May
14
2012
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8, NIV
The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. – 1 Samuel 3:8-9, NRSV
The words of “Here I Am”, the beloved PF song, are so beautiful. I was fortunate that last weekend on Youth Sunday I had the opportunity to sing the PF song twice in worship, then later in the day at a friend’s ordination. If I had sung it with the Jr. PFer’s that evening it might have been four times!
Why do we sing this song so much? “Because it is tradition”, some might say. “Because I had a meaningful experience this one time when we sang this song”, says another. I believe that while all that might be true, we also sing it because the lyrics are meaningful. They speak of God’s call, through all the busyness and stress of life, to follow and serve. Many of us do that by growing in faith, entering deeper into prayer and study and serving in the world. And some of us have the blessing and privilege of entering authorized ministry so that we can shepherd others on their journey.
On May 20th we will have the opportunity in worship to celebrate that Kristen Provost Switzer, a member of our congregation, has entered a path of study, discernment and training to become an authorized minister in the United Church of Christ. She has completed her first year of training at Hartford Seminary, and has at least two years of study ahead of her before she can seek ordination. She has been accepted by the Fairfield East Association of the CT Conference as a Member in Discernment. As her home church, we have the privilege of accompanying her on the journey. Please keep Kristen in your prayers and join us in worship for her recognition ceremony on May 20th.
In peace, Pastor Jenn
May
14
2012
As the program year winds down and we enter the season of special worship services, we wanted to communicate with you some worship schedule changes. Please note the following times and themes for upcoming Sundays.
May 20th Easter 7, recognition of Member in Discernment Kristen Provost Switzer
8:45 Traditional Service
10:30 Jr Choir Musical Service
May 27th New Member Sunday, Pentecost
One worship service at 10:00am
June 3rd Communion
8:45 Traditional Service
10:30 Confirmation Service
June 10th Music / Baccalaureate Sunday
One worship service at 10:00am
June 17th Strawberry Festival Sunday
One worship service at 10:00am
June 24th Summer Worship
One worship service at 9:00am
(until Homecoming Sunday on 9/9)
May
14
2012
Happy birthday Church! On Sunday, May 27th we will gather for one worship service at 10am. It’s Pentecost, which is widely considered to be the beginning of the Jesus Movement heading out into the world. We will also welcome New Members.
May
14
2012
On Pentecost Sunday, before the 10am service, come and enjoy a traditional Palestinian breakfast as Pastor Jenn shares some stories, thoughts, impressions and pictures from the Holy Land. Please sign up in Wilton Hall so we know how many people to expect.
May
14
2012
Is anyone in your family graduating? On June 10, we will celebrate the accomplishments of graduates (high school, technical/trade school, college or graduate programs). Please email secretary@mcc-ucc.org with the graduate’s name, school and degree program and plans for next fall.
May
14
2012
It’s the “big reveal” when we find out who has been praying for us! Sign up sheets are posted in Wilton Hall. Childcare available for children 3 and younger older children may join us at the table. So bring a dish to share and find out who has been praying for you! Please contact Susie Cuseo with any questions at 268-0280 or thecuseos@yahoo.com
May
14
2012
Hold onto yer horses and get ready for a true tale from the Good Book like you’ve never heard it before! On May 20th, during the 10:30 service, the Jr. Choir will be offering “Jonah’s Druthers: A Whale of a Tale” by Cyndi Nine, Rob Howard and David Guthrie of Little Big Stuff! This fun and entertaining musical sets the story of Jonah in the wild, Wild West and provides a few twists to Jonah’s reaction when the Lord tells him to go to that “dirty, rotten, flea-bitten foreign city called Ninevah” and preach against it! Filled with plenty of cowboy twang, it becomes clear that the word “whale” takes on a new meaning when said with a West Texas drawl. Please join us as we turn the meeting house into a West Texas landscape to hear the Good News of Jonah and the folks from Ninevah – God’s grace and mercy is never ending.”
Thanks! DonnaJean
May
14
2012
God’s Love Is Everywhere! is a VBS program which helps children visit a different mission site each day. We will be ‘visiting’ India, Africa, Mexico, the Lakota Nation and our local community. We will explore each culture through cooking, games, music, art, as well as learning about the people, their needs and the mission work being done.” 2012 VBS will be held July 30th through August 3rd from 9am to noon daily.
Registration is now open for congregants of MCC. Registration opens to the general public on June 18th. Registration is first come, first served with a maximum of 60 children. Children ages 4 through those entering 5th grade are welcome. A nominal fee of $10 per child is collected to defer expenses but scholarship assistance is available (see registration form).
May
14
2012
MCCers, we need your help to make this summer’s Vacation Bible School a grand success. Our theme this year is God’s Love Is Everywhere! and is focused on ‘traveling’ the globe learning about mission work. We have personalized it MCC and our own mission and outreach projects. We will be visiting India, Africa, Mexico, the Lakota Nation and of course our own Greater Bridgeport community.
We need your help with decorations for each culture.
• Blankets, scarves, costumes, art, etc from the countries.
• Maps of the world or specific locations and other photographs, etc
• Luggage, globes, travel brochures
• Musical instruments
• Anything else you can think of!
Want to help us whip up a sampler tray for the kids? We need help with cooking/ snacks from each culture. Donations simply dropped off in the morning are great.
