March Newsletter 2013

YOUTH GROUP EVENTS

March 2013

SUNDAY, MARCH 3 COOKING FOR THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN

12:30 AT THE HILL CHURCH

This is a GIV 2 Event, open to all youth grades 7 – 12. Friends are always welcome. We will meet at the Hill Church for some kitchen time! We'll make some nutritious food for neighbors in need. Joan Perry of Community Kitchen will talk about food insecurity in NE Connecticut. Lunch will be served before we get cooking.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 8 -10 BOSTON URBAN OUTREACH

The youth group will be travelling to Boston. They will spend a weekend working with the City Mission Society and learn about Homelessness Prevention the Youth Peace Empowerment Programs. We’ll stay at the Charlestown UCC Church, serve a meal at the Pilgrim soup kitchen, and attend an urban worship service on Sunday morning. The youth group will share their experience with you on
Sunday, March 17th.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17 BREAKFAST CLUB

10:00 AM at East Woodstock

Join us for conversation about the trip to Boston and enjoy some breakfast snacks at the East Woodstock church this morning. Come at 10:00 and we’ll gather in the hospitality room when the children leave for church school.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24 GODSPELL

 2:00 PM at The Complex in Putnam. It’s the Gospell of Matthew told with music, skits, pantomime, and humor. Call 860-963-7170 to reserve a ticket and plan to carpool with us!

SUNDAY MARCH 31 HAPPY EASTER!

10:00 AM at East Woodstock Congregational Church

Come to church with your family to worship and rejoice that Jesus has risen indeed. Hope to see you there.



Questions? Contact Debby Kirk at 860-377-2675 or email ddkirk@snet.net

Or Anne Sorensen at 860-428-2198 or email arszoo@aol.com

Join our “Youth Group 12-13” on FACEBOOK for updates and invites.

ONE UNITED CHURCH on a shared resurrection witness for Planet Earth during 50 great days of greening up, powering down, and shouting out.

GOAL #1

1,000,000 hours of Earth Care

GOAL #2

100,000 Trees

GOAL #3

100,000 Advocacy Letters



There are lots of ways to get involved!

Pledge to learn more about environmental issues and take action!

Here are a few of the events that are planned:





 Sunday, April 7-- Kim Machnik of Heifer International will do a second hour meeting on agri-ecology at the Hill Church. All are welcome to this meeting at 11:30 am.



 Thursday, April 11-- “Fresh” Documentary will be aired at Woodstock Academy at 6 PM on in conjunction with the WA Library Club, Earth Save, and the Senior High Youth Group. Learn how our food choices affect the environment!



 April 12-14-- Environmental Justice Retreat at Silver Lake. www.ctucc.org



 Saturday, April 20-- Giv2 Green Action for UCC youth. Help protect open spaces in Hartford. Come prepared to rake, plant, and prune! All youth in grades 7-12 are welcome. Talk to Debby Kirk at 860-377-2675 to register with our group. We need to preregister by March 24.



 Saturday, April 27--Climate Revival and Ecumenical Festival at Copley Square in Boston.

Geoffrey Black, UCC president will preach at Old South Church and Bill McKibben and Bishop Desmond Tutu will speak via video. CT Conference will be organizing a bus so watch for details.



….and stay tuned for more events in May

















COMPASSION CAMP 2013

JULY 22-26

All students who are currently in grades 6-9 are invited to join us for a week of fun, friends, and service learning. This is a day program (9:00 am to 3:00 PM) for youth who want to help neighbors in need. We will use the Hill Church as a home base and take a different field trip each day to put faith in action.



Download your registration form from the church website and mark your calendar. Those who register by April 15 will receive an EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!



We will be gathering a staff of volunteers, including CITs and counselors, so contact Debby at 860-377-2675 if you can help out. APPLICATIONS for youth staff are due by April 15.

YOUTH GROUP EVENTS
February 2013



SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 BREAKFAST CLUB
10:00 am at East Woodstock
Special Guest speaker, Kate Billings is joining us. She is a former youth group member, WA graduate AND globe trotter extraordinaire. Join us for conversation and some breakfast snacks at the East Woodstock church. Come at 10:00 and we’ll gather in the hospitality room when the children leave for church school.



SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 ITALIAN DINNER
Our 10th Annual Italian Dinner is being at the Hill Church from 5:30 - 7:30 PM.
Ways you can help with our dinner ~ on the day of the dinner, Setting-up, Serving, Dishwashing and Cleaning-up. Before our dinner, help us sell tickets or put together a raffle basket. Last but not least, buy 4 tickets and come to the dinner. If you are willing to help in anyway, please call Ginny Viteri 860-974-3059 or Anne Sorensen 860-963-2540.



SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 HOST COFFEE HOUR
10:00 AM at East Woodstock

Coffee Hour Huddle. We will be hosting coffee hour this morning. Please bring a veggie tray, cheese and crackers, and baked goods. We will need a few youth group members to help set-up and a few to clean up. Please let us know how you can help.


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 “UNDIE SUNDAY”
Bring a donation of socks or underwear to church today! Why? The Youth Group is going to do service work at a shelter in Boston in March and the City Mission Society has need of new underclothes for the homeless folks who visit the shelter. All paperwork and payment for the Boston Urban Outreach are due February 24.

Questions? Contact Debby Kirk at 860-377-2675 or email ddkirk@snet.net

Or Anne Sorensen at 860-428-2198 or email arszoo@aol.com

Join our “Youth Group 12-13” on FACEBOOK for updates and invites.

NOVEMBER 2012 EVENTS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4                   IN OUR SHOES  

5:00 TO 7:00 PM at the HILL CHURCH

For all youth in grades 7-12 and friends. Supper is provided! 

à Stand up and show your compassion for others.

à Hear inspiring stories of courage in the face of discrimination.

à Bring an old pair of shoes that you can decorate for our display.

 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12                SENIOR CAFÉ

East Woodstock Congregational Church

It’s a holiday so come and help us serve a meal to senior citizens in our community!  Lunch begins at 11:30 but we need servers to arrive at 10:30.  Dress up in black and white!  If you can’t make that, we also need people to help with food prep and/or people to bake cakes for dessert.

 

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18     SYG SUNDAY MORNING

Bring a big smile and help us greet this morning.  Plan to arrive at 9:40 and gather in the narthex.

 

SUNDAY, November 25                    BREAKFAST CLUB

For youth in grades 7-12

10:00 am at The East Woodstock Church.

Join us for conversation over a cup of hot cocoa.  We will meet in the Hospitality Room near the kitchen when the children leave for church school. 

 

October 2012 Schedule of Events

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7
Giv2 FIGHTS HUNGER For youth in grades 7-12 Meet at church at 12:30 to carpool to the Danielson Little League Field for the Crop Hunger Walk. We walk to raise funds for Church World Service and provide hunger relief at home and abroad. You can register or make donations to our Giv2 team online at www.churchworldservice.org

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14
SYG SUNDAY MORNING Come to worship this morning! Youth at the Hill Church will host the coffee hour so bring some goodies for the table. Youth at East will have a “huddle” after church to get details about the corn maze trip.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20
CORN MAZE
It’s Flashlight Night at Fort Hill Farms in Thompson!
Meet at the East Woodstock Church at 6:30 PM (note this change in time!) and byo flashlight so you can find your way through the maze. Invite a friend and plan to stay for s'mores at the bonfire. Be sure to call or text Dianna Rebello at (860) 377-8349 by October 18 to reserve your spot. The cost is $12 per person and our rain date is October 21.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28
BREAKFAST CLUB
For youth in grades 9-12 10:00 am at East Woodstock Congregational Church. Join us for conversation over a cup of hot cocoa. We will meet in the hospitality room when the children leave for church school.

Easter 2012 Events

Sunday, April 1

EASTER TREATS

Thank you to all who helped make our chocolate covered coconut eggs. We created over 890 treats and raised almost $600 for your summer scholarship fund. These funds will help youth get to Silver Lake, Compassion Camp, and NYE this summer.

Sunday, April 8

EASTER SUNDAY
Come celebrate the GOOD NEWS! Sunrise Service is at 6:30 am at Woodstock Academy. Join is for worship is at 10:00 am or help with child care.

