Weekly Newsletter
Week of December 4th - December 10th
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Gilead Congregational Church, UCC
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Meetings and Services this week:
Wednesday, December 4th:
-9:30 a.m. Wednesday Morning Book Group
-6:00 p.m. Confirmation Class
-7:00 p.m. Choir
Thursday, December 5th:
-7:00 p.m. Deacons
Friday, December 6th:
-
6:00 p.m. Faith and Film Series
Saturday, December 7th:
-
9:00 a.m. Christmas Pageant Rehearsal
-2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Women's Fellowship Cookie Drop Off in the Kitchen
Sunday, December 8th:
-Second Sunday of Advent
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8:30 a.m. Worship Service
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10:00 a.m. Worship Service with Christmas Pageant
-Coffee Hour
-Women's Fellowship Cookie Sale
-11:30 a.m. Board of Missions
-6:30 p.m. Youth Group Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, December 10th:
-11:15 a.m. Bible Study in the Music Room
-2:20 p.m. Youth Group visit to
Colchester Nursing Home
-7:30 p.m. AA Meeting
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About Us:
Pastor:
Reverend Dr. Denise M. Esslinger
Minister of Mission and Faith Formation:
Stephanie Haines
Interim Minister of Music:
Carol Geyer
Administrative Assistant:
Sally Fritsche
Worship w/Sunday School: 10:00 AM
Summer Worship:
9:00 AM
Gathered: 1748
Meeting House: 1838
Fellowship Hall: 2008
We are an Open & Affirming Church
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Advent and Christmas Worship Services
December 8th-Second Sunday of Advent
Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. with our Christmas Pageant at the 10 a.m. service
December 15th-Third Sunday of Advent
Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Christmas Caroling at 4 p.m.
December 22nd-Fourth Sunday of Advent
Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
December 24th-Christmas Eve
Candlelight worship at 7 p.m.
December 29th-First Sunday after Christmas
Worship at 10 a.m. only
A Service of Lessons and Carols
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Faith and Film Series
Friday, December 6, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Join us this Friday, December 6th when we will gather at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for a potluck dinner followed by a film and discussion. We will be watching “The Upside” (Rated PG-13). A recently paroled ex-convict, Dell, strikes up an unusual and unlikely friendship with a quadriplegic billionaire, Philip Lacasse. From worlds apart, Dell and Philip form an unlikely bond, bridging their differences and gaining invaluable wisdom in the process, giving each man a renewed sense of passion for all of life's possibilities. All are welcome!
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Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Please join this Sunday, December 8th during our 10:00 a.m. worship service for our wonderful Christmas Pageant. See the story of Jesus' birth come alive through the sweet voices and imaginations of our children. This year's pageant is titled "The Real Story: A Christmas Comedy". We are excited to have Joe Zuzel as our pageant director.
All Sunday School children are invited to participate
. We will hold a dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 7th at 9 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Instrumentalists of all ages and abilities are needed as well. If you play an instrument and would be willing to bless us with your talent, please contact Joe Zuzel at
joezuzel@hotmail.com
. For questions regarding the pageant or to sign-up your child to participate, please contact Stephanie Haines at
stephanie.haines@hotmail.com
.
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6th Annual Women's Fellowship Cookie Sale
Sunday, December 8, 2019
The 6th Annual Women's Fellowship Cookie Sale is scheduled for this Sunday, December 8th immediately following both the 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. worship services in the Fellowship Hall. Thanks to all of our cookie bakers who have offered to make cookies for this sale. Cookies may be brought to the church kitchen on Saturday, December 7th between 2:30-3:30 pm or prior to both services on December 8th. Please also plan to purchase cookies, sold by the pound, to support our Women's Fellowship on this day. Some Christmas decorations will also be available for purchase. If you have any questions, please contact Janet Kline, Pat Martin or Karen Voghel. Thank you!
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Hebron Interfaith Human Services Holiday Craft Fair - Volunteers Needed!
Saturday, December 14, 2019
HIHS Food Bank is in need of volunteers to help with their annual Holiday Craft Fair at Hebron Elementary School. Hands are needed to set-up on Friday, December 13th as well as during the event on Saturday, December 14th. All proceeds from the craft fair support the food bank.
Thank you for your support! If you should have any further questions, please contact Christa Goodwin-Babka at
christgb@live.com
.
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Alternate Gift Giving
Sunday, December 15, 2019
‘Tis the season for gift giving! This year consider starting a new family tradition by giving memorable and meaningful
alternative gifts. The following missions will be offering opportunities to support their humanitarian efforts locally and abroad as a gift in honor of those on your Christmas list:
- Gilead Church Youth Mission Trip to NYC – Youth Group
- Water for South Sudan: Building a Well through the Water Project – Sarah Cohen
- HELO: Home Education Love Opportunity in Haiti – Amy Huhn
- Peace, Love and Art: Hope for the Children of Serapio School in Mexico – Skylar Haines
Please consider stopping by their tables inside the Fellowship Hall before or after the 10 a.m. worship service and learn more about their mission efforts as well as how your gift can make a profound difference in the lives of others! Please contact Jessica Blacketter if you should have any questions at
jessicab13@sbcglobal.net
.
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Christmas Bell and Mitten Tags
Due by Sunday, December 15, 2019
Thanks to everyone who took a bell or mitten tag to support Hebron Interfaith Human Services and the Covenant Soup Kitchen in their gift giving this holiday season. Gifts are due back by Sunday, December 15th and can be returned to the back of the Sanctuary. For further information please contact Stephanie Haines at 860-228-3077. Thank you!
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Christmas Caroling
Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 4:00 pm
P
lease join us on Sunday, December 15th when we will be going caroling to members and friends. We'll meet at the church at 4:00 p.m. to car pool together. Join us at the home of Gloria and Jon Kimball (23 Chestnut Hill Road) for a time of fellowship and a potluck supper following the caroling. If you know you are coming, please R.S.V.P. to Gloria at 860-228-3817 or via e-mail at
gloriaokimball@gmail.com
letting her know what you will be bringing to share and number attending. Feel free to come impromptu as well. The Kimballs will provide beverages, but you are welcome to bring your favorite if you wish.
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Youth Group Babysitting
Friday, December 20, 2019 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Our
Youth Group will be offering free babysitting to members and friends on Friday, December 20th from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. The babysitting is for children ages 0 through 6th grade. Children should have dinner before they arrive. Snacks will be provided along with crafts and games. Please sign up on the sheet underneath the name tags if you plan to come, but know you are welcome even if you don't sign up. If you have any questions, please speak with Susan Parker 860-530-1134.
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The Christmas Fund - Special Mission Offering
Sunday, December 22, 2019
On Sunday, December 22nd, a special offering will be held as part of our UCC's wider mission efforts. The offering will benefit the Christmas Fund, which provides financial aid to retired and active ministers and their surviving spouses and children who face overwhelming financial demands. This special gift at Christmas time reminds these "Veterans of the Cross" that they have not been forgotten and that the Church is grateful for their service. Envelopes for this offering are available in the front and back of the Sanctuary starting December 8th. Thank you for your consideration. If you should have any questions regarding the fund, please do not hesitate to contact Stephanie Haines at (860) 228-3077.
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Advent Calendars Available
The Board of Christian Education is offering Advent Calendars outside of the Sanctuary
.
There are calendars for adults and youth. May this be a season for you of growing closer to God as we celebrate Jesus' birth and the abundant gifts he offers us!
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HELO Pie Sales
It is pie season! If you would like to order a homemade apple or pumpkin pie for Christmas, please see Amy Huhn. All proceeds will benefit HELO, an orphanage in Les Cayes Haiti. The cost of pies is all donation based. Pick up date is Monday, December 23rd in the Fellowship Hall from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. If you have any questions please contact Amy at (860) 462-0919 or
pvault1459@gmail.com
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Cards to Betty Tow
I
f you'd like to send a card or note to let Betty know that you are thinking of her as she recovers from recent hip surgery, her address is:
Betty Tow
c/o Glastonbury Health Care Center
Room 200B
1175 Hebron Avenue
Glastonbury, CT 06033
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A "Wonder-Full" Stewardship Season
Thanks to everyone who made a 2020 pledge to the mission and ministries of the Gilead Church last Sunday, November 24th. If you have not yet made made a pledge, we hope you will do so. As of Sunday, December 1st, we have received 92 pledges totaling $194,476. Our pledge goal is $286,394 so we still have $91,918 to meet our goal As the community of Bedford Falls came together and gave what they could to support George Bailey at the end “It’s a Wonderful Life", we ask for your support of the work of our Church. Pledge cards are available in the front and back of the Sanctuary or by calling the Church office (860-228-3077). Pledge cards can be placed in the offering plate or returned to the Church (672 Gilead Street, Hebron, CT). If you have any questions, please feel free to speak with a member of our Stewardship Committee: Mark Bierbaum, Michael Bierbaum, Lisa Cox (Co-Chair), Charles Daniels, Lauren Henry (Co-Chair) and Bruce Langevin. Thank you!
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Finding God in Contemporary Issues
Our “Finding God in Contemporary Issues” discussion group will resume meeting in January. We’d like to give more people the opportunity to join us, so will meet after worship on the 4th Sundays of the month. We’ll meet in one of the classrooms off of our Fellowship Hall starting around 11:30 a.m. and going until about 1:00 p.m. We’d also like to hear from you about the topics or issues that you feel are important and would like to gather to discuss and hear different points of view. You can share your thoughts by talking with John Jenkins or Margot Sheehan who co-facilitate this discussion group, or by calling (860-228-3077) or emailing (
gcc@gileadchurch.net
) the Church office with your ideas, or you can write them down and put them in the FGICI box that is located right outside of the Sanctuary. Slips of paper and a pen for your suggestions are by the box. We look forward to hearing from you and hope you will mark your calendars and plan to join us for our first gathering on Sunday, January 26th.
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Hebron Holiday Gingerbread Houses
Saturday, December 7, 2019 and Sunday, December 8, 2019 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Advent Celebration
We celebrated the beginning of the Advent season this past Sunday, December 1st. We enjoyed homemade soups, bread, Christmas music, games and crafts for all ages! Adults and children made precious keepsake ornaments, cards, fresh evergreen swags, and much more. We started the season right!
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Wednesday Morning Book Discussion
Wednesdays at 9:30 am
Our weekly Wednesday Morning Book Discussion Group
will
begin discussing "The News of the World" by Paulette Jiles this morning.
This historical fiction novel centers on an older gentleman who travels and reads the news from around the world to people anxious for such information. He also becomes challenged with the responsibility of delivering an orphan to an area near San Antonio. The orphan herself is a challenge with language and behavior.
The group meets on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. at the home of Judy Brown and Deena Watson (130 Charles Lane).
If you have any questions about the group, please contact Sandy Hooker at (860) 228-985. All are welcome!
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Bible Study
Tuesdays at 11:15 am
Our weekly Bible Study meets on Tuesday mornings from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Music Room. Rev. Bob Woodward leads the study. Please bring your own Bible. All are welcome!
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Thank Yous
Thanks to everyone who fulfilled an Angel Tag gift wish for a child in care of the Department of Children and Families. Over 70 gifts were collected and they will bring joy to children this Christmas!
Thanks also to our Women's Fellowship for decorating our Sanctuary for the Advent and Christmas seasons.
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Gilead Church Cookbook
Our Women's Fellowship is in the initial stages of planning a Gilead Church Cookbook. Start looking for your favorite recipes to share. If you would like to help with this project, please speak with Margaret Gibbs (860-384-4327). Watch for more details!
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Upcoming Sunday Worship Servers
Ushers for this Sunday:
Art and Pat Austin
Ushers for next Sunday: Karen and Sarah Cohen
Deacon of the Day for this Sunday:
Katie McClaine
Deacon of the Day for next Sunday: Katie McClaine
Liturgist: David Kline
Call to Worship: Olivia Aker
Acolyte: Landon Lemire
Coffee Hour Hosts for this Sunday: Olio and Pearson families
Coffee Hour Hosts for next Sunday: Cheri Williams and Kaitlyn Timreck
Greeter for this Sunday:
Joe Sheehan
Greeter for next Sunday: Margaret Gibbs
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Scripture Reading and Prayer for the Week
Matthew 1: 1-17
O God, help us to be mindful of your presence. Help us to rejoice as we wait to see your glory. Help us to proclaim the peace you promise. Bless us in this day through the inspiration of your Holy Spirit and through the stories of Jesus’ coming among us. Amen.
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Contact Info
Sally Fritsche
Administrative Assistant
672 Gilead St
Hebron, Ct 06248
860-228-3077
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until noon (Parish House)
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