You’re Invited!

Tony and Marianna Gill will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this year, and they would like to invite you all to celebrate with them. There will be an Open House celebration at their home on Sunday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. The couple would like you to know that your presence is all the presents they need.

If you would like to attend, please R.S.V.P. by September 10th to Barb Gill at 321-313-3680 or barbgill@cfl.rr.com.

Become A Climate Ambassador

Green Chalice is a ministry of our denomination which helps congregations become better stewards of God’s creation. Many in faith communities call this Creation Care; in other settings you may hear Green Team or Environmental Protectors. Now, Green Chalice is expanding it’s ministry to co-sponsor an opportunity for people of faith to receive free training via Zoom to help them become Climate Ambassadors.

What is a Climate Ambassador, you ask? Good Question! Read on…

As we all know, climate change is one of the biggest problems facing the world, and humans are exacerbating the problem. But we can also help be part of the solution! With this training, and a cohort of like-minded people of faith, you will be able to engage our congregation, your colleagues, the public, and policymakers to inspire them to work towards climate solutions. Climate Ambassadors are desperately needed to help protect our families and communities now, and ensure a prosperous, just, and secure future. This training takes place Saturday, September 25, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Register by clicking HERE.

Bread Bakers Needed For October 3

For World Communion Sunday this year, October 3rd, we are going to feature a few breads from the Middle East and Africa at a simple Bread and Juice Fellowship after worship. We have a plan to have gloved and masked servers to serve those who choose to stay for fellowship with your choice of bread(s), bread topping(s), and juice.

But we need a few people to volunteer to bake some bread! We have a recipe for an Afghan Sweet Bread, as well as a recipe for Middle Eastern Pita Bread from Palestine to share with you. Neither of these require yeast, so there’s no waiting for the dough to rise! We also have a little more complicated recipe for Challah bread from Israel, if anyone is willing to take that on.

Felix Muhiga has already volunteered to make African Biget Bread rolls for us. Won’t you join Felix in being one of our World Communion Bread Bakers? If Yes, please email us in the office by clicking HERE. Thank you so much in advance!!

Calling All Choir Members!

Are you eager to help lead worship through song again? Just because Sally Kelley, our beloved choir director, has been called to another position, doesn’t mean there are not still possibilities awaiting you! We know different people have different comfort levels with participating in this way due to the Delta variant, but the church has invested in special singing masks which make it easier to sing while remaining masked, so we hope you will take a moment to consider this.

Marianna Gill and Lori Rhoden, our awesome worship coordinator and organist/pianist, have agreed to work together to provide opportunities for you to help in leading congregational songs and/or sing in ensembles, quartets, etc., for special music in October through December. But they need to know WHO is interested in doing so!!! If you are interested, please email the church office by clicking HERE and your email will be forwarded to Marianna and Lori. Lori will meet with the singers to practice in advance, and this is not a weekly commitment, so email today with your interest and availability! As of Sunday, September 5th, Rhea Morgan, Yeno Matuka, Charles Retherford, and Ann Wolfe have all volunteered; how about you?

Where do you see yourself contributing to the ministry of Hazelwood Christian?

We have six wonderful people who are paid to help make our ministries happen (1 full-time, 3 part-time, and 2 very part-time) in addition to our paid Preschool and Early Learning Center Staff. But they couldn’t do it without the many, many offerings of time and talent freely given to this congregation by our active participants. In the next 3 weeks, we are going to be highlighting different groups, teams, and committees to help everyone see all the different possibilities for service and involvement.

Sometimes we fall into the habit of calling on the same people to do “all the things.” But it is VERY good to have new people and new ideas join in the various ministries this congregation carries out, and even help us imagine new ones! Please be on the lookout for those highlights in the upcoming newsletters, and be thinking and praying about where God is calling you to contribute YOUR time and talent. As the old saying goes: Many hands make light work and glad hearts.