Congregation established 1836

Newsletter of the

First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois

www.firstuualton.org

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister

October 5^th

“Beyond Reformation”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

The history of our religious movement has a thread that runs through the Reformation of the Christian Church in 16^th Century Europe.  Part 1 of a sermon cycle on the links between those early reformers and how we got to where we are today.

October 12^{TH –} Association Sunday

“Creative Tension”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

With our strong traditions of individualism and congregational polity, there are many tensions between us and the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston.  The more creative we can be with those tensions, the stronger the church will be and the wider we will be able to get our saving message out.

October 19^th

To Be Announced

October 26^th  –  Samhain, All Soul’s, Halloween

“Grappling with a Luminous Doom”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Samhain, the Celtic New Year, traditionally marks the beginning of the ‘dark half’ of the year, and the curtain thins between this world and Hamlet’s “undiscover’d country.”

October 5^th – Non Theist/Humanist Roundtable.

October 12^th – Speaking About Faith – We will listen and discuss a re-broadcast of Public Radio’s “Speaking of Faith” program Presence in the Wild.  It is the story of Rev. Kate Braestrup, a Unitarian Universalist chaplain to game wardens and search and rescue workers in the Maine woods.

October 19^th – From Jesus to Constantine. DVD presented by Rev. Khleber Van Zandt.

October 26^th – Peacemaking. Led by Dr. Ron Glossop.

Pastoral Care Teams

The church is a story. It is the story of lives that are interwoven, brought together in this place and this time for the simple purpose of caring for one another, and helping one another along the arduous path from birth to death.                

–Victoria Weinstein

In an effort to encourage all of us at First Church to care for and minister to one another, the Member Services Committee has established a Pastoral Care Teams program.  The purpose of these teams is three-fold:

1.                  To check on one another if someone is not at church for an extended period of time.

2.                  To provide cards, calls, food, etc. in times of serious illness or life crisis.

3.                  To provide all members someone to call in addition to the minister when they experience illness, loss, or crisis.

Your Pastoral Care Team Leader will contact you soon in order to help the members of your team connect with one another.  There will be a list of all the teams and their members on the kiosk in the Kate Wuerker Room. 

Please contact your Team Leader if you have any questions.   Also, if you or someone you know has not been assigned to a team, please contact Cheryle Tucker-Loewe.

A First Glance

On the paths I usually take from home to church and back, I pass over two of the world’s great rivers:  the Missouri, almost 2500 miles long and draining over half a million square miles, and the Mississippi, nearly equal in length to the Missouri and draining that much area again.  As I drive over them, I try to be aware of their magnificence, but I am so often adrift in my own thoughts.

As I look up and down the Mississippi from the high point on the Clark Bridge coming into Alton, I can see tugs and riverboats pushing barges up and down, as well as small pleasure craft of many varieties running to and fro.  The traffic on the Missouri is much sparser, normally no more than a rowboat or two out on a fishing expedition. 

On another portion of my path, I drive alongside the churning water south of the confluence of the two rivers, and there, it’s only the birds that take advantage of the life-giving flow.

Earlier in the summer, the rivers flooded, closing the Great River Road going west out of Alton and inundating some homes and businesses in the towns up- and downriver from church.  As time went on, the floodwaters subsided and the levels dropped precipitously, more and more of the brown sandy banks and their piles of beached, water-worn trees coming into view.  As the rains return and autumn appears around the bend, the rivers look like they’re back up to normal now.

The summer has been, in the non-committal words of therapists everywhere, “interesting.”  War breaking out on the Georgian/Russian border, our continuing struggles in Iraq and Afghanistan, the price of oil spiking and taking gasoline prices with it, all of the above rippling through the economy and swelling unemployment to record levels.  And now our friends on the Gulf Coast suffer through another hurricane season on pins and needles.

Besides all that, in this congregation we’ve had a couple of deaths, some illness and injury, and our own local economic downturn to contend with.  Lots of people call the church everyday looking for help with housing, food, healthcare, and utilities.

For sure, anxiety all around.

And still there are beautiful days – temperatures are moderating, leaves beginning to turn, lots of outdoor activities to catch up on.  And on Sunday mornings, new programs coming along and new groups forming at church, the kids back in regular RE classes, Adult RE tackling new subjects.

As Leon Burke sang to us in church this August:

“Dat Ol' Man River, he jus’ keeps rollin’ along.”   May your river of life just keep rolling along.

See you in church,

Mark Your Calendars:

A Quick Guide to this Month’s Happenings

Community Women’s Drum Circle

Sunday, October 26^th from 6 to 8 pm. All women in the church are invited to come.  You may bring any kind of drum (even children’s plastic drums, maracas, any percussion instrument will do.)  No experience in drumming is necessary.  Drum whatever comes through you, carefree, easy going.   For further information contact Layne Simpson.

You can put your UU principles into action on Wed., Dec. 3^rd by volunteering to spend around 6 hours helping individuals who are homeless link up with needed services with a one-stop-shopping approach.  

The “Continuum of Care” agencies of Madison County Community Development are planning their first Project Homeless Connect (a national initiative) by transporting homeless individuals from shelters, agencies and the streets to a gym in Maryville Illinois where stations will be set up so individuals (and families) will be able to get medical/mental health/dental screening, legal assistance, select clothing, have a meal, get a bag of food, get a haircut, and an array of other services.

They are hoping to attract between 75 – 100 people who are currently homeless to this event.  VOLUNTEERS are needed to work as “buddies” – escorting the clients from station to station, or serving meals, or working in the children’s carnival area, or in the clothing room, or in other capacities. Contact Mary Johnson to say you’ll help.

United Congregations of Metro-East

Faith & Democracy
Public Action Meeting

Our church is one of the 26 members of UCM.  As a member of the First Unitarian Church of Alton, you are encouraged to attend this annual public action meeting to learn more about the social justice activities sponsored or supported by UCM.

 “Justice is what love sounds like when it speaks in public,” (Michael Eric Dyson). United Congregations of Metro-East (UCM) calls friends, allies, and the public to assemble with elected officials to present solutions to injustices in our communities and to ask for commitments of their support. The issues being addressed are jobs & training for low-income workers, minorities and women, affordable & quality healthcare for all, diversity in O’Fallon school district staff and city officials, the impact on global warming by our cities (led by Alton Cluster) and keeping the Madison County Shelter Care open. UCM believes that by working in faith and fellowship members can transcend their differences to call forth into the world peace, justice and equity for all. UCM is an affiliate of the Gamaliel Foundation which “teaches ordinary citizens to unleash the power within themselves to collectively impact social, political, environmental, and economic decisions affecting their lives.”  

Thursday, October 30, 2008,

7:00 – 8:30 pm

New Life in Christ

 Interdenominational Church

689 Scott Troy Road, Lebanon, IL 62254

For more information, please call the UCM office at (618) 451-1458

UU Leadership ONLINE Workshops

http://www.psduua.org/Workshops/OnlineSeriesFall2008

At the link above you can learn more about the new online workshops available through the Central Midwest, Prairie Star, and Heartland Districts of the UUA.

The interactive workshops are 1 ¼ hours long with presentations and discussions. You will need a computer with high speed internet access and a separate phone line.  All workshops will begin at 7 pm.   There is no cost to participate but you must register ahead of time at the above link.

The next two workshops offered are:

10 Good Ideas about Multigenerational Worship – offered on Wed., Oct. 1 and again on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

10 Good Ideas about Adding a Service – offered on Thurs., Nov. 13 and again Tues., Nov. 18.

Cheryle Tucker-Loewe

ATTENTION: ALL 1ST UU-ALTON PEACEMAKERS

Buddhist Group Begins at Church

The newly formed Buddhist group will meet every Wednesday at 7 pm.

No prior knowledge of Buddhism or meditation is required.  Everyone is welcome to come and learn with us.  Most people in the group are not Buddhist, but want to learn about Buddhist concepts and practices.  The group decided to start with the book Kum Nye: Tibetan Yoga by Tarthang Tulka, published by  Dharma Publishers.  It is not necessary for you to buy the book, but if you want to buy it, it is available at Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Dharma Publishers websites. 

So, Please JOIN us!

Dee Evans

Please stop by the RE Book Hutch for all your Beacon Press and Skinner House shopping needs.

Please remember to bring in your empty ink jet printer cartridges for recycling.  There is a recycling bin for

 these in the foyer.

The youth group will be participating in the Cool City Treasures Sale hosted by the Alton Cluster of the United Congregations of Metro East on October 11 from 9 am to 3 pm.  The sale is being held at old St. Patrick's School at 5th and Central Streets in Alton.

The RE Halloween Party is on October 26 during the regular RE time.  Costumes are encouraged.

We will Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF during coffee hour on October 26.  Please bring in your spare change for this event.

“Members Only” Link on Church Website

Coming Soon!

In the works for over a year, our Members Only website link will be fully functional within the next couple of months.

Purposes:

·       To provide a constantly current congregational directory.

·       To enable us to include more personal information in the newsletter than we would wish to provide for public access.

·       To facilitate the use of family photographs in the Directory.

·       Other uses to be determined.

Other Information:

Access will be a link from the Church Website through use of a family password (more information later).

Family Photographs will be taken by our own Alan Korte, who is a professional photographer.

Sitting dates will be after church Sundays on October 5^th and 19^th with a makeup date TBA.

A Sign-up sheet will be available in the Wuerker Room as of September 14^th. An option for obtaining copies of photographs will be available.

We could use a couple of volunteers to work with Alan on the two “shooting” dates.

Marcia Custer

RE NEWS

Dear Parents and Friends,

We have begun our fall term RE classes, and as we do at the beginning of each fall term, we have cooperatively formed a Behavioral Covenant.  The 1^st Children’s Chapel of the year was used for this process.  This is what we came up with.

Behavioral Covenant

Religious Education Department

2008-2009

The following are ways we have agreed to be together with each other this year and in the safe space of our church:

No Bossy/Bullying behavior.

We are quiet when others are speaking.

We are respectful of others.  No picking up or touching others without permission.

We are responsible for our actions.   They must be safe for everyone around us.

Fire safety is very important.   Never leave candles burning or play with matches.

Remember that younger children can be more fragile than we are and be careful around them.

Follow all safety signs that are posted in the building.  No running.

Keep doors closed that need to be closed.

Attend church service and classes respectfully.   Please be quiet in the sanctuary.

Treat the Sanctuary, the Church, and all church property with respect.   Do not touch things that are not yours. Use furniture appropriately.

Stay where you should be.  There is a time for being upstairs and a time for being downstairs.

Violence does not belong in church.

Follow the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism.

Try to have fun and learn something.

Please work with us throughout the year in helping all of us to remember to live out this covenant that we have made together.  If you see someone in violation of this covenant, a gentle reminder never hurts.  It also never hurts if the adults of the congregation act as role models and try to live by this covenant as well.

Thank you, Jamie Gross

Lucy Bouton tells us about

“Meatless Mondays” and asks if you’re interested in joining her in participating in this ongoing health campaign.

Meatless Monday is a public health awareness campaign promoting meatless, low-fat meals once a week as part of a goal to reduce the saturated fat in American diets by 15% by the year 2010.

Meatless Monday is coordinated by the Meatless Monday Campaign, Inc., a non-profit working in conjunction with the Center for a Livable Future at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and is supported by 27 other schools of public health throughout the U.S. The program follows nutrition guidelines of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the American Heart Association.

Diets high in saturated fat, found mainly in meat and high-fat dairy products, increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, and may increase the risk of certain types of cancer. As these are so-called "lifestyle diseases," deaths are often preventable by making changes in diet or activity.

