Volume 26, Issue 1

January 2025


Sowing

Seeds


Newsletter of

Bristol United Church of Christ

“The Church on the hill”



Visit our Zoom Link HERE
Visit our You Tube Channel HERE
Visit our Website HERE
BUCC January Calendar Link HERE

Wishing you a blessed 2025!


Office Hours:

Monday thru Friday 9A - 12P



December Attendance

In Person + Zoom

 

December 1st

30


December 8th

38


December 15th

40


December 22nd

55


Christmas Eve Service

 69

 

CALL TO ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING


CALL TO ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING


Members of the Bristol United Church of Christ

are called to the Annual Budget Meeting on

Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

 

The purpose of the meeting is to act on a budget for 2025.

This meeting will be in Fellowship Hall and can be attended via Zoom.

The Zoom link information will be emailed in advance of the meeting.

 

/c/ Mary Kay Haines, Clerk

December 20, 2024

 

The Budget Hearing will be Sunday, January 19, 2025

immediately following worship service.


*****Please make note of these two dates on your calendar. Thank you!

 

THE PASTOR'S PEN


New Year and Winter Things

 

             First, let me wish each and every one of you a happy and healthy New Year. I pray that your Christmas was what you needed it to be: fun, quiet, busy, family-filled, happy, and/or holy. I pray that you were able to take time to pray thanks to God for the gift of Christ’s birth and life.

 

Music Sunday 2025 - Last winter, we held a “Music Sunday” celebration in February. In 2025, we’ve scheduled another one, this time on March 2, 2025. We would like the service to feature people’s favorite hymns. To make a service that has a verse or two from the congregation’s 10-12 most favorite hymns, we need your help. Tell us your three favorite hymns by February 9. You can do this in one of three ways: 1) email bristolucc@breezelinebiz.net (don’t reply to the e-newsletter – we won’t get your vote); 2) call the church office and have Jen or I record your vote; or 3) fill out a paper ballot at the church on a Sunday or  during office hours. Estelle and I will put together a list of the top choices and work them together into a service for March 2, Transfiguration Sunday.

 

We’d also love to hear from those of you who are musically inclined. Can you play a song on an instrument, or would you like to sing something special? Come make a joyful noise to God. You could make a small ensemble (instrumental, vocal, or mixed) with a friend or two. If you’d like to be part of the service this way, please let Estelle or me know by the end of January (so we can hold a place for you).

 

Please remember, when the weather is inclement, the church building may be closed. Check with your activity’s leader to find out if the activity is cancelled that day. Please don’t take    undue risks. I will come to church on Sundays to lead worship even in bad weather

(I have four-wheel drive). You should do what you need to do to keep safe. You can always attend service by Zoom or watch the recording on YouTube. If you know how to Zoom but have not done so in a while, you should try the Zoom link before Sunday morning. This is because the Zoom program on your computer needs to update once in a while. It usually takes only a minute or two but you don’t want to get into that while the actual service is going on.

 

Please keep reading the monthly newsletter and calendar this month and in the months ahead. Committees, groups, and various individuals are working some of the usual activities for fun and worship. Also, there have been some new ideas that are being worked on to engage each other, our faith, and our community. You’ll want to be informed about these and put them on your calendars and “to do” lists in 2025.

 

Finally, please know that I keep a list of members, congregants, and friends of the church on my desk. I go through it each week and hold each of you in prayer for health, wholeness, faith, and joy throughout the year.

 

NARRATIVE LECTIONARY READINGS 

 

January 5th

Luke 2:41-52 ( Psalm 2:7-8)

January 12th

Luke 3:1-2 (Psalm 51:6-7)

January 19th

Luke 4:14-30 (Psalm 146)

January 26th

Luke 5:1-11 (Psalm 90:14-17)

ESTELLE'S CORNER

 

ESTELLE’S PLAYLIST

 

Here are the You Tube links for three of the

most recent preludes:


1.        Carol of the Birds - Fernando Ortega



2.        Come Follow That Star by Don Besig



3.        CANTICLE OF THE TURNING

 


 


Choir meets every Sunday at 9:15AM and every

Tuesday at 3:00PM


New Singers Always Welcome!

 

WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP

 

BRISTOL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

POT LUCK LUNCHEON!

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2025 AT NOON!


PUBLIC INVITED!!!

 

Bring your favorite casserole, side dish, main dish, salad or dessert to share! (Beverages will be provided.)

