The Church Caller 17 Jan 18 Caller.pdf · Sunday, December 17th Third Sunday of Advent 8:45 a.m. &...
Transcript of The Church Caller 17 Jan 18 Caller.pdf · Sunday, December 17th Third Sunday of Advent 8:45 a.m. &...
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The Church Caller
A monthly publication of Ellington Congregational Church December 2017/January 2018
SUNDAY
WORSHIP
SERVICE
8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, DECEMBER 3RD FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
COMMUNION
BELL SUNDAY
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Mark 13:24-37
Sunday, DECEMBER 10TH
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
SENIOR CHOIR CANTATA
“Celebrate the Child Who Is the Light”
Sunday, DECEMBER 17TH THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
ALL CHURCH WORSHIP
CHILDREN’S PAGEANT
“It All Happened In the Country”
Sunday, DECEMBER 24TH
ALL CHURCH WORSHIP
10:30 AM SERVICE ONLY
Sunday, DECEMBER 31ST
ALL CHURCH WORSHIP
10:30 AM SERVICE ONLY
From the Designated Pastor…
“I have so much to do today that I will spend the
first three hours in prayer.”
-Martin Luther
When I first read this quote from one of the leaders of the
Protestant Reformation, I thought that this was a rather
quaint sentiment, but very unrealistic and impractical.
Now I understand how healthy and life giving is that
statement and its practice. Not rigid or applied
unreflectively, but as a profound perspective about what
ought to be our daily priority: making sure that our life
and our choices flow out of deeply held spiritual values.
Continued on page 3
See Page 2 For Advent and Christmas Happenings
W.I.N.D. ~ Worship in New Directions
Wed., Dec. 6th
5:00 p.m. Service Only – joining the WF Pot-
Luck Supper after the service.
Wed., Dec. 13th NO W.I.N.D.
Wed., Dec. 20th NO W.I.N.D. ~ Blue Christmas at 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 27th NO W.I.N.D.
Join members and friends on Wednesday evenings for Worship in New Directions, an informal, contemporary experience of small group worship, at 6:45 in Room 201. Prior to worship, a simple family-style dinner and a time of fellowship are offered in the Social Room. All are welcome. Come to nourish your body, mind and soul!
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Celebrate Advent and
Christmas
With Your Church Family!
Friends and Extended Family Are
Always Welcome…
Sunday, December 3rd
First Sunday of Advent
8:45 a.m. Worship ~
Sacrament of Holy Communion
10:30 a.m. Worship ~
Sacrament of Holy Communion
& Bell Sunday
Sunday, December 10th
Second Sunday of Advent
8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Senior Choir presents “Celebrate the Child Who Is the Light”
Annual Holiday Turkey
Dinner Noon in the Social Room
Sponsored by TELOS
Sunday, December 17th
Third Sunday of Advent
8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Christmas Pageant
All Church Worship “It All Happened In the Country”
Wednesday, December 20th 7:30 p.m.
Blue Christmas Service
Holidays are not always a
merry or happy time for
everyone. Come join us for a
service of comfort, healing and hope.
Sunday, December 24th
Fourth Sunday of Advent
10:30 a.m. Worship ~ All Church Worship (no Fellowship)
Sunday, December 24th
Christmas Eve Worship
5:00 p.m.
A Family Service
Featuring the Cherub Choir, Junior Choir,
Junior Bell Choir and the Chime Choir
7:00 p.m.
A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with the
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Featuring the Senior Choir and
the Senior Bell Choir
11:00 p.m.
A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with the
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Sunday, December 31st
First Sunday after Christmas
10:30 a.m. Worship ~ All Church Worship (no Fellowship)
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Epiphany
8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Communion Sunday ~ All Church Worship
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SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE
8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, JANUARY 7TH EPIPHANY/THREE KINGS SUNDAY
COMMUNION SUNDAY
ALL CHURCH WORSHIP Matthew 2:1-12
Sunday, JANUARY 14TH SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
BAPTISM OF THE LORD
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS
“You Are Beloved”
Mark 1:1-11
Sunday, JANUARY 21ST
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
3RD GRADE BIBLE SUNDAY
Sunday, JANUARY 28TH THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
MISSION SUNDAY
W.I.N.D. ~ Worship in New Directions 6:00 pm Dinner & Fellowship ~ 6:45 pm Worship
Stay tuned…Wednesday dates in January to be
announced.
Join members and friends on Wednesday evenings for Worship in
New Directions, an informal, contemporary experience of small
group worship, at 6:45 in Room 201. Prior to worship, a simple
family-style dinner and a time of fellowship are offered in the Social
Room. All are welcome. Come to nourish your body, mind and soul!
Complimentary 2018 calendars are located in the
Narthex
and outside the church office mail box area if you
would like one.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Continued from page 1
We are in what for most of us is the busiest time of the
year: the holidays and all the extra activities and
commitments that accompany them. Shopping,
entertaining, baking, gift wrapping, the company party,
traveling to relatives, more shopping, etc. etc.
Whew! I feel tired just thinking about all that happens
in the next month and a half. So along with all of
these activities, commitments, and obligations often
come exhaustion, frustration, irritation, stress, and
depression.
Whew!
So I want to remind us all to slow down, to say “no” to
some invitations, to reduce the stress by conscious
choices and deliberate action. This is really what
Luther had in mind: make the choice to center ones’
life on God’s presence. Then choose from the vast
array of activities, which compete for our limited time
and energy in these holidays, those that lead toward joy
and peace, love and service. The way to manage the
next two months is to pray for wisdom and guidance
and strength. Not necessarily literally for three hours
every day, but how about for 5 or 10 minutes? Or for
just one minute of silence and contemplation of the
presence of the holy in the world and in your life.
Regularly remind yourself that these events are not just
holidays, but holy days. And consciously and
deliberately ask yourself how you can keep the ‘holy’
in the way you celebrate these holidays.
