Portsmouth United Church of Christ
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Text Box: Portsmouth United Church of Christ The Chatter Boxes www.portsmouthucc.org October—November 2009 Issue 5


Text Box: Food for Thought New Life from the Bread of Life” Sometimes as Christians, we put ourselves on a spiritual Atkins Diet. We cut out all the bread of life by not putting aside time to be with God: to pray, to study God’s Word, to meditate, and to participate in the worship and fellowship of the Christian Community. If we are hungry for God, we can’t skimp on the bread. Jesus’ discourse on the bread of life (John 6) vividly illustrates that the goodness and righteousness of God does not arise within us independently. Rather, it comes to us as we partake of Jesus and receive him fully into our lives. “A saint is not someone who is good, but one who experiences the goodness and righteousness of God.” (LectionAid: New Life from the Bread of Life. 14.3(43) Let us not imitate the crowd (John 6) who followed Jesus only for the physical provisions they received (vs. 26-27). Instead, let us eat of the true eternal bread, Jesus the Christ! Let us eat that bread which will nourish our soul, now and in eternity. Let us not simply nibble on the eternal bread, but eat it heartily, digesting it in our inner being so that we might become like Christ. Are you hungry? Eat up! The bread of life is plentiful and filling! Shalom, Pastor Charles Diaconate “Jesus Health Care Strategy” Jesus Christ showed us that anyone who follows Him is expected to address the most pressing needs of others. You can describe Jesus’ health care strategy in four words: whoever, whatever, whenever, wherever. Whoever needed to be healed received His healing touch. Whatever affliction they suffered from, He addressed it. Whenever the opportunity to heal arose, He seized it. Wherever they happened to be, He took care of it. Contrast the Jesus model with the preferred American model. The latter might be described as deciding to throw some money at the problem – but not too much – so that somebody else can do what needs to be done, for those who qualify, in a manner that does not inconvenience us. The former approach was the whoever, whatever, whenever, wherever strategy. It’s quite a contrast, isn’t it? Banker’s Deposit Average amount given in offering envelopes for past two months was $911.00 per week. “Men lose their health making money then spend their money regaining health.” Money Makers Our benevolences that we collected for was $129.00 in August for Christian Missionary Association (CMA) and Neighbors in Need $87.00 for September. The benevolence for October is Operation Christmas Child and The Christmas Fund (formerly Veterans of the Cross) in November. Please remember these in addition to your envelope giving. Programs within the church that need our support also are the Diaconate and Youth Funds. Operation Christmas Child For the 3rd year, we will be collecting shoe boxes that you fill with school supplies, toys, hygiene items and other items for age appropriate boys and girls ages 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14 years olds to be distributed to 3rd world countries. Please enclose a check made out to the church for $7.00 for each box to help pay for shipping. If you are unable to make a box but would like to give a check we can send that too. Last year we collected 68 boxes and donated $72.62 for more boxes. Let us try to exceed that number this year. Boxes must be at the church no later than November 15th. For more information, please call Phil Jones at 465-2484. Pew Setters 25 “setters” per Sunday; Come and be counted! Average attendance for the past two months. “Hen” Party The Women’s Fellowship meetings will be on October 13th and November 10th at noon in the Fellowship Hall for a “light” lunch and a short program. At the October meeting Susie Keele will talk about her experiences on her recent trip to South Africa. The “Annual Bazaar” will be held on November 7th. Please bring your donated items to the church or call Ann/Judy to arrange pickup “Rooster” Gathering Breakfast will be served on October 11th at 8:30 a.m. with pancakes, bacon, sausage and fruit being served and November 8th with eggs to order, bacon, sausage and fruit. Everyone who attends Sunday School is welcome to attend. Fellowship Café “Coffee Hour” will be held directly after Worship