Carter

The Internet and Facebook newsfeed are filled with trivia, both useful and useless. It’s fun to scroll through all the available information, although it’s not easy to tell what is true, partially true or an outright fabrication. Recently this came up on Facebook, and it was intriguing.

Pray for Your Pastor

97% of pastors have been betrayed, falsely accused or hurt by their trusted friends. 70% of pastors battle depression. 7,000 churches close each year. 1,500 pastors quit each month. 10% will retire a pastor. 80% of pastors feel discouraged. 94% of pastors’ families feel the pressure of the ministry. 75% of pastors have no close friends. 90% of pastors report working 55 – 85 hours per week. Pray for your pastor.

What a sad situation if these numbers are actually true. Probably all of us can agree that only the percentages are questionable. The Congregational Care Committee is generally concerned with the individuals who join us in worship, regardless of the frequency. But, because all of us are called to minister to one another, we must also minister to our pastor. All pastors, including the one currently gracing our pulpit, deserve our respect, support and appreciation. There’s one thing better than being a Facebook friend, and that’s being a face-to-face friend! Please say a prayer for our pastor!

* * * * * Congratulations to the LaWall family who is celebrating the arrival of Liliana Rose to Andy and Amanda LaWall! Proud grandfather is Ted LaWall. Good job, Michele Duryea, for once again organizing the successful Glen Iris 5K run that benefits the Castile Library! Please keep these individuals in your prayers: Residents of The Cloisters, 171 North Maple Street, Warsaw: Betty Mayle, Flora Parmelee Residents of Eastside Nursing Home, 62 Prospect Street, Warsaw: Lucille Carlson, Doris Montgomery, Judy Plowe, Hope Rase Residents of WCCH Skilled Nursing Facility, 400 North Main Street, Warsaw: Jack Kibler, Verna Schneckenburger Resident of the Batavia Nursing Home, 257 State Street, Batavia 14020: Jack Spencer Prayers of comfort, healing, peace and strength: Jeannette and Willis Allen (parents of Cyndi Nugent); Arlene Baker; Eloise Colter; Bill Heubusch; Andy Murray (grandson of Ellen Chandler); Tammy Pickard; Judy Plowe; Austin and Laura Saxton; Rose Schoff; Lexi Sonricker and her family; Larry Spohr (brother of Betty James and Marilyn Kibler); Ruth Stevenson (mother of Ellen Chandler); Rev. Barbara Therese; and, Aileen Tuttle

Continued on Page 7

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Congregational Care (Continued from Page 6)

Prayers for a successful school year: All students and teachers; college students, including Ethan Best, Meghan Duell and Karl Kunze If you know of others in need of our prayers or contact, please let George Ann Carter or Donna Mager know.

If we could look into each other’s hearts,

and understand the unique challenges

each of us faces, I think we would treat each other

more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care.

--Marvin J. Ashton

Blessing of Teachers - 2014 On Sunday, September 21, The United Church of Warsaw invited teachers--active and retired, part-time and full-time, Sunday School and public school--to come forward during worship and to receive a blessing for their vocation and avocation. From our family of faith, fourteen teachers came forward. With hands of the youth and children of our faith community resting upon their heads, the teachers received the following blessing: O giving God, O guiding God:

We have come together to give thanks for all our teachers.

Thank you for how they give of themselves and for how they have given of themselves.

O God: Fill their hearts with boldness by your Spirit.

Fill them with strength, so that they may rise to every challenge.

Fill them with endurance, so that they may not grow weary or disillusioned.

Fill them with wisdom, so that they may teach with clarity and treat students with dignity.

Fill them with peace, so that, in the face of struggle,

they may respond with goodness and with love.

Fill them with joy, so that the passion they have for their subject

may be the passion they share with their students.

O God: We ask this in the name of the One who teaches us still, Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

* * * * * The teachers then received a copy of “A Prayer for Teachers” based upon this same blessing. The United Church of Warsaw is deeply grateful for those teachers who grace the lives of others and the life of our family of faith.

Thank you to my family, church family and friends for the many cards and best wishes as I celebrated my 90th birthday. Thank you for coming to my

wonderful party hosted by Tom, Jane and Lisa. I feel so blessed. Barb Conger

Walk to End Alzheimer’s A Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held on Saturday, October 4, at the Warsaw Village Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m. All funds raised will further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. Sherry Cousins, a member of our family of faith, will accept donations for The Cloisters’ Team. If you want to contribute, please contact Sherry at 585-322-5128.

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Greetings from Starburst! Our first few weeks have been filled with excitement and adventure as the students have been settling into a routine, getting to know one another, learning the rules, and having fun along the way. The weather has allowed us to enjoy the outdoor playground. We are planning field trips to the Fire Department and the Pumpkin Farm, learning about apples and pumpkins, and discovering the beauty of God’s creation. Heart-felt thanks to everyone who has so graciously purchased supplies for the Starburst preschoolers and to those who are participating in our fund raiser. Please visit the East Room after worship on Sundays for fundraiser materials. We are selling a variety of home and holiday items. You will find a little something for everyone! Happy October!

