In his book, So You Are a Church Member, Robert Fauth writes

Volume 121, Issue 8
September 2014
In his book, So You Are a Church Member, Robert Fauth
writes about the faith statement of our wider church
the United Church of Christ. He writes: "Perhaps the
two most important words in a person's vocabulary are
"I believe." For what you really believe determines
what you are and what you do. If you believe that you
are only an animal, you will behave like an animal. On
the other hand, if you believe that you are called to be
more than an animal, that there is a human and divine
meaning in and around your life, that you have been
created by God, and that God is trying to teach you how
to live, then you will hold life reverently and try with all
your mind and strength to find God's will for your life."
The last revision, adopted at the time of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the formation of the United Church of
Christ in 1982, is one that we should read.
"We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we
testify:
You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life
and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our
common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in
covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races.
You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship to be your servants in the service of
others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism
and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust you, forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for
justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end."
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. May we continue to believe in our awesome God! Amen.
With Christ’s Love,
Pastor Sheila
SEPTEMBER USHERS
7- Diaconate
14 - Eluna Bicette, Susan Harrell,
Joanna Hollis, Kay Koch
21- Steve Bass, Susan DiAmicis,
Frank Mark, Ralph Tarricone
28 - Simone Barton, Deborah Chea,
Charlotte Snowden, Sabine Wiesbauer
Pearl Rosner, Rosemarie Spencer,
Nancy Webster, Rev. Allen Hollis,
family and friends; Holly Dozier,
McMath's family baby Scarlet;
Meaghan Parrish, George & Joan Gerson; Nancy
& Jerry Reser; Hilda Percy; Eva Hines; Ruth
Dietel, family and friends; Jane Louise's friend
Justin L.; Judy Mooers and her nephew Aaron;
Carol Stuyvesant; Ron; and Justice & peace
efforts everywhere
John Dietel passed away on the evening of
Sunday, Aug. 31, at Select Hospital. A Memorial
Service will be held at a later date.
Eleanor Law's new address: 3330 Templeton Gap
Road #63, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
SEPTEMBER
Mission & Outreach
OCTOBER
WAMM
NOVEMBER
Women’s Fellowship
DECEMBER
Christian Education
JANUARY
Fellowship
FEBRUARY
Council
MARCH
Justice & Peace
APRIL
Diaconate
MAY
Trustees
JUNE
Men’s Fellowship
Duties for Fellowship Hour include set-up (coffee,
punch, decorations if appropriate) and solicitation and
placement of food donations. The first Sunday of the
month is Birthday Sunday and a cake should be
provided - either homemade or purchased. It ALSO
includes clean-up, which requires that any dishes and
coffee makers be washed and put away, and that the
tables in Ellis Hall are cleared and wiped down.
The team listed for the month is not required to do
all of the above by themselves, only to make sure that
is done for the month assigned.
Thank You Note from Fran Whitney
What a delightful birthday luncheon.
My sincere thanks to Alice, Muriel, Joanna,
Helena, Judith and Jane.
Also, want to express my appreciation
to Hilda, Nancy & John, Jan & Frank for the
transportation to and from our church. What
a thoughtful church to make the
arrangements for me to keep coming. How
very fortunate I am to belong to such a loving
and caring church. Many thanks.
Love, Fran Whitney
Women's Fellowship Meetings
September 9, 2014 - Board Meeting at 10:00 AM, Devotions Jan Mark
September 16, 2014 - General Meeting at 10:30 AM, Devotions - Barbara
Gruber; Program - Carolyn McElroy; Hostesses - Joanna Hollis & Susan
DiAmicis.
All ladies of the church are invited to attend our meetings and social events.
Bring a brown bag lunch. The hostesses will provide dessert and coffee.
TIME CAPSULE ITEMS
All of our ministry teams are being encouraged to submit items for our time capsule.
The time capsule is part of our 120th Anniversary Celebration and will take place on
Thanksgiving Sunday. Items collected will be part of what is sealed away for the
future. Items can range in nature.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to share a bit of history for the future!!!
JOIN US FOR THE END HUNGER WALK!
CROS Ministries End Hunger Walk
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Holy Trinity Place, West Palm Beach
Registration 2PM, Walk 3PM
Walk - Pledge - Pray
For 36 years, CROS has provided food and basic needs assistance to people living
in food insecure low income households in South Florida.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM
What is Stewardship of Time and Talent?
