Epistle Jan 2009

THE EPISTLE Volume 14 Issue 1

JANUARY 22, 2009

40 DAYS OF DRIPS: Lenten Project Announced Do you hear the dripping?

ery to freedom. Drip,

Water is essential for life –

During baptisms, we speak of

both human and eternal.

our Lord, Jesus Christ, who

Our faith is awash with the

was nurtured in the water of

imagery of water. Before the

Mary’s womb, baptized in

world had shape and form, we

the River Jordan, became

acknowledge God’s Spirit

Living Water to the Samarian

moved over the waters.

Drip,

drip.

woman, washed the feet of

drip. God washed the earth

the disciples and sent them

with the waters of the flood.

forth to baptize all the na-

God led the Israelites through

tions.

the Red Sea waters from slav-

drip…

Drip, drip, drip, Continued on p.2

Continued from p.1

Drip, drip, drip… Water, so often taken for granted, yet so critical to our very existence. We bathe in it. We cook with it. We drink it to survive. We don’t even think about it. Drip, drip, drip… You are invited to join us, as we embark on our Lenten journey 2009 beginning Sunday, February 1. 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. Once a well is drilled, the community springs to life. Women and children no longer need to walk miles to collect one bucket of water. They are able to attend school or do work to enhance their livelihood. Life expectancies increase. Women experience healthier pregnancies. Schools and marketplaces are built, as the community becomes stable and more secure. 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). Watch for more details regarding these fundraisers. Continued on p.3

Drip, drip, drip… 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.

Dripping Kicks Off February 1 Sunday, February 1, everyone is invited to learn more about 40 Days of Drips and our associated mission projects during a delicious brunch held for all church members in Fellowship Hall following the worship service. We On

A Valentine Invitation to the “Seniors” in Our Church The youth group of First Congregational UCC would like to cordially invite all First Church “seniors” to a special Valentine’s Day Luncheon on Sunday, Feb. 8 following adult education class at approximately 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. It is our joy to wish you a “Happy Valentine’s Day!” Please let us know if you can attend by signing up on the rolling bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.

Boy Scout Sunday– FEBRUARY 8 Our regular church service on Sunday February 8th will recognize the partnership between our church and Boy Scout Troop 207. Scouts, leaders, and scout parents will be in attendance to help celebrate the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America.

will have speakers from both Water for Sudan and the Salem Nutrition Center share their missions with us.

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

PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE Many of us are still clearing up after Christmas. We take down the tree, pack away the decorations, vacuum up the needles and generally get the house back to normal. This is often a time to go through things and toss out what we no longer need or want and try and make things more manageable. I’ve got a lot of things running around in my mind and so I thought I would “clean them out” by sharing them with you, as we begin this year of our Lord, 2009. Anniversary year: Our congregation marks our 185th anniversary this year. In was in December of 1824 that a few folks got together at the Perrin home to form this church. We were the first church organized in the town of Perinton and we have been on this same sight for most of those years, at least since the first building in 1833. During the year we will celebrate in a number of ways. We want to use this anniversary year not only as a way to pat ourselves on the back for hanging on for so long, but to make it clear that we are a part of this community now as we have always been and that we are here to carry out our faith in word and in deed. I will also mark the 40th anniversary of ordination into the Christian ministry and my 25th anniversary as your pastor. There are a lot of things to remember, but there is also a lot ahead of us as the people of God in this place.

Mainline Muddle: Sometimes I get tired of all the depressing articles about the death of the mainline church. If you read them all, you get depressed. We’re too liberal, or too staid in our ways, or too boring, or not definitive enough in our answers; we don’t know what we believe, or for that matter, if we believe in anything. Let me tell you that I haven’t given up. Our Wednesday morning Bible study group is reading Dr. Tim Johnson’s Finding God in the Questions. This well known physician and minister undertook the writing of this book to, in his words, “cleanse my beliefs to reveal their bedrock: to rediscover what I really do believe and then decide honestly what it means for how I live the rest of my life.” This is the kind of thing that we mainline folks do well as we sit around the table and deal honestly with our doubts and fears. This doesn’t mean that we don’t believe anything, only that we realize that life is more complicated than we may think it is. The strength of a church like ours is that we make clear in Scripture and creed, in the spoken word, in liturgy and song what we do believe, but we are willing to entertain doubt because we believe it may well strengthen our faith. Our God is a God who is the author of all truth. Continued on p.6

PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE (cont) Reaching out: Once again (check the special pages relating to our Lenten mission project) we are reaching out in mission during this season of Lent. As we gather in our small groups to talk about The Jesus I Never Knew, and as we seek to raise money for a well in Sudan, we seek to live out our faith. Do you know someone who is looking for a church home, invite them to try us out? Do you know someone who has been burned by his or her church experiences; invite them to try us out. Transformation time? When you read this, Barack Obama will be the President of the United States. Whether you voted for him or not, there is no doubt that this is an historic time in the history of our nation. We are living also in a scary time; a time when a lot of people have put a lot of expectations on the shoulders of this new President. All of us need to pray for our new President, as we pray for all our Presidents, whether we voted for them or not. Yet we also need to remember, as Christians, that Barack Obama is not our Savior, and he I’m sure knows that. The God we worship, and whom we have seen in the face of Jesus Christ is the God who has the whole world in his hands, and who longs for his children to live in peace one with another. As followers of Jesus Christ we seek what some have called “proximate justice”. It is only God who can bring forth full justice, and peace, even as we seek and pray for his kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. I’m looking forward to the challenges of this coming year with thanksgiving for all or you and with faith in the God who was and is and is to come. Your pastor, John

Our Christian sympathy is extended to Chuck, Karen and Amy Hamill on the death of Chuck’s mother, Mary Hamill on December 25, 2008. A service was held for her in Chicago on December 27, 2008.

Our condolences are extended to Marjorie Takasawa on the death of her brother, John Droste. He died January 12, 2009 in Naperville, Illinois.

WORSHIP DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY “Why we worship as we do?” Routine is a wonderful thing. Most of us like routine in our lives. It focuses us and puts a sense of order in a sometimes-disorderly world. On the other hand routine can allows us not to focus on things that may be important. Week in and week out we attend worship and move through the liturgy. There is a comfort to this, but sometimes we don’t remember why we do things the way we do, we just do them. In recent Elders meetings we have talked about the frequency of communion. Should we celebrate the Sacrament more than monthly? This conversation got us thinking about worship in general and we decided it might be helpful to schedule a series of sermons on the general topic why we worship as we do. This will be a three-week series beginning on February 1 and continuing through February 15. The specific topics are as follows: February 1: “The Innermost Sanctuary of the Whole Christian Worship” (On the Eucharist) February 8: “Calendars, Feasts, Fasts, Lectionaries and Drama” February 15: What’s so Reformed about Reformed Worship?” Since these are “teaching sermons”, we will follow the old Puritan tradition and have an opportunity for questions following the sermon. If you have any questions that you would specifically like to include in this series, send an e-mail to me at [email protected].

TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY

February 22, 2009

Transfiguration Sunday marks the end of the season of Epiphany. On the Sunday nearest January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, we celebrated the coming of the magi to the infant Jesus, which marks the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentile world. Continued on p.7

WORSHIP DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY (cont) “The Sundays after Epiphany began with Jesus’ baptism and end with three disciples’ vision of his transfiguration. In Mark’s story of Jesus’ baptism, apparently only Jesus sees the Spirit descending and hears the words from heaven. But now Jesus’ three closest friends hear the same words naming him, God’s beloved son. As believers, Paul writes, we are enabled to see the God-light in Jesus’ face, because the same God who created light in the first place has shone in our hearts to give us that vision. The light of God’s glory in Jesus has enlightened us through baptism and shines in us also for others to see.”

-Sundays and Seasons 2 Kings 2:1-12 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 “This Little Light of Mine?”

ASH WEDNESDAY

February 25, 2009

Meager Meal and Holy Communion 6:30 PM The season of Lent, forty days not including Sundays, is a time of fasting and repentance as we begin our journey to Easter. It is a time of taking stock, of focusing on those things that are really important and not worrying about those things that may be less important. In many Christian traditions ashes are used on this day. They suggest our human mortality and frailty. Ashes are placed on the forehead with the sign of the cross and the pastor says: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Here is an invitation to see each day as a new beginning, “in which we are washed in God’s mercy and forgiveness. With the cross on our brow, we long for the spiritual renewal that flows from the springtime Easter feast to come.” -Sundays and Seasons

MISSION TRIP UPDATE The Mission Trip participants would like to thank everyone for attending the spaghetti dinner and silent auction fund-raiser. Special thanks to all the silent auction donors. Each Reach work camper pays $500 out of his or her own pocket to participate in the Reach Work Camp Mission Trip. 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.

THANKS! To all who donated food, money and/or helped deliver Christmas Baskets for our church we say “Thank You!” This year eight families will have had a brighter Christmas because you cared enough to help. Janis Harper Don Eaton Harriet Breckenridge REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Martha Bowman, St. John’s Home Barbara Cobb, Fairport Baptist Home Geraldine Stearns, Crest Manor

THANKS SO MUCH! Thanks so much for the outpouring of love expressed through your many cards, prayers and kind words. Your warmth and support was a much needed comfort during the difficult period of Chuck’s mother’s illness and death. With love and gratitude, The Hamill Family

THANK YOU!! Dear church family: Once again you all have been more than generous this Christmas. We thank you for your financial generosity, and even more for your generosity of spirit over the past years. Each of you has made contributions of heart, mind and spirit to our work together as God’s people here in Fairport. The Cedarleaf family has been fortunate to live and work among such thoughtful folks. As we move into a new year, the 185th of our congregation, and our 25th, here, we look forward to continuing our work together for Christ and his Church. With love and blessings,

Jean and John

A Note of Embarrassment, Frustration, Apology, and THANKS! In October Bill and I used “The Epistle” to thank all those who attended and helped out with the Service of Celebration for our son Sean. This time we are using it to explain why many of you haven’t received a “thank you” note from us and to ask you all to help us share the explanation with others. A few days after Sean was killed, two of his friends and colleagues in the Adams County, CO, District Attorney’s office set up the Sean May Memorial Fund at their local branch of Wells Fargo Bank to serve as a financial resource for his wife and then unborn son (Oliver Sean was born in November). Both of Sean’s friends are in their early to mid 30’s and had never before experienced the death of one of their close friends, but they knew they “needed to do something to help.” They set up the Fund with bank personnel so that others also would have an immediate way of helping those Sean left behind. It was a lovely gesture, and they are to be commended. However... As weeks passed, we began to realize from comments made by friends and family members that the bank wasn’t sending acknowledgements to donors (although some mentioned that cancelled checks had been returned). And more importantly to us, neither Corin nor we were receiving a list of contributors so that we could write personal notes of thanks. Talk about EMBARRASSMENT! We have contacted the bank repeatedly in writing and have most recently learned that, when Sean’s friends set up the account, no arrangements had been made to either acknowledge receipt of funds from those who contributed nor to notify the family. They further explained that the bank had received such a huge onslaught of donations from all over the country, are a very small branch, and, therefore, weren’t and aren’t equipped for such a huge task. Talk about FRUSTRATION! (We are still trying to get them to compile a list, but...) Keeping the above in mind, for those of you who honored Sean (and us) by contributing to his Memorial Fund, we offer a huge APOLOGY for not personally expressing our THANKS to all of you individually. Those of you who know us, know we truly are embarrassed and frustrated to the core with this and are attempting to resolve it. Meanwhile, we remain so sincerely grateful for your past and continued love and support. God’s Blessings, Pat and Bill May

2008 PLEDGE STATEMENTS The 2008 pledge statements will be available for pick up in Fellowship Hall starting January 27, 2009. If you are unable to come in and pick it up, please call or email the church office and it will be mailed to you.

THANKS TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY As the 2008 Coordinator of the Perinton Lay Clergy Council Christmas Food Basket Project, I want to thank our congregation for their generous support in this event. Due to the efforts of all the participating churches in Perinton and also the Perinton Settlers Club, we were able to provide a festive holiday meal for 192 people. A big thank also to First Church representatives: Harriet Breckenridge, Janis Harper and Lois Evans for their expert organization and loyal cooperation. Muriel Gabbey

MORNING CIRCLE Morning Circle will meet on February 10 at 10 AM in Fellowship Hall. Doug Jones will present slides taken in Australia. All are welcome to attend.

FLOWER CHART The flower chart for 2009 is now posted on the moving bulletin board. Please consider donating flowers for the altar for the coming year.

EVENING CIRCLE The Evening Circle will meet on February 9, 2009 at 7:00 PM in the Snow Room. The program for the evening will be a book review by Holly Wolf. Holly has been treating us with reviews for many years and she always picks interesting books. Please come join us this evening. Questions----contact Judy Baxter or Beverly Gray.

Thank you, to all at First Church. It is a comforting feeling to know that so many are praying for you. It is this coming together in faith that makes First Church so welcoming and open to others. The many cards that I received brightened each day; some with a special note, but all filled with love. I hope to be back to church before this is printed, but if I don't see you for whatever reason know that I am doing well. The doctor is pleased with my recovery thus far and has given me more exercises. The Lord has blessed me in many ways and one is that I am a part of such a wonderful congregation. Peace be with each of you. Glenn Harris

Adult Education

What’s Coming Up in Adult Education February 1 – Lenten Kick-Off Brunch To Feature Water for Sudan and Salem Nutrition Center Speakers On Sunday, Feb. 1, our traditional Christian education classes will be replaced with a church-wide brunch in Fellowship Hall to officially kick off our 2009 Lenten project. Speakers from the Rochester-based organization Water for Sudan and the city soup kitchen Salem Nutrition Center will speak to us about the work of their organizations.

Please join us! February 8 – Meeting Abraham Again For the First Time We learned about him in Sunday School as children, but how much do we really know about “Father Abraham?” Come, meet him again during this live interview with the old man himself. You might just learn something new! These classes/events will be held during Christian Education time following the worship service.

Mid-Week Daytime Class! Finding God in the Questions

Come join our study and discussion group as we read and discuss the book, “Finding God in the Questions” by Dr. Timothy Johnson. In this remarkable book, Dr. Timothy Johnson, medical editor for ABC News, discloses his deeply personal journey of faith. With the author, we will investigate the plausibility of God’s existence and explore the significance of the person of Jesus. Classes are held Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – noon in the Snow Room. There will be a $10 fee per book. Join us. Drop-ins welcome!

NOTE: There will be NO adult ed. classes on Feb. 15 or 22 due to Feb. break. Classes will resume on Mar.1.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

Family News Children’s Chapel Students Sharing Their Love with Senior Valentine Luncheon Guests During January, our Children’s Chapel students have been learning about the importance of trusting God. They’ve focused on the Bible passage from Isaiah 30:21, which says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” After their short chapel service, the students have been very busy making place cards and table decorations to share their love with the “seniors” who attend the youth group’s Senior Valentine Luncheon on February 8.

Preschoolers & Elementary Students: Learning About Christ’s Life and Ministry During the month of February, our students in the rotation program will complete their study on the life of Christ. They’ll learn about his baptism, and his ministry as an adult.

Attend Family Movie Night! February. 6! Don’t miss our ever-popular family movie night on Friday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. featuring the recently released hit, “Madagascar 2!” The movie will be shown in Upper Fellowship Hall. Snacks included. Guests may wear PJs and bring pillows and sleeping bags, if desired! Sign up in Fellowship Hall (or call the church office 223-0224).

****ATTENTION**** -NO CHURCH SCHOOLFEBRUARY 1. All are invited to attend the Lenten KickOff Brunch immediately following worship in Fellowship Hall.

****THERE IS NO CHURCH SCHOOL ON FEB. 15 OR 22 DUE TO FEB. BREAK.****

JYF/SYF NEWS Junior & Senior High Classes to Host “Senior” Valentine Lunch: Feb. 8 During Christian education time on Feb. 8, the Junior and Senior High classes will be preparing for the Senior Valentine Lunch to be held from 11:30 – 1 p.m. on that day. Sign up to help on the Youth Group bulletin board in Fellowship Hall!

JYF & SYF Girls: REVOLVE TOUR Is Here -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: $47 and includes lunch.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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

Annual Church Financial Meeting Correction The Board of Trustees would like to clarify two statements made during the church’s Annual Financial Meeting. The first statement dealt with the performance of the Endowment Fund, and although accurate, it was misleading. The market value of the Endowment Fund as of December 31, 2008 was $379,095.68. This is a 37% decrease in market value from the $600,964.24 as of December 31, 2007. Instead of communicating true market value, we communicated the amount recorded on the balance sheet which is equivalent to the fund’s contributions and dividends earned or $439,791.35. The practice of reporting contributions and dividends paid instead of true market value has been an accepted practice for more than 10 years. To ensure an accurate and transparent understanding of Church finances we are reviewing this reporting practice now and will inform the congregation if any change is made. The second clarification is associated with the Budget Line item “Previous Years Giving”. We informed the congregation that this line item is actual surplus net revenue from the previous year’s budget carried forward into the coming year. The correct statement should have been “Previous Years Giving are funds pledged from the previous year, but not collected in the year pledged”. To clarify further, any and all surplus net revenue realized from 2008 are placed into reserves (checking) and not counted as revenue in the coming year. The Board of Trustees regrets the above errors and we will work to ensure these errors are not repeated. Sincerely, Ed McGrattan Submitted by Board of Trustees, Concurred by Jim Dudley, Church Treasurer

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

Social Entrepreneurship/Green Vendor Marketplace November 20 & 21, 2009 How many times have you heard: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”? This ideal is the core of the growing Social Entrepreneurship movement. Social Entrepreneurs are business owners who place fair trade practices as a cornerstone of their business strategy. These businesses may provide pathways for developing countries to get products to market, or within our local community helping disabled or unemployed, poor or displaced individuals find meaningful work and improve their lives. There are numerous examples of these organizations in Rochester: Kingdom Ventures, One World Goods, Healthy Sister’s Soup & Bean Works, ABVI-Goodwill and more. Additionally the marketplace will also celebrate businesses who provide positive examples of environmental and resource conservation. Purchasing from these organizations supports our belief that as Christians we are to care for the Earth and be thankful for our many blessings. In November as we all start thinking about Thanksgiving and the upcoming gift giving season, our church will provide an opportunity for people to give a double gift: once as individuals purchase a gift for a loved one, and once as their purchase helps a needy individual or community progress towards independence or support environmentally conscious practices. How can you help? Help us name the event! Send us your ideas for a clever and simple name that

will convey the greater purpose of our marketplace to others in our community. Help us find vendors! If you are aware of a vendor that might be appropriate for our marketplace, please let us know. We are actively looking for at least twenty vendors. Please send event name, vendor or other event suggestions to Crista Deniz ([email protected]) or Sondra Franzen ([email protected]). Event names suggestions should be submitted by February 28, 2009 for consideration.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Learn more about Partners in Caring, a volunteer program that provides nonmedical care giving to older adults in their homes. Develop friendships while performing light housekeeping, yard work, meal preparation, reassurance phone calls, reading, or errands. Give back to the community one neighbor at a time. Great way to start the New Year. Call 244-8400 x177 for more information.