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TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
NOVEMBER 5, 2023
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CHRIST CONGREGATIONAL UCC
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP IN THE SANCTUARY
10:30 AM
JOIN US FROM ANYWHERE ON FACEBOOK LIVE
WORSHIP RESOURCES BELOW
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"I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" | "O When the Saints Go Marching In" | |
Sheet Music is here! Remember to click. Special Music links too!
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PLEASE CLICK OUR LOGO FOR "CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM 101" | |
“WELCOME!"
We are so glad you are here!”
As we enter our church, as we live as members, as we experience important life-cycle events (falling in love, marrying, parenting, baptism, coming out, transitioning, etc.), words of welcome and support, understanding and love are what we all long for. This manifestation of God’s Extravagant Welcome and the justice and social witness that accompany it are the heart of what we hope to show our community and all who walk through the doors of Christ Congregational United Church of Christ.
PEACE BE WITH YOU!
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November 3, 2023
Becoming aware of the overflowing abundance God showers upon us,
we are grateful people at all times and in all circumstances knowing
that God’s blessing in every moment exceed our temporary problems.
II Thessalonians 5:16-18
Philippians 4:6, 11-13
Dear Congregation,
Welcome to November! At home and in my office, I’ve taken down my
Halloween decorations and enjoyed putting out my few Thanksgiving
knick-knacks. Among those are a collection of Thanksgiving cards I’ve
saved that a friend of mine has crafted and sent me over the years.
Looking back over them, I see that the words “Thankful” and “Grateful”
are used again and again on the front of each card with various
lettering, colors, and graphics.
Thankful and Grateful are good words to keep in mind as we think
about Stewardship Sunday which we’ll celebrate on November 19 th . In
preparation for that time, which is also the Sunday before Thanksgiving,
church members will share their reasons for choosing CCC as their
church home. Bianca Montenegro will be our first speaker this Sunday
during a brief Stewardship Moment. Members will be receiving pledge
cards in the mail inviting them to commit to giving both financially and
of their time and talents to the church in 2024. These pledge cards will
be consecrated in worship on November 19th .
We have been given a wonderful opportunity here at CCC having
financially benefited greatly from the sale of the church property, while
leasing back what we use. The intention is that money will not be used
to pay the usual expenses but will be invested and used in mission and
outreach to a community and wider world in such need. Therefore, it is
important that members continue to give for the work of the church.
I know how important CCC is to you and thank you for your
faithfulness.
In Christ’s love.
Pastor Candy
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Bianca's You Better Bee-lieve It Corner | |
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Fall Country Harvest Festival:
We're still looking for volunteers for our upcoming Fall Festival on November 1tth from 12pm to 4pm! If you haven’t signed up to volunteer or told Bianca that you’re volunteering, please reach out at bianca@christcongregationalucc.org .
Your support is crucial in making this event a success, and we want to ensure that you have all the information you need to have a great volunteering experience. Attached you will also find a layout of the event (subject to change).
What to expect:
CCC’s 1st Annual Fall Country Harvest Festival will have plenty of activities for all ages! We will have a giant fair slide, trackless train rides, hayrides, giant games like Jenga and Connect 4, arts and crafts activities, blow-up soccer, basketball and tic tac toe games, plus a bubble zone. We will also have free food, popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy and of course a hydration station. On top of all of this, there will be plenty of vendors selling homemade goods and non-profit organizations showcasing the amazing services available to the community. But wait, there’s more! We will also have our local Fire Fighters with their Fire Truck for the children and the BIG RED BUS available for anyone that wants to donate blood (they will be giving out $20 gift cards AND blankets)! And if that’s not enough fun, we will also have a DJ and of course our very own Graham providing live music focused on the environment! It's going to be a day of non-stop fun and community spirit!
Voter Registration:
Hey there, fellow civic superheroes! Have you checked under your virtual couch cushions lately to make sure you're registered to vote? It's time to dust off your voter registration and be the hero your democracy deserves! If you're not registered, don't fret – I've got your back! Just let me know I will help you get registered or verify your current status.
But that's not all! Starting this Sunday at Zoo Miami, There will be a Vote-by-Mail Enrollment Drive for at least the next four Sundays! Whether you need assistance enrolling for mail-in voting or want to become a voting champion by volunteering to help others, they've got capes for everyone! Let's make democracy roar like a lion at the zoo!" #VoteForChange #DemocracyHeroes
Follow the link to register to volunteer: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/581686/
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Food Pantry Donations:
Donating food to a food pantry or directly to those in need is a wonderful way to give back to the community and support those facing food insecurity. The effectiveness of these donations depends on the thought and care put into the process. Over time and through conversations that Miriam had with people receiving food at food banks, she learned valuable insights about what is and isn't helpful when donating food. Miriam shared her findings with us to help make a positive impact and ensure that our donations reach those who need them the most.
Insights to take into consideration when donating food:
1. Everyone donates Kraft Mac and Cheese in the box. They can rarely use it because it needs milk and butter which is hard to get from regular food banks.
2. Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of.
3. Everyone donates pasta sauce and spaghetti noodles.
4. They cannot eat all the awesome canned veggies and soup unless you put a can opener in too or buy pop tops.
5. Oil is a luxury but needed for Rice a-Roni which they also get a lot of.
6. Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift.
7. Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
8. Sugar and flour are treats.
9. They fawn over fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores.
10. Seeds are cool in Spring and Summer because growing can be easy for some.
11. They rarely get fresh meat.
12. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
13. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
14. They get lots of peanut butter and jelly but usually not sandwich bread.
15. Butter or margarine is nice too.
16. Eggs are a real commodity.
17. Cake mixes and frosting makes birthday cakes and family time/dinners special.
18. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.
20. Everyone loves Stove Top Stuffing.
21.Please check expiration dates.
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Dear Karen,
Just want to say thanks to you and everyone who put those boxes that bring a smile to the kids faces. You not only warm them with the blankets but with the fun things in the boxes.
You have really helped to make a difference and want you to know it!
Sincerely SOS
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DONATIONS
Food and Financial Donations are being accepted as our Thanksgiving giving. It will serve our two guardian ad litem families, as well as the pantries at Southridge Senior High School, Mark Krumich, Pantry and SOS.
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Find Us, Like us, Follow Us, and Share Us
on Social Media!
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Facebook: Christ Congregational United Church of Christ
Twitter/X: @CCC_UCC
TikTok: @CCC_UCC
YouTube: ChristCongregational-UCC
Instagram: @christcongregationalucc
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REMEMBERED IN OUR CONTINUING PRAYERS
Joan Hansen, Maggie McDowell, Carol McCreary, the family and friends of Mary Ellen Prather, Mary and Frank Tirb, Bradley Everhardt, Julio Balcells, Jessica Nodarse, Mark, Julie Henkel, Merly Alonso, Bianca and Nina Sarmento and the friends and family of J.J Newby Ketzle and Sarah Wiley, Stone Coram and the family and friends of Brenda Best, Aberas Jober and Leslie Perichak, Paul LeGrand and Cathryn Tagmeyer, Briane Garrison and Theresa Grambell, Vincent Andrews and family, Rodger and Esther and Carol and sons, Brad and Dan.
For Pastoral Care Needs, please call Pastor Candy directly at 925-640-9289 or you may call and leave a message with the Church Office, 305-235-9381.
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UPCOMING UCC WEBINARS AND EVENTS | |
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*** Voter's Registration***
Voter registration has started on September 17th. Please be sure to verify your registration and if you are not registered please get registered.
Registration and Verification can be done by clicking the image below:
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On December 12, the Miami Dade County Board of County Commissioners (MDC BCC) will be voting on whether to extend the lease agreement for a 67-acre theme park, hotel and retail development misleadingly dubbed “Miami Wilds.” The development site is located adjacent to and on Zoo Miami property — land that is considered vital to endangered species and the largest and most biodiverse fragment of critically endangered Pine Rocklands outside of Everglades National Park.
ATTEND the MDC BCC meeting on December 12 and voice your opposition to the proposed Miami Wilds development! The meeting begins at 9:30am at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center (address: 111 NW 1st St, Miami, FL 33132, 2nd floor Commission Chambers). We recommend that you arrive no later than 8:45am and bring your ID for check-in.
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USE THE LINKS BELOW FOR
UCC RESOURCES
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Global Ministries offers a weekly prayer for one of our global mission partners. This week's prayer is with Brazil. To read their mission moment, please click the Global Ministries IMAGE. Below is this week's prayer, united we pray. | |
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Our Father God, look over Brazil, our beautiful country that you have blessed with so much natural beauty, but where a large part of the population suffers from the lack of the essential things in life such as food, housing, education, clothing, and medical attention. Our people deserve health, dignity, and respect. The Gospel calls us to have compassion, which involves walking with the people to feel their suffering, the lack of love, and the social injustice. It calls us to walk in their sandals and to cry for their pain. This path of putting oneself at service and feeling the people’s suffering firsthand perhaps attracts the attention of the powerful. Still, the hypocritical clergy who dress in vestiges of power and kneel at altars praying for the poor like the Pharisees do not do this. They do not lift a finger to point out the injustices to Brazilian sufferers. The suffering people look at you, religious people asking you to rise from your knees and walk with them to demand a look of compassion and love from those who hold power in Brazil. The sons and daughters of God cry out for justice. In the name of Jesus, act like him and walk with us in his name, amen!
Prayer based on the text of the Gospel of Matthew 23, 1-12, by Barbara Mosley
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Thank you so much for the generous gifts of your time, treasure and talent in pursuit of A Just World For All! | |
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You may click this image or the
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The Rev. Candace Thomas | Pastor
Graham Bryan | Moderator & President
Jay Harragin | Music Director
Tracy Williams | Editor
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