The Wright Ups
NOVEMBER 2017
Wright Community Congregational UCC 4821 Franklin Road
Boise, ID 83705
Office Hours Tuesday-Thursday 9am-Noon & 1:00pm-3:00pm (208) 343-0292
church.office@wrightucc.org
www.wrightucc.org
The Miracle We Are Living "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” -- Albert Einstein If I ever needed proof that God works miracles Wright Church is that proof. I may begin to sound like a broken record by repeating our story, but ours is a story that needs to be told over and over again. It is a story of God’s love reaching into our lives offering us grace, salvation, and new life. One year ago I was contemplating giving up preaching and church leadership of any kind. I was hurting along with a small band of friends who lovingly became known as the Nomads. We wandered in the wilderness for over a year. Just down the street sat Wright Church who was facing their own grim future as an aging and declining congregation who were beginning to lose hope for their future. By a million little miracles the stars aligned and we became One. Today we are joyfully celebrating new life and possibilities for our future. No one can take a bit of credit for this except God. This miracle is so obvious to me that it has changed how I look at the world. As one who was harboring doubt and cynicism, I stand before you now with my faith renewed. God continues to work among us and the more I can stay out of the way the more God’s love can move through us. We are a walking miracle. Claim our story! It’s a story of grace and salvation and it’s our story. As we enter the season of Thanksgiving remember to thank God for the miracle of Wright Church. Love, Pastor Kathy
November Happenings November 5 - Stewardship Sunday Time Change Preaching: Rev. Kathy Abend Lay Leader: Peggy Higgins Communion Servers: Carol Rivers, Carl Van Slyke, Lois Taylor, Deb Carlson, Lois Wade Greeters: Liz Vorbeck & John Wiskus Altar Flowers: Coffee Hosts: POTLUCK
Birthdays: Nov. 10-Susan Busche Nov. 12-Lois Taylor Nov. 17-Maxine Palmer Nov. 26-Jane Penrod Nov. 28-Marilyn Carmen Nov. 29-Dwain Baxter Nov. 30-John Shockley Anniversaries: Nov. 11- Jennifer & Trevor Makinson Nov. 15-Jerry & Carol Card
November 12 Preaching: Amelia McGown, Candidate for Ministry Lay Leader: Carl Van Slyke Greeters: Susan & Al Busche Altar Flowers: Jerry & Carol Card Coffee Hosts: Pat Voris, Pat Alexander, Millie Hoyd
If you would like to be included in our birthday or anniversary list please the office a call.
November 19 Thanksgiving Sunday Preaching: Rev. Kathy Abend Lay Leader: Nancy Miller Greeters: Ann Schnebly & Dolores Wallace Altar Flowers: Coffee Hosts: Rick Buckham, Marilyn Williams, Greg & Trish Charlton
November 26 Preaching: Rev. Kathy Abend Lay Leader: Amelia McGown Greeters: Carlsen Family Altar Flowers: Coffee Hosts:
November Ushers Meredith Pond, Suzanne Robb, Mary Pond, Carol Card
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Pastor Kathy's October Schedule Pastor Kathy will be away from the office Nov. 6 thru Nov. 13. Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9-noon and 1-3:00.
Programming & Education Author Max Lucado reveals how your life story is part of a grand, overarching narrative, and helps you see between the lines to witness God’s hand at work. With contemporary anecdotes and New Testament stories, God’s Story, Your Story traces your Savior’s unchanging, loving pursuit of you through the chaos of life. Class is held in the upper room on Sunday Mornings 10am-10:45am. Program materials will be provided. The Advent Study coming up is The Redemption of Scrooge. See Pam McDonald for details.
Children's Sunday School every Sunday morning at 10:15 upstairs classroom. All children are encouraged to attend this fun and musical Sunday School class.
Tuesday Evening Bible Study from 7-8:15 pm in the Upper Room. This is a 24-week comprehensive study of the Bible called Disciple Fast Track that is designed to walk people through the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The study will be co-facilitated by Pastor Kathy Abend and Greg Charlton. Carpooling will be available for anyone who doesn't drive at night. Contact Pastor Kathy for the ride-sharing plan.
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Fellowship Group News Women's Fellowship Gathers on the 1st Wednesday of each month. November 1 – Aubrey Balfour will bring her song and experience of her singing tour in Europe this past summer. December 6th – Christmas Luncheon will be held off sight at the Black Bear diner at 1:00 pm. Please RSVP to Janice Aagaard is you plan on attending.
Men's Fellowship Saturday, November 11, 2017, at 9:00 am in the social hall. Ladies invited. A light breakfast served. The program this month will be Pastor Joseph Evaneski. He will be discussing his life journey to find Christ and his Loyal To One Ministry to provide guidance, support, and housing to Christian inmates being released back into society. We ask for a $5 donation to cover the food. Call Tom Eubanks at 208 658 1217 for questions.
Lunch Bunch Thursday, November 9 at 1:00. Marie Calendars on Fairview.
