Meeting House Monthly July 2006

Those who know the tradition of hymn sings here at the church on summer Sundays may well know the truth of Campbell's insight. For those unfamiliar with hymn sings, we begin some of our summer worship services with a 5-8 minute period where anyone in the congregation can call out a number from either the Pilgrim Hymnal or the New Century Hymnal and we sing a verse or two of that particular hymn and move on to another (we've never had a "bingo" but maybe this will be the summer).

We will begin our hymn sings on July 9th and continue through the month of August with the exception of August 6th (which is communion Sunday). When I think of some of the great hymns of the church, I realize how powerful music can be in the lives and faith of those who grew up singing in strong, vibrant churches. Hymns such as:

Put us in touch with reality they do! Remembrances of growing up in church, parental favorites, and loved ones departed - touch many of us deeply. And it is great fun to sing exuberantly from the heart.

Remembering the past is most helpful when it energizes us to respond fully to the present and future. Just so, it has been helpful to give people in our church the opportunity to reach out to our brothers and sisters in the Gulf coast area who are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. We knew very quickly in the aftermath that the need would be great for a long, long time. On June 18th we had a Father's Day Brunch to raise money as part of our ongoing support. And by the way, the program was music featuring the beautiful singing of "Cookie" Thomas. The over $11,000 raised will be going directly through our UCC coordinator, Alan Coe, who will be dispersing the money to members of UCC churches whose homes and lives have been uprooted.

Through our combined efforts of monetary support and prayers, we can make a difference. In the words of "Amazing Grace":

Knowing the dangers and difficulties so many are going through in our world today, let's be agents of amazing grace through our sharing and caring.

It is always good to have summer arrive. All year we look forward to warm weather and the beauty this season brings year upon year. A change of pace renews our spirits and makes us newly aware of all that surrounds us - opportunities for rest and relaxation, time with our families, travels and simple down home time. From each perspective it is a gift.

But with the coming of summer, our church calendar also brings a gift, oftentimes not realized. For we also enter into a new season, the season of Pentecost. This season began as we remembered the coming of the Holy Spirits to the disciples gathered in that upper room in Jerusalem. It was then that they were empowered to go forth and spread Jesus teachings and welcome people into the church.

In our time, as a congregation and as individuals in the church we remember that story on Pentecost Sunday. But that special day of remembrance is then followed by the longest season of the church year.

Pentecost is with us all the way to Advent in December. In keeping with the duration of this season has come another name, and that is Ordinary Time, a period of time in our faith not tied to the stories of Advent and Christmas, or Lent and Easter - where we focus on the events of Jesus' life. Rather this is a time to focus on Jesus' teachings and practice our faith.

This summer I hope each of us can find some time to be more aware of our faith, as it touches and guides each one of us. Perhaps you will have the chance to deepen your prayer life. Perhaps the beauty of this earth will cause you to wonder at the vision of our Creator. Perhaps right in the middle of your everyday wanderings you will see one of Jesus' teachings come to life.

For us in our usually over-programmed lives, I hope these months can permit time for the sacred - in the fashion that is right for each of us.

The 2006 Quilt has been raffled off. We are busy quilting the 2007 Raffle Quilt. It is a colorful “Double Irish Chain.” On the side, so to speak, we have been working on the 2008 Tulip Appliqué Quilt, which is kept in reds, pinks and greens and promises to be most attractive. Once this is assembled and put on the frame we will pick out fabrics from our fabric stash for a traditional “Pineapple” design quilt for 2009 (nothing like planning ahead.)

We enjoy the challenge that comes with trying out a new design and hope you and your daughters and friends will be tempted to join our group this summer. While working with us you will have a chance to learn the tricks of the trade and enjoy great fellowship. We meet every Monday, 9-12, rain or shine, summer and winter in room 203.

I can only promise that quilting in a group is a kind of group therapy and good for the soul. It gives you a chance to share your joys and sorrows, to find help and answers to many of your questions. It also makes you feel fulfilled, because you are working for a good cause. You are creating something beautiful, while you are picking up tricks of the trade for your own projects. Try it. You’ll like it.

For the past four weeks, our children have enjoyed creating and caring for a mini-environment in the classroom to increase their understanding of God's Creation and how to responsibly care for it. They have planted seeds, collected little crawlers, and built a beach setting. We now look forward to the second half of Summer Church School and hope that our children may have at least one opportunity to be with us. Also, Grandparents are invited to bring their visiting grandchildren, too.

Children begin with worship in the Meetinghouse
with their families. After the Children's Sermon,
they will go with the Church School leaders
to the Undercroft for the day's activity.

Each year the Nominating Committee looks for individuals who are interested in being considered to serve as officers and key committee members. While there are many other ways to serve the Church, these are some of the most valuable roles that help our Church continue to be a vibrant and successful Community of Faith. It is also a great way to get to know the clergy, staff and other members better, strengthen your faith, and serve others.

