WARNING!!!!!! UPCOMING RUMMAGE & WHITE ELEPHANT SALE!
September is here, the children are back to school & it’s time for the Annual Fall Cleaning adventure! Clean the closets & drawers, straighten the garage & attic. Sort it all & donate all unwanted, good items to the semi-annual RUMMAGE & WHITE ELEPHANT SALE. It will take place on Friday, October 1 from 2 -5 p.m. & on Saturday, October 2 from 9-12 noon. Call Susan Waldron 923-2887 to offer your help to sort, sell or pack up after the sale. Donations may be left in the Great Room closet AFTER September 26, until 12 noon on Thursday, September 30.. PLEASE RESPECT THESE TIMES! Remember, NO computers, printers or related items. All items should be clean & have some life left in them. Some of the young people in the church will conduct a BAKE SALE during this time. Support our youth----BAKE & BUY!!!!! Bring a friend and support the Women’s Fellowship Rummage Sale?
WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP TO DO HYGIENE KITS
Women's Fellowship will be creating Hygiene Kits in February to send to Church World Service to be used when disaster sticks in our country & around the world. We are asking for your help to collect all the items needed. Each month we will collect a different item. September's item is a hand towel, approximately 16" X 28". In the upcoming months we will be asking for:
✓ Washcloths, dark colors are good
✓ Wide Tooth Combs
✓ Nail Clippers
✓ Bath Size Bars of Soap, individually wrapped
✓ Toothbrushes, individually wrapped
✓ Standard Size Band-aids
All items can be left in the basket in the Great Room marked "CWS."
CHRISTMAS ON THE HILL, NOVEMBER 20, 2010! Each Sunday until the Christmas Fair, we will highlight some of the booths at the Fair, their needs, what you can expect and what you can do to help!
The SILENT AUCTION has become a major part of our FAIR under the able hands of Barbara Wright. Did you clean Grandma’s attic or Uncle George’s basement? Find any “uniques” or “treasures?” Call Barbara, 928-4068, if you aren’t sure, but please do help her by donating an item or a service to the SILENT AUCTION. Plan to be here on November 20 to bid!!! It’s fun!
REGISTER for YOUTH GROUP and pick up your ~mystery gift~. All youth in grades 7-12 should fill out a yellow registration card and turn it in to Ginny Viteri or Charlie Bottieri today after church.
YOUTH GROUP RALLY will be from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Hill Church on Sunday, September 19. All youth in grades 7-12 are invited for our "Paddle/Racquet Olympics" plus grilled hotdogs and sundaes. Invite a friend and come check out our plans for the year!
HELP WANTED! Youth group is planning a bike trip on Saturday, Sept 25 and we need a few more drivers who have bike racks. Join us for a smooth, scenic ride along the RI shore. We will meet here at the church at 12:30 and return by 5:30. Speak to Kelly Bottieri or Call Debby Kirk at 860-377-2675 if you are able to assist.
HOSTS NEEDED! The Roseland B&B weekend is getting closer by the day! If you are able to be a host family over the Oct. 15 - 16 weekend, please sign up on the kiosk. There is also a sign up sheet for those who would like to help with the dinner we serve to the crafters. Any and all help is appreciated!
CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS
Summer is past! Fall has arrived. Today is a day of new beginnings for our church school! “Jesus and the Children” will be our first unit of rotational workshops for the new church school year.
In this unit the children will:
• hear the story of Jesus welcoming the children;
• experience being a valued part of the faith community;
• see that we are all, young or old, children of God;
• see that every person is someone of worth;
• see that children have things to teach adults.
This morning’s church school: Jesus and the Children Mural!
Children will begin creating their own life size portraits on cardboard to be placed around an image of Jesus on one of the walls in the downstairs area. Our project will evolve over the coming weeks, and will serve as a wonderful reminder of Jesus’ welcoming presence always with us!
THANK YOU to our current workshop leaders: Laurie Trudeau, Kelly Bottieri and Jennifer John. Future rotation leaders include Cheri Swenson, Ginny Viteri, Karen Cloutier, and Maria Sangiolo. We give thanks to all who have accepted the call to lead our children and youth in the coming year. We pledge to be with you on your faith journey and ensure that your teaching environment is filled with hope and the resources necessary for learning. We affirm that each of you is a precious gift from God and we thank you for sharing your special gifts!
Heifer Project News – the church school will be collecting their Sunday morning offering for Heifer Project International again this year. Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. With gifts of livestock and training, they help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways.
Each year the church school focuses on a new Heifer animal and how that particular animal helps a family in need. This year we will learn about PIGS! If you see our piggy bank hoofing around the church, please feed him with a few coins!
Heifer Gift Cards 8 Cards = 1 PIG!
Each year Heifer Gift cards are available for purchase during the month of December for Christmas gift giving. Exciting news! Heifer Gift Cards are now available year round for all occasion gift giving! See Ellie Donahue if you wish to purchase one. They are only $15 each! Cards will not only cheer your recipient, but will help us purchase pigs to help families in need! One pig costs $120. 8 cards = 1 PIG!
CALENDAR OF THE WEEK
TODAY
Homecoming Sunday - Church School & Junior Choir begin
3 - 6 p.m. Farewell Party for Jamie
MONDAY
7:30 p.m. Bell Choir
7:30 p.m. AA
TUESDAY
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
7:30 p.m. Council
WEDNESDAY
7:00 p.m. GIV² Planning Team
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
THURSDAY
7:00 p.m. Sr. Choir
NEXT SUNDAY
11:15 a.m. Confirmation Class
5:30 p.m. Youth Rally/Cookout
Today from 3—6 p.m., our church is holding a farewell party for Jamie and Martha at the Mansion at Bald Hill. Prior reservation was requested. If you have any questions, please see Sam Lyman.
***
Jamie will be performing his last official duties as minister of The First Congregational Church of Woodstock on September 26, 2010. Everyone is cordially invited to attend a special “Coffee Hour” in the Great Room immediately following this church service. Please plan to attend as we celebrate our 35 years with Jamie, enjoy the memories, and the warm fellowship. Hope you can join us for this special occasion.
This is not a goodbye,
simply
Au revoir
