Weekly News for January 5, 2022

Covid Precautions Update
The Omicron variant is surging especially after the holidays with lots of wonderful family and friends indoor gatherings. While it is reported to not be as awful as previous variants, there are way more people contracting it and the healthcare system is overwhelmed and vulnerable folks are still at high risk. At my request, the council has agreed to go entirely remote with worship for the month of January and we will reassess at the January Council meeting. This decision was very difficult. Many other churches and organizations are also agonizing over how to move forward. In an abundance of caution and an effort to help and love our neighbors and each other, join me in prayer that we will be through this soon knowing that God is always with us.

Please join us on YouTube as we gather for worship on Sundays at 9:30am. I would really like to know who is there so if you sign in early please identify yourselves and there will be a couple spots for you to respond to during worship and we will take online prayer requests over chat during prayer time as well.

In Christ, Pastor Nancy

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. Thank you.

Join us for Worship!
We are now worshiping online only for the month of January on Sunday at 9:30 am. For those who wish to join us online 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. If you wish to make an offering it can be made online through Tithely at https://tithe.ly/give?c=1301940

A Word from the Kitchen
Hello NYCC members.
With many people both members and guests of our church coming and going through our kitchen it is very important it be kept clean for all. This includes if a cup or utensils are used they are to be cleaned and put away. We would not expect you to crank up the dishwasher so we have a dish tub available for use that is in one of the big sinks. Please once clean put on a rack in the clean side of the dishwasher. Other examples are If you use a sink please scrub it out, or after prepping some food it may be necessary to sweep or even mop the floor.
With Mark not around so much to look after the kitchen it is up to us to keep it presentable for ourselves as well as renters. WE CAN DO IT!!

Thanks Cathy Bunton
Trustee

January Board and Committee Meetings

January 4 – Diaconate at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89733746228?pwd=WW5OeGJLUXE1MnZpMkM4TlpkaGNLUT09

January 7 – Missions at 7 pm via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85783052095?pwd=RHNVemYrejhUZnc0YncyQXYrQlZPQT09

January 9 – Faith Formation Meeting

January 11 at 6:30 p.m. – Trustees – Via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83667379574?pwd=MktBWU5wYytXREt0cVFEZW9McTFRUT09

January 20 at 6:30 p.m. – Council – Via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81321017944?pwd=QzkwRll0ajhuV3FXVTBPYjJJU1RJQT09

COMMITTEE AND BOARD HEADS
Please get your committee’s or board’s ANNUAL REPORT to Kathy Whittier before SUNDAY, JANUARY 7. Reports (except Treasurer) should be in Word format. For any questions, please contact Kathy at 254-7509 or kwhit119@yahoo.com. Thanks!
Reports due from:
Pastor
Trustees
Moderator
Vice Moderator
Faith Formation
Missions
Choir Director
Stewardship
Nominating
Men’s Club
Women’s Fellowship/Tuesday Gals
Treasurer

Vice-Moderator/Financial Secretary/Stewardship
The pledge envelopes are in and your names are on them. They are on the Gathering Space table and in alphabetical order by last name. If you can not get in to pick yours up , I can deliver it to you. If you choose to send your pledges in in just a regular envelope that works fine.

End of year giving reports are ready. I was able to hand out quite a few this past Sun. However, I think we will be worshipping virtually for the month of Jan. so I’ll pop those that are left in the mail. I almost want to apologize for what looks to be to be a very unnecessarily difficult and cluttered mish mash report. The figure that matters in in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

Unless the situation changes before our Annual Meeting, we will be going into the new year with several board, committee, and Council positions lacking in membership. Just saying !

On a more positive note, we have received a few more pledges this past week and we are closing in on the $100,000 figure. (last year we had $110,000 pledged) I am hopeful that a few more folks will support NYCC. One of my biggest concerns is that we are going to be shocked at the increases in the utility bills. Lyn has told me what she has heard form some of the companies. It’s not easy to hear.

Jeanne

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

Community Food Pantry
The first Sunday of the month has been designated as Food Pantry Collection Sunday. We will be focusing on non food items. Current pantry needs include:

Paper towels                     Laundry Detergent
Toilet Paper                       Dish Soap
Tissues                              Diapers
Deodorant                         Pull-ups
Shampoo                           Baby Wipes
Conditioner Feminine Hygien Products

Please add your donation to the grocery cart in the Gathering Space. You can donate to the cart at any time.

Grace Street MinistryCalling all gloves!!!!!! you all have been unbelievably generous this fall as always. Now I am hoping that we can become the ‘glove church’. We are in desperate need of warm gloves for men and women – both knitted and other. I have found some at Job Lots that are not too expensive in the past. Maybe you have another source. Thank you in advance – I would love to be able to share with both Pastor Jeff and Pastor Karen. Thank you, Pastor Nancy

Access worship directly on our YouTube channel (subscribe to our channel while you are there) at youtube.com/c/nyccucc

Bread Exchange ~ Sunday, January 16^th 11:30 amRelationships develop when we care for one another. Hospitality focuses on serving and caring for another person. In restaurants, we are served bread first as a sign of welcoming and generosity or bounty. Abraham not only offered bread, but he instructed his wife to use the finest flour to make the bread [Genesis 18:6]. He offered his guests the best food.

David chose to honor the memory of his dear friend Jonathon with continual hospitality to his son Mephibosheth. In 1 Samuel 9:7 David said he would show him kindness and Mephibosheth would eat bread at his table continually. David showed extravagance. These examples remind us to give our best to others and be hospitable to strangers and relatives of friends. Relaxing at meals with bread inspires conversation and sharing what’s important, including our faith.
When God guided the Israelites through the wilderness, he gave them bread daily in the form of manna showing them, He was continually with them and providing for their needs.

The account of Jesus feeding thousands of people with bread and fish shows extravagant love. The miracle went beyond mere food. It showed us the compassion of Jesus and his ability to provide much more than we need seen in the baskets of leftovers. [John 6]
Bread is made from several basic ingredients. Each one reminds us of a characteristic of Jesus.
·    Wheat or other grain: Jesus used a golden kernel of wheat being buried in the ground to produce a great crop to explain His need to die and be buried to bring great glory [John 12:23-24].
·    Oil used in anointing prophets and kings reflects Christ, the Anointed One. Oil tenderizes the bread and Jesus, and His forgiveness makes our hearts tender.
·    Unleavened reflects sinlessness of Christ. The leavening used in the bread of Pentecost [Leviticus 23:15-17] reminds us of the growing kingdom of God. Jesus used leaven to illustrate how the kingdom of God spreads and grows [Matthew 13:33]. The transforming ability of Jesus who causes us to rise to heaven.
·    Eggs bring the golden color to bread and add fullness to the taste. Eggs are used to depict the tomb. Jesus spoke of eggs as a good gift [Luke 11:12-13]. He brings fullness to our lives.
·    Water (liquids) cause steam within a loaf of bread that causes additional rising. Jesus provides water that springs up to eternal life [John 4:14].

Please join us at NYCC for a parking lot exchange of a loaf of bread ~ masked and socially distant. Please add a note of encouragement, good wishes, or a prayer for the recipient. May we feed one another’s mind, body, and spirit. We need all Jesus provides to satisfy our souls.

I am happy to pick up and deliver bread to anyone unable to attend ~ Sara Rose 829-2037