It is the wise and responsible use of the special gifts God has entrusted to
each of us. It is believing that God has created each one of us with unique
abilities and attributes—including our personalities, interests, motivations, life
experiences, talents and skills, hopes and dreams—which make us who we
are. We are “one of a kind” creations of God.
Why is This Important?
Our lives have real meaning when we use our gifts in accordance with God’s
will. As we grow in stewardship, we grow in our relationship with God. We
grow in our ability to hear and accept God’s call and to let our life be guided
by God’s will, not our own desires and impulses.
How Can I Be a Good Steward of My Time and Talents?
We are provided with many opportunities each day to be good stewards; to use our abilities and skills
to enrich our own lives and the lives of those around us. We just need to be aware of the choices we
make and the significance of our decisions.
No gift is greater than time, and yet, nothing is so easy to waste. Good stewardship of time doesn’t
mean being always busy. Time spent in prayer, nurturing relationships with our family and friends or
enjoying the beauty of the world is time well spent. In fact, taking “time out” to nourish ourselves
spiritually may be the best way to deepen our relationship with God.
In short, put God at the center of your life.
Blessings on your stewardship journey!
Adapted from the article Reflection on Time Talent and Treasure, St. Ignatius Episcopal Church
WE’RE HAVING A PARTY FOR UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
on Sunday, November 23 to celebrate our 120th anniversary and
what do we bring to a party – a gift. We will all have the opportunity
to give a gift (or gifts) to the church. Each board of the church will
be coming up with a list of items that you can purchase. For
example: a ream of paper for the office, an anthem for the choir,
cups for communion, crafts for Sunday School, etc. Stay tuned for
more information as it becomes available.
JEWELRY FOR THE BAZAAR, ANYONE?
Ilsa Dickinson and Julie Smith, faithful stewards of the jewelry section at
the bazaar, are looking to get a head start on all of the bagging, sorting,
repairing, cleaning, and pricing of the jewelry. Sales from the jewelry
section at the bazaar go to support the music ministry of the church. So
if you have already gone through your jewelry, you don’t have to wait
until the week of the bazaar to unload it. Ilsa or Julie will be glad to
take it at any time.
LIBRARY NEWS
Hi Readers! Fall is now almost upon us. Now is a good
time to get to those books you were meaning to read. First,
we thank those of you who have donated books this
summer. Let’s push it up a notch on our Reading for
Renewal. Our copies of these books are on bookshelves.
There are other choices (we can’t afford to buy them all).
If you have a copy of any of the following Reading for
Renewal books would you be able to loan or donate them?
Aftertaste: a novel in five courses by Meredith Mileti; An
Altar in the World: a geography of faith by Barbara BrownTaylor; Driftless by David Rhodes; The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom; The Life List by
Lori Nelson Spielman; The Long Way Home by Karen McQuestion; Orphan Train by Christina
Baker Kline; Proof of Heaven: a Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife by Eben
Alexander; The Rockin’ Chair by Steven Manchester; Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld;
Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots by Jessica Soffer; The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan;
When God Winks At You: how God speaks directly to you through the power of coincidence
by Squire Rushnell; Cooked: a natural history of transformation by Michael Pollan; The
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck; A Place at the Table: a novel by Susan Rebecca White;
Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity by Ronald J. Sider.
Thank you and keep on reading!
FAMILY PROMISE VOLUNTEERS
ARE ALWAYS NEEDED AND ALWAYS APPRECIATED!
The week of September 7th is Family Promise week. If you would
like to volunteer, please contact Judith Mooers and Jane
Grandusky. All are welcome! You will find helping out with this
program a rewarding experience. Please let one of them know you
would like to volunteer.
Note from Fran Whitney
Dear Congregational Church, What a delightful birthday luncheon. My sincere thanks to Alice,
Muriel, Joanna, Helena, Judith and Jane. Also I want to express my appreciation to Hilda,
Nancy, John, Jan and Frank for transportation to and from our church - what a thoughtful
church to make the arrangements for me to keep coming. How very fortunate I am to belong to
such a loving and caring church. Many Thanks,
Love, Fran Whitney.
Union Congregational United Church of Christ
5088 Summit Boulevard
West Palm Beach, Florida 33415
(561) 686-0330
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
SWEET SEPTEMBER NEWS FOR: