OCTOBER 2020

CrossPointe
A PUBLICATION OF MONTICELLO UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

OCTOBER CALENDAR
Sunday, October 4
Virtual Crop Walk
2:30 Program Begins
Join Online

Wednesday, October 7
7:00 p.m.
Women’s Fellowship

Wednesday, October 21
7:00 p.m.
Church Council

Saturday, October 31
Time TBA
Trunk or Treat/
Kickoff of The Harvest
Children’s Ministry

VISIT US ONLINE monticelloucc.org FOLLOW US ON facebook

Page 2 ⚫ OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News
The great pastor and author
A.W. Tozer wrote concerning
worship, “Worship is no longer
worship when it reflects the
culture around us more than
the Christ within us.” Reflect-
ing upon the same topic Die-
trich Bonhoeffer once wrote,
“It is the voice of the church
Pastor Greg Bouck
that is heard in singing togeth-
er. It is not I who sing but the
church. However, as a member of the church, I
may share in its song. Thus all true singing to-
gether must serve to widen our spiritual horizon.
It must enable us to recognize our small commu-
nity as a member of the great Christian church
on earth and must help us willingly and joyfully to
take our place in the song of the church with our
singing, be it feeble or good.” At the heart of
these statements is a call to authentic Christian
Community.
Recently I just finished Jay Y. Kim’s book Analog
Church. Kim’s book is a cry for the church to
find its way back to Community. A place where
we look each other in the eye. A place where we
carry one another’s burdens. A place where we
share a meal together. Laugh together. Cry to-
gether. A place where someone puts their hand
on your shoulder and lifts your name up to the
Lord in prayer.
In the Digital Age we have lost much of this.
Now we simply listen, if we’re not too busy, to the Blessings,
Church Service on the FB, YouTube, a phone Pastor Greg
app, etc. Many attend satellite churches and
watch the Service on a screen that is telecast
from another location. Or we just sit at home
and DVD the TV preacher to watch after our golf
match or camping trip is over. But as I have said
before, you can’t get a “real” hug from a phone
app, and Facebook won’t carry your burdens for
you. We need each other. We need to talk to
each other. It’s really difficult to read someone’s
expression in a text regardless of the number of
emojis they use. God created us for Community.
Now, I fully understand the limitations Covid-19
has brought upon the Church and society. How-
ever, my fear is that when the pandemic is over,
and it will end, that many around the country and
in our communities will not find their way back to
church. But folks, we need each other. We are
so much stronger and effective when we are to-
gether in person rather than on Zoom. My pray-
er is that we come back stronger than ever and
model the early church. The early church in the
Book of Acts “…devoted themselves to the
apostle’s teaching, and to fellowship, and to
sharing in meals including the Lord’s Supper and
to prayer…shared their meals with great joy and
generosity—all the while praising God and en-
joying the goodwill of all the people” (Acts 2:47a,
46-47a). In other words they were a Community
of Believers. May we never lose that. So re-
member when this is all over to find your way
back to your home
church and serve Him
and others faithfully.
 MUCC News OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ Page 3

Greetings! boxes and the Salvation Army’s

Angel Tree.
Our next meeting is Wednesday,
October 7 2020, at 7:00 p.m. Please do not forget the Caring
Please wear a mask! We will and Sharing Monthly Missions:
continue with the second lesson Food Drive
of our Bible Study Into the Light: School Supplies
Finding Hope Through Prayers Donations to Urban Ministries
of Lament, “Lamenting Together”,
presented by Patsy Smith. Becky We welcome anyone who would
Dixon will be our Hostess. like to join us!
Women’s Fellowship will continue Blessings!
this year with Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child shoe- Becky Bishop,
President

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD:

COMING SOON!
Lots of information including ideas for items to
include according to age groups,
etc. at www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/

The COVID-19 global pandemic has disrupted everyday life for millions
of people around the world. Yet, Samaritan’s Purse continues to share
the eternal hope of the Gospel and to serve in Jesus’ Name. They want
boys and girls around the world to know that God loves them and has
not forgotten them during this time of fear and uncertainty. Children
need great joy now more than ever. Most of all, they need the hope
found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
MUCC looks forward to participating again with Samaritan’s Purse to
ensure a great Operation Christmas Child season and to share our love
of Jesus Christ with special children through this wonderful program.
More details to come….
Page 4 ⚫ OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News

