In this Issue:
Vol. 3 No. 18
Covering 8/26/2007 - 9/8/2007
August 26
Chuck Wildman, preaching
September 4
Chuck Wildman
preaching
Sunday September 9th, we return to two services 9:00 am & 11:00 am
THE NEXT TWO ROCK SPRING NEWS DEADLINES ARE MONDAY AUGUST 27 AND SEPTEMBER 10
Sunday August 26, 2007
Jeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm 71:1-6
Isaiah 58:9b-14
Psalm 103:1-8
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 13:10-17
Sunday September 2, 2007
Jeremiah 2:4-13 Psalm 81:1, 10-16 Sirach 10:12-18 Psalm 112
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14
SAVE THE DATE!
This year's Budget Goals Meeting will be held on Sunday October 14th following the 11:00 am service ion Carpenter Hall.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR CARLIN SPRINGS!
Help kids at Carlin Springs Elementary start the
school off right. Bring the listed school supplies to
the Saegemuller room (look for the Carlin Springs
collection box) anytime between now and Sunday,
September 30th.
Here are the school supplies that are needed:
Glue sticks, tissues, markers and backpacks(a big
need), pencils, index cards, colored folders,
constructions paper, erasers, pencil sharpeners, and
colored pencils.
Questions? Call Iris Gibson at 703-820-7164
FOOD
FRIENDS FUN
WHAT: Rock Spring Church Picnic
WHEN: Saturday, September 1 at 4:00pm
WHERE: Lacey Woods Park, Arlington
Lacey Woods Park is at the corner
of George Mason and Washington Blvd in Arlington. Also parking is
on the street and the pavilion where to deposit food is in the middle
of the woods with entrance paths from George Mason Blvd a little way
along from
the corner.
WHO: YOU!!!! There will be activities for ALL ages - singing,
checkers, sack race, 3 legged race, tug of
war, a playground, ice-cream cranking (and eating), and good old-fashioned socializing!!!
WHAT TO BRING: A side dish or dessert to share.
Non-alocoholic
beverages for yourself !!!
**Hot dogs with all the fixins will be provided by JFFAL (Just For Fun and Laughter)!!**
SEEKING NURSERY WORKER FOR INFANT ROOM ON
SUNDAYS
Rock Spring is seeking qualified applicants to partner with Fern Lawrence in providing care for our infants and toddlers during Sunday
services (8:45 AM-12:45 PM); a vital part of our family ministry. Preferred qualifications include at least 3-5 years experience as
a primary care provider for children, ages six weeks-3 years, especially infant care (i.e. nanny, childcare worker, in-home daycare
facility). Competitive hourly wage offered. If you know of interested applicants or have any questions, please contact Taryn Roman, roman1735@verizon.net or 703-533-3120.
WHAT IS PRAYER CIRCLE?
It's a group of individuals who have chosen to give the gift of a few minutes of prayer daily, to those who have requested it for themselves or a
loved one(s). We meet once a month after the 2nd service, to pool updated information about those on our list or those to be added to it.
After this meeting, a short reminder letter is mailed to those who want to receive it.
We are not certified prayer experts; we just choose to give this gift.(We don't claim to be perfect; sometimes we miss a day.) We invite new
people who would like to, to drop in, or to be added to the mailing list of those who agree to pray.
Anita Cline, Scribe
FILL THE RED BARREL FOR AFAC
The 'Food of the Month' for the Arlington Food Assistance Center is any non-perishable food item, their cupboard is very bare. There is a
red barrel in the corner outside the office to collect non-perishable foods for AFAC. Foods of particular need: cereal, always welcome; canned fruit;
canned vegetables, canned beans; canned tomato products; peanut butter and canned tuna or chicken. Special thanks
to the 'oatmeal' person. AFAC also welcomes monetary donations. Arlington Food Assistance Center 2708 South Nelson Street Arlington, Virginia
22206 Contact: Robin Overholt overholj@yahoo.com
GREEN ACTION: Instead of using laundry bleach, try this non-toxic recipe: Use 1/2 cup white vinegar or 1/2 cup baking
soda per average load. Try it! Brought to you by the Rock Spring Eco-Justice Committee.
HEAD USHER
OPPORTUNITY
Would you like to help Rock Spring? Would you like to join our head
usher corps? Retirement of longstanding ushers affords church members
and friends this special opportunity. We have openings for one usher
at the 9 am service and one usher for the 11 am service. The
commitment is for one Sunday per month for one year. Head ushers often
continue to enjoy this work for many years.
