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N.E.W.S. CONNECTION
Pittsford Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
121 Village Green
Pittsford, VT 05763
Vol. 11 No.12

December 2014

Thought for the month: A Christmas Wreath is more than simply something pretty.
From the Pastors Desk
Most of us are beginning to get out the decorations to prepare our homes for the Christmas season. The
Christmas wreath is one of those decorations and has been hung on doors for centuries. Have you ever
wondered about the tradition of hanging a wreath?
The term wreath is linked to the word wrist, with both terms forming a continuous physical circular shape.
It also comes from Middle Englishs wreathe, meaning a twisted band or ring of leaves or flowers in a
garland. The circle or ring shape is symbolic of eternity or eternal life, because the shape has no beginning or
end. In ancient Rome, it was so revered that people used decorative wreaths as a sign of victory. It is thought
that this is where the hanging of the wreaths on doors came from, as well as, the wreath as a crown on the head
of a winner of a contest.
Christmas wreaths are generally wound from evergreens. The evergreens symbolize life in the dead of winter.
Often wreaths are left hanging all winter, reminding us of Christmas, of eternity, of life in winter. Sometimes
theyre left hanging simply because its too cold to bother taking them down.
The Advent Wreath is part of our Christmas tradition that is centuries old. The Pre-Christian Germanic people
during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths and lighted fires as signs of hope in the
coming of spring and renewed light. In the 16th century, Catholics and Protestants alike used wreaths as symbols
to celebrate their hope in Christ, the everlasting light. This tradition spread from Germany to other parts of the
world.
Traditionally, the Advent Wreath is made up of four violet and rose candles in a circle of evergreens with a fifth
white candle in the middle. Each Sunday of Advent a candle around the wreath is lit, representing peace, hope,
love and joy. The last candle, the one in the center is called the Christ candle. The lighting of this candle takes
place either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day signifying the birth of Jesus Christ. Most Christian traditions
make the lighting of the Advent Wreath a part of their Christmas preparation.
If you havent hung your wreath yet, or even if you have, any time you see one this winter you might consider
the wreaths symbolic and spiritual meanings of eternity and life. These symbols are all tied up in the reason for
Christmas the birth of Christ, who proclaimed eternity and new life.
Best wishes to you and your family for a safe and healthy Christmas season.
Blessings,
Pastor Pat

Covenant of Faith
Have you read our Pittsford Congregational Church Covenant of Faith lately? It was found recently in
some files.
Pittsford Congregational Church
Statement of Faith
We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in our
purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord, made known or to be made known to us. We hold it to be
the mission of the Church of Christ to proclaim the gospel to all mankind, exalting the worship of
the one true God and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, the reign of
peace, and the realization of human brotherhood. Depending, as did our fathers, upon continued
guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the transformation of the
world into the kingdom of God: and we look with faith for the triumph of righteousness and the life
everlasting.
(Taken from the Kansas City Statement)

Time Off
Pastor Pat will be taking some days off from December 2nd 8th.
If you need pastoral assistance please contact one of the Deacons:
Wayne Winston (725-8079), Dorothy Terwilliger (483-2949), Jane
Wilson (459-3415), Nicha McCuin (483-2373), Paul Brown (499-8012);
or Linda Whitehair (775-4295) and they will assist you. Arrangements
have been made with other clergy to be available for emergency
situations.

Liturgist

Coffee Hour

12/7 Nicha McCuin

12/7 Jane &Bob Welch

12/14 Jerry Skira

12/14 Judi Reynolds

12/21 Carolyn Kingsley

12/21 Kelley Turner

12/28 Elizabeth Frost

12/28 Grimes Family

If you would like to sign up to

be a liturgist please call Paul
Brown Sr.

If you would like to sign

up for coffee hour please
call Stephanie Grimes

Ushers
12/7 Sandy & Ken Gagnon
12/14 Kathy & Don Parker
12/21 Nicha & Chuck McCuin
12/24 Christmas Eve
Joan Rost, Stephanie White,
Lindsey Hard Erma Rowe
12/28 Linda & Tony Whitehair
If you would like to sign up to be
an Usher please call Rebecca
Davenport

Christmas Eve Worship

Join us for our annual candlelight service Christmas Eve at
7:00 PM. The offering taken during this service will go
directly to the Pittsford Food Shelf.

Movie Night

Memorial Christmas Poinsettias

Choice of Red, White, or Pink $15 each
Order forms will be available at Church
Dec. 9th-15th. For those unable to attend
church, you may contact Joan Rost at 4832353 to order.

Christian Ed is sponsoring
an evening of soup, movie and
discussion. This months selection
is The Heart of Christmas. Join
us December 3rd at 5:30.

Deadline for ordering is Tuesday Dec. 16th

Soup Luncheon & Soup to Go

Christmas Tree Sale

Saturday, December 6th 2-6 PM

th

Beginning Dec. 5 for three weekends: Friday 4-6

PM, Saturday 1-6 PM, and Sunday 1-4 PM.
Volunteers are needed to sell the trees, please
contact Ken Gagnon if you are available to help.

NO Salt
The trustees are reminding us
that using salt on the marble
steps of the church damages
the surface. They have placed
plain sand and a nonsodium based ice melt in the
church to be used on all
walkways and the steps
instead.
Thanks,
The Trustees

From Trustees
We want everyone to know the great-looking church yard is the
result of a lot of work by Rob Kallen. The Trustees certainly appreciate his
involvement.

I would also thank Jane and Bob Welch, Stephanie

White, Nicha McCuin and Sylvia Kallen for their extra help in
cleaning and polishing the church in October.
Several of the individuals who shoveled snow and used the snow
blower in the past, are no longer available. If you possibly could assist with
winters snow, please contact Chuck McCuin at 483-2373. If you,
physically cant do this work but would donate to hire someone, please also
contact Chuck.
For your information we continue to monitor the church drainage
issue.
Also we have two (2) spaces in the sheds for rent at $35 per month.
For more information, please contact Kelley Turner at 483-2249.
Rebecca Davenport, Chairman

5th Lindsey Hard

6th Sara Gallipo
6th Steve Grimes
9th Brittany Hance
9th Pamela Fuller
10th Joan Grimes
10th Michele Kingston
12th Jane Wilson
13th Ann Reed
15th Abigail Reed
16th Laura Gagnon
22nd Maggie Kingston
22nd Rachel Kingston
23rd Michael Winslow
30th Ernie Brod
30th Ken Gagnon
30th Sandy Gagnon

December 2014
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Movie & Soup

Event 5:30pm
4:30pm
Deacons
7 Communion

Nominating
Comm. after
Worship

Tree Sale 1-4

14

15

7pm Knit Wits

10

7:30pm
Trustees
16

Soup Sale 2-6

11

7pm Knit Wits

17

18

Ordering
Deadline for
Memorial
Poinsettias

Tree Sale 1-4

21
First Day of
Winter

Tree Sale 1-4

28

22

7pm Council
23

Newsletter
Deadline
7pm PRC
29

30

7pm Knit Wits

24

7pm
Christmas Eve
Service
31
New Years
Eve

25

6pm AA
Tree Sale 4-6

Tree Sale 1-6

12

13

6pm AA
Tree Sale 4-6

Tree Sale 1-6

19

20

6pm AA
Tree Sale 4-6

Tree Sale 1-6

26

27

Merry
Christmas
6pm AA