Would you like to be considered for service in this way? Do you know of someone who might be interested, capable and available to serve our Church? If the answer to either of these questions is "YES", please speak to one of the Nominating Committee members listed below. Some of the opportunities include:

Officers of the Church (prior church service & two years of membership required)
Deacons (members of the Church Committee)
Trustees
Church Clerk
Treasurer
Financial Secretary

Committee Members
Outreach Committee
Membership Committee
Parish Life Committee
These are explained briefly below.

Deacons - 24 Deacons are the primary members of the Church Committee, which oversees the worship, programs and mission of the Church. Deacons serve Communion, read scripture, and contact shut-ins and those hospitalized.

Church Clerk - Keeps a record of the proceedings of the church; issues letters of transfer of church membership, records the minutes of all church meetings and issues the call for church meetings.

Trustees - 15 Trustees are responsible for the physical and financial well being of the Church and its staff. Trustees manage the annual Stewardship Campaign and the Endowment.

Treasurer - Disburses funds under the direction of the Board of Trustees and renders a financial statement at the annual meeting.
Ex-officio member of Board of Trustees with power to vote.

Financial Secretary - Responsible for the receipt, collection and deposit of funds received by the church, except as otherwise provided.
Ex-officio member of Board of Trustees with power to vote.

Outreach Committee - manages the mission and benevolence work of the Church locally, nationally and internationally, including the outreach portion of the annual Budget, as well as the Lenten Mission Offering.

Membership Committee - reaches out to those interested in understanding our Church, teaching them about us, encouraging them to join as members and helping them quickly fit into the full life of the Church.

Parish Life Committee - hosts multi-generational events, including the Homecoming Picnic, Harvest Dinner, Advent Sing-for-your-Supper, and the Maundy Thursday dinner and service.

Most of us take our eyesight for granted, since we use it almost every waking moment. The local middle school students have a great awareness-raising assignment in which they blindfold themselves for a designated amount of time, in order to experience having a disability. This might do all of us some good, and would certainly provide a renewed appreciation for the gift of sight. The summer season brings with it an increased risk of certain eye injuries. Two different problems arise: sudden injuries from fireworks, and slow damage from ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.

Nationally, 2000 eye injuries are caused by fireworks each year, and 400 people lose vision in one or both eyes. According to the experts, the safest bet for enjoying fireworks, is to let the professionals handle them. In other words, attend a public fireworks display to celebrate the Fourth of July. If one night is not enough, there's always Rye Playland every Wednesday and Friday for the rest of the summer. Still, some folks just can't resist using their own fireworks, and if this is the case, here are some facts to keep in mind when deciding: Avoid bottle rockets, Roman candles, and illegal fireworks, as they account for the majority of injuries. Be very cautious with sparklers, which cause the most injuries to children under the age of five.

The sun's UV rays, well known for causing skin cancer, wrinkles and premature aging; can also cause cataracts and macular degeneration, eye conditions that can lead to blindness. During the summer, the level of UV radiation from the sun is three times that of winter. So when we're lathering on the sunscreen, we should also be putting on sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. Not all sunglasses are created equal. It's important to wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays. The ability to block UV light is not dependent on the darkness of the lens or the price tag. Rather, UV protection comes from a chemical added to the lens material or coated on the lens surface. Avoiding the midday sun (from 10:00 to 2:00) also helps decrease exposure and damage.

Also worthy of mention is the value of swim goggles. Chlorine can irritate the eyes, causing redness and puffiness. Lakes and ponds may have bacteria that can cause inflammation, especially for contact wearers.

As we enjoy the summer season, let's remember to take care of our eyes. With the grace of God, I pray we will behold the beauty of the earth for many years to come.

What? A camp-out after a cookout. S'mores, sandcastle contests, flashlight tag, midnight meditation, and more…

How? Return permission slip to Anna P. ASAP! Then on July 12 meet at the Arch Street Ferry Dock to depart on the 5 PM Ferry. We will leave on the first ferry, 10:30 AM, on Thursday morning (we can call parents for rides).

How much? This event is FREE- you just need to pay for the ferry, $2 with your beach card. (non-residents, we'll cover the difference).

What Else? The cook-out will be a Summer Dinner open to SPF and CPF until 7 PM, when non-campers will depart the island - but you'll stay ALL NIGHT!

