Vacation Bible School: Fruits of the Spirit

Posted on by Lisa Bell

9 a.m. to noon July 8-12

Join us for Vacation Bible School at Community UCC, for children ages 4 through sixth grade. This year we will use Fruits of the Spirit curriculum created by Global Ministries. We will explore God’s presence in the Caribbean.

Each day the children will be learning about a fruit of the spirit, a Biblical character who exemplifies that value, a different country, and what life is like there in the words of children who live there today. We will also have snacks, have some play time, sing, and make crafts.

Contact the church office to register — 559.435.2690.

Zion beerock recipe

Posted on by Lisa Bell

100_4150~ Recipe of Helen and Mollie Lust, provided by Eileen White

Dough:

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 ½ packages dry yeast
  • ¼ cup of sugar
  • ½ tablespoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • Approximately 5 ½ cups of flour

Scald milk; add sugar, salt and oil. Cool. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. Add to the milk, then add beaten egg. Add 3 cups of flour and beat until smooth. Add remaining flour and knead well.

Let rise until double in bulk, approximately one hour. Punch down and divide dough into 1-lb. Balls. Let rise again until doubled. Roll out and cut into 6 portions.

Filling:

  • 8 cups of ground chuck roast, roasted and prepared with bay leaves, onion, salt, pepper and garlic
  • 2 onions (1 cup sauteed)
  • 1 ½ to 2 heads of cabbage (8-10 cups sauteed) or more if preferred
  • Salt and pepper

Ground beef may be used or added if desired. With a little oil in Dutch oven, saute shredded cabbage and chopped onions. Do not brown or overcook.

Mix ground chuck roast and cabbage-onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper and cool. Place ½ cup filling on each section of dough. Bring 4 corners together and pinch seams well. Turn upside down on a greased flat pan.

Set in a warm place to rise from 15-20 minutes. May brush with egg wash to make a nice golden brown top. Bake at 350-400 degress for 20-25 minutes. Makes about 20 beerocks.

 

Aug. 30-Sept. 1: Joyfully Joining Journeys at Camp Tamarack

Posted on by Lisa Bell

Click here to watch a photo slideshow of Camp Tam on our Facebook page.
Hi Everyone!

Though our church is famous for its last-minute commitments, delayed decisions, and late arrivals, we are now at that LAST MINUTE MOMENT, real soon. August is upon us and we now have about three weeks to the deadline for sign-ups.

However, it is a very convenient procedure. Marilyn has copies of the Registration form, which can be picked up in person (in the office) or sent to you electronically. Registrations Forms are also on the electronic message board in the Narthex. Just return it with a check or credit card payment and you’re on the list. JOYFULLY JOINING JOURNEYS, our theme for this year’s camp, will be, well….. JOYFUL!!

It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other in new and different ways and to make new friends from our neighboring churches. You’ll will find peace, pleasure, fun, good food, and spiritual enrichment in this lovely place in the Tamarack forest– where the creek bubbles along nearby.

Please come to join us because this is an experience to join that you will not want to miss. SIGN up for the Labor Day weekend or just for the Saturday DAY to attend this GREAT experience that weekend. You will have this weekend to add to your memorable experiences of your lifetime. JOY and Houray!!

Questions? Contact Annie Van Patten, family camp director, at 209.902.2033 or at teechrannie@comcast.net.

Holy Week Schedule

Posted on by Lisa Bell

Palm Sunday, April 14 to Easter Sunday, April 21

  • Palm Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m., beginning with congregational procession with palms waving. Sermon is the culmination of the Busy series, placing ourselves: mind, body and soul to see the beautiful as life speeds on.
  • Good Friday at noon in the sanctuary, a brief service (less than 30 minutes). Sanctuary open until 3 p.m. for mediation and prayer
  • Easter Morning:
    • Sunrise service by the Fey Peace Garden at 6:15 a.m. (NOTE: This is a different location than in year’s past) On this glorious Easter morning, we’ll come together to share the New Life that Easter celebrates. We’ll gather at the Fey Peace Garden in the semi circle tile bench/patio area just as the sun is rising, as it did on the first Easter morning. We’ll have music with EJ, a reflection by Pastor Ara, communion, and an interactive event that enriches the message of Jesus’ resurrection. Please come attend this unique service. It will nourish your soul and will encourage the SON-to shine through you to others. (Here’s a link to a Facebook slideshow from the 2018 Sunrise service.)
    • Easter breakfast and fellowship from 7:15-10 a.m. in Hayden Hall. A light, delicious breakfast will follow the Sunrise service with leisurely fellowship.
    • Easter worship in Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. The Sanctuary will be adorned with the beautiful blooms and aroma of Easter Lillies donated by loved ones. White firmaments will float above as we gather to sing familiar songs (and some unfamiliar songs), re-experience the Easter story, share communion and greet one another. It is always an uplifting experience that will nourish your soul. Come join us and depart full of the joy of Easter.
    • Easter egg hunt, children will prepare in Sunday School; the Youth Group will lead the egg hunt immediately after worship (for all ages, especially people under 10 years of age)
    • No Fellowship following 10:30 service (unless there are leftovers from breakfast.)

