Crossroads News from South Congregational Church United Church of Christ 45 Maple Street, Springfield, MA 01105 (413) 732-0117 www.sococh.org June 2014 Marching in the light: South Church members and friends in the Northampton Pride Parade May 3. IN THIS ISSUE Interim Pastor s Message..... 2 Search Team/Worship Schedule....3 Christian Education. 3 Moderator s Corner. 4 Comm. Music School Concert/Birthdays...5 Picnic/MACUCC Annual Meeting. 6 June Calendar......7 June 8: ONA Sunday with Gay Mens Chorus June 15: Choir Sunday & Community Music School Concert (see page 5) June 28: All Church Picnic (see page 6) 1
In the Interim The New Testament Church in 2014 The believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers every day they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared good food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved. Acts of the Apostles 2:42, 46-47 (Common English Bible) In these weeks after Easter I have been reading and rereading the book of the Acts of the Apostles, the story of the early church. My reading and ponderings have been an attempt to understand the dynamic, power and joy of the early Christian movement and how we here at South Congregational Church might recapture the movement of the spirit. First, the early Christians were part of each other s lives. The relationships between members of the community were central. If someone was about to slip, someone else would catch them. Second, I am convinced that in the early church worship was engaging. They devoted themselves to the apostle s teaching, to their prayers, to meeting in the temple. The early Christians were diligent in acknowledging to whom their allegiance belonged. Third, everyone was learning. No one had a corner on the truth. All were engaged in understanding the awesome power of Jesus resurrection and the gift of the spirit of Pentecost. Fourth, it was a community where the repair of the world was a moral imperative, where healing was offered, and where personal and institutional transformation was embraced. But most of all, the church was faithful. What faith teaches us is that God s attitude toward us never wavers because of our success or lack thereof. God holds no score card. There are entire parables (parable of the sower) where the outcome of our work has nothing to do with us. For God, the measure is simply faithfulness; it is working, trying, striving, and never giving up. The New Testament Church of 2014 is all these things and more. Praise God that at South Church we are on our way, not attaining these objectives but striving toward them. Thanks be to God! Peace, Joy and Love Roger From the Deacons Members currently in hospital or rehab: John Burris (Vibra Hospital) and Cosbi Hinman (Health South Ludlow) 2
From the Search Team It is quiet time for the South Congregational Search Team. It s called the quiet time because while we are still working, there s not too much we can say about our activities. We have reviewed more than 70 candidate profiles. We are conducting interviews by Skype with a set of very interesting candidates. There are several next steps for us, including calls with references, watching sermon recordings, and ultimately, in-person interviews. There definitely is progress. However, we all need to keep in mind that the progress is incremental, not speedy. The members of the Search Team are very aware that this is a process of discerning who God is bringing to us, and for each candidate to discern God s will in their lives. So we may really like a candidate, but that candidate may determine that South is not God s call to them. Lots of work and conversation may lead to more work and conversation because the fit just isn t there. We ask that you keep the Search Team in your prayers as we continue to work on your behalf for the future of South Congregational. Donna Dunn JUNE WORSHIP SCHEDULE (All services are at 10 a.m. m.) June 1 (Communion Sunday/Youth Sunday) June 8 (Open & Affirming Celebration with Gay Men s Chorus) June 15 (Choir celebration Sunday) June 22 (Move to Chapel) June 29 2 (Deacons Sunday) Rev. Roger Zimmerman Rev. Roger Zimmerman Rev. Roger Zimmerman Louis Mitchell The Deacons Christian Education What a joy it is to serve here at South Congregational Church! We had the opportunity to support Jace O'Brien on his trip to the Martial Arts Nationals in San Jose, CA, by contributing at a great spaghetti dinner. Our Youth Sunday, shepherded by the inestimable Nancy Montagna, was amazingly wonderful! This summer will be one of joy, service, celebration and fellowship as well! Look for announcements about bowling trips, movie trips, a farm trip and other outings! Don't feel left out if you're an adult! We will be taking a few outings too! Don't forget to keep an eye on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall for our next CE meeting and for upcoming events and details you don't want to miss out and we don't want to miss you! Yours in Service, Louis Mitchell 3
Moderator s Corner From all appearances, Consecration Sunday was a wonderful success. The numbers look good and we re thankful for that. But even more gratifying is the shift toward spending time and prayer concentrating on what God has brought to us rather than what the church needs from us. This shift in thinking about how blessed we are, in so many different ways, leads us back to true stewardship taking care of all of the blessings God bestows on us and intentionally sharing those blessings as best we can. It s a welcome change in perspective. You know I m going to pull New Beginnings into this corner somehow and the change in perspective leads me right to it NB s Missional Church is very much aligned with this perspective of sharing God s blessings with our neighbors. Missional Church turns our view from inside to outside, sends us out into the neighborhoods and urges us to bring God s good news to those who need it. One of the simple starts is making what we have to offer more obvious. That started with the congregation reimagining our front plaza into a garden that expresses our Extravagant Welcome. The initial flower planting is done and several neighbors already commented on how much they appreciate the improvement. The volunteer Front Plaza Gardens Team is working on a longer term design so keep your eye on the plaza. The plaza project is a simple and powerful example of the congregation examining an opportunity, deciding on a direction, volunteering to do it, and then getting to work with minimal church bureaucracy. New Beginnings thrives on this sort of initiative individuals with an idea and a passion coming forward to start something, maybe even an experiment that will grow with the Spirit into unpredictable new blessings. It s exactly this freeing of energy and passion that the Trial Period s minimized structure is designed to encourage. What s your idea? On a different note, the Crossroads you re reading right now is beautifully managed by Larry Picard, as are our website, our periodic emails of church events/services, and our Facebook page. We re thankful for his talent and work and yet we can t help but think there s a better way to handle our communications and social media. So, here s a thought maybe there are some folks who ve been blessed with those kinds of skills and interests who would like to help us re-imagine how we handle these very important functions at South. If that s you, please let me or Larry know and we ll see where the Spirit leads us. Peace and Blessings! - Bill Editors s note: Thank you, Bill! And you remind me that I have been wanting for some time to thank Karen Kress, who expertly proofreads Crossroads before it goes to final print. And a reminder: if you receive Crossroads by mail now and would like to, or are willing to receive it by email, please let me know and I will make that change: lpicard@sococh.org. 4
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH presents a special concert by students of the COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL OF SPRINGFIELD CMSS Merit Scholar Pianists, Linda Yamamoto Trio, String City Orchestra, Charles Majid Greenlee Jazz Ensemble & many more talented young musicians! Sunday, June 15-2 pm to 4 pm This concert is free and open to the public. Donations welcome! Call 413 732 8428 or visit www.communitymusicschool.com Happy June Birthday! 1 Dawn Ferrari 1 Cosbi Hinman 3 Ann Southworth 5 Ellen Gallagher 12 Margie Nelson 12 Jamie Wainright 13 Janice White 14 Larry Picard 19 Merle Olson 20 Yen Lee 21 Nancy Devol 26 Susan Rice 5
Family day at Big Pond! Family day at Big Pond - Saturday, June 28 from 10-4 at the home of Roger and Mary Zimmerman in East Otis. Hamburgers, hot dogs, rolls, paper products and beverages will be provided. Bring a salad, vegetable, or dessert and if you prefer,your favorite summer beverage. Bring your kayak, canoe. A pontoon paddle boat, canoes, and kayaks will be available. Our beach is shallow and there is excellent swimming for children. There is no need to make reservations. Bring a friend and/or neighbor. Directions to Roger and Mary Zimmerman: 90 Magovern Drive, East Otis. Take Route 20 West to Route 23 (left turn off of 23, sign says Blandford, Otis). Follow Route 23 five miles to the center of Blandford, bear left on route 23 for 6 miles to Algerie Road on your right. (There is a sign for Camp Bonnie Brae). 1.5 Miles on Algerie Road, Magovern Drive on the left. Sign reads Magovern, Greenough, Zimmerman. Call Roger or Mary at 413-269-7348 for more information. Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ 215th ANNUAL MEETING Friday & Saturday, June 13 & 14, 2014 Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center macucc.org/annualmeeting2014 South Church will be sending delegates Elliott Stratton and Dave Carlson. Revs. Roger and Mary Zimmerman will also attend. 6
JUNE 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 10:00 AM Sunday Service (SA) 11:00 AM Coffee Hour (PH) 12:00 PM Little Rock Church* (GS) 5:00 PM Budget Meeting (GR) 8 9 10:00 AM Sunday Service (SA) 11:00 AM Coffee Hour (PH) 12:00 PM Little Rock Church* (GS) 15 16 10:00 AM Sunday Service (SA) 11:00 AM Choir Luncheon (PH) 11:00 AM Coffee Hour (PH) 12:00 PM Little Rock Church* (GS) 2:00 PM Community Music School Concert* (SA) 22 23 10:00 AM Sunday Service (SA) 11:00 AM Coffee Hour (PH) 12:00 PM Little Rock Church* (GS) 29 30 Rain Date for All Church Picnic 10:00 AM Sunday Service (SA) 11:00 AM Coffee Hour (PH) 12:00 PM Little Rock Church* (GS) 3 7:00 PM AA Meeting* (PH) 10 7:00 PM AA Meeting* (PH) 17 7:00 PM AA Meeting* (PH) 24 7:00 PM AA Meeting* (PH) 1 7:00 PM AA* (PH) 4 5 Shawl (GR) Round Dance* (PH) 11 12 Shawl (GR) Round Dance* 6:00 PM (PH) Leadership Circle (GR) 18 19 Shawl (GR) Round Dance* (PH) 25 26 Shawl (Picard's) Round Dance* (PH) 2 3 Shawl (GR) Round Dance* (PH) 6 13 10:30 AM South Church Cooks (PH) 20 27 4 7 14 21 28 10:00 AM Church Picnic (East Otis) 5 7
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 45 MAPLE STREET SPRINGFIELD, MA 01105 Rev. Roger Zimmerman Larry Picard Louis Mitchell Jacqueline Fredenburgh Cynthia Lage Jared Spencer Polly Southworth Interim Pastor Director of Music Ministries Minister of Congregational and Family Life Office Manager Bookkeeper Sexton and Security Sunday School Superintendent Crossroads is the newsletter of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Stories and items of Church interest are welcome and are due by the 20 th of the month for the next month s issue. Submissions should be sent to Larry Picard at lpicard@sococh.org or by post to his attention at the church address. South Congregational Church UCC www.sococh.org A Jesus-centered, Open & Affirming Community 8