Prospect Congregational Church

Office Phone: 203-758-4872 Fax#: 203-758-6316 Church e-mail pccucc@snet.net

Church Website www.prospectctucc.orq

Office Hours Monday 8:00 - Noon Tuesday - Friday 8:00-1:00

The Prospectus 2015

CHURCH STAFF Rev. Carmen Cavallaro, Minister of Visitation

Dennis McGuire, Student Minister David Bell, Director of Music Ministry

Mark Wilson, Sunday School Administrator Tina Soderberg, Office Administrator

Prospectus Editors, Rick and Liz Normand Articles can be left in the mailbox in the coatroom or e-mailed to rickliz@aol.com or pccucc@snet.net. Deadline for the

newsletter is the third Wednesday of the month.

Experience A New Beginning 2015 at the

PROSPECT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Worship January 4, 10:00 AM Epiphany, Worship and Communion

January 11, 10:00 AM Worship January 18, 10:00 AM Worship January 25, 10:00 AM Worship

February 1, 10:00 AM Worship and Communion February 8, 10:00 AM Worship February 15, 10:00 AM Worship

February 18, 7:00 PM Ash Wednesday Service February 22, 10:00 AM Worship

Fellowship and Celebration Men’s Breakfast Sunday January 11 and February 8 at 8:30 AM

Senior High Youth fellowship Sundays 6-8 PM

Spiritual Enrichment Sunday school for Pre-K – 8th grades

Weekly Bible Study, Tuesdays, @ 9:30 AM Confirmation Classes January 7 and 21, February 4 and 18 at 6:30 PM

Mission Opportunities Homeless Awareness Sleep-out Noon Sat. Jan. 24-Noon Sun. Jan. 25

Bagged Lunches for the Soup Kitchen at GWIM, January 4, 11, 18 & 25

“Called to Care” Chronicles Roger Allen Judy Fiengo Tina Sierra Jennie Bayse Gayle Gourley Joan Slapikas Louise Beach Joan Hart Sandi Stewart Gloria Benson Al Hamilton Babette Strumpf Kirsten Berube Arnie Koehler Fred Strumpf, Jr Carmen Cavallaro Lindy Jacobson Georgianna Tata Janet Cronn Linda Jerzierny Andrew Vilardo Jillian DiTommaso Ellen Lampros Sherie Wilson Helen Donovan Dennis McGuire Charlotte VanKirk Jake Dzubak Mary Ellen Pearce Kathy Vander Eyk Peter Creasey Lou Vander Eyk Barbara Walcott

Prayers for our Military, including PFC Marissa Bainer Thomas Brunetti, Jr. Christopher Chucta, Turkey Jon Conlon Anthony DiTommaso Thomas Greene, Afghanistan Darren Hale, Jr., Afghanistan Jim Jackson, Marine Kenny Jeannin, Ft. Drumm, NY A1C Johnny Dee, Washington 118th Med Bn FC James Kabusk, Cherry Point, NC Jonathan Saxton, Fairfield, CA Lcpl Alex Theil, Ft. Leonardwood, MO ACAN Jessica Zielonka, Norfolk, VA Glendale Paradigm Jo Collins Dorothy Clark Roy Schellhardt Helen Donovan Raymond & Shirley Stewart Condolences: To the Hart/Searles family on the passing of their grandmother Alice Langdon on December 17. To the Gibbons Family for the passing of Brian Gibbons on December 22. To the Sargeant Family on the passing of their father and grandfather Richard M. Sargeant, Sr. on December 28. To the Mann/Normand Family on the passing of their uncle John M. Burke on December 30. Prayers of Concern for our Extended Family Debi Koshier (Barbara Koshier’s daughter-in-law) Peter (friend of Tina Sierra) Sarah & Family (Christine Creasey’s niece and family) Tabitha (Lindy Jacobson’s niece) Yves Allard (Erik Soderberg’s Uncle) Yvette (friend of Melissa and Tina) Cruz Alves (5 year old in the Community) Norman Anderson (Babette Strumpf’s brother) Barbara Andrews (Eileen Flanagan’s daughter) Susan Boyle (Peter Creasey’s Sister) Bill (friend of Eileen Flanagan) Robin Carlson (friend of Sandy Pavlowski) Mabel Caudill (Linda Jerzierny’s mother) Mary Grace Cavallo Carolyn Coleman (friend of Mary Ellen Pearce) Joyce Cronin (friend of Sandy Pavlowski) Justine Egan (Kelly Evon’s cousin) Agatha Falcone (Tina Sierra’s mom) Lillian Farley (Tina Soderberg’s mom) Richard Fortier (brother of Anne Marie Burr) Justine Fortin (grandson of Charlotte Geary) Rachel and Elizabeth Friedland (nieces of Rich and Sharry Sargeant) Rob Friedland (brother-in-law of Sharry Sargeant) Sam Gourley (Gayle Gourley’s father-in-law) Anthony Guistinello (Mary Ellen Pearce’s Grandson) Eddie Hannula (Diana Trumbley’s uncle) Fran Hart (Mother of Joan Hart and Janet Searles) Pam Hartnett (Bob and Kathy Hartnett’s daughter-in-law) Ellie Held (Barbara Rowe’s sister) Russell Held (Barbara Rowe’s nephew)

