Community UCC eNews
December 12, 2019
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Community UCC is an inclusive and progressive Christian Church doing social justice, environmental faithfulness, interfaith collaboration and and spiritual formation to help ourselves and others grow in faith, hope and love.
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Sunday Sermon
Sunday, Dec. 15, the
third Sunday of Advent
, Pastor Ara will deliver a sermon titled "Gift of Peace," based on Luke 1:46-56.
Worship Service Each Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
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NOTE:
We broadcast our Sunday Worship service on
Facebook Live
beginning at 10:30 a.m. We want to make service accessible to members or friends who can't be with us on Sunday mornings. The camera captures the front of the Sanctuary and the first couple of rows of seats.
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Advent Projects
Each year the Missions and Social Justice Team plans Advent projects for the four Sundays in Advent, beginning this year on Sunday, Dec. 1. The committee picks four organizations that will benefit, and the congregation can bring requested items for each week’s project.
Here are this year’s remaining projects and recipients:
- Dec. 15 — Cash donations to buy bus passes for residents of Dakota EcoGarden, a transitional homeless shelter with an environmentally-friendly approach.
- Dec. 22 — Collecting small gifts for senior residents of Twilight Haven retirement facility, like mittens, socks and scarves to help residents stay warm.
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Two more Sundays to get tickets for this jigsaw puzzle basket raffle!
J
ust in time for Christmas, Lisa Boyles has put together this jigsaw puzzle fun basket with puzzles for all ages, and yummy snacks and refreshments!
If you win this basket, you can plan a fun family evening (or several), use the basket contents as Christmas gifts, or save it to offer later to create a hosted event people can bid for our next big fundraiser/silent auction!
Tickets will be on sale in the breezeway after worship on Dec. 15 and 22, with the drawing to be held
Dec. 22
. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20.
Basket contents:
- 1,000-piece mountain sunset jigsaw
- 550-piece Beauty and the Beast puzzle
- 550-piece hummingbird puzzle
- 100-piece children's puzzle (barnyard theme)
- Set of six Ravensburger Sort-and-Go stackable sorting trays
- 100-piece small puzzle, firebird design
- Small set of metal puzzles
- Various yummy treats
- Bottle of Martinelli's sparkling cider
- Bottle of Carnivor red wine
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Christmas Eve Service
Join us at
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24
, for our Christmas Eve worship service.
Come celebrate the birth of Jesus at our Christmas Eve worship service as we sing, pray and enjoy a short play together. All are welcome! (There will be no Christmas Day service.)
Calling all actors and actresses of all ages!
If you are interested in participating in the service, please let Robin know. There are many parts, speaking and non-speaking. Come and join us as we bring the light of Jesus into the World!
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Poinsettias decorating the Sanctuary have been given in honor/memory by:
- Lisa Boyles and Randy Bell, in memory of Sean Dorman, Norene Bitler, Krissy Black and Grace Grundy
- John R. Donaldson, in memory of Shirley Donaldson, Ruth Reynolds and Vy Nutter
- Sarah Fey, in memory of Russell and Patricia Fey
- Becky Garth-Nelson and Jim Nelson, in memory of Thomas Gates Garth, son; Patrick James Garth, son; our parents and Jim’s brother
- EJ Hinojosa, in memory of Alexander Horton
- Susan and Spence Hipp, in honor of our children and grandchildren; in honor of James Burke and in memory of Margaret Burke; in memory of Walter and Jessie Hipp
- Carol Kilburn, in memory of Art and Bobbie Drolette, and in memory of Ceil and John Speirs
- Joe Mack, in memory of Susan Liberty; and in appreciation of Ara, Eileen, Annie, Bobbie, Joanne, Nancy, Carol, Meg and Roger, the 10 who helped me out paying off the affect of the scam I was the victim of.
