eFaith Matters
Friday, December 9, 2022
Roxbury Congregational Church
Roxbury, Connecticut, USA
Church Website: roxburychurch.org
Be Our Guest This Sunday
December 11, 2022
Third Sunday of Advent
10:30 a.m. Worship
In-Person & Virtual
on Zoom or the Church's Facebook page
Refreshments follow
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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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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Ministry Opportunities (Help Wanted)
We need volunteers to be Greeters at the December 18 Victorian Christmas Service at 5:00 p.m.
We are also looking for readers for Lessons and Carols as well as the 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service on Christmas Eve. Please email David or sign up on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall
Also - we have no sign-up for refreshments for Sunday and the weeks following...
Looking for a Gift for Someone That Has Everything?
You might want to consider a donation in their name to one of the many mission partners that we have with our Church.
Examples include:
Heifer Project International:
LINK
Simply Smiles:
Make an impact in the lives of the children who depend on us in Oaxaca, Mexico, and on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota! LINK
Holy Joe's Cafe
Since 2006, Holy Joe’s Café has been sending free coffee to U.S. military bases around the world. Our mission is simple: serving a little bit of home to those who serve our country. From our humble beginning collecting cans of coffee in a church in Wallingford, Connecticut, we've grown to serve billions of cups of coffee and helped open over 300 coffee houses throughout the world, mainly in the Middle East but also in places like Africa, Europe, and even onboard Navy ships and in NATO military hospitals. Where the troops go, we go.: LINK
IRIS Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services
Working with Refugees re-settling here in Connecticut including nearby New Milford.: LINK
It you want to present a wrapped gift, of course, we have our own SERRV Shop here at the Church
Items crafted by third-world artisans. Always open in Fellowship Hall. Questions: Susan Zappulla-Peters
2022 Giving Statements on Demand
If you would like an up-to-date statement of your giving to the Roxbury Church,
please get in touch with Rev. Peters and we can print one off or email one to you.
David's email link
You may want one so that you can see if you are current with your pledge for 2022.
The last day for receiving a tax-deductible donation for 2022 to the Church is December 31, 2022.
A Giving Statement for 2022 total giving will be mailed in early January 2023.
Have you Considered Making a Special Year-end Tax-Deductable Donation to the Church?
Did You Know That We Have a Convenient Giving Webpage?
Yes, we DO!
If you go to: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z252/home
You find a one-stop place to make your contributions to the Church
for general offerings, special gifts such as
memorials, mission giving, Minister's Discretionary Fund, and disaster relief. Easy and Secure!
The December edition of Faith Matters
is now available for viewing or downloading
at roxburychurch.org/documents
If you have something to submit for the January 2023 newsletter, please email it to
office@roxburychurch.org or drop it off at the Church Office.
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Santa Fund Special Offering
This Sunday
We are supporting the New Milford Social Services Department with the collection of NEW gloves, hats, scarves, and socks.
There is a basket in Narthex to leave your donations. DEADLINE is this Sunday
THIS SUNDAY - We will be having a special offering to provide Christmas Dinners for the recipient families.
There are special white envelopes in this Sunday's Worship Bulletin for your donations.
Cash or Checks made out to RCC with "Santa" in the memo are encouraged.
Please speak with Diana or Phil deVries with any questions. |
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We are Collecting Toys & Books
for distribution at Daily Bread Food Pantry in Danbury on December 13th
Items can be new or clean and gently used.
They can be placed in the specially-marked box in Fellowship Hall.
If you wish to be present for the distribution in Danbury, please
contact Ray Fitch or Barbara Biafore.
Putting Faith and Caring into Action!
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Christmas Poinsettias
PRICE DROP!!
Once again, we will be offering to have the church bulk purchase poinsettias for decorating the Meetinghouse during the Christmas services.
You can make a check out to RCC for $15 and place it in the offering plate or mail it to the Church Office.
Plants will be purchased on Wednesday, December 14.
If you wish to have the Poinsettia placed in the memory of someone, please mark it on the signup sheet in Fellowship Hall or email David.
As usual, you can purchase a plant on your own and place it. Please mark the plant with your name so you can have it afterward.
We would like the plants to be in the Meetinghouse before Sunday, December 18, 2022, so they can be arranged.
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This Week at Church
The Meetinghouse Steeple is lit
during December
by Charlie (and Diane) Meade
celebration of the Joy of the season
Liturgical Season: Advent
Deacon of the Month is Mike Wilcox, assisted by Mark Wolmer
(Person to contact for more information)
Saturday, December 10
8:00 a.m. Men's Breakfast (Charlie Stauffacher) Fellowship Hall
10:30 a.m. Mindfulness Mediation Group (Charlie Stauffacher) Chapel Library
Sunday, December 11 Third Sunday of Advent
9:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sandy Kleisner) Meetinghouse
10:30 a.m. Worship - In-Person and Virtual Meetinghouse
Refreshments follow Fellowship Hall
Monday, December 12
Tuesday, December 13 Rev. Peters is taking today off
Wednesday, December 14
2:00 p.m. Piano Lessons - Hall - (Sandy Kleisner)
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (Jason McKay) Fellowship Hall
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Jason McKay) Fellowship Hall
Thursday, December 15
Saturday, December 17
10:30 a.m. Mindfulness Mediation Group (Charlie Stauffacher)
11:00 a.m. Memorial Service for Mark Wilton Meetinghouse
Reception follows Fellowship Hall
Sunday, December 18 Fourth Sunday of Advent
9:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sandy Kleisner) Meetinghouse
10:30 a.m. Worship in person and virtual Meetinghouse
Refreshments follow Fellowship Hall
11:50 a.m. Christmas Caroling by phone Chapel Library
5:00 p.m. Victorian Christmas Service Meetinghouse
Reception follows Fellowship Hall
Save the Date
December 24 Christmas Eve
7:30 p.m. Family Service of Lessons and Carols Meetinghouse
11:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service Meetinghouse
December 25 Christmas Day
10:30 a.m. Online Worship (replay of Victorian Christmas Service)
Sunday, January 1, 2023
11:00 a.m. Pot Luck Brunch with Worship Fellowship Hall
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 want to keep spoken announcements to those pertaining to the Roxbury Church.
