Announcements and Calendar for the Week of Feb. 28

"Continuing the Conversation"——An All Church Retreat
Saturday, March 6, 9:00-12:00 p.m.
The board of deacons invites you to a time of prayer, fellowship, and reflection on Saturday morning, March 6. After coffee and muffins, Bob and Debby Kirk will lead us in discerning who we are as a church and where we feel God is calling us to grow and serve in the coming year. This retreat will not be a "planning" event. Rather it is a time to be together as a community of friends seeking to perceive and understand how the Holy Spirit is at work among us, and where that Spirit is leading. The retreat is open to all members and friends of our church. For planning purposes it would be helpful to know how many will be attending. Lunch will be served at noon for those wishing to stay for a bite to eat. Please let us know if you need child care or transportation. Both can be arranged. There is a sign up sheet on the kiosk in the Great Room.


NEXT SUNDAY’S MORNING WORSHIP will be an Intergenerational communion service and children will be welcome to participate. At a recent Board of Deacons meeting, it was suggested we republish our communion policy.

COMMUNION POLICY
At the February 1977 meeting of the Board of Deacons and Deaconesses, the open communion policy of this church was affirmed for children as well as adults. It is the tradition of our church to invite all to eat at our Lord’s table who confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, who seek the mercy of God, and who desire peace with their neighbors. Membership in this church of Christ is not a prerequisite for sharing in the Sacrament of Communion. This applies to children as well as adults.
However, the Diaconate also affirmed our understanding that it is the responsibility of Christian parents in fulfilling the vows they made at the baptism of their children, to decide with their children when it is best for children to participate in the sacrament of Our Lord’s Supper. This would mean, therefore, that a child and his/her parents will decide when it is appropriate for that child to participate. It will be the policy of the Diaconate, however, to offer the elements of communion to all.

THIS MORNING’S CHURCH SCHOOL ROTATIONS:
Pre-K/Kinder/Gr 1 –– Cooking –– Mr. Jim Nowak;
Grades 2 & 3 –– Games –– Mr. Andy Perry,
Grades 4 & 5 –– Art –– Miss Kat Bottieri,
Grades 6/7/8 –– Science –– Mr. Charlie Bottieri

Prayer Wall –– Families and friends are invited to place prayers on the prayer wall in the church school classroom corridor. The church school children will lift up those prayers each Sunday morning.

Daily Bread –– Peanut Butter & Jelly: Nothing is more tasty, nutritious and economical than a yummy PB & J! Please add a jar of peanut butter and jelly to your shopping list each week to help feed our community friends in need. Thank you so much. You may leave your food gifts on the designated table in the Great Room.

The Junior Choir will be singing We Remember You for next Sunday’s Communion service. Singers should plan to be here at 9:15 a.m. for warm-ups.

AID TO HAITI: Thank you for all the generous donations for the Baby Care Kits for Haitian infants! Our Lenten group packed up thirty four kits last Wednesday night. If we can gather 30 more infant size t-shirts, we have enough of the other items to make 15 more complete kits. We also need a few more sturdy cardboard boxes for shipping. We will do our final packing on Tuesday, March 2 at 1:00 PM at the Hill Church. Give Debby Kirk a call at 860-377-2675 if you would like to help. All of your donations will be shipped to Church World Service, an agency that partners with UCC churches and has been working in Haiti for decades.

DON’T HAVE TIME TO COOK DINNER? Chicken Pot Pies are available in the kitchen freezer for a suggested $5.00 donation. All proceeds to benefit the general fund for operating expenses. Please leave your donation in the envelope on the freezer door. Thank you and enjoy!


