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June
2006 Worship Services: Saturday,
June 3, 2006 Communion Mr.
Roy D. Welch, Jr. Please
join us for potluck after the service. Sunday,
June 4, 2006 Communion Sunday,
June 11, 2006 8:00
& 10:00 a.m. Sunday,
June 18, 2006 8:00
& 10:00 a.m. Sunday,
June 25, 2006 8:00
& 10:00 a.m. June, 2006 Vol. 46 Issue 6 From the Senior Pastor Often, as we look to the months ahead, I hear someone begin a sentence with “When things slow down in the summer…” As far as our church is concerned, things don’t slow down all that much – that’s a good thing. Yes, there may be one or the other ministry (formerly committee – we’ll get to that) that can afford to skip a beat in July, but there are just as many others for whom the summer is an intense time of planning and preparation for the program year that begins in September. While the time of transition continues, our church is humming right along on a steady course. When I sail with my father-in-law, there are times when wind and sails and tack are just right and I can’t help but think that the boat is enjoying herself as much as we do. Roger calls it “finding the groove.” Could it be that the church can find its groove as well? Come September and the beginning of new programs, new ministries and a new church school year, we will take the next step in our size transition. We have, in the past, often thought that for someone to participate actively in the life of the church, he or she would have to serve on a committee. New members sometimes had a hard time finding their place in the ministries of the church because the committees in their areas of interest were already filled. Moreover, we thought that the committees were the ones doing all the work – Trustees shoveling snow, Christian Education folks teaching classes, Youth Ministry committee members organizing and attending youth events, just to give an example. The size transition has helped us broaden our perspective. In every area of our church, ministry is done by more people than just those serving on the committee, and opportunities to get involved abound. By thinking that committees do it all, we lose out twice: committee members fear burn-out and are less likely to sign on in the future, and other folks in the church perceive a limit to where and how they can get involved. Over time, the committees will shrink in size, because their role will be to coordinate and steer the ministry of a larger group of people. Yet the first step will be to shift our language. Rather than identifying an area of the church by committee, we will call it a ministry. Immediately, we are talking about more people. The Christian Missions committee has nine members. The ministry of Christian Missions at our church includes everyone who serves meals, reads to children, walks against hunger, delivers health kits, etc. Or take worship: there are thirteen members to the Board of Deacons, but there are countless ushers, readers, Saturday liturgists, even lay preachers who participate in the ministry of worship. What will happen to the committees? We will still have the group of leaders for each ministry that will meet at the all-ministry-meeting night once a month. We might call them steering groups – in other words, the people who put others to work. We will spend some time this summer figuring out together how to call our ministries by name. Then, in the Fall, we will take our new vocabulary for a test-run. By the Annual Meeting in January, we will have some experience with our new language and can discuss whether to formally adopt such changes. As all the other steps in the size transition, this is a process to which all have input and for which everybody’s feed-back is essential. Stay tuned, please, and stay with the conversation – it’s worth it! Blessings, Pastor Thomas From the Interim Associate Pastor All Good Things ... Most of you know how that sentence finishes … must come to an end. And for me, the time spent at MCC during interim time has been a VERY good thing. I could fill pages with the blessings I take from the past 18 months, and pages more with the gratitude I feel for our shared time in ministry. I trust there will be sufficient time for thank you and good-bye as the end of interim time comes into clearer focus. For now, I want to look a little at what remains ahead and share a little clarifying information. Last September, when I became the Interim Associate Pastor it was with the understanding that I might take another position before the new Associate was on board. It is somewhat unusual, as interim pastors usually stay until the settled pastor begins. However, the interim search committee was willing to be flexible and we agreed that a gap between my departure and the new pastor's arrival would be okay. As of this writing, it looks as though that may, in fact, happen. There are no firm dates at this point and, as soon as there are, we will let you know. However, it's possible this will be my last Anchor article and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to share some thoughts about our time together and the ministry that lies ahead. MCC stands on a strong foundation reaching toward a rich future. With another year of transition behind you and a new Associate to come on board, a time of stability is about to unfold. It's long overdue; the last decade has held much change and angst. Strengthening the ministry of Junior and Senior High through church school, confirmation and youth group is underway. A new pastor whose energy and vision is focused in this direction will be a great addition to the considerable skills and energy that come from the community. Developing the Youth Space will be an ongoing challenge and opportunity. With all due respect to the Building Committee, building the space was the easy part; building has a beginning and an end. Building a vital community-based youth ministry is an ongoing project. The foundations laid during interim time barely scratch the surface of what needs to happen for the Youth Space vision to come into clearer focus. Tapping the energy of church members