Join Zoom Worship
Meeting ID: 119 508 399
Dial In via Phone
1-301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 119 508 399
Join us January 8, Baptism of Christ Sunday, as we celebrate the baptism of Martin Brown. In-person and online worship begins at 10:30 AM.
Join Zoom Worship
Meeting ID: 119 508 399
Dial In via Phone
1-301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 119 508 399
We believe God has more light and truth to come for CCC.
Join us for a series of focus groups in January to help repair, re-purpose, and re-imagine what and who we can be!
January 15, 22, 29
We are asking all of our CCC members and friends to join us.
Meetings will be in person. A Zoom option will also be available.
Sign up for the CCC Outreach Summit by CLICKING HERE.
The adult education Exploring Faith class convenes by Zoom at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. We welcome new participants. We just began a new book recently, and will read this chapter by chapter for the next month or so. It is “Sacred Nature” by Karen Armstrong, a noted religious scholar. Our early convening time allows time after class for folks in the choir or otherwise attending church in person to get there.
On Sunday, Dec. 18, we discussed Chapter 1 in “Sacred Nature.” We reconvene after the holidays on Sunday Jan. 8 for Chapter 2. For more information or to get on the Zoom notice list, please contact Mary Stone.
In response to our November 11 Town Hall Meeting on the budget, Rev. Aubra Love offered this response and gave permission to share …
This morning, I went to the store to pick up a package of my favorite breakfast croissants. For years, the price was between $3.19 – $3.49 for a box of six. They keep for a good while because they are frozen and can be served up, flaky and tasty, in just a couple of minutes. And they are always a hit with my brunch guests! Today, they are $5.78 for a box of six. Same favorite breakfast croissants, costing about 65% more.
A couple of Saturdays ago, it was time to gas up my car for the week. So, I stopped in at my favorite gas station/convenience store place, where they are always happy to make free copies for a single document for their regulars. Just a small-town tradition they never stopped, not even during the quarantine. Keeps folks from having to go to the next town for an Office Depot. Well, my unsalted personal pack of cashews was outrageously priced! I didn’t worry too much about that because they are an essential expense. I will spare you the gouging cost of petrol…up nearly 25%. Still my favorite store in walking distance. Not likely to change much here.
After one of my favorite cousins was finally persuaded through prayer and nagging to invest in a home because, we are not getting any younger, (even if we think so), we have been forced to look in a totally different price point than we thought possible this time last year. With sharply rising mortgage lending rates, from 3.55% in November 2021 to over 7% this fall, many have been priced right out of the housing market.
Then there was this Town Hall meeting at church where the budget was languishing at somewhere around 12% from the previous year. We are in a deficit. This is the church where I come to hear the Liberating Word spoken, to thaw out with the smiles of children and elders, to wonder why folk insist on doing the things they do, and to bask in the music that is a salve to my soul. I increased my pledge by 12% as a short-term response to some of the financial matters.
I have had a good year. Surely, I know that this is not everybody’s reality. That said, our God continues to be faithful to me in each of God’s promises. Malachi 3:10 contains this promise, “Test me and prove me…and see if I won’t pour you out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”
I am no economist, and hardly wealthy, just a former lender with a testimony. I am now listening for the “Intermediate Term Needs” response. The Call to Action is to add 12 cents to each dollar pledged and see what happens.
In grace, love and abiding peace,
Rev. Aubra
SIGN UP for January small groups by CLICKING HERE.
Thank you for your loving gifts, and for being part of CCC’s bright future!
It is important during this Advent season to remember those in need. As is our tradition, CCC is collecting your gifts for the special Christmas offering. This year the money received through the offering will be divided among three worthy missions: Ministries United Silver Spring / Takoma Park (MUSST), Mid-County United Ministries (MUM), and the UCC Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross.
Ministries United Silver Spring Takoma Park, Inc. (MUSST) is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to assist economically disadvantaged clients in Silver Spring and Takoma Park to cope with financial emergencies caused by loss of job or work hours, sickness or injury, family or relationship crises, or other situations that pose an immediate threat to a client’s health and/or well-being. MUSST carries out this mission by providing one-time emergency monetary grants, assisting clients to receive other types of emergency assistance from other cooperating agencies, and providing follow-on assistance to help clients toward a long-term solution to their financial emergency.
Mid-County United Ministries (MUM) is a small non-profit based in Wheaton that serves people experiencing food insecurity and financial emergencies in Wheaton, Aspen Hill and parts of Rockville. MUM operates a mobile food pantry that goes out to different locations every Sunday serving an average of 150-200 families a week with non-perishable food and fresh produce, bread, etc. MUM also provides financial support to people facing evictions, utility shut offs, and those who cannot afford prescription drugs. MUM relies on volunteers and in-kind as well as financial donations to serve our neighbors in need. “MUM helps people in crisis… with food, medicine, eviction prevention and utilities, emphasizing client choice, problem-solving and self- sufficiency.”
The UCC Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross supports retired ministers and lay employees of the United Church of Christ with health care premiums, housing and emergency grants. For over 116 years giving to the Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross has been a way to ensure the light of love and hope will always shine for the faithful servants of our wider church who may find themselves facing financial needs. Here is a brief video about the UCC Christmas Fund.
