Dear CCGR Family,
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We are so blessed as a church family to have had such a beautiful Christmas Season throughout Advent — all the way up through New Year’s Sunday.
Thank you to Pastor Terry, Candy Hall, Boyd Lowry, Janet Montroy & our choir members, soloists & musicians, readers, and so many others who quietly contributed to helping to provide us virtually with as ‘close to normal’ as possible Community Church Christmas traditions that have always been so meaningful and special to us all.
We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge our appreciation for all that contributed to the many blessings that contributed to a joyous Christmas Season:
We are grateful for:
Pastor Terry’s weekly inspiring messages, and the thought, time, and prayer he invested in each.
 
We are grateful for:
Janet Montroy’s beautiful music, as well as the many gifted musicians and soloists (Stephanie Beaudoin, Jo Ann Jennings, Bethany Kazimir, Jeanne Jones O’Brien and Caitlin O’Brien and Guest Soloist, Melanie Lota).
 
We are grateful for:
All the ‘personal’ reflections of Christmas memories past, shared by some members of our church family (Stephanie Beaudoin, Nancy Croland, Bethany Kazimir, Chris Montgomery).
We are grateful for:
Boyd Lowry’s gifted technical talents, and the hours he continues to devote to recording all aspects of each service — enabling us to virtually view them weekly from our homes.
We are grateful for:
Ed & Janet Chen (and helpers) for adorning our sanctuary with the beautiful Christmas tree, poinsettias, garland, candelabras, and more.
We are grateful for:
Carl Fry, Keith Stewart, and Boy Scouts (and others from the Property Committee) who continue to be there for us year after year to erect and dismantle our beautiful Nativity on our front lawn.
We are grateful for:
Janet Chen, Doris Van Ostenbridge, & Betty Vella for organizing the Women’s Ministry’s Christmas Plant Sale AND the traditional December Women’s Ministry luncheon (‘Zoom’- style), and to Janet Montroy for providing the music accompaniment and Cheryl Wardrop for organizing a virtual Christmas craft.
We are grateful for:
Joanna Van Vliet for organizing the Youth Wreath Sale, and delivering them to homes (along with Ava Montgomery and other helpers).
We are grateful for:
Candy Hall, Boyd Lowry, and Janet Montroy for organizing, directing, and producing the ‘award-winning’ Children’s Christmas Eve ‘Good News Nativity’. And.., to the amazing, talented performers from our church family — Stephanie & Owen Beaudoin, Charlotte Gomez, Claire Jones, the Kazimir Family (Bethany, Stephen, Jovie, & Stephen), Alison Montgomery, and the Van Vliet Family (Joanna, Noah, Helena, Reggie, Amelia, & Mason).
We are grateful for:
Janet Montroy — and the beautiful music provided us in our ‘Lessons and Carols’ Candlelight Service, including our CCGR talented Bell Ringers, and Guest Cellist, Lanny Paykin. And, to our Christmas Eve Readers — thank you to Bruce Beal and Cheryl Wardrop.
We are grateful for:
Gary & Janet Montroy for organizing and providing — along with the church — the ‘Surprise Bagels (& Cream Cheese) Delivery’ last Saturday, for our virtual traditional January 3rd Bagel Sunday Worship. And, to our team of bagel baggers, and delivery helpers to homes within the surrounding geographic area of the church — we couldn’t have done it without your help: Jeanne & Terry O’Brien who helped the Montroy’s pack, and deliverers: Robin Emery, Candy Hall, Lynn Meyers, Jennette, Ava, & Alison Montgomery, Janet Montroy, Bob & Donna Nihen, Gail Sternitzke, & Cheryl Wardrop.
AND ..
We are grateful for:
Boyd Lowry and the amazing job he did in providing us with the very special Bagel Sunday Surprise Holiday Greeting video – starring several members of our church family.
If you haven’t had a chance to see this past Sunday’s service — which includes the Greetings — you can view via clicking on https://youtu.be/lQFmokSCFlo It can also be viewed via our website www.communitychurchgr.com (Worship Page), or on our Facebook Page. (Bagel Sunday’s Sermon: “Restored by the Grace of God”). 
And … last but not least …
We are so grateful for:
Our Office Staff — Diane Herrlett & Barbara Zucchino, and our Custodian, Linda Johnson….who have all continued to report to work ‘in person’ throughout the entire pandemic.
We are pleased to say, along with their much-needed input and help, Candy and Donna worked together with them to update our 2021 CCGR Directory (which was mailed to everyone’s home right before Christmas. If you haven’t received your copy, please contact the church office.
Should you see any changes that need to be made, please alert the church office as well so we can keep everything current.
In addition to the directories, you probably have already received your 2021 church contribution envelopes which were mailed home recently. Again, if you haven’t, please call the office to let them know.
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The Christmas Holidays were difficult for many, especially those who have lost a loved one over the last year, or for those who are experiencing health or other challenges that they are faced with everyday. Please remember those who you know of, who might not even be on the list below.
 
And.., please continue to pray for our church members, families, and those close to us who have shared a special part of our lives — 
Prayer is a way to help comfort others — to express our love and understanding; sometimes it is the only thing we can do.
Our ongoing prayers continue for Anne Allen & Family (including Anne’s daughters, Liz & family and Sara & Boyd Lowry & Family); Ed Archbold; Debbie Azzarone & Family (including Debbie’s daughter, Elizabeth & Kyle Popiolek & Family); Rich Balch & family; Laura Bird-Bennett & Family; Susan Beal; Kim Briggs; Trudy Carhart & Family; Okey Chenoweth & Family; Rich Dethmers; Beryl Ferrari; Jean Franklin; Bob Freudenrich; Hilda Gabriel & Family; Terry Gilligan & Family; Colleen Janssen & Family; Eric Lundquist & Family; Janice Roed; Connie Sinkway and the Sinkway/Emery Family; Pam Speck; Doris Van Ostenbridge & Family; Rev. Jerry Wright and Family; Barbara Zucchino & Family; the Ruth Rankin Leaper Family
CCGR PRAYER CHAIN
 
For those more ‘private’ prayer requests, it gives us comfort knowing our church has a small group ‘CCGR Prayer Chain’. We share prayer needs in confidence on a regular basis those prayers shared with us that you would like to be kept private. If you have a need for prayer that you feel you would like us to share confidentially amongst the small group Prayer Chain, please email requests to Candy Hall at candy.hallccgr@gmail.com and Donna Nihen at blackvelvet1299@aol.com, and of course, Pastor Terry at pastor@communitychurchgr.com
 
 
IMPORTANT NOTE: REGARDING WEDNESDAY PRAYER TIME: For now, (especially throughout the upcoming winter months, our sanctuary will not be open for private prayer and reflection on Wednesdays. We will make you aware of any updated details, should we decide to re-open and resume.
 
Please continue to show your support to CCGR —
 
During these difficult and unprecedented times, if you are able, please remember supporting Community Church in your time of giving. In addition to mailing contributions, you may access CCGR’s website and donate on-line, as well:  https://communitychurchgr.com. ;
Please remember to call the church office if you haven’t received your 2021 contribution envelopes in the mail.
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Community Thrift Shop
The Community Thrift Shop is now open — with limited hours — to receive donations of clothes, linens, and shoes, and some bric-a-brac. They are now beginning to receive fall and winter items. They request that you limit clothing to 2 kitchen plastic garbage-size bags (or 4 paper grocery bags), and 2 small boxes for bric-a-brac.
Their current ‘limited’ hours are:
Monday: Drop-off Only (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.). 
 **It’s better to get there earlier than later; there are limitations as to how much the Thrift Shop can take in at one time. They sometimes have to stop receiving before 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: Open for Sales (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Wednesday &  Friday: Closed
 
 (85 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park  — in the lower level behind Kings Shopping Center; 201-652-7661)
 
*Please remember to mention ‘Community Church‘ (#3), as we will receive a percentage of any of our donated items
 
 
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RESUMING Wednesday, January 6th —
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Wednesday – 9:00 a.m. – In Fellowship Hall or via Zoom
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CCGR Book Club

Next CCGR Book Club will be meeting via Zoom on
Friday Night, January 8th @ 7 p.m.
Reading: “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 828 3801 3284
Passcode: 2D0WtT
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CCGR Celebrations
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~~ Happy Birthday ~~
January
4 – Trudy Carhart
10 – Helena Van Vliet
13 – Reggie Van Vliet
17 – Harriet Baldwin
24  – Mason Van Vliet
24 – Denise Morris
26 – Terry Gilligan
26 – Pastor Terry
29 – Connie Sinkway
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God BlessPray
~Donna
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