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eFaith Matters
Monday, April 4, 2022
Roxbury Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Roxbury, Connecticut, USA
We are a Community Seeking to Share God's Love!
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The Overview
A valuable and virtual ministry
I want to pause this Monday morning and acknowledge the dedication of our Zoom Tech Team. Charlie Stauffacher and Barbara Cover have been at the computer each week for so many weeks. I know that you join me in thanking them for this valued ministry. Each week, they make sure that those who attend worship in this way can have a meaningful experience.
Now while what they do each Sunday requires some attention, it is not so hard that some others should not consider joining this team. There is a step-by-step script and training is available. A few more folks stepping up, would allow both Charlie and Barb to have an easier schedule.
So thank you Barb and Charlie!
David
Fundraiser for Ukraine Refugee
After a period for suggestions to be submitted, the most energy has surface for holding a Spaghetti Dinner to raise funds to support the people of Ukraine. We are looking at Saturday May 7 at this time and will let you know definitely, a.s.a.p. 
This will be a public event and we will need a number of you to help with the preparation, serving and most of all to spread the word to your neighbors and friends.
More to follow.
Holy Week & Easter Help
We are having our annual tradition of a Maundy Thursday Pot Luck Dinner ending with a Service of Tenebrae and Communion.
You are invited to join us for the meal beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall - bring a dish to share.
We are also asking for 8 people to read during the Tenebrae Service. A sign-up is on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall.
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The Easter Sunrise Service at 6:00 a.m. on Good Hill near the Woodbury Town line. We need 4 readers.
The sign up for this is also on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall.
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The Easter Breakfast is being handled by the Fellowship Committee and others. (Thank you!)
Easter Flowers
We will once again have a beautiful display of flowers on Easter Sunday, April 17. You can purchase them yourself and place them and note in the worship bulletin that day that they are place in memory of someone.
The Church is also offering to purchase the plants for you.
You can order them by signing up and paying for them. $20 each.
There is a sign-up on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall.
We are once again putting together a listing of Church-Related folks
who have services to offer or businesses to visit.
The listing will be on the Church's Webpage on the Document tab. LINK
(It will be updated each month as needed)
Listings are primarily of a service nature and must have a church connection.
We encourage you to contact them - Shop Local... listing does not infer a recommendation one way or another...
Another Source of local businesses would be the Roxbury Business Directory - available at the Roxbury Market.
Your Generosity Supports the Work of the Roxbury Church!
You can send a check to the Church Office - 24 Church Street, Roxbury CT 06783
or online by one of two ways by pointing your smartphone camera or clicking below:
 
Electronic Giving for Offering or Give using Venmo
or Memorials Gifts
The April 2022 edition of Faith Matters, our Church's newsletter
will be available later this week. LINK
For those getting printed copies, they will be mailed.
We have returned to in-person worship
with Masks Optional for those fully vaccinated!
as well as on Zoom and Facebook Live.
Fellowship Hour with food and drink has also returned
Please still be conscious of your physical distance with your masks lowered
to eat or drink.
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Our Church This Week
If you have something for the Sunday Bulletin, please have it to the office
by Friday 9:30 a.m.
Elizabeth Kutepov, Church Secretary, will be in the office
Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Rev. Peters is normally in his office Mon., Wed., Thurs., and Fri. from 9:30 -12:30
Liturgical Season: Lent
Tuesday, April 5 (Rev. Peters is taking today off)
9:00 a.m. - all day - Kitchen rental use (Lisa & Kristen) Kitchen
4:00 p.m. Piano Lessons (Sandy K.) Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, April 6
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - (Jason Mckay) Fellowship Hall
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Jason Mckay) Fellowship Hall
Thursday, April 7
7:00 p.m. Deacons meeting (Mike Wilcox) Chapel Library
Saturday, April 9
8:00 a.m. Men's Group Breakfast (Charlie Meade) Fellowship Hall
10:30 a.m. Mindful Meditation (Charlie Stauffacher)
Sunday, April 10 Palm Sunday
9:15 a.m. Choir rehearsal (Sandy Kleisner) Meetinghouse
10:30 a.m. Worship Service Meetinghouse
In-Person and on Zoom and Facebook Live
Fellowship Hour follows Fellowship Hall
Save the Date...
April 14, 6:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday - Pot Luck Dinner and Communion (see below) Readers needed
April 17 Easter Sunrise Service 6:00 a.m. on Good Hill Readers needed
Breakfast follows in Fellowship Hall (see Sign up in Fellowship Hall)
10:30 a.m. Easter Worship
April 23 Roxbury Earth Day - Roadside pickup - Bags and gloves available at Transfer Station.
April 24 Mother's Day Cards for Church World Service go on sale (Mission Committee)
April 30, 7:00 p.m. Trivia Night! (Chris Childs) Fellowship Hall
May 1 12:00 p.m. Ladies Luncheon (location to be announced) (Jeanne Steers)
May 21, 9 -2 Rummage & Bake Sale (Sue Stauffacher)
The Steeple is lighted during April
in memory of Robert (Bucky) Lowe and Tammy Lowe Hinckley
by Patricia Lowe
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To Keep in our Thoughts and Prayers – April 3, 2022
Please remember their families and caregivers as well.
Terry Alfson, Diane Meade, Alice Shaber, Dawn Collette, Stan Pasquale, Robin Montesi,
Jean Neff, Linda Adams Eyre, Beverly Simpson, Jordan, Diane S., Austin, Bill, Jack, Ernest
Recuperating from surgery: Ray Fitch & Pat Fraley
Family of Andy Engle who died suddenly on March 23.
The people of Ukraine and those fleeing in fear and harms way.
Members of the Armed Services, including Ben Farrell, a National Guard medic stationed in central Poland.
Those affected by or fearful because of COVID-19,
The healing of the nation amidst political and social polarization, and issues of racial justice and equality
Afghan families being resettled here
Those recovering from natural disasters across the US
Prayers for this week’s Mission Partner:
The Center for Education and Empowerment (Women's Center) - Danbury
Lifted up by the Congregation:
Lily - a 11 year old at Yale
Family of Chuck Squire - who died on April 3.
Your Prayer Concerns and Celebrations:
Who are you praying for: ________________
For what or who are you grateful: ____________
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We are receiving financial donations to help the fleeing refugees from Ukraine in Poland. We are working with partner churches in Poland to provide aid and support.
Checks can be dropped off to the church or you can use the online donation site to give. Please put Ukraine in the memo.
100% of all donations go directly to ministries on the ground without any overhead.
For more information check out of denomination's Ukraine Appeal page:
https://tinyurl.com/yvsyj5zp
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If are willing to help with either of these - contact Rev. Peters EMAIL LINK
March Deacon of the Month: Mark Wolmer assisted by Mike Wilcox
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Lay Reader & Greeters
reader underlined
 READER GREETERS
April 10: Doris Farrell Dick & Nancy Callahan
April 17: Barbara Biafore Barbara & Carol Goodwin
April 24: Bill Steers Jan & Bill Steers
May 1: Steve Ross Linda & Steve Ross
Flowers
April 10: Palm Sunday palms
April 17: Easter Plants
April 24: ____________
May 1: _____________
Zoom Virtual Worship Tech
Control and switch between the camera and sharing the bulletin on the screen.
April 10: Charlie Stauffacher
April 17: ____________
April 24: ____________
May 1: _____________
We are looking for a couple of people who can help us with this. See Rev. David
Fellowship Host
As simple as some cookies with coffee/tea.
April 10: Barbara Cover
April 17 Easter (Coffee only): ___________
April 24: Jeanne & Chris Steers
May 1: Linda & Steve Ross
Steeple Lighting
The Steeple is lighted each month in memory or celebration.
Listed below are those who have signed up.
April 2022: Pat Lowe
May 2022: Doris and Chuck Farrell
June 2022: ________________
July 2022: Jan & Bill Steers
August 2022: ______________
September 2022: ___________
October 2022: _____________
November 2022: ___________
December 2022: Diane & Charlie Meade
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| Steeple Lighting: $25 for the month, payable to RCC and goes into the Memorial Fund - See Rev. Peters |
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Maundy Thursday
Pot Luck Supper, Communion, and Service of Tenebrae
Thursday, April 14, 6:30 p.m.
