Weekly News for January 30,2022

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 wish to join us for Zoom Coffee Hour http://bitly.ws/o5mK. 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

Dear Friends in Christ,
I have been ministering with you here at North Yarmouth Congregational Church for over six years. It has been my unbelievable blessing that God called me to be your Pastor. After considerable thought, prayer and discernment, I have decided to retire effective July 31, 2022. I cannot adequately express my sincere gratitude to you all for the honor of serving God with you and sharing the love of Jesus with our community and world. This decision while the right one for me and my family, also brings me great sadness as I truly care for you and I love North Yarmouth Congregational Church.

I wish I could have met individually with each of you to share this news. Hearing about my plans for retirement in a letter may seem impersonal but in order for everyone to hear this announcement at approximately the same time, I have shared the news with a special called Council meeting on January 16^th and then immediately am sending this letter out to the entire congregation.

It has indeed been my honor and privilege to be your pastor these past six and a half years. I began this journey with you the beginning of September, 2015 as Bridge Pastor and I became your Called Pastor on January 3, 2016 – I am so grateful for these years together. We have shared life’s most holy and sacred moments in births and deaths, baptisms and hospital rooms, confirmations and diagnoses, weddings and funerals, nursing care and hospice care, and so much more. You have graciously invited me to share life’s greatest celebrations and challenges with you. For your extravagant welcome, I thank you. You have indeed welcomed me into your lives with open arms and God’s love – my heart is full. Your constant support and encouragement have been a true blessing.

We have been through a pandemic together and while at times our church doors have been closed to protect the least, the church has never been closed. I thank each and every one of you for being ‘the church’ during this unprecedented time by ministering and reaching out to all over the phone, through the mail and in a virtual online way – wow, the things we have done! Well done, good and faithful servants.

The “call Process” for a Pastor takes a year or more. The church council will work together with the Maine Conference Minister to lead this transition and call process. This is God’s church. This is your church. I invite you to be fully involved in helping to determine NYCC’s future.
I pray I will have the opportunity to speak to each of you personally during these next 6 months.

With gratitude and love,
Pastor Nancy

February Board and Committee Meetings

February 1 – Diaconate at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89733746228?pwd=WW5OeGJLUXE1MnZpMkM4TlpkaGNLUT09

February 8 at 6:00 p.m. – Trustees – Via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83667379574?pwd=MktBWU5wYytXREt0cVFEZW9McTFRUT09

February 13 – Faith Formation Meeting

February 17 at 6:30 p.m. – Council – Via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81321017944?pwd=QzkwRll0ajhuV3FXVTBPYjJJU1RJQT09

Continuing Meetings

Tuesday Gals on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87121018997?pwd=RDZiRzlTSno4cW9xNi9GQkFWREVzdz09

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

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 Ministry
Calling 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