103 1st Street, Riverhead, New York 11901, United States
November - December 2026
Holiday Happenings
The months of November and December bring with them all the wonderful holiday events we look forward to at this time of year, and we hope that you will be with us to celebrate them all.
A schedule of these celebrations and activities will be found at the end of this newsletter.
A Message from Our Pastor
Since our retirement, my husband Skip and I generally spend the month of August in Maine, in our little cabin on a lake. Even before retirement, we would be there at least a few weeks every year. And while there, I usually attend Sunday worship at Centenary UMC in Skowhegan. I have been attending that church, a few Sundays every August, for nearly 50 years.
This past August, after Service at Centenary, during coffee hour, I was visiting with a woman who was telling me she really needed to start cleaning out her house. She was thinking particularly about boxes of books she had in her basement since her mother’s death several years earlier. She declared, “Who wants a whole collection of books by Walter Brueggemann?”
Now, Dr. Brueggemann just happens to be one of my favorite theologians, and I was very happy to inform her I would be pleased to take all those books off her hands. I followed her home after church, filled my trunk with books, and drove away with a deep sense of gratitude for the Christian connection. I was glad I had attended that church on that Sunday.
That experience reminded me of something Yolanda Pierce, dean at Vanderbilt Divinity School, has written. She said, “I often attend church when I would rather be somewhere else…I show up because God always meets me when I am faithful. God always shows up.”
Rev. Dr. Pierce reminds us that “not every Sunday brings some new insight or revelation… Not every Sunday soothes my doubts and calms my fears. Yet every Sunday brings me joy.”
Further, in the deep friendship she feels with fellow members of the congregation, in the casual kindness shared with each other in the pews, in the way people hold each other up in prayer, in the obligation we have to show up for each other, to offer support, and kindness, and, yes, love, every Sunday offers us a sense of the presence of God, and brings peace, and joy.
I hope you will consider all that is waiting for you, too, in regular church attendance. “God always shows up” and I hope you will, too. Join us any Sunday at 10 at First Congregational Church of Riverhead.
Peace,
Pastor De Armitt
Search Committee Update
Our Search Committee finds itself in a waiting game at the moment – waiting for feedback from our NY Conference staff on our Welcoming and Diversity Survey, submitted weeks ago; and waiting for your completed CONGREGATIONAL SURVEYS! To date, we have only received fourteen! Your voice is important to our committee as we consider candidates for a new minister. We have extended the deadline until November 15th for you to return your survey. Your honest feedback will help us create a profile that accurately describes the church we envision ourselves to be and become. If you have not received a survey, please speak to anyone on the Search Committee or call the church office.
Your Search Committee,
Sandy Gruner Mario n Maino Scott O’Hare
David Hughes Janis Meyer Melinda Topping
Jane Kulesa Rev. Bonnie Miller Jim Wooten
Stewardship
At this time of year, we ask you to pledge your financial support to the church for the upcoming year. We invite you to reflect on the abundance in your own life and consider how you might support the ongoing work at our church. Your financial support and active participation allow us to keep our doors open as a beacon of hope and love.
Please consider filling out the pledge card received in the mail and returning it to our church office or church plate by December 1st. Your pledge helps our Board of Trustees create a realistic budget for the coming year. Every donation is confidential.
Thank you and God Bless you for being good stewards. ~ Nancy Repp, Treasurer
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” ~ Matthew 6:21
Buildings and Grounds
Autumn is upon us and the gardens will be pruned and cleaned to prepare for next year. The irrigation system was turned off the third week in October. We have begun the process of getting estimates for a new air conditioner for the sanctuary. Some grant money should be available from PSEG and possibly from NY state. More than one estimate will be requested.
Pastor Sean has moved out of the parsonage and we have been assessing the work that will be needed in preparation for a future minister. Janis Meyer lives next to the parsonage and has agreed to check on the house and grounds and to supervise any needed repairs. ~ Allan Repp
Alley Cat Thrift Shop
“Tis the Season” and by the time you are reading this edition of our Beacon Light, our Christmas items will be on the shelves. This is a very busy and profitable time of year for the thrift shop. Stop by and see our decorative shelves.
