Weekly Newsletter
Week of November 17 - November 23
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Gilead Congregational Church, UCC |
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Meetings and Services this week:
Wednesday, November 17th
-10:30 a.m. Book Group
-1:00 p.m. Tech Meeting
-7:00 p.m. Choir Practice - Sanctuary
-7:00 p.m. Church Council
Thursday, November 18th:
-7:00 p.m. Holy Cow Survey Review with Boards and Committees
Pledge Sunday, November 21th:
-10:00 a.m. Worship Service
-11:00 a.m. Coffee Hour
-6:30 p.m. Youth Group Meeting
-7:00 p.m. Community Thanksgiving Service at the Church of the Holy Family
Every Monday
-9:30 a.m. Bible Study *NEW TIME*
Tuesday, November 23rd:
-7:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall in Use (AA Meeting)
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November Holidays, Church Office is Closed:
- November 11th - Veterans Day
- November 25th - Thanksgiving
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About Us:
Interim Pastor:
Reverend Matt McCaffrey
Minister of Music:
Andrey Stolyarov
Minister of Communication and Technology:
Lisa Cox
Interim Administrative Assistant:
Tonya Maurer
Gathered: 1748
Meeting House: 1838
Fellowship Hall: 2008
We are an Open & Affirming Church
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Worship Service
Join us in side the Sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. for Sunday's worship. Our indoor COVID protocols remain the same (masks required, regardless of vaccination status).
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Live Stream
If you aren't able to join us in person please join our live-stream services either on our Facebook page or YouTube channel. You will also be able to view previous videos on either platform.
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2021 Christmas Pageant - HELP NEEDED
This years Christmas Pageant will be held on December 12th, with the rehearsal occurring on December 11th.
To bring the Pageant to life, the Board of CE is looking for some crafty crafters and a talented carpenter(s) to help prepare for his year’s pageant. Your help and craftiness will make it a great pageant!! Please contact Karen Risley (krisley@comcast.net) if you are willing!
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Community Thanksgiving Service
Join us for our Community Thanksgiving Service which will be held this Sunday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. All are invited to gather at Church of the Holy Family. In light of the COVID pandemic, music will be provided by one of our congregation’s musicians. Masking will be required indoors for all attending. An offering will be received which will go to Hebron Interfaith Human Services. United Brethren Synagogue, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Church of the Holy Family and the Gilead Congregational Church will be participating in the service, and other congregations are invited. All are welcome!
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SUCCESSFUL
Food Collection
Rachel Cook shares huge thank you for supporting her collect donations for the Hebron Interfaith Human Services backpack program. The collection was a huge success. Rachel collected over 120 pounds of food, this included 672 individual snacks and 145 meals. She knows the kids will be very happy to get their backpacks for many weekends too come! Congratulations to Rachel and thank you to all that donated!
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Trustees say
THANK YOU!!!
The trustees would like to thank everyone that was able to lend a hand, rake, leaf blower, ladder... this past Saturday for our annual Fall Work Day. The grounds look beautiful and the buildings are ready for winter!
Thank you to the Women's Fellowship as well. They spent the morning cleaning and organizing the kitchen. Their efforts are very much appreciated.
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Stewardship: Our Stewardship theme of “Rooted in Love” draws inspiration from Psalm 1, “They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season.” What would need to change in our lives for us to be fully rooted in love? Hear from those in our church community that share what seeds have rooted them in love: 2021 Stewardship Videos
Join us for Pledge Sunday, November 21st, and bring your pledge cards to worship service for a celebration of generosity.
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Holy Cow Survey Results: Board and Committee members are invited to the consultant presentation this Thursday, November 18th, at 7 p.m. Contact the Church Office with any questions. There will also be a presentation for the Congregation on Sunday, December 12th, following Coffee Hour and the Cookie Sale.
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Save the Dates
Faith & Film & Potluck
Faith and Film Dates:
- December 3rd
- January 7th
- February 4th
- March 4th
Potluck dinner starts at 6:00 p.m. followed by the film.
Film synopsis will be shared the week of the film.
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December 5th:
Advent Celebration
All are welcome to be in the Christmas Spirit and in fellowship with one another. Come make Evergreen Swags, Christmas crafts (for adults and children) and of course enjoy some delicious goodies!