Meatless Monday believes the best way to reduce the intake of saturated fat is to cut back on meat intake. Going one day a week without eating meat reduces fat intake roughly 15%. Research has shown that adding a time factor to a campaign when to start eating healthy helps people to change their behavior. Monday is already selected by public health advocates as a day to focus on personal health improvement.

It was also suggested at the Fundraising Brainstorming meeting held at church on 9/14 that folks could contribute to the church the money they would have spent for the meat they would have served each Monday.

Join the Choir!  We’d like to expand the choir and we encourage all who enjoy singing to come to a rehearsal and see how much fun we have.  All voices are welcome.  Rehearsals begin at 7 pm on the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month and around noon on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays.

Thurs., Oct. 2 – Sun., Oct 12 – Thurs., Oct. 16 –

Sun., Oct. 26.

Contact Willis McCoy for further information.

Treasury Note

Total  budgeted income   for August 2008  was  $6,899.30; this was 5.0% of our annual budget. Total budgeted expenses for August 2008 were $9,571.04; this was 6.9% of our annual budget.

We still have a substantial ‘surplus’ of prepaid pledges. If we can keep our monthly income within $2,500 of our monthly expenses, this ‘surplus’ should be sufficient to see us through the fiscal year.

I would like to draw the attention of members and friends to an ongoing fundraising activity that our church has been participating in. It is called "eScrip" and it works in conjunction with Schnuck's Markets and Macy's.

If you sometimes shop for groceries at Schnuck's, all you have to do is pick up a free eScrip card at the customer service counter. Then you must register the card – either online or by calling the phone number in the instructions. Our church's ID no. is 164501344. Whenever you shop at Schnuck's, just hand the card to the check-out clerk before you pay for your groceries. eScrip will then donate 1% of your monthly grocery expenses to our church (a higher percentage, if you spend more than $300 a month). For the last few months, we have been receiving almost $50 a month. I am sure that that number could increase, if we had more participation.

In order to receive donations based on Macy's purchases, I believe that you just have to register your Macy's credit card with eScrip after you are in their system, i.e., register your eScrip card for Schnuck's.

Jerry Johnson, Treasurer

In Our Church Family

The congregation extends its sympathy to Tom and Nancy Sakalauski on learning of the death of Tom’s father in August.

Audrey Wiseman’s brother, Fred Paris, died on September 12^th.  Our sympathies to Audrey, David and their family.

Are You Looking for

Some Cool “Treasures?”

Come to the Cool City Treasures Community-wide Sale.

This is a benefit sponsored by the Alton Cluster of the United Congregations of Metro East (UCM) to support UCM – a peace and justice institution working for lasting social change to benefit all citizens.

When/Where:  Oct. 11 – 9 am to 3 pm at Old St. Patrick’s School – 5^th and Central in Alton.

We are celebrating Alton as the Metro East’s first “Cool City.”  The Alton Cluster and the Sierra Club were instrumental in Alton’s Mayor Sandidge signing on last spring to move forward with innovative energy solutions to curb global warming, save taxpayer dollars, and create healthier cities.

4 ^th Sunday Potluck Lunch

October 26^th

Bring a dish to share and plan to stay after church to join in food and fellowship!  If possible please bring a dish that serves at least 6 to 8 people. 

In an effort to be more conscious of the environment and to reduce the trash that our church might add to the ever growing area landfills, we are using the church’s china plates instead of disposable ones.

A-Mc will do Clean Up

M-Z will do Table Set Up

Everyone helps put food out.

Renegade Women Chalice Circle

Saturday, Oct. 18^th  –   2 to 4 pm. 

Contact Marcia Custer for more information.

Third Sunday Chalice Circle

October 19^th – 11:45 am to 1 pm at church.

Contact Sandy Shaner.

This is a “general” chalice circle welcoming all.

Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle

Sunday, October 19^th – 12:00 to 1:30 pm in Emerson Place at church.

Contact: Diane Thompson or Cheryle Tucker-Loewe.

