Mineral Point United Church of Christ
300 Maiden Street, Mineral Point, WI 53565
10:30 Worship
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Greetings in this season of Advent!
I can’t believe we’re entering December already, where did the time go? Perhaps this is the reason Advent feels like it’s arriving just in time. As the business of our families, holiday gatherings, even church activities begin to quicken – Advent is our Christian practice of slowing down, keeping watch, and getting quiet to notice what God is laboring into our world. The word Advent comes from a meaning about preparation – expectation – making ready our hearts and our world for the birth of God with us… Emmanuel.
Our sanctuary is adorned with merry decorations and lights, our kids have added their flair to the garlands, the colors that dress our altar have changed over, and our Advent wreath sit ready for Christ’s light to shine in the darkness. Each Sunday we return to God’s vision for us – Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. These are the reasons Jesus is born in our midst, this is what our discipleship envisions as a possibility for all people and Creation on earth.
Advent is an opportunity for us to spiritually deepen our relationship with God, and this vision of the kingdom on earth. Each Sunday there’s mini devotionals you can take home with you and use throughout the week. If you would like one mailed to you – please let myself or Penny know. All through this season our young people have a special table set up at the back to color or do crafts as we welcome the sounds of safe and happy children in the sanctuary. There’s a special mission offering to participate in as well. Our search committee is formed and beginning their journey to find your next settled Pastor, and I encourage you to keep them in prayer for guidance, wisdom, and deep listening.
I also wonder what rituals and traditions can invite God to come home with you after we leave our beautiful church on Sunday mornings. Do you have a special advent wreath at home to remind you of Christ’s light shining? Can we take a few minutes in our rising with the mini devotional at breakfast? Can we find somewhere in each day to be a maker of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in the lives of others? Or might we dedicate a few minutes each evening to resting in quiet and pondering what evidence of God we’ve noticed in our life?
I want to say thank you again to the many wonderful leaders and volunteers of this congregation for all that you do in the church and the community. Please know how deeply we all appreciate the time, dedication, and care you pour out here. I know that for some the holiday and winter season can bring joy – as well as challenges spiritually and mentally – if you need pastoral care, prayer, or a visit you can call me or email me, and I am here to be support for you.
In it all we can pray in the words of Julie Givio:
Son of Man,
come.
Come in a blaze of glory!
Come in power and greatness.
Come, and bring redemption
to your people.
Holy Word,
reveal to us your kin-dom.
Reveal in us your love.
Reveal through us your purpose.
Dwell within us,
and help us to see you at work.
Holy Wisdom,
strengthen us.
Inspire us with the joy of salvation,
the wonder of incarnation,
and the hope of a new heaven
and a new earth,
where justice and righteousness reign.
Pr. Sonny (he/him/his)
Call/Text Sunday - Thursday (608) 535-9251
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December:
5th Juli Schult
12th Jessie Potterton
19th Larry McNeil
24th TBA
26th Betty Hogan
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January 2022:
2nd Karen Tennessen
9th Deb Ivey
16th Larry McNeil
23rd Betty Hogan
30th Lynne Buckingham
February 2022:
6th Julia Marr
13th Deb Ivey
20th Chuck Tennessen
27th Bill Buckingham
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 Continued prayers for Mary Dunn and Patti Johnston who were hospitalized this past week.
Keep all of our extended church family in your prayers as we go through this holiday season, which can be very difficult for some.
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A HOLIDAY TRADITION:
AN EVENING OF LESSONS AND CAROLS
You are invited to enjoy a special Christmas event at Trinity Episcopal Church. Sunday December 12th at 7pm Lessons will be shared, each followed by a carol, special for the Christmas season. This is an ecumenical service, all are welcome. Masks are to be worn for this event.
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 Mission Committee Notes:
Community Meal:
The December meal will be served on Wednesday the 22nd, from 5 to 6 pm. Options will be Dine-In, Curbside pickup, or home delivery for meals. It is most helpful if a reservation can be made by Monday, the 20th, by contact to Mary Dunn, 608-987-2478 or Pat Johnston, 987-2259, for us to best be able to plan for all guests. The November Thanksgiving meal served eighty-five, Many thanks to all Volunteers who helped out, and to our partners at StMarys/StPauls Parish for their help with the November meal.
