Letter from Pastor Scott Growing up in Virginia, my experience of winter may have been a little different

than most of you here in Connecticut. I do remember the temperatures dropping and I do have distinct memories of getting off of the elementary school bus when it was just about dark. I remember the air being cold enough to see my breath and having to bundle up in my thickest jacket. Winter is not what one usually associates with the South-but it does

happen in its own unique way.

I also remember with eagerness awaiting the first good snow of the season. School was cancelled and we were going to have a Snow Day! Snow Days meant bundling up and going out to build a snowman, throw snowballs, and make snow angels. It meant that we could get the sleds out of the garage and make our way down the fastest hill in all of Chesterfield County. Winter equaled fun and excitement for me growing up.

And then I grew up. I got married, went to seminary, had kids, and eventually made my way to New England. My reaction to winter changed a bit in connection with my “grown up” responsibilities. Winter can often now mean scraping the car, shoveling the driveway, and this year hoping the wifi works well enough for the kids to actually get on the computer for school...

But I bring you good news! Winter isn’t always the drag that we sometimes associate it with as grown-ups. As grown-ups we notice that the nights are increasingly long. We notice that we’re getting up for work or our morning coffee in the dark. We’re somewhat cranky about the cold temperatures-even up North!

But there’s also something about the coziness of the season. We can light the fire in our fireplace. We can see the gentle light twinkling from the snow and ice. We can hold cups of warm beverages. In Denmark, this is called hygge (pronounced hoo-Ga) and is translated as the “art of coziness.” In Norway, they call it koselig and it means translated as the sense of coziness. Both of these countries have winters even deeper than ours, but they are onto something. They understand and appreciate being cozy and how the long nights of winter lend themselves to that feeling.

As we enter 2021 we seem to be doing a lot of waiting. Waiting for COVID numbers to decrease. Waiting for a vaccine to be widely distributed. Waiting to expand on

January ‘21 Volume 293 / #1

SOMERS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST WORSHIPING AND SERVING SINCE 1727

599 Main St. PO Box 295 Somers, CT 06071 (860) 763- 4021

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here

all the thoughts and dreams and ideas we shared for the future of our church.

We’ve made our way through the Advent season and Christmas-church seasons built on waiting and expectation. We waited for the birth of Jesus not just so we could open our presents on Christmas morning. We waited for Jesus’ birth because we know that he ushers in hope and peace and joy and love. As we waited, we allowed for increasing light to surround us – lighting an additional Advent wreath candle each week. And the candles we lit will guide us as we wait for Christ’s eventual return.

As Christians we wait. We are the people of here but not quite yet.

So, as we start this New Year, I invite you to snuggle in. I invite you to practice your hygge and sharpen your koselig. I invite you to be cozy. To surround yourself in the coziness of the season over and above the chaos that can consume us.

Come worship with us virtually on Youtube every Sunday. Come join our upcoming Community Book Study and other events. Contemplate ways that you can share that coziness with others in our community. And let me know what you find out.

Wishing you hope and peace and joy and love in 2021 and beyond! God bless.

Pastor Scott

The Somers Congregational UCC Youtube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyuviPR4Q9DpQ_YhS3h_nA

For an audio option only please call this number to listen via Zoom: 1-646-558-8656 (this is a long distance call) When prompted for the meeting ID enter 367 030 4830

Please join us for our Community Coffee Hour after Services via Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3670304830 To use your telephone to listen into the Zoom Worship 1 -646-558-8656 (this is a long distance call) When prompted for the meeting ID enter 367 030 4830

2021

January 3: Epiphany Sunday w/Communion (Luke 2:41-52) Free-will offering to Deacons January 10: Baptism of Christ Sunday (Luke 3:1-22) January 17: Second Sunday after Epiphany (Luke 4:14-30) The Sermon at Nazareth January 24: Third Sunday after Epiphany (Luke 5:1-11) Fishing for People

FULLY RELY ON GOD Our Christian Education Team would like to again thank our Acolytes Tara Spence, Leah Spence, Timothy Lakota, Carianne Stebenne, Kim Kelley, Kathy Fuller and a correction to December Highlights...Sophie Gleeson's cousin is Josh Colby, for lighting and extinguishing the candles on the altar. We thank Kathy Fuller, she graciously stepped in as a teacher for our first Sunday School student, Miriam Spence. The activity went well. When you kids are ready to come back to church, we are ready for you.

