Mar 2017 TIDINGS Page. T i d i n g s. Monthly news for members & friends from Niantic Community Church. From the Transitional Pastor

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1 Mar 2017 TIDINGS Page T i d i n g s March 2017 Monthly news for members & friends from Niantic Community Church From the Transitional Pastor Dear Friends, Niantic Community Church 170 Pennsylvania Avenue Niantic, CT Phone: (860) judy@nianticcommunitychurch.org Transitional Pastor: Reverend Dianne Arakawa Community Minister: Patty Chaffee Christian Education & Youth Minister: TBD Music Minister: Richard Schenk Choral Minister/ Bell Choir Director: Lynne Floyd Children s & Gospel Choirs Ministers: Lee Wilkerson, Nikki Rollins Office Manager: Judy Snitkin Parish Nurses: Marie LaTourette, Donna Hathaway, Edie Watrous Children s Center Director: Kathy Tiller Worship Schedule: Sundays at 9:00 am & 11:15 am A Federated Church of the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church An Open, Affirming, Reconciling Congregation Editor: Heather Larson tiding.larsonallen@sbcglobal.net The journey begins! Our starting point is Ash Wednesday on March 1 st and our ultimate goal is Easter Sunday on April 16 th. Between these two markers lie six weeks of Lent, during which time we are invited to accompany Jesus the Christ from Galilee to Jerusalem. It doesn t have to be a journey defined by outward gloom and doom for there is enough of that in our world these days. But it does have to be one filled with a certain amount of faith, discipline, and exploration. Can we practice meditation, prayer, and being inwardly quiet for at least a little while in our noisy world? Instead of taking the via negativa by subtracting certain meats and sweets from our diets (though this can be healthful) or squelching selfdefeating behaviors like guzzling carbon or cursing life, we can add on. We can choose the via positiva, by throwing in some dark greens to eat, great books to read, and worthy institutions to support. Plan our Lenten itineraries, and take the route, which best nurtures our gifts and temperaments. Along the way, there will be distractions and some worldly devils, if you will. One, for example, might be when daylight savings time returns on March 12 th. Now that can throw us off course! Another might be the vernal equinox on March 20 th with early signs of spring like jonquil leaves, swelling buds, and witch hazel blossoms. Don t be seduced or fooled with these, beautiful as they are. Our seasons are fleeting but He is not. A Thought for Young Minds - Feb. 26th Continued on Page 2 Inside This Issue: Pastor s Message Walking in Way of Love... 3 Nurturing Faith

2 Mar 2017 TIDINGS Page 2 Continued from Page 1 The biggest obstacle, for most of us, will be ourselves. Will we be able to remain focused, determined and get there with Him? Self-doubts will surely arise about our faithfulness. Fatigue and irritation will get to us after a certain point. At times we will wonder if this adventure is worth it in the long run. You ve got to be kidding: Canterbury to Santiago de Compostela via Chartres with nothing but sore feet and scallop shells to identify us as pilgrims on the way! Try to follow the stars, a trusty map and the GPS of the Holy Spirit. If and when we reach our destination, we will realize that being with Him and others on the journey made it less painful and more bearable. To be a Christian means to dare to live, not by ourselves alone, but together with a community of believers and seekers. Along the way, we watch out for each other, dress any wounds of the heart, mind, body, and learn from each other s odysseys. We put one foot in front of the other, next to another humble soul, who seems to be doing the very same. Lent is that purple in-between time of journeying together with Christ searching for enduring new faith, adapting to a surprising new way of being, and discovering the promises of abundant new life. Won t you come along? Yours in Christ, Pastor Dianne The Tinkham's A Note from Liz Kuchta Some of you remember Rev. Allen Tinkham who was the pastor of NCC from On February 10th, I received a letter from his wife Cynthia saying that about two years ago he was diagnosed with progressive memory loss. This past month it was decided that it was too much for her to care for him at home anymore. He is now living at The Atrium in Rocky Hill a small fabulous facility that concentrates solely on memory care" and he is "at peace with his new surroundings". He will be 89 in May. If any of you would like to send Cynthia and Allen a card or note, their home address is: 81 Mountain View Dr., Newington CT, For those of you who didn't know him, Rev. Tinkham was instrumental in developing our church into what it is today. He came when we were newly merged and struggling. We were still meeting at the church on Lincoln Street and he led us building the new church on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1961 and then the educational wing in One of the legacies he left us is our involvement with Heifer. In 1959 he asked the church school children to save their pennies to buy a heifer. He even had a farmer in town bring a calf to church to show us. We are probably one of, if not the, oldest group continually supporting Heifer International. There are many, many other programs and things that he did as well. Find a member who was around back then and ask about him. Easter Worship Schedule Maundy Thursday, April 13th - Service at 7 p.m. Good Friday, April 14th - Service at 7 p.m. Rev. Allen Tinkham left NCC in 1967 to became the Minister-at-Large for the UCC CT Conference. This minister was maintained under the Raymond Fund to serve churches or areas in need of special leadership. When invited the Minister-at-Large went to a church, studied conditions, called on the people, performed the ministry of a pastor and surveyed the needs and possibilities of the parish. He sought to strengthen the organization of the church, enlarge and vitalize its programs. My question is: Rev. Tinkham held one more job with the CT Conference. Do you know what that was? Easter Sunday, April 16th - Worship Services: 5:30 a.m. Sunrise Service at McCooks' Point Park 7:00 a.m. at NCC, 9:00 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. LABYRINTH Blessing of the labyrinth at noon on Good Friday by Pastor Dianne Arakawa. Participants will receive small wooden crosses to carry as they journey toward the center. Easter Labyrinth walk on McCooks Beach following sunrise service. This independent walk represents a walk to the empty tomb. Handouts will be available. Presented by Joanne Moore.

3 Mar 2017 TIDINGS Page 3 Diaconate Board Worship Team Initiative WALKING IN THE WAY OF LOVE The Worship Team is putting together a plan to provide rides to church for those who are unable to drive themselves (due to surgery, age, etc) - please advise if you are available to assist in this very important ministry. We will be putting together a list of drivers. We know some members of our church already provide this ministry. We are trying to expand on this to include others who may not know who to ask for a ride. Available: Fall Spring: 9:00am 11:15am Both Summer: 9:30am Months available: Can provide transportation from any address OR specific areas (i.e., ONLY Niantic (certain sections), Waterford, etc) Do you have a handicap accessible vehicle (i.e. van)? YES/NO We are planning on publishing the list of drivers (along with their phone number on the NCC website and in the Tidings). If acceptable to you, please provide permission to include your name/phone number on this list that will be published on the NCC website and in Tidings. Walking in the Way of Love Performance by the Sacred Dance Ministry #EatTogether When we eat together, good things happen. We share a bit of our lives. We talk, we laugh, and we share the foods we love. We get a little closer. Check out this heartwarming video at yp6i and I invite you to put down your phones, turn off the TV, and sit down to share a meal together. Please place this document in the offering plate, or send an to Terri McTigue at teresabroderick_18@hotmail.com along with any questions. THANK YOU!!! I give Niantic Community Church permission to include my name/phone number on a list that will be published on the NCC website and in Tidings. Name Telephone

4 Mar 2017 TIDINGS Page 4 Soup & Soul 2017 A Lenten reflection Nurturing Faith 3 rd Wednesday of each month, March 22nd = 6-8 p.m. Featuring: GROUNDED: Finding God In The World A spiritual revolution By Diana Butler Bass Join us for a contemplative meal of soup & bread, and weekly discussion during Lent. Wednesdays 5:30-6:45 p.m. March 15 April 12 5 weeks Books now available in the church office $11 (scholarships available) Let us know in advance if you need child care. Meeting in the Multipurpose Room. All Are Welcome! Please Join us! A nurturing faith opportunity presented by Parish Life Ministries. Nurture Your Faith Starting in February, the adult Sunday morning class will begin a DVD series entitled One Faithful Promise: The Wesleyan Covenant for Renewal. The series is an exploration of John Wesley s treatise Directions for Renewing Our Covenant with God which describes five steps toward covenant renewal: Step 1 Confide in God Step 2 Compose Your Spirit Step 3 Claim the Covenant Step 4 Choose Faithfulness Step 5 Connect to God in Prayer As we start a new calendar year and a new church year, it seems like a good time to renew our covenant with God. Please join us in the Fellowship Room. The bell ringing during coffee hour signals the start of the class (approximately 10:20). - Paul Helvig Use faith to create an active, successful dating process for casual dating and/or finding a life mate. Learn tools to feel empowered, identify goals, share fellowship, facilitated by Relationship Coach, Carol Vara, MSW. All Are Welcome! FREE Program Register in Church office or contact Carol at or varavarac@gmail.com Save the Date and join us on the 4th Tuesday of each month for the Niantic Community Church Prayer Shawl Ministry March 28 April 25 Don t know how to knit? We ll teach you! Don t have any yarn? We ll provide it! Need a pattern? We have em! Prefer to crochet? That s okay! Bring a friend to the Fellowship Room at NCC located at 170 Pennsylvania Ave., Niantic, CT. (860) NCC PRAYER WALL Visit the NCC Prayer Wall to review prayers, indicate that you have prayed for the concerns and joys submitted by others, and add your own prayer requests. You may also send prayer requests to prayers@nianticcommunitychurch.org. All posts are automatically added to the ongoing prayer chain.

5 Mar 2017 TIDINGS Page 5 Boy Scouts and Leaders attend Scout Sunday at Niantic Community Church Early this year Niantic Community Church became the Chartered Organization for Troop 7 in Niantic. The church is very proud to sponsor and support Boy Scout Troop 7 as an outreach to the community that provides values of character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness to youth. Sunday, February 5 th was Scout Sunday and recognized those who are members of the church and in our community on the anniversary of the Boy Scout movement. To join Boy Scouts a boy who has earned the Arrow of Light in Cub Scouts must be at least 10 years old, or if not a Cub Scout has completed the 5 th grade and be at least 10, or those who are 11 but not yet 18. If you have any questions regarding our troop or our activities, please contact Scoutmaster Tom Morris at Meetings are held Tuesdays at 7:00 pm at the Niantic Community Church, 170 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic, CT. From left to right are Charlie Santa Maria, Committee Chair, Jim Fobian, Assistant Scoutmaster, Luke Proud, Tom Morris, Scoutmaster, Tim Morris, Jackson Perrelli from Troop 36, Nate Fobian, Assistant Scoutmaster, Ron Hathaway, Chartered Organization Representative, and Ron Johnson from Troop 11. Start Fresh ~ New London Area Refugee Settlement Team 10:00-11:30 a.m. Betty Mahon shopped and delivered fresh food for the Mahlo family. Sher Lofgren of All Souls Church assists. Mahlo family moved into their new home on February 8, 2017! Thanks to the generous donations from this congregation last summer, the Outreach Committee, (specifically Bette Mahon) was able to fill their cupboards, pantry and freezer with food! The new family has a mom and dad and 4 children. An 8 and 9 year old girl who have never been to school will be attending the Regional Multicultural Magnet School soon, and 2 and 3 year old boys. Stay tuned for more information about their resettlement!! Yes you can meditate! Come embrace the peace and inner tranquility of guided meditation. No experience or registration necessary. Wear comfortable clothing; bring water and experience calm and beauty. Light stretching done. This free program is held in the multipurpose room at Niantic Community Church and is suitable for all ages/abilities. Facilitated by Carol Vara, MSW, Meditation Certified. For more information call (860) or reach Carol at or her at varavarac@gmail.com. Friday Mar. 17

6 Mar 2017 TIDINGS Page 6 United Action of CT Meeting February 16, 2017 Middletown, CT Bette Mahon, Pastor Dianne Arakawa, Ocean Pellett and other interfaith leaders Calling all bakers, chefs and shoppers is upon us and we have a simple, easy ministry that you are invited to participate in. Operation Love, a ministry of Parish Life, helps those who are struggling with loss, transition, illness, etc. We bake for funeral receptions and sometimes provide a meal for a family. We keep an ongoing list of folks who are able to bake a batch of brownies once in a while, or make a little extra dinner or pick up prepared foods at Stop and Shop or even Pasta Vita (Yum!). We promise not to call upon you often, but our list has grown short and the need is long. If you haven't been asked to do this kind of service lately, your name might not be on our list, so please zip us an or call the church office and let us know that you would welcome the opportunity to help in this small but meaningful way. Marion McKenzie and Sonya Hoisington coordinate Operation Love. So let us know if you can help by adding your name to our Operation Love list to bake or provide a meal. Call the church office at (860) or me at Patty@nianticcommunitychurch.org. Just say, "sure I'll bake something once in a while, " or " I'll provide a dinner," just add me to your list. We welcome your generosity and kindness. Patty Chaffee Community Minister WHAT: WHEN: WHERE: Women's Retreat September 30, 2017 (one day event) Mercy by the Sea Retreat and Conference Center in Madison More information, including early registration, will be provided in April Tidings. Liz Buhler

