Volume 21 Issue 12

First Congregational

Church

1050 East 23rd , Eugene, OR 97405

Ph 541-345-8741

Fax 541-345-2192

Website http://fcceugene.org

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Worship Service

Sunday 10:00 a.m.

Church School

Sunday 9:00 a.m.

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Senior Minister

Jonathan J. Morgan

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Associate Ministers

Melanie Oommen

Janet Scott

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Director of Fellowship

Ministries

Dana Clark

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Director of Children

Ministries

Gretchen Jewett

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Director of youth &

Family Ministries

Mark Lindberg

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Music Ministries

Greg Sojka, Director

Chancel Choir and Ensemble Director

Barbara Baird, Organist

Jennifer Sellers, Bell Choir & Youth Bell

Choir Director

Debra Noel, Jennifer Sellers,

Joyful Noise Choir Directors

Vicki Brabham, Keyboardist

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Spiritual director

Suzanne Congdon

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Administrative Assistant

Joanne Whitfield

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Director of the

Congregational Church

preschool

Melissa Gish & Emma Standish

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Bookkeeper

Kim Dorr

Director of Facilities

Scott Wiggins

December 2017

“We are an open and affirming, progressive Christian church, seeking to live Jesus’ vision of community and mission.”

~ December 3 ~ Bells, Choir and Joyful Noise presents a special "Advent Antiphonal" piece

Annual Advent Festival

~ December 10 ~ Advent Pageant Begins

~ December 14 ~ Candlelight Garden

~ December 17 ~ FCC Festival Choir will present the Pergolesi Magnificat

Christmas Special Offering

Caroling Party

~ December 21 ~ Service of Longest Night

~ December 24 ~

Sunday Morning Worship at 10:00 a.m.

Christmas Eve Services:

5:00 p.m. featuring Joyful Noise and Festival Choir

9:00 p.m. candlelight service featuring Bell and Festival Choir

~ December 25 & 26 ~ Merry Christmas!

(church office closed)

Please see inside page for the times and details for these events.

SHALOM

Sunday, December 3: Annual Advent Festival This year’s festival will include many favorites such as crafts, cinnamon roll wreaths, greenery centerpiece and wreath-

making, graham cracker house decorating, candle dipping and photo booth! This is a “finger food potluck,” so please bring a

lunch or dessert item that can be eaten without silverware.

The Advent Pageant is Coming in Worship throughout December As we anticipate and prepare for the birth of the Christ Child, we will share segments of the Advent story each Sunday during

worship. Whether you have heard this story more times than you can count, or this is the first time, we hope that this pageant

fills your heart with the miracle of this season. Some actors are still needed. If you are interested in being a part of this

pageant, please contact Gretchen.

Thursday, December 14, 5:30 p.m.: Advent Candlelight Garden Wintertime here in Oregon helps illuminate how the light and warmth that has been radiated externally throughout the seasons

of spring, summer, and fall can now be cultivated to radiate within us. This is also the gesture of Advent. Whether you are

preparing for the reenactment of the birth of the Christ Child (Christmas); the commemoration of a historic temple victory of

a small people over a mighty enemy (Hanukkah); or celebrations of culture and natural seasons (Diwali, Solstice, Kwanza,

Las Posadas), a time of “Advent” is universal, for Advent means the coming or arrival of something important. It is both a

time of expectation, anticipation and activity, and a time for introspection and stillness. The goal of the Advent Candlelight

Garden is to set a preparatory mood for the holidays that can help balance the anticipation, busyness, expectations, and/or

darkness we may experience at this time of year with a sense of reverence, beauty, contemplation, stillness, and gratitude. We

hope you will take this hour to experience the awe and wonder of this journey from outer darkness to inner light. Children

naturally glow with this light, and so we welcome their gift as “light bearers” and invite children of all ages to attend by

observing or participating in the spiral garden walk. This will be a divine experience. All are welcome.

