From our February 2012 newsletter
The Pillar

FINANCE
Joy Garapic

A check for $833.00 was sent to the Western Reserve Association UCC for the Christmas Fund, which benefits retired clergy. Formerly called Veterans of the Cross, it also includes an emergency fund.

Several donations were received, one from former member Betty Einhart who wrote, "Part of my heart remains in Brecksville, BUCC, and people in it. I continue to enjoy the Pillar (e-mailed), current directories, and devotional booklet. I'm very grateful for dear Phyllis Hassler who has been good about keeping me apprised. Miss you all."

Another donation was in memory of Nan Martin from Laura Matz, "Ms. Martin was a special person in my life during my years in the Brecksville school system. Years have passed since then but I still carry with me wonderful memories of her kindness and positive thinking. Please accept this donation in her memory. It is my wish that a portion of it be used toward displaying a memorial marker on her behalf, perhaps in a garden or similar setting. She was a beautiful person so it only seems fitting. . . ."

FACILITIES
Jim Demko

To all new ministry or council members: If you feel you need an exterior church key, please see Pastor Dave or Lenore Harris to sign out a key. Please DO NOT obtain a key directly from another member as it is then not possible to track who has keys. If you have a key you no longer need, please return it to the office so it can be signed in and re-assigned. . Looking to do something new for BUCC in the new year? Why not consider adopting a project by making a donation in addition to your normal giving? Help the Facilities Ministry check an item off of our "Wish List"! The following projects currently need sponsors:

1) Wheelbarrow and pitchfork (new – $150.00)
2) Energy efficient replacement bulbs for sanctuary ($300.00)
3) Kitchen refrigerator ($700.00)
4) Storage shed ($2000.00)
5) New phone system for offices (current system is obsolete – $3300.00)

Feel free to give whole or partial donations towards a specific project!

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

The annual congregational meeting will be held on February 12, 2012 immediately following the worship service. The slate of ministry members and chairpersons and the 2012 final budget will be presented for approval. Please plan to attend if you are able.

A THANK YOU FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
Dave Barchet

On behalf of the Stewardship committee, I would like to extend a big "Thank You" for the commitment our congregation made to the 2012 pledge drive. The total pledge amount as of January 8, 2012 was $153,719.00 from 61 pledges. This is an 18.5% increase in our pledge total compared to the prior year, and the most BUCC has pledged in several years. As a point of comparison, our pledge total has increased an average of 7% per year since 2008. This year, the Stewardship Ministry explained BUCC’s challenging financial situation. Once again, as a congregation we pulled together to meet the needs of the church.

Our church does not operate on money alone, so we also want to thank everyone who gave their time and talents to help our church run smoothly. Acolytes, clean-up crew, counters, commons greeter, lay reader, head usher, ushers, peace candle, nursery, servers, bakers, snow herders, lawn rangers, narthex greeters, librarian – We thank everyone who volunteered their time and talents, for our special programs and ministries. Your efforts are TRULY APPRECIATED!

We know that during 2011 the Stewardship Ministry focused mostly on the financials of our church (well, let’s face it, that is ALL we focused on), so during 2012 our goal is to broaden our message of Stewardship to BUCC. We will keep you posted as new themes are discussed within our Ministry.

BANNER COMMITTEE
Betty Gifford

Wanted: A few good people to continue bringing to our sanctuary banners supporting the message of the day as the year turns. The current long serving trio are retiring. This gives the opportunity for others to serve using their creativity and sensibility to express in Christian symbols and words fresh ideas of our faith.

Currently there are enough banners to rotate throughout the year. However, you may be wanting to create new ones depicting your thoughts and feelings. You would find it fun and rewarding to work together on a new banner. Do consider participating in this important ministry which is under the spiritual life ministry.

Take time to visit the room on the lower floor of the education wing where the banners are stored.

CRAFT CUPBOARD
School Supplies – Pencils, Paper, Crayons, etc.

DID YOU KNOW?

Our familiar communion banner with the chi rho symbol for Jesus Christ has served every first Sunday for twelve years.

Have you noticed that hanging in the narthex is the dark gray banner with the crimson logo of the United Church of Christ? It is the first banner constructed in BUCC.

LET’S BOWL

The annual Membership Bowling event will be on Sunday, February 26, at 1:00 p.m. at Northwood Lanes. The cost is $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children 8 and under. Price includes two games and shoe rental (you also have the option to play a third game for an additional cost). Pizza and pop will be provided. We had a great time last year, and hope you can make it! Signup sheets will be available during Fellowship Hour. Don't bowl? There will be other fun, non-physical activities as well!

LETTERS FROM FRIENDS

The beautiful poinsettia was much appreciated, and I'd like to thank Dorie and Anna Mary for bringing it to the door. The folks from BUCC are so giving of their time and efforts. We've had calls, visits, and cards from so many. Dave has certainly kept track of us. We always enjoy seeing him come by. –- Jeanne Cowden

HUNGER MEAL

A hunger meal will be served on Sunday, February 26 at 5:00 p.m. at the Pearl Road United Methodist Church, where the last hunger meal was served. The menu has not been decided, but your participation is invited. We need two shifts of five people each (one at 2:00 p.m. to set up and serve, and one at 4:00 p.m. to serve and clean up). We expect to serve 175 – 200 meals. You are invited to volunteer your time by signing your name in the designated space on a dry erase board which will be in the narthex. Please come and help.

OUR NEXT CONCERT

On Sunday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m., BUCC will be hosting senior vocal performance majors from Baldwin- Wallace College in a program titled "Opera a la carte: Favorite arias from the world's most loved operas." Among the operas represented will be Mozart's Don Giovanni, which will be B-W's main stage opera production early next month. A free-will offering will be received, and a light reception will follow the concert. Please plan on joining us for what promises to be an enchanting program of operatic repertoire.

THINKING ABOUT SUMMER?

Brecksville Home Days is several months away, but organizing the event requires creative minds and careful planning. This is a huge project and the membership ministry has traditionally been the committee that was responsible for all the activities surrounding Home Days. Council has agreed to form a small sub 'Home Days' Committee to formalize and strategically plan for this event. Please consider volunteering your time and talent to contribute ideas and suggestions into this year's event. Brecksville Home Days 2012 takes place on Friday through Sunday, June 29, June 30, and July 1. This does not necessarily mean you need to be available on any or all of those days, because much of the activity takes place several months before the event. Please let Diane Gressley or Pastor Dave know ASAP if you would like to participate in the planning of Brecksville Home Days.

MUSICAL NOTES
Dave Debick

SEASONAL CHOIR will begin rehearsing in preparation for Holy Week on Thursday, February 23 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Holy Week is April 1 – 8 this year. If you enjoy singing in a group setting, but don't have time to commit to regular choir, seasonal choir provides a wonderful opportunity to join the choir on a short-term basis during the six week Lenten season. Please consider accompanying us on our spiritual/musical journey as we prepare to commemorate events that are central to our Christian faith. Adults and teens are welcome.

THE MITTEN TREE

The mitten tree has returned to BUCC and is waiting to be decorated with mittens, hats, socks, scarves, etc. The mittens and hats are given to the hunger centers that BUCC supports. The centers give these warm garments to the children. The need is ongoing throughout the winter months. In the past the mitten tree has always been successful and we hope that you will be generous as usual.

From our January 2012 newsletter
The Pillar

FACILITIES
Lenore Harris

- Rental of the classroom in the lower C.E. wing is waiting for a state site inspection.

- In co-operation with the BBH Board of Education, three large, dying trees were removed from the area between Central School and our C.E. wing. A fourth dead tree was removed from our property earlier in the year.

- The replacement of a broken water pump in our hot water heating system has been completed. We now have heat in the Sunday school rooms. We apologize for chilling your children: it was a difficult problem to find and fix.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Bob Chandler

It's not too late to add your name to one of the ministries of BUCC. Our talents, time, and service are part of our personal stewardship toward the mission and outreach of BUCC. Where can you be of help? A list of each of the ministries of BUCC can be found on a table in the narthex (as well as a list of ministry members). Need further information? Contact Bob Chandler, Mac Hoppel, or Barb Gartland.

FINANCE
Joy Garapic

Now that our 2012 campaign has successfully ended with pledges for over $150,000, here is a listing of extra donations given throughout 2011, with more to be dispersed for the Christmas Fund:

Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) $3,850
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) $2,221
Neighbors in Need (NIN) $1,096
Strengthen the Church (STC) $536
Support of seminaries (CUE/CUM) $537
Disaster Gifts $535

Our members have also given gifts for pew cushions, Pastor's office, the Pastor's fund, and music, as well as providing bakery on Sunday mornings and for special events. There are also Christmas presents, food and clothing for the Brookside Hunger Center, and flowers for the altar on Sundays.

This list may not be complete; however, our members are generous with their gifts and their time, and for that we can be truly grateful.

