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The Church Caller

A monthly publication of Ellington Congregational Church December 2017/January 2018

SUNDAY

WORSHIP

SERVICE

8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, DECEMBER 3RD FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

COMMUNION

BELL SUNDAY

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Mark 13:24-37

Sunday, DECEMBER 10TH

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SENIOR CHOIR CANTATA

“Celebrate the Child Who Is the Light”

Sunday, DECEMBER 17TH THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

ALL CHURCH WORSHIP

CHILDREN’S PAGEANT

“It All Happened In the Country”

Sunday, DECEMBER 24TH

ALL CHURCH WORSHIP

10:30 AM SERVICE ONLY

Sunday, DECEMBER 31ST

ALL CHURCH WORSHIP

10:30 AM SERVICE ONLY

From the Designated Pastor…

“I have so much to do today that I will spend the

first three hours in prayer.”

-Martin Luther

When I first read this quote from one of the leaders of the

Protestant Reformation, I thought that this was a rather

quaint sentiment, but very unrealistic and impractical.

Now I understand how healthy and life giving is that

statement and its practice. Not rigid or applied

unreflectively, but as a profound perspective about what

ought to be our daily priority: making sure that our life

and our choices flow out of deeply held spiritual values.

Continued on page 3

See Page 2 For Advent and Christmas Happenings

W.I.N.D. ~ Worship in New Directions

Wed., Dec. 6th

5:00 p.m. Service Only – joining the WF Pot-

Luck Supper after the service.

Wed., Dec. 13th NO W.I.N.D.

Wed., Dec. 20th NO W.I.N.D. ~ Blue Christmas at 7:30 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 27th NO W.I.N.D.

Join members and friends on Wednesday evenings for Worship in New Directions, an informal, contemporary experience of small group worship, at 6:45 in Room 201. Prior to worship, a simple family-style dinner and a time of fellowship are offered in the Social Room. All are welcome. Come to nourish your body, mind and soul!

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Celebrate Advent and

Christmas

With Your Church Family!

Friends and Extended Family Are

Always Welcome…

Sunday, December 3rd

First Sunday of Advent

8:45 a.m. Worship ~

Sacrament of Holy Communion

10:30 a.m. Worship ~

Sacrament of Holy Communion

& Bell Sunday

Sunday, December 10th

Second Sunday of Advent

8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Senior Choir presents “Celebrate the Child Who Is the Light”

Annual Holiday Turkey

Dinner Noon in the Social Room

Sponsored by TELOS

Sunday, December 17th

Third Sunday of Advent

8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Christmas Pageant

All Church Worship “It All Happened In the Country”

Wednesday, December 20th 7:30 p.m.

Blue Christmas Service

Holidays are not always a

merry or happy time for

everyone. Come join us for a

service of comfort, healing and hope.

Sunday, December 24th

Fourth Sunday of Advent

10:30 a.m. Worship ~ All Church Worship (no Fellowship)

Sunday, December 24th

Christmas Eve Worship

5:00 p.m.

A Family Service

Featuring the Cherub Choir, Junior Choir,

Junior Bell Choir and the Chime Choir

7:00 p.m.

A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with the

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Featuring the Senior Choir and

the Senior Bell Choir

11:00 p.m.

A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with the

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Sunday, December 31st

First Sunday after Christmas

10:30 a.m. Worship ~ All Church Worship (no Fellowship)

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Epiphany

8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Communion Sunday ~ All Church Worship

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SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE

8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, JANUARY 7TH EPIPHANY/THREE KINGS SUNDAY

COMMUNION SUNDAY

ALL CHURCH WORSHIP Matthew 2:1-12

Sunday, JANUARY 14TH SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS

“You Are Beloved”

Mark 1:1-11

Sunday, JANUARY 21ST

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

3RD GRADE BIBLE SUNDAY

Sunday, JANUARY 28TH THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

MISSION SUNDAY

W.I.N.D. ~ Worship in New Directions 6:00 pm Dinner & Fellowship ~ 6:45 pm Worship

Stay tuned…Wednesday dates in January to be

announced.

Join members and friends on Wednesday evenings for Worship in

New Directions, an informal, contemporary experience of small

group worship, at 6:45 in Room 201. Prior to worship, a simple

family-style dinner and a time of fellowship are offered in the Social

Room. All are welcome. Come to nourish your body, mind and soul!

Complimentary 2018 calendars are located in the

Narthex

and outside the church office mail box area if you

would like one.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Continued from page 1

We are in what for most of us is the busiest time of the

year: the holidays and all the extra activities and

commitments that accompany them. Shopping,

entertaining, baking, gift wrapping, the company party,

traveling to relatives, more shopping, etc. etc.

Whew! I feel tired just thinking about all that happens

in the next month and a half. So along with all of

these activities, commitments, and obligations often

come exhaustion, frustration, irritation, stress, and

depression.

Whew!

So I want to remind us all to slow down, to say “no” to

some invitations, to reduce the stress by conscious

choices and deliberate action. This is really what

Luther had in mind: make the choice to center ones’

life on God’s presence. Then choose from the vast

array of activities, which compete for our limited time

and energy in these holidays, those that lead toward joy

and peace, love and service. The way to manage the

next two months is to pray for wisdom and guidance

and strength. Not necessarily literally for three hours

every day, but how about for 5 or 10 minutes? Or for

just one minute of silence and contemplation of the

presence of the holy in the world and in your life.

Regularly remind yourself that these events are not just

holidays, but holy days. And consciously and

deliberately ask yourself how you can keep the ‘holy’

in the way you celebrate these holidays.

This is not easy for me to do…I can easily get

distracted and lose my focus on the real reason for this

season and its sacred events. So let’s pray for one

another that this next several weeks will be deeply

spiritually meaningful for us and our families and

friends.

