November News
Come to our annual Church Conference ~ Sunday, November 14th at 5pm!
Our District Superintendent, Rev. Jill Colley-Robinson, will preside at this meeting. We will elect officers, approve a budget, new church policies, adjustments to our membership list, and a year lease with the First Baptist Church, as well as a Mission/Evangelism Plan. Your voice is important! Come and share in this work as we chart a way forward to grow in love and service for the glory of Christ Jesus.
UMW/FBC Christmas Bazaar ~ Saturday November 20th
The UMW along with folks from the FBC will be holding the annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 20th. Anyone with crafts or baked goods to share, or anyone who can help with logistics should contact Leslie Kramsky. She will need set up help on Friday the 19th and lots of help on Saturday. AND everyone is invited to come and do some Christmas shopping to support the mission of the UMW and the FBC ladies.
GREENING PARTY AND POTLUCK ~ Sunday November 21st 3-5pm
FUMC and First Baptist folk will gather to decorate the sanctuary for Advent and then share a potluck supper. Come and have fun with friends and family. Break bread together in love. Leslie Kramsky working with FBC leadership will guide our hands in this traditional work. There will be brief liturgy of celebration too. Bring your friends!
THANKSGIVING
Thanks to the Trinity Lutheran Church, we have had little booklets in which to record thing for which we are thankful during the time leading up to Thanksgiving Day. There is a little flyer for us to use from Thanksgiving to the year end. Pick it up at church and continue your thankfulness.
ADVENT BEGINS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28th !
This year, FUMC will share Advent worship with our sisters and brothers in FBC at 11am each week. Our common voice will lift spirits as we move toward Christmas after so many long months of COVID losses and isolation. Pastor Suzanne Andrews will preach on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, while Pastor Ralph Howe will preach on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. We will light the candles of the Advent Wreath, enjoy carols and other traditional ways of preparing for Christmas.
For Christmas Eve, we will gather at 5pm for a service of readings and carols. It will be a great time to invite friends and neighbors to share in your faith community!
OTHER NEWS
The parsonage furnace was original and has finally given up the ghost. The Trustees have arranged to install a new one. Several members have made contributions toward its cost and the trustees would welcome other gifts to this end as well.
A large air conditioner has been donated for installation in the sanctuary so we can look forward to cooler worship next summer.
Check out the new sign outside our building! Thanks to Ron Francis and Nathan Underhill for the installation.
The Pastor has been investigating solar panel installations for the church and beyond. Anyone with interest in this project, please contact Pastor Ralph.
Video Camera use in our services will start soon. Since we do not have strong internet service, we may start by posting the video on our website Sunday afternoons, rather than live-streaming. More information to come.
Stewardship season is here. We have mailed out estimate of giving cards and have received a lot back. If you need a replacement, you can pick that up at church. Together we are able to support the ministry of Christ Jesus for the coming year. Thanks be to God!
Joint Leadership Conversations with FBC will start in January. Anyone interested in exploring ways our two congregations can work together for the glory of God and the growth of our churches is invited to participate.
PASTOR’S MESSAGE:
Dear Friends,
Ingrid and I wish you the very best Thanksgiving this year. We pray that you will find that inner place where you are able to give deep thanks for the bounty of God’s love that comes to all, even in difficult times.
We have been blessed by your love and grace during the first months with you. Thank you all for your kindness and welcoming spirit.
As we approach Advent, let us remember that God’s love for us is not based on our performance or even our own good nature, but in God’s abiding character of love. As the days grow shorter, (Daylight Savings Time Ends Nov 7th) let us rally around the flame of God’s love for the world in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus to us. The birth of Jesus marks for us the opening of God’s transforming power and light in the world.
Now that children as young as 5 are becoming eligible for the COVID vaccine, we hope you will reach out to youngsters and invite them to join in worship and celebrations at church. We have a Sunday school curriculum to use too! Let’s share our joy with those who still know the magic of the season!
Yours in Christ,
+Ralph
Rev. Ralph W. Howe, Pastor
First United Methodist Church of Brattleboro VT 