Sunday, December 17: Christmas Special Offering What gift can we bring to the Christ Child? Our annual Christmas Special Offering will be received on Sunday morning,

December 17. This Special Offering will be equally divided between two important efforts of the United Church of Christ:

The Christmas Fund and Neighbors in Need.

The Christmas Fund provides low-income, retired UCC clergy and their families with emergency funds for medical

crises, grants to assist with nursing home care, and health premium supplementation when needed. The Christmas Fund is

a life-affirming way to care for those who have faithfully served the church.

Neighbors in Need (NIN) supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Through NIN we offer food, shelter, education and wellness to our brothers and sisters in need, and we advocate to

address the root causes of hunger, poverty, racism, violence, disease, and environmental degradation. If the impact of

NIN sounds broad and far-reaching, that’s because it is. Through NIN we positively impact hundreds of communities by

speaking prophetically and acting compassionately, living the Gospel. Please give generously to our Special Christmas

Offerings.

Sunday, December 17 from 5:30-8:00 p.m.: Caroling Party Bring your joyful voices, put on your favorite holiday attire, and come to our Caroling Party and Soup and Dessert Supper on

Sunday, December 17. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. for a soup and bread dinner, and then we will carol

our way through the neighborhood to the South Hills Nursing Home where we will sing some carols and give small gifts to

the residents. Please consider buying and wrapping a nice a toiletry item such as shampoo, body wash, or lotion that we can

gift. Afterwards, we will carol our way back to the church and end the evening with cookies, warm tea and cider, and great

company. We hope you will join us and please remember to dress warmly!

Thursday, December 21, 7:00 p.m.: Service of Longest Night On Thursday evening, December 21, join your church family in the chapel for the Advent Service of Longest Night. The

stresses of consumer culture, winter’s darkness, our personal struggles and losses, our grief for the suffering of the world, can

make us yearn for Advent’s invitation for quiet, reflection, simplicity, and prayer. This service of silence, readings, and

beautiful music is the perfect way to draw close to God and one another for meaning, healing, to simply to stand in the

presence of Holy Light. We will gather in the Wheeler Room and all ages are welcome. Childcare will be available as well.

SHALOM

CAHOOTS Food Drive FCC supports CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets), a unique and critical community service coordinated

by White Bird Clinic and the City of Eugene. CAHOOTS responds to non-criminal crises, including homelessness, intoxication,

disorientation, and mental illness problems. We support CAHOOTS with an on-going collection of food and other items.

The food collected nourishes the most vulnerable among us and it helps CAHOOTS staff develop relationships with people in

crisis. Please consider donating one or more of the following items. Food items that are easily opened/ready to eat on the streets

are most helpful. Items such as:

Granola bars Canned tuna/chicken salad

Soups (with pull tops) Single serving applesauce/fruit cups

Fruit leathers Peanut butter (small)

Crackers Juice boxes

Protein shakes Socks

Donations can be left in the Food for Lane County Barrels in the lobby and atrium. Food donations that are not readily

consumable on the streets can be left in the Food Pantry baskets.

The Giving Tree The Giving Tree, which is now set up in the downstairs lobby, is a special Christmas tree that hangs heavy with gift tags with

the names and gift requests from ShelterCare’s Shankle House program for adults with psychiatric disabilities and adults who

are homeless. Take a tag, purchase the requested gift, and return it wrapped and under the tree by December 17.

Sign-Up for Interfaith Shelter Now Available During the week of January 2 - 8, FCC will host an Overnight Interfaith Shelter for families who are

unhoused. Our tradition of hospitality, which began more than 20 years ago, requires many dozens of

volunteers to assist shelter coordinators with meal preparation, cleaning, children’s activities, night watch and

transportation. Please visit our church website for more details on this wonderful volunteer opportunity and

then go to SignUp Genius to sign-up for the specific ways you would like to volunteer.

2018 Stewardship Campaign Update So far we have received 191 giving cards, totaling over

$461,000. If you have not had the opportunity to turn in a

giving card, please know it's not too late! Your pledge is

important and does make a difference in the planning of the

coming year.

Thank you for your thoughtful and generous giving!

Building Repair Update As you by now know, our building suffered a roof-related leak a several weeks ago. As a result, the Wheeler Room, the

3's preschool room, and the wall around the downstairs fireplace had water damage that required removal of dry wall.

Thankfully, we were able to get on this quickly and no other significant damage occurred. Scott and our Facilities

Committee have been working with the church’s insurance company and getting construction bids for repairing the

drywall, paint, etc. The good news is that all repairs are manageable and should proceed fairly quickly once repairs begin.

The unfortunate news is that repairs will be a fairly expensive and take a larger bite out of the budget than first hoped for.

We will keep you posted as we move through this process, but if you have any questions please give Scott or Pastor

Jonathan a call.

SHALOM

Letters to Our Children/Grandchildren At the Elder Sunday service on October 22, Elder Council member, Jim Brown, issued a “Call to Action”, under the theme of

the service, “We were made for these times”. In his call, Jim suggested that one thing we as parents and grandparents can do to

offer a positive message to loved ones during these challenging times in our society is to write letters of hope, encouragement

and love to our children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. In such a letter, we can convey powerful messages of support to

younger family members or friends. Words of hope, love and support can be very powerful when written from the heart, and

they can be transformative, replacing uncertainty or fear with hope, conveying the values you want these loved ones to adopt

and live by, and offering support for the positive actions they might take in their lives.

On behalf of the elders of our church, some with nearly 100 years of life experience, we, the members of the FCC Elder

Council, encourage you to write a letter of hope, love and encouragement to one or more of the “next generation” members in

your family—or to another young person you know. Doing so, we believe, will be a powerful gift to those who are following us

on life’s journey and will empower them to help make a positive difference in their corner of the world.

Thank you for considering this brave and noble act of love for our families and our world. “We were, indeed made for these

times", and we are called now to empower those who will follow us to lead lives that will help make the world a better place.

Please write this month to a younger person you love. Perhaps arrange to have them receive your message at Christmas, as the

New Year begins or on their birthday to inspire them to follow the path of hope, love and kindness that you pray will guide them

on their journey.

The Third Act After a pause for the busy month of December, we will resume our Third Act series on Monday,

January 22, when FCC’s own Don Essig, noted author, motivational speaker and “Voice of the Ducks”

for 50 years will join us. Other dates in the series for this year are February 19, March 19, April 16 and

May 21. The events on these dates will include a visit from author and Register Guard columnist, Bob

Welch on April 16 and talks by three local faith group leaders, who will address how aging and

spirituality are viewed in their faith traditions and cultures.

You can sign up for The Third Act luncheons on the list in the foyer of the church, on the church’s

Sign-Up Genius site from the FCC webpage or by calling the church office at 541-345-8741. We hope

to see you there!

90+ Luncheon & Wisdom Circles

In the interest of reaching out to and learning from some of our most experienced elders, the FCC Elder Council has begun a

series of 3-part Elder Wisdom Circle gatherings in several locations this year for members who are 90 years of age or

older. Two of these series are being scheduled in locations where several of our elder members reside. Another series will be

held at the church. We recently completed a series at the Eugene Hotel for several members who enjoyed lunch and then

participated in a discussion addressing several of the deeper questions related to aging. We will hold another three-part series

this winter at The Springs at Greer Gardens and a third series at the church later in the year. Pastor Janet Scott is the leader for

this program, and she is assisted by Stan Paine and Suzanne Congdon. If you or someone you know in the “90+ Circle” would

like to participate in one of the upcoming series, please contact Pastor Janet or call the church office at 541-345-8741.

November Third Act

Luncheon with guest

speaker Dorcus Smucker

of the Register Guard.

Thank You! Dear Church Family,

Thank you for the most amazing celebration of our 20 years together in shared ministry on October 29. For all of it I thank you:

from giving thanks in worship for the journey we have traveled together, to having the opportunity to renew my ordination

vows first declared on October 25, 1997, to the incredible 1970s dance party complete with vintage apparel and the inspiring

jello mold contest. I’ll be honest: you people know how to have fun and dance like nobody’s watching!! It was even better that

we were watching and delighting in our diverse church family, and I learned some really good new dance moves. Thanks! As if

all of that weren't enough, all the touching and genuine personal notes I have received over the last couple of weeks have

blessed me in more ways than I can count.

