__Cornerstone__
News from the First Church of Christ
Congregational
United Church of Christ
Unionville, Connecticut
“Making Disciples who make Disciples”
Pastoral Coverage
In case of emergency,
please contact the following:
Church office – 860-673-2796
or
Rev. Wendy Sue Kissa – 860-651-6971
(see vacation contacts below)
or
Co-Chairperson of the Diaconate,
Ken Kollmeyer – 860-674-8167
or
Co-Chairperson of the Diaconate,
John Ellsworth – 860-673-0518
Transportation Ministry
Please contact the church office if you are in need of transportation to Worship.
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VOLUNTEERS for the MONTH of FEBRUARY
Hospitality Team
Bruce Ellison, Deb and Steve Clubb, Nancy Vest
Fellowship Hours
Church Officers
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Upcoming Meetings
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Diaconate Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for February 6, 7:00 pm
Finance and Stewardship Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for February 13, 7:00 pm
Church Committee Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for February 20, 7:00 pm
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Prayer Chain and Prayer Concerns
Please call the church office with prayer requests, thanksgivings, or remembrances to be included in the weekly notices, or to have your ongoing prayers included in the prayer chain or to become a member of
The First Church of Christ Prayer Chain.
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March Cornerstone Deadline
The deadline for submissions to the March newsletter is Monday, February 20th. The newsletters will be available for pick-up in the narthex on Sunday, March 4th. Thank you for helping us save on postage! If you are unable to be here, we will mail your copy.
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Communion
In addition to a grape juice or wine option for communion,
we will also be offering a gluten free
option. There will be crackers placed at the center of each bread tray for anyone with gluten allergies.
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LENT Begins February 22nd.
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE will be held at 7:00 pm
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SOUP and STUDY Wednesdays
During Lent this year we will do Soup & Study every Wednesday, working through the gospel according to Mark.
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GOSPEL OF MARK Performance
spoken from memory by Rev. Bert Marshall
March 28th from 6 to 8 pm
Location: FCCU
On March 28th, we will be treated to a wonderful live narrative of the Gospel of Mark by Rev. Bert Marshall. Please click on the "Lent" page on this website for more details, and to read what the critics are saying. You won't want to miss this live performance!
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WHAT IS LENT?
Lent is a forty-day season that initiates the most sacred part of the Christian year. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on the Easter. The Sundays are not included in the forty-day count because every Sunday is a joyful celebration of our Lord's resurrection. During Lent, Christians meditate on the great mystery -- the salvation God won for us sinners by the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
WHAT DOES THE WORD "LENT" MEAN?
The word Lent is apparently derived from the Old English lencten, which means "lengthen." It refers to the lengthening of the daylight hours that occurs in the northern hemisphere as spring approaches. It is in this period of transition from late winter to early spring that the season of Lent falls.
WHY DOES LENT LAST FORTY DAYS?
The duration of the season of Lent is based on the ancient church custom of requiring catechumens to undergo a forty-day period of doctrinal instruction and fasting before being baptized on the evening before Easter. This probationary period was called the quarantine (from the Latin word for forty). The number forty occurs frequently in both testaments of the Bible. It signifies the time that is required for discipline, testing, and separation prior to achieving a goal or new beginning. For example, we read in the Old Testament that it rained forty days and nights during the Great Flood (Genesis 7:12), Moses communed with God on Mount Sinai for forty days before receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:18), the people of Israel were forced to wander in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 14:33-34), Elijah journeyed for forty days before he reached Mount Horeb and had a vision of God (1 Kings 19:8-9), and the inhabitants of Nineveh fasted and repented for forty days in response to the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:4-5). The outstanding instances of the number forty in the New Testament are the account of Christ's ordeal in the desert fasting, praying, and being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; and Luke 4:1-13) and His various appearances to the apostles and others between His resurrection and ascension during which He strengthened their faith and prepared them for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3).
During Lent this year we will do Soup & Study every Wednesday working through the gospel according to Mark. Soup will be provided by a family in the church and each family is asked to bring either bread or a salad to share. (We will save the desserts until Palm Sunday and Easter)
After supper we will join together in learning about blessing first and then working through the gospel of Mark. Please bring your bible, and there will be a children’s bible activity as well.
A sign-up sheet will be posted for each week so you can let us know you are coming and what you might bring to the table.
(Please click on “Lent" page on this website for schedule)
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Cornerstone Coffee House Concert Series
Saturday, Feb. 18, 7:00 to 9:00 pm Location: FCCU
Featuring: Dark Horse
Also presenting: Carl D. Company and other local talent.
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Message from the Hills
(One Heart Mission International)
Please click on “Missions” page on this website for their latest January message from South Africa.
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DR. JOHN LAWSON MEMORIAL DONATIONS
Memorial donations will be accepted through:
MSSB, FBO LAWSON EDUCATION ACCOUNT,
a scholarship fund that has been set up for
Dr. Lawson’s children.
Contributions should be mailed to:
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
One Fawcett Place
Greenwich, CT 06830
Attention: Ali Girardi
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DRAWING AND CARDS for CHILDREN
Activity for mission groups at 9:30 am
before Worship – come anytime.
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THANK YOU to the COYNE FAMILY
for stepping in and volunteering to
do our recent weeks’ Coffee Hours.
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February Volunteers are:
Feb. 5: Men’s Bible Group, Rod Johanson, Russ Muller
Feb. 12: Lisa Durkin, Cindi Vallario
Feb. 19: Jenn Dupont, Cindy Munsey
Feb. 26: Cyndi Vallario
Please consider volunteering
by signing the sheet on the bulletin board.
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Hospitality Team
The church needs people who are interested in serving
on the hospitality team.
The most critical need is during the summer months.
If you are interested, please contact the church office or Ken Kollmeyer/John Ellsworth.
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2012 IRON SHARPENS IRON
Please see posters on bulletin board
for dates and locations. (sign-up sheets are placed in the narthex)
For more info, please go to:
www.ironsharpensiron.net)
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Weather Related Worship Cancellation
Please check Channel 3 (CBS) and Channel 30 (NBC)
for announcements regarding
the cancellation of worship due to inclement weather
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Men’s Bible Study
Each week the calendar in our Church Bulletin lists “Men’s Bible Study” on Wednesdays at 8:30 am in our FCC conference room. I am inviting all interested men to come to Men’s Bible Study. In the Gospel of Matthew, it says “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” That is why we meet each week to study and understand God’s Word, to pray for our families and friends, and to build each other up in our faith.
Our Bible is a unique book, the God inspired work of about 40 authors over a period of about 1500 years. our Bible speaks of both the known and the unknowable, things pleasant and unpleasant, accomplishments and failures, and the past and future. The scope of our Bible is amazing?
Our Men’s Bible Study Group is very supportive and everyone is encouraged to take part. There are no wrong answers! Also, we have discussed changing the meeting time and/or place to make it
possible for you to attend.
If you are interested in Men’s Bible Study, please see me
during coffee hour.
Thanks for listening and hearing, Charlie Burk.
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Current Small Group Opportunities in the Life of
the First Church of Christ, Unionville
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HSSS (High School Sunday Series)
Meets the 2nd and 4th Sundays, Sept. through May.
A small group Bible study for high school age young people, following the children’s moment in worship.
Meets at Dunkin Donuts in Unionville.
Adult leader: Tim Barth.
Frances Richards Club
Meets the second Wednesday of the month (except January and February) for fellowship, special activities and lunch.
Men’s Small Group Bible Study
Meets every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
from Sept. through May.
Location - FCC conference room.
Contact coach Charlie Burk.
Bell Choir
Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
(except July and August).
Director: Lisa Durkin
New small groups are welcome and encouraged. To begin one, contact the church office.
Please feel free to participate in any of these groups.
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