THE EPISTLE
Volume 14 Issue 5 MAY 28, 2009
NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM JUNE 18, 2009
CHURCH SCHOOL PARENTS
As we conclude another Church School year and look forward tothe beginning of the fall program, we invite all Church School parentsto gather with Pastor Cedarleaf and Karen Hamill. We want to makesure that we as a congregation do all we can to help parents fulfill thepromises they made at their child’s baptism:
“to grow with this childin the Christian faith, to help this child to be a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ by celebrating Christ’s presence, by fur-thering Christ’s mission in all the world, and by offering the nur-ture of the Christian Church, so that he/she may affirm their bap-tism.”
This meeting will be offered twice:
Sunday June 21 followingworship
and
Wednesday June 24 at 7:00 PM.
Both sessions will beheld in the Snow Room.
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PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
“Here and There”
I mentioned in a note to church school parents that May is the new June. It used to bethat we could count on programs continuing through June. Now we conclude church school inMay. Frankly, the problem is that there are too many things going on. This can be frustrating aswe try and schedule things at this time of year. Maybe it is because we live in a place where thewinters are cold and sometimes dreary and as soon as the sun comes out and the temperaturesrise we want to be outside. Just remember that we still gather for worship each Sunday, twelvemonths a year.Our annual program meeting was held on May 17 and we elected new officers, boardand committee members. I want to thank all those who have served our church over the pastyears. Many are continuing in leadership positions, while, at the same time, we welcome newfaces. Hank Ralston has served two years as Moderator and now Crista Deniz takes over. EdMcGrattan, former Trustee chair becomes our Assistant Moderator and Jim Franzen once againbecomes Chair of the Board of Trustees. Jerry Thompson becomes Chair of the Board of Dea-cons, but Roger James, former Chair continues on the board. Jim Dudley continues as Treas-urer. I’m looking forward to working with all our leadership new and old in this our 185
th
anni-versary year.We’ve also transitioned in our ministry of Christian Education as Kelly has “retired”and Karen has become our Director of Christian Education and Family Ministry. We’ve beenfortunate to have such dedicated leadership in this area and are grateful that it will continue inthe years ahead. Plans are well underway for the fall, even as our youth prepare for their mis-sion trip this summer to West Virginia. We have a committed group of youth and they are a realblessing to us as a congregation. What a joy to see these young people blossom in their faith.As we move forward in our anniversary year, I continue to feel blessed to be your pas-tor. We’ve a story to tell to those who are seeking a church family that cares for one anotherand seeks to live out its faith in word and deed. How might we tell that story in our communityand in its telling invite others to become part of this church family?What do we have to offer those who are seeking a church home? Let me suggest thatone of the things we have to offer is a community that reflects joyfully and thoughtfully on itsfaith; a community that is not afraid to ask questions, and yes, even to express doubts. When wegather for Bible study, adult education and in many other settings, we seek to make real thephrase used by the early church father, St. Anselm: “Faith seeking understanding.”Do you know someone who is searching in his or her faith? Invite them to share lifewith us. Remind them that wherever they are on life’s journey they are welcome here.Your pastor,
John
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June 7: Trinity Sunday
Celebration of Holy CommunionSudan Celebration SundaySalve Dot from Water for Sudan will be with us to accept our check for the well
Isaiah 6:1-8; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17
June 14: Graduate Recognition Sunday
We will honor our high school graduates
Ezekiel 17:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17; Mark 4:26-34
June 21:New Member Sunday
New members will be received into our community of faith
Job 38:1-11; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41
June 28:
Lamentations 3:22-33; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43
WORSHIP DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE
Sunday Worship at 9:30 AMFellowship Time and Christian Education follow
First Congregational United Church of Christ26 East Church Street Fairport NY 14450
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Epistle 2009 05
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