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eFaith Matters
Monday, December 19, 2022
Roxbury Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
24 Church Street
Roxbury, Connecticut 06783 USA
We are a Community Seeking to Share God's Love!
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The Overview
Christmas Poinsettias
Pre-sales have been completed BUT you can purchase your own plant and place it.
Please mark the plant with your name so you can have it afterward.
If you wish to have the Poinsettia noted in the bulletin in the memory of someone,
please mark it on the signup sheet in Fellowship Hall or email David.
We would like the plants to be in the Meetinghouse a.s.a.p., so they can be arranged for Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve Help Needed
We are in need of a couple of people to set up luminaries
at 3:00 p.m. Christmas Eve
on the walks in front of the Church.
We have all the supplies here at the Church.
We are in need of a few readers for the 7:30 p.m. Lessons and Carols
as well as the 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service on Christmas Eve.
Please email David
New Years Sunday
Pot Luck Brunch and Worship
around tables in Fellowship Hall - 11:00 a.m.
We did this a few years ago when New Year Day fell on a Sunday
and we had a great response.
Please put this on your calendar
11 a.m. in Fellowship Hall
Please let us know if you plan to attend
with a brunch dish to share.
Sign up on the Opportunity Table
or email the Church Office
office@roxburychurch.org
Date Set for Nancy Callahan's Memorial Service
Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 11: 00 a.m.
Reception following in Fellowship Hall
Thank you for the wonderful response
to the Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross special offering yesterday.
We are still getting our final numbers.
Our Stewardship Campaign Includes YOU!
We have been receiving pledges and there are some we have not heard from.
We are confident that with busy lives, it landed in the "later pile."
So now is the time to get your pledge in. Every pledge is important.
You can mail your pledge in the included postage-paid envelope or drop it off in the offering plate or at the office. You can also set up a reoccurring gift at the church's Giving Site.
( be sure to click the re-occurring amount button)
If you misplace the letter and pledge form, they will be on the Church's website's Giving page.
LINK for Stewardship Letter and 2023 Pledge Form
The Stewardship Team includes Sue Stauffacher, Brian Neff, and Mike Wilcox
The December 2022 Faith Matters, our Church's newsletter
is available now on the Church's Website. LINK
Be informed!
If you have information for the next edition of the newsletter.
email to: office@roxburychurch.org
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Nominating Committee Update
We are close to having a great slate of nominees for the February 12, 2023, Annual Meeting.
The Committee still has some openings
and if you know of someone in the congregation (or even yourself)
who would be perfect on one of these committees,
please let either Sue Stauffacher EMAIL 860-354-1274
or Chris Childs EMAIL 914-525-6843 know soon.
Openings:
1 Deacon, 1 Trustee, 2 Mission Committee members, 1 Nominating,
1 Stewardship, and 1 Christmas Fair planning committee member
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Folks who like to stay healthy or have loved ones who are immunocompromised.
Now is the time to consider masking up, particularly when out in public or in close proximity to others.
We are seeing really sick folks.
Covid
Flu
RSV
And a downright nasty virus.
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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. EMAIL
Office Hours
Luanne Awlasewicz - Church Secretary
Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Rev. David Peters, Minister
usually is in his office
Mon., Wed., Thurs., and Fri. from 9:30 -12:30
Liturgical Season: Advent
Monday, December 19
Tuesday, December 20 Rev. Peters will be taking his sabbath today
Wednesday, December 21
2:00 p.m. Piano Lessons (Sandy K.) Fellowship Hall
5:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal Meetinghouse
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (Jason Mackay) Fellowship Hall
Thursday, December 22
Friday, December 23
Saturday, December 24 Christmas Eve
10:30 a.m. Mindfulness Meditation online only
3:00 p.m. Luminary set-up
7:30 p.m. Family Service of Lessons and Carols Meetinghouse
11:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service Meetinghouse
Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day
10:30 a.m. Morning Worship On Zoom or Facebook Live only
Save the Date...
January 1, 2023, Pot-Luck Brunch Worship 11:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall
Saturday, January 14, 2023, 11:00 a.m. Memorial Service for Nancy Callahan
The Steeple Lighting
during December the Steeple is lit
by Charlie and Diane Meade
in celebration of the Spirit of the Season.
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The Last Chance to Give in Support of Roxbury Church in 2022
is Coming Fast!
We know some of you like to be a part of something larger than yourself, to make a difference in the world in a way that you can't by yourself.
We hear about how this congregation has meant so much to you. How it was there in those tough times of illness, grief as well as celebration.
When some of you move away, you ask where can we find another church just like Roxbury Church in your new town. And sometimes you lament that you can't... That saddens us but we hope that other congregations can share the love of God with others in support, nurture, and fellowship.
We have changed the way new generations see the institutional church and helped us to become more authentic to the ways that Jesus lived and taught in our scriptures. The Roxbury Church is a great place to call our spiritual home!
So we invite you as you consider your year-end giving that you click on the link below and make a special gift to Roxbury Church.
It can be for the ongoing basic ministry with its increased inflationary costs, or to specific places like the Minister's Discretionary Fund or to a mission partner of ours, all vetted and in line financially and theologically with our brand of Mainline Protestant Christianity.
