TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

OCTOBER 15, 2023

HYMNS

"As We Gather at Your Table"

"We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky"

"I Would be True"

""La Plus Que Lente""

""He Touched Me""

October 13, 2023

Dear Congregation,

Grace and peace to each of you. I know you join me in being horrified and heartsick at the news of the attack of Israel by Hamas terrorists this past weekend. The resulting deaths, injuries, atrocities inflicted upon, and the kidnappings of men, women, and children in the midst of living their ordinary, daily lives is beyond tragic. As pictures and stories that make these people real to us come out in the aftermath, we grieve deeply for them and their loved ones. The evil present in this situation is almost beyond our comprehension.

We are also horrified by the deaths, injuries, and destruction being inflicted on the ordinary people of Gaza and their infrastructure as Israel retaliates militarily. The blockade imposed prevents food and other necessities from being brought into Palestinian families, causing their suffering. Thousands of Palestinians have become refugees overnight.

I’ll leave it to the experts to speak about and write on the factors that have resulted in this terrible reality. What I’d ask us to do, today and every day, is to pray and work for peace. Every Sunday since I came here over five years ago, we have celebrated Just Peace Sunday in September on the Sunday closest to the United Nations’ International Day of Peace.

We’ve answered the question, “Is Peace Possible?” with a resounding “YES!” We’ve supported the truth that peace and justice go together, distilled into the slogan “No Justice, No Peace; Know Justice, Know Peace.” I’ve challenged CCC to commit to becoming a Just Peace Church and I truly hope you will agree that there is no better time than now!

I invite you to join me in worship this Sunday when we will pray for peace together using the World PEACE PRAYER. Let’s pray at often ourselves every day.

In the love of the Prince of Peace,

Pastor Candy

WORLD PEACE PRAYER.

Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,

Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.

Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.

Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.

Bianca's You Better Bee-lieve It Corner

Fall Harvest Picnic:

Our Fall Harvest Picnic is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it a fantastic day for our community. We welcome volunteers of all talents and interests, from event planning to grilling, and everything in between. To join in the fun and lend a hand, please fill out our quick volunteer form. Let us know what you're good at and what you'd like to do – it's that simple! We can't wait to see you all come together to create lasting memories. Let's make this event unforgettable together!

To sign up as a volunteer follow this link OR fill out the physical form provided at Kelsey Hall: https://forms.gle/cSxVAozHCennQn2J6 

Voter Registration:

Hey there, fellow civic superheroes!  Have you checked under your virtual couch cushions lately to make sure you're registered to vote? It's time to dust off your voter registration and be the hero your democracy deserves!  If you're not registered, don't fret – I've got your back! Just let me know I will help you get registered or verify your current status. 

But that's not all! Starting this Sunday at Zoo Miami, There will be a Vote-by-Mail Enrollment Drive for at least the next four Sundays!  Whether you need assistance enrolling for mail-in voting or want to become a voting champion by volunteering to help others, they've got capes for everyone!  Let's make democracy roar like a lion at the zoo!"  #VoteForChange #DemocracyHeroes

Follow the link to register to volunteer: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/581686/

Virtual Backgrounds:

As the crisp (okay, slightly less hot) autumn season sets in, why not add a touch of fall charm to your virtual meetings? We're excited to introduce two delightful fall-themed backgrounds that will instantly transform your virtual backdrop into a cozy, autumnal setting. We hope these backgrounds will help you embrace the spirit of fall during your virtual gatherings. So, go ahead and swap out your usual background for one of these seasonal gems to add a warm and inviting atmosphere to your Zoom and Teams meetings and help represent our church. It's an easy way to bring a bit of Christ Congregational with you to your virtual world and spread some seasonal cheer!

ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT CCC OR ABOUT THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST?

Pastor Candy would be happy to meet with you to talk about our Christian faith, your spiritual journey, and to discuss what church membership means. Please let her know if you're interested!

CALENDAR

Sun. Oct. 15 | 10:30 am

Worship in the Sanctuary & Facebook Live

Mon. Oct. 16 | 6:30 pm

ZOOM Bible Study

Meeting ID: 856 1964 5746

Wed. Oct. 18 | 7:00 pm

Community Choir practice begins.

Sun. Oct. 23 | 10:30 am

Worship in the Sanctuary & Facebook Live

UPCOMING EVENTS!

COMMUNITY CHOIR OPEN TO ALL!

Practice begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 18, 2023

and will be weekly. The choir will present a free Christmas concert on

Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 2 p.m. at the church.

Find Us, Like us, Follow Us, and Share Us

on Social Media!

Facebook: Christ Congregational United Church of Christ

Twitter/X: @CCC_UCC

TikTok: @CCC_UCC

YouTube: ChristCongregational-UCC

Instagram: @christcongregationalucc

REMEMBERED IN OUR CONTINUING PRAYERS

Joan Hansen, Maggie McDowell, Carol McCreary, the family and friends of Mary Ellen Prather, Mary and Frank Tirb, Bradley Everhardt, Julio Balcells, Jessica Nodarse, Mark, Julie Henkel, Merly Alonso, Bianca and Nina Sarmento and the friends and family of J.J Newby Ketzle and Sarah Wiley, Stone Coram and the family and friends of Brenda Best, Aberas Jober and Leslie Perichak, Paul LeGrand and Cathryn Tagmeyer, Briane Garrison and Theresa Grambell, Vincent Andrews and family, Rodger and Esther and Carol and sons.



For Pastoral Care Needs, please call Pastor Candy directly at 925-640-9289 or you may call and leave a message with the Church Office, 305-235-9381.

*** Voter's Registration***

Voter registration has started on September 17th. Please be sure to verify your registration and if you are not registered please get registered.

Registration and Verification can be done by clicking the image below:

On December 12, the Miami Dade County Board of County Commissioners (MDC BCC) will be voting on whether to extend the lease agreement for a 67-acre theme park, hotel and retail development misleadingly dubbed “Miami Wilds.” The development site is located adjacent to and on Zoo Miami property — land that is considered vital to endangered species and the largest and most biodiverse fragment of critically endangered Pine Rocklands outside of Everglades National Park. 

ATTEND the MDC BCC meeting on December 12 and voice your opposition to the proposed Miami Wilds development! The meeting begins at 9:30am at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center (address: 111 NW 1st St, Miami, FL 33132, 2nd floor Commission Chambers). We recommend that you arrive no later than 8:45am and bring your ID for check-in. 

Global Ministries offers a weekly prayer for one of our global mission partners. This week's prayer is with Democratic Republic of Congo. To read their mission moment, please click the Global Ministries IMAGE. Below is this week's prayer, united we pray.

Dear God of Peace,

Dear God of all that is noble, just, pure and beautiful,

We rejoice. We always rejoice, even though we lack not reason for tears.

We thank you for the beauty surrounding us here in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The forests, the magnificent landscapes, the mighty animals, and the noble population make a beautiful country.

Thank you, God, for those who strive for peace and justice.

We are amazed by the beauty and all that is noble, but we are not blind to the suffering surrounding us.

Through our prayers, let us relieve our hearts of all that torments them and find peace.

We pray for those who suffer from wars and conflicts and must flee their homes and live in poverty and strife. 

We pray for the victims of senseless violence in North Kivu, Ituri, and Mai-Ndombe et Kwamouth. Give strength and wisdom to those who seek solutions for the conflict and who struggle to maintain unity.

We pray for those who have been hardest hit by the rising cost of living with the value of the Congolese franc plummeting. We pray for the population in Kalehe in South Kivu who are still suffering from the flooding and landslides of last May.

We pray that the upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be fair and transparent. We pray that whatever the results, the country will not be again scared by violence.

We pray for those seeking ways to protect the valuable rainforest from destruction.

Dear Lord, despite the numerous problems and catastrophes, we rejoice because we know that you hear our prayers. We rejoice always.

Amen.