eFaith Matters
Friday, January 27, 2023
Roxbury Congregational Church
Roxbury, Connecticut, USA
Church Website: roxburychurch.org
Be Our Guest This Sunday
January 29, 2023
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
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. (This Sunday only)
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:
4 Ways to Join Us For Worship:
1. In-person worship - We are now worshipping in person!
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
4. By Telephone
646 518 9805 US (New York)
646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 623 572 023 Passcode: 718688
Please keep your phone on MUTE during worship. = *6 to mute and unmute
Prayer List Submissions can be shared by emailing Rev. Peters, or 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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A View from the Parsonage
David Peters
Well, with my positive Covid test on Tuesday morning, I have been isolating and working from my parsonage den and slipping over to the Church Office most afternoons to work when no one is there. With the Annual Meeting reports, financials, and budget generation demanding my time, getting Covid has not been convenient! Luckily, it has been a mild case and I am feeling much better as is Susan, who also tested positive.
Today I feel pretty much normal and I plan to test again tomorrow morning and be present in worship on Sunday. My plan is now that I would be beyond the 5 days that the CDC suggests for isolation, to not have much contact with people anyways, to mask and lead worship and leave immediately afterward.
Susan and I feel that we can still travel to California to visit with Kyla, Sean, and baby Archer. I am REALLY looking forward to this trip.
Susan joins me in thanking those who have reached out and offered good wishes as well as offers to pick up food, etc. for us. Our thoughts go out to those in our congregation who also have Covid currently and those who had it in the past.
Gratefully, David
This Sunday in Worship
You will find as you arrive at the Church signs asking everyone to wear masks.
You will also find once again that we are asking worshippers to use every other pew for seating.
During the refreshments after worship, please wear your mask when not eating or drinking
and when you do have your mask down, please be mindful of others.
We do not feel that suspending in-person worship is warranted at this time.
For communion Sunday, February 5, the Deacons have been slicing the communion bread into small cubes for less handling and using the traditional small glasses for the juice/wine.
Even if you are vaccinated and boosted fully,
Covid can infect you and you could infect others without even knowing it.
And it may be someone for whom Covid is much more dangerous to their health.
A Mission Moment ... and a reminder this Sunday
Charlie Stauffacher, a member of the Mission Committee will speak about one of our Mission Partners this Sunday during worship. We support over 20 religious-based organizations that extend your reach beyond the walls of our church and your home. The Committee seeks each month to educate the congregation about these partners.
Each month's talk will end with a reminder that the following Sunday, a Communion Sunday, will be a time that we set aside to receive non-perishable food items for our outreach at Daily Bread Food Pantry in Danbury. Your support in the past has made a difference. It is especially important now as we have the ability to extend our reach there and share God's Love.
Annual Report Status
The Church Office staff is working on pulling together the Annual Meeting report
for a target distribution of Sunday, February 5.
The Trustees and David are working on the Financial reports and the budget. That may not be ready for the 5th and may in fact only be ready a few days before the meeting.
We appreciate your understanding as we seek to report a clear picture of last year's financials
and prudently create the ministry spending plan for this coming year.
2023 Offering Envelopes are now available
If you would like weekly offering envelopes, you can find them on the table in Fellowship Hall.
Those who have traditionally or requested them will find them with their name on them.
If you do not find a set with your name on them, you can take an unlabeled set.
If you do please mark your name on the sheet there next to the number on the box.
This is important for Beverly, our Collector to credit donations properly.
Special Event Dates Set
A Church Social Event for Mardi Gras will be on Saturday, February 18
The Community Trivia Night will be Saturday, February 25.
St. Patrick's Corned Beef Takeout Dinner will be on March 17th.
More details to follow
Mark your calendar now and join us!
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!
Amazon Smile Program to End
Amazon is discontinuing its Smile Program effective February 20, 2023.
You can use that site until then with .05% of each purchase going to the Roxbury Church.
They will also give an extra amount equal to 3 months of 2022 payments from the program.
We thank Amazon for their generosity and you for using Amazon Smile
as an additional form of giving to Roxbury Church.
The January edition of Faith Matters
is available for viewing or downloading
at roxburychurch.org/documents
The February issue is in the final editorial and we are working to be published it soon.
For any submission for future editions, please email it to
office@roxburychurch.org or drop it off at the Church Office.
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This Week at Church
The Meetinghouse Steeple is lit
during January
by Michael and Dottie Wilcox
in memory of his parents, Alta and Albert Wilcox
Liturgical Season: Epiphany
January Deacon of the Month is Janice Steers, assisted by David Lincicome
February Deacon of the month: Chris Childs
(Person to contact for more information)
Saturday, January 28
10:30 a.m. Mindfulness Mediation Group (Charlie Stauffacher) By Zoom only
Sunday, January 29 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
9:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sandy Kleisner) Meetinghouse
10:30 a.m. Worship In-person and online Meetinghouse
Refreshments follow Fellowship Hall
11:45 a.m. Fellowship Committee (Jeanne Steers) Chapel Library
Monday, January 30
Tuesday, January 31
3:30 p.m. Piano Lessons (Sandy Kleisner) Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, February 1 Rev. Peters leaves for California
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (Jason McKay) Fellowship Hall
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Jason McKay) Fellowship Hall
Saturday, February 4
10:30 a.m. Mindfulness Mediation Group (Charlie Stauffacher) By Zoom only
Sunday, February 5 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
9:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sandy Kleisner) Meetinghouse
10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion Meetinghouse
Online - Zoom and Facebook Live
Rev. Walter Pitman leading worship
Non-perishable food offerings received for Daily Bread
Refreshments follow Fellowship Hall
Monday, February 6 Rev. Peters returns from California
While Rev. Peters is out of town - for general information please contact the committee chair of the appropriate area (Mike Wilcox or David Lincicome for Deacons, Charlie Meade for Trustees, etc.)
