WINTER 2015 1 Winter 2015 Outlook January/February Edition Unity Hill United Church of Christ “Where God’s Love Grows a Family” 364 White Plains Road, Trumbull, CT 06611 Web site: www.unityhillucc.org E-mail: [email protected]Phone: 203-374-8822 Fax: 203-374-1120 The Reverend M. Todd Shipley, Pastor The Reverend Harold C. Smith D.D., Pastor Emeritus Carole J. Fanslow, Music/Choir Director Dorothy W. Pickens, Soloist Louise Evans, R.N., Parish Nurse Patricia Bowman, Moderator Lucille Baver, Vice-Moderator Carol Dunn, Treasurer Dawn Brezina, Financial Secretary David Brezina, Church Clerk Joanne Wickson, Office Manager Calap Brown, Sexton Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. OUTLOOK DEADLINE ~ We welcome contributions to our monthly newsletter and invite you to share information, or even something more creative! The MARCH 2015 Outlook will be published at the end of February. All submissions, special announcements, articles or events provided on, or before, the deadline of Monday, February 16 will be included.
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Winter 2015 Outlook January/February Edition
Unity Hill United Church of Christ
“Where God’s Love Grows a Family” 364 White Plains Road, Trumbull, CT 06611
By Adrian Rogers (reprinted with permission from oneplace.com)
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6
Prayer is our greatest Christian privilege but — we may as well admit — our greatest Christian failure. All
of us need to learn to pray more and to pray better. But one of the reasons we don't pray better than we
do, or any more than we do, is that we have questions about prayer. These questions cause us uncertainty.
Then our uncertainty sometimes neutralizes us and we become hesitant about prayer. As we begin this
new year, what more important commitment could we make than to commit ourselves more to prayer? If
we're going to impact our families, our nation, and our world in these critical days, prayer is where it
begins.
What was the first thing the Early Church did after Jesus' ascension? "They returned to Jerusalem … to an
upper room" and "continued with one accord in prayer and supplication ..." (Acts 1:12-14).
Even a casual reading of the book of Acts confirms how totally the disciples depended upon prayer — how
they dared not make a move without committing to prayer, seeking God for His guidance and deliverance
through prayer.
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in
prayers" (Acts 2:42).
"Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer ..." (Acts 3:1).
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer ..." (Acts 6:4). "... prayer was made without ceasing of the
church unto God ..." (Acts 12:5).
If those who walked alongside our Lord for three years were dependent upon prayer, how much more so
are we? What a grave mistake we make if we are casual about our prayer life.
One of the questions most often asked about prayer is: Why should we pray when God already knows our
needs? Why tell God what He already knows or ask Him to do what He already wants to do?
Thank God we don't have to understand prayer in order to pray. Yet, there are some consistent valid
questions people have concerning prayer, but these must not hinder us from relying upon it.
First, here are two reasons we don't pray: • We don't pray to impress God. We're not heard for our
"much-speaking." You don't have to use poetic language or be an amateur Shakespeare. If an earthly
child can speak to an earthly father, you can speak to your Heavenly Father. We're told to cry out to Him
as our "Abba" Father — literally translated, "Daddy." (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6). We're not praying to impress Him. • We don't pray to inform God. You can't tell God anything He doesn't know.
So if we don't pray to impress or inform God, why then do we pray?
We Pray to Invite God. It's very important to understand this: we are inviting God into our lives when we
pray.
When we pray, we experience: • Fellowship. We become "workers together with Him" (2 Corinthians
6:1). When we pray, God gives us the joy and privilege of administrating His kingdom, His affairs —
working together with Him. He could do it without us. We could not do it without Him. But what a glory that God allows us the privilege of doing it with Him! • Development. When we pray, God is growing us.
Have you ever prayed and didn't receive immediately what you asked for? What did you do? You kept on
praying, but you also began to search your heart and life to see if something was hindering God's answer. Many times there is. God uses prayer to grow us. • Dependency. God never wants us to live lives
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independent of Him. If God just did everything for us and we never had to pray, soon we would begin to
take things for granted. We would cease to depend upon God.
Prayer Binds Us to God
That's why we tell God what He already knows. He knows what we have need of before we ask, but we're
definitely, specifically, unqualifiedly told to pray and to ask — not to impress or inform God, but to invite
God, so that we might have that fellowship with Him, so that we might grow, and we would learn to depend
upon Him.
Blessings,
Todd
PASTORAL CARE
If you, or someone you know, is hospitalized, please call the church office (203-374-8822.) Hospitals do not notify us when a parishioner is hospitalized.
Please remember our homebound in your prayers or with a note:
Erika Aanensen, Barbara Bailey, Hazel Berger, Dolores Colaiacomo, Eleanor
Dooling, Elsie Rapposch, Katie Schneider, Ruth Schuler and Nellie Wirth.
CHURCH UPDATES
Special thanks to Rose Vars for the beautifully decorated Christmas trees in our outside planters in front of
church. They look wonderful!
GEORGE’S HILL ~ Thursday, January 8 from 11:30-1:00 pm
A social engagement group for persons with memory problems or early dementia and their caregivers,
where they can meet with other people with similar problems, for lunch and a fun program.
Meetings will be on the second Thursday of the month from 11:30 am. till 1:00 pm.
To register, please call the church office at 203-374-8822 or sign up on our web site.
UNITY IN LOSS GROUPS
Large Group will meet at 12 noon on Sunday, January 25 (last Sunday of the month)
COOKBOOKS FOR SALE
Unity Hill’s cookbook “A Taste of Heaven” are still on sale at $20 each; see Carol Dunn or Dawn Brezina.
Reductions for multiple purchases are being offered. 2=$18 each; 3=$17 each; 4=$16 each; 5=$15 each.
Baptism & Church Membership
Anyone who is interested in scheduling a baptism, or who would like information
on joining Unity Hill UCC, please contact Pastor Todd Shipley
~ We prepared and delivered 7 Thanksgiving baskets to needy families of Unity Hill UCC. As always,
Missions showed our friends that they are important to us by giving not only food, but some items such as
things to set a pretty table. As we all know, you feast with your eyes first and then the food.
~ Our annual Christmas Card collection for Church World Service Blankets of Hope was $260. This money
will purchase many warm blankets for those in need. Missions expresses their heartfelt thanks to all
contributors.
~ The Christmas Fund: Remembering Our Veterans of the Cross—Those Who Serve Our Church ~
provides financial aid to retired and active ministers and their surviving spouses and children who face
overwhelming financial demands. We collected $140 for this mission during the month of December
ending on Christmas Eve.
~ Missions would like to extend our most sincere “Thank you” for all the help our own church members
extended to us over the year. Without you we would not have been able to prove that “God is still
speaking.” God bless you one and all.
Gratefully, The Missions Committee: Lucille Baver, Dolores Colaiacomo, Marion Gaetano (who now lives in
Canada but still helps us!) and Wally Yeager
BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE ~ By: Sharon Brezina
Happy New Year to All !!
We had a very busy and productive 2014 with some additional improvement plans for 2015.
You’ll be seeing some fundraising going on to help with the costs of some projects we would like to
accomplish in the new year. We hope you will come out and support us.
During the winter months we will concentrate on cleanup inside. And minor repairs.
We are going to be making some calls and gathering proposals to remodel the bathrooms in Lynch Hall
and adding a handicap entrance.
At our next meeting, on January 11th after service, we will discuss the B&G 2015 Timetable and get more
specifics on items like: Spring and Fall Cleanup dates, Fundraisers, special events and planned family time
hosted by B&G. We will publish this info as soon as we can to allow time for planning.
Be Safe, Be Warm and Be Blessed in 2015
In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the LORD. Ephesians 2:21
A New Year's Plan by Mary Fairchild
I tried to think of a clever new phrase—
A slogan to inspire the next 365 days,
A motto to live by this coming new year,
But the catchy words fell flat to my ear.
And then I heard His still small voice
Saying, "Consider this simple, daily choice:
With each new dawn and close of day
Make new your resolve to trust and obey."
"Don't look back caught in regret
Or dwell on the sorrow of dreams unmet;
Don't stare forward anchored by fear,
No, live in this moment, for I am here."
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"I am all you need. Everything. I Am.
You are held secure by My strong hand.
Give Me this one thing—your all in all;
Into My grace, let yourself fall."
So, at last I'm ready; I see the way.
It's to daily follow, trust, and obey.
I enter the new year armed with a plan,
To give Him my everything. All that I am.
FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
FELLOWSHIP OF UNITY HILL ~ By: Dot Pickens, President 2014-2015
~ Members will get together at the Fanslow’s on New Year’s Day at 3:00 pm. Everyone that attends has a
great time with friends and church members.
~ Many thanks to the volunteers who helped at the Golden Hill Community Suppers on Christmas Eve
were: Pat and Hannah Bowman; Marsha Piper; Carole and Allen Fanlsow. Thank you for the special salad
that was prepared in advance by Wally Yeager. 70 people were served a concoction of chicken,
potatoes and vegetables and gravy. (Melodye’s recipe, not ours.)
~ Our next turn at Golden Hill United Methodist Community Suppers will be Wednesday, February 25 –
2:00 pm cook; 5:00 pm serve. All are encouraged to come and help.
~ Many thanks to Wally and Ed Yeager and Carole and Allen Fanslow for helping out at the Thanksgiving
meal served at the United Congregational Church. Our help is always appreciated when we step up to
the plate. More than 500 people were given a hot meal plus other things on Thanksgiving Day.
~ The group enjoyed their annual Christmas party on Sunday, December 7. All that attended had a great
time thanks to our hostess Marie Seavey.
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP ~ By: Betty Vida, President
~ The Executive Board doesn’t meet in January. Next meeting is February 5 at 12:00 pm.
~ There will be no luncheon meeting in January. Next covered dish luncheon: February 19; Program will
feature an afternoon of Cards & Games.
~ Our annual Christmas Tea was held on Thursday, December 4 at 1:00 pm. Many women were
entertained by the Park Street Singers and enjoyed lots of tasty treats served by the Women’s
Fellowship. Donations were collected for the Center for Family Justice.
~ The shut-ins were remembered at Christmas with bags of goodies given by the Women’s Fellowship.
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND HAPPENINGS
MIDDLEBROOK FARMS
Worship Service at Middlebrook Farms will be held on Thursday, January 8 and Thursday, February 5 at
2:00 p.m. led by Deacons Carole Fanslow and Waltraud Yeager.
CHURCH WOMEN UNITED OF GREATER BRIDGEPORT
On Wednesday, January 7 at 10:00 am there will be a meeting at the United Congregational Church, 877
Park Avenue, Bridgeport. Plans will be discussed for this year’s celebration of World Prayer Day on
Friday, March 6 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Stratford. Call Carole at 203-375-1284 for info.
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COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF GREATER BRIDGEPORT
A SERVICE MARKING THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY will be on Sunday, January 25
at 4:00 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport. The Most Reverend Francis
Caggiano, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport will be the featured speaker.
On Tuesday, January 20 there will be a DELEGATES’ CONFERENCE at Salem Lutheran Church from
7:00-8:30 pm, focusing on the Co-op Center. These gatherings are always open to all members.
High school and college students - join us for our ANNUAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE on
Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport.
Register by April 13, 2015 with Richetta Joyner at [email protected] or call (203) 334-1121 X 230 and
receive a Certificate for Community Service Hours.
TRUMBULL INTERFAITH COMMITTEE
The Trumbull Interfaith Committee monthly meetings will be on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:30 pm at
Nichols United Methodist Church, 35 Shelton Road, Trumbull, and Wednesday, February 4 at 7:30 pm at
St. Catherine of Siena, 200 Shelton Road, Trumbull.
This year’s Thanksgiving Eve Service had to be cancelled due to the weather.
The next TIC service will be on Good Friday, April 3 at Christ Episcopal Church, Tashua in Trumbull.
GREATER BRIDGEPORT CROP HUNGER WALK
There will be a meeting on Monday, January 12 at First Church Congregational, Stratford at 7:00 pm. Save
Sunday, March 22 for the CROP Rally at First United Methodist Church in Shelton – more details soon!
MERCY LEARNING CENTER
There are lots of ways to get involved in this wonderful mission to "Educate a woman ... Educate a family."
Become a Volunteer at Mercy Learning Center - as reading/math/ESL tutors, committee members, Board
of Directors, child care aides, computer lab assistants, workshop presenters, special project workers, and
office clerks. Please call the Center at 203-334-6699 if you are interested or to learn more about
volunteering at Mercy Learning Center, 637 Park Avenue, Bridgeport. Tutors: We are in need of reading, math, and English as a Second Language (ESL) tutors. No experience
is necessary and all materials and training are provided! Tutors are matched with a student (or small
group of students) and meet with their student(s) for two hours twice each week. Upcoming training dates:
Fridays, January 9 or January 23 from 9am-3pm (lunch provided) Child Care Aides: If you love to be around babies or toddlers, we'd love to have you come in and lend a
hand in one of our child care rooms; needed especially in the mornings; hours and days are flexible.