Tidings March 2011

A Federated Church of the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church

An Open and Affirming/Reconciling Congregation

Monthly news for members & friends from Niantic Community Church March 2011

Tidings

A Lenten Quiet Day &

Labyrinth WaLk….. With Wendy Lyons

Saturday, March 26 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

What is a quiet day? A time to discover what God has to offer us in times of silence. No preparation

or spiritual “expertise” required. It is not necessary to bring anything, but a notebook and pencil are

useful if you want to record some of your thoughts. Some people bring their own Bible, or even some

knitting if keeping their hands busy makes them more relaxed. Between brief reflections guided by

Wendy, will be silence. In several areas throughout the church, small altar areas will be set up along

with spiritual reading material, mandalas for meditation and a labyrinth for walking. Light refresh-

ments and beverages will be available in the kitchen throughout the day, and at 1:00 everyone is in-

vited to stay for a non-silent „brown-bag‟ lunch (brought from home). It is recommended that partici-

pants stay for the entire program in order to get the most out of the experience, but if you must leave

early, please depart in silence. This program is free and is sponsored by a grant from the Culpepper

Foundation.

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Get Ready for Worship!

Follow the “Preparing for Sunday”

link on our website homepage

(nianticcommunitychurch.org):

you will find the scripture readings

for the current week, a brief de-

scription to set them in context, a reflection on

passages, and a prayer starter.

It‟s a great way to spend time with God‟s Word,

— and since those passages are (usually) the basis

for Sunday morning‟s services, you‟ll be adding a

new layer of richness and meaning to the

experience of worship.

Can’t get to NCC

on Sunday morning?

Most weeks we record the sermon and post it

online; check the church‟s website (click on

“Sermons and Sunday Bulletins” from the home

page).

Heifer Ark Fundraiser

Niantic Community Church has raised many

arks of animals for Heifer over the years

(over 17 at last count) and, as many of us

know, bought the goat that allowed Beatrice

(of Beatrice's Goat) to go to school. Her ap-

pearance here a few years ago delighted us

all!

This year, NCC will once again strive to buy

an ark (contains two of each animal that

Heifer provides to needy families). The cost

is $5,000 and the value is immeasurable.

Heifer has designated the month of April as

"Passing on the Gift" month and we will be-

gin fundraising with the commencement of

Lent and end it on Easter Sunday. The chil-

dren in Divine Activity Time will receive

"ark banks and calendars", the older children

and adults will be offered the opportunity to

learn more about Heifer's work and to con-

tribute to the cause. Together we can make a

big difference to those who struggle daily.

If you would like to host a tea and coffee so-

cial for a dozen or so friends at your home, I

would be thrilled to attend and give a short

presentation on Heifer's work and show the

video "12 Stones" about Heifer's outstanding

work in Nepal. You can reach me at wer-

nau@ct.metrocast.net or call (860)739-4212.

Bill Wernau

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Spirited Pens – a writer’s group

Meeting the third Thursday of each month from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Bring a bag

lunch and writing to share, or arrive at 11:30 and get your creative

juices flowing with a writing prompt. All genres and levels off ability

are welcome. Please call Parish Life Ministry for more information. Fa-

cilitated by Community Minister, Patty Chaffee.

History Quiz & Trivia

On January 16th 2011, Ruth Watrous Beckwith passed away. Ruth was not only our church’s oldest member at 104, but held the longest membership. She joined the Niantic Methodist Church January 16th 1921…exactly 90 years a member. Some people have asked who have the honor of the longest church Membership. Christian Bayreuther joined the Methodist church in 1942. Wilbur Beckwith joined the Methodist Church in 1944. There are many people who have attended our church for 50 or more years, but some did not actually join the church until later. The question this month is: How many people can you name that joined the church in 1961 or earlier. (There are 13 of us).