David Holley (John Holley’s dad) Mary Hudson (John Hudson’s mother) Paul Hudson (John Hudson’s dad) Douglas Hughes (Arlene Hughes’ son) Conall Hurley (Howie Steeves’ nephew) Ingrid (Sharon Blair’s Sister) Jason Juraska (Debbie Brook’s grandson) Edna Kainer (Sandy Pavlowski’s grandmother) Marie Kluge David Knapp (Rev. Phyllis’ brother) Jackie LaCroix (friend of Melissa Saxton) Bertha & Charles McCollough (Sharry Sargeant’s mother and father) Madalyn McDaniel (Barbara Menturweck’s niece) Dolores Mikishko Christina Mitchell (Mary Ellen Pearce’s daughter-in-law) Mary Nelson (Barbara Menturweck’s cousin) Laura Niatopsky (Judy and Martin Niatopsky’s granddaughter) Dave O’Hara Megan Pearce (Mary Ellen Pearce’s granddaughter) Mark Peel (friend of Mary Ellen Pearce) Helen Plante (Connor Sargeant’s Aunt) Teresa Preziosi (Mary Ellen Pearce’s niece) Doreen Proul (dear friend of Edie Sherwood) Marion Raven (John Raven’s daughter–in-law, Kim Palmerie’s Sister-in-law) Matthew Raven (John Raven’s son) Kathryn Reynolds (Rev. Phyllis’ sister) Bill St. Jean (Denise Masulli’s brother) Henry Sarbeski Michelle Scotto-Lanzoni (John Hudson’s Cousin) Susan Sherman (friend of Peg Goddard) Jim Scully (Howie and Deb Steeves’ brother-in-law) Dotty Searles (John Searles’ mom) Maggie Thompson (friend of MaryEllen Pearce) Sharon Trumbley (Diana Trumbley’s sister-in-law) Jack Walsh (student at Woodland High School) Arthur Wood (Christine Creasey’s father) Joan Wood (Christine Creasey’s Mom)

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR JANUARY & FEBRUARY, 2015

January 4 Jeremiah 31:7-14 January 18 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Psalm 147 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 Ephesians 1:3-14 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:1-18 John 1:43-51 January 11 Genesis 1:1-5 January 25 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 29 Psalm 62:5-12 Acts 19:1-7 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:4-11 Mark 1:14-20

*********************************************************** February 1 Deuteronomy 18:15-20 February 15 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 111 Psalm 50:1-6 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 1:21-28 Mark 9:2-9 February 8 Isaiah 40:21-31 February 22 Genesis 9:8-17 Psalm 147:1-11, 20c Psalm 25:1-10 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:29-39 Mark 1:9-15

The GWIM Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry have officially vacated their space at St Johns on the Green in Waterbury GWIM is now officially located at 770 East Main Street in Waterbury behind the Brass Mill Mall. In their new location, the kitchen is not yet complete and an out building needs to be constructed to house the food pantry and refrigerators/freezers for storage. Timing for completion of both of these major items is not yet finalized. In the interim, the Soup Kitchen is providing bag lunches for the clients Sunday - Friday each week. Our congregation has been very generous with helping to provide these much needed lunches. We have volunteered to make 250 lunches on January 4 and 11 and I have asked that we continue for the last 2 Sundays of January on the 18 and 25. To prepare the 250 lunches weekly (the last 2 Sundays) , we will need 500 juice boxes, 500 pudding/applesauce/fruit cups and 500 soft granola bars, jars of peanut butter and jelly. The balance of the supplies I already have donated. Thank you in advance for your continued support. Together we continue to make a difference.

January Birthdays 1 Katie (Blakeslee) Cyr 21 Kristy Holley 2 Linda Theriault Elaine (Steeves) DiTommaso 4 Amy (Greatorex) Corvino 24 Gary Arndt 7 Arrol McGarvey Peg Goddard Darlyne Wadhams 26 Christopher Mattice 11 Nicholas Dirga Robin Wright Ruth Voegeli 29 Megan Wester 12 Loriessa Holley 31 Al Hamilton 13 Dayna Chucta 14 Craig Mann 15 Marianne Mullen 18 Kelsey Mitchell

2014 Annual Reports

To All Church Officers, Board, Committee and Social Group Chairs - it

is once again time for us to compile our Annual Report for this past year?

