First Congregational Church Camden, Maine

July/August 2016 Vol. 32, No. 7&8

DATE USHERS FELLOWSHIP

July 3 Dave Jackson, Melvin Achorn, Scott Achorn, Louis Regnier

Betty McFarland, Don & Judy Flock, Gayle Palmer, Essie Sexton, Doug & Rebecca Laliberte

July 10 Greg &Vicki Worden, Ann Bex, Ann Rafferty

Eric & Beryl Charlton, Mary Buck, Jared & Kristi Todd, Meg & Owen Thomas, Becky Brace

July 17 Elaine Davis, Nan Haid, Andi & Marty Hamalainen

Nancy Laite, Wendy Wickenden, Barbara Lannamann, Gail Palmer, Greg & Vicki Worden

July 24 Rita Elliott, Deb Endl, Roger Hurley, Loel Kline

Deb Endl, Carol & Gary Spinney, Ann Bex, Jeni Mason, Harold & Barbara Lamb, Charlene & Peter Orne

July 31 Jaime Maresh, Cat Perry, Sally & Allen Fernald

Bob & Judy Laurence, Chris & Shelley Mills, Tony & Betty Bates, Ellen & Jeff Stanclift

“Summer time, and the living is easy ... “ Well it’s different anyway. In my years in ministry, and especially as an interim minister, the first summer season in a church is always interesting – learning the shifting rhythms of the church’s life as the rhythms of people’s individ-ual and family life shift. To live whole and healing lives for our own sake and for the world’s sake we need to experience and engage in such shifts. They are what give us rest and replenishment, get us unstuck and moving forward when we feel ourselves falling into the “ruts” of habits, and of judgments. Interestingly, in many of the transition small group discussions two kinds of desires about what folks would like to see in the future keep coming up in one form or another:

To deepen and grow this congregation’s focus on community involvement and service; and

To deepen and grow in our understanding of our faith, our spiritual lives, and opportunities to share our lives and questions with one another.

The tendency might be to see these two desires as opposites – a matter of either/or. But I’m thinking maybe we need to view them as part of an ebb and flow, a shifting rhythm in our lives as people of faith. Each one feeding and strengthening the other. So speaking of our transition process, the work we do this summer will take on a different rhythm as the Transition Team works on sections of the Congregational Profile, using the learnings from our small group discussions as well as information and discussions from the church’s boards, committees, groups, and staff. The plan is to hold another round of small group conversations focused on some specific topics or areas of the church’s ministry & mission.

From the Pastor’s Desk Rev. Deb Jenks

The hope is that these will happen over the summer ... but we need to pay attention to those shifting rhythms! The goal is to have a draft of the Congregational Profile ready to present to the congregation in the fall for input and ultimately approval. After that, a Search Committee will be formed to begin the search for a new minister. If you have thoughts to share, observations to make, questions to ask, please speak to one of the transition team members, or write them down and leave them in the “Comments” Box in the Mayflower Room. One more observation about shifting rhythms – I am quite in awe of how this congregation is not waiting for a new settled minister, but is actively going deeper and growing both in your spiritual lives, and in active service in the community. God’s Spirit is moving through us ... and the living is wondrous to behold! Blessings for the Summer, Pastor Deb _________________________________________________________

Friends of Music Concert Sunday, August 14th, at 4:00pm, our Friends of Music concert

series will be hosting Mes Amis, an original acoustic Gypsy Jazz group based in central Maine; good friends brought together by a love of

good music. Their music is infectious, appealing to listeners young and old alike with insistent rhythms, bouncing bass lines and sweetly

intricate melodies. Don’t miss this!!

Free-will donation.

Shields Mission Project Committee A Ministry of

The First Congregational Church of Camden

Debbi Hitchings

It’s the summer solstice! As I sit here writing this note to you all, the sun is out, the grass is green, the ocean breeze is stiff yet warm. A perfect day and life is good. However, life is not always so for folks in our midst who struggle to find housing, to feed their kids, to get the health care they need. Most of those people are invisible to us. We don’t know that a person we pass on the sidewalk, who helps us with our check out at the grocery store, who cooks our meals at the nearby restaurant or who bathes our parents in a nursing home may well be on the edge financially, unable to pay the bills. So it was for a young couple with a two year old daughter. He works a seasonal job while she is unemployed. She completed a welding certification and is hopeful of being back to work soon. In the meantime though there wasn’t enough income to pay the rent so they took up residence in sectioned off portion of an uninsulated garage with no sanitary facilities, no running water, no kitchen facilities. Their walls were tarps, their heat a small space heater. They could use the house for the bathroom. No one should have to find themselves in such a situation here in our community. Finally, they reached the top of the list for subsidized housing and with the help of several organizations, including Shields, were able to pay the security deposit/first and last month’s rent that got them into their new home. He is back at work now that “the season” is in full swing, and they are ever so hopeful that they can hold on to their apartment. So it was also for a single mother of three. She had to take a leave of absence from her work as a CNA due to issues with her back while pregnant. A major consequence of losing most of her income was her inability to pay the electric bill. Power was due to be shut off within a few days when her case manager came to Shields asking if we could pay down the bill so that the lights would stay on.

