Congregational News MONTHLY ISSUE DECEMBER 2016

Spirituality. Community. Diversity. Justice. Peace.

Worship Schedule

Adult Sunday School: 10:00 am Children’s Faith Formation Classes: 9:50-10:50 am Worship: 11:00 am Refreshments: 12:00 pm

Our Mission

As people of Congregational United Church of Christ, we seek to witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, accept-ing God’s call to be a true community of love, compassion, and nurture.

Visitors

Congregational United Church of Christ is a warm, welcoming congre-gation that is always happy to receive visitors. To help you feel as comfort-able and at-home as possible when you visit us, we’ve put together some information on what the Congrega-tional experience is like. For details, check out our Visitor Page at www. congregationalucc.com.

Our Next Newsletter

Deadline: Friday, December 30 Publication: Wed., January 4

News and events can be sent to office@congregationalucc.com.

Can’t wait for news? Check out the Congregational UCC web site at www.congregationalucc.com. It is up-to-date, relevant, interesting, lively, and available 24 hours.

Lectionary Readings

December 4, 2016

Isaiah 11:1–10, Ps. 72:1–7, 18–19, Romans 15:4–13, Matthew 3:1–12

December 11, 2016

Isaiah 35:1–10, Psalm 146:5–10, James 5:7–10, Matthew 11:2–11

December 18, 2016

Isaiah 7:10–16, Ps. 80:1–7, 17–19, Romans 1:1–7, Matthew 1:18–25

December 25, 2016

Isaiah 52:7–10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1–12, John 1:1–14

Preparing the Way

Advent Photography Project CUCC’s Art Committee invites all

members with a digital camera or a

cellphone to participate in this year’s

Advent Project! During Advent, we

will add to our exhibit space photo-

graphs taken by our members ex-

pressing each week’s Advent theme

of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love.

What You Need to Do:

1) Take a photograph that you feel is

a visual expression of one or

more of the four Advent themes.

2) Do not edit or crop the photos.

3) Email the photographs, labeled

by theme, to the following email:

cuccpictures@gmail.com.

• When emailing your photo-

graphs, be sure to choose the

option that allows the photo not

to be compressed.

• Make sure you include your

name and phone number.

4) In taking your photographs,

please follow these simple guide-

lines:

• Make sure there is adequate light

in the photo.

• Be sure there is a visual center

of interest.

• Don’t zoom in too closely.

• If taking a picture of a person, be

sure to first ask permission.

• Make sure the center of interest

stands out from the background.

5) Please submit your photos as

soon as possible!

While our hope is to post all of

the photos received and use them in

a slide show, there may be some

photographs we may not be able to

use. Once the photos are received,

members of the Art Committee will

coordinate printing and exhibiting

them.

Advent Calendars

Advent Calendars are available in the Fellowship Hall. Rather than a printed booklet, these calendars are a set of cards with suggested activities for each day. They are lovely, inspi-rational, and they have a direct tie-in with our new web site Advent Video.

Christmas Cantata

Our Chancel Choir will share with us the beautiful piece, “Appalachian Winter” during worship on Sunday, December 18. “Composed in the spirit of folk music, the cantata com-bines traditional sounds with more rustic elements, creating a blend that is fresh and pleasing. Popular Amer-ican carols like Away In a Manger and O Little Town of Bethlehem dance with traditional spirituals such as Children, Go Where I Send Thee and Go, Tell It on the Mountain.” Join us for this special presentation, and invite your family and friends!

