This Week
Wednesday, January 30
- 7:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, January 31
Friday, February 1
- 7:45 a.m. Men's Bible Study
Sunday, February 3
9:00 a.m. Mindfulness Meditation at the Scoville Memorial Library
- 10:00 a.m. Worship with guest preacher The Rev. Dr. Betsey Mauro, Communion, Sunday School, Nursery Care
- 11:30 a.m. Trustees
Monday, February 4
- 11:30 a.m. Duplicate Bridge Club
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Joyful News From the
Transition Team
Dear Congregation,
It is with enormous enthusiasm and heartfelt joy that we announce the appointment of Rev. Dr. John A. Nelson as our Transitional Pastor. Attached you will find his bio with a picture of him and his wife, Angela.
As you may remember, Pastor John's was one of four names that came to us through the CT Conference and Rev. Tamara Moreland. From the very start of our interactions with him, Pastor John proved to be a thoughtful listener, a clear-sighted leader, and a person of great faith and wisdom. With 21 years in ministry, Pastor John brings a wide variety of talents, sensitivities, and experience to our church community.
We will be convening a Search Committee for the Settled Pastor after a period of at least six months, in which time we can all "exhale" and let the choppy waters of change settle a bit. Our agreement with Pastor John is a three-year term with the possibility that he could be a candidate to be the Settled Pastor.
Because of his existing agreement with his church in Lenox, MA, Pastor John will join our community at the beginning of April. In the meantime, we will continue to enjoy the spiritual guidance of a variety of fine pastors.
The Transition Team would like to thank the Congregation for your support, your input, your patience, and your prayers. We look forward to the Extravagant Welcome we know our community will offer!
With enormous gratitude,
Betsy, Ryan, Karin, Mary, Jennifer, and Sarah
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This past week we were treated to Ryan Gackenheimer’s joy-filled and Silver Lake oriented Sunday worship. And though we missed hearing Jason Larson the previous Sunday due to the weather, we have plugged him into the schedule at the end of this bridge time – on March 31
st.
Here is the schedule as it stands:
Feb. 3
rd – Rev. Betsey Mauro – Ordained Minister and presently head of Woman’s Support Services
Feb. 10
th – Rev. Betsey Mauro
Feb. 17
th – Lorna Edmundson with Deacons
Feb. 24 – Rev. Sarah Smith – UCC Bridgeport
March 3
rd. – Kirk Hall – from Salisbury School
March 10
th – Robert Kuhn with Deacons
We have two more Sunday’s to fill – and still have a couple of leads we are following. Hopefully by next week we will be all scheduled! Because on April 7
th we will be hearing our new Pastor John Nelson!
In the meantime – keep on coming to our Sunday Worship Service and hear these different voices. And please, as always, keep the prayers coming!
Karin Noyes – for the Deacons
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If a pastoral emergency arises, the lead Deacons through Sunday, February 3rd are John Estabrook and Lorna Edmundson.
The lead Deacons from Monday, February 4 through Sunday, February 10 are Karin Noyes and Clare Rashkoff.
The Deacons have pastoral support resources for times of need.
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We are still collecting cards for the Tribute Box with fond memories, thanks and good wishes for Pastor Diane. Perhaps you have not yet found the words to write down, but there's still time!
Place your cards and written messages in the Box which sits on the marble-top table on the Fellowship Hall stage. These messages are for Pastor Diane to read at her leisure in the coming days and months and are for her eyes only, so be sure to use an envelope. If you will be away, you can send your cards c/o Melissa Adam, Tributes, Salisbury Congregational Church, PO Box 392, Salisbury, CT 06068.
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Still Accepting Donations
In Honor of Pastor Diane
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As Silver Lake is near and dear to Pastor Diane’s heart, a monetary gift will be presented to Silver Lake in her name. We are still collection donations! If you would like to contribute, please make checks payable to the Congregational Church of Salisbury (with “Diane-Silver Lake” in the memo line) and send to the church office.
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Pastor Diane has been Released from her Ministry with Our Church.
What Happens Next?
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Ordained ministers serving in the United Church of Christ follow the “Ordained Minister’s Code.” This code of ethics outlines the responsibilities of ministers while serving, as well as leaving, a church. Here is a link to the full code:
Ordained Ministers Code.
These are the statements that govern leaving a church:
Click to Read.
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This Sunday, February 3, The Rev. Dr. D. Elizabeth Mauro will be our guest preacher. Her sermon will be "A Trip to the Wilderness".
Readings:
Psalm 107:1-9
Exodus 3:1-12
Matthew 3:13-17
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From Barbara Collins, Director of Religious Education
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This Sunday, February, 3rd, is Communion Sunday.
There will be Nursery Care (birth-age 4), Sunday School (age 4- Grade 5). The Youth Discussion Group will not meet. Thanks to Andrea Bargabos for helping in the Nursery and Linda Estabrook for helping in the Sunday School last week.
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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 next on Sunday, F
ebr
uary 10.
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From Jack Bowman, Minister of Music
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Sunday our guest Betsey Mauro has chosen familiar hymns for our Communion service. The Choir anthem is the
Kyrie from the Mass in G Major by Franz Schubert. The organ prelude is
Passacaglia by Andre Raison and the postlude is
Toccata in A Minor by Benedetto Marcello.
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Jenn Surdam, our Youth Group Intern and Giv2 Coordinator, has arranged a Giv2 event to be held on Saturday, February 16 at Noble Horizons. The youth will participate in a craft with the residents, after a time of introduction and prayer.
The residents always enjoy spending time with our youth and these events prove to be a meaningful experience for the young people as well.
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Food Donations for The Corner Food Pantry
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Shopping bags were distributed during Worship on Sunday, January 27 for The Corner Food Pantry. If you didn't get one, please pick one up this Sunday! Please fill your bag and bring to church on
Sunday, February 10
. The bags will placed in the Parish Hall Entryway before Worship.
The shelves are low! Below are a few suggestions of what they are in need of. Your donations will go to local families in need. Thank you for your support!
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Men's Ecumenical Bible Study meets on
Fridays 7:45 a.m. All men are welcome.
Women's Bible Study will resume in the Spring.
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Silver Lake Summer Camp
Register by the end of
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Pick your week(s) today!
Registration for the 2019 Summer Camp Session at Silver Lake Conference Center opens January 15, and
those registering by Jan. 31st can receive a $50 discount on their registration.
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If you would like to provide flowers for a Sunday service
, please contact Linda Estabrook at
(860) 824-5896
by Wednesday of the week the flowers will be donated. You are welcome to provide flowers in memory of or in honor of a loved one.
Simple bouquets and garden flowers are encouraged - there is no need to spend a lot of money!
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If you could abolish
one thing from the
way in which
"it's always been done",
what would you get rid of?
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The Coffee Hour sign up
is in the Parish Hall. If you have never served at Coffee Hour and would like to “learn the ropes,” please sign your name in the column marked “helper” and you will be paired with an experienced Coffee Hour server. If you have served before, please sign up for a Sunday or two and consider inviting someone new to join you!
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Click above to access our secure site
.
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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
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Please contact the office if you would like to add a name to the prayer list. Names may be added at any time by calling the office 860-435-2442 or emailing
kwigginsscc@gmail.com
.
Please make sure you have permission from someone to add their name to this public list.
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Please take a moment to visit our w
ebs
ite:
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Conference Calling for Committee Meetings
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We now 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.
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Save the Date ~ Simply Smiles Keep Hope Alive 2019
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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
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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
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