The Parish Post Wapping Community Church, United Church of Christ No matter who you are or where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here! March 2019 MARCH 6 at 6:30 p.m. Join Rev. Mark and Lisa Wallace for the Ash Wednesday Service. Ash Wednesday is the gateway to Lent. Please plan to be with us for a special evening of worship and prayer. Join us for... MARCH 17, 2019 @ 8:30 & 10 a.m.
T HE PA RISH P OST PAGE 2 Gratitude As I write this newsletter article, it has been a few days since Christine told me she was leaving her position as the Office Administrator at Wapping Community Church and moving on to a new job. For sixteen years, Christine and I have worked side by side as colleagues and friends, and it s hard to imagine coming to work on Monday, March 18 th, and not seeing her sitting in her familiar seat in the office right next to mine. I expect on that day to feel the kind of empty finality that comes with the realization things won t ever be quite the same as they were. Most of all on that day, however, I expect to feel a sense of gratitude. There is no one who worked harder or cared more about this congregation than Christine. She went out of her way to help anyone who needed her assistance. She welcomed people into her office and into her heart. Her ministry among us will always be a gift. And she will be missed...probably more than she knows. Rev. Mark B. Abernethy Senior Minister In the end, what I want to say to Christine is simple. Thank you. Thank you for giving so much of yourself to Wapping Community Church and its people. Thank you for helping this church function smoothly. Thank you for your organization and your attention to detail and your dedication and your grace under pressure when so many people needed you at any given time. I have no doubt that Christine will bless the people around her in her new workplace. Meanwhile, we will find someone to replace Christine here at Wapping and that person will bring their own gifts and talents to us. I trust that Christine and Wapping Community Church will continue to grow and thrive in the time to come. It will be my prayer. Over the next couple of weeks, I hope you find your own ways to say thank you to Christine. Thank you for sixteen wonderful years among us and so much good work well and faithfully done! In Christ s Peace, Mark Scouts Complete Gazebo in the Bob King Memorial Woods Dear Church Family, As you might have already heard, I will be leaving my position of Office Administrator on March 15th. This departure is truly bittersweet and came after considerable soul searching on my part. I want you to know how honored I have been to be part of the Wapping Family these past 16 plus years. It has truly been a privilege to share in the joys and sorrows of this faithful and vital congregation. Please know that I will miss you deeply and will carry you in my heart forever. Love and blessings, Christine Ryan Belekewicz of Scout Troop 880, sponsored by Wapping Community Church, recently completed his Eagle Project as part of the beautification of the church's Bob King Memorial Woods. This was the sixth Eagle project dedicated to this effort over the last ten years. Previous projects have cleared brush, debris and invasive species, added wood chips, built a gravel path to the center with benches, provided the addition of more benches and now a Gazebo over the park benches at the end of the path. This was a major undertaking designing and building a structure that will last decades and met with Town approval. Congratulations to Ryan conceiving the plan, executing it and managing the more than two dozen volunteers who made it happen.
THE PARISH POST PAGE 3 Preparing Our Hearts and Minds The Lenten season is upon and we will have several wonderful op- portunities to embrace this season with our hearts and minds! Join me for WCC s Three-Part 2019 Lenten Series: Reflections and Meditations for Renewal. March 25: April 1: April 8: Questions Jesus Poses Questions Jesus Answers Letting Go and Letting God Lisa Wallace Minister of Discipleship and Mission Sessions will be held on three consecutive Monday evenings, 7 p.m. in the Reception Room. Experience the wisdom and presence of Christ through Scripture, prayer, discussion and sharing, creative activities and sacred practices designed to bring refreshment and renewal. Please come and bring a family member or friend. Looking forward to seeing you there! Love, Lisa Witness Openings Abound Do you have a passion for spreading the news about all that WCC is? If you do, we could sure use your help! We are interested in a few folks engaging in conversation and activities associated with letting people know the good news about Jesus and what our church offers, which is INSPIRATION FOR LIFE! If you would like to know more, or perhaps join the discussion and effort in any way, please come talk to Lisa Wallace, or e-mail her at windstarlw@aol.com. WCC Celebrates Girl Scout Sunday Girl Scout Sunday will be on March 10 at the 10 a.m. service. Come and celebrate the 107th anniversary of Girl Scout Sunday. The Girl Scouts will handout bulletins and host a special coffee hour after worship. All Girl Scouts are invited to participate. Pease contact Shari Worthington for more information at mattshari@cox.net. Thanks to the MACC Ministry Group for Making a Difference at MACC on February 23 The following folks signed up to serve food at the MACC soup kitchen and work in the thrift shop: Elaine Brink, Gretchen Bickford, Julia Martocchio, Len and Sandi Dion, Rick Usifer, Michael McClellan, Paula Pacekonis, Jan Tarr, John and Edie Hathorn.
T HE PA RISH P OST PAGE 4 Caring Ministries/Outreach - Giving from our Hearts @ WCC MARCH 3 CitySingers Concert at 4 p.m. 4 Dinner at Bistro on Main 6 Ash Wednesday Service at 6:30 p.m. 9 Youth Basketball 10 Girl Scout Sunday at 2nd service 10 BP Screenings 13 Prayer Shawl Ministry 17 Youth Sunday! 25 Lenten Reflections at 7 p.m. 30 SPF Recycling Event, 9-12 p.m. APRIL 1 & 8 Lenten Reflections at 7 p.m. 3 SPF Fundraiser at Mexicali 14 Palm Sunday, Services at 8:30 & 10 a.m. 18 Maundy Thursday Service, 7 p.m. 19 Good Friday Service, 12 p.m. 19 SPF Good Friday Vigil, 7 p.m. 21 Easter! Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. 21 Easter Worship Services at 9 & 11 a.m. NOTES FROM AROUND CHURCH Prayer Shawl Ministry to Meet: WCC s Prayer Shawl Ministry will Gather on Wednesday, March 13 (note date change) at 7 p.m. in the Reception Room. Please note the change of date. New knitters are always welcome! Please contact Joan Jahrstorfer with any questions (joanjgeoj@cox.net ). WCC Library Additions: check out the new additions to the Church Library Recent acquisitions include: Becoming by Michelle Obama, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa and more. Stop by the library after church and check out a book! Wonderful Rental Opportunity: WCC's beautiful parsonage is now available for rent. The house has 3 bedrooms, 1 full bath and 2 half bathrooms. Monthly rent is $1,950 + utilities. Please contact Marilyn Dzen at (860) 644-8988 for details. Feel free to share with anyone who is looking for a new place. Special Work Day on Sunday, March 31 after second service. Help with various church projects or assist Erin Murray with tidying up classrooms and/or preparing a Church School mailing. Please bring your gloves, rakes and tools. Eagle Project Fundraiser to Benefit Bob King Memorial Woods Shelter: Join Eagle Scout Ryan Belekewicz at Flat Bread Company on March 5 from 5-8 p.m. for an evening of fun, great food and raise funds to complete the shelter at the same time. Flat Bread Company is located at 500 Evergreen Way, South Windsor (in Evergreen Walk). WCC Ministers Hard at Work!
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THE PARISH POST PAGE 6 WCC Youth Shine for Christ SPF Retreat Builds Faith, Fellowship, and Memories By Michaela Abernethy, SPF Advisor The winter SPF Retreat took place at Silver Lake in Sharon, CT from February 1 3. Here are some highlights: U On Friday night we got settled and then had a deep discussion in which we filled in the rest of a sentence. Example: we started a sentence with, What I am most afraid of is... and each youth got to fill in the sentence. This exercise was extremely powerful and the youth were all open to sharing. U Saturday morning we participated in a faith program. We discussed the image of God, read from the first book in the Bible (Genesis) and talked about the creation story. Youth drew a picture of what they thought God looks like and we shared. U After lunch we went for a beautiful winter hike through the woods and had a great time. We discovered the low ropes course and even got to walk out on the frozen lake. U After dinner we watched the movie Soul Surfer and tied that movie into the theme of the weekend. We talked about how, although Bethany Hamilton lost her arm in the movie, she was still created in God s image and God had a good plan for her. U Sunday morning we had a short worship service with song and prayer and then hit the road. U Other memorable moments included group games, awesome food and plenty of jokes to carry us for a lifetime! Order Easter Candy Today and Support the SPF Mission Trip! Please stop by coffee hour through March 10 to place your order for delicious Munson s chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, candy eggs and much more! Candy order forms are also available in the church office. Please contact Lynda Biron with any questions at lyndabiron@cox.net SPF & JPF on Retreat at Silver Lake
PAGE 7 THE PARISH POST WCC Youth Shine for Christ Church Schedule for March March 10: Nursery 10 a.m. Church School: Noah's Ark March 24: Nursery 10 a.m. Church School: The Ten Commandments March 17: Nursery 10 a.m. No Church School SPF Youth Sunday March 31: Nursery 10 a.m. Church School: Serve and Follow Erin Murray Church School Coordinator Presentation of Faith Chests and Bibles on February 24
PAGE 8 THE PARISH POST WCC Youth Shine for Christ Scenes from the Chili-Brownie Cook-off on February 10, 2019
PAGE 9 THE PARISH POST Church News Board of Finance Financial Report Update January 31, 2019 Pledge Income* Other Income Total Income Program Exp Mission Exp Other Exp. Total Exp Net Income/(Loss) Actual $51,419 $2,992 $54,411 $715 $0 $ 33,689 $ 34,404 $20,007 Plan $51,113 $5,773 $56,886 682 0 $35,961 $36,643 $20,243 Diff. $306 ($2,781) ($2,475) $33 $0 ($2,272) $2,239 $236 *Pledge Income includes an estimate of giving for those who pledged in 2016, but have not pledged in 2019, but are expected to contribute. Total income was slightly below budget. In other income prior year pledges were lower than planned likely because pledges were paid up in 2018. Also Daycare income was received, but did not get recorded. Expenses were close to plan. Going forward we can expect that income will be below plan because the parsonage has yet to be rented. Let us know if there is anyone interested in renting the parsonage. The Board of Finance. Any questions or for more detail 2019 plan, please call Roger Thompson or Roy Normen. WAPPING COMMUNITY CHURCH Phone: (860) 644-0833 / Fax: (860) 644-2628 Website: www.wappingchurch.org Church Staff Ministers, all of the Members of the Church Rev. Mark B. Abernethy, ext. 11 Senior Minister Revabernethy@gmail.com Lisa T. Wallace, ext. 12 Minister of Discipleship and Mission windstarlw@aol.com Maria Centola, ext. 14 Director of Music Ministry info@centolapiano.com Christine D. Carlson, ext. 10 Office Administrator wappingoffice@gmail.com Erin Murray, ext. 15 Church School Coordinator wappingfaith@gmail.com The new gazebo in the Bob King Memorial Woods. Newsletter Deadline The April issue of the Parish Post will be mailed on April 1. Please submit articles/announcements no later than March 19 to wappingoffice@gmail.com.
Wapping Community Church 1790 Ellington Road South Windsor, CT 06074 Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Hartford, CT 06101 Permit No. 5171 Return Service Requested TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL 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 Monday of the month. Deadlines for submissions are the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Please contact Christine Carlson with any questions at 860-644- 0833 or wappingoffice@gmail.com. Please note there is a combined issue for July and August. Get Connected to WCC Twitter: WappingSays www.twitter.com Instagram: WappingStories www.instagram.com Facebook: Bulletin & Parish Post Copy Deadlines Bulletin: All announcements are due by Tuesday noon. Parish Post: All submissions are due by the third Tuesday of the month. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!