Epistle 2009 02

THE EPISTLE Volume 14 Issue 2

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

A LENTEN PRAYER Eternal Spirit, Who from nothing created this world and all things, and who, from the dust of the ground formed man and woman and breathed into them the breath of life; we praise you for all your good gifts to us and to all your children. Give us the grace in this Lenten season to look inward to very depths of our being where your spirit speaks to our spirit and where we are alone with you and ourselves. In this journey inward might we not only lament our sins and shortcomings, but might we work to correct what we see, but do not like. Give us the grace also to not only look inward but also to look upward. Lift our spirits from mere contemplative naval gazing to true communion with you. Save us from thinking that we are alone, that there is no one to share our problems with. Remind us that you created us and that you care for us on this journey of life. Strengthen our faith as we walk this sometimes arduous, but always exciting pilgrimage. And finally, O loving God, give us the grace we need to look not only inward and upward, but also outward toward our sisters and brothers. How often we are guilty of being so inward looking or so upward looking that we ignore the hurt and pain which surround us. How easy it is to be self-centered, to assume that we and we alone are filled with troubles and that everyone else is just fine. Open our eyes, O God, to the hurt and the pain around us. Sensitize our hearts to the sorrow which we so often ignore. Open our lips that we might speak your word of mercy and peace to those who hunger and thirst for such a word, and in so speaking it, might we also be strengthened by it for life where you have called us to live it. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE

“Ashes, ashes, we all fall down” As children we played “Ring around the Rosy” and sang those words, not probably knowing the somewhat somber meaning of them. For us, they were just the words of a children’s game and we sang them with smiles on our faces. Lent begins on February 25, Ash Wednesday, so called because Christians are reminded of their humanity by wearing ashes on their foreheads. In the liturgy for Ash Wednesday in the Book of Common Prayer, the ashes are imposed with the following words: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Well that’s a bit of slap “upside the head” if there ever was one. It kinds of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? The season of Lent, when we prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to celebrate the great festival of Easter, is a time for stock taking; for looking deeply inward, even as we look outward in mission. Sometimes we have a hard time putting things in perspective because we are so consumed by all that there is and all that there is to do. On top of that, we are living in a precarious time in our nation’s history. We are troubled by many things, most of them having to do with the economy, and yet ashes remind us that all of us have a limited amount of time to live the life that God calls us to. What we do with that life is up to us. Bernie Madoff thought he could “lay up treasures on earth” and he found out that he couldn’t, or at least he couldn’t and not get caught. Lent is a good

time for spiritual soul searching, not in some kind of morbid way, but rather in such a way as to seek to know and to do God’s will. When we are reminded of our true purpose in life, to “enjoy God”, then we can have a full life. It Continued

PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE (cont) takes some soul searching, and Lent is a good time to do it. We are helped in this search by our common worship together on Sunday morning, by our time of learning in Christian education, by our sharing in our small groups and in our work together to bring water to the Sudan and paint to Salem Nutrition Center. Lent can be a good time, even if our foreheads are a bit soiled. Your Pastor,

John

THANK YOU! A huge thank you to the youth of our church and their “support staff” who all made the Senior Valentine Lunch such a special event! There were precious welcome cards, placemats and note cards. In addition, we were treated to delicious soup, salad, dessert and candy. The servers were so attentive and polite. It was evident that weeks had been spent preparing a real treat. Thank you so much. Barb Roscoe

WORSHIP DURING THE SEASON OF LENT Lent is that period of forty days, not including Sundays, which precedes Easter and which prepares us for the celebration of the great Easter feast. Traditionally our worship service has changed somewhat during this time, certain things eliminated, such as the alleluias. We remove the brass candlesticks and substitute wooden ones. We also use wooden or pottery communion wear. The choir does not process. This year we will also make another change. During Lent we will begin the service with a Thanksgiving for Baptism which will replace the confession and pardon. As God provided water for the people of Israel in the desert and for our Lord in the wilderness of temptation, so he provides living water to us in Jesus Christ. This is symbolized in the Sacrament of Baptism. This year, particularly, as we work to provide Water for Sudan, this reminder that our Christian life begins in the waters of baptism is appropriate.

Easter Flower Donations A sign-up sheet for Easter flower donations will be put on the moveable Bulletin Board in Fellowship Hall later in February. Donations can be made in memory of a person or persons of your choosing. The Board of Elders will purchase flowers to be placed in the Altar area and on the window sills. Checks can be made payable to the church with the notation "for Easter flowers". If you have any questions, contact John Hecker (223-7584)."

MISSION TRIP UPDATE The Mission Trip participants/camper pays

KEEPING UP TO DATE

$500 out of his or her own pocket to participate . There is no cost to the church. The cost can be lessened for each individual by working at the spaghetti dinner and Canal Days parking and by selling the Rochester coupon books. Fundraisers such as coffee sales and collecting returnable cans and bottles are used for miscellaneous group expenses. This year the work camp is in Hurricane, West Virginia . Our youth will join hundreds of other teens from all over the country to work side by side repairing deteriorating homes. In addition, a part of each work day is spent reading scripture, praying and talking about their personal relations with Christ. Each one comes to serve those in need and each one leaves a little closer to the One who called them.

Our revitalized web page is up and running. Check things out to see what is going on. If you have friends who want to know about us, send them to fairportucc.org. As time goes on more and more information will be added both for internal and external use. The web page is a center of communication for our parish. Another way that we try and keep people up to date is by using e-mail to inform you of activities or events of importance. We can only do this if we have your up-to-date e-mail address. If you have not already done so, please give Cathy Kinton ([email protected]) your e-mail address so that you can be informed about the good works of our church and church family. Thanks.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM MARCH 19, 2009

Lenten Worship Schedule Sunday Worship at 9:30 AM Fellowship Time and Christian Education follow

Ash Wednesday, February 25 6:30 PM, Meager Meal followed by Holy Communion March 1: First Sunday in Lent Holy Communion (pew) Genesis 9:8-17 Psalm 25:1-10 I Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15 March 8: Second Sunday in Lent Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Psalm 22:23-31 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38 March 15: Third Sunday in Lent Sacrament of Holy Baptism “One Great Hour of Sharing” Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19 I Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22

March 22: Fourth Sunday in Lent “One Great Hour of Sharing” Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21 March 29:Fifth Sunday in Lent Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-12 Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33 April 5: Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday New Members Received Special Choral Presentation April 9: Maundy Thursday 7:30 PM Holy Communion and Tenebrae April 10: Good Friday Noon “Way of the Cross” (beginning here) 7:00 PM Good Friday Liturgy

First Congregational United Church of Christ 26 East Church Street Fairport NY 14450

40 DAYS OF DRIPS:

Lenten Project How You Can Participate

You are invited to join us, as we embark on our Lenten journey 2009. The theme, this year, is Forty Days of Drips. The goal of this Lenten program is three-fold: First, it is designed to help us find and draw closer to Jesus, the “living water,” through our six-week small group study. Second, we hope to provide clean, safe drinking water to our brothers and sisters in South Sudan and to brighten up a soup kitchen here in Rochester. Finally, we hope that participating in this study and outreach effort will deepen the sense of community, fellowship and unity within our church family.

Join A Small Group We have five small groups meeting at various times and on various days. Please check the rolling bulletin board in Fellowship Hall to see which day and time works best for you. Our small groups will meet weekly for the six weeks of Lent (Feb. 25 – Apr. 5). These study and discussion groups will use the curriculum, The Jesus I Never Knew, based on book (with the same title) by Philip Yancey, editor of Christianity Today magazine. Each class will include viewing a 15 minute video and group discussion. Participants’ guides will be available for $8 at the first small group meetings (or you can purchase one from Kelly Weidman).

Help Make a REAL Difference: Give the Gift of Clean Water During the six weeks of Lent, our church family will work to provide the most basic of human needs – clean drinking water – for up to 3,000 people in South Sudan. Currently, villagers (mainly women and children) walk hours each day to collect unsanitary drinking water, which they and their families rely upon for their very survival. Ironically, drinking the contaminated water results in pain, sickness and often death for these destitute people. Water for Sudan is a Rochester-based not-for-profit organization founded by Salva Dut, once a “walking boy of Sudan” who fled the war-torn country as a child. Water for Sudan drills wells for clean, potable water for communities throughout the southern part of Sudan in Africa. One well may serve up to 3,000 people. Continued

40 DAYS OF DRIPS:

Lenten Project (cont.)

Our goal is to raise the $8,000 required to drill a well. We plan to hold one or two major community fund-raisers toward which all of our members may participate (versus having each small group hold their own fund-raiser). The first such fundraiser will be an African-themed gourmet dinner and silent auction, held on Saturday, April 4. Church members may participate by signing up to help with decorations, cooking, kitchen help, serving, ticket sales and more. Watch the Lenten bulletin board for more details as they unfold.

Brighten A Soup Kitchen Closer to home, our church members will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and provide “sweat” versus financial equity. First Congregational church member Ted Avgerinos will lead a team of interested workers in painting and refinishing the gymnasium floor at the Salem Nutrition Center. The cost of supplies has already been covered. All we need is your muscle to brighten this soup kitchen, which provides a hot meal to over 300 guests each week. Most of the work will take place Feb. 23-27 and March 16 –20th. If you are interested in helping with the labor, contact Ted Avgerinos directly (number below) or sign up for a shift in Fellowship Hall.

Join Us! C’mon! Let’s do something real. Something meaningful. Something that shows our praise and gratitude for the Living Water. Are you with us? Let’s turn on the tap and let the water flow!

Questions? Contact: Pastor Cedarleaf

223-0224

KellyWeidman:

223-8978

Karen Hamill

425-1958

Jim Franzen

223-8074

Bill Harris

223-5617

Ted Avgerinos

388-1355

185th Anniversary This year First Congregational United Church of Christ in Fairport is planning a year-long observance of our 185th anniversary. This observance includes a series of celebrations and events as well as a contemplative study of our roots and traditions and an honest and thoughtful appraisal of what our community of faith truly means as we move into our future. As we study the earliest organization of our church in 1824, it is interesting to note that the founders did not establish it with "articles of incorporation" or "corporate by-laws" or even a "mission statement" - but rather with a "covenant" - a solemn, formal binding agreement, or contract. The preamble of the agreement that was signed reads as follows; "Whereas, we the subscribers, ordained ministers of the Gospel, having been called by a number of professing Christians in the Town of Perinton, to meet on this 18th day of December 1824, at the house of Jesse Perrin, in Perinton, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of forming and organizing a Congregational church, and, if on full examination of the subject, it shall appear to us that such a church ought to be formed for the benefit of Christ's Kingdom and the promotion of His cause, then to proceed to the organization of such a church." Therefore, "membership" in this church was meant that we are bound together for the purpose of furthering of God's Will and Christ's purpose in this world, and that active participation in that work and endeavor is necessary in order to carry out that purpose. Nothing less is needed today than it was 185 years ago to witness to the Work and Word of Jesus Christ. In fact in a culture that is increasingly trending toward secular principles, effort and energy expended in support of the covenant is even more critical. Over the next several months of this year, the Board of Elders will be endeavoring to connect - and re-connect - with all those listed in our rosters to ask them how we can make the bonds of our first covenant even stronger as we face the years before us. Toni Thompson, Board of Elders Chairperson

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM MARCH 19, 2009

Dear Friends,

WELCOME TO THE NEW ARRIVAL Our sexton, Lisa Radford and her husband, Steve, welcome the arrival of a daughter, Sophia Lilcarmine Radford on January 21, 2009. While on maternity leave, Lisa’s mother, Sharon Irwin has been cleaning the church! Best wishes to all!

THANK YOU! Many, many thanks for all the cheerful Get Well cards, followed by cards of condolence upon the death of my brother, John Allan Droste of Naperville, Ill. They were all very, very much appreciated. Marjorie Takasawa

Dave and I would like to thank you for all your prayers and concerns for us during the past three months when I have been dealing with the discovery of cancer and my upcoming surgery. I truly feel that God has been watching over me during this time and will be with me during the surgery on January 28th and in my recovery period. I am thankful for my team of excellent doctors and am hopeful that, with God's help, all will be OK after the surgery. Our church friends have been wonderful to me and Dave. I thank you for your continued support. Fondly, Barb Law

Our sympathy is extended to Ken Harris and his family on the recent death of his wife, Rose Marie. She passed away on January 18, 2009. A service was held for her at the chapel at White Haven on January 22, 2009.

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Martha Bowman, St. John’s Home Barbara Cobb, Fairport Baptist Home Geraldine Stearns, Perinton Manor

In Memoriam Mrs. Margaret Thomas February 8, 2009

Margaret Thomas, mother of The Rev. John Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, died Sunday morning at her home in Baltimore, MD. She was 94 years. John’s mother loved the United Church of Christ. She was a generous supporter of mission throughout her life, made frequent special gifts to disaster appeals, and made a planned gift that will support theological education for members of our partner churches around the world through Global Ministries. John included in his remarks about her that, “I know that she was grateful to live long enough to vote for Barack Obama and watch him inaugurated.” A memorial service will be held for Mrs. Thomas on Saturday, February 21st at the First Congregational Church, UCC in Stamford, CT where she has been a member since 1928! Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to the Thomas family at United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue E, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100. Rev. Thomas thanks you for your prayers and concerns over the years.

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING On March 15 and 22 donations will be received for “One Great Hour of Sharing”. This has been a great tradition in our Church for five decades. Once a year our denomination along with eight other denominations collects money for use among the poor and needy worldwide. This has been one of the main ways our Church has been able to reach out with God’s mission beyond our local community. Funds collected are used in 80 nations in three general areas: sustaining communities, disaster relief, and for refugees. Sixty percent of the funds are used for disease, illiteracy with healthcare, education, and agricultural development. UCC alone raises $3 million annually through “One Great Hour of Sharing”. Please help sustain this wonderful tradition with a generous gift. Checks should be made out to “First Congregation Church” with a designation OGHS. They can be placed in the offering plates or mailed to the Church. Thank you for your support.

MORNING CIRCLE Morning Circle will meet at 10 AM on March 10th. A representative from One World Goods will discuss their organization which provides low-income artisans from around the world with an outlet for their work. One Word Goods has a shop at Pittsford Plaza.

GREATER ROCHESTER COMMUNITY OF CHURCHES:

Celebrating 90 Years of Ecumenical Work in Rochester GREATER ROCHESTER COMMUNITY OF CHURCHES announces a series of events in social justice ministries that will focus on quality of life issues in the greater Rochester, Monroe County area. Dr. Marvin Mich, president of the board, will introduce speakers and talk briefly about the role GRCC has historically played and continues to address in economics, health care, education, and volunteerism. Each event will be held from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 P.M., and is open to the public. A free-will offering will be accepted to support this ongoing work. For more information about these programs call the GRCC office at (585) 254-2570. The Faces of the Under and Uninsured March 3 St. Mary’s Church, Downtown Community Forum at the Dugan Center. Conversations with three community health outreach centers: Mercy Outreach Center, Spiritus Christi Mental Health, and St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center. Sponsored by GRCC’s Interfaith Health Care Coalition. Strengthening Our Community’s Fabric through Educational Partnerships - May 12 Jewish Community Federation, 441 East Avenue. A conversation with Superintendent Jean Claude Brizard on educational programs of the City School District. Also highlighting The

Coalition for Literacy, Isobel Goldman. Early history of tutoring, long term interfaith relations. Faith in Action Celebration - June 2nd RIT Inn and Conference Center 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. RSVP (254-2570) The annual faith community volunteer recognition dinner and program. [email protected] These events are posted on our website at www.grcc.org 2 Riverside St., Rochester, NY 146131222 Marie E. Gibson, Executive Director Mission & Vision Acting out of the core values of our Christian faith, Greater Rochester Community of Churches (GRCC) gathers people from diverse communities to build relationships and support initiatives based on spiritual and community values that advocate, model, and celebrate basic human rights. We work toward the day when every child, youth and adult feels safe, experiences support and care, and can discovers ways to use their gifts for the good of the beloved community.

Adult Education

What’s Coming Up in Adult Education March 1 – Meeting Joseph Again…For the First Time March 8 – Meeting Moses Again…For the First Time March 15 – Meeting Elijah Again…For the First Time March 22 – Meeting David Again…For the First Time We learned about them in Sunday School as children, but how much do we really know about these gentlemen? Come, meet them again, learn about their lives and why they are important to our faith. You might just learn something new! March 29 – A Look At Holy Week presented by Dr. Tim Dwyer These classes/events will be held during Christian Education time in the Snow Room following the worship service.

Mid-Week Daytime Class! The Jesus I Never Knew Come join our study and discussion group as we travel through Lent studying, “The Jesus I Never Knew” by Christianity Today Editor Philip Yancey. In this DVD study, you will expand – and very likely redefine – your understanding of the person, teachings, and life of Jesus Christ. Classes are held Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – noon in the Snow Room, beginning on Feb. 25. There will be an $8 fee per participant’s manual. Join us!

Safe Journey Reopens On January 26, 2009, Safe Journey officially reopened following a 7-month suspension of services. The reopening would not have been possible without the amazing support of the 13 member churches of the Ecumenical Ministries of Perinton. On behalf of our staff and clients, please accept our heartfelt thanks for believing in this important ministry and for coming forward to support the program with your time, talent and treasure.

tions. This program also needs administrative support & coordination.

For those not familiar with the ministry, our mission is to support today’s survivors of domestic violence as they transition to lives free from abuse and to prevent domestic violence in future generations through outreach and education.

Get involved with fundraising! There are two big events underway to help keep Safe Journey’s operating!

Anyone interested in getting involved with Safe Journey is invited call the office, 425-1580, or attend our next Volunteer Open House on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 2-4 PM at Mountain Rise UCC. We are specifically seeking the following support: Volunteers for our Resettlement Committee! This vital and active committee coordinates the intake and delivery of gently used furniture, linens (sheets, blankets, towels), small kitchen appliances, kitchen items (pots, pans, cookie sheets, mixing bowls, measuring cups, utensils, dishes, glassware), and baby furniture and bedding for our families in need.

Our friends at Clark Moving & Storage have generously offered a “Go Mini” storage unit for collection and storage of resettlement items. At present we need a location where we can put the unit, dimensions are 8’w x 20’d x 8”h. If you have land which is accessible by truck and can donate the space, it would be greatly appreciated!

Join

our Bowl-A-Thon Committee (tentative dates 8/15 or 8/16, 2009) This is a new Safe Journey event and it will be fun for the whole family!

Join our Safe Journey Scarecrow 5K Committee (October 10, 2009) This is our largest annual fundraiser, generating roughly 25% of our annual operating budget.

To make these critical events happen, we need volunteers with many different skills – help contact possible sponsors (organizations that will donate/underwrite the cost for alley rental, tshirts, food, etc…), find or donate raffle prizes, coordinate event logistics, market the event in the community, man the registration table and We people able to volunteer 1-2 days a other stations during the events, maintain the month to drive a mid-size moving van and help event databases and more. with furniture pick-ups and deliveries and people willing to “man” our storage area on prear- To get involved, please contact Ellyn LaPietra at ranged dates/times to accept incoming [email protected] or call 4251580, ext 2 need

Safe Journey Fundraiser Join us for a Doll Fashion Show & Tea Party Get out your spring hats and fancy dresses! When: Where: Time: Who:

Saturday, May 9th Perinton Presbyterian Church 2:00 – 4:00 PM Girls and their dolls may invite their mothers and other family members.

Tickets: $20 for dolly, her mommy & 1 adult (children must be accompanied by adult) $5 for each additional adult (bring grandma, auntie, sisters, friends) ******************************** Don your best spring finery – fancy dresses, hats & accessories and join us for the dolly event of the season! Everyone is welcome. You don't need a daughter to attend, and you don't have to be young to bring a doll. We would love to have some vintage dolls too! The program will feature a blessing in the sanctuary, a greeting from Alli O'Malley of Safe Journey, and a dolly fashion show where girls can parade their dolls on the runway to live music and a tea party featuring pink lemonade, tea, fancy cookies and raffle prizes. It will be a great time for a great cause! Please invite all your doll loving friends! Proceeds benefit Safe Journey, an outreach ministry of the Ecumenical Ministries of Perinton, whose mission is to support today’s survivors of domestic violence as they transition to lives free from abuse and to prevent domestic violence in future generations through outreach and education. Limited seating available! Please call Joanne Henderson at 421-9754 for tickets & information. To volunteer during the event or donate items for the raffle, please call Becky Girouard at 3812826.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM MARCH 19, 2009

COLLEGE CHOIR CONCERT Tuesday, March 17th The Alice Lloyd College Choir, of Pippas Passes, Kentucky, is touring upstate New York and our church will be hosting them on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. The thirty-seven member choir will present a concert at our church at 7 PM, directed by Prof. Bryan Bolton. “The Voices of Appalachia specialize in the hymns and ballads of the Southern Appalachian highlands, songs as old as our nation itself. The Voices sing with and without accompaniment, and through their singing, they manage to convey the deep feelings mountain people have about their homes and families.” Please join us for this concert. Members of our congregation are also needed to house the students overnight. If you are able to take a couple of students as overnight guests, please call the church office and let us know, 223-0224, or email us at [email protected]. For more information on Alice Lloyd College, visit their website at www.alc.edu.

Genesee Valley Organic Community Supported Agriculture (GVOCSA) sign-up meetings will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 2:00 PM at the James P.B. Duffy School 12, 999 South Avenue in Rochester. New members attend a short orientation meeting then join returning members to sign up for a season of weekly shares of delicious, organic, farm-fresh vegetables. Childcare provided. For more information, call 442-5658 or 241-9680 or visit http://www.gvocsa.org

ADVENT HOUSE We cordially invite you to attend our Fifteenth Annual Advent House Dinner Dance and Auction at the Casa Larga Vineyard on March 27, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. This festive, fun-filled evening is one of our major fundraisers and helps to meet the expenses of providing "no- cost" care to our Residents and their families. Your support would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in attending or making a donation of goods for the auction or placing an advertisement for the booklet, please call Advent House at 223-6112 for further information. Again, we thank you and look forward to seeing you on the 27th of March.

RECYCLING OF USED ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT Where: Temple B’rith Kodesh 2131 Elmwood Ave When: Sunday 3/8 and 3/15 9 AM to 12:30 PM Electronic waste is accumulating at an astronomical rate, almost three times faster than ordinary household trash. Studies done by Carnegie Mellon University researchers estimate that over 60 million PCs have been dumped into U.S. landfills. Furthermore, almost 200 million computers will continue to become obsolete between 2004 and 2009 based on National Safety Council findings. That equates to 136,000 machines per day. Computers and other electronic equipment may contain hazardous waste elements such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium. Monitors, CRT’s and televisions may have anywhere from 4 to 8 pounds of lead. These types of equipment need to stay out of our landfills and be recycled in an environmentally sound manner. Although consumers are currently exempt from penalty for improper disposal, everyone is encouraged to be environmentally conscious. Acceptable equipment would include: Computers, Computer Peripherals, Monitors, Televisions, Terminals, Wiring & Cabling, Electronic Scrap, Typewriters, Fax Machines, Batteries, Printers/Scanners, Telecommunications Equipment, UPS units, Circuit Boards, Audio/Visual Equipment, Cell Phones and Video Game Systems. Basically if it plugs into the wall and has a circuit board or a battery, we can recycle it. Televisions have a recycling fee of $10.

DUNKIRK CONFERENCE CENTER Dunkirk Camp schedules have arrived. If you or someone in your family would like to add a Christian camping experience to your summer schedule, check out the brochures on our literature table near the library. There are discounts available for first time campers.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM MARCH 19, 2009

JYF/SYF NEWS JYF & SYF Girls: REVOLVE TOUR Is Here -- Feb. 27 & 28

JYF & SYF Boys: It’s A Guy Thing – Feb. 27 & 28

Plan to meet in the church parking lot at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27! We’ll give you your tickets and car pool to the Blue Cross Arena for this fabulous teen girl event! The program runs from 7 – 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 – 4 p.m. on Saturday. If you haven’t yet paid for your tickets, please do so ASAP! Make checks payable to: First Congregational UCC (and put “Revolve Tour” on memo line). Cost is:

Boys in Grades 6 - 12! This event is for you! Come to this awesome weekend just for the guys! The focus will be on leadership (what are your responsibilities in the world), influences (how should you respond to the stuff in the world), and transitions (here’s some help in navigating the times from Jr. High to Sr. High, and Sr. High to College. Small group discussions will be split by age level. Presentation and discussion will be age appropriate.

$47 and includes lunch.

It’s A Guy Thing will be held at St. John of Rochester church on Fri., Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. – Sat., Feb. 28 at 4:30 p.m. Cost is $40 per person. The event includes speakers, snacks, movies, music, garbage plates, games and small group discussions. Sign up in Fellowship Hall or call the church office (223-0224).

UCC State Youth Event – “God’s Rhythm” – March 6 – 8 Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet other youth and share in your faith, fellowship and fun! This event is for Senior High students and is held at the beautiful Watson Homestead in Painted Post, New York. See Mrs. Weidman for more information.

30 Hour Famine – March 20-21 Senior High students are invited to participate in this “fast for food”, as we strive to raise money for World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, dedicating to eradicating hunger in the world. For more information, see Mrs. Hamill. Sign up in the Sr. High classroom or in Fellowship Hall.

“Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” Isaiah 59:10

Family News Preschoolers & Elementary Students: Learning About Christ’s Life and Journey To the Cross During the month of March, our students in the rotation program will complete their study on the life of Christ and begin walking with Him to the cross. Through movies, drama, storytelling and art, they will learn what events took place between Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the good news of His resurrection on Easter morning.

Coming in April….. Family Ice Cream Social & Movie Night! Watch the “Elementary Kids” bulletin board for more information.

Come Family Bowling on March 14! Families of elementary school children – this is your chance to show off your bowling skills! Come join us for an afternoon of fun at Fairview Lanes at 1 p.m. Sign up in Fellowship Hall. (Confirm date with church office as Mar. 14 draws near.)

****THERE IS NO CHURCH SCHOOL ON FEB. 22 CLASSES RESUME ON MARCH 1