SERVING YOUR CHURCH

8:15 10:45

Acolyte Stephanie Forney

Greeters Cindy Gnech David Harris

Lay Readers Helen Ferguson David Gassert

Nursery Joe & Jan Sleek Cindy Gnech/Olivia Mountain

Ushers Greg Clark (C) & Friends Karen & Jim Wetzel (C), Frank

August, Jeff & Faye Mertus

Sound Volunteers: John Butari, Bruce Neely, Bill Miller, Jeff Karchner

Lay Support: Cards: Bobby Neely, Arlene Randby, Beth Rudy Flowers: Elaine Bogar

Telephone: Arlene Broberg

This Week’s Schedule

Monday - Decorate the Church – 9a; Children’s Choir – 11:30a; Womyn’s Chorus – 6:30p

Tuesday - Children’s Choice – 10a; Bible Study – 10:30a; Zumba – 6:30p; Facilities Team – 7p

Wednesday - Prayer Group – 6p; Thanksgiving Eve Worship – 7p

Thursday - AA Mtg. – 7p

Friday - T.O.P.S. – 10a

This Christmas Eve promises to be VERY special at Colonial Park UCC. We will have 2 evening services, with the Children's Choir singing at 7:00p. Since families may wish to have nursery for their little ones, we are asking for volunteers to help in the nursery during the Christmas Eve service. Please note the audio/ video feed of the service to the nursery will be available for you to participate. Contact Mary B Jones at or 566-3801 if interested.

Attention all Parents of Young Children! The Deacons for Worship and the Arts have developed a wonderful new resource for your children during church time. Six different children's Activity Bags for infants-toddlers, ages 2-4 and ages 5-8 are located in the narthex and are available for use during worship to help keep children occupied. Bags can be taken into the sanctuary for use and then returned to the table after worship for use the following week. Of course, nursery services are still available for young children, and Bible-themed activity sheets continue to be available from the ushers. Any questions about these resources for worship can be directed to Deb Glorius or Mary Jones.

Church Women United’s 2014 Mission Project is called “Change Purse Organization.” They are collecting purses which they then sell at www.changepurse.org. With their profits they support organizations that educate, support, prevent and provide restoration for human trafficking victims. Purses must be free of stains, odors and tears and show minimal signs of use on both the interior and exterior. If you have a purse to donate, please contact Natalie Lubold at 545-0587.

Welcome! This is Thanksgiving Sunday!

The Altar flowers today are presented to the Glory of God in honor of Liz’s birthday by Frank August.

The bulletins are presented today to the Glory of God by Liz & Frank August.

Today the Remembrance Book is open to the pages acknowledging the Gifts given to the Glory of God in memory of George B. Weast.

We are promoting church family connections by sending cards for special occasions, illness or injury, and sympathy. Please sign your name or write a note on the cards on the table at the back of the Sanctuary. This week’s cards: Dick Nye who is celebrating his 75th Birthday, Norma Havran who is celebrating her 85th Birthday, Bella Sees who had surgery last week.

Dick Mauck thanks you for the many cards and bulletins. He’s recovering quite well and hopes to be back to church soon.

“It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Teresa

Thank you to all who donated items for our Thanksgiving baskets this year! We will be giving your donations of food and turkeys to Bethesda Mission to serve those in need in the Harrisburg area during this holiday of thanks.

The Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service will be held at Colonial Park UCC on Wednesday, November 27 at 7pm.

The Rev. Pat Wirick from Epiphany Lutheran Church will be preaching.

Help the UCC respond in the Philippines. The UCC has issued an appeal for $250,000 for Typhoon Haiyan Response. Initial response activities will likely include provisions, emergency shelter items, drinking water and cash for work programs. If you would like to help, donations should be made payable to CPUCC w/Typhoon in the memo. Envelopes are available with your bulletin today.

We will be decorating for Advent/Christmas tomorrow at 9:00am. Please let Mary Fraunfelter know if you’ll be able to help. Her number is 652-1942.

The Fall Meeting of the Harrisburg Association of the UCC is today at St. Paul’s UCC in Sacramento at 3pm. A program entitled “Good Boundaries Make Good Congregations” will be presented by Thom Webster.

The final Town Hall meeting of 2013 will be on Tuesday, December 3 from 7:00 - 8:30 in the parlor. Pastor Bonita and Pam Chestney, council president, will be available to answer questions and participate in discussion.

If you haven’t visited the Inclusive Interest table in fellowship hall, please do! We would love to have a conversation with you over coffee, and share information about what an ONA church is and why we feel passionate about becoming one. Someone will be at the table before and after Sunday school. Our next meeting is Dec 11 at 7pm, all are welcome to join us.

