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October 29, 2015
Church News and Reminders

Get ting ready for Messy Church Meetings
Our f irst open-to-the-public Messy Church will be November 6 at 5 pm! To prepare for this ministry, we will meet November 1st at 11:15 in the Drawing Room. Anyone inter ested in helping is welcome to attend to see how they can help out. If you are interested in helpin g, but cannot attend the meetings, please  contact Sylvia. We are v ery excited about this opportunity to Accept All in our neighborhood, Reach Out in a new way, and hope that in doing so we truly Touch the Lives of those attending!


Word for All Ages is a very special time during worship where children are the focus, but adults can better understand the scripture as well. The Ministry of Worship and staff invite you to share in leading this part of worship. We will provide you with fabulous resources for your preparation. Please let Ryan, Sylvia, or Carly know you are interested and we can schedule a Sunday for you.

Volunteer Opportunities
Honey Do List at Churc h
The Property Committee seeks your help in doing maintenance and repairs around the church! Please take on what ever makes your heart sing!  We need all skills -  from carpentry to electrical to planting to sorting to hauling to cleaning and organizing.  Although the date says November 30, please sign up and complete this at your convenience. Sign up here   or our Opportunity Board during Fellowship Time.


Lawn Mowing
Sign up to help keep the church lawns looking their best. We have both a self propelled mower and a rechargeable mower for you to use. This includes the front, back and side lawns. The sign-up day and time are listed as Saturdays, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, but the actual day and time you mow is flexible.  
          
Laundry Heroes 
Sign up to be a laundry hero. This is a simple, eco-friendly and meaningful project. Just pick up the laundry at your convenience, from outside the kitchen and bring it back the Saturday morning that follows by 7am. If you have any questions, call the church office or email Marilyn Russell  

                   Greeters
We need Sun day greeters at the east door o f the church at 9:45 am to welcome all who come. Please sign up on Sign-Up Genius, in the Founders Room after church,
                                             or call Ann Fish at  
                                             708-352-7084.
In Our Church

THIS  WEEK IN OUR CHURCH
 
Thanks to all Crop Walkers and Supporters!
Thank you to all our supporters and our 6 Walkers who raised $3208! A special thanks to Carly for matching our donations to make it to that number. One fourth of that money comes back to help fight hunger in our own community. One program helped by this walk is our own Saturday Meals Program. There were a total of 192 walkers who raised $17,113.

ALL CHURCH CRAFT FAIR
Crafters:
Bring your crafts to the Founders' Room, Saturday, October 31st, between 11am & 2pm. Please be sure we can identify who made them so we can return any unsold items. Thank you for donating your hand crafted items!

All Church Craft Fair:

Please come to the Founders' Room to shop the Craft Fair on Sunday, November 1st, after church until 3 pm. There will be a wide variety of craft and food items. Invite your friends, neighbors, relatives and classmates. 
 
EVENING BOOK CLUB 
We are moving from WWII back in time to WWI. Our next selection is Rin Tin Tin: The Life and Legend by Susan Orlean.
THis selection is a quintessentially American story of reinvention, a captivating exploration of our spiritual bond with animals, and a stirring meditation on mortality and immortality. Please join us on Thursday, November 5th at 7:30pm in the Chapel conference room.

FISH FRY
The Westchester Community Church (1840 Westchester Blvd.) is holding a fundraiser fish fry on Friday, November 6th from 4:30 to 7:30 pm serving shrimp, fried cod or fried chicken, and rotisserie chicken with 2 sides, bread, and dessert. Adult dinners are $10 and a hot dog dinner with side and dessert for children is $4. Tickets are available at the door.
 
ST. BARBARA'S FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION
St. Barbara's food pantry shelves are in need of supplies. They can
use toilet paper, soup, beans, peas, corn, jelly, tuna, chili, spaghetti sauce, pasta, and hamburger/tuna helper. If you wish to donate, receptacles for the food are outside the sanctuary. Your donations are much appreciated!

PRAYER SQUARES
A basket located at the back of the sanctuary
ho
ld s prayer squares that have been blessed. They are sized to   f it in a pocket or purse. Please take one as a tangible symbol of G od's love and grace when you are in need of comfort. 
 
