Advent Begins Next Sunday, December 3! 

We begin the sacred season of Advent next Sunday, December 3. During these weeks in which we prepare to once again welcome the birth of Jesus – the embodiment of God and God’s ways for us in the Christian spiritual community – our theme for this year will be “It’s Better To Light a Candle…”

 Borrowing from the quote attributed to people as varied as Confucius and Eleanor Roosevelt, “It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”, during each of the four Sundays of Advent we will explore one of the theological and spiritual concepts identified with the four candles of the Advent Wreath – Hope, Peace, Love and Joy – as it relates to our call from God to light candles in the dark spaces and places of our own and others' lives.

 

Shine A Light-Dispel the Darkness on Anti-Semitism this Chanukah

Bat Yam Temple of the Islands invites you to join a special Chanukah Menorah Interfaith Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, December 14th at 5 pm outside the Seahorse Shopping Center on Sanibel., 362 Periwinkle Way.

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Christmas Eve at SCUCC!

 We are blessed to be able to once again celebrate Christmas Eve here at SCUCC! As this Christmas Eve is also the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we start the day with our usual 10am Worship time.  

Then, as there is no Christmas Eve Beach Service again this year, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus at 5pm on December 24 with a time of readings from Luke’s Christmas story, inspiring music, the sharing of light, and a “Dramatic Reflection” from Mark.  It is possible we may be able to gather in the Sanctuary for this blessed time. But if not, we are grateful to still be able to come together in Fellowship Hall.

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Church Office Hours

Church Office is now open Monday-Friday, from 9am-3pm. 

Mark is normally on the church campus Tuesday-Thursday pending pastoral visits or off site meetings. Please feel free to just “drop by” or make an appointment directly with him by email: mark@sanibelucc.org or text/phone call: 908-477-5426   Please note that the Church Office will be closed on Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24 in celebration of Thanksgiving.

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New Assistant Church Administrator

We are also extremely pleased to announce that Tammy Flatley has joined our community as the new Assistant Church Administrator. Tammy will be at the front desk in the Church Office area Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm. Tammy is already working closely with Church Administrator Jenny Chacon to coordinate our day to day operations.  We hope you will stop by and welcome Tammy when you have the opportunity.

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Bible Study

Due to Thanksgiving on Thursday, Bible Study will meet this week on Tuesday, November 30 at 10:30am-noon. It remains on Zoom only for now. Please note that Bible Study will go from 10:30am-Noon from now on.  Each week, we explore the Scripture passage(s) being used in Worship that coming Sunday. These sessions are largely “guided discussion” in approach, focusing on your questions and insights from reading the text(s) ahead of time, with Mark facilitating and adding relevant context and detail as needed or wanted. This approach allows for participants to engage with the Bible creatively, and with an eye toward how the text speaks to us in our time and lives. In addition, they are great prep for getting more out of the Sunday messages!  We hope you will take the time to join in.  Through the month of November, Bible Study will meet on:

November 21

November 30

 

Spiritual Exploration

Our latest Spiritual Exploration unit has begun:

“Shepherd, Soldier, Sinner, Sovereign: The Life and Times of David”

Tuesdays: November 28; December 12 & 19      

7:00-8:15pm on Zoom only

With the Advent and Christmas season arriving soon, we know that Jesus is described as coming from “The House of David”. But what does that mean? And more importantly, who was David?   During this unit, we will consider what is known historically regarding David, but most vitally, dive into some of the pivotal stories about David that are presented to us in the Bible. We will explore those stories, as well as the deeply complex portrait of David and his relationship with God that they offer us, as a means of better understanding our own.  

In preparation for this Tuesday’s session, please read:

2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 12:1-23

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SCUCC Singles and Friends

The SCUCC Singles and Friends group will meet for lunch at Mud Bugs after Worship on Sundays in November. For more info call, text or email Eleanor Miller at 860-318-1557 or eleheamiller@gmail.com

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Shell Point Women’s Group November Luncheon

The Sanibel Congregational UCC, Shell Point Women’s Group will have its next monthly luncheon meeting Friday, December 8 at 11:30am at the Palm Grill in the Woodlands Common. Please make reservations with Emily Kletzien at emily.kletzien@gmail.com.

 

Shell Point Men’s Group November Luncheon

The Sanibel Congregational UCC Shell Point Men’s Group will have its next monthly luncheon meeting Tuesday, December 12 at noon at the Palm Grill in the Woodlands Common. Please make reservations with Candy Atchison at JimAtch@aol.com or 561-714-4655.

 

INTERESTED IN JOINING SCUCC???

If you are considering becoming a member of SCUCC, or would simply like to find out more about us, please let Rev. Mark know. After you and he discuss the expectations and, as the old commercial says, “the benefits of membership”, you and he can schedule a Sunday that works best for you to become an official part of the SCUCC community.

 

Like A Ride To Worship?

If you would like a ride to Sunday Worship from Shell Point or Cypress Cove, please contact the Church Office at office@sanibelucc.org by noon on Thursdays.