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SAVE THE DATE: September 1, 4:00pm @ Lacy Woods Park.
Eat, play, sing . . . it's a church picnic!!!! Activities for ALL
ages. More details in the RSN this summer.

OFFICE HELP MAY BE NEEDED

With Office Administrator Ben Eckman going on paternity leave & vacation for 3 weeks this summer, the office MAY need volunteers to help answer phones and provide general office support. If you are avilable to help (if needed) and are interested please contact Lisa Lisa@rockspringucc.org.

MATT EMERY RETURNING TO ROCK SPRING
Former Pastoral Intern Matt Emery will be returning to Rock Spring this July. He is leading a small group of youth from Second Congregational UCC in Rocford Illinois. Matt and the youth will be lodging at Rock Spring on Saturday July 21st and the again on Friday July 27th.

BLANKETS AND PILLOWS NEEDED FOR VISITING YOUTH

A group of youth from Peacedale UCC in Peacedale Rhode Island will be staying with us From Friday July 20th to early morning Sunday July 22nd. They are traveling by train and traveling light. They are in desperate need of blankets and pillows for the two nights. If you will be able to help in this matter please email Hank Fairman at hank@rockspringucc.org and Ben Ben@rockspringucc.org.

Thanks!

HAVE A MINUTE?

by Janet Parker

As most of you know, the United Church of Christ 26th General Synod was held from June 22-26 in Hartford, CT. At least 10,000 UCC'ers from around the country, and some of our partners from other countries, joined together for a 50th anniversary bash that blew the roof off the Hartford Civic Center. Governor Jodi Rell informed us that we were the largest Convention that had ever assembled in Hartford and probably the entire state. It was also the largest General Synod in our fifty year history. A solid delegation of Rock Springers attended, including all three pastors, Sara Fitzgerald, our new Central Atlantic Conference president, Jason Henderson, Kieron Bell, and of course Anne and Kathy Wildman, who were there because Anne received a much-deserved Honored Lay Woman award.

An extraordinary line-up of speakers, artists, musicians and preachers inspired, entertained and challenged us. For a more in-depth reflection on the experience of General Synod, you might want to catch my sermon of July 1 on the website, entitled "Let It Shine!" (the theme of General Synod 26). Highlights for me included seeing the diversity of the United Church of Christ, reflected in people of all colors, ethnicities, abilities, geographical regions, ages and sexual orientations worshipping, celebrating and doing business together harmoniously and respectfully. It was thrilling to see hundreds of youth in brightly colored t-shirts (including our Central Atlantic Conference delegation) sitting in the stadium seats, cheering, jostling and just generally being youth. Our multicultural identity was highlighted throughout the gathering, but especially moving was the ritual dance performed by the Samoan churches to greet the Synod and offer gifts to our President, John Thomas. Completely out of my orbit as a former Presbyterian was the sense of humor that the Synod exuded. One of my favorite moments was when the giant screen on the stage carried a picture of sock puppets of various colors with the UCC credo: "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here." Now, that's a church that doesn't take itself too seriously! And yet, in tandem with this playful spirit, the Synod exhibited a deep seriousness about the mission of our Church in the world and the challenges that we face. I highly recommend that you find the speeches or video footage of John Thomas, Barack Obama, Bill Moyers, Lynn Redgrave, Marian Wright Edelman and others on the UCC website. The Synod began with a Pastoral Letter on the Iraq War which galvanized those gathered and which anyone can view and add their name to if desired on the UCC website. Speakers covered serious themes about war, economic justice, faith and politics, and the "cradle to prison" pipeline" for Black men in America. Important resolutions on social issues were passed which can be viewed on the website. Perhaps most importantly, this Synod offered the UCC the opportunity to look back and celebrate our history, to solidify our identity, and to look forward to the next fifty years of service and witness as a unique manifestation of the body of Christ on earth. As we look back, we see, in the words of Roger Shinn, that we meet the eyes of our forbears who are steadfastly looking forward. This cloud of witnesses gives us the courage and fortitude to "keep on moving forward, never turning back, never turning back," as the folk song from the peace movement says. The challenges we face as church, nation and world are in some ways greater than ever before. Thank God for the ark of the UCC, which is our spiritual home guiding us through the turbulent waters, assisting us as we each go out into the world to fulfill our own God-given vocations.

--Janet Parker

IN REMEMBRANCE OF DOROTHY STRATTON KING
We give thanks for the life of Dorothy Stratton King, member of Rock Spring, who died on June 14 of heart and lung failure at Sunrise of Arlington. Dorothy was a highly talented and successful painter and printmaker, and Rock Spring is fortunate to have one of her paintings. A small family memorial service has been held, and there will not be a memorial service at Rock Spring, but we send our prayers and condolences to her daughter, Heather Hicks-Beach, and her other family members.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF HELEN PEREAULT
We give thanks for the life of Helen Perreault, long-time member of Rock Spring, who died on July 9 of congestive heart failure in her home in Arlington. Helen had been faithfully cared for over the last several years by her caregiver, Dora, and visited by members of Rock Spring's caring ministry program and her friends. We send our prayers and condolences to all of those who will miss Helen. Helen will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery where her husband, Victor, is buried, and a memorial service will be held at Rock Spring. Please stay tuned for more details on these arrangements.

NEWS & NOTES

Prayers are requested for Del Anderson who is recovering from some lung problems... prayers for Emily Haseltine who is recovering from a stroke. She is being moved from Virginia Hospital Center to a local rehabilitation facility...please check with the office for more details. Cards may be sent for Emily to her daughter and son-in-law, Bob and Bobbi Walker, whose address is in the directory. ...for Janet Moore...for Josh Lawton, recovering from traumatic brain injury sustained in Iraq, and for all others who have been wounded in the war, including the thousands suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome...prayers also for the family members of all those who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prayers are with the family of Linda Carder, Stacy and Matt Rinker, on the death of Frank Stoerkel, in Des Moines, Iowa, the end of June. Frank was an active member of Rock Spring for many years, serving as treasurer of the church and in other capacities.

ROCK SPRING AND BETHEL UCC AT ARLINGTON CO. FAIR

Rock Spring and Bethel UCC Churches are again having a booth at the Arlington County Fair. The Fair is Thursday, August 16-Sunday August 19. We will need help with set-up on Wednesday evening the 15th and breakdown at 5 pm on Sunday, August 19th. We will also need people to "man" the booth during the fair hours Thursday evening thru Sunday until 5 pm.

There will be a sign-up sheet in the Saegmuller Room starting July 22. Please volunteer to talk about Rock Spring - you don't need to be a long term member - you just need to be enthusiastic about being a member of our Church.

This is a Deacon's sponsored event. Please contact Charlie Brown at 703-534-0747 if you have questions.

OWL Launch Team News
By Christina Fairman

The OWL Launch Team was formed earlier this year after the Board of Christian Education voted to support the launch of Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith at Rock Spring. The overarching purpose of the team is to guide the process of bringing OWL to Rock Spring.

The OWL Launch Team held its first meeting on June 27, 2007. At this meeting, the team set the following goals:

•    To host an Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith leader training in January of 2008. This training will be open to any leader approved by their UCC or Unitarian Universalist congregation.

•    To formalize a selection process for choosing OWL leaders at Rock Spring.

•    To offer Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith Grades 4-6 at Rock Spring in the spring of 2008.

Please be aware that, at this time, the OWL Launch team meetings are planning meetings for members of the team. As we move forward with the launch process, we will hold informational meetings for those interested in learning more about Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith.

The members of the OWL Launch Team are Gina Dale, Ann Divecha, Ann Parcell, John Roman and Christina Fairman. In addition to guiding the launch process, the team members are available to answer questions and provide information about Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith. If you have questions about OWL, you can talk to any member of the OWL Launch team. You can also email the OWL Launch Team at owl@rockspringucc.org.

We look forward to talking to you about the OWL program!

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
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

ROCK SPRING CONGREGATIONAL UCC
5010 LITTLE FALLS RD
ARLINGTON, VA 22207
703-538-4886
www.rockspringcongucc.org