You are invited to bring a dish to share (main course, side dish or dessert ) serving 8
and join us at 6:30 p.m. for a dinner in Fellowship Hall.
In the spirit of the Last Supper, we will sit around a long table, enjoy our meal and then celebrate Communion.
We will end with Tenebrae (service of diminishing lights) a very meaning fun service remembering those closest to Jesus and how they abandoned Jesus and the world become darker and darker.
We leave in silence to contemplate the words and emotions of the day
as we move on to Good Friday.
Some remark that this is the most memorable service of the year.
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Failure
Rachel Hackenberg
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Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God. - 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (NRSV)
Competent. Is that a high bar or a low one?
For all the competence that comes from God, I still fail with high-but-not-surprising frequency. My capacity for competence is limited. Some days, it’s a task I fail to accomplish. Some days, it’s a relationship I disappoint. Some days, getting out of bed and facing the day is beyond my capacity. Some days, trusting love and extending grace in a world consumed by ego is too high a bar.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” wrote Paul in a different letter to the good people of Philippi.
But what if I can’t?
“Can’t” is a difficult, painful spiral of the spirit, a desolate place where the failures of life and the failures of faith are ghosts whispering constantly, “It’s not possible.” Redemption isn’t possible. Grace isn’t possible. Fulfillment isn’t possible. Like death and taxes, the only thing those haunting voices are certain of is failure.
It’s lovely that Paul can do all things through Christ, but many of us can’t do all things or even most things. Especially when a sense of failure weighs us down.
And yet, even when Paul’s confidence irritates and exacerbates those haunting choruses of “I can’t,” Paul knows something that our worst ghosts don’t: the world’s valuation of failure and God’s valuation of competence exist on two completely different scales. The bootstrap by which I judge myself as a failure is not the love by which God knows me to be capable.
Prayer: Even when I fail, still I will rejoice.
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Cash 4 Causes Card Program
awakens from the Pandemic Slumber...
The popular program is back with a new coordinator
Susan Zappulla-Peters (860-355-8830 - zappullapeters@mac.com)
and an emphasis on the local grocery stores.
It is hoped that you would consider getting in the habit, like some,
to purchase your cards on a monthly basis.
NEW: The second Sunday of each Month will be Card Ordering Sunday.
We would like to have a set day so it is easy to remember to order
and easy for the processing... Next Order Date is Sunday, April 10.
The concept is simple.
- You buy the card at the face value (ex. $100) and we purchase a cash card from the store.
- They charge approx. 5% less and the church keeps the difference.
- You spend the same amount, but by using the card, your Church gets a 5% benefit!!
We work primarily with Stop & Shop, Big Y and Shop Rite cards
Contact Susan directly or speak with her on Sundays after worship.
She may have a few extra cards for the different stores with her.
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Mindfulness Meditation Group – Saturday mornings
Feeling Stressed? Overwhelmed by the Pandemic?
You are invited to be a part of the Mindfulness Meditation Group which meets Saturday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to noon, in the Chapel Library or on Zoom. Open to any and all in the community, regardless of any religious affiliation.
The Link to join is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/762243509?pwd=SkFGTXlPSm5HZ1pMZnRMQ3NyZ2NrQT09
Contact Charlie Stauffacher for information at 860-354-1274.
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You are Encouraged to Support these Community Events
and Neighboring Congregations:
None submitted this week
Classified for Congregation Members
If have items that you would like to sell or give away,
we are now offering to list that item in the monthly Faith Matters.
We are limiting it to 3 items per family. Submission must be in writing and submitted by the newsletter deadline of the 15th to the Church Office.
Deadlines:
For Monday eFaith Matters: by Monday 9:00 a.m.
For Friday eFaith Matters or Sunday Bulletin: by Friday 9:00 a.m.
Please submit events by email only to david@roxburychurch.org
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