FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ORANGE CITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Issue 11 November 2017

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1 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ORANGE CITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Issue 11 November 2017 Worship Service on Sunday at 10:30 AM Church Office Hours Monday Friday 8:30 AM 12:30 PM Website: Daylight Savings November 5, UCC FALL GATHERING Rev.David Westcott, David Putnam, Sharlene May, Jo Pritchett, Ed Pritchett, Cyndy Voner No matter who you are or where you are on Life's Journey, you are welcome here

2 Let me begin by saying, again, thank you for calling me to be your settled pastor. I look forward to a long and happy relationship as we strive to serve God as a community of faith. Thank you, as well, to those who traveled to Daytona for the Florida Conference s Annual Gathering. It was an interesting weekend, and I had the opportunity to meet a number of people from throughout the state. I do have to say that I was a bit taken aback by the fact that during our time there I heard no mention of the upcoming anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. For me it is an important milestone, and an opportunity to look back over the last 500 years and assess both the positive and negative repercussions from that revolutionary time in our history. Some have suggested that celebration may be the wrong way to look at this event. It did, after all, dramatically undermine the unity of Christ s church, and created divisions that have lasted for centuries. But it was not without its positive effects, not the least of which, as I mentioned this past Sunday, was the recovery of the essential gospel (from a Pauline point of view). If not celebrate we should at least commemorate. Again, moments like these do raise up an opportunity for reflection on where the church has been, and where it may be headed ( if there is such a thing as where the church universal may be moving together as one.) And we must never lose sight of the fact that the Reformation was not simply a past event, but one that is ongoing. (Semper Reformanda!) Every generation of the church has the responsibility of looking to its past, contemplating its present, and, perhaps, re-envisioning its future. There is always need for change and room for improvement. Perhaps this anniversary should not be seen as one and done, but only the beginning of an ongoing conversation about how we can best serve over the next 500 years! Peace, David

3 MEMO FROM THE MODERATOR The weekend of October was a special one for members of our church. The Annual Gathering of the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ was held in Daytona Beach on October Our church had six members attend! David Westcott, David Putnam and I were delegates and Cindy Voner, Sharlene May and Ed Pritchett went as visitors. It was an opportunity for us to learn, do Conference business, worship and be inspired. It is good that we are connected to the 97 other churches in the Florida Conference and to know that we have a dedicated professional staff that is available to support and work with us. On Sunday morning, October 15, our congregation voted to call David Westcott as our settled half-time pastor. Our Pastoral Search Committee is to be thanked and commended for the hard work over the past months. We are fortunate to have these members who took on the task of seeking a new pastor for our church. Thank you to Dawn Bass, June Carlson, Jean Crowley, Doris and Lionel Ford, Lynn Manz, and Barbara Peters! We also thank Raymond Hargrove from the Florida Conference staff for his support during the process. We look forward to David s ministry with us! Blessings and Peace, Jo Pritchett CALL FOR CONGREGATIONAL MEETING On Sunday, November 12, there will be a Congregational Meeting following worship to elect officers and leaders for 2018 and to approve the church budget for Ed Pritchett, Clerk

4 MUSINGS FROM THE FALL GATHERING OF THE FLORIDA CONFERENCE BOYCOTT WENDY S??? At the Fall Gathering I picked up a Boycott Wendy s button. A few years ago I decided to boycott Wendy s after learning that Wendy s would not join the Fair Food Program. Yes, I gave up Frostys, my favorite thing on the Wendy s menu. Why did I feel this was important? Wendy s has not only refused to join the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) Fair Food Program, but has stopped buying tomatoes from Florida altogether following the implementation of the Fair Food Program there. Rather than support U.S. growers setting new standards for human rights in the agricultural industry, Wendy s took its tomato purchases to Mexico, where the widespread denial of human rights in the produce industry was the subject of an in-depth expose by the Los Angeles Times just one year ago. Instead of joining the Fair Food Program and its widely-acclaimed, uniquely successful worker-led model of social responsibility, Wendy s released a new supplier code of conduct in November 2015 that contains no effective mechanisms for worker participation or enforcement. Wendy s has opted to profit from farmworker poverty and abuse. Of the five largest fast food companies, Wendy s is the only one not participating in the Fair Food Program McDonald s, Taco Bell, Subway and Burger King all pay a penny more per pound for their tomatoes to help alleviate farmworker poverty. They also buy only from growers who agree to protect their workers human rights by complying with the Fair Food Code of Conduct. By refusing to participate, Wendy s is deriving a very real cost advantage over its competitors, while continuing to provide an alternative market for less reputable growers. In short, rather than do its part to end farmworker poverty, Wendy s has chosen to profit from it. I encourage you to consider joining me and thousands of farmworkers, students, people of faith and consumers of conscience in refusing to patronize Wendy s until the world's third largest hamburger chain joins the Fair Food Program. To learn more visit: Jo Pritchett

