On the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

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1 The Parish Post January 2014 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 Coming Up... Food Share at WCC January 2, 16 12:30pm Life s Transitions Seminar January 8, 15, 22 and 7:00pm Library Book Discussion Thurs., January 10:00am Coffee Hour Mission Project Sun., January both morning coffee hours BP Screenings Sun., January 9:30am Confirmation Class resumes Sun., January 4:00pm Monday Bible Study resumes Mon., January 7:00pm Annual Meeting Sun., January 11:15am Women at the Well Mon., January 5:30pm PLEASE NOTE: The Church Office will be closed on January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. s Birthday. IN THIS ISSUE Pastor s Page 2 Book of Life 2 Kids Korner 3 Advent Fair 4 God s Garden Schedule 5 Spiritual Transitions 6 Bulletin Board 8 Conference Minister, UCC Collegium Recall Historic March on Washington Connecticut Conference Minister the Rev. Kent J. Siladi issued the below statement in observance of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, which was commemorated with major rally before the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday, August 28th. In 1963, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered the "I Have a Dream" address to an audience of 250,000 people, a speech which has come to represent the aspirations of the Civil Rights movement. Rev. Siladi wrote: On the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington Anniversaries are occasions for both remembering and recommitting to the event that is being remembered. August 28th marks the 50th Anniversary of the historic March on Washington for The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., addresses the crowd before the Jobs and Freedom. It is of course remembered as Lincoln Memorial on August 28, the setting for Martin Luther King s historic I have a dream speech. More than 250,000 people U.S. Information Agency photo were a part of this important event that was a powerful witness speaking against the policies of segregation. Initiated by A. Philip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the march became a joint project with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. African American labor leaders were concerned that workers were being largely ignored in the civil rights discussions. Bayard Rustin, who will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama, was the lead organizer of the march. He read a list of demands at the end of the March that included: The first demand is that we have effective Civil Rights legislation, no compromise, no filibuster, and that it include public accommodations, decent housing, integrated education, FEPC, and the right to vote. Number two. We demand the withholding of Federal funds from all programs in which discrimination exists. We demand that segregation be ended in every school district in the year After listing other demands Rustin invites those gathered to make a pledge: "Standing before the Lincoln Memorial on the 28th of August, in the centennial year of emancipation, I affirm my complete personal commitment to the struggle for jobs and freedom for Americans. To fulfill that commitment, I pledge that I will not relax until victory is won. I pledge that I will join and support all actions undertaken in good faith in accord with the timehonored Democratic tradition of non-violent protest, of peaceful assembly, and petition, and of continued on page 4

2 PARISH POST PAGE 2 Pastor s Page Rev. Mark B. Abernethy, Senior Minister Resolutions On December 30th, just prior to the start of 2014, my family and I were able to spend a little over an hour at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum down in Washington, DC. Looking back, I could easily have spent the whole day... If you ever have an opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum in our nation s capitol, I encourage you to do so. Located a couple of blocks away from many noted Smithsonian museums located on the Washington, DC mall, the Holocaust Museum might not strike you as the first choice destination if you were a tourist in the city. But it might be the most unique choice you could make. And it might be the holiest choice you could make as well. When you walk into the Holocaust Museum, an elevator takes you to the top floor where you begin a chronological tour through the events of the Holocaust...Hitler s rise to power in Germany, the brutal and systemic Nazi deportation of Jews and other minority populations out of their home neighborhoods and into concentration camps, life in the notorious concentration camps, and the eventual Allied liberation of the concentration camps at the end of World War II. But the one thing you can t help but notice when you walk into the Holocaust Museum is how quiet it is. If people talk, they talk in hushed whispers. Most of the time, however, people slowly work their way from the top floor of the museum down to the bottom in sobered silence each person quietly coming to terms with the grief and the anger and the occasional heroism and the overwhelming sadness the museum inspires. Going to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum felt to me like going to worship. Reverent, awesome, and filled with a powerful, palpable sense of God s presence. And I carry with me into 2014 one of the museum s slogans Never Again. Never again will the people of our world look the other way or enable the kind of evil, unthinkable genocide perpetrated in the Holocaust. Never again...talk about a really good New Year s resolution for God s people to embrace... ~ Mark Book of Life Baptized Teegan Elizabeth Cleary, daughter of Justin and Andrea (Zimmerman) Cleary on December 22, 2013 Thomas Andrew Stewart, son of Sean and Rebecca (Zimmerman) Stewart on December 22, 2013 Submissions may be sent to Christine in the church office at wappingoffice@gmail.com. REMINDER: Annual Reports are due by January 15, Please information to Christine Carlson at wappingoffice@gmail.com. Thank you! Chili Cook-Off & Brownie Bake-Off Sunday. February 2, :15am ~ Community Room Wapping s SPF youth group will be holding the Annual Chili/Brownie Cook-off on Sunday, February 2 nd and is looking for many participants to enter their famous chili and/or brownies for the event. We are also looking for judges to sample either the chili or brownies for the competition (3 for each). There is a $10 application fee to enter your chili or brownies. Tickets for unlimited samples of the chili and brownies are $5 for adults and $1 for 10 yrs. and younger. All proceeds from this event will go to the SPF youth to help fund their mission trip in June. Tickets & applications will be available after each service. Please contact Liz Harner ( ) with any questions.

