LENT AND EASTER
At the Lenten season we are entering into
a time for quietness, reflection, and prayer, a time for considering our own
imperfections and seeking ways to grow in faith. We should take advantage of
this holy season by making a commitment to attend worship every week and to be
intentional about taking time for God in our lives.
Ash Wednesday
Service. Lent begins on February 22 with an Ash Wednesday
Service at 7:00 pm in the Meetinghouse.
.
Palm Sunday Service, April 17 at 10 am
Maundy Thursday
Service, April 5, at 6:30 pm.
We will start with a traditional Seder Service, followed by a Tenebrae service.
Good Friday, April 6. The
meetinghouse will be open and set up for meditation and prayer.
Easter Sunday, April
8. There will be an Easter Sunrise Service at 6 am, and an Easter Sunday
Worship Service at
10 am
FLAGG ROAD CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM
A new tradition…Communion Together as a Congregation
On January 22, 2012, our Sunday
School Children participated in a special Communion teaching service with the
entire Congregation. The Board of Deacons as well as the Board of Christian
Education share the belief that Communion is an
important part of worshiping God and to remembering the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus specifically requested his Disciples hold
communions “in remembrance” of him. Teaching children about communion and its
importance will enhance the essential elements of their individual faith
foundations. As a congregation, we embrace this opportunity to guide our
children and share in this expression of our Christian faith together.
Beginning on February 5, 2012, all Sunday School
Children and Youth will remain in the sanctuary to participate in the
celebration of the Lord’s Supper with the entire congregation. After the
Sacrament of Communion, they will exit the sanctuary to attend Sunday School class.
· Our Communion Together as a Congregation Unit
will end on February 12..
· The February 19 class will be an all grade Religion
and our Presidents class.
· Our next
unit, The Faith Practices of Lent. will
begin on February 26.
FLAGG ROAD CHURCH YOUTH GROUP
FEBRUARY EVENT:
Mid-Winter Coffeehouse and Open Mike Night Friday, February 10, at 7:30pm
This is a strictly social event, so bring
friends! Munchies and soft drinks
provided. Please reserve your spot on
the sign-up sheet in the lounge or contact the church office by 4pm the
afternoon of the 10th.
MARCH EVENTS: Faith & Family Night With the CT Whale, March 10, 2012 at 7pm A fun night of hockey as
well as music by Scarlet Fade!
Flagg Road Progressive Dinner Babysitting Service
March 17, 5-9pm
BOARD OF CHISTIAN
SERVICE
February Second Mile Offering – One Great Hour of Sharing
In 1949, church leaders from several denominations
formed an ad hoc committee to organize an appeal aimed at supporting the
separate campaigns of American churches. Their efforts
resulting in the ecumenical program, One Great Hour of Sharing.
Currently, the One Great Hour of Sharing committee officially comprises nine
Christian denominations: American Baptist Churches USA, African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church, Church of the Brethren, Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ), Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America, United Church of Christ, and
Church World Service. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) calls the
offering Week of Compassion. In various ways, all work in cooperation with
Church World Service, the relief, development and refugee assistance arm of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
At times, One Great Hour of Sharing has been
coordinated with the Roman Catholic Bishops' Fund Appeal for Overseas Aid and
the Jewish Passover Appeal. Efforts were made to combine forces to attain the
endorsement of the Advertising Council. Joint approaches were made to editors
and program directors of radio and television. Free time and space were
donated. Today, changes in FCC guidelines have all but eliminated this
promotional opportunity. Yet, the offering survives, even thrives, in local
congregations.
The purpose of One Great Hour of Sharing has remained
the same: to collect special gifts to assist those in need. Today, projects are
underway in more than 100 countries, including the United States and Canada. In
the 1990s, receipts have exceeded $20 million annually. While specific
allocations differ in each denomination, all use their One Great Hour of
Sharing funds to make possible disaster relief, refugee assistance, and
development aid.
Contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing make a
difference in the lives of people. Church World Service, a division of the
National Council of Churches, with overseas partner churches and church
councils are often the first on the scene following a disaster of natural or
human origin. Local church leaders identify the needs of their people.
Priorities are set to bring long-term solutions that will improve the quality
of life for individuals and communities around the world. One Great Hour of
Sharing, nearly 50 years old, continues to respond to needs equally critical as
when it was first created.
Please Give Generously to One Great Hour of
Sharing.
MUSIC FOR THE SUNDAYS IN
FEBRUARY
Below is a schedule of the choral music for the
Sundays in February.
The organ music, where already chosen, appears in Italic
print.
February
5 Laudate
Dominum, W.A. Mozart
Kyrie
/ Agnus Dei. Mass of the Quite Hour, Oldroyd
Little Prelude and Fugue in d minor,
Attributed to J.S. Bach
February
12 Black History Month Celebration:
Music of the African Diaspora
Siyahamba, South African Jubilee Song
Soon and
Very Soon, Andraé Crouch
Ride in a
Chariot, Negro Spiritual
February
19 Last Sunday after Epiphany
Gloria, Antonio Vivaldi
3. Laudamus Te (Duet)
7. Domine, Fili Unigenite (Chorus)
11. Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus (Chorus)
Vivaldi,
arr. Bach: Concerto in a minor, Movement 1
February
26 First Sunday of Lent
Kyrie / Agnus Dei. Missa “Dixit Maria,” Hans Leo Hassler
Ave Verum Corpus, William ByrdA GIFT
Prelude on “O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross,” J.S. Bach
LENTEN PRAYER
PARTNERS
For many years the Deacons have matched members and
friends here at Flagg Road in prayer groups or partners as part of our Lenten
observance; you will receive a letter telling you who your prayer partners are.
Please include your prayer partners in your thoughts and prayers and seek them
out to allow for a deeper connection and broader relationship with them. In connection with this program, on Sunday,
February 26 at 6:00 pm there will be a Prayer Partner Potluck Supper.
Connect with your prayer partners and others in the congregation and spend an
evening of fellowship and good food. People of all ages are encouraged to
attend. Sign up will begin February 5 in the lounge; you can also call the
church office.
NEWS FROM THE
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP
The Flagg Road UCC Women's Fellowship will hold its
Annual Meeting and Pot Luck Supper at the church on Sunday March 11, at 5:00
pm. Please plan to come and share in this festive evening of friendship and
planning for the coming year. We will fill vacancies on committees, elect
officers, review the past year, and determine future goals. Also, our saved
pennies will be collected for the Fellowship of the Least Coin mission.
This
month's All-Levels Yoga Classes with Courtney Lee will be held in the lounge at
4 pm on Sunday, February 12, and Sunday, February 26. A faithful group has been
attending and enjoying Courtney's wonderful guidance. If you can join us,
you'll be glad you did! There is no need to sign up. Just come, bring your mat
or a blanket. Beginners are welcome. Half of the $10. fee is donated to the Women's Fellowship.
A GIFT TO SOMERS CHURCH
The Board
of Deacons has unanimously voted to send a gift of $100 to the Somers
Congregational Church, with the following message: “As a sister church in the Connecticut Conference, United
Church of Christ, we reach out to you in prayer and substance, as together, you
move forward with plans to construct a new meetinghouse. A
sign of your physical presence in Somers, CT.
You are being remembered by many. We celebrate with you this time of
rededication and bonding.
KNITTERS
NEEDED!
Last week Claire Wills and Debbie
Kaynor took an inventory of the Flagg Road UCC Knitters completed Comfort Shawls
and yarns. It seems that this past year we gave away several shawls (as we
should have), so now the cupboard is bare!"
However, with a few skeins added
here and there, we have nine kits with directions available for some nimble
fingers to help us restore the Comfort Shawl cupboard.
Please help! If you enjoy
knitting, just call Debbie Kaynor at 860-233-7312 to make a time when you can
meet her at the church, pick out the color shawl you'd like to knit, and get
the set of directions.
If you can, we'd love to have you join us on every-other Tuesday, from 1:30
to 3 pm at Ruth Rankin's cottage "M"
in Hartmeadow Village for knitting and conversation; that would be
Tuesday, February 14 and 28, Mar. 13, etc.
Notes from West Mountain
Deuteronomy
4: 9 “But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget
the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the
days of your life; make them known to your children and to your children’s
children…”
Each congregation in its own way seeks to create anew
the next generation’s journey of faith. Yet it is up to that new generation to
discern and judge for itself what that journey will look like, how it will feel
and just where that journey will go.
The Confirmation 2012 class has begun. Tim Dickson,
Cole Hollant, Ben and Connor Sandstrom and Jack (the younger) Wright have begun
the faithful process of moving into adult church membership. Their journey will
lead them to be able to discern how they might best affirm the vows made for
them at baptism by their parents. It is a sacred process.
Over the next few months, these young people and their
mentors will be sharing, learning and reflecting on the nature of faith and the
Christian story. We will engage in worship, create opportunities to serve and
experience a variety of faithful responses to God’s gifts and promise. And we
will consider the ways in which Christian life calls us to be immersed fully in
life, loving and serving our neighbors, and reaping the benefits of community
and faithful endeavors.
I am thrilled to be accompanying this outstanding
group on their journey. I encourage all of us to lovingly keep them in our
thoughts and prayers as they seek their way!
Peace in Christ,
Mark
