|
Home |
|
About Us |
|
Meet Our Pastor |
|
Calendar |
|
Newsletter |
|
Music Program |
|
Outreach & Missions |
|
Adult / Youth Programs |
|
Boards & Committees |
|
Prayer Chain |
|
Photo Gallery |
|
Contact Us & Directions |
|
Related Links |
September 2010 |
|
46 Main St. Bethel, CT 06801 (203) 743-1877 Rev. Dr. Sheldon T. Smith, Pastor |
|
The First Congregational Church of Bethel |
|
United Church of Christ gathered 1759
|
|
From the Senior Minister “God Sightings”
Did you notice God active in your life during the summer months? That question was put to the children in our Vacation Bible School this summer. Each day, children were asked to share God Sightings – places where they had seen God at work in their lives. Several shared God Sightings in nature – deer, turkey, a kitten. I liked the response of one youngster who said he saw God in the face of his little cousin. With the beginning of the school year and the resumption of church activities, we are about to embark on another year of worship and fellowship in the spirit of Jesus Christ. As we go through the autumn season, as we lift our voices in worship through prayer and praise, as our church school and youth groups provide nurture and fellowship for our children and youth, I urge you to look around and notice where you see God at work in life. Will it be in the birth of a new baby, in the elegance of a fall flower, in the brilliant color of a leaf, in the goodwill of a friend or neighbor, in the embrace of a loved one? Wherever you find God, or wherever God finds you, is a cause for celebration. Let’s share our God Sightings as we rejoice in God’s love, worshipping together and sharing together in mission as servants of Jesus Christ our Lord. Rally Sunday is September 12. Bring your God Sightings and join us for another exciting year.
Grace and Peace, Sheldon Smith
Rally Sunday - September 12, 2010 Sunday, September 12 is Rally Sunday. An All Church Picnic will be held after the morning worship. Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Drinks will be provided by Christian Education. You are invited to bring a side dish, salad or dessert to share. The 6:00 PM Evening Service will include the sacrament of Holy Communion and will be followed by a picnic. Those who attend are also invited to bring a side dish, salad or dessert.
Fall Festival to Honor P.T. Barnum September 25 &26 Phineas Taylor Barnum was born in Bethel on July 5, 1810. He grew up in town and attended the First Congregational Church of Bethel, and was educated in Bethel school. In 1881 Barnum presented a bronze fountain to the town. The fountain was made in Germany, stood eighteen feet high and was designed as a Triton spouting water from an uplifted horn. During the unveiling ceremony, Barnum made an impromptu speech describing his early years as a boy. An excerpt from that speech reads:
" My Friends : Among all the varied scenes of an active and eventful life, crowded with strange incidents of struggle and excitement, of joy and sorrow, taking me often through foreign lands and bringing me face to face with the king in his palace and the peasant in his turf-covered hut, I have invariably cherished with the most affectionate remembrance the place of my birth — the old village meeting-house, without steeple or bell, where in the square family pew I sweltered in summer and shivered through my Sunday-school lessons in winter, and the old schoolhouse, where the ferule, the birchen rod and rattan did active duty, of which I deserved and received a liberal share. I am surprised to find that I can distinctly remember events which occurred before I was four years old. “
On Saturday, September 25, FCCB will have a booth at the festival on Greenwood Avenue. We will feature our own P.T. Barnum in the person of David Black. We are also looking for folks to share talents as entertainers with music, singing, clowning etc. We also need folks to attend to the table and hand out FCCB items. If you can help at the booth, please speak to David Black or Rev. Smith.
On the afternoon of September 26, there will be a Parade of Clowns. Come and enjoy the weekend as we honor P.T. Barnum.
Nursery Volunteers Needed We want you to volunteer in the nursery! The nursery provides care every Sunday of the year, including during intergenerational services. Children in the nursery range from several months to about 5 or 6 years of age. Remember, you don’t have to be a parent of a child in this age group to sign up and you can commit to just one Sunday, or as many as you like. Please stop by the nearest recruiting station (i.e. the nursery) to enlist. Or feel free to contact Valerie Gauthier, 203-778-9104, valeriet99@yahoo.com.
Save these Dates! November 13, 2010 Harvest Yuletide Fair December 4, 2010 Pot Roast Dinner & Concert
SHY NEWS (Senior High Youth) Welcome to the new school year and a new year for SHY. Our first meeting will be Sunday, September 12th at 7:00 PM. We’ll be looking over the schedule for the year, deciding on some activities, catching up with old friends and welcoming new, and playing some games. Come with any new ideas. For those who went on the mission trip, we will take a few minutes to recall what you liked and share stories. We will also plan on making ICE CREAM SUNDAES!!
Anyone in high school is welcome to come. Bring a friend or two!! We will also meet on September 26th.
Hope to see you there. Any questions??? Call me (203-791-2427) or email me: anderc@danbury.k12.ct.us or find me on Facebook. “CC” Claudia Anderson
BREAKFAST Breakfast is the most important meal of the day That is what most people say A meal to strengthen us for work and play Is sometimes neglected, come what may So let’s help our neighbors far and near To start their day with hope and cheer A healthy breakfast is a great start We can all help by doing our part!
