December 5, 2019
Newsletter of Barrington Congregational Church United Church of Christ
Calendar
Church office hours: Mon - Fri, 9:30 - 12:30 and 1:30 - 4:30 unless otherwise noted

Fri, Dec 6
Dale on call for pastoral emergencies

Sat, Dec 7
7:30 pm BHS Jazz Band Holiday Concert (Mission Trip Fundraiser), Sanctuary

Sun, Dec 8 Advent 2 and New Member Sunday
10 am Worship Service with Reception of New Members, Church School
11:20 am Sing and Celebrate Choir rehearsal, Room 6
2 - 6 pm Open House at Fireside Parsonage

Mon, Dec 9
7 pm Buildings and Grounds meeting, Room 6
7 - 8 pm Mindful Monday, Mediation Room (Rm 8)

Tues, Dec 10
11 am Staff meeting, Dale's office
7 pm Church Council meeting, Room 6

Wed, Dec 11
4 pm Loaves and Fishes RI prep in kitchen then go to Providence
7:30 - 9 pm Choir Rehearsal, Vestry

Thurs, Dec 12
Noon - 3 pm Church office closed for Staff Christmas Lunch
3 - 5 pm Community Office Hours, The Coffee Depot in Warren

Fri, Dec 13
Brendan on call for pastoral emergencies

Sun, Dec 15 ADVENT 3 Family Christmas Spectacular!!
9:30 am Sing and Celebrate Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary
10 am Worship Service with Cantata, and Sing and Celebrate choir, Nursery Care available
After Worship: Cocoa, cookies and crafts, Fellowship Hall
Noon Youth Group Caroling and Party (meet in Room 9)

Mon, Dec 16
11 am Bereavement Group, Library
11 am Lay Visitation meeting, Room 6
7 - 8 pm Mindful Monday, Meditation Room (Room 8)

Tues, Dec 17
11 am Staff meeting, Dale's office
11:30 am Book Group, The Coffee Depot in Warren
3 - 5 pm Barrington Interfaith Partners meeting, Library
7 pm Deacons' meeting, Library

Wed, Dec 18
Noon Deadline for eBridge
1:30 pm Service at Atria Senior Living
7:30 - 9 pm Choir rehearsal, Vestry

Thurs, Dec 19
Noon Women's Faith Group Christmas Lunch at Crossroads
3 - 5 pm Community Office Hours, The Coffee Depot in Warren

Fri, Dec 20
Dale on call for pastoral emergencies

Sat, Dec 21
9:30 - 11:30 am East Bay Kids Clothing and Toy Swap, Fellowship Hall

Sun, Dec 22 Advent 4
Christmas Fund Offering
10 am Worship Service, Church School
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Pageant rehearsal, Sanctuary


