The Cross & Flame

In This Issue:

From Pastor Kent 1 Worship Stewards 2 B-Days & Anniversaries 3 Special Events 3 History Highlights 4 Learn & Play 5 Holiday Festival 6 Men’s Breakfast 7 Sewing for God 7 Special Messages 8-9 September Calendar 10 Just For Kids 11 Upcoming Events 12 So Much More…..

“Where the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit

converge to change hearts and lives.” Monthly Newsletter of The United Methodist Church, Branford

Next Cross & Flame Deadline

September 15 for October Issue Meeting the deadline helps to get the

Cross & Flame out on time.

Fall Worship Schedule Resumes on September 6.

We once again will be worshipping at 9:00 AM & 10:30 AM

Church Office Hours The Church Office is open Monday through Friday

from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Weekly Sermons Now On Our Website

Thanks to the technology expertise of Roger Gagné, you can go to UMC’s website to see Pastor Kent’s weekly sermons. Check out the videos on www.umcbranford.org - follow the link.

Visioning 3

On July 2nd members of UMC, Branford gathered to discuss ideas for

implementing ministries in our four new focus areas. In a “come when you can, leave when you must” atmosphere, we spent 45 minutes focusing on each area of ministry: worship, marketing, youth & congregational care. The results of our conversations are listed below.

Now it is time to go to work! Please take a few minutes to review the ministry ideas and tasks and ask the Lord to help you discern where he is calling you to respond. As Pastor, it will be my privilege to help you form a group of others with the same interests and energy so that together we may live into the ministry God is calling us to.

* worship - blended worship/varied musical styles - demographic research Percept - Listen to the youth about their worship desires/feelings -survey L&P families (while many have churches, we would benefit from knowing what attracts them)

* marketing/media - create a Tag Line (we are not only a Branford church) - social media connections in bulletin (cont. Email blasts) - incl. photos with press releases

* youth - 1 fun summer thing (amusement park) - youth ministry intern from YDS - re-launch youth group (incl. Middle School Youth?)

consider a virtual youth group

* nurturing - account for family attendance (Sunday Checklist? / Best way to contact?) - contact inactive people (consider them inactive sooner than we think) - card sending ministry - keep in mind some people only use the telephone

Blessings, Pastor Kent

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Keeping God’s Time – Worship Stewards September 2016 Sanctuary Steward: Heather Mazzucco

(9:00 AM Stewards Listed in Italics)

The Cross & Flame Published 11 times a year by The United Methodist Church, Branford, 811 East Main Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405, (203) 488-0549, umcbranford@snet.net, Pastor: Rev. Kent Fredric Jackson. Deadline for copy: The fifteenth day of the month prior to publication. Brenda Prunty, Editor, reserves the right to edit for content and space. ©2016 UMC, Branford.

September 4__Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

9 & 10:30 am

Call to Worship: (William Gagné) Larry Appleton

Lay Readers: (Daniel Gagné) Jean Massage Communion Servers:

(Laurie Gagné) Ro & Dick Robinson Greeters: (Earl Lind) Sam Appleton

Ushers: (Adam Jackson) Karyn & Pepi Capezzone Acolyte: Ellie Bowman

Prayer Partner: Janice Samoeil M.E. Solomon Flowers: To the Glory of God

Fellowship Hosts: (Ruby Lawrence) TBD

September 11__Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost 9 & 10:30 am

Call to Worship: (Ken Schneider) Diane Komp Lay Readers: (Anne Jackson) M.E. Solomon Greeters: (Rosemary Luzzi) Larry Appleton Ushers: (Janice Samoeil) Alice & Tom Macy

Acolyte: Alice Talbott Prayer Partner: Ken Schneider Ro Robinson

Flowers: To the Glory of God Fellowship Hosts: (Ruby Lawrence) TBA

September 18—Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

9 & 10:30 am

Call to Worship: (Earl Lind) Karyn Capezzone Lay Readers: (Rosemary Luzzi) Bud Cochran Greeters: (Ken Schneider) Pamela Johnson

Ushers: (Laurie Gagné) Ro Robinson & Dick Robinson Acolyte: William Gagné

Prayer Partner: Janice Samoeil Don Robinson Flowers: To the Glory of God

Fellowship Hosts: (Ruby Lawrence) TBD

September 25—Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost 9 & 10:30 am

Call to Worship: (Janice Samoeil) Mike Cartwright Lay Readers: (Laurie Gagné) Lori Cartwright

Greeters: (Janet Viets) Tom Macy Ushers: (Rosemary Luzzi) Sam & Larry Appleton

Acolyte: Hannah Jackson Prayer Partner: Ken Schneider Linda Beagle Flowers: In Honor of God’s House Is Open

Fellowship Hosts: (Ruby Lawrence) God’s House Is Open

MORE SPECIAL DATES

Labor Day, September 5, 2016 Patriot Day, September 11, 2016 • National Grandparents Day, September 11, 2016 • First Day of Autumn, September 22, 2016

Lectionary Readings:

During 2016 we will not be printing the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. Instead, you may ask for a copy of the One Year Chronological Bible. The weekly sermons will be based on these readings. We have copies available in 3 translations. Please let us know if you would prefer The New International Version, The New Living Translation or the New King James Version. A donation of $15 per copy is appreciated.

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Jacob Rader 2 Amy Kapadia 3 Adam Jackson 4 Trina Bowman 4 Karyn Capezzone 10 Diane Nerkowski 10 Michael Loukides 18 Pepi Capezzone 19 Bonnie Gregoire 21 Pat Steeves 23

Bob Shepard 2 Michelle Werns 2 Larry Appleton 4 Harry Chamberlain 16 Barbara Marks 16 Gwen Bush 17 Scott Carr 20 Daniel Appleton 21 Laurie Gagné 21 Carmel Staplins 23 Conny Umile 27

Cheryl & James Torello 1 Karyn & Pepi Capezzone 3 Barbara & David Marks 11 Lydia & Paul Wezenski 16 Lori & Michael Cartwright 30

Bob & Diane Nerkowski 2 Marcia & Brian Donnelly 23 Bea & Bob Shepard 24 Carmel & William Staplins 25

You are invited to: "God's House Is Open"

September 25th 9 & 10:30 Church services

Reception to follow after each service.

Invite your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc... ALL God's Children are welcome!!

On Sunday October 2nd we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary (1966-2016). There will be a 10:00 a.m. worship service at UMC Branford followed by a 1 p.m. buffet luncheon at the Guilford Yacht Club, 379 Whitfield Street. We all are invited to celebrate together these 50 years as servants of Christ. Former Pastors, the Bishop and the District Superintendent also are invited. Let us know that you are coming to the Celebration Luncheon at the Guilford Yacht Club by September 15th. Telephone the Church Office: (203) 488-0549 or email umcbranford@snet.net .

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

The 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee

We are offering our Celebration event to everyone at no charge. Therefore, we welcome donations to help cover our costs. Make checks payable to UMC Branford, write 50th Anniversary in the memo line.

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Learn & Play Christian Early Learning Center

“The building should be used on more than just Sundays!” With that thought Frank Horbert breathed life into Learn & Play. It was 1972 and Pastor Horbert had been at UMCB for about a year. Learn & Play came into being as a result of his desire that the church serve as a mission and an outreach to the community on more than just Sundays.

At that time, our current Herr Hall was all that existed of our church. It had two small rooms in the front and a small kitchen with bathrooms across the hall. The two small rooms became classrooms and the first director, Ann Carpenter Smith, claimed a small space in the kitchen as her “office”. The larger space in Herr Hall served as the sanctuary and fellowship area as well as the indoor recreation space for the kids. In those early years, church members such as Pam and Jay Johnson sent their children, Susan and Nancy, to Learn & Play. Later Josh Caruso, Mary Lou Woods’ son, also attended. It was a small, loving, nurturing preschool for three and four year old children.

Numerous directors, teachers and board members faithfully guided the school over the years. Notable among them was Jay Wiegner, who served as board chair for well over 20 years. The school gained a great reputation as a safe, loving place for children to learn and play…go figure! In 2000 it became apparent that more space was needed for both Learn & Play and our Sunday school. In a leap of faith members approved plans and established a building fund to obtain a mortgage for our new education wing. Ceil Jones was both board chair and building committee chair, and with hard work and a lot of faithful prayer the project was completed. Learn & Play now had five permanent classrooms, a kitchenette area, its own bathrooms, its own entrance and a largely expanded playground area in back of the church, but the director’s office remained in the front classroom we now use as a conference room. We also expanded our care to include infants, waddlers, and toddlers as well as three and four year olds.

Now that Learn & Play had a beautiful new classroom facility, an old idea that had been percolating for years began to take on life under the leadership of Pastor John Gerlach. Though conceived by a church pastor, attended by numerous children of church families, and housed within our church, Learn & Play was a secular preschool. Although Christian principles were followed, no Christian curriculum was actually taught. Why Not? That was the question asked for years and finally acted upon. In 2010 Learn & Play officially became Learn & Play Christian Early Learning Center! A new Christian director and former church member was hired. Robin Costa remains our well loved director today. It was decided that the director needed be much closer to the children and teachers and more easily accessible to the parents, so an office space connected to the classrooms was carved out of a corner of Herr Hall in 2011. An “ark” was even added to the playground to the delight of the children.

Learn & Play has come a very long way since its humble beginnings back in 1972. Our staff has grown to 16 people who care for approximately 50 students. Year round excellence in education now includes well attended summer camp experiences in our own back yard. Income from the school not only supports a wide variety of wonderful learning experiences for the children, but it also provides funding for the church by way of monthly building use and mortgage contributions. Faithful Stewards and Learn & Play are always looking for ways to strengthen the connection between church and school. Despite all the changes, one thing has remained a constant. Learn & Play began as an outreach to bring more people to our church, and it remains a significant mission of The United Methodist Church, Branford, providing young children with a quality education that is grounded in the Holy Scriptures and exemplified by the love and teachings of Jesus Christ. AMEN to that!

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Learn & Play News

What a fast summer! It’s hard to believe that we are finishing up our summer camp weeks and getting everything in place to begin our new school year.

Summer camp was lots of fun this year and a little warm! This year our theme was the Summer Olympics. Each week we traveled to a different country and focused on a different Olympic sport. Our Bible stories focused on people of the Bible that were on God’s team. We had special visitors from Mystic Aquarium, Critter Caravan, Happy Feet Soccer, Kindergym; Miss Wendy taught us about Canada; and a special chef came to make pizzas with us; and of course our Bounce House! We had daily water play and Miss Bekah made us a car wash sprinkler that was lots of fun! Again this year we also had children sign up for camp weeks that do not regularly attend Learn & Play. It was nice to have them with us for the summer!

We will begin our new school year with an All About Me theme as well as talking about Jesus and the Children. We will continue to have chapel on Wednesdays. Each week of the month will have a different way of presenting our Bible story. One week we will use our Scooter and Beth puppets to tell the story, one week Miss Ro will present the story to us, one week will be a heavy music emphasis and one week will be a more formal message in the sanctuary and recap of what we have been learning with Pastor Kent. The older children will also be working on memory verses each month, and we will have a “song of the month” that all the children will learn both in chapel time and in their classes. Our goal is to have the children have the opportunity to really explore our monthly themes (traditional and Christian) by spending more than one week in each area.

We are excited to offer all our children a special music program again this year by Dorota Xeller from the Neighborhood Music School. Each week Dorota will conduct a class for the children exposing them to music, singing, instruments and movement. We had so much fun with Dorota last year and are looking forward to her classes again this year. We will also offer toddlers through four year olds the opportunity to sign up to participate in Kindergym with Miss Francine. Francine has been conducting classes at L&P for three years now. Children always look forward to her fun classes and her enthusiastic personality.

Limited openings are still available if you know of anyone looking for an awesome program. I am happy to give tours

or information by phone or email to anyone that may be interested.

Robin Costa

Collecting pop tabs is a fun and easy way to support the Ronald McDonald House New Haven. All of the money is used for the Ronald McDonald Houses to support families staying with us while their children are undergoing medical treatment.

