The Congregator. From the Pastor s Heart, through His Keyboard

Transcription

1 Falmouth Congregational Church United Church of Christ An and Affirming Church Falmouth, Maine The Congregator July/August Edition 2017 Volume 54 Issue 7/8 From the Pastor s Heart, through His Keyboard Inside this issue: Pastor Michael 1 Council Corner 2 Pastoral Search Committee 3 Coffee House 3 Ministry of Missions Church Family News Ministry of Worship & Covenant July/August Worship Attendants July Calendar 9 August Calendar 10 Sitting at my desk, gathering my thoughts about General Synod starting in a few days, I thought I would share with you some of the resolutions that will be coming before the gathering for discussion and vote. There are some proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United Church of Christ and the Bylaws. These are relatively minor in nature and clarify some of the original document s language. Both documents are living documents and of necessity will change over the years to accommodate the changes in our society and culture so that they remain relevant to today s world. The resolution Calling for Participation with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) through Inclusive Scouting Programs is to acknowledge the membership policy changes of the BSA ending years of discrimination against gay or bisexual youth and adult leaders and professional staff and to reaffirm our belief that discrimination against anyone based on belief, faith, creed, race, ability, gender, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation is contrary to our understanding of the teachings of Christ. There is a resolution coming before the floor on Corporal Punishment of Children in Homes and Institutions. This calls for parents and guardians to reject corporal punishment and use other methods to train children. It also calls for state and local governments to prohibit corporal punishment in schools and child-caring facilities. Another resolution coming before the Synod is The Earth Is the Lord s Not Ours to Wreck Imperatives for a New Moral Era. In summary, it states that God s great gift of Creation is in crisis. It goes on to say that the scale of Creation s demise is dramatically expanding beyond our comprehension. Never has the earth and the climate changed so quickly. While leaders of every country in the world recognize this reality, our current Administration ignores science, defunds the Environmental Protection Agency, and withdraws from the Paris Climate Accord. As people of faith, recognizing that the earth is the Lord s, it falls upon our generation to embrace the imperatives set forth in this resolution imperatives that constitute a new moral era. This one gives us a lot to think about and it will be interesting to see how the discussion develops. Another controversial resolution coming before Synod is Medical Aid in Dying. Synod will be asked to consider supporting this resolution and encouraging nationwide support of legislation authorizing medical aid in dying, under very specific guidelines. As you can see there is a wide variety of issues coming before General Synod to be discussed. Some will pass, some will fail and others will be tabled for further discussion. It will be a week full of hard work but also a time to renew old acquaintances, make new ones, and experience the Church working together in a (Continued on page 2)

2 Page 2 Congregator (Continued from page 1) healthy way. The sessions begin at 8:00 AM and conclude after evening worship around 10:00 PM. Long days but worth every minute of them to be with people who want to work for the furtherance of God s Kingdom here on earth. Stay tuned for the next issue and hear about all the wonderful things that happened at Synod 31. God s blessing and peace, COUNCIL CORNER FOR JULY/AUGUST We give thanks for Kristen Coleman s leadership as she organized the Kids Church members and lead the worship service on June 11. Many comments were shared about her enthusiasm and capability! An anonymous donor is funding the purchase and installation of pew cushions for our sanctuary! We are very excited at the prospect of having cushioned seating available early this fall. They are custom made, so we eagerly await their completion and installation within the next two to three months. Pastor Michael will be away at the UCC General Synod meeting in Baltimore, Maryland from June 30 through July 5. We will celebrate Holy Communion the second Sunday of the month, on July 9. We have invited the Family Promise Executive Director to preach at an upcoming worship service, as we strive to educate our entire congregation about this program. We continue to work through discussions with Family Promise as well as 2-3 other Falmouth churches who are considering supporting this program and providing volunteers. These partner churches will also sign a covenant agreement with Family Promise. We hope to hold the Holly Days Fair again this November, and we are reaching out to people who have chaired tables or rooms in the past to see if they will agree to do so again this fall. We also are in need of Holly Days Fair co-chairs who are willing to coordinate the individual chairpersons. Paul Davis - Moderator nevis56@gmail.com Marilee Pillsbury - Vice Moderator bigmarilee@yahoo.com

