SUNDAY - Mission Team Soup Sale -
$7 per quart. Flavors so far are: Vegetable, Roasted Tomato Tortellini, Beef Vegetable, Ham and Bean, Potato, Beef Tomato Orzo, Chicken Noodle. Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup, Hot Dog Soup, and Vegetable Minestrone
2017
Mission Trip Info
- Are you interested in attending or supporting the 2017 Mission Team? If so, please contact Linda
or call the Church Office at 215-536-4447. We have begun our fundraising efforts and are beginning to plan the details for the trip in July (July 22-29). If you are not currently receiving emails and would like to, please ask to be added to the distribution list.
Sunday - The Finance Committee
will be available for questions and answers on Sunday, January 15 after the worship service and on Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m. See Steve Clark after the worship service.
Adults in the Chapel
- In January, we will delve into the true meaning of Christian Discipleship- to Jesus it is the very heart of the Gospel-in Jesus' master class for life: "The Divine Conspiracy." A six-session study by Dallas Willard with John Ortberg, based on the Sermon on the Mount. Dallas gracefully weaves biblical teaching, popular culture, science, scholarship, and spiritual practice.
January 15: The Path to a Blessed Life.
January 22: Becoming a Good Person.
January 29: Treasuring What Matters Most.
February 5: Becoming a Community of Prayerful Love.
February 12: Living as a Disciple of Jesus.
"God is at work doing something very big in this world...but it often goes unnoticed. We get glimpses of this 'Divine Conspiracy' and hear the whisper of Jesus inviting us to enter in. The choice is up to us."
Coffee Café Class
-
"Blurry" Sunday School Class - Join Jon Bauman on Sunday mornings in the Coffee Café for a Sunday School Class dedicated to helping us understand the Bible more. Open to all adults who do not currently go to the other Awesome Sunday School class in the Chapel at First Church!
January 16 -
New Bell Choir Forming
- Join us on Monday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the bell room for the first rehearsal of a new hand bell choir. Everyone is welcome! No prior music knowledge is needed, just an interest in trying something new. Please continue to place your name on the no-commitment sign-up sheet in the office hallway. Have questions? Please speak with Ryan Miller. Looking forward to seeing you on the 16th, we'll have a ding dong of a grand time!
January 22 - ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING - Mark your calendar for Sunday, January 22 for our Annual Congregational Meeting at 10:30 a.m. Coffee, tea, and water will be available during the business meeting. Luncheon will follow. Mark your calendar to come, participate, and enjoy. Please indicate your attendance on sign-up sheet in Narthex or by
clicking here. Items to be considered include these two, among others:
- Church Council Nominations - Each year the terms of three Elders and three Deacons on our Church Council expire. Those whose terms expire now are:
- Elders: Cheryl Bryan, Amanda Hahn, Lynn Routson
- Deacons: Alyse Federsel, Doug Fraley, Bill Nagurny
We express our thanks to them for their faithful service to Christ within the family of First Church. We are thankful for the leadership they have given to us in the work of Christ's Church.
It is the responsibility of Church Council (according to the Constitution and By-Laws) to nominate one person for each vacant office. The Church Council hereby nominates the following for the Congregation's approval and election on Sunday, January 22:
- Elders: Alyse Federsel, Doug Fraley, Bill Nagurny
- New Deacons: Joseph Juretus, Karen MacKewicz, Joseph Ryglicki,
Those being nominated must meet the Constitutional requirements. They will have met with the Pastors and been appraised of the duties involved. They must agree to serve faithfully if/when elected. Nominations from the floor will also be considered on January 22. If you are interested in serving or have questions about serving on Council, please speak to the Pastors.
- 2017 Budget - A summary of the proposed Budget for 2017 was included at the end of the January newsletter for the congregation's review. It presents our estimates of income and expenses in our two main operating funds-the "Current" Fund and the "Mission and Outreach" Fund. It is an attempt to reflect the financial realities we face given current economic times and the world we live in. Please plan to review it and to attend the Annual Congregational Meeting on January 22. The finance committee will be available for questions and answers on Sunday, January 15 after the worship service and on Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m.
