the bridge november/december 2013 fox island...united church of christ 11/24 the bridge...
TRANSCRIPT
The Bridge
November/December 2013
Fox Island United Church of Christ
Rev. Janet Matthews
Wayne Lackman,Minister of Music
Whoever you are, 726 6th Ave ~ POBox 475 and wherever you are Fox Island, WA 98333 on life’s journey… 253-549-2420 YOU ARE WELCOME HERE! www.FoxIslandUCC.org
Coming up…. NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Stay up-to-date with your Fox Fire News Bulletins!
11/24 ~ 12-4p Youth Food Drive at Albertson’s
11/24 ~ No New Voice
11/26 ~ No Crafty Needlers
11/28 ~ Thanksgiving Day!
11/29 ~ 10a Greening of the Church
12/5 ~ 2p Women’s Fellowship Christmas Tea 12/8 ~ 2p Peninsula Community Chorus concert 12/11 ~ 12p Birthday Lunch at Madrona Links 12/15 ~ Cookie Exchange 12/15 ~ 4p Messiah Sing! 12/24 ~ 9p Christmas Eve Service 12/26 ~ Office Closed Jan 15 - Feb 23, 2014 ~ Winter Feast for the Soul
The front office will be closed Wednesday, November 27th and Thursday, November 28th.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Janet’s Journal
For those of us attuned to the liturgical calendar this Sunday, November 24th, is Christ the King Sunday, a day when the church celebrates the sovereignty of Christ. We celebrate Christ the King Sunday the very last Sunday of the liturgical year, a kind of New Year’s Eve for the Christian Church. We start the New Year on December 1st which is the first Sunday of Advent this year.
Oh, and by the way, Christ the King Sunday is also the Sunday before Thanksgiving, a harvest festival. Although Thanksgiving is a time for expressing gratitude along with sharing our abundance, it is a holiday that is also rooted in relationship. As the story goes, a famous Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1621 prompted by a good harvest hastened by the expertise of the Wampanoag Indians. In that time and place the indigenous peoples and the immigrants broke bread together. It is a utopian image, one worth recreating in the power struggles of our day.
I appreciate the blending of the celebrations, liturgical and harvest. In fact, the Jewish liturgical calendar is shaped by a number of agrarian festivals. The final harvest festival of the year, known as Sukkot, takes place in September or October depending upon the year. It is considered one of the most joyous celebrations of the year; in Jewish prayer literature it means “the Season of Rejoicing”. Sukkot follows Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the most solemn day of the year. After the time of atonement and repentance, followers (pilgrims) start with a clean slate. They return to right relationship with God. No wonder there is rejoicing. Then too, historically, the fruit harvest has been gathered. There is food to feed the physical body along with spiritual food.
Where is this all going? Calling Jesus “Sovereign” is often difficult in the United Church of Christ where we say, “Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life’s journey…You are welcome here.” “Christ the King” or “Sovereign Lord” can smack of a kind of religious triumphalism that many of us would not profess. It can sound like Jesus is the one and only way to God; or that Jesus’ life was more about ruling than teaching and praying; lighting the path to the divine.
As I see the year end harvest celebrations - celebrations tied to gratitude and rejoicing, celebrations that are built into our roots and at the same time span cultures going back to pagan harvest festivals - I am reminded that Jesus is the one who points to a God who says: All are welcome. Make peace with one another. Whatever is keeping you from being fully alive, fully grace-filled, bring it to me. Let go of it. Rejoice and know that I am God. I am the God of all creation. Now that is a Sovereign I can get behind! One who moves us into deeper relationship, one who calls us to love one another, one who seeks justice for the indigenous and immigrant, the sick and the poor, the young and the aged, a king who says to all: Your sins are forgiven; join hands, eat, sing, pray. I say REJOICE!
Happy Thanksgiving and a Joyful Christian New Year!
Janet
Building Security Recently, we have been struggling with operation of the building’s security system. Normal exit routine includes:
a. Ensure that everyone is out of the building.
b. Check all the exterior doors for security.
c. Make sure all the thermostats are in the off position except for the sanctuary
which should be maintained at 60 degrees. (Do not adjust the thermostat in the
Pastor’s office)
Thermostat locations:
Two in the sanctuary,
one in the narthex,
one in the fireside room
one in the nursery
and one in the hallway outside the kitchen.
d. Make sure all the internal doors are closed as a fire deterrent.
e. Make sure all the lights are off (especially in the bathrooms and the education
wing storage room).
f. When you have validated all of the above, set the alarm and exit by the
secretary’s exterior office door. Be sure to lock the door!