and community leaders will be key in moving the ministry forward. I am grateful for the in-between time we have shared. When the fullness of time comes and I take my leave, I will carry the blessings of this time, fond memories and deep gratitude for the community of Mystic Congregational Church. Faithfully, Rev. Patricia L. Liberty WEEDERS & TIDIERS NEEDED Can you spare a few hour to help keep the church gardens growing and weeded this summer? I’ll arrange a schedule if you give me your availability. Thank you. Pam McGee, xxxx-xxx WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP GIVES MORE TO CHARITIES The Women’s Fellowship of Mystic Congregational Church has made additional donations to non-profit organizations from their Tag Sale profits. The recipients include: · Housing Opportunities for People (H.O.P.E.) · Clothing for Kingston, Jamaica and the Urban League, Providence (coordinated by Peter Kipple and Karin Whitmore) · Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut (to help those setting up their own apartments). WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP MEETING + LUNCHEON: June 6th, 10:00 a.m. (note time and week change). Installation of new officers, worship, and brainstorming for next year’s programs will be held in the Parish Hall. Then, we will carpool to Kay Hill’s house for a sumptuous lunch provided by Sandy Dolan’s culinary crew (recently returned from warm climates for service!) WOMEN’S EVENING FELLOWSHIP June
14th, Wednesday, 7:00
p.m. Youth
Space WOMEN’S HISTORY Learn about important contributions of our nation’s women. Much-Loved Book Available for Library Check-Out A Circle of Quiet, a much-treasured book by Madeleine L’Engle, continues to be available for borrowing from our church library. Although first published in 1972, this delightful and thoughtful book contains perceptive insights which are relevant today. Fellow author Jean Kerr remarked that this book “will give great consolation to ordinary people who sometimes wonder why they bother to get out of bed in the morning.” Ms. L’Engle focuses on such topics as the importance of promises in marriage, the need for God’s forgiveness as we continue to pollute our planet with poison gasses which produce a “grey atmosphere which clogs the lungs so that we cannot breathe, and breathless, spiritless, can no longer discern what is right and what is wrong …” The book concludes
that “now is the time when we must begin to see our world and ourselves in a
different way.” - Nancy Peterson A MISSION MOMENT In troubled areas around the world, we are making a difference. · One Great Hour of Sharing donations totaled $3,593 · Mother’s Day cards provided 112 blankets, and · 89 health kits are already packed at the warehouse. Locally, the Mystic Area Ecumenical Council (MAEC) serves people in crisis with gas and food vouchers using funds from area churches. The small profit from our sale of Fair Trade coffee is contributed plus an item in the mission budget. As this need is urgent, concerned individuals may address checks to MAEC Assistance Fund and mail to St. Mark’s Church, 15 Pearl Street, Mystic, CT 06355. Korean Partnership Sacred Journey 2006 is a youth exchange where 10 teens from our UCC Connecticut churches will travel to Korea on July 26 and return on August 9. We are pleased to announce that Lincoln Pan, Candice Webb and Christopher Wiles will be our Mystic Congregational Church representatives. The group will meet three times at the Glastonbury Congregational Church for orientation. The funding for this trip will be through a $500-donation from our Women's Fellowship and $1000 from the general fund plus some additional funding from our Youth Fund. Thank you to all. Our youth will pay half of their fare. We wish them well and look forward to hearing their experiences. ENVIRONMENTAL
CORNER Did you know that when you breathe, some chemicals can be rapidly absorbed into the blood stream? Instead of using ammonia-based cleaners, try using vinegar which cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of one part water to one part vinegar and use as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. The vinegar smell disappears when it dries. It cleans windows without streaks. June Story Hour Readers Readers for the month of June are Elaine Sloan, Felicia Mahoney, Natalie Billing, Jody Capen, Nancy McLoughlin, Betty Guadliana, Patti Burmahl, and Jane Morison. A big thank you to those who donated VCR and DVD players to the shelter. They were very much appreciated. Anyone interested in information or volunteering, please contact Elaine Sloan at xxx-xxxx or Betty Guadliana at xxx-xxxx. Hispanic
Education Committee Would like to thank all tutors this year for your support and efforts on behalf of the program at the First Hispanic Baptist Church in New London, and summer hours at the Groton Public Library. You are great and wonderful! MUSIC COMMITTEE Thank you to members of the hand bell choir, and to Trisha Dehls, Gladys Reynard and Ashley Crawford for providing the uplifting and joyful music for God is Still Singing. We received many compliments from the people who attended, and we enjoyed the opportunity to offer our music. THE ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY is offering a 2-3 week book discussion program based on Jimmy Carter's best seller Our Endangered Values. Please join us for what is certainly going to be a very "lively" discussion of current issues. Possible topics from the book are: Ø
America's Common Beliefs and Strong Differences What: Book
Reading/discussion ( see above description) Please consider purchasing the book (Borders, Ebay, Amazon, Bank Street Books, etc.) and reading it over the summer. We are certain that you will agree with the ministry members who have read this book that there will be many interesting topics to discuss. Book of Life Entered into Eternal
Rest: JAMES
P. BARBOUR, JR., on April 22, 2006. Baptized:
LOLA BOURCET, on May 21, 2006. Parents
are John and Kelly Bourcet. Born: PETER TREVOR STUART, on April 28, 2006. Parents are Chris and Megan Stuart. Grandparents are Peter and Karin Stuart. |