Men's Chalice Circle

Tuesday, October, 28^th  – 7 pm at church.

Contact: Khleber Van Zandt.

CRISIS FOOD CENTER DONATIONS

Jen Politsch

REMINDER – PHOTOS TAKEN IN OCTOBER

Family photographs will be taken by our own Alan Korte, who is a professional photographer.

Sitting dates will be after church Sundays on October 5^th and 19^th with a makeup date TBA.

CARE AND CONCERN

Please contact your Pastoral Care Team Leader or Rev. Khleber Van Zandt if there are concerns that need to be brought to their attention.   If you do not know if you are connected with a Pastoral Care Team, please contact Marcia Custer .

Community

Outreach Offering

One-half of the collection on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays is given away to charitable causes. The money donated does not include pledge checks or money otherwise earmarked by the giver.  The Outreach Offering only includes “cash offerings” or checks indicating that they are to be included in the donated funds. 

October’s collection will go to the Unitarian Universalist Association for Association Sunday. This UUA fundraising project will raise funds to support projects focused on deepening our Shared Ministry. The theme is Growing Our Spirit. The following specific initiatives were chosen based on a survey of Unitarian Universalist leaders

50% of the funds raised for Association Sunday 2008 will support Lay Theological Education programs:

• Congregations, districts, and seminaries will have the opportunity to apply for grants to create programs which focus on spiritual and theological deepening.

50% of the funds raised for Association Sunday 2008 will be divided equally among the following Excellence in Ministry programs:

·         The Unitarian Universalist Minister’s Association new initiatives for continuing education programs for ordained leaders through their CENTER programs.

For more details about Association Sunday go to:   http://www.uua.org/giving/associationsunday/index.shtml .

Anna Ds

The October meeting of the Anna D. Sparks Women’s Alliance will be held at 11:30 am on Thursday, October 2^nd at the home of Joan Hashimi, in Edwardsville.   Nancy Sakalauski will be co-hosting.

For directions see the print version of the newsletter or contact Joan.

Membership in Anna Ds is open to all women of the church.  Dues of $10 per year will be collected at the October meeting.

Hosting schedule from Nov. – June:

Nov.   6 – Corinne Hawkins at home

Dec.   4 – Lorli Nelson at restaurant

Jan.   8 – (2^nd Thursday) Lucy McAneny at Methodist Village

Feb.   5 – Ginger McCall – To be decided later

March 5 – Pat Moore at restaurant

April   2 – Audrey Wiseman – To be decided later

May   7 – Brynda McCoy – at restaurant

June  4 – Lorna McElhone – To be decided later.

Most people enjoy getting a card or email or phone call on their birthday.  Below is the list we have of church members and friends celebrating birthdays this month.  If you don’t think the church office has your birthday on file, please contact Becky Green (church@firstuualton.org) and give her that information.

  6 October – Freya Wolff

  8 October – Nancee Magilson

11 October – Becky Green

17 October – Laura Southcombe

18 October – Johnny Tade

24 October – Ken Hoeft

24 October – Roland (Kit) Schoenborn

28 October – Pat Moore

30 October – Peg Flach

Save the Dates!

Three Consecutive Monday evenings

October 20^th and 27^th, and November 3^rd

7 to 9 p.m.

at the First Unitarian Church of Alton,

corner of Third and Alby Streets

Creative Peacemaking:

Implementing the Decade of Racial Reconciliation

in Alton

a time of reflection, discussion, and fellowship

led by Rev. Bill Veith

Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Alton

Topics to be covered:

1^st Century Peacemaker:  Jesus of Nazareth

20^th Century Peacemaker:  Martin Luther King, Jr.

21^st Century Peacemakers:  Us?

All are welcome!

Coffee Hour Redesigned

While it took courage to change a tradition as sacred as our coffee hour, the increasing attendance requires a more “host friendly” approach.

Starting October 1^st, simple refreshments will be provided by the Church instead of the Hosts. After all, coffee hour is about fellowship, not lunch.

