Weekly Newsletter
Week of January 22nd - January 28th
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Gilead Congregational Church, UCC
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Meetings and Services this week:
Wednesday, January 22nd:
-9:30 a.m. Wednesday Morning Book Discussion in the Fellowship Hall
-7:00 p.m. Choir
Saturday, January 25th:
-9:30 a.m. Youth Group to Covenant Soup Kitchen
-11:00 a.m. Memorial Service for David Bland
Sunday, January 26th:
-8:30 a.m. Worship Service
-9:00 a.m. Sunday School Teacher's Meeting
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10:00 a.m. Worship Service
-Sunday School
-Potluck Coffee Hour
-11:30 a.m. Youth Choir
-11:30 a.m. Finding God in Contemporary Issues Discussion
-5:30 p.m. Youth Group Mission Trip Team Building in the Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, January 28th:
-11:15 a.m. Bible Study
-7:30 p.m. AA
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About Us:
Pastor:
Reverend Dr. Denise Esslinger
Minister of Mission and Faith Formation:
Stephanie Haines
Minister of Music:
Danielle Hoehn
Administrative Assistant:
Sally Fritsche
Worship: 8:30 a.m.
Worship w/Sunday School and Choir: 10:00 a.m.
Summer Worship:
9:00 a.m.
Gathered: 1748
Meeting House: 1838
Fellowship Hall: 2008
We are an Open & Affirming Church
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Sunday School Teacher's Meeting
Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 9:00 am
All Sunday school teachers are invited to attend our meeting this Sunday, January 26th at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. If you have any questions, please contact Heather Franzese at 860-228-5276.
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Finding God in Contemporary Issues
Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 11:30 am
Our “Finding God in Contemporary Issues” discussion group will resume meeting this Sunday, January 26th at 11:30 a.m. in one of the classrooms off of our Fellowship Hall. At this gathering, we'll be discussing "Is it possible to end the polarization in our nation?" Articles to read as food for thought are available on the table underneath the name tags. Margot Sheehan and Pastor Denise will be facilitating this conversation. We hope you will be able to join us. Please contact either of them with any questions you may have.
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Potluck Coffee Hour
Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 11:30 am
This Sunday, January 26th we will have a Potluck Coffee Hour following our 10 a.m. worship service. Please remember to bring a goodie with you on Sunday to share. Donations can be dropped off in the kitchen on your way in to worship.
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Youth Choir
Our Youth Choir has resumed meeting and is working on a piece to sing during our 10 a.m. worship service on Sunday, February 9th. Rehearsals are on Sundays January 26th and February 2nd in the Music Room from 11:30 to noon. No experience is necessary and youth are invited to join us for as many rehearsals as they can.
If
you should have any questions, please contact Danielle directly at
stonecold.5239@gmail.com
.
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Adult Choir
Rehearsals for our Adult Choir are on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. If you would like to join the Choir or if you have any questions, please contact our Minister of Music, Danielle Hoehn at stonecold.5239@gmail.com.
Also, our Choir is having an "invite a friend to Choir week" on Wednesday, February 5th at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 9th at 9:15 a.m. Everyone is invited to join us. No prior experience is needed. If you are interested in participating, please speak with Danielle.
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Run for Refugees
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Mark Hand will be running in the IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services) Run for Refugees on Sunday, February 2nd (Super Bowl Sunday) to raise money for the important work IRIS does to resettle refugees in Connecticut. If you would like to donate, please visit
https://runsignup.com/Markhand
or see Mark. If you’d like to join him for the run, please email him at
markhand73@gmail.com
or text/call (860) 942-7076. Thank you for supporting IRIS!
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2019 Giving Statements, Year End and 2020 Update
Our Assistant Treasurer, Joan Cordier, has prepared giving statements for 2019. They are available in the front of the Sanctuary for you to pick up. We
are grateful for your financial support of the ministries of the Gilead Church, and hope this update will be helpful. If you have any questions about your statement, please contact Joan Cordier (860-228-4718). Thank you!
Our Board of Trustees also wants to share with the congregation that we ended 2019 with a $3,421.87 surplus. As has been customary, our Trustees voted to give 10% of the surplus to our Board of Missions and the remainder will go to our Long Term Capital Reserve Fund. We are grateful for everyone's generous giving!
For 2020 we are still $31,594 short of our pledge goal, which is significant. If you have not yet made a pledge for 2020, we invite you to do so. Pledge cards are available in the front and back of the Sanctuary or by calling the Church office (860-228-3077). Pledge cards can be placed in the offering plate or returned to the Church (672 Gilead Street, Hebron, CT). Thank you!
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Wednesday Morning Book Discussion Group
The Wednesday Morning Book Discussion Group meets in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday mornings. The group is currently reading "Giver of Stars" by Jojo Moyes. It is based on a true story of depression era Kentucky and Eleanor Roosevelt's idea of a traveling library. On Wednesday, February 5th, the group will begin discussing "1000 White Women" by Jim Ferges.
