The Church Mouse

Weekly Newsletter

Rocky Hill Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

Rocky Hill, CT



RockyHillucc.org

August 8, 2024

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Sunday morning SUMMER Worship Service begins at 9:00 am in the sanctuary.

Notes from the Pastor

Pastor David will return to worship this Sunday, August 11th!

Outreach and Witness

August MAG

Our August Monthly Abundance Gift is the preschool right in our building and closest to our hearts! Little Scholars Preschool (LSP) is a play-based nursery school for children ages 3 to 5. LSP offers a host of programs, and RHCC has the opportunity to provide them with funds to offer more in-service programming such as, bringing in Mystic Seaport to teach the children about marine life, or the Children’s Museum to teach children about planets. For August, we want to direct our monthly abundance gift to this worthwhile organization. Please consider supporting this MAG so this generation and future generations can benefit from all that LSP offers!

Hands on Hartford Food Request

You may have read about how more than 270,000 food-insecure children in Connecticut haven't received summer EBT benefits until this month, (instead of June). That delay has put an extra strain on food pantries, including Hands on Hartford.

For August, Outreach and Witness is asking people to contribute breakfast items: whatever shelf-stable items your family enjoys for breakfast. 

There are also several basic items not covered by EBT benefits. Please consider donating laundry detergent, soap or body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, or menstrual products.

Please bring your gifts to the basket in the narthex, to the cart on the second floor, or contact anyone on O&W, we’d be happy to deliver them to Hands on Hartford.

Thank you for your generosity. Read the story about the EBT benefits delay HERE.

Faith Formation

Family Fellowship Events:

• Family Hikes: Our Family hike last week was cancelled due to the heat. We will instead hike on 8/24, meeting at the Quarry Park parking lot at 9 am. Rain date will be 1pm the following Sunday. 
• Park Days: From 10-11:30 am each Wednesday during the summer we will meet at Ferry Park for fellowship, weather permitting. In case of rain, we will meet at Bob's Coffee Shop. There will be outdoor games and activities as well as space for conversation with other congregants. Please feel free to drop off your kids to get an errand done or to take some space, or join in for connection and community.

~Pastor Lauren

Facilities

Remember Spring? All the flowers you see around the church were planted by the Memorial Garden and Church Grounds Team. Our goal is to make the grounds look beautiful. Thanks to Linda B. who planted perennials in the front and back recently. The summer lilies are gone but the sunflowers are now stretching as high as an elephant’s eye.

And then there are those pesky weeds. If you can help weed, even a little bit, please contact me. ~Ed C.

Finance Notices

Last week, the bi-annual contribution letters were sent out via mail or email. If you expected to receive a letter and have not, or if you have questions about the letter you did receive,

please contact Holli at hollihbacon@gmail.com or 860-324-9588. 

Thank you. ~Holli B, Financial Secretary

Shout Out!

Thank You!

From the very bottom of our hearts, we wish to thank our entire church family at RHCC for your loving and enthusiastic response to our wedding vow renewal several weeks ago! We could never imagine in our wildest dreams how perfectly it all turned out, and we will be forever grateful to all the individuals who made it possible. We do want to give a special shout out to Rev. David Figliuzzi, who officiated the ceremony with enormous affection, humor and grace. Thank you all for your love and support!! And, thank you, for being there for us at an important time in our lives. ~Linda and George Peterson

Congratulations and Welcome Home, Margie and Allen! 

Thank you to Pastor Lauren, the WISE team, and Steph H., who worked so hard to make our service and our coffee hour a joyous and welcoming event! ~ Heather WT

WISE

Valuable Training Opportunity

Connecticut Children's Research Institute -TEACH (Training to Establish an Alliance Centered on Hope) &

QPR (Question-Persuade-Refer), training for suicide prevention. In-person training will be held at RHCC on Tuesday, 8/20/24 from 5:30pm-7:00pm. 

This training is open to adults and children ages 12+. Join us to learn how we can prevent suicide together. You will learn about: warning signs, common reasons, how to find help, where to learn more, and how to Question-Persuade-Refer. 

If you would like to attend, please contact a member of the WISE Team. ~Margie B.

Golf Outing

RHCC Golf Tournament - Sunday, September 22nd

This year’s fall RHCC Golf Tournament is scheduled for Sunday, September 22, 2024, at Indian Springs Golf Club in Middlefield, CT. The tournament will be a 9-hole event, followed by refreshments at the course. We are planning for (6) foursomes and our tee times will start at 1:00 PM. The cost will be $70 per person for 9 holes of golf, a cart, and a cookout-style dinner after the round.

A sign-up sheet will be available in Chapin Hall in September, or you can contact Bill H. (860-563-1367) to reserve your spot. Don’t miss out on this fun event! ~Bill H.

Fellowship of the Grape

Thanks so much to Marsha and Bill H. for hosting our last Fellowship of the Grape on July 20^th. We were able to enjoy their lovely deck and porch, each other’s company and share lots of laughs! We got to meet Wally and Reese. Wally loved the idea of having so many people around and decided to join in on all the fun. For those who don’t know who Wally is, you need to join us next time to find out! 

Our next Fellowship of the Grape will be held at Mary Ann L.’s house on September 7^th at 5 PM. Mary Ann lives at 330 Penfield Hill Road in Portland. If anyone wants to carpool, please let me know. Once again, we'll get to enjoy her beautiful backyard and gardens,(which, unlike mine, do not have one weed in them!) We ask that you bring your favorite drink, alcoholic or not, and an appetizer to share. 

I want to thank everyone who has hosted and those interested in being a future hosts! While we do have hosts through September, autumn and the holidays will be here very soon.  Please let me know if you would like to host in October or beyond. If you'd prefer to co-host, and I can connect you with others. I can be reached at 860-729-6541 or deb.copes@gmail.com. Thank you ~ Deb C.

Important Dates

Light the Tower

• In memory of Jennifer O'Connor. Julia O'Connor, Denise and Bob Carberry.
• In memory of Gladys Carberry. Julia O'Connor, Denise and Bob Carberry.
• In Loving Memory of husband and father, Paul Anthony Tine Jr. Gail and Natalie Tine.
• In Loving Memory of father-in-law and grandfather, Paul Anthony Tine. Gail and Natalie Tine.

For more information on RHCC worship, activism, and happenings, visit:

OUR WEBSITE: RockyHillucc.org

OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: Facebook.com/rhccucc

WELCOME GUESTS!

If you have been joining us for our online worship services or keeping in touch on Facebook, we’d love to say hello and get to know you better! If you’d like to learn more about our church community, please email us at: office@rhccucc.org with your contact information!

We are an Open and Affirming Christian community, actively expressing Jesus’ inclusive embrace of all people.