The Oley Valley Food Pantry focus items for December are canned corn, green beans and peas (14–15 oz.).  It is the hope of the OVFP to be able to put two cans of vegetables in each food box, so our goal is to donate 350 cans of vegetables.  Items can be dropped off at our Saturday Drive-Thru Drop-Off collection on December 11 from 9 to 11 am.

The Mission Team will be sponsoring an Advent Fellowship Gathering on Sunday, December 12 in Weidner Hall immediately following the 10:15 am worship service.  Take some time during the busy holiday season to enjoy holiday treats/snacks with your  Friedens family and friends.

Come out for some holiday cheer with your Friedens family and help decorate the church for the Christmas season.  We will meet at the church on Saturday, December 11 at 8 am.  You won’t want to miss out on all of the fun and fellowship as we prepare the church for the holiday season.  All ages and abilities are welcome.

The last Hoagie Sale for 2021 is scheduled for Thursday, December 2.  Hoagie orders are due today by noon.  Italian hoagies and ham and cheese hoagies are available.   The cost per hoagie is $7.   We accept sponsorship of hoagies for veterans.  If you place your order on the hoagie order sheets in either church narthex, there is a special column for you to note the number of hoagies you would like to sponsor.  All hoagies for vets automatically include peppers.  Do not include hoagies for vets in your own pepper count.  Orders will be available for pick-up between 3 and 5 pm in Weidner Hall.

This year Friedens will collect monetary contributions for the Bethany Children’s Home Christmas Wish List.  Friedens will then issue a lump sum check to Bethany.   Bethany staff will purchase individual presents with the money donated by Friedens.  Please make your contribution by Sunday, November 28 by using your church giving envelope and designating “Bethany Christmas Gift” or by mail to the church office.   Contact Carol Miller 610-987-3504 with any questions.

Do you need to meet with Pastor Frey in person?  Pastor Frey will have church office hours on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 12 noon.  Call ahead or simply drop by to speak with him about any spiritual concerns.  Otherwise, feel free to call him at 717-606-4058 any time.

iGive.com allows you to support Friedens United Church of Christ by donating a percentage of your online shopping.  It’s totally free for you and totally free for Friedens.  When you join today and make your first purchase by May 1 they’ll earn a $5 bonus.  iGive is super easy to use.  After registering at iGive.com, simply select your store from their list of over 2,300 participating internet stores.  iGive.com will send Friedens a check each time donations amount to $25.  You shop.  Friedens United Church of Christ gets money.  Free.

With the holidays fast approaching, please consider using AmazonSmile for your online purchases.  AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Friedens UCC every time you shop—at no cost to you!  On your first visit to smile.amazon.com, you simply select Friedens United Church of Christ in Oley, PA to receive donations before you start shopping.  Your selection will be remembered and every purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a 0.5% donation to Friedens UCC.  If you have any questions about using this service, contact Denise in the church office.

Each year the church is decorated for Christmas Eve with beautiful poinsettias and it’s time to start thinking about the Friedens Annual Poinsettia Sale.  If you would like to order a poinsettia (or two or three), sign-up forms can be found in the Narthex.  You may also place your order by calling the church office at 610-987-3536.  We are offering a selection of red, pink or white flowers.  Each 5+ bloom plant from Levengood’s will be $12.  Dedications made “In honor of” or “In memory of” will be listed in the Christmas Eve bulletins. You may take your poinsettia home following the Christmas Eve Worship Service you attend.  Order/payment deadline is December 7.  Profits will benefit future mission trips.

The church is buzzing with preparations for the Friedens Church Bazaar to be held on Saturday, November 20, from 9 am to 1 pm.  Come out for eat-in or take-out of our delicious homemade food, including: Soups (beef vegetable, turkey noodle, turkey corn noodle), Beef BBQ, Turkey BBQ, Hoagies, Hot Dogs, and Potato Filling.  Don’t forget about our famous, freshly based goods:  Pies (shoofly, apple crumb, cherry crumb, mincemeat), Sand Tart Cookies, and AP Cakes.  There will also be our popular White Elephant tables, a plant sale, basket raffles, and assorted vendor tables.  Something for everyone!

It takes lots of help to hold a successful Church Bazaar.  The following is the preparation schedule.  Please call Veronica Schoellkopf at 610-987-6638 if you are able to help, even if only for a few hours.

November 8, 12 to 6 pm:  Pick turkey meat off the bone

November 10 & 11, 8 am to 4 pm:  Bake cookies

November 17, 8 am to 4 pm:  Make shoofly pies

November 18, 8 am to 4 pm:  Make cherry pies and mince pies

November 19, 8 am to 4 pm:  Make apple pies, AP cakes and potato filling

November 20, 9 am to 1 pm:  Church Bazaar Day