For pastoral emergencies - please call Rev. Peters on his cell - 203-770-6721. If a hospital visit is needed, he can arrange for a neighboring clergy to handle that in his absence.
Save the Date
February 12 Annual Meeting and Pot Luck Luncheon Fellowship Hall
February 18 Mardi Gras Party - Adult Fellowship Event (Fellowship Committee)
February 25 Trivia Night 7:00 p.m. (Chris Childs & Joan Temple) Fellowship Hall
March 17 St. Patrick's Corned Beef take-away Dinner (Chris & Jeanne Steers)
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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Master Volunteer Sign-up Page
LINK
Greeters (2) Reader
January 29: Doris & Chuck Farrell Bill Steers
February 5: Mike Wilcox & Vail Barrett Vail Barrett
February 12: ________________________ _____________
February 19: Sue & Charlie Stauffacher Charlie Stauffacher
Flowers on Communion Table
January 29: ________________
February 5: ________________
February 12: ________________
February 19: ________________
Zoom Virtual Worship Tech
Control and switch between the camera and sharing the bulletin on the screen.
January 29: Barbara Cover
February 5: Charlie Stauffacher
February 12: Barbara Cover
January 19: Charlie Stauffacher
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.
January 29: Chris & Jeanne Steers
February 5: ________________
February 12: Annual Meeting (Fellowship Committee)
February 19: Doris & Chuck Farrell
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Steeple Lighting
The Steeple is lighted each month in memory or celebration.
Listed below are those who have signed up.
 January 2023: Mike Wilcox
- in memory of Alta and Albert Wilcox
February 2023: Chuck & Doris Farrell
- in memory of Nancy Callahan
March 2023: Barbara Cover
- in memory of loved ones
April 2023: Jan & Bill Steers
- in loving memory of Barbara & Ray Hunicke
May 2023: ______________
June 2023: ______________
July 2023: _______________
Steeple Lighting: $25 for the month, payable to RCC
and goes into the Memorial Fund - See Rev. Peters
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From Literal to Loving
Jennifer Garrison
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Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless — that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. – 1 Peter 3:8-9 (MSG)
In the beginning, I took words like this very literally. It was important to me to be as compassionate, as agreeable, and especially as humble as possible. Trust me, in those days, I was a gold medalist in the Humble Olympics.
As the years passed, I became more suspicious of these kinds of dictates. I realized that a person who is agreeable all the time, with everybody, doesn’t have a place of her own to stand. I noticed that the more I clenched my jaw and tried with all my might to be outwardly compassionate, the more I secretly judged. And, it began to occur to me that striving to win at humble-ness, well, pretty much defeated the purpose of humility.
These days, I approach these words with what philosopher Paul Ricouer calls the second naïveté. I no longer take them so literally that they drive me to despair. Being agreeable doesn’t have to mean just nodding my head to everyone else’s opinions; it can mean declaring my own truth with both kindness and clarity. Being compassionate can start with unclenching my own jaw and looking within for what is lovable. And, my most humble teachers show me that true humility thrives more on self-confidence than on comparison.
How about you? Are there words that you once received literally and then examined critically? Are you ready to hear them again with new ears and a fresh heart?
Prayer
Brother Jesus — Make me agreeable. Grant me compassion. Help me be humble. Again. Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rev. Jennifer Garrison (formerly Brownell) is a writer, spiritual director, and pastor living in the Pacific Northwest. Her published work most recently appeared in the book The Words of Her Mouth: Psalms for the Struggle, available 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, currently 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:
Help is Available
Living in this wonderful town called Roxbury is amazing, but with inflation hitting every corner of the globe, with rising prices at the grocery store, gas station, and for oil or electricity to heat our homes, our dollars are being stretched tightly in many directions. Roxbury’s Social Services Director Jerrilynn Skene-Tiso would like everyone to know that there are programs available to help families that are struggling to keep up with these rising costs. Jerrilynn can be reached at (860) 210-0201 Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 10:00-4:00 in her office at the Senior Center (enter patio door & up the stairs). Every call or visit is confidential. If you or someone you know is having a hard time keeping up, please reach out.
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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Roxbury Congregational Church
Roxbury, Connecticut, USA
A Congregation in the United Church of Christ
Staff
Rev. David F. Peters, Minister
david@roxburychurch.org
Office: 860-355-1978
Cell for emergencies: 203-770-6721
Sandy Kleisner, Minister of Music
sandy@roxburychurch.org
Home: 860-868-9040
Luanne Awlasewicz, Secretary
office@roxburychurch.org
Office: 860-355-1978
Bruce Rossiter, Custodian
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