Today's Sunday Morning Update
Our morning began at 8:30 with the latest gathering of our weekly adult Sunday School class via Zoom.
During our 9:45 Worship Service, we focused on Matthew 25:1-13 "The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids." We explored how the wise are always prepared, focused, and ready to respond to God’s kingdom. If you missed it, today's service is available to watch anytime on our website and our Facebook page (find links below).
At 11am, Sunday School classes moved outside to take advantage of today's beautiful weather! With masks and safe spacing, members of all ages enjoyed sharing some time together. *Sunday School classes gather on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month while our JAM/CORE Youth Groups meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays at 11am.
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If you'd like to worship with us in person next Sunday, remember that many safety measures are being taken to protect you each week. We're also continuing live streaming of our service on Facebook Sunday mornings. Recordings of our services are also available on our website and on our Facebook page. We hope you'll join us whenever it's convenient for you. It's so wonderful that we can worship together in so many ways!
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Scripture Reading - Ecclesiastes: 1:1-11
The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow. All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has already been, in the ages before us. The people of long ago are not remembered, nor will there be any remembrance of people yet to come by those who come after them.
Meditation - "Entering Rest"
Dear Companion of my day, You are the Holy Mystery I surrender to when I close my eyes. I give You myself: the flaws, the mistakes, the petty self-congratulations. I give You my dear ones: my fondest hope for them, my worries, and my dark thoughts regarding them. Take my well-constructed separation from me. Hold me in Your truth. This day is already past. I surrender it. When I think about tomorrow, I surrender it too. Keep me this night. With You and in You I can trust not knowing anything. I can trust incompleteness as a way. Dark with the darkness, silent with the silence, help me dare to be that empty one—futureless, desireless—who breathes Your name even in sleep.
-Being Home: A Book of Meditations by Gunilla Norris
Activity
Spend five to ten minutes each day in silence.
Carve out a time that is free from interruption and use this time to be silent. While letting silence and its peace wash over you, pray without words. Very close friends can communicate without words; try this with God. Simply enjoy God’s presence, God’s loving arms wrapped around you.
A Spiritual Formation Workbook, by James Bryan Smith and Lynda Graybeal
Prayer
You take the pen, and the lines dance. You take the flute, and the notes shimmer. You take the brush, and the colors sing. So all things have meaning and beauty in that space beyond time where you are. How, then, can I hold back anything from you?
-Dag Hammarskjold, 20th century
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Contemporary Readers Go Virtual This Evening!
Due to some issues trying to combine in person and online participants last month, our Contemporary Readers group will switch to a Zoom-only gathering. This evening (11/8) at 5:30pm, they'll be discussing The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism by Katherine Stewart. Lee Richardson will be leading the meeting via Zoom.
* For a video link this evening, click here.
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Are You Helping to Share the Light of Christ?
If you've already mailed your 2021 "Estimate of Giving" card and "Talent/Volunteer" list to the church, thank you for sharing the light of Christ! The estimates are used by your Session to help finalize next year's Ministries missions, activities, and operating budgets. We can still reach our goal, but we need everyone's support. If you haven't turned yours in yet, please drop your materials in the mail tomorrow or drop them off at the church during regular office hours. We need you to help us share the light of Christ.
If you'd like to begin "online giving" to our church or to explore the possibility, click here. It can offer you a modern, convenient, and safe way to give!
Thank you! - Your Stewardship Ministry
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Each week our “Taking Faith Home” information provides daily readings, prayers, devotions, and service opportunities following the Lectionary readings. It's a great resource for exploring your faith all through the week. Click here for this week's edition.
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> Contemporary Readers (Zoom) - this evening (11/8) 5:30pm
> Deacons Meeting (Google Meet) - Monday (11/9) 6pm
> Finance Ministry Meeting (Zoom) - Monday (11/9) 6pm
> Winnebago Presbytery Meeting (Zoom) - Tuesday (11/10) 4-6pm
> Christian Ed. Ministry Meeting (Mid. High Rm.) - Tuesday (11/10) 6pm
> Zoom Check In - Wednesday (11/11) 7pm
> Pastors in the Family Life Center - Thursday (11/12) 10am
> Adult Sunday School (Zoom) - next Sunday (11/15) 8:30am
> Sunday Worship - next Sunday (11/15) 9:45am (Sanctuary open to everyone with masks & safe seating - everyone else please join live stream on Facebook)
> CORE & JAM Youth Groups (Mid. High Rm.) - next Sunday (11/15) 11am
> Book Study "Paddle for a Purpose" (Zoom) - Wednesday (11/18) 6:30pm
*Contact Pastor Meggan if you have questions about any of these gatherings
or if you want information about scheduling another meeting.
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2020 Christmas Store Update
The recent spikes in COVID-19 in our area have caused the D.P.C.O. Christmas Store Committee to change the format of the store for Christmas 2020. Out of an abundance of care for everyone's safety, our committee has decided to forego the physical store and shopping set-up and instead provide the families with gift cards so they can shop for themselves for the holidays.
However, WE STILL REALLY NEED YOUR HELP to make sure that 200 low income/at risk families in De Pere have a brighter holiday! (The families we're assisting are chosen by social workers from De Pere, West De Pere, and Syble Hopp along with the DPCO Food Pantry.)
You can help by purchasing any of these gift cards:
> Amazon, Walmart, or Kwik Trip (Value $50 or less)
> De Pere Fast Food Restaurants, Culver’s, McDonald’s, Starbuck’s, or Subway (Value $25 or less)
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There's a small Christmas Tree in the Narthex with tags for the various gift cards for those of you who would still like to take a tag as in past years. Monetary donations will also be accepted and will be used to purchase gift cards. Checks should be made out to De Pere Christian Outreach with Christmas Store in the memo line. Please mail or drop off your donation at the church office by Monday, November 30.
D.P.C.O. Member churches are: First Congregational UCC, First United Presbyterian, Hope Lutheran, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Anne’s Episcopal, St. Francis Xavier, St. John Lutheran, and St. Mary Catholic
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