Join us for Worship!
We are worshiping in person on Sundays 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. You can also give by text: Text “Give” to 883-751-0314.

A Note from the Office
The office will close at 11:00 am on Thursday, February 16th.

The church office will be closed on Monday, February 20 for the Presidents Day holiday.

Chicken Pie Supper Raffle Winners!

Congratulations to our winners of the Chicken and Gravy Pie Dinner. They are Erin F., Gwen P., Kathy K. and Tammie T. Thank you to everyone for participating in the raffle fundraiser. We received $1,440 to benefit the church.

Community Food Pantry Donations, a new twist.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the “Souper” Bowl food pantry campaign.

The final grocery cart score is:

Chiefs – 40
Eagles – 18
And Souper Bowl? What Souper Bowl? 30

Congratulations to the Chiefs!🏈 – We got it right!

Ash Wednesday Soup Supper
You have probably heard by now that we, NYCC, is hosting this year’s Ash Wednesday service and inviting Gray Congregational and New Gloucester Congregational. NYCC will be providing soup, biscuits, and corn bread at 5:30pm ahead of the 6:3 pm service. Jeff S. and I both have signed up for making soups but we could use at least two more good size soups to make sure we have enough soup to go around. There is a sign up sheet in the gathering space for soups, biscuits and corn bread. Thanks All! Marsha

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND
Soup Supper @ 5:30pm
Worship @6:30 pm
Sharing bread and worship with North Yarmouth, New Gloucester and Gray Congregational Churches

The Transfiguration of the Lord
Rev. Dr. Paul A. Day

In the Covenant Congregational Church of my youth we did not pay much attention to the
festivals and seasons of the Church Year beyond Advent-Christmas, Holy Week-Easter, and
Pentecost/Confirmation Sunday. More than that was somehow viewed as “Catholic.” Then came
the worship renewal movement of the 1970s and a recovery of much of (small c) catholic
tradition in Protestant churches. You see, we discovered that in rejecting some of those
traditions, we had “thrown out the baby with the bath water.”

One of the “lesser festivals” was the “Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.” It was observed
on August 6th, so it still did not receive much attention. (Some parts of the Church still observe
that date.) Then came the ecumenical liturgical reforms. The celebration of the Transfiguration
was moved to the last Sunday after Epiphany.

The Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1-9) makes a perfect bookend to the season which begins
with the Baptism of the Lord (Matthew 3:13-17). For, as Jesus came up out of the water, the
Voice from heaven declared, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” And
on the Mount of Transfiguration “a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice
said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’”

On Sunday I will share a bit about my own experience on the Mount of the Transfiguration in
Israel, and how we handle “mountain-top” moments. Join us for worship in the sanctuary or on-
line, as you are able.

Transfiguration Sunday also marks the transition from Epiphany to Lent. After coming down
from the mountain Jesus set his face to Jerusalem, beginning the journey to the Cross, and beganteaching his followers to take up their own cross and follow him.

February 21 is Shrove Tuesday. “Shrove” comes from an old verb – “shriven” – that means
receiving absolution, or forgiveness, and making a fresh start. Traditionally, it was celebrated
with a pancake supper – a perfect way to use up whatever fats/oils and syrup (and bacon) was
left in the house. The day is more widely known as Mardi Gras (literally, Fat Tuesday) – a party
to use up fats and sweets. In Latin cultures it is known as Carneval (literally, “Farewell, meat.)
Then, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22. Again, join us for worship at 6:30 pm, if
you are able. We will be hosting our brothers and sisters from the Gray and New Gloucester
Congregational churches.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Paul

A Message from our Moderator
The following article on “Alive and Thrive at any Size” includes a list of educational sessions which are provided by Marisa Laviola, our conference minister. They cover mainline churches and the changes we are seeing in our congregations, i.e. dwindling numbers in the pews plus more. I plan to attend the April session which is on a Saturday. Is there anyone else who would like to attend with me or go to another session? Call me at 207-653-1966.

Maine Conference
United Church of Christ
ALIVE AND THRIVE AT ANY SIZE!
This spring, Marisa will be offering a vitality workshop, Alive & Thrive at Any Size, at four locations around the state. The workshops focus on church vitality for the 21st century, including the topics of:

Becoming a mission church: reaching out into the greater community
Engaging community partners for mission
“Right-sizing” governance to prevent burnout as numbers in the pews decrease
Creative ways for pastors and lay leaders to work together
Reaching the unchurched and inviting them into the life of the church
Marisa has presented these workshops many times as ACM in Penn Central Conference. Typically, they are geared toward smaller churches that are struggling to consider their future in the 21st century. All churches are invited because all of us are struggling with this question, no matter the size.

Please register for one of the following events:
Second Christian Church in Kittery – March 18
Winthrop Congregational Church – April 22
West Parish in Bethel – May 6
Hammond St. Congregational Church in Bangor – June 10
All workshops are 9am to 3pm, bring your own lunch
Morning coffee and drinks for lunch are provided

Hybrid options are available

Questions? Contact Marisa mlaviola@maineucc.org

Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola
Conference Minister

Please keep the following people in your prayers

Sandra and Vince Golonka
Dot Hayward
Wayne Malloch
Blanche Mays
Cindy Tompson

NYCC Clothing Ministry

Thank you all for your generosity. Carloads of clothing have been donated and bags of gloves, hats and socks have been given out. The warm winter wear is making lives easier for those living outside and new Mainers who have arrived with next to nothing. Thank you, your generosity is astounding.

The Clothing Ministry of NYCC collects basic warm clothing and accessories to be given out by the NYCC Street Ministry or donated to Maine Needs or Preble Street. If you are so moved, please add your contribution to the boxes in the gathering space. Most needed and asked for items:
Warm Socks
Waterproof Gloves
Hand Warmers
Underwear
Scarfs
These items will be given out with the lunches when the NYCC crew visits Portland.

If you have gently used warm coats, boots, snow pants, warm clothing, that you would like to give, please add these to the boxes, too. These items will be donated to Maine Needs or Preble Street. Questions, please ask Jeanne or Tracy.

Dear Friend:

The news continues to unfold about the devastating earthquake on the border of Turkey and Syria. The death toll continues to rise – numbers are pointing to over 5,000 – depending on the source. This is shattering news and adds to the challenges of the war in this area for over a decade.

The UCC has posted a prayer and short statement in response to this crisis. While the earthquake was on the border, the tremors were felt as far away as Lebanon and Cyprus. At this time, we are issuing an appeal to help recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria. It is hard to tell what other areas are affected or the extent of the damage from this seismic event.

Amid this current uncertainty, you can be certain that with your financial support the United Church of Christ will be there helping those in need. Give generously by clicking here. You may also text UCCDISASTER to 41444.

Sincerely,

image
Kent Siladi

Director of PhilanthropyTwitter YouTube Instagram

*If you are more comfortable writing a check to the church please write disaster relief in the memo line.

February Meetings
February 16 – Council will meet in person at 6:30 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal – Wednesday Nights at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday Morning at 8:30 am in the Sanctuary

Tuesday Gals meets on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Men’s Club meets on the third Saturday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at Toddy Brook

Pet Place Pantry is open on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00-10:00 a.m.