The thrift shop continues to thrive with many new shoppers and donors. Our shelves and racks have been filled to the brim requiring half price sales to make room for new donations. Please consider volunteering some time to the shop. Due to the success of the thrift shop, it is the only fundraising we have had to do in several years. We are open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-2 and Saturdays 9-1. Talk to any of the helpers for information. ~ Nancy Repp
[for more information about our Thrift Shop, please see the Historian’s section below]
Fundraising
There are currently no fundraising events scheduled for this year. We always welcome suggestions for raising funds. If you have an idea for a group event as a time of fellowship, we would also love to hear from you. ~ Nancy Repp
Worship and Music
We are so glad that Pastor Lorraine has recovered from her illness and begun her time with us as Interim Minister. Since she had been a part of our congregation for some time, we were blessed to have her assume this role as we search for our new settled minister. Her worship service leadership and sermons are inspiring. We encourage you all to join us on Sunday mornings.
Our Music Director, Kim Kang, and our choir have recently returned to rehearsing and are focusing on learning new music. We are all looking forward to singing the beautiful music of the upcoming holiday season.
Much gratitude to those who contribute flowers for our altar and usher each Sunday. There is always a need for more volunteers. Sign-up sheets are posted for this purpose. Thank you in advance for your help! ~ Jeanne Vecchio
Christian Education
Adult Bible study will resume on Friday, November 6th at 10 a.m. Pastor Lorraine will provide an overview of the New Testament, and then compare the four gospels. This should be an interesting, different way to study Scripture. Lessons will be available over Zoom each Friday morning.
Sunday School has not started yet. A schedule will be announced as soon as it can be coordinated with our Sunday School families. ~ Sandy Gruner
Fellowship
Thank you to all who helped make Pastor Sean’s last Sunday, September 20th, such a wonderful success. There were more than sixty in attendance, and everyone enjoyed the sandwiches, side dishes, and cake served at the reception following his Service of Retirement. i
There is no coffee hour on the once-a-month Sundays that our Joint Board Meetings are held. This is usually the third or fourth Sunday of the month. However, we welcome volunteers to host coffee hours on the other Sundays. There is a sign-up sheet posted for this purpose. There are also sign-up sheets for those who would like to usher or provide flowers for the altar. ~ Barbara Parsons
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Our Prayer Shawl group continues to meet every Monday night by Zoom starting at 7:30 p.m. The ID number is 72398798990. The password is Hookers (with a capital H). New members are welcome to sign in . . . the more the merrier! I look forward to seeing everyone each week. We are spread out over several states, so it is wonderful to be able to connect through Zoom. Please feel free to join us. ~ Barbara Parsons
Visitation
Janet Sanford continues to keep in touch with members and friends who may be in need of spiritual support. A card or phone call to anyone you may know who needs support extends the work and goal of this Committee. If you need a current church directory, please call the church office ~ Sandy Gruner
Pastoral Relations Committee
The members of the Committee are Jim Wooten, Trustee,
Sandy Gruner Deacon; and Jane Kulesa and Susan Hubbard, Members at large. It is the job of this Committee to serve as a liaison between the Pastor and the Congregation. Any issue or concern that affects that relationship should be brought to the Committee so it can be resolved. The committee will be meeting with Pastor Lorraine this month. ~ Sandy Gruner
Missions and Benevolences
In October, we collected donations for one of our five UCC offerings, Neighbors in Need. Thank you to all who participated in this offering.
Our final UCC offering, The Christmas Fund, provides direct financial assistance, emergency grants, and thank-you checks for active and retired clergy and lay employees. There will be envelopes available for this special offering.
The Christmas season offers us other opportunities for giving to those closer to home, the less fortunate in our own community. There will be wrapped Reverse Advent boxes available for you to fill with items for families in need. See the special Christmas section at the end of this newsletter for more information. ~ Melinda Topping
Take Out Meals ~ 5:30-6:00pm every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
Bread and More Kitchen continues serving takeout dinners which include hot soup, a complete meal, dessert, and water on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:00. Recently the number of guests has been in the 80s. Guests are most appreciative of the meal received. St. Mark’s Church in Shoreham continues to supply peanut butter and jelly sandwiches twice each month. Anderson’s Farm and Northville Farm have been providing fresh vegetables. Beach Bakery in Westhampton and the Riverhead Stop & Shop donate baked goods. Much appreciated financial support comes from grants, organizations, and individuals. ~ Jane Kulesa
Ladies' Night Out
Our ladies met on Friday, Oct. 30th for lunch at the Modern
Snack Bar. Our plan going forward is to meet again in early Dec. for the last time in 2026. This way we avoid the crowded holiday schedules. Traditionally we have not met during the winter months and resume in March or April.
This informal setting provides a good opportunity for us to know each other better so if you are not already involved, please consider joining the group. All are welcome. To be added to the list you can contact me or any other group member.