 

For those who are interested in games, bring your   favorite to play with a friend, a group or individually afterwards! Hope to see you there!

 

Women's Fellowship, B.U.C.C.

 

Please join the

Women’s Fellowship in celebrating

January Birthdays and

Anniversaries, at

Coffee Hour on 

Sunday, January 26th!

 

THE JOYFUL NOISE UKULELE BAND


The Joyful Noise Ukulele Band 

We will be having ukulele practice at

9:30 on Mondays


New people are always welcome. 

Contact the church office before coming so that we have materials ready for newcomers. 

 

 


Ukulele Schedule:

 

January 6 – We will begin practicing the songs that we will share with the  

Minot-Sleeper Library on February 28.

  

 

 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Train up a child in the way they should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 

 

“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”

Galatians 5:22-23

 

 

During the 2024-25 Sunday School year, we are going to learn about the Fruit of the Spirit. We will be using the book “Kids’ Travel Guide to the Fruit of the Spirit”

 

We will also be working on lessons to learn about the leadership roles in our church. Our lessons may include craft projects to sell at the BUCC Women’s Fellowship Christmas Bazaar, baking bread to use for Communion, helping with the Fall Clean-up (or Spring Clean-up), and collecting Teddy Bears to complete a church mission project.

 

We run our Sunday School like a “little one room schoolhouse”: Attendance, Singing, Prayer, Multi-age lesson on the Fruit of the Spirit, independent work for the older students, and guided activities for the younger. Each week we will have Ms. Sal leading us in singing. Ms. Gracie will help with nursery care.

 

New students are always welcome to join us at any time during the year!

 

December Schedule:

January  5: Intergenerational Worship Service,

                   Nursery Care will be offered during the service. 

                   Nursery Care Sitter - Ms. Gracie (assistant – Ms. Ellie)

January 12: Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness – Mrs. Keegan

January 19: Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness – Mrs. Vogel

January 26: Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness – Mrs. Keegan

 

 

 

***The Christian Education Committee would like to thank everyone that helped to put together our annual Christmas Program.***

 

During the month of November the Sunday School Students made ornaments to sell at the Church Bazaar in December. 

 

CE made $36 from selling our ornaments, and donated the money to be used by the BUCC Women’s Fellowship.

 

 

Chrismon Tree Decorating

Photo credit to Amanda Henderson

 

MISSIONS

A Joyful Christmas from Missions

 

The best thing about serving on your Missions Committee is that our focus is on love. Each time we send support to people or an organization, locally, in New Hampshire, nationally and internationally, it is done with love for all

 

Our wish for you is that you will be touched by love and moved to give love during this holiday season. 


We look forward to 2025 and new and old ways of helping BUCC connect to those in need.

 

 

CHURCH COUNCIL

Bristol United Church of Christ Council Meeting

December 18, 2024

 

 

Present: Bill Nieman, Barbara McIntire, Betty Seeler,

Bonnie Biondi, Lucille Keegan, Tom Keegan, Andrew MacLeod

Bill called the meeting to order.

Andrew led us in prayer.

Barbara moved to accept the minutes for 11/20/24 and Bonnie seconded. Minutes are approved.


Treasurer’s report: Copies of the November report were distributed.

Finance: Betty reported that the finance committee will be meeting on Dec. 19 to set the 2025 budget. The budget hearing is scheduled for Jan. 19 and the meeting to vote on the budget is the following Sunday after the church service.

Missions: Barbara reported that the soup delivery project is going well. The committee is working on new ideas for 2025.

Trustees: Tom reported that furnace #2 is now working properly thanks to the effort of Matt Greenwood.

Diaconate: Bonnie reported that the monthly meetings will be at 1:30 from now on. They worked on their budget. She made up a new rotating schedule. The next meeting will be on the second Wed. in Jan. due to the New Year holiday. Worship will be held in fellowship hall during January and February.

Music: We are very pleased with the piano gifted to the church by Gloria Rogers. It has a lovely sound and will be great to use while we worship in fellowship hall during January and February.

