MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UCC | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | DECEMBER 2016
Thoughts from the Moderator
Joan Levy
I don’t know about you but I can’t wait for winter.
No, I don’t love the cold and the snow and I am
mostly a self-acknowledged Scrooge when it comes
to the holidays. But autumn has been a roller-coaster
ride bringing unparalleled highs and stomachchurning descents to unfathomable lows. It has been
replete with joy and exhilaration….the protracted
Indian summer, the blessing of a bountiful harvest,
sharing a glass of wine and watching the moon rise
from the deck with dear friends and lest I forget, the
resurgence of the Colorado Buffaloes football team
as a national power (sorry but I’ve been waiting a
long time for that one.) On the flip side, autumn has
brought profound sadness as we bear witness to the
illness and suffering of dear friends and family
members, a sense of loss at the prospect of friends
moving on, deep reflection and mourning as the
election results unveil an America that I do not
recognize and intense fear that as a nation we are
moving away from foundational words of the
Declaration of Independence….”We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights, among these life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.” I pray that the turning
of the seasons will bring with it a tempering of these
tumultuous times and bring me back to a sense of
balance and normalcy.
When faced the inevitable struggles that life brings,
we all take solace in our own way and often in
many ways. It will probably come as a surprise to
some, but my solace sometime comes from music...
not from performance or even listening but from
having a déjà vu experience with songs that have
marked the significant times and passages in my
life…songs that I come back to (or come back to
me) recurrently for reasons as varied as the songs
themselves. One of the sentinel songs in my life is
“Turn, Turn, Turn”, recorded by the Byrds in 1965.
The various verses of this song have been safe
harbor during difficult times in my life, brought
peace in times of turmoil and sometimes helped
me to make sense out of the inexplicable. In a
word, they provided hope. So I was less than
surprised when the first verse began playing in my
head about a week ago, again and again, as if to
beg me to listen.
“To everything, turn, turn, turn.
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven.”
If the verse sounds familiar to you, it would be no
surprise. This popular rock ballad of the 60’s finds its
inspiration in the words of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,
something that I didn’t learn until almost 40 years
after I first heard the song. No wonder that it resonated with me then and still does today. Only now I
listen knowing that this is a conduit through which I
hear the still-speaking God. And what I have heard
repeatedly over the last two weeks is the still- speaking God reassuring me that there is “a time to every
purpose under heaven.” When God speaks those
words, fear, sadness and mourning abate. I no
longer need to ask why. My need to have an
explanation for that which is inexplicable or to
understand the incomprehensible disappears. It is
enough for me to know that the benevolent God
that I believe in has purpose in all that He has a hand
in, even if that purpose is lost on me now and
perhaps forever more. Faith prevails, peace returns
and there is light on the dark horizon.
I don’t know what brings you solace. But go to that
place...physically, in your mind, in your soul... be still
and listen. Through the songs, words or imagery that
is yours alone, the still-speaking God will come and
you too will know that there is “a time to every
purpose under heaven.”
-Joan Levy, Moderator
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
Care tip of the Month
The suicide rate in Colorado is one of the greatest
problems our state faces.
In May 2016 Colorado was
ranked seventh in the
nation; a startling and
frightening statistic. Sadly,
included in that ranking is
Mesa County’s suicide
rate which is one of if not
the highest in Colorado.
Many suicide prevention agencies along with
the Colorado Health Department, and the
Department of Human Services have been working together for a number of years to try and
reduce these tragic events here in Mesa County
and all across the state. One of the things they
have discovered is that while it should be noted
that some people who die by suicide do not
show any suicide warning signs, often the person
considering suicide has exhibited several of the
warning signs which are often missed by family
and friends.
With the stress of the holidays, and longer
periods of darkness due to the winter season, this
time of year is often one where suicides are
committed with greater frequency; however,
there are some things we as friends and family
can do to help someone who is struggling.
PASTOR DAN WILKIE, MINISTER OF PASTORAL CARE
help them.
There are several suicide prevention numbers we
can call for assistance. There are two national
hotline numbers, the first is 1-800-784-2433…the
second which connects the caller to a variety of
services is 1-800-273-8255, for instance Veterans
can call this number and press option 1, for
assistance in Spanish, folks can call this number
and option 2. LlGBTQ youth have their own
number to call for assistance, 1-866-4-U-TREVOR.
Other information can be found on the website:
www.suicide.org where the majority of information
for
this
article
was
found.
If the threat appears imminent, for example the
person has firearm, and is threatening to use it,
call 911 immediately and let the professionals
take over, don’t try to handle the situation
yourself.
Have a blessed holiday season!
Peace,
Dan
Inside this Issue:
1
Thoughts from the Moderator
Some of the things to look out for are listed
below:
2
Care Tip of the Month
3
Days of Old by Pastor Jeffrey Dodson
Appearing depressed or sad most of the time.
Talking or writing about death or suicide.
Withdrawing from family and friends.
Feeling hopeless, helpless or strong anger/rage
Feeling trapped -- like there is no way out of a
situation.
Experiencing dramatic mood changes.
Abusing drugs or alcohol.
Exhibiting a change in personality.
Acting impulsively or recklessly.
Losing interest in most activities.
Having a change in sleeping or eating habits.
Giving away prized possessions.
4
News & Notes
5
Holiday Happenings
6
Christmas Fund
7
Mission News
8
Finance Report
9
Thank Yous & Youth News
10
Joys & Concerns and Birthdays
11
Calendar
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If we do see someone exhibiting suicide warning
signs, we need to do everything that we can to
D ay s o f O l d
For God said, “Surely they are
my people, children who will not
deal falsely”; and God became
their savior 9in all their distress. It
was no messenger or angel but
God’s presence that saved
them; in God’s love and in
God’s pity God redeemed them;
God lifted them up and carried
them all the days of old. -Isaiah
63:8-9
8
I love the phrase, “All the days of old.” It has such a
nice ring to it. And it is a phrase that comes up a lot
each year in the days leading up to Christmas. I think
this time of year carries with it a sentimentality that
leads us to yearn for the good ol' days, the days of our
youth and those moments of pure joy and love: Days
filled with magic.
My favorite Christmas memory was as a child, in the
“days of old,” waking up at the crack of dawn in my
best pajamas before the dark had given way to the
sun rising on the fresh blanket of snow covering the
ground. I would sit at the top of the stairs in my childhood home, holding my favorite stuffed animal, peering down the stairs to the living room where lo and
behold, there brimming beneath the decorated Christmas tree were presents that had not been there the
night before! It was pure magic.
In the church we talk about the “days of old” in terms
of events in the bible that were written nearly 2000
years ago going back to the beginning of time. These
stories have become sacred and etched into our scripture and traditions in the church. But rather than being
stories about magic, the stories that we turn to during
Advent circle around the birth narrative of Jesus the
Christ, and help us to understand the social, political,
and theological context under which the namesake of
our church came into the world. More than just a magical story about Jesus being born to Mary on an
enchanting evening under a star-lit sky, the accounts
we gather from Matthew and Luke paint a more dangerous and heartbreaking story than the commercialized Christmas we see popping up around us in marketplaces and businesses. I invite you to find time to open
your bible (if you don’t have one, let me know and I’ll
see that you get one) and read the Christmas stories,
Matthew chapters 1 and 2, and Luke chapters 1 and 2.
Rather than bearing witness to the Christmas narrative
as a magic show, a magical birth on a magical night, I
hope we engage Christmas by reading deeply into the
stories as they appear in scripture, instead of the store
front. Sometimes its good to have someone “tell it like it
is,” and I think you’ll be surprised at how honest and
real you’ll find the story of Christmas in the pages of
PASTOR JEFFREY DODSON
Matthew and Luke. I think you’ll be surprised at how
authentic the story feels as we hear it throughout the
coming Sundays of Advent, on Christmas Eve, and
Christmas Day. Perhaps you will even be surprised to
discover a deep connection between the people in
the story and your own life’s story. Because Christmas is
not about a perfect night that ended with caroling and
presents, but about a people in distress and a God who
came to be present in real and meaningful ways.
Waiting at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning
was my magic moment, but it was surrounded by a lot
of other things as well, such as anxiety and fear about if
I had been good enough throughout the year to get
presents, or if I would be punished with a stocking filled
with coal (which happened one year, thanks to a
jokester uncle in the family). Yet what I appreciate most
about my “days of old,” more than being a child waiting at the top of the stairs to open Christmas presents,
more than that magical feeling of waking up to a
perfect morning, are the imperfect people who waited
with me — an imperfect person. My brothers picked on
me and teased that I would get coal in my stocking,
and my mom and dad worked long days to afford
Christmas. And on Christmas morning, we celebrated
love. Love that is messy and loud and real. Love that
may have involved pushing each other down the stairs.
Love that surrounded us as we played and hugged
around the Christmas tree.
My family was not perfect, to be honest, and they still
aren’t. But by all accounts, neither was Jesus’ family.
And each Christmas we would be missing something if
we only remembered his story as magic. We would miss
something important if we only recalled the magical
moments when thinking about the “days of old.”
We would miss the hope that overcomes despair.
We would miss the peace that overcomes fear.
We would miss the love that overcomes hate.
We would miss the joy that overcomes sorrow.
Call them magic, but I like to think of the “days of old”
as “real.” Filled with the tension of all those things that
make Christmas meaningful: hope and despair, peace
and fear, love and hate, joy and sorrow; If we remember the tension, we can see past the magic to experience something real ourselves. The prophet Isaiah
reminded the Israelites that, “It was no messenger or
angel (read: magic) but God’s presence that saved.”
Remembering this can save us too this season. Merry
Christmas, happy holidays, and may this Christmas be
real for you. I’ll see you in Church, and I hope you’ll
wait with me at the top of the stairs for Christmas
morning.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeffrey
N e w s & n ot es
r eg u l a r m o n t h ly
events:
Wo rsh ip
Sunday Morning at 10 am
B ell C ho ir
Tuesdays at 5:30 pm
Choir Room
Women’s Coffee
Women’s Coffee will meet every Friday morning at 10:00
a.m. in Pilgrim Hall at the church. Hope to see lots of you
there!
Youth Sunday
Every second Sunday the youth will volunteer at worship!
The Youth Group will be filling in as Ministers of Welcome
and hosting fellowship hour. Cait Curtis-Sellens will be
leading Rug Time, and Megan Curtis-Sellens will be our
liturgist!
Sock Sunday
Prayer Shawl Ministry
(temporarily cancelled)
Will resume meeting the
2nd & 4th Wednesday
1:15 pm in the Chapel
in the New Year
Tai Ch i
Tuesdays at 9 am
in the Nursery
S h eph erd s
1st Wednesdays at 9:30 am
C areg ivers’ Su ppo rt
Gro u p
2nd & 4th Fridays at 11 am
in the Chapel
Wo m en ’s C offee
Fridays at 10 am
in Pilgrim Hall
M en ’s C o ffee
Fridays at 10 am
in Mayflower Hall
December 4th
It's getting colder out and will keep getting colder. Over the
next few weeks our church will be taking sock donations for
youth and adults. We ask that you bring socks so we can
donate to the House (for teens) and other organizations in
our valley. On Dec 4th we encourage all who want to wear
fun or bright socks to the service as we participate in sock
Sunday!
Christmas Cookie Exchange
December 4th
Participate by baking your favorite Christmas cookies. PRIZES for Most Beautiful, Best Tasting, and Best “Healthy” cookie. Turn in to Church kitchen by 9:45, Sunday, December
4th. Awards to follow after church service and then sale.
Proceeds to church funds. For more info contact Barbara
Scott 245-3961.
Spirit of Christmas Walk
The annual Spirit of Christmas Walk in downtown Grand
Junction is happening on Friday December 9, beginning at
6pm. The FCUCC Cantabile Ringers will once again be participating in this event. It’s a fun evening of checking out
the shops along Main Street and Colorado Ave, hot cider,
carriage rides and listening to a variety of musical groups.
Our Cantabile Ringers will be at various locations along
Main Street and Colorado Avenue between 6 – 7pm. It’s a
“go” regardless of the weather, so if it’s snowing, look for us
inside some of the stores! Come join us to kick off the Christmas Season!!
H o l i day H a p p e n i n g s
Worship in
December
Dec em ber 4
Second Sunday of Advent
Worship: 10:00 am
Communion Served
Scriptures: Isaiah 11:1-10
Matthew 3:1-12
Preaching: Jeffrey Dodson
Dec em ber 11
Third Sunday of Advent
Worship: 10:00 am
Scriptures: Psalm 146:5-10
Matthew 11:2-11
Preaching: Jeffrey Dodson
Dec em ber 18
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Worship: 10:00 am
Scriptures: Isaiah 7:10-16
Matthew 1:18-25
Preaching: Dan Wilkie
Dec em ber 21
Blue Christmas
Dinner: 6:00 pm
Worship: 7:00 pm
Preaching: Jeffrey Dodson
Dec em ber 24
Christmas Eve
Family Worship: 7:00 pm
Preaching: Jeffrey Dodson
Worship: 11:00 pm
Communion Served
Preaching: Jeffrey Dodson
Dec em ber 25
Christmas Morning
Ugly Sweater Sunday
Worship: 10:00 am
Preaching: Jeffrey Dodson
Caroling and Chili Supper—December 10
We have planned an afternoon of caroling on Saturday, Dec. 10th. We expect it to start around 1:00pm. We will carol for a few hours visiting some of
|our members who can't regularly make it to church any more, and then the
carolers will gather back at our church for a warm supper of chili and other
treats. This is open to ALL folks who would like to join us and that includes the
youth! If you can commit to bringing a pot of chili or other treats, please let
Karen Caton know. Thanks and happy caroling!!
Women’s Fellowship Christmas Luncheon—December 15
Please join us on December 15th for the Women’s Fellowship Christmas
Luncheon at 11:30 am. This event is free and open to all women. We will be
decorating Pilgrim Hall on December 14th at 10 am.
Council Christmas Dinner—December 17
Our Annual Christmas Dinner! Date: December 17 Time: 3 pm
Tickets: Adults $25 / Children $10
Purchase a table of 10 for you and your guests for $250 . Our theme this year
will be Christmas Movies. Please contact Marie Koontz to make and donate a
centerpiece for auction! Tickets will be on sale from Heidi Hess or Joan Levy
after church on Sundays or at the office.
Blue Christmas—December 21
December 21—6:00 pm Dinner / 7:00 pm Service
Each Advent, our church holds a Blue Christmas Service. This is an opportunity
to find comfort and healing during this busy season. This worship experience is
a time of reflection and prayer for those of us coping with our various losses.
Join us for dinner beforehand at 6:00.
Christmas Eve—December 24
We will celebrates Christmas Eve with two wonderful and diverse services. Our
congregation is an Open and Affirming community welcoming of all people
no matter where you are on life’s journey. We invite you to attend one or both
of our Christmas Eve services.
7:00 PM – FAMILY SERVICE
A festive family Christmas Eve service of lessons and carols. The service will
include activities for children and youth, music from our chancel choir,
Christmas carols by candlelight, and refreshments following the service.
11:00 PM – COMMUNION SERVICE
A contemplative Christmas Eve service of hymns and stories. We will celebrate
the sacrament of communion with the help of our youth and young adults.
The evening will conclude with the singing of “Silent Night” using candlelight.
Christmas Day—December 25
(Ugly) Christmas Sweater Sunday December 25, 2016 | 10:00 AM
No matter your stitch on life’s journey, your sweater (and you!) are welcome
here! Join us for a family Christmas Day Service at 10 AM. Pancakes and hot
chocolate will be served before and after worship, and don’t forget to wear
your best (or ugliest) sweater. God is still knitting…
C h r i st mas f u n d o f f e r i n g
Special Christmas Offering
Our joy at Christmas is a response to God's promise of new life through the birth of Jesus. It is
a joy we are called to share widely, through our witness and gifts, both to loved ones and to
distant neighbors.
"It wasn’t easy picking up the telephone to share with you my present situation. In fact it was
one of the most humiliating experiences of my life although it reminded me that grace still
happens. Sometimes we as clergy persons lose sight of God’s grace when the negative stuff
comes into our lives."
"…thanks so much for sharing your time and ministry with me. Your most gracious gift is appreciated more than words can say as I continue to live in the 'meantime.'"
These eloquent words are from a pastor who is the recipient of the caring and concern of
those who contribute to the Christmas Fund Offering.
You have the opportunity to be a part of this ministry that cares for the active and retired
clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ through your participation in this
year's Christmas Fund Offering.
Your gift to the Christmas Fund will not only assist pastors like the one above, but also provide
for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency
Grants, and provide Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks next December to low-income
retirees.
Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose lowincome annuities make it difficult to meet increasing living costs. This is your opportunity to
participate in God's promise of renewal by enabling this ministry of compassion and care.
We will collect the Christmas Fund offering on Christmas Morning—offering envelopes will be
in the sanctuary all through Advent if you’d like to give early.
Thanks for your support to this very special cause!
Mission News
Post-Election
Message from the
Nat’l United Church
of Christ
Because this election sharply separated us
over matters of race, gender, human
sexuality, faith, economic inequality and
political persuasions we all bear a heavy burden moving forward. It is our call, our shared mission, to
heed the call of God's Spirit and to work to repair damages in our deeply wounded and fiercely
broken body.
Mr. Trump was able to win this election in spite of clear evidence from him of racism, homophobia,
xenophobia, misogyny, and Islamophobia. This was so blatant that many of his own party's leaders
could not endorse him. Many who voted for him knew this, and yet their fears about what is happening in their lives overrode their distaste for his bombast. In their search for a leader not connected to
the power base of a government that has been perceived as corrupt, inefficient, and out of touch his populist rhetoric appealed to them. He must now lead a country where people of color, women,
Muslims, immigrants, the disabled, and an LGBT community all feel the sting and impact of his public
speech.
Dear United Church of Christ, we were built to heal bodies broken and divided. This is our
calling. Our core values of love, hospitality, and justice for all must be fully embraced in the days to
come. It could well be that we were called into being for just such a time as this.
We, the Officers and Council of Conference Ministers of the United Church of Christ, call upon the
church to seek a pathway that envisions a just world for all. Those who celebrate this election must
show a humility that honors the pain of those whose dreams were dashed by the outcome. Those
who grieve must find a courage and hope found in a faith not in earthly power, but in the redemptive love of our Risen Christ.
It is with this humility and faith that we can fulfill our mission: to build a just world for all. We stand in the
face of fear and hate and proclaim that "love wins!" We rise up and respond to public derision of "the
other" with a full embrace of and warm welcome for all God's beautiful children. We confront the injustices of the powerful with a steady drumbeat of justice.
We now must stand, true to our God and true to our native land. Let what we do in this time help
both America and our denomination become what each name aspires to: A UNITED States of America and a UNITED Church of Christ. And may it be our love of, our welcome to, and our justice for all
that unites us.
COCoSA - Circles of Support and Accountability
Education Session - Community members are invited to learn more about COCoSA.
December 1st, Thursday, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
COCoSA is a community safety support group working with other community reentry programs for
those leaving long term incarceration who have had a sexual conviction. We provide the emotional
and social integration component. COCoSA is offering an informational / educational session in
Grand Junction on December 1st, Thursday, 6:00pm - 8:30pm. For those who wish to further explore
what COCoSA does in the community, our training will continue the following evening on December
2nd, Friday, 6:00 - 8:30pm with conclusion on Saturday morning, December 3rd, 9:00am - 12:45pm. For
more information please contact Pastor Jeffrey Dodson at [email protected] or Bev Casey, CO COSA Volunteer Coordinator / Trainer, at [email protected] or 760-681-8836.
F i na n c i a l R e p o rt
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR OCT 2016
BUDGET ITEMS
INCOME
Oct’16
$ 21,630.43
EXPENSES Oct’16
$ 12,507.16
Oct NET INCOME
$
Year-to-Date NET INCOME
$ -5,462.76
9,123.27
UCF Bldg Reserve 9/30/16*
$ 18,585.20
UCF Endow 9/30/16*
$248,828.35
UCF Restricted 9/30/16*
$ 17,124.92
(*UCF Accounts are up-dated quarterly.)
$23,017.5 in 2016 PrePaid Pledges received in
2015, was transferred into the Operating
Account as Pledge Income in January and
February.
RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS TOTALS – 10/31/16
Church Independent Accts.
Finance & Property Team*
Spiritual Growth-Ed Team
Congregational Life Team
Worship & Celebration Team
Mission Team
Justice Action Ministry
In/Out Accounts/Donations
Pastoral Accounts
Miscellaneous In/Out Accts
UU Trust Acct.
$ 7,137.46
$11,623.08
$ 3,205.11
$ 245.00
$ 1,617.13
$ 3,424.94
$ 1,196.17
$ 170.67
$ 2,334.12
$ 194.90
$ 9,820.76
(A breakdown of these Restricted [formerly
“Trust”] accounts may be provided to each
team if requested in Dec.’16.)
Jim Lauer, Financial Clerk, email at:
[email protected]
Poinsettia Donations
Poinsettias at the front of the sanctuary November 27th have been
donated for World AIDS Sunday. They were graciously donated by the
following:
Linda and Brian Mahoney - In memory of Linda’s brother, Richard Carpenter
Lila Woodward - In memory of her son, Steve Zimbelman
Leslie Hamann and Gina Giannone – In memory of Leslie’s uncle, Steven Kaufman
Carolyn Ramsey – In memory of her brother-in-law, Mikey Haymore
Julie Krueger and Linda Randolph - In memory of Keith Apple, Dale Copenhaver and David
Abraham
Donna Hochmuth – In memory of John Mcdonough, member of First Congregational UCC
Dorothy Segrest – In memory of the unnamed from our First Congregational UCC family and
the wider Grand Junction community
Erica Hobbs – In memory of Keith Haring
Heidi Hess and Helen Bowman – In memory of our many friends that died, and in honor of the
Nebraska AIDS Project
Jean Yale – In honor of all who have worked to conquer AIDS
Lexi Taddeo — In memory of Kevin Moody
Thank yous
Thank you to everyone who helped bring
refreshments for the GVIN Thanksgiving
Service. What a wonderful evening!
Many thanks to those who came and volunteered their time to help decorate the
church for Advent!
Greetings everyone,
It's such an exciting time of the year with all the
festivities, holiday fun and cheer! There are
many things taking new journeys and new
rejuvenation as we come to the end of a year
and the start to a new one.
Exciting things are happening in the youth
group. The teens have been having activities and also out reach programs the last few months. As we look
to the new year we look to new adventures and journeys.
In December we will be holding our first youth time in the Zone (youth room in the CE building.) Also we will
be having a blessing of the youth area as well on Dec 11th. All are invited to join in on the blessing and
wonderful time. Also this month the youth will be making baskets to go give to our shut ins, working on
collecting items to give to the homeless teen drop in site and the House as well.
In January our church will be starting a new program with our church members and youth. People in our
church will sponsor a youth for 6 months and in these months be a caring hearing ear, encouragement,
help in any way possible and most of all pray for them. We will have activities for those in this program and
people in our church will sponsor a fun night for this group. In a world full of peer pressure, discouragement,
trials and heart ache we all need all the love and support we can get and this program is in hopes to
share love, support, encouragement, and prayers with those around us.
Our youth are not only focused on growing their youth group but they have a heart to give back to our
church and to the community. They are a group full of enthusiasm, caring hearts, helpful hands and joy.
They are looking forward to this new year in ways of how they can give back to our church and community in many out reach programs such as giving food to the homeless, baskets for those in the hospital,
serving at a soup kitchen, fund raising for the homeless teens, helping those in our church.
The theme for our youth group for the new year is "paying it forward". As we are blessed and encouraged
we want to return that blessing and encouragement.
I ask you to join in this time by uplifting our youth in your prayers. It is a huge blessing to see all the donations and help to get things for the Zone and to do activities but more then anything I ask you to give your
prayers for our teens and your encouragement and friendly smile. Let's plan now to make next year the
best year yet and most of all let's pay it forward!
If anyone would like to help with the youth group activities, donate, provided meals and food for activities
and meetings, host a sponsorship night please let me know. You can email me at [email protected] or talk
to me at church. We appreciate any help in any way!
-Cait Curtis-Sellens
J o y s & Co n c e r n s
Joys
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Chuck Holmgren’s birthday celebration
Al Albrethsen’s fabulous cowboy poetry/ harmonica
Karen Caton: our star drummer
Lovely memorial service for Guy Bender
Tom Hamann recovery going well
Maria Sharapova has been reinstated the Partners
program tennis exhibition
Delta Pride’s benefit Saturday night was a success
Answered prayers!!
Veteran’s Day showing and concert at the Avalon
Theater
Bruce has submitted the paper for “Colorado Governor” 2018
Installation for Rev. Randy Besta today at Hillcrest
UCC in Montrose
Gail Gordon’s birthday!
Dartagnan’s 12 birthday was this past Thursday!
Megan passed her insurance exams!
Successful surgery for Matthew
Wonderful yard clean-up crew! Thank you!! 16 of
them ate David’s chili
Jim Lauer slowly recovering from fall injuries - He
and Judy doing well
PFLAG family of choice today
Advent begins
Family and friends
The earthquake exercises in California
Thank you Dan, Jeffrey, Ellen, Martha and Karen
for the beautiful interfaith service
Thanksgiving blessings of healing and movement
toward growth
TDOR – a church that serves all God’s people
Concerns
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Debra-mental instability and Ruth’s health
Reed Orr and family-wife
Justen
Suicides of the young
Matt’s surgery Monday
Rev. Blaine Scott is at Standing Rock in North Dakota with many from UU Church of Grand Junction
Cait’s 4 yr. old niece is having an echo test on Nov.
