CCH Congregator Weekly May 18, 2018

May 18, 2018

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The Congregator Weekly is our email newsletter to keep members and friends up-to-date on church activities and news.

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A Church GPS?

I love my GPS. It has changed my life. I was initially reluctant to trust the device. My first stand-alone unit often deserted me in times of need as I slipped out of the coverage zones. It would also lead me astray on occasion. So I always double checked the route before starting out. But the new app on my phone is completely trustworthy. It not only tells me where to go, but also now the condition of the traffic before I get there. Amazing!

I wish there was a GPS for the church. Unfortunately, no one seems to know the roads or conditions of what is ahead for congregations these days. We do know that we are in new times in which religious organizations are losing their status as an important activity in one's weekend. Church attendance and memberships are now declining across the board–Catholic, Protestant (and even the evangelical megachurches). More importantly, our mission of building God's beloved community seems increasingly out of step with the secular, individualistic and balkanized culture. How to minister to this world is an increasingly challenging proposition? A few churches seem to have effective ministries, but not many.

That is why we have created a Strategic Planning Team. We hope they will develop a plan to lead us for the next 3-5 years. They have been meeting to develop key questions to research, have asked all our church boards and committees for input and now they want to know what you think. Can you complete our church survey? It takes less than five minutes and is completely confidential. You can find it at All-Church Survey. We trust everyone to only do it once. If you prefer a paper version you can pick one up at church.

The planning team will use the information gathered to help them chart a course for our future. If you have any questions or suggestions please contact a team member: Catherine Carpentieri, Nick Carpentieri, Suzanne Deffree, Glen Grayson, Michael Grosso, Beth Katzmaier, Pete Pedersen, Sandy Piccolo, Dot Schmitt and myself. Call them our church GPS.

See you in church,

Pastor Mark

Worship Calendar

Pastor Mark's sermon from this past Sunday, "Open Commensality," is on-line at the church website.

May 20: Bible and Violence
One of the hottest of buttons in the US is gun control. Pastor Mark will look to see what the Bible has to say about this for his third in the "Hot Buttons" sermon series.

May 27: Religion and Patriotism

As part of his "Hot Buttons" sermon series Pastor Mark will reflect on the traditional tension between religious and patriotic loyalties on this Memorial Day Sunday.

Fill A Bag Food Drive

CCH is the June "congregation of the month: for the Northport Food Pantry. It is our turn to fill the shelves. We plan to do that by asking all our members to fill a bag. Grocery bags with a suggested shopping list will be distributed during worship in the next weeks. Please take an empty bag and return it full. Our goal is one bag per family–that is 70 bags of groceries!

Fellowship Hour Volunteers Needed

One of the most enjoyable ways to serve our church is to be a host for our weekly fellowship time following worship. Hosts prepare the refreshments: coffee, tea and a snack for everyone to enjoy. it doesn't have to be elaborate, a little treat is fine. If you have never done it before a member of our Membership committee will help you out. You may sign up on the church bulletin board or contact our committee chairperson: Jean Uhl.

Pastor's Book Group

The May selection for the Pastor's Book Group is "The Third Reconstruction," by the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II. Rev. Barber has been called the closest thing we have to Martin Luther King Jr. A Disciples of Christ minister, Rev. Barber led the 2013 "Moral Mondays" protests for social justice at the North Carolina legislature. This book is part memoir, part history lesson, and primarily a vision of how we may come together to build a more just society.

From the publisher: At a time when divide-and-conquer politics are exacerbating racial strife and economic inequality, Rev. Barber offers an impassioned, historically grounded argument that Moral Mondays are hard evidence of an embryonic Third Reconstruction in America.

The book group will meet to discuss the Rev. Barber's book on Wednesday, May 30 at Jane Madden-Koch's home.

A yoga class is being offered to all adult church members on Tuesdays from 4:00-5:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Bonnie and Kristin bring their long-standing love of yoga and their instructor Marie Cruz to the CCH community. Yoga offers many positive benefits to the body, mind and spirit through the practice of meditation and mindfulness. As another busy holiday season approaches, yoga can help us find the balance we all seek. The class is $20.00 per session. For more details call Bonnie or Kristin at 516.922.9525 or Sue at the Church office.

Garden Volunteers Needed

The CCH vegetable garden provides fresh, organic, vegetables to the Northport Food Pantry. It is a wonderful community service that relies on all volunteer labor. We invite families, or individuals, to be gardener of the week to weed and harvest the garden. You only need to come to the garden once during your week to make sure it is doing ok and pick any fresh vegies to deliver to the Northport Food Pantry. Members of the Outreach ministry will assist with anything you need. See the sign-up sheet on the church bulletin board.

Joys and Concerns

We hold Terrence Sheldon in our prayers as he is in Boston for a 4-6 week treatment program for his pain syndrome. If you would like to send a card to Terrence it is best to send it to their home as he will be there each weekend.

Quarterly Statements

Current donation statements have been sent by email this week—check your inbox! If you have any questions or concerns (lamentations or adulations), call or email the Financial Secretary, Marion Munch at 631-754-5595 or CCHFinSec@optonline.net. Many thanks for to all pledgers and donors!”

Volunteers Needed

Northport Food Pantry

We collect food for the Northport Food pantry each week at our church. Please place donations in the box by the church office.

Peace and Plenty Food Outreach: Peace and Plenty is in need of plastic grocery bags to deliver their lunches each week. Bring any extra to the church. You are invited to help make sandwiches and prepare snacks for children in Huntington. Peace and Plenty will meets on Mondays at 6:30 PM. They are also in need of donations of lunch meats and cheeses, fruit and healthy snacks.

Cooks Needed for the Peace & Plenty program
We're looking for a few volunteers who can help us send the Tri CYA trays of
cooked food such as baked ziti, chicken and rice, pasta with meatballs or meat sauce, etc. Most children at the Tri CYA receive free breakfast and lunch at school during the school year and rely on the Tri CYA for at least one nutritious meal. We try to support that effort with some substantial dishes, beyond sandwiches. Some of the food may also be sent to individuals unable to get out to food pantries and living with food shortages. If you would like to help please contact Anne: acanadeo@aol.com.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, May 20

Worship Service and Church School at 10:00 AM

Fellowship Hour at 11:00 AM: The Fitzsimmons

Sermon Talk back at 11:30 AM

Monday, May 21

Peace & Plenty Lunch Program at 6:30 PM

Wednesday, May 23

Diaconate Meeting at 7:30 PM

Thursday, May 24

Bell Choir at 6:30 PM

Choir Rehearsal at 7:30 PM

Sunday, May 27

Worship Service and Church School at 10:00 AM

Fellowship Hour at 11:00 AM:

Sermon Talk back at 11:30 AM

Tuesday, May 29

Peace & Plenty Lunch Program at 6:30 PM

Wednesday, May 30

Pastor’s Book Discussion at 7:30 PM

Thursday, May 31

Bell Choir at 6:30 PM

Choir Rehearsal at 7:30 PM

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