Service on October 4th and November 1st. Not Getting Any Older October 15th Alice Malcolm 15th Asia Porter 16th Charles Chappell 25th Clara Colwell November 5th B.J. Applegate 10th Bill Thomas 28th Ann Turner 30th Susie Keele Feels like 100 years! November 26th Hillary & Steve Davis Stop and Smell the Roses We have “openings” for flowers to be placed on the altar. November 1st and November 15th please let Judy Hamilton know if you would like to “brighten” the altar on the Lord’s day or check on other available dates. “Rug Rat’s” Church On October 25th and November 22nd during the Worship Service all the children will be in the Educational Wing for bible study, games and crafts. Young Apostles “Neighborhood Name Hunt” Create a unique scavenger hunt around your neighborhood (or around your house) that uses the letters of each grandchild’s first name for each clue, activity, or task. For example, if your granddaughter’s name is Katie, you might make up something like this: K: Find five Hershey’s Kisses hiding in Grandma’s bedroom. A: Stand in the backyard and (loudly) sing the Alphabet song. T: Select your favorite Toy here at Grandma’s house, and tell me why you like it. I: Open up the freezer. You’ll find a bowl with a scoop of Ice cream in it. Eat it! E: Make a loud Elephant trumpeting sound, and then look on the back porch for a special note. Wrap up the hunt by leading your grandchild to find a short note you’ve written that uses her name to emphasize that God made her unique and that she is very special to God and to you. You might write something like, “KATIE, there is no one like you in the whole world! God made you just how you are, and He loves you very much. And KATIE, I love you, too! You are my one and only KATIE, and you will always be very special to me.” Grand Days By: Group Publishing, Inc. © 2009 Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Clara Colwell is now living with her daughter in New York. Her new address is: 401 Standish Drive, Syracuse, NY 13224. Please drop her a line and let her know that she is missed. Mark that already full calendar! October 17th - Angel Food Ministries (8:30-11:00) and Operation Christmas Child with the Young Apostles (11:30-1:30). October 25th - “Funday Sunday! (12:30-4:00). October 31st - 4th Annual “Trunk or Treat” on the church lawn (5:30 – 8:00). November 1st - Annual Fall Business Meeting directly after the Worship Service. November 7th - Annual Fall Bazaar/Yard Sale (8:00-2:00). November 14th - Angel Food Ministries (8:30-11:00). November 29th “Funday Sunday! (12:30-4:00). Fall Bazaar / Yard Sale The Fall Bazaar/Yard Sale sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship will be held November 7th from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. There will be food: brunswick stew, vegetable beef soup, hot dogs and baked good. Christmas decorations, wreaths and crafts will be sold. Mark your calendar and come out and enjoy the Fellowship and Fun!" Ho! Ho! Ho! The Board of Finance is asking for a special “love offering” for monetary Christmas gifts for our employees. Please place your donations, make checks out to the church, from now until December 6th in the offering plate and mark it “Christmas Gift”. The Board of Finance will distribute to the employees. Help Wanted! The Worship Committee is actively looking for a new Organist. If you know anyone that might be interested please call Judy Hamilton at 488-6523, or the church office at 488-6075 or email www.portsmouthucc.org. Dear God Letters written by children: Dear God, Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Next Chatter Boxes will be mailed December 3, 2009 “We are the living expression of Good News of Jesus Christ in sharing and spreading his love by faith, worship and service.”


Next Chatter Boxes will be mailed August 6, 2009

“We are the living expression of Good News of Jesus Christ in sharing and spreading his love by faith, worship and service.”

 

 

 

Noreen Olson has served faithfully and with dedication as our secretary, but will be leaving us in March.  May God continue to bless her as she begins a new journey.

Our small, friendly church is currently in search of a secretary.  Our contact information is as shown below:

Portsmouth United Church of Christ

5900 Portsmouth Blvd,

Portsmouth, VA, 23701

 

Phone: 757-488-6075

Fax: 757-488-6021

so please call if you feel the call (pun intended)..