This is not easy for me to do…I can easily get
distracted and lose my focus on the real reason for this
season and its sacred events. So let’s pray for one
another that this next several weeks will be deeply
spiritually meaningful for us and our families and
friends.
The church has special worship services planned that
will be joy filled and remind us of the old story that has
changed the world and will change our lives—if we let
it. Come to worship each Sunday anticipating that the
time spent in worship of God will help you to manage
the rest of your life by planting in your heart the love
and grace of God.
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I draw your attention to the details elsewhere in this
Caller and want to lift up especially a couple of
services: Blue Christmas on Wednesday evening
December 20th at 7:30pm – a time for quiet reflection
on the losses we have experienced, the loneliness and
sadness of this time of year and to pray and consider
God’s healing presence. There are three Sundays in a
row that are deliberately planned family friendly
services: Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and the first
Sunday of January. All will be designed for everyone
to worship together. Your participation in these
services in particular will encourage you to center your
life in God’s coming into the world!
I will pray for you (but not for three hours!) that your
journey through these holidays will be marked by you
as holy days. I look forward to celebrating these holy
days with you!
Dr. Jay
CALL TO THE
ANNUAL MEETING
of the
Ellington Congregational
Church
United Church of Christ
Thursday January
25th Dinner Served at
6:30 p.m.
Dinner will be followed by our annual business
meeting to elect officers, adopt a budget, and act on
other matters of importance concerning our future.
YOU ARE INVITED…
Ellington Congregational Church,
UCC
Saturday, February 3rd
What’s a Summit Meeting? Who goes to this church meeting?
Are you on a committee?
Or going on to a committee?
Are you a new member?
Or a long time member?
Are you confirmed?
Or a member of TELOS?
Everyone attends!
P.S. A Summit meeting contains prayer, planning, and people
Our Tenth Annual Summit will begin with
registration and coffee at 8:30 and will end at
12:00. Light refreshments will be offered.
Marsha Andzans
Moderator
(snow date: Saturday, February 10, 2018)
to all the volunteers that
supported the Church Office this past year!
Your time is greatly appreciated!!
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NEWS FROM THE
CHURCH OFFICE
The Church Office will have limited hours on Thursday,
December 7th & Friday, December 22nd. (Subject to
change.)
All the offices will be closed on December 25th and
December 26th in observance of Christmas and January
1st. At all times the church answering machine provides
instructions for urgent call service and is on 24 hours
a day.
The Church Office will have limited hours December
27th through December 29th. (Subject to change.)
Please check the weekly bulletin announcements for
updates and or changes. Thank you!
Update on the Parsonage
I wanted to take a moment to update the congregation
on the status of the Parsonage now that Pastor Don has
retired. Simply stated, the Bailey-François Family will
continue to live at the ECC Parsonage thru the end of
2017. We have made an agreement which calls for
them to pay only for utilities, etc. Any maintenance
issues will still be the responsibility of ECC and the
Board of Trustees. At the end of the year Don and
Karen will let us know what their future plans for
housing might be. If necessary, we would be willing to
extend their use of the Parsonage for another 3 months
until the end of March, 2018. Beyond that, nothing is
certain, but maintaining a Parsonage has become less
and less popular in today’s age. Stay tuned for updates.
Jack Hagopian for Board of Trustees
Message from the Trustees
Dear Church Family,
We are beginning the final quarter of the church year.
As stewards of the church, we need to continue
working at holding down costs and spending.
Unfortunately, our pledges receipts are down from
what has been budgeted and that can be worrisome.
Stewardship Committee will be encouraging the
congregation to catch up with their pledges, but we
also need help from the pastors, boards, and
committees to hold the line on spending. Our goal is to
have to withdraw as little money as possible from our
trust funds. Please spend only what is absolutely
needed and necessary.
As we make the pastoral transitions, the Trustees have
been discussing and planning on how to manage the
additional costs and expenses associated with this
move. The 2017 budget did not take into account any
expenses associated with Pastor Don’s retirement, and
we will do our best to see it through. Everyone’s
cooperation and understanding, fiscal awareness, and
prudent spending will help us meet our objectives.
Additionally, we want to ask that as we move into the
final quarter of the year, all expenditures for 2017 are
submitted to the treasurer prior to December 15, 2017.
In order to provide an accurate accounting of receipts
and expenses for the year, invoices and requests for
reimbursements need to be submitted for payment and
processing in the year that they are incurred. Once
2017 is closed out, expenses paid in January 2018 will
be charged to the 2018 budget, even if they were for
the previous year. We are unable to charge expenses
back to a previous year. Please keep this in mind and
request invoices from vendors before the end of the
year, and please submit requests for reimbursements
for 2017 prior to December 15, 2017.
Blessings,
Jack Hagopian, Trustees
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Pledge Receipts…2017
As we move thru the 4th quarter of the year I’d like to
try to head off any potential problems with pledges that
might occur due to a misunderstanding of various
rules.
This is a reminder to our congregation that only those
pledges which are in the possession of the Church
Office by 12/31/17 will be credited to the donors
Giving Statement account for 2017. This year
December 31, falls on a Sunday so offerings in the
collection plate from that service will count toward
your 2017 pledge. The last day of operation for the
Church Office, however, will be Friday, December
29th. Therefore, because of how our computer software
that tracks donations, and our staffing hours, only those
pledges dropped off before Friday December 29th at
9am can be reflected in the donor’s 2017 ECC Giving
Statement.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), however, will
allow the postmark date to govern. It might be
possible to mail a pledge on the 31st, (assuming it
could be processed by the post office and bear a
December 31st postmark date) and have it counted, for
IRS/tax purposes for 2017. However, that
aforementioned pledge, mailed on December 31st and
received in the ECC office on January 2nd, would be
credited to the donor’s 2018 (next years) ECC Giving
Statement account.
Bottom line… Please help us to keep it simple. If you
plan to mail your donation or drop it at the church
office, please observe the Friday, 12-29-17 before 9am
deadline. Church offering plate on Sunday, 12-31-17
also works for 2017 Giving Statement credit.
Please always write your name, pledge giving number,
and the year (2017 or 2018) for which the pledge is
intended, on the check or envelope.
Thank you for your attention and understanding.
Jack Hagopian/Trustee
HELP WANTED…
A word from the
Nominating Committee
The fourth quarter of the calendar year is when the
Nominating Committee here at ECC does most of its
work. ECC is a congregational church and as such,
takes its direction from you, the congregation. As you
may know, there is system and organization of
Officers, Boards, and Committees in place that are
charged with developing the programs and planning
the courses of action that will direct the future growth
of our church and lead us forward. Each group is made
up of between 4 and 16 members who serve on a
“rotational basis”. For example, the Board of Trustees
consists of 6 members, 2 of which rotate off, and are
replaced with 2 new members, each year.
We need people with a variety of talents who are
willing to serve. If you have an interest or would like
more information on a particular group, please make
yourself known to us. Unfortunately, we cannot
guarantee that your interest in a particular board or
committee will result in your immediate placement
there. If we have three people interested with only one
opening, 2 folks may be disappointed or asked to wait
another year or serve on their second choice. Our goal
is to staff a committee with folks who have experience
and with folks who do not. It is the blending of
experience and fresh ideas that fuels growth.
As most committees meet once a month, your time
commitment is usually just a few hours monthly.
Please open your hearts and minds and share your time
and talents. We look forward to hearing from you.
ECC Nominating Committee
Alice Sprowles
Deanna Piotrowski
Jack Hagopian
Have you visited the Church Website?
Check it out at WWW.ECCUCC.ORG
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The Church Office follows the Ellington School System
for delayed and closings due to inclement
weather.
For Sunday and Wednesday Service
delays and closings due to inclement
weather, see only www.WFSB.com and WFSB Channel
3 screen streamer.
A DUE DATE
FOR THE ANNUAL REPORT It’s time for the Boards and Committees to
start thinking about their reports for the Annual
Report. The deadline for electronically
submitted reports and reports that require
typing or significant formatting is December
29th and the deadline for financial documents
is January 19th. If you need copies of last
year’s report or have any questions, just email
or call the church office at 860-871-6606. THANK YOU!
Offering envelopes for 2018 will be
available in the Narthex for pick-up
to help defray the cost of postage. If
you are not currently using envelopes
or a giving number, and would like to, please call the
Church Office at 860-871-6606 to make
arrangements. Thank you!
Join Us for Friendship Class The Friendship Class meets the first Tuesday of the
month at 1pm in Room 201.
December 5th at 1:00 PM
All are welcome to join the Friendship Class at any
time! After a short business meeting Susan Mason will
leading the Class and the title of her presentation is
“Notice The Good”. Should you have any questions
about the Friendship Class, please contact Dianne
Durgan at 860-872-6090.
Sacred Stitches Ministry met on a
chilly Monday in November and spent time
selecting fabrics, ironing, cutting and sewing
patches into quilts. The weather outside was
just right for quilt making. I don't know about anyone
else but the coldness gets my creative juices flowing.
Our group meets once a month on the second Monday
from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Anyone is welcome to
join us. Bring your sewing kit and sewing machine
and a bag lunch. Patterns for quilts are available. If
you have questions, call Judy White, 860-875-6642 or
Peg Doffek, 860-454-7360. Happy Sewing and see you
on December 11th!
Prayer Shawl Ministry The Prayer Shawl Ministry does not
meet in December. We hope you will
join us in the new year at our meeting
on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. in the
social room. If you have any questions, please call
Jan at 860 875-1543.
We recently received several shawls and lap robes that
were donated to our group and we are very
appreciative.
Prayer shawls, lap robes and pocket prayers are located
in the room off of the Narthex. Please help yourself.
Meeting: December 9th
Meet early for Pancake Breakfast Prep
January 13, 2018 8:30 a.m. ~ planning out the New Year
Any questions please Contact:
John Bellezza (860-875-1434)
Scott Noble (860-749-7005)
Richard Steele (860-649-4732)
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Ellington Congregational Church
Breakfast with
Santa Presented by the Ellington Congregational
Church Men’s Fellowship
Saturday Dec. 9th 9AM
Enjoy a delicious pancake & sausage breakfast with
all the fixings ---
Bring your camera & capture the moment of your child’s special visit with Santa.
---
Story Time with Santa's Elves ---
Sign up on the poster at the back entrance of the church or call 860-749-7005
---
Donations accepted
The Fellowship Ministry supports our
weekly Fellowship hours after our services with a team
of volunteers who bake as well as offer time to set up
and clean up each week for these services.
As we prepare to create the schedule for 2018, we need
to look for anyone interested in becoming part of this
ministry, either for volunteering for baking and/or
helping on the committee for setup/cleanup. If you are
interested in joining or have any questions, please
contact Joann Scott at 860-454-4189, or email at
[email protected]. Thank you!
From the Historian… Isn’t our church sanctuary
beautiful? Do you ever look
around as you sit in a pew,
and marvel that the building
was designed “just so” over
a century ago? During
advent season, our church
interior is attractively
decorated, perfectly
complementing the year-
round style of the sanctuary. Outside, the realistic
exterior crèche is a welcoming invitation to
congregants and strangers alike to join us for worship
at our happiest time of year. Who does all this
decoration for our enjoyment each advent season? For
many years, our ECC Friendship Class worked hard to
provide flowers for the sanctuary each Sunday, and
they were responsible for decorating the sanctuary for
all the important church events including Palm Sunday,
Easter, Children’s Sunday (when children were
baptized), Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas.
