Union Congregational Church, UCC An Open and Affirming Congregation Peterborough, New Hampshire Bob’s Byte I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. Zephaniah 3:19 Since the beginning of human history, there have been problems. There have been natural disasters – hurricanes, tsunami, earthquakes, tornados, drought, and flood. There is not much we can do about those things. And there have been challenges in the form of illness and injury. These are also often natural parts of life. And then there is oppression, and the list of people who have been oppressed is lengthy – people of color, women, the lame, the blind and deaf, the poor, those who do not conform to imposed standards of sexuality or gender, and countless others have been the targets of oppressors since time began. We can see the effects of oppressive systems all around us. Anytime a person is marginalized or pushed aside by someone stronger, that is oppression. Whenever economics are controlled by the few, there is oppression. Whenever someone who is different is denied access to needed services, that is oppression. When we see people shot because of their skin color, that is oppression. When the poorest of people are denied safety, that is what oppression looks like. Oppressors were just as common in the time of Zephaniah as they are today, and there was a longing, the same longing many people feel today, a longing for an end to oppressive systems, an end to income inequality, an end to violence and threats of violence. That longing was at the heart of the cries for a savior. When Mary was expecting Jesus, she knew he was meant to bring fulfillment to the prophet’s declaration. Mary sang a song that gives voice to that longing: He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Mary’s song lifts up a vision, a vision of the world being turned upside down. Advent is a season of longing. Advent is a season of hoping that perhaps we will finally do away with the oppressors of the world and truly live as God’s children on earth. Advent is a season of expectant hope as we look to God to change shame to praise. Shalom, Bob December 2018 THE COMUNIC N
Transcript
Union Congregational Church, UCC
An Open and Affirming Congregation
Peterborough, New Hampshire
Bob’s Byte I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change
their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. Zephaniah 3:19
Since the beginning of human history, there have been problems. There have been natural disasters –
hurricanes, tsunami, earthquakes, tornados, drought, and flood. There is not much we can do about those things.
And there have been challenges in the form of illness and injury. These are also often natural parts of life. And
then there is oppression, and the list of people who have been oppressed is lengthy – people of color, women,
the lame, the blind and deaf, the poor, those who do not conform to imposed standards of sexuality or gender,
and countless others have been the targets of oppressors since time began.
We can see the effects of oppressive systems all around us. Anytime a person is marginalized or pushed aside
by someone stronger, that is oppression. Whenever economics are controlled by the few, there is oppression.
Whenever someone who is different is denied access to needed services, that is oppression. When we see
people shot because of their skin color, that is oppression. When the poorest of people are denied safety, that
is what oppression looks like.
Oppressors were just as common in the time of Zephaniah as they are today, and there was a longing, the
same longing many people feel today, a longing for an end to oppressive systems, an end to income
inequality, an end to violence and threats of violence. That longing was at the heart of the cries for a savior.
When Mary was expecting Jesus, she knew he was meant to bring fulfillment to the prophet’s declaration.
Mary sang a song that gives voice to that longing:
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
Mary’s song lifts up a vision, a vision of the world being turned upside down.
Advent is a season of longing. Advent is a season of hoping that perhaps we will finally do away with the
oppressors of the world and truly live as God’s children on earth. Advent is a season of expectant hope as we
look to God to change shame to praise.
Shalom,
Bob
December 2018
THE
COMUNIC N
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Worship this Month
December 2 Advent 1 Communion Isaiah 2:1-4 Luke 21:25-36 Sermon: So Much Trouble in the World December 9 Advent 2
Luke 3:1-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Sermon: Out in the Cold December 16 Advent 3
Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 3:7-18
Sermon: Road Narrows
December 23 - Advent 4 Christmas Cantata
December 24 - Christmas Eve Service
December 30 - First Sunday of Christmas
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Hymn Sing
To add a prayer request to the weekly worship
bulletin, please contact the office
by 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Thank you!
Sunday School this Month
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
12/2
-Bible Skills & Games
12/9
-Computer Art
12/16
-Video
12/23
-No Sunday School
Special Church program
COMMUNITY SUPPER MENU
12/3 - Soup and Salad 12/10 - Vegetarian Chili & Cornbread 12/17 - Shepherd’s Pie 12/24 - Christmas Eve – no supper
Please Keep in Your Prayers
Many people feel supported and blessed by our
continuing prayers. Please remember to keep the
following people in your prayers:
Carl and Marilyn B Gio and Emma C Lisa and Patrick F
Debbie H Katherine, friend of Carele M
Lynn N Marty P
Kathy and Larry S Ron S, Larry’s Brother
Joe W
and all those with hidden sorrows or
challenges and
everyone in our church community.
To add or delete names from this ongoing prayer
list, please contact Elizabeth in the office by the
twentieth of the month.
The Shep-
herds’ Play
Monday, 9/17
Thursday
9/20
It is ANNUAL REPORT
time!
Committees, please send Elizabeth
your reports in WORD and NOT as
a PDF by
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Thank you.
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Left to right: Sarah Pope, Jackie Piro, Dan Millbauer, Mike Crocker and Megan Millbauer
The Gifts-in-a-Jar Fundraiser was an overwhelming success! Thanks to everyone who purchased jars, or donated time, money, and ingredients to help the Sunday School raise over $700! Wow!
The Christian Ed committee and friends helped
assemble over 120 jars for the Gifts-in-a-Jar
fundraiser!
Standing left-right: Sarah Pope, Dan Millbauer,
Ginger Nielson, Mary Ann Fleming, Carol
and Mike Crocker;
Sitting: Megan Millbauer and Emily Foote
pho
to c
redit: D
an
Mill
baue
r
Gifts-in-a-Jar
Policy for Winter Closings
During the week when ConVal closes, we will close the church and cancel afternoon and evening programs. Church members should look for “ConVal” in the WMUR list of storm closings and delays, whenever ConVal is in session. On Saturdays and during school vacations, church members should look for “Union Congregational Church, Peterborough” on the WMUR list of storm closings and delays. On Sundays, worship will be cancelled by 7:30 a.m. An announcement will be put on the office answering machine, and posted on WMUR. If the worship service is canceled, all other activities in the church are canceled.
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Hundred Nights is a homeless shelter in Keene. They are open for the 100 longest nights of the year. Last year
171 individuals visited the shelter and 458 individuals visited the resource center.
The mission of Hundred Nights, Inc. is to provide shelter and crisis related services to the displaced or homeless.
Our goal is to collaborate with and enable the community to see, hear and support those among us who are
equally deserving of dignity but who currently lack the means to live independently.
Our vision is a community whose members, regardless of means, are equally valued and supported.
From their website – hundrednightsinc.org:
On December 9, Mindy Cambiar, the executive director of Hundred Nights will be joining us for worship and will
share some stories about the shelter. That same Sunday, following coffee hour, we will host an informational gathering
that will be open to the public.
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THE FLOWER COMMITTEE
The deadline for ordering flowers is December 9.
Also, as of 11/25, there are two window sills still available to display your favorite Christmas
memories throughout the Advent season. A wonderful addition would be a short history or true story.
Please relate these memories to Christmas with crèches, wise men, shepherds, storybooks, plants, etc.
This project has been popular the past two years so reserve a spot soon.
John Smith and Laura Gingras receiving poppies from Martha
Dahl in honor of Veteran's Day.
End 68 Hours of Hunger
Thank you all so much for filling the bins with peanut butter, plastic bags, and sometimes peanut butter in
plastic bags. Your donations make a huge difference!
The week before Thanksgiving was a busy time for End 68 Hours. The high school Interact students ferried a boatload of food over to the high school for the End 68 food pantry there. Carele Mayer ordered, and Dick Sanders delivered,124 pounds of peanut butter from UCC! The packers packed 177 bags, the transporters took them to the schools, and another team of packers immediately came in and repeated the process. The transporters made their rounds again, and all those children had food for the weekends before and after the holiday. It would never have happened without your time, your cash, your bags, your moral support, and your peanut butter! Thank you!
SAVE THE DATES FOR
THE CHRISTMAS
BOUTIQUE!
December 1 and 8
10:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Holiday crafts and gift items.
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Key: C =
Chapel FH = Fellow-
ship Hall P = Parlor
K = Kitchen
KC = Kitchen just
for coffee PO =
Pastor’s Office
OS = Off-site
S = Sanctuary
U = Upstairs Calendar is subject to change. Please visit www.uccpeterborough.org/calendar-of-events
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1
2 First Day of Advent
8:00 a.m. Christian Ed. 10:00 a.m. Worship Communion Jr. Choir 11:30 a.m. Pageant Rehearsal
3
9:00 a.m. Jazzercise (FH) 9:30 a.m. Women’s Fellowship (P)5:30 p.m. Church Supper 6:30 p.m. Shepherd’s Play Rehearsal (FH)
4 8:30 a.m.
Staff Meeting (P) 9-12:30 p.m.
CVBR meeting (FH)
5
9:00 a.m.
Jazzercise (FH) Bible study
canceled
6
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. SNHS/WIC (C, P) 6:30 p.m.
Bells (C)
Jr. Choir (U) 7:00 p.m. A.A.(P) 7:30 p.m.
Sr. Choir
7
11:00-7:00 p.m.
Blood Drive (FH)
8
10:00-1:00 p.m.
Christmas
Boutique (N)
9 8:15 a.m. Music Committee 10:00 a.m. Worship 12:00 p.m. 100 Nights of Shelter 1:00 p.m. Bell Caroling: meet at UCC
10 9:00 a.m.
Jazzercise (FH) 5:30 p.m.
Church Supper 6:30 p.m.
Shepherd’s Play Rehearsal
11 8:30 a.m. Worship
Planning (P) 3:00 p.m. Finance (P)
6:30 p. m. Paint Night
12 9:00 a.m.
Jazzercise (FH) 10 a.m. Bible Study (P)
13 11:00 p.m.
Adult Care worship
2:00 p.m.
Rivermead worship
6:30 p.m. Bells (S)
Jr. Choir (U)
7:00 p.m. A.A.(P)
7:30 p.m. Sr. Choir
14
9:00 a.m.
Jazzercise (FH)
15
10:00-1:00 p.m.
Christmas
Boutique (N)
16
10:00 a.m. Worship 11:30 Pageant Rehearsal
17 9:00 a.m. Jazzercise (FH) 5:30 p.m. Church Supper 6:45 p.m. Church Council 7:00 p.m. Shepherds’ Play
18
8:30 a.m.
Staff meeting
19 9:00 a.m. Jazzercise (FH) 10:00 a.m. Bible Study (P)
12:00 p.m.
Pastoral
Leadership (FH)
20 10:30 a.m. House Management 2:00 p.m. Summerhill worship 7:00 p.m. A.A.(P) 6:30 p.m. Bells (S)
Memorial Gifts Committee alerts the church council to gifts the church has received and recommends the acceptance and use of such gifts. They then acknowledge those gifts and record them in the Book of Remembrance. The Finance Committee prepares and presents the operating and capital budgets for each fiscal year. They are responsible for cash management, investments, and insurance coverage. The Maintenance Committee is responsible for the upkeep of the church building and the parsonage. They oversee the sexton and purchase equipment needed in both buildings. They make recommendations to the council for repair and replacements of items in the buildings. The Music Committee supervises the ministry of music in the church, supporting the music director and handbell director. They also maintain the organ and pianos, foster and facilitate musical participation by church members in musical activities, and help to maintain choir robes and a music library. The Stewardship Committee is responsible for bringing to the church members’ attention the operational and mission needs of the church. It organizes and manages all stewardship activities to gather the resources necessary to support both needs. The Flower Committee arranges flowers at each worship service and other church occasions where flowers are needed. They also arrange for the post-service distribution of the flowers. The Diaconate works closely with the pastor in three areas: worship, membership and parish life. The members of the Diaconate appoint and supervise the ushers. They also manage the membership of the church and aid in caring for members in need.
Pastoral Relations works to strengthen the church through the support of both the pastor and the
congregation. They promote healthy communication in the church and share and coordinate
congregational and pastoral goals. They also provide an annual evaluation of the pastor and make
salary and benefits recommendations to the council.
Christian Service organizes and alerts the congregation to the Christian outreach and service
programs our church supports in our community, the nation, and the world.
Christian Education directs the youth ministry including the church school and confirmation classes.
They also plan and support adult education at the church. They are responsible for employing and
supervising the church school superintendent and for maintaining a curriculum and resource library.
The Personnel Committee is charged with addressing the salary increases, grievances, and annual
reviews of all church employees except the pastor.
House Management oversees the occupancy and maintenance of the two church-owned properties:
the Jaquith House and the Vanni (Mission) House. This committee is responsible for inspecting these
properties on a regular basis and working with the property manager to keep them in good order.
They also select tenants and collect rental fees.
The Nominating Committee members recruit and then nominate church members to fill offices and
members of the standing committees. The council approves these nominations and then church
members vote them into offices at the annual meeting in January.
Union Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
33 Concord Street
Peterborough, NH 03458
COMMUNICON Vol. 63 No. 12
Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ An Open and Affirming Congregation