9th
Claudell Daniels recovering slowly – moving to Vineyards at 15th and Walnut on Monday 11/14/16 NO
VISITORS but cards and notes would be appreciated
Creta’s sister and brother-in-law
Prayers for New Zealand
Healing for a divided nation
Friend-Cancer has spread to brain, possibly into
spine
Son is struggling
Job is difficult
Safe travels for all over the Thanksgiving Holiday
Kathy’s safe travel to El Salvador
Safe travels for Julie and Linda
Trans Day of Remembrance
Chuck Holmgren is comfortable – pain management okay – on a gentle journey towards the end of
his cancer battle – NO VISITORS! Cards and notes
okay
Brenda Brown – prayers she is feeling better on her
healing journey
Wes okay to make his journey towards the end
Prayers for continued healing of family relationships
D e c e m b e r B i rt h day s
12/4
12/5
12/6
12/6
12/8
12/12
12/14
12/15
Julie Krueger
Dannie Bowman
Tovia Tracy
Creta Payne
Sandi Knudson
Lynn Hamann
Pam Hambright
Arllys Indergard
12/17
12/17
12/18
12/20
12/23
12/27
12/29
12/30
Florine Herod
Mary Sealing
Nancy Spangler
Dorothy McCall
Garrett Swift
Marie Reed
Bev Lindsay
Joe Graham
December 2016
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
DECEMBER 1
DECEMBER 2
DECEMBER 3
10:00 Women’s
Coffee
10:00 Men’s
Coffee
DECEMBER 4
DECEMBER 5
Communion
DECEMBER 6
9:00 Tai Chi
Sunday
DECEMBER 7
DECEMBER 8
9:00 Shepherds
5:30 Cantabile
Ringers
SOCKS Sunday
10:00 Worship
DECEMBER 9
10:00 Men’s
Coffee
1:00 Christmas
Caroling
10:00 Women’s
Coffee
7:00 Voces
Pulchrae
Concert
11:00 Caregivers’
Support
Group
11:00 Fellowship
11:00 Christmas
Cookie Sale
DECEMBER 10
6:00 Spirit of
Christmas
Downtown GJ
DECEMBER 11
DECEMBER 12
Youth Sunday
DECEMBER 13
9:00 Tai Chi
10:00 Worship
5:30 Cantabile
Ringers
11:00 Fellowship
DECEMBER 14
12:00 Clergy
Luncheon
DECEMBER 19
10:00 Worship
9:00 Tai Chi
11:00 Fellowship
DECEMBER 25
FISH Sunday
8:30 Pancake
Breakfast
10:00 Christmas
Worship
11:00 Fellowship
11:00 Pancake
Breakfast
DECEMBER 20
5:30 Cantabile
Ringers
DECEMBER 26
DECEMBER 27
Tower Chimes
Deadline
11:30 Women’s
Fellowship
Christmas
Luncheon
12:00 Council
DECEMBER 18
DECEMBER 15
DECEMBER 21
DECEMBER 22
7:00 Blue
Christmas
DECEMBER 16
10:00 Women’s
Coffee
10:00 Men’s
Coffee
The Commons)
3:00 Council
Christmas
Dinner
DECEMBER 24
OFFICE
7:00 Christmas Eve
CLOSED
Family Service
11:00 Christmas
Eve
Communion
Service
DECEMBER 28
DECEMBER 29
DECEMBER 30
DECEMBER 31
New Year’s Eve
OFFICE
OFFICE
OFFICE
OFFICE
OFFICE
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
5:30 Cantabile
Ringers
9:00 Bagels &
Books (at
DECEMBER 23
CLOSED
9:00 Tai Chi
DECEMBER 17
chimes
Tower
December 2016
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UCC
1425 N. 5TH ST.
GRAND JUNCTION, CO 81501
Go Green! Get your Tower
Chimes via email!
Office Hours
Monday—Thursday 9—3pm
Friday 9 - 12pm
Reach us at : (970)242-0298
www.uccgj.org
Financial Clerk:
Jim Lauer
Senior Minister:
Pastor Jeffrey Dodson
[email protected] | ext 104
Chat & Chimes:
Minister of Pastoral Care:
Pastor Dan Wilkie
[email protected] | ext. 102
Music Leaders:
Office Administrator:
Amanda Helmick
[email protected] | ext. 101
[email protected] | ext. 103
Facilities Manager:
Carolyn Van Matre ext. 109
Office Angels
[email protected]
Karen Caton
Martha Jones
Ellen Bradley
Sunday School Teachers:
Marie Koontz
Kay Ragsdale