The church has special worship services planned that

will be joy filled and remind us of the old story that has

changed the world and will change our lives—if we let

it. Come to worship each Sunday anticipating that the

time spent in worship of God will help you to manage

the rest of your life by planting in your heart the love

and grace of God.

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I draw your attention to the details elsewhere in this

Caller and want to lift up especially a couple of

services: Blue Christmas on Wednesday evening

December 20th at 7:30pm – a time for quiet reflection

on the losses we have experienced, the loneliness and

sadness of this time of year and to pray and consider

God’s healing presence. There are three Sundays in a

row that are deliberately planned family friendly

services: Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and the first

Sunday of January. All will be designed for everyone

to worship together. Your participation in these

services in particular will encourage you to center your

life in God’s coming into the world!

I will pray for you (but not for three hours!) that your

journey through these holidays will be marked by you

as holy days. I look forward to celebrating these holy

days with you!

Dr. Jay

CALL TO THE

ANNUAL MEETING

of the

Ellington Congregational

Church

United Church of Christ

Thursday January

25th Dinner Served at

6:30 p.m.

Dinner will be followed by our annual business

meeting to elect officers, adopt a budget, and act on

other matters of importance concerning our future.

YOU ARE INVITED…

Ellington Congregational Church,

UCC

Saturday, February 3rd

What’s a Summit Meeting? Who goes to this church meeting?

Are you on a committee?

Or going on to a committee?

Are you a new member?

Or a long time member?

Are you confirmed?

Or a member of TELOS?

Everyone attends!

P.S. A Summit meeting contains prayer, planning, and people

Our Tenth Annual Summit will begin with

registration and coffee at 8:30 and will end at

12:00. Light refreshments will be offered.

Marsha Andzans

Moderator

(snow date: Saturday, February 10, 2018)

to all the volunteers that

supported the Church Office this past year!

Your time is greatly appreciated!!

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NEWS FROM THE

CHURCH OFFICE

The Church Office will have limited hours on Thursday,

December 7th & Friday, December 22nd. (Subject to

change.)

All the offices will be closed on December 25th and

December 26th in observance of Christmas and January

1st. At all times the church answering machine provides

instructions for urgent call service and is on 24 hours

a day.

The Church Office will have limited hours December

27th through December 29th. (Subject to change.)

Please check the weekly bulletin announcements for

updates and or changes. Thank you!

Update on the Parsonage

I wanted to take a moment to update the congregation

on the status of the Parsonage now that Pastor Don has

retired. Simply stated, the Bailey-François Family will

continue to live at the ECC Parsonage thru the end of

2017. We have made an agreement which calls for

them to pay only for utilities, etc. Any maintenance

issues will still be the responsibility of ECC and the

Board of Trustees. At the end of the year Don and

Karen will let us know what their future plans for

housing might be. If necessary, we would be willing to

extend their use of the Parsonage for another 3 months

until the end of March, 2018. Beyond that, nothing is

certain, but maintaining a Parsonage has become less

and less popular in today’s age. Stay tuned for updates.

Jack Hagopian for Board of Trustees

Message from the Trustees

Dear Church Family,

We are beginning the final quarter of the church year.

As stewards of the church, we need to continue

working at holding down costs and spending.

Unfortunately, our pledges receipts are down from

what has been budgeted and that can be worrisome.

Stewardship Committee will be encouraging the

congregation to catch up with their pledges, but we

also need help from the pastors, boards, and

committees to hold the line on spending. Our goal is to

have to withdraw as little money as possible from our

trust funds. Please spend only what is absolutely

needed and necessary.

As we make the pastoral transitions, the Trustees have

been discussing and planning on how to manage the

additional costs and expenses associated with this

move. The 2017 budget did not take into account any

expenses associated with Pastor Don’s retirement, and

we will do our best to see it through. Everyone’s

cooperation and understanding, fiscal awareness, and

prudent spending will help us meet our objectives.

Additionally, we want to ask that as we move into the

final quarter of the year, all expenditures for 2017 are

submitted to the treasurer prior to December 15, 2017.

In order to provide an accurate accounting of receipts

and expenses for the year, invoices and requests for

reimbursements need to be submitted for payment and

processing in the year that they are incurred. Once

2017 is closed out, expenses paid in January 2018 will

be charged to the 2018 budget, even if they were for

the previous year. We are unable to charge expenses

back to a previous year. Please keep this in mind and

request invoices from vendors before the end of the

year, and please submit requests for reimbursements

for 2017 prior to December 15, 2017.

Blessings,

Jack Hagopian, Trustees

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Pledge Receipts…2017

As we move thru the 4th quarter of the year I’d like to

try to head off any potential problems with pledges that

might occur due to a misunderstanding of various

rules.

This is a reminder to our congregation that only those

pledges which are in the possession of the Church

Office by 12/31/17 will be credited to the donors

Giving Statement account for 2017. This year

December 31, falls on a Sunday so offerings in the

collection plate from that service will count toward

your 2017 pledge. The last day of operation for the

Church Office, however, will be Friday, December

29th. Therefore, because of how our computer software

that tracks donations, and our staffing hours, only those

pledges dropped off before Friday December 29th at

9am can be reflected in the donor’s 2017 ECC Giving

Statement.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), however, will

allow the postmark date to govern. It might be

possible to mail a pledge on the 31st, (assuming it

could be processed by the post office and bear a

December 31st postmark date) and have it counted, for

IRS/tax purposes for 2017. However, that

aforementioned pledge, mailed on December 31st and

received in the ECC office on January 2nd, would be

credited to the donor’s 2018 (next years) ECC Giving

Statement account.

Bottom line… Please help us to keep it simple. If you

plan to mail your donation or drop it at the church

office, please observe the Friday, 12-29-17 before 9am

deadline. Church offering plate on Sunday, 12-31-17

also works for 2017 Giving Statement credit.