For the complete church calendar visit http://bccucc.view-events.com
Send calendar information to office@bccucc.org
Send information for inclusion in the next eBridge to office@bccucc.org
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This weekend
Holiday Jazz Concert on Saturday - fundraiser for Mission Trip
The Barrington High School Jazz Band will give a concert of holiday music in our sanctuary this Saturday, December 7th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. All proceeds will support the BHS Jazz Band, and also the 2020 BCCUCC Mission Trip to Puerto Rico. Come listen to some great music from a group of very talented young musicians, while supporting our mission trippers. Light refreshments will be served after the concert. The BHS Jazz Band will also be selling holiday wreaths at the concert.
New Member Sunday
This Sunday, December 8th, we will welcome 9 new members when they officially join our church during the worship service. We hope you can join us as we welcome them to our church family. Then afterwards come meet them at coffee hour - when there will be cake!
Help fill the creche - with gifts for a baby and new mother!
While the Wise Men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the stable, this Sunday, December 8th , you are invited to bring gifts of diapers, wipes, onesies, and toiletries for a baby and new mother - to add to the creche in our sanctuary. All items must be new and will be kept in the creche through Christmas and then donated to the  Women’s Resource Center  in Warren. What a precious gift to bring for the Christ children living in our area!
Thank you to everyone who brought in a stuffed animal for our creche last Sunday.
Casting call for the Christmas Pageant
Calling all aspiring wise people, barn animals, angels, and shepherds! Inn keeper, Mary and Joseph we need you too! The nativity puppets are on strike, so we are going to have a traditional pageant this year. All kiddos in the church school are encouraged to come to the pageant casting call after church this Sunday, December 8th at 11:30 in the library to sign up for their part. (If they have already signed up they are all set.) This might be your child’s opportunity to be a star … literally! For more information contact our Christian Education Coordinator, Andrea Bullard, at andrea@bccucc.org or (401) 246-0111 x 107. 
Holiday Open House at Fireside Parsonage
A message from Dale and Elizabeth:
" We are so blessed to be serving in ministry with you and this is our way of saying, “thank you.”  This Sunday, December 8th from 2-6 pm, Dale and Elizabeth are having an Open House at the Parsonage (7 Fireside Dr, Barrington). Yes, we know that the Patriots are playing that day. We promise to have the game on the TV for you, in addition to yummy food and great company. This event is not just for grown-ups, we promise family friendly food and maybe even some kid activities. Please come and visit with us. All are invited.”
Important news
Brendan has been called to serve another church
On Monday, November 25th, an email went out to the congregation from Rev. Brendan Curran, our Associate Minister, and letters were sent to those without email. In it, Brendan let the congregation know that he's been called to be the pastor of a church in Forest Grove, Oregon. In case you missed it, you can read his letter here.
From the Stewardship Team
Was this card from you?
We have received a Giving Card that has an illegible signature, so unfortunately we do not know who has made this financial commitment to our church. The return envelope is postmarked Nov. 18th but has no return name or address on it. This donor indicated interest in electronic giving. If this is your commitment, please email Financial Secretary Pat Stoddard ( pat@bccucc.org ) with your name and contact information and she will confirm your commitment. Thank you!
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Advent and Christmas Eve at BCCUCC....
....ways you can help
We are preparing a sacred place for Jesus and need your help!
This Advent season we are doing something special. We have built a life-size creche in our sanctuary. The creche started off empty and each week is being filled up with our gifts. Some of these gifts we will get back when the season is over. Other gifts we will leave and donate to the Women’s Resource Center.
Dates and gifts are:
Dec. 1 – Stuffed animals. (People of all ages were invited bring one of their favorite stuffed animals to prepare the creche for Jesus! These can be taken back after Christmas.)
Dec. 8 – Baby and new mother items. (diapers, wipes, onesies, and toiletries - These items must be new and will be donated to the Women’s resource Center in Warren.)
Dec. 15 – Our song! (Come enjoy the Cantata and celebrate the gift of joyful noise.)
