“A community of faith providing nurture, strength,
& direction for living today in God’s world.”
BEING THERE
“Go into all the world
and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” Mark
The Great Commission (preaching, teaching
and healing) is Jesus’ charge to every Christian. Family, health and job obligations prevent
most of us from going ourselves. Yet Jesus tells each of us to go. We do go –
every time we contribute financially to the life of the church. That money is
transformed into sweat, energy, creativity, safety, compassion, mission and
justice. Every time we put money in the
offering plate, or write a check, we are instantly transported to
the places where the good news is proclaimed.
We are there when:
the congregation gifts
children with Bibles
hearts are lifted with
excellent music
the pastor visits in
nursing homes and hospitals
people enter accessible
welcoming space for worship and fellowship
the church communicates
more effectively with her members
creative seasonal
services are offered
counseling, funerals and
weddings are provided
all ages find thoughtful
interactive education with adequate supplies youth go on mission trips
phones are answered,
notes are sent, care is given
shelves in the Food
Pantry are filled
homeless and refugees
find housing
worship inspires and
sustains
community groups have a
place to gather
seekers find their way
staff encourage
development of the gifts of children, youth and adults
hospitality is offered to
strangers
meals are made
diversity is celebrated
an international
peacemaker is hosted
justice is called for
older adults are visited
in their homes
our Korean Partners are
working for reconciliation
denominational work for
mission and justice is supported
mission workers restore
life after natural disasters
and provide health care
in developing countries and countries at war
Stewardship
of our treasure is “being there” in all the places Christ calls us. Please
prayerfully consider your response to Christ’s commission and how with a more
generous return of the treasure God has given us, UCF might go further into the
world proclaiming the good news.
In faith,
Linda
WORSHIP FOR NOVEMBER
2007
Child Care Provided from
Before worship coffee fellowship with
Adult Ed groups 9 AM
Worship at 10:25 AM
Fellowship Time each week after worship
in Fellowship Hall
Nov.
4 All Saints Sunday – 31st
Sunday, Ordinary Time
Dedication of Memorial Gifts for
2007
Rev.
Dr. Linda D. Even preaching
Sacrament of Communion (served)
Liturgist: Fred Davey
11:30 AM Dedication of the Kathy Willyard Choir Room and Classrooms, lower level Music by the combined Children’s, Youth, and Senior
Choirs.
Open House and Refreshments following.
Dedication
of Christian Education Resource Room.
Nov. 11 Worship for the Lord’s Day - 32nd Sunday,
Ordinary Time
10:25 AM Commitment Sunday
Rev. Dr. Linda D. Even preaching
Liturgist: Betsy Nash
3:00 PM Installation of Rev. Dr. Linda D. Even
Reception
to follow service.
Please see article for more
details.
Nov. 18 Worship for the Lord’s Day – 33rd Sunday, Ordinary Time
10:25 AM Liturgist: Richard
Clark
Nov.
25 Reign of Christ Sunday,
Thanksgiving Sunday
10:25
AM Liturgist: Sarah Spencer
Dec. 2 Worship
for the Lord’s Day - First Sunday in Advent
Rev. Linda D. Even preaching
Sacrament of Communion (served)
7:00
PM St. Nicholas Festival of
Advent Lessons and Carols,
F-M Combined Choirs at Immaculate
Hymn Writing Contest -- 75th Anniversary Celebration!
The
United Church of Fayetteville announces a contest for hymn writers as part of
their 75th Anniversary Celebration. The selected hymn will be based on our
congregational "Vision for
Ministry" (see below) and will both honor the past and look forward to
the future. The theme of the anniversary celebration is “A Tapestry of Grace".
Nearly 75 years ago in 1933, the Presbyterian (PCUSA, dating from 1829)
and American Baptist (dating from 1831) churches of
In 2005 the congregation participated in a mission study in ministry and developed "A Vision for
Ministry" based on a study of the Beatitudes and Isaiah 61:1-2.
"The
The hymn's debut will take place
during the 75th anniversary worship service
The prize will be the honor of having the hymn played and sung at the
anniversary worship service plus a certificate for dinner for two at The Arad Evans Inn, a historic
o
The hymn writing contest is a search for a new text, incorporating the use of an
easily sung meter, using a familiar hymn
tune. New music for the winning hymn may be sought in the future.
Hymns previously published or currently entered in other contests should
not be submitted.
o
We suggest avoiding archaic language (e.g. "Which wert,
and art, and evermore shalt be") and non-inclusive language (e.g. "O
brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother").
o
The contest will be "blind" and open to anyone who
is familiar with our church history, mission and goals.
o
Entrants should provide two copies of each hymn. The entrant's name must not appear on these
copies. Please provide a cover letter with your name, address, telephone
number, email address and the title of your entry or entries.
o
All entries must be postmarked by
o
The judges will arrive at their decision by
Please mail
entries to the church office marked:
Hymn Contest, The
Worship, Music and Spiritual Life
All Saints Sunday, Nov. 4th
On this first Sunday in November we come to the Table and celebrate the Lord’s Supper aware that a “great cloud of witnesses surrounds us.” The Apostles’ Creed proclaims our belief in “the communion of saints.” Most of us look to someone in our past ( a teacher, friend or relative) who served as mentor or midwife of our faith. These individuals are part of the great cloud of witnesses, our saints, and we bring them with us each time we come to communion.