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Greeters Lay Reader
December 11: Barbara Biafore & Carol Goodwin Barbara
December 18: Collette Family Autumn
December 18: _____________ for Victorian Christmas Service
December 24, 7:30 p.m.: __________________ See sign up
December 24, 11:00 p.m.: _________________ See sign up
December 25: Online
January 1: Brunch _____________
Flowers
December 11: __________
December 18: Christmas Poinsettias (see order form on Opportunity Table)
December 25: Onlne
January 1: Christmas Poinsettias
Zoom Virtual Worship Tech
Control and switch between the camera and sharing the bulletin on the screen.
December 11: Charlie Stauffacher
December 18: Barbara Cover 10:30 & Victorian Christmas
December 25: David Peters
January 1: _____________
We are looking for a couple of people who can help us with this. See Rev. David
Refreshments Host
As simple as some cookies with coffee/tea.
December 11: __________
December 18: __________
December 25: Online
January 1: Fellowship Committee
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Steeple Lighting
The Steeple is lighted each month in memory or celebration.
Listed below are those who have signed up.
December 2022: Diane & Charlie Meade
January 2023: Mike Wilcox
February 2023: _______________
March 2023: ______________
April 2023: ______________
Steeple Lighting: $25 for the month, payable to RCC
and goes into the Memorial Fund - See Rev. Peters
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Our Congregation is finishing up its Stewardship Campaign for 2023.
We would like you to please return your 2023 Financial Pledges soon.
Bring them to worship and place them in the offering plate or mail them to the Church (24 Church St.)
The Stewardship Committee is now in the process of following up with those who have not yet submitted their pledge.
If you misplaced or did not receive your pledge letter and form in the mail,
please go to our website's GIVING page: LINK
Pledges are your best estimate of giving for the year and help the Trustees to fund the ministries for the coming year.
You can give electronically by signing up on the pledge form, going to our giving link, and selecting a re-occurring donation, weekly offerings using the offering envelopes, or checks mailed to the Church weekly, monthly, quarterly, or a one-time annual donation.
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There was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. - Luke 1:5 (NRSV)
Imagine being John the Baptist’s mother. Or father.
Imagine, alternatively, what it was like to be the mother of a 25-year-old who overdosed and died, right after spending two great weeks with his family and assuring them all that he was drug-free. Or being my daughter when her two-year-old said she had eaten a water bead, the kind that expands to 40 times their size once placed in a balloon. (The child had not eaten the water bead but that was only proven after five hours in the emergency room, trying to decide about surgery, since water beads are translucent and don’t necessarily come up on the x-ray.) We found the water beads, both of them, on the floor after returning from the emergency room. You can sign the online petition against this children’s game. Or join my daughter in saying, “Jesus Crisis!”
Parents never know what is going to happen to their children. John the Baptist was beheaded, likely long after Elizabeth was gone. Or we certainly hope so.
But before he died an awful death, he “invented” baptism, a super-soaker ceremony if there ever was one. A water bead of a kind, capable of great magnification. Just water, we say. But then again, is there any water that is just water?
Albert Einstein is said to have said that there are two kinds of people, those who don’t believe in miracles and those who think everything is a miracle. Mothers have to believe everything is a miracle. Why? Because like Elizabeth, like Mary, they watch their children grow.
Prayer Let us remember our baptism today and know that we are really and truly all wet, all miracle, all birthed. Amen.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Donna Schaper works nationally for Bricks and Mortals, a NYC-based organization that provides sustainable solutions for sacred sites. Her newest book is Remove the Pews: Spiritual Possibilities for Sacred Spaces, from The Pilgrim Press.
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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.
Note: They will not be meeting Nov. 26 or Dec 3 because of Church events
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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COVID -19
While we do not have a widespread outbreak here, some of our neighboring congregations have had COVID-19, flu, and RSV spread at the Church. You may have noticed that some more people are wearing masks while out and about in public. Covid has not gone away. Please get your bi-variant booster.
I want to encourage us to be mindful of how we interact. Please be conscious of the proximity of each other. While I don't feel we need to take any formal restrictive measures at this time, we have had some unintentional exposures here at church. You may, for example, notice that the choir may sometimes choose to stand across the front of the worship space instead of around the piano. Some may choose to not hug when greeting. Please remember that some among us are more vulnerable than others. Be kind... be loving... be smart. David
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You are Encouraged to Support these Community Events
and Neighboring Congregations:
________________________________________
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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