Redeemer News FROM THE PASTOR. Church of the Redeemer UCC

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1 June/July 2016 Church of the Redeemer UCC Confirmation Pictures of You Being Church New Minister of Faith Formation Summer Sunday School Summer Worship Schedule Summer Film Series!? Columbus House Sunday Meals Redeemer Teams Need You! New Security Staff Person Needed! Church Picnic June 12 Inside this issue: Call to Congregational Meeting Nominations for Volunteers for Sumner Music Pecha Kucha Postponsed Noon Book Group Evening Book Group Shelly s Vacation Usher/Hospitality Schedule June Calendar 11 Summer Giving 12 Redeemer News FROM THE PASTOR In this issue I just have a few miscellaneous notes for you. Thanks for your continued prayers for my health. My doctors have diagnosed as infected/abscessed lingual tonsils, sort of like tonsillitis for someone who no longer has tonsils! I am now considering further options for treatment. On June 10 at the Connecticut Conference UCC s annual Authorized Ministers Luncheon, I will be honored along with a number of other women as Pioneer Clergy. We are those who have been ordained more than 30 years (in my case, 34 on June 6). I was the third woman ordained by the Penn Northeast Conference UCC (and the second was just about a month before me), and, except for Redeemer, I was the first women to serve as sole or senior pastor in every church I have served. Much has changed in the church in 34 years, and some things haven t, but I am honored to be honored! Finally, I hope that everyone who can be in New Haven on June 5 will come to the Annual Meeting of the congregation, following worship. One thing that we have discovered in the potlucks that have been held is that people who have not attended either the Nov. Budget meetings or June meetings for the last couple of years were surprised by many things that were discussed. Attendance at these meetings really is important for members who want to stay informed. We write articles and send out minutes but are not sure who actually reads any of these things. Your presence is critical. Also a reminder that our by-laws DO NOT allow for proxy voting or absentee ballots. Both Cheryl Doss and I will share important remarks. Please be present if you are able. Blessings to you for your summer! Shelly

2 P a ge 2 Redeemer News June /July 2016 May 22 was a glorious morning here at Redeemer where a full sanctuary of people and a 40 voice combined choir celebrated the Rite of Confirmation for 13 youth! Redeemer youth confirmed were: Caleb Bolden, Lukas Bosch, Meggie Czepiel, Nailah Hutchinson, Khalil Ivy, Margeaux Ivy, Aerin McLaughlin, Sasha Northrup and Phoenix Taylor. Joining Center was Jake Fox and joining United were Edmund Bassett, Ray O Connor and Mabel Rooney. Many thanks to Bonnie Scott, pastor at United, and to Redeemer members Ian Skoggard, Charles McEnally, Carol Nardini and Barbara Libby who helped out during the year. SHELLY NEEDS PICTURES OF YOU BEING CHURCH Shelly will be doing a sermon series this summer on what it looks like when Christians are being the church in the world. Can you take a picture of you alone or you with others being the church somewhere other than in the building at 185 Cold Spring St? them to her at rastackhouse@gmail.com.

3 Redeemer News June /July 2016 P a ge 3 New Minister of Faith Formation On August 15, we will welcome Jordan Rebholz to our Faith Formation position here at Redeemer! Jordan has been attending Redeemer (with her husband Bobby) since September when she became a student at Yale Divinity School. She brings to us a wealth of experience working with children and youth at three churches in Ohio and one in New Jersey. She is excited as well to work with Adult Faith Formation here at Redeemer. Summer Sunday School Again this year we invite YOU to share something you enjoy with our children for Summer Sunday School. This means about 45 minutes with a varying number of children of varying ages (5-12) who like activity! Our Safe Church policy requires two adults, so grab a friend or family member to help. The dates we need you are: June 19 and 26, July 10, August 28. A sign up poster will be on the bulletin board in the hallway this Sunday!

4 P a ge 4 Redeemer News June /July 2016 Summer Worship Schedule All of our worship services beginning June 29 will be jointly held with United Church this summer, alternating buildings. The schedule is as follows: June 29, July 3 and 10: at Redeemer July 17, 24, 31: at United August 7: at Redeemer August 14 and 21: at United PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! SUMMER FILM SERIES!? We would like to revive our summer film series in our cool Undercroft theater! In the past we have shown a mix of feature films and documentaries, chosen by the group. We have done this on Wednesday nights in the past, but could do a different night if preferred. If you are interested, please contact Shelly!