Dec. 22 – Precious memories. (People of all ages bring something precious or meaningful to you. These gifts of love will help warm the creche for Jesus’ arrival. These you can take back after Christmas.)
Please help us prepare our creche and our hearts to receive Jesus on Christmas morning!
Christmas Eve Worship Services
Our Christmas Eve services on Tuesday, December 24th will be:
6 pm Family Service with Children's Pageant
10 pm Service of Lessons and Carols with Choir
ALL ARE WELCOME
Advent Candle Lighters needed
Volunteers are needed to read the short liturgy and light the Advent Candles on Christmas Eve at the 6 pm and 10 pm services. Volunteers should contact Rev. Dale Azevedo at (401) 246-0111 x 103 or dale@bccucc.org Individuals, couples or families are invited to do this. 
Readers needed for Christmas Eve 10 pm Service
Volunteers are needed to read scripture at the 10 pm Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols. If interested, please contact Rev. Dale Azevedo at (401) 246-0111 x 103, or dale@bccucc.org. Thank you.
Some special happenings in December
BCCUCC Family Christmas Spectacular!
On Sunday, December 15th, the Barrington Congregational Church, UCC, will host its second Family Christmas Spectacular!
The festivities begin with a special service at 10:00 am, where the BCCUCC choir, along with instrumentalists, will present Hope! A Gospel Christmas Celebration , by Joel Raney. In the cantata, the Christmas story unfolds through six compelling choral settings, and scripture readings guide us to the manger and reflect on the promise of hope we find in Christ's birth. People of all ages are welcome to stay in worship and enjoy the production, but nursery care and special children’s activities are available for those who need to get their wiggles out.
At 11:00 am, everyone is invited to retire to our Fellowship Hall for cookies, crafts, and hot cocoa! Listen to your favorite carols, enjoy the Christmas decorations, and nibble on holiday favorites while making family crafts that you can take home!
The whole community is welcome to share in this special day to help get us all in the Christmas spirit.
Youth Group Caroling and Christmas Party
The youth group (for anyone in Grades 6-12) will meet on Sunday, December 15th after church, following the “Family Christmas Spectacular” (see above). After refreshments they will gather in Room 9 and depart for caroling at 12 pm to a couple of nursing homes in the area. When they return from caroling they'll have their own party with a “white elephant” gift exchange where everyone brings a repurposed gift to swap. Maybe you were given a gift in the past that you would like to re-gift. Maybe you have something you like but would be willing to offer to someone else as a Christmas gift. Come celebrate the Christmas season together! Christmas cookies will be provided!   
Women's Faith Group Christmas Lunch
The group will meet on Thursday, December 19th at Noon at Crossroads restaurant in Warren for their annual Christmas Lunch. Those wishing to attend should RSVP to Jane Tonn at 289-2349 or jtonn2@cox.net, or to the church office at 246-0111 or office@bccucc.org by Tuesday, December 17th. 
Information about all of the groups that meet regularly, is found later in this email....scroll down to find it!
'Tis the season for giving
The Giving Tree - donations needed by Dec 15th
Mission and Justice's "Giving Tree" is in Fellowship Hall on Sundays with envelopes for your donations of various amounts to apply to gift cards for supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations, utilities, etc. The gift cards will be given to the Women's Resource Center to help families there afford the necessities, and also allow the women to have money to purchase gifts for their families and themselves. Donations need to be made by Sunday, December 15th and should be by cash or check made out to ‘BCCUCC’ with ‘Giving Tree’ in the memo line. Questions? Contact Nancy Arena at nancy.arena@outlook.com  or 246-0212.
Mitten Tree - donations needed by Dec 22nd
The Mitten Tree is up in the narthex ready to receive your donations of warm hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens etc. - both purchased and handmade - for children, youth, and adults of all sizes. Items on the mitten tree will be donated to Amos House and to Loaves and Fishes RI. Donations may be made through December 22nd . Thank you for your donation!
Chancel Fund donations requested
Every Christmas we invite the congregation to make donations to The Chancel Fund which is used to pay for the plants that decorate the sanctuary at Christmas, as well as the plants that are delivered by the Deacons to our homebound, sick and recently bereaved. A dedication of your choice is included in the bulletins for the Christmas Eve services. Donation forms will be included in the church bulletins on Dec 1, 8 and 15. Deadline for donations i s Monday, December 16th. More information and donation form.