Family bingo night March 16

Posted on by Lisa Bell

The Faith Education Team will host a Bingo night fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, March 16, in Hayden Hall. Tickets are: $5 for ages 5-11, $10 for ages 12 and up, $25/household, free for ages 4 and under.

Ticket price includes dinner (grilled cheese, soup and dessert) and bingo prizes. Contact anyone in Faith Education for more details. A portion of the proceeds will go to Marjaree Mason Center to purchase snacks and art supplies for children there.

Karri Jones or Eileen White can answer questions.

On the Threshold of Lent

Posted on by Lisa Bell

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, March 6. Ashes to Go (drive-thru imposition of ashes) will be available from 7 to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot. Then in the evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. we will have a brief service of Ashes and Communion. We will cycle through the Service four times in this hour. All are welcome at any time with the cycle.

The central portion of our Lenten Season this year will be our LENTEN SERVICE SUNDAYS.

Each Sunday of Lent, beginning on March 10, we will have a light lunch and then engage in an activity that will build up the body and spirit of our congregation. The first step is gathering the resources for the season. Therefore…

Needs for Lenten Service Sundays

Week 1, March 10:

Bread-baking machines, experienced bread bakers

Beginning around 9 a.m. by preparing the dough, we will bake dozens of loaves of bread. Each participating baker will take one loaf home, one loaf to give to someone within 24 hours. Dozens of loaves will remain refrigerated/frozen at the church for Week 2’s activity and for communion throughout the Lenten season and Holy Week.

Week 2, March 17:

4 cases of 36 (500 ml) bottles of water; peanut butter, jelly, jam, or preserves; cans of tuna; travel size hand sanitizer; Ziploc bags- sandwich and gallon size; socks

Going to G Street to distribute after making sandwiches with the bread we baked last Sunday.

Week 3, March 24:

What music/song(s) address your spirit? Please forward song title and artist of music you associate with refuge, inspiration, celebration, and/or meditation to EJ Hinojosa prior to March 15. Send to ejhinojosa@hotmail.com. We will be enriched by the varied and myriad music we will experience on this afternoon.

Week 4, March 31:

Laundry detergent pods; dryer sheets; money to purchase laundry cards; Ziploc quart size bags.

We will offer a free wash and dry at various laundromats throughout Fresno for Lent.

Week 5, April 7:

All Church Work afternoon!

We will have all sorts of tasks appropriate for every person in our congregation as we prepare our buildings and grounds for Palm Sunday and Easter. Specific information will be available by March 15.

There will be a Lenten study at Roger and Vicky Wall’s home (5139 N. Poplar) on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., beginning on March 13. We will be studying five pastoral psalms that inform the theme for Lenten worship:

BUSY and Missing the Beautiful

A full Lenten and Holy Week schedule will be available on the website, eNews and on paper at the church next week at this time.

Blaze Pizza Fundraiser March 7

Posted on by Lisa Bell

The Blaze Pizza at River Park (185 Paseo Del Centro) will host a fundraiser for Community UCC from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 7. Our church will receive 20 percent of proceeds during that time.

Pick up a flyer from church or save this image below to your phone. The flyer (or image on your phone) must be presented when you order. Let’s break bread together and raise some money for our church! Contact Patty Parks if you have questions.

(Donation amount excludes proceeds from tax and gift card purchases. Valid for dine-in and take-out only. Not valid for online orders. Alcoholic beverages excluded. Event proceeds void if flyers are distributed in or near restaurant.)

UCC Flyer-001

Saturday Breakfast Group to meet Jan. 12

Posted on by Lisa Bell

Mark your calendars for the next meeting of the Saturday Breakfast Group at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, in the Conference Room. Elizabeth Davis Russell will talk about her experiences as the founder of a university in Liberia. EJ Hinojosa will furnish breakfast.

Usually, the group will meet on the first Saturday of each month, but we shifted the January meeting since some people might still be traveling or on vacation for the holidays on the first Saturday in January. Contact Phil Fullerton to learn more.

(Photo from the December gathering)