5 Redeemer News June /July 2016 P a ge 5 COLUMBUS HOUSE SUNDAY MEALS! We currently have NO VOLUNTEERS signed up for our Second Sunday of the month commitment to cooking and serving dinner at Columbus House. PLEASE consider taking a few hours on a Sunday afternoon June 12, July 10 or August 14 to help. Instructions and menu and shopping list all on the website. Please call the church office to sign up. This is a great way to meet new people!! REDEEMER TEAMS NEED YOU!! Three Redeemer teams are currently without members. In our system, that may mean they simply fold and the work does not happen, but if you are interested, please consider joining one of these teams. They are: Landscape: care for flower beds, pots (weed, plant) contact Twila Harper for details. Public Relations: write press releases on activities you read about in church publications and send to newspapers and other media. We can give you contact names and s. This does NOT involve the website. Adult Faith Formation

6 P a ge 6 Redeemer News June /July 2016 NEW SECURITY STAFF PERSON NEEDED! Our current Sunday security person, Adam Minkema, will be leaving us to go to college in New Hampshire in late August, so we will need a new person to set up the sanctuary, make coffee, and lock up on Sunday, as well as possible occasional security for other events as availability allows. This is a paid position! If you or someone you know (preferably over the age of 18) is interested, please see Shelly soon. Ideally the new person could train at least one Sunday with Adam! CHURCH PICNIC JUNE 12 Join members of Church of the Redeemer and United Church on June 12 following worship at College Woods Park (corner of Orange and Cold Spring Sts.) for a potluck picnic! We will supply beverages and paper products; you bring your favorite picnic food to share! We are trying to stay green, so if you can bring your own plates, cups and silverware, that is a plus! Also bring folding chairs and any lawn games you would like to play! Bathrooms will be open and the pavilion is adjacent to the children s playground. No agenda! No meeting! Just come and eat and enjoy each other s company!

7 Redeemer News June /July 2016 P a ge 7 Call to a Congregational Meeting, The Church of the Redeemer UCC Dear Members of the Redeemer Community, The Leadership Council hereby calls the annual meeting of the members of the church as follows: DATE: Sunday, June 5, 2016 PLACE: Sterling Room (coffee hour space) TIME: Immediately following morning worship (approximately 11:30 am) The purposes of the meeting are: 1. To vote on the minutes from the budget meeting held on November 22, To elect a moderator, treasurer, and three at-large members to the leadership council. 3. To vote on a covenant with the congregation of United Church on the Green to proceed with a concrete planning process for creating a new congregation together. 4. To hear and act upon any other business brought before the congregation. The meeting is open to all interested persons, but only members and associate members may vote. The Council encourages all members to attend since a quorum for transacting business is 40 persons (20 % of the current 199 members). Copies of the relevant documents will be distributed by and made available from the church office. Sincerely, Kristen Forman, Clerk of the Church Nominations for Leadership Council Nominees for Leadership Council are as follows: For Moderator: Bob Parker For At Large Members: David Carter (We will vote on 3.) Kathy Czepiel Lori-Fast Minkema Greta Seashore Nominations were open until Sunday, May 29th, however, they may also be made from the floor at the annual meeting on June 5.

8 P a ge 8 Redeemer News June /July 2016 Volunteers for Summer Music A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS! If you would like to sing or play during worship this summer, there are still a couple of Sundays open! Dates still needing to be filled, and scriptures for them, are: August 28 Psalm 112; Hebrews 13:1-8 September 4 Psalm 139; Deuteronomy 30:15-20 You should plan on only two pieces of music, one in the anthem slot and one for the offertory. And if you only have one piece, that s OK too! Though you should probably tell Larry if that s the case. Please send the composer and title to Barbara in the office by the Wednesday before you have volunteered to sing or play. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the tower lobby. PECHA KUCHA POSTPONED The Adult Faith Formation Team has decided to postpone our Pecha Kucha to a date in early September to give you all a chance to consider this question: What do you do outside of church that you can share with us? A couple of groups meeting recently discovered how little we often know of each other s lives outside church. You could talk about work or volunteering or an organization you love. You need 20 pictures to illustrate this that you can spend 20 seconds describing for a presentation. We will hold a tutorial on putting together a Pecha Kucha power point on August 28 following worship. So start taking pictures!

9 Redeemer News June /July 2016 P a ge 9 The Noon Book Group The Noon Book Group will meet for a potluck lunch on June 7th (instead of the 14th) at the home of Anne Schenck. The group will continue discussing the novel Lila by Marilynne Robinson. All are welcome. The Evening Book Group The Evening Book Group will meet June 27 at 7:30 pm at the home of Kathryn Gaffney to discuss The Turner House by Angela Fournoy. All are welcome to join in. Shelly s Vacation Shelly will be away this summer July 11-August 1 and August Barbara will be away August 8-19.

10 Redeemer News June /July 2016 P a ge 10 Ushers and Hospitality Servers For June, July and August Thank you so much to all who serve as Ushers and Hospitality Servers each Sunday! Ushers and Hospitality Servers are assigned by their respective teams to serve on a given Sunday. Under Redeemer s hospitality plan two individuals or couples are assigned as hosts and hostesses for a given Sunday. One provides a savory food item and the other a sweet treat. While our office administrator Barbara continues to send weekly reminders to those assigned the following Sunday, we have begun publishing a list of ushers and servers for the upcoming month in the Redeemer News so that those scheduled can prepare in advance and switch with someone else if they are unable to serve on the Sunday they have been assigned. Please let Barbara know by ing her at redeemer@snet.net when you have made these arrangements so that she can Ushers June 5 June 12 June 19 Roz Hamilton Twila Harper Peggy Strickler Lorenzo Evans Roslyn Evans Jennifer Evans Bob Parker Marilyn Toland Charles McEnally Summer Combined Redeemer June 26 Nancy Chapman Doby Hall Courtney Mason July 3 Bill and Julie Moore Alan Kendrix July 10 Chuck Peterson Carol Nardini August 7 Wes and Carol Poling Jon Reed August 28 Bob Parker Marilyn Toland Charles McEnally Hospitality Servers June 12 Courtney Mason Grace & Peter Halsey June 19 Stefan Janis John Bradley Summer Combined Redeemer June 26 Elizabeth Price Peggy Strickler July 3 Twila Harper Shirin Hollis July 10 Kristen Forman Tony Forman August 7 Julie Nelson Ian Skoggard August 28 Nancy Carrington Cindy Crooker

11 June 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 10:00 Worship 11:15 Annual Meeting, Sterling 12 10:00 Worship, CS and Baptism 11:30 Church Picnic with United, College Woods 4:00 Columbus House 19 10:00 Worship and CS 26 8:30 Pick up choir, Sanctuary 10:00 Combined Worship and CS at Redeemer :00 Noon Book Group, location TBA 7:30 Leadership Council, Phillips :45 Senior Choir, Sanctuary :00 Deacons, Parlor 27 7:30 Evening Book Group, home of Kathryn Gaffney :00 Social Action Team Presentation Office closed Staff Planning Retreat 25 P a ge 11 Redeemer News June /July 2016

12 Church of the Redeemer UCC 185 Cold Spring Street New Haven, CT (203) Rev. Dr. Rochelle A. Stackhouse, Senior Minister Summer Giving Cheryl Doss, Moderator of the Church Henry Sykes, Treasurer Kristen Forman, Clerk Marguerite Brooks, Director of Music Julia Blue Raspe, Chancel Choir Director and Alto Section Leader Paul Berry, Boys Choir Director and Tenor Section Leader Sarah Reed, Soprano Section Leader Brian Robinson, Bass Section Leader Larry Bishop, Organist Barbara Repetsky, Office Administrator and Financial Secretary Adam Minkema, Security Lou and Valarie Fanelli, Sextons Summer is a time when many slow down and take a little extra time to enjoy beautiful weather and fruits of the earth, take some time off and just relax. Worship attendance often dips as people are away. As you enjoy the bounty God gives us during these summer months, please remember to keep pledges up to date during this time. This summer as we join with United in combined worship, your pledges and donations will still be received at Redeemer. Merely write Redeemer on the memo line and these pledges will get to us. Of course you can always send your donation to the church office or arrange with your bank to send checks to Redeemer as well.