Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) Sunday

Your pledge to your beloved local church with your offering envelope includes the option of pledging to OCWM.  Once a year, we plan this special Sunday in advance of annual meeting to highlight the very practical value of a pledge for the ministry and mission of our wider church in the United Church of Christ in Vermont and beyond.  See the information on the progress of our pledge drive below.  This year, we hope for more.  As Rev Michael takes his second sabbatical in 30 years of ministry this summer, who counsels our Deacons, Trustees, and Pastoral Relations Committee about how to do it right? Rev Pam Lucas, Associate Conference Minister.  How is she available to us? – Your OCWM giving.

Pledge Progress

As December 16 we have received 26 pledges ($16,956), including 5 for OCWM ($540). This compares to a TOTAL received for 2011 of 33 pledges, ($27,812) including 3 for OCWM ($980).  As you plan your support of our church for the coming year, please consider making a pledge of an annual amount for the benefit of our General Fund, OCWM, or both.  Pledging is helpful to the church for budgeting purposes in order to have an estimate of our anticipated income for the year.  The Financial Secretary sends out quarterly statements showing the amount given to date versus the annual pledge to help pledgees keep track of where they are in their annual giving. 

Sabbatical Update

What is a sabbatical???

Long-term pastors, teachers, and tenured professors in higher education, after many years of service, take an extended break for rest, renewal, and inspiration.  The idea is that they return to work with more energy, enthusiasm, and renewed vision.

Our “Covenant for Mutual Ministry” for our pastor and our congregation includes a provision for a twelve-week break for our pastor after six years of pastoral service.  Because we are a small church and our pastor is half time, the way we’re doing it is unusual, but makes it do-able. Rev Michael will put the annual time off he receives every year (four weeks vacation and two weeks study leave) adjacent to six additional weeks, making a total of twelve weeks away.  

How will we provide consistent pastoral care, preaching, and worship leadership over that time – May 28 – August 19?  That’s still being worked out by a team of leaders led by Church Administrator and Pastoral Relations Chair Hal Drury, along with Deacons and Trustees.  One of the things that makes us confident of consistent coverage is that four ordained pastors – all of them, coincidentally, women, have said they will help – Rev Candace Ricker, Rev Karen Lipinczyk, Rev Gail Seavey, and Rev Vonnie Coleman.  In addition, we are blessed with very inspiring area lay preachers like Ann Peck, Teresa Lever, and others, on whom we will rely for stimulating spiritual care in the absence of our pastor.  That’s not to speak of the many members of our own congregation who are gifted speakers and leaders.  This will not be just “getting by,” but rather an opportunity for the congregation to enjoy its own sabbatical!

Sabbatical Update in the next Echo: how Rev Michael plans to spend the time (sneak preview: Gaelic College, Baedeck, Nova Scotia, courses on “Gaelic Language and Song,” “Bodhran” (celtic drum), and “Cape Breton Step Dancing.”)

Come and Share

ARMCHAIR ADVENTURES FROM CHILDHOOD

Women’s Fellowship 2012

The following are the The Women’s Fellowship meeting details for the remainder of 2012.  .

January 12, 2012	1-3 pm	Book Discussion	Home of Laura Waterman
February 9, 2012	1-3 pm	Valentine’s Cookies	Home of Susan Morris
March 8, 2012	7-9 pm	Home of Sue Parmenter	Movie Night
April 12, 2012	1-3 pm	Home of Sue Foster	Childhood Memories
May 10, 2012	1-3 pm	Home of Louise Sandberg	Childhood Games
May 26, 2012	8-12 noon	In front of ECCC	Annual Bake Sale
June 14, 2012	12-2 pm	Home of Carol Bergholm	End-of-year Potluck

The Women’s Fellowship is open to all members of the community regardless of church affiliation.  Should you wish further information, feel free to contact any member of the planning committee:  Sue Parmenter, Laura Waterman, Claire Porter, Louise Sandberg, Lisa Locke, Susan Morris, or Winnie Walker.

Kay Darling Martin Brown’s Memoir is out!

“Growing Up and Growing Old” begins with this snippet which hints of Kay’s dry humor sprinkled throughout this amazing life record:

“It’s been said that it’s the duty of old folks to tell tales. Since I’m almost 95 I guess I better get started.” And the tales regale you on every page, from her grandmother’s grandmother who was the daughter of an Abenaki chief, to Grampa Darling, who died the year she was born in 1916, but whom her brother Paul Darling knew and reported that he challenged a neighbor when he was in his mid-eighties to a race to the top of the hill across from his homestead on Wright’s Mountain…

“My mother worried about them and instructed us boys to run in the woods beside the road and watch the old guys…” Kay reports Paul saying.