7 Mar 2017 TIDINGS Page 7 Thursdays 7-9 p.m. (4 Sessions) February 23 March 23 April 20 May 18 Contemplative Photography Discovering God from behind the lens An interactive program that requires use of a camera, and time outside of the group session. Each session will include prayer, reflection and discussion as well as sharing photos taken over previous weeks. All levels of ability are welcome to explore this creative path to discovering that God is at eye level. A free nurturing faith program. Facilitated by Community Minister Patty Chaffee Register in the Church office (860) Photography Programs - Different Days! Knowing Your Camera The Camera as a spiritual tool Join us for a monthly journey through aperture, shutter speed, portraiture/still life, facilitated by professional photographer Craig Woody. A free nurturing faith program where all are welcome. Bring your camera. Thursdays 7:00-8:30 p.m. (4 Sessions) February 9 March 9 April 6 May 4 Register in the Church office (860) WE WANT YOUR STAMPS Did you know that our own Women's Christian Service Association (WCSA) collects cancelled postage stamps, that are later sent to Washington, D.C. for use by Veterans? They use them for various craft projects, while benefitting by helping with small motor skills. Just cut around the stamp on your mail, leaving about a 1/4 inch. Talk about leaving your stamp on a ministry:) There is no end to the ways you can do ministry at NCC. Just leave your stamps in the church office. minimize, simplify, organize How it works: 1. Bring unwanted items that you want to give away. If you can carry it, you can bring it. Bring as much as you want. 2. Bring one non-perishable food item for the NCC Food Pantry and a brown bag lunch to enjoy following the exchange. 3. Each participant offers their items in turn. See what others have to give away and claim all you want. Any unclaimed items will be donated to charity immediately following our gathering. 4. Discover the spirituality of being organized during thoughtful reflections and discussion over lunch. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Monday: March 20 (Contact Community Minister, Patty Chaffee with questions) The Women's Fellowship Book Club has selected "The Rosie Project" by Graeme Simison as their next book. This is the story of Don Tillman, a brilliant yet socially inept professor of genetics, who s decided it s time he found a wife. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he designs the Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a sixteen-page, scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, the late arrivers. Please join in a fun discussion on April 2nd at 7 pm in the Fellowship Room. Any questions, contact Carol Donovan at carod3000@aol.com.

8 Mar 2017 TIDINGS Page 8 Women Food and God A Parish Life Ministries program offering In December last year Patty Chaffee, Sonya Hoisington and I discussed a new program we wanted to present and facilitate in the New Year. It centered on the book entitled, Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path To Almost Everything by Geneen Roth. Gathering women together always unleashes powerful energies. Talk about food often evokes a multitude of emotions as does any discussion about God and our pursuit of spiritual connection and enlightenment. In addition, the timing of New Year s resolutions emphasizing healthy practices, exercise and making good choices, helped to encourage us to believe our project would be launched within an appropriate timeframe. However, we still had reservations concerning how successful it might be. We were not sure what kind of a crowd, if any, from within our church membership or the East Lyme town community might want to commit to such a program, eight weeks in length. Would there be enough interest? We decided then and there that the program we were planning had value for the three of us and we would implement it for ourselves even if no one else came, but God had his own plan! Patty, as usual, had some amazing suggestions for how we should proceed and what additional activities we might include in the program. She labeled it a multimodal experience and conversation with large and small group gatherings, meditations, music, sharing, activities and speakers. It was important to us that our meetings provide a nonjudgmental and sacred space for those attending. Our emphasis was not that this would be a weight loss program or even a support group, but rather as Sonya said about ourselves and God and food and feeling good about ourselves. WELL!!!!! To our surprise and delight the interest was overwhelming. Not only did we register twenty plus for the initial daytime session but we had to add an evening program as well. Interest overlapped into the community and we are now seeing weekly involvement of about 40 women. Half the sessions for both the daytime and evening programs have been completed to date. Based on the comments and feedback we have heard, it has been a rewarding and resounding success. Even so, we like to emphasize that not all we read about or experience in the program will resonate with everyone. To be honest, not everyone has enjoyed the book (you know who you are J ) and that s okay. So we say, take what nuggets of information or ideas might work for you and run with them. Geneen Roth says, and I quote, Freedom from obsession is not about something you do; it s about knowing who you are and if you want to use your relationship with food as the unexpected path, you will discover that God has been here all along. This program has been an enriching experience for me with insight coming from a perspective so different from others purporting to deliver a pathway to life s successes and ultimately to happiness. It has provided an opportunity to share and open up about our deepest held beliefs with women who speak with heartfelt searing honesty and conviction. This is definitely one of those moments when I can say that with respect to this program and my participation, I have received so much more than I have given and it is freeing. Wishing you Blessings and Insights, Candy Neilson, Parish Life Ministries HISTORY ANSWER *************** Using his other love, history, he became the Archivist for the CT UCC Conference in Hartford. Follow us on Twitter (@NianticChurch) and like us on Facebook (facebook.com/nianticcommunitychurch). 7:00-8:00 p.m. March 24th A free nurturing faith opportunity, facilitated by Kate Brodaski. Bring a drum if you have one. All are welcome and no experience or drum needed. Call the church office (860) to confirm dates or visit the church calendar at Join us & bring a friend!!!