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Be The Church: October 19, 2022

Dear Friends in Christ,

This Sunday is Giving Sunday the final week of our giving campaign, "Grace in Action". We are reflecting together on how God generously puts grace into action, from homemaking to celebrating to bridge-building acts of mercy – and how we, children of God created in the image of God, can do the same. During worship this week, you will be asked to prayerfully fill out your annual pledge card. Then following worship, we will gather for a Congregational Meeting to vote (don't forget to vote) on creating a "Family Worship Space" in the sanctuary.

Please find more information below about:
- Call to Congregational Meeting: Sunday, October 23
- Article for Reflection: "So, Your Church Wants More Young Families?"
Support Our Youth Group: College Care Packages
- Join the Justice Team at Upstate Pride: November 5
Ministry Team, Worship, & Volunteer Sign-Up: Ushers Needed
Pic of the Week: Baptism
Weekly Preview: Giving Sunday!
- Christkindlmartkt: Vendors Wanted
- Food & Fellowship: 4 openings left
- Notes From The Church Dog: We have a new website!
Love Your Neighbor: AFS students, Support Group, & Outreach Needs
Faith Formation Opportunities & UCC News: Become a Climate Ambassador

If you weren't able to join us for worship you can find recordings on our website and YouTube page. You can also support the ministries of our church, by giving online, or mailing in your contribution. Let us be the church as we love and serve our neighbors.
 
Faithfully,
Pastor Meghan
Call To Congregational Meeting
A Congregational Meeting is called for Sunday, October 23, 2022 at 11 AM. Members and Associate Members will be asked to vote on changes to the “Amen” corner of the sanctuary to create a “Family Worship Space” and accessible seating in the congregation. The space would be evaluated in 6-12 months to ensure it is inclusive of all. Vote will be conducted online and via mail-in ballot. Don't forget to vote using the link in prior eblasts.
Article For Reflection: "So Your Church Wants More Young Families?"
We hope to begin featuring devotionals and articles related to our ministry as a congregation. This week we are featuring an article shared by our Faith Formation team, called "So, Your Church Wants More Young Families?" by Rev. Dr. Anna Hall. Below is an excerpt from the article, but we encourage you to read and reflect on the full article.

"Do you want [young families] simply to help you do your work? Or are you called to minister to them? 

If the answer is the latter (and I truly hope it is), I invite you to first consider what the families in your neighborhood actually need. And the best way to do that is to ask them. When was the last time you reached out to your neighbors to simply ask: What do you need? And how can we help? 

Of course, this doesn’t only apply to young families, these are great questions to ask all of our neighbors if we seek to love them as ourselves. The key here is seeing your neighbors as more than fodder for the survival of your church. It means seeing each and every one of them as beloved children of God. It means loving your neighbors, even when their needs far outweigh anything they can offer in time or service. 

This is the great commandment. How will you live into it today?"

Support our Youth Group
On October 23, the Youth Group will be putting together care packages for our college students. Snack and candy donations are welcome. Drop off at the church. Contact Lindsay Lewis for more information.

Do you have a student away at college? Please contact Lindsay Lewis with their current address. 
Join the Justice Team at Upstate Pride
The Justice team will be representing our church at Upstate Pride on November 7. You’re encourage to stop by and say hi. And, if you’d like to volunteer to help with setup, takedown, or just spending an hour at our booth, please contact Sandra Gass for more information.
Ministry Team, Worship, & Volunteer Sign-Up
We welcome all in our congregation, regardless of membership or age, to participate in worship leadership and Ministry Teams. Contact the church office for more information about any of the opportunities below.
Pic of the Week
A look into the life of the church

We celebrated the Baptism of Sherril Wingo's grandson, Jackson, at her home this past Sunday. It was a beautiful outdoor service. Blessings to Jackson and his family!
Do you have a picture of something that you would like to share with the Congregation? Email it to Lindsay and we can share it as our pic of the week and continue to stay connected with each other. 
Weekly Preview
Grow in faith, share in ministry.
  • Community Hours this week will be Wednesday from 9 AM - 10 AM at the Tryon Coffee Shop (weather permitting).
     
  • Prayer GroupWednesdays at 12 PM on Zoom
    Click this link to join Prayer Group
    Meeting ID: 396 479 012, Password: 117851
    To join by phone, dial +1 646 558 8656.
    Join us as we pray for the congregation, the community, and the world.
     
  • Church Fun Contract Bridge
    Wednesdays, 1:30-4:30 PM, 4th floor of the church
    A social bridge group. No fee, just fun. Open to all. Contact Miles Southworth for more info or to RSVP. 
     
  • Sunday Worship: Grace In Action - Giving Sunday!
    Sunday, October 23 at 10:00 AM, In the Sanctuary & Online.
    Join us for worship, story,  music, and fellowship as we continue our Annual Giving Campaign and focus on Grace In Action. Read our Covid-19 protocols below. Sunday email will have links to watch the service online via live stream. This week's scriptures are Psalm 84:1-7 and Luke:10:25-37. Worship will be immediately followed by a celebratory community hour and congregational meeting in the fellowship hall.
     
  • Discover Worship
    In September we experienced several styles of worship. We want to continue the conversation about worship and its future in our congregation. Join us for a conversation on October 23rd following the Congregational Meeting.
Looking Ahead:
  • Pumpkin Fest
    Saturday, October 29, Carving from 10-11 AM, Voting from 11 AM - 1 PM
    Come and carve a pumpkin! We’ll provide pumpkins, outdoor carving stations, and tools on the church lawn. Congregants are encouraged to stop by the church to vote for their favorite jack-o-lantern with non-perishable goods (to be donated to Outreach Ministries). The pumpkins with the most food donations win. There will be a category for youth and adults. This is a free family event sponsored by the Roger’s Fund. Sign up to carve online.
     
  • Getting To Know Us (Again)
    The groups will return in November and December and offer a round one for those who have yet to participate, and a round two for those who wish to sign up again. These 75 minute small group gatherings at the church are a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other by answering 3 simple questions. Stay tuned.
Christkindlmarkt: Vendors Wanted
Help us get the word out. Share our vendor flyer with artisans, crafters, and those you know who make specialty food items. Click the image to download the flyer.

And don't forget to mark your calendars for December 10th! We'll be needing volunteers, but more importantly, bring your family and friends.
Food and Fellowship
Food and Fellowship has 4 more openings. If you are interested in getting to know more of the church members and friends by gathering for meals together, please contact Dianne Poague. Food and Fellowship groups meet 4 times a year for potluck dinners. 
Notes From The Church Dog
Because somebody has to run this church...
We launched a new website over the weekend and I just can't stop staring at it on my laptop. I am super excited about it! As a soul who is committed to hospitality, and welcoming everyone and anyone I see, I really encouraged our church staff to think about who a website is for. It's not for us, it's for those who don't yet know about our congregation. It's not that dissimilar from the mission of a church, which is meant "to go and make disciples", and serve those beyond our walls. But a good church website is meant to clearly reflect the story of who we are, and invite others to be a part of this unfolding story and community of faith.

Our church staff (humans - Meghan, Lindsay, and Michele) worked really hard to write the copy, collect pictures, create a design, create a church logo (with the help of a designer), and build out the site. But, many thanks in particular should go to Michele Brule our Church Administrator who took care of all the technology and website building needs behind the scenes!

So go check out the new website and enjoy (we're still making some minor changes and updates, but we felt it was ready for launch). For those that are church members and friends you'll find helpful links to our church calendar and congregational portal (Breeze). We also had a real estate designer take pictures of our rental spaces to better highlight them - feel free to share with those you know who are looking for spaces to rent.

We pray and hope that our new website will help us better share our story in the world.
 