Staff Christmas Gift
A message from Dale and Brendan… 
“During the weeks of Advent you will find in the pew racks an envelope marked “Staff Christmas Gift.” We are blessed to have wonderful people working here who give more hours to our church than expected or are compensated for. We therefore invite you to join with us in giving them a gift during these holidays. Your gifts will be divided up among six different people; Christine and Pat in the office, Andrea our CE Coordinator, Marina at our organ, and Paul & John on the custodial staff. Each staff person will receive this gift according to the number of hours they work. Thank you ahead of time for your generosity.”  
Checks should be made payable to 'BCCUCC' and mark the memo line 'Staff Gift'. They can be put in the offering plate or sent directly to the church office. Thank you. 
Shop Thru Amazon Smile and make money for our church!
As you do your holiday shopping don't forget that when you shop online at Amazon, if you log in thru AmazonSmile, every eligible purchase you make will raise 0.5% of the purchase price for our church, To learn more visit http://smile.amazon.com and choose 'Barrington Congregational Church' as your charitable organization. Or click on this link to go there directly.
Each quarter the church receives a donation from Amazon and all you have to do is start your shopping at AmazonSmile. Thanks.
Can you help?
Altar flower donors needed
Celebrate a birthday, anniversary or remember loved ones with altar flowers in the sanctuary. We have openings for donors to pay for vases on Sundays, December 15th and 22nd. A donation of $30 is requested for each vase. Contact Chancel Team member Beth Buckley at elizabethbuckley21@msn.com or (401) 247-0324 if interested. Thanks. 
Loaves and Fishes Ministry
On Wednesday, December 11th , volunteers from our church will be going to Trinity Methodist Church in Providence to provide nourishment to those in need .  The truck will not be available, so they will be travelling in cars instead. Specific food and clothing items are needed – to see what’s needed, check the online sign-up sheet and sign up how you can help. Prep starts in the kitchen at 4 pm to prepare the food and start loading up. For more information, questions, or if you are unable to sign up on line, contact Liz White (401-245-0285 or lizzyw2@aol.com ) or Phyllis Buckley (401-742-7320 or pbuckley6@cox.net ). Thank you.  
Coffee Hour needs your help
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help the assigned teams with coffee hour on a Sunday between now and the end of the year. If you haven't yet signed up but would like to help with providing food, serving or clean up, there are still opportunities. Sign up in Fellowship Hall during coffee hour on a Sunday, or contact Jane Tonn at jtonn2@cox.net or 289-2349. T hose who signup will receive an email reminder the Wednesday before the Sunday that they have volunteered to help. 
Regular Weekly and Monthly happenings
(listed alphabetically)
Bereavement Group
The group will meet Monday, Dec 18th at 11 am in the library. The group is open to anyone (not just church members) who has lost a loved one at any time. For more information, contact the facilitator Betsy Brenner at jsbeeb@aol.com or 245-8031.
Book Group
Book Group meets Tuesday, December 17th at 11:30 am at The Coffee Depot, 501 Main St, Warren. They will discuss Amy Waldman's new novel, A Door in the Earth:  “Inspired by Mother Afghanistan , a memoir by Gideon Crane, Parveen Shamsa embarks on a journey to locate the medical clinic he founded and learn about its impact on the country. She views her trip as fieldwork in preparation for her career as an anthropologist. However, as Parveen gains acceptance into the community, she also begins to realize that Gideon's descriptions of the people and region don't match reality. His story is a lie. By the time American soldiers arrive in the village, Parveen is left wondering whether Gideon's fictional memoir was produced for altruistic or monetary reasons. Much like Brian Van Reet's Spoils , Waldman's new work offers a deeply complicated and thought-provoking story about the purposeful obfuscation of truth in service to Western idealism.” (Library Journal).
For more information about the group, please contact Helen Schall at helenschall@hotmail.com or 245-4724. All are welcome!   
Community Office Hours
Community Office Hours are held on Thursday afternoons from 3–5 pm at The Coffee Depot, 501 Main Street, Warren. Anyone from the church or community is welcome to stop by and chat with Brendan in this more informal setting.
East Bay Kids Clothing and Toy Swap
Held on the 3rd Saturday of the month, the next one is on Saturday, December 21st from 9:30 - 11:30 am in Fellowship Hall. Trade in clean clothes, shoes, and gently used toys, and get new (to you) items! Size newborn to age 12. Give what you can, take what you need. $3 - 5 donation at the door, but no-one turned away. Open to the community.
