Sermon Preview

Dear Friends,

On Sunday, we celebrate All Saints Day. We often associate this Christian holiday with Halloween and celebrations of costumes and candy, but it’s roots and meaning are much deeper. It is a time to remember that our lives are deeply interwoven with all those who have gone before us. We stand amidst a great cloud of witnesses and we stand in a lineage of all who have come before us. We also stand today among the saints—all of God’s people who have been called to lives of discipleship, devotion, and service to others. I’ll reflect on what this for us today in a sermon that I’m calling, Among the Saints. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, October 26 at 10:30 a.m.

Grace and peace,

Chris

Sunday Worship Scripture Readings

EPHESIANS 1:11-23    Page 964

PSALM 65                   Page 459

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 6:20-31 Page 837

SUNDAY SCHOOL & YOUTH GROUP

No Sundy School on October 12

Sunday School offers Godly Play for ages 4-12, and Youth Group for older students. Sunday School Classes resume on Rally Day! September 7. Registration is open for the Godly Play program.

Children are invited to sit with their families or to sit together in the sanctuary at the beginning of Worship Service. On Sunday School dates they proceed to their classrooms following the Children’s Sermon.

Watch for upcoming Youth Group activities and events.

For more information, please contact info@centralnewburyport.org or call the church office at 978-465-0533.

Central Happenings

SATURDAY MORNING COMMUNITY BREAKFAST is served from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Central Congregational Church, 14 Titcomb St, Newburyport MA. Join us at the table or request your meal to-go. Breakfast is always free, and your good-will donations are happily accepted to keep the program operating and providing weekend meals to those in need. All are welcome. If you are interested in helping out or volunteering to cook or serve, please contact info@centralnewburyport.org or call 978-465-0533.

KITCHEN TOUR INVITATION

Jack Klimp is hosting a Kitchen Walk-Thru on the next two Sundays at 10 AM. Attendees are encouraged to provide feedback regarding upcoming needed kitchen repairs and improvements. You may visit on either Sunday, October 26 or November 2, to review the project. If you have any questions or to respond to this invitation please contact Jack Klimp, klimpj@gmail.com or 207-416-3932.

October Central Congregational Church Women's Ministry Potluck!

Gathering together on Thursday, October 30^th at 6pm

All women and friends of Central are invited to a potluck at the home of Sarah Seamans at 258 High Road in Newbury, MA. We will gather on Thursday October 30th at 6pm. We look forward to connecting as we celebrate the beautiful Autumn season.

Please RSVP by October 28th to:

Betty LaBaugh  978-985-3371 betty.labaugh@gmail.com

Christmas Fair - Country Store

The Country Store at Central’s Christmas Fair welcomes donations of stocking stuffers, ornaments, home and seasonal decor, handcrafted candles, soaps, knit or crocheted goods, and wood shop items. Leave donations at church or contact Amantha for pickup. For questions, reach out at mooreamantha@gmail.com or call 978-518-2555(cell)

WE HAVE STARTED PLANNING FOR THE 2024 CHRISTMAS BASKET RAFFLE AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We welcome your theme baskets or donation. If you need help with a theme please contact a member of the Raffle Committee: past ideas include: Tourist In My Hometown (gift cards and items with city or town name) , Love the Arts baskets (tickets to local theaters), Tea & Biscuits baskets (assortment of teas and specialty biscuits), Framed artwork, For the Love of Dogs basket (everything dog related) and Cheese baskets, Sports tickets, Bird Lovers Basket...you get the idea! We are looking for new items that we can build a basket around or use as a basket fillers.

Contact Jean Copelin at copelinmoore@yahoo.com to let us know what Raffle Basket you will be donating and its theme. Provide details about the contents of the basket and the market value of the items. 

Please bring your baskets to the church office as soon as possible. The Basket Raffle team needs time to create the printed catalog and website for kickstarting raffle pre-sales orders.

We NEED Elves for the

Christmas Fair Luncheon PLEASE Respond!!!

Attention Sandwich Makers: Please consider volunteering to provide sandwiches for the luncheon at this year’s Christmas Fair. Volunteers are asked to make ten individually wrapped sandwiches and deliver them to the church before 9:30AM on December 6th. We need chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, and ham and cheese sandwiches.

Homemade Baked Beans are a New England tradition. They have been a tradition here at Central. We would love to have Bake Beans to sell at the Christmas Fair. If you are a bean maker and would like more information.

For more information or to sign-up, please contact Ginger Bard at 978-337-1643 or gingerbard@hotmail.com. Thank you for your help!

Request for Jewelry and Accessories for This Year’s Christmas Fair

Now is the perfect time for Fall cleaning. We are looking for jewelry and accessories for Jewelry Wonderland at this year’s Christmas Fair. Items could include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pins, working watches, scarfs, purses, hats, etc. Please feel free to drop off your items at the Church office or give them to Betty LaBaugh or Corinne McKeown.

DONATE WITH VENMO

Central Church can receive donations through Venmo! Many people no longer carry much cash or use paper checks, as payment apps have become commonplace. Venmo is one of the most popular and is now available for contributions to support the ministry of Central Church. You can use the QR code to access Central’s account on Venmo. Please indicate how you would like to direct your donation with comments like “General” or “Outreach.” Special thanks to Jeff Gray for setting up this account.

Special Donations - Afghan Family Support

If you are interested in making a special donation to support the Afghan family that Central Church is assisting, we have set-up a specific fund that you can donate to using our on-line giving system. Follow these easy steps through the Central Church website:

1)   Go to: https://www.centralnewburyport.org

2)   Click the Donate to Central button at the bottom of the home page

3)   Complete the Online Donation form that appears

Your Support is important.

We continue to rely upon and appreciate your financial support!

Prayer Concerns

If you have a prayer concern this week, please send an email to Chris at chris@centralnewburyport.org by the end of the day Saturday or complete a prayer request card available in the Sanctuary and give it to a Deacon before worship service begins. Your prayer concern will be mentioned in the Sunday Worship by first name only, for privacy concerns. Thank You!

Health & Safety Information

Masks are optional during worship and other activities, but are recommended for those who are at high risk. Masks and hand sanitizers are available in the Sanctuary. We encourage anyone who chooses to wear a mask to do so at any time. We ask that anyone who has symptoms of cold or flu stay home and participate in worship remotely. We continue to monitor guidelines from the CDC, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and local public safety/public health officials to ensure the continued health and safety of all Central Congregational Church members, visitors and guests.