Friendship Class was a large and active group of men
and women who not only decorated the sanctuary, but
also
delivered
flowers to
congregants
after Sunday
services. These members also brought Christmas
“cheer boxes” to those at home or the hospital. Those
boxes included sweets, poinsettias, knitting, and
Readers Digests. In the 1950’s, the Friendship Class
included Mrs. Eggleston, Mrs.
McConville, Mrs. Stein, Mrs.
Wallace, Mrs. Sloan, Mrs. Schlude,
Miss Nellie McKnight, and Mrs.
Steele. Mrs. Maud Steele was
Friendship Class President in 1952
when she recorded that “the entire
group” worked together to decorate for the advent
season; that group included their husbands for the
heavy lifting. They were continuing a tradition begun
in 1922 by ECC pastor Dr. J.T. Nichols. Following the
church service in those years, Dr. Nichols taught a
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Sunday school class of men and women, and
afterwards those folks visited shut-ins and the sick,
taking the sanctuary flowers as gifts, and from that
tradition came the aptly named “Friendship Class”, and
it has been called that ever since. In 1967, the
Friendship Class made 87 hospital visits, and in 1974,
they delivered 11 Christmas “cheer” boxes to shut-ins.
Phone numbers of Friendship Class members were
made available to the congregation so people could
reach out when they needed help.
Currently, the Friendship Class no longer arranges the
sanctuary flowers but they continue to meet for Bible
lessons or book study. Members stay up to date on
birthdays, those hospitalized, and they send cards to
the elderly, the ill, the shut-ins, and to new parents.
Though they no longer decorate the sanctuary or
deliver flowers, the
Friendship Class is thriving. Everyone is welcome to
join in on the first Tuesday of each month from 1 to 3
pm.
For many years Mildred Dimock assumed
responsibility of decorating the sanctuary for advent. A
large wreath hung over the organ
pipes before the beautiful wooden
cross was in place, garlands
decorated the choir
loft and upper
railings and the
windows were
enhanced with lit candles and greens
with the assistance of Jon Allen and
Rob Wallace. Mildred's traditional
decorations were continued initially
by Wendy Peterson and Lou Jeffery.
In the past few years, Deb Wallace,
Lou Jeffery and Rob Wallace have
assumed this task, including the social room window
enhancements. Jack Hagopian and Richard Steele have
also pitched in. Prior to advent, a harvest display
festoons the chancel for Thanksgiving, and in spring
and fall, Debbie Oliver plants flowers, and she also
places seasonal wreaths on the doors. Our own ECC
secretary Leigh Lezotte generously organizes the sign
up list for Sunday flowers, and she takes orders for the
Christmas poinsettias and the Easter tulips. Lou Jeffery
and Barbara Peck arranged these displays and
faithfully tended their care. Many of our weekly floral
arrangements are not picked up and enjoyed after
services are finished. Perhaps someone is interested in
transporting some of the flowers to shut-ins, or those
hospitalized, just as our “Friendship Class” members
did for many years?
Consider stopping by
church on a weekday,
to sit and look around
in quiet
contemplation. Enjoy
the sanctuary advent
decorations and
greenery, as they accent the detailed woodwork and the
sheer simplicity of white curtains over the frosty paned
windows. Read the plaque on the interior nativity
scene in the corner, a gift given in memory of John H.
Cripps by the ECC Church school in 1972. Look at the
outdoor nativity
“manger”, constructed
by the enhancement
committee in 1992 to
hold Joseph, Mary and
baby Jesus. When
Christmas Day arrives,
take a close look at the outdoor fiberglass nativity
scene figures, which were a gift honoring Mrs. Mildred
Dimock for her many years as church treasurer. Take
time this holiday season to look around our beautiful
church, which is the very best place to enjoy this
special time of year.
Lisa M. Sirag and Debby Wallace, co-historians
Have you ever noticed…
Thank you to all of the “silent” church people who
handle the small and large projects; detailed items; a
nail here; flowers there; holiday arrangements; etc.
Sometimes you just see things appear and then
disappear. These volunteers keep the church building
and grounds running, beautiful and welcoming. A
blessing for all of us to be thankful for.
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T.E.L.O.S. Happenings
Basket raffle tickets are
available for purchase after and
between services running through
Dec., 10th and during Winterfest on
Sat., Dec., 2nd.
Drawings for the basket raffle will take place after
dinner on Dec., 10th.
Annual Holiday
Turkey Dinner
Join Us Sunday, Dec., 10th
NOON in the Social Room
Sponsored by TELOS
Adults $7, Children $3
As always, donations of turkeys are MOST welcome.
CANDY BAR
SALE
Help support
TELOS as they will be selling Munson’s Milk,
Dark, Almond and Crisp Chocolate Bars from
January 7th until February 11th.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for supporting our youths’ Mission work!
NOTES FROM GROWTH
AND NURTURE Name Tag Reminder: Wearing our
name tags is a sign of welcome and
hospitality to visitors and newcomers.
If you need one or a new one, there is a
form to request a name tag in the Narthex or call the
Church Office.
2017
Saturday, Dec. 2nd
Ellington Congregational
Church
Come Shop, Sing, Eat,
Join the Celebration!
12:00-5:00p.m. OUR FIRST Annual Vendor &
Craft Fair located on the first floor Educational
Wing. We will have local crafters and vendors
selling their goods for home décor, gift giving
needs, teachers, family, friends and more!
2:30-3:30p.m. 7th Annual Christmas Carol Sing
in the Church Sanctuary. This is a wonderful way to
celebrate the Spirit of the Season. Join us for an
hour of singing Christmas Carols, and remembering
the reason for the season.
4:00-6:30p.m. Winterfest Café! Our Dinner
Committee will be offering a “family-friendly”
menu, with continuous seating in the Social Room.
Chili ~ Chicken Soup
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Macaroni & Cheese
Brownies ~ Assorted Beverages
4:55p.m. Church Bells – Listen for the sound of
our church bells along with St. Luke’s.
