A Letter from Blue Grass:  The Joyful Feast
August, 2019
Rev. Timothy Haut
Deep River Congregational Church

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This Week January 29 - February 5, 2023
Sunday -         Worship Services, 8:30 and 10:00 a.m.  (10:00 is live streamed)
                       Sunday School & Teen Issues, 10:00 a.m.
                       Sunday School Breakfast & PJ Day
Monday -         Transitions Academy, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
                       Women’s AA, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday -         Transitions Academy, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
                        Exercise Class with Dale, 9:30 -10:30 a.m.
                        CT River Valley Symphonic Band Rehearsal, 6:00 – 9:15 p.m.
                        Girl Scout Troop Meeting, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
                         Bible Study Via Zoom, 7:00  - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday -    Transitions Academy, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
                        Book Study, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Thursday -       Soup Kitchen Curbside Pick-Up, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
                        Senior Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 p.m.
                         A.A., 7:00 p.m.
Friday -             Transitions Academy, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Sunday -           Worship Services, 8:30 and 10:00 a.m.  (10:00 is live streamed)
                         Sunday School & Teen Issues, 10:00 a.m.
                         Scout Sunday - 8:30 a.m. & 10:00 p.m.

There are volunteer sign-up sheets in Fellowship Hall.  If you would like to be a Lay Reader, donate flowers for worship or host Family Fellowship following 8:30 or 10:00 worship, from Feb. – Apr., please add your name. 

Deacons on Duty for January
Marilyn Guffey is Deacon on Call, Donna Sheldon is Sanctuary Rep and Jane Syme is arranging for Lay Readers and Flowers.

Birthdays This Week

John Bengston, Kathleen Bengston, Tyler Hunter, Andrew Turner, Michael Noti, Marina Capezzone (29); Jacob Cayer, Bonnie Brenneman, Matt Rowland (30); Joan Anderson, Alyssa Lucarelli, Briana Lucarelli, Betty Munsell, Joyce Malcolm, Barbara Grieder, Nathan Szymanski (31); Bevan Crighton, Rocco Devona (1); John Kollmer, Jr., Dillon Eriksson, Lorraine Shepard, Varrick Recchia (2); John deLaura (3); Avery Moore, Hanna Moore, Leah Sopneski, Tamara Tabor, Fern Tryon, Neil Hamblett (4).

 

Sunday School
We look forward to seeing all our friends in Sunday School this week. Please go into the Sanctuary for the special Scout presentation and we will leave together during the hymn of dismissal. After you meet your teacher in the fellowship hall, we will split off into grade levels for religious instruction.

Spread the good word about our Sunday School program! It is open to all in the community, so bring your friends and neighbors! Join the fun and participate in all the activities that we offer!
 
NURSERY
Our nursery is also back in session! Our teachers are ready to greet your little one. We have a simple curriculum for this class including large picture story books and prayer shells. You are welcome to bring one or two toys along with marked bottles and pacifiers, if needed.

SCOUT SUNDAY - Scout Sunday will be held on February 5. All current Scouts are welcome to attend worship in uniform. We have invited area Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops to our celebration. We will celebrate this day with a Scout themed coffee hour to include s’mores, trail mix and more! Looking for some Girl and Boys Scouts or a Scout troop who would like to speak during the service. The message should only be a few minutes about your experiences in Scouting. Please contact Sybil at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details. If you are an Eagle Scout or earned the highest rank for Girl Scouts (Gold Award, 1st Class, Eaglet), contact the church office with award earned and year so you can be recognized in the bulletin. Note: We do have the list from last year, please call to confirm or to add if need be.

CHILI COOK-OFF – TEAMS NOW FORMING-SIGN UP TODAY - ONLY A TWO SPACES LEFT!
Warm up for the “Big Game” on Sunday, February 12, by joining us on the culinary gridiron in a battle of gastronomic proportions. Twelve teams with be facing off in Fellowship Hall following the 10:00 service in our 8th Annual Chili Cook Off. Come taste and vote for your favorite chili. Your vote will help decide our “Chili Champion” for 2023. There will be both meat and vegetarian entries. Chili will be available for purchase. Take a pint home to enjoy during the game. What better way to start off the Super Bowl festivities than enjoying this delicious competition! Proceeds go to the Souper Bowl collection which benefits the Shoreline Soup Kitchen. Contact Sybil at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your spot.

