The TRUMPET

December 2016

Making space for Advent

Get ready! That’s the message of Advent, which

begins on Sunday, November 29th. This short – just 4

weeks! – and sweet – filled with messages of hope

– season offers us time to prepare to celebrate

Christmas. It’s easy for Advent to get squeezed out of our

consciousness – we all know what December can be

like! It’s a busy month filled with shopping, gatherings,

list-making, parties, concerts, family (and all the good and

bad, joys and stresses that comes with that).

Who has time to think or reflect? Yet that is what

Advent invites us to do. Advent is a gift – think of it as an

early Christmas present. Advent offers us time – even if

it’s just a moment every day – to think about the

celebration to come.

Advent wants to remind us that it is not yet

Christmas. This is our chance to prepare so when the 12

days of Christmas are finally here, we’ll be ready. It is the

exact opposite of what society wants us to do. Society (and

all the stores) wants us to start celebrating Christmas in

October. They try to convince that Christmas is a single-

day holiday, after which it will be time to pack the whole

thing away and move on to after-Christmas sales.

Advent says no to all that. Instead, we are invited to

inch gradually toward the glorious celebration of

Christmas.

I hope you can make some space in your life for

Advent.

I hope you can make some space in your home for

Advent.

Here are some ideas:

Make an Advent wreath – this doesn’t have to be

anything fancy. It can be 4 candles of any color, set in

a circle.

Light one candle the 1st week, two candles the 2nd

week and so on.

Say or write or draw or sing a prayer.

Think about who offered you God’s love that

day. Give thanks for that person.

Who did you get to offer some Advent gifts of hope or

peace or love or joy?

Where is God’s love especially needed today? Pray

for that situation and those people.

Where is God’s light shining? Where do you see

blessings? Give thanks.

Where can you offer some of God’s light? Look for

ways to be an Advent messenger.

The angel’s message is always “be not afraid.” Pray

for people who might need to hear that today.

Mary and Joseph are homeless. Pray for people who

don’t know where they will eat or sleep tonight.

Mary and Joseph are asked to trust God and do

something new. What new thing are you being

invited to try? Where do you need to trust God today?

Jesus was born in a manger. What unexpected place

offers you a glimpse of God?

Enjoy the journey of Advent. It is a season that reminds

us of the uncertainty and fear of the very first Christmas

and the joy of the promise that God is “Emmanuel,”

always with us.

Look for God – and be not afraid.

Wishing you the wonder of Advent,

Rev. Dr. Susan J. Foster

A publication of the East Woodstock Congregational Church, 220 Woodstock Road, East Woodstock, CT 06244 Pastor: Rev. Dr. Susan J. Foster Co-Directors of Christian Education: Sherry Magnan & Dawn Morin

Youth Group Co-Director: Anne Sorensen Music Director/Organist: Nancy Ducharme Bell Choir Director: Andrew Tomkins Secretary: Heidi Tucker

Office: 860-928-7449 Residence: 860-928-7145 Email: econgregtnl@snet.net Website: www.eastwoodstockchurch.org

Secretary’s email: ewccsec@yahoo.com Sunday School: 10:00 am Sunday Worship: 10:00 am

The Trumpet deadline is the 20th of every month!

The following are the scriptures for the month of December:

You are invited to read them as part of your daily devotions and as

preparation for worship.

December 4 December 11 Isaiah 11:1-10 Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Psalm 146:5-10 Romans 15:4-13 Luke 1:47-55 Matthew 3:1-12 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11 December 18 December 25 Isaiah 7:10-16 Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Psalm 96 Luke 1:46b-55 Titus 2:11-14 Romans 1:1-7 Luke 2:1-20 Matthew 1:18-25

Worship News

We hope that you can join us for worship to celebrate Advent

and Christmas. And bring a friend!

Advent is beginning – please join us for this special season of expectation and hope.

December 4: Communion Sunday

December 11: Christmas Pageant during worship; bell choir

ringing

December 18: “Mary Sunday”: Songs and Scriptures about Mary

December 24

5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Bell Choir ringing

11:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve service with

communion.

December 25: Celebration of Jesus’ birth!

January 1: Begin the New Year with prayer and thanksgiving

A mid-week

opportunity for

conversation, coffee,

learning, and

laughter.

Give yourself the gift

of time…

Wednesday

morning study

group

10:00 a.m.

Everyone is

welcome!

The TRUMPET Page 2 December 2016

HOLIDAY ART & CRAFT SHOW and SALE

Saturday, December 3rd 10 – 3

Over 25 vendors will be setting up in the Fellowship Hall for this show. Crafts, Christmas Decorations, and other Holiday

items will also be for sale in the nursery room right off the main room. Coffee, tea, and refreshments will be

available in the Hospitality Room. A penny social will also be in the Hospitality Room… each vendor will be donating

a $20 item for this. So lots of different gifts will be available to the lucky winners!!

What can you do to help?

1. Plan to attend! 2. Bake a plate of “finger food” for the refreshment table. Cookies, bars,

brownies, cupcake, or sweet breads. A donation jar will be set up on the table.

3. Help set up or clean up…see the sign up lists in the fellowship hall. 4. Serve refreshments, help with the penny social, put out posters in

various places, invite your friends via FaceBook or emails.

Please see or call me if you have questions!!

Karen McFarlin

kmcf3470@gmail.com or 860-933-8667

The TRUMPET Page 3 December 2016

Please join us for Christmas Eve Services

5:00 pm: Features the Christmas story and songs; children are

especially welcome!

11:00 pm: Candlelight Communion.

Please join us for one or both!

Christmas Caroling Adventure!

Join us on Saturday, December 17th for a Christmas caroling

adventure! Nym Cooke, Director of the Quinebaug Valley

Singers, will meet with us for 45 minutes of spirited singing.

We’ll enjoy fellowship and a simple supper before we board a

school bus (driven by Roland Parent) to spread Christmas joy.

5:00 p.m.: Christmas carols with Nym

5:45 p.m.: Supper and fellowship

6:15 p.m. Board the bus! Our caroling route is to be determined…

We’ll return to church by 8:00 p.m. Join the fun! All ages welcome.

Share the joy of Christmas!

The TRUMPET Page 4 December 2016

Holly Fair Thank You

We had a great Holly Fair thanks to all who participated in any way! The crafts that were donated

were awesome and varied; contributions to New & Like New were bountiful & beautiful; we had an abundance of delicious cookies, baked goods, jams & jellies, and pickles; the candies

were yummy; the jewelry booth was sparkling with a huge variety of baubles, bangles & beads; the basket social displayed 70 very desirable themed baskets; the luncheon was

delicious and provided a cozy respite from shopping. All together we raised about $7,400 or

$900 above last year! It truly took a Congregation to make this happen! Whatever your contribution, we sincerely thank you. A special thank you to all the people who stepped up

to chair the individual tables/booths.

This is my last year co-chairing this delightful event. Next year you’ll find me in the kitchen

and probably waiting on tables. Cris Waldron has promised to help out with the New & Like-new area, so you’ll see her there. But this duo of Ivy & Holly is hanging up their aprons and

hoping that someone else is willing to step into these roles for 2017.

Merry Christmas to All. Sincerely,

Kerstin & Cris a.k.a. Holly & Ivy

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude for the side-by-side refrigerator that we were finally

able to find and purchase with the help of your very kind donations! Thank you to everyone

who donated to this cause several months ago. I’m now able to easily access the food and

drinks that I need despite my physical limitations from FOP. It’s wonderful to have a little

more independence! I truly appreciate all of your continued love, support, and prayers.

Love,

Jasmin Floyd

A letter from one of our servicemen:

To my friends at EWCC,

I have been receiving letters from you for some time now and would just like to express my gratitude to

you for all your love and prayers. They have been a blessing this past year as it has been a challenging

one and has several more challenges ahead. It comforts me to know that you as well as so many others

keep me in their thoughts and prayers. It is an honor that I do not consider myself worthy of which

makes me all the more grateful for it.

May God’s blessings be upon you and your families. You thank me for my service to this country.

Well, I would like to thank you for your faithful service to our Lord and Master.

Your brother in Christ,

Jesse R. Hagstrom

The TRUMPET Page 5 December 2016

Let’s remember our friends who can’t join us on Sundays.

If you have a moment, send someone a card – it means so much to be remembered. (If you know of others, please contact the church office) Larry Grennan Doris Barrett 174 Manta Circle 121 Chandler School Road Oldsmar, FL 34677 Woodstock CT 06281 Von Hibbard Phyllis Jacobs 116 Rawson Road 3 Cornfield Point Woodstock, CT 06281 Woodstock, CT 06281

Allie Compagnone Jasmin Floyd 1768 Gale Street 93A Prospect Ave Englewood, FL 34223 Danielson, CT 06239

Men’s Fellowship News

Sunday, December 11th: Men’s Breakfast. 8:00 -9:30 a.m. All men invited! Come for good food and interesting conversation. If you’d like to help with set-up, cooking or clean-up, please contact Roger Solomon at roger.solomon@yahoo.com or 860-928-7145.

The TRUMPET Page 6 December 2016

Ladies Benevolent Society News

On Wednesday, December 14, at 1:30 pm there will be an LBS Christmas Party at the

home of Nancy Young – 286 Route 169, Woodstock.

It will be a special time to celebrate

Christmas with fellowship and refreshments. Please bring gift cards or

cash donations for families in need of help. Come and celebrate the season!

Questions? Call Nancy at 860-928-5711.

Women!

Save the Date!

March 24-25, 2016:

Women’s retreat at Camp Wightman.

A beautiful setting with good fellowship,

delicious meals, and time for learning and

relaxing.

Watch the Trumpet and Sunday bulletins

for registration information.

Our church is blessed by the work of many volunteers. Every bit of effort and caring helps our church live out its

calling to be the Body of Christ. This month we especially would like to thank. …

Kerstin Forrester and Cristine Waldron for being “Holly” and “Ivy” and organizing our Holly Fair (along with their many “Elves”). A wonderful day of food, fellowship, and festivity was enjoyed by all. Thank you for your hard work and creativity!

Anne Sorensen, the youth leaders, and our youth for organizing and hosting the Senior Café. It was a wonderful day of delicious food and good fellowship.

On November 18-19th our church hosted a conference entitled “Building Inclusive Churches.” Over 40 people from 3 states attended. The event was inspiring and went very smoothly because of the many

volunteers who helped out. Many thanks to Judy Schumacher, Diane Billings, Barbara Bocchino, Sarah Jo Burke, John Davis, Nancy Ducharme, Kerstin Forrester , Barbara Hackett, Calvin Neely, Joyce Rivers, Karen Ryker, Tom Stokes, Judith Wong and members of our wonderful choir: Mark Billings, Lucy Bousquet, Daryl Hartman, Charlie Goodrich, Tracy Goodrich, Rebecca Hyde, Dennis Kelly, Barbara Morse, Jerry Moschella, Eva Spalding, Nathan White, and Windsor White. Together we celebrated God’s love which welcomes all of God’s children.

Jeans Sunday thank yous

Leaf-rakers, window-washers, dusters, lightbulb-changers, polishers, air conditioner removers, scrubbers, organizers, and everyone who pitched in to help make

Jeans Sunday such a success! Our church is sparkling! Many thanks to Judith Wong for organizing the many projects!

Thank you for showing your pride in our Church! Many thanks to all who helped clean on Jeans Sunday, November 13th. We had a great group of volunteers who cleaned EVERYWHERE and EVERYTHING from top to bottom in our Church buildings! It was a wonderful opportunity to team with friends or make new friends, and a great honor to work with such a “can-do” group. Your time and talents have such a profound and lasting effect on our Church!

With gratitude on behalf of Society, Judith Wong

Holy Humor

The TRUMPET Page 7 December 2016

Poinsettias in the Sanctuary

Would you like to have a poinsettia in the sanctuary for Christmas?

Please fill out this form and return as soon as possible.

Deadline is December 4th.

Make your checks payable to EWCC and mail to Mary Ellen Blake,

61 May Brook Road, Woodstock, CT 06281

(phone: 860-928-7420) or leave it in the church office.

One size is available - $17.00 ea.

How many? ________ Total enclosed $__________

From_______________________________________________________________

To Honor____________________________________________________________

In Memory of_________________________________________________________

Would you like to give your plant to a shut in? YES _______ NO _______

The TRUMPET Page 9 December 2016

Missions Committee News

The committee met on November 15 and reviewed requests for donations and the following were agreed upon:

Organization Amount Approved Quinebaug Valley Middle College $100.00 All other 2016 donations have been accounted for.

Do you have an organization that is close to your heart that Missions could consider adding to our donation list? Please contact Lisa Hibbard or any Missions Committee member.

Coat Drive – We will continue to hold a Winter Coat and Hat drive (any warm clothing is great!!) Any gently used items can be left in Fellowship Hall during December. Please be sure zippers work and buttons are attached and articles are clean. We will be passing these along to Covenant to Care as well as local shelters. No summer items please.

