Provo Community Church

God, we give you thanks today for our nation’s veterans. We honor them for their faithful service to our country, and for what they have done to defend and preserve our freedom. Generation after generation, young men and women have answered our country’s call. And as a result, their lives have been changed forever.

We are grateful to all who have served, whether in peacetime or in periods of conflict. But today we especially remember those who have been tempered by fire, those who continue to bear wounds of the body or the spirit as a result of what they endured. They lie in our veterans’ hospitals or struggle for recovery in rehabilitation centers; they suffer from post-traumatic stress and survivor’ guilt; they yearn for peace in their souls.

Dear God, we ask you to heal their wounds, to banish whatever inner demons may haunt them, and to give them peace within so they may return fully to their families and to society.

We thank you, God, for all of our country’s veterans—those of past generations, and those who continue to earn this title today. May we never forget what our country has asked of them and what they have given in return. Help us to care enough to give them the respect and honor they are due. And strengthen our resolve to build a world modeled on your realm, where war will be pursued no more.

This we ask in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

This prayer was written by the Rev. John Gundlach. He is the UCC’s minister for government chaplaincies and a retired Navy Chaplain of 27 years. Read his entire Veterans Day reflection here.

This is the theme for our Utah Association fall meeting. This meeting will be held Nov 13th at the Holladay Church from 10-3. Our Conference Minister, the Rev. Dr. Tom Rehling will be attending the meeting. Please plan to attend.

November 7th is Friend-Raising Sunday: UCCers nationwide are encouraged to bring family members, neighbors, coworkers and friends to church. To tell the people around you about your church maybe these two new video ads are helpful:

Uniquely UCC from United Church of Christ on Vimeo.

UCC Values from United Church of Christ on Vimeo.

We will be serving donuts and coffee to welcome your guests starting at 10 am.

You can easily invite your neighbors by using these door-hangers around your house!

Please, help us win this national contest: As the congregation with the most visitors per capita of membership we will receive a new God is Still Speaking banner and a supply of red lapel pins and copies of the inaugural issues of the StillSpeaking Magazine for every member of the congregation.

Thanks for being intentional about bringing people to your church this Sunday!

Release your light!!!

Take the opportunity to remember
who you are, what you like to do,
how you feel and what it’s like to
just be yourself.
Reconnect with your creative, playful
side while enjoying the
company of other wonderful interesting women.
.

Saturday, November 13, 2010
10.30am-3pm
Springville Community Presbyterian Church
245 South 200 East, Springville, UT 84663
Leader: Rev. Mirjam Haas-Melchior

Welcome snacks and lunch will be provided!
Come and bring your mother, daughter, sister and/or girl-friend!!!

Info and RSVP till November 6th:
801-310-0988 or email

Please join us this Friday, November 5th, 6:00pm to 9:00pm for the Provo Gallery Stroll. A yarn spinning demonstration will be put on by the Provo/Orem club “On Hooks & Needles”. There will be both drop spindle spinning, which is the oldest known form of spinning in the world, dating back over 5,000 years, and wheel spinning.  We will have student spindles on hand if you want to give it a try, along with yummy fiber from Utah and around the world to touch. We will also have knitting and crocheting going on and if you do any of these crafts, please feel free to bring them with you to join us. Goodies, friendship, fellowship and fun will be had for all. Please RSVP on facebook.

November 7th is Friend-Raising Sunday: UCCers nationwide are encouraged to bring family members, neighbors, coworkers and friends to church. We will be serving donuts and coffee to welcome your guests starting at 10 am.

You can easily invite your neighbors by using these door-hangers around your house!

Dear friends and members of our church:

There is snow on the ground in Utah Valley. And you know what that means: Christmas is right around the corner. ‘Tis the time to remember that Christmas is not only about the inevitable fruit cake but Immanuel – God with us! Along with this letter you receive your congregation’s holiday program with many opportunities to get involved. Make good use of all the resources that are available to you and share them with family, friends, coworkers and neighbors.

Our church continues to be worthy of its first name: Community. We reach out in so many ways, the most visible one being our monthly participation in the downtown Provo gallery stroll. On December 3^rd your input is needed: Please bring your nativity scenes for our display.

According to our mission statement we are a sanctuary for spiritual growth in Jesus Christ. We strengthen disciples in so many ways. Let us highlight the two newest educational efforts we undertake: Complimenting our boyscout program we now are pleased to have Girl Scout Troop 2348 with us. Here we help girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives, like leadership, strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth. When it comes to Adult Education we currently run a Faith Formation Class that helps people who are newer to our tradition navigate a path through all our faith has to offer. Six brave souls embarked on this journey of getting challenged and enriched and will “graduate” around Christmas.

Hopefully we’ve made the point that your contribution to your congregation is a very good investment. Please help us to be able to continue our community outreach and spiritual growth and many other ministries through your continued support.

We ask you not only to give as much as you can but also to commit to a certain amount by actually pledging. Your pledging is important for the church council to be able to create a budget that is based on commitment not guessing. We will gladly receive your pledge card during our worship service on Stewardship Sunday, November 14^th. You can also bring or send it in anytime before November 14^th. Thanks for your generous support.

With blessings on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

Carol Menasian (Moderator)
Rev. Daniel Haas (Pastor)

Provo Community United Church of Christ is pleased to announce their Advent Calendar 2010. Join us for any or all of the activities. Everybody is welcome.

Sunday, November 21 Thanksgiving Worship Service at 10.30 a.m. followed by Thanksgiving Dinner at 12 noon

Friday, November 26 Lights on Parade in downtown Provo at 5:30

Saturday, November 27 Decorating of the Sanctuary starting at 10.00 a.m.

Sunday, November 29 Celebrate the first Sunday of Advent at 10:30 a.m. Provo Community Church Choir performs

Tuesday, November 30 The Hope of Advent: Congregational Potluck & Activity Night at 6:30

Wednesday, December 1 First Advent Open House at Provo Community Church, World Aids Day at 7 pm

Friday, December 3 Gallery Stroll from 6-9 p.m.: Hundreds of Nativity Scenes are on display

Sunday, December 5 Celebrate the second Sunday of Advent at 10:30 a.m. Provo Community Church Choir performs

Tuesday, December 7 The Peace of Advent: Congregational Potluck & Activity Night at 6:30

Wednesday, December 8 Second Advent Open House at 559 N 360 E in Salem at 6:30

Sunday, December 12 Celebrate the second Sunday of Advent at 10:30 a.m. Provo Community Church Choir performs

Sunday, December 12 Carols by Candlelight at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, December 14 The Joy of Advent: Congregational Potluck & Activity Night at 6:30

Wednesday, December 15 Third Advent Open House at 1128 Mountain Ridge Rd at 6:30

Sunday, December 19 Celebrate the third Sunday of Advent at 10:30 a.m. Provo Community Church Choir performs. Cookie Walk after fellowship hour

Tuesday, December 21 The Love of Advent: Congregational Potluck & Activity Night at 6:30

Wednesday, December 22 Fourth Advent Open House at 644 W 980 N at 6:30

Thursday, December 24 Celebrate the birth of Christ at 7 p.m. Provo Community Church Choir performs. Enjoy a Holy Night Service at 11 p.m.

Sunday, December 26 Bring your Holiday Leftovers for potluck after church

Christ is coming!
Are you too?

The Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, Chaplain to the U.S. House of Representatives, offers the following prayer for the 2010 election:

Almighty and ever–living God, bound in faithful love to Your people, be attentive to our deepest needs; for as a nation we place all our trust in You.

Since election day approaches, we pray for all those who have placed their name before the people; to seal their commitment of public service for the common good. Purify the intentions of those who deserve the public trust. Transform self interest into compassion for Your people, as You make them harbingers of our future.

Empower each voter with Your Spirit; so that as the free people of Your creation they may recognize truth and personal integrity in those they choose. May the representative government they place in service mirror their own commitment to search out the ways of peace with others and establish an economic stability where justice will flourish for all.

May a new era of patriotism dawn upon the United States; a patriotism strong enough to carry us through difficult times and flexible enough to embrace authentic creativity. Drawing upon the resources of university and business, may the legal and social development of Your people help all citizens realize their full potential in Your sight. For Your wisdom is revealed to us and in us both now and forever. Amen.