Our church can continue to offer this kind of financial outreach because of the support of the congregation and of the greater community. (None of our funding comes from the church’s budget.)We are a church that is willing to lend a hand even to people we will never meet. Your kindness ensures that our church’s mission of reaching out to the community will continue in the years ahead.

Shields Committee: Deb Endl (Chair), Betty Bates, Kate Edge, Julianne Edmondson, Bob Garcia, Doug Linder, Shelley Mills, Roberta Walker, Debbi Hitchings (Administrator)

Our mission as an outreach ministry of the church: “To help provide less fortunate citizens of Knox County warmth, shelter, food, clothing, transportation, education, childcare, health care etc. and to enable them to become more able to live a productive and self-sustaining life.

Blood Drive Monday, July 11 12:30-5:30pm Pilgrim Room

Things have settled down here for the musicians at First UCC, and it's been one beautiful day after another here in Camden, Maine. While I'll miss hanging out with the choir members on Wednesday evenings, I hope everyone is enjoying a little relaxation outside in this perfect weather. As for me, I'll be down in miserably hot, sticky Maryland for the next week, though I'm thrilled to be spending some time with family and friends. We had a successful concert here on June 5th for the American Guild of Organists, and donations from the free-will offering accumulated a nice chunk of change for the AGO Young Organist Scholarship Fund. In particular, I had a blast getting to hear so many talented organists play our instrument! I'd never actually heard our organ played before, believe it or not. I might have been playing it since January, but it's not the same as sitting out there in the congregation hearing it, and all I can say is I have an even greater appreciation for it now! A fine baccalaureate service was held the following day on June 6th, and our Choral Bells did a wonderful job adding a bit of joy to the festivities. The choral music provided by Kim Murphy's choir was beautiful as well. Though we're in for a few low key months here, we do have some exciting things in store. First up, our 7' Steinway concert grand is in the middle of a major overhaul thanks to funds provided by a generous anonymous donor. Therefore, as of July 3rd, we will have an instrument worthy of the best concert halls in Maine! This will open up a world of possibilities for the music program here at First UCC, and I, for one, am so excited about the future! Not to mention excited to get my hands on that piano the moment I return from Maryland!

From Matt Mainster Director of Music

Speaking of July 3rd, we'll be welcoming my good friend and fellow Yale graduate, Leslie Teardo, as our guest soloist. She will be joining the choir for our anthem, and singing a solo. And of course, just a reminder, we'll have many terrific musicians joining us for the month of August. Then mark your calendars for Sunday, August 14th, when our Friends of Music concert series will be hosting Mes Amis, a Maine-based gypsy jazz band. That's all for now! Don't forget to join the choir Sunday mornings at 8:30 –– no commitment, no auditions, just show up and sing! And meanwhile, have a very happy Summer! _______________________________________________________

JULY BIRTHDAYS

7/1 Jane Babbitt 7/7 Betty Killoran Kristel Brown 7/9 Skip Bates 7/11 Linda Strout 7/15 Gayle Palmer 7/17 Gail Palmer 7/18 Stephen Hanscom 7/20 Brian Robinson 7/22 Dodie Amundsen Joshua Stanclift 7/23 Flora Shorey 7/24 Matt Doudera Kate Bates

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS 8/2 Cathy Eagleson 8/4 Jean Nolan 8/8 Ralph Knowlton 8/9 Mimi Edmunds 8/10 Steve Marin 8/11 Zella Walker 8/16 John Davidson Mary Lou Eugley 8/17 Kim Palermo 8/18 Bob Lannamann 8/21 Betty Bates Jane Bennett 8/23 Debbie Brady Hayley Orne

From Elizabeth Lally Director of Church School

We are rolling into Summer with some great service activities for the youth. We started at Terri Mackenzie’s house with some yard work and will continue on to Vicki Fletcher’s house on the 26th. The kids are really putting a lot of effort into their work and are enjoying getting to spend time with one another and deepen friendships (grownups as well!).

We are coordinating with a Syria relief effort that is located in Camden and that great idea was brought to us by the Dowds. The kids will be helping to sort goods that will be sent over to provide some relief to the refugees. Please sign up on our board in the Pilgrim room if you have an idea or task that the children could be involved in.

We have been talking in recent weeks about the youth that will moving up to the junior youth group this Fall. We are looking for leaders for that group and the structure of it could vary greatly depending not he response that we get. It could be co-leaders or there could be a group of interested fold who rotate their responsibilities for class instruction. Ursula Crosslin has volunteered to be the Sunday school teacher for the K-1 class for the first session. We have three sessions each Sunday school year. Reach out to me if you would be able to serve in this capacity for the second or the third session.

We will be collecting our offering over the Summer for the animal shelter and are open to ideas for creative ways that the youth could help a group or organization with their weekly collection.

The children decorated posters to use in the vigil against violence hosted by our church on June 26th and a discussion was had about why we were so invested as a church in lifting our voice and taking a stand against the recent tragedy.

We are looking forward to continuing our SUMMER OF SERVICE and continuing to better incorporate the children into the service. Happy Summer!

