The Anchor

“Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been

promised.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”                                                                                    Hebrews 6:12; 19             

                                                          May, 2006   Vol. 46  Issue 5

    Mystic Congregational Church

  Gathered on January 20, 1852

From the Senior Pastor

With our spirits renewed after Easter and with the warmth of Spring calling forth new life, this is the time to spread our wings and soar, to venture out beyond the familiar, and to broaden our horizon. I plan to somehow find time to do just that on a hike, bike, or boat. Yet my yearning to reach beyond the familiar is not just a personal one. I am thinking of our congregation as well.  

     Let’s reach out in these three ways as a family of faith:

·               Reaching out in celebration: The next General Synod of the United Church of Christ, the large biannual national gathering of our denomination will be in Hartford in 2007, coinciding with the UCC’s 50^th birthday. How do we want to be celebrating our birthday next year and how do we want to be a part of the hospitality that Connecticut UCC congregations will extend to our brothers and sisters from all over the United States? It’s time to start planning the party! (Look for more in Kay’s column.)

·               Reaching out in prayer: Our Regional minister, Lois Happe, is working closely with our AP search committee to find the right candidate for us. It is also part of her work to help connect the UCC congregations of our region with one another. She sends out a monthly newsletter that alerts us to events in the region and invites us to pray for sister congregations and their pastors. Beginning this month we will post the prayer list and selected portions of her newsletter in our Anchor. (See more on page three.)

·               Reaching out in mission: The world is our horizon when it comes to the good that is done by our denomination with the dollars from ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING. May 7^th will be the Sunday when we worship in gratitude that through the reach of the wider church there is no limit to the difference we can make around the world. (Look in the mail for a letter from our Missions Committee.)

     Let your spirits rise up and your minds venture out. God’s call  knows no limits, no fences, no borders, no walls.

     Blessings for this Eastertide from your        

Pastor Thomas

From the Interim Associate Pastor

Confirmation class is just around the corner … beginning in September. 

As you know, we skipped Confirmation Class this year so that our confirmands would be one year older, in 9^th grade instead of 8^th.  Experience shows that this one-year difference makes a HUGE difference in the Confirmation experience.  Your pastors look forward to this "new and improved" Confirmation Class and want to share some information about it.

SO … MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND PLAN TO ATTEND:   Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Space.

The information session is for parents and (potential) confirmands and we need BOTH to be present.  Confirmation Class is a commitment of time and energy for youth and their parents.  Please plan to attend and learn about the Confirmation experience we are planning for the coming year.

If you have questions, please contact me at 536-4259 or by e-mail at Patricia@mysticcongregational.org

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the meeting.

Pastor Pat                               

Book of Life

BORN:

  LOLA BOURCET, on March 22, 2006.  Parents are John and Kelly Bourcet.

HANNAH MAY BUCK, on April 6, 2006.  Parents are Chris and Rachel Buck. Grandparents are Keith and Sue Barker.

From the Moderator: 

SPRING!  I love the promise of new birth, new growth, warmer sunshine, and promises of an interesting, perhaps exciting future. I hope you have similar reactions.   Preparing the Council's annual report has helped me to review the MCC year, and to reflect on good progress made on several major issues of our congregational life:

·   The Search for the Associate Pastor is on track, and we are blest to have Pastor Pat continuing with us in the interim.  She brings so many good ideas and programs to various elements of our membership, and I love her sense of humor!

·   The long-anticipated programming for the area's youth is successful in its initial stages, and plans continue for growth and development, but we need more Friday evening "chaperones".  Sign up on the list outside Chris Glas' office.

·   Clearly, the numbers of young people who crowd the sanctuary near the pulpit on Sunday mornings is testament to Chris' energy, creativity and devotion to the education program, and I applaud all of you who volunteer to work in the Sunday morning education programs.

·   Women's Fellowship has had a banner year with special monthly programming, successful (as always) fund-raisers, and a sincere outreach to all women of the church and our community.

·   We still need to develop a stronger financial base/line-item in the budget … call it what you will ... to ensure our ability to maintain our "real estate", and this will continue to be an issue for deliberation and development.

·   I think that every committee, standing or ad-hoc, has had a successful and exciting year of activity.  My sincere thanks to all of you for your efforts and dedication!

All of this will be a part of those Annual Reports (which are due in Leni's office before this issue of the ANCHOR is distributed).  I encourage you to read each of those reports and then plan to attend the Annual Meeting on May 21st following the 10:00    a.m. service.

Now, look to the future:  Karin Stuart and Pastor Thomas shared the following news with me just the other day—the 50th Anniversary of the General Synod U.C.C. will come to Hartford June 22-26, 2007. 

"Lots of volunteers will be needed to offer

Connecticut's Extravagant Welcome!'

Committees include: Registration, Hospitality, Information Services, Children's Programs, Transportation, Special Needs, Housing, Environment Design/Stage Set, Communications/Technology, Office Support, Floor Stewards, Youth Stewards.

Can you be a part of this special event?  Contact: Synod Hosting,  125 Sherman St., Hartford, CT 06105 or check out the website www.ctucc.org/synod2007.  I'm sure we will be hearing a lot more about this event, but if you want to get in on the ground floor of planning, speak up!   Meanwhile, HAPPY SPRING!