GIFTS OF GRATITUDE
Be looking for information about getting your gift of gratitude name in mid November. Because of how the holidays fall, we have to do it earlier this year on Sunday Dec. 6.
 
HOLY JOE'S CAFE
Missions has found a new worthy cause to support called Holy Joe's Cafe.  It is a coffee house ministry for UCC Military Chaplins and Troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. The chaplains invite US service members into a safe and informal place, a "coffee house," where they can receive spiritual care and good coffee.  We have purchased 20# of Equal Exchange Coffee for this mission.  For each pound of coffee purchased, 15 cents is given to the UCC Small Farmer Fund which is used for anti-hunger/economic development programs in eastern North Carolina.  For more information if you would be interested in supporting this cause go to this link

To First Congregational Church families - Did you know that every Saturday morning a trained Kindermusik educator provides children ages 18 months to 3 years a research-based music class specially designed to promote growth in all areas of development, all while dancing, singing, and exploring instruments?  It's true, and you are invited to attend a free class any Saturday!  Just send an email to Joan Arnold at arnfen@aol.com or call (708) 921-0650 - and check us out at Kindermusik.com.
 
UPDATING YOUR INFORMATION
The FCCLG website has a link to Access. Just go to www.fcclg.org, click the Connect With Us tab and then click on Member Census Data.
 
Music News
Brass, Pipes, and Brunch II
Join us in the Sanctuary and Founder's Room on November 14 at 10:30 am. This year we will feature the Carillon Handbell Choir, Michael Brozick on trumpet, Ryan Cox, baritone and Patricia Spencer on organ & piano. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, and are available starting October 4th. Proceeds go to "Friends of Music" to help sponsor the December Choral Sermon and the "Instrument Repair Fund" which helps pay for re-leathering the sanctuary last week. Your support is greatly appreciated.

"Joyful Noise" Hymn Sing will be during worship on November 22 and you are invited to play the instrument you regularly practice, or one you need to dust off. Pros and amateurs alike will combine their talents to joyfully accompany the hymns. Children and youth who are confident players are invited too! Let Ryan know if you would like to be a part of the ensemble. You will get music to practice at home and we will rehearse as a group the morning of at 9:15 am.

Choral Sermon rehearsalbegins on October 22 at 7:30 pm. Ever want to be in an opera chorus? This is your chance! The Advent Choral Sermon will be a staging of Amahl and the Night Visitors by Menotti. This one act opera is a modern classic and will be performed during 10 am worship on December 20. Please contact Ryan Cox if you would like to sing.

Christmas Musical rehearsal starts on November 7 at 10 am in the choir room. All children K-8 are welcome, including friends and neighbors! For the full rehearsal schedule and registration form, please see Ryan or Sylvia. The performance will be on December 13 during 10 am worship. We would also like to take the show on the road to Plymouth Place for a second performance the same afternoon.
Children in 4th-8th grade are also invited to sing with the Chancel Choir in the Choral Sermon. Amahl and the Night Visitors is a fantastic one-act opera for singers of all ages. Please see Ryan or Sylvia for the rehearsal schedule. The performance will be on December 20 during 10 am worship.
 
Chancel Choir rehearsal continues on Thursday, November 5 at 7:30 pm in the Choir Room.  Membership is open to all singers, high-school on up.  All voice parts are needed, particularly sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses.  Not sure where you fit in?  Ryan will help you figure that out.  All new choir members are offered two free voice coaching sessions with Ryan Cox.  

Carillon Handbell Choir rehearsal continues on Wednesday, November 4 at 7:30 pm. Anyone high-school and up is welcome.  Previous ringing experience is not required, however, basic music reading is helpful (counting is the big thing!).  We need both regular ringers and those who would like to sub in from time to time.

Ring 'n Sing : It's back and it does what the name suggests. We sing. And we ring. Sometimes at the same time. Children in 1st-6th grades are welcome to join the fun. Rehearsals continue on Sundays from 11:15-11:45 am. This program is great for introducing new families to our great youth programming. 
 
Treble Choir : An extension of Ring n' Sing, this ensemble is designed for children in 3rd grade and up. The focus is on voice development, music reading and singing more challenging music. We meet right after Ring n' Sing on Sundays from 11:45 am-12:15 pm in the Choir Room. 
 
CYD News

Yzals 
The Yzals group (grades 6 to 8) will meet next on November 8 at 6:30 pm. They meet the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month. 
 
Zackleys 
The Zackleys group (grades 9 to 12) continues to meet on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month at 6:30 pm. However, on November 1, we will meet at the church at 2pm and travel to the forest preserve for a nature walk and conversation!  
Adult Education

Let's Start at the Beginning

Maria, from "The Sound of Music" reminds us to "start at the very beginning-a very good place to start." In that spirit, Carly will offer a Confirmation Refresher Course. This is an introduction/review of the faith traditions of Western
Christianity. Everyone is invited! 

We'll be using Martin Copenhaver's book, To Begin at the Beginning. This is an informal, conversational gathering. We will meet in the Drawing Room from 8:30 to 9:20 on Sunday
Mornings. There will be coffee!

The book is available at the local bookstore, on Amazon, Half.com, or a limited number of copies from Carly . It is an easy read, but each week will require that you read the chapter before class. We'll follow the outline of the book in sections, taking a break between each section.
  
Part Two: The Church as the Body of Christ: Nov 1 - Dec 6.
            November 1: Life Together as God's People
            November 8: The Church's Book
               November 15: The Church at Worship
               November 20: Baptism with Water and the Spirit
            November 27: No class (Thanksgiving weekend)
               December 6: Eating at Christ's Table

Part 3: What Is Promised, What is Required Jan 10 -Feb 7
            January 10: Conversing with God
            January 17: Resurrection to Eternal Life
               January 24: Doing Faith
               January 31: Sharing the News
               February 7: The Invitation

Looking Ahead

*Annual Reports are Around the Corner:
Heads up to all Team Leaders, Committee Chairs and Officers: Very soon you will receive a letter informing you that you are responsible for submitting a report to be published in the Annual Report. If you receive it and are NOT the person responsible for your committee report, please make sure you either inform he other person, OR let Ginger or Daniela know who is responsible! November and December are very busy times of the year for EVERYONE. Time gets away from all of us so "don't put off until tomorrow what you can do TODAY!." Your promptness will be appreciated!

All Church Clean Up and Rummage Sale
We've emptied spaces in the church of "stuff" and "clutter" for which we no longer have a use. A team headed up by Jerry Palmer and Gary Melkonian sorted the wheat from the chaff, and organized for a rummage sale. They began with the space shared with District 105 and School and Tutors of Wheels and continued to sort items in the attic. All proceeds from the sale will be applied to the General Fund.
 
*10/24 - 11/3:
Arrange items for sale in dining room and mark all prices.
*11/4-11/5: Rummage Sale open to the public. Will also entertain best offer.
*11/9: Needed dumpsters here. Throw away items not sold or offer to Goodwill or other charitable organization.
 
Church Calendar Events 
November 1: Craft Fair opens its doors at 11:00 am. in the Founders' Room
November 4-5: Rummage Sale opens to the Public and goes from 9:00 am. to 4:00 pm.

November 6: Messy Church begins at 5 pm.! 
Touch List

Your Cards and Prayers Will Comfort and Touch...
 
 
The Balz family.
Rita Baumann, Mary Cooper's aunt who is recovering from surgery.
The family and friends of Sandra Bland.
Tom Dewese as he recovers from heart surgery.
Deb Gardiner and Dan Zigulich's niece who's recovering from a liver transplant.
Jenny Geist's mother, Bonnie, who is recovering from surgery.
Nancy Haiman who is recovering from surgery to remove a melanoma.
Our thoughts are with LuAnn Hall's niece Jessica.
Olivia Hein's grandmother, Dorothy Woods.
Lois Hindman, who is house bound with a brain condition.
The family of Mary Lu, JoAnne Konkle's friend who died on September 17th.
The family of Sherry Llewellyn, who died on September 6th.
The family of Kathleen McConnellogue who passed away on October 21st.
Camilla Norby.
Helen Pancer, Viola Clayton's daughter who is receiving chemotherapy.
Jennifer Powers as she deals with health issues.
Euvon Radel, Ceil Bolton & Priscilla Laff's aunt, who is in the final stages of colon cancer.
Sandra Sayles , who is recovering at home.