Town wide events throughout the day:
Library Events / Nellie McKnight Museum
Tree-Lighting Ceremony
Appearances by Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus & Frosty
Torchlight Parade
ELEVATOR ACCESS ACCESSIBLE
ENTRANCE FROM THE BACK PARKING LOT
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STEWARDSHIP FLASH
The month of October 2017
Income from Giving: $45,657.00
Expenses: $30,933.00
Year to Date (10/2017) Giving Income: $296,640.00
Expenses: $277,969.00
A Message from the Stewardship Committee
We received a total of 90 Thanksgiving bags on
Consecration Sunday. The bags were distributed
Monday to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, Ellington
Human Services and the Hockanum Valley
Community Council. Thank you for your
generosity!
Please be sure to complete your 2017 giving by year
end. Keep in mind the advice noted by Jack
Hagopian in this month's Caller on page 6.
Specifically, if you plan to mail your donation or
drop it at the church office, please observe the
Friday, December 29th before 9 am deadline.
Church offering plate on Sunday, December 31st
also works for 2017 Giving Statement credit. Refer
to page 6 in this Caller for further specifics on
giving timing.
Please remember to submit your 2018 Pledge Card
as soon as you are able. You can mail it to the
church office or drop it off at an upcoming Sunday
service. We request that you submit a Pledge Card
even if your pledge is $0. It will save us from
having to follow up with you in the future. Thank
you!
Board of Missions Mail
The 2017 Christmas Wish Tree
Is For Our Local Food Banks
The CHRISTMAS WISH TREE may be found in
the Narthex…thru December 10th.
Tags displayed on the tree ask for $25 BIG Y or
STOP & SHOP GIFT CARDS. THIS IS
IMPORTANT: Please attach the Activation receipt
to the gift card.
If you are able, please take a tag or two to help
provide for those in need this Holiday Season.
Please drop-off your purchase each Sunday in the
box provided at the Christmas Wish Tree.
Your generosity will benefit the clients who greatly
depend on the Crystal Lake Food Pantry & the
Ellington Food Bank.
This is a Vital Holiday Supplement to our on going
SHOPPING CART MINISTRY.
We Wish You and Your Family a
Blessed Christmas Season
~ The Board of Missions
A MessBIG Y
or
Stop & Shop
$25.00
GIFT CARD from the Stewardship Committee We received a total of 90 Thanksgiving bags on Consecration Sunday. The bags were distributed Monday to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, Ellington Human Services and the Hockanum Valley Community Council. Thank you for your generosity! Please be sure to complete your 2017 giving by year end. Keep in mind the advice noted by Jack Hagopian in last month's Caller. Specifically, if you plan to mail your donation or drop it at the church office, please observe the Friday, December 29th before 9 am deadline. Church offering plate on Sunday, December 31st also works for 2017 Giving Statement credit. Refer to the November Caller for further specifics on giving timing. Please remember to submit your 2018 Pledge Card as soon as you are
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FOOD BANK --
SHOPPING CART
REQUEST
FOR THE
MONTH OF
DECEMBER
Hot or Cold Cereal
Canned Soup
Peanut Butter
Jelly or Jam
Canned Tuna
Canned Fruit
Pasta Sauce
Rice
Instant Mashed Potatoes
Dessert Mixes
5th SUNDAY, December 31st Cornerstone Collection
GLUTEN FREE
Options Examples: Pasta, soup, crackers, etc.
ON-GOING
Canned Tuna
Canned Soup
THANK YOU!
FOOD BANK --
SHOPPING CART
REQUEST
FOR THE
MONTH OF
JANUARY
Jarred Baby Food
Dry Boxed Baby Food
ON-GOING
Canned Tuna
Canned Soup
THANK YOU!
13
The Women’s Fellowship of the Ellington Congregational Church is open to all members and friends
of the church. We encourage you to participate in our organization.
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace
in its various forms.” From The Message, 1 Peter 4:10
All Church Christmas Pot-Luck
WOW! What a success the Farmhouse Fair was
once again. Under the wonderful leadership of
Vivian Hary, the fair realized over $7,600. And also
a special thank you to Joann Scott for her great job
of creating delicious and attractive meals. It was a
great couple of days and it took many folks to make
it such a fun and neat time. It always makes me feel
so proud!!!!
Be sure to plan on attending the 2nd Annual
Christmas Pot-Luck and Yankee Swap on
Wednesday, December 6th at 6:00 p.m.
Once again…
Last Name Beginning with A – M
Please bring hot dish / casseroles
Last Name Beginning with N – Z
Please bring salads
Beverages and Desserts will be provided
And don’t forget your gift for the Yankee Swap.
Everyone who came last year had such fun and this
is open to the whole church.
I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with family
and good food. Have a joyous Christmas and we’ll
celebrate the beginning of a brand new year.
Next Executive meeting is January 12, 2018 at 1:00
p.m.
Blessings,
Susan Mason
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
April 29, 2018 Annual Spring Tea
****************************************** REMINDER – hawkwing: Women’s Fellowship
collects gently used coats and new
items for the Lakota people in South
Dakota and the items are distributed
through the efforts of hawkwing, a non-
profit organization. There is a box in the narthex for
depositing clean coats in good condition, and Jan
Danforth faithfully collects and stores them each
week. (Thank you, Jan D.!). Our congregation has
been extremely generous in their donations and every
donation makes a difference, so thanks! For
additional information about this mission, the website
is www.hawkwing.org. You may also see Janet W. or
Peg D. at church, as they coordinate the hawkwing
missions for our church.
Campbell Labels & General Mills Box Tops! Please continue to save the
UPC Campbell bar codes and General Mills
Box Tops for Education coupons for Elon
Homes & Schools for Children in North Carolina.
