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CCC NewsNotes February 4, 2003 A
Part of Our Teaching and Healing Ministry, Our
very own Linda Carder, February is Recommitment Month at CCC,
Judgment Day, Priming The Pump for Lent: A Part of Our Teaching and Healing Ministry One of the main emphases during the Season after Epiphany (the season between Christmas and Lent) is how God’s realm is made known to the world. Our lectionary scriptures for the month of February speak to this by focusing on the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus. The question arises as to how the ministries of our congregation make God’s realm known. Our strong Christian Education program for children and youth at CCC is one of the ways. We take this very seriously, and are blessed with the leadership of Linda Carder and our large group of dedicated teachers. The Sunday Morning Adult Discussion Group is another. Upwards of 30 people attend this class each Sunday morning between 9:15 and 10:15AM, discussing books by Bishop Spong, Jesus Seminar folk and other scholars and spiritual writers. Currently we are reading The Third Testament by British writer and television commentator, Malcolm Muggeridge. He explores the spiritual thoughts of thinkers like Augustine, Tolstoy, Bonhoeffer, Kierkegaard and Dostoevsky. The discussions are lively, and both affirmation and doubt are freely expressed. The personal sharing and respectful listening contribute to that sense of openness, connection and community we treasure here at CCC. And for many this is another opportunity for stimulation and growth in the faith, and liberating as well. We are taking seriously our conviction that revelation is an ongoing process. We received a letter recently from one who attends the class and then leaves to attend his family’s church of 25 years. He expressed his gratitude to Christ Congregational Church for the welcome he has received here, and for the opportunity to participate in such a class. He writes that the discussion of such materials does not seem to be possible at his church. He enclosed a check as a token of his gratitude. This is part of our teaching and healing ministry, and one of the ways we help make God’s realm known. Dale Ostrander Our very own Linda Carder was most pleasantly surprised to receive from the Justice and Witness Ministries of the national United Church of Christ, a Certificate of Appreciation issued on Martin Luther King Day 2003. Linda was nominated for this because of her long commitment to justice and for her work with the youth of CCC in developing their ministry of Justice and Peacemaking. It reads: "In grateful appreciation for your commitment to justice advocacy this certificate is awarded to Rev. Linda Carder," and is signed Bernice Powell Jackson, Executive Minister. Congratulations, Linda! Right on! Board for Social Witness Sneak Preview: ‘Connecting...on our Next Call’ Put Sunday morning March 2 on the calendar and come to share your thoughts about the future staffing needs of CCC. The interim staff appointments of Rev. Linda Carder and Rev. Dale Ostrander will end early in 2004. The Staff Design Committee wants to know your thinking on this very important subject as we explore our future options together. During the regular worship times, we will convene in small groups after a shortened worship service. Details will follow in the next News Notes as well as in a separate mailing. Tom Ault and Leslie Weyn, February is Recommitment Month at CCC What is the CCC Recommitment Campaign? What it is NOT: 1. It is not Keystones – Phase II – a continuation of our building program
What is IS: At a Special Congregational Meeting on November 24, members voted to proceed with a three-year recommitment capital campaign with a goal of raising $1.25 million. Raising $1.25 million would enable the congregation to significantly reduce the principal on our debt as well as service the interest on the debt outside of the Unified Budget. A successful campaign would help to ensure that our staffing and program interests could be maintained while we grow and enjoy the wonders of our newly remodeled facility. By taking a good portion of the debt out of the Unified Budget we hope to reflect the importance our congregation places on program and mission. We hope you will consider participating in this three-year effort. There are many ways you can support CCC, including an outright gift, continuing your Keystones monthly or weekly pledge, or making a deferred gift through your estate plans. If you would like to talk to a member of the Recommitment Committee, please contact: David Bobbitt at drbobbitt2000@yahoo.com (301-887-0054) or Elaine Wunderlich at elaine@marlaine.com (301-604-1758) David Bobbitt & Elaine Wunderlich Feb. 23, Sunday, 7:00 pm - National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC. U.S. premiere of "Judgment Day," a documentary comparing the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict with the previous struggle for liberation and democracy in South Africa. This video makes a universal statement about war and the effects of war on young people on both sides of conflicts. Feb. 24, Monday, 7:00 pm - National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC. Special service of prayer for peace with justice. The Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director of Church World Service, will preach and there will be special music by the St. Camillus Multicultural Choir and National City Gospel Choir. Rev. McCullough, in Iraq January 19-31, 2003, joined a team of prominent research experts in Baghdad as part of an emergency mission to assess the humanitarian and human rights consequences of war on Iraq. For more information about the "Advocacy Days" Feb. 23-26, the prayer service, and the U.S. premiere of "Judgment Day," go to http://www.loga.org/advocacy2003.htm or phone Anna Rhee at 301-384-3615. The sponsors for the events are Africa Faith and Justice Network, Churches for Middle East Peace, Church World Service, Peaceful Ends through Peaceful Means, Stand with Africa, and Washington Office on Africa. Priming The Pump for Lent: Convener: Gordon Forbes What #1: A look at how poets have dealt with Lenten themes, from the metaphysical poets to more contemporary ones: ( e.g. John Donne, Gerard Manley Hopkins, May Sarton, Scott Cairns). What #2: An opportunity to try our own hand at writing either prose or poetry reflections on Lenten themes. Who: Anyone who wishes to stretch their consciousness a bit. How: Register by leaving your name at the office. The dates for summer camp are: June 22 - June 28 Middle School (grades 6-8) A brochure will be sent to the homes of all children currently enrolled in Sunday School. Parents of 5th-12th graders can register their children during one of the Sunday night youth activities (exact date to be announced later). A second registration event will be arranged for a subsequent Sunday, during fellowship time between worship hours. Maryland Jesus Seminar Study Group Did you know that the Maryland Jesus Seminar Study Group has been meeting in our newly renovated spaces since we moved back into the building? Prior to that time we had been meeting in people’s homes. This group was formed after the November 2001, Jesus Seminar On the Road conference was held in Silver Spring. We meet once a month, generally on the third Friday of the month, in the Conference Room to discuss issues of common interest. We recently finished a discussion of the book "The Once and Future Faith." This book grew out of a conference by the same name that took place in March 2001. At our February 21 meeting we will begin discussing "The Once and Future Jesus," also published by Polebrook Press. We get together between 7:00 and 7:30 and then have our discussion from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining us, you would be most welcome. If several people are interested in ordering the book, I could put in another group order to get the study group price. Please contact Elaine Wunderlich at elaine@marlaine.com, (301-604-1758) by Feb. 7 if you are interested in ordering a book. The Jesus Seminar is made up of theological scholars throughout the world. During the last few years our Adult Education Group has read books by many of these scholars such as Karen Armstrong, Marcus Borg, Stephen J Patterson, and John Shelby Spong. Many of us are associate members of this group. The Jesus Seminar examines this question: what difference does the historical Jesus make for contemporary self-understanding and culture? The work of the Jesus Seminar gives us a better understanding of Jesus' teaching, and how it differs from the proclamation of the early churches. The rediscovery of the teachings of the historical Jesus has, in turn, opened up the possibility for contemporary religious commitments that focus, not on Jesus himself, but on what he envisioned: a radical perspective of what it means to live in the world under God’s rule. The annual award of the Ruth Richardson Scholarship is now open for applications for the year 2003 student scholar. This scholarship was established in the honor of Mrs. Ruth Richardson, a founding member of CCC and a former teacher. Ruth maintained a lifelong interest in making higher education available to all students, especially those who wish to pursue their studies in a human service profession. The scholarship will be awarded at the end of the spring semester to an applicant who has:
The Ruth Richardson Committee is accepting applications until April 15, 2003. Applications are available upon request from the CCC church office. Consideration will be given to sincerity of interest, grade point average, volunteer experiences, and in-service training or work related experiences in the human service field. Questions can be addressed to the committee chair, Aldene Ault, by calling 301-593-2438. Honor UCC Wise Women Elders On March 8 Wise women elders, including CCC's own Anne Weissenborn, will be recognized at a UCC Potomac Association luncheon on Saturday, March 8, at Rock Spring Congregational Church in Arlington, VA. Newly ordained and in-care women also will be honored at the Potomac Association Women’s Coordinating Committee event, which will feature a presentation by the Rev. Kathleen Kline Chesson, interim associate pastor at Rock Spring church. Chesson will speak about "Finding Your Center: Mind, Body and Spirit." A group from our congregation will meet in the CCC