Sept 30, 09

Your Church Council is considering engaging in a three year discernment process facilitated by co-pastors fromWashington, and produced by the Center for Parish Development in Chicago. Normally quite expensive, the retired clergy couple are offering their time for hospitality and materials. They are looking for 4-5 churches in Western Montana with whom to work with. First Congregational has been invited to consider this intentional journey of faithful renewal and transformation. This is a process, not a program, designed to be a Lay led process. It is Biblically based and dependent on small group study. The goal is to determine what God's mission is for our church and develop our own process to respond. If you would like to learn more about this process, please visit our website UCC.org or stop by the church office to take a look at the manual, or click here Invitation to the Journey to download the document. We can also email it to you. The deadline to respond to this invitation is December 1. Comments, questions, or concerns may be addressed to our Members at Large Patty Cetto and Stacy Hopkins, who will share feedback with the Church Council.

SEEKING A FEW FAITHFUL PRAYER WARRIORS

One of the loveliest ministries in our church is our prayer chain. We respond to your requests, holding our dear ones and others in brief prayer daily. We upgrade our prayer list weekly or as needed, passing the names and concerns along confidentially. Currently we have seven pray-ers in our chain, holding 30 persons in prayer. Our chain consists of June Rovero, coordinator, Elizabeth Reid, Patti Hebein, Lorri Keith, Helen Hurlbert, Barbara Hughes, and Rita Ginter. If you would like to join this ministry, let Rev. Jim know. It only requires a phone and a pledge to spend some minutes in prayer each day. So this ministry can be done from your home and when you choose. We do not have meetings. Prayer works, for both those offering and receiving the prayers. It strengthens all of us. Consider joining our prayer chain.

MOM'S GROUP MEETS AGAIN

Moms Supporting Moms has kicked off for the fall! We welcome any moms to our group, especially those of preschool age children. Jill Skinner is our primary childcare provider during our mom's group as well as our fabulous volunteers from the church. Mom's Group meets in the basement youth room of the church on the first and third Mondays of the month. It is a group of welcoming and supporting mom's, meeting to discuss parenting and relationship issues.

CHILDREN'S CHOIR BEGINS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

Janet Koostra will be leading a CHILDREN'S CHOIR for ages 5 and older. The first rehearsal is this Sunday, October 4, from 10:40-11:00 A.M. in Sunday School room 1. Rehearsals will continue each Sunday, from 10:40-11:00 A.M. in classroom 1. Please call Janet Koostra at 727-8443 if you have any questions. Thank you.

Senior Youth Group (grades 6-12) will be focusing on COMMUNITY for the month of October. They will meet on Wednesday, October 7th, from 6:15-7:30 P.M. for What Would You Do, an activity that focuses on teamwork.
For a complete line up of our Wednesday Night Live!, please see info below...

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE! OFF AND ROLLING

With an average of over 60 people from ages nursery to senior adults, we are off to a great start on Wednesday evenings. The evening starts with supper at 5:30 P.M. (freewill offering), then singing, before breaking into the following small groups:
Nursery (ages 0-2) provided by Jill Skinner & helper

Seedlings & Sprouts (age 3- grade 2) led by Marilyn Brasch & Tom Skerritt *We can use help!*

God's Funmakers (grades 3-5) led by Janet Koostra & June Rovero

Junior & Senior High Youth (grades 6-12) led by our "Dream Team" of Kristen Cates, Melissa Zimmer,

Sami Pack, Luke Walawander, & Lana Entsminger!

Confirmation Class (UCC grades 8 & 9) taught by Rev. Jim Petersen

The Adult small group is using an exciting resource to engage our brains and our hearts. It is a series of short videos
called "NOOMA." (a word play of the Greek word pneuma, translated "spirit" or "breath."). More studies to come.

If you would like to host a simple dinner, and give the Methodists a break, please let Rev. Jim Petersen know.

Imagine Another World Is Possible

The Neighbors In Need Offering ("NIN"), which we will receive this Sunday, October 4^th, supports the UCC's ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Our dollars sustain UCCTakeAction.org, which offers resources, news updates, and action alerts on a broad spectrum of justice issues. Members of the UCC Justice and Peace Action Network (a network of thousands) continues policy advocacy work on issues such as voting rights, immigrations, the federal budget, health care, hate crimes, civil liberties, and environmental justice. The offering also supports the Council of American Indian Ministries (CAIM). Today there are 20 UCC congregations on reservations and one multi-tribal congregation in Minneapolis, MN. These churches and their pastors are supported by CAIM. This is our annual opportunity to pool our donations with other UCC congregations to fight injustice in the United States. Envelopes are included in this newsletter. With your generosity and Neighbors In Need, another world is possible!

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS & ROOM PICK UP

Children will begin in Sunday school this Sunday, October 4, and will be making "Worry Dolls" as a symbol of our prayer relationship with God. We will use these as a fund raiser for Christhoper, the child we help support through Global Ministries. He is in the 3^rd grade and lives in the Philippines. We will also write letters to him.

