Summer, 2008
“THERE
IS A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN.”
This
summer is a corner for South Church.
As we say good-bye to Mark Diters, who has faithfully served this church
for over 10 years, we make a turn.
God brought him here as the ministry of the church grew to focus on
youth and Christian education, even as he was called as a generalist to assist
in the over all ministry of the church.
It is evident to me that his work has born much fruit, the most obvious
being the Appalachian Service Project, which this summer gathers our largest
mission trip to date. Of course,
there are many less visible fingerprints that Mark has left on South Church in
the areas of committee work, pastoral care and personal relationships, that
have helped to shape the ministry here.
We are indeed grateful to God for the work he has done among us.
We
will celebrate this turn in his life and ours at two events, one focused on
youth in late July, and the other, on August 24, when he preaches at his last
service here and we host a brunch on his behalf. It is important to take the time to thank him for his
ministry here at South Church and share some stories of your common
history. It is important to
actually say, “Good-bye.”
It
is important to say “Good-bye” because turning a corner, we will all have to
say “Hello” to a new time and new people.
South Church, in no uncertain terms, will continue its commitment to
Christian Education for children and ministry to youth, even as our staffing
takes a new shape. We are hiring a
part time person for youth ministry and for our Christian Education work. Committees are interviewing people this
month and we will begin a new program year with staff people in place.
God
has been very good to us, and as we turn this corner, we can trust that God’s
goodness will continue—for Mark and South Church—as we each follow the Spirit’s
call to minister God’s love to the world.
Peace,
Denny
Carrying through to Sunday, September 7th (Homecoming Sunday) our worship hour will be at 9:30 AM with only one service offered each week. ________________________________________________________________________
DOG
DAYS OF SERMONS: WORSHIP THROUGH
AUGUST
It is a delight to be with you and worship together
this summer. Remember, there is a
program each service for 2nd grade and under. And, kids are invited to bring a bag
with an object in it for an on-the-spot lesson that Mark or Denny will
create. If we have too many
objects, we will carry it into the fall.
August 10th is a delightfully different Sunday because
Gale Grayson will be preaching.
She is coming under care of the Farmington Valley Association’s
Ministerial Committee in an effort to discern a call to ministry. Our Deacons will be standing beside her
in this effort.
August 24th is a very special day in the life of South
Church as we bid farewell to Rev. Mark Diters and celebrate his ministry among
us. He will be preaching at
worship and we will share a meal and program following the service.
—
July 20: Genesis 28:10-19a. “Angels Ascending
and Descending.”
—
July 27: Romans 8:26-39; Genesis 29:15-28.
—
August 3:
Matthew 14:13-21; Genesis 32:22-31.
—
August 10: Gale Grayson preaches.
—
August 17: Genesis 45:1-15.
“All Is Forgiven.”
—
August 24: Farewell
to Mark Diters
—
August 31: Exodus
3:1-15. “Through the Eyes and Ears of God.”
INTERESTED
IN SCRIPTURE READING?
Traditionally
at South Church, the deacons have read the scripture lesson during Sunday
morning service. That wonderful
honor and enriching opportunity is now open to anyone who is interested in
participating in the service in this way.
If this is something you have always wanted to do, or are now interested
in doing, we welcome you to please give us a call! We will provide more information and training. No need to be shy, you are among
friends. Please call Jill Ricci
(653-5321), Bill Percival (653-6411), or Linda at the Church Office
(653-7289).
THANK
YOU!
Thanks again to the office volunteers who help out
with the Sunday bulletin and monthly SouthWind: Lois and Harry Baronian (bulletins) and Deb Gottschalk (SouthWind). Your assistance is greatly appreciated!
Youth
News and HAPPENINGS!!
ASP 2008“Not by force, nor by strength…but by
the Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6)
THANKS to all of you who supported our fund raising
efforts! We are anxiously looking
forward to our trip to Omar, West Virginia, leaving July 11th and returning
July 20th. Please keep us in your
prayers.
CONFIRMATION 2009
On Sunday, June 15th, a Confirmation planning
session was held for students who will be in 9th grade in the fall (and
one parent) and would like to be part of South Church's 2009 Confirmation
class. If you haven’t already, please send your 2 mentor choices to
Denny ASAP. His e-mail address is: denny@southchurch.necoxmail.com.
SUNDAY
SCHOOL NEWS
Kaleidoscope
Corner Celebrates a Great Year!
We have traveled to the Garden of Eden and journeyed
with Paul. We have listened to
God’s call and wondered about the millions of stars in the sky. We have baked, painted, played games,
heard stories and learned songs.
And that’s just for starters!
Thank you to all who have made our first year such a
success! CE will be working to
expand this group of volunteers over the summer. We have a great line up of workshops next year so PLEASE
join us as we all enjoy learning from one another.
A mailing will be going out during the summer with
registration information and ideas for how you can help. Please contact Maggie Burnett
(844-8384) or Kathy Pidgeon (844-8468) with any questions or concerns.
Articles for the Homecoming edition
of the SouthWind are due in the church office by noon on Wednesday,
August 20th. Articles
for the Sunday bulletin are due by
Tuesday of each week. Your help with these deadlines is
appreciated.
As
the summer progresses we rely on volunteers from the congregation to provide
special music
for our Sunday morning
worship.
This
is the schedule through the month of July:
— July 6: Pam Pestretto, flute
— July 13: Denny
and friends
— July 20: Handbell
Sextet
— July 27: The
Quartet
We
appreciate these "musical offerings" and encourage others to
volunteer. Bruce Porter's E-mail is: pegville@cox.net
RECRUITMENT
FOR THE YEAR 2008-2009
By Bruce Porter, Director of Music
If you have been thinking of joining a singing choir
or handbell choir, NOW IS THE TIME....
My
E-mail is: pegville@cox.net Talk to
me!
Sooner than you think the new Christian Year will
be underway and that includes all the various shades and styles of music
that we enjoy at South Church ranging from Blues and Dixieland
through new gospel arrangements up to and including traditions classical
favorites.
In order to fulfill our goal to bring interesting
and varied music to our Lord's Day services, we need to constantly focus
on bringing in new participants.
We
have:
— Chancel Choir
— Handbell Ringers
— Youth Handbell Band
— Christmas Children's Choir
New members are always welcome!
GOOD
NEWS !!!
Save Our Steinway (SOS) project
has reached a milestone! An important part of the project was to acquire a good
quality rehearsal piano to replace the venerable Steinway when, after her
restoration, she goes to grace our Sanctuary. Thanks to a stroke of luck and good timing, we were able to
find a fine piano at the Goodspeed Opera piano sale, and at a very competitive
price. And, just in time!
Early in July, the Steinway (used for years as the
rehearsal instrument) will go to undertake her restoration. This is a real "leap of
faith", since we have raised, to date, $24,000 (cash and pledges) of the
$35,000 needed to complete the project.
Thank you, generous folks, who have energized this
effort. Only $11,000 to go! We
love you!
Your Music Committee, Chancel Choir, Bell Choir,
Children's Choir, soloists, guest performers and the Ancient Angels’ Quartet!
FAMILY PICNIC
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 12:00
– 4:00 PM
SALMON BROOK PARK
Join us for a fun time at Salmon Brook Park on Sunday August 3rd from 12:00 to 4:00 PM. We will meet at the pavilion near the brook. Bring your own picnic and games! The Fellowship Committee will provide the charcoal, fire, paper goods, music and watermelon. Questions, call Lee French at 653-7138.
SAVE THE DATES!!!!!
Good-Bye Celebrations for Mark
—
Thursday, July 24th
6:00 PM in the back field
Come join us for BBQ, games and fun!
—
Sunday, August 24th
Following the 9:30 AM worship
service
Come join us for a special brunch held in Mark’s honor!
Contact
Maggie Burnett (844-8384), Maggie Percival (653-6411) or
Jay
Durej (653-4258) with any questions.
AUSTIN LIBRARY NEWS
“What is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days.” The poet was right, but the best day of
all for us was Children’s Sunday when we had the privilege to ride to the
church in Joyce’s overstuffed, and very stuffy, purse. We perched on the back of the pew and
watched all the festivities, the culmination of a year of Kaleidoscope
Corner. We had seen bits and
pieces of the year because, of course, it took place in the Parish Hall, but
this time we saw the puppets, and the songs, and the chocolate apples, and the
crazy spatula puppets. What a
treat! Uncle Aloysius nearly fell
into the collection plate because he was so enthralled with the littlest tots
passing the offering plates. Alice
kept saying, “Awww,” as the children touched her with their program. I even climbed briefly on Joyce’s head
so I could see the kids lying on their pillows waiting for God’s call with
Samuel. Nobody else seemed to
notice us because the kids were so entrancing. Hope you were there.
Now
that summer is here, the library is still open if you can get into the
building. Check with the office
for help. Please come—it’s
dreadfully quiet now that the Sunday school is on vacation. Not many books have gone out this
spring, but there are lots of great stories just waiting to be enjoyed. We haven’t decided where we’ll go for
our vacation, but perhaps it’ll be to the new Simsbury Library, which, we
understand, is much bigger and of course, has AC. We must make arrangements soon for the bookworm mobile to
pick us up. The trip isn’t long,
but we have heard we need reservations during this busy season. We won’t be gone all summer—look for us
when you come in.
Have
a blessed summer,
AL, Alice, and
Uncle Aloysius
If you would like to honor your loved ones by
providing the Altar
Flowers on a Sunday during the summer,
please sign up in Fellowship Hall, or call the church office for more
information (653-7289).
During the summer, Coffee Hour is replaced by, “fellowship
hour” which features lemonade and a
plate of goodies. Please take this
opportunity to share with the congregation by signing up in Fellowship Hall to
host one Sunday.
☼ JULY/AUGUST AT A
GLANCE ☼
|
Sunday, July 6: Worship
Service Sanctuary 9:30
AM Friday, July 11: ASP leaves Sunday, July 13: Worship
Service Sanctuary
9:30 AM Tuesday, July 15: Deacons
Teale Rm.
6:30 PM Sunday, July 20: Worship
Service Sanctuary
9:30 AM ASP returns Tuesday, July 22: Steering Parlor
7:00 PM Thursday, July 24 Mark’s celebration Field 6:00 PM Sunday, July 27: Worship
Service Sanctuary
9:30 AM Sunday, August 3: Worship
Service Sanctuary 9:30
AM Family Picnic Salmon
Brook Park 12:00 PM Tuesday, August 5: Men’s Ministry
Library
7:30 PM |
Thursday, August 7: Membership Library
7:00 PM Sow & Reap
Parlor
7:30 PM Friday, August 8: Wedding
Sanctuary
5:00 PM Sunday, August
10: Worship
Service Sanctuary
9:30 AM Tuesday, August 12: Christian Ed Parlor
7:00 PM Christian Concern Teale Rm 7:00
PM Property
Library
7:00 PM Saturday, August 16: Wedding Sanctuary
4:30 PM Sunday, August 17: Worship
Service Sanctuary
9:30 AM Tuesday August 19: Steering
Parlor
7:00 PM Sunday, August 24: Worship
Service Sanctuary
9:30 AM Mark’s Celebration Fellowship Hall 10:30 AM Sunday, August 31: Worship
Service Sanctuary
9:30 AM Wedding Fellowship
Hall 10:30 AM |