Faithfully,

Kay Janney

CALL TO ANNUAL MEETING

Members of the Mystic Congregational Church are called to the Annual Meeting to be held in the sanctuary on Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 11:00 a.m.:

·         To receive and act on annual reports from church officers and committees;

·         To elect new officers and committee members;

·         To transact any other business proper at such a meeting.

Stacey Herrman, Clerk

HISPANIC EDUCATION

COMMITTEE

Thank you to everyone for your generous support again this year. The Lenten fund drive has provided us with the ability to continue to assist students next term. We anticipate seven or eight applications and have come very close to reaching our goal of $7,000.00

Your continued interest in the future of our young friends from the Hispanic community encourages and supports the conviction that with education comes choice, growth, self reliance, and positive role modeling.

NOTES FROM REV. LOIS HAPPE, REGIONAL MINISTER

Please remember the following churches in your prayers for the month of May:

·      May 7th, Scotland Congregational Church, Rev. Paul Doyle, Interim Pastor

·      May 14th, Somers Congregational Church, Rev. Barry Cass, Pastor

·      May 21st, Congregational Church of Somersville, Rev. Graham Van Keuren, Pastor

·      May 28th, Church of the Good Shepherd, Federated in South Woodstock, Rev. Bill Bartholomew, Pastor

The Connecticut Conference Annual Meeting is on May 13th, Saturday, at the First Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC, in Middletown.  The Mystic Congregational Church delegates are Sue Barker, Gus Woerner, Lynn Stefanowicz and Haley Glas.

The New London Association Annual Meeting is on May 21st, Sunday, at Taftville Congregational Church, 16 North B Street, Taftville, CT 06380.  Registration is at 4:00 p.m.

Silver Lake Alumni Reunion — 2007 will mark the 50th year of the Silver Lake Conference Center.  Alumni are requested to contact Rev. Lois Happe at loish@ctucc.org so she can forward your information to the reunion committee.

An Appeal by Assistant Treasurers

Please aid us in handling your contributions.  On any document, envelope or separate check, please provide three things needed for processing:  name,   amount  and  envelope number.  By doing this, you save an assistant treasurer from looking it up and writing it.

Used envelopes constitute the core of the audit history are archived for three years.  Envelopes are also the primary documents used for computer entry.  Thank you.

SATURDAY, MAY 13th

The Trustees invite and encourage all members to participate in our Annual Spring Clean-up of the grounds around the church and Memorial Garden.  We did a fabulous job in the Fall which lightens the load now, but we need a few hours of raking and spreading mulch.   We will begin at 8:30 a.m.  Please bring your rakes, shovels, tarps, and wheelbarrows.  Thank you.

A MISSIONS MOMENT

On Sunday, May 7^th, we will join in the One Great Hour Of Sharing fund drive.  This year, the UCC is emphasizing the words from the gospel of Matthew (25:35-37) when Jesus says, “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.”  And the people said, “When was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?” And Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Please give generously to the OGHS appeal and support “the least of those” who are suffering in the refugee camps all over the world.

ENVIRONMENTAL CORNER

of the 7th & 8th Grade

Sunday School

Did you know that the air in our homes is 3 to 70 times more chemically polluted than outdoor air, pollution and all?

Instead of using bleach cleansers, try mixing equal parts of baking soda and salt or a non-chlorine scourer as Bon Ami.  For disinfectant, mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of borax, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 2 cups hot water.  Combine in a spray bottle and use as an all-purpose cleaner.

Story Hour Readers

Readers for the month of May are Patti Burmahl, Felicia Mahoney, Natalie Billing, Jody Capen, Merin Troutman, Betty Guadliana, Jane Morison, Nancy McLoughlin, Connie Blair, Frances Moppett, and Ruth Webster.  For more information or to volunteer, please contact Elaine Sloan at XXX-XXXX or Betty Guadliana at XXX-XXXX.

WOMEN USING HUMOR

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Women’s Fellowship program

Tuesday, May 9th, at 9:15 a.m.,

featuring Kay Janney.

As laughter is good for the soul, invite friends and neighbors to get their endorphins going!

PACHAUG FOREST

HORSEBACK RIDE

The Youth Ministry Committee is sponsoring a horseback ride in Pachaug State Forest on Sunday, May 21^st.  We’ll leave from the church at 11:30 a.m., after the coffee hour.  Bring a lunch bag and comfortable riding clothes.  The activity is open to all members of the church.

Please contact Jamie McGee at kimandjamiemcgee@comcast.net or XXX-XXXX to reserve your spot by May 14^th.  Cost will be approximately $20.00.   Look for further details in the Sunday bulletins.

We are collecting Campbell products labels to help buy a bus for needy schools.  Please cut out the “Campbell” part of the label and put them in the bag on the hallway bulletin board or on the Parish Hall bulletin board. Questions? Ask Maggie Seder, XXX-XXXX.  Thank you.

WOMEN’S EVENING FELLOWSHIP

May 10th, Wednesday,

7:00 p.m.

Youth Space

Pastor Pat will help us explore

“The Feminine Face of God”

(Exploring Women’s Spirituality and Understanding of the Divine)