Previous NewsNotes

CCC NewsNotes March 8, 2005
Volume No 61  Issue No 5

From Jim, Social Witness Happenings, Power Equity Group Workshop - The Experience,  Senior Adults Ministry at CCC, CCC’s Seder Celebration,  CCC Committees Sponsor Two Opportunities To Combine Fun, Friendship and Work,  Treasurers’ Notice,  From Susan and Jackie, Come and Get Your Just Desserts! Welcome Weekend Retreat at the CCC Retreat Hose Memorial Day Weekend, Fifty-Year Members Recognition,  CCC’s Next Blood Drive, Calling ALL Girl Scouts, Newsletters and Listserves, CCC Book Group, Power Equity Group Workshop,  Events Sponsored By The Board For Church Life, Coming Soon! Spirituality Day: The Sound of Sheer Silence. Digital Photography Group, Purim Carnival, Easter Memorial Flowers, Come to CCC for the Highland View
Elementary Spring Auction!,  NewsNotes Deadline,  CCC Staff

From Jim

As most of you know by now, John Touchton has announced his resignation from the position of Director of Music at Christ Congregational Church, effective June 6^th of this year. Next September he will take up duties as Chairman of the Arts Department at Sidwell Friends School in D.C., in addition to choral conducting and teaching there. I can only echo the words of a close friend of John who said to him, "I’ve tried hard, but I can’t think of a single reason why you shouldn’t take this job." In my own heart, I had hoped John would stay forever! But, of course, that is about me, not John.

The simple fact is that this is all about John. For nearly eight years he has blessed us with an extraordinary ministry of music. During that time he has given heart and soul, more than 100%. We have been so fortunate. Speaking for myself, I am still in a bit of shock and denial. But I will soon get over that – and then start to feel really bad! But if we have learned anything at all over the last twenty years at CCC, it is that change, loss, saying good-bye, and grief are at the very center of life. It is not about whether we must grieve, but about how honestly and lovingly we grieve that matters.

I really want the next three months to be a time of "saying good-bye" that enthusiastically honors John and lifts up the depths of our love and appreciation for him. I hope that none of those feelings are left unsaid or unexpressed.

Together our CCC leadership and John will be exploring how to say good-bye in a variety of ways and settings. For now, we need to let this news sink in and respect the feelings that emerge. That is the journey of healing. I don’t have a flicker of doubt that this change is absolutely the best for John. "All will be well" with him. And I fully trust that "all will be well" with us, the CCC family. But, I just may need a little time and patience to get there!

Blessings and love.

Jim

Anne Weissenborn, 
Board for Social Witness

 Actions of the National Council of Churches (NCC). The National Council of Churches, of which the United Church of Christ is an active member, took a series of actions through its Governing Board in February, 2005. The first was endorsement of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals that set specific targets for eliminating extreme poverty and hunger, for supporting primary education, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, for addressing HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, and for achieving environmental sustainability. Secondly, the NCC endorsed the Sensible Multilateral American Response to Terrorism ("SMART") Security Platform offered by Physicians for Social Responsibility. SMART calls for strengthening international institutions and humanitarian programs and supporting the rule of law as means to prevent future wars and acts of terrorism; for reducing the spread and thus the threat of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction by renouncing first use and the development of new nuclear weapons and helping to secure "loose" Russian nuclear materials; and for changing budget priorities to include adequate peacekeeping and re-development funding and new investment in renewable and safe energy. The Board also received a statement from the NCC’s Interfaith Relations Commission concerning the effects of the USA Patriot Act on due process and the civil rights of Moslems, and asking for the NCC to speak out more forcibly about these issues. For further information on these and other NCC actions, go to      http://www.ncccusa.org.

Bibles for the Eglises des Disciples du Christ au Congo (EDCC) in the People’s Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) (PRC) in Central Africa. Global Ministries, the shared ministry of the UCC and the Disciples of Christ, is offering an opportunity to assist a relatively young church in the PRC that is working to establish itself about the Lingala-speaking people of that country. This growing church of about 2000, the Church of Christ of the Congo, is being assisted by Global Ministries’ missionary, Madelaine Mehaffey. Because most of the EDCC’s members cannot afford to buy Bibles, a project has been established to help fund such purchases. Each Bible costs about $6.00. For more information or to make an gift to this project, go to www.globalministries.org/africa/Projects/afr-prc3.htm .

