EPISTLE for September 2014

8/11/2019 EPISTLE for September 2014

1/11

Three Ways to Make This Church

What You Long for It To Be

Transitions are exciting times in a congregation because anything is

possible. What the church will become is up to the people who stay

involved during the interim. You and the Holy Spirit moving through

you will shape this congregations future.

We cannot know where the church is going exactly but one thing we do

know is that the Holy Spirit has a use for the !radford "ongregational

"hurch in the cause of establishing #ods realm on earth. "hrist needs

this church to be here to help transform individual lives and the world

around us. This congregation has a calling for the future and its first

task during the transition is to ask $Who are we%& and $What is #od

calling us to be and do now%& and see what answer the Spirit reveals to

our collective hearts and minds. Then our 'ob will be to start bringingthat exciting future into being.

What long traditions and rich legacies from the !radford saints of old

will we carry forward into the future% What new traditions from the

recent past feel worth continuing% What course corrections or new

directions do we hear calling to us to make this congregation the church

of our dreams%

( big part of my role as a trained interim pastor is to help create

opportunities for you to discern and decide these things. Here are three

opportunities that are starting immediately.

Bradford Congregational Church-United Church of Christ Bradford, VT

See us on Facebook! (80 -"0#" sub$it ne%s to $#site&charter'net

EPISTLE

ustomer Name

Street Address

ity, ST ZIP ode

September,2014
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/11

). Worship* (ttending worship is the single most important way you

can help make this

church what you long for

it to be. Worship during

this interim will give thecongregation a common

vocabulary and set of

tools that will help it

shape its self+

understanding and e,uip

it to choose its future course. We will look for the light that the

scriptures and hymns shed on the path ahead or on how we can best

make the 'ourney together and we will find energy and enthusiasm tomove forward inspired by word and music and the Spirits presence

among us.

!ut the most important part of worship will be simply gathering as a

loving community walking together and finding comfort and meaning

in it. There will be no congregation in the future if we are not a

congregation now and that re,uires gathering regularly so that the Spirit

and love of #od can flow through us and lead and transform us.

This is an extremely important time to come to worship. #od is ready to

work miracles of grace among us but we have to be present and open or

we will miss them. What would the Holy Spirit have done at that first

-entecost if it had arrived and found an empty room% We are here today

because those first disciples simply showed up. The church will be here

tomorrow only if we keep showing up. et us do so and re'oice in the

faith that "hrist will be with us every step of the way.

/. Questionnaire* The 0eacons are circulating a written ,uestionnaire

that 1 hope you will answer as fully as you can. The responses will

inform all the work that we do together. 1t is extremely important that

you make your voice heard. 1f you care enough about the church to have

read this far you in particular are someone whose perspective needs to


3/11

be part of shaping our understanding of the past and present and our

vision of where we need to go from here. There are only five ,uestions.

You can find them in this edition of the 2pistle. -lease take a few

minutes right now to reflect on them and let us hear from you. We hope

it will be rewarding for you as well as of great service to thiscongregation and to our neighbors and to #od.

3. Face to face connections* We need your written response to the

survey in order to put it together with others and get a sense of the whole

congregation but in addition 1 hope you will take opportunities to share

more with me individually or in the small groups 1 will be meeting with

this fall. Shaping the future is the congregations responsibility. 1 am

here 'ust to help it do that work. !ut in order to be most useful 1 need tohear as much as 1 can from as many of you as 1 can. So please call or

email me to set up a time to talk and be sure to sign up for one of the

small group meetings when they are announced.

"hrist said that where two or three are gathered he is present. Speaking

together creates the opportunity for synergy a combined effect that is

greater than the sum of the visible parts because the Spirit of "hrist

moves within and among us inspiring insights we could not have foundalone. 1 am excited to discover what comes of it4

Thank you so much for being a part of the past present and future of this

beloved congregation. !radford and the world and #ods realm need

this church to fulfill its potential for goodness. Your part in it is

essential. Thank you4

!lessings on the 'ourney4

Tom


4/11

555-astor Tom 6inder will have office hours in the parsonage on Thursdays from

/*77+8*77 -9. He is available other times Thursday through Sunday by

appointment. His email is rev.thomas.cary.kinder:gmail.comor you may call the

parsonage ///+;8)7.555

SEASONS (message delivered byMartina Stever on Aug. 31, 201!

"a#$ in t%e s&ring, '%en 'as as$edto lead a 'ors%i& servi#e, it 'as

nearing t%e end o) t%e s#%ool year.S&ringtime, t%e beginning o)summer. *%ile graduation is an

ending o) %ig% s#%ool or #ollege years it is truly t%e beginning o) so manydi))erent o&&ortunities. A sad time+ eaving )riends. An an-ious time+ %eun$no'n a%ead. An e-#iting time+ /%anges. /%allenges. nde&enden#e. A%a&&y time+ Summertime. ride in a#%ievements. Eagerly loo$ing)or'ard. All o) t%ese

%en, on t%is abor ay 'ee$end, %ere 'e are at t%e beginning o) a

ne' s#%ool year, but t%e end o) summer va#ation. %e beginning o) )all.%e same )eelings A sad time, an an-ious time, an e-#iting time, a%a&&y time.

