Our church was privileged to serve as the hosting congregation for Beecher and Bennett Funeral Service's annual service of remembrance, for families who have lost loved ones recently. The service was a warm time of both remembrance and hope, as beautiful music from Laurie Brandl, our Music Director, filled the air with God's Spirit of companionship. Participants lit candles in memory of their loved ones, and Pastor John Blossom's message "Companions" reminded us that God's living Companion, the Holy Spirit, enables us to always find healing and hope on life's journeys. A podcast with audio and slides form the service is below, including Pastor John's message. The text of his message can be viewed here and below the podcast.

We thank Beecher and Bennett for their service to our community's families, who benefit so much from their heartfelt professional services, and we hold all families whose loved ones have passed into God's eternal hands the living comfort of God in their lives, now, and forever.

If you're trying to make your Christmas and holiday gifts more meaningful and simple, why not start with handcrafted items and other special items from our Annual Church Bazaar? Items include:

• A wide variety of beautiful custom gift baskets,
  
• Handcrafted wreathes
  
• "Gently used" jewelry and accessories
  
• Hand-crafted and hand-knitted gifts
  
• Baked goods for giving or eating
  

The wide variety of quality items will make this event a must-see - while the seeing is good! Come early if you can for a great selection, but know that there are many, many beautiful things to choose from - that won't break your budget, and that will help you to focus on the main purpose of this season: love. See you there!

As Fall leaves shine with brilliant colors, let's remember that Fall is the season to shed old habits, and to take on new habits that prepare us for the coming of Jesus into our lives and into God's world. We don't have to wait any longer to feel the warmth of faith's power and grace changing our lives - we can do it now, and grow in God's thanks-giving ways!
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Here are five ways that our church helps you to fall into the faith habit:

1. Tune out negative culture - and tune in redeeming culture. We all know that the world sells us negative thoughts, and negative things to do and to buy. Instead of complaining about it, why not practice being a part of a life-affirming community that accepts everyone as they are, and that invites people into positive activities and relationships? Make your culture a redeeming culture - and use our church to practice it! 
What negative culture can faith lead me to surrender to God’s thanksgiving culture? Who can help me along the way?

2. Practice giving from your heart, not from your credit cards. On Thanksgiving Day, a day when we're supposed to give thanks for what God gives, the world screams at us to feel that we'll never be able to buy enough things for ourselves and others as the way to celebrate the coming of Jesus. Starting on Thanksgiving, can you commit to a holiday season that gives love instead of things that cannot replace love? Think about low-gift or zero-gift family celebrations - and share gifts of gratitude with God's world, so that we may be all Christ for one another.
What gift-giving can I prepare for that doesn’t come with a price tag? How can I prepare myself and my loved ones for this change?

3. Explore faith with trusted people. Share it with unknown people. Will your Christmas celebration be the start of another year of not knowing Jesus in your heart - or exploring how much you need God in your life? Our faith groups can help you to feel comfortable exploring and expressing faith in a safe group setting, and give you the courage to express your faith to others - maybe even people you don't know!
When can I try out a faith group to guide me into thanksgiving?

4. Move your muscles for Christ in your family and our community. We all lead busy lives, one way or another. But what can we do to proclaim the saving presence of Jesus in our lives? Our mission projects and our dedication to prayer changes lives for people of all backgrounds, here and around the world, in the name of Jesus. Our own families need to see and to feel our dedication to faith in action, not just words, as we change our habits in how we live with them. and for them.. 
How can I move my muscles in thanks for all that God gives us? Is it a phone-dialing muscle? A helping hand muscle? An amending muscle?​

5. Invite others to come to worship with you - and to pray with you. Are you afraid of coming to church alone? Invite others who can share the experience with you! Are you wanting more church friends? Help your friends and family to become church friends and family, and to pray with you, and for one one another, and for God's world! By being an invitational church, we can help people to see how life does not have to be about what the world wants - and can be filled with the love that God wants for everyone.
Who can I invite to my church? How can my expressions of faith be a living invitation? 

Share your own ideas for falling into a thanks-giving faith with us, with your church family, and with everyone who can help you to rejoice in the gifts that come from our loving God in this world. What a great way to spend these Fall days before Advent!

The Unity House team managed to bring forth a great turnout for our first volunteer recruiting "roadshow" event at the Meriden Public Library on The evening of Tuesday, October 2nd. Experienced and newcomer volunteers heard an overview presentation of the new effort to welcome a refugee family to Unity House later this year, and signed up for the functional teams that will support this family.

There is still time to spread the word, and learn more about this great effort to bring the good news of God's universal love to families from war-torn nations seeking a new start in life. Contact Pastor John Blossom for details, or fill out the volunteer registration form and FAQ here and below. You can see the "roadshow presentation below also. Please consider joining this effort, and suggesting others who might be interested in helping!

Why...

• Do innocent people suffer?
• Do prayers go unanswered?
• Can’t I see God’s will for me?
• Does God’s love always win?

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Does God really want to talk with us about it?

These questions have been asked by all people through the ages. Today, we still ask these same questions. And today, Christian faith still provides us with the most meaningful and powerful answers - answers that can guide us to a life-transforming relationship with God, and with God's world.

Our fall sermon series during Sunday worship will focus on the Bible book of Job, where these questions are asked powerfully - and answered powerfully by God. Our faith groups on Wednesday evenings in the Clark Room at 5 + 7 PM will also follow Adam Hamilton's book and companion video  "Why? Making Sense of God's Will" to help people to bring their "Why?": questions that are on our hearts to God, and to one another, to get a new perspective on our lives.

Even if you've never entered a church to try to find answers to these questions, our church invites  you to find answers with us. Try out our warm and joyful worship on Sundays at 10AM, and our faith groups on Wednesdays at 5 and 7PM. Begin to find answers that will help you to find the change in your life that God is preparing for you right now. The book will be available in our church, or can be ordered online here.

It's almost time for our 4th annual Chili Cookoff fund-raiser, a popular event that draws some the best and most unique chilis you will ever taste. For a $10 ticket, you get as much chili as you can eat, a vote for the best chili, plus lots of chili fixings, salad, cole slaw, tortilla chipe, beverages, and dessert - a great deal! To enter your own chili, it's $10.

​Don't be afraid to bring yours for the dinner and for the judges - last year's winner was a big surprise! There will be mild and spicy entries, meaty, meatless, and more. It's a joyful event, and we hope that you'll be a part of it! For more information, please contact our office. See you at the cookoff! Poster to spread the word is here and below.