Christmas Eve Worship

There will be special music, includ-ing harp, at both services. Don’t for-get to invite friends and family and strangers and neighbors! 5:00 pm: Family Oriented Service 11:00 pm: Candlelight and

Communion Service

Page 2 December 2016 Congregational News

400 West Radiance Drive Greensboro, NC 27403 336-274-5378 www.congregationalucc.com

The Rev. Julie Peeples

Senior Pastor julie@congregationalucc.com 336-202-3691

The Rev. Paul Davis

Associate Pastor paul@congregationalucc.com 336-207-5656

Mr. Ches Kennedy

Asst. Minister for Emerging Ministries cheskennedy@gmail.com

Ms. Terry Moore-Painter

Asst. Minister for Spiritual Direction & Special Ministries t_moorepainter@yahoo.com

Mr. Jimmy Buchanan

Director of Music jrbsoul@aol.com

Ms. Laura Coffee

Youth Group Coordinator 4cupsof@gmail.com

Mr. Robin Morace

Organist r_morace@uncg.edu

Ms. Judy Page

Office Manager office@congregationalucc.com On Medical Leave

Ms. Kathi Perry

Nursery Director kathiuscapg@gmail.com

Ministries

• Bible Study • Children & Adult Choir • Handbell Choir • Youth Programs • Women’s Fellowship•

Outreach Programs

• Greensboro Urban Ministry • Mobile Meals • Faith Action International House • Higher Ground • and many more . . .

Congregational News is published by Congregational United Church of Christ,

Greensboro, North Carolina

As the world de-

bates the US elec-

tions, NC counts

votes in the gover-

nor’s race, winter

creeps in and the

year’s end ap-

proaches, we

Christians are once again doing this

crazy, off-beat thing we call Advent.

For four weeks we speak of

waiting, of searching for hope,

peace, joy and love in the darkest

time of the year. The words of the

prophets ring in our ears, reminding

us whose world this is and to whom

we belong. We retell for the mil-

lionth time the story of a young

woman and an angel’s surprising

visit, culminating in a scene in a

simple stable.

In the news, there are refugees

fleeing the horrors of war, Native

Americans struggling to protect land

they call sacred, growing political

tensions here and abroad. Friends

are having a tough time, loved ones

are doing battle with serious ill-

nesses.

So what’s Advent got to do

with it all? Nothing, and everything.

Nothing, in that much of the world

will continue on, oblivious to our

candles and our singing “O Come, O

Come Emanuel.” Everything, in that

this beautiful season calls us to turn:

turn toward the light, turn toward the

One whose love holds the world

still, turn toward those who, like

Jesus, entered this world poor and

dispossessed. Turn toward each

other, reflecting enough of the light

to help each other find our way.

Advent beckons to us to

remember: there is much going on

beneath and beyond the surface ap-

pearance of things that we cannot

see with our physical eyes. Advent

tells us again how love comes in

surprising ways, how what seems so

small and vulnerable and insignifi-

cant can yield the greatest, most

lasting power. No matter our cir-

cumstances, no matter the chaos

swirling around us, Advent insists

in its own quiet, starlit way, that

hope is alive, for God is yet making

all things new.

I invite you to join me in

making the most of this crazy, off-

beat season. Practice daily prayer

and meditation, come and worship,

engage in random acts of kindness

and peace. And unplug from the

world just enough to know how

very deeply you are loved.

― Julie

The Longest Night Service

Monday, December 21, 6:00 pm Peace UCC

2714 West Market St, Greensboro

We welcome all those in need of a

more meditative, quiet time to a

beautiful service of music, reflec-

tion and prayer. The idea is to offer

a break from the rush and over exu-

berant noise of the season to those

who might be struggling from grief

or other issues. We will join with

our Peace UCC neighbors as well as

those from First Friends Meeting,

and First Christian. Please plan to

join us for this very special service.

From the Pastor

What’s Advent Got to Do With It?

Congregational News December 2016 Page 3

Education and Youth

Youth Group News, Godly Play, Confirmation On November 5th, the Youth Group

had a day of team-building and high

ropes adventure at Camp Weaver.

The youth worked together to con-

quer challenges given by the guides.

Everyone agreed they went beyond

their comfort zones and learned

something about themselves and

one another. What seemed

impossible was accomplished! Fear

and doubt were overcome with team

work, encouragement, faith and

courage!

Youth will be assisting the

UCC Elves on Saturday afternoon

December 10th with sorting,

organizing, and wrapping and on

Sunday, December 11th after

church with organizing, wrapping,

and loading donated items.

Youth are also assisting with

Hampton Saturday outreach and

childcare in the nursery during wor-

ship, for more information on how

you can help, contact me.

We have 10 youth confirmed

for the Winter Youth Retreat in

Blowing Rock over MLK Weekend.

The theme this year is What is your

purpose? Contact me for more

information.

—Laura Coffee

Youth Group Coordinator

4cupsof@gmail.com

336-279-0239

Confirmation

Confirmation Class will meet on

Sunday, December 11, at 9:00 am.

We will attend the Annual Budget

Hearing, and then discuss following

the meeting. Mentors are welcome

to join us.

Godly Play in Advent

Our Godly Play class is learning all

about Advent and Christmas in a

creative and reverent setting. We

welcome all children to join us,

from Kindergarten up.

Young Adult Group Forming!

Interested in getting to know other

young adults in the church? If you

identify as a young adult, come join

the fun! Our first gathering will be

at Melt, in Golden Gate Shopping

Center, on Tuesday, December 13 at

6:00 pm. Questions? Contact Julie

Peeples or Hilary Irusta (hdirusta

@gmail.com). Visitors, friends

welcome.

In Case Of Bad Weather

If we happen to get snow or ice this

winter, our church’s policy is that

we will not cancel Sunday morning

worship. We urge everyone to use

caution and sound judgment in de-

ciding whether or not to attend.

Some of us live close by, and we

promise to pray on behalf of all! For

weekday activities, we will have a

recorded message on the church an-

swering machine concerning can-

cellations, and will otherwise get the

word out as best we can.

Page 4 December 2016 Congregational News

News and Notes

Stewardship Results, Year End Financial Matters

After three weeks of receiving

pledges, our partial results are as

follows: 89 pledges totaling

$252,986. To compare, results for

2016 (present year) were 94 pledges

totaling $241,150. Our goal is to

raise our pledges for 2017 by 10%,

so we have a bit more to go. If you

have not returned your pledge form,

please do so this week. And thank

you for your support of our church!

Year-End Financial Matters

Please remember that 2016 contri-

butions must be in by December

31 to be counted as a donation for

the current year. Giving State-

ments will be available in mid-

January.

If you wish to donate stock to the

church, please provide the

following information to your

advisor: UBS Financial Services;

Account No. AD01801; DTC:

0221; Contact: John Aderholdt,

336-834-6952. In order to insure

your gift is received, processed,

and credited to you before year-

end, it is suggested that your

advisor process the transfer

beginning December 5. Transfers

after December 20 may not be

processed in time to credit your

donation for 2016.

At Congregational, we consider

giving to our church a privilege.

We try to offer optional ways to

do this.

One way is to give cash or

checks in the offering plates.

Many folks use on-line bill pay

and initiate checks from home

that are mailed by their banks.

A very popular third choice is

called E-Giving or Electronic

Funds Transfer (EFT). You

may download an authorization

form from the church website,

or pick up one outside the of-

fice. Funds can be automati-

cally transferred from your ac-

count to the church on a

monthly or semi-monthly basis.

I can also assist you with infor-

mation about how to handle

your giving through a gift of

stocks.

Offering Envelopes for 2017 will

soon be available in the Fellow-

ship Hall. Please pick yours up to

save us postage. We have extra

boxes available for any member

or regular visitor who would like

to have one.

Please see me if I can help you get

started with any of these options.

—Pam Aldridge

Financial Secretary

Psst …

Want to Cut Your Taxes?

If you are retired, you may be able

to transfer funds from your 401k and 403b accounts directly to the

church, and you may get a nice

deduction from the IRS. Consult your financial advisor.

Here are a few things you’ve done in the past month:

Fed several hundred adults and

children a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

Tutored children at Hampton

Saturday.

Assisted families in need at times of crisis.

Participated in special evening services.