However, since the budget for this “fellowship event” has been severely cut this year, we will welcome donations of cookies, pretzels, animal crackers, etc. that can be left on the kitchen chopping block. Alternatively monetary donations can be placed in the green basket usually found on the side table where non-coffee beverages can be found. We continue to use Fair Trade coffee that becomes pricey when we make 50 cups at a time.

Other items of note:

·         We are no longer perking decaffeinated coffee since demand has decreased dramatically. Instant Decaf is available to add to hot water.

·         We have a NEW 50 cup coffee pot whose purchase will be compensated via the donation basket.

·         It is hoped that all able church members will participate in hosting coffee sometime during the year.

·         The sign-up sheet is on the small desk that sits against the Sanctuary wall.

·    If you have ideas or suggestions about expediting or enhancing the Sunday Fellowship Hour please contact Mary Weber who will be the new Coffee Hour Coordinator as of Nov. 1^st

Marcia Custer

All Men in the Church
Invited to the Men’s Lunch Group

The Men’s Group will meet on Thursday, October 9^th at the St. Louis Buffet, 672 Wesley Dr., Wood River, IL.   Contact Nelson Shaner for further details .

UU Elevator speech

What you'd say when you're going from the sixth floor to the lobby and somebody asks you, 'What's Unitarian Universalism?

Acceptance of people searching for their truth.

Building and Grounds News

Our Sept. 13 workday was a big success, thanks to these 18 folks who came out to help with a variety of projects: Marcia Custer and Gerry Gilman; John Herndon; Mary & Jerry Johnson; Chad Keller; Kevin, Amelia, and Margaret McCarthy and Diane Thompson; Brynda and Willis McCoy; Pat Moore; Nancy and Tom Sakalauski; Mary Weber; and Linda and Khleber VanZandt.

Jobs completed include cleaning of the window wells, washing of garbage cans, cutting of weeds in front landscaping, cleaning of grass from sidewalks, tree trimming, cleaning of janitor’s closet, cleaning of kitchen, washing of marks on walls, cleaning of rugs, washing mold off basement walls, rerouting of some gutters, painting of some trim, replacement of light bulbs, outdoor faucet repair, washing of windows, installation of three new towel racks, installation of new pulls on the sanctuary sliding doors, more work on repainting the front doors, and more. Fortunately the rains from hurricane Ike held off for the day so that we could get things done outdoors.

Soon we will have new faucets installed in the nursery, handicapped restroom, and children’s restrooms, thanks to Bing Gibbs.

Paula Tarbell continues to spend time each week helping with projects at the church.

Our nursery has now been completely repainted.  Take a look at our rainbow, the idea of Jamie Gross.

Here are some things that I could use some volunteers for.

            Volunteer to purchase and restock soda in the refrigerator

            Trimming and weeding outdoors

            Painting projects inside and out

            Electrical repairs

            Kitchen maintenance

            Let me know what YOU would like to do.

Pat Moore, Chairman

Habitat for Humanity – Golf Fundraiser

The Piasa and Wood River Chapters of Habitat for Humanity will be having a benefit golf tournament at Rolling Hills Golf Course in Godfrey on Saturday, Oct. 11 to help raise funds to continue their work in building decent affordable housing for people in need.

Habitat selects homeowner families according to criteria that doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, creed or ethnic background.  All homeowners contribute “sweat equity,” working with the local Habitat chapter volunteers in building the home.  The homes are sold to families with no profit or interest added.  House payments are used for construction or renovation of additional affordable housing.

We hope to have volunteers from our church working on the next Habitat “build” in the Alton area.

Registration for the golf tournament is $300 per team of 4 ($75 per person) – or you can just make a donation to the local Habitat chapter.  A brochure and flyer will be posted at church.

Workshops of Interest

“Amazons Awakening Womyn’s Retreat.”  October 17 – 19 at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

This workshop is geared towards women who are lesbians or bi-sexual and supportive friends.  Retreat organized by Spirals in Motion.  Scholarships are available through the UU Women’s Connection.

