The deadline for submission of Annual Reports from Staff, Officers, Board Chairs and Committees and Groups is MONDAY, MAY 9. Reports should be submitted in Microsoft WORD, if possible and emailed to the church office at  cccoffice@christ-ucc.org .

On June 4-7, Call to Renewal and Bread for the World are joining forces to hold a three-day conference at American University in order "to shine our lights for economic and social justice." Call to Renewal is a network of churches, faith-based organizations and individuals working to overcome poverty in the US. Bread for the World is a "nationwide Christian citizen’s movement seeking justice for the world’s hungry people." Call to Renewal is chaired by the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners and author of God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It which has been on the NY Times bestseller list for weeks.

Those attending the conference will learn about issues before Congress affecting people in poverty and about how to become a "prophetic advocate." Participants will be able to network with anti-poverty leaders and build organizing skills, learn to "speak truth to power," and create a national consciousness to overcome poverty. Participants will also "worship with other Christians and people of faith who affirm God’s vision of standing up with the oppressed."

Keynote speakers will include Jim Wallis, the Rev. David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World and the Rev. Njongonkulu W.H. Ndungane, Archbishop of Cape Town.

Registration is $150 ($200 after April 30). "Emerging Leaders" (those under age 30) can register for $100. Scholarships are available. For more details, go to www.onetableconference.org or call (202) 328-8745.

The Executive Council has formed a search committee to immediately seek an interim Director of Music for a period of 6-12 months. The Council also reached consensus on the desirability of designing a process to conduct an in-depth study of the music program at CCC. Based upon the outcome of that study, CCC will begin a search for John’s successor. The members of the search committee for an interim Director of Music are James O’Steen (chair), Sam Brush, Linda Phelps and Lynn White. The search committee is requesting leads on individuals who could serve an interim Director of Music. Please provide your leads or suggestion to James O’Steen at 301-776-9279 or jkosteen@comcast.net .

Printer Cartridge Recycling – CCC received a check from the Cartridge Recycling Center for $96.25 for all the printer cartridges we sent in. The money went to the Building Fund. The box for recycled cartridges sits inside the front doors on the window sill. It costs CCC nothing to participate in this program, and every little bit going toward debt service helps!

Do you enjoy acting, crafts, games, music, creating decorations and props, storytelling, sharing your faith, and/or motivating children? If so, there are many opportunities for volunteering your talents at Construction Zone VBS. Volunteers are needed to lead games, serve snacks, do crafts, sing, and teach valuable character building lessons. We also need childcare for the toddlers of other volunteers. We would love to have you join our crew the week of August 1 – 5. Not available all week? If you can only volunteer one or two mornings that week we will be glad to have you. Not free in August? Volunteers are also needed to create the room decorations prior to VBS. Questions about volunteering? Contact Katherine Hake 301-434-4752 or K2JHAKE@copper.net.

This is the second of three articles looking at results from the new member survey conducted last year by the Board of Outreach and Engagement. The findings affirmed many of the initiatives our church currently undertakes to attract and involve our members early on. According to the survey, our new members are some of the most regular attendees of church services with 21 of the 27 respondents indicating that they attend most Sundays.

One key finding underscored the importance of interconnectivity. Many new members indicated that small groups such as a couples group, spiritual journey, potluck, parents night out, book group and the many other programs CCC offers led them to become engaged.

The survey also demonstrated the importance of asking new members to become involved. Many respondents indicated they were invited by another member or minister to participate in church activities.

Many of these activities and programs along with other features of our faith community were key factors in influencing our new members to join CCC. Among the leading reasons were worship experience, sense of connectedness with other members, Open and Affirming and Just Peace commitments, growth opportunities such as theology and spirituality that CCC provides, community activism, music programs, church school for children, youth programs and connectedness with ministers.

The Nominating Committee is once again getting ready to put together a roster of Board members to recommend to the congregation at the Annual Meeting on June 12 for the church year that begins July 1.

Much of the ministry of CCC, as well as the opportunity to work in close fellowship with other members, is accomplished through the seven Boards listed below. Board members are elected at the Annual Meeting in June each year for staggered three-year terms, with a term limit of two terms on any Board. If you are currently not on a Board, or are going off a Board after completing your term(s), please consider a gift of your time to CCC by serving on a Board this coming church year.

Christian Education: Develops and implements educational programs for all ages, from preschool to adults. Will need 4 more persons to fill the 21-member Board.

Church Life: Coordinates and sponsors events other than worship that are open to all members and friends of CCC to nurture the community. Will need 3 more persons to fill the 12-member Board.

Deacons: Reviews and advises on worship services, develops opportunities for spiritual explorations, and assists ministers in pastoral care. Will need 3 more persons to fill the 21-member Board.

Outreach and Engagement: Seeks to expand CCC membership by welcoming visitors and inviting them into church life. Will need 3 more persons to fill the 12-member Board.

Social Witness: Initiates and coordinates action on social justice issues, allocates financial support for various mission activities, and identifies service opportunities for the congregation. Will need 6 more persons to fill the 16-member Board.

