The UCCA Hot News

Two-minute update:
        what’s on at your church
… A festival of song: piano dedication
… Installation of new deacons
… Earl’s Place Mission Moment
… Oct. 4: Blessing of the Animals

upcoming events calendar
        For the most up-to-date calendar, visit our website by clicking here.

         Saturday, September 27
                  2:30 PM - 4:00 PM:    Pastor’s Coffee House - A casual
                                     gathering. Happens every week.
                                     Baltimore Coffee & Tea Co.,
                                     890 Bestgate Rd., Annapolis.

        Sunday, September 28
                 9:00 AM      Choir practice
                 9:00 AM      Bible study: Ecclesiastes! Third Session!
                                           in the church office building.
                                     Please read Eccl. 3-4:8 beforehand.
                 10:20 AM    Warm the church walls: hymn sing by request
                 10:30 AM    Worship and Sunday School
                                     Dedication of our New Piano
                                     Mission Moment: Earl’s Place by
                                           Sheila Helgerson. Make your contribution now.
                                     Installation of new Deacons
                                     Celebration of Pastor Sirmons’ First Year
                                           at UCCA
                   11:30 AM   Fellowship Time - Luncheon

       Saturday, October 4
                  11:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Blue and Green Festival with
                                     Blessing of the Animals
                  2:30 PM - 4:00 PM:    Pastor’s Coffee House - A casual
                                     gathering. Happens every week.

      Sunday, October 5 - World Communion Sunday
                 9:00 AM     Choir practice
                 9:00 AM      Bible study: Ecclesiastes! Fourth Session!
                                           in the church office building.
                 10:20 AM    Warm the church walls: hymn sing by request
                 10:30 AM    Morning Worship: All-age inclusive service
                                          with a story. (No Sunday School)
                                     Service of Communion and Baptism
                                     Fellowship follows worship: Let us break
                                          bread together in shared fellowship
                  11:30 AM   Fellowship time in Caton Fellowship Hall

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You’ll notice today that we’re trying out a new format for our “Two-minute update,” what we formerly called “Hot News.” Here you’ll find all the calendar information listed right up front, making it easy for you to bring into your own calendar. Below that, my letter will continue, highlighting some of the events, as well as explaining why we’re participating in them. As always, we welcome feedback to pastor@uccannapolis.org.

   Last Sunday we celebrated a raucous farewell to the Rev. David and Midge Henry. Together we continue to give thanks to God for what they have brought to this community in ministry, both the church and Annapolis.

   This Sunday we’ve got a service centered on music, but also on service. Music is part of worship: it unites us and reaches parts of us that might be dormant to everything else. It’s no surprise that churches are, perhaps, the only places one can come to on a weekly basis and be encouraged to shout out in song! We unite and awaken to the spirit in this unity. This unity and hopefulness draws us out of ourselves and towards, perhaps, service to others. This Sunday, we welcome Sheila Helgerson, Executive Director of Earl’s Place, to worship with us. You will be invited to contribute financially to this ministry of the United Church of Christ, which helps homeless men in Baltimore move forward. This ministry is so important to us that Irish and I contribute $18 every month to them as part of their “Giving Every Month (GEM)” program.

    We will also be honoring the service of our deacons and our new Missions Committee chair. We’re inducting two new people to serve as deacons of our church - Lee Dotson and Jean Reantillo. Deacons serve in enhancing worship and pastoral care for all members of our church. We’ll also be celebrating Hildy Cardaci serving as our Missions Chair. I hope you’ll join me to affirm their ministry in song, silence, prayer and praise.

                               Shalom,
                                    Ryan+

Give to Earl’s Place right now! Contribute to our church’s collection for Earl’s Place online by clicking on this link.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH
    What’s on for children and youth
    this week:
           SUNDAY SCHOOL! We’re back in age-appropriate worship
           and play during the worship service. All children, except those
           in the nursery, will start in the sanctuary and then be invited to
           go to Sunday School following the Children’s Message. Our
           nursery is staffed this Sunday by Alex Nowe and is available
           from 10:20 AM.

Coming up:
OUR BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
SERVICE
at the
BLUE AND GREEN FESTIVAL
at ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Oct. 4, 11-3.
      Celebrating the restoration of Back Creek. Rev. Sirmons will be
      co-leading the Blessing of the Animals, so bring your dog, cat,
      hamster, guinea pig, parrot, elephant, badger, giraffe, frog, or other
      animal to celebrate creation together! For the entire family!
      Can you volunteer a few extra hours to help the festival? Let Lisa
      know at office@uccannapolis.org

UCCA MOMENTS:
This section is now part of our The United Church of Christ of Annapolis Facebook page. Please join us there, click here or click the individual links below:
    - Our church just went 100% green-er. Good job.
    - Pastor David Henry and Midge’s farewell, they are moving to Louisiana
     (pictures by Barbara Bickel);
    - Experience the People's Climate March through Kathy Walker’s pictures;
      and
    - Cornerstone Counseling Center, part of UCCA, is about town during an
      Oktoberfest Festival. It was a great opportunity to show the name of
      Cornerstone Counseling Center to the Annapolis community.