Pastors report: December has been a busy month. 12 people joined to decorate the Chrismon tree, sing carols and eat pizza. The children will present their Christmas program on December 22. Christmas Eve service will be at 7pm. Andrew is securing readers to help with the service. Andrew will be on vacation from December 25 to January 4. Carol Asher will be the pulpit supply person on December 29. Andrew is planning to have a music Sunday on March 2 like we have done in the past. Everyone will have the opportunity to submit names of hymns they would like to sing. Communion will be moved to the following Sunday, March 9. Andrew is exploring the idea of having an Ash Wednesday service at noon on March 5 followed by lunch.

 

Reporting for CE he said that there will be a movie after church on January 5. It is titled “The Fourth   Wiseman”. February 16 will be Teddy Bear Sunday. New bears will be collected to give to the local first responders to use as needed.


Women's Fellowship: Bonnie reported that the Christmas Fair was very successful in spite of the number of shoppers being down. The ornaments donated by the children were extra special. 30 wreaths were     decorated and sold. Bonnie thanked Tom and Peter for setting up the tree in front of the church. Sal, Bonnie and Lucille put the lights on it. The WF is planning a potluck lunch on January 18. The public is invited to    attend. Games will be available to play after lunch.


Bonnie moved to adjourn the meeting and Betty seconded. The motion passed.                                       


Andrew closed the meeting with a prayer.


Submitted by Lucille Keegan

 

COMMUNITY


BRISTOL COMMUNITY SERVICES

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS:

 

*Spaghetti Sauce

(NO GLASS JARS),

 

Chef Boyardee Meals, Baked Beans,

**Instant Potatoes & Rice


Canned Tuna and Chicken, Canned Fruit

Drinks, Snacks, Desserts

 

Condiments (cooking oil, mayo & ketchup)


Shampoo, Body Wash, Deodorant,

Toothpaste, Dish & Laundry Detergent

 

Cat & Dog Food

 

  

"Women's Fellowship Wreath Decorating Day!"

Winter Closing Reminder

 

For All Groups Meeting at Bristol United Church of Christ

 

The BUCC will no longer use local school closures for bad weather as the determining factor for closing the church. Instead, the church will be available to organizations regularly using the church facilities at the group leader’s discretion. 

 

We do not guarantee that the parking lot will be cleared and sanded or the walkway shoveled. Please consider your group members’ safety first. Please have a clear plan for communicating your cancellation to your group members (email, telephone chain, etc.)

 

Please also leave a message on the church answering machine

(603) 744-8132

so that we will know of your cancellation.

 

 

CELEBRATIONS

Birthdays:

 

      3 - Bonnie Biondi             

     6 - Stephanie Vogel

7 - Sal Linfield

     9 - Marilyn Blakeley 

     9 - Claudia Davis             

   16 - Dean Martin    

  

                         

 

17 - Phyllis O’Leary           

25 - Tom Keegan 

30– Cheryl Colby          

30 - Jean Pothier    

 

In our prayers:


James Barnard, Carol, Rebecca Herr, Johanna Colette, Manny Malatros, Loretta Somers, Marcia Payne, Donna Smith, Nancy Passaro, Dean Martin, Scott Haines, Tim, Guy & Diane Parsons, Matt Guyette, Sylvia Bailey, Cooper Mahley, Verneve Reilly, Thomas Pothier, Sara Breau, Betsy Meany, Janet Jewett, Yvonne Labelle, Rick Wright, Fred Brewer, Cheryl, Megan Wichland, Bob Murphy, Bernie Doehner,


The Family & Friends of Dale Huckins

 

 

We extend our warmest welcome and invite you to join with us each week in praise and worship. 


WORSHIP SCHEDULE


Sunday Worship 10:00AM 

In-Person & Zoom

Hard copies of the bulletin available Thursday after noon in the bin on the rear walkway table.

BUCC Calendar link HERE
Join our ZOOM Link HERE
Visit our You Tube Channel

The deadline for all newsletter submissions is the 20th of the month.

                Articles that come in after that date will be used in the following month’s newsletter. 


REV. ANDREW MACLEOD, Pastor and Teacher



Office: (603) 744-8132

Residence: (603) 217-0704

Email: pastorbucc@breezelinebiz.net 


BRISTOL UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST

The Church on the hill”              

15 Church St.


PO Box 424

Bristol, NH 03222

Visit our Website

Main Office Summer Hours:    

Monday thru Friday 9AM - 12:00PM

Office: (603) 744-8132

Email: bristolucc@breezelinebiz.net


Pastor’s Hours: 

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

9AM - 12 Noon and by appointment   

Email: pastorbucc@breezelinebiz.net

             

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