For the week of May 13, 2012
Church Gatherings Happening Every Week
Choir Rehearsal~~ Our Choir Director Jeff Olmsted, says: “It is never too late to join our Church choir!” Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7 PM. With questions or to contact Jeff, you can find him at: 413.586.0165, jeffolmsted@verizon.net
Loose Ends: Sewing and Support Group~~Every Thursday from 2 to 4 PM in the Church Dining Room. All welcome for a time of sewing, knitting, drinking tea and sharing fellowship.
Fridays at Four Writing Group now meets every Friday from 3:30 – 5 PM, Church Dining Room.
Calendar
Tuesday, May 15
5:30 PM Soup, Salad & Social Change, Church Dining Room
A brief Bible Study to remind us of the Biblical basis for seeking justice by the Peace & Justice Steering Committee.
A review of all six Soup, Salad and Social Change events of this program year, looking particularly at the actions that the events inspired. A review of our justice making efforts for this year and a first conversation about next year’s focus and activities. All welcome!
Thursday, May 17
1 PM Ladies Aid, Church Dining Room
Saturday, May 19
9 AM – 1 PM Cookie Walk!
ALSO May 19: 10:00 AM Book Group: Bread of Angels meeting in the Sanctuary
Contact Paula Spencer for more information
Sunday, May 20
9:45 AM CC & Youth Group will meet at the Church to caravan to Mockingbird Farm in Easthampton. There everyone will worship, explore and share a picnic. Questions contact Dawn Orluske pafournier@earthlink.net
Sunday, May 20
10 AM Worship Service
12 Noon Council Meeting in Andrea’s Office
12 Noon A “Friends of the Homeless” Presentation in the Sanctuary with Guest Speaker
2 PM Hampshire Association of Churches Annual Meeting, Church of Christ Congregational, Granby
Monday, May 21
5:30 PM Peace & Justice Steering Committee Meeting in Children’s Church
6 PM A2A Disability Meeting. Contact Toby Davis for details. Church Dining Room
Wednesday, May 23
6:30 pm Zonta Game Night Fundraiser. Contact Lynn Goodhue for details. Church Dining Room
Saturday, May 26
11:00 AM-Noon Peace Vigil, corner of King + Main Streets, N’ton
An invitation from the Peace and Justice Committee.
Announcements
FELLOWSHIP HOUR FOOD~~The following is the line-up for folks to bring goodies for Coffee Hour. The calendar goes by last name. Thank you for contributing to our famous Coffee Hour after Church each Sunday: When it is your week to bring food, you also help set up and clean up. THANK YOU TODAY: D, E, F May 20: G, H, I, J, K
Friends of the Homeless to visit HCChurch on Sunday, May 20~~The Deacons have invited 2 representatives from the Friends of the Homeless to bring us up to date on activities in western Mass. to combat homelessness. Friends of the Homeless is a nonprofit organization that strives to bring dignity to people’s lives during their difficult journey from homelessness to stability and independence. Every person deserves a place to call HOME. Friends of the Homeless does this by providing emergency overnight and day shelter, housing and support services for hundreds of men and women each year. They also advocate for public and private resources to end local and regional homelessness. Please join us shortly after the end of the Sunday service on May 20. We encourage folks to get coffee and goodies and return to the sanctuary for a short discussion.
Haydenville Garden and Playground Improvement Day~~Please join us for a Haydenville Garden and Playground Improvement Day on Saturday, May 19th 9:00 – Noon.
We will plant several of the raised gardens, plant perennials to further landscape the garden and playground space and generally clean up the area. Please bring gardening tools (rakes, shovels, trowels, wheelbarrows) and gloves. If you have any extra perennials or annual vegetable seedlings or seeds that you would like to contribute, please contact Sally. Questions/donations/ RSVP – contact Sally Loomis – 268-0108 or Loomissally@gmail.com. Thank you!
Our All-Church Picnic is Sunday, June 24 immediately after our worship service. We will again gather at the home of Jil Blake, Christine Russell and Sayla in Haydenville. We need people to work on the picnic: set-up, clean-up, lifeguard, singing, kids’ games, etc. There is a big poster in the Church Dining Room with sign-up sheets so please stop by that display and sign up for a job so Jil, Christine and Sayla don’t do all the work! Last year 100 people came to the picnic and we had a ball! Kids swam in the pool, we ate and talked and laughed and had a fabulous time. Mark your calendars and don’t miss the fun!
INTERESTED IN EXPLORING MEMBERSHIP IN THE HAYDENVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH? New member’s classes begin again on June 3rd. Meet in the Pastor’s Study upstairs after Church to talk about the United Church of Christ, the Haydenville Church and MORE! Questions? See Pastor Andrea. All MOST welcome!
Special Reception during Coffee Hour~~The Swanson-Ricksgers Family invite you to enjoy the special goodies they have brought today to share during Coffee Hour. They are celebrating Anna and Miles’ Baptisms and we are the lucky ones! Delicious Coffee Hour goodies thanks to the family. Make sure Judy and Maureen get special hugs! (Anna and Miles too if they let you!)
