Northeast Messenger

Northeast United Church of Christ Sharing God’s Grace, Healing and Inclusive Hospitality

Winter 2017/2018 – VOLUME 55, Number 4

www.northeastucc.com / nucc@inebraska.com / 402-466-0696

www.facebook.com/NortheastUCC.com

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER 4 – COMMUNITY

BREAKFAST

NOVEMBER 5 – ALL SAINTS SUNDAY

NOVEMBER 11 – BENEFIT

FUNDRAISER

NOVEMBER 12 – FISH FRY!

NOVEMBER 14 – YOUTH GROUP

NOVEMBER 14 – COUNCIL BUDGET

MEETING

NOVEMBER 15 - FAMILY FUN NIGHT

POTLUCK

NOVEMBER 19 – NIN OFFERING

NOVEMBER 23 – HAPPY

THANKSGIVING!

NOVEMBER 26 – THANKSGIVING

SUNDAY

DECEMBER

DECEMBER 3 – HANGING OF THE

GREENS; BUDGET & ELECTION

DECEMBER 6 – YOUTH GROUP

DECEMBER 13 – FAMILY FUN NIGHT

GIFT MAKING WORKSHOP

DECEMBER 24 -- CE CHRISTMAS

PROGRAM; CHRISTMAS EVE

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

DECEMBER 25 – MERRY

CHRISTMAS!

DECEMBER 31 – CHRISTMAS HYMN

SING; NEW YEAR’S EVE!!!!!

JANUARY 2018

JANUARY 1 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Church Events

Winter Highlights

Youth Group – Activities for Middle & High schoolers are planned: Nov. 14 (Gifts for Pets) and Dec. 6. (Cookie Baking).

Community Breakfast - Breakfast for the community on Saturday, November 4th. These meals will be served from 8am-10am.

All Saints Sunday - On Sunday, November 5th, we will remember those who have died this year. We will celebrate their lives with the lighting of candles and songs of hope. Bring a photo of your love ones to fill the sanctuary.

Family Fun Night – November 15; 6pm; Soup will be provided; please bring a dish to share.

Sunday, December 3 – Congregational Election and Budget meeting after worship! Please plan to come; First Sunday in Advent! Join us in the Hanging of the Greens ceremony.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH - CHRISTMAS GIFT-MAKING EVENT! @ 6PM -- Come and make something special for that someone special this year! (Notice this is the 2ND Wednesday & December’s Family Fun Night)

Special Christmas Eve Day Services – o December 24, during 10:30am worship - CE Christmas

Program presented by the CE children and teachers. We invite all children who want to participate, even if they just come that morning! Children are free to get into costume or not as they prefer.

o Christmas Eve Service - On Sunday at 4:00pm, December 24th, we will celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. We will listen to the ancient story told in an NEW way, sing carols, and enjoy special music and light candles.

No Sunday school Nov. 26 & Dec. 31

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ADVENT – Waiting

It seems that we are waiting a lot these days. With construction on just about every road we travel, we seem to be in stop and go traffic. What do you do during those waiting times? Cuss? Look at your clock and count down how late you are going to be? Sing some golden oldies? Pray? Listen to podcasts? Does your blood pressure go up?

Waiting for that phone call about a job… waiting for the tests results from the doctor… waiting in the middle of the night for your child to come home…. Waiting for the plane to arrive ….Those times are challenging times.

I remember praying for guidance for a difficult situation. Time and time again, I experienced the response, “Wait.” That was

frustrating! But there are moments when we need time and God needs time for us to be ready for beginnings and birth.

Advent is a waiting time. The prophets promised the coming of a king who would change their world. “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Peasants waited for these promises to come true. They waited for a time when the world would turn upside down and they would no longer suffer oppression. Zechariah waited silently as he watched Elizabeth’s belly grow. When his son, John, was born he sang!

Mary and Joseph waited for their son to be born. With anticipation and faith they took a journey to Bethlehem. In their waiting, they wondered what his birth would mean for their world.

Yes, Advent is a waiting time. Children wait with anticipation to find out the gifts they will receive this year. We wait in LONG lines to purchase ornaments and decorations. But we live in “an instant microwavable world. “ At our finger tips we have all the facts that can be stored. So, we don’t wait easily.

This Advent consider the ways that God calls us to journey spiritually and WAIT. Our souls grow and change over time. We can wait in ways that are nourishing, or we can wait in ways that are unhealthy. We can be impatient, forcing the process of the soul. We can ignore the gifts of the journey. We can fail to listen and be attentive to God’s voice in our lives.

BUT, this Advent, I encourage you to WAIT-

Wait with expectation

Wait attentively

Wait actively

Wait prayerfully, giving our souls time to grow.

I invite you to join me in a challenging spiritual process of waiting. We just might be surprised by what we find at the end of our journey!

Pastor Melissa

ALL SAINTS’ CELEBRATION

On November 5TH we will remember and celebrate the lives of those people of our church family who have died this year. With each naming, we will light a candle. Those people we will be lifting up in love are:

Kenneth E. Winkler - December 27, 2016 Berniece Patton - January 15, 2017 Juanita Ketterer - January 27, 2017

Nila J. Utterback - February 28, 2017 Helen E. Tompsett - August 7, 2017 Sara Jane Hippe – October 12, 2017 Gale Cratsenberg - October 18, 2017

These sacred people, who have forever left an imprint in our lives, are a bridge of eternal love. We will also light candles of thanksgiving for those who walk in our lives every day and bring light and joy. Come to this sacred service of memory, celebration and honor.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES Surprise!!! Christmas Eve is on SUNDAY this year!!!! There are two opportunities for worship and celebration:

10:30am: Children’s Christmas Play and Music Plan on your Christmas Eve being special by being involved in this Sunday morning celebration. Merrit Bradford will be practicing with the Children’s Choir on Sundays at the beginning of Sunday school.

4pm: A Candlelight Worship Service of

Lessons and Carols Let’s walk through the

story told in ancient times about the birth of

Jesus. We will sing a multitude of favorite

carols. It will be a time of joy and sacred

reflection as we celebrate birth and light.

Northeast United Church of Christ Educational Scholarships

Good News! Major Gifts & Endowments has voted to increase the 2018 scholarships to $750 dollars. This is possible by our investments growing and providing more interest towards the scholarship program.

The 2018 educational scholarship applications will be available beginning January 2nd. The due date for this year’s scholarship application is February 28, 2018. These scholarships are made available from special funds that have been given to Northeast Church through the major gifts program. If you have any questions about this please contact a member of the Major Gifts and Endowments Board: Phyllis Anderson, Joe Geist and Gina Pigsley

2017 POINSETTIA ORDER FORM

If you would like to donate a Poinsettia for Christmas Services, please complete the form below and mail or bring it into the office on or by November 26, 2017 Name: ____________________________ Phone: ___________________________

# of Plants Ordered: ______ at $12.50 each

Total $ amount: ____________________ Northeast United Church of Christ and designate it “Poinsettia Fund.”

Dedication / Inscription:

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Schneider/Pried family are grieving the passing of Jeffery James Schneider, 53, and Laurie Ann (Prieb) Schneider, 53, passed away on 9/16/2017 from a motorcycle accident in Omaha, Arkansas. Jeff worked at Williamson Honda of Lincoln, Rod's power sports, J&B Auto in Arkansas. Laurie worked at Lincoln Liberty Life and Ameritas in Lincoln as a shared systems project manager, and Holdt & Hudson CPA's in Arkansas. Laurie & Jeff were raised in Lincoln, met after high school and married July 7, 1984. Laurie was born in Crete to Ralph and Darlene (Kunz) Prieb. She attended Brownell Elementary, Mickle Middle School and Northeast High School. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with honors. Jeff was born in Lincoln to Edward and Dorothy Schneider on 1/28/1964. Jeff attended Belmont Elementary, Goodrich Middle School and Lincoln High School, graduating in 1982. Jeff studied auto body at SCC in Milford.

Family of Sara Jane Hippe are grieving her passing. She was 90 years, 6 months, 12 days, died Thursday, October 12, 2017, at the Nebraska Masonic Home, in Plattsmouth. Sara Jane Lyons was born on March 30, 1927, in Norfolk, the daughter of William Irl and Fanchon (Gamet) Lyons. Sara and her family resided in Scottsbluff during her childhood. After graduating from Scottsbluff High School, Sara attended Peru State College, where she met her husband, John A. 'Jack' Hippe, Jr... They were united in marriage on August, 21, 1948, in Scottsbluff. To their union three daughters were born: Deborah Ann, Nancy Beth, and Carol Sue. The family resided in LaVista, where Sara served as a teacher for the Omaha public schools, until she retired on June 10, 1988. Sara was involved in the: Order of Eastern Star Chapter #114 of Papillion; P.E.O. Chapter FW in Lincoln; Daughters of the Nile, Sat-Ra-Temple #59; Omaha Educator-Retired; Nebraska State Educator -Retired; and National Educator Association-Retired.. Sara enjoyed being active with her friends and family, and loved to attend her grandchildren's activities. On May 22, 2015, Sara made her home in the Nebraska Masonic Home, in Plattsmouth, where she lived until her passing.