3 Volume 54 Issue 7/8 Page 3 PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE The Pastoral Search Committee continues to finalize the Profile as we gather crucial data and input from numerous leaders and church committees. Once finalized, we will share one final time with the church before submitting this to the Maine UCC for review. The Profile is a important document that prospective ministers look at when researching churches they may want to call home. The Profile's importance can not be overlooked. Between the 70 plus survey responses, over 40 pages of comments, the crucial input at our church meeting and many prayerful discussions, we have worked hard to draft responses that tell who we are. We, as a committee, have decided to continue working through the summer. Our goal is to submit the profile in August to the Maine UCC. We will be distributing a completed draft to the congregation members and will make copies available at church for those without access to , for final comments before finalizing the draft. The Pastoral Search Committee appreciates the input that our church family has given us. As we continue along our path of calling a new minister, if you ever want to call, send an or sit down and have a coffee, please feel open to contact me or any other member of our committee. Steve Hendry, Pastor Search Committee Chair stevrunn@gmail.com Committee Members Peggy McGehee Kimball Mason Ted Vail Marilee Pillsbury Kristen Coleman Jessica Collins Upcoming at the Coffee House! The Coffee House will be hosting local musicians for your listening pleasure. Paul Davis is in charge of scheduling the groups to entertain you, your family, friends and neighbors. A schedule is listed below. July 14 Porch Light PorchLightMaine/ August 11 Red Beans & Rice redbeansandrice/about.html September 8 Chris Kemp White Come enjoy a great cup of coffee; support the arts and your church! The doors open at 6:30 PM and ends around 9 PM. All Welcome!

4 Page 4 Ministry of Missions Congregator THE FALMOUTH FOOD PANTRY Days in July: Monday, July 3, 9:00-11:00 AM Tuesday, July 11, 9:30-11:30 AM Thursday, July 13, 4:30-6:30 PM Monday, July 17, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Tuesday, July 18, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Thursday, July 20, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Tuesday, July 25, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Thursday, July 27, 4:30-6:30 PM Days in August: Monday, August 7, 9:00-11:00 AM Tuesday, August 8, 9:30-11:30 AM Thursday, August 10, 4:30-6:30 PM Tuesday, August 15, 9:30-11:30 AM Thursday, August 17, 4:30-6:30 PM Monday, August 21, 9:00-11:00 AM Tuesday, August 22, 9:30-11:30 AM Thursday, August 24, 4:30-6:30 PM PLANT FOR THE PANTRY Families from all economic backgrounds appreciate fresh vegetables! One of the most successful ways of obtaining fresh produce for clients who need to use food pantries is a program called Plant-a-Row. In this program, local gardeners plant a bit more than they will personally need. The gardeners then contact their local food pantry to arrange to deliver their excess fruits and vegetables. The Falmouth Food Pantry welcomes the participation of local farmers/gardeners in Plant-a-Row. Please consider sharing your produce with families in need. You may stop by the Falmouth Food Pantry (271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth) when it is open or contact Nancy Lightbody. Thank you! EXCITING PROGRESS WITH THE FAMILY PROMISE PROGRAM Things are moving toward making Family Promise work at our church. The Cumberland Congregational Church has signed their official paper to help us host the program, and the Emmaus Lutheran Church is also very interested. Dolores Vail has been working very hard coordinating all the various pieces to get the program up and running: Our Youth group will be available to help; possibly Boy Scouts and high school volunteers will help setting up and taking down the beds (in the afternoon of the first Sunday and the early morning of the last Sunday); a volunteer has already agreed to get a group together to clean rooms ahead of our church s first date (September 10); and several members of our church have already volunteered to do other aspects of the program. For example, one said that she would love to read to the children as an evening volunteer. Those area churches that are hosting families have agreed to share what they have learned, and there will be monthly meetings to share hints and report on each other s progress. If you are interested in volunteering to help with the homeless families who will be able to use our church for one week four times a year, here are just a few of the many opportunities: Dinner volunteer (5:00 6:30 PM) Evening volunteer (6:30 8:30 PM) Overnight volunteer (8:00 PM - 6:00 AM) Breakfast volunteer (6:00 7:00 AM) Meal preparation Help with laundry Donate non-perishable food items If you can help, please contact Dolores Vail. Thank you!

5 Volume 54 Issue 7/8 Page 5 Ministry of Missions (continued) BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES FOR OUR SCHOOL KITS Please keep your eyes open for the back-to-school sales in mid-august if you are thinking of donating to our school kits for Church World Service next spring. Often, many of the items that we are asked to include in the kits that are shipped to impoverished schools and refugee camps around the world are on sale at half price or better toward the end of the summer. Thank you for thinking ahead! Supply List for Each School Kit: One pair of blunt metal scissors (rounded tip) Three 70-count spiral notebooks or notebooks totaling pages. (No loose-leaf or filler paper.) One 30-centimeter ruler (12") One hand-held pencil sharpener One large eraser Six new pencils with erasers One box of 24 crayons (only 24!) One 12" x 14" to 14" x 17" finished size cotton or lightweight canvas bag with cloth handles. DONATIONS TO FAMINE EMERGENCY FUND Generous members of our church also contributed $460 to the One Great Hour of Sharing Famine Emergency Fund to help address the terrible famine in East Africa. Thank you all. DONATIONS TO THIS YEAR S STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH MISSION So far, $545 has been raised in 2017 for the Strengthen the Church mission. One of the 5 for 5 mission offerings of the United Church of Christ, Strengthen the Church revitalizes congregations, supports programs for youth and young adults, and encourages efforts to grow as affirming congregations. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this mission. CAN YOU USE A HAND? SAVE THE DATE! On Thursday, October 19, 2017, Falmouth s churches and the Falmouth Jewish community will host their NINTH (!!) annual Harvest Community Supper, which has become popular as a community get-together and a way to support the Falmouth Food Pantry. The free roast turkey supper with all the fixings will be held from 4:30 to 7:00 PM in Beinema Hall at the Falmouth Congregational Church. See you there!... moving something heavy in your home? Fixing your bird feeder? Picking up branches and raking around your house? Lifting something down from a high shelf? Installing a smoke detector? If you could use help with these projects or others, please contact Gini in the Church office, and she will get in touch with members of the Ministry of Missions, who are eager to offer help to members of our church family.

6 Page 86 Church Family News... Congregator Welcome to Everett Camden Perry born May 31, Proud parents are Christopher and Catie Perry. Delighted grandparents are Sue and Larry Perry. Wider Church Family News Because the FCC family was so important to our family s life while our boys were growing up, we wanted to pass along an update. Our son Chris graduated from the University of New England School of Osteopathic Medicine in May and will be beginning a residency in neurosurgery at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ on July 1. He also married his longtime sweetheart, Story Elliott, in July 2016 in the bride s hometown of Woodstock, NY. Scott continues to pursue a career in film in Los Angeles and enjoys every aspect of West Coast culture. We ve mostly finished renovations on our 1907 old house and miss our FCC family. We enjoy reading the Congregator every month. Cindy and Randy Talbot Dear Falmouth Congregational Church congregation, especially Pastor Michael and Barbara Graustein, Celebrating Myron s 100th Birthday was certainly a milestone in his life!! Having such a dynamic and supportive group as FCC has much to do with his longevity I m sure. Sincerely best wishes and gratitude! Bill & Sue Hager July Birthdays 1 - Joe Blinick 4 - Doris Krueger 5 - Lynne Haddock 7 - Lorraine Bergen 7 - Nancy Lundquist 8 - Faith Varney 8 - Peter Stegemann 11 - Lisa Theiler Ertman 12 - Alex Han 12 - Ray Jett 14 - Marilee Pillsbury 15 - Ruth McCracken 15 - Rodney Coleman 17 - David Giansiracusa 19 - Barbara Roth 24 - Marion Olen 25 - Ashley Collins 31 - Caroline Hunt August Birthdays 1 - Cindy Han 1 - Kaleb Barrett 2 - Megan Sauberlich 6 - Don Olen Sr. 7 - Peter Christopher 11 - Leah Tenney 12 - Steve McCracken 13 - Bill Geary 13 - Dana Collins 14 - Tim Ziobro 14 - Jo Blinick 15 - Phoebe Horne 17 - Anne Coleman 18 - Katie Wulbrecht 18 - Matthew Wulbrecht 19 - Tom VerLee 20 - Abbie Farmer 26 - Laura Fay 27 - Iain Kurry 28 - Mark Horton

7 Volume 54 Issue 7/8 Page 7 Ministry of Worship and Covenant Over the past few years the MWC has held several hymn sings. Some have been well attended but the most recent was not. If you have any feed back about the hymn sings regarding time of year, day, etc. we would love to have your input. Please feel free to speak with anyone on the MWC committee: Larry Perry, Jim Parr, Anne Coleman, Jo Blinick, Pam Carroll, Barbara Fleming, Mollie Mason, Virginia Eddy or Pastor Michael. SUMMER MUSICIANS Summer with its Summer Music Schedule is fast approaching! Please Doris Krueger (dnkrueger@gmail.com) or telephone the church office if you (or if you have someone to recommend) are willing to provide special music between July 2 and September 8. Please include name, telephone and/or address and the type of music such as vocal, instrumental, etc. Thank you, Doris Krueger - Minister of Music The first Sunday of each month Pastor Michael and a member of the Ministry of Worship and Covenant take Communion to home-bound persons. Should you know of someone who would like communion in their home please contact Pam Carrol at pcarrol4@maine.rr.com or Pastor Michael at or pastormichaelfcc@maine.rr.com. The September Congregator deadline is Sunday, August 13, 2017 Please submit your articles, announcements, news items, pictures, etc. to: ginifcc@maine.rr.com. Thank you! CHANCEL FLOWERS Would you like to provide the chancel flowers for a Sunday? Please sign up on the poster in Fellowship Hall. Fill out the information on a Chancel Flower form and place it in the offering plate or leave it in the church office. The office will order the flowers from Skillins unless otherwise specified. You may also supply your own. Cost of chancel flowers from Skillins is $ To find out what s happening at Falmouth Congregational Church: 1. Visit the website: falmouthcongregationalchurch.org 2. Follow us on Facebook at: 3. Follow us on Twitter: Falmouth Church

