“A community of faith providing nurture, strength, & direction for living today in God’s world.”

 

FACE TO FACE IN LENT

 

During Lent, Christians around the world engage in a variety of spiritual practices in order that they might better know and more nearly follow Christ.  At UCF, through the work of the Worship and Spiritual Life, Education and Fellowship Committees and the Staff, we will have opportunity to engage in many of these practices.

 

We begin our communal journey on Ash Wednesday in Fellowship Hall with a simple supper of soup, bread and cheese, followed by devotions.  Throughout Lent, these simple meals will be followed by opportunities for individual and communal prayer, study and meditation. 

 

In worship, our Lenten theme, which will carry us through Holy Week, focuses on those people who encountered God and Jesus “Face to Face”  -- that through them we might see the divine more clearly and see Christ in one another.  So plan to come and meet the people who met Christ.    

 

Many traditions speak of giving something up for Lent, but we are encouraged to add something – a commitment to spiritual growth and reflection.  As you read this newsletter and consider the offerings, prayerfully reflect on how you might enhance your spiritual life and growth – with more regular worship attendance, participation in music leadership, through education, with prayer, service, or participation in the fellowship of the church.  Whatever you discern, make a commitment to deepen your spiritual life and enhance the work of the body of Christ in the world.  In these ways, we will build community and prepare ourselves to celebrate the joy of Easter with all the faithful who travel with us.

 

in faith,

 

 

Rev. Dr. Linda D. Even  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

Worship for February 2008

Sunday Worship at 10:25 AM, Child Care provided

Before worship coffee fellowship with Adult Ed groups at 9 AM

Fellowship Time each week after worship in Fellowship Hall

 

February 3 – Transfiguration Sunday

10:25 AM       Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (served)

Youth “Souper Bowl” Offering for hunger ministries

 

February 6 – Ash Wednesday

5:45 PM         Agape Meal & Worship at UCF (see Lenten brochure insert)

                   Fellowship Hall

                        Scriptures:  Psalm 51, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

                        You are invited to bring a special cup/mug to the meal

 

Lenten Theme:  “Face to Face”

 

February 10 – First Sunday in Lent                             

10:25 AM       Scriptures: Genesis 2:15-17; 3;1-7, Romans 5:12-19

                        75th Anniversary Moment:  Historical visitor

                        Church World Service Blanket Sunday

 

February 17 – Second Sunday in Lent

10:25 AM       Scriptures: Genesis 12:1-4a; Romans4:1-5; 13-17

                        Children and Cherub Choirs commissioning for Valentine visits

                        Reception of New Members

 

February 24 – Third Sunday in Lent

10:25 AM       Scriptures: Psalm 95; John 4:5-42

                        Sacrament of Baptism

                        75th Anniversary Moment:  Historical visitor

 

Sermons: Copies of each Sunday’s sermon are available in the sermon rack located by the pulpit entrance to the sanctuary.

 

Enrichment Volunteers:  We need adults who care about children to share stories and activities with our K through 2nd grade children during the last half of worship.  Contact Lynn Scharbach for more information.

 

Fellowship Time Hosts:  Your gift of hospitality helps make this a special time for community

sharing.  Volunteer to host with a friend or contribute baked goods.  An information sheet is available. Contact Tracey Kuhns for more information.

 

Pastoral Care:  In a pastoral emergency, please call the church office 315-637-3186.  If it is outside office hours, please be sure to leave a message on Dr. Even's voice mail (ext.104), but do call her at home as well, 315-445-3002

Elders of the Month for February: Cindy Burke, Jackie Meyer

Purpose of Elders of the Month: For members with a crisis, emergency situation, a particular concern or need for care, the elders of the month are available to assist the pastor, when the pastor is unavailable, or when the church office is closed. 

 

 

 

 

Worship, Music & Spiritual Life

Ash Wednesday Meal & Worship – Feb. 6

Agape Meal 5:45 pm gathering and 6:00 p.m. meal at UCF.

(Sign up with the number coming; food signup for all Wednesday programs is available at church)

We begin Lent with a simple Agape Meal and worship service around the tables in Fellowship Hall.  The traditional Ash Wednesday service with scripture, the invitation to the Lenten discipline, and the imposition of ashes, follows as we begin this holy season together.  The Lenten coin boxes for One Great Hour of Sharing will be available for our annual Lenten giving project.

