eFaith Matters
Friday, September 2, 2022
Roxbury Congregational Church
Roxbury, Connecticut, USA
Church Website: roxburychurch.org
This Sunday
September 4, 2022
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
10:30 a.m. United Worship at Apple Lane Pavilion
with our friends from Christ Church, Episcopal
In-Person & Virtual
on Zoom or the Church's Facebook page
Refreshments and Picnic follow
Please bring a side dish or dessert to share
Be our guest as we gather
to hear the word of God;
meditate upon its meaning
and purpose for our lives;
to be empowered to go out
and share God's love in our daily lives;
and to bask in the peace that Christ gives.
We are a Community Seeking to Share God's Love!
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United Worship this Sunday
10:30 a.m.
at the Apple Lane Pavilion
We will be worshipping with our friends from Christ Episcopal Church
Communion will be offered - open to all regardless of church affiliation
A picnic will follow.
We ask that you bring a side dish or dessert to share.
We will be sitting at picnic tables for worship and the picnic.
Loose offerings will benefit Roxbury Relief, the joint mission of our 2 congregations is helping those in need in our Roxbury community regardless of church affiliation or membership.
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This Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Worship Where You Are At - in -person or virtually!
You are invited to worship this Sunday.
With the return to in-person worship and activities
we ask that as we come back together that we wear our name tags for worship.
Bulletin: LINK
(The link remains the same each week)
There will be a bulletin posted for each week posted by late Saturday.
Guest Book: LINK
Online Offering: LINK or point your smartphone camera at the image:
3 Ways to Join Us For Worship:
1. In-person worship - We are now worshipping in person! Mask-optional for those fully vaccinated (2 shots and booster)
2. Worship using Zoom on your computer, tablet, or smartphone: Zoom LINK
Meeting ID: 623 572 023 Password: 718688
NOTE: We ask that you keep your computer microphone MUTED, except for the virtual coffee hour, or to share a prayer concern or celebration at the beginning of worship. Thanks!
3. Worship Using Facebook LIVE at Facebook LINK
(You do not have to have a Facebook Account to watch) Be patient, the FB feed is turned on after prayer concerns and celebrations are shared - for privacy reasons... typically by 10:35 a.m. www.facebook.com/RoxburyChurch
Prayer List Submissions can be communicated by emailing Rev. Peters, during the welcome at the beginning of worship. If speaking during the worship, use only first names to protect privacy.
Unofficial printed Prayer List guidelines: for non-member names - one week, which can be requested to remain on for one month, renewable. Deaths - are listed for 1 month;
"See" you Sunday morning at 10:30 for worship!
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Friday Notes from David
We are busy around the Meetinghouse this week...
I am back from vacation and sabbatical. It was good to be "off" and return to be among you all.
It was not a complete vacation with 2 unexpected funerals and other interruptions, but I was able to travel and get away.
With September comes the normal start-up and planning for the year's activities. If you have an event planned, please be sure to coordinate with the Church Office so that all can be accomplished and with no conflicts or drama.
On a personal note, some of you may not have heard that this past month, our daughter announced that she is due with a baby boy on December 3! Susan and I are happy and excited to meet our first grandchild. This will mean a trip to California possibly around the time of the Christmas Fair. Stay tuned!
The September edition of Faith Matters
is in the final stages of editing.
If you have anything to put in it,
please have it in by Sunday at the latest.
office@roxburychurch.org
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Our 18th annual tag/bake sale is happening Saturday, Sept. 10, 9 - 2.
There are a few tables left to rent.
Please bake for our bake table.
Donations may be dropped off next week beginning Monday, Sept. 5th in the fellowship hall. Earlier in the week is better.
To rent a table or volunteer to help, call Sue at 860-354-1274 before 7:00 p.m.
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This Week at Church
The Meetinghouse Steeple is lighted
during September 2022
in memory of Tyler Horrigan
by Kathy & Rich Horrigan
Liturgical Season: Pentecost
September Deacons are Mark Wolmer and Mike Wilcox
(Person to contact for more information)
Saturday, September 3
10:30 a.m. Mindfulness Mediation Group (Charlie Stauffacher)
Sunday, September 4
10:30 a.m. United Worship with Communion - In-Person and virtual Apple lane
Picnic follows Apple Lane
Tuesday, September 6
9:00 a.m. Kitchen Rental (Lisa & Kristen)
4:00 p.m. Piano Lessons - Hall - (Sandy K)
Wednesday, September 7
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (Jason McKay) Fellowship Hall
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Jason McKay) Fellowship Hall
Thursday, September 8 Rev. Peters is taking today off
Friday, September 9
8:00 a.m. Kitchen Rental
Saturday, September 10
8:00 a.m. Men's Group Breakfast (Charlie Stauffacher) Fellowship Hall
9:00 - 2:00 p.m. Tag / Bake Sale Fellowship Hall
10:30 a.m. Mindfulness Mediation Group (Charlie Stauffacher) Library & Zoom
Sunday, September 11 Pentecost 14
10:30 a.m. Worship in person and virtual Meetinghouse
Refreshments follow Fellowship Hall
Cash for Causes card orders taken (Susan Zappulla-Peters)
Save the Date
September 18 Church Council
September 25 Mission Speaker
October 8 Trivia Night
October 9 Blessing of the Animals
October 16 Musical Concert (with S. Kleisner / L. Abeles)
Reminder: If you have any community events that you would like lifted up, please submit them to the church office by 9:00 a.m. on Fridays so they can be printed in the bulletin. We would like to keep spoken announcements to those pertaining to the Roxbury Church.
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If are willing to help with any of these - contact Rev. Peters EMAIL LINK
September Deacon of the Month: Mark Wolmer assisted by Mike Wilcox
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Greeters Lay Reader
September 4: Elizabeth & Andrey Kutepov Elizabeth
September 11:Vail Barrett & _________ Vail
September 18: Diana & Phil deVries Phil
September 25: Beverly & Mark Wolmer Mark
Flowers
September 4: Fellowship Committee
September 11: ___________________
September 18: ___________________
September 25: ___________________
Zoom Virtual Worship Tech
Control and switch between the camera and sharing the bulletin on the screen.
September 4: David Peters
September 11: ___________________
September 18: ___________________
September 25: ___________________
We are looking for a couple of people who can help us with this. See Rev. David
Fellowship Host
As simple as some cookies with coffee/tea.
September 4: Picnic Fellowship Committee
September 11: ___________________
September 18: ___________________
September 25: ___________________
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Steeple Lighting
The Steeple is lighted each month in memory or celebration.
Listed below are those who have signed up.
 September 2022: Kathy & Rich Horrigan
October 2022:Elizabeth Kutepov
November 2022: Dale Pinchbeck
December 2022: Diane & Charlie Meade
January 2023: ___________________
February 2023: __________________
Steeple Lighting: $25 for the month, payable to RCC
and goes into the Memorial Fund - See Rev. Peters
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Like a Tree Beside the Waters
Talitha Arnold
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They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. - Psalm 1:3 (NRSV)
Christians use particular words to describe the Church. “Congregation” from the Latin con (with) and grex (flock). Koinonia, Greek for “community.” We call ourselves an “Easter People,” sing about being “part of the family,” or refer to “our church home.”
I have another name for the Church: “Riparian Community.” You may not know the term, but you’ve probably seen riparian places. They’re the areas around a riverbank or tidewater where bushes and trees take root. Today’s psalm sings of riparian places.
Riparian areas are easy to overlook in lush landscapes. But they stand out in the browns and golds of the desert Southwest. They’re green. They’re also noisy. Birds nest in the bushes and trees. Insects cling to the leaves. Deer, kangaroo rats, even coyotes seek out riparian areas for shade and water.
In riparian areas, you see life not found elsewhere in the desert. As a child, I thought red-winged blackbirds only lived in rain-blessed places like New England or the Midwest—until I saw one perched on a cattail near a desert stream outside Phoenix. It felt like a miracle.
Refreshment, renewal, protection from harsh surroundings, unexpected new life. Those are the gifts of riparian areas in dry and hard lands—or dry and hard times. What better calling could we have as a church than to be a riparian community? A place to rest and re-charge. A place that offers the gift of life, over and over again.
Prayer
For this dry and weary world, O Lord, help us be like “trees planted by the waters” and our churches to be your riparian communities of faith. Amen.
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Mindfulness Meditation Group – Saturday mornings
Feeling Stressed? Overwhelmed?
You are invited to be a part of the Mindfulness Meditation Group which meets Saturday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to noon, in the Chapel Library and on Zoom. Open to any and all in the community, regardless of any religious affiliation.
The Link to join is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/762243509?pwd=SkFGTXlPSm5HZ1pMZnRMQ3NyZ2NrQT09
Contact Charlie Stauffacher for information at 860-354-1274.
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You are Encouraged to Support these Community Events
and Neighboring Congregations:
(None submitted)
________________________________________
Please submit other community events to be listed here by email only to office@roxburychurch.org
by Friday 9:00 a.m.
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