In this Issue:
Vol. 3 No. 8
Covering 4/8/07 - 4/21/2007
THE NEXT TWO ROCK SPRING NEWS DEADLINES ARE MONDAY APRIL 9 &
MONDAY APRIL 23
Sunday April 8, 2007
Isa. 65:17-25
Acts 10:34-43
Luke 24:1-12
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24
1 Cor 15:19-26
John 20:1-18
Sunday April 15, 2007
Psalm 150
Revelation 1:4-8
John 20:19-31
WORSHIP COMMITTEE SEEKS
INPUT
The Worship Committee is a subcommittee of the Board of Deacons. Its role is to discuss the ways in which
worship meets the needs of the congregation. The pastoral staff are ex-officio members. Other members are Mike Laub, Chair; Becky Halbe,
Margie Mayer, Cheryl Ramp, Jay Fellows, Hamilton Brown. We would appreciate your feedback and input. - Mike Laub,
pmlaub@aol.com 703-536-5468.
PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR NOW - FOR ALL AGES AND STAGES
The 2007 Rock Spring Sock Hop Friday, April 13, 7:00 to 9:30 in Carpenter Hall.
Featuring: The best of 50's and 60's music - live band performance - games and prizes - food and bev -
locomotion and limbo - wear your period clothing if you've got 'em - yes, it's FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH - DJ in action - let's dance - a JFFL
Production. Questions? Call Dwight Rodgers 703-534-8879 (after March 23). Be There Or Be Square.
APRIL 18TH LADIES LUNCH OUT AT MAGIANNO'S
All Rock Spring women are invited to join our monthly excursions to area restaurants for fun and fellowship.
This month we will travel to Tyson II shopping mall where we will enjoy Italian favorites served family style. The price will be $17.00 and we will
meet at the restaurant at noon, Arpil 18th. Please call or e mail Barbara LaPlante if you want to join in the fun. 703-533-1928, barbara@barbaralaplante.
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
Spring is here, and it's time to think about the Strawberry Festival. Mark your calendars for Saturday,
May 19, and watch this space for more information.
PROPERTY BOARD
Needs your help. Spring is here and with it comes the Property Board's Spring Clean-Up of the church grounds on Saturday April 14 from 9:00 am to
noon. If you would like to help us out please contact Marti Ulken at 703-527-4291 or by email
martiulken@msn.com
GOT YoRS?
Confirmation
Confirmation Sunday is May 20, 2007. We're coming down the home-stretch for this year's class. Over
the next several weeks, we will be designing our celebration for Confirmation Sunday, preparing our Affirmations of Faith, and beginning to plan for
Life Beyond Confirmation!
Parents, please look for an informational mailing in the next week.
Mission Trip
This summer, our Senior High and College-age youth will be venturing to Harlan, Kentucky to engage in a week of
hands-on mission with with Christian Outreach with Appalachian People (COAP). The mission trip will take place over the week of July
1-8.
To date, there are 14 youth and 5 adults signed up for the trip. Please keep your eyes out for
opportunities to help our youth go and serve in the name of Rock Spring.
Synod Trip
Did you know that every other year, the United Church of Christ meets for a national gathering called General
Synod? Did you know that last time, we sent some of our youth to discover all that they could about Synod? Did you know that we're
sending two youth to Synod this year? Synod takes place from June 21-25, in Hartford, Connecticut.
Look for their report in the July edition of the RSN!
EARTH DAY EVENT: Sunday, April 22 is Earth
Day! The Eco-Justice Committee is planning a special worship service for Earth Day and an after-service event that day, featuring rainbarrels,
free garden seedlings, a plant swap/sale, Arlington's Green Living Challenge, and other information to help us all live more gently on God's
earth. Come join us!!
GREEN ACTION:
This week, remind yourself to recycle glass bottles and jars at home. If you already do that, then go for a walk in your neighborhood, or on a
nearby trail, and look for glass and other recyclables to pick up. Make sure you take the cap, cork or ring off the bottle or jar before
putting it in the recycling bin. Did you know the energy saved from recycling one glass bottle will light a 100-watt light bulb for four
hours? Try it! Brought to you by Rock Spring's Eco-Justice Committee.
VIRTUAL
COMMITTEE
FORMING
Join the Centennial Planning Committee which will operate as a virtual
committee (though if you don't have a computer you can still join in).
Help with developing a five year game plan for celebrating 2012, Rock
Spring's centennial year. Seems far away, but we need to look now at
things that might have long lead times. Members could take on tasks
like figuring out potential projects and approximating their cost.
For example, someone might look at commissioning a piece of music in
honor of the centennial and work with Elizabeth Niblock on how and when
we would
do so. Someone could talk or email with Rev Hank on how to involve the
youth of Rock Spring. Someone could work with committee member
Dana
Kluegel on how to update our our history. All ideas are welcome. Also
welcome is advice from those Rock Springers who planned the 75th
anniversary. We need to hear about the challenges you faced. Contact
Gail Howell at jlhowell@cavtel.net or call her at
703-532-6779.
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April 5
Maundy Thursday
Tenebrae Communion Service, 7:30 pm
Child Care
April 6
Good Friday
Private Meditation & Prayer
Sanctuary, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
***
April 8
Easter Sunday
Sunrise Service in the Atrium, 6:30 am
Hank Fairman
Sanctuary Celebrations, 9:00 and 11:00 am
Chuck Wildman, preaching
"Amazing!"
***
April 15
Second Sunday of Easter
Worship & Church School, 9:00 & 11:00 am
Chuck Wildman, preaching
"I Doubt It!"
HAVE A MINUTE?
by Chuck Wildman
Easter is God's offering of light to a world living in darkness.
To a world bloodied by war and huddled in dark corners of fear, Easter brings a vision of the clear skies of peace.
When we feel our vulnerability waiting in the airport security check-in line, Easter brings a reminder of where our real security lies.
When hate seems to have the last word, Easter breaks through with the First Word of holy Love.
Amazing! Amazing grace...for us!
Do we believe in such a God? Do we believe God's love and grace for us? ...for our bloodied, code orange world? No matter!
Easter is God's way of saying that, no matter what we believe, God still believes in us!
EASTER
by Elva Merrell
Can you just imagine how wonderful it was, after going through that difficult ordeal the few days before,
some people saw and heard Jesus.
Whether I believed it or not, to this day I love the stories of Jesus.
Because of this I want to share with you something that happened to me for about 30 seconds in 1983.
And it seems like just yesterday.
Mother Merrell (at age 92) had "passed on" and we attended the funeral in Ohio.
About 10 (?) days later, here in Arlington Virginia, when I was quietly sitting in the
car alone
waiting for a red light at the corner of Lee Highway and Lexington Street,
there was suddenly a tiny swirl of electricity and there She was in the seat beside me.
She was beautifully dressed exactly as she always was.
She said, "I am very happy."
And then she was gone.
IN REMEMBRANCE -
FREDERIQUE STEPHENS
We give thanks for Frederique Stephens and her life with us at Rock Spring. Frederique died March 20 in Goodwin House Bailey's where she lived for
many years. A memorial service was held at Rock Springon April 2 with interment in Memorial Terrace. Memorial gifts may be given to the
Pastors' Discretionary Fund or the Parkinson's Association. Frederique was a long-time member of Rock Spring, raising her children, Ann and Rob here
as
a single mother while working as a tireless and dedicated social worker in Washington, DC. We give thanks for Frederique's live of love and
service to her family, church and community.
Memorial Service for Olive Swinney-
April 14, 3:00 pm, Sanctuary (child care)
Interment Service for Maxine Kiefer-
April 21, 11:30 am, Memorial Terrace
Memorial Service for Nettie Wesselink
April 11, 4:00 pm, Sanctuary
Please keep these people in special prayers...Del Anderson (surgery)...Earl
Graffam...Larry Woodward. We give thanks for the birth of Meghan Katherine Rodgers on
March 26 to her parents Lyn & Owen Rodgers and proud grandparents Dwight & Laurie Rodgers.
Happy Belated Birthday to Don Bauman (March 24) and to Chuck Wildman (March
29)!
Hank Fairman - Letter of transfer, First Congregational Church UCC, Saint Joseph, MI
James Brooks - Associate Member
Retaining his childhood membership at First Christian Church, Falls Church, VA, joining with his spouse
Laura Graves - Confession of Faith with Baptism. Nurtured in the Unitarian Church pf Bellevue, WA. Jim & Laura are expecting their first
child in
June.
Lucy Carlson - Letter of Transfer from old Presbyterian Meeting House, Alexandria, VA. Lucy and her husband, Jared have two sons, Ben and
Sam
Richard Jay Lee - Letter of Transfer from Bethel United Church of Christ, Arlington, VA. Joining with his spouse-
Susan Peters - Letter of Transfer. Susan has two adult children.
Richard Peabody - Letter of Transfer from Bethesda United Methodist Church, joining with his spouse-
Margaret Grosh - Reaffirmation of Faith, raised in the Roman Catholic Church. Richard and Margaret have two active young daughters, Twyla &
Laurel.
Chris Maness - Letter of Transfer from the Federated Church of Weatherford, OK. He is joining with his fiancee -
Catherine Goodrich - who comes on Reaffirmation of Faith, having been nurtured in the Episcopal Church in Oregon.
Erika Trost - letter of Transfer from Mayflower Cong'l, Grand Rapids, MI. Erika and her husband, David Schwab, have two children,
Kate age 4, and Elizabeth, 3 mos.
Matthew Thomas - Letter of Transfer from First Cong'l UCC, Greeley CO, joining with his spouse,
Susan Thomas, also by Letter of Transfer form First Cong'l UCC, Greeley CO.
Stephen Xenakis - Reaffirmation of faith, joining with his spouse-
Marianne Szegedy-Maszak - Reaffirmation of faith. Steve and Marianne were
married at Rock Spring. Their family includes Marrianne's wonderful daughter, Joia LaRoche and Steve's two adult children.
WOMEN'S RETREAT 2007
Making Sacred Time; Making Time Sacred
Saturday, May 12, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Reserve your spot now for this year's Rock Spring women's retreat, on Saturday May 12, in Carpenter Hall. This year we'll explore different ways to
carve out "sacred time" in our busy lives through prayer, meditation and other spiritual practices, and how to make everyday life more sacred by
walking attentively and intentionally with the Spirit.
This year's retreat leader will be the Rev. Anne Holmes, a United Church of Christ minister from Northern Virginia. Anne is a clinically trained
minister, having worked in psychiatric, VA, general medical and trauma hospitals. She currently works with churches and clergy in the Potomac
Association and is a retreat leader and consultant to churches. A graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School, Anne is the first open lesbian to be
ordained in any denomination. She was ordained by the UCC (Potomac Association) in 1982.
As always, the retreat will feature small group discussions and opportunities to get to know Rock Spring women of all ages better. The registration
fee of $40 includes lunch.
You may pick up a printed registration flyer in the Saegmuller Room. Or simply include the information below in a note with your check for $40 made
payable to Women's Fellowship of Rock Spring Church and send it to:
Eileen Jinks, 4628 38th St., N., Arlington, 22207.
When sending in your registration fee, please give us the following information:
• Name/Address/Phone/E-mail (if available)
• Please indicate if you prefer a vegetarian option for lunch or have other special food requirements.
• Also let us know if you need transportation assistance.
Registration closes May 1. After that date, we cannot provide a refund, but you may find a substitute to take your place. Hope to see you there!
Questions? Contact Eileen Jinks (703.532.7472) ejinks@comcast.net or Judy McDowell (703.536.6152) judykmcd@verizon.net.
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JFFAL - What is it?
JFFAL - Just For Fun And Laughter - is a Rock Spring group which
sponsors social occasions with the purpose of providing times for our
community to gather to share fun & fellowship. These events
include: Progressive Dinner, Harvest Breakfast, Pumpkin Carving
party, theater events and more.
For more information or to join JFFAL contact Barbara Wright
BWright@nea.org; Robin Overholt overholj@yahoo.com or Donna
Cartwright dvogt@earthlink.net
PROGRESSIVE DINNER
SATURDAY
MAY 5TH
Come
join us for one of the social highlights of the Rock Spring year. JFFAL is sponsoring this annual event on Saturday May 5th.
What is a progressive dinner?
• A fun adult social event
• Social hour at one home
• Dinner at another house - each person contributes to the dinner
• Everyone gathers at Carpenter Hall for dessert and further socializing.
• Cost: $5 / person
• Evening begins at 5:30 pm and ends by 9:30pm.
Sign-ups will be taken after church on April 15th, 22nd & 29th. Don't be left out, April 29 at church is the last day to sign up.
Hosts needed for Social hours and Dinners.
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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND:
Rock Spring Bible Basics
A three session survey for newcomers and for those needing a refresher.
Week One - Sunday, April 29 - All 66 (or is it 81?) books- structure - when? - by whom? Why these books?
Week Two - Sunday, May 6 - The New Testament with particular attention to Luke and Acts.
Week Three - Sunday, May 20 - The Old Testament with particular attention to Genesis and Exodus.
All sessions will be held in the Hunter Classroom Wing, second floor, last classroom on the left from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m. sharp. Coffee and
tea provided, feel free to bring a snack. Interested? Tell Dwight Rodgers in person, or at 703-534-8879, or at laurierodgers@verizon.net
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 |
|