CALENDAR OF THE WEEK
TODAY:
9:15 a.m. Sr. Bells warm-up
12:00 p.m. Giv2 Planning Team here
MONDAY
7:30 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. Sr. Bell Choir
TUESDAY
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
1:00 p.m. Pack baby kits
7:00 p.m. Deacons
WEDNESDAY
9:00 a.m. PCT
6:00 p.m. Lenten program
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
THURSDAY
7:00 p.m. Sr. Choir
SATURDAY
9:00 a.m. All-Church Retreat
10:00 a.m. Cemetery Association meeting at M. Pomeroy’s
NEXT SUNDAY - Intergenerational Sunday
9:15 a.m. Jr. Choir warm-up
10:00 a.m. SYG Breakfast Club at EWCC
11:15 a.m. Luncheon after worship service

Announcements and Calendar for the Week of Feb. 21

CHURCH SCHOOL NOTES:
This Sunday, the church school will begin "Symbols of Holy Week" rotations. Children will use the symbols of Holy Week to:
- learn the events of Holy Week;
- recognize the stories related to the events of Holy Week;
- create a way to share the story of Holy Week with others
- through symbols; - review the four Gospel accounts of Holy Week and compare the symbols used.
Thank you to our Rotation Leaders: Art –– Kat Bottieri
Science –– Charlie Bottieri
Cooking __ Jim Nowak
Games –– Andy Perry
Gathering Leader –– Jennifer John

Pancake Brunch –– this morning, the church school is hosting a simple pancake brunch with a Lenten activity to follow. First we will enjoy a buffet of pancakes and fresh fruit, prepared by our church school children under the guidance of fearless kitchen rotation leader, Jim Nowak. Then we will create Lenten story-boxes; simple tools to help explore the events of Holy Week at home throughout the Lenten season.

Daily Bread –– the church school will be collecting jars of peanut butter and jelly in March.

Junior Choir –– Our next anthem will be on March 1st. Our song will be We Remember You.

"Continuing the Conversation"——An All Church Retreat
Saturday, March 6, 9:00-12:00 p.m.
The board of deacons invites you to a time of prayer, fellowship, and reflection on Saturday morning, March 6. After coffee and muffins, Bob and Debby Kirk will lead us in discerning who we are as a church and where we feel God is calling us to grow and serve in the coming year. This retreat will not be a "planning" event. Rather it is a time to be together as a community of friends seeking to perceive and understand how the Holy Spirit is at work among us, and where that Spirit is leading. The retreat is open to all members and friends of our church. For planning purposes it would be helpful to know how many will be attending. Lunch will be served at noon for those wishing to stay for a bite to eat. Please let us know if you need child care or transportation. Both can be arranged. There is a sign up sheet on the kiosk in the Great Room.

SYG ITALIAN DINNER is on Saturday, February 27. Chef Charlie will be simmering his savory sauce all day on Saturday and rumor has it that Jim will create his delicious tiramisu for dessert. Seating is continuous from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Take-out is available at 5 PM. Invite a friend and buy you tickets today! Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Children under 5 eat for free.

AID TO HAITI: HELP THE CHILDREN. Thank you to all who have made generous donations for Baby Care kits. We will continue to collect items until Wednesday of this week. We are still in need of cloth diapers, sweaters or sweatshirts in infant sizes, and undershirts. Kits will be assembled at the Lenten Program on Wednesday, February 24. Join us at the Hill Church at 6 PM for a light supper followed by a short program and kit assembly. Log on to www.churchworldservice.org to learn more about Church World Service and Haitian Relief efforts.

CALENDAR OF THE WEEK
TODAY:
11:30 a.m. Youth Ministry Team Huddle at EWCC
11:30 a.m. Lenten brunch & story-boxes
MONDAY
7:30 p.m. AA
7:30 a.m. Sr. Bells
TUESDAY
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
2:30 p.m. Compassion Camp Planning Meeting
3:30 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry
7:30 p.m. BFIT, Trustees, & Capital Campaign Steering Comm.
WEDNESDAY
7:00 pm. Boy Scouts
6:00 p.m. Lenten program
SATURDAY
5:30 p.m. SYG Italian Dinner
NEXT SUNDAY
9:15 a.m. Sr. Bells warm-up

Announcements and Calendar for the Week of Feb. 14

THE CHURCH SCHOOL is acting out the Transfiguration story this morning using a simple shadow theater in the downstairs area of the church. Thank you to the Kalafus, John, and Fisher families for providing special snacks for us!