Operation Christmas Child Update We hope that you will join us this year as we prepare to collect Christmas shoeboxes for children all around the world. These shoeboxes--which contain small toys, school supplies, hygiene and clothing items--may be the only gift these children will receive at Christmas. Samaritan’s Purse, who sponsors the program, will insert appropriate Chris-tian material into each box to introduce children and their families to Christ. It is truly a gift which “serves God’s people with love.” Please join us in this love-sharing project. Boxes should be brought to the Church Office or Starburst Preschool by November 23.

Pamphlets describing the program as well as sample boxes are available on the round table in the Connection. You may also call Larene McCabe (Starburst or 585-786-3720 or 585-786-5713 for more information. On behalf of the children, we say, “Thanks!”

Starburst Wish List 2 Neosporin first aide ointments 5 oz paper cups Bags of baby carrots Ranch dressing Crackers Gold fish snacks Gallon-size storage bags without zipper Good quality broom New Dress-up items (toy jewelry, crowns, etc.) Thank you!

Notes from the Choir In early November, the Choir will begin rehearsing music for the Christmas season. We need and welcome extra voices for the holi-day music. Moreover, if you play an instru-ment, please contact any choir member. Feel free to share any musical requests you would enjoy hearing by contacting me at

585-786-8527. Thank you, Lynn Saxton, Director

Thanksgiving Is Coming!

Thanksgiving Community Meal Is

November 16!

Gather your grateful hearts and share your grace-filled spirits! The annual Thanksgiving Community Meal for our faith community and, more especially, our greater community is:

Sunday, November 16

Fellowship Hall of The United Church of Warsaw Please add your name to Thanksgiving Meal Sign-Up Lists and join in this yearly labor of love. Sign-up lists for food items, food preparations, food serving, room set-up and room clean-up will be available the Church Office (regular office hours) as well as in the East Room during the Time of Fellowship after Sunday worship beginning in early October. Add your heart and spirit to our Thanksgiving Community Meal!

November Newsletter Deadline

The November 2014 Newsletter deadline is Wednesday,

October 15, 2014.

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Warsaw Food Pantry We helped 131 families in August. There were 200 adults, 96 children and 20 seniors for a total of 316. There were 21 new families. Food donations were received from the following: Our United Church of Warsaw congregation Valley Chapel Free Methodist Church Valley Chapel Free Methodist Church Youth Group Ladies of the Moose St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church First United Methodist Church Immanuel United Methodist Church Valerie and Marcia Marcheson Dorothy Keenan Adele Kunze Leslie Kunze Donna Ramsey Joan Roquez Sue Schell Jeff and Linda Thomas Lynn Saxton Ellie Tangeman and Bella Noon Monetary donations totaling $803.25 were received from the following: Family Life Church Virginia Warren James Diver Dennis and Lucy Krajewski Ellie’s and Bella’s Yard Sale If you wish to share from your garden harvest, the Food Pantry welcomes donations of fresh fruits and vegetables. Our hours are Monday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. You may also bring your garden harvest donations to church on Sunday mornings. Thank you to everyone for your generous suppose of this very worthwhile mission! Joyce Neeley, Director

It’s Snackpak Time! As part of our local mission program, The United Church of Warsaw participates in the “Snackpaks for Kids Program” for Warsaw school children. Each week, backpacks are filled with snacks and items that can be prepared simply by children for weekend meals. These are delivered to the school and dispensed by school staff to children en-rolled in the program. Children are selected by the school, based on need. If you know of any children who may benefit from this program, please contact the school directly.

Once again it’s time to ask for your generous donations. Suggested food items: Juice boxes, fruit cups, puddings, cereals, peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, granola bars. (Note: Plastic containers only, please. No glass containers.) The children always need new or used backpacks. (Preferably clean, sturdy, gender-neutral backpacks. Thank you!) Monetary donations are always welcomed and allow the program to purchase specific items, as needed. You can always leave donations in the collection container in the Connection at church. Or call us and we will gladly pick them up. Thank you, United Church of Warsaw congregation, for your generous support! If you have any questions or would like to help with the program, please call: Lisa at 585-704-8358 or Gabby at 585-409-4548. Lisa Johnson and Gabby Henry, Snackpak Co-Coordinators

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October Birthdays 10 Flora Parmelee Dave Bassett 13 Peyton Donald Grawe 16 Jyssica Fisher 18 Pam Hess Mackenna Flint

Robert Humphrey 22 Chris Willey 23 Gabrielle Henry 25 Emily Howard 28 George Ann Carter 29 Katie Fisher 30 Margaret Gardner 31 Howard Wood Cassie Fisher

October Anniversaries 3 Steven and Cassie Fisher 2009 6 David and Donna Mager 1985 22 Jack and Norma Spencer 1955 30 Warren and Aileen Tuttle 1949

