Weekly Newsletter
Week of July 28th - August 3rd
Gilead Congregational Church, UCC
ChurchPhoto
Meetings and Services this week:





Wednesday, July 29th:
-7:00 p.m. Live Stream Wednesday Evening Music and Prayer on Gilead Church Facebook Page
-7:30 p.m. Technology Committee on Zoom



Sunday, August 2nd:
-9:00 a.m. Summer Sunday Worship Service live-streamed on our Gilead Church Facebook Page
-10:00 a.m. Coffee Hour on Zoom
God is Still Speaking
  About Us:

Pastor:
Reverend Dr. Denise Esslinger  
 
Minister of Music:
Danielle Hoehn
 
Administrative Assistant:
Sally Fritsche


Summer Worship: 9:00 a.m.


Gathered: 1748
Meeting House: 1838
Fellowship Hall: 2008
 
We are an Open & Affirming Church
 
This Week's Live Stream Services

Join us this week for our Wednesday evening music and prayer and for Sunday worship! We'll be gathering on our Gilead Church Facebook page. In order to be a part of this service, please join our Gilead Church Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/GileadChurchUCC and tune in at the designated times.

We will also be sharing Holy Communion together. Before the time of the service, you’re invited to prepare some bread, a slice or a small loaf of any kind of bread. In some parts of the world tortilla, rice cake, cassava are used as this element which is defined not as a wheat product but as the most common food of the people. Let it be something you alone or you with others in your house may break and share. Prepare a cup or cups of juice—perhaps grape or cranberry. Use whatever you have available, knowing that God makes the uncommon holy. On Sunday morning, set these elements in the space where you experience worship electronically with our faith community. 
Wednesday, July 29th at 7 p.m.

J oin us for a time of reflection, music and prayer. In this brief time (~10 minutes), we will share with you a piece of music, its history, and a prayer.
Sunday, August 2nd at 9 a.m.
Join us at 9 a.m. for our Summer Sunday worship service with Communion.
Coffee Hour 

Join us after worship on Sunday for a virtual Coffee Hour. We'll be meeting on Zoom at 10 a.m. Bring your own coffee and we hope to see you there!

Log in information is below. If you need assistance with connecting, please let us know ([email protected] or 860-228-3077).

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 834 3607 4321
Password: 296423
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,83436074321#,,,,0#,,296423# US (New York)

Worship Live Streamed and in Garden of Remembrance
Sunday, August 9th

Starting on Sunday, August 9th at 9 a.m., we will be gathering for worship outdoors in our Garden of Remembrance. Live streaming of services will continue for those who don't feel comfortable attending. All those who do attend are asked to to bring your own chairs or blankets to sit on. Also, face masks are mandatory along with 6' physical distancing. More details will be forthcoming as our Deacons continue to work on safety protocols. If you have any questions, concerns or input to share please contact our Deacons (Amy Huhn, Jon Kimball, David Kline, Jim Ledbetter, Kate McClaine, Teresa Olio, Gary Sarra, Margot Sheehan, and Doug Stewart). Thank you!

Youth Group "MOO-vement"

The GCC Youth Group "MOO-vement" continues! Yard cows are "moo-ving" among GCC members and friends and we invite you, when one comes to graze in your yard, to keep it for about a week and then "moo-ve" it on to another member or friend of GCC to help spread joy! Our hope is that the cows will connect us in spirit and help us remember that although we are apart, we are still together in our hearts. When the cow comes to your home, please take a picture with the cow and forward it to Sally at  [email protected] . We'd like to continuing sharing as many pictures as we can.  Thank moo!
Doug Stewart along with his grandchildren, Katie and DJ,
and Penn too, enjoy some time with the Gilead cow!
Susan and Bob Raiola take a selfie with the Gilead cow!
Claire and Andrew Keene relax with the Gilead cow!
Jim and Kari Burgess found the Gilead cow eating weeds down the driveway a bit.
He was offered an upgrade and enjoyed the flowers this week. He wasn’t a
good watch cow though. The deer came and ate “ALL” the pansies right out of the pots!
Gilead Church Lending Library
"Planting Seeds of Hope"

While many summer programs have been canceled, we’re excited to announce one that is open!

The Gilead Church has opened a lending library of books for children, youth and adults with books focused on the topics of racial understanding, multiculturalism, inclusion, kindness, compassion and empathy. 

The books are available in a tub located outside of the main entrance from the parking lot which is under the awning. There are two tubs. One contains the books to “take" and the other tub is for books when they are “returned". When books are “returned", they will be sanitized and put back in the “take” tub. There will also be sanitizing wipes available by the tubs for you to use.

We are people who believe in the power of God’s Word, and we hope that the sharing of these words will be a meaningful expression and reminder that we are all God’s beloved children. We also hope the books will provide an opportunity for families to read together and share in conversations that support social development. 

Our Board of Christian Education is supporting this endeavor. If you have any questions, please feel free to speak with Lynn Lukach, Margot Sheehan or Pastor Denise.  

Back to School Supplies
Tubs will be available outside of the main entrance to the Church
for school supply donations. Thank you for your support!
Lord's Bounty II Cookbooks

Our Women's Fellowship continues to sell copies of their Gilead Church Lord's Bounty II Cookbooks. If you'd like a copy, please contact Margaret Gibbs at 860-384-4327. She will deliver! Cook books are only $10 each and make a wonderful gift.

AHM 17th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Is scheduled to take place on Monday, August 31, 2020, 9:00 a.m. Welcome and 9:30 a.m. Shotgun Scramble! The cost to play is $125 per player.

Day of golf includes:
  • Your cart & 18 holes of golf
  • AHM logo golf shirt
  • Complimentary gift bag with water and snacks
  • Lunch (details coming soon!)
  • Two mulligans
  • Trophies in multiple categories
  • Several chances to win a hole in one golf contest!

If you would like more information or if you would like to participate, please contact AHM Youth & Family Services at 860-228-9488. Both AHM's Golf Committee and staff are working with Blackledge Country Club to plan a fun and safe day of golf for all.  Due to Covid-19 Restrictions, some plans are subject to change as we continue to follow CDC Health Guidelines.

Foodshare
Sympathies

Our Church family expresses its deepest sympathies to Mark and Kacie Hand and their family on the recent death of Mark's father, Donald Hand.

Administrative Assistant Office Hours 

For the summer, our Administrative Assistant, Sally Fritsche, will be working from home on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. She is available for assistance via email ([email protected]).

Scripture Reading and Prayer for the Week
Matthew 14: 13-21

God of plenty, in ancient times you blessed your people over and over and over.  More times than they could count.  Be with us, we pray, and remind us that we too experience your generosity as we open ourselves to others over and over and over: in sharing what we have received, in sharing our burdens, in sharing your forgiveness.  You have provided more than enough.  Help us to be a community of plenty for all through Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Contact Info
Sally Fritsche
Administrative Assistant
672 Gilead St
Hebron, Ct  06248
860-228-3077
  
Office Hours: O ur Administrative Assistant, Sally Fritsche, will be working from home. She is available for assistance via email ([email protected]).
COMPANY NAME | [Website]