Wright Ones Host Game Day Saturday, November 18 at 1:30 in the social hall. Bring your favorite box or card game, a snack to share and your own beverage. Let the dice roll!! All are invited. Contact Carol Rivers with questions or the office.
Crafty Characters Friday, Nov. 17 at 11:30 am. Potluck lunch. We will discuss the Craft Bazaar held in October, eat and enjoy fellowship. The Crafters will not meet in December.
Book Club The Book Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 1:00 pm in the church library. November 2 and December 7 – The Christmas Box Collection by Richard Paul Evans. Includes 3 books: The Christmas Box; Timepiece; and The Letter. If you have any question please give Carol Card a call.
Wright Up Articles Due Due in the office by November 20th.
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Mark Your Calendars Potluck date change! Sunday, November 5 will be our monthly Potluck in celebration of Stewardship Sunday Please bring your special covered dish to share.
Receiving New Members! Sunday, November 19 Saturday, November 18 from 10-12 noon for anyone interested in becoming a member of Wright UCC. Contact Pastor Kathy with questions.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3
Mission
Joseph's Closet is Open We are beginning to experience cooler weather and know many folks who live in the area will be needing warmer outerwear. Whitney United Methodist on Overland has opened "Joseph's closet as of Oct. 20. If you would like to help our Joseph's Closet you may bring clean winter outerwear to Whitney Monday thru Friday from 9-noon or to Wright Church during office hours or on Sundays. Please, NO shoes. There is a need for men's and women's coats in extra large sizes. You may contact Wright or Whitney church offices with any questions.
Stop out Human Trafficking Shoe Drive Donate your gently used shoes to Wright Church. These shoes get re-purposed and sent to the third world countries where their primary mode of transportation is walking. A bin has been placed in our front entryway for your convenience. The collection will run through the end of November. Page 5
Food & Hygiene Pantry Thank you to all for your generous donations to our food pantry. We need help keeping the pantry stocked. A suggestion sheet is on the cupboard door. Our pantry gets heavy use during our Bench Suppers. Thank you for being a generous church!
In Other News Church Library The Church Library is featuring a book from the library each month. The featured book is posted on the Wright Church's website library page. The featured book is on a stand on the table in the library and can be checked out. The books featured will be a variety of nonfiction, biographies, or fiction. The current featured book is "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. These books and many more can be checked from the church library.
Friendship Feasts We (Carl Van Slyke, Carol Rivers and Dick and Natalie Thatcher) are floating a new idea for everyone to consider. In order to get better acquainted with each other, both old and new Wright members and friends, we would like to start small dinner or lunch groups which would meet once a month to share a meal. The groups of 8 would be comprised of 4 couples and/or singles with 2 serving as hosts each time. The meals can be shared in our homes or no-host dinners in restaurants, whatever you feel most comfortable doing. Meetings will be once a month for 4 consecutive months, forming new groups after that. Sign-up sheets will be appearing soon so that we can randomly assign people to groups of 8 and begin in January 2018. The goal will be to have fellowship, fun, and food with Christ as our honored guest. For, where 2 or more are gathers, He will be in our midst.
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Church Business
Treasurer's Report
Sept. 2017 General Fund Income $ 9,081,26 General Fund Expenses 10,465.23 Increase (Decrease) ($1,383.97)
YTD $94,568.53 75,358.31 $19,210.22
Budget $91,960.00 91,935.00 $ 25.00
Special Fund Expenses Fund Balance 8-31-17 $ 30,481.97 Income $ 2,413.13 Spent - 1,566.67 Sept. Adjustments -1,894.56 (moved Pastor Discr and Music to Gen'l fund) Balance 9-30-17 $29,433.87 Website and e-mail address Please change your address books to the new e-mail address: church.office@wrightucc.org Web Site: www.wrightucc.org ..\By-Laws and Constitution
Board of Directors Meeting Wednesday, November 15 at 7:00 pm in the social hall. If you are a committee chair your presence is requested. Everyone is welcome.
• HOW EXCITING •
New Faces DON'T FORGET YOUR NAME TAG!
No name tag. No problem. Fill out a pew card and find yours in the name tag holder at the top of the stairs.
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November Calendar
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD, HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. PSALM 107:1
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The Wright Ups Wright Community Congregational Church United Church of Christ 4821 Franklin Road Boise, ID 83705 Return Service Requested Novemberr 2017 Vol. 2017 Issue 11
Phone: 208.343.0292 email: church.office@wright ucc.org web: www.wirghtucc.org Ministers: All of Us Pastor: Rev. Kathy Abend Office Admin: Robin Canning Board Chair: Chuck Pond Organist: Ann Burkholder Pianist and Worship Designer: Whitney Katz Moderator: Carl Van Slyke
We are Joyfully an Open and Affirming Church 10:00 Adult Sunday School 10:15 Children's Sunday School 11:00 Worship Noon: Fellowship Communion: 1st Sunday of each month Nursery & Young Childcare Available