It’s easy! All you need to do is remove the pop tab from each can before you put the can in your recycle bin.

LOOKING FOR YOUR TABS !! NEXT FILLUP DATE IS: September 31, 2016

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER FILLED JUG. WE DROPPED IT OFF TO HEADQUARTERS AND THEY WERE VERY THANKFUL !

It’s fun! You can involve community groups and your family in supporting the cause without a lot of effort.

Check all your cans for tabs, they add up quickly. Put a small jar on your counter and you will be surprised how fast is will fill up.

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Men’s Breakfast

Our monthly Men’s Breakfasts group will meet on September 17th at 8:00 AM. After a time of good food and fellowship we will view one of Pastor Rob Bell’s Nooma videos.

All men of our church are encouraged to put this date on their calendars and also to invite friends to join them on the last Saturday of each month.

SEWING FOR

GOD

No Meetings

Scheduled

Hi, In the next coming weeks Sewing for God will be delivering approximately 12-14 quilts to Artis, the new facility across the street from the church.

Do you know that each quilt is as different as each person is? Each one is created with love and prayer for the person receiving it.

More of the quilts that have been created will be available for sale at this year’s Holiday Festival.

We have initiated a monthly youth night for the purpose of fun & fellowship. All youth from our church (6th-12th grade) are encouraged to attend and bring their friends.

We meet in the church basement from 7-9:30 PM. Snacks are being provided. Ping Pong, Air Hockey, Foosball and video games are all available and we’ll continue to add other activities in the future.

The date of our September Youth Night will be Friday, September 30th!!!

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Nursing Home Ministry Don Robinson is dedicated to providing this important ministry. He visits a number of nursing homes and would LOVE to have others join this ministry.

He would be happy to talk with anyone interested and help them get started. Call Don at 203-488-6111 or see him in church.

THE PARABLE OF THE LONG SPOONS A holy man was having conversation with God and one day said, “God, I would like to know what heaven and hell are like.”

God led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors, and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with long handles that were strapped to their arms, and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. God said, “You have seen hell.”

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was a large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump and laughing and talking. The holy man said, “I don’t understand.”

“It’s simple,” said God. “It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other while the greedy think only of themselves.”

Which table are you sitting at?

God bless and faith be with you always.

Don Robinson

I am so grateful for all the calls, cards and e-mails that I received following the death of my brother, Bill. They were of great comfort to me. And I thank you all for remembering me and my family in your prayers.

Pat Steeves

I would like to recognize Cheryl Torello for:

The love of Jesus that is so visible in all Cheryl does, from all of the time and energy she puts into planning and overseeing a week of VBS (for many years!) to leading Faithful Stewards, Teaching Sunday School and much more!

Cheryl always greets everyone with a beautiful smile and hug, evangelizing in one way or another, where ever she may be.

Our congregation is so very blessed with Cheryl and her family!

Thank you so much Cheryl…

Marcia Donnelly

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ANSWER KEY FOR PAGE 11

Stewardship

of the Sabbath

Remember the Sabbath day,

and keep it holy” Exodus 20:8

The discipline of taking the Sabbath is one

powerful way of putting God first in your

life. Worship is an integral part of our life as

Christians. Worship includes the praising of God,

the desire for reconciliation with God and our

neighbors, the hearing and illumination of God's

Word, the celebration of the sacraments and the

offering of ourselves to God.

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to

the house of the LORD!" Psalm 122:1

Join us for worship on Sunday mornings; for you

will hear words of comfort, words of faith, words

that will help you through the week and let you

know God is with you where ever you go.

See you Sunday...

Thank you to our 2016 Tournament Sponsors !!!

“CLOSEST TO THE PIN” SPONSOR Idea Engineering Inc. – 203-671-7021

612 Wheelers Farms Road – Milford, CT 06461

TEE SPONSORS BELFOR PropertyRestoration – 203-949-

8660 30 North Plains Industrial Road – Wallingford, CT 06492

Guilford Funeral Home – 203-453-3558

115 Church Street – Guilford, CT 06437

Indian Neck Liquor Store – 203-488-4990

1 Sybil Avenue – Branford, CT 06405

Learn & Play Christian Early Learning Center 203-488-4028 811 East Main Street – Branford, CT 06405

New Hope Center – 203 458-2480

741 Boston Post Road Suite 102 – Guilford, CT 06437

W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home –

203-488-3414 244 North Main Street – Branford, CT 06405

Amazing Grace Harry & Dorothy Chamberlain Bill & Vivien Davies In Honor of Adeline Mae Helsper Grayce & Ed Perchaluk Janice Samoeil Paul Wezenski

GENERAL SPONSORS Guilford Allstate – 203-453-9981

34 York Street – Guilford, CT 06437

Norman F. Dahl III D.D.S., P.C. & Friends 203-483-8806 46 Park Place Suite A – Branford, CT 06405

Brian & Marcia Donnelly Ruby Lawrence Dick & Ro Robinson Lisa Schickler Carole Viel

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 10a Thurs Study

Group

7p Al-Anon

2 3 7p AA Meeting

4 9a Early Worship

10:30a Worship

11:30a Choir Practice

16th Sunday After

Pentecost

5 CHURCH OFFICE

CLOSED

6 7p Power of Praise

7p Devotional Bible Study-Shoreline

Cafe

7:30p AA Meeting

7 10a L&P Chapel

10:30a Prayer Shawl

Ministry

7p Church Council

8 10a Thurs Study

Group

7p Al-Anon

9 7p Jubal’s Latte

10 7p AA Meeting

11 9a Early Worship

10:30a Worship and

Sunday School

11:30a Choir Practice

17th Sunday After

Pentecost

12 2p-Prayer Meeting

6:30p-Caroler

Auditions

7p Monday Study

13

7p Devotional Bible

Study-Shoreline

Cafe

7:30p AA Meeting

14 10a Grandparents’

Day at L&P

10a L&P Chapel

10:30a Prayer Shawl

Ministry

15 10a Thurs Study

Group

5:30p L&P Board

7p Al-Anon

16

17 8a Men’s Breakfast

9a Plant Sale

6:00p-Caroler

Auditions

7p AA Meeting

18 9a Early Worship

10:30a Worship and

Sunday School

11:30a Choir Practice

18th Sunday After

Pentecost

19

10a Monday Morning

Quarterbacking

7p Trustees

20 7p Power of Praise

7p Devotional Bible Study-Shoreline

Cafe

7:30p AA Meeting

21 10a L&P Chapel

10:30a Prayer Shawl

Ministry

7p Faithful Stewards

22 10a Thurs Study

Group

6p Al-Anon Anniversary

Celebration

23

24 7p AA Meeting

25 9a–Early Worship

10:30a Worship and

Sunday School

19th Sunday After

Pentecost

26 10a Monday Morning

Quarterbacking

7p Monday Study

27 7 pm Prayer Meeting

7p Devotional Bible

Study-Shoreline

Cafe

7:30p AA Meeting

BISHOP’S RETREAT

28 10a L&P Chapel

10:30a Prayer Shawl

Ministry

FOR CLERGY

29 10a Thurs Study

Group

7p Al-Anon

30 6p Community Dinner

7p Youth Night

2016

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JUST FOR KIDS

SEE PAGE 9 FOR ANSWER KEY

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The United Methodist Church, Branford 811 East Main Street Branford, CT 06405 203.488.0549 203.488.9952 Fax umcbranford@snet.net www.umcbranford.org

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September 2016

Upcoming Events - September September 9 Jubal’s Latte Open Mike September 30 Community Dinner

Committee & Board Meetings September 7— Church Council

September 15—L&P Board September 19—Trustees

September 21—Faithful Stewards

Regular Groups

Tuesdays-7:30 pm—AA Wednesdays-10:30 am—Prayer Shawl Ministry 2nd & 4th Thursdays 6 pm—Sewing for God Thursdays-7:30 pm – Al Anon (7 pm new attendees) Saturdays-7 pm – AA