October 28 Colonial Church News

November 1 – All Saints Day Communion Worship

What a year. All of us are feeling a sense of loss.

It is healthy and right to acknowledge that in spirit and in truth, and on this All Saints Day we will do that together as we remember.

As we remember though, we do so with a hope that is greater than any loss. We remember that Light and Love will always be God's final word to us.

You will definitely want to be part of this important time of worship this Sunday.

Between our worship services, Pastor Aaron will be offering a drive through Communion and a time to pray together in the circle drive out front of Colonial Church.

Sunday Worship Online

Connect to online live worship service at https://colonialucc.online.church/ at 8:30 or 10:15 a.m.

Or, you can watch our service anytime after 8:30 a.m. on Sundays via YouTube at https://bit.ly/CCYouTubeV

Fellowship Time at 9:15 a.m. Each Sunday, immediately following our 8:30 worship service, we gather together via Zoom. Grab a mug of coffee or a cup of tea and come say hi. This is a chance to catch up and chat, discuss a little about Sunday's message, and anything else that might be on your mind. You can connect at https://tinyurl.com/ColConv

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.

HALLOWEEN MOVIE NIGHT FOR COLONIAL FAMILIES

Join us this Saturday, October 31 at 6:45 p.m. in the Colonial back parking lot for a showing of the animated movie “Hotel Transylvania.” Masks and social distancing are required. Snacks and drinks will be provided by Colonial Women. Treats will also be individually wrapped following safety recommendations. Wear a costume if you like. Sign up at https://colonialucc.breezechms.com/form/7c2e9f27

Colonial Church exists to be a blessing. We are here to extend the influence of Christ throughout the world and we do that together in so many ways. Over the next few weeks, we are asking for your support of this community’s work.

Over the past few months, hundreds of thousands of people in this nation dropped out of the workforce to stay at home with their kids with online learning. However, for many families that was not possible. So, the Colonial Church community did what we do. We found a way to be a blessing. In partnership with the YMCA, we opened our building to these households in need.

Listen to the parent of one of the kids who has been in our learning pod this school year…

Watch for information in the mail about how you can help Colonial Church continue our work in the coming year.

ADVENT DEVOTION WRITERS

We are looking for Advent Devotional Writers. If you have been waiting breathlessly for your opportunity to write a devotion for Advent, look no further. All you need do is pick a day, read the text pulled from the Advent Daily Lectionary reading and voila, pen your greatest work! You can join through this link: Advent Devotion Writers Registry

HELP US HONOR OUR VETERANS

On Sunday November 8, we will be honoring our veteran and active duty Colonial members. Please share the name and branch of service if you are a veteran or active duty. Also, if you are a spouse or family member and would like them to be recognized please share this person's name and branch of service. We would really like a photo of each person (either in uniform or a recent photo). You can email Julie with information and photos at [email protected]

CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING WITH DIALOGUE INSTITUTE

Pumpkins on doorsteps and cool nights remind us that we will soon be making plans to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. The status of the COVID virus seems to point us to virtual visits with friends and family for holiday feasts, including Colonial’s dinner on the Sunday before Thursday.

In past few years we have been able to share that meal with families from the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City who are refugees from Turkey. We have reunited with friends and made new ones as we shared time together. This year we can turn to technology to help us celebrate with some who are new to this special western world holiday. Simply let us know that you would like to participate and we will connect you with a family via Zoom to be a part of your Thanksgiving Day. You can share greetings, special prayers and/or activities of your family celebration. Are there special dishes, a way to share thanks or family jokes and games that brings you together? You may want to learn more of the changes that the refugee family has made during their journey to the Midwest.

Send your name to Julie at [email protected] or Mariam Fleming at [email protected]

OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH GIFT GIVING

Once again, Colonial will be collecting new toys for Operation Breakthrough’s holiday store. The gift giving will be a little different this year due to COVID. Instead of a tree in the narthex to select ornaments from, go to the Operation Breakthrough Gift Registry to choose toys to purchase.

Place the unwrapped toys in the box outside the church entrance by the office door before 4:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday. We need the gifts by November 30. Gift cards should be mailed to Colonial Church, 7039 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS 66208.

If you need help getting the toys or gift cards to the church, contact Cindy Burgdorfer at 630-776-0511 or [email protected].

Watch Our Weekly Services and Sermons

Livestream: Sundays at 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. at https://colonialucc.online.church/

On Demand: worship services are on YouTube here. Sermons are available here.

Daily Devotionals

Our denomination, the United Church of Christ, provides an excellent daily devotional, written by the "Still Speaking" writers group. To have the devotions emailed to you daily go to:

http://www.ucc.org/daily_devotional

Molly’s Table Sends Blessing Bags to Moms in Need

For the past 14 years, Molly’s Table has partnered with The Sheffield Place to help empower homeless mothers and their children to heal from trauma and to become self-sufficient. We normally provide several dinners, activities, and a free shopping extravaganza at the Rummage Sale. While events are cancelled, our compassion and generosity must find a way to continue.

This month, Molly’s Table sent “Blessing Bags” to our friends at the Sheffield Place. Each mom received a small bag filled with simple gifts and snacks to help them feel pampered and loved. Thank you to Lynn Sample and Marylee Battaglia for collecting all the items. Marylee’s handmade scarves added warmth and color to the offering. Thank you to the Cosgrove family for assembling the gift bags. And thank you to The Sheffield Place Executive Director, David Hanzlick for delivering the items on our behalf.

If you would like to send more blessings to The Sheffield Place, you can purchase items from their Amazon Wish List, and everything will be shipped directly to the shelter. Visit the Colonial Church link here for more details: https://www.colonialucc.org/ways-to-help-during-pandemic.html

I Am Not Your Negro, a collection of James Baldwin’s writings, speeches, and interviews has been added to the collection.

BALDWIN’S NIGGER – 1969

One of the most terrible things is that in fact, whether I like it or not, I am an American. My school really was the streets of New York City. My frame of reference was George Washington and John Wayne. But, I was a child, you know, and when a child puts his eyes in the world he has to use what he sees. There’s nothing else to use ...

I know how you watch as you grow older, and it is not a figure of speech, the corpses of your brothers and your sisters pile up around you. And not for anything they have done. But what one does realize is that when you try to stand up and look the world in the face like you had a right to be here, you have attacked the entire power structure of the Western world.