The service will include the dedication of
memorial gifts received since last All Saints’ Sunday, 2006.
Immediately after worship we will move
downstairs for the Dedication of the
Kathy Willyard Choir Room, classrooms, and Restrooms. The dedicatory plaques will be read and a time
of dedication and thanksgiving for the gifts of time and talent will be shared
by all. The combined choirs will sing a
round so that we may enjoy the new and lively sound of the space, and the
senior choir will sing the joyous anthem, “Ev’ry time I feel the spirit” arr.
by John Rutter. Choir members Lorraine
Schmidt and Linda Raymond have penned words to two new songs in honor of the
dedication, which we will hear! We will
also have some refreshments in the Music resource room #11 next door, an Open
House in the adjoining rooms, the refurbished restrooms and hallways for you to
explore.
The renovation of the Choir Room and classrooms was made possible by a
gift from Chuck Willyard in memory of his wife, Kathy, and by memorial gifts in
memory of Lucius & Marietta Dickerson, Henry “Bud” Richardson, Christopher
J. Steel, Helen Hill Stuber, Campbell J. Tellman, Kathy Willyard, and by
legacies from United Church Estate Funds.
The renovation of the Restrooms was made
possible by memorial gifts in loving memory of Jennie V. Malara and by memorial
gifts in memory of Irene Collins, Nan Marshall, Stan Smith.
New Handbells! – We will be receiving a gift
of a 4th octave of new handbells and a set of handbell table pads
given in memory of Marie Mou. The
Schulmerich bells are currently being made for us and will be ready for
delivery in January. We rejoice in this
wonderful gift in memory of a dear friend for UCF’s music ministry!
Christmas Musical – “Carriers of the Light”
Our Christmas pageant is coming to worship
on Sunday, Dec. 16th. This year’s musical
is for children in grades K through 6, with additional singing and narration
parts available for youth. It is called “Carriers
of the Light.” The story is about
passing God=s Light
~
from
Mary to Joseph
to the
animals in the manger,
and
from the shepherds to wise men,
and then to all of us here at United Church.
Rehearsals
take place every Sunday at
Senior Choir Christmas
Cantata
o
Join the choir as we prepare for Advent and Christmas music, including
the lovely French baroque cantata “The Song of the Birth of our Lord Jesus
Christ” by M. A. Charpentier. The choir
is also preparing anthems for lessons and carols worship services. Youth and adults are invited to join our Senior Choir in preparing for Advent
and Christmas services. We welcomed new member Linda Hickok this month! For
further information, contact Alice Hatt.
Glory to
God in the highest!
o
The Joyful
Sign Choir will be learning Christmas carols; new members are
welcome on Wednesdays,
o
The Youth
Handbell Choir has several new members who are being mentored by our
more seasoned ringers. We welcomed Kaitlin Hines, Sarah Ketcham, Kaitlyn
DeHority, Ellen Sweder, Katya Waters, Lyn Watts. The youth choir is
preparing for Dr. Even’s installation service on Nov. 11th at
o
This year, the F-M churches combined choirs “Lessons and Carols” service will be given on Sunday, December 2nd
at
A Family Ritual for THANKSGIVING DAY “Five grains of corn and a
clam shell”
In
early New England it was custom at Thanksgiving dinner to place five grains of
corn and a clam shell at every plate as a reminder of those difficult days
during the Pilgrim’s first winter in
This
custom has been passed down as a way of remembering the sacrifice, suffering,
and hardships which were part of the struggle to establish a settlement in a
new land. The tradition of placing five
kernels of corn at each plate first started at
For your Thanksgiving
table:
Use five grains of dried
corn (or popcorn) with a clam shell at each place setting as a reminder of the
gifts of faith and courage that those early Pilgrim and Native American
families have given us.
As you say your blessing at
Thanksgiving dinner, let each person
think of five blessings and give thanks to God, our Creator, for your bountiful
table.
This traditional Iroquois prayer may be offered at the
end of your meal to remember the generous help of the Native Americans who
taught the early settlers to raise corn, beans and squash.
It has been passed on to us
from our elders,
that the three sisters:
corn, beans, and squash,
are gifts from the Creator
and our basic life supporters.
|
Our people acknowledge,
respect, and offer thanksgiving for these valuable gifts. |
Loving
God, give us grateful hearts for all your mercies,
and
make us mindful of the needs of others; through Christ our Lord.
Alice Dickerson Hatt, Minister of Music &
Worship, Jackie Meyer, W&SLC, Chr.
Putting the Color into Advent!
Sunday, November 25 –
Fellowship Hall
Advent Intergenerational Event
What colors are hope, peace,
joy and love for you?
·
Each
year we plan Intergenerational Sundays when an educational event involves all
ages together. This takes place during the time of regular
Gather at
Refreshments
– coffee, juice, donuts....
Advent Preparing
Sharing
Creating
The generations come
together at UCF!
Join your UCF Church Family for an exciting
congregation-wide event to prepare for
Advent 2007….
NOVEMBER 25TH
at 9 AM in FELLOWSHIP HALL!
Planning team from Children’s, Youth, Adult
Ed committees,
& Worship & Spiritual Life
committee