Please have all reports to the office by Friday, January 30.

If at all possible, I would like to have them emailed to me or submitted to me

on a flash drive. This will make it easier to put shorter reports together on one

page, make margins and fonts all the same.

Thank you for all your help in putting together our Annual Report.

HEADS, HANDS AND FEET

Wintertime is here! The Board of Missions will be collecting hats, gloves,

mittens and socks during the month of January. The collection box will be in

the narthex. All items will be donated to folks at the soup kitchen and those

living outside. Socks are particularly needed by the folks living outside. Once

their socks get wet, they are in danger of developing frost bite. Homemade

hats and mittens are also desired. We thank you in advance for your generous

donations.

Homeless Awareness Sleepout

It is time for our 14th Annual Homeless Awareness Sleep Out n sponsored by the Prospect Congregational Church Senior High Youth Fellowship. The purpose of the sleep out is to raise awareness of the homeless in the Greater Waterbury Area. The youth will be spending the day Saturday collection monetary donations as well as nonperishable food items at the intersection of Routes 68 & 69 in Prospect. Then they will enjoy a soup supper over a fire barrel and spend the night outside in a make-shift shanty. They will realize what it means so be homeless, but only for a short time, as homelessness goes all the time with no break. Please stop by with your donations anytime of the day or night. They will be there Saturday, January 24 from 10 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Sunday the 25th. So please help us to help others. Thank you.

Annual Potato Bake

On the Sunday of the Annual Meeting (date to be announced) before the meeting

begins; our Board of Christian Education will sponsor our Annual Potato Bake.

For $5.00 you’ll get a hardy baked potato with a variety of toppings

(which include: cheese, bacon, ham, chives, chili, broccoli and more)

for you to make your potato just the way you like it along with a salad and a drink.

Come and enjoy a nice warm lunch before celebrating our Church’s Ministries.

Potatoes are also available to go.

February Birthdays 1 Doug Patrick 22 George Arndt 3 Deborah Doody Scott Arndt 4 Amanda Linsley 24 Alexandra Cross 7 Mary Koch 25 Louise Stamat 14 Bill Brown T.J. Snyder 15 Kathy Arndt 26 Erica (Milton) LaFrance 19 Katie Greatorex 27 Dave Holley

Hygiene Kits

Once again the Board of Missions invites you to prepare hygiene kits. Church World Services distributes these kits all over the world and even here in the USA. The Board of Missions will be happy to receive your hygiene kits during the month of February. Each kit should be placed inside a gallon size zip loc bag. The following items should be purchased and placed in the bag: one hand towel, one washcloth, one wide-tooth comb, one nail clipper, one bar of soap (bath size in the wrapper), one toothbrush (in original package) and 6 Band-Aids. Please do not include any toothpaste. These items can be purchased inexpensively at the Dollar Tree and Ocean State Job Lot. We encourage parents to include your children in assembling the kits. The shipping cost for each kit is $2.00. Please include this inside the bag. Thank you for your participation.

It's simple - vote for the charity of your choice. Vote online for the 6th Annual Community Awards Program until March 31, 2015. One vote per customer, however, for accounts with multiple owners, each owner may vote. Customers with multiple accounts may only vote once. Each customer can vote for only one organization. We are very excited about this giving program and hope you will partner with the Ion Bank Foundation to help us, help local non-profit organizations in our community. If you have any questions please call us at 203.729.4442 or toll free 877.729.4442.

The current condition of the church repair loans we have with the UCC Cornerstone Fund and Ion Bank is shown below. If you would like to make a donation to help pay down the loan, use the envelopes in the pew racks and add them to the collection plate. Sheryl Mann - Treasurer

Church Repair Loan Summary

Ion Bank Balance - 11/30/14 $949.21

U.C.C. Cornerstone Balance - 11/30/14 $9,837.63

Total Principal Due $10,786.84

Principal Payment for December $100.40

Interest Payment for December $39.60

Total Balance on Loans - 12/31/14 $10,686.44

Church Challenge Update - 01/10/15

Total Received

Challenge Current Fiscal Year

$5 Challenge $270.00

$52 Challenge $ 45.00

Total $315.00

Historian’s Page SOME HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE FOR THE CHURCH’S FINANCIAL SITUATION

(The purpose of the Historian’s Page is to correct or expand on narratives in the 200-year history of the church, A Church Set Upon a Hill: The Story of the Prospect Congregational Church, UCC, 1798-1998.)

