1. Art and Diseño

The Messenger
Richmond Congregational Church  February 2015
1801 - 2015
The Richmond Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, is an Open, Welcoming and Affirming Church
Sunday Worship 10:00 AM September-June, 9:00 AM July & August • Sunday School & Nursery care provided
Reflections From the Pastor
Dear Friends in Christ,
Richmond Congregational
Church Annual Meeting
will take place on Sunday,
February 8th Following
Worship.
Lunch will be served and child
care will be available. There is
much to discuss and the 2015
budget to vote on. Please plan
to attend.
Church Office Hours
Regular office hours
for the Administrative
Assistant are:
•Tuesday - Thursday
from 8:30am - 3:00pm.
Please feel free to leave
a message whenever
the office is not open
and we will get back to
you as soon as possible.
Phone at (802) 4342053 or email: church@
rccucc.org.
Pastor Katelyn’s
January Office Hours:
•Monday: Day Off
•Tuesday:
9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Church Office
•Thursday:
9:30-11:00am at
Sweet Simone’s
3:30-5:30 PM
Church Office
Pastor Katelyn is
also available by
appointment. Please call
the church office (802)
434-2053 or email:
[email protected] to
schedule a meeting.
It’s snowing outside the office window as I write this note to you. Big storms
are predicted for further south, but we seem to be escaping the worst of it we’re on the edge. On Sunday, January 25 we read the story of Jesus calling the
disciples (Mark 1:14-20). Jesus began his ministry from the edges – along the
Sea of Galilee away from the centers of power in Jerusalem. Here in Richmond,
we’re on the edge of the mountain range, and close to the edge of Chittenden
County.
The edge can be a risky place, as well as a place of great possibility and
potentiality. Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “I want to stand as close to the edge as I
can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you
can't see from the center.” As we continue through the winter, what can the
geography of the edge teach us about our faith? Out on the edge what might
we see and experience differently?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18. Lent is a spiritual season for
examination, deepening, and questioning. It is a season that pushes the
boundaries and brings us to the edges of our faith. In Lent we think about how
Jesus challenged the status quo in his day, and was ultimately put to death
because his ministry and message threatened the powers that be in Jerusalem.
Throughout the forty days of Lent we will have several opportunities to deepen
our faith through weekly Bible study, Wednesday Vesper Services at the United
Church of Hinesburgh, and an Environmental Movie Series. We will also have
UCC Lent Devotionals available in the parlor that you can take home and use
for personal study.
While I do hope that Lent provide many opportunities to get to the edges
of our faith, it is equally important to come together as a faith community
from time to time! On February 8 we will gather for our Annual Meeting after
church to discuss and approve church business including the 2015 operating
budget, starting a visioning process, and reviewing our governance structure.
We hope that you will add your voice and vote as you join us for this important
conversation.
As we begin this new month, may God be our guide, whether we find ourselves
at the edges or in the center of our faith journey.
With Peace,
Katelyn
Re-Lent 2015 Lent
Devotional
Come to VIA’s
Action to
Address Medicaid
Prescription Drug Copays
Thursday, February 5th, 2015
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
39 Washington Street, Barre
Special guests:
Robin Lunge (invited), Director of Health Care
Reform, Senator Anthony Pollina,
and Representative Paul Poirier (invited)
Join VIA as we ask for changes in policy and allocation of
resources to decrease the burden on individuals who
switched from VHAP to Medicaid in the 2014 Exchange.
Parking on Church St. or Park St. near Currier Park. There is
also metered parking on Main St. (free after 5 pm) or on
Merchant’s Row (behind shops on the West side of Main, free
after 5pm). Handicap parking is located behind the church.
Child care is available – please call to request. For more
information about the event, call (802) 651-8889.
Check out Rev. Katelyn's
Pastor's blog at http://
illuminatecultivate.blogspot.
com/. You can also connect
through a link on the church
website at www.rccucc.org
using the Pastor's Blog and
Sermon link!
Don’t forget
to visit us on
Facebook at www.
facebook.com/rccucc. “Like
Us” and we will keep you
connected!
Resurrection.
What Lent is really
all about?
Lent: a 40-day journey to the
grand finale of our faith on Easter
Sunday.
Make every day count with ReLent: 2015 Lent Devotional
written by The Stillspeaking
Writers' Group. The booklet is
comprised of daily devotionals
with Scripture verses and prayers
taking you from Ash Wednesday,
February 18th to Easter Day,
April 5th. Your journey will be
full of twists and turns, highs
and lows—and a brand new
perspective on Lent.
You will find copies on the table
in the Parlor. A suggested $4.00
donation to cover the cost of the
booklet is appreciated, but not
expected.
Duane LaRose Update
After 15 years of faithful
service as our church Sexton,
Duane has submitted his
letter of resignation effective
January 31st due to health
issue. Please keep Duane in your
thoughts and prayers as he
struggles with heart trouble.
Cards, calls and visits continue
to be appreciated. Cards can
be mailed to: 1323 Stage Road,
Richmond, VT 05477. Phone is
434-3180.
A celebration to honor his
years of service is in the
planning stage. Stay turned for
details.
The Messenger  February 2015 - Page 2
Mark Your Calendar Now For These Upcoming Events
During the Lenten Season!
Ash Wednesday
February 18th
“Ashes To Go” – Receive the
Imposition of Ashes on your
way to work or coming home!
• 6:30-8:30 AM at the Richmond
Park N’ Ride
• 5:00-6:00 PM in front of RCC
Worship Service 7:00 PM
Sanctuary with RCC Choir
singing and Imposition of
Ashes
Lectionary in Lent
Bible Study
Tuesdays 9:00-10:00 AM
Pastor Katelyn’s Office
February 24, March 3, 10, 17,
24, 31
Lent is the perfect time to
engage in spiritual renewal.
Together let’s deepen our
understanding of our sacred
Biblical texts as we discuss the
Lectionary scriptures assigned
for each Sunday in Lent. Come
to one session, or come to all.
Wednesday Lenten Vesper
Services at the United
Church of Hinesburg
We are invited to join the
United Church of Hinesburg
for traditional Vesper services
during the season of Lent each
Wednesday at 7:00pm. Each
service will consist of selected
Psalms and hymns, a scripture
reading, a brief reflection, a time
for prayer, and Communion.
Each service runs about half
an hour and will focus on one
of the last encounters of Jesus.
Services will be held at the
United Church of Hinesburg,
10570 Vermont 116, Hinesburg,
VT.
• February 25, 2015 – “Peter”
Rev. Jared Hamilton,
preaching
• March 4, 2015 – “Judas” Rev.
Katelyn Macrae, preaching
• March 11, 2015 – “Pilate” Rev.
Jared Hamilton, preaching
• March 18, 2015 – “The
Soldiers” Rev. Katelyn
Macrae, preaching
• March 25, 2015 – “The
Criminals” Rev. Jared
Hamilton, preaching
Greening Our Faith,
Greening Our Lives Film
Series
Thursday February 26, March
12, and March 26 from 6:00-8:00
PM in RCC Fellowship Hall
• 6:00 PM Simple Soup Supper
• 6:30-8:00 PM Movie and
Discussion
• February 26th Movie: The
Wisdom to Survive: Climate
Change, Capitalism and
Community
Climate change is here. Will we
have the wisdom to survive?
The film features thought
leaders and activists in the
realms of science, economics
and religion discussing how
The Messenger  February 2015 - Page 3
we can
evolve and
take action
in the face
of climate
disruption. Interviewed: Bill
McKibben, Joanna Macy, Roger
Payne, Herschelle Milford,
Quincy Saul, and more.
Discussion led by Betsy Hardy,
Vermont Interfaith Power and
Light
• March 12th Movie: “Going
Green” segment from the
movie Renewal
In New Jersey, GreenFaith, an
interfaith coalition helps houses
of worship make their buildings
more environmentally sound
and the members of their
congregations more spiritually
in tune with becoming better
stewards of Creation. From
workshops that invite people
to explore their personal
impact on the environment,
to implementing recycling
and composting, on up to the
installation of solar panels,
congregations in New Jersey are
making remarkable strides. As
GreenFaith’s Executive Director
says, “The hardest thing about
taking action is sometimes just
taking the first step.”
Discussion led by Peter Swaine,
former Director of Sourcing,
Seventh Generation
• March 26 - Energy Efficiency,
Renewable Energy &
Greening Your Home
Movie: TBA
Lenten Events, continued on page 4
Lenten Events, continued from page 3
Join in a lively discussion about
the benefits and challenges
of living more sustainably in
Vermont, both in our homes
and as a congregation. Have
a solar panel success story to
share? Thinking about heat
pumps, wood pellet stoves, a
home energy audit or starting
a compost pile? Whether your
changes are big or small, it
makes a difference y’all!
Discussion led by Chris Schuft,
RCC member and Betsy Hardy,
Vermont Interfaith Power and
Light.
Deadline
for MARCH
Messenger:
SUNDAY,
FEBRUARY 15th
Please email any information
you would like included in
the March issue to the church
office: [email protected] by
the 15th at the latest.
Thank you for your help!
This Newsletter is printed on
30% post-consumer stock!
Please recycle.
Valentine Giving Drive
A temporary warming shelter
for the homeless is opening
in the Ethan Allen Club in
Burlington starting February
9th though April 3rd. There
is a great need for toiletries
and snacks for the folks using
the shelter. (Note there is no
access to a kitchen.)
During the month of February,
the Outreach committee will be
holding a drive to collect items
from their wish list.
Below is the list of items which
are most needed. Our goal
is to make up as many bags
containing one of each item to
create a luxury packet, which
would be a great comfort for
the guests who will be staying
at the shelter. You don't need
to do a complete bag, just
donate whatever you can. We
will put as many bags together
as we can and give the left over
items to the shelter as well.
Put in 1 gallon size Ziploc Bag:
*Tube of Chap stick
*Travel size pkg of tissues
*Toothbrush
*Travel size toothpaste
*Travel size mouthwash
*Small comb
*Hotel soap
*Hotel shampoo
*Hotel conditioner
*Hotel lotion
*Travel size Band aids
*Individual Hand Wipes
*Pair of cotton socks
*Travel size rain poncho
*Granola bar
*Package of cheese crackers
(Nabs)
*Pack of gum
*Wash Cloth
Our Sunday School children will
be making Valentines to include
with our donations!
Please have all your donations
to church by Sunday morning,
March 1st. Thank you!
February Schedule for Readers, Ushers and Greeters
ReaderUshers
Greeters
February 1
Eschholz family
Eschholz family
Velma Plouffe
Linda Parent & Connie van Eeghen
Plumer family
February 8
Churchill/Dugan family
February 15 Linda Parent
February 22 Bill Haddock
Churchill/Dugan family
Bill & Gina Haddock
The Messenger  February 2015 - Page 4
Leta Watkins
Carol Adams
Sunday School News
With Christmas and Advent
behind us, I’m happy to
say that our “Sunday
schoolers” took part in
many meaningful lessons
during December. Every
Sunday during Advent, the
children helped create
the beautiful collages
that are decorating the
front of the church.
The time spent cutting
out pieces and gluing
them thoughtfully in
place helps instill the
messages of Love, Peace,
Prayer Shawl Knitters
Now that the holidays are over
and the cold, dark nights have
descended upon us, it’s good to
gather with others and feel the
warmth of fellowship as well as
the satisfaction of being creative!
Our next Knitting Group meeting
will be at Candi Thornton’s house
on Thursday, February 19 at 7:00
pm. All are invited: experienced
knitters and crocheters and those
who would like to learn. You are
welcome to bring any project
that you are working on or if you
are interested in learning how to
make a prayer shawl, we have an
easy pattern and can show you
how to get started. Over the years
Hope and Joy.
Our hope is that
they are proud
of their collaborative
efforts, and have a better
understanding of what the
words truly mean; carrying
those words with them
throughout Advent, and
into the rest of the year.
Special thanks goes to
Kathryn Wysockey-Johnson
and Rebecca Garavan for
their hard work making
this project come together
for everyone to enjoy!
our group has made,
blessed and given over
150 shawls to folks
who have been in need of special
blessings as they faced difficult life
challenges and transitions and we
have also been blessed by sharing
these symbolic gifts. Our dear
friend Irene LaRose was a founding
member of our little group and
besides making numerous prayer
shawls, she made a number of lap
quilts that were also treasured by
many. If you would like to know
more, please talk with Candi
Thornton, Sharon Dwire or Jo
Ellen Swaine and please join us in
February!
RCC Sunday Driver Schedule for February
Sunday
2/1
2/8
2/15
2/22
Driver
Jerry Carpenter
Ed Roberts
Mary Ann Warren
Dave Thomas
Comments
Communion
Annual Meeting
Choir Sings
One of the beautiful collages
created during Advent.
Join the
Hinesburgh
Public House
on Tuesday
February 3rd
for a special
Community Supper To Benefit
Our Community Cares Camp!
We will be serving a locally
sourced, four-course meal for
an inclusive price of $20. Half
of the proceeds raised from
the Supper will be donated to
Our Community Cares Camp.
Vegetarian option
available. Reservations
are recommended, but not
necessary.
Hinesburgh Public House
10516 Vermont 116 #6a,
Hinesburg, VT 05461
(802) 482-5500
Please tell your friends - a
great night out in the middle
of winter to benefit our
community.
The Messenger  February 2015 - Page 5
Equal Exchange
Year in Review:
2014
Last year, we
accomplished so much together.
We’re so proud to have the support
of coffee drinkers, chocolate
lovers and authentic Fair Trade
enthusiasts like you. You make it
all possible.