parking lot at 10:30 a.m. to drive to the luncheon together. (Women and men are welcome!) Tickets are $10 per person. Please RSVP to Christine Guillory (301-681-8846, caguillory@hotmail.com,) no later than Thursday, Feb. 27. Social Witness Calendar of Local and National Events Although Social Witness month has come and gone at CCC, the Board for Social Witness plans to continue providing information to the congregation about upcoming events in which members may wish to take part. The following are scheduled for February: Teach-in and Mass Rally in New York City, February 14-15 against war with Iraq. The national peace coalition United For Peace and Justice, a grouping of over seventy organizations including the National Council of Churches, Sojourners, and the American Friends Service Committee, will hold a teach-in in NYC on February 14 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at a place yet to be announced. This event will focus on building an anti-war movement connecting opposition to war with Iraq with social and economic justice and civil rights at home. On February 15, at the request of the European anti-war movement, there will be a mass mobilization, again in NYC. More information to follow. Africa and the Middle East Advocacy Days, February 23-26 Beginning Sunday evening, February 23 and ending Wednesday afternoon, February 26, there will be an ecumenical gathering in Washington, DC focused upon Africa and the Middle East. It will be held at National City Christian Church and Luther Place Church, Thomas Circle. The gathering will offer learning/advocacy tracks on each of these areas; the tracks will provide speakers, issue briefings and advocacy training workshops. There will also be opportunities to speak with members of Congress or their key foreign policy staff members, fellowship and networking, a keynote address and a special ecumenical service on the second evening. The event is being sponsored by several church-related organizations including the Washington Office on Africa, the Africa Faith and Justice Network, the Stand with Africa Campaign, Churches for Middle East Peace and Church World Service. Registration information can be obtained from Anna Rhee at (301) 384-3615 or at anna@cmep.org. USO Theme Dance CCC’s Big Band will provide music for a 1940’s "USO Dance" sponsored by Asbury Methodist Village. The Village is located near Lake Forest Mall in Gaithersburg. Enter at the gatehouse on Odendhal Avenue. Dancing will take place in Building 417; donation—$2 per person. The public is invited. For further information, call 301-216-4113. Congratulations to this year's CCC Youth Souper Bowl Team in their game-winning goal of beating last year's statistics. Final results: 2002--$250.00 was out-played by 2003 -- $539.00!! The CCC Youth would like to send a special Thank You to all of those CCC fans in the pews who supported this year's team in their continued ministry to help those in need in our community. Shepherd's Table will receive this year's Souper Bowl trophy of $539.00 courtesy of their friends, the Christ Congregational Church family of youth and adults. What a great team! Plan to attend the Valentine's Day Luncheon on Friday, February 14th, at 12:30 pm in the Social Hall at CCC. A gourmet luncheon will be catered by our own Carolyn West-Gipson ("The Traveling Chef"). The Program will include special music by the children from the Silver Spring Child Care Center located in our building, and the opportunity for those who wish to share poems, humor and anecdotes about love and relationships. The cost is $15 (make checks payable to CCC, designating "Valentine's Day"). RSVP by Monday, February 10, by calling Mable Elliott (301) 622-3174 or Dale Ostrander at CCC. Please indicate if you are vegetarian or have a pecan allergy. The Keystones Capital Campaign comes to a close on February 28, 2003. Please remember to complete your pledge payments. Thank You! Board for Church Life is planning a Member Recognition for those who have been members of Christ Congregational Church for 50 or more years. This will take place during the 11:00 service on March 30, 2003, with a special fellowship time following the service. Mark your calendars now and plan to join us for this special event. Thanks, Time to Think About Child Care Enrollment Silver Spring Child Care Center, located on the first floor of CCC, is a wonderfully nurturing place for preschool children to learn and grow while mommies and daddies are at work. While all the slots are currently full, a waiting list is beginning to develop for the fall openings. If you are thinking about child care for your children aged two to five, you will want to be sure to stop by and visit the Center, and talk with the Director Connie Iacomini, or call Connie at (301) 589-1593. The staff of Silver Spring Child Care Center wishes to invite interested CCC adults to join them in starting a ballet class as follows: Time: Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. (Beginning March 4) If interested, call Connie Iacomini, Director of SSCCC at (301) 589-1593. PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for the next issue is THURSDAY, February 13, 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 |