From Heavenly Threads Melissa Chapman, Manager

It was great to see you at our Open House/Coffee Hour in June. We offered a Father's Day Special of 50% OFF men's clothing and made over $170.00 in a short period of time! Thanks to all of you. (Next year we will host the first Sunday in June which may be a better time for the majority of people.) Please remember Heavenly Threads Thrift Shop is YOUR Outreach Mission. So far this year, the Outreach Committee has donated over $12,000 to the following: Habitat for Humanity, Hospitality House, PenBay YMCA, Food Pantry Rockland, Knox County Health Clinic, Trekkers, AIO Food Pantry, Window Dressers, Youth Links, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Window Dressers. We feel we have a mission as well—and we hope we are successful—to provide a welcoming, relaxing, fun, bargain-filled place to volunteer and shop. Many of you have supported us w/donations and purchases for many years. Thank you for that!! Please share our mission with your friends and remind them that we sell (and accept as donations) much more than clothing: housewares, kitchen goods, glassware, antiques, collectibles, small pieces of furniture, office supplies, craft, art and gardening supplies, toys and games, jewelry, books, accessories (belts, ties, purses, scarves), shoes and just about anything else you can think of! (We will pick up large donations if helpful.) We are looking to fill two special volunteer jobs working with jewelry or books. One would need to spend a couple hours weekly organizing and tagging the items. (A little special knowledge of either would be great,but not necessary.) And, of course...anyone who would like to pop in (well, call first please) and steam clothing for a bit would be most welcome. If you haven't had a chance to shop or donate in a while - please come by. Our email address is: threadsucc@gmail.com; let me know if you would like to be added to the list. We will alert you to our special sales. You can also find daily (almost) posts in the Village Soup Biz Section highlighting special items from our inventory. We also have a Facebook page in the works: Heavenly Threads Thrift Shop Facebook page. If you have any questions or comments...come on by or call: 236-3203.

DATE USHERS FELLOWSHIP

August 7 Nan & Chase Lasbury, Jinx & John Hufnagel

Ann & Bruce Cole, Sarah Shepherd, Gloria Guiduli, Deb & Roy Hitchings, Marcia Dietrich

August 14 Bette McFarland, Amy Rollins, Ruth & Peter Lowry

Phil & Judy Cucinotta, Andi & Marty Hamalainen, Julianne Edmondson, Rita Elliott, Ralph & Audrey Preuster

August 21 Marty Martens, Linda Strout, Shelley & Chris Mills

Karin Rector, Marge Wester, Debbie Brady, Ann Rafferty, Mike & Vicki Fletcher

August 28 Kathrin Anderson, Lucy Goulet, Rich Stuart, Bruce Cole

Becky Ford, Sally & Allen Fernald, Mimi Edmunds, Zella & David Walker, George McKiernan

Our Priceless Volunteers For every month, in every Beacon, we will be printing the names of our very wonderful volunteers who have signed up for the tasks below. Check your calendars. If Ushers & Fellowship Team Members are unable to assume the duties on that day, please find a substitute and alert Nan so she can make the correction for the Sunday Bulletin.

July Highlights

3SUNDAY, 9:30am, Worship, Communion 4Monday, CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 6Wednesday, 9:30am, Staff meeting; 1:30pm, Memorial Garden meeting, 7Thursday, 9:00am, XiGong; Noon, Prayer Shawl knitters meet 10SUNDAY, 9:30am, Worship 11 Monday, 12:30pm, Blood Drive 13 Wednesday, 9:30am, Staff meeting; 6:00pm, Christian Ed meets 14 Thursday, 9:00am, XiGong; 10:30am, Membership Meets; Noon, Prayer Shawl knitters meet; 17 SUNDAY, 9:30am, Worship 19Tuesday, 5:15pm, Deacons meet meets 20Wednesday, 9:30am, Staff meeting 21Thursday, 9:00am, XiGong; Noon, Prayer Shawl knitters meet 24SUNDAY, 9:30am, Worship 27Wednesday,9:30am, Staff meeting 28Thursday, 9:00am, XiGong; Noon, Prayer Shawl knitters meet 31 SUNDAY, 9:30am, Worship

August Highlights 3Wednesday, 9:30am, Staff meeting 4Thursday, 9:00am, XiGong; 10:30am, Membership Meets; Noon, Prayer Shawl knitters meet; 7 SUNDAY, 9:30am, Worship, Communion 10Wednesday, 9:30am, Staff meeting; 6:00pm, Christian Ed meets, 11Thursday, 9:00am, XiGong; 10:30am, Membership Meets; Noon, Prayer Shawl knitters meet; 14SUNDAY, 9:30am, Worship, 4:00pm Friends of Music concert 17 Wednesday, 9:30am, Staff meeting 18 Thursday, 9:00am, XiGong; Noon, Prayer Shawl knitters meet; 21 SUNDAY, 9:30am, Worship 24Wednesday, 9:30am, Staff meeting 25Thursday, 9:00am, XiGong; Noon, Prayer Shawl knitters meet 28SUNDAY, 9:30am, Worship 31Wednesday,9:30am, Staff meeting

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