We are about a month away from the end of the church year and the end of ordinary time, the long season of Pentecost. The liturgical color for ordinary time is green.  However, on this last Sunday in October, the green is interrupted with the bright red of the spirit as we celebrate Reformation Day. Reformation Day acknowledges the beginning of the Protestant Reformation in 1518 with the actions of Martin Luther.  Reformation Day is a good Sunday to wear the flame colors of the spirit – particularly red and orange.

Update from Stamping Out Children’s Cancer

$3700 was raised at Prairie State Winery last weekend. Maria and Rick have rounded it up to an even $10,000 which has been split between St. Jude’s and Cal’s Angels for their work around pediatric cancer. Thank you to all who contributed to this important cause.

Better Together, our fall emphasis on diversity will find us on the labyrinth at 9:00 am and will continue with a special story during worship. Both the labyrinth walk and the story will playfully remind us of the breadth of individuals and individual groups held together in the wild embrace of diversity.

United Church of Christ All-Church Offerings – NIN and the Thank Offering

Tomorrow, we will conclude our October collection for the Neighbors in Need (NIN) offering. During November, we will gather in the Thank Offering. At church tomorrow and next week you will receive a special bag for the Thank Offering. Between now and November 24, you can fill your bag with change, bills, or a check. This is a noisy offering as we will toss our gifts into a loud metal pail on 11/24. The Thank Offering has its roots in the women’s groups of the Congregational Church in the 19th century. Whenever these groups met, women contributed a few cents (They were known as Cent Societies). Over time these collections funded both local congregations and bold mission efforts. The modern day Thank Offering continues this support.

Memorial Sunday – November 3, 2019

Please pass on the names of people you want remembered in writing to Martha by this Wednesday, October 30. Include the name of the person, that person’s relationship to you, and the date or approximate date of the person’s death. You can hand these names to Martha tomorrow or email this information to Martha by Wednesday. Memorial Sunday focuses on friends, neighbors, congregational members, public figures who have died since the beginning of November 2018.

Intergenerational Labyrinth Walk – Sunday, October 27 – 9:00 am

Walkers of all ages and labyrinth experience are welcome!