"Jesus' Birth Announced" Advent Worship |
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December 20
Jesus was aware of the Light in him. Living in his Way leads to an increasing awareness to the Truth that every person - and our world itself - is sacred.
This Sunday we are going to testify to that Truth as we celebrate the light that continues to come into the world. It's happening right now in this church community. Our worship will get your spirit ready for the week of Christmas!
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Sunday Worship Online
Online Children's Sunday School. This week's Sunday School Bible story will go live on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. https://bit.ly/CCYouTubeVid
If you know of kids who might enjoy taking part in our Sunday School, invite their parents to signup to be on the list to receive the weekly materials at https://bit.ly/CCSSOnline.
Online Coffee & Conversation. Grab your coffee, your tea, your beverage of choice and join your fellow Colonialites in our Coffee & Conversation Zoom Room. We will be connecting with each other between our worship services. Stop in for a quick minute to catch up with each other! You can connect at https://bit.ly/CCCoffeeCon
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December 21, 7:00 p.m. online
Our Longest Night service honors the feeling that a number of us have about this season. It is the “long, dark night of the soul,” “the winter of our discontent,” in which memories of past experiences and the pain of present experiences can become painful. This is a special service to be with God in Spirit and in Truth.
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6:00 p.m. Online Christmas Eve Pageant
The annual Christmas Eve Pageant presented by Colonial youth is a special tradition. Tune in at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve as we have a reprise of last year's pageant online. https://colonialucc.online.church/
7:00 p.m. Drive Through Christmas Eve Communion
We honor Christ's light coming into the world as we celebrate the sacrament of Communion. Pastor Aaron will be outside in the circle drive for you to come and honor God, pray, and receive Communion.
8:00 p.m. Online Christmas Eve Worship Service
Light will pierce our present darkness on Christmas Eve. Even in our COVID exile, we will have a special worship service on this special night with music in a celebration claiming the joy, love, and hope that Christ brings into the world. https://colonialucc.online.church/
To take part in the candlelight service, please watch this video about how to record yourself - https://youtu.be/zTjedX24BDM. If there is someone you are missing this Christmas, have them record themselves and send in their video, too, with a note so that they can "sit" near you. Please have your recordings into Heather at info@colonialucc.org by Sunday, December 20.
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Colonial Candlelighting Challenge
Our Candlelight Christmas Eve worship is a sacred moment each year. So, this year we're doing our candlelighting together online and need your help! Here is a one minute instruction video for how to record yourself. And don't be shy - if there is someone who you are missing this Christmas, have them record themselves and send in their video, too, with a note so that they can "sit" near you. Please have your recordings into Heather at info@colonialucc.org by Sunday, December 20.
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The Joy of Christmas with Your Colonial Family |
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The Colonial community may not be able to gather in person during this Christmas season but we have created a way for you to celebrate together through our Facebook Colonial Stays Home group. We are posting videos periodically from Colonial family members ranging from kid's stories to family traditions to musical recordings.
This group is private – just for people in the Colonial Church community.
Advent Devotionals are also being posted daily to our public Facebook page. Be sure to read those for words of inspiration from our Colonial family.
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COVID-Prevention Guidelines for Colonial Church
Our area is experiencing record increases in COVID cases and COVID-related deaths, so Colonial Church is doing its part to slow transmission. The building is closed to groups. Staff members have shifted some hours to home. We ask for your cooperation as we work to stay safe. Thank you.
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We need your support to continue the work of Colonial Church. If you have not already returned your 2021 pledge card or made your pledge online, you can do so here. Together we change lives.
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Support the Christmas Fund
The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years. The Fund provides supplementation of small annuities, supplementation of health premiums, emergency grants, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks for retirees and those facing unforeseen financial hardship.
The emergency financial needs of many who serve the church have increased dramatically over the past nine months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Colonial members are requested to join with others in the United Church of Christ to support those who have given so much to our church. You can make your contribution online (select Christmas Fund from the dropdown menu) or by mailing your check to the church office. Thank you!
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The poinsettias on the altar this Christmas are given by: |
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Jane Ackley, Rusty Mann and Shelley Neumann
in memory of Russell and Anne Mann
Shawn Boelter
in memory of Rosalie Henry
Catherine Bowser
in memory of John V. Bowser
Lou and Mickey Gehring
in memory of Laura Gehring Byrom
Loren Griffith
in memory of Jan Griffith
LaVonne Grossman
in memory of Richard Grossman
Honey Hannah
in memory of Carl Migliazzo
Karen and Brad Hodges
in memory of Glen Froelich and Ann Hodges
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The Huggins, Kern and Ferguson families
in memory of Ray and Mary Grace Morgan
Howard and Sally Huggins
in celebration of our daughters and our grandchildren
Patty Kluding
in memory of Brad Fairchild
George and Cindy Lafferty
in honor of our family
Jim and Glenna Loomis
in memory of Rosalie Henry
Linda Moses
in honor of grandsons Atticus and Rowan Moses
Frank Robertson
in memory of beloved former principal, Blanche Banks
Marty and Lynn Sample
in memory of Joe Sample
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Motions Pass in Special Congregational Meeting
The first motion to expend $15,000 of the Pemberton funds to finish the waterproofing in the basement passed.
The second motion to increase the amount of expenditure that requires congregational approval passed as well with over 2/3 of the quorum voting in favor. That will allow the council/admin board to spend up to $20,000 if needed w/o a meeting to approve it.
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Colonial Women Activities
Note: All Colonial Women activities are now virtual. You can attend through the Zoom links below. We need to connect now, more than ever!
Colonial Women Big Biscuit - 9:30 a.m. on January 4 via Zoom
(first Monday of each month)
Colonial Women Blue Moose - 5:30 p.m. on January 12 via Zoom
(2nd Tuesday of each month)
Colonial Women Book Group - 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 15 via Zoom. We will discuss “The Night Watchman” by Louie Erdrich.
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Sunday Night Open Prayer
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Colonial Women Rummage Fundraiser
Because of concerns about COVID-19, Colonial Women is hosting a rummage collection rather than the usual sale. The goal is to raise $1,000, which means about 5,000 pounds of items! Savers will pay us by the pound for quality items. To reach that requires 250 13-gallon white trash bags of soft goods and 200 boxes of hard goods. We are also collecting boxes of books for a book sale.
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Let Marylee Battaglia know how many bags or boxes you have collected so we can see progress toward the goal. The collection is April 11, 2021. Note nothing will be stored at the church.
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Weekly Services and Sermons
On Demand Video: worship services are on YouTube here. Sermons are available here.
Podcasts: Sunday sermons are now available as a podcast. You can access the podcast via our Sermons page on the Colonial Church website or directly through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
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Colonial Family
We express our sympathy to Walt Seibert on the death of his wife, Muriel Seibert, on December 11. Read her obituary here.
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Celebrations!
In this time of staying connected remotely, please remember these folks who are celebrating milestones.
Happy Anniversary!
18 John-Michael and Lisa Gilmer
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Calendar
Thursday, December 17
10:30 a.m.- Thursday Morning Study Group via Zoom
Sunday, December 20 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:00 p.m.-Sunday Prayer Group via Zoom
Monday, December 21
Tuesday, December 22
9:30 a.m.-Book Group via Zoom
Wednesday, December 23
9:30 a.m.-Coffee with the Pastor via Zoom
Thursday, December 24
7:00 p.m.-Drive-Thru Communion, front drive
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Colonial Staff
Bell Choir Director: Hayden Ferguson
Organist: Dr. Joseph Kern
Youth Leader: Michelle Turpen
Building Maintenance: Edson Palacios-Castrejon
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