They may be deposited in the red box in the Social
Room or in the folder on the downstairs bulletin board
– where lists of what to save are also available. The
Elon Homes and Schools and the ECC Women’s
Fellowship thank you for your continued support.
14
THE FARMHOUSE
FAIR
56 YEARS!!
Christmas candles and greens adorned the
church windows while rows of tables were
covered with red and white checkered cloth
with treasures on top. The soft music from
Mike Katowski’s accordion gently
whispered in one’s ear as the wonderful
aromas from the kitchen tickled the nose.
The sights and sounds all provided a
welcoming atmosphere to our 56th annual
Farmhouse Fair!
The wonderful atmosphere that was created
did not just happen overnight but took
months of planning and a lot of people.
There were a wide variety of creative ideas
and many people volunteered their time and
put in hard work in the making of handmade
and home baked goods. It’s amazing the
number of people in our Church who have
hidden talents they shared with us by
making something for the fair. But it wasn’t
just the women of the Church who worked
at the fair, the men helped too. If I were to
list everyone who had a part in the FHF I’d
probably have to list the entire congregation.
Here are some of the multitude of groups
who helped to make the 56th FHF happen:
set up tables and decorations, clean up
returning the rooms to pre-fair status,
parking attendants, greeters, floaters, cooks,
cafe personnel (hostess, cashier, waitress,
busboys, kitchen staff), crafters, knitters,
sewers, bakers (bakery and cookie booth),
advertising, technical personnel, church
secretary, telephone recruiters, sellers,
buyers, pastors and everyone in the
congregation who patiently listened to
announcements every week.
As a result of all this hard work we earned a
net total of $7,662.66. Now you ask, what
do they do with all that money? The
Women’s Fellowship donates money to our
Church to help with: improvements (we will
be paying toward the cost of new carpeting
in the sanctuary), funeral and receptions,
college scholarships, retreats and programs,
sponsor golf tournament, prayer shawl and
sacred stitches, and yearly contributions to
the church’s annual budget.
Thank you ever so much to everyone for
your ideas, support and hard work in helping
to make the 56th annual Farmhouse Fair so
successful.
Peace and Love,
Vivian
See You All at the
57th Farmhouse Fair
Friday, November 2, 2018
Saturday, November 3, 2018
15
The Church Family News
DECEMBER
Birthdays
Dec. 1 Josh Sandamena
Dec. 2 Nicholas Koehnke
Dec. 3 Aaron Hinze
Dec. 4 Marcia Hesse
Dec. 6 Charity West
Dec. 6 Shannon Close
Dec. 8 Charlotte Byam
Dec. 9 Erin Chichlowski
Dec. 9 Matthew Chichlowski
Dec. 10 Madison Quinlan
Dec. 11 Priscilla Bazan
Dec. 12 Ethan Parlante
Dec. 15 Autumn Flickenschild
Dec. 16 Joy Cloukey
Dec. 17 Sam Walch
Dec. 18 Laurie Hazleton
Dec. 18 Charles Firetto
Dec. 20 Peter Bazan
Dec. 21 Amanda Leonard
Dec. 28 Ellen Adams
Dec. 28 Scott Noble
Dec. 28 Julie Gross
Dec. 28 Brooke West
Dec. 29 Olivia Ledoux
Dec. 29 McKenna Cahill
Dec. 30 Joanne Raulukaitis
JANUARY
Birthdays
Jan. 1 Donald Ellis
Jan. 1 Jackson Scott
Jan. 2 Phyllis Maslak
Jan. 3 Arthur Caldwell
Jan. 7 Todd Rolland
Jan. 7 Ciara Troy
Jan. 8 Curtis Thompson
Jan. 9 Peter Walch
Jan. 10 Virginia Heim
Jan. 10 Barbara Peck
Jan. 10 Barry Cottle
Jan. 11 Kristen Sternat
Jan. 11 Avery Wilson
Jan. 12 Vanessa Close
Jan. 12 Lucas LaPierre
Jan. 13 Benjamin West
Jan. 13 Sarah Cocuzzo
Jan. 14 Emalie Bellezza
Jan. 15 Earl Palmer-Lavoie
Jan. 15 Owen Cloukey
Jan. 16 Lauren Galeota
Jan. 17 Nolan Byam
Jan. 19 Delani Oliver
Jan. 19 Bryan Forst
Jan. 20 Julianne Pashe
Jan. 21 Jack Hagopian
Jan. 21 Nancy Parker
Jan. 21 Eric Vincens
Jan. 22 Caren Rasmussen
Jan. 22 Brianna Mellen
Jan. 23 Carl Ferrara
Jan. 24 David Sirag, Jr.
Jan. 25 Derek Litty
Jan. 26 Lucas Van Deventer
Jan. 30 Dave Hazleton
Jan. 31 Emily Byam
Jan. 31 Brady Powell
16
DECEMBER Anniversaries
Dec. 27 Erin & Stephen Quinlan
JANUARY
Anniversaries
Jan. 2 Esther & Lino Pezzella
Jan. 11 Laura & Keegan Hoey
Jan. 13 Deanna & Michael Piotrowski
Jan. 24 Mary Lu & Jack Scarlato
PRAYER GROUP
& PRAYER CIRCLE
The Prayer Group meets at the church for one
hour every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. to pray for
people in need. If you need prayers for someone
or would like to be included in the Prayer Circle,
please let Carolyn Ladd or the church office
know.
SANCTUARY FLOWERS We thank the following for
providing sanctuary flowers
in November: Jack and Carol
Hagopian in celebration of
Loved Ones; Sharon
McLaughlin and The
Wieliczka Family in loving
memory of Donald McLaughlin; Jon and Lyn
Allen in loving memory of Bill and Doris
Borges, Lyn’s parents.
We thank the following for
providing sanctuary flowers in
December: Bob and Dianne Durgan
in loving memory of Dianne’s
father, Daniel W. Earle, Sr.