- Nanete Maki-Dearsan, in memory of Susan Liberty and in honor of Haley Maki-Dearsan and Pastor Ara and her baptism here
- Parks Family, in memory of Steve Parks, Betty Parks, Neil Parks and Joe Neary
- Thomas Russell and Elizabeth Davis-Russell, in memory of Pryde Jefferson Davis and in honor of my guys, Allison and Danny
- Anne Simone, in memory of Dorothy and Charles Thomas
- Pearl Supersad, in memory of Dr. Jankie Supersad; and in honor of my children and grandchildren
- Roger and Victoria Wall, in memory of Edith Thomas, and Ruth Wall-Custer
- Sib and Eileen White, in memory of Sibley and Anna White, Carl, Elsie and Dennis Schwabenland
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2019 Advent Devotional is Here!
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Living the Questions 2.0
Living the Questions resumed beginning
Sunday, Nov. 3
. Below are the upcoming calendars (subject to change) and themes for November and December.
Theme: INVITATION TO JOURNEY
Dec.
15
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A Passion for Christ: Paul the Apostle
Dec.
22
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Out into the World: Challenges Facing Progressive Christians
Dec.
29
—
No LTQ
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Saturday Morning Breakfast Group
Saturday, Jan. 4
, Conference Room
Breakfast at 8:45 a.m., talk begins at 9 a.m.
On Jan. 4,
Elizabeth Davis Russell
will discuss "What does it mean to be a progressive Christian Church?" This presentation will explore what CUCC is doing, and poses the question, "What else can CUCC do to confront some of the challenges of today's world?” Lee and Virginia Virag will provide breakfast in January.
Phil Fullerton
will present on Feb. 1, speaking on "Eight Years in Provence."
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Community UCC is now part of the AmazonSmile Foundation charitable organizations that can be supported while you shop at
Smile.Amazon.com
. Register Community UCC as your charity and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the eligible purchase price to our church.
Learn more on our website
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In each week's eNews, we include a news article from our larger denomination,
United Church of Christ
,
to show the faithful work being done in other places.
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The simple act of choosing love
In his Christmas message, United Church of Christ General Minister and President the
Rev. John C. Dorhauer invites the wider church to ground our spirits in God’s love.
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” I John 4.7
As we enter another Christmas season, I invite us to ground our spirits in this love.
Like all early Christians, John wanted to understand what the coming of the Christ-child meant for those who worshiped God through Jesus. He came to see that to be a disciple one must love. He focused his theological worldview on one core fundament: God is love.
Continue reading at the UCC.com website
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Happy Birthday and Anniversary to all who are celebrating this month!
December Birthdays
2
–
Steve Edwards
3
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Miles Barrett
7
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Jessica Swan
8
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Curtis Richardson
10
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Janina Smith-Schulz
16
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Matt Horton, Amy Kilburn
17
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Barbara Kilburn, Pearl Supersad, Kyle Carlson
18
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Ed Sanchez
26
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Julia Penner-Zook,
Tim Tidyman-Jones
28
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Seth Tilley
31
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Allen Church, Noah Ruffin
December Anniversaries
10
–
Marilyn and David Wall
26
– Rod Zook and Julia Penner-Zook
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Upcoming Church Events
- Thursday Evening Worship - weekly at 7 p.m., we hold a weekly contemplative, interactive, spirit-filled worship service in the Sanctuary
- Sundays at 9 a.m. - Adult Education in the Conference Room
- Dec. 18 - Aramaic Jesus, 2:30 p.m. in Sanctuary
- Dec. 20 - Christmas Concert, 7 p.m., Sanctuary
- Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve service, 5:30 p.m.
- Jan. 4 - Saturday Morning Breakfast Group, 8:45 a.m., Conference Room (see article above)
- Jan. 5 - Recycling Sunday, first Sunday of the month
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eNews deadline is 10 a.m. Wednesdays
CUCC eNews is a weekly publication distributed every Thursday.
Deadline for submitting announcements is 10 a.m. Wednesdays
(and earlier is appreciated).
Please send your announcements to Marilyn at
office@communityucc.com
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Phone: 559.435.2690
Email: office@communityucc.com
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