July Birthdays
07/01 William Sherwood 07/01 Kelly Phillips 07/01 Adrienne Myer 07/01 Kate Kretschmann 07/01 Ted Fraser 07/01 Kyle Patrick 07/02 Shirley Robinson 07/02 Alison Benoit 07/02 Alexander Mair 07/02 Morgan Fletcher 07/03 Anne Cooksey 07/03 Albert Primo 07/03 Dr Thomas Stiers 07/03 Joni Kimberlin 07/03 Christina Rossetti 07/04 Suzanne Provoost 07/05 William Henry 07/05 Allison Nadler 07/05 Jessie Vissicchio 07/05 Ty Pastore 07/06 Barbara Cioffari 07/06 Jerry Carnegie 07/06 Caroline Houseknecht 07/06 Duncan Khosla 07/07 David Sawyer 07/07 Ruth White 07/07 Margaret Sherman 07/07 Peggy Krempecki 07/08 June Horn 07/08 Carolyn Paulus 07/08 Sophie Thalheim 07/09 Dorothy Perna Robertson 07/09 Dudley Bonsal 07/09 Kim Reynolds 07/09 Alexandra Oztemel 07/09 Anna Lamie 07/09 Emily Berntsen 07/09 Mark Bourdin 07/10 Robert Luce 07/10 Allen Green 07/10 Karen Mair 07/10 Paige DeLeo 07/10 Eric Li 07/10 Sarah Morris	07/11 Betty Finney 07/11 Joy Kruger 07/11 Douglas Davidson 07/11 Paul Blandori 07/11 Trevor Ingraham 07/11 Colin Ingraham 07/11 Elizabeth Patrick 07/12 Patricia Schmitt 07/12 Andrew III Gregor 07/12 Benjamin Millspaugh 07/12 Corentin Philip Seznec 07/12 Ryan Anderson 07/12 Charles Khosla 07/12 Grant Khosla 07/13 Carl Stanley 07/13 Letty Militana 07/13 Richard Tolmie 07/13 Pamela Savage 07/13 Jack Snyder 07/13 Jenna Restieri 07/13 Charlotte Lorthioir 07/13 Emily Henry 07/14 Robert Weeks 07/14 Ross Willard 07/14 Douglas Waine 07/15 Barbara Rawn 07/16 Evan Lariviere 07/17 George Manning 07/17 Willis Ryckman 07/17 Michael Lepoutre 07/18 Robert Mendelsohn 07/18 Melanie Garnett 07/18 Geoffrey Ayres 07/18 Emma Kramer 07/18 Matthew Van Rhyn 07/18 Benjamin Schinto 07/18 Morgan Humbert 07/19 Ruth Pope 07/19 Amy Vandivort 07/20 Judith Miller 07/20 Charlotte Wolter 07/20 Michael Urban 07/20 Jan Benedict 07/20 Jaclyn Schofield 07/20 Caroline Wolter 07/20 Justin Shaw 07/20 Brian Bailey 07/20 Teddy Arsenault 07/20 Jenna Hascher 07/20 William Arsenault	07/21 Ruth Lindegren 07/21 Andrew Watt 07/21 Stetson Newman 07/21 Leighton White 07/22 Dorothy Fisk 07/22 Florence Stewart 07/22 Richard Robarts 07/22 Enid Norris 07/23 Mikael Hietala 07/23 Christopher Stone 07/24 Robert Phelps 07/24 Riley Davis 07/24 Amaia Rioseco 07/24 Catherine Ziac 07/25 Robert Button 07/25 Carol Sweger 07/25 Tori Dakin 07/25 Emily Fiorentino 07/25 Johnny Alexandre 07/26 Marge Wolfe 07/27 Kathleen Riley 07/27 Caroline Robbins 07/27 Leah Tagliarino 07/27 Tommy Heidt 07/28 Alice Ell 07/28 Marc Johnson 07/28 Evan Cook 07/28 Chase Kreuter 07/28 Gibby McHugh 07/28 Devon Johnson 07/28 Julie Goff 07/29 Katherine Saviskas 07/29 Christina Russell 07/29 Anika Norrgard 07/29 Lily Grace Yort 07/30 John Fryback 07/30 Erika Ahrens 07/30 Alison Flierl 07/30 Rebecca Rieke 07/30 Scott Anderson 07/31 Bernice Whittemore 07/31 Barbara Littlefield 07/31 Anders Ekernas 07/31 Kristen Blasberg 07/31 Lucy Hoffman 07/31 Madeleine Graham 07/31 James Graham

Join the SPF/CPF every Wednesday evening starting July 5th for their annual weekly Summer dinners. Contact Anna Paskausky for up to the minute details.

Reminder for the Beach Service: When the weather is unfavorable on Sunday morning a white paper is taped to the sign board in front of the church. This indicates that the service has been cancelled. If you would like to attend worship, please come later that morning to the Meetinghouse at 10:00 am.

David D. Young, Senior Pastor
Susan M. Craig, Senior Associate Pastor
Ronald E. Halvorsen, Minister of Pastoral Care & Adult Education
Anna Paskausky, Parish Associate and Youth Director
Rosemary Lamie, Church School Coordinator
John Stansell, Director of Music, Senior Organist
Susan Asselin, Parish Nurse
Libby White, Director of Preschool
Thomas L. Stiers and Sally Colegrove, Pastors Emeriti

Sunday Service of Worship -
8:00 AM Beach Service
10 AM Church Service
Church School - 10 am
Nursery Care provided during the
10 am Service.
The 10 am Service is broadcast live
on WGCH 1490 am Radio.
www.fccog.org