The Welcoming Word – September 2019 First Congregational Church of Flagstaff (A Covenant Church of the United Church of Christ) 740 North Turquoise Drive Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 928-774-0890 fccflagstaff.org Facebook: FCCFlagstaff

Pastor’s Ponderings

Do you sense it? Can you feel it (almost) all around you? Summer is officially on its way out. With students returning, temperatures already down into the 50s in the evenings and LOTS and LOTS of tourist in town for Labor Day Weekend, I’ve been thinking about how the cycles of nature mirror church cycles. Perhaps it’s because, at its roots (get it?), Abrahamic faiths are agrarian, with lots of images of pastures and shepherds and tilling and cultivating and harvesting—and at last—rest. Diann Neu is a feminist liturgist and cofounder of the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER). She has this to say about the importance of what the seasons try and tell us about our faith and ourselves:

“Autumn is a season of changes. The spirits of fulfillment and abundance, transition and transformation replenish the Earth. This is the harvest season, universally a time for rejoicing and giving thanks. This season opens us up to changes and shifting patterns in our lives. It calls us to share abundance and make room for the new. It reminds us to store up some of the harvest extras for the winter when we will need nourishment. This season of transition calls us to notice change we may want to make to be healthier and to help the Earth survive.”

In these words are a lot of our September activities, kicked off by rejoicing and giving thanks during the Blessing of the Round-a-bout! We’ll share the abundant welcome we cultivate here at First Congregational while also trying to make room for the new—new people, new supplies, new signs, and perhaps even new movements of the Holy.

But what about rest??! The last two weeks I’ve preached on the liberating power of God as witnessed in the Exodus from Egypt, the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem in 515bce, and in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. But we also worship a God who takes time to rest and who in turn commands followers to rest. So, as your pastor of a small and often overstretched congregation—

here is your permission slip to rest:

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Take time over the next few months to do things that help you replenish your spirit. Find one thing every week that is something you’ve harvested this summer that you’ll probably need this winter. Maybe it’s an extra smidge of grace, or an extra pinch of gratitude. Perhaps it’s a whole bushel of forgiveness. Maybe it’s a belly full of laughs. Find something that makes your heart sing, and remember those notes, for the seasons of nature and church life will be turning again soon enough.

With you on the journey,

Pastor Nathan

Council Notes—August Meeting We welcomed our new council members, Joyce as Fellowship chair and Berta as Community and World, but were short a few council members as Bill, our Moderator Elect, is recovering at home (thankfully) and John, Spiritual Life Chair, and Janet, our Treasurer, were traveling. We had a shortened meeting. The rest of the committee updates are featured within this newsletter.

• Treasurer Report

o Income and expenses are higher than budgeted but we are doing ok for right now

Ministry Metrics: August 2019

As part of our covenant agreement with the Southwest Conference (SWC) for the ministry plan

here at FCCF we will be keeping track of our “ministry metrics”. Here are the number of people

who attend our various events held at our facility including Sunday Morning worship

Activities Worship (average attendance)

8/3 Keeping the Earth Movie Screening 25

May 25

8/7 Prayer Circle 6 June 26

8/8 Fellowship Breakfast 4 July 35

8/13 Flagstaff Community Coalition 13

August 26

8/17 Knit Wits 17 8/18 Family Food Center 2 8/20 Qigong 8 8/21 Women's Lunch 6 8/22 Fellowship Breakfast 4 8/27 Qigong 8 8/28 Soul Friends 13

FCCF Clean Up Day

September 7, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. - Noon

Please join us in cleaning the inside and outside of the church in

preparation of our Blessing of the Roundabout. Please wear work clothes,

comfortable shoes, hat, and gardening gloves if you have them. We will

serve a light lunch after working. Thank you!

Blessing of the Round-a-bout

After a summer of construction and taking changing routes to the

church house, we can officially celebrate the completion of the

Switzer / Turquoise round-a-bout! We’ll be celebrating with an

outdoor lunch followed by a blessing service for the round-a-bout.

We’ll need a team effort to make this event a success. If you’re

interested in volunteering to bring food, make signs, or canvass the

neighborhood with flyers, please speak with Pastor Nathan.

WE ARE IN NEED OF VEGITABLE DISHES AND HOT DOG BUNS

September 8

First Congregational

Church of Flagstaff

All are welcome!

Worship at 10:30 a.m.

Reception at 12:00 p.m.