Thanksgiving Baskets – THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! The Missions Committee is so grateful to all those that donated turkeys and monetary donations to help supply Thanksgiving Meal Fixin’s for 32 baskets! 17 baskets were delivered to our Covenant to Care social worker, 10 to the Woodstock schools, and 5 to local families. The congregation’s support in helping fill these baskets is such a blessing! Thank you all!

Cut-A-Thon – On Sunday, November 20th, we hosted a Cut-A-Thon to help a young woman who has fallen on tough times. Seven haircuts were given and $225 was raised to help with Kayla’s financial burdens. Thank you to all those that supported her!

Blanket Sundays – Church World Service Blanket Sunday is the first two Sundays in December, the 4th and the 11th. Please consider a $5 donation to provide blankets and tools to those in need and/or where there have been disasters. Christmas Tags – Tags will be on the Giving Tree in Fellowship Hall by December 4th. Take a gift tag

off the tree and share the love and joy of the season. All unwrapped gifts should be returned by Sunday, December 18th

Knitters Needed!!!! Do you knit? Do you have a friend that knits and would like to knit for us? Do you want to learn how to knit – we can find you a teacher! Pastor Sue has a supply of beautiful yarn for prayer shawls but her supply of shawls has dwindled. If you are interested in learning, knitting or donating, please see any member of the Missions Committee or Pastor Sue. Weave, Weave, Weave us together!!!!!

The next Missions Committee meeting is Tuesday, December 15th, 7:00 pm at the Church. 2016 MISSIONS MEMBERS:

Lisa Hibbard Leah Paine Sherri Kristal Cris Waldron Laurie Edwards Nancy Young Karen Ryker Christine Lessig Donna O’Shaughnessy Erin Kelly Maura Robie Joanne Lefevre Val Law

The Community Kitchen crew is looking for plastic containers with lids that would be

suitable to use for take-outs at our monthly meals. Judy Schumacher would be happy to

pick up any and all donations.

Thank you for your help!

The TRUMPET Page 10 December 2016

“New Year’s Alkathon”

Saint Mary’s Church, 280 Providence Street, Putnam, CT

Starts at 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve and

continues until 6 p.m. New Year’s Day

24 hours of AA meetings/movies/fellowship!

Awesome speakers from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island!

6:30 pm…New Year’s Eve Pizza Party

11:45 pm – 1:00 am…New Year’s Celebration

with food and refreshments

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm… New Year’s Day Pot Luck Buffet

(Please bring your “specialty dish” to

add to the buffet!)

RING IN THE NEW YEAR IN PUTNAM!!!

Food, raffle and financial donations appreciated.

(Contact Lisa H. 508-981-5614 or Sue B. 860-481-0068)

We will also collect used AA/recovery literature to

donate to newcomers/treatment centers

The TRUMPET Page 11 December 2016

December 2016

December 4 Help with Worship EWCC

Come to church on Sunday to help make worship special. We are looking for youth to greet, collect

offering, and read Scripture. Please see Anne Sorensen to let her know how you can help!

December 11 Christmas Pageant EWCC

Come to worship to hear our Sunday School children present their Christmas Pageant. Join us to hear

a joyful retelling of the Christmas story.

December 17 Christmas Caroling EWCC

Caroling adventure! Ride the bus to share Christmas joy! Meet at the church 5:00PM. We’ll have

dinner, go caroling, and be back by 8:00 p.m. Text Anne at 860-428-2198 to save a seat for you on

the bus. Friends and family are welcome to join us on this adventure.

December 24 Christmas Eve EWCC

Come help with worship during the 5:00PM or 11:00PM service. You could sing (either a solo, or

maybe a few of you want to think of a song to sing together), play an instrument, read Scripture, collect

offering or light candles.

Want to know more about youth group?

Check us out on:

INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

woodstockSYG Youth Group 16-17

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact Anne Sorensen 860-428-2198

Or email at youthgroup.woodstock@gmail.com

The TRUMPET Page 12 December 2016

Merry Christmas from the C.E. Committee!!!

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Sunday, December 4th 11:30 – 12:15 p.m. Pageant rehearsal - Attendance by all pageant

participants will help us ensure everyone knows their parts and is ready

for the big day.

Sunday, December 11th Pageant Dress Rehearsal/Run-through @ 9 a.m. Pageant will be held as

part of regular Sunday Service. Join us for a soup luncheon after worship.

