THIS WEEK @ CCMI: December 3–9, 2018

Events for the Week of December 3–9, 2018

Thursday, December 6

6:00 p.m. – Bible Study

7:30 p.m. – Choir Rehearsal

Saturday, December 8

8:00 a.m. – Women’s Breakfast. Please RSVP to Marilyn Campbell or Colleen Mohn.

9:30 a.m. – Holiday Artisan Shopping Tour (see description below)

Sunday, December 9

10:30 a.m. – Worship Service

Greeters: * Volunteers Needed * – Please email office@ucc-ccmi.org

Ushers/Advent Readers: Greg & Cheryl Malcham

Flowers: * Volunteers Needed * – Please email office@ucc-ccmi.org

Coffee: John & Gloria Kasonic

11:45 a.m. – Facility Trustees Committee meeting

11:45 a.m. – Social Outreach Committee meeting

6:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Christmas Candlelight Meditation. You are invited to stop by the candlelit sanctuary on the evening of either December 9 or 10 for a moment of quiet reflection during the hectic holiday season. There is no service planned, rather an opportunity to be alone with your thoughts in a beautiful, peaceful setting. *This is a date change from last week’s newsletter*. No volunteers are needed for Sunday evening.

Monday, December 10

6:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Christmas Candlelight Meditation

* Two volunteers needed * from 5:30 – 7:15 p.m. to light candles and welcome guests. To assist, email Roberta Rominger at Roberta.Rominger@ucc-ccmi.org.

Birthdays This Week

Dana Jorgenson – Dec. 5th

Solomon Knapp – Dec. 7th

Building Use This Week

Sanctuary will be occupied Saturday evening.

Upper Room will be occupied Wednesday daytime and Thursday evening.

Library will be occupied Saturday morning.

Downcenter will be occupied Tuesday evening and Thursday evening.

Building-wide fire alarm system will be tested Friday morning.

Events in Upcoming Weeks

Sunday, December 16

3:00 p.m. – “Sing a Song of Merry Christmas” Choral Concert. Bring your friends and neighbors for this lovely concert to hear Christmas music sung by our talented choir. Cookies and coffee will be provided afterward.

Tuesday, December 18

2:30 p.m. – Music Mends Minds (monthly, every 3rd Tuesday)

Monday, December 24

9:00 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service. Bring visiting family members, friends and neighbors to this joyful service.

Atlantic Street Center Holiday Toy Drive

Please donate new, nonviolent, unwrapped toys, books, games and gift cards for children and teens for the annual holiday Toy Drive. Our collection boxes are up near the church entrance until Monday, December 17. The Atlantic Street Center's Holiday Toy Drive event will be held on Wednesday, December 19. Anybody with questions is welcome to contact Terry Pepple.

Gift Ideas That Give Back

The Social Outreach Committee recommends social justice oriented gift-giving ideas for the people on your list who are either hard to buy for or would appreciate a donation to a nonprofit in their name. The attached “Give A Gift That Keeps On Giving 2018” document provides names of charitable organizations you may consider for your holiday giving this year.

Sock Drive Final Results

The final total on socks donated to the homeless through CCMI is 3354 pairs. Well done by our church and the surrounding community!

Advent Devotional Books

Advent began December 2. Advent devotional books from UCC are available to purchase for $5 at the church foyer table.

Holiday Artisan Shopping Tour

Share in the holiday spirit and finish off your gift giving checklist with a visit to Monroe's Artisans Holiday Fair and Duvall's Main Street on Saturday, December 8.

Enjoy holiday treats, warm drinks and live entertainment, including an appearance by Santa himself, as you browse locally made products from over 120 artists and artisans at the Holiday Fair, held at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe (free admission!). Next stop, Duvall's quaint and festive Main Street where wondrous shops like Country Collections and the Rustic Rose teem with holiday lights and decorations. Before we depart for home, we'll gather for an optional lunch in one of Duvall's highly rated restaurants on Main Street.

Carpools will leave CCMI at 9:30 am, right after Women's Breakfast. Expect to arrive back at the church at about 3:30 pm.

Need a ride or want to drive? Please email Cheryl Malcham.

Message from the Moderator

Gail Layman is out of the office travelling until January. Elta Loy is filling in to handle Moderator duties while Gail is gone.