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eFaith Matters
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Roxbury Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Roxbury, Connecticut, USA
We are a Community Seeking to Share God's Love!
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The Overview
Editor's Note: This edition of eFaith Matters is coming out on Wednesday as I had Monday and Tuesday off in the wake of Holy Week and Easter.
Always Start the Day With Gratitude...
I would like to thank those who helped to ensure that our Holy Week and Easter events were successful and meaningful for so many.
This included Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Easter Sunrise, Easter Breakfast and the Easter Celebration Worship at 10:30.
We had a good number of guests and a number mentioned how good it was to be present, welcomed and fed (in more ways than one...)
Thank you all!
David
Your Extended Reach in Sharing God's Love
and helping others
This past week, our Southern New England Conference of the UCC featured an online article about one of our mission partners, Holy Joe's Cafe and their work particularly with the Ukraine situation. You can find it here: LINK
New Building Generator Update
This past week, in the midst of all the Holy Week activities, our new Generac Generator was put in place between the Chapel and Parsonage.
The generator, capable of power the entire load of the Church, Hall and portion of the Parsonage, was donated by an anonymous member of the congregation. Thank You!
We are grateful to Howie Bronson for using his tractor to move the generator from the Parsonage garage and placing it on the pad. Also to the workman of Hantsch Electric for their work as well as Trustee Bill Steers for his overseeing of this project.
Here are a few of the pictures.
 
Next step is the installation of the in-ground propane tank.
Your Generosity Supports the Work of the Roxbury Church!
You can send a check to the Church Office - 24 Church Street, Roxbury CT 06783
or online by one of two ways by pointing your smartphone camera or clicking below:
 
Electronic Giving for Offering or Give using Venmo
or Memorials Gifts
The April 2022 edition of Faith Matters, our Church's newsletter
is available on line now. LINK
For those getting printed copies, they have been mailed.
There are also printed copies in Fellowship Hall
(and at the Roxbury Market for the public.)
We have returned to in-person worship
with Masks Optional for those fully vaccinated!
as well as on Zoom and Facebook Live.
(Note that we strive to not to be judgmental about those who continue to wear them for their safety or yours.)
Fellowship Hour with food and drink has also returned
Please still be conscious of your physical distance with your masks lowered
to eat or drink.
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Our Church This Week
If you have something for the Sunday Bulletin, please have it to the office
by Friday 9:30 a.m.
Elizabeth Kutepov, Church Secretary, will be in the office
Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Rev. Peters is normally in his office Mon., Wed., Thurs., and Fri. from 9:30 -12:30
Liturgical Season: Eastertide
Wednesday, April 20
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - (Jason Mckay) Fellowship Hall
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Jason Mckay) off site tonightl
Thursday, April 21
7:00 p.m. Trustees meeting (Charlie Meade) Chapel Library
Friday, April 22
5:30 p.m. Art Show Planning (Charlie Meade) Chapel Library
Saturday, April 23
9:00 a.m. Roxbury Earth Day - Roadside pickup - Bags and gloves available at Transfer Station.
10:30 a.m. Mindful Meditation (Charlie Stauffacher)
Sunday, April 24 Second Sunday of Easter
9:15 a.m. Choir rehearsal (Sandy Kleisner) Meetinghouse
10:30 a.m. Family Easter Celebration Meetinghouse
In-Person and on Zoom and Facebook Live
Fellowship Hour follows Fellowship Hall
Mother's Day Cards for Church World Service go on sale (Mission Committee)
Save the Date...
April 30, 7:00 p.m. Trivia Night! (Chris Childs) Fellowship Hall
May 1 12:00 p.m. Ladies Luncheon 1754 House & Tavern (Jeanne Steers)
May 7, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Spaghetti Supper Benefit for Ukraine Fellowship Hall
May 21, 9 -2 Rummage & Bake Sale (Sue Stauffacher)
The Steeple is lighted during April
in memory of Robert (Bucky) Lowe and Tammy Lowe Hinckley
by Patricia Lowe
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To Keep in our Thoughts and Prayers – April 17, 2022
Please remember their families and caregivers as well.
Terry Alfson, Diane Meade, Alice Shaber, Dawn Collette, Stan Pasquale, Robin Montesi,
Jean Neff, Linda Adams Eyre, Beverly Simpson, Jordan, Diane S., Austin, Bill Cario, Doris Farrell
Recuperating from surgery: Ray Fitch & Pat Fraley
Family of Chuck Squire who died on April 3.
Celebration of the 97 birthday of Barbara Hunicke
The people of Ukraine and those fleeing in fear and harms way.
Members of the Armed Services, including Ben Farrell, a National Guard medic stationed in central Poland.
Those affected by or fearful because of COVID-19,
The healing of the nation amidst political and social polarization, and issues of racial justice and equality
Afghan families being resettled here
Those recovering from natural disasters across the US
Prayers for this week’s Mission Partner:
Prisoner Visitation and Support - visits with prisoners in Federal Prisons LINK
Lifted up by the Congregation:
Your Prayer Concerns and Celebrations:
Who are you praying for: ________________
For what or who are you grateful: ____________
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Some Scenes around the Church during Holy Week & Easter Day
Photos courtesy of Barbara Cover and David Peters
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We are receiving financial donations to help the fleeing refugees from Ukraine in Poland. We are working with partner churches in Poland to provide aid and support.
Checks can be dropped off to the church or you can use the online donation site to give. Please put Ukraine in the memo.
100% of all donations go directly to ministries on the ground without any overhead.
For more information check out of denomination's Ukraine Appeal page:
https://tinyurl.com/yvsyj5zp
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If are willing to help with either of these - contact Rev. Peters EMAIL LINK
March Deacon of the Month: Mark Wolmer assisted by Mike Wilcox
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Lay Reader & Greeters
 READER GREETERS
April 24: Bill Steers Jan & Bill Steers
May 1: Steve Ross Linda & Steve Ross
May 8: Bill Curren Dariel & Bill Curren
May 15: Chris Childs Janet & Chris Childs
Flowers
April 24: Easter Flowers
May 1: _____________
May 8: _____________
May 15: Dariel & Bill Curren
Zoom Virtual Worship Tech
Control and switch between the camera and sharing the bulletin on the screen.
April 24: Charlie Stauffacher
May 1: _____________
May 8: _____________
May 15: ____________
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.
April 24: Jeanne & Chris Steers
May 1: Linda & Steve Ross
May 8: ____________ (It is Mothers Day, can a few men do this?) : )
May 15: Lindsay Mulhare & Susan Zappulla-Peters
Steeple Lighting
The Steeple is lighted each month in memory or celebration.
Listed below are those who have signed up.
April 2022: Pat Lowe
May 2022: Doris and Chuck Farrell
June 2022: ________________
July 2022: Jan & Bill Steers
August 2022: ______________
September 2022: ___________
October 2022: Elizabeth and Andrey Kutepov
November 2022: ___________
December 2022: Diane & Charlie Meade
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| Steeple Lighting: $25 for the month, payable to RCC and goes into the Memorial Fund - See Rev. Peters |
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Flip the Script
Kaji Douša
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Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. - Genesis 3:7 (NRSV)
I left my first school with a powerful belief: I was terrible at math. This haunted me for the next 17 years of my life.
But here’s the problem: I was wrong. I wasn’t horrible at math. One day, I had to do a multivariate regression analysis to understand a problem I needed to resolve. I had to get it. And I pushed myself past this belief about what I could and couldn’t do…
…and the symbols and numbers on the page started speaking to me. They became a language I understood. As I learned to shut off the false claims I believed about myself, I flipped the script.
We all have a story someone told us about ourselves, often formed out of a challenging moment: We face a challenge. Someone crafts a story around it. We start repeating that story about ourselves and giving it more color and shape. It becomes a full-blown script without our realizing it.
And then? When life takes us off script and when the script isn’t right? We don’t know what to do.
What are the scripts in your life? Are you a “terrible communicator”? Do you “just attract the wrong kind of partners”? Are you “just bad with money”? Etc.
Think about your scripts. And as you do, pray for the blessing of recognizing them for what they are: stories imposed by those who decided to be playwrights in our lives. You do not need to be an unwitting actor in a play you thought was real.
You can be free from this.
By the grace of God, actually – you already are.
Prayer
God, help me to flip and cast out these scripts on my life that you didn’t write. Amen.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kaji Douša is the Senior Pastor of The Park Avenue Christian Church, a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, in New York City.
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Cash 4 Causes Card Program
awakens from the Pandemic Slumber...
The popular program is back with a new coordinator
Susan Zappulla-Peters (860-355-8830 - zappullapeters@mac.com)
and an emphasis on the local grocery stores.
It is hoped that you would consider getting in the habit, like some,
to purchase your cards on a monthly basis.
NEW: The second Sunday of each Month will be Card Ordering Sunday.
We would like to have a set day so it is easy to remember to order
and easy for the processing... NEXT ORDER DATE IS MAY 8.
The concept is simple.
- You buy the card at the face value (ex. $100) and we purchase a cash card from the store.
- They charge approx. 5% less and the church keeps the difference.
- You spend the same amount, but by using the card, your Church gets a 5% benefit!!
We work primarily with Stop & Shop, Big Y and Shop Rite cards
Contact Susan directly or speak with her on Sundays after worship.
She may have a few extra cards for the different stores with her.
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Mindfulness Meditation Group – Saturday mornings
Feeling Stressed? Overwhelmed by the Pandemic?
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 or 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 this week
Classified for Congregation Members
If have items that you would like to sell or give away,
we are now offering to list that item in the monthly Faith Matters.
We are limiting it to 3 items per family. Submission must be in writing and submitted by the newsletter deadline of the 15th to the Church Office.
Deadlines:
For Monday eFaith Matters: by Monday 9:00 a.m.
For Friday eFaith Matters or Sunday Bulletin: by Friday 9:00 a.m.
Please submit events by email only to david@roxburychurch.org
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