UNITED
CHURCH NEWS November
2005
“A community of faith providing nurture,
strength, & direction for living today in God’s world.”
From the Interim Pastor’s Pen:
During this interim process the
United Church of Fayetteville, like other congregations, have been expanding communication
and seeking to ensure that everyone is aware of opportunities for service. An
upcoming vehicle for communication are the congregational meetings which will
be held in 2006. The Corporation meeting will be held on January 29 and the Congregational meeting will be held on April 30. The congregational meeting to elect your next
pastor will also be held, date to be scheduled at the request of your Pastor
Search and Nominating Committee.
At the meeting of the Corporation in January you will
elect officers for a one year, renewable term.
These officers are to oversee the financial affairs of the church. If you would like to nominate names for
consideration please pass them along to Cindy Rosbrook, chair of the Nominating
Committee or any of the Nominating Committee Members (Beth Krauss, Rich Hole,
Gloria Manual, Scott Manual, Gail Sandle (ex-officio), Kathleen Waters
(ex-officio). Information regarding
these positions follows.
I
hope each of you see the importance of your participation in the governance of
this church and will not only participate in these meeting but in the entire
process of electing your officers.
Treasurer:
The Treasurer is elected by the
congregation at the Annual Corporation Meeting for a term of one year. Duties:
(1) The Treasurer receives and conserves the funds of the church and spends
them only on the order of the Church Board or the chairpersons of standing
committees within their budgeted and authorized funds. (2) The books of the
Treasurer shall be audited once each year by an auditor elected at the Annual
Corporation Meeting. (3)The Treasurer has the care and custody of all funds and
securities of the church corporation; deposits the funds in the name of the
corporation in such bank or trust company as the Church Board may elect; makes
and oversees investments other than deposits, only with the approval of the
Finance Committee; signs such instruments as may require his or her signature;
at all reasonable times exhibits the corporate book and accounts to any Church
Board member, officer, or member of the corporation; (4) At the end of each
corporate year, the Treasurer shall present an annual report setting forth in
full the financial condition of the corporation.
Counters: The
counting and recording of all offerings to the church may be delegated to
members of the Board or to counters elected at the Annual Corporation Meeting
(term of service - one year). There shall be two duly appointed persons present
whenever monies are counted.
Financial Secretary: The Financial Secretary is elected by the
congregation at the Annual Corporation Meeting for a term of one year. The
Financial Secretary assists the Church Treasurer in those ways he/she shall
direct. Duties: (1) The
Financial Secretary keeps accurate records of the contributions made by members
to the Church. (2) The Financial Secretary prepares pledge account statements
to be mailed to members, not less frequently than semi-annually.
Auditor: The Auditor is elected by the congregation at the Annual
Corporation Meeting for a term of one year.
Duties: (1) Audit the financial records at the end of the fiscal
year. (2) Prepare an annual report to the Annual Corporation Meeting of the
Church.
Sincerely
in Christ,
Kathleen Waters, Interim Pastor
Worship
for November 2005
Worship at 10:25 AM, Child Care 9 AM - Noon
Before worship coffee
fellowship with Adult Ed groups 9 AM
Fellowship Time each week
after worship in Fellowship Hall
Nov.
6 Consecration Sunday 32nd Sunday, Ordinary Time
10:25 AM Meditation: “Looking for Home” Rev. Tom Murphy
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 7:6-9; Matthew
6:19-21, 25-34
Sacrament of the
Lord’s Supper (“come forward”) Rev.
Dr. Kathleen Waters
All Saints’ Sunday - Dedication of
Memorial Gifts for 2005
A
Time of Remembrance for those who died this past year
Congregational
Brunch & Celebration after worship
Nov.
13 Service for the Lord’s Day 33rd Sunday, Ordinary Time
10:25 AM Sermon:
TBA Rev. Gerry Platz
Scriptures: Psalm 123; Matthew 25:14-30; Thessalonians
5:1-11
Nov.
20 Reign of Christ Sunday,
Thanksgiving Sunday
10:25 AM Sermon:
“Christ the King” Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters
Scriptures: Psalm 100, Matthew 25:31-46
On the last Sunday after
Pentecost, before the church opens a new liturgical year, we commemorate the
ministry of Jesus Christ as our Sovereign. The language of royalty is
transformed by the servanthood of Jesus Christ. Our hearts are directed to
compassion offered to humankind simply because “God so loved the world.” We honor one who came not to be served but to
serve and offer life itself as a redeeming gift for many. Following this Sovereign means welcoming a
reign of compassion for others in our hearts and lives. It means turning the
world upside down with justice, mercy, and peace in the midst of the disorder
of human alienation and suffering. Our
worship celebration will feature hymns focusing on the life of Jesus from birth
through ministry, death and resurrection, to the birth of the church and its
witness in the world today.