REMINDER

2011 Ministry Chairs, please email your ministry's annual report to buccoh@sbcglobal.net no later than January 22.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

The annual congregational meeting will be held on February 12, 2012 immediately following the worship service. The purpose of the meeting is to present for approval the slate of ministry members and chairpersons and the final budget for 2012. Please plan to attend if you are able.

FOOD PANTRY

Canned Fruit & Vegetables

THANK YOU

Words cannot express my thanks and gratitude for the enormous support, good wishes, and prayers I've received at BUCC since being laid off from MetroHealth in April of 2009. As a church and as a group of individuals, Brecksville UCC has kept me going in so many ways. Now that I've finally landed a great job, I feel I must make it work as much for all of you as for myself. Thank you, and God bless you. You really are my family, and I am wonderfully blessed by that.

CRAFTERS FOR CHRIST

C4C have been busy. Three quilts for kids are ready to go and another one is in the works. In the meantime we have plans to make more but we need some bright, colorful material suitable for children's quilts. If you have such fabric lurking in your closet or storage place C4C would be happy to accept donations. C4C would like to thank Tina Ortiz for her gift of fabric to use for the quilts for kids.

NEW MEMBERS WILL BE RECEIVED AT BUCC
on Sunday, January 29 at our morning worship service. If you are interested in learning more about membership at BUCC, please talk with Pastor Dave.

THANKS

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Brecksville UCC for the mind-blowingly generous holiday gift you gave me after the cantata presentation on December 11. Your affirmation and support mean a great deal to me. Please pray that my service here at BUCC will be led and inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that God continues to bless our music ministry throughout the New Year and beyond. With gratitude, respect, and love, Dave Debick

NEWS FROM OUR BUCC LIBRARY

The following books have recently been catalogued and are now available on the red library book cart or on the book shelf/divider in the Lower Commons. A new issue of Still Speaking magazine is also available for borrowing. Check out any of these by putting your name on the card in the book pocket and leaving it in the box on the book cart. While you are at it, why don't you also browse the shelves of the library or the card catalogue where our books are indexed under multiple topics. The books in our library represent a wide variety of subjects and viewpoints. There are many that could be of interest to you. There is also a large collection of children's books your kids would like. PS – keep any of these books as long as it continues to be of interest to you -- we don't charge late fees.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich -- Letters and Papers from Prison
Borg, Marcus J. -- The God We Never Knew
Borg, Marcus J. -- Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time
Borg, Marcus J. -- Putting Away Childish Things
Brueggemann, Walter -- The Prophetic Imagination
Burge, Gary M., -- Jesus, the Middle Eastern Storyteller
Burge, Gary M. --  Jesus and the Land
Cloud, Henry -- Boundries
Gulley, Philip -- If the Church Were Christian
Hart, David J. H. -- Christianity: A New Look at Ancient Wisdom
Hedrick, Charles W., ed -- When Faith Meets Reason
Jenkins, Philip --  Jesus Wars
Kraybill, Donald B. -- Amish Grace
Larson, Bruce -- There's a lot more to health than not being sick
Liebman, Joshua Loth -- Peace of Mind
Marshall, Catherine -- A Man Called Peter
Maus, Cynthia Pearl -- Christ and the Fine Arts
Meyers, Robin R. -- Saving Jesus from the Church
Short, Robert L. -- The Gospel According to Peanuts
Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama XIV -- The Good Heart
Thomas, Oliver S. -- 10 Things Your Minister Wants to tell You

THE MITTEN TREE

The mitten tree has returned to BUCC and is waiting to be decorated with mittens, hats, socks, scarves, etc. The mittens and hats are given to the hunger centers that BUCC supports. The centers give these warm garments to the children. The need is ongoing throughout the winter months. In the past the mitten tree has always been successful and we hope that you will be generous as usual.

MUSICAL NOTES
Dave Debick

Here are the 2012 starting dates and times for our various music groups:

Joyful Noise Choir (~K-4th grade): Thursday, January 12 at 5:30-6:15 p.m.

Adult Choir (teens welcome): Thursday, January 12 at 7:30-9:00 p.m.

Beginner soprano recorder and dulcimer lessons will be given by Dave and Mac Hoppel on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:00 p.m. between January 11 and February 1. After this, the ensemble will meet Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. as usual.

Youth Percussion Group (6th grade and up): First practice will be on Sunday, January 15 from 5:30-6:00 p.m., before Youth Ministry which starts at 6:00 p.m. These practices are held every other week.

If you or your child(ren) enjoy singing in a group setting, please come and check out our choirs. If there are enough kids interested in participating, I would like to start up our Youth Choir again. This would be for students in 5th-8th grade, and would meet at a time convenient for as many kids and their families as possible. More info on this to follow.