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Volume 27, Issue 10
October 2026
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Sowing Seeds
Newsletter of
Bristol United Church of Christ
“The Church on the hill”
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Call to Special Meeting
Members of the Bristol United Church of Christ are called to a
Special Meeting on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM
following the morning worship service.
The purpose of this meeting is to:
1.Act on the proposed changes to the Church’s Bylaws and Constitution as recommended by Church Council.
2.Act on any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
(Color copies of the Bylaws and Constitution documents showing the proposed changes are available to members in the Church office.)
/s/ Mary Kay Haines, Clerk
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Sunday, October 4th 4:30pm
Inspiration Point, in the Slim Baker Area
There will be transportation to the top for those who need it.
Following the 4:30 P.M. Service,
we will share a Potluck Supper in the Slim Baker Lodge
Bring a salad, main dish, side dish, or dessert to share.
Drinks and paper products will be provided.
Please help with clean up and earth stewardship
by bringing your own place setting (plate/utensils)
Thank YOU!
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Office Hours:
Monday thru Friday 9A - 12P
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September Attendance
In Person + Zoom
September 6th - 33
September 13th - 34
September 20th - 41
September 27th - 40
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October 17th - 9AM
Rain Date - October 24th
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Autumn Bible Study
“A Child Is Born: A Beginner’s Guide to the Nativity Stories”
by Amy-Jill Levine
Discover the fascinating connections between ancient birth stories and the Nativity of Jesus in a four-part study in preparation for Advent. The study delves into the narratives of Isaac, Ishmael, Samson, and Samuel to reveal how they foreshadow and enrich the timeless Christmas story. The author brings her expert knowledge of Scripture and careful considerations of the Christian story to show readers how Scripture’s earlier birth stories anticipate the story of Jesus’ birth and how his birth story resonates and gives new meaning to those earlier stories.
Adult study classes take place on
Mondays at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
Participants may attend either or both depending upon their personal schedules.
The class sessions begin on Monday, October 19 and run weekly through mid-November.
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Mark Your Calendars for a Busy October
The month of October will have meetings, meals, classes, and some special services in which you may want to participate.
Here are some highlights:
Sunday October 4
10 AM Service with Communion to welcome new members;
Sunday October 4 - 4:30 PM at Inspiration Point – Fall Vespers and Pot Luck Supper;
Sunday October 18 - 10 AM Service of Poetry and Spoken Word (and even singing) many folks, younger and older are planning to share words in various forms;
Sunday October 18 - 11 AM Following Service, a Special Meeting to consider Bylaw and Constitution changes proposed by the Council. We do need a quorum. Drafts are
available in the office.
Monday October 19 - 11 AM & & PM A new Adult Study Class “A Child Is Born” by AJ Levine – A five-week series.
Saturday October 24 - New Hampshire UCC Annual Meeting with speaker the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, President and General Minister of the United Church of Christ
Our Choir is recruiting new voices
Rehearsal on Tues. at 3 PM and Sun. at 9:15 AM
Our Fall Fund Drive kicks off in the last week of October.
Don’t forget your committee or group meetings. Many hands make light work… and working together with a common purpose can be fun and rewarding.
Your Pastoral Relations Committee and Deacons are working hard behind the scenes for the transition from Rev Andrew to what comes next. Please keep them in your prayers.
Some church leaders help in many different areas of church life; will you consider volunteering for Fellowship Host, Sunday Flowers, Greeter, or Usher? Get in touch with Mary Kay Haines.
Autumn is always busy at BUCC. Plan for those things you most enjoy or want to remember to do so that you don’t miss out. No matter who you are, or where you are on your life’s journey, you are welcome here.
Blessings,
Rev Andrew
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NARRATIVE LECTIONARY READINGS
| | | October 4th | Rescue at the Sea Exodus 14:5-7, 10-15, 21-29 | | October 11th | Covenant and Commandments Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17 | | October 18th | Poetry and Spoken Word | | October 25th | Spies Sent to Jericho – Rahab Joshua 2:1-24 | | |
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Interested in joining the Choir?
Choir Rehearsals are on
Tuesdays at 3pm
and every Sunday at 9:15am
before the Service.
Please let Estelle know if you would like to join the Choir
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The BUCC Women’s Fellowship
invites you to celebrate
October Birthdays and Anniversaries!
Join us following Sunday service on
October 25th
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PLEASE LET US KNOW!
If you would like to celebrate your Birthday or Anniversary month with BUCC,
please be sure the office knows the date of your celebration!
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Save the Date
December 5th - 9A-12 noon
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New Member Sunday
October 4, 2026
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Poetry Service
October 18, 2026
| | 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.
***We have ukuleles that people can sign-out to borrow.
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JOYFUL NOISE UKULELE BAND UPCOMING EVENTS
October 18 Church Service
October 11 at 2 pm Peabody Place
October 26 from 10:30 to 11:30 Golden Crest
October 27 at 10:30 Plymouth Senior Center - Open Mic
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Our theme for the 2026-27 Sunday School year is:
Faith in Motion: Devotion, Reflection, and Action.
The first Sunday of each month is Intergenerational Sunday,
our students will attend the Bristol UCC service with their families.
During the Sunday School year, we will be working on:
• Youth Devotionals:
Engaging with scripture and nurturing youth-focused spiritual growth
• Sermon Perspectives:
Breaking down Sunday messages together.
