Dec 16, 09

You and your family & friends are invited to spend Christmas Eve in worship. There is sure to be a service to satisfy your Christmas Eve schedule. We'd love to have you share in the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Worship times are as follows on Thursday, December 24^TH :

5:00 P.M. UCC Family Service with special music by our youth and a story for the children;

10:00 P.M. UCC Traditional Service of Scripture & Carols with special music from our Chancel Choir. We'll light up this service with our newly ordered battery operated, hand held candles. Nursery care will be provided. We look forward to seeing you and yours this Christmas Eve.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS & ROOM PICK UP

CHILDREN'S PAGEANT THANK YOU'S

Thanks to all who braved the weather and came to watch our Children's Pageant last Sunday, Such A Lot Like Me. A special thanks to the production crew: Director; Bruce Cusker, Assistant Director & Costumes; Christeen Collins, Settings & Directors of Activities; Heather Lucero, Sound & Lighting; Tom & Jan Robitaille. Thank you to our principle characters: Gabriel; Timothy Seery, Angel #1; Bailey Collins, Angel #2; Molly Koostra, Angel #3; Kira Clark, Angel #4; Emily Jewett, Scene Announcer; Frank Machuga, as well as the rest of the beloved cast of animals. Until next year!

Children begin in Worship this Sunday, December 20 before going to a Sunday Special with Cindy Hoard.

A quote from Rev. Jim's pastoral prayer last Sunday: "O Lord, Christmas approaches - ready or not. Bless our final hours of preparations and bless our hearts. As the days grow shorter and the nights colder, warm our souls with the songs of the season, gladden our hearts with the joyfulness of children, fill us with awe at the myriad of bright stars which illuminate the heavens, and sensitize our conscience to the needs of others and our capacity to care like Christ...create in us those simple and human virtues by which you are revealed, and make us more hopeful, more forgiving, and more at ease with you in our world and in our lives as we invite you to be born in us anew..."

Is charged with the responsibility of overseeing personnel matters for employees of the church except the minister. The duties include evaluating employees and mediating personnel issues, as well as, recommending the hiring of new employees. The committee is a sounding board for both the employees and the congregation. Members of the committee are:

Church members and employees are encouraged to provide personnel comments, positive or negative, to the Personnel Committee members.

Are you feeling blue? Not everyone is up and cheery for the holiday season. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other disease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations make parties and joviality painful for some in our congregation and community. Many churches are creating a sacred space for people living through dark times. Such services are reflective, accepting where we really are, and holding out healing and hope. Churches are holding a service of worship close to the longest night of the year- the Winter Solstice. This linkage invites making connections between the long nights just before Christmas, and the struggle with darkness and grief. Please join Revs. Jim Petersen and Kama Hamilton Morton for such a service in our sanctuary. Invite others who may be struggling or just looking for a time of quiet as we gather on the longest, darkest night of the year for this special time of prayer, silence, music, and reflection.

Stress Relief Baskets Delivered

Thank you to all who donated treats, drinks, and other items for the stress relief baskets. 11 boxes were mailed to our college kids. Thank you to Janet Koostra and Stacy Hopkins for handling this chore of love. Shipping costs were picked up by our Christian Service Board through the Community Partners Program. (Thanks for using your Albertson's Community Partners cards. If you don't have a card, please contact the Christian Service Board).

2009 CHRISTMAS FUND OFFERING The Christmas Fund Offering, one of four Special Mission Offerings of theUnited Church of Christ, is an important way of sharing our joy at God's renewing and life-giving grace. The Offering, which is administered by the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance of the Pension Boards on behalf of the UCC, is an expression of joy and gratitude to, and for, those who serve the church. Gifts to the Christmas Fund help provide pension and health premium supplementation to low-income retirees, emergency assistance to the families of clergy and lay employees and Christmas "Thank You" Gift Checks to hundreds of annuitants. As the United Church of Christ celebrates 52 years of ministry in 2009, the Christmas Fund celebrates 107 years of continuous ministry to those who serve the church. Offering envelopes are enclosed for your convenience.