Last year, our chocolate products
used over one million pounds of
organic, fairly traded cocoa beans
and 500,000 pounds of organic,
fairly traded sugar from smallscale farmers.
And Equal Exchange customers
brewed, shared and enjoyed over
5.5 million pounds of coffee from
small farmer co-ops.
That is a remarkable, incredible
positive impact in the world
of authentic Fair Trade. Equal
Exchange has supported smallscale farmers through Fair Trade
since our founding in 1986. By
enjoying our products, you help
us create stronger, healthier
communities worldwide. Thank
you.
To read more about all our
accomplishments in more detail,
go to http://equalexchange.coop/
and read our blog!
Please let Pastor Katelyn or
the church office know if
someone is ill, hospitalized or
in need of a visit.
The Messenger  February 2015 - Page 6
FEBRUARY 2015
SUNDAY
Robin Rabideau 2/1
April Berteau 2/2
Ann Gnagey 2/3
Barbara Wyman 2/3
Jason Gifford 2/4
Lila Johnson 2/5
Maddy Eschholz 2/7
Betty LaRose 2/7
1
MONDAY
Tom Desautels 2/9
Ed Thornton 2/9
Ingrid Cichoski 2/11
Asher Carfaro 2/12
Jordynn Chandler 2/12
Sharon Dwire 2/12
Lori Aldrich 2/13
Linda McCarthy 2/13
Raina Carfaro 2/14
2
•WORSHIP 10:00am Communion
•AA - 7 pm
8
NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE!
June Banks 2/16
Paula Sue Sawyers 2/16
Linda Kogut 2/18
Gail Jacobs 2/21
Bruce Jacobs 2/22
Jean McDuff 2/22
Aiden Marchant 2/26
Leta Watkins 2/27
3
4
•7:30pm
Operations
9
10
•6:30pm Deacons
16
17
•WORSHIP 10:00am
Choir Sings
•12 noon - Valley
Stage set up • 4:006:00pm Concert •AA 7 pm
22
•WORSHIP 10:00am Pulpit Swap - Rev.
Jared Hamilton lead
our worship service
•AA - 7 pm
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Please let the church office know your
birthdays & anniversaries. We'd love to
add you to the calendar. Call the church
office 434-2053 or email
[email protected]!
5
•6:30-8:00pm
Choir Rehearsal
•Bible Study @
Richmond
Terrace 3:305:30pm
•Peace Vigil
5:30pm
11
13
6
7
•Friday Food
Affair at 5
13
14
•5:00-9:30pm North Star Lodge
in Fellowship Hall
ANNUAL MEETING
FOLLOWING
WORSHIP
15
WEDNESDAY
•6:30-7:30pm
Girl Scouts
meeting in
Fellowship Hall
•WORSHIP 10:00am
Intergenerational
•AA - 7 pm
TUESDAY
23
24
•Lenten Bible
Study 9:0010:00am
•6:30-8:00pm
Choir Rehearsal
18
•Peace Vigil
5:30pm
19
•Peace Vigil
5:30pm
"Ashes to Go"
6:30-8:30am at
•Knitting 7:00pm
Richmond Park &
@ Candi's
Ride 5:00-6:00pm
•Soul Friends
out front of RCC
7:00-8:30pm
7:00pm Worship
25
•7:00pm Lenten
Vesper Services
at the United
Church of
Hinesburg
26
•Friday Food
Affair at 5
20
•Friday Food
Affair at 5
27
•Peace Vigil
5:30pm
•Supper & Film
Series 6-8pm
21
•Friday Food
Affair at 5
SCHOOL VACATION
The Messenger  February 2015 - Page 7
28
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Richmond, VT
Permit No. 4
1801 - 2015
Richmond
Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
P.O. Box 302
Richmond, VT 05477
802.434.2053
2015
We’re on the web!
Visit us at
www.rccucc.org
Address Service Requested
Change Of Address
Please notify the church
if you have or will have a
different address, name,
phone number or email
address. We need your
help to make certain your
mail keeps up with you.
You can call the church
office @ 434-2053 or email
the information to us at:
[email protected]. Thanks!
A New Way To Give To Richmond
Congregational Church
The RCC Stewardship Campaign
has joined the 21st century
and you may now pay your
operating pledge via a secure
online payment service. Please
follow the Give Online link on
the Church’s website, www.
rccucc.org. There is a small fee
to the church (3 – 5%), so please
consider increasing your gift by
that amount to cover the cost of
the convenience.
We will be adding
other events to the site as they
approach.
Please let the church office
know if you have any difficulty
with this new feature.
Thanks.
The RCC Stewardship Team.