If you find yourself the last one out and you don’t have a key, call Stan Adams. If you have any difficulty punching in the exit or entry code call Stan immediately or the police may respond to a false alarm. You won’t enjoy that part! Thank you for your help in this matter, Stan Adams (253)273-4185
YOUTH FOOD DRIVE, THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH FROM 12-4PM To benefit Food Backpacks 4 Kids
This will be a fantastic time to collect as it is the Sunday before Thanksgiving and there are lots of
people shopping and feeling generous for all that they have and are able to purchase. In turn,
they have historically appreciated the opportunity to share! If you can lend a hand, even for
just an hour, please contact Diana Dahlgren at
[email protected], or phone at 253-820-3924/253-857-8218.
Greening of the Church Friday, November 29, 10:00 A.M.
Please come and help us welcome in the Advent season with the decorating of our church for the holidays. We will gather in the narthex and sanctuary on Friday, Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving, at 10:00 in the morning. As always, Debbie Clegg and Sally and Jerry Wax will be there to graciously help coordinate the placement of the decorations. Several strong men are needed to assist Jerry with the Christmas tree. Many hands make light work, so with lots of willing volunteers, it won't take long to do, and we will have a great time together! Hot apple cider, doughnuts, and other good snacks provided by the Deacons will be your reward for your efforts! Thanks much and see you there! Diane Larson, Chair of Deacons
Women's Fellowship Christmas Tea Thursday, December 5th, 2pm
Fellowship Hall
Women's Fellowship would like to "Praise the Christmas Season" with a Christmas Tea!
We would like to hear about your wishes, dreams and how we can support your peace during this holiday time. Rita Ford will play the piano so we can sing Christmas carols. Also included will be devotions,
and any discussion items by JoAnn Vance. Treats and tea are provided.
Please just come! Hostesses are Sally Wax and Debbie Clegg
Christmas Cookie Exchange December 15th after church
This is your invitation to join in the fun this holiday
season and look like the best baker in town. We will have our cookie exchange immediately following the church service. The rules are simple: bring as many cookies (or candy) as you wish and trade them for a
variety of goodies. As an example, I may bring 3 dozen cookies and I will take home 3 dozen.
“Naughty Cookie” will be there to give you a plate and help arrange your goodies. Don’t miss out.
Dinners for Eight is back!
This popular event is a great way to get together over dinner with a different group each month.
Chat it up & get to know each other better! Dinners will be in Jan, Feb, and March with a final
all-inclusive get together in April. Groups of 8 are formed with a different host offering a potluck
at his/her/their house each month. See Sharon Gregory to sign up either as a couple or as a
single! For more information. [email protected] or 253-265-8929.
(Sharon will have a signup sheet at church starting this Sunday, 11/24.)
Celebrating our December Birthdays! Wednesday, December 11th at 12p
Madrona Links Golf Course There is a sign-up sheet on the Fellowship Hall table or call Sally Wax at 857-5417 and leave a message that you can come. December celebrations are Margaret Wickline Peters, Debbie Clegg and Millie Jones. Happy Birthday!
Yoga & Meditation Holiday Schedule Yoga will NOT meet the following dates:
Thursday, November 28th (Thanksgiving Day)
Monday, December 23rd Thursday, December 26th Monday, December 30th
VBS TO BE, OR NOT TO BE…THAT IS THE QUESTION
There will be a Vacation Bible School meeting for all interested, semi interested and lukewarm parties on Sunday, January 5th, at the church, after church. We need to find out how much interest and ACTIVE support we have in the congregation to make this thing happen.
Tidying the Sanctuary on Sunday Mornings We are grateful to Sally Watkins and her granddaughter, Miley, for answering our call to tidy the sanctuary after services on Sunday mornings. As Sally sometimes has to travel for her work, she and Miley cannot be at church every Sunday, so we would appreciate having one or two other volunteers to help when they aren't available. Any other wonderful folks out there who would like to volunteer? This is a great way to help without joining a committee. Please contact Diane Larson or email her at [email protected] if interested. Thanks much!!
A-ga-pe (a'ga-pay') n. - Christian love
But what does it really mean to us at FIUCC? AGAPE is a resource available to all of us, under
the auspices of the Board of Deacons. This concept is being updated with a new list of
volunteers willing to fix a meal, take someone to a doctor's appointment, or fulfill a similar request.
Needs for assistance can be brought to the
attention of Marilyn Bodily (253-265-8952) and Neve Norton (206-383-2685). Volunteers will be
asked to help sporadically, and on a rotating
basis. This is not a huge commitment of time, but it is of huge significance to all of us as a
church family. Please consider joining the AGAPE Team. There is a sign-up sheet on the
Visitors' Table. (Please sign up even if you were
on the old list.)
If anybody has any of those self-inflating camping mats that they
don't use anymore, the youth group would love to have them to use for
lock-ins, yoga, etc.
Crafty Needlers will meet on…
December 10th January 14th
January 28th
Crafty Needlers will NOT meet on… November 26th December 24th
Have a Happy Holiday!
New Voice Schedule Changes
There will be no practice on the following Sundays: November 24th,
December 8th, and January 5th.
Wednesday Night Adult Education with Jerry Abbott
…will meet one more time this year on December 11th at 7p. The group will be
on hiatus through the holidays and resume on January 8th, 2014 at 7p.
Survey… Do you enjoy a good
game of Cribbage, and would you be interested in getting together with
other players over the winter months for some friendly competition? If
you are someone who might like to join in,
please email Erin at [email protected] or call 253-549-2420.
What days/times are best for you? Results will follow in a Fox Fire
or the next Bridge.
Thank you, Peggy Fox!!
for the new plantings in the pots by the front door. It is special to see
something beautiful and alive as we arrive at Church.
OFFERING ENVELOPES – BOXED SET
We have boxed sets of offering envelopes available for
anyone who would like one. There is one envelope for
each Sunday of the year with the first one labeled for
the first Sunday in January. What a great way to
remember your gifts, especially if you are out of town or
otherwise unable to attend Sunday Service.
Please let Erin in the office know if you’d like a box!
253-549-2420, [email protected].
Green Tip: Can I recycle paper or plastic cups? No. Single-use cups, paper or plastic, should NOT go into your recycling cart. These items are incorrectly sorted into paper bales, contaminating the bales. At the pulp mills the cups must be removed from the bales and sent to a landfill. This contamination is costly because it both lowers the value of the recyclables and adds disposal expenses at the pulp mills. Why can't I recycle paper cups? The paper cups from your coffee shop are lined with plastic. The plastic keeps the cups from leaking but makes it difficult to seprate the paper fiber from the plastic liner. Plus, all of the whipped cream and chocolate drizzle can make a big mess. And plasitic cups? Really? Plastic cups, like other crinkly plastics, can't keep their shape while they are collected and sorted. These cups contaminate other recyclable material and eventually take an expensive trip to the landfill. What's a coffee lover to do? Don't kick your coffee habit - try bringing your own cup instead. Reusable cups are easy to find for both hot and cold drinks. Many stores even give you a discount for bringing your own cup.
HAPPENING ELSEWHERE ON THE ISLAND…
NICHOLS COMMUNITY CENTER
December 1st, 6pm – Annual Christmas Tree
Lighting, Santa Visit, and Community Concert
with the Wickline Family & Friends!
December 15th, 2-4p – LEGO MANIA!
FOX ISLAND HISTORICAL MUSEUM
December 7th, 1-4p – Santa Visit!
Now thru December 18th – Silent Auction
CHAPEL ON ECHO BAY
December 14th, 1-3p – Author Book Signing:
Cooking Around the World with Grandma by
Island resident (and FIUCC Yoga friend) Millie
Lindell. Kids & family welcome! Come &
learn how to make Greek Baklava!
Church Office Recycling… Scrap Paper For You
We had numerous boxes of mix-and-match old church bulletins destined for the recycle bin.
Instead, I’ve cut them into 5.5”x8.5” sizes to make scrap paper for you! Some are blank on both sides,
others not. Some have inspirational messages or beautiful photographs. The box is on the table
outside the church office. Help yourself!!
TREASURER’S REPORT