Stewardship: Educates the congregation on giving to the total mission of the church and creates and implements the annual stewardship effort. Will need 4 more persons to fill the 15-member. Board.

Trustees: Manages the church’s financial and legal affairs and is responsible for developing the annual budget, maintaining and improving the church’s property, and employing all staff other than ministers called by the congregation. No openings for the 9-member Board.

Please let us know where in this community you find yourself called to serve. Please fill out the form below and return it by May 1^st to the CCC Office, Attention Nominating Committee, or speak with any of us listed below. Thank you for your consideration.

Nominating Committee: Toko Ackerman (Chair), Merlene Bagley, Shirley Coll, Bud Dennie, John Gipson, Karen Lee, David Main, Cynthia Page, Priscilla Peterson, Jane Weber, Leslie Weyn

I am interested in serving on the following Board. Please contact me to discuss further:

Name Phone/e-mail

The CCC Technology Committee would like to offer you an opportunity to get the CCC News Notes on the day they are published and to save the church money at the same time. We are compiling a list of people who would be willing to get their News Notes electronically. CCC News Notes have been on line on our website since May 2001, but those of us who generally read it that way, still receive the News Notes in the mail – sometimes up to two weeks later. For each of us, that costs CCC 15-17 cents in postage plus the paper and copying costs. 

Please look at the on line version and see if you would be willing to receive the information this way. The link to the most recent version is at:

CCC Current NewsNotes  - 041205

That also gives you access to all previous NewsNotes. There is also a NewsNotes link at: http://christ-ucc.org/ComingEvents/NewlyPosted.htm. You can even use the SEARCH from the front page of our web and find something you remember seeing years ago.

If you choose to read the NewsNotes on the web:

• You will receive an email with a link to the new NewsNotes each time they are posted  
• Your name will then be taken off of the NewsNotes mailing list 
• We will depend on you to let us know if your email address changes 

To Sign up: Send an email to christ-ucc-newsnotes-owner@yahoogroups.com .

The annual award of the Ruth Richardson Scholarship is now open for applications for the year 2005 student scholar. This scholarship was established in honor of Mrs. Ruth Richardson, a founding member of CCC and 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:

• completed two years or more of college or university study
• is pursuing a career in a human service profession, with priority given to education
• is a member or whose parent(s) is a member of CCC

The Ruth Richardson Committee is accepting applications until June 15, 2005. 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 at 301-593-2438.

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, overnight, or for the weekend beginning Saturday, May 28th through noon on Monday, May 30th. The Retreat House is located in Yellow Spring, West Virginia; an approximately 2 ½ hour drive from the Silver Spring area. The Welcome Weekend will provide opportunities for CCC members and guest 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. The CCC Retreat House is a pre-Civil War farmhouse on 54 acres along the Cacapon River. The house and grounds are the site for CCC’s week-long children and youth camps, and the site for fall and spring retreats for groups within the church. The cost for the Welcome Retreat is $5 per night per adult and $2 per night per child, and day visitors are free. Sleeping accommodations are three large bedrooms with bunk beds, a cabin, or bring your own tent. Meals are assigned and prepared by those attending, except for Saturday and Sunday lunches which are provided by the Outreach and Engagement Board. For more information and to sign up, see the bulletin board outside the church office, or contact Outreach and Engagement Board member Trish Esposito at 301-593-1858, trishespo@yahoo.com.

June 17 – 19 Families with Young Children
June 26 – July 2 Middle School Camp
July 10 – 16 Elementary School Camp
July 24 – 30 Senior High Camp

(TBD) Youth Ensemble Camp (Watch for details)

August 1 – 5 Children 3 – 8 years

July 8 – 11 St. Andrew Project (Younger Youth) On the Eastern Shore
July 16 – 23 Habitat for Humanity (Older Youth) Project in Americus, Georgia

August 6 – 13 Youth completing grades 8 – 12 (limited to 7 youth)

Beach Weekend (Watch for details)

August 19 – 21 Bethany Beach

Registration forms for Elementary School, Middle School and Senior High camp must be received in the church office by June 1. After that point, available slots will be opened to children and youth at Little River UCC and Heritage UCC. There are additional forms in the church office. Vacation Bible School will be held mornings of the first week of August. Volunteers are needed! If you can give of your time and talent to help with VBS, please call the office at 303-585-8010.

CCC has been working to establish a Safe Church policy, setting boundaries for our adult leaders to ensure the safety of our children and youth. On May 22 there will be a workshop for all adult leaders and advisors who will be taking part in summer camps at the Retreat House, the Y-GELI programs, and other events with children and youth that take place away from the church this summer. We also encourage all church school teachers and advisors to participate. Other members of the congregation who are interested in Safe Church are also welcome. Lunch will be provided. Please sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office. The workshop will be offered again in the fall for those teachers and advisors who cannot attend on the 22^nd.

I wish to thank my friends at CCC for their phone calls, notes and cards sent while I was recuperating from pneumonia. 

Many thanks to the CCC community for your care and concern over my recent knee surgery and our longer-term problems.  Your phone calls and cards and hands-on help are very much appreciated.

News Notes Deadlines

PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for the next  issue is THURSDAY May 5, 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.   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