News and Notes - October 11, 2017

Last Sunday ... Thank you to all who joined us over Columbus Day weekend! Alida's sermon drew its inpiration from the scripture verse to see your face is like seeing the face of God  (Gen. 33).  You can read it or listen to it on line:  Face of God - PDF ... Face of God - audio.
 
This Sunday, October 15:  Worship at 9:00 and 10:30, Church School for kids at 9:00!
With the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation being celebrated this fall, David's sermon will be focusing on what it was, and why it still matters! 

SPF:   All high-school kids are welcome to our Senior Pilgrim Fellowship  in the Len Morgan Youth Barn on Thursdays from 6-7:30 pm... This week: "What Would You Do??"! We discuss thought provoking dilemmas and things that make us go hmmm. Come and join us anytime!

YPF for 4th and 5th graders, has their monthly meeting THIS Sunday, 2:00 to 3:30 at the Barn!
    
JPF ,for 6th and 7th graders, will be back in the Barn this Sunday (5:00 to 6:30) after an awesome trip to the Adventure Park last week!   
Disaster Relief
The news from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Mexico has been devastating.  We are called to respond with compassion. And so:
On  SUNDAY evening, October 22nd, at 6:00 p.m., we are gathering for  "Response and Relief Sunday".   Led by our young people and musicians and singers, it will be an evening of inspiration, music, and food.  Our goal is to raise $5,000 to be used for "disaster response" which we will divide among projects that have the best chance of helping directly on the ground and those that have already had an impact----including our denomination's relief efforts and personal contacts to assure the best use of your dollars. We are so grateful to the contributions that have already been received at the church office -- we are on our way to $5,000!  
Bible Study continues tomorrow -- all are welcome! We have had a fabulous start to the fall Bible Study season the last few weeks talking about the Gospel of Luke! Please j oin us for a casual gathering, Thursdays at 10 am or 7:30 pm in the Church House Library (come at whichever time works for you, any week). 
(From our Adult Ed Board; this Fall marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation)  FUN FACT #4 ABOUT THE REFORMATION:  Reformation Day is a national holiday in ... Chile?  Protestantism, especially with the growth of Pentecostals, has exploded in Latin America.  Chile, a majority Catholic country like much of the region, has seen a rapid rise in Protestant believers.  The late Christian mayor of Bethlehem, Elias Freij, when asked as to the whereabouts of the once majority Christian population of that holy city, reportedly pointed a finger westward and replied "In Santiago de Chile".  Que viva la Reformación! Join us in the Sanctuary on Wednesday, October 25th @ 7:30 pm to reflect on The Reformation and its impact on church and society with Glenn Sunshine, PhD.
October's Book Chat will focus on 
Jodi Picoult's "Small Great Things"... Her highly-anticipated new novel tackles the profoundly challenging yet essential con­cerns of our time: prejudice, race, and justice. Join us for conversation on Sunday evening, Oct. 29 from 7 to 8 in the Parlor.  Books are available at the Narthex, or you can order online by clicking here!
The little graveyard just down Bronson Road is full of people who loved our church way, way back when, as members and neighbors. Come and learn a little history, dig a hole, and have a laugh. Fall volunteer days will all be on Saturday October 21st from 8:00 am-2:00 pm Bring good shoes, a shovel and/or a tooth brush. There plenty of work to be done.  Please email Jeff Taylor with questions!
Remembrance Sunday  takes place on Sunday, November 5 , at the 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. services. We will remember those who have died in the past year, friends, loved ones, neighbors - and we will remember the promises of our faith, with beautiful music from our Chancel Choir and guest musicians.  If you would like your loved one to be remembered during this service please call (203) 259-5596 or click here to email the church office by November 1st.
Service Sunday, November 5th, 12pm-1pm... SAVE THE DATE! Our fabulous Jr. Deacons will be hosting  "Service Sunday" for kids from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.... drop off your kids for an hour and have them take part in various service projects like making lunches for Operation Hope, and making toiletry bags for homeless shelters. Mark the date on the calendar and we'll see you then!
Have a son or daughter in college or of college age?  As you drop off your kids at college please note, that we are looking for your child's contact information. In addition to keeping in touch and connected with our young people, reminding them of the support they still have at home, we will be sending out care packages to them in the fall.  Please click here to email the church office with their names, emails, and school addresses. 
Games and Fellowship night... Please join us for a night of Games, Fun, and Fellowship on Friday, November 3rd at 7pm in the Memorial Room! You won't want to miss the fun and maybe a little bit of friendly competition to win! Lite bites and beer will be served (adults only, please). Click here to Rsvp to the Church Office! But  for now... Let the Games Begi n!
COAT DRIVE!  Check your closets before the seasons change! SPF-er Casey Dies will be collecting winter coats from October 15 - November 5, which will go to to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission for their Thanksgiving distribution of 15,000 coats.  Gently worn coats for all ages needed!! Look for collection boxes at the Church House and in the Church!
Bring Opera to Fairfield County - Benefit Concert October 22, 2017 at 7-10pm Enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres in a historic Black Rock mansion, the home of Ashley and Steve Sikora, 124 Old Battery Rd, at this evening of exciting, all-time favorite opera arias and virtuoso violin works, to raise money to bring grand opera back to Fairfield County and The Klein Memorial theater in Bridgeport. The concert will feature the winner of the 2017 Waldo May Memorial Violin Competition at Carnegie Hall Yigit Karatas, opera singers Katy Lindhart, Allison Waggener, Byron Singleton, and Asa Fradkin, and pianist Richard Fu. Email [email protected]  to reserve a space. Tax-deductible donation to attend is $175 per person or $500 for 4 people. With questions, call outreach director Charlie Griggs at 203-919-9767 http://www.gatewayclassical.org/ 
Prayer Concerns :  We invite you always to be in touch with your prayer concerns; you can also click here to contact Rachel, our ministerial assistant and prayer chain leader. We also welcome new members of the prayer chain (members of our church family who commit to pray regularly for those in need).  Just let Rachel know! 

Please pray for 5-year-old Donovan Giordano, who underwent an emergency appendectomy this evening -- please keep his parents Rachelle and Joe in your prayers too.

Please also keep other church friends in prayer, recovering from surgery and hospitalization.
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