Bring a cup or mug that you use every day or a cup from your family heritage.  Our common cups become a sign of blessing for our everyday lives.  Homemade Bread provided by Jim Spencer & John Price!

 

 

Lenten Practices…

During Lent, we join with Christians around the world in traditional spiritual disciplines:  prayer, fasting and giving to the poor. (Ash Wednesday gospel lesson:  Matthew 6:1-21)  As we begin this year's season of Lent, we offer ways to practice these traditions to bring us closer to God.   

 

 

Sharing Resources, Changing Lives

One Great Hour of Sharing has provided us with a Lenten guide, also included with this newsletter.  The scripture readings, reflections, and prayers, with faith and action items give us a personal time to take stock of our lives in light of Christ’s life given for us.  

 

 

Lenten Suppers ~ Soup and Sharing

 

A time to gather in this holy season

to deepen our community,

and to renew and strengthen our faith

as the body of Christ!

 

Join us each Wednesday in Lent beginning Feb. 13th through March 12th, at 5:45 PM our annual Lenten Soup & Sharing Fellowship evenings. Church committees are coordinating the suppers with the Worship & Spiritual Life Committee. Anyone can sign up to bring soup, bread, cheese or fruit, use the chart in the hallway for the date of your choice.  Please sign up each week with the number coming!

This year there will be three adult program offerings and two exciting programs for children and youth, a homework club, and nursery/toddler care with pre-registration by Monday noon each week. (more information in the Lenten pamphlet)

 

Valentine Caroling - Feb. 17th

Members of the Cherub Choir and Children=s choir will visit some homebound members to deliver Valentines and a song during Enrichment Time on Sunday, Feb. 17th. The two choirs will be commissioned in worship for this annual caroling and sharing time.

 

 

 

 

Join our UCF choir this month

 

"To sing like this, in the company of other souls, and to make those consonants slip out so easily and in unison, and to make those chords so rich that they bring tears to your eyes…this is transcendence. This is the power that choral singing has that other music can only dream of."

(Garrison Keillor)

 

            Ask any choir member what singing or ringing in a choir does for them. Very likely they'll say that after an exhausting day at work or home, it is inspirational and soothing to go to choir practice. The music lets them put the stress of the day behind, get in touch with something beautiful and holy, and end the day relaxed and uplifted. We enjoy making beautiful music together and there is a wonderful fellowship among choir members.  And, singing or ringing in a choir is a terrific way to get to know others in our community. With the Lenten and Easter music and the special Anniversary programs coming, now is a good time to join choir!  (…and we are missing several “snowbird” members this winter) 

            The United Church Choir, our SATB mixed choir, is for anyone of high school age or older, and meets Thursday nights at 7:30 PM. While most of our singers faithfully attend every week, if a long term commitment is too much for you to make, consider joining the choir for a season -- such as Lent/Easter.  Speak to Alice Hatt about what works best for you. 

 

New Handbells here!

Our new fourth octave of Schulmerich Handbells have arrived and are beautiful both visually and aurally.  We are grateful for this memorial gift given in memory of Marie Mou by her family.

If you can't sing to save your soul, but you’ve got rhythm in your heart, then one of our handbell choirs is perfect for you. Music reading ability is helpful; if you are interested in joining the handbell choirs, please speak with Alice Hatt to get on board now with Lenten and Easter music. Rehearsals are Thursday nights at 6:45 PM or for youth on Sunday mornings at 8:50 AM.  

 

Anniversary Hymn Note

“Centennial Hymn” of Fayetteville Baptist Church (1897, before United Church)

Written by Rev. J. Byington Smith (former pastor), sung to the tune of “America”

From:  “First Centennial of Baptist Society Observed September 12, 1897”

The Eagle-Bulletin, Oct. 5, 1933, p. 10  (original spelling maintained)

 

God of the hundred years With all its hopes and fears

      We give Thee praise,

That Thou dist blessings send, And on our way attend

Vouchsafe Thine aid to lend, Through all these days.

 

A hundred years have sped, Through which Thy hand has led Unto this day,

Thy throne we have addressed, Our sins to Thee confessed,

Been by Thy presence Blessed In all the way.

 

We praise Thee with our voice, And in our hearts rejoice That Thou art king;

We bless the Saviour’s reign To cause of truth maintain

And soul life to regain, To ransom bring.

 

All times are in Thy hand, Events at Thy command, And Thou wilt guide

‘Til centuries are o’er, And time is lost in yore,

And we forevermore With Thee abide.

Alice Dickerson Hatt, Minister of Music & Worship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Adult Education – February 2008

 

Forums, Bible Study, and Parents Place on Sunday mornings

 

I.  Adult Forums [Meet in Beard Lounge]

 

Forums are presentations and discussions which focus on timely topics of Christian social concern, personal and spiritual development, Bible study, exploration of our Christian heritage, and study of world religions.  Through Forums we seek to provide a place for understanding special topics or current issues of our Christian presence in the community and world.

 

 

February 3:  Dr. James W. Watts (SU Department of Religion & UCF member):  “The Prophetic Tradition, Part I  - Non-Biblical prophets.”

 

February 10:  Dr. James W. Watts:  “The Prophetic Tradition, Part II – Stories about Prophets of the Hebrew Bible.”

 

February 17:  Dr. James W. Watts:  “The Prophetic Tradition, Part III – Prophetic Literature, Amos and Micah.”

 

February 24:  Rev. Tricia Dykers Koenig, National Organizer for the Covenant Network of Presbyterians.  “The ordination of gays and lesbians as elders and clergy in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).”

 

II. Bible Study in Women’s Lounge  [Meets in Women’s Lounge]

9:00 AM. Led by Fred Davey (church member and retired professor at Upstate Medical University) and Jason Larson (church member and PhD student in the SU Dept. of Religion), this relatively small group engages in in-depth study and discussion of a book of the Bible or biblical theme using a study guide.  The group is currently studying the Gospel of Matthew, using the study guide “Matthew” by Tom Wright.  Newcomers are always welcome.

 

III.  A Parents’ Place  [Meets on the basement level in Room 5]

9:15 AM.  A Parents Place provides an opportunity for informal, unstructured conversation about the joys and challenges of raising children.  Coffee and tea are available.

 

IV. “Saving Jesus” This DVD-based discussion group will resume on Wednesday evenings during Lent 2008 (not Sundays, as previously noted). “Saving Jesus” is a sequel to the “Living the Questions” series which was offered during fall 2006 and Lent 2007.  In November 2007, we viewed the first 5 parts of this 12-part series. The series is described as follows: ”Saving Jesus is a DVD-based small group exploration of Jesus Christ for the third millennium.  The basic format for each weekly 1 to 1½ hour session includes a 20-minute video segment and guided discussion. Join Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Matthew Fox, Amy-Jill Levine, James Forbes and many others for a conversation around the relevance of Jesus Christ for today.

 

Submitted by Norman Hatt, Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jr. & Sr. High Youth

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

2/3, Souperbowl of Caring collection during worship

2/3, 5:30 PM: Superbowl Party at the Craft/Krauss home

2/8-10, Nightwatch Trip to St. John’s of the Divine, NYC

2/12, 7 PM: Youth Committee Meeting

2/13, 6:50 PM: Youth Program on Whiteness & Racism

2/20, 6:50 PM: Youth Program on Whiteness & Racism

2/27, 6:50 PM: Youth Program on Whiteness & Racism

 

Souperbowl of Caring: The youth will be performing a skit during worship and collecting both canned goods and monetary gifts to donate to a local food pantry toward mitigating needless hunger. Please give!

 

Super Bowl Party at the home of Drew and Matt Craft: There will be a Super Bowl Party at the residence of the Craft/Krauss family. All UCF youth are invited to attend. The party will start at 5:30 PM and last until 9 PM. If coming, please bring a can of food to donate to the Food Bank. Their phone number is 637-1215 and they would appreciate knowing ahead of time if you’re planning to come. 

 

Nightwatch Trip: The Nightwatch Trip is finally here!!! I hope that all of you who are coming are as excited as I am. If coming, please be at the church between 10:30 AM to 11 AM on Friday, 2/8 to load the bus. The bus will be departing no later than 11:30 AM so don’t be late. Don’t forget to bring spending money for fun on the town. Youth are encouraged to leave their cell phones and iPods at home. We will be returning to the church on 2/10 at approximately 7 PM.

 

Youth Committee Meeting: