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This Week
Wednesday, March 20
  • 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Lenten Dinner in the Parish Hal
  • 7:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, March 21
  • 4:30 p.m. Women's Bible Study
  • 7:00 p.m. HousaTonics

Sunday, March 24
  • 9:00 a.m. Mindfulness Meditation at the Scoville Memorial Library
  • Third Sunday of Lent
  • 10:00 a.m. Worship with the Rev. James deBoer, Community Partnership Celebration & Recognition, Sunday School, Nursery Care, Youth Discussion Group

Monday, March 25
  • 11:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Duplicate Bridge Club

Tuesday, March 26
  • 5:15 p.m. Bell Choir
You Are Invited ~ Deacon's Dinners Begin This Week
The Deacons' Lenten Dinners are a gift for all--a gift of a meal prepared with love; a gift of coming together to talk, share, and laugh; a gift of time out of our everyday routines so we can reflect on all that we have in common.
Please come! Take a break! Enjoy Community!

All are welcome--congregation members, their families and friends. We will be serving a simple meal of hearty soup, salad, bread, and dessert made and served by the Deacons and other volunteers. All you need to do is show up with your appetite.

Please indicate the names of all attendees, any dietary restrictions and ages of children you are bringing. Dinners will be limited to 25 attendees per week.

Learn more & sign up here: Sign Up for Lenten Dinner
Transitional News
Form Betsy Beck, Moderator
For the Transition Team
The passage of time continues to confound me. It seems like just yesterday when we were considering how to say goodbye to Pastor Diane and talking about (and fretting a bit) how we were going to navigate the "bridge time" between January 13 and April 1. Now we see exactly how much life continues to buzz around us in our church community. The Nominating Committee has been busy at work; the Music Committee has hosted their Student Recital and helped with the Bach & Friends concert last Sunday; the Deacons all-star lineup of guest pulpit supply preachers - not to mention their own contributions to the services! - has been exciting and inspiring; the Board of Christian Action collected an astonishing amount of food for the Corner Pantry with a new approach; the Hospitality Committee has stepped up for collations; the Church School hosted an exceptional "Unbirthday Party" for us; and (especially when the weather cooperates) attendance has been terrific! Quite likely I have overlooked somebody or something - but I trust you all get the message! 

Rev. Kirk Hall's quote from Kierkegaard rings true and resonates especially deeply for me when I consider all of this:  "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."  For me, this is where faith comes in - to reassure me that even when I am anxious about how things will go, I can know that there is a strong team of people around me who will help in any way they can. And then comes the avalanche of gratitude.

Mostly I feel grateful for each person in the congregation. You all bring our church to life! My gratitude also extends to the leadership group, the church staff who have continued to work positively and professionally, and for the efforts of the Transition Team that bring Pastor John Nelson to our church family in just a couple of weeks. Please remember to mark your calendars for April 7 - Pastor John's first Sunday service with us and a time to celebrate a new beginning!  
WORSHIP NOTES
Sermon & Readings

This Sunday, March 24 we welcome the Rev. James deBoer to the pulpit. His sermon will be "The Capacity to be Called".

Readings:
Isaiah 55:1-9;
Luke 13:1-9
Community Partnership Celebration
This Sunday, March 24
We will celebrate our Community Partnerships during morning Worship this Sunday, March 24. Don't miss this opportunity to honor our community connections!
From Barbara Collins,
Director of Religious Education
 
Our children’s musical this year will take place on Sunday, May 19 th and will tell the story of Daniel in the Lions’ Den . Mark your calendar NOW! I hope all of our children will be able to participate.




(Left: Barbara Collins Delivers the Children's Message During Worship)
The Sunday School Children Decorated Thank You Cards for Our Community Partners, who will honored on March 24
Youth Discussion Group
Erin Swett, LCSW, and Jenn Surdam lead our Youth Discussion Group on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month. All youth grades 6-12 are invited to participate! They will meet this Sunday, March 24.
The Youth Group Created St. Patrick’s Day Centerpieces for the March 17th Community Dinner in Torrington
“Lord, give bread to those who hunger, and hunger for justice, to those who have bread.”

The Deacons led the worship service on Sunday March 17th and Bryan Nurnberger was our guest preacher. His story of how he came from Fairfield, CT and followed his passion first to Mexico and then to an Indian Reservation in the Badlands of South Dakota held everyone in rapt attention. The poverty and mindbogglingly sad statistics about this place are haunting. He, a tall, white man from the East Coast has had a long history to overcome. In 2012 he was called by an Elder from the Cheyenne River Indian tribe, saying that they wanted him to become a part of their tribe and be given a Lakota name. He felt honored and more determined than ever to keep on doing his good work with Simply Smiles for these peoples. Bryan is in it for the long haul and brings a message of hope.
Thank you, Bryan, for bringing your story to our pulpit. He very kindly has let us publish his sermon: Click here to read Bryan Nurnberger's Sermon

Below are listed upcoming worship leaders. I love how this list is getting so short!
 
March 24th – Rev. James deBoer –NYU Law student; son of Sophia and Lee deBoer of Salisbury
 
March 31 – Rev. Dr. Jason Larson – Chaplain, The Hotchkiss School
 
Karin and Mary for the Deacons
Music Ministry Minute
From Jack Bowman, Minister of Music
Sunday is the third Sunday of Lent and our choir anthem is Wilt Thou Not Turn Again, O God  written by Phillip Dietterich. I was introduced to his music while a student at Ohio Wesleyan University. He was a favorite graduate of the school. He had a long and distinguished career serving a large Methodist church in New Jersey and composing inspiring anthems. Phillip is retired and lives on Martha’s Vineyard. He keeps inviting me to come visit; I am closer today than I have ever been.

Soli Deo Gloria
Jack
OPPORTUNITIES & NEWS
March 2019 Deacon's Message
Submitted by Jennifer Oberto
Late winter can feel like a slog. We’re all tired of the cold and dark, and our patience with each other may be wearing thin. At the same time, there are signs that spring is already on its way. It’s still light out when I leave work, I can hear birdsong that was noticeably absent during December and January, and for the Christian church, we are entering the season of Lent.

Click to continue reading... The Deacon's Message
What Is God Calling You To Do?
In this time of transition in the life of Salisbury Congregational Church, we invite you to get involved! Please share with the Nominating Committee your talents, interests, and availability. Please take a moment to respond to this short survey so that we can get in touch with you. You may also fill out the paper form that is available at the church office or at the service on Sunday.
If you are willing to serve on a Board or Committee, great! If you are willing to provide food, work with children, contribute flowers, provide a ride to a neighbor in need, thank you! 
If you are not sure what you can provide, but would like to help, a member of the Nominating Committee would be happy to chat with you about the needs of the church to find the right fit for you.
Thank you for your stewardship of our congregation!

For Pastoral Emergencies
If a pastoral emergency arises, the lead Deacons through March 24 are Kathy Mera (860-435-0389) and Sarah Zarbock (860-435-8139).

The lead Deacons from March 25 - April 1 are Clare Rashkoff (860-435-0585) & Cynthia Lapier (413-229-0180).

The Deacons have pastoral support resources for times of need.
Bible Study
Men's Ecumenical Bible Study will NOT meet this Friday, March 22.

Women's Bible Study will meet on Thursday , March 28 and Thursday, April 11. at 4:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall Library. Rev. Rich Reifsnyder is facilitating the group.
Silver Lake Summer Camp
Registration for the 2019 Summer Camp Session at Silver Lake Conference Center is open! Click to view the Summer Camp brochure, and pick your week today!
Our church’s annual budget allocates money to pay for our young people to attend Silver Lake Conferences free of charge . Contact Barbara Collins for more information. 
In Case of Inclement Weather
In the case inclement weather, if a decision to cancel Worship is made, it will be posted:
1. On our website
2. On our Facebook Page
3. Channel 3 WFSB - TV and Website
4. via Email sent to E-blast recipients 
STAYING IN TOUCH
Church Office Hours
Melissa Adam, Financial and Communications Assistant, is in the office Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00-2:00. Her email is: sccmelissa@gmail.com

Kathy Wiggins, Administrative Assistant, is in the office Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30-3:30. Her email is: kwigginsscc@gmail.com


Please take a moment to visit our w ebs ite:
Conference Calling for Committee Meetings
We have conference calling available for those who are unable to attend a committee meeting. It is wireless and connects though your smartphone so you can "attend' from another location.

If you have any questions or would like further information please contact the office or email Kathy at: kwigginsscc@gmail.com.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Berkshire Conversation Project
Community Dialogues
The Berkshire Conversation Project grew out of a response to the loss of life at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, FL), in February 2018. Their focus is to consider safety in our schools and public places as it relates to firearms.
Their Mission is to create a safe space for listening deeply to the stories and concerns of fellow community members by engaging one another in respectful dialogue. They strive to gain a greater understanding of the issues involved and to explore a path toward a stronger sense of community and freedom from fear.
We will be holding three community dialogues lasting ninety minutes each: Click here to learn more
Opportunity for Youth to Participate in Service Trip to Oaxaca, Mexico
Silver Lake is participating in a Simply Smiles Service Trip to Oaxaca, Mexico during the week of April 13-20. This trip is for young people ages 16-19. There are spaces available if anyone is interested in this opportunity for a rewarding, warm, fun-filled week!
Save the Date ~ Simply Smiles Keep Hope Alive 2019
Join Simply Smiles to support their programming on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota and our children's home in Oaxaca, Mexico! Click here for Details
The Congregational Church of Salisbury, United Church of Christ
125 Main Street, PO Box 392, Salisbury, CT 06068
 Phone (860) 435-2442 
 email: salisburyucc@gmail.com