Jars and Donations for Com-

munion Jelly Once again, the season for “Communion Jelly” is upon us! To refresh your taste buds, “Communion Jelly” is deep purple, divinely sweet jelly that is made from Communion grape juice that is not consumed on Communion Sundays. In essence, “Communion Jelly” is a loving gift made from lovely leftovers. Ellen Chandler and Barb Litz, members of our faith community, are amazingly creative “elves” who skillfully transform leftover grape juice into “Communion Jelly.” Ellen and Barb need the following: 4 oz. or 8 oz. jelly-size canning jars and new lids and bands for jelly-size canning jars. Please bring your donations of jelly-size canning jars, plus new lids and bands to the church and place them in the specially designated box in the East Room. Your jar donations and any monetary donations are welcome, now through the end of October. If you have any questions, please call the Communion Jelly elves: Ellen Chandler (cell: 585-330-4804) and Barb Litz (cell: 585-519-3388).

Church Directories: Availability and Additions Copies of our new Directory of Members and Friends of The United Church of

Warsaw are available for pick-up during the Time of Fellowship on Sunday mornings. Church members and friends are invited to take a new Directory (one copy per household, please) from the Directory-Display Table in the East Room. High mailing expenses prevent our mailing Directories to individual households. If church members or friends want to report additions/changes to our Directory, they may email them to Cindy Kiel, our Administrative Assistant, at: ucwarsaw@frontiernet.net. Or they may print out additions/changes on a sheet of paper and place the paper in the Administrative Assistant Folder just outside Cindy’s office in the Connection of The United Church of Warsaw. Additions/changes will be printed in our monthly newsletters so that members and friends may amend and keep current their own copies of the Directory. Addition: Cyndi Nugent and Scott Ferry, 5936 West Middlebury Road, PO Box 53, Wyoming, NY

14591 Cell: 585-506-6833

If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, please accept our apologies. Kindly advise the Church Office (in writing or by email) of your birthday or your anniversary and wedding year and we will add your information to our data-base. Thank you!

What’s Happening? Each week, check out the bulletin boards in The Connection to learn what’s happening in our area churches and in our community.

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1

Starburst Open House 6-7 p.m. Choir Practice 7 p.m.

2 Food Pantry 9-11 a.m. Weight Watchers 5:00-7:30 p.m.

3

Food Pantry 9-11 a.m.

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5 Choir Practice 9 a.m. Prayer Group 9:45 a.m. Worship, Communion, Sharing-the-Light Food Collection 10 a.m.

6 Food Pantry 9-11 a.m.

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Weight Watchers 8:00-10:30 a.m. Food Pantry 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Starburst Board Meeting 12:30 p.m.

Choir Practice 7 p.m.

9 Food Pantry 9-11 a.m. Weight Watchers 5:00-7:30 p.m.

10 Food Pantry 9-11 a.m.

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12 Choir Practice 9 a.m. Prayer Group 9:45 a.m. Worship Service 10 a.m.

13 Church Office and Food Pantry closed in observance of Columbus Day Commission Meeting 6:30 p.m.

14 Weight Watchers 8:00-10:30 a.m. Food Pantry 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Choir Practice 7 p.m.

16 Food Pantry 9-11 a.m. Weight Watchers 5:00-7:30 p.m.

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Food Pantry 9-11 a.m.

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19 Choir Practice 9 a.m. Prayer Group 9:45 a.m. Worship Service 10 a.m.

20

Food Pantry 9-11 a.m.

21 Weight Watchers 8:00-10:30 a.m. Food Pantry 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

22

Choir Practice 7 p.m.

23 Food Pantry 9-11 a.m. Weight Watchers 5:00-7:30 p.m.

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Food Pantry 9-11 a.m.

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26 Choir Practice 9 a.m. Prayer Group 9:45 a.m. Worship Service 10 a.m.

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Food Pantry 9-11 a.m.

28 Weight Watchers 8:00-10:30 a.m. Food Pantry 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Choir Practice 7 p.m.

30 Food Pantry 9-11 a.m. Weight Watchers 5:00-7:30 p.m.

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Food Pantry 9-11 a.m.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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The United Church of Warsaw

Presbyterian (U.S.A.) and

United Church of Christ (Congregational)

10-22 South Main Street

PO Box 205

Warsaw, NY 14569

Worship Service: Sundays at 10 a.m. Sunday School 10:20 a.m. Please join us! All are welcome! 585-786-3868 ucwarsaw@frontiernet.net www.ucwarsaw.org

Autumn Sermon Series: The Parables of Jesus

‘Once Upon a Time’…with the Parables of Jesus

Throughout October and November

you are invited to

A Time of Parables

at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings

in the sanctuary of The United Church of Warsaw

* * * * *

Hear, read and re-engage with your favorites parables:

The Prodigal Son, The Sower of Seeds, The Talents…and more.

This autumn, join your family of faith for…

‘Once Upon a Time’…with the Parables of Jesus