Monticello Church’s Children’s Ministry

has a new name—The Harvest—and a
new leader—Jackie Wagner! Jackie
CHILDREN

says, “we live in a farming community

which is relatable and are launching in
the fall when harvests are big. Luke 10:2
says, ’the harvest is plentiful, but the
workers are few’ and that’s what the
church is about, building that crew of
workers.”
The Harvest will meet Sundays during
11:00 worship service beginning Sunday,
November 1. There will be a kickoff
event with Trunk or Treat with a
costume parade and some fun games.
Jackie Wagner will be assisted by Patsy
Smith, Kathleen Dyer, Clyda Johnson;
interested helpers are welcomed.
All children are invited to join in!

TRUNK OR TREAT
Saturday, October 31
Monticello Church

Time and Details Pending

COVID Considerations

Kickoff:
THE HARVEST
Children’s Ministry too!
 MUCC News ⚫ OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ Page 5

MUCC Members Vote to Accept Contract to

Build Community Outreach Center
On Sunday, September 13, following the 11:00 worship
service, members of Monticello Church gathered (masked
and safe distanced) on the lawn for final discussion about the
plans under consideration for the new Community Outreach
Center to be built across the street from the church. These
plans include paving of the parking lot, kitchen appliances and
furnishings and will build a building that will be both ready to
use and that will offer options for future expansion as needed.
With the rising cost of building materials, the contract for
these plans was set to expire if not approved by the end of
September. Further waiting would most likely mean higher costs to build.
Clyda Johnson, Co-Chair of the Building and Futuring Committee, provided
information and fielded questions as church members discussed financing,
loans, and other pertinent issues. Following discussion, all members present
were given a ballot on which to cast their vote. When ballots had been counted,
the votes to accept the contract were 55 yea, 4 nay, a significant majority in
favor of moving forward with the building.
To date the contract has been signed, Monticello
Church has been approved for a loan from the Cor-
nerstone Fund, and construction will begin soon.
Thank you to everyone for your support, your faith
and for your continued help that is needed to make
this building a reality for our community. Please
keep this special project in your prayers.
Be on the lookout for information about our Capital
Campaign to raise the remaining monies needed that will be kicking off soon!

MUCC Help support our Monticello UCC Community

BRICK CAMPAIGN Outreach Center by purchasing a brick. The
FUNDRAISER bricks can be engraved in memory of, in honor of,
or with family names. Bricks are $500 each.
Order forms are at the back of the sanctuary.
For more information, see Jerry Smothers.
 Page 6 ⚫ OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News

NEIGHBORS IN NEED
MISSIONS

Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission of-

fering of the United Church of Christ that supports
ministries of justice and compassion throughout
the United States. One-third of NIN funds support
the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM).
Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to
support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through
grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to UCC churches and organizations doing
justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct
service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice. This year, due
to the Covid-19 pandemic, the elected officers of the United Church of Christ determined
that the highest priority for our churches was to offer relief where possible. Thus, they gath-
ered monies from a variety of sources, which included NIN, and formed a Covid-19 relief
fund.

Monticello UCC will receive the NIN offering on Sunday, October 11, 2020. Your support of
this UCC 5 for 5 ministry ensures its success and sustainability and is greatly appreciated.

World Communion Sunday offers congre-

gations an opportunity to experience Holy
Communion with the global community of
faith. The first Sunday of October has be-
Sunday, October 4, 2020 come a time when Christians in every culture
break bread and pour the cup to remember
and affirm Christ as the Head of the Church.
On that day, we remember that we are part of the whole body
of believers. Christians celebrate the communion liturgy in as
many ways as there are congregations. World Communion
Sunday can be both a profound worship experience and a time
for learning more about our wider community of faith.
 MUCC News ⚫ OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ Page 7

at M O N T I C E L L O U C C

WORSHIP
Sundays
As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to restrict many activities, Monticello
Church has carefully and prayerfully resumed in-church Sunday services, follow-
ing the CDC’s Coronavirus guidelines. This month there will again be one service
each Sunday at 11 a.m. Those attending in person are encouraged to wear a
mask, maintain safe distancing and use hand sanitizer. (Please see “MUCC
Church Council Statement on Resuming Services” at www.monticelloucc.com for
more details about how we are creating a safe worship environment.) For those
who prefer not to attend in person at this time, worship services are available
online at MUCC’s website and YouTube site.
This month Pastor Greg Bouck continues his sermon series “Our Time Is Now.”
Come and enjoy the fellowship of this loving community of believers at Monticello
Church. We welcome you!
Children’s Ministry begins anew November 1st!

MUCC CALENDAR Sunday, October 4:

40th Anniversary of the Greater
Sundays, October 4 Greensboro CROP Hunger Walk
World Communion Sunday Will be VIRTUAL this year!
Join online at 2:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY

11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, October 7
Women’s Fellowship 7:00 p.m.
Please wear a mask!

Wednesday, October 21
Church Council 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 31
Trunk or Treat/Kickoff
of THE HARVEST Children’s
Ministry
Page 8 ⚫ OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News

FOOD DRIVE: OCTOBER

COVID restrictions still
Food Collection for prevent all choir
practicing and Sunday
GREENSBORO choir singing. However, we are hopeful
URBAN MINISTRY: that this will soon change. That being
said, we hope to have news about this
year’s Christmas Cantata soon. Please
consider joining us
this year. It is an
experience that
Oatmeal provides blessings all
around!

- Lavinia Combs,
Choir Director
Baskets in table in narthex for your donations.
Thank you!

VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE & MINISTRY: OCTOBER

LAY OFFERING
USHERS READERS COUNTERS FLOWERS

Bobby October 4 October 4 October 4

Smith Ethan Wilson Lewis Smith Communion
Gary
Smith October 11 October 11 October 11
Jerry Smith Dick Faucette Tyler Faucette
CLEANING
October 18 October 18 October 18
Clyda Jerry Smothers Carol Rudd Cari Wilson
Johnson
October 25 October 25 October 25
Dot Lambeth Whitfield Faucette Dot Lambeth
 MUCC News ⚫ OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ Page 9
We prayerfully give
thanks to God for those
people who are a bless-
ing to others, touching
lives as they reach out
and share their gifts and love. Peo-
ple like Lavinia Combs, Allison
Underwood, Tammy Turner and
Cari Wilson who, despite the con-
straints of COVID-19, fill our Sun-
day worship services with beautiful
songs of praise, worship and love.
In Allison’s recent solo “If You Only
Knew”, she shared her heart as
well as her beautiful voice, awe-
some gifts to all who were present.
Thank you Allison and all!
People like Clyda Johnson and
her Building and Futuring Commit-
tee members who have faithfully led MUCC through
years of exploration, contemplation and finally to
final plans for the building of the Community
Outreach Center on land ad-
jacent to the church. Thank
you all for your patience, vi-
sion and demonstrated faith
that is leading all to a conclu-
sion that will help spread
God’s love and light in this community.
People like Pastor Greg who faithfully leads MUCC
and his “flock” through the ups
and downs of life, always shar-
ing his love of God and God’s
word, and encouraging us to
grow in our faith and in service
to others. Pastor Appreciation Month provides a per-
fect opportunity to thank him again and again for all
he is and does for his church family and for his Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ!
How thankful we are for our Monticello Church
family, named and so many un-
named, and for all of the ways that
you shine God’s light in the world.

On November 21 Monticello Church will hold its Second Annual Thanksgiving Dinner
Giveaway. Plans again include feeding 100 families, providing each family a bag full of food
for a Thanksgiving meal for 5 people. Each bag will include a turkey, stuffing, potatoes,
green beans, cranberry sauce and a delicious pie!
Want to help? We need your financial donations as well as volunteers to help set up and
distribute food on the day of the giveaway. Each meal is estimated to cost $25. Checks
may be made payable to MUCC with Turkey Giveaway on the Memo line. Cash donations
should be in an envelope marked Turkey Giveaway.
Look for more information about dates and times to come. Thanks to Jerry and Ginger
Smothers for again heading up this special outreach effort.
Page 10 ⚫ OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News

4 - Denise Conner 23 - Shelby Alderman

13 - Mike Smith 26 - Brett Turner Rogers
14 - Melanie Chrismon 28 - Barbara Dean
18 - Becky Dixon Trammell

3 - Jimmy & Mickey Sloan

10 - David & Jenn Johnson Please keep us informed about
16 - Jimmy & Becky Dixon birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
16 - Neil & Wendy McKinney There are notebooks on the
16 - Mark & Leigh Smith front pew for you to enter new
16 - Jessie Ann & Gary Milsap or updated information. Or e-
19 - Andrew & Auburn Kernodle mail updates to
25 - Ann & Jerry Trammell hfaucette2 @triad.rr.com.
Thank you!

PRAYER LIST
Our Nation & a Great Spiritual Dennis Conner Rachel Troxler
Awakening Eli Dilty Willard Peeples
Unspoken Requests Donna Chappell
Jordon Rhodes Remember also those overseas and/
Richard Dickerson
or serving our country:
Jimmy Sloan Janet Faucette
Jeremy Byrd
Jay Rudd First Responders
Gabriel Chrismon
Kay Gunn
Our Homebound/care center Dwayne Winder
Jeff Guffey
members & friends: Cindy Dieterly
Mary Hunter
Shirley Linville Shane Miller
Jennifer Earle
Otis Green And others
Sue Lambeth
Vivian Spencer
Ashley Brewer
Gail Smith

Please submit news, photos and other infor-

mation for the CrossPointe Newsletter to
Gayle Faucette at hfaucette2@triad.rr.com
or place in church mailbox. NEEDED:
Volunteer to help with newsletter!!!
Interested? Please contact me at
(336) 621-2497.
 MUCC News ⚫ OCTOBER 2020 ⚫ Page 11

In Jesus’ parable about people

who hear and live by God’s
words, on what did the wise man
build his house?

A. rock
B. sand
C. grassland
D. soil that was free of rocks

Answer: A (See Matthew 7:24-27.)

 In our Monticello Church family, we seek to serve God as we
serve the needs of others in our community and our world.
We seek to share God’s Word and purpose in the world
pointing to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Visit us and
discover boundless opportunities for personal
and spiritual growth.

PASTOR’S OFFICE HOURS: PRAYER CONCERNS AND

Monticello United Church of
Christ Pastor Greg Bouck is available 24/7 for
P. O. Box 496 appointments, visits, emergencies, etc.
5001 East NC 150 and can be reached at 336-209-3024.
Brown Summit, NC 27214
Phone: 336-656-3400
Email:
Please contact Laura Smith to place
uccmonticello@gmail.com
Website: monticelloucc.org
Facebook: Monticello
United Church of Christ
STAFF / OFFICERS
___________________
Greg Bouck
Pastor
Lavinia Combs
Pianist, Organist,
Choir Director
Church Council Officers
Hunter Smothers,
President
Stacey Wilson,
Vice President
Diaconate Chairpersons
Jerry Smothers, Deacon
Ginger Smothers,
Deaconess
ANNOUNCEMENT E-MAIL CHAIN:
More and more Monticello
UCC families are signing up
to receive updated Prayer
Pastor Greg is available 24/7 Concerns and Announcement by
by phone. e-mails. If you are interested,
please e-mail
monticelloprayer@gmail.com
announcements in the bulletin.
CENTENNIAL AFGHAN FOR
WORSHIP HOURS: MONTICELLO UNITED CHURCH OF
CHRIST 1909—2009
SUNDAYS are available for $50.00
11:00 a.m. Please see Laura Smith
COVID-19 
Precautions in Place COOKBOOKS
are $15 and are available
from Patsy Smith or Gayle Hughes
Checks should be written to
Monticello Women’s Fellowship.

FLAVORINGS
Flavorings are restocked and ready for
purchase! There are a dozen or more
great varieties of flavorings, food colors,
Danny Duzits (stainless steel pot scrub-
bers) & black pepper. See a Women’s
Fellowship member if you’d like any of
these.

Gayle Faucette
CrossPointe News
Team Leader