"Hope for Tomorrow" Advent Worship November 29 |
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Our worship harkens back to a time when people needed desperately to hear words of comfort, challenge, and good news. This Advent in our worship, God's Spirit will shine in these dark days and bring more light into the world.
You're going to want to be there for this!
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Sunday Worship Online
Fellowship Time. Each Sunday, between our worship services, we gather together via Zoom. Grab a mug of coffee or a cup of tea and come say hi. This is a chance to catch up and chat, discuss a little about Sunday's message, and anything else that might be on your mind. You can connect at https://tinyurl.com/ColConv
Online Children's Sunday School. This week's Sunday School Bible story will go live on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. https://bit.ly/CCYouTubeVid
If you know of kids who might enjoy taking part in our Sunday School, invite their parents to signup to be on the list to receive the weekly materials at https://bit.ly/CCSSOnline.
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Advent and Christmas at Colonial
“I believe in the sun, even when the sun is not shining...” are the opening words of an anonymous Jewish poet during World War II.
While these words call us to acknowledge the darkness of our time, this Christmas season we turn to the power of narrative and music to call us to respond with hope, love, joy, and peace.
In our worship this Christmas season, we will fill the night with music and light and affirm and act on the reasons why we can still “believe, even when” we are discouraged.
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This is a message that so many people need this year. So, please invite someone you know to worship with us online. You may receive an envelope in the mail with two electric candles and two luminaries. One is for your household, and the other is for you to share with someone along with a handwritten invitation card from you. The card is in the envelope as well. |
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Over these past few weeks, we have been celebrating ways that because of you, Colonial Church changes lives. We’ve seen lives change throughout our community.
Even more than that though, our community is united with others through the United Church of Christ. A part of our giving goes to support shared ministries around the nation through Our Church’s Wider Mission.
Here’s a little about that…
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We are part of a wider church that changes lives all around the nation...around the world. You are part of that...
This is what we do as Colonial Church. We change lives. We need your support to continue that. If you haven't already made your pledge of support for the coming year, you can do so by clicking below.
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6
The council has scheduled a congregational meeting for 9:15 a.m. between services on Sunday, December 6. Two items are on the agenda:
- Approve the funding of $15,000 from the Pemberton Trust funds to complete work on repairing the water damage in the lower level.
- Increase the budget limit for expenditures requiring congregational approval from $10,000 to $25,000 to accommodate the rising maintenance costs of an aging building and increasing rates of skilled trades such as plumbers. An increasing number of issues are arising with our physical plant requiring outside contractors to repair.
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New COVID-Prevention Guidelines for Colonial Church
Our area is experiencing record increases in COVID cases and COVID-related deaths, so Colonial Church is doing its part to slow transmission. The church council decided that starting November 23, the building is closed to groups. Staff members will shift some hours to home. We ask for your cooperation as we work to stay safe. Thank you.
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Poinsettias for the Altar
Poinsettias will be placed on the altar for the Advent/ Christmas season as a backdrop for our online worship. You can dedicate a plant in memory of or in honor of a loved one. Cost is $17 each. Click here to fill out the form and pay online. Or you can print this form and mail it with a check payable to Colonial Church.
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Annual Bright Light Friday
Jim "Mr. Stinky Feet" Cosgrove and his band, The Hiccups, are hosting the 10th Annual Bright Light Friday concert at 11:30 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving (November 27). The show will be streamed live on his Facebook fan page (https://www.facebook.com/mrstinkyfeet/).
During the performance, Jim will be collecting cash donations and adult-sized winter clothing items for Artists Helping the Homeless (http://ahh.org/), a local charity that raises awareness of homeless issues in Kansas City and provides aid and advocacy for those seeking to leave the street.
Also, Colonial will be collecting winter clothing items for AHH – hats, gloves, socks, thermal underwear, and coats (men's sizes L and XL). Please drop them in the box outside the church office door on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
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Operation Breakthrough Gift Giving
Deadline is Monday, November 30 for items to be at the church. Place the unwrapped toys in the box outside the church entrance by the office door before 4:00 p.m. Monday, as the office is closed this Wednesday-Friday.
Items still needed are new bath and body, puzzles, teen items and gift certificates. Take a look at this list of needed items for more ideas and to sign up. Any last minute items, contact Cindy Burgdorfer at 630-776-0511 or cburg1954@gmail.com or Julie Luttman.
