Weekly Update
November 7, 2019
Scam Alert!  
We, and some other church family members, have received an email that looks like it's from Joe asking for help to buy some Amazon gift cards for a needy person. Please be aware that this is a scam. It is not from Joe. Delete the email.
Please Note:
The Elevator is still  operational for this Sunday's service
        
Pastor's Messsage

After years of discussions and planning, the Vision 2020 construction project has finally begun! A team of individuals from Casavant Frères, the organ builder, are working hard at this very moment removing all 1,287 pipes, pipe chests, wind lines, and bellows from the organ cabinet. You can see from the pictures below that the organ is currently strewn all over the church! By Sunday morning all will be neat and tidy and the organ will be packed up and ready to be sent to Canada on a very large truck Monday morning.

            A few workers from Delphi, the construction company, have been building some temporary walls and doors to block off the elevator so that work on removing the existing one can begin next week. And please note,
 THE ELEVATOR IS STILL OPERATIONAL AND WILL BE USED THIS SUNDAY! 

This is an exciting moment in the history of this church and we will keep you informed of all that is happening. 
 
Faithfully,
Joe















 
A Special Meeting of the Congregation of this Church will take place following the church this Sunday, November 17. You are invited to attend, and if you are either an Active or Associate Member, to vote on motions brought at the meeting.
 The agenda for the meeting will be:
  1. Call to Order and Opening Prayer
  2. To discuss the timing of the organ reinstallation, and to authorize the signing of the necessary contract.
  3. Transaction of other business to properly come before the meeting.
  4. Adjournment and Closing Prayer. 

   

Tonight!
Thursdays, November 7th & 14th at 6:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church  Fellowship Hall
Navigating the Teen Years
Strategies for Parenting Teens
  with parenting expert (and superhero) Cindy Horgan
Don't miss this excellent presentation by Cindy Horgan where she
 will give valuable tips and advise on navigating the teen years.

Child Care Available


Missions Update

Thanks to all who lugged, sold and bought pumpkins.  This year we beat our goal, and made $9,600!  A special thanks to Ben Nickerson Rubbish Removal, who donated the dumpster services to the project.  I remember last year thanking the driver, and he pointed to the name on the door of the truck:  "Grandpa would have my head if I charged you!"  Thanks to everybody, especially the Rubbish Removal company, for your hard work and generosity.

Coming up this Sunday:  every year, we pass that hat for four separate UCC Missions projects.  It's time to collect for Neighbors in Need.  This offering gets divided between Native American congregations and a set of justice projects that take place across the country.  The Massachusetts Conference awards grants to Congregational Church projects in the region.  You can find last year's grant recipients here.  If you'd like to give, there will be pew envelopes available, or you can send a check to the office (Please put "NIN" in the memo line).  

The holiday Dove Tree will soon be up.  Take a dove and buy some presents for local kids in need.  The Chatham Children's Fund usually reserves four particularly stressed families for our church, because over the years we have proven to be so generous.  It's important... and it's fun!  Christmas shopping for kids who need help.  You can't go wrong with this one.

And finally... time to dust off the cookbooks! 
  Cookie Express will be held DECEMBER 14 this year.  We're waiting to make sure the kitchen isn't disrupted with the elevator removal this week before we decide precisely where the sale will happen, although we expect it will be in the vestry as usual.  Please get ready to bake!


An Update from The Water Project...
Your Gifts ~ Unlocking Potential
First Congregational Church Of Chatham, you made a gift in October that supported this specific water project in Kenya.   Come see how you're helping!
   
From the field...
Dirty water is making people in Kaukuswi sick. Thanks to your generosity, we're working to install a clean water point and much more. Get to know this community through the narrative and pictures we've posted, and read about this water, sanitation and hygiene project... Read more Here


Date Change!!

Because of the Congregational Meeting scheduled for November 17 after church the Dinner will be held after church on November 24th



And Dessert Auction!

Harvest Dinner ~ Sunday, November 24 after Worship
What will you bring?       If you last name begins with ...
A-F - bring salad   G-P - bring a Main dish   Q-Z - bring dessert

There is a sign up sheet in the Fellowship Hall.
Or call the office to sign up.


 Bring a Fancy Dessert 
for our Dessert Auction! 


News from Safe Church Committee...

Your Safe Church Committee continues to meet regularly. There have been several steps that have been accomplished which are outlined below. We will also be making announcements as to improvements that have been made to ensure the safety of our church and our members and friends.
  • Safety Training with Officer Michael Anderson - late spring we offered a program with Officer Anderson from the Chatham Police force. He has worked with other churches in our community on recommendations for safety procedures.
  • Church Monitors - church monitors have been established who will be on hand to walk the building, check on classrooms and help ensure the overall safety of our building on Sunday mornings.
  • Safe Church Policy Manual - extensive work has gone into the manual and will be brought for review at the next Church council meeting. Following that review, it will be made available for the congregation.
  • We've visited St. Martin's Lodge to establish safety procedures for when we are relocated.
Please remember to check in the pews for Evacuation cards in the case of an emergency. We will continue to keep you posted!




Please Note: the deadline to return your
 box to the church is November 17
 You'll find boxes and instructions in the Fellowship Hall.

National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child is coming next month from November 18th -25th. Every shoebox is an opportunity to share God's love with children in need all around the world. It is one project of Samaritan's Purse. Please consider participating -
-This short video  will instruct you about how to pack a shoebox.
You'll find boxes in the Fellowship Hall.


From The Barnstable Association.... 
FALL FELLOWSHIP GATHERING
Sunday, November 17th  
2-5pm
First Congregational Church of Fairhaven,
34 Center St. , Fairhaven. MA
 
Noted author
DIANA BUTLER BASS
will be the presenter at 3pm
All are welcome to attend this free event sponsored by the Pilgrim, Old Colony, and Barnstable Associations of the MA Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Diana's topic will be
"What's Gratitude Got to Do With It? 
Why We Need Thanks Now More Than Ever."
 
  Diana is the author of Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks. Books will be available for purchase, along with book signing by the author.
Go to this link for more info and directions to the church.
Contact the church office if you'd like to attend and arrange a car pool.
 

Calendar 

Weekly on Fridays - Hand Bells - 9:30am   
Weekly on Wednesday - Grief Share - 10am
                                      Choir - 7pm

November 7 & 14 - Parenting Teens - 6:30pm
Tuesday, November 12 - Deacons 4pm
                                       Trustees 7pm
Sunday November 17 - after church -   Congregational Meeting
Tuesday, November 19 - Missions, 10am
Sunday, November 24 - after church - Harvest Dinner
 





Prayer List 

Addison Pratt
Barbara Howard
Betty Blair
Bill Benoit
Beth Eldredge
Bob Harned
Bud Heidebur
Charles O'Connor
David Howard
Dudley Goetz
Emily Garfunkel
Emily King
Harrell Family
Harriet Larsen
Hugh Jones
Jim Gable
JoAnn Mets
John & Barbara Emison

 




John Nostrand
Jackie Yaeger
Joshua L. Hartley
Kate Poskanzer
Ken & Kathy Campbell
Laurie Hill
Martha Anne King
Matthew Hamilton
Michael LaCava
Michael Wheeler
Mun Long
Nicholas Tucker
Peter Brenner
Rosemary Giasullo
Susan Beall
Ted & Mary Ann Fritsch
Walter Meier