Wishing you all the toys and pets,
Wally
Love Your Neighbor
Wider Community Opportunities and Resources
Foothills Dementia/Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Group: Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The goal of this group is to provide support for caregivers and loved ones. A support group meets on the last Wednesday of the month at the Meeting Place (75 Carmel Lane, Columbus) from 3-4 PM. The meetings are topic driven with guest speakers and time for Q&A. Caregivers are able to share their experiences and volunteers are onsite to care for your loved ones during the Support Group Meeting. For more information contact Peggy Wyllie or Donna Carson.

Host Parents Needed for AFS Students
Two AFS students are unexpectedly in need of housing. The students are two high school girls, one from France and one from Germany, who are studying abroad through the AFS intercultural program at Polk County High School during the school year. If you are willing to be a host family/parent, or have questions about what it entails, for one or both of the students, please contact Pastor Meghan who will put you in touch with the program coordinator.

Outreach Half Marathon Needs
Tryon Running Club is sponsoring the Half Marathon to benefit Outreach on Saturday, November 12th. In appreciation, Outreach will be serving Brunch to the runners and their family members, which come from all areas of our country. Outreach is reaching out to our Community for donations of Brunch Items.  This brunch is not possible without the help of our community. They are asking for the following donated breakfast items:
  • 60 Meat and Vegetarian Breakfast Casseroles
  • Hot Oatmeal & Grits
  • Breakfast Muffins/Pastries
Please bring casseroles in disposable pans and label it Meat or Vegetarian.  If disposable pans are not being used, please label the top and bottom of the dish with your names so it can be returned to you.
Please bring the donated items at the Log Cabin in Harmon Field, between 8-9 am on Saturday, November 12th. If you are donating items that are NOT HOT, you can bring them to Outreach No later than 5:00pm, Thursday, November 10th.

This event is helping feed Polk County residents that can’t meet their basic everyday needs so any help would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate a breakfast item and/or Volunteer your time for this event, please contact Barb Powell as soon as possible. The link to sign up to Volunteer is:   https://volunteersignup.org/AJWBJ

Outreach Featured Needs
Each month we highlight specific or seasonal items Outreach is collecting to meet the needs of our clients. Donations can be dropped off at Outreach (134 White Drive, Columbus NC). Current featured needs are: 
Food focus: frozen turkeys, hams, peanut butter, jelly and loaf bread
Non-food focus: tooth brushes, toilet tissue, paper towels and ziplock bags
Faith Formation Opportunities & UCC News
Staying connected to the wider church.
Click here to sign-up for WNCA email updates.
United Church of Christ Ambassador Training with Blessed Tomorrow
Saturday, November 5, 11 AM - 3 PM (with breaks). Register here.

Americans are growing more concerned about climate change. As they witness and experience impacts on their health, livelihoods, and communities, they are increasingly looking for guidance on solutions, from people in their daily lives – including faith leaders like you. This training will equip you with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and resources to speak and act confidently on climate change and solutions.

With this training, and a cohort of like-minded leaders, you will be able to engage your congregations and congregants, colleagues, the public, and policymakers to inspire climate solutions that help protect our families and communities now, and ensure a prosperous, just, and secure future.

This webinar will be recorded via Zoom and the links for the recorded webinar will be provided to all who register. Individuals interested in becoming Blessed Tomorrow Ambassadors must attend the webinar and then sign the agreement.

EMAIL

Rev. Meghan D. Young, Pastor - pastor@ucctryon.org
Lindsay Lewis, Minister of Faith Formation - faithformation@ucctryon.org
Dr. Susan Lyle, Minister of Music - music@ucctryon.org
Brittany Plumley, Custodian - custodian@ucctryon.org
Michele Brulé, Church Administrator - accounts@ucctryon.org
General Office/Church Requests can be sent to: church@ucctryon.org
 

WORSHIP

Sunday Morning Worship is at 10:00 AM. Check weekly emails or www.ucctryon.org for more information, as to protocols and worship location.
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This is the churches new format for the "Weekly Update" an e-newsletter. 

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The Congregational Church, UCC
210 Melrose Ave
Tryon, NC 28782

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