TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

NOVEMBER 12, 2023

HYMNS

"O How Glorious, Full of Wonder"

"Keep Awake, Be Always Ready"

"Keeps Your Lamps"

""Prelude from "

"Caprice No. 1"

It's a wonderful time to express gratitude to all the veterans who have served their country. Whether it's through a kind message, a gesture, or supporting veteran organizations, acknowledging their sacrifices means a lot.

November 10, 2023

Dear Congregation,

Tomorrow is our 1st Annual Fall Country Harvest Festival from Noon to 4

p.m. I hope you share my excitement in looking forward to this event

that is a new thing for CCC!!! Bianca Montenegro has done an

incredible job at arranging for, and organizing, the many aspects of the

festival. Some of those are: food trucks serving free food, a giant slide,

a train for children, a hayride, games, face painting, popcorn, cotton

candy, a D.J., Graham Bryan’s “Giggles and Groves Garden” with the

Sunshine Sounds band, a fire truck, the Big Red Bus, arts and crafts

vendors, non-profit information tables, and more.

CCC members and volunteers will be wearing our new t-shirts, each an

ambassador for the church. There will be an information table for those

who are interested in learning more about CCC, with handouts of CCC

pens and cards advertising our upcoming events. The cards declare

truthfully, “We’re a small church doing BIG things!”

I think it’s important to remember why we are doing this, because, of

course, there is a financial cost to the church in hosting this event. To

my mind, it is an investment in the future of CCC— “marketing”, if you

will. We have agreed that it’s imperative to let the community know we

are here and what we stand for. We want and need more people, not

just to fill our pews, but to share in the blessings of being part of a

church that is committed to acting as Christ’s body in this time and

place. We also know what a gift it is to be a part of a community of faith

in the ups and downs of life and we want to share that gift with others.

Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19)

One of the ways to do that may just be to give them a taste of the

kingdom of God in the here and now. Could it be that in our hospitality

tomorrow, each person who comes to our Fall Festival, in any capacity,

will experience, in our welcome, kindness and opportunities for fun,

that taste, and will be drawn to return? I hope and pray that is so and

solicit your prayers for a successful festival tomorrow.

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Candy

Bianca's You Better Bee-lieve It Corner

Fall Country Harvest Festival:

CCC’s 1^st 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!

March for Unity

Embracing the urgent need for unity and solidarity during tumultuous times, Mosaic Miami orchestrated their second annual 'March in Unity' last Sunday, a poignant response to escalating tensions following the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The march, commencing at the emblematic Freedom Tower and concluding at the dynamic Underline in Brickell, served as a powerful symbol of hope, courage, and the collective pursuit of freedom. In the wake of increasing hate crimes, the interfaith group's efforts to bridge communities and foster inclusivity are both timely and essential. I hope you enjoy some of the images capturing the spirit and diversity of the march and also two videos, offering glimpses into the vibrant atmosphere of the event AND some cameos of yours truly!

Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFGZ18bDWOU

Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWMMhIFF3xY

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.

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.

Find Us, Like us, Follow Us, and Share Us

on Social Media!

Facebook: Christ Congregational United Church of Christ

Twitter/X: @CCC_UCC

TikTok: @CCC_UCC

YouTube: ChristCongregational-UCC

Instagram: @christcongregationalucc

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 Amelia's cousin Dan and Ed Kretchmer.



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.

UPCOMING UCC WEBINARS AND EVENTS

Nurture the Soul

• Thursday, November 16, 3:30pm ET - Decolonizing the Future: Indigenous Imaginations of a Just World for All

Special Programming

• Tuesday, November 14, 7:00pm ET - Sowing Justice: Cultivating a Just World for All in the Farm Bill

• Wednesday, November 8, 1:00pm ET - From Greenwashing to Environmental Justice

Middle East Conflict

The war in Israel/Palestine declared on October 7, has claimed thousands of lives, and tens of thousands of people have been injured. Approximately one million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced, still within Gaza, as there is nowhere to go. Half are in emergency shelters set up by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). It is increasingly difficult for Gazan Palestinians to find safe space, as even hospitals and a church have sustained damage, killing and injuring hundreds of people. Food, water, fuel, and electricity have been cut off, and supplies are running out. 