Power Equity Group Workshop - The Experience

During the three-day Presidential Weekend, twenty-two folks attended the Power Equity Group (PEG) Workshop held at Christ Congregational United Church of Christ (CCC) examining diversity in small and large groups. The exploration took place in flat, egalitarian structures, where partnership, cooperation, and valuing the resources of all were an important part of the expectations of the groups. This in-depth diversity event was co-sponsored by IMPACT Silver Spring and CCC. Particular focus was on our individual and collective journeys of race and culture, sexual orientation and identity, gender (and class). This was another step on our CCC and IMPACT Anti-Racism Journeys.

Following are some personal reactions:

Open, Honest, Vulnerable
New Behavior, Closeness
Where do we go from here? 
Delilah Marrow

Through this powerful workshop, I gained a greater awareness of the emotional, mental and physical stress suffering that African Americans and other people of color experience on a daily basis in trying to achieve their own success and live their own lives in a culture that devalues and degrades their existence.

I experienced first hand how I, as a member of the dominant white male population, consciously and unconsciously perpetuate the inequalities inherent in our dominant/subordinate cultural structure and how I continue to maintain a functional denial of the those inequalities and their effects.  I learned that I have moment-to-moment choices of whether to conform to the inertia of the dominance, and in so doing limit myself and others, or to break out of the ossified structure, appreciate other peoples and cultures and allow all of us freedom to more fully live and express.

I made strong connections with twenty or more members of our community who are dedicated to breaking down the obstacles to freedom for cultural and individual diversity and building opportunities for personal choice in life.  It was an honor to be among these folks, and I look forward to working with many of them in the future. 
Jamie Karn

I’m still thinking about the reaction between two of the group participants when they discovered that they don’t share the same beliefs regarding gays and lesbians. For seconds, I thought their friendship was broken forever. However, we were able to discuss their views with wisdom. After all, that is what PEG is all about. 
Maria Bezarra

Heartfelt, honest sharings all around.  Much pain to be heard.  Differences on process and models for addressing the issues. 
David Novello

It was a powerful experience that focused on a conversation about race, culture, sexual orientation and class. I learned an important lesson from people of color about continuing racism. I was moved deeply by this conversation and re-connected to my earlier efforts opposing racism in the past and re-committed to doing so now and in the future. This is a conversation that needs to be repeated in our community and in our country. 
Mark Woodard

I was very pleased to see our different individual journeys could be held in love. I wrote a couple of short poems (Cinquains) that capture some of my thoughts about the workshop. The first one describes what I saw happening in the Power Equity Groups - both my small group of eleven people and the large group.

PEG
Enlarged Space
Expands the Dialogue
Can It Hold All?
Yes  

The second Cinquain describes my experience of when I held, and was able to express, a totally different understanding of gays and lesbians from another member of the group. As I listened carefully to understand the other person’s perspective, I could feel my hardened heart softening. I was able to speak my truth in love without losing the strength of my truth.

Peacebuilding
Two Truths
Speaking from Depths
Love Can Embrace Both
Journey  

What a blessing to be a part of this experience. 
Jim Henkelman-Bahn

Senior Adults Ministry at CCC

When the Rev. Dale Ostrander delivered his last sermon at CCC in January 2004, he requested those in the congregation that considered themselves “older adults” or at least were willing to admit to being older adults, to stand. Nearly half the congregation stood.  A self study conducted eight years ago, showed that CCC is an aging congregation and the self study anticipated that the aging peak will probably happen some time in the next 10 years, i.e., by about 2007 - - now only two years away.

A more recent survey of 540 members indicated that 41 percent were 55 years of age or older. At that time more than 150 of those church members were active on boards or committees and 51 percent of these were 55 or older.

What does this say? It says that senior adults make up a large proportion of our membership, continue to be very active, and it is predicted that this proportion will continue to grow during the next 10 years.  Consequently, a ministry to and for Senior CCC adults will become increasingly important as the aging trend continues and it will be necessary to devote more programs and resources to meet pastoral care and other needs as the trend progresses.

A priority for CCC is to reestablish on an adequate footing the very successful ministry started by the Rev. Ostrander some six years ago. The Senior Adult Ministry would also like to have the program returned to 20 hours per week that was provided to Dale Ostrander.

A survey taken of 32 senior adults last fall produced a list of about a dozen activities these folks want to participate in. They were in four major categories: volunteer opportunities, growing spiritually, building community and educating ourselves. Some of the higher ranked activities included the following: 41 percent want to start a secret Santa program at Springvale Terrace; 31 percent would like to be a phone pal to a CCC member; 25 percent are interested in a weekly daytime pastor-led Bible study; 50 percent of the group would like to attend concerts at Strathmore Hall; 44 percent are interested in dinner theaters; 31 percent would like to visit the Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport and 34 percent would like seminars on making wills and other subjects.

A telephone survey by Neville Platt and the Rev. Julia Jarvis found that some members approaching senior adult status are interested in more community service activities than are now provided, and others expressed an interest in having an evening Life Review Group.

 Bill Carnahan
For the Older Adult Ministry

This year on Maundy Thursday, March 24, we will celebrate Passover by having a seder dinner from 6 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. in the Social Hall.  Although Maundy Thursday is not officially Passover (this year it starts on April 23, the first full moon after the Spring Equinox), there is speculation that Jesus had a seder dinner on Maundy Thursday with his disciples (Luke 22:7-13; Matthew 26:17-19), which Christians call "The Last Supper."

The word seder means "order" in Hebrew.  In an orderly way, we will remember the story of the Hebrews being delivered from slavery in Egypt.  Through prayers, songs, and eating special foods, we will retell the story of Exodus.  One of our newest associate members, Randi Field, has been assisting Jim and me in preparing for this exciting event.  Sheldon Novek, a Jewish Religious Educator and friend of mine, will lead us through the "haggadah" (the seder’s little instruction booklet) which will include coloring for children and illustrations, blessings, music, and stories for all of us.  

We will conclude the evening with a potluck dinner, blessing and songs of praise. This event is extremely family friendly!  All are invited.  We will post a sign-up sheet on the Church Life Bulletin Board located next to the office.

Retreat House Committee is holding its annual Spring Opening Retreat at the Retreat House, Friday – Sunday, April 1-3. Traditionally, this weekend is known for its excellent food, camaraderie, hard work, and teamwork. Participants ready the House to open for the season and perform routine cleaning, gardening, and maintenance tasks, as well as special projects. This year the committee plans to repair and extend gutters and downspouts, move the outdoor shower away from the house, paint the front porch and replace the screening, do general spring cleaning, and clear and prepare garden areas in the front and back of the house. All members of the church who care about and use the House are encouraged to participate; boards and groups that sponsor programs at the House are strongly encouraged to send at least one representative. Adults sign up to take responsibility for one meal and work in teams. Sign-up sheets are on the lobby bulletin board. The Opening Retreat is a great opportunity to get to know people, to deepen friendships, to learn new skills, to enjoy the serenity of the West Virginia countryside, and to contribute to this beloved place in CCC’s life, history, and future. And, it’s also a lot of fun! Come for the weekend or come for a day! For more information, contact Barry Johnson, b_w_j@yahoo.com, (Note single underscores are between initials) or 301-593-7053; or Jeanne Bohnet, jcbohnet.1@juno.com or 410-964-2001.

Building & Grounds Committee is holding CCC’s Spring Workday on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lunch is served to all volunteers, and all volunteers are encouraged to come for lunch and take that time to get to know others working that day. Workdays provide opportunities to interact with folks you might not meet very often otherwise and provide a way for members to help maintain our building and grounds. Workday projects this spring include trimming, weeding and mulching all the plant and flower beds, planting a ground cover on the courtyard hill, planting the flower bed by the Brewster entrance, putting a second coat of paint on the dumpster gate and making it more secure, cleaning the kitchenettes and social hall kitchen (cupboards & refrigerators), and performing some general repairs around the building. There is a sign-up sheet on the lobby bulletin board. For more information, contact Jackie Walters: PropertyAdmin@christ-ucc.org or 301-585-8010, ext. 222.

Mary Carnahan, Asst. Treasurer

The Treasurers of CCC would like to see the following guidelines used at functions where cash donations are received:

Appoint one committee member to collect the money from the basket.

That member should total the amount collected, put the cash in an envelope marked "Financial Secretary" and note on the envelope or inside: the total amount and at which function it was collected.

That envelope is then taken to the church office and given to the person on duty to put in a secure location for the financial secretary.

The cash should be part of the next Sunday’s deposit and will be noted by the Treasurer.

The board or committee then submits its expenses to the Treasurer who will pay the bills. Receipts are always helpful.

The auditor of our books expects to find a payer trail of such transactions and this procedure will create fewer problems at the time of an audit.

NewsNotes Delivery – We have received many comments from people whose issues of NewsNotes are arriving several weeks after they have been mailed. Issues mailed in January and February have been consistently late, often arriving after the events being publicized have occurred. Susan is trying to contact the Postmaster at the Silver Spring Post Office, where the bulk mail office is located, to try to identify the problem. As far as we are aware, we are complying with all postal requirements for this type of mailing.

People with time-sensitive articles should plan accordingly until we can determine how to address the delivery problem. NewsNotes deadlines are posted on the web calendar: http://www.christ-ucc.org . – articles need to be in the CCC office by 5 p.m. on Thursday or emailed to the editor, Joan Boyer, at mojobo@comcast.net. (The NewsNotes are also posted on the web at: http://www.christ-ucc.org/NewsNotes05.

Weather Emergencies & Cancellation News – As soon as we receive word of a cancellation or change for a scheduled event, we post that information on the web calendar. On days when the weather is forecast to be bad, the Church calendar changes hourly as people make decisions and call them in. We cannot keep up with those changes on the Event line. Either call the office or check the web calendar to check on the status of your event.

Web Calendar – CCC subscribes to a web-based calendar software called MyChurchEvents.com. Members, visitors and the public can check CCC’s calendar by going to the web site, http://www.christ-ucc.org , and clicking on the calendar. ALL events scheduled in the Church appear on this calendar. CCC events are in blue (or red); outside groups are in black. If you click on the event, there is often explanatory information, including room location and contact information if one has questions. The calendar is an excellent way to stay abreast of what’s going on at CCC.

Flower Beds – Kids love to skip over the stones in Steve Gilbert’s memorial garden outside the front entrance. That garden was designed for people of all ages to enjoy – to embrace it with exuberance and vitality or to sit quietly and meditate. That garden invites people in. The other gardens don’t issue the same invitation! They were designed for people to look at, not walk through. In fact, the spring bulbs planted by Pack 275 last fall are looking the worse for wear barely a half inch out of the ground – some won’t bloom one season – because so many people see a sidewalk in the mulch where there is none. Please respect the plants and the volunteers who maintain them and walk on the sidewalks, not through the flower beds. We don’t think anyone wants to see those gardens fenced in! Thank you.

On March 13th, in the Social Hall after the 10:30 church service, the Board of Stewardship invites CCC members and visitors to come and celebrate all the wonderful people who serve on church boards and committees. These people deserve their "just desserts," which is what we will be providing. Come and satisfy your sweet tooth and help say ‘thank you’ to those who have so generously given of their time and talent so that church programs and activities function so well!

Ever wondered what the CCC Retreat House is and where it is located? Come and discover CCC’s best kept secret just for a day or overnight beginning Saturday, May 28^th through noon on Monday, May 30^th. The Retreat House is located in Yellow Spring, West Virginia, approximately a 2-1/2 hour drive from the Silver Spring area. The Welcome Weekend will provide opportunities for CCC members and guests of all ages to participate in hiking, crafts, field games, playing in the creek, tubing in the river or just relaxing on the front porch. The Outreach and Engagement Board extends a special invitation to CCC’s newer members and regular visitors, to attend all or part of the weekend. For more information and to sign up, see the bulletin display outside the church office, or contact Outreach and Engagement Board member Trish Esposito at 301-593-1858, trishespo@yahoo.com.

On April 10 at the 10:30 worship service, CCC members with 50 years of service will be recognized.  After the service there will be a reception in the social hall to honor these and other CCC "Elders" with 50 years or more of service.  Come meet or renew acquaintances with these people who have served so long, some since the 1944 founding of CCC. 

The first blood drive of 2005, organized through the American Red Cross and being held in the CCC Social Hall, will take place on Saturday, March 26th from 8:00am-1:30pm.  Currently our region is experiencing a critical shortage of blood, so I hope you will consider donating at that time.  Look for a sign-up sheet in the Entrance Hall.  If you are unable to donate blood, but would still like to help out, please consider donating a few hours at the greeter desk or canteen during the drive.  Please call Sam Brush if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule a donation time -- 301/565-5929.  Thank you!

