Announcements and Calendar for the Week of Jan. 22, 2012

CHURCH NOTES

THANK YOU to all who sent clothing donations for Cradles to Crayons! Our Youth Group trip to the Day of Interfaith Service featured service work at this non-profit which prepared 55,000 custom orders of clothing, shoes, toys, and books for disadvantaged children in the Boston area last year.

SYG CROSSROADS MEETING will be held tonight from 7 to 8:30 at the East Woodstock Congregational Church. All youth in grades 9-12 are welcome. Take some time for ‘chillaxin’ with snacks, games, and conversation. We will have info about the NYE trip so bring your deposit and registration forms.

SOUPER BOWL OF HUNGER will be held on Sunday, February 5. It’s simple! Just place one dollar (or more) in the soup kettle as you leave church. This money will go directly to the Daily Bread Food Pantry to help hungry families in Northeastern CT.

SAVE THE DATE!!! The 9th Annual SYG ITALIAN DINNER is set for Saturday, February 25. Mark your calendars, invite a friend, and purchase your tickets for this delicious meal. Dinner will be served continuously from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the Hill Church and proceeds benefit the 2012 budget for both East Woodstock and the Hill Church. Speak to Charlie Bottieri or one of the high school students to get your tickets.

NAME TAGS: If you have misplaced your name tag, please sign the sheet in Harrison Hall so another one can be made for you.

2012 OFFERING ENVELOPES are available in the Narthex for those who have requested them. Please pick up yours today.

YOU ARE INVITED…
Over the next months, the Search Committee will provide several opportunities for you to share your concerns and hopes for the future of our church. Your first chance comes in a Second Hour discussion after worship on Sunday, January 29th. As we work on our Local Church Profile, we want to hear your questions, your expectations, and your ideas for the next few decades of our church. Please plan to come on January 29th with your thoughts. We want to develop a full description of our church, one that encapsulates the values that we share, the mission that we hold, and the prayerful concerns of all.
CALL TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH:
The Annual meeting of the First Congregational Church of Woodstock is called for today, in the meetinghouse of the church with roll call at 11:15am and the following agenda:
- To accept the reports of the Pastor, Clerk, Boards and Committees and the Treasurer for the year 2011;
- To act upon the report of the Nominating Committee;
- To receive and act upon Budgets for Local and Wider for 2012
- To remember those of our membership who have died since our last annual meeting;
- To hear the report of the Church Historian;
- To act upon any other business proper to come before the meeting. Diane K. Miller, clerk

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
The nursery volunteer today is Lisa Nowak.
Today is the last of three Sundays studying David, The Boy:
Preschoolers, kindergartners, and grade 1 conduct science experiments with Laurie Trudeau;
Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5 play games with Kate Murdock; and
Grades 6, 7, & 8 enjoy the story/video rotation with Ellie Donahue.

Throughout January, we will continue collecting canned goods for Daily Bread, so please bring items to contribute. Thank you!

DAVID, THE BOY
Downstairs, we have enjoyed learning about David and how God used this courageous, creative boy. Last week, our initial, large group meeting learned about how God gave David a variety of gifts to use for different purposes—to defend and protect, to compose and play music, and to write poetry. This week we’ll learn what boyhood traits later helped David to be a good king. The children have thought about what or who their “Goliaths” are and what their God given gifts are.

Next week the children will have a communion education event.

JAM FOR JAN: A Fundraiser for Jan Arcand, Saturday, January 28 Lets make things easier for Jan as she continues to recover!!! Please join us for an evening of fellowship at 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 28 at the Hill Church for a simple dinner, silent auction of themed baskets, and uplifting entertainment by the Hill Church Hillbillies. A free will offering will be taken at dinner. Please RSVP to the church office at 860-928-7405 so we have a count for the dinner.

You may also choose to make a direct donation by writing a check to Jan’s daughter, Rachael Arcand and sending it to her at:
684 Hampton Road, Apt 2, Pomfret Center, CT 06259.

Snow date will be January 29. Thanks so much for your generous support!

CALENDAR OF THE WEEK
Today - ANNUAL MEETING RIGHT AFTER CHURCH
11:15 a.m. Junior Choir
7:00 p.m. STG Crossroads Meeting at EW
Monday
7:00 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. Sr. Bells
Wednesday
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
Thursday
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
Saturday
5:00 p.m. Jan Arcand Benefit