CCB Amazing - Sep'13: New Website is Here!

CCB Amazing!

News & Events to Nourish Your Soul By

Greetings!

Welcome back from all you were doing this summer. Even though we kind of slow down (or at least speed up the fun!), there was and is much going on at our Church.

We have to mobilize for Tavern Day, the Malerbo Concession Stand and get back into the swing of things with Worship, school and work!

But, before getting into what's coming up a MAJOR Announcement:

New Website, New URL (www.ccburlingtonct.org)

That's right...I finally got backed in the corner enough by the former hosting company and with a donation from my company, we now have a new WordPress website!

You can access the new website at a new web address of www.ccburlingtonct.org. I cannot guarantee that we will be able to use the old one as the hosting company owns it, not our Church.

I will work with that company in the hopes of the releasing it to us, but this new URL should be used on all materials going forward. Big news, but there is much more...so please read on and please help out where you can as this is super busy Fundraising weekend.

Fundraising: Quite Simply, HELP...Please!!

It's been very active the past few months and will continue in the future, so please support as many as you can...each success helps out immensely!

Scrips Program Participation

The last report was a declining participation heading into summer and this month's Church Council meeting confirmed we have dropped the ball on this simple fundraiser.

Now that we are back, check out the re-designed Scrips website and see just how easy it is to learn how Scrips works, keep up with the latest Promos & News and to leave comments, ideas or questions about Scrips so we can make it even easier!

Scrips cards are a perfect way to contribute to the church without spending more money!

Tavern Day - Help Needed for Saturday & Sunday, September 7th & 8th
Sue Laramie emailed me and indicated she needs help during the following times to make Tavern Day the huge success it was last year:

Saturday: Two (2) People to do food prep from 9 to 11 am
Sunday: Three (3) People from 1 to 3 pm at the food tents
Sunday: One (1) Person from 3 to 4:30 to wrap-up/clean-up

Donations can be dropped off Friday, September 6th between 6 and 6:30 pm at the Church.

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous and we raised quite a bit of funds last year, more than expected. With one year of grilling under our belt, it can be even better! Come make it so!

Malerbo Field - Saturday Help Needed as Well
We did not have to make an emergency call for help last Spring and would like to have volunteers check out the Malerbo Sign-up sheets to pick times that are still open. I don't count this as an emergency since it's Week 1 and the first call for help.

Here is what Maryann needs to make it happen, all on Saturday:

Two (2) People for 9:30 am to 10:30 am
Two (2) People for 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Two (2) People for 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

We see the regulars starting to sign-up, but if you want to do something easy and get to know someone outside your "normal" social circles...then Malerbo Field is your ticket! Join Us!

Can & Bottle AND Clothing Drive - October 12th
from 8:30 am until 12:00 Noon

You will soon seen the signs around confirming that the rumor is true...The Big Tex is once again going to roll for our quarterly Can & Bottle Drive.

We literally had another record breaking haul on July 20th with 19,990 returnables counted for a total of $809.60 earned by all who braved the heat that day!! WOW!!

In addition, we'll be collecting all the clothing, shoes, belts, purses, linens like last April. Maryann Burns will get sheets made with the "rules" and I will be posting items to our new, sleek News & Fundraising blogs...did I mention we have a new website??

Harwinton Fair - October 5th and 6th

The Fundraising Committee has reserved our space but now need your creative talents. We need your quality handmade items that you would be interested in donating.

Items could include art work, photography, ceramics, pottery, stained glass, mosaics, knitted or crocheted items, cross-stitched, quilts, afghans, greeting cards, metals, wood crafts, etc.

We will also need volunteers to fill in time blocks for both days, so please check your calendars and sign-up in the Chapel Room or email Sue Laramie what time slots you can fill.

The fair is open Saturday from 8 am until 6 pm and on Sunday from 8 am until 5 pm.

Did I mention we have a new website? Oh, I did...then you probably know more News will be at your fingertips there.

CE Corner - Sunday School Starts the 15th!

WELCOME BACK! Church School is about to start, ushering in a new and exciting year!

We begin this year with a brand new curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit (www.seasonsonline.ca).