Work is simply from ½ hour before the service to the end of the
service, once per month. And, you enjoy the service while helping
others
enjoy it. Head usher is a great way to meet other members of the Rock
Spring community. For newer members, there are few faster ways to
get to know other Rock Springers. Head usher can be particularly
rewarding for a parent with a child aged 4-12. Children enjoy handing
out the programs and adults enjoy receiving them.
If you wish to learn more, please contact Doug Gordon after today's service, or call him at home at 703-237-1380
.
|
by Hank Fairman
About this time every year, I get an itch. I find myself walking through Target looking for a new backpack. I find myself at
Staples or Office Depot pricing out the newest pens and markers. I seek out the latest binders, the best organizers--everything that I would
need if I were GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!
Alas, it has been nearly eight years since I was last in ivy-covered halls. I think that this is just about the length of time needed to forget
the torment of finals, the stress of all-nighters. I am now eight years out, working in local congregations, putting all 19 years of learning
to
good and practical use. But, oh, do I miss these days! From Kindergarten, and all that I learned there, to Junior High and Senior High,
through Undergraduate years, and Graduate school--These are the experiences that make us who we are as we come to understand our call as
Disciples.
Okay, everyone remember your Latin! Vocamus! We are called! Called to use each and every skill and gift with which we have been
blessed. Called to stand up, to challenge, when we feel the press of injustice in our world. Called to lift up, when we find another held
down by sadness, fear, or pain. Called to be a means of God's peace. Called to serve.
As these summer weeks become the beginning of the next time of learning in our community, nation, and world, rejoice! Be truly happy that God
has given us a world to encounter, and a mind to comprehend it. Enjoy each and every new lesson, new experience, and a new face of God each
day. Learn well!
See you in Church,
-Pastor Hank
P.S. Rally Day, the first day of Sunday School in Sunday, September 9! Everyone, come join in the fun!
The Rock Spring Church community joins with family & friends mourning the recent deaths of Paul Barrett, Richard
Vetter, Marguerite Lackey & Jack Ellis. Memorial Service information will be presented as we receive it.
IN MEMORIAM MARGUERITE LACKEY
Mrs. Lackey served as a Red Cross volunteer for over 40 years, much of that time assisting in the pharmacy at
the Rader Clinic at Ft. Myer. Among other volunteer activities, as a former Marine, she coordinated the annual Toys for Tots drive at her
retirement community, Vinson Hall. Mrs. Lackey belonged to Rock Spring Congregational Church in Arlington, where she was active in the Women's
Fellowship. She willed her body to Georgetown University Hospital. No memorial service will be held at this time. Her ashes will be
placed in the New Dublin Presbyterian Church cemetery in Dublin, Virginia, where her husband and four generations of her family are buried. In lieu
of
memorial gifts, she hopes you will do something special with a friend and think of how greatly she was blessed with friends.
STAFF DOINGS
Janet Parker is on vacation and study
leave from until September 4. Chuck Wildman has returned from vacation and study leave.
THE CARING MINISTRY AT ROCK SPRING
Rock Spring has always been a caring congregation. Caring for our own
members and for others has been a strong characteristic of our church.
Last year, under the direction of Janet Parker, Pastor for Parish Life,
we started a Caring Ministry program that would expand our ad hoc
caregiving to ensure that we focus on all who needed special care.
Since the spring of 2006 so much has happened that has enriched the
life of our church through this program.
Caring Ministry members have visited many in our Church community,
have sent cards, cooked and delivered meals, provided transportation
for those unable to get to Church on their own, and assisted in many
other ways. They have served as care coordinators for those who have
needed special attention, such as meals or other needs following a
hospital stay or rides to the hospital. We regularly hear the Caring
Ministry program referenced as an important new dimension of our
congregation's ministry, a dimension that is helping to ground and
center our church in a new way.
The Caring Ministry program is planning a new cycle of training for
Fall 2007-Spring 2008 to help equip a new group of volunteers and
continue to provide existing volunteers with support. We hope many in
our congregation will consider becoming a part of this important
ministry. Training sessions will begin on October 20th to be followed
in November, and January through April. In all sessions participants
will have the opportunity to meet for small group discussions with
those who have been part of the ministry in the past year.
In addition to the visitation ministry, we would welcome those who
would prefer to send cards and to provide transportation for those in
need. Please consider joining us. If you have questions or would like
more information please e-mail the current chair of the program, Bettie
Clark, at clarkbf@hers.com.