Since the church has entered a new calendar year, 2015, and has not adopted a budget for the current fiscal year, which goes from July 1st to the following June 31st, it seemed wise to provide some historical perspective on the financial situation. This was originally presented to the Church Council over ten years ago, August 23, 2004, but it has been revised and updated. The Prospect Congregational Church has been in a financial crisis through much of its history. As recently as 1961-1963 the church received financial aid from the Conn. Conference, even though its membership peaked at 521 in 1961. However, this church has never closed its doors, unlike Bethany in 1900-1901 and even the church at West Avon for five years, 1924-1929. Every pastor of our church since the Second World War has urged a greater commitment to stewardship. Our most recent pastor, the Rev. Dr. Phyllis Norman, developed an entirely new approach to stewardship, which emphasized “covenants,” “discipleship,” and “relationships.” Starting with the pastorate of the Rev. Oscar Locke in the 1920s, an Every Member Canvass has been an important part of the life of the church. It was so important that the position of Director of the Every Member Canvass was added to the By Laws, when they were revised in 1954. The pattern for years was for members to be provided with a proposed budget prior to the pledge drive, and then the budget was revised according to the pledge results. More recently, the church has been urged to adopt a “Season of Generosity,” and put the emphasis on giving in response to what God has given us. Many changes have been made in the last two decades in relation to the ups and downs of the church budgets. In the 1990s the salaried position of Christian Education Coordinator was eliminated from the budget because of financial short-fall, and the task of administering the Sunday Church School was carried on by volunteers. The budget for the year 2003 reflected a 26% increase over the previous year, with salary increases that ranged from 10-20-40%. This budget passed by one vote. A deficit budget was passed for the year 1993 of about $18,000, and only two people voted against it. Over the past years the budget deficits have ranged between $17,000 and $35,000 in the current year. Most of the money in the Reserve Fund has been expended to meet the deficits. There have been many successful fund-raising events for specific projects through the years, like the “Give Andrew a Lift” event over ten years ago. The church is in the midst of a very successful Elevator Fund campaign with pledges of nearly $170,000. This was the largest such capital campaign since 1948, when canvassers were trained and sent out to visit homes to secure pledges to build the present church structure. Let us conclude with some very important understandings. Even our most recent pastor alluded to a kind of “depression mentality,” which has lingered despite the best efforts of pastors and church leaders. The concept of stewardship and pledging has continued to meet some resistance. The church is no longer a small rural or country church, but a mid-size suburban church larger than at least half of the UCC congregations in the country. A number of members have spouses who are affiliated with other churches, especially St. Anthony’s, and therefore financial commitments are divided. The church cannot be compared to the more affluent churches, especially those in Fairfield County. The Morse Fund, established from the sale of land given to the church in 1951, has been wisely invested and the interest added to the church’s income each year. To take more of the capital would reduce the amount of interest received. In this interim period, between pastorates, we need to continue to support the church generously as good stewards of all that God has given to us.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Deacon of the Month:

Sandy

Pavlowski

1 2 3

4 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr Bagged Lunches for GWIM C.E. Mtg

5 7p Deacons’ Mtg

6 7 6:30p Confirmations Class

8 7:30 Choir

9 10

11 8:30a Monthly Brkfst

10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr Bagged Lunches for GWIM

12 7p Committee Night

13 9:30a Bible Study

14 15 7:30 Choir

16 17

18 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr Bagged Lunches for GWIM Gift Card Orders Due

19 7p Council Mtg

20 9:30a Bible Study

21 6:30p Confirmations Class 6:30p Evening Women’s Assoc

22 7:30 Choir

23

6p $5 Dinner

24

25 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr Bagged Lunches for GWIM

26 27 9:30a Bible Study

28 29 7:30 Choir

30 31

January 2015

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr C.E. Mtg

2 7p Deacons’ Mtg

3 9:30a Bible Study

4 6:30p Confirmations Class

5 7:30 Choir

6 7

8 8:30a Monthly Brkfst

10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr

9 7p Committee Night

10 9:30a Bible Study 7p BOT Mtg

11 12 7:30 Choir

13 14

15 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr

16 7p Council Mtg

17 9:30a Bible Study

18 6:30p Evening Women’s 6:30p Confirmations Class 7p Ash Wednesday Service

19 7:30 Choir

20 21

22 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr

23 24 9:30a Bible Study

25 26 7:30 Choir

27 28

February 2015

Deacon of the Month:

Judy Kennelly