• Everyday Connection:
Making faith make sense in daily life.
• Our Global Role:
Serving and shaping the world around us through the lessons of Christ. Projects to benefit our congregation, our community, our nation, and our world.
We run our Sunday School like a one room schoolhouse, all ages mixed and supporting one another.
New students are always welcomed to join us at any time during the year!
Here is the calendar for the month of October:
October 4 – Intergenerational Sunday
October 11 – Sermon Discussion Sunday – Mrs. Vogel
October 18 – Poem Sunday (in church)
October 25 – Youth Devotional - Ms. Debbie
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Church Council
September 9, 2026
In attendance:
Debbie Doe, Bill Nieman, Mary Kay Haines, Betty Seeler, Bonnie Biondi, Lucille Keegan, and Andrew MacLeod.
Bill called the meeting to order at 1:34 pm.
Andrew led us in prayer.
The minutes of the June 24, 2026 meeting were reviewed Betty made a motion to accept as presented that was seconded by Debbie and the motion passed.
Receipt of reports – This was a time for questions, concerns and clarification of the reports members received prior to or at this meeting.
Bill started of wishing to acknowledge Debbie and her Christian Ed committee for all the work they have done with the kids and noting that Sunday School starts on the 13. Debbie said they are letting the youth help take on some of the direction and lead the study. He also acknowledged Bonnie and all her work with the Women’s Fellowship and Diaconate and job well done.
By Law Update - Andrew updated everyone on what has been done over the summer and handed out copies of the updated Constitution and By-laws that have the new wording in red and the old text with lines through it. The Ad Hoc committee met with Ned Gordon and some of the changes were made with his recommendations and to make sure the two documents are in agreement. Bill asked about the calendar of events leading up to a Special meeting of the congregation to accept or reject the updated documents. Andrew explained that the Call needs to be published in one newsletter before and announced at all services the two weeks in advance of the meeting. This puts the earliest date we can hold a Special meeting to be October 18, 2026. The call will be published in the October newsletter and read at both the October 4 and 11 Sunday services. Since Andrew will be away on the 11th he asked that we make sure someone is able to read the call during the announcements and Bill said he could do that. Bill felt strongly that there needs to be a presentation to the congregation explaining what was changed and why. We went through the documents page by page and members of the Ad Hoc committee in attendance agreed to talk to specific changes.
A motion to accept committee reports was made by Lucille and second by Betty and the motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS - Andrew said he has written and mailed his letter of resignation to the congregation as well as friends and family that we have mailing addresses for; he did this yesterday. He also passed out copies to the members present. All agreed that the letter was well written and heartfelt. The Pastor Parish Relations Committee, having already been told by Andrew of his plans, had a meeting with Gordon Rankin in July to begin the discussion of next steps. Bonnie and Mary Kay will be looking into pulpit supply for January and February and Mary Kay has sent a request for the Transitional Leadership form to begin our process to seek another pastor. The PPRC committee will be scheduling another meeting soon.
Next meeting October 14, 2026 at 1:30 pm.
Andrew offered a closing prayer.
Betty made a motion to adjourn that was seconded by Debbie and the motion passed.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:32 pm.
Submitted by Mary Kay Haines
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BRISTOL COMMUNITY SERVICES
FOOD PANTRY NEEDS
Rice, Pasta & Canned Sauce,
Chef Boyardee Meals,
Baked Beans, CEREAL, Green Beans,
Canned Fruit,
Canned Vegetables, Soup,
Canned Chicken & Tuna,
Small Peanut Butter Jars
& Jelly
Oil, Salt, Pepper & Spices
DRINKS
Snacks & Desserts
Condiments
(Salad Dressing,
ketchup & mayo)
Toiletries,
Cat & Dog Food
Dish & Laundry Soap
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Birthdays: 10/2 Jan Laferriere
10/4 Dick Davis
10/9 William Walker Wood
10/11 ..James Wood
10/14 Mary Kay Haines
10/14 Scott Haines
10/18 ...Marilyn Blaisdell
10/20 Donna Worthen
10/28 Sharon Jarest
10/31 .Ken Pelletier
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Anniversaries:
10/5 Wayne & Sharon Walker
10/7 Ned & Gayle Gordon
10/9 .Rev, Andrew & Karen MacLeod
10/30 Bill & Sue Neiman
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In our prayers:
James Barnard, Hal Glennon, Keith Snoddy, Phil Dion, Dean Martin, Scott Haines, Guy & Diane Parsons, Matt Guyette, Sylvia Bailey, Verneve Reilly, Sara Breau, Megan Wichland, Scott Macay, Gwen Stephens, Donna Smith & Olivia, Laura Button, Frank Biondi, Manny Malatras, Steve Favorite, Penelope Ramponi, Dan Ryan, Rick Wright, Rebecca Herr, Peter Hacker, Lois & John Gilchrist, Hilda Bruno, Sue Haines, Sally, Denise & Dan Kenney, John Hollis, John Dexter, Teddy Peterson, Natalia and the Family & Friends of Burt Williams
| | | | | 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
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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.
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BRISTOL UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST
“The Church on the hill”
15 Church St.
PO Box 424
Bristol, NH 03222
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Main Office 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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