Announcements and Calendar for the Week of April 17, 2011

TENEBRAE AND PRAYER VIGIL
Two things. Please come to the Tenebrae service on Thursday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. It is a most special service that many consider equal to Easter and Christmas eve.
We used to sit vigil from the end of Tenebrae service to 3:00 p.m. on Friday. I’d like to revive the practice. (I suppose there is a bit of a religious pun there.) I’ve always found it very good just to be able to sit, reflect, perhaps to read something for an hour or two when it is quiet and close.
Please consider.
There will be a sign-up sheet in Harrison Hall or you can e-mail me at setzel@snet.net. More than one person can sit vigil at a time.
Thanks,
Steve Etzel



EGGSTRA, EGGSTRA -   Our EGGSTREMELY delicious chocolate-covered coconut eggs are ready and orders can picked up after church today.  Thank you for supporting this fundraiser for our Youth Programs.   Your purchase will help provide scholarships for youth to go to Synod, Silver Lake, or Compassion Camp. Checks should be made payable to “Senior High Youth Group.”  If you did not get a chance to place an order we have two items available:  Large bars of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate and Organic coconut for holiday baking.

COMPASSION CAMP REGIASTRATION FORMS are now available! Pick one up from the SUMMERYOUTH bulletin board downstairs or download from the church website at . This outreach program is for youth who are currently in grades 6-9 and the camp will be held on the week of July 25-29.
GIV2 SPRINGS INTOACTION AT THE HOLD IN THE WALL GANG CAMP! Save the date for Wednesday, April 20 when we visit the camp and help with Spring clean up. All youth in grades 7-12 are invited and friends are welcome. Dig out your Giv2 t-shirt, pack a sandwich, and bring some work gloves and a rake! We will meet at the Ivy Glen Memorial in Eastford Center at 9:00 am and carpool. Let us know if you need a ride to our meeting site. We plan to return to town by 1:30. Speak to Andy Perry for more information and RSVP by today to reserve your spot.
YOUTH REVIVAL ON MAY 13! Save the date for this exciting event for youth at Faith Congregational Church in Hartford. Speak to Jennifer John at 860-974-3489 if you would like to reserve a spot.

Holy Week Events

Maundy Thursday, April 21: Tenebrae Service with Communion, Handbells, and Senior Choir. 7:00 p.m. This service will include a ritual handwashing commemoration of the Last Supper and the Tenebrae (Christ’s Seven last Words).

April 21—22, A Prayer Vigil, “Pray With Him”, will begin immediately following out Maundy Thursday service. It will be held continuously until 3:00 p.m. on Good Friday. Select a convenient hour to “watch with Him” in personal meditation and prayer. Bring your own meditation aides to guide you in your silent devotions.
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Good Friday, April 22: The church office will be closed. Vigil continues until 3:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday, April 24: 6:00 a.m. Sunrise service at the entrance to the Student Commons, Woodstock Academy. (The Covenant Church in the event of inclement weather).

10:00 a.m. Easter Service with music by the Handbell and Senior Choirs. There will be no coffee hour or church school today. Child care for infants and toddlers will be provided.


CALENDAR OF THE WEEK

Today
11:15 a.m. Holy Week Event downstairs: all are welcome to visit after the morning worship
11:30 a.m. Confirmation Class meets with Rev. Mike
Monday
7:30 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. Sr. Bells
Tuesday
7:00 p.m. Transition Team
7:30 p.m. Trustees
7:30 p.m. Hillbillies
Wednesday
9:00 a.m. Giv2 event
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
Thursday
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
6:15 p.m. Bell Choir warm-up
7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Service of Tenebrae, followed by Vigil
Friday
3:00 p.m. Vigil ends
Easter Sunday
6:00 a.m. Community Sunrise Service at Woodstock Academy Commons
9:00 a.m. Sr. Bell Choir warm-up
10:00 a.m. Easter service

Announcements and Calendar for the Week of April 10, 2011

SPRING CLEAN UP! The Grounds Committee would enjoy your company on Saturday, April 16th, for a morning of fun, fellowship, and some yard work. Let's meet at the church around 9 a.m., and plan to be done by noon. Bring a friend and a rake. If you can help, please let Bruce know at coffee hour or by phone (860-928-9187). Thank you!

