THE EPISTLE
Volume 15 Issue 9
“Dreams and Visions”
“Your old … shall dream dreams, and your
young … shall see visions.”
-Joel 2:28
The words above, from the prophet Joel, are
usually heard on Pentecost, but they resonate
also during this season of stewardship. The
church exists in the world as the Body of
Christ. It was here before we were and will be
here after we are gone. God calls us into this
body to accept the cost and the joy of
discipleship and to be God’s servants in the
service of the world. Each Sunday on the front
of our worship bulletin, we read:
First Congregational United Church of
Christ is a community of faith centered in
Jesus Christ which seeks to be faithful as a
continuation of his life on earth. While our
roots are deep, we seek ever new ways to be
the people of Christ here and now.”
God’s dream for his creation brought the
church into being. The dreams of our
OCTOBER 28, 2010
forebears in the faith brought this
congregation into being one hundred and
eighty five years ago. What are our dreams
and visions for our church today? What
would we like First Congregational United
Church of Christ to be like five, ten, twenty,
one hundred years from now?
I have a vision of a congregation which
takes seriously its commitment to worship
God, grow in faith and reach out in love to
its community and beyond. As Christians
we are called to lift our hearts and voices in
praise to God. Our common worship is at
the heart of our life together and we seek
ever new ways to give praise and
thanksgiving to God. The Board of Elders is
working on making available a Saturday
service beginning in January. This will take
work and commitment, but it will allow
another opportunity to worship God.
I have a vision of a congregation which
keeps its sanctuary doors open during the
week so that those seeking a place of quiet
and reflection have a place to go. This is a
world which doesn’t allow much time and
space to be open to God’s spirit. We can
offer such a time and such a place.
I have a vision of a congregation which
offers more opportunities for worship: mid
week, Sunday evening.
I have a vision of a congregation which
takes seriously growth in grace. God gave
us a mind to use and we can grow by using
our mind as well as our heart. Each Sunday
we offer Christian Education for children,
young people and adults. What can we do
that we are not doing to enhance this
 2 THE EPISTLE
ministry? Over the past years we have
developed a more robust adult Christian
Education ministry. Each Sunday we gather to WORSHIP SCHEDULE
learn more about our faith. This needs to
continue and be expanded. Over the years, we
Our Worship Life
have also had various mid-week adult
Sunday: 9:30 AM, followed by Christian
education classes. I have a vision of regular Education
adult classes and small groups to enhance our
Wednesday: Noon; Brief service of Holy
faith and deepen our fellowship. Communion
I have a vision of a church which continues
to reach out in mission and ministry to our
October 24
community and beyond. Over the past years
Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22; Psalm 84:1-7; 2
our outreach has increased. We have worked Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
hard on special Lenten outreach ministries and
“Our virtues or God’s mercy?”
have made a difference, from our local
community, our city, and beyond to Africa!
This work needs to be increased and more of
October 31: Reformation Day
us need to be involved.
Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 46; Romans 3:19-
I have a vision of a church which seeks to 28; John 8:31-36
share humbly and yet joyfully who and what
“Freedom and Truth”
we are. Churches attract new members when
their existing ones invite others to join them in
their faith community. As we move forward
November 7: All
we need to take this seriously. There are folks
Saints Sunday;
out there in our community, who are looking
Consecration of
for a relationship with God; who are looking
Confirmation
for a community of love and care; who are
Candidates; Bible
looking to share their God given gifts with
presentation to fifth
others. How might we reach them?
graders
All of this takes time, talent and treasure.
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18;
You have probably already received your Psalm 149; Hebrews
pledge card from the stewardship committee.
12:2, 12-13
Please take the opportunity to share
“Surrounded”
generously and joyfully what God has given
you. God have given so that we can give.
Christian stewardship should not be a duty,
November 14: Stewardship Consecration
but a joy.
Sunday
We need to do more than just keep on where
Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 2 Corinthians 8:1-7
we have been. We need to boldly move out in
“You First”
faith. I trust you will do your part.

You’re Pastor,
November 21: Heritage Sunday
John This year’s Heritage Sunday service will
take us back to a mid 19th century service
with a Thanksgiving theme
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~17th Annual~
~Interfaith Thanksgiving
Service~
Presented by the Perinton Lay Clergy Council
Tuesday, November 23th, 7:00 PM
Hosted by St John of Rochester
8 Wickford Way, Fairport
~Come join us for an evening of Thanksgiving
with contributions from the Iroquois, Muslim,
Jewish, Hindu, Baha’i and Christian traditions.
The music will include an ecumenical children’s
choir, traditional Jewish music and more!
Questions: agoodfr1@rochester.rr.com
UPCOMING ADULT EDUCATION
CLASSES
October 24: Islam
Dr. Muhammad Shafiq, Executive
Director, Center for Interfaith Studies,
Nazareth College
October 31: Islam and Christianity
November 7: Fundamentalism
November 14: Fundamentalism
November 21: Intergenerational Advent
Workshop
November 28: No class, Thanksgiving
Holiday
December 5: More than a baby
December 12: No class, financial meeting
December 19: More than a baby
December 26: No class
November 7th is All Saints Sunday. If you
would like a loved one listed in our bulletin
for this remembrance please submit the
person’s name and date of death to the
church office by November 1st. Thank you!
BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
UPDATES
HELLO GARAGE SALE
FRIENDS-
Please accept my most sincere thanks for
your participation and help with the Church-
Wide Garage Sale. We met our fundraising
goal of $2,000, so I consider this a real
success. Our total revenue was $2,548.85,
which included a very generous donation.
Although we were successful this year,
there are many opportunities for us to
streamline our process for future Garage
Sales. Please take a moment to send me an
e-mail @ denizca@frontiernet.net with
suggestions for improvements to this event.
Thank you,
Crista Deniz
 4 THE EPISTLE
CHRISTMAS BASKETS 2010
The Board of Missions will once again be
providing Christmas Baskets to between 8 and
10 local families this year. Each basket will
contain a complete turkey or ham dinner and
more. To accomplish this, donations of food
and money are essential. Without our
congregation's contributions nothing happens.
Sign-up sheets for specific items like food,
money and basket delivery will be available in
Fellowship Hall beginning Sunday November
14th through the third week of December. The
deliveries will be made on Saturday December
20th. The value of
the feeling that you
get from these acts
of kindness is
beyond price.
Thank you for your
generous
contributions.
BOARD OF DEACONS TO
SPONSOR ADVENT DINNER
The Board of Deacons will be sponsoring the
Advent Dinner on December 5, 2010, at 6:00 pm
after the Children's musical performance. Again
this year it will be a pot-luck dinner. Please bring
a main dish, salad or vegetable, plus your table
service. Dessert and drinks will be provided.
Sign-up sheets will be posted in Fellowship Hall
on November 7th.
TRUSTEES’ FALL WORK DAY
The Trustees’ Fall Work Day has been
scheduled for
Saturday,
November 6 at
9 AM. Many
projects will be
included—
painting,
raking and
electrical
work. ALL HELP IS APPRECIATED!!
MORNING CIRCLE
Morning Circle will meet on Tuesday
November 9th at 10 am. Our speaker will
be Linda Wagner from Ronald McDonald
House.
EVENING CIRCLE
The Evening Circle will meet November 8th
at 7 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Felicia
Johansen will lend her expertise in training
us to make decorative plates..
We would love to have you join us. In this
particular case we would appreciate
knowing ahead so we can have an accurate
count. Just give Norma Harrington or Carol
Moran a call.
MISSION CORNER
The leaves are turning, the pumpkins are out,
the goblins are coming soon, and The Board of
Missions is in full swing. At our last meeting we
marked what hopefully will become a tradition,
in that two young people from our Youth Group
will become representatives to Missions. This
year Erin Hoover and Jill Weidman will act in
that capacity. Our hope is that both groups will
be able to more effectively communicate our
respective goals and try to find ways that each
group can assist the other. In addition to Erin
 5 THE EPISTLE
and Jill, we are joined this year by new members
Eileen Slocum and Melissa Tieslink.
We have already completed a toy drive for The
Salvation Army. Plans are under way for our
Annual Christmas Gift Giving to children from Hillside Christmas Tree Project
Hillside (see article below), and donating gift The Hillside Christmas Tree Project is coming
baskets for needy up again this year to provide Christmas gifts to
families here in children at the Hillside Children’s Center. A
Perinton. Our goals Christmas tree will be unveiled in the
for this year include Fellowship Hall with ornaments/gift request
enhancing our tags on Sunday, November 21. This year’s
communication with Hillside Christmas Tree project is headed up by
the congregation, Maureen and Randy Clark.
advertising volunteer opportunities, and enhancing
our coordination of the Lenten Community If you are interested, our board is still looking
Project(s). for one additional member. Please contact
As we did last year, we will continue to spotlight myself, Pat May or Jim Weidman if you are so
one organization each month that the Board of inclined. Hope you continue to enjoy this great
Missions sponsors. This month we are focusing on fall weather. Our board looks forward to
Saving Grace Ministries of Rochester. Randy having another great year.
Clark is this month’s contributing writer and our
representative to Saving Grace Ministries. Ted Avgerinos
Chairperson
Saving Grace Ministries
The mission of Saving Grace Ministries is to
provide a smooth transition to community life for
men recently released from a correctional facility.
There are three “Grace Houses” in Rochester
COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER
serving up to 40 men who are on parole and OPPORTUNITIES
transitioning back into our community, Grace
House provides a highly structured program for
SALEM SOUP KITCHEN
these men based on Christian principles. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Statistics tell us that without help from Saving Mark your
Grace 80% of these men would return to jail and calendars for
of those who remain free 71% would be homeless. Tuesday, October
With the support of area churches in the 26th and Tuesday,
Rochester area the story has a much different November 30 and
ending. Of the 100 men that Saving Grace Tuesday,
Ministries has served to date, nearly half have
December 21 to
professed saving faith in Jesus Christ and 60% are
now living drug, alcohol and debt free. help prepare a
The graduates of Grace House are either lunch for those in
gainfully employed, starting their own business or need. Volunteers
going back to school to improve their employment will meet in our parking lot at 9:15 AM and
opportunities. It is truly making a significant carpool to Salem UCC, and returning mid-
impact on our community. afternoon.
 6 THE EPISTLE

SERMONS AROUND US

William Shakespeare wrote of times

when “our life…finds tongues in
trees, books in the running brooks,
sermons in stones and good in
everything.”
The month of October can preach
breathtaking sermons. It speaks in
the glorious colors of leaves, the
splendor of the abundant harvest, the
grass whitened by the first frost, the
honking birds flying to their winter
RECYCLE YOUR SURPLUS
haven and busy squirrels gathering
TOOLS
nuts before snow covers their feeding
Senior Options for Independence (SOFI) is ground.
collecting used hand tools, yard tools and power How wonderful October’s sermons
tools in working order to be sold in a tool resale
are, and how they bless us. Thank
shop slated to open this Fall. Nails, screws, nuts
and bolts, and other handyman supplies are also you, Lord!
welcomed.
Small items may be dropped off at the reception
desk at Fairport Baptist Homes. For large items
please contact Ellen at 388-2304 or
eoconnor@fbhcm.org.
Proceeds from the tool resale shop will benefit
Perinton seniors through the programs and
services provided by SOFI.

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Barbara Eaton, Crest Manor

Charlotte Jackson, Fairport Baptist Home

Shirley Sumner, Perinton Park Manor

NEXT EPISTLE’S DEADLINE IS
Les Warren, Fairport Baptist Home 3 PM NOVEMBER 18, 2010!