Category: Worship Services

Introducing the Faith UCC, New Braunfels designated term Pastor: Rev. Dr. Carla Cheatham

December 15, 2020 /

After thoughtful and prayerful consideration, it is with great pride and much anticipation that I, on behalf of the Interim Pastor Committee and the Church Council, announce the selection of our church’s Designated Term Pastor — Rev. Dr. Carla Cheatham. Rev. Cheatham was one of three applicants for the position and was unanimously approved by both the Committee and the Council. Rev. Cheatham comes to us with many unique qualities and gifts that I am sure will serve us well starting January 1, 2021.

A word about Designated Term vs. Interim Pastor. We consulted regularly with our Interim Conference Minister, Campbell Lovett, and he was helpful in describing the pros and cons of each expression of ministry. We chose Rev. Cheatham as Designated Term Pastor for Faith UCC in part because, while an Interim Pastor cannot be considered for the Settled Pastor position, in certain circumstances, such as the ones we face now at Faith, a Designated Term Pastor can be considered for that position. A designated term pastor also has additional specific goals and objectives than an interim pastor, and we believe the goals that focus on community engagement and membership growth will better serve our church.  Carla is well-suited to help us realize our goals. Thus, we would like to keep our options open about a settled position. For instance, we all agree that we would not be well served if, after 12 months of Carla’s help and guidance to grow and revitalize, we started over again with a new pastor and began another pastoral transition. The Pastoral Search Committee will meet in early 2021 to update the Local Church Profile and perform other assignments typical to the Search and Call process. When the time comes, this committee with input from Rev. Cheatham, will determine if she will be considered for the settled position or if the position will be posted. We will be looking for one or two members to fill vacancies on the committee.

Rev. Cheatham made a short video of introduction to our church, that I have included in this letter. Please take a moment to watch. We hope you will be as impressed with her ideas and plans for Faith UCC as the committee was when we first viewed it. 

Click here to watch the video

We are grateful to Pastor Scott for his ministry that has created such a strong base for our church. We are thankful to congregation members for your commitment to Faith. We look forward to building upon all this positive momentum as we prepare to enter a New Year!

Michael Ziegler, Moderator

Christmas Eve Service

December 14, 2020 /

Our annual Christmas Eve service will be on Thursday, December 24th at 5:30 p.m.  and 10:30 p.m.  Since we cannot gather in the sanctuary the service will be on zoom only.  You can use the same zoom link as on Sunday mornings.  The service will include candle lighting.  You can use any candles that you have around the house for this or if you wish stop by the church and pick up an “official” candlelight candle.  They will be on the pew outside the sanctuary door starting Sunday December 20th. 

    The sanctuary will be lit up with 50 luminaries.  Some very special music will be a part of this service. Be sure and view the service at 5:30 p.m.  or 10:30 p.m. December 24th.

Worship in the Sanctuary Starting Sunday November 8th!!!

November 6, 2020 /

Greetings Faith UCC,

The church council and Pastor Scott Martin have approved plans to safely resume in-person worship services. We have chosen November 8, 2020 at 10:30am as our start date. We look forward to being together again, but we must all do our part to ensure the health of those who choose to attend. Below are the guidelines that have been adopted.

  1. Masks must be worn by all attendees over 2 years of age and kept on during the entire worship service. If anyone arrives without a mask, one will be provided to them.
  2. Temperature checks will be done upon arrival. Anyone with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will not be admitted. If you feel sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please remain at home. 
  3. An usher will seat all people in order to maximize our seating capacity while maintaining the 6 foot social distancing between family units. Ushers will fill the sanctuary from front to back and empty it at the end of the service from back to front. Please remain in your seat until directed to exit by the usher.
  4. Please do not gather and socialize closely in the pews, aisles or Narthex upon entry or exit. For now, there will be no coffee time following the service. We hope to return to this once the pandemic is over. 
  5. Nursery services will not be provided. In-person Sunday school and youth activities will not yet resume. Children should sit with their families and will remain there during the children’s time of the service. 
  6. To begin, there will be no congregational singing. The pastor, liturgist, soloist or anyone speaking or singing without a mask should be 15 feet or more from the congregation. If Covid case numbers remain low, we hope later to add congregational singing with masks in place.
  7. Prepackaged communion elements will be used and available for pick-up upon entry so the elements will not have to be passed from person to person 
  8. An offering basket will be placed at the entrance to the sanctuary. Offering plates will not be passed. 
  9. Pastor Scott will light the candles at prayer time and prayer requests will be taken from the pews so that people will not need to get up and move around during the service. 
  10. One person at a time will be allowed in the restrooms and a person will be designated each Sunday to clean bathroom surfaces between users.

We will continue to broadcast our worship services on ZOOM and recommend those at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (older adults and people with serious underlying conditions) continue to worship in that manner. We ask your patience and understanding during this time and your respect for the fact that people may have different comfort levels with being physically close to other people.

If you are willing to be a greeter, usher, or restroom monitor, please let Mary Owen know (830-265-0570 or [email protected]). Thanks. If you have any questions or suggestions, please call Mary Owen, Chairperson of the Reopening Committee, or Pastor Scott. Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers and support during these difficult times. We look forward to seeing you in our sanctuary or on ZOOM.

We look forward to being together again,

Faith UCC Council 

Be the church header

Reopening Task Force Formed

June 10, 2020 /

The Church Council has formed a Reopening Task Force to identify schedules and conditions to begin worshipping in the sanctuary and scheduling groups meeting in our facilities. The Task Force will identify policies and practices for reopening. They will make recommendations to the Church Council. The Reopening schedule and guidelines will be well communicated to the congregation. Our thanks to the following three persons who agreed to serve on this Task Force: Jim Gossett; Judith James and Mary Owen. The first meeting is Tuesday, June 16th. 

Worship services suspended until further notice

March 18, 2020 /

March 18, 2020
To: Faith Church members and friends
From: Faith Church Council

Hello Everyone,
With the heightened measures being taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Faith UCC council has voted to suspend Sunday worship services until further notice. We are committed to keeping everyone safe and healthy during these difficult times.

Though we will not be worshiping together on Sundays, we are working to provide either live or recorded sermons from Pastor Scott in the interim. Last Sunday, we streamed the service live on Facebook and had a really nice viewer turnout. Please keep an eye on your email in the coming days for updates on this. You can watch last Sunday’s service and any future videos at: https://www.faithuccnb.org/category/worship-services/.

We have set up a PayPal account for you all to continue giving to the church during if you so choose. With this PayPal donation option, you can also setup recurring gifts using all major credit and debit cards. Visit the link below to give. https://www.faithuccnb.org/donate/

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support of Faith UCC. It is important that we continue doing God’s work despite the challenges facing each and every one of us.

Grace and Peace,
Faith UCC Council

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Sundays, 10:00am
(Join us In-Person or via Zoom)

Communion:
First Sunday of each month. All are welcome at Christ's table.

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Sundays, 11:20am-12:20pm

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