Calling ALL Girl Scouts
(Past and Present) – Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior and Adult

On Sunday March 13th, CCC will celebrate the 93rd Birthday of Girl Scouts. Wear your Girl Scout uniform, vest/sash or pins to church on Sunday, March 13th and help celebrate the birthday of Girl Scouting. Even if you are no longer an active Girl Scout, dig out those pins, find your old sash/vest or beret, and don them on March 13th. There will be a special recognition time of Girl Scouts during the 10:30 AM worship service. Once a Girl Scout always a Girl Scout. See you on March 13th.

Trish Esposito

The Board of Outreach and Engagement wants to help ensure that we put notices of upcoming CCC events in local community newsletters and listserves.  If you know of a newsletter or listserve where we could post CCC events without charge, would you please contact me with the information on how to place a notice?

 Thanks!  
Sara Watson, saradwatson@aol.com

The Book Group’s next selection is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. This novel, in paperback, is about a discovery by an autistic boy; the book is on the best-seller list. We will meet to discuss this book on March 20^th, 7 p.m., at the home of Dave and Toko Ackerman.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make the Power Equity Group Workshop held on the three-day Presidential weekend (Feb. 19-21) a huge success. This includes your spiritual, physical and financial support. We especially thank the Boards for Social Witness and Outreach and Engagement for their financial support, and the Board for Church Life for coordinating the meals. We appreciate all of the CCC Staff for coordinating the logistics. Of course, there would have been no workshop without participants. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It was great to be a part of CCC and IMPACT Silver Spring working together—the Church and the Community both as participants and volunteers. We send a super thank you to newdynamics Power Equity Group Trainers for their caring leadership. You helped us to examine many aspects of our lives in a non-threatening way. We believe the Spirit of God was guiding us throughout this experience, and continues to nurture us as we learn and grow.

Delilah Marrow & Jim Henkelman-Bahn

Saturday, Mar.19, 9 am-12:30 pm.  Consider spending some time exploring how you may encounter God in the silence of your life. Nat Reid of Dayspring Silent Retreat Center, Germantown, MD, will speak on The Search for Silence in a Busy World. Three workshops will be offered twice during the day: Group Spiritual Direction, Spirituality and Art, and Opening to God by Being Quiet with Scripture. More details on speakers/workshops and registration forms are in the lobby. For more information, contact Gordon Forbes 301-881-2856.

Ginny McDonagh

Yes, there is such a group – and it will meet next at 7:00 p.m. on March 18^th at Carl and Elsa Brandt’s house (819 East Franklin Ave., Silver Spring). Bring your photography questions and photos that need to be improved or restored.

Carl Brandt

The Interfaith Families Project of Greater Washington (IFFP) will host a free Purim carnival-story of Esther, games, crafts, food from 10 a.m. to noon, Sunday, March 20, at Sligo Middle School, 1401 Dennis Ave., Silver Spring. IFFP is an independent community for families with both Jewish and Christian traditions. 301-270-6337 IFFP@verizon.net/ http://www.IFFP.net .

Mark your calendars! Highland View Elementary School will be holding their Spring Auction on March 18^th at CCC. Highland View, a school in Long Branch community is also the local school for the Indian Spring neighborhood. The school serves a diverse student body of children from Pre-K through Grade 5.

The auction is from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. There will be delicious food and drink contributed by local restaurants. All proceeds from the auction will directly benefit the school. This year’s proceeds will be used to support after-school Art, Science, and Language Programs, student scholarships for enrichment activities, classroom supplies, school resources, and cultural arts assemblies.

There will be both a live and silent auction with more than 75 items for auction including: gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses, theme baskets (sports, gourmet, carwash, arts and crafts, etc.), sports and event tickets, VIP tours of the National Zoo, pool membership to Northwest Branch Swim Club, a beach house in Bethany and much much more!

Admission will be a suggested donation of $3.00 an individual and $5.00 for a family. If you have questions please call Katie Ryan at (301) 588-9099. Hope to see you there!

News Notes Deadlines

PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for the next  issue is THURSDAY March 17, 5:00 P.M. Please submit articles via: home email - mojobo@comcast.net, phone - 301-236-0025, or work jboyer@apwuhp.com or or paper copy - drop off in the News Notes box in the church office.  Please note the e-mail change from mojobo@aol.com to mojobo@comcast.net. Thank you, Joan Boyer, Editor

CCC Staff

The Rev. Jim Todhunter, Senior Minister; The Rev. Sandra Kay Dodson, Associate Minister; The Rev. Julia Jarvis, Director of Programming for Older Adults; John Touchton, Director of Music;   Jackie Walters, Property Administrator