l
We would like to know if anyone is opening this site. Please send us an e-mail if you want us to continue publishing the Bennington United Church news letter. wcico@twinvalley.net Calendar of Events now listed at the end of the "News Letter" |
United for 33 Years
|
UNITED FOR 34 YEARS UNITED CHURCH 2009 Volume 34 Issue 8 October 2009 John 7: 8 "Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going, for
my time has not yet fully come." UNITED WOMEN WITH A MISSION United Women met Friday, September 4th with Marge Boster as hostess.
A fruit coconut cake was served. Really delicious. Food commodities for the Bennington area will be distributed on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 4 - 6 p.m. or until the food is gone. The distribution will be at the east door of the church. Foods available are egg mix, orange juice, canned pork, peaches, mixed fruit, peanuts, walnuts, ulta high temp milk, and dry milk. To qualify, the maximum income allowed is $1174 per month for one person; plus $406. for each additional family member. Please bring proof of income. PRAIRIE LAND FOOD PROGRAM NEEDS PRAYERS Because the Prairie Land Foods program is in need of more participation, we need prayers that the number of customers increase. To help entice more participation, there will be changes starting with the November order. Purchasing a Prairie Pak is no longer necessary in order to purchase the meat only package, the fruit and veggie pak, or the monthly specials. The cost of the Prairie Pak will be $20.00, plus a 10% charge of total order for trucking, and the $1.00 donation to support the local distribution. Please spread the word about the changes and encourage people in our community to try the service for a month. This is a good program that is especially helpful to people on a fixed income, and it would be a shame to loose the program. POINSETTIA CHRISTMAS TREE The Worship Commission is planning ahead for the Poinsettia Memorial Christmas Tree which has become a new tradition for our church. The sign-up sheet will be passed around in church starting on October 18 for you to sign up for the number of poinsettias you want to purchase. Be sure to list the person or persons you want to honor or remember with the poinsettias. This year the poinsettias will cost $10.00 a piece and will be delivered on Saturday, November 28. We should have all orders in by Sunday, November 1st. We also would like for you to pay for the poinsettias when you order them. If that isn't possible, please contact Warren.
The Temple Thursday youth will be trick-or-treating for the Ottawa County Ministerial Association's Food Pantry on Thursday, October 29 from 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. All youth are welcome to join us in helping provide food for the needy in Ottawa County. As the holiday season approaches, there is always an increased demand for food, and this collection in very helpful in replenishing the food pantry shelves. Items that are needed include canned fruits, vegetables, and meats, hamburger helper and other box meals, flour, sugar, cereals, personal hygiene items such as tooth paste, shampoo, etc., diapers, dish washing detergent, and laundry detergent. It is very helpful, if you give only items with current dates. The youth may wear their costumes and will gather for warm snacks and drinks after collecting the items. DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL GIFTS AND REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES On Sunday, November 1, All Saints Day, we will have a special service
to remember our loved ones - both members and non-members who have passed
away since last November 1. During the service we will have a moment
to name our loved ones and follow up with silent prayer honoring and
remembering all who have died during the past year. BLANKET SUNDAY Once again, the Commission on Witness and Mission will be sponsoring
an offering for Church World Service. The offering this year will be
received on the last two Sundays in October and on November 1st. The
donations which are sent to Church World Service will be used to help
needy people through out the world. Some examples of how the money was
used last year are the following: adult job and skill training in Pakistan,
housing for 100 uprooted families in Bosnia; 200 blankets to the Cold
and Hungry Coalition in Olympia, Washington to help the homeless people
in Mason County; 100 heavyweight blankets, as well as 150 baby blankets
were given to grandmothers caring for children and grandchildren on
the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota; and livelihood support for
survivors of a catastrophic flood in Indonesia. A $5.00 donation can
go a long way in improving someone's life. ANNUAL BOSS HAYRIDE AND COOKOUT Mark your calendar for Sunday, November 1st as the annual Boss hayride and cookout. The hayride is held at the Bob and Renee Boss residence on Hwy. 18 3 miles east of town. Please bring a dish to share, a lawn chair, and warm clothes. Guesstimated time for the event is 4:30 p.m. CHURCH OFFICERS FOR NEXT YEAR It is time for the nominations committee to be filling the vacancies
for next years church leaders. There will be a sign up sheet going around
for people to indicate areas of leadership interest. When you sign your
name, you aren't making a commitment. You are just giving the nominations
committee a possibility of someone for the openings. It is a requirement
to be a church member to serve on the Parish Council, but for positions
such as Health & Wellness Committee member, Disaster Response Coordinator,
and Prayer Coordinator, a person doesn't need to be a church member.
If you haven't picked up your Church Directory, please do so when
you come to worship. Just ask the ushers for one, and they will gladly
provide one for you. If you live out of town, and would like one, please
call or write the church and one will be sent you. The phone # is 785-488-3772. THANKS FOR THE TELEVISIONS The Nurture Commission asked for the donation of two televisions to use in the Sunday School rooms and received them. We appreciate the generosity of those who gave to enhance our Sunday School program. Thank you so much. We have a wonderful giving congregation. TIME CHANGE If you don't set your clocks back an hour on Saturday, October 31, you will arrive at church an hour early. If you do, you'll be in time for Sunday School, and that would be a good thing. Seriously, do remember that Day Light Savings Time ends on the 31st. Since you'll be able to get an extra hours sleep, you'll be able to stay awake through all of worship - even the message.
We now have books in our library with information on cancer, treatments and support. There are also books on other health issues, diets and exercise. And thanks to Phyllis Trow, we have many of Grace Livingston Hill's books. They are quick reading, inspirational romances. Are you wanting some history on Bennington, Fort Solomon, Ottawa County? Thanks to Jettie Condray we have some information from the Ottawa County Museum on our shelves. A full list of books and authors that are in our library is on the checkout desk in a notebook. If you can't find something, ask me and I will help you find it. Gayle Francis
Received- Aug. 16 - Sept. 27 $7,888.20 Needed $11,592.00 PRAYER CONCERNS Larry & Jean Neipert, Harriet Miller, Jack Haley, Cari Wilson, Ronnie Comfort, Joe Wiggins, Mike Gans, Liz Brownlee, Jared Holladay, Dale Tasker, Susie Livingston, Joan Godsey, Leon Cico, Llyle Johnson, Lois Boettcher, Cora Brown, Leola Gruber, Jack Haley, Peg Krummen & Tom Woods.
Jean McCready 10-7-09 CHANGE OF DATE FOR MEN'S BREAKFAST MEETING The men's breakfast has been changed from October 10 to October 17. The time is still 8 a.m. PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WELLNESS In a recent study of more than 1,700 elderly adults, all of whom were frail and at risk of fall-related injuries, it was learned that exercise can provide a much-needed emotional boost to frail, elderly men and women. The type of exercise - strength training, stretching, walking, or biking - didn't seem to matter in this study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. The study subjects did not experience an increase in pain or discomfort as a result of the regular exercise program, and the majority of the participants felt much better about themselves.
The committee is hoping you will try out the Wii exercise program.
We had an opportunity for people to try some of the different programs
on Oct. 4. The 6 people who participated found some easy but enjoyable
activities to help improve balance and muscle tone. We have two Wii
units available to use, and hope you will take advantage of this useful
health aid. The activities work well wither for a group or for individual
use. MISSION TRIP PLANNING On Sunday, October 25 after worship we will have a short meeting of people interested in a mission trip for 2010. Be thinking of a date and site for the trip. If you can't attend please inform Warren of your interest in participating. REGULAR PARISH COUNCIL MEETING - September 16, 2009 The regular meeting of the Parish Council was convened in the church office on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. with devotions and prayer by Rev. Warren Cico, Moderator. Members Present: Lois Boettcher, Kelly Burns, Shirley Heald, Adrian
Hunley, Jeanne Ihnken, John Ihnken, Kathy Laflen, Barbara Newell, Alta
Scheibler, Minutes of the regular meeting of August 19, 2009 were reviewed. A
correction was made to the date for the Sunday Teacher Appreciation
Day from Oct. 12 to Oct. 11. Motion by John Ihnken that the minutes
be approved as corrected. The motion was seconded and carried. The financial
statements for August 31, 2009 were presented and discussed. Motion
by Phil Windhorst that Clerk's Report: In the absence of the Clerk; Ted Waiss served as Clerk Pro-Tem. The Nominating Committee worksheet was distributed. Three more members of Nominating Comm. need to be selected by Parish Council. Individual contacts will be made prior to the Oct. meeting. Correspondence: Church officer training and Personnel Comm. Seminar will be held Nov. 14. The Fund Balance Report was received from Mike Wagner. There were no findings or recom-mendations. Motion Barbara Newell to receive the 2008 Fund Balance Report. Motion was seconded and carried. Commission Reports: Community & Worship: October is Clergy Appreciation month. Special
activities will Stewardship: Met Sept. 16. A new lever handle has been installed on
the front of the Pastor/People: Met Aug. 31 to complete the Pastor evaluation forms.
The reports have Health & Wellness: The Route 66 walk reached California and participants
are now on
Old Business: The church directory is ready to be printed. A bid of $2.45 per copy for black and white printing has been received. Color would be approximately twice that amount. Motion by Phil Windhorst to proceed with color printing and to use Memorial funds to pay for the project. Motion was seconded and carried. New Business: District Supt. Lew Van Der Wege suggests January 10 as the date for the United Church Annual Meeting. Motion by Phil Windhorst that the Annual Meeting of the Congrega-tion be scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10 following a pot-luck dinner at noon. Motion was seconded and carried. The Moderator adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. with prayer and the Passing of the Peace. ____________________________ October Birthdays Oct 1st: Abigail Hodges Happy Anniversary Oct 19th: Dirk & Dedra Francis OCTOBER CALENDAR
|