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Volume 122, Issue 1
January 2015
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February
18th, and at 6:30PM, we plan to have delicious
soup, followed by our 7:30PM service which
officially brings us into the Season of Lent!
As part of our journey through Lent, we
will explore readings from the Still Speaking
Writers’ Group by welcoming moments of
devotion during Wednesday evening Bible Study
and by having devotionals available for ministry
team gatherings. The devotional material speaks
of Lent being traditionally thought of as a season of repentance, a time of giving things up
and turning our lives around - or trying to.
Yet, our United Church of Christ writers’ group suggests what if we thought about Lent as
a time of giving in rather than a time of giving up? A time to “relent,” to back off imposing
our wills on everything? To let go of a little bit of our need for control and let God be God.
As such, the collection of writings is titled, “Re-Lent” to make this suggestion: Lent
happens every year, but we can experience it anew. Do Lent over in again in a fresh way.
This year, we can consider making Lent the time to practice
giving in to God’s amazing grace.
Let’s journey together through Lent!
With God’s Love,
Pastor Sheila
FEBRUARY USHERS
1- Diaconate
8 - Eluna Bicette, Susan Harrell,
Kay Koch, Jane Louise Smith
15 - Susan DiAmicis, Barbara Gruber
Frank Mark, Ralph Tarricone
28 - Phil Bruderman, Debbie Chea,
Carlos Navas, Sabine Wiesbauer
Peggy Lyons, Irv Koehler's brother,
Daniel Koehler; Jeremiah Thomas,
Nicholas Hernandez's sister
Damaris, Barbara Gruber's friend,
Priscilla; Hilda Percy's family and
friends, Sabita & Simone Shah, family & friends,
Pearl Rosner, Rosemarie Spencer, Rev. Allen
Hollis, family and friends; Holly Dozier, McMath's
family baby Scarlet; George & Joan Gerson;
Gersons' friend Billy White's family and friends;
Nancy & Jerry Reser; Barbara Gruber's friend
Tony; Eva Hines; Ruth Dietel, family and friends;
Jane Louise's friend Justin L.; Judy Mooers and
her nephew Aaron; Carol Stuyvesant; Ron;
Justice & peace efforts everywhere
MEN'S FELLOWSHIP
Thank you to all who contributed to the Men's Fellowship Sunday Potluck.
A comment was overheard, "It's been a long time since I enjoyed such good food!
It was delicious!"
A Men’s Fellowship meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2015.
All men are welcomed to attend.
6TH ANNUAL DINNER PLAY - In an effort to accommodate all the cast members schedules,
we will try the following schedule.
●Sunday, Feb 1 at 2 PM Act II;
●Monday, Feb 2 at 7 PM Act I;
●Tuesday, Feb 3 at 2 PM Act I; and Act II at 7:30 PM;
●Wednesday Feb 4 at 7:30 PM Act III; ●Saturday, Feb 7 at 2 PM Act III;
●Sunday, Feb 8at 2 PM Act II.
The remainder of February's rehearsal schedule will be printed in next Sunday's Bulletin.
THE DRAMA CIRCLE WILL MEET AT 6 PM on Tuesday, February 3. It is very important that all members
attend.
Rod Jennings.
Hello Readers, this is the month of valentines. Perhaps you might like to settle
down with something by Debbie Macomber or maybe with the Prayer Box which
is on our Reading for Renewal list. We also have some recent donations. We
have received four of the Cat Who series by Lillian Jackson Braun or maybe you
would like The Hit by David Baldacci. We have many other books you might
enjoy. Keep on reading!
YOGA - Under the instruction of Charlotte Snowden, you can learn proper stretches for
your body to totally and peacefully relax. Classes are held every Wednesday at 5:30 PM.
Come and join us!
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
Young adults started up there soup sale again and it will be on the third Sunday of
the month. So we will fill your orders starting January 18th...see you then. Thank
you for all your support. Sabine Wiesbauer
NEW MEMBERS CLASS
A New Members Class will be held on Feb. 1st after morning fellowship.
All who are interested in becoming members of the church are welcome to attend.
See Pastor Sheila or a deacon if you have any questions about membership.
WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY - We will celebrate Women's Fellowship Sunday
on February 8th during morning worship. There will be a special offering for CWS
Blanket Sunday, a mission of the Women's Fellowship.
The next Women’s Fellowship will have their next meeting on Feb. 17th at 10:30
a.m. Charlotte Snowden has the program, Carolyn McElroy has devotions and the
hostesses are Ilsa Dickinson and Jan Mark.
For those able to attend during the day, please come to the Women’s Fellowship Games Party on
February 14, at 1 PM. in Ellis Hall. It is free just bring your favorite game and a snack. We will have
some games available, love to have some new faces!
FESTIVAL CHOIR! - Occasional choir for special Sundays throught the year.
On Sunday, Feb. 22nd we will celebrate Black History Month Sunday. We will have a
special choir for this Sunday and invite all interested in participating to please come
to a special choir rehearsal on Feb. 8th after morning worship and on Thursday, Feb.
19th at 7:15 PM. All are welcome.
FELLOWSHIP TEAM - In starting a new year, new teams have been formed and need
assistance in insuring we continue to enjoy the same quality of church experiences. One of
these is the Fellowship Team. If you would consider serving on or assisting this team,
please call Alice Payne at 371-1183. There will be a brief meeting of this team right after
church on February 15.
BIBLE STUDY
ALL ARE WELCOME TO COME STUDY GOD'S LOVE.
We will continue Part 2 of our Bible Study series
on Wednesday evenings.
6:30 PM
Potluck
7:00 PM
Bible Study
7:00 PM
Youth Fellowship / Childcare
8:00 PM
Prayer and Praise
GLEANING NEWS
Union Congregational United Church of Christ will be joining C.R.O.S. ministries to glean on;
Saturday, Feb. 7, and Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. Please mark your calendars and come join us. It is
definitely a wonderful experience and a great cause to be able to help those in need. Please sign up with
Jane Grandusky, Judith Mooers or Pastor Sheila as we need to be able to advise C.R.O.S. as to the
number of participants. The actual Gleaning site will not be known until one week prior to the Gleaning
date. Please note that the Feb. 16th date will be shared with an inter-faith group.
POP-UP YARD SALE SUCCESS!!
Following the brainstorm and leadership of our Stewardship Chair, Jane Louise Smith, a small group of
yard sale buffs got together early on the morning of January 3 rd to do a Yard Sale on the front lawn of the
church. Gathering left-overs from the bazaar (and other items gathered from members’ homes) the sale
netted $342 dollars for the General Fund! Nice take for 4 hours work! Many thanks to Jane Louise for
leading this event and Bob Smith, Ilsa Dickinson, Susan DiAmicis, Alice Payne and Jane Grandusky for
helping out with the sale.
Bunco Night - Friday, Feb 20, 2014 at 7PM
No Bunco experience is necessary, it’s easy to learn.
Everyone is invited! See Jan Mark for more details.
General Synod 2015 - Every two years, General Synod brings together thousands of faithful members of
the United Church of Christ for formal church witness, inspirational worship, and fellowship with friends
(new and old). On June 26-30, 2015, thousands from across the country (and abroad) will gather for
General Synod 30 in Cleveland, Ohio — the birthplace of the United Church of Christ. Together, we will
discern resolutions of witness, church structure, and function. We will stand up for issues that demand a
faithful witness. And we will join together in worship each day to lift up the Stillspeaking God. At General
Synod 30, we will explore some of the "Unexpected Places" where we hear God’s voice, encounter the
Spirit, and find the United Church of Christ lifting up its witness in the world. See Judith Mooers if you
are interested in going to General Synod as a group.
FROM OUR STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY TEAM.......
ISN’T IT STRANGE?
Isn’t it strange how a $100 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you
donate it to the church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?
Isn’t it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but
how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?
Isn’t it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away, but when we are going
to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?
Isn’t it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is
possible to sit in the last row in church?
IT’S STRANGE ISN’T IT?
Are you laughing?
Are you thinking about it?
Spread the word, and thank God, because He loves you.
Union Congregational United Church of Christ
5088 Summit Boulevard
West Palm Beach, Florida 33415
(561) 686-0330
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
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