5 UCC FALL GATHERING Rev.David Westcott, David Putnam, Sharlene May, Jo Pritchett, Ed Pritchett, Cyndy Voner FLORIDA CONFERENCE LEGACY FUNDS I attended the Annual Gathering of the Florida Conference as I was asked to give a report for the Conference Grants and Awards Sub-Committee which I chair. The Conference Endowment Corporation was dissolved in 2015 and replaced with a newly created Conference Legacy Funds Committee. This committee has four sub-committees, Grants and Awards, Gift Development, Investment Management and Property Management. The Legacy Funds are money and property given to the Conference in the past by families, individuals, churches and church organizations for specific or general purposes. These are available as resources to individuals, local churches and church groups. I reported that year-to-date, $16,000 has been granted or awarded. Many of these funds are available to our church. All we have to do is to create a plan for a new ministry in our community and complete an application. The Florida Conference is an important resource for our church in many ways and is committed to supporting local UCC churches in Florida. Ed Pritchett I enjoy having new experiences in my life,and attending the UCC Fall Gathering was so interesting. Many people came from near and far with one goal in mind To tell everyone we are a United front.~sharlene May~ What a great thing to do Attend a UCC convention. This I hope will be the first of many. The seminars I attended were well planned and presented especilly the musicone Music through a blender I couldn t miss a program about music. Thanks for the privelige of attending this wonderful gathering of commited people. ~Cyndy Voner~

6 The Deacons Corner SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19 ~ THANKSGIVING SUNDAY ~ WORSHIP SERVICE FOLLOWED BY POTLUCK LUNCH THERE IS A SIGN-UP SHEET IN JMH MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW Barbara Peters, Suzanne Fielding, Doris Ford, Nancy Kimmel, DeVeda Prochilo and Gene Stephenson are all here to serve our Church. The Deacons with the Pastor have set up a schedule for regular monthly visits/calls in If you know of anyone who is in need of or would like a visit please let any of the Deacons know. If there are ever any concerns, ideas, or suggestions or if you think someone might appreciate a card, please let any one of us know. We are only too happy to help. Fellowship Hour We are in need of people to host fellowship hour. This is a special time after worship to spend time socializing with our Church family. It is also a good time to welcome and get to know visitors to our Church. It doesn t have to be anything fancy. Coffee is provided. Please sign up on the sheet in JMH. November 5: 10:30am Worship Service (Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost, Communion) November 12: 10:30am Worship Service (Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost) November 19: 10:30am Worship Service (Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Thanksgiving) November 26: 10:30am Worship Service (Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost)

7 Mission Opportunities Many thanks to all who responded to the special request for assistance to victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. A total of $395 has been relayed to UCC Disaster Services for that purpose. For many years our congregation has supported the Neighborhood Center Food Pantry by donating non-perishable items. Current Mission Board members have decided to extend this ongoing project. Effective now, we are suggesting that we collect new white sox for the Neighborhood Center to distribute to local homeless people. A collection point is being set up in JMH, beside the food collection box. Please consider supporting this new project. CHRISTMAS IS COMING In November we will offer two holiday projects to help groups less fortunate than we are. First, we will again have a RED BOW TREE in the Sanctuary. For every donation the donor will receive a red bow to put on the tree. Funds collected in this way will be used to purchase fast food gift certificates for homeless students in our local schools. All bows must be placed on the tree by Sunday, Dec. 10. Let s cover the tree in red. Our second holiday project involves supporting the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a grass roots, non-profit group established in 1993 to improve the conditions of vulnerable migrant workers in Immokalee, FL, once known as ground zero for modern slavery. The efforts of this group have resulted in fairer wages, better working conditions, reduction in forced labor, and, through its Fair Food program, recognition by buyers in seven eastern states of the need to protect human rights. The CIW is currently extending its efforts westward. The Mission Board is encouraging donations to assist in this effort. If you wish, for every donation to CIW, we will furnish an attractive card which you can send as a holiday greeting to friends or family. This is a terrific way you can not only assist CIW but also solve the problem of those on your Christmas list who are hard to buy for or who have everything. There is no deadline for donating.

8 LEADERSHIP MEETINGS MISSION BOARD November 14, at 11:00 am CONGREGATIONAL MEETING DIACONATE: November 6, at 10 am NOVEMBER 12, TRUSTEES: November 15, 11 am AFTER WORSHIP COUNCIL MEETING: Tuesday, December 19, 4 pm CONGREGATIONAL MEETING NOVEMBER 12, AFTER WORSHIP COMMUNITY GROUPS MEETING AT OUR CHURCH Every Sunday Sobriety First (AA) 7:00 8:00PM (FH) Every Monday Grateful Group (AA) 7:30 PM Every Tuesday Sobriety (AA) 6:30 PM Every Tuesday *Holiday In The Sun (AA) beginning August 1, 7-9 PM (FH) Every Wednesday Serenity/ Double Winners (Al-Anon) 6:30 PM Every Friday COA Respite Group 8:30 AM 3:00 PM Every Thursday Orange City Step Group (FH) 7:30 9:30 PM Every Saturday Woman s Weekend of AA Monday Friday Meals on Wheels (Council on Aging) 9:00 AM 12:30 PM (FH) First Thursday of the Month VIA Orange City Women s Club (October-May) Second Sunday of the Month Volusia Music Club (FH) Second Wednesday of the Month Nimble Fingers Quilting Group (FH) 6:30-9:30 PM Fourth Monday of the Month District 19 5:15 PM (FH) Saturday Volusia Community Symphony 9:30 AM NOON (FH) Information for the December Newsletter is due on Monday 20, November You can put information in the secretary s box in Jane Murray Hall, or you can call Sharon at or you can it to firstucc_ocy@yahoo.com

9 NOVEMBER 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 Serenity 6:30pm 3 COA Respite Group 8:30-3PM 5 Worship Sobriety First (FH) 7PM 6 Grateful Group 7 PM DEACONS 10am JMH 7 Sobriety 6:30 PM HITS 7-9pm (FH) 8 Serenity 6:30pm 2 VIA 11:30-3:30 JMH BIBLE STUDY NOON SANCTUARY Orange City Step Group (FH) 7:30 PM 9 BIBLE STUDY NOON JMH Orange City Step Group (FH) 7:30 PM 10 COA Respite Group 8:30-3PM 4 Volusia Music Symphony 9:30- Noon (FH) Women s Weekend AA 11 Volusia Music Symphony 9:30- Noon (FH) Women s Weekend AA Thrift Shop Choir Practice 9:30AM Worship CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Volusia music Club 2::30pm Sobriety First (FH) 7PM 13 Grateful Group 7 PM 14 MISSION BOARD 11 AM JMH Sobriety 6:30p m HITS 7-9pm (FH) 15 TRUSTEES 11 am Serenity 6:30pm Nimble Fingers Quilt Guild(FH) 7:00 pm 16 BIBLE STUDY NOON JMH Orange City Step Group (FH) 7:30 PM 17 COA Respite Group 8:30-3PM 18 Volusia Music Symphony 9:30- Noon (FH) Women s Weekend AA Group Thrift Shop Choir Practice 9:30AM Worship Thanksgiving potluck Sobriety First (FH) 7PM 20 Grateful Group 7 PM 21 Sobriety 6:30 PM HITS 7-9pm (FH) 22 Serenity 6:30pm 23 Orange City Step Group (FH) 7:30 PM 24 COA Respite Group 8:30-3PM 25 Volusia Music Symphony 9:30- Noon (FH) Women s Weekend AA Group Thrift Shop Choir Practice 9:30AM Worship Sobriety First (FH) 7PM 27 Grateful Group 7 PM District 19 5:15-7:00 PM 28 Sobriety 6:30 PM HITS 7-9pm (FH) 29 S Serenity 6:30pm 30 BIBLE STUDY NOON JMH Orange City Step Group (FH) 7:30 PM COA Meals on Wheels Mon-Fri 8:30am-1:30pm

10 Anniversary s in November 12 Robert & Brooke Light 27 Ed & Jo Pritchett Birthdays in November 3- -Dawn Bass 13 Lynn Manz 21 Ruth Draper 27 Holly Brown 27 - Jimmy Lampe Visit us on Facebook and like our page!! We invite those who are on Facebook to check in and let your friends know you re attending church at First Congregational UCC of Orange City. HAVE YOU VISITED OUR CHURCH S WEBSITE LATELY? It is full of interesting information about our local church and our denomination. David McCarthy, our webmaster, updates it frequently, so be sure to check it out on a regular basis. No matter who you are or where you are on Life's Journey, you are welcome here.