GUIDE MY FEET LENTEN PROGRAM will conclude Wednesday, April 13 here at the Hill Church. Join us for a simple supper of soup and bread at 6 PM, followed by a short presentation, and worship. Our featured speaker this week is Katelyn Billings, a nurse who worked on a Mercy Ship in Africa last year.
EGGSTRA, EGGSTRA-- Youth group is making EGGSTREMELY delicious chocolate-covered coconut eggs for Easter. Try a sample at coffee hour today and place your order for a gift bag ($5) or even a dozen ($8). Proceeds will benefit our Summer Scholarship Fund. Your purchase will help send a youth to Synod, Silver Lake, or Compassion Camp. (Note to youth: come to our kitchen meeting at the Hill Church at 4 PM this afternoon to help with our project.)
COMPASSION CAMP REGISTRATION FORMS are now available! Pick one up from the SUMMER YOUTH bulletin board downstairs or download from the church website at www.hillchurch.org. This outreach program is for youth who are currently in grades 6-9 and the camp will be held on the week of July 25-29.
GIV2 SPRINGS INTO ACTION AT THE HOLE IN THE WALL GANG CAMP. Save the date for Wednesday, April 20 when we visit the camp and help with Spring clean up. All youth in grades 7-12 are invited and friends are welcome. Dig out your Giv2 t-shirt, pack a sandwich, and bring some work gloves and a rake! We will meet at the Ivy Glen Memorial in Eastford Center at 9:00 am and carpool. We plan to return to town by 1:30. Speak to Andy Perry for more information and RSVP by April 17 to sign up.

THIS MORNING’S CHURCH SCHOOL:
Pre-K/Kindergarten/Grades 1 & 2 –– Making palm fronds Grades 3 –– 8 - Preparation for Palm Sunday Spiritual Journey
Palm Sunday Spiritual Journey –– the church school is planning a Spiritual Journey for next Sunday. We invite you to go on the journey immediately following the worship service in the downstairs area. At the Anointing Center, feel the emotion of Jesus’ last week as you smell the fragrant spice nard, which was given to Jesus by Mary in the home of Lazarus. Taste some haroset in the Passover Center. Let go of your burdens by casting them against the wall in the Denial Center. Reflect on obedience in the Garden of Gethsamane. Give thanks and offer prayers at the end of the journey in the Prayer Center. Come and go quietly, and feel the peace of Christ.
The Junior Choir will have a brief rehearsal with the Senior Choir this morning, in the sanctuary following the worship service.

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP: The regular monthly meeting of the Women’s Fellowship will be our Guest Day & will take place on Wednesday, April 13 at 11 a.m. Guests from surrounding churches will be with us to hear Janet Kniffin from the Connecticut Food Bank speaking about “Hunger 101.” Hostesses will be Susan Waldron, Ruth Stevenson & Diane Gioco, with Deb Kirk offering worship. (PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m.!!)

SERRV: The SERRV cart will be out after church next week, so plan to check it out! All items are hand crafted by third world country artisans---beautiful gifts from talented people to shoppers of all ages! (Divine chocolate makes a sweet addition to any Easter basket!)

THANK YOU to EVERYONE who helped with the Rummage Sale!!! Those who donated rummage, sorted it, worked at the sale, packed up afterwards, and shopped at it, we appreciate you ALL!!

CALENDAR OF THE WEEK
Today
11:15 a.m. Second Hour: “Open Mike with Rev. Mike”
4:00 p.m. Youth Group Meeting (here)
Monday Community Kitchen
7:30 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. Sr. Bells
Tuesday
7:00 p.m. Council
Wednesday
11:00 a.m. Women’s Fellowship
6:00 p.m. Lenten Soup & Bread Program (here)
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts .
Thursday
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
7:00 p.m. Sr. Choir
7:00 p.m. Book Group
Friday
5:00 p.m. Daisy Scouts
Next Sunday Holy Week Event downstairs
11:15 a.m. Confirmands meet with Rev. Mike

Announcements and Calendar for the Week of April 3

THIS MORNING’S CHURCH SCHOOL:

Pre-K – Games & Dance – Leslie Sweetnam & Eva Hulme

K/Gr1/Gr2 – Storytelling – Center Classroom - Diane Peterson

Grades 3/4/5 – Cooking – Kitchen – Charlie Bottieri

Grades 6/7/8 – Music & Movement – End Classroom – Emily John


Teach Us How To Pray – In this unit we are exploring the many different ways we can pray. The children are writing prayers in their prayer journals daily, as well as during Sunday morning class time. We are using the ACTS prayer model. A-Adoration, C-Confession, T-Thanksgiving, S-Supplication (Special Prayers). It’s the perfect opportunity to initiate more family prayer time in the home!