Nov.
27 First Sunday of Advent (Lectionary Year B begins)
10:25 AM Sermon: “Happy New Year!” Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters
Scriptures: Isaiah 64:1-9; Mark 13:24-37; 1
Corinthians 1:3-9
Lighting
the Advent Candle drama: “He’s Coming….I Hope”
About our Guest Preachers
Nov. 6th: Rev. Tom Murphy – Tom
served as the UCF Youth Director from 1992-94. After leaving UCF he went to Yale Divinity
School and received a
Masters of Divinity degree. He was
ordained as a United Church of Christ pastor and served churches in Connecticut and Vermont
before returning to Syracuse
to work as a chaplain with Hospice of Central New York.
Nov. 13th: Rev. Gerry
Platz - Gerry served the Stone Presbyterian Church in Clinton, New York
for 41 years and soon will be designated as their “Pastor Emeritus.” For the last 11 years he has served as in
interim pastorates in New York and New Jersey. He received his Masters of Divinity degree
from McCormick Seminary in Chicago and his
Bachelor’s degree from Marion
College. He is married with three children and one
grandchild.
Pastoral Care
The pastor works with our
Congregational Care Committee and can be reached through the church office
(637-3186), elders of the month, or home phone.
Elders of the Month for
November: Cara Steiner and Beth Krauss
Purpose of Elders of the
Month: For
those 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 a
pastor is unavailable, or when the church office is closed.
Procedure for calling: please call the church office weekdays
between 9 AM – 3 PM;
otherwise call either the elders of the month or the pastoral caregiver.
Community News
Sarah McCoubrey Art Exhibit at the Gage House Nov. 15
- Dec. 15
Our own Sarah McCoubrey Olmstead has created an exhibit of images and
documents for the fictional 19th century character Hannah Morse to
be displayed in the home of Matilda Joslyn Gage, Nov. 15 – Dec. 15. An
opening reception will be held on Saturday
afternoon, Nov. 19. This exhibit is
made possible by “Sites Re-Seen”, a pilot grant from the Museum Program of the
New York State Council on the Arts. The
McCoubrey/Gage Foundation proposal was described as “stellar” by the review
committee, which received 34 applications from across the state. The other grantees of the program are the Hudson River Museum
in Yonkers, the Pollack-Krasner House in East
Hampton, and the Hudson Opera House in Hudson.
McCoubrey, an Associate Professor
of Art at Syracuse
University, has created
an archive of material surrounding the artistic life of the fictional character
Hannah Morse, a 19th century woman who is struggling to become a
great landscape painter. In the process,
Morse has invented several devices to aid her in her painting. McCoubrey draws upon her 20 years as a
landscape painter to reveal what Morse learns in her journey as an artist. For this exhibit, McCoubrey will answer the
question, “What if Hannah Morse met the real-life Matilda Joslyn Gage?”
Gage was not only a leader in the
early women’s rights movement, but later in life became an amateur
painter. As a chronicler of women’s
achievements, Gage was interested in women inventors and wrote on the subject. “We think that Matilda Joslyn Gage and Hannah
Morse would have been friends,” says Gage Foundation Executive Director Sally
Roesch Wagner. “Not only would they have
talked about painting, but Gage would have encouraged Morse to explore her full
potential as an artist, an inventor, and a person, as she did for all
women.” McCoubrey states, “Connecting
Morse to Gage is a way of connecting her to the vibrant moment in Central New York when courageous women helped shape the
intellectual and cultural landscape of the 19th century.”
Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation
A public hearing
regarding the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation will be
held on Monday,
November 14, at 7:30 pm,
at the temporary village
offices at 547 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. The village will hear
opinions on
whether or not the Gage Foundation should receive permanent
museum
status. Direct questions to Sue Boland
at 637-3574 or
sjboland@earthlink.net.
Celebrating Life through Chocolate to benefit Hospice!
Spend Sunday, November 13th from 1:30 – 5:30 at the Palace Theatre watching
a private screening of the movie “Chocolat” while enjoying scrumptious
desserts, wine, and hot beverages.