Who would have known, when Anil, baby Kiran and I arrived at FCC in September 1997 that we would have so much to

celebrate now. Together we have shared creative and inspiring ministries trying to respond to the needs of our community and

our world, times of joy and suffering, new babies and the deaths of too many of our dear church saints, many prayers for one

another and our world, and diligently figuring out what it means to be church in this time and place in all the seasons of life

together. Through it all and in it all, I have experienced a deep joy and ever present desire to offer the best of my imperfect gifts

for ministry with you and our larger community. Generous and forgiving people that you are, you have walked with me,

challenged me, and have always treated me with gracious love. There is no more blessed pastor — well, except for Pastors Janet

and Jonathan!

Following the way of Jesus is not for the faint of heart or to be done alone. Traveling the Way with you has been an incredible

privilege and has formed my soul in a more generous and courageous shape. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I look

forward to the next part of the journey with you — and when is the next dance party??? What do you think, 1980s music

next??? Or 1960s?

With deep gratitude and love on behalf of the whole Oommen family,

Pastor Melanie

SHALOM SHALOM

Music Ministries

Merry Advent!

We in the music department are excited to share with you the beautiful music that we've been working on since October. Here's

what's coming up...

Sunday, December 3: A special "Advent Antiphonal" piece featuring choir, bells, and Joyful Noise children's choir. A festive

way to 'ring in' the Advent season! There will be an 8:30 a.m. rehearsal with choir, bells, and Joyful Noise in the sanctuary on

December 3. We will also have a FESTIVAL CHOIR rehearsal following worship at 11:10 a.m. this morning.

Sunday, December 10: A shape-note inspired anthem, "I Hear the Prophet Calling" presented by the FCC FESTIVAL

CHOIR. The FESTIVAL CHOIR will rehearse at 9:15 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. this morning.

Wednesday, December 13: 7:00 p.m. in the Wheeler Room is our final Magnificat rehearsal before working with orchestra.

Saturday, December 16: 10:00 a.m. - noon, FESTIVAL CHOIR dress rehearsal with orchestra in the sanctuary.

Sunday, December 17: The center piece of our musical Advent offerings! FESTIVAL CHOIR will present the Pergolesi

Magnificat with string chamber orchestra of UO music faculty and students with guest and FCC soloists. Don't miss this special

event in the life of our church. The Magnificat (Mary's song of delight in response to Jesus' upcoming birth) will be presented in

the 10:00 am worship service. FESTIVAL CHOIR will rehearse at 8:30 am that morning.

Sunday, December 17: We will have our annual Caroling Party at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, led by Debi Noel and

Jennifer Sellers.

Sunday, December 24: Christmas Eve, a full day of services, music, pageantry and merriment. Vicki will kick off the day

leading music in our 10:00 a.m. worship service. That evening we will hear from Joyful Noise and FESTIVAL CHOIR in the

5:00 p.m. service, and FESTIVAL CHOIR and Bell Choir in the 9:00 p.m. service.

The Eugene Concert Choir and Eugene Women's Choral Society (among other local choirs) will present a joint Holiday Concert

("Make We Merry") at the Hult Center on Sunday, December 10 at 2:30 pm. Come support the many FCC musicians who will

be taking part in this Yuletide celebration! (Tickets: hultcenter.org)

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Greg Sojka, Director of Music Ministries

Welcome New Members! On Sunday, November 19, we welcomed 14 new members to our FCC church family! In the January Shalom we will feature

their individual bios and photos, but in the meantime please take a moment to stop by the kiosk in the upstairs lobby to match

faces-to-names so you can keep an eye out for them this month during all of our wonderful Advent activities.

