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CCC NewsNews October 8, 2002 Discernment and the Heart, Investment Strategies Seminar, Sacred Circles: A Celebration of Women’s Spirituality, Organ Update, The Committee for the Arts, Save the Date – for a New Sunday Series at CCC, Fiddler On The Roof, Parent Night Out, Sisters for Sisters, Book Club, Adult Education, Conversation Meeting, CCC Workday October 19, 2002, A Life Journey Workshop for Women, You Are Needed! News Notes Deadlines, CCC Staff Discernment in its fullness takes a practiced heart, fine-tuned to hear the word of God, and the single-mindedness to follow out that word in love. It is truly a gift of God, but not one dropped from the skies fully formed. It is a gift cultivated and brought to perfection by a prayerful life and the search for self-knowledge. Ernest Larkin. I have been looking through my notes from the Shalem Institute Residency I took part in last July, marking the completion of my two-year clergy program. There is much I want to share with you. One of the most helpful sessions dealt with discerning the will of God for our lives. Two definitions stand out for me: Discernment is the habit of viewing all of one’s life through the eyes of faith and in that faith-stance noticing the movements of the heart to determine which of these movements are leading to greater love and authenticity, focusing one in God, and which of them are turning one in on self. Discernment is rooted in conversion. The question must always be, "Where is my heart? How does this fit with my heart’s desire?" An early Desert Father advised: "Stand at the door of the heart and ask: ‘Are you with me or against me?’" Heart: the core of one’s being where one is most truly one’s self. In some ways for Christians, our task is very simple: discern the will of God and do it. "Thy will and not mine be done," said Jesus. But to put this into practice is not so simple. Just how do we discern the will of God? What habits of the heart make one truly aware of God’s will? But there is also the matter of knowing one’s own heart, truly understanding one’s own will. How well equipped are we to know what is in our hearts, our deepest feelings, and most powerful yearnings? Sadly, our spiritual journeys must sometimes face the hard fact that we know neither God’s will nor our own hearts very well. We are unconscious of both and lead lives in aimlessness and unhappiness. Shouldn’t the role of a congregation be to help people to develop discernment through a "prayerful life and the search for self-knowledge?" These are some of the things I have been thinking about following my Shalem experience and in anticipation of my sabbatical leave (January – March 2003). Let’s discover ways to journey together in discernment. Love, Jim Plan to attend the first of "Five Seminars," a Fall series planned by CCC, First Baptist Church of Silver Spring and Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. Session I is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 10-11:30 a.m. at CCC in The Meeting Room. Topic: "Investment Strategies for These Troubled Times," presented by Mike Neumeier, a registered Financial Advisor with Financial Council, Inc. RSVP to Mable Elliott (301) 622-3174 or Sue Dollins (301) 585-8874 or Dale Ostrander (301) 585-8010. There will be time for questions, discussion and socializing with friends and neighbors from other invited churches in our area. Dale Ostrander Sacred Circles: A Celebration of Women’s Spirituality This program will be offered at the Washington National Cathedral on Friday, November 8, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 9 from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. Women of diverse faiths and cultures will come together to learn about their differences and common experiences of the sacred. Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg, author Kathleen Norris, Muslim activist Mahnaz Afkhami, Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, and CCC’s own Julia Jarvis are among the many presenters at the plenary sessions, 35 workshops, and demonstrations of different spiritual practices that will be offered. Registration information may be obtained from notices on the bulletin board or Linda Carder has a limited number of brochures. Long-awaited parts for the organ upgrade have finally arrived from England after a considerable delay, according to Michael Hart of Di Gennaro-Hart, the firm undertaking the organ upgrade, which the congregation agreed to support and finance last spring. That delay combined with additional work required by Montgomery County building inspectors on the kitchen exhaust system and the resulting additional finishing and clean-up by Henry H. Lewis Contractors have all contributed to missing the planned goal of having the organ ready in September. Cory Gray has completed all the electrical work required by Di Gennaro-Hart, which will begin its work at the church as soon as Henry H. Lewis workers complete theirs. Ken Myers, the technician who dismantled the organ for the building renovation and is contracted to put it back together in working order, has rescheduled CCC’s work for his earliest available date in November. "While it’s disappointing to think we may not have the organ by Thanksgiving," said Music Director John Touchton, "in the scope of the quality of the work we’re getting and the long-range view that the instrument will continue to serve us well for 30-40 years, this is a small matter. And we fully expect to have the organ for Advent and Christmas." The Committee for the Arts plans to focus on "Spirituality in the Arts" during the upcoming year. The first show by Alma Lugo is an introduction to this focus. Alma has been working on a particular theme called "The Explosion of the Flamboyans." In this series she used her creative powers to work through personal pain. One picture in the series "A Time to Heal" addresses the emotional trauma for her of the 9/11 tragedy last year. The Committee is anticipating 4 shows a year. A new secure hanging system has been installed in the Brewster Street hallway, and new flood lights were hung to highlight the art work. The Committee is also working on scheduling a poetry workshop for the spring. We would welcome interested participants and fresh ideas at our next
