1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Vol. 37 No. 11
WORSHIP
SERVICE
SUNDAY
10:00 AM
OFFICE
HOURS
Monday Thursday
9A-1P
860349-9881
Contact the
office to update
birthdays/ann.,
addresses, etc.
Articles for
publication are
due:
Nov 19
for the December
Red Doors
Dec 17
for the January
Red Doors
Wednesday
for the Sunday
announcements
November 2014
Are you looking for a little spiritual uplift?
If you are at all like me, you might find it difficult to sit for long periods and
pray. I do, unless of course, I’m listening to music. Music has always held a
special emotional and spiritual connection for me. Many of the times that I
have felt most connected with myself, and with God, have been when I am
listening to music. Music can touch that inner part of me that I often shelter
from the outside world (and even from my own prying mind). Music unbinds
my soul.
For our November devotional, the deacons each picked one song that spoke
to us spiritually. There were no requirements that the song be sacred or
familiar, just that it spoke to the individual spiritually. Then at our meeting,
we listened to each of the songs in turn and discussed how they moved us.
Not unexpectedly, it was a meaningful evening for me.
Here is a list of the songs the deacons chose:
Bright Morning Star
by Oysterband
Footprints
by Brendan Macfarlane
In Remembrance of Me
by Buryl Red & Ragan Courtney
Shine
by Joni Mitchell
Hallelujah
by Jeff Buckley
Hymn of Promise
by Blake Burroughs
If I Ever Lose My Faith In You
by Sting
Be Thou My Vision
by 4Him
Tu Has Venido La Orilla
by Annet Nakamoto
All Creatures of Our God and King
by BYU Vocal Point
If you are so inclined, I encourage you find and download these songs. You
can listen to most of them on YouTube beforehand if you want, but all can
be purchased on iTunes or some other online retailer. They are all beautiful
in their own way. Then, if you are courageous, you can try and guess which
deacon picked which song! (Email Pastor Dale if you have any guesses!) I’ll
give you one hint: 2 deacons chose “Be Thou My Vision” as their song.
Enjoy,
Pastor Dale
DEACONS’ CORNER
Deacons
Betsy Bascom
Karen Bergenholtz
Paul Bergenholtz
Roger Brewer
Valerie Faiella
Elisabeth Kennedy
Bridget Melien
Lori Michaud
Sharon Roundtree-Brewer
Millie Simonzi
Our charge is to assist the pastor
in spiritual matters of the church
What We Do










Serve as spiritual leaders
Assist with church communion
Serve home communion
Usher at funerals & memorials
Visit members
Facilitate small groups programs
Write Red Doors articles
Assist with Baptisms
Lead worship as needed
Nurture our faith
The Appointed Life
Few would deny that the circumstances of our birth determine much about the lives
we live. For example, if you are born poor you are likely to live and die poor. Certainly, some do rise above the poverty into which they are born but most do not.
I have heard the suggestion that we as individuals participated (prior to our birth) in
deciding our own circumstances of birth. If this is the case, it would be interesting to
know why I chose to be born into poverty and apartheid. Indeed, why would anyone
choose adverse birth conditions? For sure, I do not have the understanding that some
may have on how we decided our own birth. I will try to stay open to a fuller understanding. In the meantime, I choose to believe our birth conditions were determined
by God.
I have always believed God determined my gender, race, parents, time of birth,
physical body, physical abilities, mental capacity and place of birth. By determining
these things, God also determined necessarily the social, political and economic
conditions into which I was born. Just to be clear, I do not believe God created war,
poverty or other adversities of the world. These things resulted from human behavior. But, in my mind, the birth of some into human-made adversity, when others are
born into more favorable conditions, is within the province of the Almighty God.
But why did God give each of us the particular circumstances of birth that we received? Lately, I have been thinking a lot about this question with a heightened
sense of appreciation of the dominant role that birth conditions play in the living of
our lives.
Now the word of the Lord came to [Jeremiah] saying, Before I
formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I
consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:4-5.
As it was with the prophet Jeremiah, is it not likewise for each and every one of us?
Did God know us before we were conceived in the womb, and did God appoint each
of us to one or more important causes in life? Obviously, everyone is not appointed
prophet to the nations. Nevertheless, does God not appoint each of us to do work
that is important to God, even if that work is considered menial or insignificant by
human standards?
Many people believe as I do that God speaks to us today in various ways. For example, God speaks to us through the actions and words of others, through nature,
through intuition, through dreams, and through the talents and abilities bestowed on
us. I also believe God speaks to us profoundly through the circumstances of our
birth.
Programs
Seeing my birth conditions and the birth conditions of others, not as an advantage or
disadvantage, but as the powerful word of the Almighty God is no small matter.
This insight, to say the least, is very empowering and enlightening to me.
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Living the Questions
Simply Christian
Unwrapping Our Gifts
PRAYER:
Almighty God, I pray that we might all have a fuller understanding and appreciation
of how you speak to us through the circumstances of our birth. May we honor and
respect your voice as it abides in ourselves and in others, and may we faithfully carry out your word in the living of our lives. AMEN.
Roger Brewer
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OUR CHURCH FAMILY
Happy Birthday!
1 Deb Wimler
1 Jen Carras
1
1
3
4
5
7
8
8
9
9
9
11
11
13
Matt Tietjen
Jennifer Brainerd
John Bialobrzeski
Thien Wrang
Barbara Heuberger
Morgan O'Sullivan
Johna Diaz
Karen Fowler
Larissa Cade
Julie Aroian
Jimmy Priest
Aubree Keurajian
Megan Locascio
Sierra Manning
Happy Anniversary!
15 Pat Bandzes
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15 Kendra Smith
15 Aaron Schlicker
16 Kenneth Crompton
16 Tory Satagaj
17
Kendra & Daryl Smith
Sharon Roundtree-Brewer &
Roger Brewer
29
Dina & Marc D’Amato
17 Jordan Moore
19 Donnie Smith
24 Christine Steele
25 Ed Holden
27 Eleanor Melmer
28 Jackie Staddon
28 Howard Thody
29 Skip Strickland
30 Tom Hummel, Sr.
30 Nicholas Smith
Thank you all for your generosity to
the Qunicy Family. We made a donation in the amount of $876 this
week to the Liberty Bank into an account set up for donations. Anyone
who missed out on our collection is
welcome to make a direct deposit at
the bank. Thanks for coming thru
again in helping members of our
community.
THANK YOU!
This was our first year on our own at the Durham Fair. Our profit to date for the whoopie pies,
cake pops, soda and water is $1298.78.
A huge THANK YOU to Claudia White and Doug Dischino for their tireless efforts for 4 days at
the fair.
We could not have done it without our workers: Jennifer and Jim Fowler, Karen Bergenholtz,
Scott Hurlbert, Barbara Kauffman, Vicki Berry, Deb Wimler, Hazel Chapman, Bob and Shirley
Newcomb, Janice Keeman, Lilly Neal, Elaine Diaz, Laura Hastings, Jackie Staddon, Gordon
Wolfgang, Al Smith, Ed Holden, Elizabeth and Dale Azevedo, Joel Nick, Sue VanDerzee, Cassidy White-Ryan, Sydney and Bill Mintz, Patty Cade, Tammy Burt, Don Ginter, Karen Guzman,
Michael Greenwood, Rick Mach, Sarina and Liz McCoy, Kevin and Rick Ryan, Megan and Debbie Decker, Alma and Bob Elder, Aleta Cromack, Millie Simonzi and Amy Dills.
A big THANK YOU also goes out to Barbara and Mark Kauffman for the use of their trailer
which saved us from a lot of time and effort!
It was a team effort. Looking forward to 2015!
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On October 19th , we hosted the New England Chamber Choir.
I would like to thank all who were involved: Jean Norton, Carol Wray, Eleanor Melmer, Barbara Fowler, Bev Walker, Millie Simonzi, Brenda Marino, Jo Ann Keurajian, Deb Wimler, Betsy
Bascom, Joan Lombardo, Debbie Carras, Sue VanDerzee, JoAnn Halibozek, and Vicki Berry. We
had many compliments, such as: “What a nice assortment”, “A great spread”, and “You ‘Church
Ladies’ know how to put on a reception.” This was like a collation but a happy occasion. Thank
you all for helping with this reception.
~ Kathy Cutler Collation Team
Dear Pastor Dale,
Dear Kathy and her “crew”;
On behalf of the New England Chamber Choir,
I want to thank you for your wonderful hospitality
last Sunday! (October 19, 2014) Your church is a
perfect concert venue—one of the soloists remarked on this.
Our thanks also go to Judi Rand and Kathy
Cutler, who helped make the concert a memorable
occasion.
All my best to you and all the people of Federated Church, and, again many, many thanks!
Thank you so very much for that 5
Star reception on Sunday. It was beautiful and delicious. What an awesome assortment of things to select!!! We are
very grateful to you all. You truly made
us feel welcome and at home.
With warm regards,
Anita Duffy
President New England Chamber Choir
Sincerely,
Judy Moeckel
WORSHIP
ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE
Tuesday, November 25 at 7:00P.M.
at
Middlefield Federated Church
Everyone from the community is invited to join in. There will be an ecumenical choir and
participation from all the area clergy. The Rev. Diana M. Rogers, from the Church of the
Epiphany, Durham, will be preaching our Thanksgiving message.
The other churches that are participating and joining with us in this celebration of all that we
are thankful and grateful for are the United Churches of Durham, Church of the Epiphany,
Notre Dame, and St. Coleman’s Church.
It is a wonderful way to celebrate our thanksgiving!
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Thank you to the following leaders who have signed up.
The following open dates are available for sign-up:
FELLOWSHIP
HOSTS
Nov 2
FLOWERS
READERS
USHERS
NURSERY
Don Ginter
7+ Classes
7+ Classes
Brenda Marino
Tina Hurlbert
John Lyman
Mike Waller
Aleta Cromack
Nov 9
The Holdens
Millie Simonzi
Nov 16
Jean Norton
Daryl & Kendra
Smith
Peter & Deb
Carras
Maria Chapman
Cornucopia
Cloe Poisson
Malcolm Staddon
Deb Huscher
Rick Mach
Mike Satagaj
Cloe Poisson
Nov 23
Nov 30
The Hurlberts
Upcoming Worship Schedule
Nov 2
Exodus People: Do you ever question God?
Nov 9
Exodus People: You can't always get what you want
Nov 16
Exodus People: ...but if you tr y sometimes, you just
might find, you get what you need.
Nov 23
Mary Nelson Abbott (Guest Preacher)
Nov 30
Thanksgiving Weekend
1st Sunday of Advent
LECTIONARY READINGS
HEBREW SCRIPTURE
PSALM
EPISTLE
GOSPEL Matthew
Nov 2
Joshua 3:7-17
107:1-7,33-37
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
23:1-12
Nov 9
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
78:1-7
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
25:1-13
Nov 16
Judges 4:1-7
123
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
25:14-30
Nov 23
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
100
Ephesians 1:15-23
25:31-46
Nov 30
Isaiah 64:1-9
80:1-7,17-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37
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MISSIONS
ONGOING MISSION
OUTREACH the
3rd SUNDAY OF EVERY
MONTH
Sunday, NOV
16
is the date of our next
Eddy Shelter Chili Supper
We need chili,
rice,
bread,
butter,
soda,
dessert,
half & half,
coffee.
The Sign-Up Sheet and
chili recipe is in the Hub.
There's nothing difficult about supporting the homeless men and women who
need food and shelter.
Try it,
you'll feel good about yourself!
BAKED BEANS for
AMAZING GRACE FOOD PANTRY
Missions has a goal of 100 cans per month.
Keep them coming!
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HOLIDAY FAIR
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS
We need the following to make the Holiday
Fair a success!
 Pickles, Jams and Jellies
 Crafts and Homemade Articles
 Baked Goods
 Costume Jewelry (Leave in basket in the hub.)
 Silent Auction Items - "gifty"
type things, small pieces of furniture, a service, etc.
WORKERS are very much
NEEDED.
Signup sheets for volunteers
and items are in the Hub.
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Our Christmas Fair is approaching quickly and we're looking for
some good items to put in the silent
auction.
If you have a
service you would
donate or you have
some "gifty" type
things, small pieces
of furniture, or other
items that might attract a buyer and are willing to donate them to us, please contact Millie Simonzi at 860-349-3027.
Pickup can be arranged.
EVENTS & INFORMATION
CONFIRMATION 2014-2015:
Our confirmation process for this year will be beginning very
shortly. This year’s process will kick off with an Informational
Meeting, being held on Sunday, November 2, from 5-6 PM.
Dinner (pizza) will be provided.
The point of this meeting is to get an accurate understanding
of who is interested in confirmation and to answer any
questions regarding this year’s program. It is expected that all
of our youth interested in confirmation will attend this meeting
and be accompanied by at least one parent or guardian.
Attention Ladies,
Our next Potluck Ladies Luncheon will be held on Tuesday,
DECEMBER 9th, at Noon, in Fellowship Hall. The Luncheon
for November has been cancelled due to the Holiday Fair. See
you in December!
Children's Choir
The Children’s Choir will have rehearsal
on Sunday, November 2 and 16 for a half
an hour after church. This is a group for
children who are students in first through sixth grade. Children
in this group will perform monthly during the worship service,
and possibly at other events throughout
the year.
Rehearsals are held the first and
third Sunday of the month for about 20
minutes after the service ends.
Enrollment is open, so come join us anytime. If you have any
questions, please email Michael Meurs, the minister of music,
[email protected].
There is a budget for purchasing plants; however, based
on the lack of natural lighting supplemental full spectrum
lighting will be needed. As a result, the idea of a "Giving
Trellis" was discussed as a way to fund the purchasing of
lighting and plants. We will be generating our wish list of
plants shortly and publishing it in the church bulletin. This
list will then be displayed on the Giving Trellis for others to
consider purchasing of a particular plant. To date, we have
received a donation of compost to naturally fortify the soil.
Lastly, ideas to connect the Children's & Youth
Ministries with the Biblical Garden were also discussed.
The Living Nativity Is Coming Again!
This year it will be December 13th (rain
date Dec 20) If you want to be a part of
this annual presentation to our
community, please sign up on the Youth
Board in the Hub, or leave a message
for Marilyn Keurajian at 860-349-9881
MFC Book Club
THE GARDEN TEAM
The Garden Team (Elsy Negron, Lee Warren, Kelly
Kalber, & Cheryl Fogg) met to discuss the rejuvenation of
the church gardens. Our brainstorming session concluded in
the desire to create a Biblical Garden featuring plants based
from the Bible, such as a dwarf fig tree, a dwarf olive tree,
mustard, lilies, palms, rose of sharon, etc.
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Bedrock Faith. The MFC book club is not entirely sure
what the phrase and title mean. We read the story, by Eric
Charles May, and discussed it, but much like the ending of
the book we are left wondering what comes next.
Reading about this Chicago community, we came back
to the question of unshakable faith.
The community in the story is not what we expected, and
perhaps faith is more than we expect also. Read below for our
summary of the story and its gift.
Shaking the Foundation, Act I
at 7pm
when we meet to discuss True A merican:
Mercy in Texas, by Anand Giridharadas.
This one is sure to challenge us both in the
action of forgiveness and understanding of
our post 9/11 world.
Stew Pot returns
from time imprisoned
not broken, not defeated
but he swears enlightened.
But what to expect from a former hoodoo?
Fires again?
Terrorizing neighbors?
The pitbull,
not Hitler now, but John the Baptist.
Controlled at times,
trained of a different sort.
~ MFC Book Club, guaranteed to make you
think
Motley, Davenport, Hicks, and McTeer
Erma – all side-by-side secrets
from each other.
Better when they are revealed?
Stew Pot points
says truth will set them free.
But what is his truth?
Annual Fall Meeting of the Middlesex
Association, United Church
To the Churches and Authorized Ministers of the Middlesex
Association:
You are called to gather for the Annual Fall Meeting of the
Middlesex Association, United Church of Christ. Please inform
your delegates and church members about our Fall Meeting and
know that all are welcome to attend.
The Annual Fall Meeting of the Middlesex Association (UCC) will
be held on Monday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Middlefield
Federated Church (402 Main St., Middlefield). This is our annual
dinner meeting. The dinner will feature sweet honey ham, Italian
baby potatoes, assorted vegetables, salad, and dessert. The cost is
$10 per person, which can be paid the evening of the
meeting. Reservations should be made with Judi Rand, the Office
Manager of the Federated Church, by either calling at 860-3499881 or emailing at [email protected]. Please contact her by
Monday, November 10.
Shaking the Faith, Act II
Who has faith?
Is it the loud one enlightened, prophesizing?
The one that holds her family close?
The one who knows the most rules?
Faith is shaken
from time to time
like water,
particles in light,
we see what settles.
See what we really have.
Family.
Friends.
The agenda planned for the meeting is as follows:
6 – 6:30 p.m. Gathering, refreshments, & social time together
6:30 – 7:15 p.m. Dinner
7:15 – 7:30 p.m. Worship
7:30 pm
Program with the Rev. Mary Nelson Abbott, our
Regional Conference Minister, as we share and
imagine ways that our congregations can be
more interdependent.
9:00 p.m. or earlier Adjournment
Faith bends
light in water.
In unyielding we fracture unyielding we break.
Faith of Bedrock, Act III
Motley questions and changes,
reacts and responds.
Only a foundation,
she rebuilds.
Her faith.
Her friends.
Her family.
Herself.