3 THE PARISH POST PAGE 3 Kids Korner Lee Carman, Church School Coordinator Star Gifts: Did you know that all of the children in God s Garden also choose a star gift? Each year, on Star Gift Sunday Lil Sprouts choose their stars during Cherub Chapel. During the Children s Service, the children in grades 1-8 are invited to talk about their word from the previous year, listen to the Ann Weems poem and choose a star for the new year. All children are given a magnetic pocket so that they may easily display their Star Gift on their refrigerator. Lil Sprouts preschool and kindergarten: During the month of December, the children covered the unit I m Glad Jesus is Born. Each week children played games, learned and sang the song God Loved Us, heard Bible stories, used the felt board and figures to see the story and completed a fun pencil n paper activity. All of these reinforce the weekly story. God s Garden: Grades 1-6: The unit titled Jesus is Born was covered during the past month. Children experimented with reflected beams of light in the Discovering God s World science workshop. In the cooking workshop, Fruits of the Spirit Café, children in first through fourth grades made angel treats to share with others just as the angels shared the good news of Jesus birth. Children in fifth and sixth grades made baby Jesus biscuits. In the Created by the Spirit art workshop, children created a felt Advent banner to take home. A.T.T.I.C. (Always Together Trusting in Christ): Grades 7 & 8: In December, these youth read and discussed the story of Jesus birth from the various gospels. They decorated Jesus cakes and served them during coffee hour. The seventh and eighth graders, along with other volunteers, sorted toiletries and prepared gift bags to benefit clients of Interval House. Thanks to the many volunteers and donors! 92 gift bags were prepared and delivered! Our Resolutions: Check out the bulletin board in the first floor hallway! During the Children s Service, we talked about what a resolution is. Children shared what a good-fit resolution would be for them. After the discussion children and volunteers wrote down their resolutions for Some added a picture that depicts their resolution in some way. Extra paper and markers are hanging on the bulletin board for anyone who wishes to add their resolution to the display. Peace ~Lee Lee

4 THE PARISH POST PAGE 4 Mark Your Calendars! Join us this Sunday, January 12 th for Coffee Hour Missions! During both coffee hours, people of all ages are invited to cut recipe cards and create a ready-to-use cocoa mix. Both of these will be given out to our Foodshare friends at the next food delivery. Get Ready for the 2014 Souper Bowl! On Super Bowl Sunday, February 2 nd, please support the children and youth of God s Garden as we conduct our annual collection of both canned goods and money for the MACC soup kitchen. Thank you for your support! Children will be at both entrances of the Sanctuary at the start and finish of both services on this day. March on Washington, Cont. redress through the courts and the legislative process. I pledge to carry the message of the March to my friends and neighbors, back home and arouse them to an equal commitment and equal effort. I will march and I will write letters. I will demonstrate and I will vote. I will work to make sure that my voice and those of my brothers ring clear and determined from every corner of our land. I pledge my heart and my mind and my body unequivocally and without regard to personal sacrifice, to the achievement of social peace through social justice." Fifty years later we would love to say that progress has been made and that the pledge and the dream have been fulfilled. However we know that is not true at this time in history. Recent events remind us of the sharp racial divides that still exist in our nation. We know that we have not yet reached a point of racial harmony and racial justice. We have fallen short and we recognize sometimes in very painful ways how far we still have to go in attaining the vision that they may all be one. As we head into this time of remembrance may it be an occasion for self-examination and for a renewed commitment by all of us here in the Connecticut Conference to work for God s peace and God s justice. Let us continue to work for economic and racial justice here in our state, in our communities and in our nation. With hands, hearts and voices let us continue to work as people of faith to share God s unconditional love and to work to make our world a place of safety, security and blessings. The Rev. Kent J. Siladi is Conference Minister of the Connecticut Conference, UCC. Source: (excerpted from the original 8/22/2013 article)

