JANUARY 2010


ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, January 31, 2010

One Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

Our Annual Meeting will be held in the Sanctuary on Sunday, January 31st.   We will have one worship service at 10:00 a.m. that morning.   We will review reports from our pastors, the Church Clerk, the Treasurer, committees and the Stewardship Committee will present the budget for 2010.  Please plan to attend this meeting-it is a chance to exercise your privilege as a church member to vote!!!

Childcare and a snack will be provided by the Junior and Senior High youth.


1st Church Wednesday Bible Study

The First Congregational Wednesday Evening Study has returned.  This year we havel expanded our study to include different forms of payers, a book study, as well as studying the 7 letters of Paul and the Gospel of Luke. 

January         6, 13, 20, 27               The Letters of Paul
February       3, 10                            The Letters of Paul
February       17, 24                                      Lent
March                        3, 10, 17, 24, 31                     Lent
April               7, 14, 21, 28               Gospel of Luke
May                5, 12, 19, 26                Gospel of Luke

A special Lenten series with a shared meal and fellowship will be available in February and March.  All are welcome and we hope to see you often.

January Lectionary Readings

January 3rd                                                             
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20 
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 1:(1-9), 10-18

January 10th
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

January 17th
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11

January 24th
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21

January 31st
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30


Call to Caring Ministry

The Deacons and the Pastors are starting a new ministry for visiting members of the congregation who could use a visit from the church.  The new ministry program will be the Call To Care Program.   We have a core group who will be meeting on Thursday, January 28th from  6:30- 8:30 p.m.

We will just be starting the initial organization and setting up how the group will be working.
If you would be willing to spend some time visiting with another member of this church please come and join us for this meeting.  Come by yourself or come with a friend!  Come learn about the Call to Care Program.


Mark Your Calendars & Purchase Tickets NOW!!

Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.
at First Congo Church of Essex Junction

"Spirit Songs: A Celebration of the Spirit and Music of John Denver"

Featuring Steve Weisberg, John Denver's Lead Guitarist from 1973-1977 and
Shawn Garvey (son of our former Pastor Steve Garvey),
Lead Vocals and Guitar

For Tickets ($15 each) please call or e-mail Beth Volker
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 879-4708 (till 9:00 p.m.)



COFFEE  HOUR  TIME  CHANGES

Because our worship service times have changed (first service begins 15 minutes earlier/second service begins 15 minutes later), Coffee Hour will be from 9:45 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.   Our first service attendees are able to enjoy coffee and fellowship!  We encourage second service worshippers to come a little early, enjoy a cup of coffee and share the fellowship hour with people you may not see Sunday morning because of the change in service times. 


Greeting and Ushering

The Ushering Committee has decided to alter the system for obtaining Greeters and Ushers for Sunday services. We would like to have volunteers willing to serve in either capacity to sign up for their preferred date and time, up to two months in advance.  We hope to open these opportunities to serve in the life of the Church to the entire church family and to reduce the number of calls committee people have to make for each service.

Sign up sheets will be found on the moveable bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Please sign up!

2010 Flower Chart

The 2010 Flower Chart is on the rolling bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.  If you would like to remember or honor a loved one by purchasing flowers for the Sanctuary on a particular Sunday, please indicate this next to the appropriate date on the chart.

Mary will either call or send you an e-mail the week before confirming that you still wish to provide flowers and this will also be a reminder to you of the cost of the flowers.  She is trying to keep better track of the Flower Fund money this year!


Calling Acolytes

Acolytes are everyone who would like to light the candles before the 10:45 a.m. service.  There is instruction provided if you have never done it before or need a refresher.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the young at heart to be a part of the worship service by bringing the Light of Christ into our space of worship.  Please talk to Pastor Ryan, Peter Schmalz, or simply sign-up in the Fellowship Hall.


Penguin Plunge

It's time for Lake Champlain to freeze over, which means the Penguin Plunge can't be far away.  There are two ways you can help. 

1)         Join us for the Penguin Plunge!  Sign up and join the church team. 
2) Sponsor someone on the team.  You can do this by going on-line or by writing a check to:  Special Olympics Vermont

Team name: Just Chillin'   Date: Saturday February 6th
Money to raise by each participant:  $175.   Thank you!



Jr. & Sr. High Calendar

January Sunday 3rd  Jr. High Youth Group 12-2
Sr. High Youth Group 5-7
In Worship-Communion

Sunday 10th  Night Light 6th-12th grades
In Worship-Camp Sunday

Sunday 17th   Jr. High Youth Group 12-2
Sr. High Youth Group 5-7
Jr. High Sunday School 10:45
Sr. High Holy Spirit Café 10:45
Sunday 24th   Jr. High Sunday school 10:45
Sr. High Worship with another Church (Location & Time TBA)
No Jr. High or Sr. High Youth Group

Sunday 31st  Jr. & Sr. High Sunday school 10:45
Jr. & Sr. High Provide Childcare 11-12:30
during Annual Meeting (snack provided)

February, Saturday 6th  Penguin Plunge


From Laurie's Desk

Thank you all for the welcome, the fun, excitement and wonderful surprises since my arrival with you all in August. 

In September the Vermont UCC Christian Education team asked me if I would consider being a Christian Education Community of Practice Facilitator.  I graciously accepted and went through training in October and November with our Associate Conference Minister, Pam Lucas, and Elsa Marshall from the MA Conference.  I am now an adjunct member of the Vermont Conference, UCC staff and have therefore entered into a covenant with them and with my other facilitator colleagues.  My training will continue on a quarterly basis each year and plans are for me to start facilitating a local Community of Practice group with Christian Educators in our area UCC churches every 4 to 6 weeks starting in January. 

Being a facilitator also means I am a member of Partners In Education (PIE).  I was asked if I would represent the Vermont Conference and attend with two others the National Partners In Education Event coming up on February 1st -3rd in Nashville, TN.   After I return I will be sharing the information I gather with other facilitators, my group, you, and others around the conference. 

I continue to look forward to all the different avenues that may present themselves as we grow in our ministry, together with Christ.  God Bless!


Camp Sunday
On January 10th we will celebrate our camping ministry and connection to Covenant Hills Christian Camp.  Please come and wear your camping clothes on this day as we share all the opportunities there are to be a part of such a wonderful program.


Sunday School Teachers Needed

Have you been thinking about teaching?  Helping to lead a class or co-teach on a Sunday with another person?  What ages are you comfortable with?  You do not need to commit to every Sunday.  The year is half over and there are less than 12 Sundays left of class time for teachers to prepare lessons.  The curriculum we are using is laid out really user friendly and filled with resources.  All classes have openings, especially the K-1st grade class, 4th& 5th grade class, Jr. High and Sr. High classes.  Please let Pastor Ryan or Laurie know that you are interested and we'll be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you have. 
Laurie's Bulletin Board
Sign up sheets for the following our outside my office on the blue bulletin board.

Helpers are needed for Sunday School classes for Preschool up through 6th grade.  Join a class on a Sunday and just be an extra set of hands or read a story to the class. 

Spiritual Friends (senior high youth through all ages of adulthood) sit in conversation circles with the children during the 10:45 service at normal Sunday School time.  This is a simple and fun way of taking turns answering a question, sharing and getting to know each other on Sunday, January 3rd, February 7th, March 7th, April 25th, May 2nd, May 30th and June 6th.



Sunday School Offering

During the opening sharing circle time, a Sunday School offering is taken each Sunday in class.  Offering envelopes are available in the classrooms for children to take home with them if they wish to use envelopes.  Please see your Sunday School teacher or Laurie.   The Sunday School offering, starting in 2010, will be going to support mission.  Stay tuned for more news on who and what your offering will be helping.


Calendar Notes

January 3 - Faith Talk Sunday
Communion with Pastor Ryan, sing songs with Laurie and FT Circles

January 10 - Camp Sunday
Come dressed like you are going camping! 