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Spread Christmas Spirit
Colonial Church has been blessed with an extremely generous gift to share this Christmas season, and we need your help. From now until Christmas, Colonial will grant $100 from the Pemberton Charitable Foundation for any Colonial household to support a charity or need of your choice. The money can be used anywhere as long as it helps someone.
The only stipulation is that you let us know who will receive your gift and why. You can write a note, draw a picture, make a short video — however you want to express your message. With your permission, Colonial Church will use your message in Sunday services, the Crier newsletter, and other ways. To opt into this extraordinary opportunity to give $100, click here. The deadline is December 20.
Let’s spread the gift of Christmas good news throughout our community!
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Support the Christmas Fund
The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years. The Fund provides supplementation of small annuities, supplementation of health premiums, emergency grants, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks for retirees and those facing unforeseen financial hardship.
The emergency financial needs of many who serve the church have increased dramatically over the past nine months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Colonial members are requested to join with others in the United Church of Christ to support those who have given so much to our church. You can make you contribution online (select Christmas Fund from the dropdown menu) or by mailing your check to the church office. Thank you!
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In the Words of Survivors – Veronica's Voice 20 Year Celebration
This online event celebrates 20 years of Veronica's Voice and the survivor leadership that has impacted the lives of so many in our community and shown that love and empowerment are strong catalysts for change. A live auction is planned prior to the event and beautiful survivor handcrafted Just Cause products will be available for purchase. After purchasing tickets $20 each), you will receive an email confirmation with your ticket and the Zoom link to join on December 12 at 6:00 p.m. You will also receive a program and information on joining the live auction. Colonial will have a "table" that you can sign up to join. Watch for more information.
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Colonial Women Activities
Note: All Colonial Women activities are now virtual. You can attend through the Zoom links below. We need to connect now, more than ever!
Colonial Women Board Meeting -10:00 a.m. on November 30
Meeting ID: 819 1755 1373
Passcode: 936845
Colonial Women Book Group - 7:00 p.m. on December 4. We will discuss "The Day the World Came to Town" by Jim Defede.
Meeting ID: 830 5834 4311
Passcode: 259529
Colonial Women Big Biscuit - 9:30 a.m. on December 7
(first Monday of each month)
Meeting ID: 875 7521 4584
Passcode: 009830
Colonial Women Blue Moose - 5:30 p.m. on December 8
(2nd Tuesday of each month)
Meeting ID: 847 3130 1752
Passcode: 595120
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Sunday Night Open Prayer
We're going to gather together for a time of sharing and prayer on Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m. this winter in a Facebook Room. We'll spend 30 minutes reflecting on the week, sharing, and holding each other in prayer. Look for connection information on our Facebook "Colonial Stays Home" group.
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Colonial Women Rummage Fundraiser
Because of concerns about COVID-19, Colonial Women is hosting a rummage collection rather than the usual sale. The goal is to raise $1,000, which means about 5,000 pounds of items! Savers will pay us by the pound for quality items. To reach the goal we need about 2,500 pounds of soft goods and 2,500 pounds of hard goods (although soft goods are preferred). To reach that requires 250 13-gallon white trash bags of soft goods and 200 boxes of hard goods. Let Marylee Battaglia know how many bags or boxes you have collected so we can see progress toward the goal. The collection is April 22, 2021.
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Weekly Services and Sermons
On Demand Video: worship services are on YouTube here. Sermons are available here.
Podcasts: Sunday sermons are now available as a podcast. You can access the podcast via our Sermons page on the Colonial Church website or directly through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
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Colonial Stays Home
This group is private for just people in the Colonial Church community.
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Celebrations!
In this time of staying connected remotely, please remember these folks who are celebrating milestones.
Happy Birthday!
25 Howard Huggins
26 Kailyn Latham
27 Cindy Lafferty, Emil Schutzel
29 Muriel Seibert
30 Marcia Jacobs
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Colonial Family
An online memorial service for Rosalie Henry is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Thursday,
December 3.
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Calendar
Sunday, November 29 – First Sunday of Advent
Monday, November 30
10:00 a.m.-Colonial Women Board via Zoom
Tuesday, December 1
9:30 a.m.-Book Group via Zoom
Thursday, December 3
1:00 p.m.-Rosalie Henry Memorial Service via Zoom
Friday, December 4
7:00 p.m.-Colonial Women Book Group via Zoom
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Colonial Staff
Bell Choir Director: Hayden Ferguson
Organist: Dr. Joseph Kern
Youth Leader: Michelle Turpen
Building Maintenance: Edson Palacios-Castrejon
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