Knitting Group
Knitting for Others Group will meet Tuesday, January 7th from 7 – 9 pm at a location tbd. The group meets monthly - on the 1st Tuesday - makes a variety of different items to be given away (prayer shawls, hats for children in Head Start etc) and can provide patterns and help. All knitters and crocheters are welcome, especially new faces! For more information about the group, contact Nancy Arena at 246-0212 or Nancy.Arena@outlook.com.  
Mindful Mondays
Mindful Mondays with Brendan happen every Monday (except on holidays or otherwise noted) from 7 - 8 pm in the Meditation Room. The hour consists of a 20 - 25 minute guided meditation, a contemplative reading or poem, followed by tea and discussion. The sessions are designed to be inclusive for people of all faiths and are open to the public. All are welcome.
NAMI RI Family Support Group
NAMI RI ( National Alliance on Mental Illness ) holds a monthly support group at our church for family members of people with mental illness. Open to anyone in the community the next meeting is Thurs, Jan 2nd from 6 – 7:30 pm in Room 6. For more info contact NAMI RI at info@namirhodeisland.org or call (401) 331-3060 .
Women's Faith Group
The Women’s Faith Group has it's next regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 9th from 1:30 – 3 pm in the church library, Their new book will be T he Windows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey, The group welcomes women of all ages from BCCUCC as well as other churches and fai th traditions. For more information contact Jane Tonn at 289-2349 or jtonn2@cox.net .  
The group's annual Christmas Lunch will be Thursday, December 19th at Noon at Crossroads restaurant in Warren. See earlier announcement for details.
Make sure that you see ALL of the eBridge.
Some platforms - including gmail - only show part of it with a link to the remainder. Click on that link at the end of what's visible, to see the rest of the newsletter!
End of Year Reminders
Deadline for 2019 Reimbursable Expenses
The end of our fiscal period is December 31st. If you have any invoices or expenses that you need to be reimbursed for, please fill out vouchers (which must be signed by the leader of your ministry team) and send them to the church office, with receipts attached, by Wednesday, December 18th . Vouchers are available from a folder on Pat’s desk in the church office, or at this link . Expenses turned in after the deadline will be charged to next year’s budget.  
Giving reminder for tax purposes
Please note that if you wish any contribution to be recorded as being received by the church in 2019, it must be in the hands of the office by December 31st, or postmarked by that date.
'From the River's Edge' - the pastors' blog
Sent out on alternate Thursdays to the eBridge
We email to the congregation on alternating Thursdays either the eBridge newsletter, or a new blog from Dale or Brendan. We will still include the latest blog in the eBridge in case you missed seeing it the previous week. The latest blog is from Dale "We Are Preparing a Sacred Space"
If you missed any earlier blog posts they are all on the church website at this link. There are also links to the most recent ones from the homepage of our website www.bccucc.org 
Reminders
Nametags
Both adult and children’s nametags are stored in the racks in the vestry hallway. Please pick up yours as you come into worship and wear it through coffee hour. As you leave put it in one of the collection baskets - to be returned to the nametag rack ready next time.  Need a nametag?  Sign up in the vestry hallway or at the back of Fellowship Hall or email the office a t office@bccucc.org - be sure to indicate if you want a clip, pin or string style of holder . Newly made nametags are placed in the specially labeled basket on the sideboard in the vestry hallway for you to pick up.  
Sermons available on line
If you miss church on Sunday or want to hear the sermon again, you can do so at the following link  Sermon Archive.

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Make sure your emails are reaching us!
We only receive emails sent to the following addresses: D ale  dale@bccucc.org   Brendan  brendan@bccucc.org    Christine  office@bccucc.org    Pat  pat@bccucc.org    Andrea  andrea@bccucc.org. 
Keep up to date with what's happening at church!
2019-2020 Church Calendar can be seen at http://bccucc.view-events.com  or from the bottom of any page on our church website www.bccucc.org.
Please notify Christine with information about meetings/events etc. so the calendar can always be kept up to date. Contact her at office@bccucc.org or 246-0111.
Useful Links
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