We also need “Guest Speakers” to join us. If you have participated in a mission trip to any of these locations, or have visited and can speak to the culture and needs, please consider joining us for one morning that week for just the first 40 minutes of the day to share your experiences with the children.
In addition we are still looking for an adult teacher or two for the week. Love arts and crafts? How about cooking? Or you tell us your strengths. We need individual day helpers as well if you can’t commit to the whole week. Spend some time with our community’s kids.
Please contact Lani Siciliano, lanismsis@sbcglobal.net, or Lisa Terifay, lterifay1@hotmail.com, if you can help.
May
14
2012
MCC has been a long-time supporter of the Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County, and this month, the Outreach Board is building a “Tower of Paper” to benefit Kathy’s Place, the Center’s safe house. All supplies will go to the house and to clients who are ready to move into their own homes.Please be a part of this important work by helping us help them with your donations of paper towels, toilet tissue, and paper napkins (stackable items). We will be building a “Tower of Paper Power” in Wilton Hall in May, so let’s see how high it will go! If you have questions about the Center for Women and Families, feel free to speak to Kathy Maiolo or call her at 203-260-0292. Thanks for all your support!
May
14
2012
We need help serving coffee and tea after the second coffee hour. Pick a Sunday and on that day, you leave a little early before the service ends, go to the kitchen, heat up some hot water for tea, put out milk and sugar on the serving table, serve some cups of coffee. Please sign up in Wilton Hall. Thank you for helping. Marge Fox, The Board of Christian Fellowship Cell Phone: 203-706-2132
May
14
2012
We are reading The Language of Flowers: A Novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh We will be meeting at the home of Linda Fracassini, 55 Misty Lane 261-5485
May
14
2012
On May 13th we celebrated the baptism of Megan Elizabeth Wissink and Madeline Grace Wissink. Their parents are Larry & Jennifer Wissink, and their older brother is Garrett. We welcome these little ones to the body of Christ
April
30
2012
Let me begin by saying how wonderful it has been to be back with you for a month. I am grateful for the cards, phones calls and invitations to speak at small groups about my life-changing sabbatical travel to Israel/Palestine. I’ve presented pictures from Galilee to the Retired Men and Thursday morning Bible study groups, Bethlehem to the Junior PF and an overall trip presentation to the Women’s retreat. I am looking forward to sharing with Adult PF and Morning Circle soon.
It has been wonderful to share my thoughts and stories with you in small groups. It occurred to me that it might be nice to have an opportunity to share this with the entire church. On Sunday, May 27th after worship I will present “Pictures from the Promised Land” along with some light middle-eastern refreshments.
The springtime here at MCC is always full of special moments, and 2012 is no exception. Please join us in worship on Youth Sunday (May 6th) and witness the faith journeys of our amazing and wonderful young people. We’ll be celebrating communion, and three of our seniors will preach a sermon. Come 15 minutes early so you can catch the opening music. Our young people are grateful for their church’s support, and I hope that you will make every effort to worship with them at either the 8:45 or 10:30 services.
Peace, Pastor Jenn
April
30
2012
Thank you for your giving to date; we are on par with last year and on track with our budget. In addition, we believe we have found a suitable tenant for the parsonage, beginning June 1. Unfortunately, as the budget only allowed for two months unrented, the three additional unoccupied months will negatively impact our income for the first half of the year by roughly $6000.
To date, the stewardship committee has received 127 pledges, totaling $239,315. This brings us close to our budgeted amount of $245,000. Further, while 2012 pledges are in arrears by a little over $10,000, we have collected over $8000 in prior year pledges. We do ask if you are still planning to pledge for 2012, please do so, as it helps us in our planning.
Our treasurer transition is nearly complete, and we are diligently working on first quarter comparisons, both to budget and last year. These will be made available to you as soon as they are ready. The Board of Trustees is committed to transparency; please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns
April
30
2012
April
30
2012
We will be meeting at the MCC campus at 8am. We will gladly welcome any assistance you can offer with yard cleanup, mulching and painting on Saturday morning!
April
30
2012
Friends and visitors – You’re invited to a New Member Informational, on Sunday May 6th at 11:45 in Dineson Parlor. Have you been interested in making a commitment to this faith community, and you have some questions? Or are you curious about the opportunities for learning and service found here? If so, please us for some warm fellowship, useful information and wonderful stories about this great church. New Members will be welcomed into fellowship on Sunday, May 27th. Questions? Please speak with Pastor Jenn, Ken Fredeen or Kristina Logan.
April
30
2012
Please make an extra effort to come to church, because the youth will be leading worship! In fact, come 15 MINUTES EARLY to hear all the opening music! We have been working very hard to put together a meaningful service that is accessible for all ages, and hopefully you will enjoy this insight into our faith and traditions. We will be asking our community to support us with a second offering for the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry Men’s Shelter in Cleveland, Ohio. The project we will be working on is the shelter has a large area devoted to Veterans, where they sleep and live in community. They would like a set of bleachers built in an area where they live. As one of our mission trip projects we will purchase the kit and help the maintenance crew build it. Thanks for your support!
April
30
2012
Is anyone in your family graduating? On June 10, we will celebrate the accomplishments of graduates (high
school, technical/trade school, college or graduate programs). Please mail secretary@mcc-ucc.org with the graduate’s name, school and degree program and plans for next fall.
school, technical/trade school, college or graduate programs). Please mail secretary@mcc-ucc.org with the graduate’s name, school and degree program and plans for next fall.