Our new curriculum comes directly from the UCC website and it follows the lectionary, which will potentially allow parents and children to hear the same Bible passages each week.

The curriculum includes age appropriate suggestions for each week's discussion and activities.

We will begin the Sunday School year with an opportunity for all of the kids and their parents to join us on September 8th so that we can welcome you, take a peek at the new curriculum, and meet the teachers.

The following Sunday, September 15th will be our official Welcome Back Sunday with actual classes that will be followed by a Pot Luck lunch.

Speaking of the Pot Luck Luncheon

We would like to invite everyone to join us in kicking off the new Sunday School year with our Pot Luck luncheon directly after church service on September 15th.

We will all be contributing something for the meal and we are asking that families with last names beginning with:

A through K to bring a salad or dessert
L through Z to bring an entree/sandwich/finger food

Whatever you can bring, that would be wonderful! Hope to see you all there.

From the Superintendent & Asst. Superintendent

Confirmation classes are forming now and we need to get a list of the kids for each class and the schedule.

Please email Jill Treff or Tim Higley if you have a student going into 8th or 9th grade this year and would like to have them participate in our two year Confirmation Program.

We would like the 8th Grade Confirmations students and their parents to be available for a quick organizational meeting on September 15th from 12:30 to 1:00 at the Church. Enjoy the Pot Luck and then please stay for the meeting.

Teachers, teachers, teachers......what can we say?

We can always use more teachers! Please let us know if you can teach or substitute this year. Thank you all!

Music Committee News

Choir Resumes

The Choir will be starting their Fall Season at 8:30 am on September 15th.

Interested in joining the Choir? Know of someone who has mentioned an interest? Well, we have a few empty choir chairs available (the best seats in the house!). We are in need of "altos", but anyone that likes to sing and can commit to the early Sunday practice is more than welcome.

Just contact our Music Director, Chris Dabbo, or simply join us on September 15th @ 8:30 am for practice.

There are no auditions, just open arms and fellowship!

More News of Interest...

The Business Committee has been actively managing several projects this summer. Here is the status updates on some of the big hitters:

Water Line Hook-up - Completed over the summer.
Men's Room Toilet Replacement - A cracked tank was the cause of some minor leaking and we will be making repairs to that area. For now, please note that the regular toilet is Out of Order until further notice.
Roof Replacement - Due to heat and rain in July, this project did not kick off until August 26th, but the good news is there have been no major issues and it's about 50% to 60% finished. Please pardon the work related inconveniences, it's for the safety of the workers and visitors to our Church.

Look for details on the "Raise the Roof! Buy a Bundle" fundraising program later this month...we get a 40-year roof today and pay ourselves back over the next few years...a win-win for all!

In This Issue

Fundraising Updates

CE Corner - Kick Off Sunday the 15th

Music News

More News of Interest

Pastor's Monthly Message

From the
Deacon's Bench

Moments With God

Special Links

Our Church Family
Church Calendar
Fundraising
Steeple Lighting Form

Scrips Promo Page

Newsletter Tip:
Want to share an event or story with someone not attending our Church?

Share it to many friends at once by clicking your favorite social media icon in the bar at the top of the email.

Have one friend in mind? Click the Forward to a Friend button below, it's that simple!!

You can do one or more...spread The Word!

Did anyone notice the new Logo for the Church??? It's in the Header and matches the softer palette being used by the WordPress theme.

I would like to thank Brigitte DiBenedetto, owner of iGrafix Creative Solutions, who matched a price less than her normal rate and programmed a solid, responsive website theme for us. Full disclosure, I trusted her with my company website and now our Church website...she is that good! Thank you, Brigitte for all the support and help you have given me this past week.

So, let me know your thoughts, ideas and "can you do this" questions. I am able to do much more with this platform than the old website.

If you have an interest in WordPress, social media, blogging and other inbound marketing techniques then this is the place to learn. Volunteering and learning today can lead to other opportunities down the line...maybe with a certain company I happen to run.

I hope you all enjoy the new website and as time goes on, we'll all be amazed at how much we can do to share our faith, to promote our Church and to successfully raise funds to help others.

Welcome back!

Jerry Burns
Business Committee Chair
Digital Marketing & Management Chair