In this Issue:
Vol. 3 No. 9
Covering 5/6/07 - 5/19/2007
May 6
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Communion
Chuck Wildman, preaching
May 13
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Festival of the Christian Home
Former Sr. Pastor, Sidney Lovett,
Guest Preacher
Sunday May 6, 2007
Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
Rev. 21:1-6
John 13:31-35
Sunday May 13, 2007
Acts 16:9-15
Psalm 67
Rev. 21:10,22,22:5 John 14:23-29
BEADS! BEADS!
BEADS!
by Flo Otstot
We will be selling beads again at the strawberry festival Sat. May 19th. Come and
help build up our inventory for sale at that time.
COME! Be inspired by the colors of Spring or our colorful bulletin
covers and create! Our workshops are for everyone - no experience
needed - come
and learn. Join the fellowship that grows in our gatherings.
Workshops in the
Archives
Room:
Wed. May 9th 10:00 am to 2:30 pm
& Mon. May 14th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
(note this is a change from our normal time)
PROPERTY BOARD THANKS WORKERS
The Property Board would like to to extend our appreciation to everyone
who came out on April 14th clean up day. Thank you to the church
members and
YoRS kids who lent their sure hands and sturdy backs. We were able to
accomplish quite a bit before the rains came. thanks again.
NEXT ROCK SPRING RESOURCE AND CARING
SESSION:
Tuesday, May 15, 7-9 pm. This will be a follow-up to the session held
on January 30th led by Don Britton that focused on
resources of faith. At the May session, Chuck Wildman will lead us in
further reflection on how to use the resources of our faith--scripture,
prayer,
and conversation about faith--in our visitation and caregiving. Please
RSVP to ellenswain@verizon.net if you plan to attend or if you would
like
more information.
SUNDAY 10:00
ADULT ED:
NEW GENESIS SERIES!
The 10:00 Adult Ed class meeting upstairs in the Hunter Education Wing
(in the last classroom on the left) is beginning a new series featuring
Professor Gary Rendsburg, Chair of Jewish Studies at Rutgers, on the
Book of Genesis. Each week the class will view a 30 minute video and
discuss. Professor Rendsburg is addressing questions of original
authors' intent, understanding of the text by the original audience,
interpretations of the text by Jewish and Christian communities, and
meanings of the text today. He addresses literary, historical,
theological, and archeological perspectives. The Genesis series will
last through August. Coffee is served. Questions? Call
Dwight Rodgers at 703-534-8879.
GREEN ACTION: To reduce gasoline consumption and improve air
quality, when your car is idling, shut off the engine if you expect to be stationary longer than thirty seconds. (Did you know that EPA and the
trucking industry are working together to create idle-free interstate corridors -- for example, idle-free truck stops?) Try it! Brought
to
you by Rock Spring's Eco-Justice Committee.

|
by Chuck Wildman
Too many careless words have been hastily
written
about the unspeakable tragedy at Virginia Tech,
too many prayers uttered by pious religious...
Words seem such ill-suited stand-ins for soulful emotions;
prayers 'naught but white butterfly whisps afloat on the breeze.
Yet one Word, formed and born long ago,
a Word incarnating our Parent's Love, flesh and bone,
crucified, given up for dead, is known alive again!
in Whom hope-filled words and faith-filled prayers find wings;
a reminder that no life is for naught... not one.
...The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for
words.
-Romans 8:26
SID LOVETT VISITS ROCK SPRING
Rev. Sidney Lovett, Rock Spring Senior Pastor from 1957-1966 and Interim Senior Pastor, 1967-68, will be guest preacher on Mother's Day, May
13. 2007 marks the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of Sid's ministry at Rock Spring. The Congregation welcomed Joan and Sidney Lovett
into membership on April 27, 1957. Sid is a national leader in the United Church of Christ. After leaving here, he served Union Congregational
UCC, Hinsdale, Illinois, then as Conference Minister of Central Atlantic Conference followed by a large church in the Massachusetts Conference.
In retirement, he returned to Rock Spring for a one year interim as Senior Pastor following Rev. George Booth's retirement. He now lives in
Holderness, NH and serves in the NH State Legislature. Joan Lovett died several years ago.
Please keep these people in special prayers... Larry Woodward...Donna Cartwright.... Charlie
Per-Lee...Congratulations to Carolyn & Steve Emery as they are grandparents again with the birth of Dylan Wei
Emery to
Charles & Christine Emery on April 20...Prayers for Janet & Allen Moore on the death of Janet's father.
IN REMEMBRANCE LARRY WOODWARD
Larry died early Sat., April 25 after a battle with cancer. He and his beloved spouse Nancy, who died several
years ago, were long time members of Rock Spring. We keep in our prayers sons Gary & Chip, & the family. A memorial service will be held at Rock
Spring on Friday
May 18th at 4:00 pm.
STAFF DOINGS
Janet Parker will be on vacation/study leave from May 21 through June 5, returning to the
office on June 6. Pastoral care needs normally referred to Janet should be directed to Chuck during this time.
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
The Women's Fellowship is sponsoring the strawberry festival on Saturday,
May 19, from 5:00 until 8:00 pm. The purpose of this event this year is to raise
money for the Rock Spring summer youth project. A dinner featuring
chicken and salad will be offered, and there will be plenty of fresh
strawberries and ice cream. At 6:00 Jacki Brown will conduct a live
auction. Your contributions of unusual, funny, interesting, or
beautiful
items will help make the auction both profitable and entertaining. If
you have items to donate, you may contact Gail Briggs 703 241-3707 or gailbriggs@comcast.net,
look for donation forms in the Saegmuller room and other strategic places,
or bring your item(s) to Carpenter Hall on May 18 or 19.
CALLING ALL GRADUATES:
Are you or someone in
your family graduating this spring from high school, college, graduate
school, or ? Send us word and we will include them in our June 3
Graduate Recognition services. Give us a short bio and photo, and we
will publish it in an insert. It's ok to brag a bit!! Bios &
Photos are due 5/25. Congratulations! For more information, please
contact Pastor Hank--hank@rockspringucc.org.
CONFIRMATION SUNDAY
is May 20. You are cordially invited to the Service of
Confirmation for the Class of 2007. Eight of our youth will affirm
their
baptismal promises, and join into the faith and fellowship of the
church universal, and the congregation of Rock Spring Church. Please
plan on
attending, and sharing in this special time of worship and celebration.
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GLOBAL WARMING PROGRAM:
May 20th at 7 PM in Carpenter Hall
Featuring Lise Van Susteren, MD
On Sunday evening May 20 at 7:00 PM in Carpenter Hall, Rock Spring's Eco-Justice Committee will sponsor a program on global
warming. Dr. Lise Van Susteren will present her Slide Show based on Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth.
Lise was trained by Gore in Nashville, and presents the slide show which became the basis of his highly acclaimed documentary. Her version
reflects her medical background and personal experience as well as the interests of her audience. She brings a personal passion to her
presentation of dramatic slides, startling graphs and persuasive arguments to demonstrate the urgency of the planet's climate crisis.
Additionally she makes a tie-in between global warming and other social justice issues such as Darfur. After the presentation, she is eager to
take questions, give practical energy saving tips, and strategize ways to take political action.
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, pmlaubd@gmail.com 703-536-5468.
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UCC Justice and Witness Ministry:
Spotlight on OWL
by Christina Fairman
Our Whole Lives, or OWL, is a comprehensive human sexuality curriculum
that was created through a joint venture of the United Church of Christ
and
the Unitarian Universalist Association. Our Whole Lives was created in
response to a need expressed by congregations in both denominations for
high-quality sexuality education resources. Comprehensive human
sexuality curriculums teach:
- that sexuality is a normal and healthy part of life,
- positive messages about sexuality including abstinence,
- and
accurate information about contraception and sexually transmitted
diseases.These curricula are inclusive in their philosophies and strive
to respect the diverse values and beliefs reflected by participants in
the programs.
OWL is designed to help
participants make responsible and informed decisions about their sexual
health.
It provides age-appropriate information for a variety of grade levels
in the areas of human development, sexual health, sexual behavior,
interpersonal skills, culture and society. The OWL curriculum itself
can be used in either a community or church setting. To further
complement the use of the curriculum in a church setting, the authors
created Sexuality and our Faith, a companion guide to each level of the
curriculum. The combined use of these two curricula aid participants in
developing and articulating their values. Participants explore how
they
can apply their values to their decision making process, allowing them
to make healthy choices about their relationships, sexual health and
sexual
expression.
Our Whole Lives goes beyond basic anatomy and health. The curriculum
also emphasizes emotions, values, respect and justice. In addition,
it teaches about the sacred aspect of sexuality, including the miracle
of creation; sexuality is sacred and sexuality education is a ministry,
making
the church is a prime place to host these classes. Furthermore, OWL is
an antidote to misinformation provided by a culture that sends mixed
messages and misinformation about sexuality. OWL provides a means to
reflect upon and evaluate the messages that bombard participants on a
daily basis, not only through the class sessions, but by creating a
partnership between the family and the church. OWL helps educate
parents
through the use of parent orientation and parent education programs to
allow them to be primary educators of their children when it comes to
sexuality issues.
Watch the Rock Spring News for more information on the OWL program as
the Board of Christian Education explores offering OWL at Rock Spring
UCC.
For further information about Our Whole Lives and Sexuality and Our Faith, please check out the following resources:
For further information about comprehensive human sexuality education, please take a look at the following:
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 |
|
Custodians
|
Willis Gardner &
Vicki Morales
|
| Bus Driver |
Rico Picarriello |
|
