CrossPointe

NOVEMBER 2020

A PUBLICATION OF MONTICELLO UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Sundays
11:00 a.m.
Worship
Harvest Kids Ministry
Wednesday, November 4
7:00 p.m.
Women’s Fellowship
Thursdays
6:00 p.m.
Media Team Training
7:00 p.m.
Music Ministry Practice
Sunday, November 8
7:00 p.m.
Quarterly Church
Conference
Sunday, November 15
Christmas Shoeboxes Due
Wednesday, November 18
7:00 p.m.
Church Council
Saturday, November 21
9:00 a.m.
Thanksgiving Meal
Giveaway
VISIT US ONLINE monticelloucc.org FOLLOW US ON facebook
Page 2 ⚫ NOVEMBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News
Then a cloud appeared
and covered them, and a
voice came from the
cloud: “This is my Son,
whom I love. Listen to
him!” (Mark 9:7)
I don’t know about you but
I tend to listen to a lot of
voices. Some might say
that I listen to too many.
Pastor Greg Bouck
We all do, I believe. We
listen to television, movies, talk radio,
YouTube, podcasts, Ted Talks, Facebook. We
listen to this and we listen to that. We believe
him and don’t believe her or vice-versa.
We listen to the voices that say “buy me be-
cause this will make you feel better about your-
self.” Or this product will change your life and
make you look 20 years younger. This product
will keep you healthy and you’ll live to be 125
years old and die on your couch watching foot-
ball. Buy this kitchen gadget. Buy this garden
tool. Buy this car. Buy this house, because all
of these things will make you feel better about
yourself and will improve your station in life.
These are the voices we continually hear on
TV, radio, social media, magazines, and prob-
ably a whole host of other outlets that I have
overlooked. And let’s face it, we have all from
time to time managed to drown out the voice of
God and replace it with the voice of “Me.” It
may not be verbalized but our actions will often
say, “God, you’re my Sunday guy, but through-
out the week, it’s all about Me.”
As Christians we know this to be true at times
and it should cause us to pause. Pause to
take spiritual inventory. Pause to consider my
priorities in life. It should cause me to go to my
knees asking the Holy Spirit to purge me of
that which keeps me distant from God. In a
culture of too many competing voices that vie
for the mind, soul, energy, and pocketbook of
the people, may we step back, turn off the TV,
the radio, and the computer, and may we listen
to the voice of our Savior.
So listen to our Lord as he speaks through His
creation, His word, His people, and listen to
Him as He speaks directly to you. Do this and
you will begin to realize that, in the entire histo-
ry of humankind, throughout the centuries, and
all the billions of people who have walked this
planet before you, you are loved and special in
His eyes. And as that relationship grows, you
will begin to see the plan He has for your life.
So internalize this truth and cement that fact in
your spirit, and His voice will be the one that
guides your life.
Blessings,
Pastor Greg

MUCC Help support our Monticello UCC Community

BRICK CAMPAIGN Outreach Center by purchasing a brick.
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.
 MUCC News NOVEMBER 2020⚫ Page 3

Greetings,
November’s Monthly Mission is our Food Drive. We
Our next meeting is November 4 at 7:00 pm with continue our efforts to help those in our community
Susan Smith presenting Lesson 3 “Women’s who are hungry.
Lament,” and Lisa Brooks as Hostess.
We invite anyone who would like to join us.
Each year Women’s Fellowship participates in
Samaritan Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoe Please wear a mask.
box project. This year’s shoeboxes have been filled
and are ready to be shipped. Blessings,

Laura Smith will be managing the Angel Tree Becky Bishop

Christmas outreach project this year. Details can be President
found on page 5.
.

Saturday, November 21
9:00 a.m.
Monticello UCC

First 100 families will

receive a Thanksgiving Meal
for a family of 5.

An adult is required to
Meal includes: pick up meal.
Turkey, dressing, green beans, instant potatoes,
cranberry sauce and apple pie!

Want to help? Make donations to MUCC: Write “Turkey Giveaway” in “For”

space if writing check. There is a basket in sanctuary for all donations. Sign up
on front pew to assist with giveaway set up and/or distribution.
Page 4 ⚫ NOVEMBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News

arvest, MUCC’s brand-new children’s ministry, will launch on

November 1st. Harvest will be held during Sunday worship hours
beginning at 11 a.m. on the second floor of the church. All kinder-
garten—fifth grade children are invited to attend. Luke 10:2 says
“...the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,” and we are ex-
cited to build a new crew of “workers” to know, live, and share the
love of Jesus Christ with our community and the world.
To ensure the safety and security of our children, families will be
required to check their children in. All children will wear a name
tag. Due to the current climate surrounding COVID-19, all children
must also wear a mask. To facilitate the check-in procedure, fami-
lies can check in ahead of time using the Church Center app. Simply
download the app from the app store and search for Monticello
United Church of Christ. App check-in will be available at 6 a.m.
every Sunday. You may also check in on site on Sunday; please arrive
early to allow adequate time.
For more information, or if you’d like to volunteer to assist with
Harvest, contact Jackie Wagner at jwagner1023@yahoo.com.

To learn more, there is a short video

about how the online check in process
works at this site:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=HjC4hLGOz5c

Please come join

 MUCC News ⚫ NOVEMBER 2020 ⚫ Page 5

Again this year, Monticello Church is joining with the Samaritan’s

Purse and Salvation Army to help make Christmas a little brighter for
children and senior citizens in our community and around the world.
Check out the opportunities below to give—and so receive—the real
joys of Christmas! Thank you for caring and giving!
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOXES
Again this year MUCC is partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to bring
joy, hope and love to children around the work through Operation
Christmas Child. We will fill shoe boxes for both boys and girls with
toys and other gifts, adding our prayers to each. Shoeboxes, along
with instructions and ideas for what to include for children according to
gender and age, are now on the front pews at church.

Please return your shoe-

boxes by November 15
so they can be delivered
in time for Christmas!
Don’t forget to include
$9.00 donation per box for
shipping.

SALVATION ARMY ANGEL TREE

This year due to COVID, instead of collecting gifts, the
Salvation Army is asking for support of this program with
$50.00 Walmart Cards for children and $25.00 Food
Cards for Seniors.
If you would like to participate, put donations in
offering plate no later than November 29, marked
Christmas Angel Program.
Indicate Child or Senior

Questions: Please see Laura Smith or Call Laura 336-420-0298

Page 6 ⚫ NOVEMBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News

Monticello Church held its community-wide Halloween 2020 celebration with trunks
and treats and COVID-19 precautions. The Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat, directed by a
great “traffic team,” welcomed more than 50 cars through the parking lot during the
event. Kids in their coolest costumes remained safely in their cars and received
treats as they rode past decorated trunks and costumed “hosts” who offered warm
Halloween wishes as well. MUCC “hosts” wore face coverings, and practiced safe
distancing and other safety protocols. Uplifting praise and worship music
provided by a great sound system (and Steve Wagner) blended with
sounds of laughter, adding to the atmosphere of fun. It was wonderful
time of safely connecting with old and
new friends, celebrating, sharing, even
in— especially in—pandemic times!
Thank you to everyone who participated
in this Trunk or Treat to remember!
 MUCC News ⚫ NOVEMBER 2020 ⚫ Page 7

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

WORSHIP
Sundays
11:00 a.m. Worship: In person worship begins Sundays at
11:00 a.m. See *Note regarding Coronavirus restrictions
and other options for accessing the worship service. This
month Pastor Greg Bouck begins a new sermon series
“Rooted.” Come and enjoy the fellowship of this loving com-
munity of believers at Monticello Church. We welcome you!
11:00 a. m. Harvest Kids Ministry—2nd floor classroom
Harvest Kids Children’s Ministry for all kindergarten through
elementary school age kids meets Sundays during 11:00
worship services, providing lessons and activities to help
children as they begin their journeys to know, love and
serve God. Children must be signed in and wear masks.
*Note:
Monticello Church is following CDC’s Coro-
navirus guidelines to ensure safety for all
who want to attend worship services in per-
son. Those persons 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 do not feel safe attending in
person, services are available via live
stream, on moneticelloucc.org, and on
demand via YouTube.

MUCC CALENDAR COMMUNITY

Sundays,
Harvest Kids Children’s Ministry Sunday, November 1
Worship Services 11:00 a.m. Daylight Savings Time Ends:
Turn your clocks back 1 hour
Wednesday, November 4
Women’s Fellowship 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 11
Please wear a mask! Happy Veteran’s Day! Thank
you for your service!!
Thursdays
Media Team Training 6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 26
Music Ministry Practice 7:00 p.m. Happy Thanksgiving
Sunday, November 8 Sunday, November 29
Quarterly Church Conference 7:00 p.m First Sunday in Advent
Wednesday, November 18
Church Council 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21
Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway 9:00 a.m.
MUCC Parking Lot
Page 8 ⚫ NOVEMBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News

FOOD DRIVE: MUCC We are thankful

to be able to keep
our music ministry
alive during
COVID times. Special thanks to Tammy
Turner, Cari Wilson, and Alison Under-
wood, Sharon Hall and Susan Smith for
sharing your voices. We miss our full
Food Collection for choir but are thankful for all opportuni-
GREENSBORO ties to sing praises to and worship our
URBAN MINISTRY: Lord during Sunday worship services. We
look forward to being together again
soon.
- Lavinia Combs, Choir Director

Baskets in table in narthex for your donations.

Thank you!

VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE & MINISTRY: NOVEMBER

USHERS LAY OFFERING FLOWERS
READERS COUNTERS
No ushers at
this time. November 1 November 1 November 1
Offering plates Tammy Turner Lewis Smith COMMUNION
will be placed at
front & back of November 8 November 8 November 8
sanctuary to Lisa Brooks Dick Faucette Sharon Hall
receive
offerings November 15 November 15 November 15
Laura Smith Jerry Smith Laura Smith
CLEANING
November 22 November 22 November 22
Laura Smith
Gayle Faucette Whitfield Faucette Philip/Janet Faucette

November 29 November 29 November 29

Patsy Smith Lisa Brooks Becky Bishop
 MUCC News ⚫ NOVEMBER 2020 ⚫ Page 9

THANK YOU to
Please keep . . Pastor Sam Garrett
Jimmy Sloan and his who served as guest pas-
family in your prayers as tor last month while Pastor
Jimmy continues to receive treatment for cancer. Greg was away. We
enjoyed Pastor Garrett’s
CONGRATULATIONS inspiring message and
AND WELCOME to getting to see his lovely
our MUCC family family again as well.
Randi and Kevin
Kirby who joined the THANK YOU to
church on Sunday, . . . Everyone who participated in Trunk or Treat
October 25. 2020! The challenges created by a pandemic did not
We look forward to dampen creative efforts and fun-filled spirits who
worshipping and made it possible for this fun event to be held safely
growing in faith with even in pandemic times. Special Thanks to our
you! “Traffic Crew,” trunk “hosts,” Steve Wagner for the
(See more about the special music, everyone who donated candy, and, of
Kirby’s below.) course, to all who came and shared with us!

Meet MUCC’s Newest Members:

Kevin and Randi Kirby
Kevin and Randi are natives of North Carolina and
have been married for 12 years. They have a
blended family with 5 children, Connor and Caleb Kirby, and Avery, Thorn and
Micah Alley.
Kevin has worked at UPS for 31 years, and Randi works at an independent investment
firm, Kingsview Partners, and has been in the financial industry for 24 years.
In their spare time, Kevin is an avid outdoorsman and Randi enjoys creating textile art.
They enjoy antiquing together and have recently ventured into raising a small flock of
chickens. They are very recent empty nesters and are enjoying their new-found time
with one another.
Page 10 ⚫ NOVEMBER 2020 ⚫ MUCC News

3 - Marvin Johnson 25 - Ernestine

3 - Kevin Kirby Chrismon
6 - John Trammell 28 - Dick Faucette
7 - Becky Bishop 30 - Hunter Brooks
Please keep us informed about
11 - Greg Gunn birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
There are notebooks on the
front pew for you to enter new
or updated information. Or
There are no November e-mail updates to
Anniversaries at this time. 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/
Jimmy Sloan
or serving our country:
Jay Rudd Janet Faucette
Jeremy Byrd
Richard Dickerson 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

information for the CrossPointe
Newsletter to Gayle Faucette at
hfaucette2@triad.rr.com or place in
church mailbox. Your suggestions and
ideas for improvements are welcomed!
MUCC News ⚫ NOVEMBER 2020 ⚫ Page 11
 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