As a /%ur#%, 'e %ave been in a di))i#ult time o) transition. A time'it%out a &astor sin#e t%e end o) aren4s ministry. No', 'e loo$ )or'ardto t%e beginning o) t%e ministry o) our interim &astor. 5ev. om inder'%o 'ill be leading us in 'ors%i& ne-t Sunday.

uring t%e #%ildren4s time, tal$ed about seasons in t%e #%ur#% year.%ere are seasons in t%e 'orld t%at 6od #reated. %ere are seasons in ourlives. Every season %as its o'n distin#t #%ara#ter and &ur&ose. Ea#% one%as a beginning and an end t%at is but a ne' beginning a #y#le a#ir#le.

%e boo$ o) E##lesiastes '%i#% #%ose )or my message today %as beenlabeled by some, as one o) t%e most unusual, #on)ounding boo$s o) t%e"ible. t is t%e t%ird se#tion o) '%at are $no'n as *isdom literature,'%i#% in#ludes t%e boo$s o) 7ob and roverbs. t is uni8ue in t%at it is not
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


5/11

%istory, not &ro&%e#y or not &arables. t %as been des#ribed by some as9t%in$ing out loud,: and being more &%iloso&%i#al t%an religious. t %asbeen attributed to ing Solomon, but #ertain ersian 'ords in t%e originalte-t ma$e t%at seem 8uestionable. t also s%o's in)luen#e o) 6ree$

&%iloso&%ers o) t%e time; So#rates, lato and Aristotle.%e verses #%osen )or today are )ull o) o&&osites times and a#tions;born


6/11

#%ild%ood, adoles#en#e and adult%ood , our summer and autumn, as 'erea#% maturity. As ea#% stage ends, a ne' one begins. Our lives begin'it% birt% and some say end 'it% deat%. As /%ristians, 'e believe t%atdeat% is not t%e end o) li)e, but t%e beginning o) a ne' and eternal li)e in

our %eavenly %ome.Our s&iritual li)e also %as seasons. Sometimes '%en 'e get %urt, '%enli)e seems un)air B di))i#ult it4s %ard to remember t%at 6od #aresC %ereare times '%en our )ait% is strong and at ot%er times it is 'ea$, and 'e8uestionand as$ '%y.

"ut '%en 'e #ry, so does 6od. *%en 'e smile, so does >e. *e don4tal'ays understand, but 'e trust in %is love and #are )or us.

n any season 'e e-&erien#e various seasonings %ey may be salty,s'eet, bitter, sour, tangy, mild or strong. *%atever our #urrent season,

it 'ill not last. *e #an no more remain in one season o) li)e t%an one $indo) 'eat%er #an last t%roug%out t%e year. i)e brings seasons o) bot%mourning and dan#ing, times o) 'ee&ing and times o) laug%ing.

%e $ey, o) #ourse is to remember t%at 6od is 'it% us t%roug%out allt%e seasons o) our lives. *e are not al'ays a'are o) '%at 6od may bedoing. O)ten ea#% season brings #%ange and gro't%. %ere may be times'%en 'e 'ould li$e to %it t%e re'ind button as 'e 'is% 'e 'ere youngagain. "ut, do 'e really 'ant to be stu#$ in any one age+ As 'e got%roug% t%e seasons o) our lives, may 'e remember t%at every ending is a

ne' beginning. oday is t%e )irst day o) t%e rest o) your li)e. Ma$e t%emost o) itC

et us turn to 6od in &rayer;

ear ord, *e give you &raise and t%an$s )or t%e beauty o) t%is valley'%ere 'e live.

*%ile 'e are blessed 'it% t%e #%anging o) seasons, 'e are reminded o)t%e )ait%)ulness o) your un#%anging nature and un#onditional love )or us.

*e are grate)ul )or ea#% and every season o) our lives. *e &ray t%at 'emay gro' and serve in 'ays t%at are &leasing to you. >el& us to s%o'your love t%roug% our 'ords and a#tions.

*e li)t u& our /%ur#% )amily and as$ you to lead us in t%is time o)transition. *e need one anot%er. >el& us to resolve our di))eren#es andbe#ome united as /%ristians '%o %ave been #alled to serve you.


7/11

ra' us ba#$ toget%er.

*e li)t u& in &rayer t%ose '%o are ill and su))ering, t%ose '%o are

troubled, lonely or an-ious, t%ose

'%o are grieving. *e as$ your love and &resen#e )or t%ose '%ose names%ave been s&o$en aloud, as 'ell as t%ose '%om 'e name in our %earts.May t%ey be li)ted u& and #om)orted. AMEN

e#tionary )or Se&tember and into O#tober

September 7, 2014 [Green]

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentec!tThe Season of Creation Begins (Sundays

of September)

Exodus 12:114

Psalm 149 or Psalm 148 (UMH 861)

Romans 13:814

Matthe 18:1!2"


"urteenth Sunday after Pentec!t

Exodus 14:1931

Exodus 1!:1#$11% 2"21 (UMH 13!)Romans 14:112

Matthe 18:213!


"ifteenth Sunday after Pentec!t

Exodus 16:21!

Psalm 1"!:16% 3&4! or Psalm &8 (UMH

&99)

Ph'l''ans 1:213"

Matthe 2":116

September 2#, 2014 [Green]

Si$teenth Sunday after Pentec!tExodus 1&:1&

Psalm &8:14% 1216 (UMH &99)

Ph'l''ans 2:113

Matthe 21:2332

%ctber &, 2014 [Green]

Se'enteenth Sunday after Pentec!t(r)d *mmunin Sunday

A Season of Saints Begins (through All

Saints Day or Sunday)

Exodus 2":14% &9% 122"

Psalm 19 (UMH &!")

Ph'l''ans 3:4#$14

Matthe 21:3346

%ctber 12, 2014 [Green]

Ei+hteenth Sunday after Pentec!t

*hi)dren! SabbathExodus 32:114

Psalm 1"6:16% 1923 (UMH 829)

Ph'l''ans 4:19

Matthe 22:114

%ctber 1-, 2014 [Green]

.ineteenth Sunday after Pentec!t

Laity Sunday

Exodus 33:1223

Psalm 99 (UMH 819)

1 hessalon'ans 1:11"

Matthe 22:1!22%ctber 2/, 2014 [Green]

Tentieth Sunday after Pentec!t

*euteronom+ 34:112

Psalm 9":16% 131& (UMH &89)

1 hessalon'ans 2:18

Matthe 22:3446


8/11

Thank you for making a commitment to peace--

Our children will see an estimated 100,000 acts of

violence on television in the next 10 years.

There is a stronger connection between violence on television and

aggressive behavior than the connection between lead exposure and

lower IQs in children.

hildren spend more time !" 1#$ hours per day% in front of computer,

television and game screens than any other activity except sleeping.

And did you kno!

Fast from media violence Sept. !"#$ #%&

he Un'ted ,hur-h o. ,hr'st/s h'stor'- med'a 0ust'-e m'n'str+ 'ssonsor'n a med'a 'olen-e .ast n -on0un-t'on 'th Pea-e *a+%mem#ers are en-ouraed to pu)) the p)u+as mu-h as oss'#le on'olent roramm'n .rom tele's'on% -omuters% smarthones% and'deo ames

5'n u on l'ne atmed'a$.astor
http://www.media-fast.org/http://www.media-fast.org/


9/11

Summer &i#tures travel moments

%e O#tober ESE 'ould still be a great time to s%are our )avorite s%ots o) summer&ast. Submit your )avorite (sunset, sunrise, &i#ni#, landmar$, et#! tom3siteD#%arter.netor m##mar#iam3Dgmail.#omto %ave it s%ared ne-t issueC

%e =1 rest area )or t%e #%ur#% 'ill be O#t.3rd,t%, BFt%.

ood and 'or$ers are needed.

/all 7ani#e arabee 222=G0 ) you'ould li$e to 'or$ a s%i)t. t is anen?oyable time visiting 'it% &eo&le

)rom di))erent &la#es. /oo$ies, bars,breads, mu))ins, doug%nuts and a&&lesare needed.

t is a good money raiser )or t%e #%ur#%C/%arlotte *el#%

"#AY$# C%&C$#&'

Among those who were lifted up in prayer in recent months:"etty 7imerson Hirginia "ednars$i ave ruitt =year=old ateHi#tims o) ebola %ose a))e#ted by t%e violen#e in 6aIa B srael

/aleb Nelson%ose a))e#ted by t%e violen#e in J$raine %e omlinson )amily Hida

Munson5ev. om inder Mary7ane and >elmet re&&er

%ur sympathy and (o)e to the fami(y and friends of

7essi#a am&%ere 7ames oley
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


10/11

From the diaconate and "astor Tom *inder

The interim period can be one of the most dynamic exciting times in a

congregations life. 1t is an opportunity to remember and learn from the

past to redefine the congregations sense of purpose and direction and to

set out on a new stage of its 'ourney.

(n 1nterim 9inister needs to get to know a congregation as ,uickly as

possible in order to help it focus on what is most important for its future.

To that end we are inviting you to help set our direction and let Tom get

to know us by answering some ,uestions he is posing. We hope

e)eryone ho cares a+out the future of this church i(( respondboth

in writing and by attending one of the small group gatherings we willhave in various homes this fall


11/11

;. What do you feel is important to change now%

>. What three things do you dream this church will do or become%

Your name

EPISTLE for September 2014

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