PANCAKES! PANCAKES! all are invited to a light pancake buffet style brunch immediately following the worship service on February 21st in the downstairs area of the church. If you would be willing to bring a fruit salad, please see Ellie Donahue. Create a Lenten Story-box; a simple tool to help you explore the events of Holy Week throughout the Lenten season. Make one for yourself and one to share. Or just come enjoy fellowship with others over a tasty brunch!

THE "SYMBOLS OF HOLY WEEK" unit begins next Sunday for the church school. Thank you to the following teachers for leading this Lenten unit: Charlie Bottieri, Kat Bottieri, Andrew Perry and Jim Nowak.

DON’T HAVE TIME TO MAKE DINNER? Chicken Pot Pies are available in the kitchen freezer for a suggested $5.00 donation. All proceeds to benefit the general fund operating expenses. Please leave your donation in the envelope on the freezer door. Thank you and enjoy!

SAVE THE DATE!!! There is an All-Church Retreat being planned for March 6th from 9 - 12 in the Great Room. More details will be forthcoming soon!

ASH WEDNESDAY IS FEB. 17. There will be a service at 7:00 at The Church of the Good Shepherd in West Woodstock, with East Woodstock and our church participating in the service as well. All are welcome.

AID TO HAITI: HELP THE CHILDREN. We will continue to collect items for Baby Care Kits for the next two weeks. Look at the display on the kiosk in the Great Room or log on to www.churchworldservice.org for a list of items. Kits will be assembled at the Lenten Program on Wednesday, February 24. Join us at the Hill Church at 6 PM for a light supper followed by a short program and kit assembly.

GIV2 Northeast takes to the road! Giv2 (give squared) is our NEW CORPS of UCC youth + adults GIVING back to our communities in response to the GIFTS of God. Together we explore our faith through SERVICE + FELLOWSHIP. Our first event will be on Tuesday, February 16 when we will prepare and serve a meal at the Community Kitchen in Putnam. Youth in grades 7-12 who would like to participate should RSVP to Jennifer John or Jim Nowak today. Meet at the East Woodstock Church at 9:00 am on Tuesday and bring a cabbage, vegetable peeler, hat and hairtie.

THANK YOU for your generous donations for last week's SOUPER BOWL of CARING! We raised $288 for the Daily Bread Food Pantry which serves families in Northeastern, CT. Reports are still coming in, but to date 6,322 groups around the country collected over 6.3 million dollars for hunger relief.

SYG ITALIAN DINNER is just two weeks away! Do you have your tickets? Have you invited a friend to dinner? Join us for Chef Charlie's famous pasta with savory sauce. Seating is continuous from 5:30 to 7:00 PM and take-out is available. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. See Debby Kirk for more information.

JUST A REMINDER, The East Woodstock Congregational Church is hosting an EMPTY BOWLS Soup Dinner next Saturday evening. The dinner is at 6:00 with a concert at 7:00, featuring our very own Hill Church Hillbillies! All proceeds to benefit Daily Bread and TEEG. Call EWCC for tickets or more information at 928-7449.

SHARE deadline will be next Sunday, Feb. 21.
WEEKLY CALENDAR
TODAY - Women’s Sunday
MONDAY
7:30 p.m. AA
TUESDAY
9:00 p.m. Giv2 at Community Kitchen
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
7:30 p.m. Council
7:30 p.m. Hillbillies
WEDNESDAY
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
7:00 pm. Ash Wednesday Service at Church of the Good Shepherd
THURSDAY
7:00 p.m. Sr. Choir
SATURDAY
6:00 p.m. Empty Bowls dinner/concert at EWCC
NEXT SUNDAY
11:30 a.m. YMT Huddle at EW
11:30 a.m. Lenten Breakfast/event

Announcements and Calendar for the Week of Feb. 7

The SOUPER BOWL OF CARING has returned!! Last year, over 13,000 church and school groups collected 10.3 million dollars for hunger relief in just one day! Over the last 6 years our youth group has collected over $5000 to feed hungry families in Northeastern CT. Please place a dollar or more in the soup kettle on your way out. Your gift will support the work of the Daily Bread Food Pantry in Putnam.