Marg Kehm is grieving the passing of her sister, Marlene Sue Simonson passed away October 12, 2017. She is survived by her husband, Larry Simonson; daughters, Rhonda Gomez of Florida and Kelli Scott of Georgia; son, Bruce Hall of Nebraska; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister, Marjorie Kehm of Lincoln. Preceded in death by parents, Fay J. and Charlotte Dunn and brother, Lawrence (Sonny) Dunn.

Marlene requested no services. Cremation.

Prayers for the People Remember in Prayer these members of our church and their friends/family in need of prayer: Prayers for continued recovery from illness and/or surgery: Jessica Smith Meghan Zimmerman Sara Arow Dian Bottcher Kathy Itzen Ken Gettman Angie Mcfee Ann Mills La Verda Arow Arlene Fleischer Bob Morin Jeanne Akeson Vivian Gorman Jean Essman Brett Oltman Worshipping with us at Home: Betty Walls Sheila Block Helen Dake Jo Bottcher Thelma Fagler Shirley Lehl Georgia Williams

Grieving a Loss

If you have a Joy or Concern that you would like to share,

please email it to nucc@inebraska.com or call

Gina at 402/466-0696.

Noma and Family are grieving the passing of

Gale Louis Cratsenberg, 90, of Lincoln passed away October 18, 2017. He was born on January 12, 1927 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Lloyd and Beulah (Sutton) Cratsenberg. Gale attended several country schools around Lincoln and Northeast High School. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. Gale returned to Lincoln after being discharged from the Army where he met Noma at a dance. He then joined the Naval Reserves and was called to active duty. He volunteered for many years at the Veterans Administration. He married Noma Neeman in 1951 while he was on leave. He was discharged from the Navy in 1952 and enrolled in electrical school with the IBEW #265 and worked as an Electrician until retirement. He was a member of Northeast United Church of Christ for many years. Gale loved fishing, hunting, camping and time with family and friends. After retiring, he enjoyed the art of intarsia woodworking. One of the things he enjoyed is giving intarsia crosses he made to friends who were ill or had lost loved ones. Gale and Noma loved their winters in Texas learning new crafts and making new friends, playing games and gathering grapefruit to bring home to share with family and friends.

Dragonfly News God’s Children are magically changing like dragonflies!

Wednesday, November 15 – Pot Luck Dinner

Wednesday, December 13 - Gift making Workshop!

Wednesday, January 17 -- TBD

Sign – up Sheet located on the Christian Education Door! Sign-up Today!

FAMILY FUN NIGHT! A time of sharing our faith with family and friends!

Every third Wednesday of the Month 6pm Dinner / 6:30pm – 8pm Activities

Fun for All Ages!

CE WISH LIST Thank you to all the generous people that continue to donate items to Christian Education. Please look for our specific wish list posted outside of the CE office.

Keep saving Best Choices UPC Labels. We recently submitted out BEST CHOICE LABELS to receive our $30 and our $30 Bonus! We still have 300 labels - so keep them coming. Thank you clippers!

Attention All Middle & High School Youth! A new year of great youth gatherings are

planned at Northeast UCC. These are open

to all Middle and High school youth and their

friends! Grab your calendars and mark these

events down:

Tuesday, November 14th - Bring a gift

for a pet for the Humane Society. TBA

Wednesday, December 6th- Bake

cookies for shut-ins and deliver them.

6pm @ Northeast UCC.

Children’s Christmas

Play and Music Has your child always wanted to be: a sheep?! An angel?! A camel?!! A shepherd?!! Or (the list goes on) …… for Christmas? This is their opportunity. ALL

CHILDREN are invited to be a part of this play. Plan on your Christmas Eve being special by being involved in this Sunday morning celebration. We also invite children to share their musical gifts. Merrit (Beuning) Bradford will be practicing with the Children’s Choir on Sundays at the beginning of Sunday school.