You may choose to donate by:
1) Cash or check (made payable to Christ Congregational Church with Christmas Offering in the memo line) and either placed in the offering plate at the sanctuary door or mailed to the church office at 9525 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20901.
2) Visit our Ways to Give page to give online. Please note: cash/checks and ACH/bank transfers are preferred, due to credit card processing fees.
All donations for this special Christmas offering will go directly to the above recipients. Thank you for your generosity.
Presented by Paul Scribner
Sunday, December 11th
11:30am (after worship service)
CCC Social Hall
Lunch and Childcare/Kid care will be provided!
According to The American Psychological Association, 38% of people say their stress increases during the holidays — and only 8% of people say they feel happier. And according to a recent survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) approximately 24% of people with a diagnosed mental illness find that the holidays make their condition “a lot” worse and 40% say it makes it “somewhat worse.” The lack of sunlight during winter months, for those that are sensitive to this, can also make things worse.
The bottom line: if you or someone you love tends to feel down and overwhelmed during the holiday, you are not alone. Join us following church on Sunday, December 11 in the Social Hall (and enjoy some lunch!) as CCC’s Health Ministry sponsors an educational and interactive session on understanding and coping with Holiday Blues. During this program we will discuss the nature of Holiday Blues, explore some things that can make holiday blues worse, and share practical coping and self-care strategies that can help.
In the Advent and Christmas season, there are various music ministries in which to participate and share your gifts of music.
• Intergenerational Orchestra
• Advanced Orchestra
• Chancel Choir
Here are details for each:
The Intergenerational Orchestra is for all ages and all levels of playing. From beginner to
intermediate to advanced players — you have a place in this orchestra!
• Christmas Eve, December 24th at 5pm Nativity Service: The Intergenerational
Orchestra will lead the congregation in familiar carols for this annual celebration of
the Nativity story. Orchestral warm-up at 4:15pm in the sanctuary.
NOTE: There are two rehearsals to attend:
• Music Distribution & Rehearsal 1 – Sunday, December 4th after the service in the
sanctuary
• Rehearsal 2 — Sunday, December 11th after the service in the sanctuary
• Orchestral Warm-up — Saturday, December 24th (Christmas Eve) at 4:15pm in the
sanctuary. We will move directly into the 5pm Nativity Service from this rehearsal.
Please bring your music and a music stand to all rehearsals!
The Advanced Orchestra is comprised of intermediate to advanced players and includes strings,
brass, woodwinds, and percussion.
• Christmas Music Sunday, December 18th at 10:30am service: The Advanced
Orchestra will be joined by The Chancel Choir and a brass ensemble. Orchestral
warm-up begins at 10am in the sanctuary.
• Christmas Eve, December 24 th at 9pm Service of Lessons and Carols: We will be
joined by CCC’s Chancel Choir. Orchestral warm-up begins at 8pm in the sanctuary.
Rehearsal for Christmas Music Sunday and Christmas Eve will be Saturday, December 17th
from 1:30-4:00pm in the sanctuary. Music will be available in the sanctuary on December 4th
after the worship service.
We are welcoming singers in all voice parts from ages 14 on up to join us for these celebratory
services.
• Christmas Music Sunday, December 18 th at the 10:30am service: CCC’s Choir will
be joined this year by CCC’s Advanced Orchestra and a brass ensemble.
• Christmas Eve, December 24 th at 9pm Service of Lessons and Carols: We will be
joined by CCC’s Advanced Orchestra.
Rehearsals will be on Thursday evenings at 8:30pm, beginning November 3rd. There is also a
“dress” rehearsal on Saturday December 17th from 1:30-4:00pm. Come and join us!
Join us this holiday season! Enjoy Prancer’s Pancakes and top as you wish – chocolate, fruit, butter & syrup – your choice! We plan to also have Dasher’s Danishes, Cupid’s Croissants, and Vixen’s Fruit.
Create holiday crafts, play North Pole Freeze Dance, Name that Christmas Song, and many others! We will also have a table to decorate cookies.
Please volunteer to help us make this event a success. SSL hours are available for anyone that needs them!
The Sanctuary Guild has always decorated our Thanksgiving Altar the Saturday before Thanksgiving with seasonal vegetables and fruits. After service, the bounty of fresh food is taken to Shepherd’s Table to be used to prepare meals for people in need. During covid, this tradition was paused, but we are glad to be resuming this tradition this year!
Shepherd’s Table, a nonprofit community based organization, was formed through the joint effort of 33 local congregations (including CCC) to help people who are homeless or in need by providing basic services (including meals, social services, medical support, clothing, and other assistance). Our congregation has always provided support to this organization as part of our Justice & Witness Ministry. On the second Wednesday of each month, some members of our congregation help to serve dinner at Shepherd’s Table.
The CCC Sanctuary Guild is seeking your donation of the following items, starting on Sunday November 13th:
Large size vegetables and fruits are better seen from the pews.
Please bring your donations on Sunday, November 13, or anytime between 9:30am and 2:30pm on Mon. Nov. 14, Tues. Nov. 15, or Weds. Nov. 16, the final day for this collection.