BIRTH
ANNOUNCEMENT Grandparents Kelly &
Chuck Jackson celebrate
the birth of Matthew Scott Doughty, born
on November 14, 2017 to proud parents
Kristin & Scott Doughty.
Hospitalized
since the last Caller
Thankfully no one to list.
If you go to the hospital and
would like a visit by a Pastor…
Please CALL our office as soon as you know
you will be admitted.
In your admitting process, you will be asked if
you are part of a local faith community
(church). If so, please answer YES, and give
the name and town of your church.
You will also be asked if you want your name
released to representatives of your church. If
so, please answer YES.
If you say no, or if you do not give the name of
your church, the hospital will not be able to
release your name to us.
17
Service People on Active Duty The following list contains people called to active
duty. Please keep them and their families in your
prayers. If you know of someone who should be
on this list (or have a correction), please contact
the church office at 871-6606 or sec-
[email protected]. Thank you.
Full Name Submitted by
143rd Regional Support Group CT Army National
Guard
250th Engineering Battalion Army National Guard
Alex Fitzgerald Lucie Parisi
Allysson Belval
Bill McDonald
Chelsea Hinton Jay Walpole
Chris Perrett Moriah Nutt
Chris Saucier
Damon Matus
Danielle Hanson
David William Chokas Andrie Bellezza
David Nutt
Del Plato
Eric
Evan Peterson
Frankie Valentin Lucie Parisi
Gary Feldman, Jr.
Greg Fearnley
Ian Rivers
Jay O’Connor Dianne & Bob Durgan
Jessica Lannan
Jim
Josh Smidge
Kyle Ciesco Melissa Ciesco-Rolland
Larry Oliver
Nicole Walsh
Rachel Korzub
Sean Belmont George & Marty Nickerson
Tom Kutscher
Thomas Allen Lucie Parisi
Troy Ciesco Melissa Ciesco-Rolland
Zach Hazzard Jon Allen
Discharged
Ana Gilchrist Jon Allen
2018 SANCTUARY FLOWERS The flowers we enjoy in worship
each week are donated by church
members and friends to celebrate,
honor or remember loved ones. The
2018 Flower Chart is now available
in the Narthex for sign-ups. Please
consider signing up to provide
sanctuary flowers for a week that is meaningful to you
and remember that there are two beautiful flower
vases provided, therefore, more than one arrangement
per week can be ordered.
The cost for flowers for 2018 will remain the same
as 2017 ~ $35.00, which includes delivery to the
church. The person ordering the flowers will have
the responsibility of the flowers after the last
morning service. Therefore, you are invited to
take your flowers home with you or you may
deliver them to a sick or shut-in person or someone
you wish to have them. Dr. Jay and Pastor Karen are
also great resources to inquire as to an individual that
is sick or shut-in.
CHURCH MAIL
I would like to thank everyone for all your prayers
and cards when I was recovering from Shingles. It
meant a lot to me!
Blessings,
Barbara Peck
18
Christian Education News (Sunday School, Youth Groups, Confirmation, Adult Education)
SUNDAY SCHOOL
DECEMBER Sundays
3rd 10:30
Sunday School
- Communion Sunday
- Children will begin in the
social room
10th 10:30 Sunday School
- Cantata Sunday
- Children will begin in class
17th 10:30 NO Sunday School
- Christmas Pageant
All Church Worship
NO CRADLE ROLL
24th 10:30 NO Sunday School
All Church Worship
NO CRADLE ROLL
31st 10:30 NO Sunday School
All Church Worship
NO CRADLE ROLL
This month in Sunday School the
children will be learning about
Advent and the Christmas story.
The Sunday School classes have adopted five
children and a senior from Ellington Human
Services to provide gifts for their Christmas.
Please pick a “star” with your child from the
Christmas Tree located right outside of the
preschool classroom, if you are able to help. Each
star has a different gift that the children or
senior asked for. Donations are due back by
12/10/17. Thank you for helping to make a happy
holiday for an Ellington neighbor in need.
YOUTH NEWS T.E.L.O.S.
A mission-based
program for students in
Senior High School
DECEMBER Confirmation & TELOS Schedule
Sunday unless noted: 12/02
Saturday
9:00a -
Noon
4:00 –
7:00
TELOS Leaders
Meeting
TELOS -
Winterfest
Basket Raffle
Ticket Sales
12/03 Between
& after
services
5:00
6:30
TELOS - Basket
Raffle Ticket
Sales
Confirmation
TELOS
12/10 9:00 –
2:00
TELOS Turkey
Dinner & Basket
Raffle Ticket
Sales – serving @
Noon
12/17 5:00 Combined
Confirmation &
TELOS Potluck &
Yankee Swap
Party
12/25
12/31
Christmas
Break NO Confirmation
& NO TELOS For updates, check www.eccucc.org
19
Christian Education
News (Sunday School, Youth Groups,
Confirmation, Adult Education)
SUNDAY SCHOOL
JANUARY Sundays 7th 10:30
NO Sunday School
All Church Worship
NO CRADLE ROLL
14th 10:30 Sunday School
- Children start in Class
21st 10:30 Sunday School
-3rd grade Bible Sunday
- Children start in Worship
28th 10:30 Sunday School
- Children start in Worship
Thank you!
A big thank you to everyone who donated a gift
for the children or Senior that the Sunday
School children adopted for Christmas. We were
able to provide almost everything on their list!
Thank you for making the holidays brighter for
an Ellington neighbor in need.
YOUTH NEWS T.E.L.O.S.
