EXCERPT FROM LAST SUNDAY'S SERVICE
Last Sunday, we were blessed to hear a sermon from Rabbi Ariann Weitzman, Associate Rabbi & Director of Congregational Learning at B’nai Keshet Reconstructionist Synagogue here in Montclair.
Rabbi Ariann Weitzman On "Resisting The Scarcity Mindset":
"l want to offer to you the possibility today that there is enough. For all of us. A possibility that Sarah cannot see. We scoff at the possibility of plenty, like Sarah, because it feels unreal and unattainable. But there is enough divine love, even if we don't believe that divine love overcomes medical truths, like infertility. There are enough resources. There is enough human energy. There is enough human loving kindness. There is enough solidarity, as I saw this weekend. There is enough food on the table, if only we know how to share it."
If you ever miss a Sunday service or want to rewatch a sermon, you can always replay it on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/unioncong1
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Clickable Links Are Underlined.)
This Sunday
- Rev. Ron Verblaauw Preaches
- Join Us For Second Hour After Worship: Composting-Aficionado Steve Gabel Will Be Teaching Us All About Composting
Upcoming Memorials
- Memorial Service for Grace Stephenson – Saturday, November 19, 9:30am at St. James Church
- Memorial Service for John Joyce, Saturday, November 19, 11am
Small Group Ministries
- Men At Union: Save The Date For The December 3rd Men's Breakfast
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Faith & Democracy Seeking Postcard Writers For Georgia Run-Off Elections
Save The Date!
From The Office
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Suzanne Tuck Providing Administrative Help In The Office
- Sign Up To Offer Hospitality For Coffee Hour
- Rev. Katrina Forman will be away November 10-15, participating in the “Next Generation Leadership Initiative” (NGLI) bi-annual gathering in Chicago. NGLI is a program of the UCC Pension Boards that seeks to equip, energize, and empower younger UCC local church pastors to build vibrant congregations that change lives and further God’s mission in the world.
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Due to the current CDC Covid community status in Essex County as "HIGH", masks are strongly recommended in the Sanctuary during Worship. Thank you for your cooperation.
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NEXT SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, COMPOSTING-AFICIANADO STEVE GABEL WILL BE TEACHING US ALL ABOUT COMPOSTING DURING SECOND HOUR
You'll learn all about how composting works, the dos and don'ts of home composting and the answer to some common composting concerbs. Hope to see you there!
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SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP MAKE LUNCHES TO GO TO CHRISTINE'S KITCHEN AFTER WORSHIP
It’s our turn on November 26th to prepare and serve over 200 lunches-to-go to homeless and food insecure families at Christine’s Kitchen in West Orange. There are three ways you can help:
1) Donate food and/or supplies for the packed lunches. We’ll ask you to deliver the items at 3:00pm on Friday, November 25 to the Assembly Room so our volunteers can pack the lunch bags.
2) Help make sandwiches and assemble 170 lunch bags, starting at 3:00pm on Friday, November 25 in the Assembly Room. Many hands make light work – and spark laughter and good will!
3) Transport packed lunches, set up, and serve the free lunches to Christine’s Kitchen guests at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Orange, on Saturday, November 26 from 11:00am to 1:30pm. We’ll need 4-6 volunteers with cars.
Sign up sheets will be available in the Assembly Room every Sunday after service in November. You can also speak to Tim Crist, Karen Whitehaus or Ted O’Dell, or email the Outreach Team at outreach@unioncong.org to volunteer your time and talent.
Different churches, temples, and community groups have helped Christine’s Kitchen offer this free lunch program every Saturday for years. Union Cong members hosted our first lunch on May 18, 2002 – over 20 years ago!
Please join us in this important ministry!
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TIMELINE – NOVEMBER 2022 THROUGH JUNE 2023
In case you missed the Congregational Conversation on November 1 and 3, the following information was discussed.
Fall is the time in our church when the upcoming budget is formulated and nominating for a new slate begins. Given we are in the process of defining our future vision, around governance structure and our campus including the worship space, the budget cannot be properly formulated this fall as we do not have all the necessary information.