Carol Barnard

Tyler and Elizabeth Mitchell-Gonzales

Laurie Hauber

John and Amelia Roth

Lucie McCommon

Happy and Cari Lyn Stanton

Courtney Payne and Derek Swenson

Charles and Nancy Johnson

Sandie Kokjer

SHALOM

Sundays at 9:00 a.m.

Wheeler Room: Adult & Youth Education: December

“Four Spiritual Pillars of Advent”

December 3, 10, 17, 24

Don Gall & Pastor Jonathan, Facilitators

During the four Sundays of Advent, we will be exploring the biblical

meanings, contemporary uses, and spiritual significance of four words

closely associated with the seasons of Advent and Christmas. What is

"Faith" and how does one live faithfully in these trying times? How

does one remain "Hopeful" when all around there are signs of

hopelessness? From whom do we learn how to "Love" and is it

something we choose to do or does it choose us? Is "Joy" an emotion,

a gift of the spirit, or something unexpected that simply comes over us

and over which we have no control? Come join us as we seek to

experience the deeper meanings of these words and others that are so

central to our celebrations of Advent and Christmas.

Peter Horn Lounge: We Are Family You are invited to join other parents each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.

for study, reflection, and mutual support as together we discover what

it means to live faithfully today. Please join us as this group explores

spiritual practices, Bible study, and pressing questions of life and

faith. All are welcome!

SHALOM

December 3, 2017

Theme: “Where Are You, God?”

Isaiah 64:1-9

Psalms 80:1-7, 17-19

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:24-37

December 10, 2017

Theme: “Messengers of Hope”

Isaiah 40:1-11

Psalms 85:1-2, 8-13

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Mark 1:1-8

December 17, 2017 Theme: “Shouts of Joy”

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Psalms 126; Luke 1:47-55

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8, 19-28

December 24, 2017 Theme: “Birthing a Promise”

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Luke 1:47-55; Psalms 89:1-4, 19-26

Romans 16:25-27

Luke 1:26-38

December 31, 2017

Theme: “Long-awaited Gift”

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Psalms 148

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:22-40

Adult and Youth

Education

Fabric Donations Needed for

Pillowcase Ministry As part of our welcome to our Interfaith Shelter guests, every year

we give each guest a new pillow with a brand-new, lovingly made

pillowcase on it. We are currently in need of fabric to make these

pillowcases. Please consider donating your left over fabric (of one

yard or more) to this important ministry. Please place your fabric

donations in the basket in the Lobby during the coming weeks. Soon

there will be opportunities for you to sew some of these pillowcases

at home!

2017 Consecration Luncheon What a blessing to gather at the table with our

church family! Sharing food, conversation and a

joyful atmosphere, we celebrated our continued

support of First Congregational UCC. I love how

the church family steps forward when a need

becomes apparent. From committing to bringing 1

of the 29 casseroles, to giving up your time on

Saturday to set up 254 chairs, from welcoming

someone to join you at your table, to asking me

“Do you need help?” even when you’d rather go

home. And whenever our bounty exceeds our

needs, the leftover food is taken to the mission. In

gratitude of all we have, thank you for making the

luncheon a success!

LECTIONARY TEXTS

Love of Neighbor

Love of Children

Love of Creation

A Just World for All!

SHALOM

Mail Address

Here

First Congregational Church United Church of Christ

1050 E. 23rd Street Eugene, OR 97405

SHALOM SHALOM

About Our People

Return Service Requested

Women’s Fellowship Group The next Women’s Fellowship Date is Sunday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the Barber Room. Please watch the weekly

announcements page for details of that evening’s program. For the month of January, we have a change in our usual meeting

date: Please join us on Sunday, January 21 as we welcome a speaker from CASA.

Please hold in prayer those who grieve the death of loved ones: Thelma Tubbs whose husband Orvil Tubbs died and Rosalie

Hoover whose husband Kay Hoover also died in November.

December Birthday blessings to Ted Baker who turns 94, Walter Dunden who turns 95, Carmen Hayes who turns 91,

Barbara “Punky” Smith who turns 91, Mary Torrence who turns 97, and Meta Toman who turns 99!