December 31, 2022, is coming f-a-s-t!
If you can - great - Here is the link: LINK for our Roxbury Church Giving Portal through Vanco.
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To Keep in our Thoughts and Prayers – December 18, 2022
Please remember their families and caregivers as well.
Terry Alfson,
Dawn Collette (diagnosed with breast cancer),
Family and friends of Nancy Callahan death, Dec. 13,
Bill Cario,
Those affected by recent hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Florida, and the SE United States.
The people of Haiti with the dire condition and social unrest - near famine conditions
The people of Ukraine and those fleeing in fear and harms way. For the end of warfare.
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
The Afghan families resettling in the US, particularly in New Milford.
Prayers for this week’s Mission Partner:
Daily Bread Foood Pantry, Danbury dailybreadfoodpantry.com
Lifted up by the Congregation:
Robin, Ann, Nadia, Chad, Asher, Walda, Suzanne, Sergi
Your Prayer Concerns and Celebrations:
Who are you praying for: ________________
For what or who are you grateful: ____________
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If you are willing to help with either of these - contact Rev. Peters EMAIL LINK
December Deacons: Mike Wilcox assisted by Mark Wolmer
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Lay Reader & Greeters
 GREETERS READER
Dec. 25 - online
Jan. 1, 2023: ________________ ____________
Jan. 8: _________________ ____________
Jan. 15: _________________ ____________
Advent Candle Lighters
Dec. 24: 7:30 pm: Rachel & Harry Gerowe
Dec. 24: 11:00 pm: Barba & Norm Cover
Flowers
Dec. 25: online
Jan. 1, 2023: Christmas Poinsettias
Jan. 8: _________________
Jan. 15: _________________
Zoom Virtual Worship Tech
Control and switch between the camera and sharing the bulletin on the screen.
Dec. 25: David Peters
Jan. 1, 2023: ____________
Jan. 8: _________________
Jan. 15: _________________
Fellowship Host
As simple as some cookies with coffee/tea and water
Dec. 25: Online
Jan. 1, 2023: Brunch
Jan. 8: _________________
Jan. 15: _________________
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: Michael Wilcox
February 2023: Doris & Chuck Farrell in memory of Nancy Callahan
March 2023: _____________
April 2023: ______________
May 2023: ______________
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Steeple Lighting: $25 for the month, payable to RCC
and goes into the Memorial Fund - See Rev. Peters
Some pictures from Caroling and the Victorian Christmas Service & Reception: |
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The coordinator for this popular program is
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.
Next Time: Sunday, January 8, 2023
We would like to have a set day so it is easy to remember to order
and easy for processing...
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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Imagining Gutsy Mary
Mary Luti
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Mary said, “My soul magnifies my God; for you have looked with favor on the lowliness of your servant. You have brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; you have filled the hungry, and sent the rich away empty.” - Luke 1:47-48 & 52-53 (NRSV, adapted)
In this song, Mary calls herself “lowly.” Which doesn’t mean “humble” or “meek.” It means “poor.” It’s not a metaphor. Mary was poor, dirt poor. She sings about God’s new world in the way poor people always have, in the midst of life’s hard grief. She feels its joy while up to her neck in privation, which is, perhaps, the only place where such imagination is even possible.
It takes imagination to sing about a new world in the midst of the violence and pain of the old. No matter when or where, it also takes guts to sing of the powerful dethroned, of poor bellies filled. It’s like a raised fist. Try doing it in the boardroom of Amazon. The gift is not welcome everywhere.
Mary’s got guts, and she’s pregnant with imagination. Pregnant with a Child. And like pregnant women, she dares to believe that it’s God’s new world growing in her womb, that her child will one day make all the difference.
You don’t have to be pregnant to imagine like Mary. But we can’t imagine at all if we won’t relinquish our privilege and confess that things aren’t the way God intends, and that we’re part of the problem. If we can’t contain our avarice to receive the dream with uncluttered hearts. If we never find true solidarity with the dirt poor, with Marys everywhere.
And if we can’t imagine, we can’t hope. And if we can’t hope, we’ll only fear. And if there’s only fear, we know what that does to us and where it leaves us, where it’s always left the world.
Prayer
We want to hope. We want a new world. Give the church, give me, the guts and imagination of Mary.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rev. Mary Luti is a long-time seminary educator and pastor, author of Teresa of Avila’s Wayand numerous articles, and founding member of The Daughters of Abraham, a national network of interfaith women’s book groups.
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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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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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Your Generosity Supports the Work of the Roxbury Church
as We Support Others and Change Lives!!
You can send a check to the Church Office - 24 Church Street, Roxbury CT 06783
or online in one of two ways by pointing your smartphone camera or clicking below:
 
Electronic Giving for Offering or Give using Venmo
or Memorials Gifts
through Vanco
Open Camera - Scan Code Give Now
You can always send a check to the Church Office or drop one off.
We are Worshipping In-person
with Masks Optional for those fully vaccinated!
as well as on Zoom and Facebook Live.
(Note that we strive 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
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You are Encouraged to Support these Community Events
and Neighboring Congregations:
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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