LOVE PACKAGES 2017 -
The Women's Guild will again be sending Love Packages to our college students and service personnel in February. It is difficult to keep track of all of our students and those serving our country. If you know of students or someone in the service, please get the mailing information to the guild as soon as possible. This includes college students that are living at home. Even if you provided the information last year and it has not changed, please let us know so that we are sure we have the correct address! If you wish to join us in this project, we would accept cash donations, checks (payable to Women's Guild) or any of the following items: quick and easy microwaveable meals such as mac and cheese and packages of soup or noodle meals (PLEASE no cans), oatmeal, flavor packets for water, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, individual snack crackers, cookies, protein bars, microwave popcorn, hard candy, gum, or other sweet treats. Items must be commercially packaged. Homemade food is not recommended and we cannot accept outdated items. Non-food items such as puzzle books, pens, pencils, post-it notes, highlighters, fragrance free dryer sheets, laundry detergent tablets (due to weight, we cannot send liquid detergents).
Place items in the box marked "Donations for Love Packages" in the Parlor. Deadline is January 29. Questions? Contact Barbara.
UPDATE! - STEEPLE ISSUES - Since we published our initial documentation on the Steeple issues in our November and December newsletters, we have additional information we would like to provide to the congregation prior to our January meeting. Going on the assumption that we would remove the steeple and not replace it, Council and Property felt we could seek quotations from contractors not specialized in steeple type work. The decision still rests with the congregation on whether we replace the steeple!
We were able to get a local roofing contractor to bid on removing the steeple, fixing any damage to the sub-roof that may have occurred over the years with the water leaks and reslating the area previously covered by the steeple base. Keep in mind that they could only estimate what costs would be incurred with the damage to the sub-roof, this scope may increase once the steeple is removed. Included below are the numbers from the original quote along with the new numbers for your review. Both numbers are presented with the assumption that the carillon bells would be moved to another area of the church by a separate contractor.
Original Quote:
New Quote:
Base bid - $31,979 Base bid - $21,978
Move carillon bells - $3,581 Move carillon bells - $3,581
Total - $35,560 Total - $25,559
Please contact Joe with any questions, suggestions or concerns you might have. Thanks for your anticipated support and guidance! The Property Committee and Council
WANTED - Volunteers for the Property Committee. This committee monitors maintenance issues on the church property, both inside and out. No experience is necessary, and you will learn about the complexities of our unique building. Large and small projects are our specialty! One meeting a month.
Contact
Joe or Janet
.
IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER - Call the church telephone answering machine, which will be updated with the latest information (215-536-4447) or you can click on the Weather Update link on
www.firstucc.net, or check Channel 69 website at
www.wfmz.com (click on "school closings," click on "church/worship/ libraries.")
UPPER BUCKS CODE BLUE SHELTER - If you know someone who is lacking inside shelter in Upper Bucks County during periods of extreme, life-threatening weather (temperature or wind chill of 26 degrees F or below) between November 15 and April 15, room is available at the Upper Bucks Code Blue Shelter located at the Quakertown Masonic Lodge, 501 W Broad St, Quakertown, PA from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am the following morning. A hot meal and hot breakfast will be provided. Transportation is available from Turkey Hill @Ottsville/Harrow at 8:20 pm and Perkasie Square Shopping Center at 8:30 p.m. To find out if the shelter is open or to arrange for a ride, please call 267-450-5191 after 1:00 p.m. The Upper Bucks Code Blue Shelter is a ministry of Advocates for the Homeless of Upper Bucks (AHUB)
January 27-29 - YOUTHWORX WINTER RETREAT at Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center in Mt. Bethel, PA. The cost is $67.00 per First UCC Youth (Church School Association has agreed to cover the rest of the full cost. Thank you!) Payment Due: January 8. Sign up by December 18 on the Youth Bulletin Board at church or email
Jon
. You may support our youth with a retreat scholarship in any monetary amount and send to the Church Office your tax deductible check payable to First UCC. Thank you!
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