In this Issue:
Vol. 3 No. 6
Covering 2/11/07 - 2/24/2007
Staff Doings
Sunday, March 11
Third Sunday in Lent
Amistad Sunday
Chuck Wildman, preaching
Daylight Savings Time begins
Sunday, March 18
Fourth Sunday in Lent
One Great of Hour Offering
Chuck Wildman, preaching
Special Congregational Meeting, 12:30 pm
Lenten Vesper Services
Wednesdays, 7:00-7:30 pm
THE NEXT TWO ROCK SPRING NEWS DEADLINES ARE MONDAY MARCH 12 &
MONDAY MARCH 26
Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Luke 13:1-9
Sunday March 18, 2007
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
With an emergency trip to the McMex of Chipotle, we enjoyed the President's Day weekend! Now, it's time
for Breakfast!
Okay, Here's the Fun: You need to bring a "normal" breakfast item that illiterates with your name.
For example, Jennifer can bring Juice or Jicama, or Jook Rice...Some staples will be provided (Ben, don't
bring the Bacon! Ed, we've got the Eggs). Be creative! See
you in Carpenter Hall @ 1:00 on Sunday!
Upcoming Senior High YoRS dates (Remember, we're meeting at 1:00 on Sundays!):
Mar 11 - Let's do dessert for lunch!
PARENTS!! You are welcome to join us for the 2007 Summer Mission Trip Info Session.
The dates for this year's trip are July 2-9, in Harlan, KY (Big thanks
to Amy for organizing the trip!). Info sheets and specifics will be
available shortly.
Bring your calendar, and your checkbook (we need to make our reservation deposit).
Mar 18 - Opa!! It's all Greek to me!
Mar 25 - Pastor Hank's Service of Installation (Plan on the
SH/YoRS having a part!!)
April 1 - Palm Sunday/First Sunday of Spring
Break. Are we meeting?
April 8 - Easter Sunday. No SH/YoRS. Eat the chocolate
bunny for lunch!
STAFF NOTES:
Ben Eckman is on vacation March 14-16, Janet Parker will be traveling to Chicago to speak at a Loyola University
conference on "Peacemaking in an Age of Terrorism" on March 20-22.
She will be presenting her paper, "An Alternative Approach to Counter-Terrorism: Wisdom from the World Council of Churches" which she presented
at the Society of Christian Ethics meeting in January. She will return to Arlington on March 24.
SPECIAL CARING MINISTRY RESOURCE AND SHARING SESSION: On Hospice
Care: Saturday, March 17, 9:30-12:00 noon.
The Caring Ministry Program of Rock Spring invites all Rock Springers to come to our March 17th Resource and
Sharing Session which will focus on learning about various aspects of hospice care and what you need to know about visiting or supporting people who
are receiving hospice care. Even if you are not currently involved in our caring ministry program, you are welcome to come and learn about this
important topic.
This session will feature two speakers. Debbie Sheetz, from Capital Hospice, will provide an informative
overview of hospice care and the services available through Capital hospice. Following Debbie's presentation, hospice chaplain Diana Gomez de
Molina will speak about what we need to know to visit and offer pastoral care for people on hospice. Following the speakers, lay caregivers
will have the opportunity to break into small groups to share recent care giving experiences and to reflect on the speakers' presentations.
Rock Springers not involved in the caring ministry program will have an opportunity for small group discussion as well. We hope you will join
us. Please RSVP to Ellen Swain ellenswain@verizon.net if you will attend.
LENTEN FORUM:
The War on Terror and Just Peacemaking Theory Wednesday, March 28, 7:40-9:00 pm, Saegmuller Room
Join Janet Parker on the last Wednesday in Lent to discuss the papers
which she and two other Christian ethicists presented at the Society of
Christian Ethics meeting in January and the Loyola University
conference on "Peacemaking in an Age of Terrorism" in March.
