The Women’s Guild is in need of white elephant items for the Annual Bazaar on November 23.  If you have been cleaning house and discovered “cherished treasures” (holiday decorations, household goods, toys, etc.) that are no longer “cherished,” please consider donating them to our white elephant sale.  We will be accepting items on the following Sundays after church:  October 20, October 27, November 3, November 10 and the week of November 18 beginning at 8 am.

Military families stationed overseas love your unused coupons!  They can be used on base at commissaries and exchanges up to six months past their expiration date.  Drop off your unused coupons in the box in the Narthex.  The coupons will be mailed to Guam where all five branches of the military are stationed.  Coupons must be manufacturer coupons.  Store specific coupons (e.g. Target, Weis, McDonald’s) cannot be used. 

Bread for the World Sunday is October 20, 2019.  Current policies dictate cuts to Central American aid, which risks increasing migration, hunger and malnutrition.  Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging lawmakers to end hunger at home and abroad.  On Sunday, October 20 you will learn how to change these conditions.

The Youth Group is hosting a Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 19 from 2:30-4 pm.  Kids can trick-or-treat from trunk to trunk in a line-up of vehicles parked in the church parking lot with trunks or tailgates full of goodies.  There will also be games, food, a jump house and story time.  There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex for cars participating, help during the parade and the Trunk or Treat event itself along with a sign-up to bring treats for the event.   Contact Tonya Fisher at tfisher517@gmail.com or text 610-413-3852 with any questions.  All participation in Trunk or Treat is always FREE to the public!  Family friendly costumes and decorations please. 

October is Fire Prevention month.  Do you have a fully charged fire extinguisher in your home?  Do you know how to use it?  Please join us on Thursday, October 17 at 10 am in Weidner Hall.  A representative from the Oley Fire Department (Company 5) will give us some meaningful and useful information and advice with respect to fire. 

The next meeting of the Friedens UCC Women’s Guild will be held on Monday, October 14 at 6 pm in Weidner Hall.  We will be planning our meetings for the next year as well as discussing the upcoming Bazaar on Saturday, November 23.  “Entertainment” for this evening will be cutting up beef for the Bazaar (not to be confused with bizarre) soup!!  Please plan to attend.  We love to see smiling faces!

On Sunday, October 6, we will take our Neighbors in Need (NIN) collection.  NIN is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. You can make your contribution next week by marking the appropriate box on your offering envelope or pick up a special NIN envelope in the Narthex.  NIN helps make a just world for all possible.  Visit www.ucc.org/nin for more information.

Christian Ed will host Communion Sunday Fellowship immediately following the worship service on Sunday, October 6.  Join us for a tasty treat and conversation with your Friedens family.

We will gather on Saturday, October 5 at 10 am in the courtyard near the church parking lot for a Blessing of the Animals service.  Bring your dogs, cats, fish, chickens, horses, frogs, ducks and mice for a special blessing.  The service will last approximately 1/2  hour.

Within the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ, Friedens UCC functions in the Covenant Association.  Pastors have standing in the Covenant Association.  The committee which oversees the pastors is called the “Committee on Ministry.”  This committee supports, encourages and guides: 1) pastors who already have standing in the Association, 2) pastors who are retired, 3) persons who feel called to be a pastor.  The Committee also wants to be interacting with the congregations within the Association.  We are looking for several people who feel led to serve on this committee and who would be appointed/elected at the Fall Meeting of the Covenant Association on Sunday, October 27.  Contact Rev. Mary Etta Mest at 610-659-2775 or mestme@aol.com if you are interested.