t e e r r i i p p s s -...

of 12 January 2018 Wintonbury Spire

Th

e F

irst

Co

ng

reg

ati

on

al

Ch

urc

h i

n B

loo

mfi

eld

– U

nit

ed

Ch

urc

h o

f C

hri

st

JANUARY

2018

TT

hhee

WW

ii nntt oo

nnbb

uurr y

y

SSpp

ii rree


Focus Groups on New Conference Scheduled for January

12/22/2017

Below is a letter from the The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, The Rev. Barbara Libby and The Rev. Kent Siladi, Conference Ministers of the Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut Conferences. Friends, As we continue to explore the new Together, As One Conference, we invite you to share your voice to help us envision how together, we are called to live the love and justice of Jesus. Please prayerfully consider attending one of the several group discussions that are planned between Jan. 18 and Jan. 23 at the various UCC Church locations listed below. Simply select the date, time and location that is most convenient with your schedule and join us to share your perspective. We would ask you to use this form to RSVP so that if there is inclement weather forecast and we need to move the gathering online, we will be in touch with information on how you can participate. Thursday, January 18, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 PM Slatersville Congregational UCC FOR GPS USERS: 10 Green St. North Smithfield, RI 02876 Friday January 19, 2018, 10:00 – 11:30 AM Woodridge Congregational UCC 546 Budlong Road, Cranston, RI 02920 Friday January 19, 2018, 1:00 – 2:30 PM Barrington Congregational UCC 461 County Road, Barrington, RI 02806 Saturday, January 20, 2018, 10:00 – 11:30 AM Mystic Congregational Church UCC 43 E Main St, Mystic, CT 06355-2831 Saturday, January 20, 2018, 2:00 – 3:30 pm Rocky Hill Congregational Church 805 Old Main St, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-1553

Sunday January 21, 2018 5:00 – 6:30pm Newtown Congregational Church 14 West St, Newtown, CT 06470-2054 Monday January 22, 2018, 10:00 – 11:30 AM Church of Christ, Congregational, Norfolk 12 Village Green, Norfolk, CT 06058 Monday, January 22, 2018, 1:00 – 2:30 PM First Congregational Church of Lee 25 Park Place, Lee MA 01238 Monday, January 22, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 PM First Church in Sterling Federated 6 Meetinghouse Hill Road, Sterling, MA 01564 Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 10:00 – 11:30 AM First Congregational Church in Winchester 21 Church Street, Winchester, MA 01890 Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 1:00 – 2:30 PM First Congregational Church in North Attleboro 675 Old Post Road, North Attleboro, MA 02760 (note: use handicap ramp entrance) Each discussion will last approximately 75 to 90 minutes. Whether you join us for one of the sessions, or not, we encourage you to click here to review the values, vision, mission and purpose of our united covenant: living the love and justice of Jesus. Again, we hope you are able to join us to share your ideas. If there is inclement weather forecast and we need to move the gathering online, we will be in touch with information on how you can take part. We look forward to your participation. Blessings, Kent Barbara Jim

https://macucc-reg.brtapp.com/TA1FocusGroups

https://www.ctucc.org/ta1updates


News For Kids,

Youth & Families

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! May this New Year

of 2018 be a year of growing in faith

with many joys, much love, peace and

blessings. Make a blessing jar with your

family this year, get a jar and small

pieces of paper and a pen, write down a

blessing each day and drop it in the jar

and at the end of the year read what

wonderful blessings you acquired all year

long.

The Christmas Pageant was once

again a wonderful worship service! It

began with an Introit played by Beatrice

Dang. Thank you to Emily, Katie and

Eloise for portraying the Holy Family.

Our little lambs were Maxwell and Liam

Walker. We once again had wonderful

Liturgical Dance by Amber McKenzie to

The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth

by David Bowie & Bing Crosby, Joshua

Clarke portrayed the Little Drummer Boy.

It was a beautiful addition. Thank you to

Jeanna McKenzie for coaching Amber for

this performance. Also thank you to

Isaiah Clarke, Andrew Johnson and AJ

Correa for representing the Magi and our

Queen Jennah Rose Delgado. The Magi

this year were led by a Star worn by

Susan Haberlandt and they were

accompanied by a camel Ian Boland.

Angel Gabriel was played by Allison

Correa. Our angels and shepherds in the

Christmas Pageant where superb. It was

great! For the offertory the Susan

Haberlandt did a fabulous job singing O

Little Town of Bethlehem. She was

accompanied by Sarah Morgan on Piano.

It was absolutely beautiful, thank

you Sarah for your help and expertise.

Our scripture reader Jaiden Alba did a

fantastic job leading the Pageant

Christmas Story. Thank you all for your

hard work, dedication and talents of each

and every one. All of you make the

Christmas Pageant a great celebration of

Christmas Worship and a beautiful

retelling of the Christmas Story. Also

thank you to all the parents who braved

the snow storm to make rehearsal for the

Pageant, you are all warriors of weather

and it was greatly appreciated. Thank

you to Ursula Dang for helping set up the

Stable and scenery with lights and Lisa

Jaffray for helping with the Pageant

getting the children ready. I truly

appreciated the help. Thank you parents

and grandparents for your time and

support during the Pageant I greatly

appreciate it and your children and

grandchildren are amazing and a wonderful

gift to our Congregation. Thanks so

much.

Thank you Thank you to all the Families

of our Congregation who lit the Advent

Candles. Advent is a special time of the

church year and having our families light the

candles make our Advent worship full of

hope, peace, joy and love with Christ within

each of you.


Sunday School Schedule

Sunday, January 7th Communion Sunday A Visit from the Magi during Time for Children

Youth Group 4:00 ~5:30 Living Room

Sunday, January 14th Sunday School for Preschool – Grade 9

Sunday, January 21st Sunday School for Preschool – Grade 9

Youth Group 4:00 - 5:30 Living Room

Sunday, January 28th Sunday School for Preschool – Grade 9

The Deacons have arranged pastoral coverage in the event of a serious pastoral emergency.

The Reverend Davida Foy Crabtree, a retired UCC pastor, has agreed to be on call while the search continues for another

interim minister. Please contact Andrea in the church office or Karen Blanchard, Parish Care team leader, if a pastoral need

arises.


The Church will be a better place because Millennials are leading movements now. We are the social activists and public theologians of the Christian church. We are equipped to change the narratives of colonial-based structures and traditions that silence and shut down a more radical engagement as to why Black Lives and LGBTQIA lives matter. We are Millennials for Racial Justice and our thoughtful expressions will provide words of healing, hope, and wholeness as the body of Christ in a troubled world.


2018 JANUARY

Every Sunday 8 & 10 am Worship 12:30 New Birth Community Church

Every Monday 6pm Bell Choir 7pm Narc. Anon.

January 7 10:00 am worship only

Communion Sunday First Sunday after Epiphany

Lectionary Possibilities: Genesis 1: 1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19: 1-7; Mark 1: 4-11

8 5:30 pm Search Team

January 14 10 am worship

Second Sunday after Epiphany MLK Sunday

Lectionary Possibilities: 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 (11-20); Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18; 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20; John 1: 43-51

15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Church Office Closed

January 21 8 & 10 am worship

Third Sunday after Epiphany Ecumenical Sunday

Lectionary Possibilities: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10; Psalm 62: 5-12; 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31; Mark 1: 14-20


January 28 8 & 10 am worship

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Health & Human Services Sunday

Lectionary Possibilities: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8: 1-13; Mark 1: 21-28


February 4 10 am worship

Communion Sunday Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Lectionary Possibilities: Isaiah 40: 21-31; Psalm 147: 1-11, 20c; 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23; Mark 1: 29-39


Loaves & Fishes

Preparation on

Mon Jan 8

Serving on

Tues Jan 9


JANUARY 2018

Every Tuesday

Every Wed. 9:30am Jump Bunch 7 pm Alc. Anon.

Every Thursday 10 am Bible Study

Every Friday 7:30 pm Alc.Anon

Every Saturday

2 9:15 am Exercise

3

4

5 9:15 am Exercise

6

9 9:15 am Exercise 11 am Loaves & Fishes offsite

10 4:00 pm ABC

11 1 pm Parish Care

12 9:15 am Exercise

13

16 9:15 am Exercise 12 pm HAEC

17

18 6:30 pm Glenwood Green

19 9:15am exercise 20

23 9:15 am Exercise

24 4:00 pm ABC

25 26 9:15am exercise

27

30 9:15 am Exercise

31 Feb 1 2 3

Fri Jan 27 Spire Party

10:30 am

Wednesday Jan 17 6:30 pm

Council Meeting


Charlotte Babcock January 2

Allison Correa January 4

David Berg January 6

Trishell Stewart January 8

Bainie Wild January 10

Anne Weaver January 16

Kathy Mathews January 28

Sharon Goetjen January 29

Karen Blanchard January 29

Pastor & Doris Ayala January 6

Communion Sunday – January 7

MLK Service - January 14


Draft Church Council

Meeting

12.13.2017

Attendees: R. Robinson, P. McCatty,

S. Goetjen, C. Delgado, C. Wilson.

Ron opened the meeting with a prayer.

It was moved, seconded and voted that

the November Council Minutes be

accepted as presented. Andrea will

include other team minutes in the Spire

as they are submitted.

FINANCIAL UPDATE: Pledges are

in line with the budget. Expenses are

normal for this time of year.

PERSONNEL: Carolyn is in the

church office frequently and interacts

with the various staff members in order

to be aware of any issues that might

arise.

INTERIM PASTOR: The financial

package is still being discussed with the

current candidate for the next interim

pastor. Ron has sent a call agreement

for her to review. A January start date

is hoped for. POST MEETING NOTE:

Council was not able to come to terms

with this candidate, so we are still

looking to fill the interim position.

