Christmas Open House at Phyllis Chase’s Home

Friday, December 19th, 2-6pm will be the annual Christmas open house at Phyllis Chase's home. Come for snacks, fellowship and a festive afternoon. All women of the church are welcome! Contact the church office if you need the address or directions.

Tuesday Tidbits

The Tuesday Tidbits will be taking a break until the new year. Our next newsletter will be out on Tuesday, January 6th.

This Sunday Service Information

This Sunday, a prerecorded worship service will be posted for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. In person, our children will be performing The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Because of copyright restrictions, we are unable to livestream this performance. Instead, we will share a special online-only Advent service for our virtual community.

We hope you’ll join us—either in the sanctuary for the pageant or online for our Advent worship.

The Veterans of the Cross Fund

The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross is an annual UCC offering that expresses our thanks to retired and active UCC pastors and lay church workers and their families facing financial need, providing direct assistance to supplement pensions, help with the cost of medical insurance, a thank you gift at Christmas, and funds to meet emergency needs. This year’s Christmas Fund theme is “When they saw the star, they were filled with Joy…” Matthew 2:10. We will have a special collection during our 7pm Christmas Eve Service on December 24th. To give, use the “Christmas Fund” envelopes or click here to donate online. Please make all checks payable to FCCV and write Christmas Fund in the note section of the check.

The Poinsettias that are decorating our Sanctuary this holiday season are given…

In Loving Memory of: Lois Montlick by Jim Montlick, Becky Burr by Ron Burr, Bill, my husband by Millie Oliphant, Hugh and Sheila van Zelm by Cynthia van Zelm, Marinos Gerakaris by Betsy Gerakaris, Louis Argazzi, my father by Delight Champagne, Arglene Argazzi, my mother by Delight Champagne, Carol Whitney by Dale Whitney, Althea and Raymond Bacon, her parents by Marilyn and Allan Newton, Mabelle and William Newton, his parents by Marilyn and Allan Newton, Donald Newton, our son by Marilyn and Allan Newton, Our parents by Steve and Janet Boucher, Our 3 sons, Richard A, Robert C. and Ronald A. Pickham by David and Irene Pickham, Our Grandson, Richard D. Pickham by David and Irene Pickham, Thomas Hodge, my husband by Roberta Hodge, Taylor Anderson by Jim Bartlett and Tammy Fitch, Jack and Alice Allen by Steve and Nancy Hilton, Albert and Susan Hilton by Steve and Nancy Hilton, John Pizzanello, my son-in-law by Debra Nessing, David Wolfenden by Leslie Wolfenden, Bill McDermott by Jean McDermott, Kris Dunlap by Jon Dunlap, Len Fowler by Kate Fowler, Martha Fowler by Kate Fowler, Beth Fowler by Kate Fowler, Michael “Bubba” Swan by Sara, Eduardo, Mateo, Antonio and Isabela Calapiz, Robin Lynn Grabon, my wife by Steven Grabon, Dick Saich by Jane Saich, Frank Bovenzi by Dalia Panke, Gary Burr by Jane Burr, Birge and Isabelle Dayton by Linda Dayton. In Honor of: Joanne Myer by Andy Myer, Rev. Alisa Dickhoff by James and Sandy Dunovant, Loved Ones by Kate Fowler, Earl Dunlap by Jon Dunlap, Gail Hannon by Jon Dunlap, My daughters, Winifred Boisseau and Catherine Hatt by Betsy Gerakaris, JD Dickhoff by Alisa Dickhoff, Family by James Burr, My Mother and our Nonna by Cheryl Oliphant, Miri, William and Alban. To Beautify the Sanctuary: Suzanne Langone, Louise Theriault.

Message from Paul Shimer

In lieu of greeting cards, Paul Shimer will make a $100 donation to the mission programs at FCCV.

Updating the Church Bakers List

In an attempt to update our church Bakers List please stop by our table during coffee hour during the next couple of weeks to update our calling lists. Or if you would like to be added to our lists you can share that info with us.

Thanks for being one of our bakers. When you bake this is a “pure profit” activity. Thanks for helping to support our church projects and missions.

Women’s Fellowship

Thank You for Supporting Vernon Social Services!

The Missions Committee is delighted to share that, through your generous donations of gift cards for Vernon teens, we collected $600 for Kohl’s and $600 for T.J. Maxx—a total of $1,200!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated. Your generosity will make a real difference for local teens this holiday season!

Church Programs

Innings and Outings is a program in which you, the church community, suggest a fun thing we can do together (mainly for adults, but some programs allow kids). We try to offer both activities here at the church ("inning") and activities outside of the church ("outing").

The next Inning and Outing will be:
The Boar's Head Festival at Asylum Hill Congregational- January 4th
Chili Cook-off: January 25th, after worship.

Due to the possibility of snow, we will try to keep February happenings either in church or very local! Call or email me (sromangreaves@gmail.com) if you have ideas.

Chili Cook-Off

On January 25th, bring your best chili to worship!
We will be competing to see who has the best chili recipe. Here's how it will work!

- Bring your chili in a crockpot- enough to give out small tasting samples to the congregation.
- Stand by your chili! Give out samples of your chili (sample cups/spoons provided).
- People will cast their vote by putting dry beans (3 given to each person) into a jar that corresponds with your recipe. The person with the most beans wins!

The winning recipe will be shared during worship the following week- just in time for Super Bowl (and, to stave off the cold of winter).

To participate, submit your recipe to sromangreaves@gmail.com. Recipe cards will be printed out that day (in case of allergies- and, just in case you would like to share what’s in what you made!). 

Food Donations

Urgent Need for Food Donations

Food Donations:
The Cornerstone and Hockanum Valley food banks are in urgent need of non-perishable food and personal care items. Suggested donations include cereal (not family size), peanut butter, canned goods, boxed sides (such as Rice-A-Roni or Knorr rice dishes), mac & cheese, and individual snack-size packs of cookies. Cornerstone is also requesting large reusable bags to help clients carry groceries. Donations may be placed in the bins located in the narthex or lower-level entryway. Please double-bag any heavy items.

If you would like to make a cash donation, please write Food Bank on the memo line of your check.

Thank you for your continued generosity and care for our community during this season of giving.

Wednesday Walkers

Caregiver Support Group

NOTE: The Caregiver Support Group will meet this Wednesday, December 17th, then take a break on December 24th and 31st, and resume on January 7th.

A caregiver support group is being offered to members of our church. We meet every Wednesday in the church library from 1:30pm-3:30pm. This is a lay led group that is very supportive and caring and offers much needed help and encouragement to caregivers. If you are or recently have been a caregiver, consider joining us. Conversations are confidential.

Theology on Tap

Theology on Tap is taking a break and will resume in the new year.

Remember to Pray for:

Brown University, Ron Burr- who is home from the hospital, Mandi- Lynn and Tom’s daughter-in-law, Bev and Robin D., Shawn S., Ryder- Linda's nephew, Winn B- Betsy's daughter, Earl- Jon Dunlap’s father, Bonnie, Paula, and Craig-Millie’s friends going through cancer treatments, Edie- Irene's friend,  Pat N- George Monty’s sister-in-law, John Stevens- Susan Nolet’s brother, Barbara—Leanne’s mother, Betsy G, Delight C, the Durham family, Douglas G—Addi’s grandfather, Tammy Fitch and Jim Bartlett, Marjorie F, Catherine—Rachel’s sister, Joe, Ernie—Nancy’s friend, Barb Fox, Pat L—navigating back pain, Jim Muro, George and Theresa N—friends of Kathleen and Tom, Belinda—Jane’s friend, Lisa A, Nicholas—Karen’s grandson, Dawn G—Betsy’s niece, Nancy H—Karen’s friend, Denise Marcus—Marilyn’s friend, Jane Morse, Maoreen M, Thomas E, Pat M, Cleo B, Cordelia V, Susie—Barb’s daughter, Linda D, Mary M—Pat Melville’s sister, Elizabeth Lucente, Paul A, Chris Y, Kathleen I, Ken C—Roger’s brother, Kay, Janis R, Steven S, Chrissy and Ella—Jim and Cheryll’s daughter and granddaughter, Shannon C, Eddie—Phyllis’ brother, Donald M, Jim—Jane’s brother, Dave S, Susan H, Caitlyn.   

Pastoral Emergency

If you have a pastoral emergency, please call 860-266-5761.