This month, the Board of Outreach requests that everyone bring breakfast items to the table outside Sheldon’s office. Let’s send the children back to school with a full stomach and ready to learn!! Some items that are very popular are:
Cereal (lots of it!) Pop Tarts Coffee (instant) Hot Chocolate Tea Juice Sugar Canned Fruit Muffin Mix Dried or shelf stable milk Pancake Mix and Syrup
Oktoberfest Saturday, October 2, 2010 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. First Congregational Church of Bethel 46 Main St. Bethel, CT 06801 ** Knockwurst, Bratwurst, Weiners from Karl Ehmer ** ** Sauerkraut, Salads, Rolls ** ** Dessert German Chocolate Cake ** ** Ice Tea, Lemonade, Coffee, Tea, Beer and Wine** ** German Music 50/50 Raffle ** ** Babysitting Available ** Advanced Ticket Prices (Beer & Wine sold separately) ADULTS $12.00 ($15 at door) CHILDREN (6-12) $6.00 Under 6 Free Questions? Call Kris Beckman at 270-1208 or Janet Stephens at 792-7085
BRIDE’S ROOM In the vestibule (front hall) is a room that is not used very often. It holds a very old “bed,” mirror and other unused items that were meant to be used for the bride before she “walks” down the aisle. Due to the installation of a speaker, given by the Book of Remembrance, it was decided to create a room for mothers or fathers to go and still hear the service when their infant becomes fussy in the sanctuary. A changing table has been donated along with some pillows to help a nursing mother but other items are needed. We would like to replace the bed so will need a chair or recliner that is in excellent condition and a small stool for the nursing mothers to use. We also could use some paint, painting supplies and painters to help spruce up the room. Of course there is a nursery available every week for the purpose of child care but some families do not like to be separated. This will allow a parent to change a baby without having to go to the nursery. The Deacons have adopted this project and if you would like to donate material or your time, please contact Marcia Merritt (pesinger37@aol.com or Lori Cipot at Lacipot2@aol.com. We are hoping to complete this project by the end of September.
Attention Parents: Below please note the special dates on the 2010-2011 Sunday School Calendar. We are looking forward to a great year with your children.
In The Church Family
“The Resurrection and the Life” We offer our Christian love and sympathy to those how have recently lost a loved one.
Milton Light, Jr. on the death of his mother, Jane Light who died June 27, 2010 at Pope John Paul II Center for Health Care.
Laurel Kentfield on the death of her mother, Ruth Kentfield who died June 29, 2010 at Bethel Health Care.
Hospitalized during the summer: Charles Emmons. We are glad to hear that Charlie is back home and doing well. May God continue to bless his recovery.
LECTIONARY READINGS FOR SEPTEMBERSeptember 5 Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1-21, Luke 14:25-33September 12 Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, I Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10September 19 Jeremiah 8:19-9:1, I Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13September 26 Jeremiah 32:1-15, I Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31
Hospital Notification Help Appreciated Thanks to all those who have called the church office or notified the ministers when a family member or friend has entered the hospital. The hospital no longer notifies us when a parishioner becomes a patient. Your help will continue to allow us to provide important pastoral care. Thanks.
The Youth Room Welcome to “The Youth Room,” your source for what’s going on in the youth ministry of First Congregational Church of Bethel!
Important Confirmation News The Board of Christian Education and Rev. Josh Sander have made some exiting changes to our Confirmation program this year! The first change is that the age requirement for Confirmation Class had been elevated from 8th Grade to 9th Grade. The second change is the addition of a new Junior High (6th, 7th & 8th Grade) Pre-Confirmation Class which will meet during the normal Church School hour. Taken as a whole, this means that there will likely be no Confirmation Class this year—but there will be a Pre-Confirmation Class. With the aid of the brand-new Faith Practices curriculum, Pre-Confirmation will cover topics such as worship, Christian identity, history of the United Church of Christ and 1st Congregational Church of Bethel. With this foundation, Confirmation Class will delve deeper into topics of personal faith, like what each student believes about God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Grace, and Church. They will be aided in this journey by their Sponsors, who will (with the aid of the Making Disciples curriculum) act as the student’s Mentors.
The website for the Faith Practices curriculum is: http://www.faithpractices.org/ Cokesbury describes Making Disciples here: http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=380917
If you have any questions, contact Rev. Josh Sander.
Junior Pilgrim Fellowship “Junior” because we’re young, “Pilgrim” because we are all on a spiritual journey, “Fellowship” because we’re committed to coming together and hanging out! Junior Pilgrim Fellowship has had an eventful Summer! From a trip to Quassy Amusement Park, to playing Miniature Golf, to going on a Bethel Scavenger Hunt, we’ve managed to keep things rolling all summer! But the summer is winding down and it’s time for the Fall Kick-Off! If you are in 6th, 7th, or 8th Grade this fall, then grab a friend and come to the huge JPF Kick-Off on Rally Sunday—that’s Sunday, September 12th—at 4pm. Last year we made home-made pizza together for the Kick-Off, who knows what’s in store this year! JPF meets weekly at 4 pm on Sunday afternoon in the Youth Room (upstairs on the left, across from Rev. Josh’s office). Membership is open to any 6th – 8th Grade students. There are no attendance requirements. No matter who you are or wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! For more information on JPF contact Rev. Josh.
Senior High Youth Rev. Josh had an absolutely awesome time on the Annual Mission Trip this year! The Senior High Youth had a lot of fun and did a lot of hard work—much of it in the hot sun! Rev. Josh was blown away by the sheer amount of work the group was able to do in a short amount of time—and thrilled to see the many ways in which each individual grew from the experience! But the summer is done, fall is rolling in, and it’s time to kick off a new year of Senior High Youth! If you fall into the 9th-12th Grade range, come to the SHY Kick-Off on Rally Sunday—that’s Sunday, September 12th—at 7pm. Whether you’ve been involved for years, or you just want to see what the fuss is all about, we’ll welcome you right in! |