MULTICULTURAL

CONVERSATION/RACE DIALOGUE: Ron is looking for

people within the congregation who

could form a team and/or be resources

to keep this important focus going

forward with both an interim minister

as well as a new settled pastor.

PASTOR ED’S PICTURE and ARTWORK: Deacons are in charge

of placing Pastor Ed’s photograph in

the hallway with the grouping of other

pastors. Terry Martel, Kathy Mathews

and Sue Thompson oversaw the

placement of the painting presented to

us by Lucy Hurston and painted by her

husband, Sydney Hallsall. It is hanging

in the living room.

SECURITY: On December 14, Ron,

Bret and Mary will go to Meriden to

attend a presentation by the State Police

on “Safety in Our Houses of Worship”

in the wake of recent church shootings.

GOALS: Council goals for the 2017-

2018 church year include:

Transition management including

securing the next interim minister and

then a new settled pastor. This will

also involve discussion about the

parsonage.

Ministry team leadership with

examination of term limits in order to

insure continuity. Each team should

suggest appropriate people.

Staff support

Financial – stewardship to increase

pledge base.

NEXT MEETING: January 17, 6:30

p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Carol Wilson


SAVE THE DATE

CTUCC Youth Revival

Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM

First Church of Christ Congregational

12 South Main Street

West Hartford, CT 06107

Fill your spirit with praise music and inspiring words in this exciting worship

service that is now an annual tradition in the Connecticut Conference. This is a

dynamic worship service that will renew your spirit. Come and lift your praises,

celebrate vitality, and embrace diversity!

http://www.ctucc.org/eventdetail/6663829?month=4&year=2017&day=1&display=m


Commentary: Do New

Year’s Resolutions

Actually Help Anyone?

December 28, 2017 Written by Bentley de Bardelaben

Growing up, my siblings and I made many New Year's resolutions at the closing of each year. Some of them I was fairly successful at keeping. Others I did not. Many I frankly do not recall. I picked up this habit again in recent years, only to realize that the change I was trying to make, or the character trait I was seeking to address, kept presenting to me over… and over... and over again with little-to-no progress. UGH!! How frustrating. The thing I desired was to develop more patience. I saw this as a way of becoming more purposeful; a spiritual practice and discipline in order to be more centered and calm. I had hoped that I might also lower my blood pressure in the process. NOPE. I have found myself with multiple opportunities to put my commitment to patience into practice – often several times each. Oy! But in the end, I wasn't less calm as a result of my attempts, I was even more frustrated. I now had awareness about my feelings of annoyance within a given scenario, but I was not achieving the zen I had hoped for. In the end, it did not work out well for me. Why not, I wondered, was I failing at my task? A quick Google search revealed that, "only eight percent of people actually keep their New Year's resolutions." Additionally, there are many reasons people can't stick to their resolutions, "from setting too many of them to getting derailed by small failures." Lastly, the Internet reminded me that, "regardless of what resolution you commit to, the goal is to improve life in the coming year." I concur. So now is the moment of truth - how can I make this work for me? What will be my path moving forward? If simple goals are easiest, then a simple goal it will be! Therefore in 2018 I resolve to live my life with more hope than fear. I commit to this despite the attacks by some elected officials on my (and other marginalized groups) civil rights. Despite the challenges of the moment we're in, I believe the scales of justice will find balance once again. As my paternal grandmother would often remind me, "baby, this too will pass." Experience has taught me, she was right. So as I step out of one year into the next, I will hold her words as a salve on my tender soul. I invite you to do likewise. Wishing you and those you love, the happiest, healthiest New Year.

Bentley de Bardelaben is UCC Executive for Administration and Communications for the United Church of Christ.


THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

10 Wintonbury Avenue Bloomfield, CT 06002 Church Office: 860-242-0776 Child Dev.Cntr: 860-242-0183 Church Fax: 860-243-8035 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Wintonbury Spire, newsletter of the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield – United Church of Christ, is published monthly to provide information to and about our members and friends.

The Wintonbury Spire will be mailed at the end of each month. Please join us for the “Spire Party” where we stuff, fold, label, seal and stamp the Spire from 10:30 – 11:30 am on a Friday morning.

December 29, 2017 January 30, 2018 February 27, 2018 March 27, 2018 April 27, 2018 May 29, 2018 June 29, 2018 August 31, 2018

STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION

Andrea Davey-Mercer Office Manager [email protected] 860-242-0776

Eustace Straker Minister of Music [email protected] 860-242-0776 x 3

Dorine DeCarli Director of Faith Formation [email protected] 860-242-0776 x 4

Shantel Bremmer Director of Child Development Center [email protected] 860-242-0183 x 5

Michelle Alves Building Management [email protected] 860.888.1025

mailto:[email protected]

t e e r r i i p p s s -...

Documents