Sunday, April 15

GIV2 SPRINGS into ACTION
All youth in grades 7 and up are invited to join us as we Spring in to Action to help paint the new building at TEEG in Thompson. Meet at the HILL CHURCH at 11:45 to carpool. We will start with lunch at the Thompson Congregational Church. (See our Giv2 page for details.) Please RSVP by 4/12.

Wednesday, April 18

HUNGER GAMES
Let’s go to a matinee during vacation week.
Check our facebook page for details about showtime and meeting place.

Sunday, April 22

YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM MEETING
11:30 at the Hill Church

Sunday, April 29

BREAKFAST CLUB
For youth in grades 8-12
10:00 am at EAST WOODSTOCK CHURCH. Join us for conversation over a cup of hot cocoa. We will meet in Fellowship Hall when the children leave for church school.

Check our Youth Group 11-12 Facebook page for updates, photos and details.

MORNING WATCH during LENT

MORNING WATCH
7:00 to 7:30 am on Tuesday mornings during Lent
Dates are February 28, March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3

RENEW your prayer life

REFRESH your spirit

RECONNECT with God

Give yourself a gift of thirty minutes peace before you begin the work or school day. Come to MORNING WATCH if you want to learn more about different types of prayer. Come if you want to lay your burdens down. Come if you need some silent space to reflect. God will be present to renew and refresh your spirit.

MORNING WATCH is open to adults and high school students in the community. We will meet at the Hill Church for the convenience of WA Students. Come to one session or come to all.

MARCH 2012 EVENTS

SUNDAY, MARCH 4
NYE INFO SESSION
11:30 to 12:30 at East Woodstock
This meeting is for all youth who plan to attend the National Youth Event at Purdue. Parents should attend as well. We will collect forms, review our fundraising plans, and outline the travel arrangements. If you have not yet registered, we still have room!

SATURDAY, MARCH 10
SPECIAL OLYMPICS SWIM MEET
For youth in grades 7-12
“Dive In” to service with this Giv2 event at Windham High School. No, we won’t actually be swimming, but you can help a special athlete have a great competitive experience! All Volunteers must preregister so contact Andy Perry for details. Meet at the East Woodstock Church at 7:30 am. We should return by 4:30 PM. Lunch is provided.

SUNDAY, MARCH 18
EGGsellent EGG Factory
6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Hill Church
Join us for our kitchen meeting tonight! We will sift, stir, and shake to make our delicious Coconut Easter Eggs. This project requires LOTS of help. We will also schedule some after school work sessions so check our facebook page for details.

SUNDAY, March 25
BREAKFAST CLUB
For youth in grades 8-12
10:00 am at EAST WOODSTOCK CHURCH. Join us for conversation over a cup of hot cocoa. We will meet in Fellowship Hall when the children leave for church school.

February 2012 Events

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5
SOUPER BOWL of CARING
It’s easy! Just bring $1 and come to your home church for morning worship. We need a few folks to help with our announcement and collection. Call Ginny Viteri at (860) 974-3059 if you can help out. This effort will support the Daily Bread Food Pantry which serves the hungry in Northeastern CT. Our efforts make a difference! Youth Group has collected close to $6000 in the last 10 years.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
CROSSROADS MEETING
7 to 8:30 at the HILL CHURCH-- Gather in the kitchen (note the location!) for snacks and a game. We’ll also preview our next NYE fundraiser.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
BREAKFAST CLUB
For youth in grades 9-12
9:45 am at EAST WOODSTOCK CHURCH. Come a little early to serve as greeters before the service. Then join us for conversation over a cup of hot cocoa. We will meet in Fellowship Hall when the children leave for church school.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
ITALIAN DINNER
5:30 TO 7:00 PM at the HILL CHURCH. Invite your family and neighbors for a delicious meal. We need everyone to help to make this a success. Get creative and make up a raffle basket, sell tickets, set up tables, decorate, prep food, serve, or clean up. [FYI—SYG workers get a free meal and Yes, you can ask a friend to work with you!] Money raised will help cover the 2012 church budget.