The First Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ, Spencerport, New York

	Current News

	DECEMBER NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
		Wednesday, November 15th (10:00 AM)
	SUMMER WORSHIP
		Commencing Sunday, July 5, the summer worship hour will begin at 9:30 am and remain in effect through Sunday, September 6.
	TREASURER VACANCY
		As some of you might know, Gary Swarthout will be stepping down as our Treasurer. Gary leaves us in January after faithfully serving our Church for nine years. With less than four months left in Gary’s term, I’d like to appeal to the entire congregation to help identify a new candidate for Treasurer. The candidate should have basic bookkeeping and payroll skills; prior experience in these areas would be a plus. If you think you could help out your Church in this capacity, or if you have an individual in mind that might fit the bill, please see Betty Peters or another member of the Board of Finance.
	CHURCH PICTURE DIRECTORY
		Copies of the picture directory are now available in the Fellowship Hall Sundays following church services. The Membership Committee is asking for a $5.00 donation to help cover the cost of printing the directories. If you would like a copy of the directory, please contact Ginny Swarthout at 352-1466, or email her at ginnysuniqueshop@aol.com, and she will make sure you receive one.
	HISTORY COMMITTEE
		Submitted by Carol Coburn The History Committee met briefly after church on February 8, 2009 and discussed several possibilities for future projects. It was decided that we should tackle the large slide collection. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 10:00 am at the church. We will decide who will be doing this project and begin selecting slides for digitization. We will also consider other topics for future projects. Please join us if you can. For those of us in attendance at the planning meeting, Tuesday morning is a good time to meet. Please do not be discouraged if this is a difficult time for you. Just contact Carol Coburn to let her know your interest in helping with history projects, and we will set a time convenient for you to meet and discuss your involvement! We are especially looking for help and input from our young people. So please consider picking a project or proposing another completely new idea. Don’t forget, your time volunteered may be eligible for counting towards your volunteer hours at school. Just to remind you of some topics needing attention: Collecting, arranging and storing of our memorabilia and documents in our church archives, Video taping of church-related stories, Written history, considering another book? Digitization and display of photo/other media collections, Researching our congregational background and linking it to today’s world, Special events and displays, Celebrate History Day at church, Should we become a State Historical Site? We could be the third site in the Town.
	OUR WIDER MISSION
		Submitted by Roger Schurkamp, My daughter, Lynnea, lives in Lansing, Michigan now, and she was wondering if there might be a UCC church where she is. Here is what Pastor Vertigan suggested, and it works great!! Go on line at *www.ucc.org/find/* and enter the zip code of the person that is looking for a church, in the left hand column. Then, also in the left hand column, choose a radius for the search around that zip code number that could be as close to them as 3 miles and as far away as 50 miles. Hit search and see what comes up. In my case, I got five churches with different sized congregations, the addresses, the phone numbers, etc. I guess you could also use this if you were headed on vacation and wanted to know of a church near your destination. Try it and see what you get.
	STEWARDSHIP MOMENTS
		The most recent stewardship moment can be found here!
	SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
		Operation Christmas Child Our Christmas mission project has begun! “Operation Christmas Child” sponsored by the Samaritan’s Purse, will be delivering wrapped shoe boxes to children in need all over the world. We are inviting the congregation again to participate in this year’s collection. First choose a boy or girl and their age category (2-4), (5-9) or (10-14) and tape a label on the front of your wrapped lid. Below is a list of items that may be put into your shoe box: Toys – small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch, Slinky, etc. School supplies: pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, coloring books, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, etc. Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, comb, washcloth, etc. Other – hard candy, lollipops, mints, gum, sunglasses, flashlights, socks, T-shirts, toy jewelry, hair clips, watches, small picture books, etc. Do Not Include The Following: Used items War-related items: toy guns, knives, etc. Chocolate or perishable food items Liquids: shampoo, lotion, bubbles, etc. Medicines: vitamins, cough drops, ointment, etc. Breakable items: mirrors, china dolls, snow globes, etc. Please wrap the lid of the shoe box separate, and enclose $7 inside for shipping and Christian materials that will be added. Boxes will be collected on Sunday, November 15th at the back of the church. You may also leave your box at the display in the Fellowship Hall anytime before the 15th. Last year we collected 47 boxes. Can we beat this number? Thank you for your support! Christmas Pageant and Party Sunday December 13th at 10:15am (during the Worship Service) New Sunday School Curriculumifferent methods such as art, music, cooking, creative drama, Bible skills, games and science. We are looking for volunteers to select one of the methods to teach once a month throughout the year. Our Junior and Senior High will also enjoy new materials. Contact Bobbie Bliemeister if interested in volunteering. Volunteers Needed We are in need of a Sr. High teacher, multi-age class helpers, and subs. If you can sign up to teach one Sunday per month (either for a half or full year), contact Bobbie Bliemeister at 637-3861 or e-mail Bbliemeister@frontiernet.net. More Sunday School News
	*HELP NEEDED ON THURSDAYS*
		Submitted by Roger Schurkamp If you have time on a Thursday morning that you could devote to helping the Retired Men's Group prepare the church for services, they would really appreciate it. They usually get started around 8:00 am with coffee and doughnuts. You don't have to be retired, and you don't have to be male to help. All volunteers are welcome!!!
	THANK YOU'S
		The Church Family, Thank you to everyone who took the time to send me a card and wish me well. It meant a lot to me. Colin Dunn
	CHURCH WOMEN'S NEWS
		Christmas Cookie Sale We are once again collecting empty coffee cans with lids for our Christmas Cookie Sale in December. Please leave your coffee cans in the kitchen by November 1st. Our next meeting will be held on Monday, November 2, at noon (bring brown bag lunch). Please bring Christmas wrapping paper, bows, scissors, etc. We will be decorating coffee tins for the Christmas Cookie Walk which will be held on Sunday, December 13
	*CHRISTIAN ACTION*
		Salem Soup Kitchen “Thank You” to Melanie Ippolito, Sue Nichols, Nancy Wilcox, Ginny Worden and Candy Hurlbut for their help serving our guests at the Salem Soup Kitchen on Monday, October 19. Spencerport Food Shelf There is an urgent need as donations are down 20% and the need is up 40%. The following items are needed: pancake mix, syrup, boxed potatoes, pork & beans, condensed soup (chicken noodle, vegetable, tomato), and canned meats. Please place your items in the box in the Fellowship Hall. Thank you in advance. Care Notes … “Helping You – Take Care-Give Care” Reminder: Care Notes are available in the Fellowship Hall and in the room behind the kitchen. They relate to a variety of topics such as … teens/peer pressure, etc. … coping with a loss of a loved one … aging.
	*ANGELS AT WORKK*
		Submitted by the Membership Committee Carol and Tom Coburn spent many hours compiling the information you submitted on your Time and Talent Surveys. The information is now in a format that will be very easy for the various committees to use. The next time you see Carol or Tom, thank them for volunteering to do this project. Please report any “angel activities” you encounter to Ginny Swarthout at 352-1466, email her at: ginnysuniqueshop@aol.comm, or leave a note in the Membership Committee mailbox.
	CREECH MUSIC FUND
		Because of former minister Don Creech's musicianship and love of music, the Creech Music Fund was set up to fund the provision of special music to augment our Sunday services. Over the last two years, we have depleted that fund to an almost zero balance. It was determined by the Board of Religious Services that it was important to let our congregation know this fact. If you are ever interested in helping to rebuild this fund now or in the future, so that we may continue this practice, your gifts may be sent to the church office, specifying the "Creech Music Fund."

	DID YOU KNOW?
		Are you looking for a schedule of Conference events, Association meetings and Conference Program activities? Visit www.uccny.org/calendar/ for the complete list.
	DID YOU KNOW?
		Tapes are being made each Sunday of our church service. Jeffery and Jason Spencer have been making the tapes and placing them in the tape rack on the south wall just inside the main door to the Fellowship Hall. Please feel free to borrow the tapes; we just ask that they be returned when you are finished.
	HELPING HANDS PROJECT
		Submitted by Len Gartland for the Board of Membership Services My observation shows me that many members of our church have been and presently are "Helping Hands" to our church members. They have been providing rides to church, visiting shut-ins and doing many other things to provide help to those who need it.. The aim of the "Helping Hands" project is to provide more services to more people who need assistance. We presently have a list of 15 people who are willing to provide help in 12 different ways in areas, such as providing transportation, helping with confusing paper work, etc. Please feel free to call Len Gartland at 392-2003 or Jeannette Zarnstorff at 352-4116.
	OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIESS
		For information on Food Shelf and other outreach programs, click here.
	LECTIONARY LINK
		Coming soon.