Lighted Tower Newsletter

The Lighted Tower

Church Phone: (203) 235-1389

Church E-mail: secretary@centerchurchmeriden.org

Church Website: www.centerchurchmeriden.org

“Blessed Child of Starlight”

by Kent Rhodehamel

Blessed child of starlight

Sign of hope in the dusk of night

Savior whom we await

Born tonight in a lowly state

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,

We cry to thee,

Set us free

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,

We cry to thee,

Set us free

Rising star of hope fulfilled

Let despair and dismay be stilled

Shine brightly that we may see

Cause the shadows of life to flee

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,

We call on you,

See us through.

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,

We call on you,

See us through.

Beacon star of dawning day

Promising light upon our way

We follow with eager feet

In your light the new day greet

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,

We sing your praise,

Guide our days.

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,

We sing your praise,

Guide our days.

--- ADVENT ---

OUR YOUTH PREPARE THE WAY FOR US ALL TO, IN TURN, PREPARE A PLACE IN OUR HEARTS FOR JESUS

Thanksgiving began this year on Thanksgiving Day. On the following day, found getting the Sanctuary ready for Advent and the Christmas season were:

(Front L to R): Griffin De Palma, Chelsea Trella, Caitlin DePalma, Diane Stolting, Emma Greene, Jack DePalma, Jamie Harnois, Diana Halla, Maggie Sessa.

(2nd row): Maria Halla, Sue Trella, Avery Rochette, Nolan Rochette, Tyler Kenney, Spenser Trella, Amy Greene.  (Top): Aubrey Rochette.          Photos by Sue  Trella and Griffin DePalma

Isaiah the prophet has written of old how God’s new creation shall come.

Instead of the thorn tree, the fir tree shall grow, and the wolf shall lie down with the lamb.

From Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old – Hymn by Joy Patterson & Sydney Carter

COME TO DINNER - THURSDAY, December 11, 2025

at

VUELO

All members and friends of Center Church are invited to come together for an evening of fun and fellowship at 6:00 on Thursday evening, December 11th.

This month we are going international to VUELO – an Ecuadorian & Mediterranean fusion restaurant in Wallingford.  It’s at 100 Quinnipiac Street and the corner of South Cherry Street, directly across from Wallingford Sew & Vac (near the old railroad station).  The full name of the place is Vuelo Cocina y Cantina.  Their menu of offerings is perusable at www.vuelowallingford.com.    

Then in January, because it is Pat Kenney’s birthday month, the dining location which Pat has selected is Serafino’s Restaurant across from the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford.  It’s at 72 South Turnpike Road.  Go to www.serafinorestaurant.com to check out their menu.

If you are planning to come, or if you would like to join us for the first time, please contact

Ardene Courchesne at 203-631-7307 or ardene.courchesne@yahoo.com, as she is making the reservations.  This group, informally referred to as the “Tri-C”, meets once a month on the second Thursday of each month.

Everyone in our Center Church community is most welcome!

SEASON’S GREENINGS

Pam Gorman is captured on film after hanging the new Christmas wreaths on the front doors of the church.                                                                  Photo by Sue Trella

A-CHORD-ING TO THE MUSIC COMMITTEE

Our Board of Music Ministry (aka Music Committee) in conjunction with our Board of Deacons (aka Diaconate) has a Christmas Carol Sing in store for us starting at 11:30 on Sunday morning, December 14th in the Fellowship Hall following our 10AM worship service.   Members of First Church will be joining us, and they will be bringing sandwiches for lunch while we are furnishing cookies, hot chocolate, tea, and coffee.  Together the combined voices of the two congregations will rejoice in the coming of our Lord as we sing carols of the season.

ACCESSABILITY COMMITTEE

In our Accessibility Sunday worship service on October 19th, one of the impediments we demonstrated was that language differences can often be barriers to accessing worship in communities, such as Meriden, that are increasingly bilingual.  At right, Carolina conducts Ardene Courchesne, Frank Covey and Pam & Steve Gorman are singing the Spanish hymn, Cuando el Pobre  Nada Tiene (When the Poor One Who Has Nothing) in Spanish and English.

MUSIC NEWS

On November 1st, several members of our congregation went to Hartford and enjoyed an evening music program at Christ Church Cathedral featuring choruses and musicians of the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music.  At right, Carolina (at extreme right) is conducting one of the several of her chorales that performed that night.

Carolina will also be conducting two upcoming University of Hartford chorale events; both Holiday Carol Sings.  The first will be at 7:30 Saturday December 6th with the Manchester Symphony Orchestra at Manchester High School, and will feature Handel’s Messiah on that program.  Then a second Holiday Carol Sing program will be at the Lincoln Theater on the University of Hartford campus at 7:30 Friday December 12th.

SEASONAL THOUGHTS FROM MISSIONS

Thanks to the generous giving of all of us in the congregation, we were able to send $1,000 to World Central Kitchen in support of their feeding the needy in the wake of the flooding disaster in the Kerrville area of Texas.  Our gift was sent in the memory of Ken White, who many of you know was a son of Kerrville.

The photograph at left shows two of the endeavors that our Missions Committee and the congregation as a whole are supporting: collecting non-perishable food for distribution to local families and individuals in need, and the Mitten Tree project of First Church. 

Maggie set up our tree in the Sanctuary to gather mittens, gloves, hats and such that we can donate to First Church’s drive on December 14th.  The strength of our the Congregations working together can increase the force of the good we do for the needy in our community.

One way to help the Mitten campaign is to contribute to our Mary’s Mittens effort whereby you can, for a $5 per pair donation.  Put Mary to work knitting up a storm as she churns out her knitten mittens to warm the hands of freezing sneezing.  Maggie will hang those mittens on our mitten tree and then get them into and onto the hands of those who need them most.