Palm Sunday – April 17th - the church school will be experiencing a spiritual journey through Holy Week. We will begin with a palm parade in the sanctuary, and then proceed downstairs where we will rub on oils to remind us of Mary’s anointing of Jesus, taste the foods of a Passover meal, feel the pain of betrayal, and sit in the garden in prayer. Children (and adults!) are invited to be creative and come to church dressed in a simple Biblical style costume! We will also have children’s costumes available here at church. We invite the congregation to participate in the walk immediately following the worship service. It will be a very memorable experience!

Daily Bread – the church school is still collecting diapers and peanut butter for local friends in need. Please leave your donations on the table in the Harrison Hall. Thank you!


YOUTH BAKE SALE: Yes, it's that time of year again! The youth will be holding a Bake Sale in conjunction with the Rummage Sale on Friday, April 8th, from 2p - 5p. Not only has this sale become a tradition, it has helped to boost the proceeds of the Rummage Sale consistently between $100.00 - $175.00. The kids donate the money right back to Women's Fellowship! What can you do to help? Plan on whipping up some yummy creations for the bake sale table. Breads, cookies, cakes, pies and cupcakes are all popular treats. Donations of baked goods may be left in the downstairs kitchen anytime on Thursday or on Friday before the sale. What makes this sale unique? We do not price our baked goods! We ask our customers to simply offer donations which they are comfortable making. What started as an experiment several years back, has become a successful mission! Please consider baking. Questions? Either call or Email Jennifer John at 860-974-3489 or rj3j@charter.net.
CALLING YOUTH IN GRADES 5-12: We need your help at the Rummage/ Bake Sale on Friday, April 8th, from 2p - 5p. Come after school and donate a few hours of your time to help support Women's Fellowship. You may work at the bake sale table and/or assist people with their rummage sale purchases. Please call or email Jennifer John with any questions and to sign up for this event. Don't forget to bake a little something for the table, too!

RUMMAGE SALE! The SPRING RUMMAGE & WHITE ELEPHANT SALE AND YOUTH BAKE SALE (Friday only)
Coming to our church, Friday, APRIL 8, 2-5 p.m. and Saturday, APRIL 9 , from 9 a.m. -12 noon
Donations may be left in the corner of the basement until 12 noon on Thursday, APRIL 7. Remember we need people to help us pack up at noon on Saturday & we need BOXES, TOO!!


THANKS TO ALL who attended and provided lovely food for the potluck event last Sunday evening. The late afternoon sun illuminated our reflection on the history of our church over the past 50 years. Take a look at the timeline posted downstairs outside the kitchen.
The Transition Team is especially grateful to our young people, led by Katherine Bottieri, Emily John, and Brittany LaFleur. Their presentation was the highlight of the evening.

SPRING CLEAN UP! The Grounds Committee would enjoy your company on Saturday , April 16th, for a morning of fun, fellowship, and some yard work. Let's meet at the church around 9 a.m., and plan to be done by noon. Bring a friend and a rake. If you can help, please let Bruce know at coffee hour or by phone (860-928-9187). Thank you!

GUIDE MY FEET LENTEN PROGRAM continues on Wednesday, April 6 at East Woodstock. Join us for a simple supper of soup and bread at 6 PM, followed by a short presentation, and worship.

COMPASSION CAMP REGISTRATION FORMS are now available! Pick one up from the youth bulletin board downstairs or download from the church website at www.hillchurch.org. This outreach program is for youth who are currently in grades 6-9 and the camp will be held on the week of July 25-29. Register by April 8 to get the Early Bird Discount!

CALENDAR OF THE WEEK
Today
11:15 a.m. Confirmation Class
Monday
7:30 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. Sr. Bells
Tuesday
7:00 p.m. Transition Team
Wednesday
9:00 a.m. Parish Care Team
6:00 p.m. Lenten Soup & Bread Program (EW)
6:30 p.m. Deacons
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts .
Thursday
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
7:00 p.m. Sr. Choir
7:00 p.m. Book Group
7:30 p.m. Giv2
Friday
2 - 5 Rummage Sale
Saturday
9 - 12 Rummage Sale
1:00 p.m. Confirmation Class to Hartford Seminary