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November 15, 2005 A Just Peace and Open and Affirming Church A New Church
Administrator Arrives! A New Church Administrator Arrives! Dianne Abraham has accepted the position as our new Church Administrator! Her first day will be November 16, 2005. She comes to us highly recommended having been the Parish Administrator at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Bethesda. Prior to that, she held the same position at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring. She is delightful, thoughtful and brings an abundance of experience. Please welcome her! The Trustee’s Church Administration Search Committee: Jim Brown, Martha Krieger, Rick Sniffin and Tim White, Search Chair.The Retreat House Committee Recommits
Itself This is the first in a series of articles that will highlight the Retreat House on the 40th anniversary of its purchase by CCC. We will explore what the Retreat House has meant to CCC members and families. We will plan for major structural renovations that will help to maintain the House and we will work to envision its continued ministry for CCC. At the fall planning meeting for the Retreat House
Committee, there was a tremendous feeling of positive energy. Facing
new challenges in the mission and operations of the House, we decided to
re-commit ourselves to this wonderful property, and ask that the
Congregation join us. ********************************************************************** MINDFULNESS RETREAT Saturday, November 19 from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at CCC. Led by Thich Nhat Hahn's niece, Anh-Huong, and her husband, Thu, the day will be one of deep relaxation/rest and mind clearing. You will feel refreshed and want more of the mindfulness energy in your daily life. Please contact Julia at home 301.270.0514 or by email juliajar@erols.com for more information. Group Spiritual Direction. Beginning this fall and continuing next year, the Spirituality Committee will begin organizing groups for group spiritual direction. Those who attended the CCC Spirituality Day this past March may have participated in a session on the practice. Group spiritual direction is a process in which people gather together on a regular basis to assist one another in an ongoing awareness of God in all of life. We aim to form groups of three to five people who will meet for two-and-a-half hours on a monthly basis. If you are interested, please contact David Novello at (301) 585-5212. From the Board for Social Witness On Oct. 17, the Board for Social Witness made its second series of distributions of Discretionary Mission Funds. Included were contributions to the following organizations and projects: National Youth Advocacy Coalition - $500. The NYAC is "a social justice organization that advocates for and with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) in an effort to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well being." The NYAC hold an annual summit, has developed a Racial and Economic Justice Initiative to develop youth leadership abilities, provides information and materials through a National Clearinghouse, has developed a comprehensive health and sexuality education program, works on HIV/STD prevention, and advocates for LGBTQ concerns at the national level. IMPACT Silver Spring - $500. This organization was formed in response to the revitalization of downtown Silver Spring in order to assure that a diverse, multicultural community would remain and prosper. IMPACT has provided leadership development programs for members of constituent communities, assured continuing support of graduates through Lasting IMPACT, and is working to help close the achievement gap in area schools and to assist those attempting to improve particular neighborhoods, in particular Long Branch. Members of CCC were instrumental in the creation of IMPACT. Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition - $500. This
coalition of local congregations addresses the problem of homelessness by
providing housing opportunities for low-income individuals and families.