committee meeting. Please watch the Sunday bulletin for this upcoming date
and time. Or interested individuals are welcome to contact Vicki Taylor
(301-593-0597) or Carl Brandt Save the Date – for a New Sunday Series at CCC On Sunday, October 27, CCC will inaugurate "Last Sunday of the Month at CCC," a series of events combining a meal, fellowship, a program and some type of meeting – congregational or informational. The staff, Dave Main and I envision this series as an opportunity to build community during this year of experimenting with two services of worship and as an opportunity for the congregation to come together in fellowship when it must conduct the important business of the church. The first "Last Sunday" will occur immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Negotiations are currently underway with Progress Place to provide at least some of the meals in the series for a small per person cost. The first program will feature information and discussion on the current U.S. policy on Iraq and what options constitute a Christian response. There will be a congregational meeting to hear from the Board of Trustees regarding final payments to Henry H. Lewis and Ziger/Snead. Child care will be provided for parents who register in advance. Watch News Notes, the bulletin, and the web site for more information about "Last Sunday of the Month." October 27 – save the date! Jackie Walters, Moderator I would like three helpers to check in arrivals and accept contributions for the dress rehearsal and the three performances of our musical. If you are willing to volunteer, please call Marti Hoffacker 301-530-1081 or marti.hoffacker@lw.com The Parent Night Out program is a cooperative child care program for children of all ages. It is a time for parents to have some adult time while the children have fun with each other here at the church. We meet on the third Friday of each month from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. It is important for the children to be signed up each month on the bulletin board outside the church office so that we can have enough adults on duty. If you are new to the church or if you have just never given the program a try, sign up for October 18th. In November we will meet on the second Friday, November 8th. For more information, call Glenda Neal 301-622-3948 or gbneal@aol.com The next Sisters for Sisters meeting will be Sunday, October 20 in the second-floor Conference Room, immediately following the 11:00 church service. Beverages and dessert will be provided ~ however, you will need to bring your own sandwich. All single and widowed women are welcome to join this informal gathering. The CCC Book Club will meet on Sunday, November 3, at 7:00 pm at the home of Judy Cox to discuss the book Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig. The first in a trilogy about Montana settlers. Adult Education will be held each Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the Conference Room. The group will discuss the book A New Christianity for a New World, the latest book by John Shelby Spong. There will be a Conversation Meeting between the worship services on October 13. If you would like to learn more about the United Church of Christ or Christ congregational Church specifically, you are welcome to come to this meeting in the Conference Room to meet with members of the Board of Outreach and Engagement. On October 19, CCC members will have an opportunity to help with various projects around our building both inside and out. On this day, we will have volunteers do many things to help make CCC a better place. Because of the type of work we plan to do, only Middle School and older children will be allowed to work. Many volunteers are needed. The hours of your labor of love and fellowship are from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. or 9:00-1:00, or 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. Lunch will be served to all volunteers from noon to 1:00 p.m. Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board by the church office. Please contact Bud Dennie or Dick Meyer for any additional information. A Life Journey Workshop for Women
October 26, 9:00 am - 3 pm The Women’s Committee invites you to participate in a day-long workshop for women interested in examining the important events in their past and present lives in order to find direction for today. Certified facilitators Jackie Henkelman-Bahn and Alexsandra Stewart will work with a small group of women on examining the "heroes within" themselves (the warrior, the lover, the caregiver, the sage) using the archetypal work of Carol Pearson. The cost for the event is $100 per person. Participation is limited to fifteen women. Please sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board by the church office by Sunday afternoon, October 20, or contact Gretchen Stiers at 301-589-0816. The Sanctuary Committee is in desperate need of new members. Come help decorate the church for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call Mable Elliott at 301-622-3174 or Joanne Hollcroft 301-384-5645. PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for the next issue is THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 5:00 P.M. Please submit articles via: email - mojobo@aol.com, phone - 301-236-0025, or paper copy - drop off in the News Notes box in the church office. Thank you, Joan Boyer, Editor 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 Archie Freedman, Custodian
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