January 31 - Annual Meeting
An activity for the children with a snack will follow Sunday school at our 10 a.m. service

February 14 - Children's Sunday
Sunday school classes lead our worship service


LOCAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
FOR AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY DAFFODIL DAYS


For more than 35 years, the American Cancer Society has been sharing hope for a world free from cancer with Daffodil Days®, a beloved program to help raise funds and awareness to fight cancer and to create a world with more birthdays. This year's Daffodil Days is coming to Vermont the week of March 22, 2010. The American Cancer Society is currently looking for volunteers - individuals, schools, organizations, and businesses - to assist in coordinating orders, and packing and delivering daffodils during February and March. To help make a difference in the fight against cancer by volunteering with the Daffodil Days program, contact your American Cancer Society at 1.800.227.2345 or visit www.cancer.org/daffodils.



OUR CHURCH FAMILY

We celebrated the baptism of
Maxwell John Smith on December 27th.  Max is the son of Zach and Meghan Smith, the                     grandson of Frank and Barb Smith, and the great-nephew of Faith Truax. 

The condolences of the congregation are extended to
Judy Roy and Amanda Palmer on the death of mother and grandmother Helen Foster;
Joanne and Alan Irwin on the death of Joanne's uncle, Albert Cullum;
Alex and Monica John and family on the death of Alex' mother; and
Betsy Burroughs on the death of her husband Tom Sachs

We celebrate with the following people the anniversary of their church membership:

1962:              Barbara Mudgett Russell

1967:               Carl Hoffman
Nadine Hoffman
Janice Woodard

1970:              Joyce Daniels 

1997:               Ann Barnes
Jack Barnes

1998:              Bruce Parker 

2009:             Dick Allen                             Nancy Allen                          George Dunbar
Steven Wood                                    Lori Giannuzzi                     Neal Pease
Rosemary Pease

JANUARY WEEKEND CALENDAR

Saturday, January 9:             8:00-5:00 p.m., Marvin Lounge in use
12:00-1:00 p.m., AA/Fellowship Hall
2:00-4:00 p.m., Youth Lounge in use (Profili)
8:00 p.m., "Spirit Songs"/Sanctuary

Sunday, January 10:                       CAMP SUNDAY       / EPIPHANY SUNDAY
8:45 and 10:45 a.m. Worship Services
1:00 p.m., AA/Fellowship Hall
NIGHT LIGHT-Junior/Senior High Youth Groups

Saturday, January 16:         12:00-1:00 p.m., AA/Fellowship Hall
1:30-4:00 p.m., Scottish Dancers/F Hall

Sunday, January 17:                        MARTIN LUTHER KING SUNDAY
8:45 and 10:45 a.m. Worship Services
12:00-2:00 p.m., Junior High Youth Group
1:00 p.m., AA/Fellowship Hall
3:00-5:00 p.m., F Hall in use (Crocket)
5:00-7:00 p.m., Senior High Youth Group

Saturday, January 23:        12:00-1:00 p.m., AA/Fellowship Hall
4:00-9:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall in use (Volker)

Sunday, January 24:                         8:45 and 10:45 a.m. Worship Services
1:00 p.m., AA/Fellowship Hall
7:00 p.m., Healing Service/Sanctuary
NO SENIOR OR JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUPS

Saturday, January 30:        12:00-1:00 p.m., AA/Fellowship Hall

Sunday, January 31:                        ONE WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10 A.M.
"Ask the Pastor Sunday"
Annual Meeting
Ushering Committee meeting after Annual Mtg.

January Happenings......

Annual Meeting January 31st-One Service at 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday evening Bible Study
January Lectionary Readings
Deacons Call to Caring Ministry
January 9th:  "Spirit Songs:  A Celebration of the Spirit and Music of John Denver"
Coffee Hour Time Change
Greeting and Ushering
2010 Flower Chart
Calling Acolytes
"Penguin Plunge"
Junior and Senior High  Calendar
News from CE Director Laurie Chipman
American Cancer Society Daffodil Days needs volunteers
Our Church Family
January Weekend Calendar
January Weekday Calendar
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Thank you for your help.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
1 CHURCH STREET
ESSEX JCT., VT 05452

Phone: 802-878-5745
Fax: 802-872-8236
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it            
Web:  www.fccej.org