December 25th & January 1st - no Sunday School

We desperately need Shepherds for Sunday School classes and substitute

teachers who can fill in for teachers, as needed! Please contact Dawn Morin -

dodobaskets@hotmail.com to ask questions or to sign up.

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

~ Oren Arnold

The TRUMPET Page 13 December 2016

Donate your old ink cartridges!

The church as an account with Staples so we can return used ink cartridges for coupons towards office supplies. We can return up to 20 cartridges per month, which can add up to big savings! Please leave your used printer cartridges in Heidi’s office.

Thank you!

A Picture to Color

Join us for our Christmas Pageant!

December 11th during worship with a soup luncheon to follow. Please join us for this enjoyable recreation of the Nativity Story.

The TRUMPET Page 14 December 2016

Looking Ahead:

January 8 – Star Gift Sunday January 15 – Men’s Breakfast January 29 – Annual Meeting

COFFEE HOUR

The coffee hour in December will be served courtesy of: Nominating Committee

The coffee hour in January will be served courtesy of: Altar Guild

December Birthdays:

Dean Lawrence Dec 4

Marrin Gorgone Dec 9

Tucker Chamberlin Dec 11

Victoria Paine Dec 13

Alexander Hermonot Dec 17

Charles Manhanga Dec 23

Karoline Noe Dec 23

December 2016 Daily Bread Donations for this month: Holiday Meal Items

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

10:00 am Tai Chi 7:00 pm Handbells

2 4:00 pm Art Show Set-up

3 10 am Art Show

4 2nd Sunday of

Advent Blanket Sunday

11:30 am Pageant Rehearsal

5 9 am Community Kitchen (Hill) 7:00 pm Deacons

6 10:00 am Tai Chi 7:00 pm Sanctuary Singers

7 10:00 am Study Group 7:30 pm Al-anon

8 10:00 am Tai Chi 7:00 pm Handbells

9 9:30 am MOM’s Group

10

11 3rd Sunday of

Advent 8:00 am Men’s

Breakfast 9 am Pageant

Rehearsal Blanket Sunday

Christmas Pageant during worship Soup Luncheon

12 9:30 am Music

Class 7:30 pm Dartball

13 10:00 am Tai Chi 7:00 pm Sanctuary Singers

14 10 am Study Group 1:30 pm LBS Christmas Party @ Nancy Young’s 7:30 pm Al-anon

15 10:00 am Tai Chi 7:00 pm Handbells

16 TRUMPET

DEADLINE!!

17 5:00 pm Caroling

Adventure

18 4th Sunday of

Advent Giving Tree Gifts due 1:00 Piano Recital

19

20 10:00 am Tai Chi 7:00 pm Sanctuary Singers

21 7:30 pm Al-anon

22

23

24 Christmas Eve

Services: 5:00 pm & 11:00 pm

25 Merry

Christmas!

10:00 am Worship

26

27 10:00 am Tai Chi

28 7:30 pm Al-anon

29 10:00 am Tai Chi

30

31 New Year’s Eve

The TRUMPET Page 15 December 2016

Irish Christmas Blessing

The light of the Christmas star to you.

The warmth of heath and home to you.

The cheer and good will of friends to you.

The hope of a childlike heart to you.

The joy of a thousand angels to you.

The love of the Son and God’s peace to you.

“We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine Son takes place

unceasingly but does not take place within myself? And, what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also

full of grace? What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to his Son if I do not also give birth to him in my time

and my culture? This, then, is the fullness of time: When the Son of God is begotten in us.”

~Meister Eckert, 14th century theologian, philosopher and a rebel of faith himself

The TRUMPET Page 16 December 2016

The Disarming Child by Charlie Lowell

Helpless and human

Diety in the dirt,

Spirit married with flesh

We couldn’t make it to you,

But you come to us.

You always come to us.

In our stubbornness and desire,

Entitlement and shame

Remind us that we need you,

Merge your untamed Spirit with our flesh.

We try to forget those

Years of wandering.

Shackles and masters,

An eternity of doubting

And still, you come to us.

A divine intrusion

through our scheming and chaos-

Coats of armor, angels and armies.

Do some wrecking here,

And gently come to us.

Disturb us this day

Through sorrow and through dancing,

The bliss of joy and sting of death

Past hands that would threaten and tear,

You come to us extravagantly.

From your manger lowly,

Mighty and mysterious

You come to us, Seed of Heaven

Spirit wed with flesh,

These broken hearts to mend

http://www.godweb.org/christmasprayers.htm