Blessing at 1:00 p.m.

For more information Please contact the church at

928-774-0890

fccflagstaff@hotmail.com

Opioid Abuse Training

Wednesday September 11, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Flagstaff City Hall

The training will have three segments:

1. Training on how to identify persons abusing Opioids with Rev. Tina Maria Rees

2. View of Opioid Addiction with Mr. Doug Larson

3. How to use Narcan & other Treatment Possibilities with Mrs. Maureen Roland

If you are interested in attending please contact Rev. Nathan.

Celebrate International Peace Day

Saturday September 21st

@ Flagstaff’s Heritage Square

On Friday September 21st at 4pm at the Heritage Square Peace Pole, an inter-faith group of clergy will lead us in a prayer circle in which we will hold an intention for

peace. A prayer/meditation space will be available on Saturday.

• The Circle gathers at 4pm FRIDAY

• The Pause for Peace booth is all day SATURDAY at Heritage Square

• Inter-faith ~ everyone is welcome to join the circle on Friday, or to pause for peace at the booth on Saturday

Peace Pole Walks are short, casual group walks that visit peace poles. Each group will merge at the Peace Pole in Heritage Square. Pick a location and show up!

• NAU Peace Pole at 10:45am

• The Ice House (downtown) at 11:25am

• Federated Church at 11:25am

History of Peace Day

The United Nations designated September 21st of each year as a day for peace to strengthen the ideals of peace and reaffirm one’s commitment to living in harmony with one another. It is a global call for ceasefire and nonviolence for one day amongst all nations and all people. This year's UN global theme is “Climate Action for Peace". Northern AZ Climate Change Alliance will provide information and resources at Flagstaff’s Peace Day celebration.

This is Peace One Day’s 20th year anniversary! Peace One Day is a global network whose objective is to establish a practice or custom of observing 21 September as Peace Day around the world. Their main message is that peace begins with the individual. They encourage all persons to consider and take action on the question…. “Who Will You Make Peace With?”

Resilience: Women in Flagstaff’s Past and Present

This is a collaborative project by the Arizona Historical Society and the Martin-Springer Institute at Northern Arizona University. The exhibit shares the powerful stories of twenty women who faced extraordinary challenges, to overcome hardship, painful legacies, and adverse environments. Resilience will be on view in various locations throughout Flagstaff, including the Arizona Historical Society’s Pioneer Museum, NAU’s Martin-Springer Institute. Look for future announcements about when we will attend as a group from the church.

SAVE THE DATE

Installation Service

at First congregational Church of Flagstaff

October 6th at 3:00 p.m.

For the Reverend Mr. Nathan Watts

We are in need of volunteers to help coordinate sharing the announcement of this service with the Southwest Conference as well as volunteers to help coordinate the reception

following the service.

If you are able to help in either of these ways please contact Rev. Nathan.

Neighbors in Need Special Mission Offering—October 6

Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports

ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support

the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC's

Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and

direct service projects through grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to UCC churches and

organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges

from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice. This year,

special consideration will be given to projects focusing on serving our immigrant neighbors and

communities. Follow this link to learn more about NIN initiatives doing ministry now.

https://www.ucc.org/nin_stories

Visiting First Congregational Church of Flagstaff

The Inclusive Church: Widening the Welcome Saturday, October 12th 1 - 2:30pm

Please read this note from Michael: Members and Friends of First Congregational Church Flagstaff:

I bring you greetings in the name of Our Still Speaking God and the 47 congregations and 2 faith communities in the Southwest Conference.

Shortly before I was called to serve the Southwest Conference as Lay Minister for Disability Education, Advocacy, and Awareness. I had the opportunity to represent the Southwest Conference at the 2018 Widening the Welcome National Gathering in Niagara Falls. New York.

One of the workshops that I participated in was facilitated by a mother and her 25 year old intellectually differently-abled daughter. During the workshop she asked some thought-provoking questions and invited those who participated in the workshop to take these questions with them back to their home churches. In honor of her request I encourage you to think about the following:

What makes a church welcoming for our differently-abled members and friends?

What turns differently-abled members and friends away from God and the church?

How do we talk about what is working and what is not working in how our church welcomes and includes members and friends who are differently-abled?

Michael will be facilitating dialogue around these three questions as well as sharing stories of his call to ministry to help churches become more inclusive of those who are differently abled.

Member Spotlight

Note sent from Connie’s son Tim to the church: It is with a heavy heart that I send this to all of you at the First Congregational Church. The church that my mom and dad belong to for many years. We had wedding, youth group over nights and many functions over the years. My mom and dad also where involved on a mission to Nicaragua with the church to create relationships and good will. With Love Tim Huffman The Huffmans gave away bags of bird seed in honor of Connie so that friends and family can feed the birds in honor of Connie’s life. The bags of seed are located in the narthex of the church or contact Pastor Nathan directly.

The Knit Wits meet every third Saturday of the month at

1:00 p.m. (please note the new time a half hour

earlier) at the church. They knit items for charity and

are welcome to all. Donations of yarn are accepted at the

meeting or in the church office.

Knit Wits have a table at the First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Flagstaff in the Visitor Center. They sell

scarves for a $1.00 to raise money for more yarn.

July deliveries included: 7 infant blankets to Coconino County Health

Families, 7 infant blankets to North Country Healthcare Healthy Steps,

26 preemies went to FMC Special Care Nursury, and 9 senior blankets

to Hospice Compassus.

FCCF will be hosting this class on Tuesdays

Yuan Gong Qigong

Learn the Ancient Art of Qigong for Self-Healing and Self-Empowerment

Utilizing gentle movements, visualization, sounds and breath, we can:

~Optimize Health

~Enhance Mental Clarity~

~Improve Emotional Well-being~

When: Tuesday Evenings – 6:30 to 8:00 pm

Cost: Suggested Donation $5 - $10 per class

For more information call 928 525-6112 or email: ka_star33@yahoo.com

Lemon-Cream Cheese Dessert Joyce Shelky

3 c. Cheerios cereal, finely crushed

1/3 c. Blue Bonnet margarine, melted

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

¼ c. lemon juice

1 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven 350 degrees. Mix cereal, margarine and

cinnamon in small bowl; reserve 2 tablespoons.

Press remaining cereal mixture in ungreased

baking pan, 8 X 8 X 2 inches. Bake 12 minutes;

cool.

Beat cream cheese in large mixer bowl until light

and fluffy. Mix in milk gradually. Stir in lemon

juice and vanilla. Pour over baked cereal mixture

in pan. Sprinkle reserved cereal mixture over

top. Refrigerate until firm. 3 to 4 hours. Top

with fresh fruit if desired. Refrigerate any

remaining dessert. 9 to 12 servings.

Sometime ago, it could be many years or months ago on the grounds of our church a ring was lost. It was found recently. If you lost a ring here, please contact the church and give us a specific description of the ring that you lost so that we can determine whether the ring that has been found fits that description. We are eager to return the ring to its rightful owner.

This Photo by Unknown

Invite Your Pastor Out (or Over) for a Chat Pastor Nathan is looking for a time to get to know you better. You can sign up now for a time slot in October to invite your pastor out (or over) for a chat. These invites will be an informal time of getting to know each other more deeply. You can choose a time slot in the afternoon or evening and make the specific arrangements with Pastor Nathan at a later time. Check the bulletin board for a sign-up sheet or contact Pastor Nathan in person or at pastor.fccf@gmail.com

September Events Calendar

1 10:30 a.m. Worship Service with Communion 2 All Day Labor day (Office will be closed) 3 6:30 p.m. Qigong 4 12:00 p.m. Prayer Circle 6 5:00 p.m. Knit Wits will have a booth at the Flagstaff Art Walk 7 9:00 a.m. Clean Up Day at FCCF 8 10:30 a.m Worship Service 8 12:00 p.m. Pot Luck 8 1:00 p.m. Blessing of the roundabout 10 6:30 p.m. Qigong 11 Opioid Abuse Training 12 8:00 a.m. Fellowship Breakfast at 15 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 15 3:30 p.m. Family Food Center Sunday 17 6:30 p.m. Qigong 18 12:00 p.m. Women’s lunch location TBA 18 12:00 p.m. Women of Flagstaff Exhibit at Heritage Square 21 1:30 p.m. Knit Wits International Peace Day 22 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 24 6:30 p.m. Qigong 26 8:00 a.m. Fellowship Breakfast 29 10:30 a.m. Worship Service—New Member Sunday 29 12:00 p.m. Council Meeting

September Birthdays and Anniversaries

2 Berta Glawischnig Birthday 8 Lynn Rusch Birthday 10 Bob Baer Birthday 16 Heather Woods Birthday 20 John Eastwood Birthday