Registration form available at www.UUWomensConnection.org 

Questions – contact Deb Gaines.

“Peace of Cake: Food for Women’s Souls”
2008 Lake Geneva Fall Retreat

 November 7 -9, 2008 sponsored by The UU Women’s Connection of the CMwD.

Registration Deadline: Oct. 5.

This will be the 50^th year for this Fall Retreat.

For more information and/or a registration form go to:

http://www.uuwomensconnection.org/ or email Diana DeWeese.

INFORMATION FOR COFFEE HOUR HOSTS. PLEASE KEEP AS A REFERENCE

This is also posted above the sink at church

1. You will find labeled Fair Trade coffee in the white refrigerator or freezer. In the upper cupboard opposite the white refrigerator there are other supplies for making cold drinks. Also look in the refrigerators for left-over large bottles of soda.

2. Use the large aluminum coffeepot to make up to 50 cups of regular-coffee, for a Sunday service. Use the gold pot (30 cups) for smaller groups. If more is needed, use a Mr. Coffee type pot for 12 more cups & add to larger pot. Place pot on the buffet table and clip the “Regular” tag over the top handle. Plug it into the buffet outlet. It takes 35 minutes to perk so plug it in just before going into the Worship Service.  There is an extension cord you can use to make it easier to plug it at the back of the buffet table.

3.  Lately we have had little call for Decaf coffee, so make a pot of hot water in one of the Mr. Coffee type pots on the side table near the kitchen door, and set out a jar of Decaf instant coffee. In the green metal mesh baskets, also put out a variety of tea bags and packets of hot chocolate mix (in cooler weather).

4.  Have pitchers of other beverages available (especially for children), such as juice, lemonade, cider and iced tea in warmer weather. There is an insulated container around that can be filled with ice available in the cream colored refrigerator freezer. Place beverages and ice bucket on far end of the table to the left of the kitchen door exit.

5.  Put out 2 sets of sugar, creamer, sweetener, stirrers or glasses containing spoons for stirring. Put one set on the main buffet table next to the regular coffee pot and the other on the table next to the decaf and water.

6.  Put out trays with about 40-50 coffee cups (combination of large and smaller sizes) on several trays, plus a tray of glasses and smaller plastic colored cups by the cold beverages. Put the coffee cup trays on the buffet table and on the table by the decaf/hot water.

MORE INFORMATION FOR COFFEE HOUR HOSTS.

PLEASE KEEP AS A REFERENCE

Hosting Sunday Coffee

Dishwasher

Usually the dishwasher will be full of clean dishes needing to be put away.  But, you get to leave your dirty dishes behind after starting the dishwasher.

Beverages

Fair Trade Coffee is in the non-soda refrigerator in a red Folgers container.  If empty find more in the under-counter turntable beneath the large microwave, or in freezer.

Use the 50 Cup coffee urn: Fill basket with Regular Fair Trade Coffee using directions posted over main sink. Clip on the red “Regular” sign. This urn takes 35 minutes to perk, so plug it in just before going into the Worship Service. The 30 cup gold-colored urn is useful for smaller amounts. In warm weather make less coffee and provide more cold drinks.

There is little call for Decaf, so just put the jar of instant Decaf on the side table next to the hot water carafe that is also used for tea, hot chocolate, or other hot drinks.

Make cold drinks – iced tea when it’s warm, and/or lemonade etc. (especially for the children). See what’s left over in the refrigerator, and there are sugar-free soft drink powders and instant tea in the cupboard over the gas stove. Use glasses found in the cabinets and smaller colored juice glasses.

Set large coffee urn on main buffet table, and trays with sugar, creamer, stirrers, etc., on each table. Set other trays with a combination of small and large cups on both tables.

Snacks

Simple snacks are provided by the church and they can be found in containers in the pantry, on the chopping block, or in the freezer of the refrigerator where coffee is kept. Also use any food donations left by church members. On the side table put out the basket for coffee hour donations.