Because of the MLK holiday, the Flemington Food Pantry did not pick up the day-old bread and baked goods from ShopRite this past Monday. Fortunately, both William Taylor and Duncan Taylor were there for a run to the food pantries and kitchens in Whitehouse Station and Lambertville. They needed BOTH vehicles for the NINE grocery carts full of bread, as well as the usual cart full of produce.
Puerto Rico Mission Trip Update
We just left a church that is in the center of the area that was most severely hit by the earthquake. The fiberglass ceiling tiles and a lot of glass had fallen. The church had just recently finished repairing the damage from Maria.
Many local inhabitants will be able to sleep there now. They spoke of their fears. One elderly woman sat outside all day waiting for it to be cleaned. She told me she was in the bathroom when the quake hit and has flashbacks when she tries to go back in.
When we were done the pastor spoke beautifully of their thankfulness. We all sang “How Great Thou Art” - some in English some is Spanish. Not surprisingly there were tears. It has never had greater meaning to me.
I was also thankful that there was not another quake! As we were deciding whether we should go there we were told there will likely be another one magnitude 3 or above. Please send prayers.
If anyone wants to help the church we worked with has an amazing ongoing program which continues To help people ravaged by Maria.
— Marianne Fimble
Dispatch from Puerto Rico
If you’ve been reading Marianne Fimble’s facebook posts you’ll know that she, Selma, and I are in Puerto Rico on a mission trip. After the earthquake we lost power and have been without central power since Monday. A sister church of the church where we are based experienced some significant damage in the quake yesterday. The local leaders and pastor asked if we could change plans and go down to southern part of island where the church is. It is in the main area where the quakes have been centered. After some prayer and discussion we decided it was best to follow our hearts and go help. Some will stay and finish the roof and rest will travel south to help the church clean up the damage to their new sanctuary. They just had it remodeled after the hurricane.
Some are feeling a little anxious but still decided to go.
And the lord asked. “Who shall I send”?
Peace
- Mike Sisco
A note from Marianne:
And you would have been so proud to see Mike on the rafters of the house we worked on. The family who will live in it were so thankful. Now they will be able to fix the rest of the house and have their family together. Today as we drive toward the epicenter we stopped to get drinks. A man came up and insisted (with tears in his eyes) that he pay. I am truly receiving far more than I am giving.
PS I used a power saw for the first time!!! Very exciting!
-Marianne Fimble
Mike Sisco, Grace UCC Moderator, on a roof in Puerto Rico.
Serving Justice, Loving Kindness in 2019 and Beyond
Grace UCC is a small but mighty community of people dedicated to living with God’s love and purpose as we strive to fulfill our mission to serve justice, and love kindness.
During 2019 we continued in our mission to embrace all of God’s people and made building interfaith connections a priority with the Interfaith Day of Service, the Interfaith annual picnic, and the interfaith Thanksgiving service. In addition to these planned social activities, we also came together with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters to stand with them against hate and intolerance. We cherish these relationships and look forward to continuing to develop and deepen our connection in 2020.
Our Pastor completed his PhD this year, to be able to better lead us and guide us in our collective and individual spiritual journies. We are so very proud of The Reverand Dr. Daniel Lundquist, and are grateful for his leadership and example.
Weekly Bible Study, both morning and evening, and our monthly men’s fellowship breakfast enriched our congregational life between Sunday services.
Men’s Breakfast
Something that makes our church unique is our monthly Laity Service, in which members of the congregation plan and execute the entire service, including the sermon and breaking bread at God’s table. Adults and children perform these tasks together, and we are all enriched by the diversity of perspectives shared.
September’s Laity Sunday was a family affair. Marianne Fimble gave the sermon, the service was led by her daughter, michaela Birdyshaw, and grandchildren Brayden and Eden helped serve at the Lord’s Table. Read more about it here.
Our mission work was robust during 2019. We are active with Family Promise, the Flemington Food Pantry, America’s Grow-a-Row, The United Way Coat Drive, The Coalition for Peace Action, The Angel Patrol holiday gift program, our “Pennies & Nickles” program funnels our small change into big changes in the lives of families around the world, with the congregation’s children deciding annually where the funds should be directed. In addition, our Emergency Mission Fund helped numerous families, in our congregation and in the wider community, during times of need. Special thanks go to our beloved William Taylor, who is the driving force behind many of our mission activities. We thank you, Bill, for all of your work behind the scenes to make these activities possible.
Grocery store produce, ready to go to soup kitchens around the state as part of America’s Grow-a-Row’s off the field gleaning program.
Perhaps our most meaningful activity this year has been our decision to take on racism by doing the work to understand it, in order to ultimately dismantle it. This year-long, ongoing endeavor featured guest speakers, sermons, personal testimonies, and an interfaith book reading and discussion group that will continue into 2020 (weekly highlights can be found on our blog). We hope to continue to grow individually, as well as collectively in our leadership within the wider community in the fight against racial injustice.
Taking on racism, because to do less would not adequately honor all members of our beloved congregation.
If you missed the annual congregational meeting on December 15th you can read the 2019 Annual Report here for a more detailed view into the life and health of our congregation during the past year.
As the new year dawns please remember, whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you are, truly, welcome here.