September 2019

From the Pastor

Well here we are in September!

Leaves are changing already; fall is

not far away!

I trust you all had a restful summer.

My vacation during the month of

July was relaxing. I spent my study

leave time in August writing sermons and services

for September, planning for my last four months

among you.

We did have one church member pass away.

Joanne Morariu, husband of Tom and mother of

Laura and Megan passed away on July 10. Joanne

bravely battled a brain aneurysm for many years. A

memorial service was held in the sanctuary on

Saturday, August 17. The family has been so

appreciative for the outreach and support of their

many friends here at the church.

Looking at this month, Homecoming Sunday is

September 8. Church school begins as does the

Senior Choir. A potluck luncheon will be held

immediately after worship on that day.

The church is also gearing up for the church fair to

be held on Saturday, October 5. Help is needed and

there are sign-up sheets on the bulletin board for the

various activities and booths.

I will be holding a Teens for Lunch gathering after

worship on Sunday, September 22. This year this

casual gathering is for all youth in grades six and

up. I hope to have a good turnout.

Finally, we say goodbye to Ann Buracchi, our

church office administrator, who has wonderfully

served us since 2008. Ann is retiring to care for her

new grandson, providing daycare for Leah, the

happy mom. We will really miss Ann. A special

going away gathering for Ann will be held after

worship on Homecoming Sunday, September 8,

during our potluck lunch. It will be so sad to see

Ann leave, but she is very excited about her new

vocation as a grandma! Our new office

administrator is Joal Lentz, who comes to us with a

vast amount of church secretarial experience. If

you have an opportunity, stop by the office to

introduce yourself. Joal will be working Tuesday

through Friday, from 8 until noon, our traditional

office hours, and she would love to meet you.

Have a blessed month!

Tom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Church School Resumes

on Sunday, September 8th

Please pick up a registration form

as you enter church that morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

September 8th

Join us for a POTLUCK LUNCH

on the church lawn following the service.

Bring a salad or side dish to share

and a blanket to sit on. Tables and chairs will be set up also.

Hot dogs, drinks & dessert will be provided.

Visit with old friends you haven’t seen in a

while, bring a friend to introduce to your

church family, enjoy a relaxing,

fun, end-of-summer gathering

and celebrate Ann’s retirement.

Each committee is asked to

have one member help

with set up at 9:15.

Who wants to be the grill master!?

Contact Lisa: laarrestad@comcast.net

2

September 2019

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An additional Sunday School Teacher

is needed for ages 6 to 9

Also in search of a few Teen Class Teachers,

ages approx 10 to 14

High School Students encouraged

to teach or assist!

Please see Missy Burton/Christian Education

Coordinator with your questions, availability and

ideas! Email: mleighburton@yahoo.com

Cell: 860-331-6147

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join us in Fellowship Hall each Sunday

following worship for a time of

Fellowship & Refreshments!

Thank you to our Christian Education Committee

for hosting during the month of September. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHOIR REHEARSAL

Thursdays: Bell Choir, 6pm

Senior Choir, 7:10pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LADIES NIGHT!

Hostesses are needed for any day, your choice!

Please contact Kim Clouser

765-714-1501 or clsrfrnk@aol.com

Support Group for Caretakers Saturday, September 14

th

9am-10:30am in the lounge

OPEN to the public. All are welcome ~ Bring a friend!

Coffee, refreshments and

a shoulder to lean on provided.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fall Festival committee is looking for quart size canning jars by

September 15th Contact Lisa:

laarrestad@comcast.net / 860-918-1170 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The monthly Teens for Lunch program will begin

this September 22 after worship. This monthly

gathering is a casual, informal get-together for the

teens, the director of Christian Education, the Parish

Life Director and the pastor to talk about current

issues in the lives of our youth and whatever else is

on their minds. The conversations are interesting

for all.

There is no cost to the lunch;

pizza (including gluten-free) is provided.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Korner

THANK-YOU! to all our ever-present church mice

whose work continues to show up in unexpected

places at just the right times! You are Appreciated!

The East Hampton Yarners will meet on

Thursdays, September 5th & 19th

10am-noon & 7-8:30pm

Knitters & crocheters of all skill levels are invited!

Please contact Judy Hoffhine at

jhoffhine@gmail.com / or 860-365-0327

for more information.

3

September 2019

Saturday, October 5th

9am – 2pm Vendors/Crafters,

Tom’s Terrific Egg Sandwiches,

Hotdogs & Soup Buffet,

Grandma’s Pantry,

Basket Raffle and Tea Cup Raffle,

Christmas Corner,

Anything Goes Shop & Kids Krafts

Items Needed

The Fall Festival committee needs your extra

quart size canning jars to make Friendship soup.

Please put them in the box in Fellowship Hall

by September 15.

Send us your NICER Christmas decorations

for our “Christmas Corner”

For “Grandma’s Pantry” we need: Jams, Jellies,

Canned Items, Baked Goods,

Soup or Cookie Mixes in jars

Basket Raffle

Each Committee is responsible for putting together

a basket for the Fall Festival. Pick a theme and fill

a basket with items that fit the theme. Baskets

should be worth approximately $30. If you need a

basket to fill, there are a few in the storage

classroom or EPOCH always has a variety at their

tag sale held the first two weekends in September.

Please see Nancy Taylor, Deb McLellan or

Lisa Aarrestad with questions or suggestions.

Thank you in advance for helping to make

our event a success!

________________________________________________________________________________________________

COSA wants to thank everyone for their help with

our Summer Lunch Program for the Food Bank.

The Fresh food drives were wonderful and many

fresh food donation were received as well as cash

donations. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

COSA is collecting school supplies for the

Family Advocacy of Middletown and

the East Hampton Food Bank. Boxes will be

in fellowship hall for a couple more weeks.

Thanks to those who have dropped off

supplies already!!! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

COSA has put a big water jug in fellowship hall for

collecting SODA TAB TOPS! Please save all soda

tab tops or soup can tabs and they will be given to

the Masonic Lodge who then support Shriner

hospitals. COSA is hoping that this will be an

ongoing donation collection just like the box tops!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Coming up later this fall…

Emergency Relief Buckets with CWS!

Interested in joining COSA? Please reach out to

one of our members. We are always looking for

new projects and ideas!

COSA Members: Lily, Alan, Anita,

Jackie, Julie, Winnie and Alka

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stop & Shop cards are available from Lisa

on Sunday mornings.

Please continue to bring in your bottles, clean

bagged clothes for the shed and purchase SCRIP

cards throughout the summer. SCRIP cards will

continue to be available all summer long. If you

don’t see Lisa at church, send her an email or

give her a call.

laarrestad@comcast.net 860-918-1170

4

September 2019

Generous Community,

Happy Summer!

Our current Food Bank needs include:

Canned Fruit Mayonnaise Jelly

Paper Towels Peanut Butter

Cooking Oil

Shampoo & Conditioner & Body Wash

We have a collection bin outside the church office.

Thank you for your support!

Deb, Food Bank volunteer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Save your BOX TOP$ for EDUCATION!

There is a collection box outside

the church office, or you can

simply put them in your offering

envelope. Thanks for your help!

Building & Grounds

PAINTING: We are still looking for

helpers to finish painting the main

hallway and ALL its doors.

Please contact KIM to help!

Small Projects: things are always

s popping up in our building. If you are willing to

help out with tasks please see KIM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let Lisa Aarrestad know if you

or someone you know of from

our church is in need of helping

hands (860-918-1170).

Or call the office (860-267-4959) so we can arrange

for meals, rides, help with simple household tasks

or just come by and visit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please sign up to provide a

baked good to share during

coffee hour. Purchase an item or

share a home-made treat such as

cookies, bars, breads… whatever

you like.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Book Share ~ For a $1 donation you can take a

book. Please leave donated books on the shelf

located in the hallway outside of Fellowship Hall.

Sponsored by our Music Committee.

Proceeds will be used to purchase new sheet music.

Available for Loan _____________________

Knee- Scooter ● Walker

Wheel Chair ● Potty

Please call the office to arrange for pick-up

Tuesday thru Friday 8am-noon

860-267-4959

5

September 2019

ACOLYTES The sign-up sheet is located on the bulletin

board in Fellowship Hall. Acolytes who

are asked to arrive at church by 9:45am

on their day of service. Thank you to all

our current and future Acolytes for your

participation!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have an event coming up and

no time to clean your house?

No worries! You can rent our Fellowship Hall

for birthday parties, anniversary parties, family

get-togethers…when ever you need a space to

gather. Call the church office for fees and

availability. 860-267-4959

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Used Clothing

Drop-Off Shed Sponsored by: CCEH

Items Accepted: All clothing, shoes, sneakers,

belts, purses, blankets, Sheets, pillowcases,

drapes and stuffed toys.

PLEASE – NO rags, fabric scraps, pillows, toys or

household goods; (These unwanted items are a

hardship and expense to dispose of.)

Benefits to donating:

● Sending clothing to people in need all over the

World.

● Help the environment by keeping your clothing

out of the landfill.

● Receive a tax deduction for your donation.

Receipts are on the shed.

*** Help us keep your donation clean and dry ***

Please put your donation in tied or closed plastic

bags.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have photos,

events, or info. to

share please send it to

Kim Clouser,

clsrfrnk@aol.com

Email Lisa Aarrestad at

laarestad@comcast.net

or call 860-918-1170

to have a prayer concern listed

for our “pray-ers”.

