Tidings of Hope - Hope United Church of Christ
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Tidings of
Hope
Table of
Contents
Reverend’s
Reflection
2-3
Hope UCC
Info
3-7
Important
Dates and 8
Events
HOPE
United Church of Christ
February 2020
Tidings of Hope published monthly by: Hope United Church of Christ
2555 Fiske Blvd, Rockledge FL 32955-3901
(321) 636-0250 www.hopeucc.com hopeuccfl@att.net www.ucc.org
The Reverend’s Reflection
The New Year; a reflection on where we have been and where we are going
Although January marks the new year for most of us, the church calendar begins
the new year at Advent. At Hope United Church of Christ, we began the church
year with the sanctuary swathed in the somber, dark colors of Advent; deep purple
and blue. Advent is a time of waiting, preparation and reflection. Usually the
weather encourages this meditative environment with cooler, darker days. The
Florida winter skies don’t bring snowflakes but even here, the days get shorter.
We are more inclined to pause and think in dim winter days rather than the
energetic, vigorous activities that happen in the bright sunshine. In this quiet time
of Advent, we did not sing the joyful Christmas Carols that rang out in the shopping
centers. The frenzy of consumerism skips the pensive, spiritual preparation that
Advent provides. Just as a caterpillar needs the shelter of a cocoon for transfor-
mation into a new life with wings, we need the shelter of Advent to prepare our-
selves for the new life being born into the world at Christmas.
Throughout Advent we reflected on how we prepare for Jesus’ birth; the birth of
God-with-us, Immanuel. We prepared a place for the incarnation of God through
Christ. We physically illustrated this “place” by constructing a manger doorway
over the sanctuary door. Each week a new piece of construction appeared so that
by the end of Advent, it was clear that we prepared a place for the baby to be born.
Many thanks to our construction crew, Bean (Marcia) Smith and Karen Lehr who
brought this abstract vision to life.
On Christmas Eve the Shepherds and barn animals appeared in silhouette near the
windows and the deep blue and purple was replaced with bright white and dazzling
gold. The light of Christ was born into the world and into Hope United Church of
Christ! It was then, after a long wait, that the familiar, joyful Christmas Carols
filled the sanctuary and our hearts! I could see the love shining on each face and
twinkling in your eyes! It was a merry Christmas, indeed!
The experience continued on Epiphany Sunday when the wise men appeared and
followed the star right to our manger/sanctuary. There were stars in the windows
and on the Communion Table shining the light of Christ into our hearts. Many
thanks to Yolanda Apodaca Rogers for hanging all those stars! On Epiphany
Sunday we continued the tradition of receiving our “Star Gift.” How is God
speaking to you through your star gift? (if you have not received your star gift yet,
come and see me)
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We prepared a place for the incarnation during the Advent season. We celebrated
the incarnation at Christmas. We saw God revealed in Christ at Epiphany and we
continue to seek God’s revelation in the world.
Soon we will come to the season of Lent which brings more serious reflection as
we journey with Christ to the cross. What does the story of our faith mean and
what difference does it make in your life and in the world?
Discover Hope!
Join us for a workshop and luncheon after worship on Sunday, February 16th, if
you would like to learn more about Hope UCC and/or if you are interested in be-
coming an official member of the church. A light lunch will be served. A sign up
sheet is available in the Narthex. Please sign up so that we can have an idea of how
many will be having lunch.
3
Moderator’s Moments
February is upon us and so we look toward Valentine’s Day. The day when we
share our love. Love is in our hearts in many forms. We love God, we love our
spouse, we love our family and we love our friends. The United Church of Christ
lists the Three Great Loves: The love of Neighbor, the Love of Children and the
Love of Earth
Advertisers and Madison Avenue would like to tell us all about the joy of celebrat-
ing love by buying candy, cards, chocolates, diamonds and expensive dinners.
Yes, it can all be fun and exciting but here’s another idea. What about in addition
to what we normally do for Valentines Day, we each share our love in other ways.
How ‘bout we share our love by inviting a neighbor or friend to Hope UCC. How
‘bout if we volunteer to share our love of children by volunteering to help in any
way with VBS planning and implementation. How ‘bout we be conscientious
about loving our Earth by reducing our carbon footprint in ways best for each of
us to carry out during February.
Need a few more ideas of how to share your love of Hope UCC? How ‘bout we
share our love with our church family. Show your love for Hope UCC by show-
ing up for church’s cleanup day on February 15th. Help Hope UCC’s love shine for
our guests.
How ’bout we order a pie or two (February 16th - March 8th) to support our efforts
to raise $500 for our beloved church.
How ‘bout we wrap up the month of Love by attending Ash Wednesday service
together on February 26th .
There’s no doubt about it, we love each other and we love Hope UCC now, how
‘bout showing your love for Hope United Church of Christ during this month of
LOVE.
4
I thank God for all those at Hope who have prayed for Al and me and
our family during Al's long and hard-fought battle with cancer, and his
passing on December 12th. The many cards and notes from Hope's
Caring Team members and other church friends have kept us connected
throughout these many stressful and life-changing months.
One of my favorite Scripture passages is Philippians 4:8, in which Paul
writes: Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
-- think about such things.
The people at Hope take that thinking to the next level, by putting all these good
thoughts into action, wherever, whenever, and however they can. Poet Emily
Dickinson once wrote: "Hope is the thing with feathers, That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all."
And, like that thing with feathers, God's loving presence and care has flown from
you to me and my family. May God's love and care continue to show itself in all
things at Hope that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and worthy of
praise.