On December 8 we will host the Colonial Park UCC Holly Trail. What is a Holly Trail? It is a group of volunteers from the church who decorate their homes top to bottom inside, outside, or both for our congregants and their friends and family to come and tour through. Please call or e-mail Michael Shafer at 602-5542, if you have questions or want to participate.

ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT

Sunday morning classes are held at 9:30 AM.

Everyone is welcome to come, learn, and share your faith stories.

The Present Word: First Things (meets in the Chapel) - The fall quarter begins with the creation of the world and of human beings, explores the creation of a nation that began with God’s promises to Abraham and Sarah and their heirs, and then studies the stories of the Hebrew people on their journey out of captivity toward freedom.

Great Figures of the New Testament (meets in the Parlor) - Improve your biblical literacy and re-encounter the New Testament's most colorful characters in this DVD series. Professor Amy-Jill Levine of the Vanderbilt University Divinity School brings to life the personalities of figures such as John the Baptist, Joseph, James, Mary Magdalene, Stephen, Philip, and many more.

The Be@itudes – Nine Blessings that Turn the World Upside Down and Our Lives Right Side Up (meets in the Parsonage) - This small group discussion series digs deep into a revolutionary exploration of some of Jesus’ most often quoted – and misunderstood – teachings. Led by Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D., the Be@itudes brings together scholars, theologians, activists, authors and even a scientist to approach the text in surprising new ways.

Children & Youth fAITH DEVELOPMENT

Sunday School classes are back in full swing. Children from walkers through high school are welcome at 9:30 Sunday in room 2 (toddler- kindergarten), room 6 upstairs (1st – 5th grade) and downstairs for 6th – 12th grades. Come join the fun! All are welcome!

During worship we invite you to leave your children in our Church Nursery. Infants will remain in the crib nursery with caring volunteers. Supervised play for the older children will take place in the preschool room next door. Both are located in the hall beside the Sanctuary.

For Advent we will be filling the Art Gallery with wall hangings depicting the Nativity. If you have an item that fits the category and would allow us to hang it through Advent & Christmas, contact Scott at 545-3782 or .

We are looking for Usher Captains for 2014. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside the office. Thank you.

Attention all bakers: Start your ovens! We are collecting cookies for the Carlisle TruckStop Ministry. Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the CTM hands out bags of home-made cookies to truck drivers at local truck stops. If you’d like to participate, simply put 6-10 cookies into a zip-lock sandwich bag and place them in the tin in the office. We’ll take it from there!

Kindred Place Christmas – This year we are doing something different. Kindred Place in Harrisburg has requested a simple way to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to their residents –give $5 or $10 gift cards to Giant or Weis! Purchase a card from our table on Sundays or in the office and place it into a Christmas card. You’ll be helping both the residents and CPUCC! Gifts can be donated any time between now and Dec. 8.

The 2014 Sponsorship book for Altar Flowers & Bulletins is now available on the counter in the office. Sign up early to get the weeks you want! Flowers are $14 per vase. Bulletins are $20.

Save money all year long with the Bonus Book offers for dining, theatres, sports, travel & more! Save 50% on most everything! Cost of the 2014 book is $28 with $7 going to the church. Pick yours up in the church office weekdays or at the grocery table on Sundays!

The Deacons for Spiritual Care are often asked by our disciples for assistance in the form of transportation. We are trying to put together a list of people who are willing to provide rides on an occasional basis. If you’d be willing to help out please contact Bonnie Cox at 652-9310 or .

DEVONSHIRE FAIR

It’s hard to believe that another Devonshire Fair has come and gone! It was a wonderful experience. We have become a well oiled machine that gets better every year. We spend a very intense two weeks getting ready but much of the work happens weeks and months before. Helen Ferguson & the Boutique crowd work year round pricing, sorting, and repairing. The Attic Treasures family has several work sessions beginning in late summer. The Bargain Basement ladies begin their work to organize, clean and sort clothing & linens beginning in early October. The Craft & Holiday Décor booths work on creating their masterpieces year round. Most every booth has people who work tirelessly all year to put out the best product every Devonshire Fair – we thank you all!

For me the Fair week is like going on vacation with family and friends. We get to spend “quality” time that doesn’t always happen throughout the year. After it’s over we go home and wait until next year when we’ll vacation together all over again.

The Fair also provides us with an opportunity to meet new friends and introduce them to this beloved yearly activity. Hopefully they’ve had so much fun they’ll make this an annual event.

I want to thank Kathy Neely who has a love/hate relationship with the Fair. Without her help it truly would not be as successful. She’s the best.

Many Hugs & Thanks to All, Linda Bender