Participating congregations provide mentors who help clients with job
searches, education-related problems and other personal needs, the goal
being self-sufficiency. At present SSIHC is working with the Montgomery
Housing Partnership to provide housing for persons displaced by Hurricane
Katrina, and CCC is sponsoring one such family. A member of CCC serves on
the SSIHC board of directors. UCC Advent Advertising Campaign - $300. This national UCC advertising effort is a continuation of the God Is Still Speaking Campaign. New spots have been developed that will be broadcast during Advent provided sufficient funds are raised. CCC Peace Camp (BSW and Board for Christian Education) - $300. An intergenerational weekend devoted to learning ways to live peaceably and avoid violence will be held at CCC early in 2006. It will be led by M.J. Park of Little Friends for Peace, who has had years of experience working with children and youth in peace education. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CCC'S STEWARDS OF THE EARTH RECOGNIZED AS LEADERS IN FAIR TRADE BY CO-OP AMERICA. The October Fair Trade Alliance Newsletter profiled CCC's Stewards of the Earth for the group's work on fair trade and environmental issues. The profile is posted on the Board of Social Witness bulletin board, to the left of the entrance to the sanctuary. This is the only church group that has been so profiled. The Alliance also requested that a representative from The Stewards attend its Fair Trade Convention in Chicago to present an explanation of how a small church organization can make a real difference in the fair trade area. THANKSGIVING BASKETS - SHAW COMMUNITY MINISTRY. Each year SCM collects canned and packaged food items, plus cash for turkeys, in order to fill Thanksgiving baskets for residents of Lincoln-Westmoreland Housing and their neighbors in the Shaw area of the District of Columbia. Last year more than one hundred baskets were delivered with the help of volunteers from LWH. If you would be interested in supplying food such as canned fruit, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce or green beans, or cake or muffin mix, or in making a contribution of $35 to cover the cost of a complete basket, please call or write Anne Weissenborn, CCC's representative on the SCM board of directors, at 10021 Raynor Road, Silver Spring, MD, 20901, (301) 681-6042. She will be glad to pick up and deliver any and all in-kind contributions. Thank you for again helping Shaw families have a special Thanksgiving. Music and Arts Music for a Sunday Afternoon – Arc Duo, a guitar and flute ensemble specializing in 20th & 21st century classical music, presents the 3rd in this concert series in CCC’s sanctuary on Sunday, November 20, at 3 p.m. Admission is free, but donations to help cover the costs – seeded by CCC Memorial Funds designated for music – are gratefully accepted. For more information on the artists – Heather Holden, flute; Bradley Colten, guitar – visit www.arcduo.com. The next concert in the series will be on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. in the Sanctuary, when Christ Congregational Church Chancel Choir and Emanuel Brinklow Seventh-Day Adventist Church Choir and orchestra present a joyous Christmas concert featuring the Poulenc Gloria and seasonal anthems and carols. DUO PIANO RECITAL John Touchton and William Wellborn on Sunday, November 27th at 4:00 PM at Marvin Memorial United Methodist Church (just up the street from CCC at Four Corners) in a recital featuring 2-piano works by Mozart, Chopin, Saint-Saens, Poulenc and Shostakovich. The concert is free, but free-will donations will be requested. ART EXHIBIT The exhibit in the Tate Gallery for the months of November and December is of the paintings of John Hildebrandt, a CCC member, and Robert Rosenberry. Both of the artists are members of the Rockville Art League. Family movie night continues! Upcoming Events sponsored by the Board for Church Life:
In the spirit of the season, the Board for Church Life is sponsoring our annual Food Drive. Please bring your non-perishable items to the church anytime until November 20th. Both the Shaw Community Ministry and Shepherd’s Table will be given your donations in time for Thanksgiving. Thank you in advance for your generosity. The annual Advent Wreath Workshop, sponsored by the Board for Church Life, will be held on Sunday, November 27th, in the Social Hall following the 10:30 church service. This is a wonderful way for your family to prepare for the season of Advent and the celebration of Christmas. Please bring some live greens to make your wreath and some Christmas cookies to share. Various soups will be provided for lunch. Please plan to attend! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SPECIAL FORUM: CHOOSING A MEDICARE DRUG PLAN Come to the Social Hall on November 21, 1:00 PM for a special forum to help you sort through the confusing Medicare drug plan choices. Seniors are being blitzed by phone calls and mailings and must choose from about 30 plans!!! We are fortunate to be led through this maze by Ms. Leta Blank, a counselor with the Montgomery County Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). The program will last about two hours. Please come and bring your friends and neighbors. ^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V ‘TIS THE SEASON * CHRISTMAS IS COMING * ‘TIS THE SEASON MITTEN TREE The 5th and 6th grade church school class will sponsor the mitten tree again this year. Donations of new mittens, gloves, hats, scarves and coats will be collected from December 4 until December 18 for children and families of Broad Acres Elementary School. Christmas Ornament Sale – Handmade porcelain Christmas ornaments will be on sale in the lobby following worship beginning Thanksgiving Sunday (Nov. 20) through Christmas Sunday (Dec. 18). For this 3rd annual benefit, four styles of these delicate ornaments – a peace dove, a heart, a star and a pear -- by Hooven & Hooven, a mother-daughter team of artists based in California, will be offered. All proceeds go to CCC’s Building Fund to help pay the mortgage on the Phase I renovation. These beautiful ornaments make wonderful Christmas gifts for work colleagues, teachers, collectors, and friends and family. SPRINGVALE CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS Springvale Terrace, our nearby UCC assisted-living facility, has about 35 residents who don't have any family and live on very limited resources. You can help make their Christmas brighter by helping Julia and others create for each of them a big stocking filled with both pleasurable and needed items. If interested, contact Julia at home or via email: juliajar@erols.com. Christmas Decoration Day, Saturday, December 3, 9:30 - 12:30 The Sanctuary Committee invites all who would like to participate in the decoration of the Church for the Christmas season to join us at the above time. Young people are especially welcome since much of the work is rather physical. No need to sign up, just come! Joanne Hollcroft and Jean Caswell, Co-Chairs, Sanctuary Committee ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WANTED: We need two hundred families with computer access to sign up for News Notes by email. This will save the church about $600 per year in postage costs. Of course, the church will also save on paper, and time. You can sign up for the electronic version of News Notes by going to http://www.christ-ucc.org/NEWSNOTESBYEMAIL.htm. Try it you’ll like it. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Group Meetings The CCC Book Group will read Embers by Sandor Marai for the November discussion, which will be at the home of Jackie Walters, November 13, 7 p.m. All are welcome. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ will be meeting on Monday November 14th at 7:30pm in room 206 to watch the "Minimum Wage" episode of the TV series "Thirty Days" by Morgan Spurlock, the creator of the movie "Super Size Me". The show provides some powerful arguments for living simply by sharing some eye-opening and touching experiences that Morgan and his fiancée had living 30 days on minimum wage. You'll walk away with a better perspective of how much is "enough" and a better appreciation for things that many of us take for granted every day. All are welcomed to attend.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SISTERS FOR SISTERS will meet after the 2nd church service on November 20th. Please bring your sandwich. Louise Petzold and Mabel Elliot will provide other refreshments. SISTERS FOR SISTERS will meet at Barbara Whittlesey's home for a Christmas Tea at 1:30 on Saturday, December 10th. There will be a White Elephant Exchange. Barbara lives at 15402 Short Ridge Court in Leisure World. Please RSVP to Nancy Kosinski - Telephone # 301-7531 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU From Delilah Y. Marrow: I am so grateful for all your
prayers and many expressions of care and concern during the extended
illness and death of my brother-in-law, Richard Davis. It
is comforting to know that you continue to hold us in your
prayers during this time of bereavement. * * * * * * * Laura Boyer would like to thank all of the generous folks who purchased photos that were displayed in the Tate Gallery. With all of the purchases, we were able to make a $1300 donation to American Red Cross disaster relief! Thank you! * * * * * * * Have you noticed this year the beautiful flowers and shrubs on the north side of the Church building? The Church thanks Bridgette Dougall who is the devoted planner and keeper of these flowers and shrubs, essentially all by herself. It is a very lovely contribution! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Give & Take Give & Take Give & Take Give & Take Give & Take Give & Take Give & Take Giveaways: The upright piano in Room 10 – needs repairs – u-haul! 10 yellow plastic chairs – as is. Piano Donation Opportunity: Room 10 – a church school classroom – needs an upright piano of good quality and in good condition. Contact Dick Meyer, Acting Church Administrator at PropertyAdmin@christ-ucc.org if you are interested in taking away or in donating. The Church will acknowledge your gift of a piano for tax purposes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WINTER WEEKEND January 13-16 at Camp Soles, Rockwood, PA It’s not too early to mark your calendars for the annual ski weekend! As in years past, we are teaming up with the Washington Ethical Society for family, fellowship and good times. Strap on your skis and hit the cross country trails, take in the slopes and tube parks at nearby Hidden Valley or Seven Springs resorts, or lounge at the Camp Soles Lodge sipping hot cocoa in front of the fire. (Fri.-Sun., 3 nights/8 meals) 18 years to Adult $136; Youth 7 to 17 $130; Children 4 to 6 $67; (Fri. & Sat. OR Sat. & Sun., 2 nights/5 meals) 18 years to Adult $94; Youth 7 to 17 $90; Children 4 to 6 $52 As always, Children under 4 are always free! Register early to have your pick of bunk houses! ########################################################################## PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for
the next
issue is THURSDAY
December 1, 5:00 p.m. Betsy Thomas, Editor The Rev. Jim Todhunter, Senior Minister; The Rev. Sandra Kay Dodson, Associate Minister; The Rev. Julia Jarvis, Director of Programming for Older Adults; Markus C. Williams, Interim Music Director |