5 THE PARISH POST PAGE 5 Look What s Growing In God s Garden! Unit: The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-15) Children and faith formation leaders will explore the story of Moses being called by God together. What must it have been like to hear your name being spoken from a bush that was on fire but not being consumed? But Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharoah, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? (Exodus 3:11) Discovering God s World science workshop: (3 rd floor) Workshop Focus: Faith gives us traction. Children experiment with various types of shoes. Fruits of the Spirit Café cooking workshop: (CR kitchen) Workshop Focus: Grades 1/2: God is calling for us! Grades 3/4 & 5/6: God fires us up with support and power. Children in first and second grade make an edible burning bush. Children in third through sixth grades make Sinai Sippers. Moved by the Spirit Bible skills and games workshop: (Community Room) Workshop Focus: Grades 1/2 & 3/4: I will listen to what God wants me to do. Grades 5/6: God calls us to serve in unique ways. Children in first through fourth grade play Listen Up and Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down. Children in fifth and sixth grade will play Motions for Moses and Spectacular Sculpting. 1/5 Star Gift Sunday 1/12 Coffee Hour Missions Grades 1&2 Grades 3&4 Grades 5&6 Grades 7&8 Communion Sunday ~ Children in grades 1-8 may either worship with their families or attend the Children s Service led by Lee Carman ~ Moved by the Spirit (in Temple Tales) 1/19 Discovering God s World 1/26 Fruits of the Spirit Café (in Community Rm) 2/2 Souper Bowl Moved by the Spirit Fruits of the Spirit Café Discovering God s World (in Temple Tales) Fruits of the Spirit Café Moved by the Spirit Discovering God s World ATTIC ~first floor~ ATTIC ~first floor~ ATTIC ~first floor~ Communion Sunday ~ Children in grades 1-8 may either worship with their families or attend the Children s Service led by Lee Carman ~ ATTIC = Always Together Trusting In Christ 7 th & 8 th graders will meet in their classroom on the first floor on most Sundays

6 THE PARISH POST PAGE 6 Seminar on Life s Transitions Planned The Parish Nurses will be sponsoring a seminar this month on The Spiritual Plan for Life s Transitions. The Rev. Mark Abernethy and Rev. Chris Davies will be leading the discussion on the first two sessions about the spiritual aspects of life s transitions and making the final arrangements. Patty Albrecht, RN, will be the speaker for the third session on Hospice care for the terminally ill. The last week will be a field trip to Samsel and Carmon where a staff member will show us the funeral home and casket show room. These seminars have been scheduled for January 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 7:00-8:00 in the Reception Room. Patty Albrecht, RN, Interviewed on Manchester Review! Church Member and Parish Nurse, Patty Albrecht, RN, was recently interviewed by Jack Peak regarding Hospice Services on the Cable Access program, Manchester Review. Please check out the below link for this informative interview: One More Wapping Good Recipe During the process of organizing the Wapping Good Cookbook, I inadvertently left out one of the recipes sent to me. Mary Ellen Zeitz had sent me this great recipe for Apricot Nut Bread and it somehow got left out of the final version of the cookbook. I apologize for that error. I've tried the recipe and it is delicious and easy to make. Please enjoy it for yourself. Cut out a copy of the recipe and place it in your family's copy of the cookbook. Happy cooking! MaryEllen Simko APRICOT NUT BREAD By Mary Ellen Zeitz Cut 1 cup dried apricots into small pieces. Soak 30 minutes in warm water. Drain. Blend together: 1 cup sugar 2 tbsp soft butter 1 egg Stir in: 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup orange juice Sift together and stir in: 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp salt Blend in apricots and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts nuts. Grease bread pan well. Pour batter in and bake at 350 degrees for minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Yields one loaf. Calling All Youth! All youth, in grades 6-12, are invited with their friends for fun, non-competitive basketball games. High skill, low skill and no skill are invited. Our youth friends from Vernon Congregational Church will be joining us for the 8th consecutive year. Parents can join in as subs off the bench. The game schedule is below, with all games on Saturdays, 6:30-8:30pm in the Community Room. Please contact Jim Fulton with any questions at Games Played On: January 4 and 18 February 1 and 15 March 1