Please always write your name, pledge giving number,

and the year (2017 or 2018) for which the pledge is

intended, on the check or envelope.

Thank you for your attention and understanding.

Jack Hagopian/Trustee

HELP WANTED…

A word from the

Nominating Committee

The fourth quarter of the calendar year is when the

Nominating Committee here at ECC does most of its

work. ECC is a congregational church and as such,

takes its direction from you, the congregation. As you

may know, there is system and organization of

Officers, Boards, and Committees in place that are

charged with developing the programs and planning

the courses of action that will direct the future growth

of our church and lead us forward. Each group is made

up of between 4 and 16 members who serve on a

“rotational basis”. For example, the Board of Trustees

consists of 6 members, 2 of which rotate off, and are

replaced with 2 new members, each year.

We need people with a variety of talents who are

willing to serve. If you have an interest or would like

more information on a particular group, please make

yourself known to us. Unfortunately, we cannot

guarantee that your interest in a particular board or

committee will result in your immediate placement

there. If we have three people interested with only one

opening, 2 folks may be disappointed or asked to wait

another year or serve on their second choice. Our goal

is to staff a committee with folks who have experience

and with folks who do not. It is the blending of

experience and fresh ideas that fuels growth.

As most committees meet once a month, your time

commitment is usually just a few hours monthly.

Please open your hearts and minds and share your time

and talents. We look forward to hearing from you.

ECC Nominating Committee

Alice Sprowles

Deanna Piotrowski

Jack Hagopian

Have you visited the Church Website?

Check it out at WWW.ECCUCC.ORG

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The Church Office follows the Ellington School System

for delayed and closings due to inclement

weather.

For Sunday and Wednesday Service

delays and closings due to inclement

weather, see only www.WFSB.com and WFSB Channel

3 screen streamer.

A DUE DATE

FOR THE ANNUAL REPORT It’s time for the Boards and Committees to

start thinking about their reports for the Annual

Report. The deadline for electronically

submitted reports and reports that require

typing or significant formatting is December

29th and the deadline for financial documents

is January 19th. If you need copies of last

year’s report or have any questions, just email

or call the church office at 860-871-6606. THANK YOU!

Offering envelopes for 2018 will be

available in the Narthex for pick-up

to help defray the cost of postage. If

you are not currently using envelopes

or a giving number, and would like to, please call the

Church Office at 860-871-6606 to make

arrangements. Thank you!

Join Us for Friendship Class The Friendship Class meets the first Tuesday of the

month at 1pm in Room 201.

December 5th at 1:00 PM

All are welcome to join the Friendship Class at any

time! After a short business meeting Susan Mason will

leading the Class and the title of her presentation is

“Notice The Good”. Should you have any questions

about the Friendship Class, please contact Dianne

Durgan at 860-872-6090.

Sacred Stitches Ministry met on a

chilly Monday in November and spent time

selecting fabrics, ironing, cutting and sewing

patches into quilts. The weather outside was

just right for quilt making. I don't know about anyone

else but the coldness gets my creative juices flowing.

Our group meets once a month on the second Monday

from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Anyone is welcome to

join us. Bring your sewing kit and sewing machine

and a bag lunch. Patterns for quilts are available. If

you have questions, call Judy White, 860-875-6642 or

Peg Doffek, 860-454-7360. Happy Sewing and see you

on December 11th!

Prayer Shawl Ministry The Prayer Shawl Ministry does not

meet in December. We hope you will

join us in the new year at our meeting

on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. in the

social room. If you have any questions, please call

Jan at 860 875-1543.

We recently received several shawls and lap robes that

were donated to our group and we are very

appreciative.

Prayer shawls, lap robes and pocket prayers are located

in the room off of the Narthex. Please help yourself.

Meeting: December 9th

Meet early for Pancake Breakfast Prep

January 13, 2018 8:30 a.m. ~ planning out the New Year

Any questions please Contact:

John Bellezza (860-875-1434)

Scott Noble (860-749-7005)

Richard Steele (860-649-4732)

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Ellington Congregational Church

Breakfast with

Santa Presented by the Ellington Congregational

Church Men’s Fellowship

Saturday Dec. 9th 9AM

Enjoy a delicious pancake & sausage breakfast with

all the fixings ---

Bring your camera & capture the moment of your child’s special visit with Santa.

---

Story Time with Santa's Elves ---

Sign up on the poster at the back entrance of the church or call 860-749-7005

---

Donations accepted

The Fellowship Ministry supports our

weekly Fellowship hours after our services with a team

of volunteers who bake as well as offer time to set up

and clean up each week for these services.

As we prepare to create the schedule for 2018, we need

to look for anyone interested in becoming part of this

ministry, either for volunteering for baking and/or

helping on the committee for setup/cleanup. If you are

interested in joining or have any questions, please

contact Joann Scott at 860-454-4189, or email at

jmscott10@comcast.net. Thank you!

From the Historian… Isn’t our church sanctuary

beautiful? Do you ever look

around as you sit in a pew,

and marvel that the building

was designed “just so” over

a century ago? During

advent season, our church

interior is attractively

decorated, perfectly

complementing the year-

round style of the sanctuary. Outside, the realistic

exterior crèche is a welcoming invitation to

congregants and strangers alike to join us for worship

at our happiest time of year. Who does all this

decoration for our enjoyment each advent season? For

many years, our ECC Friendship Class worked hard to

provide flowers for the sanctuary each Sunday, and

they were responsible for decorating the sanctuary for

all the important church events including Palm Sunday,

Easter, Children’s Sunday (when children were

baptized), Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas.

Friendship Class was a large and active group of men

and women who not only decorated the sanctuary, but

also

delivered

flowers to

congregants

after Sunday

services. These members also brought Christmas

“cheer boxes” to those at home or the hospital. Those

boxes included sweets, poinsettias, knitting, and

Readers Digests. In the 1950’s, the Friendship Class

included Mrs. Eggleston, Mrs.

McConville, Mrs. Stein, Mrs.

Wallace, Mrs. Sloan, Mrs. Schlude,

Miss Nellie McKnight, and Mrs.

Steele. Mrs. Maud Steele was

Friendship Class President in 1952

when she recorded that “the entire

group” worked together to decorate for the advent

season; that group included their husbands for the

heavy lifting. They were continuing a tradition begun

in 1922 by ECC pastor Dr. J.T. Nichols. Following the

church service in those years, Dr. Nichols taught a

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Sunday school class of men and women, and

afterwards those folks visited shut-ins and the sick,

taking the sanctuary flowers as gifts, and from that

tradition came the aptly named “Friendship Class”, and

it has been called that ever since. In 1967, the

Friendship Class made 87 hospital visits, and in 1974,

they delivered 11 Christmas “cheer” boxes to shut-ins.

Phone numbers of Friendship Class members were

made available to the congregation so people could

reach out when they needed help.

Currently, the Friendship Class no longer arranges the

sanctuary flowers but they continue to meet for Bible

lessons or book study. Members stay up to date on

birthdays, those hospitalized, and they send cards to

the elderly, the ill, the shut-ins, and to new parents.

Though they no longer decorate the sanctuary or

deliver flowers, the

Friendship Class is thriving. Everyone is welcome to

join in on the first Tuesday of each month from 1 to 3

pm.

For many years Mildred Dimock assumed

responsibility of decorating the sanctuary for advent. A

large wreath hung over the organ

pipes before the beautiful wooden

cross was in place, garlands

decorated the choir

loft and upper

railings and the

windows were

enhanced with lit candles and greens

with the assistance of Jon Allen and

Rob Wallace. Mildred's traditional

decorations were continued initially

by Wendy Peterson and Lou Jeffery.

In the past few years, Deb Wallace,

Lou Jeffery and Rob Wallace have

assumed this task, including the social room window

enhancements. Jack Hagopian and Richard Steele have

also pitched in. Prior to advent, a harvest display

festoons the chancel for Thanksgiving, and in spring

and fall, Debbie Oliver plants flowers, and she also

places seasonal wreaths on the doors. Our own ECC

secretary Leigh Lezotte generously organizes the sign

up list for Sunday flowers, and she takes orders for the

Christmas poinsettias and the Easter tulips. Lou Jeffery

and Barbara Peck arranged these displays and

faithfully tended their care. Many of our weekly floral

arrangements are not picked up and enjoyed after

services are finished. Perhaps someone is interested in

transporting some of the flowers to shut-ins, or those

hospitalized, just as our “Friendship Class” members

did for many years?

Consider stopping by

church on a weekday,

to sit and look around

in quiet

contemplation. Enjoy

the sanctuary advent

decorations and

greenery, as they accent the detailed woodwork and the

sheer simplicity of white curtains over the frosty paned

windows. Read the plaque on the interior nativity

scene in the corner, a gift given in memory of John H.

Cripps by the ECC Church school in 1972. Look at the

outdoor nativity

“manger”, constructed

by the enhancement

committee in 1992 to

hold Joseph, Mary and

baby Jesus. When

Christmas Day arrives,

take a close look at the outdoor fiberglass nativity

scene figures, which were a gift honoring Mrs. Mildred

Dimock for her many years as church treasurer. Take

time this holiday season to look around our beautiful

church, which is the very best place to enjoy this

special time of year.

Lisa M. Sirag and Debby Wallace, co-historians

Have you ever noticed…

Thank you to all of the “silent” church people who

handle the small and large projects; detailed items; a

nail here; flowers there; holiday arrangements; etc.

Sometimes you just see things appear and then

disappear. These volunteers keep the church building

and grounds running, beautiful and welcoming. A

blessing for all of us to be thankful for.

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T.E.L.O.S. Happenings

Basket raffle tickets are

available for purchase after and

between services running through

Dec., 10th and during Winterfest on

Sat., Dec., 2nd.

Drawings for the basket raffle will take place after

dinner on Dec., 10th.

Annual Holiday

Turkey Dinner

Join Us Sunday, Dec., 10th

NOON in the Social Room

Sponsored by TELOS

Adults $7, Children $3

As always, donations of turkeys are MOST welcome.

CANDY BAR

SALE

Help support

TELOS as they will be selling Munson’s Milk,

Dark, Almond and Crisp Chocolate Bars from

January 7th until February 11th.

THANK YOU!

Thank you for supporting our youths’ Mission work!

NOTES FROM GROWTH

AND NURTURE Name Tag Reminder: Wearing our

name tags is a sign of welcome and

hospitality to visitors and newcomers.

If you need one or a new one, there is a

form to request a name tag in the Narthex or call the

Church Office.

2017

Saturday, Dec. 2nd

Ellington Congregational

Church

Come Shop, Sing, Eat,

Join the Celebration!

12:00-5:00p.m. OUR FIRST Annual Vendor &

Craft Fair located on the first floor Educational

Wing. We will have local crafters and vendors

selling their goods for home décor, gift giving

needs, teachers, family, friends and more!

2:30-3:30p.m. 7th Annual Christmas Carol Sing

in the Church Sanctuary. This is a wonderful way to

celebrate the Spirit of the Season. Join us for an

hour of singing Christmas Carols, and remembering

the reason for the season.

4:00-6:30p.m. Winterfest Café! Our Dinner

Committee will be offering a “family-friendly”

menu, with continuous seating in the Social Room.

Chili ~ Chicken Soup

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Macaroni & Cheese

Brownies ~ Assorted Beverages

4:55p.m. Church Bells – Listen for the sound of

our church bells along with St. Luke’s.

Town wide events throughout the day:

Library Events / Nellie McKnight Museum

Tree-Lighting Ceremony

Appearances by Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus & Frosty

Torchlight Parade

ELEVATOR ACCESS ACCESSIBLE

ENTRANCE FROM THE BACK PARKING LOT

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STEWARDSHIP FLASH

The month of October 2017

Income from Giving: $45,657.00

Expenses: $30,933.00

Year to Date (10/2017) Giving Income: $296,640.00

Expenses: $277,969.00

A Message from the Stewardship Committee

We received a total of 90 Thanksgiving bags on

Consecration Sunday. The bags were distributed

Monday to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, Ellington

Human Services and the Hockanum Valley

Community Council. Thank you for your

generosity!

Please be sure to complete your 2017 giving by year

end. Keep in mind the advice noted by Jack

Hagopian in this month's Caller on page 6.

Specifically, if you plan to mail your donation or

drop it at the church office, please observe the

Friday, December 29th before 9 am deadline.

Church offering plate on Sunday, December 31st

also works for 2017 Giving Statement credit. Refer

to page 6 in this Caller for further specifics on

giving timing.

Please remember to submit your 2018 Pledge Card

as soon as you are able. You can mail it to the

church office or drop it off at an upcoming Sunday

service. We request that you submit a Pledge Card

even if your pledge is $0. It will save us from

having to follow up with you in the future. Thank

you!

Board of Missions Mail

The 2017 Christmas Wish Tree

Is For Our Local Food Banks

The CHRISTMAS WISH TREE may be found in

the Narthex…thru December 10th.

Tags displayed on the tree ask for $25 BIG Y or

STOP & SHOP GIFT CARDS. THIS IS

IMPORTANT: Please attach the Activation receipt

to the gift card.

If you are able, please take a tag or two to help

provide for those in need this Holiday Season.

Please drop-off your purchase each Sunday in the

box provided at the Christmas Wish Tree.

Your generosity will benefit the clients who greatly

depend on the Crystal Lake Food Pantry & the

Ellington Food Bank.

This is a Vital Holiday Supplement to our on going

SHOPPING CART MINISTRY.

We Wish You and Your Family a

Blessed Christmas Season

~ The Board of Missions

A MessBIG Y

or

Stop & Shop

$25.00

GIFT CARD from the Stewardship Committee We received a total of 90 Thanksgiving bags on Consecration Sunday. The bags were distributed Monday to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, Ellington Human Services and the Hockanum Valley Community Council. Thank you for your generosity! Please be sure to complete your 2017 giving by year end. Keep in mind the advice noted by Jack Hagopian in last month's Caller. Specifically, if you plan to mail your donation or drop it at the church office, please observe the Friday, December 29th before 9 am deadline. Church offering plate on Sunday, December 31st also works for 2017 Giving Statement credit. Refer to the November Caller for further specifics on giving timing. Please remember to submit your 2018 Pledge Card as soon as you are

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FOOD BANK --

SHOPPING CART

REQUEST

FOR THE

MONTH OF

DECEMBER

Hot or Cold Cereal

Canned Soup

Peanut Butter

Jelly or Jam

Canned Tuna

Canned Fruit

Pasta Sauce

Rice

Instant Mashed Potatoes

Dessert Mixes

5th SUNDAY, December 31st Cornerstone Collection

GLUTEN FREE

Options Examples: Pasta, soup, crackers, etc.

ON-GOING

Canned Tuna

Canned Soup

THANK YOU!

FOOD BANK --

SHOPPING CART

REQUEST

FOR THE

MONTH OF

JANUARY

Jarred Baby Food

Dry Boxed Baby Food

ON-GOING

Canned Tuna

Canned Soup

THANK YOU!

13

The Women’s Fellowship of the Ellington Congregational Church is open to all members and friends

of the church. We encourage you to participate in our organization.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace

in its various forms.” From The Message, 1 Peter 4:10

All Church Christmas Pot-Luck

WOW! What a success the Farmhouse Fair was

once again. Under the wonderful leadership of

Vivian Hary, the fair realized over $7,600. And also

a special thank you to Joann Scott for her great job

of creating delicious and attractive meals. It was a

great couple of days and it took many folks to make

it such a fun and neat time. It always makes me feel

so proud!!!!

Be sure to plan on attending the 2nd Annual

Christmas Pot-Luck and Yankee Swap on

Wednesday, December 6th at 6:00 p.m.

Once again…

Last Name Beginning with A – M

Please bring hot dish / casseroles

Last Name Beginning with N – Z

Please bring salads

Beverages and Desserts will be provided

And don’t forget your gift for the Yankee Swap.

Everyone who came last year had such fun and this

is open to the whole church.

I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with family

and good food. Have a joyous Christmas and we’ll

celebrate the beginning of a brand new year.

Next Executive meeting is January 12, 2018 at 1:00

p.m.

Blessings,

Susan Mason

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

April 29, 2018 Annual Spring Tea

****************************************** REMINDER – hawkwing: Women’s Fellowship

collects gently used coats and new

items for the Lakota people in South

Dakota and the items are distributed

through the efforts of hawkwing, a non-

profit organization. There is a box in the narthex for

depositing clean coats in good condition, and Jan

Danforth faithfully collects and stores them each

week. (Thank you, Jan D.!). Our congregation has

been extremely generous in their donations and every

donation makes a difference, so thanks! For

additional information about this mission, the website

is www.hawkwing.org. You may also see Janet W. or

Peg D. at church, as they coordinate the hawkwing

missions for our church.

Campbell Labels & General Mills Box Tops! Please continue to save the

UPC Campbell bar codes and General Mills

Box Tops for Education coupons for Elon

Homes & Schools for Children in North Carolina.

They may be deposited in the red box in the Social

Room or in the folder on the downstairs bulletin board

– where lists of what to save are also available. The

Elon Homes and Schools and the ECC Women’s

Fellowship thank you for your continued support.

14

THE FARMHOUSE

FAIR

56 YEARS!!

Christmas candles and greens adorned the

church windows while rows of tables were

covered with red and white checkered cloth

with treasures on top. The soft music from

Mike Katowski’s accordion gently

whispered in one’s ear as the wonderful

aromas from the kitchen tickled the nose.

The sights and sounds all provided a

welcoming atmosphere to our 56th annual

Farmhouse Fair!

The wonderful atmosphere that was created

did not just happen overnight but took

months of planning and a lot of people.

There were a wide variety of creative ideas

and many people volunteered their time and

put in hard work in the making of handmade

and home baked goods. It’s amazing the

number of people in our Church who have

hidden talents they shared with us by

making something for the fair. But it wasn’t

just the women of the Church who worked

at the fair, the men helped too. If I were to

list everyone who had a part in the FHF I’d

probably have to list the entire congregation.

Here are some of the multitude of groups

who helped to make the 56th FHF happen:

set up tables and decorations, clean up

returning the rooms to pre-fair status,

parking attendants, greeters, floaters, cooks,

cafe personnel (hostess, cashier, waitress,

busboys, kitchen staff), crafters, knitters,

sewers, bakers (bakery and cookie booth),

advertising, technical personnel, church

secretary, telephone recruiters, sellers,

buyers, pastors and everyone in the

congregation who patiently listened to

announcements every week.

As a result of all this hard work we earned a

net total of $7,662.66. Now you ask, what

do they do with all that money? The

Women’s Fellowship donates money to our

Church to help with: improvements (we will

be paying toward the cost of new carpeting

in the sanctuary), funeral and receptions,

college scholarships, retreats and programs,

sponsor golf tournament, prayer shawl and

sacred stitches, and yearly contributions to

the church’s annual budget.

Thank you ever so much to everyone for

your ideas, support and hard work in helping

to make the 56th annual Farmhouse Fair so

successful.

Peace and Love,

Vivian

See You All at the

57th Farmhouse Fair

Friday, November 2, 2018

Saturday, November 3, 2018

15

The Church Family News

DECEMBER

Birthdays

Dec. 1 Josh Sandamena

Dec. 2 Nicholas Koehnke

Dec. 3 Aaron Hinze

Dec. 4 Marcia Hesse

Dec. 6 Charity West

Dec. 6 Shannon Close

Dec. 8 Charlotte Byam

Dec. 9 Erin Chichlowski

Dec. 9 Matthew Chichlowski

Dec. 10 Madison Quinlan

Dec. 11 Priscilla Bazan

Dec. 12 Ethan Parlante

Dec. 15 Autumn Flickenschild

Dec. 16 Joy Cloukey

Dec. 17 Sam Walch

Dec. 18 Laurie Hazleton

Dec. 18 Charles Firetto

Dec. 20 Peter Bazan

Dec. 21 Amanda Leonard

Dec. 28 Ellen Adams

Dec. 28 Scott Noble

Dec. 28 Julie Gross

Dec. 28 Brooke West

Dec. 29 Olivia Ledoux

Dec. 29 McKenna Cahill

Dec. 30 Joanne Raulukaitis

JANUARY

Birthdays

Jan. 1 Donald Ellis

Jan. 1 Jackson Scott

Jan. 2 Phyllis Maslak

Jan. 3 Arthur Caldwell

Jan. 7 Todd Rolland

Jan. 7 Ciara Troy

Jan. 8 Curtis Thompson

Jan. 9 Peter Walch

Jan. 10 Virginia Heim

Jan. 10 Barbara Peck

Jan. 10 Barry Cottle

Jan. 11 Kristen Sternat

Jan. 11 Avery Wilson

Jan. 12 Vanessa Close

Jan. 12 Lucas LaPierre

Jan. 13 Benjamin West

Jan. 13 Sarah Cocuzzo

Jan. 14 Emalie Bellezza

Jan. 15 Earl Palmer-Lavoie

Jan. 15 Owen Cloukey

Jan. 16 Lauren Galeota

Jan. 17 Nolan Byam

Jan. 19 Delani Oliver

Jan. 19 Bryan Forst

Jan. 20 Julianne Pashe

Jan. 21 Jack Hagopian

Jan. 21 Nancy Parker

Jan. 21 Eric Vincens

Jan. 22 Caren Rasmussen

Jan. 22 Brianna Mellen

Jan. 23 Carl Ferrara

Jan. 24 David Sirag, Jr.

Jan. 25 Derek Litty

Jan. 26 Lucas Van Deventer

Jan. 30 Dave Hazleton

Jan. 31 Emily Byam

Jan. 31 Brady Powell

16

DECEMBER Anniversaries

Dec. 27 Erin & Stephen Quinlan

JANUARY

Anniversaries

Jan. 2 Esther & Lino Pezzella

Jan. 11 Laura & Keegan Hoey

Jan. 13 Deanna & Michael Piotrowski

Jan. 24 Mary Lu & Jack Scarlato

PRAYER GROUP

& PRAYER CIRCLE

The Prayer Group meets at the church for one

hour every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. to pray for

people in need. If you need prayers for someone

or would like to be included in the Prayer Circle,

please let Carolyn Ladd or the church office

know.

SANCTUARY FLOWERS We thank the following for

providing sanctuary flowers

in November: Jack and Carol

Hagopian in celebration of

Loved Ones; Sharon

McLaughlin and The

Wieliczka Family in loving

memory of Donald McLaughlin; Jon and Lyn

Allen in loving memory of Bill and Doris

Borges, Lyn’s parents.

We thank the following for

providing sanctuary flowers in

December: Bob and Dianne Durgan

in loving memory of Dianne’s

father, Daniel W. Earle, Sr.

