What's New

Sunday, February 5 - "Healed for…Healed from…"

Sunday Schedule for Sunday School for all ages at 9:00 am

Child care for children under 3 in the Nursery
Godly Play - Pre-school and K-1st graders in Room 12
Sunday School activities - Grades 2-12 and adults meet in the Fireside Room for the scripture reading and a song before choosing a learning opportunity in a classroom.
Discussion group meets in the Fireside Room following the gathering.

Worship and Children's Worship at 10:15 am
Fellowship Time in the Library Lounge follows the worship service

Young worshippers (4 year olds-3rd grade) meet following the Time With Young Worshippers during the service at 10:15 am on most Sundays. Children return to the Sanctuary for the last hymn and communion on the first Sunday of the month. Communion bread baking for 4th grade and older youth is on the last Sun. of the month at 10:15 am.

Please see Church Happenings for weekly updates.

Inquiry Classes - Sundays Feb. 5, 12 and 19

NEWCOMERS--Inquiry Classes start this Sunday, Feb. 5 at 11:30am with FREE LUNCH! The three-session class is a chance to make new friends, and learn about our history, core values, and ways to get connected and involved at First Congregational United church of Christ Longmont! The remaining two sessions are from 9-10am Sundays Feb. 12 and 19.

Church Newsletter and Artist of the Month

Check out the church newsletter - please see Courier. The February featured artists are Katy Diver and Charlotte Zink. See Featured Artists for more information.

Community Events

Biloxi Bash - Monday, February 6 at the Pumphouse and Red Zone

The Biloxi Bash is back! Please see Biloxi Bash for details of the event supporting our mission to Biloxi, Mississippi. The Pumphouse will share proceeds from the day's sales to help the team rebuild houses in Biloxi damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Bring a friend any time from 11 am to midnight. No tickets necessary this year.

"Lost Your Job: What's Your Future?" - Community Resource Fair on Feb. 10

The OUR Center, El Comite de Longmont and Workforce Boulder County are hosting a one-day event to help people experienceing job loss understand all of the community resources available to help them with basic needs as they go through this period of unemployment. The event is from 9am to 3pm on Friday, Feb. 10 at 220 Collyer St. in Longmont. For more information please call the OUR Center at 303-772-5529 or El Comite at 303-651-6125.

Empty Bowls - March 10 at Longmont High School

The OUR Center Empty Bowls lunch ( two bowls of soup, bread & dessert, plus a ceramic bowl) will be Saturday March 10, 2012, at Longmont High School. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from Carol Matheis-Kraft every Sunday in February in the library lounge. All proceeds benefit the OUR Center food program. Let's support this great fundraiser!

Lenten Devotional Booklet Theme is Chosen

The 2012 Lenten Devotional Booklet theme this year ties in with the church-wide theme: Hospitality. From Hebrews 13:2 - “Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!” Do you have some stories about hospitality? It would be wonderful to have 40 articles for the 40 days of Lent. The beginning of Lent is Feb. 22, Ash Wednesday. Please send submissions by Sunday, Feb. 12. Thanks to everyone in advance. You may email your articles to: marilyndecker(at)comcast.net.

Library News

Stop by the library during Fellowship Time and check out a book or video.

Featured this month are a number of our titles supporting spiritual growth - the theme of this year's Women's Retreat March 2 -4. They are available for checkout now as well as at the event. Both men and women will find them to be a wonderful source and helpful guide as we each travel the path of our own "journey." —Julie Nosek, Library Coordinator for the Christian Education Board

Stewardship Message

Stewards of Our Relationship with One Another

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. – Luke 10:27

We belong to God; we belong to one another. In his book, Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen tells of a reunion with a former student, an experience that revealed to him the meaning of community: “It is the Christ in you, who recognizes the Christ in me… From now on, wherever you go, or wherever I go, all the ground between us will be holy ground.”

During February, let us walk on holy ground, practicing the radical hospitality Jesus modeled. Starting with our most personal and intimate relationships and moving through expanding circles – of friends, relations, church family, co-workers, and others with whom we come in contact – we tend to the quality of our interaction in these relationships using spiritual practices of forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, openness, honesty, hospitality, shaping communities. We widen our circle, reaching out to unknown neighbors through local and ecumenical service organizations and UCC programs and networks.

We participate in the One Great Hour of Sharing special mission offering, typically promoted in churches during February and received the first Sunday in March. As centers of hope and transformation, local churches guide people onto holy ground.

A message from Stewards in the Household of God: a Resource for Holistic Year-round Stewardship available from United Church of Christ Resources.

February 2012

For more monthly Stewardship messages: