Hilltop Hallelujah!
May 2011 Volume 2, Issue 1
From the Pastor’s Desk
“Confirmation in the Covenant Church is designed to be a systematic exploration of God’s Word, the history
of our faith, and the importance of living a Christian life.”
The Covenant Book of Worship
One of the highlights of the church year, which is not Church there is a distinction between them.
typically found on a liturgical calendar, is Confirmation is a preparation for a life of faith to be
Confirmation Sunday. Confirmation is not found on lived out through discipleship and service in the life
the liturgical calendar because it is uniquely of a local church. As students grow in their faith,
celebrated in the local church. In our congregation, they may choose to become members of a church,
Confirmation Sunday occurs at the conclusion of a but confirmation is not necessarily a means to that
two-year course of study and preparation. Students end.
typically begin attending Confirmation classes in the
We will be celebrating Confirmation Sunday on May
fall of the seventh grade school year.
22, 2011. Please plan on attending worship that
The focus of the confirmation process is twofold. Sunday as Alyssa Jones publicly confesses her faith
First, students have an opportunity to learn about and is acknowledged by the church for having
the church’s history, the truths of the Christian faith, completed her confirmation studies. But
and the stories of the Bible. Second, student’s Confirmation is not a graduation, as such. It is one
further develop their relationships with their pastor, more step in the lifelong process of strengthening
with each other, with the church and most the faith of the confirmands, so that they may
importantly, with Jesus Christ. By completing the increasingly live as effective disciples of Jesus
confirmation process and publicly confessing their Christ. I invite you to be in prayer for Alyssa as she
faith during the worship service on Confirmation prepares for Confirmation Sunday this month and
Sunday, the confirmands are taking ownership of for Zoë Beck who is completing the first year of her
their faith. No longer are they merely the children of confirmation studies, in preparation to be confirmed
the church. in 2012.
There was a time when confirmation was identified
Pastor Scott
with church membership, but in the Covenant
T
Hilltop Preschool and Daycare
h
e
The warmer days are here and we want to You can find registration forms on the sign-in table.
celebrate! Come join us for a spring barbeque on If you already know your summer plans, please fill
Friday, May 13th at 5:30 right here at Hilltop! YourC out registration form and return it by Friday, May 6th.
child should have brought home a flyer about the o
Take me out to the ballgame…Come join us on
barbeque. If your family plans on attending pleasev
Sunday, July 10th as we enjoy watching the Rock
return the form filled out with the side dish that youe Cats play ball. The children of Hilltop will be singing
will be bringing. The preschool and daycare will n
“America the Beautiful” before the game. Tickets
be providing the hot dogs and hamburgers. a will be on sale soon, and you are not going to want
The four year old class has been very busy n to miss it! Each ticket will be $8.00 and half of the
practicing for their preschool graduation. The t proceeds from the tickets sold will go directly back
gradation this year will be on June 10th at 10:00 to our preschool and daycare. This is a great way to
AM. All are invited downstairs for a luncheon B help raise money for our school and spend a fun
afterward to celebrate with our upcoming o day with your family at the same time.
Kindergarten students. o Just a reminder we are closed on Monday, May 30th
Registration forms for summer camp for school- k for Memorial Day.
age children are now ready and being accepted.
Laura Winoski
o
f
page 2 Hilltop Covenant Church, Preschool and Daycare
Lisa Jaksina, or Miss Lisa as she is known in the At a congregational meeting on Sunday, April 10
Toddler class, comes to us from New Britain. the vote was unanimous to welcome the
She has a daycare resume that includes 14 following people into church membership:
years as a home daycare provider. When the Grace Beck, Carroll Nelson, Marjorie Nelson,
economy affected her home business she Courtney Reynolds, Kevin Reynolds and Lora
started to search elsewhere and found Hilltop on Wymer.
careerbuilder.com. She has been on staff since
mid- March and when asked what she liked They were received into membership
about the Hilltop setting she said, “the religious on Easter Sunday.
education and the moral education that the We are grateful to God for leading
children receive is very important.” What would
. them to Hilltop and we look forward to
she like see different here? A bigger classroom! worshipping and fellowshipping with these men
We all would, Miss Lisa! and women.
Patricia Hallden passed the NCLEX exam in
On Friday, May 13 at 5:30 PM everyone is March 2011 and is now a Registered Nurse.
invited to the Hilltop Church and Hilltop We are proud of your 52 month
Preschool and Daycare BBQ! The Daycare will commitment to make that dream
supply the hot dogs and burgers and everyone of yours a reality!
else is invited to fill out the menu with sides,
rolls, beverages and dessert.
Church members and friends –
come meet our awesome daycare
children and their parents!
Daycare families – come meet our
friendly, caring members and friends!
August 8 – 12, from 9 AM – noon.
Where Kids Grow the Fruit of the Spirit
Cromwell Fire Department
Annual Mothers Day Flower Sale There is a list on the bulletin board and in the
narthex of some of the items we will need for VBS.
We also need a whole lot of volunteers to make
this week a memorable one for the kids – and for
the helpers!
That list of needs is on a separate sheet that you
can complete and return to the church office at
your earliest convenience.
Locations: 82 Court Street & 1 West Street Save the date of Sunday, August 14 and plan to
be at the “county fair”! No fair would be complete
Days &Times: without a “pie baking contest” so if you like to
Thursday May 5th - 4 pm to 8 pm bake, please bring a pie to the fair that we can
Friday, May 6th - 4 pm to 8 pm judge (who gets the blue ribbon?) and then sell!
Saturday, May 7th - 9 am to 6 pm All proceeds will go to Heifer International, our
Sunday, May 8th - 9 am to 3 pm mission emphasis this year. Last month’s
Hallelujah included lots of information
about Heifer International. If you want
to reread that, you can find it on our
website.
Hilltop Covenant Church, Preschool and Daycare page 3
In the past two months we have made a concerted When we deliver a box of food we share the Good
effort to further spread the news about Angel Food News that God loves you; if someone meets
Ministries and Hilltop’s affiliation with them. Jesus for the first time in a chicken breast or a
Interested Public Relation volunteers met at broccoli spear we have done a good job! As the
Candace Cunningham’s home last month to saying goes, “none of us can do everything, but
brainstorm what we could do to increase the number we all can do something.”
of people that hear about Angel Food. Some of the Let’s work together and make May the month that
results of that meeting were: we reach out to the most people!
Pastor Scott distributes menus and order
sheets to the local Christian churches each Candace Cunningham & Sally Huggins
month.
Reach out to local Town Hall Offices/Senior
Centers in Cromwell, Middletown and Rocky
Hill. Putting informational articles in local
media such as the Cromwell Chronicle,
Rocky Hill Valley Flyer, Middletown Press
and Rare Reminder.
Partner with existing organizations that are
dedicated to providing food assistance
and/or that provide community bulletin I asked God to take away my pride,
boards. and God said “No.”
Contact the 211 Service, which is a CT State He said it is not for Him to take away
services number for people to call when they but for me to give up.
are in need of various forms of assistance I asked God to grant me patience,
including health care, shelter and food. and God said “No.”
Hilltop is now listed with them as an Angel He said that patience is a byproduct of tribulation.
Food Host Site. It isn’t granted; it is earned.
Monthly emails to our existing online
customers. I asked God to give me happiness
A new banner on the front lawn to replace and God said “No.”
the one ravaged by winter winds. He said He gives blessings,
happiness is up to me.
The Angel Food PR group will continue in their
efforts to increase the public’s awareness of this I asked God to spare me obstacles
ministry. If you have any interest in helping out, and God said “No.”
contact Candace or Sally. He said suffering draws you apart from the world,
closer to Me.
On distribution day in April, which was the
day before Easter, our customers all I asked God to help me grow personally
received a potted pansy to take home and God said “No.”
and plant. Hopefully as they watch it grow He said I must grow on my own,
they will be reminded of their friends at Hilltop! but He will prune me to make me fruitful.
You can help us spread the Angel Food message I asked God to help me love others
by picking up a May menu and giving it away. Direct as much as He loves me,
people to www.angelfoodministries.org so they can and God said,
read for themselves about this ministry. “Ah, finally you have the idea.”
page 4 Hilltop Covenant Church, Preschool and Daycare
Birthdays in May: Anniversaries in May:
Lorraine Bloom May 2 Bob & Lucielle Stromberg May 8
Ryan Jones May 6 Dave & Gaye Smith May 26
Heather Stewart May 7 Steve & Jen Beck May 28
Brian Armet May 10
Julia Cunningham May 11
Scott Jones May 24
Maggie Loughnan May 26
Henry Millan May 26
AA is a Text Talk is
non- May 2011 at CVOC
Stromberg’
smoking
meeting Monthly Planner s #104
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
9: 30 AM W orship 7: 00 PM D eacon 10:30 AM Text Talk 12:00 PM National 1: 00 PM - 4:00 PM
and Holy meeting To- 30 PM D ay c are Day of Pray er,
6: NAVI GATE
Communion nnes sen's C VOC Board meet s Town Hall meeting
apt. 301 7: 30 PM C hoir 7: 00 PM R TF 3: 00 PM D av id Peter-
rehearsal meeting son Commital
8: 00 PM AA Serv ice Memorial
Garden
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
9: 30 AM W orship 1: 30 PM C VOC 10:30 AM Text Talk 5: 30 PM H illtop 9: 00 AM W omen's
Pray er Group 7: 30 PM C hoir Presc hool and Pray er C of f ee
Vict orian Lounge rehearsal Church BBQ
Horizon 8: 00 PM AA
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
9: 30 AM W orship 7: 00 PM P & F 10:30 AM Text Talk 7: 30 AM - 9:00 AM
Adult Sunday meeting 7: 30 PM C hoir Angel Food
sc hool ends rehearsal dis tribution
f inal day to order 8: 00 PM AA
Angel Food
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
9: 30 AM W orship 1: 30 PM C VOC 10:30 AM Text Talk
Conf irmat ion Pray er Group 7: 30 PM C hoir
Sunday Vict orian Lounge rehearsal
Horizon 8: 00 PM AA
7: 00 PM C hurc h
Council,
Stromberg's
29 30 31
9: 30 AM W orship Memorial
Day obs -
erv ed, Presc hool
and Church Of f ice
closed
Printed by Calendar Creator Plus on 4/22/ 2011
Hilltop Covenant Church, Preschool and Daycare page 5
Communion Set up and Servers: Steve & Jennifer Beck
GREETERS USHERS READERS COFFEE HOSTS
May 1 Gerry Morrison Matt & Allyson Naclerio Bob Stromberg Sally Huggins
May 8 Barbara Damon Joe Pessa / Bob Stromberg Pete Davison
May 15 Lora Wymer Matt & Allyson Naclerio Vicki Brown Maggie Loughnan
May 22 Elizabeth Pierson Brian & Dale Chiffer Confirmands Christian Formation
Recipe Corner
Zucchini Quiche
Candace Cunningham
All in the April evening,
April airs were abroad;
4 eggs, slightly beaten
The sheep with their little lambs
1/2 c. oil
Passed me by on the road.
1/2 tsp. each, salt and pepper
2 tbl. parsley The sheep with their little lambs
1/2 c. grated cheese (I use Parmesan) Passed me by on the road;
1/2 c. chopped onions All in an April evening
1 c. Bisquick I thought on the Lamb of God.
3 c. zucchini (approx. 2 whole),
The lambs were weary, and crying
shredded or sliced thin
With a weak, human cry,
Mix everything together in one bowl I thought on the Lamb of God
Grease 9 inch pie plate or, if doubling recipe, Going meekly to die.
in a Pyrex casserole dish Up in the blue, blue mountains
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes (pie plate), 45 Dewy pastures are sweet;
min. (Pyrex), until golden brown and cake tester is Rest for the little bodies,
clean. Rest for the little feet.
But for the Lamb of God
Up on the hill-top green,
Only a cross of shame,
Two stark crossed between.
All in the April evening,
April airs were abroad;
I saw the sheep with their lambs,
And thought on the Lamb of God.
Katharine Tynan Hinkson
1861-1931
Great billboard! The same could be said about Hilltop!
page 6 Hilltop Covenant Church, Preschool and Daycare
A Sunday school teacher began her lesson A reminder from the church office:
with a question, “Boys and girls, what do we The June Hallelujah deadline is
know about God?” A hand shot up in the air. May 20.
“He is an artist!” said the kindergarten boy.
“Really? How do you know?” the teacher
asked. “You know – Our Father, who does
art in heaven ...”
Practical tip #10: To prevent eggshells from cracking add a pinch of salt to the
water before hard-boiling.
Rev. Scott B. Jones .........................................................................Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Robert McNaughton........................................................Pastor Emeritus
Carolyn Johnson ..........................................................................Director of Music
Laura Winoski ...........................................Hilltop Preschool and Daycare Director
Sally Huggins..............................................................................Church Secretary
Hilltop Covenant Church
Phone: (860) 635-4032; fax (860) 635-3552
Email address: office@hilltopcovenant.org
Hilltop Preschool and Daycare
82 Hicksville Rd
Cromwell, CT 06416
We’re on the web:
www.hilltopcovenant.org