BREAKFAST FOR THE COMMUNITY On Saturday, November 4th we will offer breakfast to the community. This meal will be served from 8am-10am. Please sign up to volunteer to help with: cooking, serving or cleanup for this delightful meal. Come and get to know more people in the neighborhood.

MEALS ON WHEELS Recently we have loss some of our long time volunteers. We are looking for some new volunteers to lessen the load on our remaining faithful volunteers. Please contact Gina Pigsley If you can fill a few Saturday Mornings through the year.

November 4 Pam Nelson

11 Jay & Michelle Bachman

18 John & Pat Young

25 Jack & Jane McVay

December 2 Pam Nelson

9 Jay & Michelle Bachman

16 Allen & Marilyn Ellis

23 John & Pat Young

30 Eigbrett Family

January 5 vacant

12 Jack & Jane McVay

19 vacant

26 Pam Nelson

If you have questions, please contact the church

office. Thank you for serving!

KEEP OUR DONATION BINS FULL! Donation bins for the Northeast Pantry, People’s City

Mission, and the Food Bank are located by the elevator!

NORTHEAST PANTRY SHOPPING LIST Bring items the 1st Sunday of the Month

Canned fruit Canned soup Crackers – saltine Canned meat – ham, chicken, tuna, Spam Canned Stew Canned Vegetables Pork n Beans, Pinto or kidney beans Cereal – Hot and Cold Instant Rice & Potatoes Macaroni & Cheese Spaghetti or Pasta Spaghetti sauce Tomato sauce Spaghetti O’s Pancake Mix Pancake syrup Canned juice Peanut Butter Jelly or Jam Boxed Jello or pudding mix Toilet Paper

COMMUNITY MISSION

HIP

HUNTINGTON SCHOOL BACK PACK PROGRAM DONATIONS

The donations you give at the church for the Food Bank help to support the Backpack Program. The goal is to provide food for the children’s weekend. The food donation list is posted here and on the bulletin board at all times for you to check. Help the kids by bringing food to put in the barrel in the hallway by the elevator. Thank you all for donating!

People’s City Mission Bin When cleaning out your closets bring your unwanted clothes, shoes, coats, blankets, etc. and put them in the PCM Bin near the elevator.

Have You SCRIP Today! $ Purchase SCRIP Cards during Sunday

morning Fellowship Hour. Complete list of Businesses with SCRIP cards available at the sales table. Canes $10 cards now available.

$ Northeast United Church of Christ receives a % of each SCRIP purchase. The more you buy the more $$ the church receives.

$ You shop at your favorite business with your SCRIP card!

Back Pack Program Donation List Pancake Mix Syrup Tuna Frosted Flakes Pudding cups (4pk) Can Corn Can Fruit Spaghetti Sauce Spaghetti Bag of Rice Chicken noodle soup Tomato Soup Mac & Cheese Peanut Butter Jelly Boxed Oatmeal Cinnamon Toast Cereal Juice Ramen noodles (4pk) Tootie Fruities Cereal Cheesy Tuna Noodles box meal

Please contact Arline Kraft if you need more information.

STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY

Northeast United Church of Christ Offering Slip (Please clip and attach to your offering)

Date ___/___/___

Name __________________________________ (Please Print)

Please indicate: Cash _____ or Check ______

General Fund $___________

Building Fund (RAC) $___________

Diaconate Fund $___________

Other____________________ $___________

Total Giving $___________

“IN-KIND” GIVING WISH LIST This Month’s needs are:

8 ½ x 11” white copy paper

8 ½ x 14” white copy paper

Tall Kitchen Garbage bags.

Tissue boxes

Best Choices UPC Labels

We thank you for all “In-Kind” donations that you have made, and monetary donations that you have made to purchase supply items. THANK YOU! Please place all donations in the kitchen on the counter under the windows.

Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants.

Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice. Funding is provided through donations to the Neighbors in Need offering.

Northeast UCC will receive the NIN offering on November 19, 2017.

"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 Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks next December to lower-income retirees.

Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income 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.