Participants will
have the opportunity to read all three papers from the panel, including
Pamela Brubaker's critique of Jean Bethke Elshtain's use of the just
war
tradition to support the war on terror, Janet's paper on the World
Council of Churches' approach to counter terrorism, and Glen Stassen's
paper on
the application of just peacemaking theory to the challenge of
terrorism. Papers may be picked up in the church office, or requested
by email
from janet@rockspringucc.org. The forum will begin after the Lenten Vespers
service.
GREEN ACTION:
Many household cleaners contain toxic ingredients that are unhealthy for people and the environment. There are many safer, environmentally
friendly products that you can use instead. One of the best all-purpose cleaners is baking soda, which can be used to clean sinks, bathtubs,
toilets, ovens, and much more. This week, sprinkle some baking soda into your sink or bathtub and scrub it clean. Try it! Brought to you
by Rock Spring's Eco-Justice Committee.
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THE POTOMAC ASSOCIATION of the
CENTRAL ATLANTIC CONFERENCE and
ROCK SPRING CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
invite you to celebrate the
The Installation
of
Reverend Henry E. "Hank" Fairman
as the
Pastor for Children, Youth and Families
of
Rock Spring Congregational
United Church of Christ
Sunday, the Twenty-fifth of March
Two Thousand Seven
Ecclesiastical Council ~ 3:00 p.m.
Service of Installation ~ 4:00 p.m.
with reception following in
the Saegmuller Room
**************
Call to Congregational Meeting
All members of Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ are hereby called by Church Council to a
Special Meeting of the Congregation
Sunday, March 18
12:30 pm
Sanctuary
Agenda:
1.) To receive and act upon Council's proposed amendments to the Church's Open and Affirming
Statement.
2.) To receive and act upon any other business appropriate to come before the meeting.
Respectfully,
Denise Calvert, Clerk of the Church
The proposed amendments and supporting documents are available from:
-The Church office
-The narthex
-The Saegmuller Room
Back to top
HAVE A MINUTE?
Chuck Wildman
This winter has been hectic in Washington and at Church. In addition to coping with challenging ice storms and frustrating school closings, many
families are fighting stubborn health issues. Some are facing special job pressures.
All of us are affected by the daily news. With reporter Bob Woodruff's new televised reports and The Washington Post's revelations of
conditions at Walter Reed we are forced to readjust our understanding of
the dangers our troops are in, the real number and nature of war injuries, the apparent inadequacy of our stateside medical facilities for these
returning veterans, and the staggering societal cost for decades to come. I am among those who feel outrage and despair.
At Church, marriage equality discussions have absorbed many hours and much energy as we have learned and grown together. As a leadership
congregation in the progressive tradition, Rock Spring is among a handful of churches that build a trail for others to follow. Such work is
vital, if exhausting.
Lent reminds me that winter does not last. Darkness turns to light by which harried, despairing followers may yet find their way.
According to Matthew's Gospel, when Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, he quotes the great prophet, Isaiah (9:1-2) as he speaks words of hope to
the people at the coronation of the King Hezekiah. The words linger in Christian tradition as holy hope for our time (Matthew 4:16):
...the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those
who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawn.
IN REMEMBRANCE
Virginia (Ginny) Knull
We give thanks for Ginny Knull and her life with us at Rock Spring. Ginny died Feb. 21 in Irvington, Virginia after a two year struggle
with cancer. A memorial service was held at Westminster-Canterbury, their home for the last several years. It is difficult to think
of
Rock Spring Church without Ginny Knull, a founder and first teacher of the Rock Spring Preschool, Church School teacher, organizer of the Strawberry
Festival and
so much more. Our prayers are with her family.
Maxine Kiefer
A long time friend of Rock Spring, Maxine died recently in Boston where she was living near her son. Until recently,
Maxine lived in the Jefferson and attended Rock Spring on a regular basis. An interment service will be held at Memorial Terrace at a later
date. Maxine's husband is buried in the Terrace.
Please keep these people in special prayers...Del Anderson (surgery)...Netty Wesselink...Charlie
Per-Lee...Catherine Carlston...Donn Henricksen...Eleanor Basler...Bob Vandivier... Josh Lawton, son of Bettina Lawton, stationed in Iraq, and his fiancée,
Joanne Tower, soon to be deployed to Bagdad.
ANNA BARBER RELOCATING
Long-time member and community activist, Anna Barber is relocating to the New York City area to be near her son, Richard. Health concerns make
this move important at this time. Her move is scheduled for March 11. Cards, visits and phone calls can be made to Anna at Greenspring
Village until then. If visiting, please call ahead, 703-913- 3587 to see if the time is convenient. Her address is: 7442 Spring
Village Drive, Parkview, Apt. 315, Greenspring Village, Springfield, VA 22150. We wish God's speed to Anna in her new home and
recognize her countless contributions to Arlington and Northern Virginia. Many local helping organizations are the direct result of her
energetic advocacy.
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CONGREGATION DISCUSSES MARRIAGE EQUALITY
March 11: Final Listening and Discussion Session for the Proposed Revision of our Open and Affirming Statement
The congregation has been engaged in a process of studying and reflecting upon the topic of marriage equality since October of 2005, most intensively
since the fall of 2006. Over the past two months, a series of listening and discussion sessions have been held as part of the consultation process
for
the March 18 Congregational Meeting which has been called to consider a amendments to our Open and Affirming Statement. One
final session will be offered after both services on March 11. At this session, the congregation will have the chance to discuss, ask questions and
respond to the final version of the proposed revision to our ONA statement which was endorsed by Church Council on February 24, 2007. This
version has changed slightly from the previous Council-endorsed version from November 27, 2006. You may find the final, Council-endorsed
version, along with supporting and explanatory materials on this version and the entire process, on the Rock Spring web site under the Open and
Affirming section.
A WORD FROM TOM JOHNSON
I wrote a statement in January for
the "This I Believe" series sponsored by the Marriage Equality Study
Committee. (See RS News of Jan 23.) The essence of my statement was
this: The issue before us is what to call the ceremonies we perform
for same-sex couples; I do not regard this issue as very important; but
I can understand why some in the congregation attach great importance
to it,
and this is sufficient reason for me to support using the term
"marriage" to describe the ceremonies we perform for both same-sex and
heterosexual
couples. I addressed no other issues because this was all that the
marriage-equality resolution then before the congregation would have
done. The resolution now presented by the MESC, however, goes further
by adding an affirmation of "Rock Spring's commitment to witness ...in
broader public and political arenas" to the right of same-sex couples
to enjoy "the rights, responsibilities and protections of legally
recognized
marriage." I would have written a different statement last January had
the current resolution then been under consideration.
I would have added that I support fully equal rights for same-sex
couples. I would have added that it is the basket of fully equal
rights, not
the name by which it is known, that is truly important. I would have
urged that we seriously consider how our O&A statement might be
perceived
by the millions of our fellow Christians who share our commitment to
fully equal rights for same-sex couples but who have great trouble
using the
word "marriage" to describe such fully equal relationships. I would
have suggested that, out of respect for the views of these genuine
allies,
we should declare a guiding witness principal that unambiguously
champions fully equal rights for same-sex couples but avoids the
question of what
one calls the legal relationship that embodies those rights. And I
would have ended by quoting Virginia's greatest son, Thomas Jefferson:
"The
good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given
fulcrum, moves the world." I want to move the world; I do not want to
argue over a word.
Back to Top
The Church Staff
| Senior
Pastor |
Charles L. Wildman' |
|
Pastor for Parish Life
|
Janet L. Parker |
| Pastor for Children, Youth & Families |
Henry E Fairman |
| Director of Music |
Elizabeth Kluegel Niblock |
| Asst. Director of Music |
Edward Roberts |
|
Children's Music Ed. Director
|
Amy McDowell
|
| Office Administrator |
Ben Eckman |
| Administrative Assistant |
Lisa Mikell |
| Bookkeeper |
Lisa Mikell
|
| Property
Manager |
Don Bauman |
| Nursery
Supervisor |
Fern Lawrence |
| Infant Care
Supervisor |
Maria Elena Cortez |
|
Custodians
|
Willis Gardner &
Vicki Morales
|
| Bus Driver |
Rico Picarriello |
|
