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

	Current News

	JANUARY NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
		Sunday, December 12th
	2010 ANNUAL REPORT
		Due Friday December 10th
	CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
		5:30 pm Family-oriented candle light worship 10:45 pm Prelude 11:00 pm Traditional Christmas candle light service
	2010 MEMBER RECOGNITION
		Each year, the Membership Board honors those members who have given many years of service to our church with a formal recognition during the worship service, and the serving of cake during Fellowship Hour. In 2010, the following were recognized: 5 Years: Jane & Rex Ahrens, Katherine Balcerak, Erin Dunn, Kay & Ted Fredrickson, John & Kristen Goodman, Carol & Kurt Gurgel, John Kiesling, Samantha LeBeau, Sue & Frank Nichols, Stephanie Palmer, Lawrence Perkins, Alice Sisson, Ann Toates, Karen Weathers 10 Years: Jessica Bartock, Keith Brisbane, James Colby, Shannon Elliott, Tom Gurnett, Dori Swarthout, Ginny and Gary Swarthout 15 Years: Don Decker, Jim McAtee 20 Years: Mike and Nancy Brisbane 25 Years: Alison and Jesse Diehl 30 Years: Helen Moore, Bunny Tubbs 35 Years: Carol and Tom Coburn 40 Years: Ginny and Lyn Worden 45 Years: Viona Davis 55 Years: Bill and Val Servis, Betty Spencer 60 Years: Bonnie Caton 80 Years: Jeannette Elliott
	CONFIRMATION CLASS
		Two young adults received the Rite of Confirmation on Sunday, October 31, 2010, by Pastor Nancy. The 2010 confirmands are: Lia McAtee and Sarah Morton.
	NEW PASTOR
		Pastor Nancy Carole Lewis Peebles became a member on January 10th 2010 Nancy moved here from her former pastorate position at The Congregational UCC in Faribault, MN. Nancy’s papa is a UCC clergyman, and she, therefore, lived in Illinois, Alabama and Virginia while growing up. She went to college in North Carolina and lived in Tennessee for a short time. Her ministry has been in North Carolina, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. In addition to pastoring churches, she also worked briefly in the office of the Board for Homeland Ministries and in the Southern Conference Office, both in the UCC. Nancy has two children. Suzanne lives in Queens, NY and works as a personal assistant. Lewis lives in Tacoma, WA, working as a supervisor at a security firm. Nancy’s parents, Carroll and Elinor Lewis, live in Effingham, IL. Nancy enjoys visiting with folks and hearing their family stories. She would like to share her stories as well. She likes to eat, enjoys trying new foods, and loves to cook. At this writing, her favorite activity is unpacking boxes. In her spare time, she likes to read, enjoys theatre, music, writing, and watching sports, particularly Duke basketball. Nancy is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree, Her dissertation project is a series of Chancel Dramas. She is at the project writing stage, and hopes to use some of the Chancel Dramas in worship in the next few months. Nancy says she truly enjoys the work of the ministry. She loves crafting worship and preaching.
	NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR
		Meet our new Music Director: Belinda Martz. Belinda grew up in the Gettysburg, PA area and was active there in the First Lutheran Church. She has experience with music at a number of different age levels. She’s worked with choirs, as well as hand bell choir. She graduated from Mansfield University with a degree in Music Education. Belinda will begin her ministry with us on September 1. Many members of the choir were able to share some time with her during August. Choir rehearsals will begin September 2 at 7:30 pm and any singers interested are invited. Her first Sunday will be September 12—that will be a very exciting day.
	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!
	OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
		Operation Christmas Child – also known to many as the shoebox project – will be a project of our church again this year. We’ll kick off the drive on October 17. And you won’t want to miss that fun worship. Then we’ll dedicate the gifts on November 14, before taking them to the drop off point. Information will be available in the back of the church and in our worship bulletins during this period. Plan now to be a part of this
	SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
		Christmas program and party December 12th Something a little different is happening on December 12! During our time of worship, the choir and our youth and children are joining together to present the program, “Let’s Go Home for Christmas!” Then, we’ll go downstairs to share in an all-church party in the Fellowship Hall with a Cookie Walk companioning that time. Don’t miss this great day! HELP NEEDED: SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND NURSERY CARE Volunteers (adults and older youth) needed for helping with Sunday School and/or in the nursery. Sign up sheets are in the Fellowship Hall or call the church office (352-3448). Adult Bible Study Come join us twice a month on Sunday mornings from 9:00 am until 10:00 am in the Chapel. We are continuing our DVD series, “The Mysteries of the Bible”. Adults and Older Youth who are interested in helping with Sunday School and/or Nursery. Sign up sheets are in the Fellowship Hall. Please consider helping with this ministry for our children: nursery, grades K-3, grades 4-5, and grades 6-8. 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
		I sincerely wish to thank my church family for all your many acts of kindness (prayers, flowers and cards). It has been greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Marilyn Woodward
	CHURCH WOMEN'S NEWS
		Christmas Dinner Will be held on Wednesday, December 8, at 6:00 pm at Slayton Place (Village Plaza). All women of the church are invited. Sign up sheet is in the Fellowship Hall. Christmas Cookies Needed (Christmas Cookie Walk) Needed for Sunday, December 12 – donation of homemade Christmas cookies (or if you are not a baker, decorative purchased cookies are fine). Sign up sheet is in the Fellowship Hall.
	*CHRISTIAN ACTION*
		Salem Soup Kitchen “Thank You” to Melanie Ippolito, Nancy Wilcox, Ginny Worden and Candy Hurlbut for their help serving our guests at the Salem Soup Kitchen on Monday, November 15th.
	*ANGELS AT WORK*
		Submitted by the Membership Committee For the past five years, Dave Bartock has managed our website. Whenever anyone in the church gave him material, he posted it on the website for us. Thanks, Dave, for volunteering your time, and for a job well done! Alison Diehl has spent countless hours keeping our library in tiptop working order. She has displayed books of interest for viewing by all in various places throughout the church. We are grateful for Alison’s willingness to volunteer her time and talents for this job. Thank you, Alison, for your years of service. Please report any “angel activities” you encounter to Ginny Swarthout at 352-1466, email her at: ginnysuniqueshop@aol.com, or leave a note in the Membership Committee mailbox.
	NEEDLES MISSION CLUB
		Submitted by Holly L. Bauer-Mergen A thank you to Ann Wolfe for donating lap robes from her aunt; several of them were given to a Girl Scout who was collecting lap robes for Meals on Wheels for her Gold Award. We continue to make our 8” squares to put together for lap robes (although Elaine Hay is jumping in with all our “leftovers” and making a granny square blanket at the moment). If anyone would like to make 8” squares at home, please use a washable yarn and drop them off at church. And, please, if you know of someone who would appreciate a “bit of warmth,” please let me or the church office know. Our next meeting is Wednesday, November 3, 2010, at 6:30 pm. Please come and join us!
	LIBRARY NEWS
		Come in and check out what’s new at the library (more changes are coming) and check out a book or DVD while you’re there! I’ve been doing some “weeding” to make room for more new books & DVD’s. The following items are long “overdue” so please return them so that others may share. Please return items to the special “Returns Basket” on the table. The Book of Bible Stories by Tomie dePaola No More Monsters for Me! by Peggy Perish Awesome Good Clean Jokes For Kids by Bob Phillips Best Balloon Ride Ever by Richard Scarry The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss The Great Dinosaur Mystery and the Bible by Paul S. Taylor The House in the Hole in the Side of the Tree by Gilbert V. Beers Grandmas and Grandpas by Richard & Helen Exley The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom Counting God’s Creatures by Jan Mecklenburg The First Christmas by Enid Blyton Where Are You God? by Elspeth Campbell Murphy The King’s Invitation by Virginia Mueller (copy ) The Desperate People by Farley Mowat If God Loves Me Why Can’t I Open My Locker? by Lorraine Peterson Eerdman’s Handbook to the Bible by David & Patricia Alexander The Joy of Finding Jesus by Dr. Bill Bright A Fruitcake Christmas (DVD) by Max Lucado Buzby the Misbehaving Bee (DVD) by Max Lucado The King is Born (VHS) #92 copy 2 Thanks, Melanie Ippolito Librarian
	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.