On Saturday, December 12th Tyler Cass set up multiple cameras to record our Covid-19 version of the Christmas Story. Our participants did such a good job. I hope you all had a chance to watch the pageant on zoom Christmas Eve. Thank you Carianne Stebenne for your awesome organizational skills. Christie Gleeson and Kathy Fuller for your help with dressing and direction. Kim and Joe Kelley as Mary and Joseph, Ryan, Tristan, Haley and Sawyer Hrobuchak our angels, Morgan Juzba, Maddy Juzba, Sophie Gleeson our narrators and wise men, Timothy Lakota, Eric Renzoni our narrators and Shepherds, Hannah Renzoni our Inn Keeper and Joey Stebenne our lone animal. Happy New Year!!

Missions

Hello and Happy Holidays from your missions board. Beginning immediately, our amazing congregation has another opportunity to help our neighbors in need. One of our missions, Loaves and Fishes, has approached us about a need for new and gently used, warm winter items. We'll be collecting from now through at least January 24th the following items in the church office between 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Stay tuned for a possible Mobile Mission Moment for parking lot drop off.

They are in need of (for all ages): blankets, sleeping bags, tents, coats, snow pants, sweaters, sweatshirts and sweatpants, hats, mittens, scarves, winter boots and new socks.

Thank you for your help.

Champ’s Place We would like to thank the members of the Somers Congregational Church for all their support during 2020. We appreciate the use of space in the Bugbee Center to store and distribute food and other necessities to our clients. During the past year we have regularly received donations of food, hygiene products, cleaning products and money. Our number of clients has increased due to the pandemic and we are serving many more children. We know they appreciated your kind support of the Backpack Collection and will be grateful for the Angel Gifts during the Christmas season.

Once again, THANK YOU!!!!!

Kathy Moulton & Kit Devlin – Co-Directors of Champs Place

Coming soon……… Special community project of making desks for students in grades K-5 who are at home doing virtual learning. Helpers needed to cut wood at home…..helpers needed to assemble, sand and paint in the project center! (the Foundation Room) Details will be coming soon……

Call to Service

S o many of you have volunteered over the years to serve on our various Boards and Committees. Each time you serve, it is an opportunity to work in fellowship with Christians to grow your faith and fulfill a need in all of us to make a difference in the life of our church and community. The Boards and Committees are filling quickly for the 2021 Church Year. Don’t miss an opportunity to work with your fellow Christians! There are a few openings left to serve on Reception, Stewardship, Caring, Finance, Technology, Fellowship, Flowers, and Ushers. Each Board is designed to have 6

members, so the work is shared! Currently, most committees are meeting via Zoom, so no worries about safety. If you feel called to serve, please contact Deb Barry (394-9939), Ellen Marschall (490-1809) or Gene Allard 749-9226) and we will help you find your perfect service opportunity!

In appreciation……..thank you Linda Many of you may not know who Linda is……..but she knows every nook and cranny in our church building. She has just completed 20 years of work, taking care of our building complex.

When the fire destroyed our church, Linda got the Bugbee Center cleaned and ready to re-open 100 days after the fire. We then could hold our community suppers in Room 116.

When Covid-19 came in March, Linda spent the next several months doing a deep cleaning in each room in our building complex and sanitizing the areas we would use. Once again, when the office re-opened, everything was ready to go.

Thank you, Linda for your dedication and commitment.

Stewardship Pledge Drive 125 families pledged in 2017. During our interim process pledges dropped to 82 in 2020 for a variety of reasons. How do we bring that number back up?? 2021 is a new beginning in many ways. New church leadership from the pastor and music director thru the council and committees. New format to view church worship services and the hope we will see each other in person real soon. We ask, with this new beginning, you pray about filling out your 2021 pledge card as we have not yet reached last year's total of pledges. And if you really don't understand "why we pledge" please reach out to Kathy Fuller, Kim Kelley or Tyler Cass. Thank You and Happy New Year!!