It is a fictional account of Brides for Indians program by Ulysses S. Grant to assimilate the Indians to the white man's world by having white women marry Cheyenne Indians.
All are welcome! If you have any questions concerning the book group, please contact Sandy Hooker at jackandsandyh@gmail.com.
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Silver Lake Conference Center
Silver Lake has announced its offerings for the summer 2020 conference season. Details and registration are available at www.silverlakect.org along with downloads of the forms needed for registration. Copies of the Silver Lake brochure are also available on the table underneath the name tags. Register by January 31st to save $50 (coupon code EARLY20). Also, our Women's Fellowship has once again agreed to pay the $150 deposit for any young person from our congregation who would like to attend Silver Lake. Please speak with Margaret Gibbs (860-384-4327) if you would like to take our Women's Fellowship up on their offer.
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Valentine's Day Cards
The Women’s Fellowship would like to invite you to celebrate Valentine’s Day by sending a card to one or all of our members and friends listed below:
Bea Anderson Ed Meincke
5 Huckleberry Acres 274 Burrows Hill Road
East Hampton, CT 06424 Hebron, CT 06248
Dale Bland Lynn Owens
124 Slocum Road 15 West Street
Hebron, CT 06248 Columbia, CT 06237
Peter Carbone Maralyn Porter
Cherry Brook Healthcare, #216 20 Martin Road
102 Dyer Avenue Hebron, CT 06248
Canton, CT 06019
Jean Derby Dottie Taggart
564 East Street P.O. Box 63
Hebron, CT 06248 Hebron, CT 06248
John Hibbard Betty Tow
1072 Gilead Street 60 Millstream Road
Hebron, CT 06248 Amston, CT 06231
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Bible Study
Tuesdays at 11:15 am
Our weekly Bible Study meets on Tuesday mornings from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Music Room. Rev. Bob Woodward leads the study. The group is discussing the book of Genesis. Please bring your own Bible. All are welcome!
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Youth Group News
Covenant Soup Kitchen:
Our Youth Group will be serving the noon meal on Saturday, January 25th. They will meet at the Church at 9:30 a.m. The group is NOT asking the congregation for donations as the kitchen currently has plenty of food.
Mission Trip Team Building:
All youth who are planning to attend the April mission trip are invited to a team building potluck dinner on Sunday, January 26th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring a dish to share.
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Gilead Church Cookbook
We know from all the food that is created for Church events that Gilead abounds with good cooks! And in 1998 many wonderful recipes were shared in The Lord’s Bounty produced by the Women’s Fellowship. Now we’re getting ready for The Lord’s Bounty II and we need your help! Starting on January 26, forms for your favorite recipes will be available at Church and soon thereafter, on line. Any questions should be directed to Margaret Gibbs, Chair (860-384-4327) or Judy Brandi, Publishing Guru (860-530-1584).
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Save the Date for our Gilead Golf Open
Our Gilead Golf Open will take place this year on Saturday, May 16th with registration beginning at noon. We will have a start time of 1:00 p.m. Watch for more details!
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Sunday School Cancellation
If inclement weather should happen and forces cancellation of Sunday School, our Sunday School Superintendents will contact Sunday School teachers. Parents please check the WFSB web site for cancellation information. If Gilead Church is not listed there will be Sunday School. Worship will never be cancelled as Pastor Denise lives so close to the church. Please, however, use your discretion and always stay safe!
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Baptism Congratulations
Baptized this past Sunday, January 19th was August Fox Mordasky, son of Kim and Matt Mordasky.
Gus was born on February 7, 2017 at Hartford Hospital and joins brothers Ulrick and Nash. Welcome Gus to our Church family!
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Sympathies
Our Church family expresses its deepest sympathy to Dale Bland and her daughters,
Jennifer and Roberta, on the recent death of Dale's husband, David. A memorial service will be held at the Gilead Church this coming Saturday, January 25th at 11 a.m. with a reception following.
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Upcoming Sunday Worship Servers
Ushers for this Sunday:
Ginny Miller and Diane Pintavalle
Ushers for next Sunday: Heidi and Brian Byrne
Deacon of the Day for this Sunday: Teresa Olio
Deacon of the Day for next Sunday: Amy Huhn
Liturgist: Margot Sheehan
Call to Worship: Marcus Parker
Coffee Hour Hosts for this Sunday:
Potluck Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour Hosts for next Sunday: Colleen Hunter and Barbara Van Achterberg
Greeter for this Sunday:
Shoshonah Woolf
Greeters for next Sunday: Janet and David Kline
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Scripture Reading and Prayer for the Week
Matthew 4: 12-23
Lord Jesus, we are amazed that you would call us, ordinary people, to share in your healing and redemptive mission in the world. Help us to be sensitive and attentive to your presence in our midst. Speak to us so that we may hear your particular call, and then give us courage to make a response of commitment to follow where you lead. May we be empowered to minister faithfully in this world in your name. Amen.
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Contact Info
Sally Fritsche
Administrative Assistant
672 Gilead St
Hebron, Ct 06248
860-228-3077
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until noon (Parish House)
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