From the Parish Nurse Marie LaTourette

Pistachios - It might seem surprising that a little pistachio contains phytosterols - a substance that blocks your body from absorbing choles-terol. A small handful of pistachios daily may help your arteries from clogging, keep your blood vessels clean, your heart healthy and strong. Good fats like olive oil can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Save the Date: Parish Nurse Symposium, Wednesday - April 27, 2011 in Derby, Connecti-cut. The keynote speaker is Thomas Moore. Everyone is welcome, last year it was $60 pp including lunch. Call Marie 860-739-0733 if in-terested. Patty and I will go. Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been different. Oprah Happy St. Pat's Marie

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Parish Life Ministries Committee NED RUETE

Soup and Soul is coming up. Dominic Crossan's The

Greatest Prayer falls neatly into 7 parts, so Soup and

Soul this year will start on Ash Wednesday and

run through Wednesday of Holy Week. Books are

available in the Church Office. For $22 you get 7

meals and 7 conversations – a real bargain, espe-

cially if a couple shares one book!

After a five-year hiatus, we are once again hosting a

workshop on Gifts and Grace at the End of Life.

Check out the ads for Gifts and Grace and Soup and

Soul elsewhere in Tidings.

We are also planning to have a quiet day featuring a

labyrinth walk, meditative opportunities, and other

forms of Sabbath. It is planned for Saturday, March

26.

Opportunities to Serve: We are looking for co-

chairs for Operation Love/Funeral Receptions. There

is a lot of good information on how to do this, and a

lot of talent to help out, we just need a couple of peo-

ple to coordinate. Congratulations to our former co-

ordinator, Cindy King, who was promoted to Vice

President! We want to send goody packages to mili-

tary units that include folks from the Niantic Com-

munity Church family – members, extended family,

and friends. If you know someone serving in harms

way, please let us know. And we are always looking

for people to bake, cook, organize, and help out with

our activities. Call any member of PLM or the

church office.

Women's Retreat is almost here. The

retreat will be April 1 - 3 at Camp

Wightman. Please join us for fun, re-

laxation and renewal. See Carol Dono-

van, Ocean Pellett or Ellen Ashburn to

sign up. The cost for the weekend in

$120.00 ($60.00 for Saturday

only). Scholarships are available,

please talk to Pastor John.

Women's Christian Service Association (WCSA) will sponsor a rummage sale on Sat., Apr 9, from 9 - 12. Items needed are clothing, linens and bedding, shoes, toys, sports equipment (except skis) household and kitchen items. Please do not bring computers, typewriters, furniture, rugs or anything heavy. More information will be forthcoming at a later date. For questions, call Doris Beebe.

Save the Date

Sunday, May 1 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm

Enders Island in Mystic

Gifts and Grace in Life's Final Days an opportunity to prepare for end of life issues

Purpose: to begin a plan that will help us "get our

affairs in order"

Stay tuned for more information. This retreat is spon-

sored by the Parish Life Ministries Team

Contact person: Joanne Moore

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From the Community Minister

One Tuesday toward the end of each month

around 7:00 p.m., I pack up a white handled

basket lined with blue and white striped fabric

and head toward the Fellowship Room. I pass

brass bells and young people, parents and

teachers along my way. I hear activity in the sanctuary as peo-

ple practice singing to our Lord and others, conversing about

what they‟ve been up to.

But when I get to the Fellowship Room with that special basket

everything going on outside, is forgotten. It‟s time to work on

my prayer shawl. For more than two years I have knitted, not

purled, but knitted regularly with the help of a delightful group

of women. Judy S. even provided me with the yarn and needles.

I should preface this by saying, I don‟t really know how to knit

and I certainly can‟t purl, but they make me feel like I can. So I

go there with my basket, begin with a prayer led by Jane Barth,

and I knit something that will one day comfort someone in

need. I‟m not sure when my prayer shawl will be complete, but

I‟m shooting for some time in 2011. One thing I know for sure,

is that it will have been created with lots of love, prayers and

good intentions.

While I‟m there each month, I learn a lot about what is going on

in the lives of the other ladies in the group, and the lives of

those who couldn‟t make it. They are with us in spirit. If you

care to join the prayer shawl ministry at NCC, they welcome

anyone….I‟m a perfect example. And they will even teach you

to knit and fix your mistakes when you inevitably make them.

In the end when you‟ve knitted your first shawl, you will have

made a blessed gift for someone who one day, may need to feel

God‟s warmth wrapped around their shoulders. And your shawl

might be just the thing that gives it to them.

If you can‟t join us, but would like to knit at home and send a

shawl in, that‟s okay too. The Prayer Shawl group meets the

fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Please join us.