New Year Greetings,

We have much to be thankful for at Somers Congregational Church. There are so many people who work hard to keep our church thriving and able to serve our local community and the greater community. The Finance Committee is no exception as they have worked tirelessly along with our Treasurer Sharon Renzoni and the Stewardship Committee on the 2021 budget. Unfortunately, we currently have a $50,000 budget deficit. While this seems like a discouraging number, there is hope that we can meet this challenge and overcome it. The specifics of this budget and the reasons for the deficit are very detailed, but the bottom line is we have a shortfall in pledges and other income sources. Meanwhile our expenses remain constant, and in some cases increased. Currently, every committee is reviewing their expenses to see where items can be reduced or eliminated. There is good news. In 2020 we collected over 97% of pledges which is amazing considering the circumstances this year and for 2021 we have 6 additional pledges. However, we have room to improve on this as the current rate is 53% of households have pledged (or 64 of 121 households have pledged). If each one of the remaining households pledged $16 per week, we would make up the $50,000. It is understood that everyone’s circumstances are different, but if you can pledge any amount it will help our ability to plan for 2021. The Stewardship Committee’s theme is “Linked Together In Faith” which is very appropriate as our church family is linked together in so many ways. If you have not had a chance to pledge for 2021, please prayerfully consider what you can give. If you have pledged for 2021 and are able to increase your pledge, now is the time. If you are unsure how to make or increase your pledge, you can contact the Stewardship chairperson Kathy Fuller at kathyfll9@aol.com or reach out to me at jewell.jim@gmail.com Wishing you a healthy and safe 2021. May God bless Somers Congregational Church and all of you, your families and friends. Blessings, Jim Jewell Moderator

Giving There are many ways of giving to the Somers Congregational Church……

Pledges Our yearly stewardship drive ensures our ability to budget for our ministries, our dedicated staff and the ongoing programs and mission outreach. Our proposed budget for 2021 is $288,107.00. The total of our 2021 pledges is $157,827.00. The pledges will pay for only 55% of our budget. The remainder of our budget is funded from our investments, donations, rental income and fundraising. With the sanctuary temporarily closed for worship, there are many ways to pay your pledge: • Mail your check to Somers Congregational Church, PO Box 295, Somers, CT 06071 • Set up auto pay with your bank. • Pay online with Paypal thru the church website (thesomerschurch.org) • Drop off you check in the black mailbox outside the main entry to the church building • Pay your pledge directly from your IRA if you are 701/2 or older (reduces taxable income) Online Giving Online giving (Paypal) is also available for one-time gifts. It’s quick, easy, and secure. You may designate our operating budget and/or Champs’ Place. You don’t need to have a Paypal account to donate. You may use your credit card. Birthday Club To join the Birthday Club, write a check in the amount of years on your birthday. Annual Membership increases only $1.00 each year. You don’t have to be a member of the church to be a member of the Birthday Club. Children and grandchildren can join. You can join in honor of a parent or a grandparent. The money goes to the Endowment Fund. It is the gift that keeps on giving. Each year a percentage of the Endowment Fund goes towards the operating budget. Leave a Legacy Gift Since its founding, many generous people have included Somers Congregational Church in their estate plans. Legacy gifts are provided by visionary individuals who engage in thoughtful decision-making that includes the church in their estate planning. They see this as a way to make a difference in the life of the church community for generations to come. Unrestricted Gifts or Special Gifts Your legacy may benefit the church in any number of ways. You may leave a general unrestricted gift or specifically direct your gift to the Somers Congregational Church’s endowment, or to the ongoing support of: Facilities, Music & Arts, or Mission & Outreach Programs. Wills and Bequests Provide a simple way to make a gift that will keep on giving after your lifetime. Without a will, or other provision such as a living trust, state law will decide how your assets will be distributed upon your death. Life Insurance Gifts of life insurance offer opportunities to make substantial charitable contributions. If you have a policy which is no longer needed for family protection, you may simply name Somers Congregational Church as the beneficiary. To receive a tax deduction, transfer ownership of the policy to the church. Anne Kirkpatrick, Chair, Finance Committee

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Our Church Administrative Assistant, Heather Hight, will now be editing and publishing the Church Newsletter, Highlights.

Please be aware of deadlines and send your articles to

Highlights@thesomerschurch.org