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TEACHING OUR WHOLE LIVES/SEXUALITY AND OUR FAITH
by Christina Fairman
The OWL Launch Team is looking for leaders for OWL, Grades 4-6. According to Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education for Grades 4-6, by Elizabeth M.
Casparian and Eva S. Goldfarb, a leader should have:
-Commitment to values-based comprehensive sexuality education, values in harmony with the OWL program
-Experience working with children in Grades 4-6; should be skilled and comfortable working with children this age and familiar with their
developmental needs
-An anti-bias awareness; must be able to work with people of diverse backgrounds
-An advocate for sexual health and safety
The ability to build relationships with children and families and to create a community within the classroom
-A dedicated leader and learner willing to listen to and learn from participants and parents
We need two male and two female teachers. One male/female pair will teach the first session in April 2008, with the other serving as back-up in the
event of an emergency. The pairs will switch off for the next offered Grades 4-6 course. If a large response is received from participants, two
courses may be offered in April 2008, and both pairs will teach.
A weekend training session is scheduled for January 25-27, 2008 at Rock Spring. You must be able to attend this session in order to be considered for
a leader position for the April 2008 course. There are ten total sessions in the course; you must commit to all ten sessions, in addition to planning
time with your co-leader before each session and debriefing time with your co-leader after each session. We are looking for teachers who will want to
teach multiple courses, as training is a time-consuming process.
You may not teach a class in which your child could be enrolled--even if you are not planning on enrolling your child. Because it is the intent to
train people who will teach multiple courses, consider the age of your child(ren), if any, when considering applying for the leader position. If you
are currently involved in Sunday School and/or Youth Group leadership, the we ask that you commit your time to either Sunday School/Youth Group or to
OWL.
An informational session for those interested in becoming OWL Leaders will be held in September. More information will provided at a future time.
Contact owl@rockspringucc.org if you have questions.
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NEW STEPS & NEW VISION FOR ECO-JUSTICE AT ROCK
SPRING
Would you like to take action on your environmental concerns but don't
have time to participate in another committee? The Eco-Justice
committee would
like to invite you to join them this fall for 3 meetings to participate
in strategic planning/visioning regarding actions that Rock Spring can
take in
becoming a more environmentally friendly church. Through connections
made by Janet, we have the honor of having Beth Norcross, a theologian
and
consultant on greening religious institutions, who has offered her
services pro bono to guide us through the process of developing a
strategic plan
for "greening the congregation." As stewards of God's creation, we feel
that we are at a critical time for action. We would like to invite you
to
help us generate new ideas and positive energy on this important
project. If interested, please save the following dates on your fall
calendar to
join us in this process.
1. September 22: half-day retreat with Beth, noon-5:00 PM, at the church
2. October 16: strategic planning meeting with Beth, 7-9 PM at the church
3. November 27: strategic planning meeting with Beth, 7-9 PM at the church
Plus a Field trip to a neighboring 'Green' Church and possibly other Green buildings: date to be determined.
For all:
September 30: Earth Care Worship Service at both 9 and 11 AM, Beth Norcross Preaching
Please RSVP to Rebecca Halbe or Jane Sessa, Eco-Justice committee co-chairs, if you would like to participate in
this process. We do have some recommended reading for folks to do before we begin with our half day retreat in September
ORGAN 101
-- Come hear Rock Spring organist Ed Roberts, after church on any of five
Sundays in August and
September, discussing plans to replace the Schantz pipe organ and demonstrate its problems and limitations. The sessions, open to all, are
scheduled for August 19, 26, and September 2 after the 10 a.m. service, and September 9 and 16 after the 11 a.m. service.
Last year, the Church Council created an Organ Planning Committee to explore options for a new pipe organ. The Committee is at work and will
report back to Council this fall. If Council approves the Committee's recommendations, a congregational meeting will be scheduled in
November to vote on the proposal. In addition, the church's Centennial Committee, working on plans for 2012 events, has identified a new pipe
organ as a central component of the celebration of Rock Spring's first 100 years.
Members of the Organ Planning Committee are Jeff Dale, Don Hall, Emory Hackman, Jeanne Page, Priscilla Taylor, and Co-Chairs Laurie Rodgers and
Claudia Sturges Scott. William Neil, organist for the National Symphony Orchestra and National Presbyterian Church in Washington, is consultant
to the Committee.
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 |
|