A mission-based
program for students in
Senior High School
JANUARY Confirmation & TELOS Schedule
Sunday unless noted: 01/06
Saturday
9:00 am
- Noon
TELOS Leaders
Meeting
01/07 Between
& after
services
5:00
6:30
TELOS Chocolate
Bar Fund Raiser
Begins
Confirmation
TELOS Meeting
01/14 Between
& after
services
TELOS Chocolate
Bar Fund Raiser
NO Evening
Confirmation &
NO TELOS
01/21 Between
& after
services
5:00
6:30
TELOS Chocolate
Bar Fund Raiser
Confirmation
TELOS Meeting
01/25
Thursday
5:00 pm
set-up;
etc.
ECC Annual Mtg. (Helping with the
dinner counts as a
Confirmation
Service Activity)
01/28 Between
& after
services
9:00 am –
2:00 pm
10:30am
TELOS Chocolate
Bar Fund Raiser
TELOS Lasagna
Dinner
Confirmation
attends worship For updates, check www.eccucc.org
20
GATEKEEPERS – DECEMBER 2017
Sunday
Worship
Service
DECEMBER 3RD
FIRST SUNDAY OF
ADVENT
COMMUNION &
BELL SUNDAY
DECEMBER 10TH
SECOND SUNDAY
OF ADVENT
SENIOR CHOIR
CANTATA
DECEMBER 17TH
THIRD SUNDAY OF
ADVENT
CHILDREN’S PAGEANT
ALL CHURCH
WORSHIP
DECEMBER 24TH
CHRISTMAS DAY
~ 10:30 AM ONLY ~
ALL CHURCH
WORSHIP
DECEMBER 24TH
CHRISTMAS EVE
ALL CHURCH
WORSHIP
DECEMBER 31ST
FIRST SUNDAY
AFTER CHRISTMAS
10:30 AM ONLY
ALL CHURCH
WORSHIP
Greeters:
(10:30)
5:00 PM –
7:00 PM –
11:00 PM –
Welcomers:
(10:30)
Lay Readers:
(10:30)
Chas Gross No Readings No Readings 5:00 PM -
7:00 PM – Jon Allen
11:00 PM –
Deacons on
Duty: (8:45)
Al Tiedt
Sharon Gluhosky
Beth Cocuzzo
B.J. Aldrich
5:00 PM - Bryan
Forst
Dave Redekas
(10:30) Earl Palmer-Lavoie
John Bellezza
Anna Carroll
Carol Hagopian
Jennifer Boynton
Brian Cocuzzo Joanne Raulukaitis Basil Stone
7:00 PM
Jennifer Boynton
Marcia Hesse
Beth & Brian
Cocuzzo
11:00 PM
Basil Stone
John Bellezza
Earl Palmer-Lavoie
Al Tiedt
Marcia Hesse
Ushers:
(8:45) 5:00 PM –
(10:30) 7:00 PM -
11:00 PM –
Food Bank
Deliveries:
The Cornerstone
Cupboard
Dylan Ciesco
HVCC Food
Pantry
Cheryl Dinse
Crystal Lake
Community Food
Pantry
Laurie Hazleton
Ellington Food Bank
Debby & Rob
Wallace
Cornerstone
Collection
Board of Missions
21
GATEKEEPERS – JANUARY 2018
Sunday
Morning
Worship
Service
JANUARY 7TH
COMMUNION &
EPIPHANY SUNDAY
JANUARY 14TH
SECOND SUNDAY
AFTER EPIPHANY
JANUARY 21ST
3RD GRADE BIBLE SUNDAY
JANUARY 28TH
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER
EPIPHANY
MISSION SUNDAY
Greeters:
(10:30)
Welcomers:
(10:30)
Lay Readers:
(10:30)
Bev Russo
George Nickerson
Liz West
Basil Stone
Deacons:
(8:45)
(10:30)
Ushers:
(8:45)
(10:30)
Food Bank
Deliveries:
The Cornerstone
Cupboard
Dylan Ciesco
HVCC Food Pantry
Cheryl Dinse
Crystal Lake Community
Food Pantry
Laurie Hazleton
Ellington Food Bank
Debby & Rob Wallace
22
THE CHURCH CALLER Ellington Congregational Church United Church of Christ P.O. Box 216 Ellington, CT 06029-0216
Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Vernon, CT
PERMIT #201
(TIME VALUE December 1, 2017)
New home? Phone? E-mail? Please call or e-mail the Church Office so we can keep our
records up to date. Thank you. Phone: 860-871-6606 [email protected]
HIGHLIGHTS
From the Designated Pastor p. 1 & 3
Advent Happenings & Merry Christmas p. 2 Call to Annual Meeting & Annual Summit p. 4
Messages From the Trustees p. 5 & 6
Friendship Class, Sacred Stitches & Prayer Shawl p. 7
Breakfast with Santa & Historian p. 8 TELOS Happenings & Winterfest p. 10
Stewardship p. 11
Missions p. 11 – 12
Women’s Fellowship p. 13 – 14
The Church Family News p. 15 – 17 Christian Education News p. 18 – 19 CHURCH STAFF Gatekeepers p. 20 – 21 The Rev. Dr. Jay M. Terbush, Designated Pastor Church Calendars p. 22 – 23 The Rev. Karen Bailey-François, Associate Pastor
Esther Pezzella, Director of Music
MISSION STATEMENT
We are a welcoming family of Christians dedicated to living and sharing Christ’s teachings through a faith continually renewed by God’s grace. We come together in worship, study, and mission, bringing a diversity of talents and offering opportunities for each member to express a personal faith through shared responsibility and service. We commit to provide a Christ-centered atmosphere for both individual and communal growth in which all can realize their full spiritual potential.
Adopted 9/11/94
Lisa Crocker, Associate in Christian Education Leigh Lezotte, Church Secretary
REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Mon. – Thurs. / 1 P.M. Fri. Closed Holidays
SUNDAY WORSHIP IS AT 8:45 & 10:30 A.M.
Communion is served the first Sunday of the month
HOW TO CONTACT THE CHURCH (860) 871-6606
[email protected] Web Page: http://www.eccucc.org