CHURCH COOKBOOK~~News from Trish LaFreniere and Kim Waddell
We need recipes for the CHURCH COOKBOOK. Write them up meticulously or write them up silly–we don’t care. We just need at least one–that’s just ONE–recipe from every member in the church. Even if it’s just the number of your favorite Chinese take-out! This is going to be a fun and fabulous piece of church history, and (hopefully) a money maker for sale at this Fall’s Church Fair. Please give your recipe to one of us: Trish or Kim. Thank you!
BLUE MOON SUNDAY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! 61 people participated in Blue Moon Sunday community service projects last Sunday after Church! Way to go congregation!!!!
MEN’S POTLUCK SUPPER~~All men visitors, members, occasional attenders, friends of the Church: YOU are invited to a potluck supper on May 22nd in the Church Dining Room at 5:30 PM. Rick Turner has a chart of who is bringing what, so you can be in touch with the master chart maker. Just know: you are most welcome, and anything you bring will be devoured!
COMING TO A CHURCH DINING ROOM NEAR YOU!!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL will continue to meet every Sunday at 9:00 AM through June 10, and then we’ll stop and resume in the Fall. Feel free to join us: we view a short video and then engage in group discussion. Leader: Pastor Andrea. Children welcome, with coloring materials and snacks available.
STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH~~On Pentecost Sunday, May 27th, our Church will collect a Special Mission Offering, the United Church of Christ Offering called STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH. This offering is used to strengthen new churches and those going through renewal, youth and young adult ministries, and lay and pastoral leadership formation—especially among women and people of color. I will be giving generously to this special offering and I hope you will also! There will be envelopes in your Bulletins on Pentecost. Thank you! Pastor Andrea
Robert H. Life Scholarship Fund 2012~~The Rev Robert H. life was the pastor of the Haydenville Church from 1904-1934. He was a man of firm faith and was an inspiration to his congregation. In his will he set up a trust fund to assist the members of his church. The income from this trust fund is used to provide scholarships for any active member or child of an active member who is furthering his/ her education. Each person applying for the Robert H. Life scholarship fund must write a letter asking to be considered and include the following information: Your name, address, telephone number, and Social Security number
Active member’s name (if different) and relationship; Name, address and phone number of the school you are attending; The amount of the tuition. Send to: Ruth Jacobson-Hardy, Chair of the Deacons by: May 25/12. The awarding of the scholarship is determined by the Haydenville Scholarship Committee. Amounts are based on the amount of money received from the fund.
Welcome Visitors! If you are new to us, we would love to have you fill out and turn in to Pastor Andrea the “strippy thing” tucked in your Bulletin that lets us know you were here! (These can also go in the Offering plate or be given to an Usher.) IF you are NOT a newcomer, please RECYCLE your strippy thing by placing it in the basket by the door to the Dining Room. Thanks
Church Members and Friends: Would you like to be a Greeter some Sunday? Please contact Kim Waddell (413.727.8606). Like to be an Usher? Please contact Darien Gardner (413.586.7697). Like to Read Scripture? Please contact Annie Harrison (413.253.7959).
We welcome your leadership! Also if you need to schedule the use of the Church Dining Room/Kitchen or Sanctuary, please contact Church Scheduler Sue Carbin (413.584.3314).
BIBLE BASKET~~Gift Bibles for you (by Dining Room door) from Ladies Aid! Help yourself.
Our Church will be closed (like usual!) in JULY. We will resume worship services on August 5th at 10:00 AM with a Communion Service. We are encouraging everyone to share pot-luck FRIENDLY 8 SUPPERS in May and June and then again in July so folks have contact with one another and support while the Church is closed in July. Questions? Don’t know your Friendly 8s group? Contact Pastor Andrea.
The Ladies Aid is distributing toiletries, socks and underwear to our homeless brothers and sisters at Safe Passage and Grove Street Inn. Questions/money should be directed to Kate Davidheiser. The items needed include: towels (new or used), washcloths, ivory soap, hair brushes, deodorants, shampoos/conditioners, feminine hygiene items, socks (men, women, children), underwear (men, women, children), diapers, tissues, hand sanitizer, body lotions, hand cream, paper towels, shaving cream. We have a collection site set up in the Dining Room to take your donations OR you can give us money and we will shop for the best deals on needed items.
THE HIDDEN DANGER OF FRAGRANCES~~As our Church continues to work on our commitment to reduce fragrances in our Church and be a safe, welcoming place to those with chemical sensitivities, we have a brochure to share with everyone that can help us learn and do more on this issue. “The Hidden Danger of Fragrances,” covers: Fragrance Facts, What’s in a Smell?, Symptoms and Health Effects, Products to Watch Out For, and Accessibility Issues. Please help yourself to one of these brochures found on the welcome table in the Dining Room.
The Church is on Facebook! Search “Haydenville Congregational Church” and click on “become a fan.” We are also on Twitter! Follow us at http://twitter.com/HaydenvilleUCC
A CHURCH TRANSFORMED~~Our former Yale Divinity School Intern Jeannine Oakes made a film of our church called “A Church Transformed.” We have DVDs of the film for you to borrow. If you would like to “sign out” a copy to watch at home, please see Church Librarian Paula Spencer—she has the notebook for you to sign out a DVD and then return it in a week.
