Calendar and Announcemets for the Week of Sept. 25, 2011

SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES: In Sunday School today, we begin the "Joshua Leads the People" rotational unit and focus on Joshua leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Our rotations for this unit are Art, Cooking, Music & Movement, and Science. Parents, please check the rotational schedule posters for where to meet your children downstairs after the service. During coffee hour, please trace your footprints for our Jordan Riverbed. We would like the whole church family to be represented on this journey in learning about courage, faith, and listening for God's voice.

SUNDAY SCHOOL STAFF: Karen Cloutier's name was inadvertently left off the Sunday School Staff listing in last week's bulletin. Our humble apologies to Karen.

NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL LOGO! In case you have been wondering about the colorful, new logo for Sunday School, it was created by our artistically talented CE Coordinator, Karen Cloutier. She has also published a very professional looking monthly Sunday School Newsletter for families. Look for the September edition on the Kiosk. Thank you, Karen, we look forward to more of your creative endeavors!

CHURCH NURSERY: If you haven't had a chance yet to stop in and see the amazing transformation in the nursery, please do so. Thank you to the CE Team for their efforts to create a warm and inviting space for the littlest in our midst.

SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION: If you haven't already registered your child/children for Sunday School, please stop by the table in Great Room after church to fill out a registration form.

JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP: Open to youth in Grades 5-8
Our first scheduled event will be the fall Junior Youth Bake Sale held in conjunction with the Rummage Sale on Friday, September 30, from 2p-6:30p at the church. This is a drop off event. Come after school and plan to help sell baked goods and assist with the Rummage Sale as needed. We will have time for pizza, play, and some future planning after the sale! Don't forget to bring a baked good or two to sell. RSVP to Jennifer and Robert John at 860-974-3489 or Email: rj3j@charter.net

ATTENTION ALL BAKERS: On Friday, September 30th, the Junior Youth Group will be holding a Bake Sale once again in conjunction with the fall Rummage Sale. Please plan to bake an item or two, and leave your goodies in the downstairs kitchen clearly labelled. It would be very helpful if you can include an ingredient list. People often ask what "is in" an item before purchasing; this holds true especially for people with food allergies. Think autumn when deciding what to bake...all those yummy treats we look forward to at this time of year! Proceeds from the Bake Sale will go to support our Women's Fellowship. If you have any questions or wish to sign up to bake, please call Jennifer John or Email: rj3j@charter.net

USHERS, COFFEE HOUR HOSTS, AND LAY READERS NEEDED FOR THE FALL AND WINTER!!! Please sign up on the calendar in Harrison Hall if you would like to participate in these very important roles!

ROSELAND B&B: I need a Host family for 1 more couple. Is anyone available to have someone in their home Oct 14-15 for Roseland Cottage?
Also, I will need help for the dinner; preparing and setting up on Friday morning October 14th at 9am and then help serving on Saturday Oct 15th 4pm to 7:30. Please sign up in Harrison Hall or speak to Cheryl Swenson.

RUMMAGE, RUMMAGE, RUMMAGE!
Donations can be left in the basement, beginning today, until Thursday, Sept. 29 at 12 noon. No computers, printers or other electronics, please! Sale is Friday, Sept. 30, 2-5 p.m. & Saturday, Oct. 1, 9-12 noon. Plan to donate, help to sort & help box up on Saturday at 12 noon. There is a wedding for Deb Gray’s daughter later in the day so many hands will make light work!

THERE WILL BE A Board of Outreach Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 27th at 7:00 p.m.
HYGIENE KITS: During the month of September, Women's Fellowship will be collecting hand towels (16 inches by 28 inches), for the hygiene kits that will be sent to Church World Service in Maryland. You can leave your donations in the basket marked CWS which is located in the Harrison Room. Each month until Feb. 2012, we will be asking for a different item to be donated, so please check Share on a monthly basis for this information. Thanks for your donations.

NEXT SUNDAY, October 2nd, is the date for our World Café experience in Harrison Hall, planned by the Transition Team. (World Café is a small-group, roundtable model for discussion in large gatherings.) The Big Question for the day is “What does God want from our church in the next 5 years?” Please think upon it, pray about it, and come with your ideas and responses next Sunday afternoon, 3 to 5:30 p.m. There are no wrong answers!

Child care will be provided (please call Ellen, our secretary, if you need this service – 860.928.7405), older children are welcome to participate as Café-ers, and light refreshments will be served. Do come for this enjoyable exchange. Your input will be used by the Search Committee in its deliberations and planning for the selection of our new settled minister. Call 860.928.9187 with questions (Sam Lyman).

SIMPLY SMILES MISSION TRIP to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation Project in South Dakota is being planned for August 18-25, 2012. Church members from East Woodstock, the Hill, and the Gilead Church in Hebron are collaborating to sponsor this trip. The minimum age to participate is 14 years old. Adults are also welcome! Mornings will be spent repairing and/or building homes and afternoons running the summer camp. Each day of camp will be based around a different Lakota value. An information session will be led by Rev. Pete Allen tonight at 7 PM at the East Woodstock Church.
BELLS FOR BEGINNERS: Introductory Handbell Clinic will be offered on four Monday evenings, beginning on September 26. Children in grades 3 and up as well as interested adults are welcome. We will meet from 6:45 to 7:30 PM. No previous experience necessary! Speak to Debby Kirk if you would like to try this musical adventure.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY meets on the last Tuesday of each month from 3:30 to 4:30 PM in the church library. Join us for our first fall meeting on Tuesday, September 27. All Ages and skill levels are welcome! We have an assortment of yarn and several experienced knitters who will be glad to help get you started. Create a prayer shawl that can be given as an expression of caring for friends who are sick or grieving or those who have a achieved a special milestone. Other projects include helmet liners for soldiers and hats for chemo patients.
Giv2 is our program of local outreach for youth in grades 7-12 and adults. All interested adults are invited to our Planning Team meeting on Thursday, September 29 at 7:00 PM at the Hill Church. We need folks to assist with food purchase, driving, photography, and work supervision at our sites. Our first event is scheduled for Sunday, October 23. Save the date and plan to get involved with trail maintenance at Camp Nahaco Park in Eastford.

COMPASSION CAMP RECOGNITION SUNDAY is next week on October 2. All campers and staff members are invited to wear their camp shirt and participate. We will show our 2011 video (featuring YOU!) and share reflections from our amazing week of service.

CALENDAR OF THE WEEK
Today
11:30 a.m. Second Hour
7:00 p.m. Simply Smiles Info Meeting - @ EW
Monday
6:45 p.m. Bells for Beginners
7:00 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. Sr. Bells
Tuesday
3:30 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry
7:00 p.m. Board of Outreach
Wednesday
7:00 p.m. YMT
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
Friday
2 - 5 p.m. Rummage Sale
5:00 p.m. Wedding rehearsal
Saturday
9 - 12 Rummage Sale
2:00 p.m. Gray/Avery wedding