Announcements and Calendar for the Week of Feb. 10, 2013

WE ARE HONORED to have the Rev. Mary Lou Howson as our Guest Preacher today. Mary Lou has served churches in CT since 1982, primarily in Fairfield County. She is recently retired and is a certified spiritual director and retreat leader. She is also the chaplain to the Connecticut Women of the UCC. She and her husband, Jim, currently live in Southbury, CT.

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP NOTES: U.C.C. churches around the denomination take this opportunity to honor women in our churches.

It is also the time when our Women’s Fellowship selects one or two women in our midst who will be recognized at the Annual Meeting of CT Women of the UCC in April.

Women’s Fellowship will meet to assemble School Kits on Wednesday, February 13 at 10:30 a.m. Barbara Child will be our hostess & offer worship. Call Service Coordinator, Lynn Singleton at 860-963-7229 for more information.

Next Sunday, February 17 will be SCOUT SUNDAY. Come to support Boy Scout Troop 27 that we sponsor & all people involved in scouting.

GIFT CARD bonus earnings for the church until Feb 15: Walmart- an extra 3%, Caribou Coffee- an extra 1 %, Bath and Body Works - we earn up to 13% and Sephora jewlery - we earn 5% and it can be used at the Sephora counter in JC Penneys. Gift card order will go out Feb 11th and 25th. Get your orders in!

COUNCIL: The next regular meeting of the Church Council will be held on Tuesday Feb. 12 at 7PM. All committees and boards should be represented.

Christian Education for Children and Youth By Ellie Donahue

Infant/Toddler Childcare - Ruthie Kimball. Child care for infants and toddlers is located on the lower level. Various signs are posted to direct you to our colorful, spacious room. A speaker is located in the room if you wish to linger awhile with your child and listen to the morning worship service as well!

Pre-K through Grade 6

REBEKAH –– Music With Maria Sangiolo –– Learning songs to help us be everything God wants us to be.

Grades 7- 12

PEER PRESSURE –– Downstairs Teen Room –– Kate Donahue Murdock

This morning’s topic- Be a Leader, Not a Follower! During coffee hour, kids are invited to linger awhile in the classroom for fellowship and their favorite board game.

THE CHURCH SCHOOL IS SEEKING DONATIONS

THANK YOU Steve Etzel for taking action and resolving our water problem in the downstairs’’ classroom! The church school is MOST APPRECIATIVE! We are excited to be able to use the room again and are hoping to find a COUCH AND COMFY CHAIR to add to it. If anyone has a couch or comfy chair in fairly decent shape that you are looking to find a home for, please see Ellie Donahue. Thank you so much!

PEACE POLE PICTURE! –– In conclusion to our Peacemakers unit in January, the church school gathered round the peace pole on the front lawn for a photo. Check out our photo near the elevator!

NEXT SUNDAY: Lower Grades - Rebekah Unit - Games/ Storytelling –– Meg Bishop

Upper Grades - “Stand Firm!” a continuation of our Peer Pressure unit –– Kate Donahue Murdock

Don’t forget to “LIKE” us on Facebook! Look for Children On The Hill!

THE ASH WEDNESDAY service will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd at 7:00 p.m. and our church is invited to join in. Sue Foster and Pastor Brian will be participating, and The Rev. Dr. Debbie Pallatto-Fontaine will be offering the meditation.

Lenten Programs:

This year the Woodstock Hill Church and the East Congregational Church will be doing a slightly different, shared Lenten Program.

As in the past, we plan to meet the five Wednesday evenings during Lent, from 6 – 8pm. And, as in the past, we will share a light supper of bread and soup, made by the deacons of both churches, followed by the program.

But, this year, the programs will take place in individuals’ homes. We will begin the Lenten programs with two sessions at Rev Sue Foster’s home. Sue will be facilitating the discussion both evenings on the theme of "hospitality"; the hospitality of God, the (often) lack of chances that we have to actually sit and talk with one another, the chance to know and be known. The third program will be an in-home service at Bev & Earl Brazeal’s and the last two programs will be a discussion on “Conversations on Being a Christian” hosted by Jock & Jean McClellan and facilitated by Bob Kirk. Please come and join us for any or all of this year’s Lenten Programs.



Schedule and locations (6-8 PM on Wednesday evenings):



2/20; “Hospitality-1”, Sue Foster’s home
2/27; “Hospitality-2”, Sue Foster’s home
3/06; “In-home Service”, Bev & Earl Brazeal’s
3/13; “Conversations on Being a Christian-1”, Jock & Jean McClellan’s
3/20; “Conversations on Being a Christian-2”, Jock & Jean McClellan’s


CALENDAR OF THE WEEK


Today

9:15 a.m. Adult Sunday School

1 - 4 p.m. Boy Scout Court of Honor

Monday Community Kitchen

7:30 p.m. AA

7:30 p.m. Bell Choir

Tuesday

7:00 p.m. Council

Wednesday

10:30 a.m. Women’s Fellowship

7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service at Church of the Good Shepherd

7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts

Thursday

7:00 p.m. Trustees

Next Sunday Scout Sunday

9:15 a.m. Adult Sunday School