*Pre-School; room 5

*Grades K-5; room 4

*Middle School; room 7

In an email from Betty Murillo, who connects our church to Christhoper, she tells us they are safe in Dumaguete City. If you are watching television and getting news from the Philippines, what you see are victims of a very strong typhoon ONDOY that has brought millions of Filipinos to a nightmare. Dumaguete City is located in the central part of the Visayas and is generally protected by the other islands. She thanks us for our prayers, and will keep us informed, as there are two other typhoons the area!

FALL DINNER GROUPS

DON'T MISS this great opportunity for good conversation and savory cuisine!!! Sign-up has begun for these small potluck groups. Groups are formed from the sign-up sheets. If you are interested, you may also call the church office. Hosts coordinate with their guests. Two rounds are held; one in the fall and one in the winter. A final "celebratory" event is held in the spring for a grand finale. The fall round of dinners will be held in October and November.

CLOWNING AROUND

FALL YOUTH RETREAT, OCTOBER 23-25

Come join us in exploration through Clown Ministry! Bring a friend for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and fantastic friends as we explore our faith and how to share in worship, games, and of course, the ever popular dance! All youth in grades 7-12 are invited to United Community Church in Colstrip, MT. The retreat starts on Friday, October 23 at 5:00 P.M. and will end on Sunday, October 25 at 12:00 P.M. Registration deadline is October 16. The $45 registration fee is paid from the Bertsche Memorial. Please call the church office or Kim Harris at (406) 855-4317.

Chauffeurs and Chaperones are needed!

EQUAL EXCHANGE FAIR-TRADE COFFEE, ETC

On October 4, we will begin offering you the best of organic, good-tasting coffee, cocoa and teas during coffee hour the first Sunday of every month. We need to let you know that coffee prices are going up with the next shipment. This means that this will be the last chance to buy at these prices. AFTER THE NEW SHIPMENT COMES IN, PRICES WILL BE RAISED BY APPROXIMATELY $.50 with the exception of candy bars which will be raised $.25. You may know that our coffee committee has been buying ALL of the coffee we use during Sunday fellowship for both congregations. In order to be able to continue that, and continue to offer a variety of products, we must, unfortunately make this raise. Also, please fill out a slip when you purchase coffee in the office. Please note the new prices which are posted on the coffee easels, and sign your name on the slip. We appreciate your support, and your cooperation with this method of providing the coffee to everyone all week long during office hours. THANKS FOR HELPING US PROVIDE THESE PRODUCTS BOTH FOR YOU AND FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES.

God bless you,

Carolee, Phyllis, Shannon and Sue

(your CUMC / UCC Equal Exchange Team)

SOUP & ROLLS

FOR THE SOULS IS BACK!

Our first alternative worship of the season will begin on Thursday, October 8^th at 5:45 P.M. This worship will be led by Rev. Jim Petersen in the sanctuary. Supper is free and will be at 6:30 P.M., followed by a discussion on a novel in the parlor, for those who would like to stay.

JOIN US FOR "SHACK ATTACK"

On Thursday, October 8^th, at 7:00 P.M. in the parlor, Rev. Jim Petersen will facilitate a discussion on the novel, The Shack. Many of you have read this book and have expressed an interest in having an opportunity to discuss it. All are welcome to attend, whether you have read the book or not.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY SIGN UP

Tim is running out to sign up for Rev. Jim's Bible Study that begins on Wednesday, October 7, meeting from 12:00-1:15 P.M. in Fellowship Hall and repeats on Sundays, beginning October 11, from 10:45 A.M.-12:00 P.M. in the parlor. This is a 15-week study of the Book of Acts. If you have not already done so from last spring, please sign up so that study books, Into the World: The Acts of the Apostles, can be ordered at a cost of $22.00 each.

NAMETAG WINNER! Tammy Lacey was our nametag drawing winner last Sunday, during Coffee Fellowship. She chose a Starbucks gift certificate. You could be next! Simply wear your nametag during church. If you need a nametag, call the church office.

We seem to be missing kitchen linens and ware. If you have these items at your home, please return them to Fellowship Hall.

A SPARKLING OF THANKS

Thank you to the 20+ church members who showed up for our fall work party! There was plenty of pruning and sprucing going on! A special thank you to Jay Thomas for painting behind the cross in the sanctuary. The facility looks inviting - bring a friend!

AROUND THE FACILITY...

The Joint Facilities Committee is at work tackling water seepage at the base of the elevator shaft. (This was also a concern for the State Inspector during a recent visit). An $1,800 bid was accepted from Dick Olson Construction for a sub-floor pump that will address the problem. The cost will be split between the two congregations.

In the sanctuary, two tracks of lights are out. Electrical and wiring deficiencies burnt out 9 of 10 light fixture transformers. We are awaiting a bid from A.T. Klemens, expected to be $1,200-$1,500. As this is our church's responsibility, praise God for our budgeted reserve funds to cover the cost of such repairs. Thank you to all who give so generously to your church!