COVID CHURCH POLICY

Council and other interested persons met on Sunday, August 22nd, to discuss church policies related to the increased numbers and the Delta Variant. We shared meaningful discussions and some interesting ideas to keep the church open while keeping everyone safe within its walls. Some had ideas about worshipping in the sanctuary again and about enjoying music safely in the sanctuary. There will be more information to come related to these possibilities.

The consensus of this meeting is to keep doing what we are currently doing: Masks are to be worn while in the church and we will practice social distancing. We will have outside services when we can; however, during bad weather, services will be held in fellowship hall where rows of chairs are spread out and are set with one, two, or three chairs for family units. Windows will be opened and fans will be used to aid in air movement.

We are looking forward to a time when we can worship as we did in pre-Covid times and that is our ultimate goal. The current uptick in cases in the U.S. is something we will pay attention to and act accordingly. We ask that you continue to be patient with this process.

Marsha Heath on behalf of Council

MASKS REQUIRED

Following CDC and our own guidelines at NYCC masks are again required to be worn in the church building regardless of your vaccination status.  Please keep them on for the entire time that you are in the building.  We will be holding worship service as we have been in the Fellowship Hall with social distancing guidelines in place.  Thank you.

Join us for Worship!

We are now worshiping in-person and online on Sunday at 9:30 am. At this time because of the heat we are worshipping in the Fellowship Hall, and are still following CDC guidelines requiring you to be masked and socially distanced.  For those who wish to join us online via livestream please connect with us on YouTube at youtube.com/c/nyccucc.   If you would like to see the Sunday Bulletin that can be found on our website at http://nyccucc.com.

Please keep the following people in your prayers ~

Julie Beggs

Marion Goff 

Sandra Golonka – Sandra has begun her chemotherapy treatments.

Vince Golonka

Richard and Nancy Lowell

Blanche Mays – Jim passed away this week.  Prayers for Blanche and her family through this difficult time.  If you would like to send cards to Blanche please send them to:

Coastal Landing, 142 Neptune Dr., Apt 142, Brunswick, ME 04011

Lin Tompson Murphy

Cindy Tompson

Community Food Pantry

The Community Food Pantry serves people and families from North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Pownal and New Glouscester.  The pantry is open every other Friday from 3:00-6:00 pm. and currently serves over 80 families.  Our church supports the pantry with money and food donations.  We collect food donations in the grocery cart in the Gathering Space.  With the pandemic and fewer people in the church, the food donations have been less.  So, in hopes of having more food donations, on the first Sunday of the month, Communion Sunday, we are asking those attending church to bring something for the food cart.  Or if you won’t be at the service, drop something by when you can.

 As of 8/11 the list of Food Pantry needs include:

Traditional baked beans (No other beans)                            Box cake and frosting

Italian and Ranch Dressing                                                       Sugar

Olives                                                                                        Maple syrup

Canned corn or peas                                                                 K-cups

Chicken or beef gravy                                                              Coffee-Medium Roast

Pasta sauce                                                                             Cranberry juice

School snacks, protein bars                                                  Deodorant

Popcorn                                                                                    Pain relievers

Chips & salsa                                                                            Tissues

Ritz or Triscuit crackers

Congratulations to Sara!

A BIG Congratulations to Sara Brobst Bartlett.  She has been called to serve the Second Congregational Church in Norway Maine as their new Pastor. 

Missions

From time to time we would like to share some of the wonderful thank you notes that we receive from organizations that NYCC Missions supports.  The following is from Harrison Food Bank.

Pastoral Care Requests

For prayer requests, pastoral care or if you or someone you know is struggling in our community please contact Pastor Nancy at nyccrevnancy@gmail.com

UCC appeals for $100,000 for disaster-beleaguered Haiti

by Carol Fouke-Mpoyo | published on Aug 16, 2021

 Donate Now! Designate “Haiti Appeal.”

A UCC Haiti Appeal seeks to raise $100,000 for immediate relief and longer-term recovery for the thousands of people in Haiti who are reeling from sequential disasters.

These include the deadly, destructive 7.2 earthquake August 14 in western Haiti, and Tropical Depression Grace, expected to make landfall in the same region August 16-17. The resulting flooding and mudslides are likely to add misery to the earthquake zone and to hinder the search and rescue of survivors.

Hundreds (nearly 1,400 as of August 16) are confirmed dead and additional thousands injured due to the eathquake.

The UCC is working with Global Ministries, Church World Service and the ACT Alliance among other partners, all of which are currently assessing the situation for damages and needs.

UCC Global H.O.P.E. team leader Joshua Baird was in touch with the partner networks on August 16 and said that the ACT Alliance reports that more than 60 percent of the people of Haiti have been impacted by the disaster. Both the ACT Alliance and Church World Service have spoken about “significant infrastructure challenges,” with road closures due to civil unrest compounded by earthquake damage. 

Immediate needs include water, due to the corruption of water tanks, and first aid. They note that there are not enough hospital beds in existing, structurally safe facilities. “People are being treated in hospital yards – or dying there,” according to Global Ministries’ bilateral partners CONASPEH (The National Spiritual Council of Haitian Churches) and House of Hope, Baird said.

Other challenges facing Haitians include COVID-19. Vaccination of health care workers and people over 65 only got started in early August. There’s also the political and social disruption following the assassination of the country’s president in July.

How to Help

Pray for Haitians impacted by disasters.

Donate Now! Designate “Haiti Appeal.”

You may also make a gift by mailing a check made payable to the United Church of Christ, to 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115. Please be sure to note “Haiti Appeal” on your check in the memo section, or in an attached letter.

If you would like to help with this, you may do so directly with the UCC or send a check to church or donate online at Tithely, and we will send it in to the UCC Disaster relief effort for Haiti.

Help for the Homeless

Summer needs for Grace Street Ministries:  new socks men and women’s – ankle and crew – white.  New men’s boxer briefs – M L XL.  Sports bras- new.  Consignment ready summer clothes – t-shirts, shorts, etc., and I have created a list on Amazon of personal care travel size items:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5BE4ICKT49WW?ref_=wl_share

Thank you for all of the items dropped off at the church for Grace Street Ministries.  I was able to put together many toiletry bags to give out this week.   Thank you, Nancy

Access worship video on the church Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NYCC04097/ (you do not need to be a FB user – just click past the create account box to get to our public page)

OR you may access it directly on our YouTube channel (subscribe to our channel while you are there) at youtube.com/c/nyccucc