Kay can be reached for inquiries with the following contact info:

Kathleen Darling Brown

75 Haywood St #503

Asheville, NC 28801

828-255-3215

kaybromar@aol.com

Holy Land Pilgrimage

One year from now we’ll be very close to our eight-day pilgrimage to the land of the Bible.  Area churches will be joining us for this “Holy Land Classic” tour with an experienced Holy Land travel service, “Educational Opportunities.”  Rev. Michael has been approved as a “tour host.”  Five from our church and two from our community (committed so far) will go on the road in the new year to present a dvd on the trip at Bradford United Methodist Church, to which all area congregations are invited.  We’ll be going the week of Winter vacation, 2013, to enhance the chance for teachers and students to go with us.  For more info, a brochure, the loan of the dvd, and a reassuring pamphlet on “Safety in the Holy Land,” see Rev Michael.

Steeple Lighting for November and December

November 6 – In memory of Dr. Frances Olsen, given by Earl and Lee Olsen;  in memory of Jack and Dot Butler, given by Ken Butler and Sue Stuart; in memory of Henry Metcalf, given by his daughter and son-in-law Lucile and William Grant; and in honor of Leo E Oliver, given by John and Jane Conner(Jane's Dad).

November 13 – In memory of Dr. Frances Olsen, given by Earl and Lee Olsen; and in memory of Priscilla Nunes and Madelena Oliveira, given by Dennis and Olga Amaral

November 20 – In memory of Dr. Frances Olsen, given by Earl and Lee Olsen; and in memory of Walter Sousa, given by Dennis and Olga Amaral.

November 27 – In honor of Margrette Leighton Reed, given by Jane and John Conner(John's Mom); in memory of Beth Sherwood Rodgers, given by Lois and Ed Sherwood; in memory of Dr. Frances Olsen, given by Earl and Lee Olsen; in memory of Olga Drury, given by her son Hal and daughter in law Judy Drury; and in memory of Florence Sabourin given by Dennis and Olga Amaral.

December 4 – In loving memory of Bill and Eleanor Martin, given by their daughter Mary Sanborn.

December 11 – In memory of James Earl, given by Joanne and Bill Amaru.

December 18 – In memory of Loved Ones, given by Nancy and Les Frost.

December 25  - In Memory or Marjorie and Henry Metcalf, given by their daughter and son-in-law Lucile and William Grant; and in memory of Gil Amaral, given by Dennis and Olga Amaral.

This is a wonderful way to honor and remember a loved one.  Please contact Nancy Frost if you have any questions.

ECCCCC

Our 9^th Annual Chili Contest

January 28, 2012

At this writing it’s getting chilly here in East Corinth so it is appropriate that we announce the annual ECCCCC (East Corinth Congregational Church Chili Contest) where the winner becomes the 2012 ECCCCCC (East Corinth Congregational Church Chili Contest Champion) getting the coveted  champion’s beige apron and bragging rights for the year. 

Once again this year, the proceeds will benefit the ECVFD (East Corinth Volunteer Fire Department)

Please save the date and come up with a winning recipe.  Here’s an idea – How about some of our readers in the Fire Department entering – or maybe an ecumenical entry or two from some of our area churches.  This is always a fun evening and remains the only place you can hear Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, and Johann Sebastian Bach in the same evening. 

ECHOES (East Corinth Humor Organization and Enjoyment of Life Society)...

Our new men’s group meets on the second Saturday of odd-numbered months.  We’ll meet on January 14 at the parsonage at 5:30 PM for a potluck dinner and a sharing of bad jokes. 

2011 Annual Meeting of the Vermont State UCC Women’s

Fellowship

“Telling Our Stories”

Saturday, February 18, 2012, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Congregational Church of Cornwall

Come be a part of our special event that celebrates our stories, an important part at where we come from and who we are..  Hear the stories. Share your story.

We will also be honoring a few very special women from around our state.

Please consider bringing an offering at a 10 inch knitted or crocheted block to be joined tor lap afghans.

Lunch will be served.  Reserve :your place with $8.00 in advance or $1 0.00 at the door.  Send your deposit to Barbara Wells, 923 Painter Rd., Middlebury, Vermont 05753.  For additional information, contact Pat Mattison at patmatt49@;yahoo.com or 802-623-6891. 

ASQ  A Simple Question! (pronounced “ask”)

The January meeting will have a short reading for: Karen Armstrong's Charter for Compassion.  

You can read the charter at:

http://charterforcompassion.org/share/the-charter, or contact Ken at the Blake Memorial library if you would like a hard copy.  

ASQ is a community-led discussion of the simple question, “What is the right way to live?”  Together we will reflect on spiritual, philosophical, and religiou

s texts and look deeper at this deceptively simple question. ASQ aims to create a safe space to share opinions and engage in dialogue, for the benefit of the learning and growth of all involved. ASQ is offered with support from the East Corinth Congregational Church and the Blake Memorial Library and is open to all community members.

The next several meetings will be at the Blake Memorial Library in East Corinth.  Meetings will on the third Thursday of the month, starting at 7:00 pm and ending by 9:00 pm, leaving the last 15 minutes to discuss logistics for the next meeting.