Yours in Christ,
Joyce A. Gordon
Cocoa High School Fresh Market
In our support of Cocoa High School Fresh Market, volunteers from Hope UCC
have been extremely helpful thus far. Since non-perishable foods are hard to
obtain reliably, we have been asked to assume responsibility for one item, which
we will collect and place in a box in the narthex. Hope UCC will be the
PEANUT BUTTER CHURCH!
When you see peanut butter of any brand on sale, please stock up and contribute!
The students are very grateful for all the food they receive, and high school stu-
dents can get VERY hungry!
5
Attention Ladies of Hope
A number of exciting activities are coming up for you in the New Year!
Friday, March 6, 2020 World Day of Prayer
9:30am Hope United Church of Christ
Saturday, March 21, 2020 Central East Coast UCC Women
9:30am Riviera United Church of Christ
451 Riviera Drive NE, Palm Bay, Florida 32905
Friday-Sunday, May 1-3, 2020 FL UCC Women Annual Conference
How Do We Worship?
Seven Sebring Raceway Hotel, Sebring
As Hope has not had a formal women's group for many years, when there is a
women's gathering we all pitch in! We are grateful and proud of this! For World
Day of Prayer, we will have a group of around 25 women from Central Brevard
churches. We will serve coffee, tea, juice, fruit and breakfast breads at 9:30 with
the program commencing at ten. Two years ago we did an excellent program
prepared by the Christian Women of Guyana. This year the program has been
prepared by the women of Zimbabwe. We will need six “actresses”, an AV
person, and a food coordinator!
The Central East Coast UCC Women will meet at Riviera this year. You only
need to bring yourselves!! We will be hearing from the Alliance for Fair Food
in Immokalee, Florida, and about the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance. The
Alliance for fair Food was recognized and awarded at Synod in June 2019. At
the Florida UCC Conference last October, the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance
was introduced, and we committed to raising money and supporting it. You will
learn more about this also. Lunch will be served. We will take an offering for
the expenses of our speaker coming from Immokalee. Hope has always had good
representation at this gathering. Next year it is our turn to host!
6
Hope UCC’s Pie Day – March 15, 2020
The official world Pi Day is March 14th. But Hope UCC is having its own official Pie
Day. We are celebrating Pi Day by selling 50 homemade, delicious pies. We have our
own pie chefs who are volunteering to create homemade pies in flavors such as apple,
blueberry, sweet potato, and more. These are handmade by our own Hope Piemakers
and sure to be delicious. They will be 8” pies, packed for taking home.
Pre-order Ticket sales will begin on February 16th. Sign up for your pies, purchase a
ticket for $10.00 per pie and you will also automatically be entered in a chance to win
a beautiful Pi T-shirt. We will sell tickets from February 16 – March 8. You may pick
up your fresh pies on March 15th in the Social Hall.
Purchase a pie for yourself, for your neighbor (show your Love of Neighbor), for your
office buddies, your boss or have a pie party for friends.
If you are a fantastic piemaker and want to join our piemakers that are currently
volunteering to make pies, please see Melanie/Mary/Karen. We want you! We will
supply ingredients, if needed.
On March 15th as we are gathered to pickup our pies, there will be a raffle to win a Pi
T-Shirt. Get your raffle tickets, no charge. Pies are $10 each –
goal is to raise $500 for Hope UCC’s general budget.
Please, help make Hope’s Official Pie Day a great success.
Buy pies!!!
Book Club
February 2020
On Tuesday, Feb. 25th, Hope Book Club will discuss Lost in the Beehive,
by Michele Young-Stone. This book follows the life of Gloria Ricci who is
caught in an intimate act with a young woman at the beginning of the
book. Believing that they are doing the right thing, Gloria’s parents admit
her to the Belmont Institute. It’s a place with a pretty brochure but it is extremely ugly
on the inside. It is a place meant to “cure” teens who are attracted to members of the
same sex. The teen years are a time of change - puberty, sexual urges, self-esteem, self
-worth and identity all come into play. For teens at the institute, it is a time where they
are told they are “sick”, that there is something wrong with them that needs to be
“fixed.” They have “therapy” sessions and are offered aversion therapy. While there,
Gloria meets Sheff and they make plans to run away and form their own family unit.
This book is about friendship, love, loss, yearning, acceptance, being true to yourself,
and being open to others. It deals with difficult subjects such as abuse, suicide, non-
acceptance, death, infidelity, and the impact of secrets.
Please join us as we discuss Lost in the Beehive on the 25th at 1:30.
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2/2 - Communion Worship
2/5 - Denise King’s Birthday - Souper Bowl Sunday
2/5 - Ed Coburn’s Birthday 2/4 - Trustees Meeting
2/11 - Jacquie Park’s Birthday 2/6 - Pastoral Relations Meeting
2/18 - Christie Scheirer’s Birthday 2/7 - Happy Seekers
2/21 - Jeannie Roberts’ Birthday 2/8 - Justice & Witness
2/22 - Heavan Elam’s Birthday 2/9 - Worship
2/27 - Joyce Gordon’s Birthday 2/11 - Council Meeting
2/14 - Happy Seekers
Church Clean-Up Day 2/15 - Church Clean-up Day
February 15th - 9 am to Noon 2/16 - Worship
- New Members Class
Help us make Hope even more beautiful
by coming to help on Clean-Up Day! 2/21 - Happy Seekers
2/23 - Worship
No special skill needed - just a willing
2/26 - Ash Wednesday
heart. Lots of opportunities to help, even
if you have physical limitations. 2/28 - Happy Seekers
2/29 - Ladies Lunch at Divots
Please sign up on the sheet
in the Narthex.
Wheelbarrow Ministry
for the Sharing Center
In December we collected 46 bags of rice
along with other food and donations.
In January we collected 75 cans of fruit
and other food.
In February we are collecting diapers.
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