Worship Assistants

November 5 – Communion – All Saints Day Liturgist: Jerry Pigsley Door Host: Deloris Himmel Ushers: Allen & Marilyn Ellis Counters: Eigbretts November 12 Liturgist: Jenny Cardwell Door Host: Velma Bush Ushers: Doyle & Judy Danekas Counters: Jay Bachman & Jerry Pigsley November 19 – Neighbors in Need Liturgist: Pam Nelson Door Host: Marj Mangiltz Ushers: Jerry & Gina Pigsley Counters: Larry Leach & Arlo Stahly November 26 Liturgist: Doyle Danekas Door Host: Carol Brehm Ushers: Ross Schall & Sarah Strong Counters: Mike Trentman & Ross Schall

December 3 – 1st Advent Sunday Liturgist: Larry Eigbrett Door Host: Rachel and Zay Strong Ushers: Mike and Allison Trentman Counters: Merrit Bradford & Janet Domeier December 10 – 2nd Advent Sunday Liturgist: Chris Eigbrett Door Host: Jay & Michelle Bachman Ushers: Larry & Julie Leach Counters: Eigbretts December 17 – 3rd Advent Sunday Liturgist: Jerry Pigsley Door Host: Jess Ross Ushers: Arline Kraft & Jill White Counters: Jay Bachman & Jenny Cardwell December 24 – 4th Advent Sunday; CE Program Liturgist: Jenny Cardwell Door Host: Ushers: Counters: Larry Leach & Allen Ellis

December 24 – Christmas Eve Service 4pm

December 31 Liturgist: Doyle Danekas Door Host: Sarah Strong Ushers: Jerry and Gina Pigsley Counters: Mike Trentman & Jim Becker

CHRISTMAS GIFTS Dear Church Members and Friends, As we prepare for the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth, we also often like to share Christmas gifts with our Pastor and church staff.

Pastor: Rev. Melissa Finlaw Draper Office Manager: Gina Pigsley Choir Director: Pam Nelson Media Specialist: Scott Pigsley Organist/Pianist: Janet Domeier CE Assistant: Corissa Buehner

Traditionally we have combined our cash gifts and presented these on Christmas Eve. For those who would like to contribute a cash gift to Pastor Melissa and the staff, please give these to either Doyle Danekas or Larry Eigbrett. We will appreciate receiving your cash gifts by Sunday, Dec. 17th.

Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas. Doyle Danekas, Moderator

WHAT DO YOU WANT UNDER YOUR

CHRISTMAS TREE!

SCRIP SALES GIFT CARD!

GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES!

Purchase your cards here at full value and the church receives a percentage of each sale.

Time is Running Short! Due your Christmas Shopping NOW!

Cards Available Now for: Barnes & Noble; Bath & Body Works; Bed, Bath & Beyond; Breada; CVS Pharmacy; HyVee; Kohl’s; Marcus Theaters; Outback; Canes; Red Lobster; Olive Garden; Runza; Russ’s; Starbucks; Super Saver; Valentino’s; Walgreen’s; Younker’s. Many Other Cards can be pre-ordered: Complete list at the SCRIP sales table on Sunday mornings!

Northeast United Church of Christ 6200 Adams St. Lincoln, NE 68507-2498 Published Bi-Monthly

Change of Service Requested

Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Lincoln, NE 68507-2498

PERMIT NO. 103

In case of severe weather: Cancellations announced on Television Stations 10/11 and/or Channel 8

SUNDAY WORSHIP HOURS: 9:30 AM Fellowship Hour / SCRIP Sales 10:30 AM Worship OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday – Friday 1:00pm to 5:00pm

EMERGENCY CONTACTS: Pastor Melissa 402/477-0032

pastormelissa@inebraska.com Gina Pigsley 402/525-7263

gpigsley@msn.com Marian Storm 402/466-1175 Doyle Danekas 402/643-1236

busdrivercouple@aol.com

Office Message Board Next Newsletter deadline is January

10, 2018 by 5pm.

Contact information changes – Have you moved lately? Or, changed your phone or email address? Please let the office know of these changes, so that changes can be made in the church directory. Thank you!

Key Return – If you no longer need your keys to the church, please turn them in to the office.

WOMEN OF NORTHEAST UCC

We are seeking new Leadership for our

Women’s Fellowship. We need women with new

ideas that are of interest for today’s women.

Leaders that can relate and brainstorm new ideas

and programs that fit in today’s lifestyle: Bible

Study, Luncheons, Speakers, Women’s Interest

Groups, etc. The Sky is the limit. If you wish to

keep Women’s Fellowship alive at Northeast UCC,

please contact Gina Pigsley for more information.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING DECEMBER 3rd AT 11:30AM

WE NEED YOUR VOTE ON:

2018 Budget

Officer and Board Members Election