HOLIDAY GIVING, PLEASE CONSIDER SHARING:
Iowa County Social Services, Family giving tree, we have a family of four children for holiday gifting. Watch for a post from the Church with list of gift tags that you may select from to provide a wrapped gift, with note as to name and item (to help track returned gifts). Please drop off your gift packages to: Sandy Weitzel’s home, side porch (Alice St), her address 217 Mineral St, or drop them off in the Church chapel, please return gifts by December 15th, Thank you. (A sign up with be sent out under separate email for the gifts, as well as for the Church World Services)
We will be having a holiday collection for HOUSEHOLD and PERSONAL CARE items, to share with our Iowa County Family, and Iowa County Neighbors through the Pantry distribution. Some suggested items include paper products: towels, toilet paper, garbage bags, napkins, Kleenex, Cleaning products: toilet cleaner, dish soap, Windex, laundry detergent, Personal Care: shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste/brushes, etc., Childcare: diapers, wipes, infant products.
These will be collected in the Church chapel baskets, or at Sandy’s porch (as above) with your gift.
Church World Service: BEST GIFT, an opportunity reaches beyond our local area to help provide for basic needs that we take for granted. A list of items available is included with this news, simply check item(s) you would like to purchase and return with your total payment to the church chapel. Purchase can also be made at the church prior to or following worship.
Thank you for helping in any way you are able!
Please contact Dick Josh 574-8090 with questions about any of the above,
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 Events:
December 8 - Kids holiday ornament making
December 9 - Pasty sale
December 12 - An evening of lessons & carols at Trinity Episcopal
December 19 - Baptism of Enola Madelyn Ferguson
December 24th - Christmas Eve Service 7:30 PM
December 26th - Fourth Sunday, Update from the Pastor Search Committee, Sunday Worship Hymn Sing, request your favorite hymns to sing together.
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Calling all kids!
Mark your calendar and join the fun at the UCC church (300 Maiden Street) on Wednesday, December 8. We will gather after school, about 2:30 pm, in the church basement to make Holiday ornaments for the church and a present box for Christmas that you will take home with you!! Treats will be served. All children are welcome!
Volunteers are needed about 2 pm to help
Snacks are also needed. Drop them off at church or with Deb Ivey.
Call Kandy Keuler at 608-553-1300 with questions.
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PASTY SALE
Hope you can join the crew for a members only pasty sale on Thursday, December 9. Only 300 pasties will be made and will be sold ONLY to church members.
Volunteers are needed for two shifts—7 am to 9:30 and 9 am to 11:30 (or when done). If you are available to work, contact Kandy Keuler at 608-553-1300 or joshkeu@gmail.com or Deb Ivey at 5iveys@charter.net to sign up to work on Thursday, December 9.
Contact Jenny Schaaf Tibbits at 608-219-7112 or Kandy at 608-553-1399 to order pasties. Remember we are only making 300!
A volunteer is also needed to assist with overall pasty sale planning and operation. It is too much for one person! Contact Kandy to discuss how you might help.
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Search Committee Update:
Our congregation has elected a Search Committee to proceed with preparing our Church’s profile with plan to interview and select a candidate to be recommended as our next settled Pastor.
The Search Committee has begun meetings and is working on initial sections of the Profile for our Congregation. A completed profile will include considerable data and information regarding our congregations past and intent for the future. PLEASE reach out to any of the Search Committee with any thoughts, comments, or questions you may have regarding our church’s search.
There will also be opportunity to share updates of the committee and share your thoughts after worship, the last Sunday each month.
Search Committee members are:
Lynne Buckingham 608-443-8980
Mary Dunn 608-987-2478
Dick Josh 608-574-8090
Chuck Tennessen 608-341-0641
Trudy Tibbits 608-574-1987
THANK YOU to our Transition Team who has led us through preparation for search, to Deb Ivey for providing us with demographic information, and Marla Martin for providing financial information, to Pastor Sonny and Rev. Lorraine for guidance as we enter the search process.
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