START SAVING YOUR COINS FOR THE SOUPER BOWL - Not a typo; just a great mission! Bring in your spare change to help fill our soup pot! Our Sunday School will be outside the Sanctuary on Super Bowl Sunday, February 12, for the annual collection of coins to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchen.

 

Teen Issues
The Teen Issues class meets each Sunday at 10:00 for students in Grades 9-12.

Youth and Family Director News

Midnight Run - ALL ITEMS DUE THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5
The Midnight Run will be happening on February 11th, and collections will begin in January. We will be collecting the following items: ADULT ONLY winter clothes new or gently used for men and women. Most wanted items are jeans, cargo pants, long sleeved shirts, sweatshirts (especially hoodies), and jackets. NEW men and women’s underwear, undershirts, and bras of all sizes. Hats, gloves, belts, and scarves. TRAVEL SIZE only toiletries, including, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, individual wipes or tissues, soap, shower gel, razors, women’s hygiene products, and masks. Reusable bags and backpacks are also appreciated as well as blankets and sleeping bags. All donations can be brought to the church office Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. or after the church services on Sunday mornings. We will collect items until February 5th.  As we get closer I will put out a list of food items needed as well. If you are interested in participating in any way please contact Chelsea at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. All are welcome in preparing food and organizing clothing however to go on the run you must be in high school or older. Priority will go to those in the Teen Issues class and we ask that everyone in grades 9th-12th participate in Teen Issues in the weeks leading up to the run. Due to logistics and space we will only be taking 25 people on the run so please let Chelsea know if you plan to come as soon as possible.

Youth Group:  Save the date!
Thursday, February 9th  6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. We’ll meet at the church to make Valentine’s and cookies to give out on the Midnight Run. Any questions about Youth Group can be directed to Chelsea Ehmke at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Believe It or Not Annual Report Time Is Near!!
If you are a Chair or Secretary of a Board or Committee, this is an early reminder that you will need to submit a report about your board or committee’s activities for 2022 to include in the Annual Report, which will be reviewed in March at our Annual Meeting. It would probably be in your best interest to complete your report now, while things are still fresh in your minds. Individual reminders will be sent out, if necessary!  Thank you, Kris

PRAYERS ARE NEEDED: The unity of prayers from members and friends of DRCC mean so much to the recipients. You may not know the names, but God knows their needs and circumstances as you lift them up. Please contact Kris Lindner (860-526-5045 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you know someone in need of prayers, but do get permission from the person before asking to add their names.

New Requests:
Tony Cataldo (broken ankle)
Mary Rayner
Jo Mather
Lori Staib (recovery from heart surgery)
    & Art (at home)
Pelle Emanuelsson (serious illness)
Vincent Virgulto
JV Contin (heart issues)
Nancy Warner (healing after a fall)
C (health concerns)
Aimee (serious health concerns)
Benjamin (serious health concerns)
Kris & Tom (safe travels)
Jim M. (health concerns)
Janet Kusins (serious condition)
Family of Jesse Kieffer
Kathy King (Covid)

Conntinued Prayers
ALL Health Care & Essential Workers, First Responders
Everyone affected by COVID-19
Our troops, Veterans & National Guard   
Residents in nursing homes
Joel (healing)                          Abbie                    
Phyllis H (recovery)                Clare (recovery)
Frank (heart)                           Melanie
Rita (amputation)                    Kevin
Alicia (lung cancer)                 Elizabeth C  
Sue (breast cancer)                Doug LaFaille
Nicole (cancer)                       Theresa Dee
James Maund (cancer)           Mason (cancer)
Hazel (Jane Vieira’s mom)      Baby Maverick    
Richard Smith                        Sylvia Tiezzi                           
Robin (cancer)                        John (recovery)                        
Jess, Chris & Family               Anna (cancer)
Robin (recovery)                      Bonnie Hunter
Joanne Lockwood                   Lauren
Dick Bogart                            Ashley
Donald (lymphoma)               
Travis (severe injury)              Joyce B. (recovery)
All those families grieving the recent loss of a loved one.    
(Carlton, Ward, French, Woodcock, & Weymer families)     
All those around the world affected by natural disasters, violence, & political unrest

Long Term Requests:
Carolyn Wehr              Claire Rider
Ed Bushnell                Kathy Harper
Mark Bruscoe             Pat Downey                    
Dottie Davis                Marion Beemer          
 Jon                           Mary Karam
Jerry Clark, Jr.             Noah Krebs                
Rev. Allen Humes        Sybil
Kathy & Ron               Carrie
Dale                           Ben T
Harry Gates                Conner                         
Lori Wilson                 Zachary                     
Mark & Lorianne         Ed Hemmann
Keith & Joan              People of Ukraine 

The Tuesday evening Bible Study meets this week on Zoom at 7:00 p.m.

GL SCRIP CARDS
Place your order during the month of February for your little Leprechauns! Elizabeth will be in Fellowship Hall after worship to collect orders for all those who will be “lucky” enough to receive a special gift! Gift cards for your own personal use, friends and relatives are available for birthdays, anniversaries, or other upcoming celebrations, like St. Patrick’s Day! You can earn money for the church by ordering gifts cards for various brands from the GL Scrip program. Plan ahead for only one order is submitted per month.

 

We have Adams Gift Cards readily available in $25, $50 or $100 increments for your groceries or as gifts and DRCC earns 5% of the card value. Call Elizabeth Root (203-430-1426) or email Sybil at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to place an order; we can deliver in the local area. Visit the church website for more information:

https://www.deeprivercc.org/events/fundraisers.html

DO YOU SEW?

The Sunday School needs school bags made for the CWS kits they are assembling. Over 100 bags are needed this year, which are simple to make; a 12”x14” finished bag with two 10” handles. We can’t assemble these kits without the bags; please contact Sybil for additional information at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Some material is available. We realize 100 bags is a large number, but we are hopeful that ten or so people will volunteer so we can reach our goal. If you have medium to heavy cotton on hand that you are not using, we will gladly accept your donation.

 

MARDI GRAS – LET’S CELEBRATE FEBRUARY 19

Join us Sunday, February 19 to celebrate Mardi Gras!

During our special coffee hour enjoy:

• Live Southern jazz music
• Pralines from New Orleans, Louisiana
• Pecan treats
• Tasty shrimP
• Masks/beads for all and more!
• Be sure to join the fun on February 19!  Feel free to dress for the occasion!

The Board of Christian Service is encouraging everyone, who can, to give blood.  

Tuesday Morning Exercise Group Has Room for Two More Members!
Are you ready to start the new year as a member of the church exercise class? Exercise is good for both physical and mental wellness. We have space for two more church members to join. Here is what three members have to say about the class.
Susan Miron: “Taking the exercise class, especially Pilates, has been life-changing for me.”
BJ Hopkins: “It would be great if more people would join us on Tuesday mornings for Pilates, yoga, aerobics, weight training, and most of all FUN!  All fitness levels can benefit from this class.”
Margaret Paulsen: “The class is challenging for me at times, but it is exactly what I need as I grow older. I feel safe because the instructor is a registered nurse and certified fitness instructor, and has been teaching for over 30 years.  She guides us through the moves and provides us with modifications. I always walk away feeling limber, stronger and more in touch with my body.”
Please feel free to come and observe any Tuesday morning at 9:30 AM or call Dale Litalien at 860-391-2007 for more information.

 

 

Support Groups at Our Church

Mondays at 7:00 p.m. - Women's AA

Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. – AA

Shoreline Soup Kitchen
Thursdays, Curb-side Pick-up, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.