Kept the lights on and the heat

running!

Voted, wrote letters, engaged in community efforts.

Contributed to UCC efforts

around the globe.

Supported justice issues with

your presence and your giving.

Welcomed new members and visitors.

Thank you, thank you, for your

faithful giving. Keep it up! There’s no telling what great things we will

do together in the coming months!

Congregational News December 2016 Page 5

More News and Notes

Flood Relief, Tote Bags, Change for Change and More

Women’s Fellowship Invites

YOU to Coffee Hour on

December 18th!

Come to not only enjoy food and

fellowship, but to join with us in an

offering to provide assistance to

those affected by Hurricane Mat-

thew.

Change for Change

Through December 4 our collection

will benefit the Darci’s Elves pro-

ject (formerly Santa’s Elves).

Collections for the remainder

of December will support Bread for

the World.

Tote Bags for

Greensboro Urban Ministry

There is an ongoing need for tote

bags for food bank clients who are

walking or biking. Your help is

greatly appreciated. Thank you to

all who are donating to this cause!

—Nancy Prairie

2017 Flower Chart:

Reserve Your Special Dates!

A unique way to remember, honor

or celebrate a special person or oc-

casion in your life is to sponsor altar

flowers here at CUCC. The 2017

Flower Chart is located in the Fel-

lowship Hall next to the styrofoam

recycling center and is wide open –

sign up today! Questions? Contact

Mary Beth Boone at 275-0385.

Food Needed!

We need to replenish the pantry for

our Cone Elementary Backpack

Program. Thank you in advance if

you are able to help in any way. We

need breakfast cereal (non-sugar-

coated), breakfast bars, peanut but-

ter, jelly, canned fruit, canned veg-

etables, canned beans, canned

tuna/meat, soup or sauce/gravy, mac

& cheese or pasta/rice, and snack

items. NO glass containers. NO ex-

tra-large sized/very heavy items.

You may place your food donations

in the multipurpose stands at each

entrance.

Have questions? Please contact

Deborah Hill (thaifrogpigs@gmail.

com) or George Ritchie (gdritchie@

gtcc.edu).

Thanksgiving Thanks

Thank you to the church volunteers

who ably helped make this year's

Thanksgiving Meal sponsored by

Greensboro’s Community Tables a

success.

Because of funding cutbacks,

the amount of food that was cooked

(and served) was about 20% less

this year. This meant we did not

need as many volunteers as we pre-

dicted. Still, between 250 and 300

people were served; and over 100

take-out meals were picked up.

Keep in Your Prayers

Brent Appleton (Deanna Lewis’

nephew), Lib Basham, Helen

Buchanan (Jimmy’s mother),

Chris Burr, Jax Carignan, Anne

Cary, Becky Causey, The

Family of Kate Foster,

Josephine Hall (Perry Morgan’s

mother-in-law), John Harmon,

Gun Hmok, Julia Howington

(Beth Davis’ sister), Alejandro

Jarrett-Morales, Esther Kernodle

(Lynn Wright Kernodle’s mother-

in-law), Linda Kohlenberger

(Krista Kohlphenson’s

stepmother), Lawrence Lambert,

Mary Mig McEntire (on the

death of her mother, Nancy

Smith), Steveland McSwain, Jill

Prior, Mary Jo Pruett, Judy

Smallwood, Frank Wheeler,

Mabel Williams, All Looking For

Employment, Our Elected

Leaders and Candidates for

Elected Office: City, County,

State, Federal, People affected

by Hurricane Matthew

Page 6 December 2016 Congregational News

Holiday Opportunities

Christmas Post Office, Honor Cards and More

The Jordan-Wisseman Christmas

Post Office will operate this year on

the following Sundays: December

4th, 11th and 18th. Bring cards that

you would normally send to local

church members to the “Post Of-

fice” in the back of the Fellowship

Hall. And, be sure to check with the

“Post Office” (through December

25th) for cards that may be sent to

you!

We ask that you make a dona-

tion, considering the postage saved,

to the Jordan-Wisseman Class. ALL

funds received will go to Mobile

Meals — the class’ primary project.

Honor Someone Special

Honor Cards benefitting several

area agencies will be available in

the Fellowship Hall immediately

following worship throughout Ad-

vent. They make great Christmas

gifts for friends and family and help

support some very vital organiza-

tions at the same time.

Most of the agencies sell their

honor cards for $5.00 each, though

you can give more! The purchase

price of all cards goes directly to

each agency. If you wish to pur-

chase cards by personal check,

please make the check out to the

agency name, not to the church.

Darci’s Elves: Our Annual

Christmas Project

If you would like to adopt a family

or a child, I need to know ASAP

(rafnorth@aol.com, 336-834-2147).

Other ways to help: donate food or

gift cards (Target, Walmart, Harris

Teeter), drop your spare change (or

a check!) into the Change for

Change containers through Decem-

ber 4, help at the Darci’s Elves

Workshop on Saturday afternoon,

December 10 (fill grocery bags,

wrap gifts), or help transport items

to families on Sunday afternoon,

December 11.

Homebound Holiday Bags

We are gathering items for our

homebound friends. Ideas: puzzles,

puzzle books, coloring books, cal-

endars, candy, snacks, soaps, lo-

tions, handmade items, note cards

— be creative!! Plans are to make

15 bags. A marked box will be in

the Fellowship Hall for donations.

Bags will be assembled after wor-

ship on Sunday, December 11. Vol-

unteers for assembling and/or deliv-

ering bags are welcomed! Contact

me if you have any questions.

Thank you very much!

—Lynn Magyar

336-643-6338

lrm1059@triad.rr.com

The Dorothy Ballinger

Christmas Sock Tree

A Christmas tree in the east en-

trance hall is waiting to be deco-

rated with socks of all kinds and all

sizes: socks for children at Cone

Elementary School and socks for

the homeless in our community.

Please bring these throughout De-

cember and send warmth, comfort

and your love to many people.

Thanks in advance for your gener-

osity in decorating our Christmas

Sock Tree again this year!

Holiday

Office Hours

Our staff will take

holiday breaks over the

latter part of December, so

if you need to get into the

church, please call ahead to

make sure someone is

onsite to let you in.

Congregational News December 2016 Page 7

CUCC Business

Annual Budget Hearing and Church Elections Our church bylaws require us to

have two business meetings a year:

an Annual Meeting in January and a

Budget Hearing and Elections

Meeting in December – this year to

be held on Sunday, December 11, at

9:00 am. All members are asked to

attend; visitors are welcome.

We will review the proposed

budget for the coming year (final

vote to be taken at the Annual

Meeting on January 29) and vote on

new board and Church Council

members. Refreshments and child

care will be provided.

Meeting Night

Boards and Council will meet Tues-day, January 17, beginning at 6:45

pm for a time of prayer, followed by 7:00 board meetings, and the coun-

cil at 8:15.

Board & Staff Annual Reports

All church board chairs and staff are

asked to submit their 2016 annual

report of activities to the church

office by Friday, January 8, so that

they may be included in the 2016

Annual Report to be distributed at

the Annual Meeting in January.

Address Change

Rob Pope

5501 Ridingate Court

Greensboro, NC 27455

SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND

Our Annual Plan

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Budgeted Income 41,743 21,554 21,736 33,000 27,193 24,865 31,049 19,363 26,170 30,072 30,325 35,500

Budgeted Expense 29,134 30,711 29,570 28,840 28,914 28,331 29,511 30,573 32,238 28,240 28,281 32,290

$ +/- 12,609 -9,157 -7,834 4,160 -1,721 -3,466 1,538 -11,210 -6,068 1,832 2,044 3,210

Budgeted YTD $ +/- 12,609 3,452 -4,382 -222 -1,943 -5,409 -3,871 -15,081 -21,149 -19,317 -17,273 -14,063

How We’re Doing Compared to Our Plan

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Carry-Over 11,093 924 -5,006 363 -7,466 -3,050 127 -6,898 -6,276

Actual Income 38,791 20,768 23,612 33,013 22,507 30,809 34,051 19,629 25,793 43,740

Actual Expense 27,698 30,937 29,542 27,644 30,337 26,392 30,874 26,654 25,172 33,621

$ +/- 11,093 -10,169 -5,930 5,369 -7,829 4,417 3,177 -7,025 622 10,120

Actual YTD $ +/- 11,093 924 -5,006 363 -7,466 -3,050 127 -6,898 -6,276 3,844

Budgeted = Planned income and expenses. Carry-Over = A cumulative shortage or surplus (income minus expenses) as we work our way through the year. General Operating Fund = The “pot of money” to which regular giving is deposited and from which operating expenses are disbursed.

Volunteers

December 4

Lay Reader: Marion Gamble Nursery: Taryn and Tina Kohlphenson

Coffee Hour: Jeri and Katherine Rowe Counters: North/Moore-Painter

December 11

Lay Reader: Beth Davis Nursery: Terri Way and Jeri Rowe

Coffee Hour: Bill Guill and Milton Shaw Counters: Nance

December 18

Lay Reader: Robin Dorko Nursery: Steve Haines and

Taryn Kohlphenson Coffee Hour: Women’s Fellowship

Counters: Sahr/Aldridge

December 25

Lay Reader: Kate Larson Nursery: Ben and Laura Coffee

Coffee Hour: Margaret Veatch Counters: Hertlein/Rowe

December Ushers

Gayle Currie, Fran Ditto, Trish Sutter, Connie Usry

Calendar of Events

Regular Weekly Events Upcoming Special Events

Sunday 9:30 am Chancel Choir Rehearsal 9:45 am Jordan-Wisseman Sunday School Class 9:50 am Godly Play for Children 11:00 am Worship 5:30 pm Dinner Church at The Creative Center (900 Sixteenth Street)

Monday 6:30 pm Adult Handbell Rehearsal

Wednesday 6:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Friday 7:30 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Saturday, Dec. 10 12:00 pm Darci’s Elves Workshop

Sunday, Dec. 11 Poinsettia Orders Due

9:00 am Annual Budget Hearing

12:15 pm Assemble Homebound Holiday Bags

12:15 pm Darci’s Elves Deliveries

Wednesday, Dec. 14 2:00 pm Knit Us Together Knitting Group

Thursday, Dec. 15 9:30 am Mobile Meals at Peace Church

Friday, Dec. 16 Newsletter Deadline

Wednesday, Dec. 21 11:45 am Lunch at Friends Homes Guilford

2:00 pm Knit Us Together Knitting Group

7:00 pm Longest Night Service at Peace UCC

Saturday, Dec. 24 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Family Worship

11:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship

Tuesday, Dec. 27 11:00 am Serve Lunch at Higher Ground

Upcoming Birthdays 12/6 Katie Barton 12/15 Ellen Essick 12/23 Lisa Ward 1/3 Jenni Johnson

12/11 Melissa Roberts 12/17 Uldine Duckworth 12/25 Richard Humphrey 1/7 Sadie Covington 12/12 Claire Anderson 12/19 Pat Boswell 12/26 Allen Prior 1/7 Virginia Bright 12/13 James Aldridge 12/19 Arnold Humphrey 12/29 Debra Hertlein 1/10 Jim McDonough 12/13 Rosalie Martin 12/19 Susan Cromartie 12/30 Beth Mulberry 1/10 Matina Kalconnis-Rueppell

If your birthday is missing from this list, please contact the office so that we may add it to our records!

NONPROFIT ORG. U. S. POSTAGE

PAID GREENSBORO, NC

PERMIT NO. 44 Congregational United Church of Christ 400 West Radiance Drive Greensboro, NC 27403 December 2016

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED