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CCC NewsNotes October 1, 2001 CCC Members Meet 10/14 To Learn What's Ahead, CCC Plans To Share & Shape Worship Services, Special Offering Oct. 14 For Neighbors In Need, School Coordinator Open, Responding To Disaster, Deacons Seek College List, Suggest A Service Group, Sisters For Sisters Meets, Parent Night Out 10/12, Shepherd's Table Is Needy, What's Squirrelchasers?, Day Circle To Resume, News Notes Deadlines, CCC Staff CCC Members Meet 10/14 To Learn What's Ahead From 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 14, CCC members will gather to discuss where we have been and where we are going. This is a meeting you won't want to miss. The purpose is to provide building and Keystones updates and to begin a process of discussion around the future of our church. Childcare will be available. There will be several short presentations at the beginning of the meeting to be followed by an open discussion on issues affecting the future of our church. The agenda will include:
1.) Membership -- We obviously want and need to grow this church. How do we comfortably involve everyone in that outreach? 2.) Spirituality -- We believe the reason we are here is to experience God's presence among us. How can we search for new, invigorating ways to experience this that will also attract more people? 3.) Staffing -- Linda and Dale will be leaving us in 2003. We need to begin a process of deciding what kind of staffing we need to see us into the future. 4.) Finance and budgeting -- We will soon have to handle the debt service load on the loan for the construction. We also have a staff that has received little or no pay increases for the last four years. If you have an opinion or want to know what others are thinking, don't miss this meeting. Rick Brush, moderator CCC Plans To Share & Shape Worship Services There are two very important worship-related dates to note in your October calendars. On Sun., Oct. 7 (Worldwide Communion Sunday), there will be two joint services of Communion with our Marvin Memorial congregation friends. These will be at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. There will be no afternoon service on that day as there will be a wedding service at 4 p.m. Over the weekend of Oct. 20-21, the Board of Deacons will be hosting discussions to plan the shape of our worship services for the future, in readiness for our return to our renovated church. These discussions will be led by the Rev. Dr. Hale Schroer from St. Louis, MO. We shall be considering many issues that have been raised by members, including developing an inviting and welcoming service, children's needs, inclusive language and spirituality. On Sat., Oct. 20, the opening session from 9-11 a.m. features a keynote address by Dr. Schroer with some discussion time. Church leaders will be present, and everyone is invited to attend. Dr. Schroer will help us with a theology of worship, why we do what we do, and advise on the kind of worship that appeals to new persons. There will be a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. for all who are staying for the second session, which will be from 12:30 -- 2:30 p.m. In the afternoon, the focus will be on children and worship, and children and communion. Again, everyone is invited, and it is likely to be of special interest to parents, teachers, youth church leaders, and those who find worshiping with children a challenge. There should be time for a question and answer session. On Sun., Oct. 21, Dr. Schroer will give the sermon on the topic of worship. This is a very important part of our future visioning, and we ask you to be involved in these opportunities as much as possible. If you have questions regarding these events, please contact either of the Worship Committee co-chairs. Elsa Brandt (301) 589-8694 or Neville Platt (301) 879-9772; Worship Committee co-chairs Special Offering Oct. 14 For Neighbors In Need On Oct. 14 we will receive the UCC's Neighbors In Need special offering. The theme of this year's offering is "The World Is God's Neighborhood." In our grief for the victims of the terrible events in New York and Washington, let us not forget the many other men, women and children at home and abroad who are also our neighbors and whose need is longstanding, ongoing and great. The Neighbors In Need offering this year will strengthen the work of the Justice and Witness Ministries of the UCC, including the Justice and Peace Action Network, and support the Council for American Indian Ministry. From United Church Resources, we receive this message: "Here, in God's neighborhood, we are called to live together in peace and justice. Here, in God's neighborhood, we know ourselves as one community, a community of reconciliation and healing. Here, in God's neighborhood, we are called to share our gifts and to care for one another." Please give generously. Board For Social Witness Although it is sad to learn of Toby Ratcliffe's resignation as our church school coordinator, we are grateful for her charismatic leadership during a time of difficult transitions. We are also very excited for the children in Montgomery County schools who will now be inspired as Toby expands her career as a Scientist in Residence. A search committee is reviewing the position's job description and is working to fill the position. Please reflect for a moment if you or anyone you know would like to respond to this parttime position as church school coordinator. There are many resources available to provide background and training for one's faith journey to travel in this direction. For those who would like more information, please talk with Linda Carder or Kristen Brown. Kristen Brown, Christian Education Board Many ways of responding to the needs of individuals and communities after the horrifying events of Sept. 11 have been noted in newspapers and on television and radio. UCC's response comesrom the UCC Disaster Response Office, which is working in collaboration with Church World Service. A special fund has been established entitled "Hope From The Rubble." Gifts to this fund may be made through CCC by writing checks to CCC with "Hope From The Rubble" noted on the check. The money will be sent to the Disaster Response office. Those who wish to make a contribution in the memory of William E. Caswell, son of CCC members Jean and Randy Caswell, can give to CCC. Memorial contributions also may be made to the Washington Family Relief Fund, c/o Riggs Bank N.A., Lincoln Office, 800 17th St. NW, Washington, DC, 20006; or to the William Caswell Education Fund, Navy Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 3001, Merrifield, VA 22119-3001. To: Parents of CCC College Students From: Board of Deacons Over the last two weeks, we have realized more than ever how important it is to reach out to one another in our church family. Not only have the events surrounding the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon stunned and shaken all of us, but the death and damage this week's tornado inflicted on the University of Maryland campus is another reminder of how unexpected such events can be. One of the functions of the deacons is to keep in touch with our college students. If you are the parent of a college student, or if you are a college student yourself, please take a moment to fill out the following. We'll use it to help our students feel that they are remembered and a part of our CCC community while they are away at school. --------------------------------------------------------------- CCC College Listing Student's Name ______________________ College/University ______________________ Mailing Address ________________________ ______________________ ______________________ Phone Number ________________________ E-mail Address _________________________ Birth Date _____________________________ Year Expected to Graduate _______________ Please place form in the deacons' folder in the box on the table in the narthex at Marvin Memorial. Thank you. Board of Deacons --------------------------------------------------------------- The Board for Social Witness invites members of the congregation to submit requests for funding on behalf of organizations with which they're involved. The organization or program must provide the kind of service described by Jesus in Matthew 25, or must have as its central activity the spread of the word of Jesus Christ, in accordance with UCC precepts. The organization must demonstrate that there is a clear-cut need for its services. The organization must have goals and methods that are in conformity with those of the UCC. Preference may be given to organizations where CCC contributions can make a significant impact. Preference may be given to missions in which UCC/CCC members are actively involved. Special consideration may be given to requests for one-time seed funding for start-up expenses for a new organization or program. Allocations are generally balanced to ensure that at least three-quarters are directed to local organizations, with the remainder fairly evenly distributed between national and world missions. Last year's distribution was 73.9 percent local, 4.8 percent aid to Liberian refugee family, 4.4 percent national, and 16.9 percent international. Board for Social Witness Barbara Whittlesey has invited Sisters For Sisters, a support group for widows and single women, to her home on Sat., Oct. 13 at noon for lunch. Barbara will provide hot soup and a beverage. Her address is: 2000 Ednor Rd., Silver Spring. Her telephone number is (301) 384-0205. June Leonard
CCC's Parent Night Out Program will be held on the second Friday of the month in October (Oct. 12) instead of its regularly scheduled night on the third Friday of each month. The program provides co-op child care to support families who wish to have some couple time without leaving their children at home. Children of all ages have fun with their church friends in the fellowship hall at Marvin Memorial, enjoy a snack together and end the evening with a video in Room 204, chosen by the family who work that evening. It is held from 6:30 to 10 p.m. If you are interested, please sign up on the church bulletin board, or call Glenda Neal (301) 622-3948 with your questions. Glenda Neal The Shepherd's Table Clothes Closet is in great need of a few new workers. I work on Monday mornings, but others work on Friday mornings as well. We receive donated clothes, sort them and hang according to size. There are three departments -- men's, women's and children. You can choose where you want to work. Think about giving a few hours of your time to God's work. There are many rewards. We even break mid-way for coffee and goodies and conversation. Please call to let me know of your interest at (301) 587-5926. Jeannie Beach Squirrelchasers is an online resource for stay-at-home parents in Silver Spring and the neighborhood of Indian Spring. It lists playgroups for newborns to 4-year-olds, links to places to go with infants and toddlers, contains babysitting referrals, project ideas and provides the opportunity to chat with other grown-ups. Please log on today and join in at this electronic bulletin board. You'll find it at www.squirrelchasers.com, or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/squirrelchasers. Contact Jim Hoskinson, stay-at-home dad to Jack (born Dec. '98) and ??? (due Feb.'02). E-mail Jim at hosk@mindspring.com, or call (301) 589-0153. The Day Circle will meet at the home of Jeannie Beach on the second Wednesday of the month, Oct. 10. Come at 10 a.m. and bring your sandwich. I will supply the rest. Also, bring any simple ideas for tray favors. Anyone is welcome to come join us. Jeannie Beach PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for the Oct. 15 issue is Thursday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. News Notes editor -- Susan DeFord (301) 649-3093, or sjdkjk@erols.com The Rev. Jim Todhunter, senior minister; the Rev. Linda Carder, assoc. minister; John Touchton, director of music; the Rev. Dale Ostrander, director of programming for older adults; Toby Ratcliffe, church school coordinator; Richard Meyer, property administrator; Ruth Avery, office administrator. |