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CCC NewsNotes March 11, 2002 Reflections on Re-Entry, CCC Meeting March 17, Money Raised for Organ, Easter Season Events, Spring Youth Activities, Easter Memorial Gifts, Upcoming Events at CCC, News Notes Deadlines, CCC Staff It seems hard to believe but, in a few short weeks, we will return to a renovated and expanded CCC. Let me share some reflections on what this means to me. First of all apart from our initial founding, there has been no more momentous achievement in CCC's history than the process that began with our self-study and will culminate with our return in May. Don't get me wrong. CCC can claim many amazing accomplishments in our history -- in mission, education, community service -- but none surpasses this for sheer sustained vision, energy and sacrifice. Second, we surprised ourselves. Especially in the area of money, we have continually amazed ourselves at our capacity to give in support of this effort. I can only conclude that for CCC it is not a matter of whether there are the resources to sustain God's mission (as we faithfully discern it). It is rather a question of how the critical connection between our hearts and our treasure is understood. Generous giving takes place when a pathway between the heart and one's treasure is illuminated. In the world our lives are often governed by a "scarcity" economic model, that is, never enough resources to go around, hard choices, conflicting priorities, etc. In the kingdom of God, we are invited into an "abundance" economic model. In this model, there is always enough to go around, provided we start with the assumption that God's grace overflows. How else can we account for the miracle of the loaves and the fishes? In this realm, we end up believing in miracles and filled with gratitude to God. Most of us live our lives with one foot in each realm. But it is a simple fact that at every step on this journey, we have exceeded the goals that we have set. And the fact that in one week's time, we met the challenge of raising pledges of $74,000 for the organ upgrade is only the most recent example of what I am talking about. God's grace is amazing! As we plan our return and look at the financial challenges facing us, who wouldn't be a bit daunted? I sense that there is deep uneasiness among some about whether the carrying costs of our indebtedness might threaten to overwhelm us and drain our energy. I confess to some anxious moments about this. I sometimes fret that this indebtedness will make it difficult for us to sustain mission and outreach, keep funding important programming, and have a staffing level adequate to make our church grow. But the mere fact of what has already been accomplished is a reminder that God is God. And I have an abiding faith that God will continue to shed light on the right pathways to the hearts of CCC folk. I feel unbounded appreciation to those who have risen repeatedly to our financial challenges so selflessly. But I also want to address those who, because of their own unique situations, have not been able to give as generously as they have yearned to do. Some have shared with me a sense of personal pain and some guilt about not being able to give more. I believe that the success we have experienced is the result of the generosity of this "Body of Christ" -- the collective people of CCC. The generosity of all has included the generosity of prayer, of worship attendance, of volunteering, of teaching, of caring support. All of this has made our future possible. And, needless to say, Jesus' story of the Widow's Mite is about that pathway into the human heart that I just spoke of. You folks deserve our gratitude, too, and you deserve a place at the table of celebration. Third, we simply could not have achieved our goals without our connection with the wider church, our UCC. John Deckenback, Michael Downs, Bea Stoner, Gordon Gilles and the Cornerstone Fund, at crucial turning points, made all the difference in the world. While I believe that that CCC is one of the truly magnificent churches in the UCC, we need to humbly admit that the UCC has been there for us when it counted, and we would be at a very different place today without our denomination. Fourth, re-entry is going to be wonderful and stressful. Yes, great good things evoke stress. As we approach the events of May and June, I sense rising energy and rising agitation, too. Will we be engulfed in details? What about all the things we haven't thought about? Is everybody going to fulfill his or her assignment? This is understandable, but it means that, in the midst of the tasks, that we shouldn't forget about people. We need to go easy on one another amidst this joyful stress. The new CCC is like a baby about to be born. We have been through long months of preparation -- care, nurture, and expectation. We are now entering the time of labor. Our task is to hold on and move with the Spirit. CCC is part of that "New Creation" that Paul speaks of God giving birth to. And who would not go through the pangs of labor for the prize that awaits us? But let's keep steady through it. Let's keep our eyes on the prize, cherish each other more than ever, and we'll make it fine. Fifth, a word about the wilderness. What a dynamic metaphor this has been for us! It has captured a time of carrying forth the mission of God in unfamiliar surroundings, like the Hebrews journeying forward without knowing quite what to expect. But look at what has happened. We have certainly experienced our share of trials and frustrations, but when I consider this time since January 2001, I would have to say that our desert journey has been filled with pleasant surprises. In fact, the desert has been filled with beautiful flowers. Here are a few: our youth ministry has genuinely taken off and is growing. I am not sure everyone at CCC fully appreciates what has been happening each Sunday evening. Our ministry to older adults has continued at a high level of participation, including the addition of a third life review group. Adult Education, the Jesus Seminar, visiting speakers like Rev. Bill Johnson and Rev. Steve Patterson. Music more wonderful than ever. Couples Communication and Marriage Enrichment have continued to meet. Worship attendance has remained steady. We have experienced some genuinely moving joint worship experiences with our hosts at Marvin Memorial. And, in a different key, we were shaken with grief with the tragic death of Bill Caswell. But yet in the horror of those days, both our congregation and Bill and Jean Caswell were able to touch the nobility of his spirit and to be a true community of compassion for one another -- in the desert. What have I left out? What would you add to the list of flowers that have bloomed in the desert of our journey? Finally, not a day passes without my offering prayers of praise, thanksgiving, and petition to God for CCC. And I pray that my leadership and that of our staff and elected leaders will meet the challenges before us. And each day I have felt that powerful presence. Each day I have learned to set aside my worries and anxieties and trust God's providence and love. And I have learned that I must go through this every day. It is a lesson I must relearn and re-experience. And every day, the breath of God fills my tattered sails, and I set forth once again. Blessings! Jim Todhunter Our wilderness journey is coming to a close as we prepare to return to CCC's renovated building in May. Following the 4 p.m. worship service on March 17, a congregational meeting will be held. The meeting will include current information about the renovation, the Keystones Campaign, and plans for the return to our church building. There are many ways for all of us to be involved in preparing our building for worship, church school, programs and celebration events. Jast as we all pitched in with the move out in December 2000, now is the time to pitch in to prepare for the exciting move back. See you on March 17. Trish Esposito & Terry Strand, co-chairs, CCC Steering Committee We are pleased to report that the funds required to upgrade the organ console to state-of-the-art digital technology have been fully pledged by congregation members. Forty-seven pledges totaling $74,030 were received in one week. In its meeting on Mon., March 4, the CCC Executive Council voted to proceed with the project. John Touchton, director of music, said he was overwhelmed. "I just am continually surprised at the congregation's willingness to take these huge things on and be successful," he said. "It's a remarkable group of people." The project will commence in April and will take four or five months to complete. The organ will not be available for use until about three or four months after we return to our renovated facility. John Touchton is looking into other musical possibilities for accompanying our worship services during the interim. We are very grateful for the generosity of the membership in supporting this project, especially on such short notice, in the midst of our Keystones Campaign, with the annual stewardship drive just around the corner. Dan Pence, CCC Treasurer This year, on Palm Sunday (March 24), there will be a Walk Through Holy Week for five-year-olds and above. We will begin in the sanctuary where the children will be given palms. At the end of the first hymn, the children will process out with their palms. They will then be led into the hallway between Room 110 and the social hall. There they will line the walls, wave their palms and cheer as Jesus and his disciples enter. The children will follow Jesus through the gates into Jerusalem, and Pastor Linda will set the scene for them. Then, they will be divided into four groups, which will move from scene to scene. In this manner, the children will experience many of the things that happened to Jesus in the last week of his life. The children will then regroup in the social hall and experience Jesus being taken away. Following this, there will be a special Easter craft activity. The children may be picked up after worship in the social hall. We hope your child can join us. The children will be with us all through worship on that special day of celebration for all Christians. The Alleluia Banner will be resurrected, and the children will receive it, then it will be hung up. We will sing many hymns with Alleluias. There will be several ways in which the worship will be accessible for children. There will be alternate church school for 3-6 year-olds. Pastor Linda Carder The Sunday evening youth program is going strong. We thank all those who have prepared meals and in many other ways supported the program. There will be no Sunday evening youth programs on Palm Sunday, Easter and April 7, as the latter Sunday is still part of spring break. We also will not have the youth program on April 14. That is Stewardship Sunday, and the youth will be participating in the program and the worship service. The Covenant Class and other Senior Highs will be going to Cleveland, Ohio after Easter to our national UCC offices, where they will learn more about our denomination and will worship in the Amistad Chapel there. We will also visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, meet another youth group and experience their exceptional outreach ministry. Confirmation Sunday, which was scheduled for May 19, has been changed to May 12. We know that is Mother's Day. But, we are now looking at May 19 being the day we will return to our building. Watch News Notes for that special day's exciting plans. The Senior High Youth Retreat is scheduled for June 7, 8 & 9 at the Retreat House. There also is a trip this summer to the Regional Youth Event in New York State on Aug. 1-4. More information will be available shortly. Pastor Linda Carder and Kristen Brown, chair, Board for Christian Education To honor a loved one during this Easter season, or to celebrate a special blessing, you are invited to make a special donation in any amount to the Deacons' Fund. The loved ones remembered and/or special interest designated will be listed in the church bulletin on Easter Sunday. Please use the clip-out form below and place in Sunday's offering collection, or mail to the church office at 9525 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20901, by March 25. ____________________________________ Easter Memorial Gifts Amount Enclosed: ______________________ In Celebration Of: _______________________ ____________________________________ In Memory Of: __________________________ _____________________________________ Given By: ______________________________ ______________________________________ ********************** April 12--14: The spring Women's Retreat will be held this weekend at the Retreat House. Sign-up sheets will be posted in the narthex at Marvin Memorial. Contact Terry Strand or Deb O'Leary for more information. Sun., April 21, 1- 3 p.m. : CCC is forming a Welcoming Guild to identify and greet the new visitors our renovated building will surely bring. There will be more information in the next News Notes, but mark this date on your calendar now! Reiki Treatments: Gretchen Wiederrecht, a Reiki master, is offering Reiki treatments to church members for the next year and will give a percentage of the fee to the building fund. Reiki is currently being utilized by The Washington Hospital Center as part of available therapies, especially for pain managment. Treatments can be given in your home. For more information call (301) 439-2674. PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for the MARCH 25 issue will be THURS., MAR.21 at 5 p.m. News Notes editor -- Susan DeFord (301) 649-3093, or sjdkjk@erols.co 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; Richard Meyer, property administrator; Ruth Avery, office administrator. |