Let Lisa know if you would like to be added to our

group and a bi-monthly or as-needed list of prayer

concerns can be emailed to you.

Prayer is a powerful way to connect with God

during the good or difficult times in life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Look for Christmas Wreath order forms

beginning in October. It’s early this year so that

wreaths will be in by Thanksgiving. Orders will be

taken the first 3 weeks of October.

Fall Dinner – Saturday, November 2nd

Food Bank Holiday Meal Distribution Saturday, November 16th and

Saturday, December 14th

Holiday Vendor Fair Saturday, December 7th

Christmas Pageant & Plum Pudding Festival

Sunday, December 15th

6

A Simple, Generous Choice ~ EElleeccttrroonniicc GGiivviinngg

Electronic Funds Transfer (Direct debit from your checking or savings account)

NNooww aavvaaiillaabbllee aatt tthhee CCoonnggrreeggaattiioonnaall CChhuurrcchh ooff EEaasstt HHaammppttoonn

Participate Today.

Electronic Giving is a convenient way to provide consistent financial support to our church.

Open your heart without opening your checkbook

Electronic Giving is the term used to describe automatic methods for making contributions on a regular basis without the need to write

checks, carry cash or prepare envelopes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Direct Debit Giving

Q. What are the major advantages of electronic giving by direct debit?

A. Direct debit is all about convenience for you and consistency for the church. Electronic giving eliminates frequent

check writing and helps members stay on track with pledges even when they are unable to attend services. The church in

turn benefits from much-needed donation consistency and a reduction in the volume of check and cash contributions that

must be handled and manually processed in the church office.

Q. How does Direct Debit Giving work?

A. Contributions are transferred automatically from your checking or savings account to the church’s bank account.

Q. How are my automatic contributions deducted and transferred?

A. First, you sign and return an authorization form to the church indicating the amount you wish to contribute on a

regular basis. Contributions are then transferred through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network—the same

network already used by families to make mortgage and utility payments or to receive payroll earnings and Social

Security income. Direct debit goes by other names including Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), automatic payment, or

simply, ACH.

Q. When will my contribution be debited from my account?

A. A debit to your account will occur each month on the date you specify on your authorization form.

Q. How will I keep track of contributions in my check register?

A. Since your contribution is made at a pre-established time, you simply record it in your check register on the

appropriate date. Electronic contributions will appear on your bank statement.

Q. What can I use to prove I made a contribution?

A. Your bank statement will show an itemized list of electronic transactions that can be used as proof of your

contributions.

Q. Is giving by direct debit risky?

A. It is certainly less risky than writing checks or carrying cash to church. To process electronic donations, the

church uses Vanco Services, LLC—an established and highly-regarded company that moves funds directly from church

members to the church on the same day without any delay. Vanco processes contributions for more than 10,000 churches

and nonprofit organizations.

Q. How much does direct debit giving cost?

A. It costs you nothing and it costs the church very little. It is the lowest cost method of transferring funds.

Q. What if I try electronic giving by direct debit and don’t like it?

A. You can cancel your authorization at any time by notifying the church.

Q. How can I sign up for electronic giving by direct debit?

A. Complete, sign and return the authorization form on the following page to the church office.

7

8

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

The Congregational Church 59 Main Street, P.O. Box 237, East Hampton, Connecticut 06424

860-267-4959 / cceh@juno.com Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 8am-noon

1

Worship/

Communion,

10am

AA – 8pm

2

3

Boy Scouts,

7pm (FH)

4

AA – 8pm

5 EH Yarners,

10:30am & 7pm

CHOIRS:

Bell, 6pm

Adult 7:10

Scout Parents &

Leaders, 7pm

6 7

8 HOMECOMING

SUNDAY

Worship, 10am

Potluck Lunch,

11:30am

AA – 8pm

9

10

Boy Scouts,

7pm (FH)

11

AA – 8pm

12

CHOIRS:

Bell, 6pm

Adult 7:10

13 14

Caretaker

Support

Group

9am in the lounge

15

Worship, 10am

AA – 8pm

16

17

Boy Scouts,

7pm (FH)

18

AA – 8pm

19

EH Yarners 10:30am & 7pm

CHOIRS:

Bell, 6pm

Adult 7:10

20 21

22

Worship, 10am

TEENS FOR

LUNCH,

11:30am

AA – 8pm

23

Scout Pack

Meeting, 7pm

24 Church

Council,

6:30pm

Boy Scouts,

7pm (FH)

25

AA – 8pm

26 CHOIRS:

Bell, 6pm

Adult 7:10

Finance, 6:45

27

Scout Pack

Meeting,

6-8pm (FH)

28

29

Boy Scout

Council, 7pm

AA – 8pm

30

The deadline for submissions to the

October 2019 issue of The Congregational Chatter

is Wednesday, September 18th

9