BIRTH

ANNOUNCEMENT Grandparents Kelly &

Chuck Jackson celebrate

the birth of Matthew Scott Doughty, born

on November 14, 2017 to proud parents

Kristin & Scott Doughty.

Hospitalized

since the last Caller

Thankfully no one to list.

If you go to the hospital and

would like a visit by a Pastor…

Please CALL our office as soon as you know

you will be admitted.

In your admitting process, you will be asked if

you are part of a local faith community

(church). If so, please answer YES, and give

the name and town of your church.

You will also be asked if you want your name

released to representatives of your church. If

so, please answer YES.

If you say no, or if you do not give the name of

your church, the hospital will not be able to

release your name to us.

17

Service People on Active Duty The following list contains people called to active

duty. Please keep them and their families in your

prayers. If you know of someone who should be

on this list (or have a correction), please contact

the church office at 871-6606 or sec-

eccucc@sbcglobal.net. Thank you.

Full Name Submitted by

143rd Regional Support Group CT Army National

Guard

250th Engineering Battalion Army National Guard

Alex Fitzgerald Lucie Parisi

Allysson Belval

Bill McDonald

Chelsea Hinton Jay Walpole

Chris Perrett Moriah Nutt

Chris Saucier

Damon Matus

Danielle Hanson

David William Chokas Andrie Bellezza

David Nutt

Del Plato

Eric

Evan Peterson

Frankie Valentin Lucie Parisi

Gary Feldman, Jr.

Greg Fearnley

Ian Rivers

Jay O’Connor Dianne & Bob Durgan

Jessica Lannan

Jim

Josh Smidge

Kyle Ciesco Melissa Ciesco-Rolland

Larry Oliver

Nicole Walsh

Rachel Korzub

Sean Belmont George & Marty Nickerson

Tom Kutscher

Thomas Allen Lucie Parisi

Troy Ciesco Melissa Ciesco-Rolland

Zach Hazzard Jon Allen

Discharged

Ana Gilchrist Jon Allen

2018 SANCTUARY FLOWERS The flowers we enjoy in worship

each week are donated by church

members and friends to celebrate,

honor or remember loved ones. The

2018 Flower Chart is now available

in the Narthex for sign-ups. Please

consider signing up to provide

sanctuary flowers for a week that is meaningful to you

and remember that there are two beautiful flower

vases provided, therefore, more than one arrangement

per week can be ordered.

The cost for flowers for 2018 will remain the same

as 2017 ~ $35.00, which includes delivery to the

church. The person ordering the flowers will have

the responsibility of the flowers after the last

morning service. Therefore, you are invited to

take your flowers home with you or you may

deliver them to a sick or shut-in person or someone

you wish to have them. Dr. Jay and Pastor Karen are

also great resources to inquire as to an individual that

is sick or shut-in.

CHURCH MAIL

I would like to thank everyone for all your prayers

and cards when I was recovering from Shingles. It

meant a lot to me!

Blessings,

Barbara Peck

18

Christian Education News (Sunday School, Youth Groups, Confirmation, Adult Education)

SUNDAY SCHOOL

DECEMBER Sundays

3rd 10:30

Sunday School

- Communion Sunday

- Children will begin in the

social room

10th 10:30 Sunday School

- Cantata Sunday

- Children will begin in class

17th 10:30 NO Sunday School

- Christmas Pageant

All Church Worship

NO CRADLE ROLL

24th 10:30 NO Sunday School

All Church Worship

NO CRADLE ROLL

31st 10:30 NO Sunday School

All Church Worship

NO CRADLE ROLL

This month in Sunday School the

children will be learning about

Advent and the Christmas story.

The Sunday School classes have adopted five

children and a senior from Ellington Human

Services to provide gifts for their Christmas.

Please pick a “star” with your child from the

Christmas Tree located right outside of the

preschool classroom, if you are able to help. Each

star has a different gift that the children or

senior asked for. Donations are due back by

12/10/17. Thank you for helping to make a happy

holiday for an Ellington neighbor in need.

YOUTH NEWS T.E.L.O.S.

A mission-based

program for students in

Senior High School

DECEMBER Confirmation & TELOS Schedule

Sunday unless noted: 12/02

Saturday

9:00a -

Noon

4:00 –

7:00

TELOS Leaders

Meeting

TELOS -

Winterfest

Basket Raffle

Ticket Sales

12/03 Between

& after

services

5:00

6:30

TELOS - Basket

Raffle Ticket

Sales

Confirmation

TELOS

12/10 9:00 –

2:00

TELOS Turkey

Dinner & Basket

Raffle Ticket

Sales – serving @

Noon

12/17 5:00 Combined

Confirmation &

TELOS Potluck &

Yankee Swap

Party

12/25

12/31

Christmas

Break NO Confirmation

& NO TELOS For updates, check www.eccucc.org

19

Christian Education

News (Sunday School, Youth Groups,

Confirmation, Adult Education)

SUNDAY SCHOOL

JANUARY Sundays 7th 10:30

NO Sunday School

All Church Worship

NO CRADLE ROLL

14th 10:30 Sunday School

- Children start in Class

21st 10:30 Sunday School

-3rd grade Bible Sunday

- Children start in Worship

28th 10:30 Sunday School

- Children start in Worship

Thank you!

A big thank you to everyone who donated a gift

for the children or Senior that the Sunday

School children adopted for Christmas. We were

able to provide almost everything on their list!

Thank you for making the holidays brighter for

an Ellington neighbor in need.

YOUTH NEWS T.E.L.O.S.

A mission-based

program for students in

Senior High School

JANUARY Confirmation & TELOS Schedule

Sunday unless noted: 01/06

Saturday

9:00 am

- Noon

TELOS Leaders

Meeting

01/07 Between

& after

services

5:00

6:30

TELOS Chocolate

Bar Fund Raiser

Begins

Confirmation

TELOS Meeting

01/14 Between

& after

services

TELOS Chocolate

Bar Fund Raiser

NO Evening

Confirmation &

NO TELOS

01/21 Between

& after

services

5:00

6:30

TELOS Chocolate

Bar Fund Raiser

Confirmation

TELOS Meeting

01/25

Thursday

5:00 pm

set-up;

etc.