Stew Pot
fractures.
No bedrock.
No faith.
No home.
No freedom.
No Stew Pot
only Gerald,
broken,
defeated,
without faith.
Join us for our next Book Club discussion Monday, November 24,
I look forward to seeing all of you at this important occasion in
our life together as an Association!
Faithfully yours,
Rev. Timothy Haut, Registrar
Middlesex Association, UCC
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My Faith Center 2.0
The Sower
Matthew 13:9
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Large Group Leader
Marilyn Keurajian
ART
Jerusalem
SCIENCE
Galilee
John Ferrero
Marilyn Keurajian
November 2
K-3
4-6
November 9
4-6
K-3
GAMES
Egypt
COOKING
Fellowship Hall
Tim Burt
Tammy Burt
November 16
K-3
4-6
November 23
4-6
K-3
Pre-K class will meet in the Pre-K classroom.
7+ class will meet in their classroom upstairs.
Classes run until approx. 11:15. If possible, please wait for the leader to dismiss the class.
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SUNDAY
1st Sunday of Advent
10:00A – WORSHIP
11:15A – Fellowship
30
10:00A – WORSHIP
11:15A – Fellowship
23
11:15A – Children’s Choir
5:30P – Eddy Shelter – chili
6-8P – Y.F.
10:00A – WORSHIP
11:15A – Fellowship
16
10:00A – WORSHIP
11:15A – Fellowship
9
Drop off fair items
6-8P – Y.F.
pizza info mtg with
parent/guardian
11:15A – Children’s Choir
5-6P – Confirmation –
10:00A – WORSHIP
11:15A – Fellowship
2
11
7:00P – MFC Book
Club – True
American: Mercy
in Texas
24
5-7P– Middlesex
UCC
Association’s
Fall Mtg @
MFC
17
10
9A-1P – Drop off fair
items
3
MONDAY
25
18
Ecumenical
Thanksgiving
Service @ MFC
7:00P –
VETERAN’S DAY
11A – Veteran’s Day
Service
@ The Green
11
9A-1P – Drop off fair
items
4
TUESDAY
(mark & leave in
kitchen)
7:00P – Deacons
DEC. RED DOORS
MAILED
26
DEC. RED DOORS
DEADLINE
7:00P – Deacons
19
6:30P – Admin
Team
12
6
THURSDAY
7
FRIDAY
27
20
13
28
21
14
9A-1P – Drop off 10A-2P,
5P-7P – Drop
fair items
off fair
LAST DAY to drop
items
off items for the
fair’s kitchen
9A-1P – Drop off fair
items
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WEDNESDAY
2
9A – 2P
Holiday Fair
In Durham
8:30A – Men’s
B’fast @ Dine
SATURDAY
29
12
22
12
15
12
8-8:30A – Drop off baked
goods
8:30A – DOORS LOCKED!
8
12
1
12
THRU THE RED DOORS
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
MIDDDLETOWN CT
PERMIT NO 561
Published by:
THE MIDDLEFIELD FEDERATED CHURCH
402 Main Street P.O. Box 200
Middlefield, CT 06455-0200
www.mfcct.org
Address Service Requested
STAFF
Pastor .................................................. Rev. Dr. Dale H. Azevedo
Minister to Children and Youth ....................... Marilyn Keurajian
Minister of Music .................................................... Michael Meurs
Church Secretary .......................................................... Judi Rand
Fax: 860-349-6384
www.mfcct.org
Church Office
PASTOR
Judi Rand
Rev. Dr. Dale H. Azevedo
Minister to
Children & Youth
Marilyn Keurajian
Monday - Thursday
9AM -1PM
Tuesday – Friday
(variable hours)
Wednesday-Thursday
10AM – 2PM
(If necessary, home 349-8301)
office
@mfcct.org
home 860-349-9984
pastor
@mfcct.org
youthminister
@mfcct.org
EMERGENCIES - In an emergency when the Pastor cannot be reached immediately, please call
Sharon Roundtree-Brewer, Chair of Deacons at 860-344-0125, or deacon Millie Simonzi, 860-349-3027.
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE
The Worship Service is celebrated every Sunday at 10:00 A.M.
HOLY COMMUNION
The Sacrament of Holy Communion is served on the first Sunday of every month
at the Sunday Worship Service.
CHURCH SCHOOL
Church School is held during the Sunday Worship Service.
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With the help
of
the Holy Spirit,
our
Mission is
to
build and
strengthen
relationships
with God,
one another,
and
our world.