Tickets are $25.00
and will benefit Hospice of CNY.
See Barb Clark for more information!
Singles Group!!
Join the
camaraderie of the Singles Group on November
19th at the Glen Loch in Jamesville when we attend a performance
of “Forever Plaid”. The cost will be
$22. Sign up on the bulletin board by
Fellowship Hall or call Marge Mahony
for more information.
Worship,
Music & Spiritual Life
Consecration Sunday
All Saints’ Sunday, Nov. 6th
Communion
Nov. 6th including dedication of Memorial gifts.
Everything
we are and have are gifts from God - and what do you do with a gift? You share it!
On
Consecration Sunday each year we celebrate the abundant generosity of God. We
offer a faithful response by sharing a pledge of our time, talent, and treasure
in order to nurture and multiply the ministries of both the local church and
the wider church. Rev. Tom Murphy will
preach at the communion service. (See
bio on worship schedule page)
A poem
for your reflection in preparation for Consecration Sunday: Jane Marshall combines her
gifts of poetry and music in a stewardship hymn “What
gift can we bring” (#385). The hymn has the theme
of thankful giving as it expresses thanks for the past, the now, tomorrow, and
the present which we offer in joyful praise.
What
gift can we bring? What present what
token?
What
words can convey it - the joy of this day?
When
grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing,
what
song can we offer in honor and praise?
Give
thanks for the past, for those who had vision,
who
planted & watered so dreams could come true.
Give
thanks for the now, for study, for worship,
for
mission that bids us turn prayer into deed.
Give
thanks for tomorrow, full of surprises,
for
knowing whatever tomorrow may bring,
we’re
given God’s word that always, forever,
we rest
in God’s keeping and live in God’s love.
This
gift we now bring, this present, this token,
these
words can convey it - the joy of this day!
When
grateful we come, rememb’ring, rejoicing,
this
song we now offer in honor and praise!
(Words
by Jane Marshall, c/r1982 Hope Publ. Co. Licensing#)
The Children’s
Signing Choir, under the direction of Jackie Meyer, will
sign a story-song on Noah’s Ark Nov. 13th!
The
Youth Handbell Choir and Youth Choir had a Saturday Fall Workshop at UCF on
Oct. 22nd Members got
a head start ringing and singing Christmas music to prepare for upcoming
concerts and worship. Both handbell
choirs will play at the “Brass
and Bells” concert Sun.,
Dec. 18th, 7 p.m.
Advent
begins Nov. 27th!
We
being the new church year with the lighting of the Advent candle of HOPE. The sanctuary becomes transformed with Advent
liturgical colors and decorations. As we
decorate our church and homes to remember Christ’s birth
there are many ways that we can remind ourselves to remember Christ’s
coming and birth. Evergreens symbolize new life as well as life that
does not die. The circle of the Advent
wreath reminds us of God’s eternal love. The focus of these four weeks is one of hope
and expectation of the coming of the Christ. This hope looks forward not only
to celebrating the child in the manger, but even more to Christ’ coming
in glory at the end of time. Candles in rich royal blue are symbolic of
this hope. The term Advent means “coming.” Lights on the Christmas tree remind us
that Christ comes as a light to a troubled world. We are reminded that we are to be lights to
those who need hope.
Advent
resources for families or individuals to use at home with
an Advent wreath will be available, including directions for “How to
make an Advent Wreath” (on the table in the
hallway). Copies of These Days,
a daily devotional guide, is available on the table.
Christmas Music Gifts - A gift of $10 (or more)
given in memory or in honor of a loved one will help to defray the cost of
special music and guest instrumentalists for Advent and Christmas services. An
acknowledgment will be placed in the Christmas Eve bulletin along with the
Poinsettia listings when the information is given by the donor. Checks should be made out to United Church
and marked for Christmas music and accompanied by a note given in memory of (or
in honor of) by... Thank you.
“Gloria...in
excelsis Deo”
All our
choirs will participate in a Lessons and Carols service on Dec. 18th
- “The Gifts of Christmas” with
carols, stories, drama, visual arts and
dance. During the holiday services the senior & youth choirs will join in
singing a set of carols by American composer Howard Helvey, accompanied by
piano four hands, and a Christmas Carol
Fantasy “Christmas Day” by
British composer Gustav Holst, with flute and oboe.
Alice Dickerson Hatt, Minister of Music &
Worship
November
2005 Adult Education
Forums and
Bible Study
Sundays 9:00
- 10:15 AM
Join us for coffee, fellowship & discussion
I. Forums in Beard Lounge
Forums are
presentations and discussions which focus on timely topics of Christian social
concern, personal and spiritual development, Bible study, or explorations of
our Christian heritage and 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.
October 30: “The Sacredness of Freedom”
Our own Sue
Boland, a docent at the Gage House will tell us about Matilda Jocelyn Gage and
the school vote of 1880: background, description and results of the first time
a woman voted in a school election in New York State.
Gage was one of the most important individuals in the fight for women's right
to vote; she was also the mother-in-law of Frank Baum, the author of the Wizard
of Oz books.
November 6: “The Religious Landscape of America”
by Professor
Gustav Niebuhr Reflections and discussions of trends and issues involving
religion in American life today. Gustav
Niebuhr is Associate Professor of Religion and the Media, in a dual appointment
at SU with the Dept. of Religion and the Newhouse School
where he teaches courses on religion and journalism. Within the context of the
Religion Department, Niebuhr teaches courses on religious diversity in
contemporary America.
November 13: “Faith
in America:
Religion and Politics” This “Meet the Press” Program was
taped last Easter Sunday. The Terry
Shiavo case starts a wide ranging discussion among Kim Russert's guests. They include the Rev. Jim Wallis (Southern
Baptist), Dr. Richard Land (religious writer), Father Robert Drinan SJ, Riza
Aslam (an Iranian Muslim), John Meachen (Newsweek) and Senator Joseph Lieberman,
with clips from President Bush, John Kennedy and Adlai Stevenson. It is a marvelous collection of well argued
views.
November 20: “Beyond Political Labels” Can the church promote
understanding? The Rev. Dana Horrell will discuss how congregations can talk
about US foreign policy while allowing for different perspectives. Rev. Horrell, a United Methodist pastor, is
director of Global Disciple Inc., a non-profit organization providing resources
for congregations in social ministry.
November 27: TBA
December 4:
The Sacred Music
of Edward Elgar Part 2: Dr.William West
will be presenting Elgar's 'The Apostle' and 'The Kingdom'.
II. Bible Study in Women’s Lounge
9
AM The Sunday morning Bible study group
reads and studies scripture with Fred Davey as the lead teacher. They are continuing a study of selections from
the book of Acts. Come and be welcomed.
III.
A Parents’ Place [Downstairs in Room 5]
9
AM The parent’s group continues this
year as an informal group for parents that features conversations about the
joys and challenges of raising children.
Suggestions for future Adult
Forums - please speak
with chairperson Ed Clarke or a member of the committee: Lois Coleman, Shirley DeHority, Dorothy
Harrold, Dick Lang, Jackie Meyer, Carol Reinsmith, Lois Spitzer, Joe Steiner.
WELCOME
TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
Leanne and Jason
Larson recently moved to
the area with their children Ransom (age 2) and Rebekah (age 4). Jason is a graduate student at Syracuse in the Department
of Religion. Leanne is home schooling
their children and a distributor for Discovery Toys. They are transferring their church
membership from the Newton Junction Baptist Church of Newton Junction, New
Hampshire. While in New Hampshire Jason
received his certification in an ABC Lay Studies program. Sponsors: Rosa Foster and Jim Watts.
Leona Schad is a long time
resident of the area and is already active on our Fellowship Committee. Her four adult children include Maxine,
Madeline, Michael and Lawrence. Leona
volunteers at Community General
Hospital twice weekly and
enjoys traveling, crossword puzzles, crocheting and cats. She will be transferring her church
membership from Howlett Hill Presbyterian Church. Sponsor: Mary Jane Woodcock
From the Church Office:
Large print bulletins are available
upon request. Please call or e-mail the
church office to reserve yours.
Looking for more
spiritual artwork to use for bulletin covers!
Please share your gifts!
Newsletter
deadline for the December issue is November
18th. Please be prompt!
Thanks to all who
responded to the call to volunteer in the office!
Happy Autumn!
Being a
Christian is like being a pumpkin.
God lifts you
up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.
He opens you up,
touches you deep
inside
and scoops out all the yucky stuff
including the seeds of doubt, hate and, greed
Then He carves
you a new smiling face
and puts His
light inside you
to shine for all the world to see.
