Copy
This email is for the friends and family of Richmond Congregational Church. If you have news to share in our weekly emails, please submit it to the church office by noon on Wednesday. View this email in your browser
Richmond Congregational Church, UCC
The Reverend Katelyn B. Macrae, Pastor

Love God ~ Seek Peace ~ Build Community ~ Welcome All
To the Richmond Congregational Church (UCC) Family,

These last 3 months serving Richmond Congregational have been a delight and a blessing for Carolyn and me.  We have discovered why Katelyn and Nathan love this congregation so much.  You are caring and accepting, hard-working and committed, community-building and mission-oriented, visionary and Jesus-centered.  You have welcomed us to be not only a part of the congregation, but a part of the community, your families and your lives.  Thank you for your extravagant hospitality.  We know we will always have a home here at RCC when we return for our many future visits to see our granddaughter, Anna.  We know she will be surrounded by a beautiful and loving church family.

This coming Sunday I will continue the Advent series on the prophet Isaiah, as I look at his beautiful promise of the birth of Immanuel – God with Us.  In the birth of our Savior, God takes human flesh to dwell with us and to reveal to us the closeness of God’s love.
My final worship services with you will be on Christmas Eve.  We offer two worship options:

5:00pm Family Service – Fun, and little chaotic, celebration of our Savior’s birth
  • Special Music by young people
  • Chaotic Nativity
  • “interrupted” Sermon by Rev. Doug Wysocky-Johnson
 8:00pm Traditional Service – Quieter, more sacred, service to honor the baby Jesus
  • RCC Choir
  • An original Christmas story by Rev.  Neal Sadler
 
At both services we will read the traditional Christmas Scriptures, sing familiar carols, and join in “Silent Night” amidst the candlelight of a darkened Sanctuary. 
Invite friends and neighbors to join us on this special night of the year.

Peace,
Pastor Neal, Parental Supply Pastor
nealsadler@yahoo.com  630-408-4457 – cell

We will hold a special collection for The Christmas Fund this Sunday, December 22, 2019.
There will be offering envelopes in your bulletin, and our "Change for Change" jar on the table at coffee hour. Thank you for you continued support for the special offerings of the United Church of Christ throughout the year. Because of you, we have the honor of being designated a "5 for 5" church.

Your gift to the Christmas Fund will provide financial assistance to retired Pastors,  help the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks next December to lower-income retirees.

Our partner families are already working to prepare the building lots
in anticipation of our arrival!

Costa Rica Mission Trip 2020
Richmond Congregational Church, UCC in Richmond, VT is sponsoring a Mission Trip to Nosara, Costa Rica in February 2020 where our 20 volunteers will be working with Mercy Home Ministries to build two houses for local families. In 2018 we built two homes in Nosara and had trip participants from Maine, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and Vermont! 
 
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION 
for construction costs.
Scripture Readings

Isaiah 7:10-16
Matthew 1:18-25

CLICK HERE to see the Sunday Worship Bulletin.
Let us pray...
In Celebration of: Family, First Responders & Plow Truck Drivers, caregivers, holiday gatherings

For concern or healing: Lori A, Libby (Phyllis' sister) & her husband, Margaret T's father, Kathryn Wy-Jo's mother, Lori A's aunt, Mary & Martha's brother Ed, Cindy P's Aunt Mamie, Molly D's father, Anne P's parents, Cath B's step mother,  Mary (Ingrid's cousin), Martha Alexander, Terrie (Lori's friend), Donald White, Jr., and all those suffering with mental illness and addiction 

For comfort and peace for: the family of Sandy Hoar, victims of violence and war  around the world, the Kurdish and Palestinian people, migrants and refugees and asylum-seekers

Please let us know if there's someone who should be added or removed from the prayer list. 

Socks for COTS
Throughout Advent our Deacons are also collecting new warm socks for COTS (Committee on Temporary Shelter) in Burlington, and gas and grocery cards for our Deacon’s Fund. Our Deacon’s Fund provides emergency assistance to local residents. Donations can be dropped off at the Church Office, and socks can be placed on or under the Christmas tree in the Sanctuary.


We need your help!

Kathy Kort, Peter Swaine, and Phyllis Modley of the nominating committee are currently updating and recruiting for positions elected by the church. All of you give so much volunteer time to the church to keep it growing and making a difference in the community. We have openings on the council, trustees, pastoral relations, stewardship, outreach and deacons.

If you’d like information on any of these please contact us or the church office. We have detailed descriptions of what the time and focus for some positions are and can share these. Thanks for all you do!
Rev. Katelyn B. Macrae
Pastor Katelyn is out on parental leave now through
January 2, 2020.

Rev. Neal Sadler
is providing coverage during this time. His office hours are
Tues. & Thurs. 9 am - 1 pm.

Tuesday - Friday
9 am - 1 pm

Jen Greenwood,
Office Administrator
Email: church@rccucc.org
Phone: (802) 434-2053
Donate Now

Sunday Worship Volunteers** 

Ministers: Everyone
Pastor: Rev. Neal Sadler
Choir Director: Esther Nui
Musician: Jen Greenwood
Deacon: Robin Rabideau
Greeter: Carole & Jay Furr
Advent Candles: The Belaski Family
Reader: Carole Furr
Ushers: Gretchen Paulsen & Namo Chaisri
Count Team: ??
Coffee Hour: Gretchen Paulsen & Cath Burns
Sunday School: Joanna Kinnaman & Cath Burns

**Interested in volunteering?** 
Click the button(s) below or contact Jen Greenwood.
Fall RUG
Spring RUG
Fall Sunday School
Spring Sunday School

Thank you UPPER VALLEY TREE FARM in Jeffersonville, for their donation of our Christmas Tree!
CLICK HERE for the ADVENT issue of the Messenger


Grounded in Faith, Growing for the Future

Capital Campaign Update

Please return your pledge ASAP, and if you have friends, family or know of organizations to whom we could reach out about our campaign, or if you know of any grant or matching gift opportunities, please contact Cindy Preston or Nancy Remsen, campaign co-chairs.

Thanks to you and a grant of $50,000 from the Hoehl Family Foundation, our capital campaign has exceeded our goal of $278,700! In fact, we are within about $10,000 of being able to complete our entire project list and pay off past debt, and also to reach our first stretch goal - to put insulation over the sanctuary when we replace the roof. We are planning to pursue a grant from Vermont Interfaith Power and Light to help raise some of that extra $10,000, along with any additional pledges and gifts.
 
With joy and new hope for the future, we move to the next phase – getting to work on our project list.

Cindy Preston, co-chair                                Nancy Remsen, co-chair
snipe@gmavt.net                                      nremsen@aol.com
(Artwork by Tess Starecheski)
Copyright © 2019 Richmond Congregational Church, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp