Living Faith UMC Messenger – January 2014
53 Grove Street -- Putnam, CT 06260
Grace and peace to all in Jesus’ name! By the time you receive this
newsletter, the Christmas season will be over. Or will it? January 6 is the
traditional date for the celebration of Epiphany, which completes the
twelve days of Christmas. It is the festival that honors the Word made
flesh, God made manifest to all nations and all peoples, symbolized by the
three Kings, the Magi. There is an eastern European story that is a good
one to read at this time of year. This happens to be the Russian version.
“Babushka is a person who, like many of us, is oh-so-busy. A tidy
housekeeper, always occupied with the myriad chores that seem to need
doing, she is too busy one evening to find out about the commotion in the
village. All her neighbors are out, gossiping about a bright star overhead
and a nearing caravan of royalty.
“Babushka is soon startled to hear a knock at her door. Three richly
dressed kings ask her if they can lodge overnight, since she has the finest
house in the village. The foreigners stay and tell her they are following the
bright star. Why doesn't she come too? They are bringing gifts to a
prophesied newborn king. His star is leading them on their way. But
Babushka doesn't feel as though she has a proper gift. And my, what a
mess these visitors have made. She simply must stay and clean up. She
will come the next day.
“So the kings leave without her. But when her cleaning work is done
and after she has prepared a proper gift, Babushka feels the urgent need
to catch up with the dignitaries. They are a full day’s journey ahead of her,
but she sets out. Everywhere she asks for the kings until she tracks them
to the village of Bethlehem, where she is told they have come and gone.
And so has the baby. The child is the Savior of the world, and Babushka
has missed him! So she continues her search year after year. Legend has
it that she can still be seen in villages at Christmas time, looking for the
Christ child. ‘Is he here? Is he here?’”*
Be alert in this season for an Epiphany of your own. Don’t wait until you
feel prepared to encounter God, for that time may never come. Rise up
and follow that star! Who knows where it may lead you.
In Christ’s service,
Pastor Barbara
LIVING
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FAITH UNITED METHODIST MESSENGER
A Message from Pastor Barbara
*Adapted from The Vigil, by Wendy M. Wright. ©1992.
Living Faith UMC Messenger – January 2014
Things to Remember
Worship Support Team
January 5 Communion -- Epiphany
Liturgist: Alan Beauchesne
Hosts: Judy Gehrig & David Dunham
Coffee Fellowship: Carol Auger
Communion Steward: Lorna Wade
Lectionary: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14;
Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
January 12
Liturgist: Bev Shaw
Hosts: Jan Lincoln, Greg King
Children’s Message: Bill Senecal
Flowers: Bill & Wendy Jones
Coffee Fellowship: Wendi & Reed Hopkins
Lectionary: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43;
Matthew 3:13-17
January 19 Human Relations Sunday
Liturgist: David Dunham
Hosts: Kevin Shaw & Doug Ewing
Children’s Story: Lorna Wade
Coffee Fellowship: Laura Lefevre
Lectionary: Isaiah 49:107; Psalm 40:1-11;
January 2
January 4
January 6
January 8
January 9
January 13
January 17
January 19
January 22
January 26
January 27
1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42
January 28
January 26
Meredith Konesni
Heather Shepard
Francela B. Diaz
Kerensa Konesni
Tori Weaver
Joshua Tracy
Anja Wade
Bev Shaw
Samantha Julian
Doug Ewing
Moises S.-Flores
Bruce Weaver
Judy Haines
Jon Preble
John Dinsdale
Jenifer Rukstela
Stefanie Sudol
Matt Parker
Liturgist: Monica Boudreau
Hosts: Pat Hall & Bev Shaw
Children’s Story: Pastor Barbara
Coffee Fellowship: Greg & Deb King
Lectionary: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-9;
I Corinthians 1:1-=28; Matthew 4:12-23
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT!
Featuring: TURBO!
Saturday, January 3rd
7-9 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone
is welcome to join in the fun!
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STAFF
Pastor: The Rev. Barbara Kszystyniak
Treasurer: Ann Kathi Peterson
Choir Director: William Fowler
SPRC Chair: Craig Jones
Telephone: 860.928.9705
Office Manager/Editor: Bev Shaw
Church Musician: Svetlana Mozheiko
Trustee Chair: Alan Beauchesne
Lay Leader: David Hawk Hawxhurst
Email: Putnam-umc@snet.net
Website: www.livingfaithumc.net
Living Faith UMC Messenger – January 2014
Pastor Barbara’s
Better Baked
Beans
Share your email address with the church
office!
1 Lb. (2 cups) dried white beans (great northern,
navy)
1 large sweet onion very coarsely chopped
12 oz. bacon, chopped
Name:____________________________
Email:____________________________
I’d like to receive:
Sauce Ingredients
½ cup ketchup or barbeque sauce (or a combination of
both)
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup molasses (you may find this is too much—use
at least 2 Tbsp.)
Dried mustard (around 1 tsp or so)
At least ½ tsp salt and several grinds of pepper
o
Weekly emails from Pastor Barbara
o
Monthly newsletter via email
o
Prayer requests
Soak beans in cold water overnight. Drain.
Put sauce ingredients in a good-sized saucepan and
simmer while you do the rest of the work.
In a bean pot or large ovenproof casserole dish, layer
1/3 of the bacon, ¼ of the beans, and 1/3 of the
chopped onion. Repeat, ending with beans.
Add 4 cups of water to the sauce, stir, and slowly pour
into the bean pot. (You may need to poke the bean
mixture with a wooden spoon a few times so that the
sauce fills all the layers.)
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Cover and bake at 300 degrees for 4 hours, checking
at least every hour to see if it needs more liquid.
Remove from oven and let them sit for 15 minutes.
Check seasoning, add more salt and pepper if you like.
They will thicken as they cool.
Editor’s Note:
yummy!!
I had some and they are REALLY
This is a picture of our early arrivals at your
Community Café, enjoying a cup of coffee and the
opportunity to visit with friends old and new. We
would love to see those of you who are free on
Friday's between 11:30am and 1:30pm, to come
and join us, your volunteers, as we reach out to
everyone in this quiet corner! This is the essence
of what it means to "be" God's church! This is what
it's all about! Going beyond the walls, the pews, the
altar, all that represents to us what church is, and
becoming even more! Becoming the body of Christ
in the world, just as Jesus called us to do and be.
This is God's gift to us, that we are, through God's
Spirit, offered this opportunity to reflect to others the
love, respect and compassion that we know we
have received from God. Come and see! You won't
be disappointed!
Living Faith UMC Messenger – January 2014
A BLAST FROM THE PAST!
We sometimes come across some
interesting and newsworthy trivia while
searching for other things. I was given
several bulletins from 1974 which you
might find as interesting as I did. On
THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR in October of
1974, here’s what was happening:
Stone and Light
Karaoke Coffee House
Want to relax with your friends? Come to
Stone and Light!
You can sing or listen! Childcare available!
Free beverages and finger foods! Alcohol Free!
FREE ADMISSION!
Join us from 5p.m. to 8p.m.
Saturday, January 11th
Location: Living Faith United Methodist Church (Fellowship
Hall)
53 Grove Street, Putnam CT (860) 928-9705
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Come sing your hearts out or enjoy the entertainment of
singers at the new "Stone and Light Karaoke
Coffeehouse"! This is no ordinary coffee house! This is a
place you can enjoy entertainment without the
screaming. You can laugh and relax and snack.
It’s just the perfect night out! This is a monthly karaoke
event, featuring James Grimshaw, as your D.J.; Bill
Fowler as your host, and Trisha Calhoun, as your
hostess!
This is an alcohol free event, so anyone, any age is
welcome! In fact, if you are someone with small children,
looking for a night out, then look no further! We have a
beautiful nursery and childcare is available!
That means, you can enjoy a safe, fun night out.
There will be beverages and finger foods available as
well! To top it off, admission is FREE!
Donations are accepted but not expected.
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!
Saturday, December 7th from 5:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.
Living Faith United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
Enjoy all genres of music from Oldies to
Christian, Country and R&B! ome to
SUNDAY: 6-7:30 Youth Fellowship for
grades 7-9 will meet at the church.
7:30 monthly Council on Ministries meets
at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Robert
Johnson on Grove St. Extension. All
members are urged to be present.
MONDAY: 7:30 Men’s dirtball in the
church fellowship hall
7:45 monthly United Methodist Women’s
meeting in the church parlor. The
program will be on “The Changing Role
of Women” centering around a panel of
women reacting to an original writing
entitled, “Two Toothbrushes” by Frances
Shaw
SATURDAY: Old fashion “Ham & Bean”
Supper in church fellowship hall. Get
your ticket from a member of the supper
committee.
The 34th Annual Windham County Men’s
Fellowship banquet and program will be
held on Monday, October 28, at 6:30 pm
in Danielson. Our Lay Leader, Don
Gibson has tickets at $3.00 per person
for the turkey dinner.
Save the date of Saturday, November 9
for our next United Methodist Women’s
Dine and Dance dinner. Entertainment
for this evening of fellowship will be
“Barbershop Selections” by our Men’s
Quartet.
You see, we were pretty busy even back
then! Thanks Annie & Pat for the
bulletins.
Living Faith UMC Messenger – January 2014
JANUARY 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
5
Saturday
1
2
3
4
HAPPY NEW
YEAR!
5:00 – Cub Scouts
9:00 – Game Day
7-10 am – Bountiful
Breakfast Buffet @
LFUMC NG
11:30-1:30
Community Café
7:30 – AA
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Friday
7-9 Family Movie
Night
Planning Retreat @
Calhoun’s
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
9:30 -- Sunday
School
10:45 -- Worship
Noon – CK @ LFUMC
- NG
5:30 – Cub Scouts
6:00 – Game Night
Noon – CK @ LFUMC
Putnam
6:00 – Boy Scouts
6:15 – Bell Choir
7:15 – Chancel Choir
7:30 – AA
6:30 – Trustees in
Putnam
5:00 – Cub Scouts
9:00 – Game Day
Stone & Light
Karaoke Coffee
House
5-8 pm
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
9:30 -- Sunday
School
10:45 -- Worship
S.O.S. – after Worship
Noon – CK @ LFUMC
- NG
5:30 – Cub Scouts
6:00 – Game Night
Noon – CK @ LFUMC
Putnam
6:00 – Boy Scouts
7:00 – IHSP meeting
6:15 – Bell Choir
7:15 – Chancel Choir
7:30 – AA
5:00 – Cub Scouts
9:00 – Game Day
Pinewood Derby
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
9:30 -- Sunday
School
10:45 -- Worship
Noon – CK @ LFUMC
- NG
5:30 – Cub Scouts
6:00 – Game Night
Noon – CK @ LFUMC
Putnam
6:00 – Boy Scouts
7:30 – AA
5:00 – Cub Scouts
6:15 – Bell Choir
7:15 – Chancel Choir
9:00 – Game Day
Pinewood Derby
(Snow Date)
26
27
28
29
30
31
9:30 -- Sunday
School
10:45 -- Worship
Noon – CK @ LFUMC
- NG
5:30 – Cub Scouts
6:00 – Game Night
Noon – CK @ LFUMC
Putnam
6:00 – Boy Scouts
6:15 – Bell Choir
7:15 – Chancel Choir
7:30 – AA
5:00 – Cub Scouts
9:00 – Game Day
11:30-1:30
Community Café
11:30-1:30
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