Roles are also being redefined with regard to the President and Vice President. Given these parameters, we are proposing delaying the typical budget and nominating timeline by 3-½ months to June of 2023. At that time we will vote on a 12-month budget, a nominating slate, ByLaws, and Vision. With that said, there will be an Annual Meeting in January to vote on a 6-month budget and a suspension of very specific parts of the Bylaws so that terms can be extended till June 2023 and the fiscal year changed to year end June 30. There will also be a Governance Presentation for discussion.
In February, there will then a special Congregational Meeting to vote on a Governance Structure and to approve a discernment team for next steps with regard to clergy. The writing of Bylaws will commence shortly thereafter.
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The Friends of the Howe House is a community coalition determined to see that African American history is not erased, and that the James Howe House serve the African American people, history, and heritage of Montclair.
Who are the Friends of the Howe House? They are an organizing collective that is developing into a non-profit. They are made up of members of this community that have ties to bodies such as the Montclair Branch NAACP, Montclair Mutual Aid, Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society NJ Chapter, Montclair African American Heritage Foundation, Montclair African American Clergy Association and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair. They are seeking to be in relationship with other civic groups, youth groups, congregations, businesses, educational associations, leaders, citizens and more. Please help us keep connecting.
The James Howe House creates an opportunity to study and discuss the history of Montclair’s vibrant black community, and lift up the truth of racial injustice in the nineteenth century and today. In many ways, the James Howe House raises more questions than it answers and only research into the social history of Montclair will answer these questions. This work is difficult and necessary because, until recently, archivists and historians have not prioritized documenting and preserving the history of black people in the United States, including Montclair. Preserving the James Howe House keeps Howe’s story alive, and allows it to inform the work for racial justice that is immediate and ongoing. Learn more on their website: https://www.friendsofthehowehouse.org/
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POP UP PARTIES ARE BACK! BEGINNING SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13!
Upcoming dates are:
Sunday, November 13 at noon, a brunch hosted by Sara and Dick Olson.
Friday, November 18 at 6, TGIF Dinner Party hosted by Sandy and Steve Goodman.
Saturday, December 3, 6om hosted by Jen And Steve Gabel
Sunday, December 10, 6pm hosted by Jen And Brian Hand
Saturday, December 17. 6pm hosted by Amy Hohn Stover
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NEW SMALL GROUP STARTING TO MEET: "Understanding the Theology of the Religious Right” - TUESDAY EVENINGS AT 7:30PM
Many people in the US now associate Christianity with what is often referred to as the religious right. We will learn about and discuss some of the theology behind the religious right, as well as other theologies which lead to different beliefs and actions. We aim to identify possible actions we can take in response to the growing confusion about Christianity and even calling oneself Christian. We also hope to learn about our own theology in the process!
The next three sessions would be articulated around Diana Butler Bass's curriculum called Understanding Christian Nationalism. Meeting Tuesday nights, 7:30 PM -8:30 PM in the Guild Room. The group is scheduled to meet next on November 8, 15, and 22 and will see where to go from there. Please note that there is no meeting on Tuesday, November 1. Email Gerald Walle if you are interested (gerald@geraldwalle.com).
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BIBLE EXPLORATION CONTINUING TO STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS, TUESDAYS AT 12:30PM IN THE GUILD ROOM
The Bible Study Group is reading Acts of the Apostles and the UCC study guide, "Acts Part 3" by Martin B. Copenhaver. For Tuesday, November 15, Catherine Spinella will facilitate group discussion of Acts Chapters 18, 19, and
20. We meet in the Guild Room on Tuesdays at 12:30 pm. We meet in the Guild Room on Tuesdays at 12:30 pm. If you have any questions or would like further information contact Sally St. John at
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WOMEN'S RETREAT 2023
WOMEN'S RETREAT 2023: Friday, January 13 - Sunday, January 15.We will head to beautiful Trinity Retreat Center in Connecticut for a weekend of spiritual growth, rest and fellowship. Rabbi Ariann Weitzman of Bnai Keshet will leads us in studying "The Spiritual Tools Of Sabbatical In Our Lives." For questions, contact Joy Mishkin, joymishkin@gmail.com or 626-241-2128.
NOTE: You can also fill out our hard-copy brochure and send it with a check payable to Union Congregational Church with “Women’s Retreat” in the memo. Union Congregational Church, c/o “Women’s Retreat, 176 Cooper Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07043. Deposit due December 11th.
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UPCOMING MEMORIAL SERVICES
Memorial Service for Grace Stephenson – Saturday, November 19, 9:30am at St. James Church
Grace was close with Rev. Melissa Hall of St. James, and had spoken to her about her wishes for her service while Rev. Katrina was on leave. Rev. Katrina will help lead the service and we give thanks to Grace for this opportunity to be in relationship with our neighbors around the corner. The family will soon share an opportunity to send stories, pictures and more about Grace in a Google Drive. We ask you to hold calls and contacts to her daughters and closest friends and use that forum as a way to send them your love and support.
Memorial Service for John Joyce – Saturday November 19, 11am at Union Congregational Church.
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FAITH & DEMOCRACY GEARING UP TO WRITE POSTCARDS FOR GEORGIA RUN-OFF ELECTIONS (AFTER ELECTION DAY)
From Ina:
My contacts in Georgia already anticipate there will be several runoff elections in the state -- and they've already asked for help getting out the vote. The state of Georgia has announced the date of the General Runoff Election will be Tuesday, December 6. Postcard writing will not start until after the General Election, which means an extremely tight turnaround, perhaps less than 10 days. This time the script will be shorter and can be written in one color of ink, with added highlighter for emphasis and eye appeal. As before, Outreach has generously offered to defray expenses. Please let Ina know if you are interested in being part of the postcard writing team - ina.isobe@gmail.com
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CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING |
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Learning Centers
November Lessons: A JOYFUL PATH
Unit Three: INCLUSIVE OF ALL
Affirmation: I am part of the community of life that includes all people.
November 13 – Lesson 2 People in the Neighborhood
November 20 – Lesson 4 No Boundaries
November 27 - NO LEARNING CENTERS OR CHILDCARE… HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
THE PAGEANT PROJECT! Calling All Middle and High Schoolers…
ALL TALENTS AND SKILLS NEEDED TO CREATE THIS YEAR’S PAGEANT!
The Pageant is on December 18 during worship. This year, it will be written, produced and directed by our youth. To accommodate busy schedules, I am including the meeting times below for middle and high school youth to be involved in production/creation. THIS IS A “COME WHEN YOU CAN” project. Please just let me know in advance of the time when your youth will be here. And if they can only be here for part of a scheduled meeting time, that is A-OKAY!
Monday 11/14 4:00-6:00pm
Wednesday 11/16 3:30-5:30pm
Sunday 11/20 11:30-1:30
4:00-6:00pm
Monday 11/21 3:00-6:00pm
Tuesday 11/22 4:30-6:30pm
If your middle or high school aged youth wants to be involved, either a little or a lot, please reach out THIS WEEK. Fun and food will be mandatory elements of each meeting.
Side Door, A Place for Middle Schoolers
Only TWO Fridays To Go For the First Half of the Year… How did THAT happen?!?!
November 18 and December 02 from 2:15-5pm
We will start up again mid-January.
The mission of the Side Door program is to offer a safe space where Montclair middle school students can play on Friday afternoons, make friends, and be mentored by local high-school and college students working alongside Montclair community leaders.
Questions? Want to volunteer for Learning Centers? Please email Patty Dow at pdow@unioncong.org
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SIGN UP TO OFFER HOSPITALITY FOR COFFEE HOUR
Offering hospitality during coffee hour is one way we create space to be in community with one another and welcome visitors. A lot has changed in the way we do coffee hour, and we need your help!
Please sign up to bring food for coffee hour (anything you want - fruit, bagels, coffee cake, homemade, store bought...). Our Sunday morning staff will make the coffee, set up the cups, and lead the clean up. All you need to do is bring your food and help put it on plates before the service, and take home or give away leftovers afterward. Sign up here!
If everyone in the congregation takes a week, we would only need each household to do this once every two years!
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Your contributions to Union Congregational are gratefully received. You may contribute in the following ways:
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www.unioncong.org: Scroll down and click on the “Payments” icon, or click the button below.
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Stock Gifts: If you wish to make a gift of stocks or securities, call the church office for instructions.
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ACH Transfer: call the church office for details
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Checks are always accepted; please note in the memo what the contribution is for, and mail to the church office.
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UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
176 Cooper Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043
973-744-7424
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