7 THE PARISH POST PAGE 7 THE ANNUAL MEETING Sunday JANUARY 26, 2014 Following the 10:00 A.M. Service (11:15 A.M.) THE CALL TO THE ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of Wapping Community Church, Inc. will be held Sunday, January 26, 2014 immediately following the 10:00 A.M. worship service for the following purposes: 1. To hear, read and accept reports from various officers, boards and committees. 2. To adopt a budget for To hear/read the report of the Nominating Committee and elect officers and members of boards and committees for To transact any other business proper to come before said meeting. 5. To modify the church bylaws. Respectfully Submitted, Maggie Gove, Church Clerk

8 Wapping Community Church 1790 Ellington Road South Windsor, CT Phone: Fax: Return Service Requested Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Hartford, CT Permit No TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL Rev. Mark B. Abernethy Senior Minister Rev. Chris Davies....Associate Minister Lisa T. Wallace Director of Caring Ministries Maria Centola......Director of Music Ministry Lee Carman.Church School Coordinator Christine D. Carlson.. Administrator James D. Fulton..Sexton Wapping Community Church is part of the United Church of Christ (UCC) Connecticut Conference The Parish Post is published monthly and is mailed on the first Wednesday of the month. Deadlines for submissions are the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Please contact Christine Carlson with any questions at Please note there is a combined issue for July and August. BULLETIN BOARD Spiritual Life Group More learned individuals than I have said, We are born a spiritual being, living an earthly existence. With this in mind we gather to share where we have experienced the Spirit active in our live. At times we use written materials. We ask each member to listen, as moved to share, and to act responsibly by not repeating share experiences with anyone outside the group. As Christ said, Where two or more are gathered in MY NAME, there I am also. If you have any questions you may contact Jeanne Ewing at (860) We meet on Wednesdays at 1:30pm in the Reception Room. Blood Pressure Screenings The Parish Nurses will host a Blood Pressure Screening on Sunday, January 12th, at 9:30am in the Reception Room. Prayer Shawl Ministry Just a reminder that the next meeting of the Prayer Shawl Committee will be held on January 15 th at 7:00pm at the home of Joan and George Jahrstorfer. Women at the Well to meet on January 27! This vibrant Women s Group gathers on the fourth Monday of every month from 5:30-7:00pm in Fellowship Hall. Join other ladies of the parish to eat, pray, talk and reflect on what it means to be women created in the image of God. Please call Lisa Wallace at (860) to let her know you plan on coming and what you would like to bring. Free Lecture on The Bible and the Qur'an will be held on January 29, 2014 at 7:00pm. Building on a recent partnership, Hartford Seminary and the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, UCC invite friends in the Connecticut Conference to this lecture and conversation on the continuity between the two Scriptures, specifically on the themes of Creation, Revelation and Salvation. Dr. Maymoud Ayoub of the Seminary and the Rev. Matt Laney of Asylum Hill will reflect on the topic before leading the group in conversation and discussion. Location: Hartford Seminary Meeting Room, 77 Sherman St., Hartford. For more info, please contact Jonathan Lee at jlee@hartsem.edu. The Monday Bible Study will resume on January 13, 2014, to study the Old Testament s Book of Daniel for 9 weeks. Daniel was carried off into captivity in Babylon as a young boy. He received an education and rose in power in the Persian government. Because of his belief in God he was persecuted and thrown to the lions. The book deals with historical events and prophecies of the future. Daniel s major theme is the sovereignty of God. The kingdoms of men rise and fall but God remains forever. Daniel has visions of the future, of the Messiah Jesus Christ. Plan to join this enthusiastic group to spend nine winter nights in the 6 th century. Virginia Dzen will lead the study Offering Envelopes are now available in the Gathering Room. Thank you to all who have pledged! 2014 Flower Donation Calendars for the Communion Table and Pedestal are now available for sign-ups. Please note that they are located on the bulletin board next to the Chapel.