DECEMBER 2023 WORSHIP HOURS 10:00am 11:00 a.m.: Fellowship Go paperless!! Now you can give online!! Click the link below or scan the QR code Online WebPay ♦♦♦♦♦ E-mail ADDRESS: uccwhitman@gmail.com Rev. Tom Coronite (TC) at revtcoronite@outlook.com Church Office # 781-447-5557 Margaret Mannke – Secretary Office phone: 781-447-5557 Music Director/Organist: Heather Peel ♦♦♦♦♦ AMERICAN RED CROSS: SOUND THE ALARM Campaign is offering to Whitman residents FREE smoke detector w/installation. Schedule an appointment by texting your name and contact phone number to ARC Volunteer, Anne Williams at 508-345-8988 ********************************************************************************************* SUNDAY’S SERMON for December 13th, 2020 Click here to view Sunday's sermon ♦♦♦♦♦ Home Communion and visitation now available- please call the church at (781) 447-5557 to arrange. Mask restriction lifted (if fully vaccinated)! As of Sunday, June 6^th,2021, anyone fully vaccinated is not required to wear a mask. Social distancing guidelines will remain for another week until June13th service. ♦♦♦♦♦ Church and Fellowship hall are available for your event Please contact the church office for available times and costs Baby showers- Wedding Showers- Collations Weddings and Special Events The fellowship Hall underwent a beautiful face lift. Check us out when planning that special event. ♦♦♦♦♦ All Ages Welcome Volunteers needed – signup sheets in sanctuary. Church Openings Interested in joining a committee or be a representative on the board? Openings are available for all church members young and not so young. Learn more at fellowship or by asking a current committee or board member Or How about greeting, usher or counting collection? Sign up on the clipboard in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for considering taking a more active role in your church as a much-needed volunteer! Any time you can give, is sincerely appreciated. "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. " Henry Ford ♦♦♦♦♦ Sandwiches for MainSpring 3^rd Sunday of every month This wondrous mission program sends 100 lunches each month Meet in the kitchen just after service – many hands make light the load ♦♦♦♦♦ Thursday Thoughts will be the resource for updates on worship services and prayer requests. Please email Gail at iamgjc@icloud.com with joys and concerns to share. A live Facebook broadcast (available also as a link on this website) will be available each Sunday until further notice. God Cares. Yesterday today and tomorrow All over the world folks are doing what they can to support and give comfort in this time of uncertainty. Everything has changed but God is our constant. God will comfort the grieving and give strength to those who are in need There is hope found through prayer and our continued faith that God will be there for all of us. Our church family is amazing when called upon to help. Some ideas..... Fill the plastic container outside the parking lot door with food for the food pantry Drop off cards in the office mail box to be mailed to area nursing homes or our shut-ins. Put a sign with a word or picture of encouragement in a window or in your yard Every day at 3PM let's all take a moment to connect spiritually with prayer. A moment in time each day to pray for those who need God’s comfort and care. Your deacons are available via email or phone. We are committed to help however we can. Russ Greene: 781-447-5047 Wayne Brundige: 781-447-1021 Frank Kawa: 781-308-5511 The Lord hears when I call to him. There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!” Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, O Lord In peace I will both lie down and sleep. For thou alone. O Lord, makest me dwell in safety. ♦♦♦♦♦

Click here to see Rev. Coronite’s monthly column. Thursday Thoughts –December 7^th Greetings, members and friends of First Congregational Church, Whitman! My apologies for leaving so quickly following the Worship Service this past Sunday! As I mentioned, I was not feeling so great, and I thought it best to get home quickly, and not expose anyone at coffee hour to anything I might’ve caught. Fortunately, after laying on the couch all day watching football, I feel much better. But, this coming Sunday I will be scooting right after the Service again! I beg your forgiveness! A church I formerly served is celebrating their anniversary, and I will try to get there before the reception is over, so I can spend a few minutes celebrating with them. Ordinarily, I prefer to spend some time in fellowship after the Service. It’s an important part of our Congregational Identity that we fellowship together, share coffee and snacks, and be together! It’s a small thing, but I consider it an extension of what we do in the sanctuary - but with Cheez-Its! (And other treats, but those are my favorite). Such a simple act, but it goes a long way toward us being Church together. Let us break “bread” together, and give thanks to God. And let us enjoy one another’s company, as Sisters and Brothers in Christ! TC Rev. Tom Coronite ♦♦♦♦♦ ANGEL TREE PROJECT  This year instead of hats and mittens and toys for children, we will be collecting gift cards or donations to purchase gift cards for teens. Please take a gift box from the Angel Tree and return it with a gift card for Game Stop, Kohls, Target or Walmart. Gift cards or monetary donations can also be dropped off in the mail slot or mailed to the church. Thank you for helping a teen have a wonderful Christmas. CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Sunday, December 17, 2023 (during service) followed by our traditional “Happy Birthday, Jesus” party during fellowship. STEWARSHIP SUNDAY is not just one Sunday but a combination of many. Thank you to those who have already pledged. Pledge cards can be put in the offering plate, dropped off at the office or mailed back. You can leave the amount blank if you prefer; we are grateful knowing you will be contributing, The 2024 budget depends on all our support for operating expenses as well as community and church programs. Thank you! PRAYERS FOR John M, Kathy & Mark Hall’s friend. FUNERAL SERVICES for SHIRLEY NOON, Stephanie Libby’s mother and Jennifer Murphy’s grandmother, will be at MacKinnon’s Funeral Home in Whitman on Monday, December 11^th^. Calling Hours begin at 11:00 am, Funeral Service is at 12 N followed by burial at Colebrook Cemetery at 1:00 PM. All are welcome. A collation will follow these services at this church in Fellowship Hall.