Peace & Blessings,

Patty Chaffee

Community Minister

History Quiz Answer

Here are the members:

Ellen Ashburn Florence Barth

Sara Bayreuther Doris Beebe

Catherine Daboll Helen Dey

Linda Helvig Liz Kuchta

Jeanne McNeil Bob and Marie Pierce

Judy Sleights and

Iva Thomas

Member News

A message from Diane Blair: "It is with sadness and joy that I am

writing to have my membership at Nian-

tic Community Church transferred to the

First Congregational Church of Sharon

MA. Over the past year, I have been

finding myself attending church and

church activities here in Sharon more

often and feel that it is time to join this

church to continue on my faith journey.

NCC will always have a special place in

my heart as the people there helped me

through some of the most difficult times

of my life including the death of my

mother, and the loss of my job. As well

as helping me grow in my faith. This

does not mean that I will be ending all

ties with NCC as I will still

be participating in the book discussions,

worship on occasion and attending the

Women's retreat. I want to thank the

members of Niantic Community Church

for the love and support that has been

shown to me. I love all of you and al-

ways will."

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6

What is DAT? Well D.A.T. is the time during wor-

ship when children younger than 5th grade are in-

vited to join a group in the multi-purpose room for

multi-age activities including music, art, drama,

and games generally coinciding with the lectionary

scripture for the day. Children and youth 5th

grade and above are invited to stay for the dura-

tion of worship and participate, however, arrange-

ments can be made for older children to help vol-

unteer with the younger children as needed. If you

have questions please contact Amy Agles, Acting

Director of Religious Education and Youth Minis-

tries via phone- 860-739-6208 or email

amy.agles@nianticcommunitychurch.org

Huge Thank Yous to everyone who helped make

our 3rd annual "SOUP"er bowl canned food drive

such a wonderful success. Our Middle School

Youth collected over 700 POUNDS of food for the

Gemma Moran Food Bank.

Many thanks from all of our high schoolers who

are going on the July mission trip to Philadelphia

from July 24-29 for your generous support of the

Valentine's Day Cake Auction and Cupcake Sale.

We raised over $700!! We really appreciate our

awesome congregation. There might be a few

spots left on the trip. If you are interested, please

see Amy Agles, Acting DRE-YM.

Calling all Wanakee alumni- kids, young adults,

adults. If you have ever been to Wanakee, we

want to know. We are compiling a Master List and

we want you on it. Please email Deb Fountain

(debfountain@prudentialct.com) with the details -

name and the year(s) you were there (if you can

remember), and anyone's name and contact infor-

mation that you have if they are no longer part of

the NCC church home. Thank you!

Lent/Easter At Home Family Bible Study Guides &

Daily Lenten Meditations Booklets available in the

Narthex and on the bookshelf across from Judy's

Office. Teen Lent Calendars are in. Please stop by

the Christian Ed office and get one. They offer a

fun and great Lenten daily devotional.

Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner

Tuesday, March 8, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

All money raised will be used to help fund

the Middle School Youth Mission trip to

Wanakee.

Mark your calendar- Youth Worship

Sunday, March 13. All kids in Middle

School and High School are encouraged to

participate. We need ushers, lay readers,

actors, artists, musicians, photographers

and any who are great at PowerPoint pres-

entations. Planning for the Service is on Sunday,

March 6 from 12:30-2:30. We invite you all to

share your gifts!

SAVE the DATES Wanakee Middle School Youth

Mission Trip- April 29, 30, and May 1

Wanakee Quarter Contests are underway. All $$$

raised will be used toward our trip. Who do you

want to win? Paul Althouse who will play the key-

board and sing a silly song... Nan Rigdon who will

sing a song from Willy Wonka while dressed in an

Oompa Loompa Costume... Kayla Castronova who

will wear a chicken costume and wave at traffic on

Pennsylvania Avenue... or Pastor John who will do

something funny and no doubt embarrassing as

soon as we can think of what that funny some-

thing should be....

Middle School Fellowship

March 6- Youth Worship Service Rehearsal 12:30-

2:30

March 13- Youth Worship Sunday No Middle

School Fellowship

March 20- Planning our trip to Wanakee and

GAMES 12:30-2:00

March 27- GAMES, Challenges, and MORE GAMES

12:30-2:00

High School Fellowship

March 6- Youth Worship Service Rehearsal 12:30-

2:30, Shelter Meal at St. James, New London.

Meet at church at 6:00PM.

March 13- Youth Worship Sunday No High School

Fellowship

March 20- Fair Market Coffee and Chocolate Sale

between services

March 27- Make Pizzas and Cards and Game Night

5:00-7:00

Did you hear something? Perhaps you are being

called to teach a Sunday School class or lead Di-

vine Activity Time. No previous experience re-

quired. Please call Amy Agles, Acting DRE-YM.

It's Official! Vacation Bible School is

set for July 11-15. Thank you to Deb

Fountain who will be leading the kids

this summer. Information to follow

on ways that you can help.

News from the Acting Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministries

Tidings March 2011

7

Lenten Series

Soup & Soul

Wednesdays 5:30-6:45 p.m.

March 9 through April 20,

2011

In The Greatest Prayer, Dominic

Crossan, a Jesus scholar, ex-

plores the Lord’s Prayer line-by-

line for the richest and fullest

understanding yet of a prayer

every Christian knows by heart.

“This is quintessential Crossan

for the general market, provid-

ing just the right amount of his-

tory, scholarship, and detail to

facilitate the message of Christi-

anity's greatest prayer. Crossan

reveals the enduring meaning and

universal significance of the

only prayer Jesus ever taught.”

delicious homemade soups

and bread

All are welcome * Bring a

friend

Come for one week or all

seven

Scholarships available

Let us know in advance if

you require Child care

Books ( $22) are available in the

Church Office

or call (860)739-6208.

Howard Christensen thanks our Pastor John and the congregation for the cards, phone calls, flowers, and visits that he received during his recent hospitalization and recuperation. Your prayers and thoughtful acts of kindness are ap-preciated.

Help Needed!

The Communications Committee is

looking to recruit some creative and

tech-savvy person to help with our

church website update and revitaliza-

tion. The importance of this form of

communication cannot be overstated since the web-

site is often an introduction to who we are as a

church. Our website needs to be user friendly, at-

tractive and inviting in order to help people realize

how important it is for them to be members at NCC.

Creatively, we would like to see a uniformity of mes-

sages that would tie the website in with the colors

and design theme of our newly approved church

signs and other appropriate images of life in our

church. We have ideas but we need your help with

implementation. Maybe this is work you can apply

toward a college credit or internship. If you are in-

terested or know someone who might be, please call

Spring Cleaning?

We want your jewelry!

In an attempt to avoid a Jack Frost Bazaar all-nighter

in November, we are asking that jewelry be donated

earlier in the year. So as you are spring cleaning, and

you come across any jewelry you are ready to “move

along,” please label it for the Jack Frost Bazaar, and

leave it in the church office.

Thanks so much! Jeanette Woodworth

Tidings March 2011

8

Church youth collect canned goods

on “Soup-er Bowl” Sunday.

New Acting Director of Religious Educa-

tion and Youth Ministry, Amy Agles,

prepares to update the bulletin board.

Sue Basham fills in for church secretary

Judy Snitkin, who was not feeling well on

this day.

Tidings March 2011

9

Niantic Community Church 170 Pennsylvania Avenue Niantic, CT 06357

(860) 739-6208

NianticCommChurch@sbcglobal.net

www.NianticCommunityChurch.org

Pastor & Teacher: John A. Nelson

Community Minister: Patty Chaffee

Acting Dir. of Religious Education and Youth Ministries: Amy Agles

Church Secretary: Judy Snitkin

Parish Nurse: Marie LaTourette

Children’s Center Director: Kathleen Tiller

Sunday Morning Schedule 8:45AM Nursery care begins

9:00AM Worship service I (Pre-K to 4th graders may leave after ~20

minutes for “Divine Activity Time”)

10 – 11AM “Between Hour” Café

10:15AM Sunday school for all ages

11:15AM Worship service II (Pre-K to 4th graders may leave after ~20

minutes for “Divine Activity Time”)

12:30PM Nursery care ends

Deadline for the April edition of Tidings is March 15th. Please e-mail submissions to Tidings@TheDatums.com