The delicious SYG ITALIAN DINNER will be held on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27. Be sure to save the date and invite a friend to join you for a meal at the Hill Church. The Cost is $10 for adults and we will serve from 5:30 to 7. Proceeds will benefit the 2010 church budget.

THE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING of the Women’s Fellowship will take place at 10:30 on Wednesday, February 10. Our program will be making Health Kits for Church World Service from items donated by the congregation over the past few months. Our goal is to make 45 kits! Plan to bring a friend then stay for lunch. Our hostesses are Mary Seney and Ruth Healy, with Nancy Horsfield providing worship. Final plans will be made for WOMEN’S SUNDAY, which will take place on Sunday, February 14 with the Rev. Susan Tarolli, new Regional Conference Minister for our region of the Connecticut Conference preaching.

The Church School will conclude the "Jesus Is Baptized" unit this morning with cooperative games in the downstairs area of the church. Thank you Ginny Viteri, Ian Farquhar, Karen Cloutier and Maria Sangiolo for leading our "Jesus Is Baptized" rotational workshops! Thank you to Christine Kalafus and Dawn Miller for game day snacks!

Church School Hosts Lenten Pancake Brunch –– all are invited to a simple pancake buffet style brunch immediately following the worship service on February 21st in the downstairs area of the church. Create a Lenten Story-box; a simple tool to help you explore the events of Holy Week throughout the Lenten season. Make one for yourself and one to share. Or just come enjoy fellowship with others over a tasty brunch!.

The Junior Choir will sing next Sunday. All singers should be at the church by 9:15 a.m., ready for warm-ups.

Egg Cartons –– need a few more for the church school please. Thank you for your donations!

2010 Lenten Program
Feed my Sheep: Caring for God’s people
The news is filled with stories of natural disasters, famine, and poverty. How can we respond as God’s people? What can we do to share God’s compassion? Where is the church at work to heal the world?
Every Wednesday during Lent the First Congregational Church of Woodstock and the East Woodstock Congregational Church will be exploring ways to faithfully respond to the needs around us. You are invited to come for a simple soup supper and then stay for a time of learning and sharing. This is a great opportunity for people of all ages – families, youth, singles – to come together around an important cause.
Please join us:
6:00 p.m. Simple soup supper
6:45 – 7:40 p.m. Program
7: 40 – 7:45 p.m. Closing worship
Lenten schedule
Wednesday, February 17th – Ash Wednesday service at Church of the
Good Shepherd. 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24th – Hill Church.
Wednesday, March 3rd – East Woodstock Congregational Church
Wednesday, March 10th – Hill Church
Wednesday, March 17th – East Woodstock Congregational Church
Wednesday, March 24th – Hill Church
We will be hearing from several local and international agencies as we learn what is being done to help God’s people and how we can participate in the healing of the world. Each has a compelling story to tell. Come and learn about
_ Heifer Project about addressing global hunger
_ One Great Hour of Sharing, the UCC’s global response to hunger, poverty, and natural disasters
_ Community Kitchen and Daily Bread, local responses to hunger
_ Global Ministries. How can local churches respond to global needs?
_ Church World Service, putting together Baby Kits for Haiti
Look in the bulletin or check on_line for the dates that each of these speakers will be with us.
Everyone is invited to bring a canned good to the Wednesday evening gatherings; the food collected will be donated to Daily Bread.

Calendar of the Week
TODAY -
11:30 a.m. "Souper" Bowl of Caring
MONDAY
9:00 a.m. Community Kitchen
7:30 p.m. Sr. Bells
7:30 p.m. AA
TUESDAY
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
7:30 p.m. Trustees
WEDNESDAY
10:30 a.m. Women’s Fellowship
7:30 p.m. Giv² Planning Team
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
THURSDAY
7:30 p.m. Outreach
NEXT SUNDAY - Women’s Sunday
7:00 p.m. SYG