8 Page 8 Worship Attendants Congregator Liturgists July 2 - Peggy Horton 9 - Jack Davis 16 - Mark Horton 23 - TBD 30 - Laurie Davis Ushers August 6 - Eunice Wilcox 13 - Judy Currier 20 - Barbara Fleming 27 - Marilee Pillsbury July 2 - Jack Davis, Jim Parr, Ted & Dolores Vail 9 - Larry & Sue Perry, John Boothby, Michel Kanyambo 16 - Paul Davis, Steve Hendry, Mark & Peggy Horton 23 - Joe & Jo Blinick; Kim & Mollie Mason 30 - Larry & Sue Perry; Tyler Henderson Greeters July 2 - Jessica Collins 9 - Don & Marion Olen 16 - Judy Nilsen 23 - Pam Carroll 30 - Judy Currier August August 6 - Barry Hamilton 13 - Don & Marion Olen 20 - Dolores & Ted Vail 27 - Jo & Joe Blinick LITURGISTS We are currently in need of liturgists for Please contact Jim Parr at jparr2@maine.rr.com or Larry Perry at if you would like to serve the church by participating in the morning worship service. Thank you. 6 - Judy Currier, Pam Carroll, Judy Nilsen, Lorraine Bergen 13 - Jack Davis, Jim Parr, Ted & Dolores Vail 20 - Rodney & Anne Coleman; John Boothby, Michel Kanyambo 27 - Paul Davis, Steve Hendry, Mark & Peggy Horton Job opening! Greeters, no long term commitment, once or twice per year! We are looking for a few good people or families to represent our warm and welcoming church on Sunday mornings! This could be you! Please contact a member of the Ministry of Community Life Carol Kaufman (co-chair) or the church office. Communion Preparers Sunday, July 9 Barbara Fleming - Wafers/Bread Jo Blinick - Juice Communion given by Intinction Communion Preparers Sunday, August 6 Larry Perry - Wafers/Bread Barbara Fleming - Juice Communion given by Intinction Chancel Flowers July 2 - Jo Blinick 9 - Caruso s August Joe Blinick Please find a substitute if you are not available on your scheduled Sunday. Contact the church office by Wednesday morning with the name of your replacement. Thanks!

9 Falmouth Congregational Church Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :30 AM Ministry of Christian Education 3 Office Closed 9 AM Falmouth Food Pantry 4 Office Closed Forever Growing Camp 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM Waite s Summer Theater Camp 9 AM - 3 PM 9 Communion Baptism :30 PM Food Pantry 6:30 PM Coffee House Music by Porch Light AM Food Pantry Steering Committee 4:30 PM Food Pantry :15 AM Coffee Hour 4:30 PM Food Pantry :15 AM Coffee Hour

10 Falmouth Congregational Church Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Communion AM Falmouth Food Pantry 6:30 PM Coffee House - Music by: Red Beans & Rice 4:30 PM Food Pantry Deadline for September Congregator Submissions 4:30 PM Food Pantry 6 PM Communications & Calendar Meeting w/potluck Supper Regular Office Hours Resume 9 AM - 3 PM AM Collators AM Food Pantry 4:30 PM Food Pantry :15 AM Coffee Hour

11 Falmouth Congregational Church United Church of Christ 267 Falmouth Road Falmouth, ME Office phone: Office Web site: Non-profit Org U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 95 Portland ME Return Service Requested, God is Still Speaking! Falmouth Congregational Church United Church of Christ MINISTRIES Paul Davis Chair, Council of Ministries Heidi Gage Chair, Ministry of Christian Education Carol Kauffman & Judy Currier Co-Chairs, Ministry of Community Life Jim Smith Ministry of Facility Stewardship Steve Hendry Chair, Ministry of Missions Larry Perry & Jim Parr Co-Chairs, Ministry of Worship & Covenant CHURCH STAFF Rev. Michael H. Richards Pastor and Teacher Doris Krueger Minister of Music Kristen Coleman Christian Education Coordinator Gini Medford Office Manager, Newsletter Editor Laurie Logan Office Assistant Matthew Strobel Sexton OFFICERS Paul Davis, Moderator Marilee Pillsbury, Vice Moderator Laurie Davis, Clerk Pam Carroll, Treasurer Meredith Mazur, Financial Secretary Carol Kauffman MSN, RN, Faith Community Nurse