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Cookie Sale
Put your baking talents to work and consider baking up some goodies in support of the annual Cookie Sale. All goodies should be labeled and dropped off to the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, December 11th between 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. so they can be packaged for the sale. See the sign up sheet on the table under the name tags.
The Cookie Sale will be the following day, Sunday December 12th after Worship Service. Cookies will be sold by the pound. Purchases can be made using credit card, check or cash.
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Holiday Gift Sale Throughout November
Stop by the Women’s Fellowship table on Sunday November 21st and 28th. Checkout the knives (made in the USA) for sale along with our own church cookbook, full of wonderful recipes. These are great holiday gifts for others, or even your own kitchen! You can purchase using a credit card, check or cash.
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Coffee Hour Host Volunteers Needed
The Fellowship Committee is hosting Coffee Hour. Please come and enjoy reconnecting with one another following the 10:00am church service. (Masks in place, please, when not eating!) Consider volunteering to be a Coffee Hour host. Snacks, beverages and baked goods will be provided. Hosts are responsible for set up, cream, kitchen clean up and whatever else they'd like to bring. A Fellowship Committee member will also be there to help out and detailed instructions will be provided.
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Coffee Hour
Bakers Needed
Thank you for those who have already baked! More volunteers are needed to bake items that we can freeze for future coffee hour use. Items that freeze well include any types of cookies with butter, quick breads, bar cookies/brownies. Items can be brought to the kitchen on any Sunday in November and we'll package them up to freeze. Our hope is to make coffee hour more simple for those who host yet still provide some homemade treats!
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Our coffee hour mantra is "Keep It Simple" as it's the conversations and connections made that are the most important part of coffee hour!
Please sign up outside the sanctuary or call / text / email Annette Langevin at
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Holiday Missions and Gifts |
Your Christmas Flower / Memorial Gift forms are ready! You can print your order form form using the button, or pick up up a form during worship service. Orders are needed no later than December 5th. See Lynn Lukach with questions. |
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Do you enjoy homemade pumpkin or apple pie? Are you looking for pies for the upcoming holiday? Order a delicious pie from Amy Huhn! Proceeds will benefit HELO, a non-profit orphanage in Les Cayes, Haiti. Please see Amy Huhn following worship service or via phone 860-462-0919 or email amykhuhn@gmail.com.
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WOW! Your generosity is heartwarming! All of our 41 tags have been claimed.
This Sunday we will have several new tags available to support Covent to Care and children that may not have a sponsored Social Worker. There will be gift suggestions on the tags.
Gifts will need to be returned (unwrapped, in gift bag) by December 5th. Please check-in with our Tree Tag volunteer who will update our inventory of who has what tags and what gifts have been dropped off.
Contact Tonya Maurer, 2021 Angel Tag Coordinator, with any questions (860-228-3077).
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Thank you to the Youth Group and Sunday School children for making the beautiful Angel Tags. |
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Bible study is led by Rev. Bob Woodward and meets through Zoom on Monday's at 9:30 a.m. It's a new time, with the same mind quenching content.
The group will be delving into Isaiah 40 to 61.
All are invited and welcome to join this time of enlightening discussion, and study, of all facets of the bible. Join when you can!
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Board of Visitors

We have all been the grateful recipients of a Pastoral visit, sometimes when illness affected us or when difficulties loomed or even when all was well.
If you know of someone who might benefit from a visit, please contact Dale either by phone (860-228-3514) or email (dcdjbland1@aol.com) and she’ll set it up in coordination with Pastor Matt.
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Prayer Chain Requests
Ginny Miller is coordinating our prayer requests. Please use any of the following options to send your prayer requests to Ginny:
- 860-228-0272 (home)
- 860-559-5273 (cell)
- GinnyMiller15@gmail.com
- GCC@GileadChurch.net, be sure to use "Prayer Request" in the subject line and your email will route to Ginny
Thank you to Ginny for coordinating these heartfelt requests.
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Using your electronic device you can launch our giving page with this QCR code. You can also launch the giving page with the following link: GIVE
For questions about donations please reach out to our Stewardship Committee Co-Chairs: Lisa Cox (coxlm@comcast.net) or Lauren Henry (lhenrymailbox@gmail.com).
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Contact Info
Tonya Maurer
Interim Administrative Assistant
672 Gilead St
Hebron, Ct 06248
Normal Parish House Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until Noon.
Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Upcoming Office Holidays:
Thursday November 25th - Thanksgiving
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