Friday, November 9, 2018 – our first snowy sunset of the season

Fall Clean Up Day

The fall clean-up day scheduled and cancelled for today will be rescheduled on a Saturday with gentler weather.

Thank you to Joyce for our beautiful harvest altar. We will enjoy it on Sundays through the rest of the month. And thank you to all 15 of us who gathered for the second confirmation labyrinth walk. This wonderful intergenerational group walked with Lars as part of his confirmation journey and with various ancestors who were there in spirit with us on Memorial Sunday.

A Word from JAMS

It was a joy to welcome Nelle Conley in worship last week. She is home from JAMS for the holidays and will return early in 2019 to provide more musical leadership there. She read to us a letter from Anita, our current student, who will soon be completing her education at the Jane Adeny Memorial School in Kenya. Her letter is on the mission bulletin board in the gathering area if you would like to see it.
Here is a short excerpt:
You are my role models.  I am really yearning to follow your footsteps.  I know that one day I will be able to help others who are in the same situation as I am, just the way you have helped me.

Remember:  The Fall Pancake Breakfast will be held next Saturday, November 17, from 6:30-11:00 am. Encourage those you know to attend. Please have your contributions for Attic Treasures here by Friday morning, November 16 when the sorting and pricing will occur. You can leave things at church tomorrow too.  And the church council will be meeting on Wednesday, November 14, 6:00-7:30, if you need to bring anything by in the evening. No electronics please. Items for the bake table can be delivered on Friday morning or as early as possible on Saturday.

The first contribution to the Northern Illinois Food Bank was made thirty-five years ago. It was a donation of $100, the proceeds of a garage sale. Our continued gifts today help those who are food insecure across thirteen northern Illinois counties. Your gifts to the food bank can be placed in the offering plate or in the food bank box in the gathering area. Every $1 we send them turns into $8 of food.

UCC Thank Offering

Last Sunday we began distributing sparkly bags for the UCC Thank Offering. The Thank Offering has its roots in women’s groups in the early Congregational Church.  Women in these groups would bring a few cents to their regular meetings. Their accumulated gifts were the beginning of an offering that has funded numerous local church and mission efforts over several centuries. Your gifts of loose change, bills, and checks will be welcome. This annual offering of the UCC currently funds renewal projects in existing congregations and start-up projects in new congregations. All of these projects strengthen the life of local churches. Please return your thank offering bags by Sunday, November 18 when we will gather in this offering as a noisy offering with all that loose change.

Board Books for The Children’s Waiting Room

Each year at its December meeting, the Mayfield Fellowship gathers in board books for the Children’s Waiting Room.  Some years we have sent off as many as 100 books.  Whether you are able to attend the Fellowship meeting on December 13 or not, you are encouraged to add to our pile of books. See Martha, Ann T, or Ann W if you have any questions about this.

Looking Ahead to Toys for Tots

We will be wrapping presents and helping as shopping assistants at Toys for Tots on Tuesday, December 18, 9 am – 5 pm and Wednesday, December 19, 9 am – 12:00 pm. It is truly a service that benefits from many hands. Mark your calendars now.