Convoys of trucks carrying humanitarian relief await the opportunity to bring much-needed relief into Gaza from Egypt, but the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been damaged by rocket strikes. Other entrances, controlled by Israel, remain closed and the threat of an Israeli ground invasion threatens more lives and livelihoods in the coming days and weeks.

With ecumenical partners, the UCC has offered a public witness that has been unequivocal:

— Condemnation of the violence of Hamas and Israel’s use of force against Palestinians in Gaza

— A call for a cease-fire

— The allowance of the provision of humanitarian aid for Palestinians and an end to collective punishment

— The guarantee of and respect for safe spaces for people to find shelter

— Support for robust diplomatic efforts to resolve the core issues

The UCC is learning from Palestinian Christian partners how they are attempting to respond to the needs of the people of Gaza, even amid steady bombardments.

— In times of calm, the Department of Service for Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) operates medical clinics and trauma therapy classes in Gaza.

— Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, an Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem institution, normally offers a critical and courageous ministry of health care provision (often free of charge) in the most trying circumstances. It has sustained damage in two incidents in the first week and a half. Yet, staff remain committed to their calling to provide care and hope, “delivered in a spirit of love and service.” 

— Other partners, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the YMCA of East Jerusalem, and the YWCA of Palestine, are preparing to respond to the needs of Palestinians.

— These partners and others, bilaterally and through ACT Alliance, are preparing to address immediate and longer-term responses such as food and nutrition needs, physical and psychosocial health care, shelter and rehabilitation, and direct assistance.

Frequent updates are posted here.

“The work of our partners in Palestine, and specifically in Gaza, is inspiring, especially as they cope with conditions and access that are extremely limited. Having visited Gaza, I know the dedication and commitment of our partners’ staffs to serve the whole community and offer a witness of care and service. We mourn the loss of life and pray for the end to violence,” said Peter Makari, who currently serves as Transitional Executive for Wider Church Ministries, and Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe in Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ. “We must walk in solidarity with them in this time of war, accompanying them now and in the future as the impact of this war will be lasting.”

Please advocate for a cease-fire, access for humanitarian assistance, and for the core issues to be addressed.

At the same time, we invite your financial support to undergird the work of our partners with whom we have had a long-standing relationship. Your gifts will make an impact and a difference on those suffering so greatly during these days of lamentation and suffering.

The two actions go hand-in-hand. Thank you for your generosity.

You can also mail a check made payable to the United Church of Christ, PO BOX 71957 Cleveland, OH 44194.

Please be sure to note “Middle East Support” in your check's memo section.

ACTION ITEMS:

• Call on Members of Congress to support ceasefire, restraint, de-escalation of violence and protection of civilian life in Israel/Palestine.

Contact Your Legislators

• Register to pray for Peace in the Middle East.

Register Here

• Read the letter that was sent to congress.

Read letter

*** 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:

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. 

Global Ministries offers a weekly prayer for one of our global mission partners. This week's prayer is with Eswatini. To read their mission moment, please click the Global Ministries IMAGE. Below is this week's prayer, united we pray.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are reminded of the responsibility and privilege we have as your servants to serve and make a difference in the lives of others. We ask for your blessings and guidance as we carry out our work. Please grant us success so that we may use our talents and skills to bring about positive change and be good stewards of the resources and opportunities you have given us.

May our actions reflect your love and mercy, and may we always approach those we serve with empathy and compassion. Guide us to unite and collaborate with others, using our talents for the greater good and serving Your kingdom faithfully.

Please pray for:

• Peace and continued blessings for Eswatini. That those in leadership may make wise decisions that benefit all citizens, and that God’s love may be evident in the country’s policies and actions.
• The Council of Swaziland Churches (CSC) bravely continues its pursuit of justice, equality, and human dignity and advocates for and empowerment of the marginalized and disadvantaged.
• An end to the persecution of those calling for reforms in Eswatini.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.