Janet Sanford (H) 631-591-1063 (C) 516-507-7897
Historian
Hundreds of church photos have now been sorted and put in acid-free plastic sleeves with spaces for labeling. A good number have been labeled and various members have agreed to help with those yet to be identified. If you
are interested in helping, please call me at 631-779-2560 or email me at bonni333@aol.com.
This year marks our church’s 192nd Anniversary. Throughout those years, there have been many other important dates. One of those is that of the opening of our amazing Alley Cat Thrift Shop, which began fifty years ago, in 1976. It would be hard to determine the impact our shop has had over this past half-century. Its benefits extend beyond the income it provides for our church.
Our thrift store is truly a way to reach out to those beyond our doors. It offers low-cost items to those who find it hard to make ends meet and cannot afford to shop in retail stores. Our thrift shop also donates children’s toys to St. John’s Food Pantry for distribution.
Our store offers a selection of one-of-a-kind treasures. From vintage clothing and antique furniture to rare collectibles and quirky home decor, you never know what you might find on the shelves of our thrift store. Every visit can yield new and unexpected finds, perhaps even quite valuable items at a small cost.
Another benefit of our thrift shop is that whether you are donating items or shopping there, you are helping our environment! Buying second-hand helps prevent new manufacturing, conserve natural resources, and keep goods out of landfills.
Thank you for supporting our Thrift Shop. Whether you donate items, shop for items, volunteer your time to help, or provide financial support, you are part of the ongoing history of our Thrift Shop, and our church! ~ Rev. Bonnie
PUBLIC RELATIONS and EVANGELISM
On Pastor Sean’s last Sunday, September 20, six new members were received -- David Hughes, Virginia (Ginny) Morlock, Jeanette Robinson, Julia Ronconi, John Ronconi, and Scott Wilson. We will provide their biographies in the next issue of our newsletter.
We continue the works of God with our Interim minister Lorraine DeArmitt. She has already brought a sense of renewal and relevance to our congregation.
We hope to update the church history and a new brochure to give out to
the public in the near future. ~ Janet O’Hare
Here is our holiday calendar:
Sunday, November 22 ~ There will be no Community Thanksgiving Worship Service this year. However, please join us to offer our prayers of gratitude at our 10 a.m. worship y service. Our altar will be adorned with a beautiful Thanksgiving harvest display.
Sunday, November 29 ~ This marks the beginning of Advent (meaning "coming" or "arrival" in Latin), the four-week period of spiritual preparation and waiting for the birth of Jesus. Each Sunday, a candle is lit to reflect on a specific theme:
Week 1(Purple): Hope
Week 2(Purple): Peace
Week 3(Pink/Rose): Joy
Week 4(Purple): Love
Christmas Eve (White): The Birth of Jesus
Please call the church office or speak to Pastor Lorraine if you and your family or a friend would like to light one of the candles.
This will also be the time to start packing your Reverse Advent Gift Boxes for those in our community who are less fortunate. Even though the list ends on Dec. 24, you will need to bring it in by Dec. 21 so that we will have time to distribute them. Wrapped boxes will be available for you to fill. Here are some suggestions for items you may add to your box (a copy will be provided with your box):
Dec 1- can opener Dec 9- strawberry jelly Dec 17- bag of rice
Dec 2- box of spaghetti Dec 10- instant oatmeal Dec, 18- cooking oil
Dec 3- jar of pasta sauce Dec 11- fruit cups Dec 19- large can soup
Dec 4- toothpaste Dec 12- Parmalat milk Dec 20- shampoo
Dec 5- toothbrushes Dec, 13- box of cereal Dec 21- mac & cheese
Dec 6- pancake mix Dec. 14- instant potatoes Dec 22- crackers
Dec 7- pancake syrup Dec 15- can corn Dec 23- dish soap
Dec 8- peanut butter Dec 16- can green beans Dec 24- cookies or candy
Sunday, December 6 ~ You are invited to stay after church to help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. This year, our tree will provide a place to put our gifts for those less fortunate in our community. There will be bags filled with 100 hat and mitten sets for St. John’s Food Pantry, as well as plenty of room for your Reverse Advent Gift Boxes.
As a special treat that day, since it is also St. Nicholas Day, there will be wooden shoes filled with sweet treats.
We will also be filling 90 bags with warm hats, gloves, and socks for the men and women who visit Bread and More. These may be brought to church during December.
Thursday, December 24th, at 8 p.m.
Lastly, the highlight of our holiday season, of course, is our beautiful Christmas Candlelight Service. Please join us to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and singing and listening to the cherished carols of the season.
" Peace on Earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day"
(Helen Steiner Rice)