ECC Annual Mtg. (Helping with the

dinner counts as a

Confirmation

Service Activity)

01/28 Between

& after

services

9:00 am –

2:00 pm

10:30am

TELOS Chocolate

Bar Fund Raiser

TELOS Lasagna

Dinner

Confirmation

attends worship For updates, check www.eccucc.org

20

GATEKEEPERS – DECEMBER 2017

Sunday

Worship

Service

DECEMBER 3RD

FIRST SUNDAY OF

ADVENT

COMMUNION &

BELL SUNDAY

DECEMBER 10TH

SECOND SUNDAY

OF ADVENT

SENIOR CHOIR

CANTATA

DECEMBER 17TH

THIRD SUNDAY OF

ADVENT

CHILDREN’S PAGEANT

ALL CHURCH

WORSHIP

DECEMBER 24TH

CHRISTMAS DAY

~ 10:30 AM ONLY ~

ALL CHURCH

WORSHIP

DECEMBER 24TH

CHRISTMAS EVE

ALL CHURCH

WORSHIP

DECEMBER 31ST

FIRST SUNDAY

AFTER CHRISTMAS

10:30 AM ONLY

ALL CHURCH

WORSHIP

Greeters:

(10:30)

5:00 PM –

7:00 PM –

11:00 PM –

Welcomers:

(10:30)

Lay Readers:

(10:30)

Chas Gross No Readings No Readings 5:00 PM -

7:00 PM – Jon Allen

11:00 PM –

Deacons on

Duty: (8:45)

Al Tiedt

Sharon Gluhosky

Beth Cocuzzo

B.J. Aldrich

5:00 PM - Bryan

Forst

Dave Redekas

(10:30) Earl Palmer-Lavoie

John Bellezza

Anna Carroll

Carol Hagopian

Jennifer Boynton

Brian Cocuzzo Joanne Raulukaitis Basil Stone

7:00 PM

Jennifer Boynton

Marcia Hesse

Beth & Brian

Cocuzzo

11:00 PM

Basil Stone

John Bellezza

Earl Palmer-Lavoie

Al Tiedt

Marcia Hesse

Ushers:

(8:45) 5:00 PM –

(10:30) 7:00 PM -

11:00 PM –

Food Bank

Deliveries:

The Cornerstone

Cupboard

Dylan Ciesco

HVCC Food

Pantry

Cheryl Dinse

Crystal Lake

Community Food

Pantry

Laurie Hazleton

Ellington Food Bank

Debby & Rob

Wallace

Cornerstone

Collection

Board of Missions

21

GATEKEEPERS – JANUARY 2018

Sunday

Morning

Worship

Service

JANUARY 7TH

COMMUNION &

EPIPHANY SUNDAY

JANUARY 14TH

SECOND SUNDAY

AFTER EPIPHANY

JANUARY 21ST

3RD GRADE BIBLE SUNDAY

JANUARY 28TH

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER

EPIPHANY

MISSION SUNDAY

Greeters:

(10:30)

Welcomers:

(10:30)

Lay Readers:

(10:30)

Bev Russo

George Nickerson

Liz West

Basil Stone

Deacons:

(8:45)

(10:30)

Ushers:

(8:45)

(10:30)

Food Bank

Deliveries:

The Cornerstone

Cupboard

Dylan Ciesco

HVCC Food Pantry

Cheryl Dinse

Crystal Lake Community

Food Pantry

Laurie Hazleton

Ellington Food Bank

Debby & Rob Wallace

22

THE CHURCH CALLER Ellington Congregational Church United Church of Christ P.O. Box 216 Ellington, CT 06029-0216

Non-profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Vernon, CT

PERMIT #201

(TIME VALUE December 1, 2017)

New home? Phone? E-mail? Please call or e-mail the Church Office so we can keep our

records up to date. Thank you. Phone: 860-871-6606 eccucc@sbcglobal.net

HIGHLIGHTS

From the Designated Pastor p. 1 & 3

Advent Happenings & Merry Christmas p. 2 Call to Annual Meeting & Annual Summit p. 4

Messages From the Trustees p. 5 & 6

Friendship Class, Sacred Stitches & Prayer Shawl p. 7

Breakfast with Santa & Historian p. 8 TELOS Happenings & Winterfest p. 10

Stewardship p. 11

Missions p. 11 – 12

Women’s Fellowship p. 13 – 14

The Church Family News p. 15 – 17 Christian Education News p. 18 – 19 CHURCH STAFF Gatekeepers p. 20 – 21 The Rev. Dr. Jay M. Terbush, Designated Pastor Church Calendars p. 22 – 23 The Rev. Karen Bailey-François, Associate Pastor

Esther Pezzella, Director of Music

MISSION STATEMENT

We are a welcoming family of Christians dedicated to living and sharing Christ’s teachings through a faith continually renewed by God’s grace. We come together in worship, study, and mission, bringing a diversity of talents and offering opportunities for each member to express a personal faith through shared responsibility and service. We commit to provide a Christ-centered atmosphere for both individual and communal growth in which all can realize their full spiritual potential.

Adopted 9/11/94

Lisa Crocker, Associate in Christian Education Leigh Lezotte, Church Secretary

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS

8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Mon. – Thurs. / 1 P.M. Fri. Closed Holidays

SUNDAY WORSHIP IS AT 8:45 & 10:30 A.M.

Communion is served the first Sunday of the month

HOW TO CONTACT THE CHURCH (860) 871-6606

eccucc@sbcglobal.net Web Page: http://www.eccucc.org