Newsletter

THEC

ONGR

EGATIONAL CH

URCH

NEW

CANAAN, CONN. ES

T.1733

“Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and

humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

A turn of the calendar page, a warmth in the morning air, a lengthening of days all tell us that June is upon us, bearing its whispered promise of summer. We know from past summers that the promise isn’t always realized, but the very sight of the word “June” at the top of the calendar gives rise to a hope of peace, a hope of rest, a hope of changing pace. We see this hope in the smiles of passersby; we feel it as our shoulders ease down; and we look forward to slowing down – at least just a little – at least for a few weeks. As we begin the summer season of rest and reflection, may it be a time where we learn some-thing new about ourselves or our families, and may it be a time where we grow closer to our God. I know many of us have plans that take us out of town for at least part of the summer, so I hope that wherever the road leads, you will find time to slow down the pace and open yourself to God’s presence. My “to do” list includes catching up on family time, taking long walks and looking for God in His crea-tion. When I’m in Vermont, I’ll visit the little church in Vergennes and enjoy the services as a parishioner. I’m sure I’ll catch up on my reading, but I’ll make sure to take a few days where the only book in my bag is the Bible. Here on God’s Acre, we look forward to a summer of enriched program offer-ings and worship to help lead us closer to our God. Jonah, Chris, Elizabeth, and I will be preaching from June through September, and our own Kelly Rogers will return to preach one Sunday in July. We will continue our beautiful tradition of 8:00am “informal” services in the memorial garden, in addition to our customary 10:00am worship in our meeting house. Jody will be offering beautiful music each Sunday. Elizabeth will provide opportunities to volunteer and share fellowship throughout the summer. Jonah will re-launch a summer book series for group discussions.

From the Pastor’s Study rule of safety – it is an adventure of the spirit,

June 2011

CHURCH NEWS

All-Church Picnic 2

Beacon of Light 3

Children’s Sunday 12

Confirmation 4

Parish News 5

Summer Worship 2

Toddlertime 23

Vacation Bible School 13

COMMITTEES

Flower 5

History 6

Men’s Fellowship 5

MINISTRIES

Children’s Ministries 11-13

Children’s Music 10

Music Ministries 8-10

Pastoral Care 16-18

Service Ministries 19-20

Stephen Ministries 14-15

Youth Ministries 3, 7

CALENDAR 21-22

continued on the next page...

So my brothers and sisters, wherever we find ourselves this summer, I pray that we all find a way to grow closer to God. We can be sure God is not “taking the summer off” from us. And let our worship and participation not be a burden. As Alfred North Whitehead wrote, “The worship of God is not a rule of safety – it is an adventure of the spirit, a flight after the unattainable.” [Whitehead, Science and the Mod-ern World.] May it be so for us this summer.

With you on the journey,

continued from previous page...

ALL-CHURCH PICNIC

Sunday, June 12 Following 10:00am worship

Great Food & Fellowship for All! Games for the children!

Families with last names A-H, please bring dessert for 10

Families with last names I-Z, please bring salad or side-dish for 10

Menu includes Burgers & Dogs, Salads, and Desserts!

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE

On Sunday, June 12 we move to our Summer Worship Schedule:

8:00 am Service of Worship, Memorial Garden (Chapel if inclement weather)

10:00 am Service of Worship, Meeting House

10:00 am Church School, Ages 5 through entering Grade 4 (Childcare up to age 4)

11:00 am Refreshments, Parlor/Patio

Andrew Laub Emma Leslie Parker Lynch Emily Murphy Declan O’Connor Sarah Owen Emma Patch Dylan Rathbone Chloe Rippe Zach Seger Devin Selvala T.J. Simpson Chelsea Starkman Aidan Tuttle Clark Vazquez Corey Wieczorek Chase Williams Nicholas Woodard

Congratulations to our Confirmation Class of 2011!!

Connor Anthony Christian Arntzen Fred Baker Carsten Berger Erik Burns Kane Curtin Noah Daniel Sean Davidson Ellie Garrett Daisy Gilhool Alex Gross Sam Haney Caleb Hemmers Hal Holappa Jake Horstmeyer Alex Hutchins Lexy Jones Grayson Kennedy Clay Kontulis

CONFIRMATION

PARISH NEWS

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP FLOWER COMMITTEE

Baptisms

Hayden John Strutt, son of Jennifer and Warren Strutt, was baptized on May 22, 2011 in the Meeting House. The Reverend Chris M. Delmar officiated.

Ryan James Schimmeck, son of Anne and Karl Schimmeck, was baptized on May 22, 2011 in the Meeting House. The Rever-end Chris M. Delmar officiated.

Tyler Martin Schimmeck, son of Anne and Karl Schimmeck, was baptized on May 22, 2011 in the Meeting House. The Rever-end Chris M. Delmar officiated. Memorials

Stephen Meszkat, Jr. on May 20, 2011 in the Meeting House. The Reverend Harold E. Masback, III officiated.

Nancy Blood Perry on May 21, 2011 in the Meeting House. The Reverend Chris M. Delmar officiated.

Men's Fellowship Early Summer Dinner

Wednesday, June 1 at 7:00pm The Roger Sherman Inn

“The food is great - the fellowship even better!”

Cost is still only $40 payable at the door (cash or check payable to Ed Nordgaard)

RSVP to Ed at [email protected] or 203-762-2972

THANK YOU

This year the Flower Committee changed hands partway through the year. The Congregational Church would like to express its gratitude to the former Flower Committee chairs, Kris Johnson and Diane Schmidt, as well as our current chairs, Jane Kaliff and Dana Burwell, in addition to all of the volunteers who have provided such spectacular flower arrangements throughout the year. Our Meeting House has been beautifully enhanced by the lovely seasonal flowers that we see when we walk into the church each Sunday morning. Thank you!

HISTORY COMMITTEE

“Street People”

The names of New Canaan Parish families that figure prominently in the early history of The Congregational Church live on today in New Canaan street names:

John Davenport (Davenport Ridge), a Ponus Ridge farmer, was one of 24 founders of our Canaan Parish church, and the congregational meeting house, established in 1733.

John Benedict (Benedict Hill Road) was among those who organized the Society of New Ca-naan, later to become the Town of New Canaan.

Ebenezer Carter (Carter Street) was captain of the Canaan Parish Training Band, a trained militia company, organized in 1733. Ebenezer Smith (Smith Ridge) was also a member of the Band.

General Benjamin Talmadge (Talmadge Hill) and Captain John Mead (Mead Street) both served in the Revolutionary War.

These families embody the history of our church and our community from as early as the 1700s, and deserve our recognition.

Submitted by Ann Gillerlain

PARISH NEWS

Our youth would like to share their year and the fulfillment of their goals and the transfor-mation of their lives with the rest of congregation. They invite you to join in the fifth an-nual celebration of our youth: the Beacon of Light Dinner on June 5 at the Italian Cen-ter in Stamford. All the church youth will share the many service projects and the fun that each group has participated in this year – from our Guppies up to our graduating seniors. This is an event for the entire family you won’t want to miss! We hope you’ll join us!

YOUTH MINISTRIES

The week after the Beacon of Light Dinner, YG will wrap up its year with a pool party from 5:00-7:00pm on June 12. Meet at the Stiffelman’s home, 207

Jonathan Road, for food, fun, and a great end to the year!

MSYG will also end their year on June 12 with a pool party. They’ll meet from 2:00-4:00pm; check your flyer for the location. Can’t wait to see you there!

JYG will meet on both June 2 and June 9. On June 2, meet and pick up at Mead Park. We will end the year with the insane Water Blowout on June 9 – be ready to get soaked!

Guppies will also play at Mead Park on June 2. Both drop off and pick up will be at the park unless it rains. For this event, any friends who might be interested in Guppies for next year – any rising 2nd graders – are invited!

On June 9, we will end our year with a splash party at the church. Sprinklers, slip-and-slides, and tons of fun!

MUSIC MINISTRIES

THANK YOU to all the recent donors

to the Mary Bradley Clarke

Fund!

Your generosity enhances the beauty

of our worship!

Chancel Choir Recognition Sunday – June 5

At the 9:30 and 11:15am worship services on June 5, the Chancel Choir members will be recognized. The Chancel Choir rehearses weekly over nine months a year, and sings nearly every Sunday in worship. They are: Antonio Abate, Linda Avgerinos, Maria Bedo, Mary Lou Cantrell, Debbie Chapman, Michel Cornier, Tanya Crist, Jayson R. Engquist, Robin Foley, Margery Gardner, Wil-liam Gardner, Paul Howes, Priscilla Hurley, Kathleen Ireland, Phyllis Linden, Lois Madsen, Amy Masback, Barbara Mason, Marie-Ange Masters, Ruth Morgan, Polly Morrow, Tereza Nemessanyi, Abigail Nims, Dorie Pease, Willie Potts, Andrea Ritter, Eugenie Sherer, Tyler Simpson, Erin Elizabeth Smith, Enikő Kovács Szatai, Aram Tchobanian, Nancy Upton, Quynhchi VanLang, David Winkworth, and Margaret Yates.

Listen to What's Happening in June!

Help Give Back to Bridgeport School

System Music Program

Church member Lauren Tiefenthaler is requesting school band instru-ments, in any condition, to donate to the Bridgeport Music Fund. Due to cuts in school budget, the Bridgeport high schools are unable to subsidize musical instruments. Appropriate instruments include flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trombones, oboes, and any other instrument found in a high school concert band.

Please help give to kids who are un-able to supply their own instruments this year! The instruments donated will be fixed, if needed, and sent to the Bridgeport school system, so the condition of the instrument does not matter. Your donation will be greatly appreciated! Please drop off instruments in the Music Center or in the Church Office.

DID YOU KNOW???

More live music is heard today in churches and synagogues than in

any other venue!

Thank You to the musicians who sang and played instruments this year in our services. Your talents and time devoted to church music has been an in-spiration and joy to all!

Farewell, Abby...

Abigail Nims, our alto section leader for the past 3 years, is moving to Berkeley, CA this fall, where her boyfriend will begin a Ph.D. program in statistics at the University of California. She will con-tinue to perform as a soloist with opera companies and orchestras both nation-ally and abroad. She plans to begin a private voice studio in the Berkeley area. Abby has really enjoyed being a part of The Congregational Church, and she hopes to be able to visit whenever she is on the East Coast. You can con-tinue to follow her career on her web-site: www.abigailnims.com.

We thank you, Abby, and we wish you Godspeed!

PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUTH MUSIC NEXT FALL!

MONDAYS beginning September 12 Cherub Choir from 4:00–4:30pm for children ages 4–6. Cherub Choir will sing occasionally in the worship services. Weekly rehearsals include an intro-duction to music theory, singing, and instruments through church music.

Grace Notes from 4:30–5:00pm for children ages 2-3 with Parents. Grace Notes will sing occasionally in the worship services. Have fun with music, as we sing chil-dren’s Bible songs and play rhythm instruments.

WEDNESDAYS beginning September 8 Spirit Singers from 4:15 – 5:00pm for children in grades 1-4. A traditional choral group that sings in the worship services regularly throughout the year. The Spirit Singers will present a fully-staged and costumed musical each year. The focus of weekly rehearsals is developing a healthy vocal technique, learning musical concepts, beginning dramatic skill, establishing confidence in public performance, and building friendships.

Joyful Noise from 5:00-6:00pm for children in grades 5-8. Children’s Music is excited to announce an expansion of this choir! This group will sing in wor-ship services regularly throughout the year and join with Spirit Singers to present a fully-staged and costumed musical. The focus of weekly rehearsals will be an extension of Spirit Singers: de-velop a healthy vocal technique, learn musical concepts, develop dramatic skills, establish confi-dence in public performance, and building friendships.

THURSDAYS beginning September 8 Chancel Choir from 7:30–9:00pm. All singers, high school through adults, meet weekly for re-hearsals. The Chancel Choir sings Sunday services and special presentations throughout the year, many with orchestral ensembles. Join church members and section leaders in this choral family – there’s room for YOU in the choir loft!

SUNDAYS beginning September 18 Middle School Youth Group Worship Team from 3:15–4:15pm for grades 5-8. MSYG Wor-ship Team provides music for MSYG events and worship services throughout the year. Weekly rehearsals will introduce a contemporary style of music, and blend traditional elements of sing-ing, harmony, and musicianship.

Youth Group Worship Team from 5:45-6:45pm for grades 9-12. YG Worship Team provides music for YG events and worship services throughout the year. Weekly rehearsals focus on a healthy vocal technique, ear-training skills, music-reading skills, and learning how to plan and sing both individually and with an ensemble.

Middle School Worship Band for grades 5-8. If you are in Middle School and would like to play in the Middle School Worship Band, join us next year! This younger group will have the op-portunity to join with the senior high YG Band in a new mentoring program, and learn what it’s like to be in a live band! Rehearsal time to be determined. For more information please contact Jody Blaine Davis at [email protected] or 203-966-2651 x4, or Christy Lombardozzi at [email protected] or 203-966-2651 x35.

Mark your calendars to have fun with us in a Middle School or Children’s Choir next year!

Joyful Noise (grades 5-8) is expanding! Meets on Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00pm This choral group for middle-schoolers will be adding drama aspects next year, as well as sing-ing all genres of church music. Joyful Noise will be featured in various services during the year through dramatic sketches, choral, pieces, ensemble and solo singing, as well as instrumental performances.

Spirit Singers (grades 1-4) meets on Wednesdays, 4:15-5:00pm An elementary-aged choir which sings throughout the year in services such as Thanksgiving Worship, the Christmas Eve service for families, and Children’s Sunday. These singers round out the year with a fully-staged musical, complete with costumes and instrumental ensemble. For more information contact Christy Lombardozzi, Director of Children’s Formation & Music

(203) 966-2651 x35 or [email protected]

Grace Notes (ages 2-3, with parents) meets on Mondays, 4:30-5:00pm Grace Notes will sing occasionally in the worship services. Have fun with music as we sing children’s Bible songs and play rhythm instruments.

Cherub Choir (ages 4-6) meets on Mondays, 4:00-4:30pm Cherub Choir will sing occasionally in the worship services. Weekly rehearsals include an in-troduction to music theory, singing, and instruments through church music.

For more information contact Jo Deen Blaine Davis, Director of Music Ministries (203) 966-2651 x4 or [email protected]

CHILDREN’S MUSIC

“Make a joyful noise!”

This month I had the pleasure of talking with Dirk Dunlap about his experi-ence this year as a Team Member in the 3rd grade Church School class. Dirk is a father of four girls and is in his 2nd year of teaching. He and his wife, Ally, are involved throughout church and community. Dirk has been chair of the Buildings and Grounds committee, and currently serves on the Children and Families Ministries Committee. In his free time, Dirk enjoys tennis, pad-dle, skiing, home improvements, and managing four beautiful daughters. Christy Lombardozzi: What have you learned from being a Church School teacher? Dirk Dunlap: Well, I can recite the 23rd Psalm with much more confi-dence than I could six months ago! The other thing that I have learned – or been surprised by – is how much the children retain from the lessons each week, and how eager they are to participate in the lessons.

CL: Do you have a favorite moment or lesson from this year? DD: It’s funny, but I really enjoy the Chapel sessions (and not because Christy and Jonah did all the work). In these services, the children are asked to sit with others much different in age. I really enjoyed watching the older kids help the younger ones through the service. It is encouraging to see them engage so much with each other.

CL: Why do you teach? DD: I took over teaching Kindergarten last year while my wife was pregnant. I stepped in to help out, and found the experience rewarding. My eldest daughter wanted to have the same experience as her younger sister, so I agreed to do it this year. I also really like seeing how my daughters behave in a classroom setting. CL: Is it easy to teach? Are the lesson plans simple to follow? DD: I wouldn’t characterize it as easy or hard. It’s a rewarding challenge. Skip is great at relating the lessons of the Bible to the real world, and that makes it easy to take that ability for granted. While teaching, it can be a real challenge to make Biblical stories relevant for today’s eight-year olds, but the lesson plans and discussion guides are a big help – thanks in no small part to the review and preparation that you and Amy put into them. CL: Is there anything you’d like for parents to know, or others who may be considering teaching next year? DD: I think teaching is a great experience. I also think that the structure of the church school, with one lead teacher and a support teacher each week, is a good system. By being a supporting teacher, you can still get in-volved with the lessons, classroom, and kids - even if you can’t make the commitment to teach every week.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Circus School “With God All Things are Possible” Matthew 19:26

Vacation Bible School June 27 – July 1, 2011

9:15am to 12:15pm

A Shared Event of the Congregational and Methodist Churches

of New Canaan at the United Methodist Church of New Canaan

Register children 4 years to entering 5th grade

$60 per child

REGISTRATION DEADLINE MAY 31

VBS Registration Form available at www.godsacre.org Or contact: Amy Malling

203-966-2651, x5 [email protected]

submitted by Jim Cole

“Turn to me and have mercy on me, because I am lonely and hurting. My troubles have grown larger; free me from my problems.”

Psalm 25:16-17

“I feel so alone” is a thought that many of us have had at some time in our lives. Feeling alone in struggling with a family or personal problem, or as a result of being separated from a familiar work environment, can be a feeling of extreme separation and perhaps anxiety. It can be debilitating. It can cause even further separation, and even feelings of more intense loneliness. It can be amazing and a little miraculous how a simple reaching out to a fellow church member can lead one who is experiencing loneliness to a Christian solution. Our church has twenty-four trained Stephen Ministers who can help ease the anxiety of loneliness or separation. Stephen Ministers are trained to be prayerful companions to people who are suffering and who want to share their feelings with fellow church members. Stephen Min-isters are assigned one-on-one to be listening companions; male care givers are assigned to men, and women to women. This is individual Christian companionship.

Stephen Ministry has a record of helping members of our congregation. If you or someone you know needs our help, please contact

Reverend Chris Delmar at 203-966-2651, x2. You can also contact Jim Cole at 203-972-8502,

or Avril Sweeny at 203-972-8407.

The Stephen Ministers Caregivers’ Compass: A Stephen Minister is...

STEPHEN MINISTRIES

YOUR STEPHEN MINISTRY TEAM!

parents who are dependent on you? Pastoral Care Min-istries is considering hosting a program later this year for those who are dealing with aging parents. If you would be interested in such a program, please contact Debbie. Volunteers are always needed for the Pastoral Ministry Team (PMT). We call on members of the team to help whenever there is need, such as pro-viding food, driving some-one to church or to medical appointments, or writing notes upon the anniversary of a loved one’s death. The need is infrequent and the rewards are great. Please call Debbie at the church office, x31, or email [email protected], if you can help.

Save space for an-nouncements re: Pacific House, Open Door Shel-ter, etc. etc etc etc Save the date! On Sun-day, October 24, Maud Pur-cell and other speakers will present a program called Different Shades of Blue: Cutting Edge Treatment for Depression. Given the prevalence of TV ads for anti-depressants, many of us would like to know ex-actly what depression is and what can be done for it. How do we know if some-one we love needs treat-ment? What kinds of treat-ments are available? Maud tells us, “If anxiety or de-pression are knocking at your door, there’s no need to despair. Surely one of the many innovations in the treatment of mood disor-ders can provide you with hope and help.” Come find out more on October 24, 4:30pm–6:00pm. Do you feel that you are now part of The Sandwich Generation and are not sure how to handle all the prob-lems entailed by having

SERVICE MINISTRIES

Page 12

Summer Listening Dear friends, This year, Pentecost coincides with the winding down of spring and the beginning of summer. Bold images of a mighty rushing wind and tongues of flame hovering over disciples’ heads may seem hard to relate to, especially as we turn towards the lazy, hazy days of summer. What does the dramatic in-rushing of God’s Spirit mean in the upbeat and ordinary rhythms of life? And how do those of us heading into summertime with less than carefree hearts know and trust that God’s Spirit is at work? In Grieving With Grace: A Woman’s Perspective, Dolores Leckey writes that while she grieved the loss of her husband, she gained great insight from poet Jessica Powers, about the importance of listening for God’s Spirit day to day:

To live with the Spirit of God is to be a listener. It is to keep the vigil of mystery, earthless and still. One leans to catch the stirring of the Spirit, strange as the wind's will. The soul that walks where the wind of the Spirit blows turns like a wandering weather-vane toward love. It may lament like Job or Jeremiah, echo the wounded hart, the mateless dove. It may rejoice in spaciousness of meadow that emulates the freedom of the sky. Always it walks in waylessness, unknowing; it has cast down forever from its hand the compass of the whither and the why. To live with the Spirit of God is to be a lover. It is becoming love, and like to Him toward Whom we strain with metaphors of creatures: fire-sweep and water-rush and the wind's whim. The soul is all activity, all silence; and though it surges Godward to its goal, it holds, as moving earth holds sleeping noonday, the peace that is the listening of the soul.

--Jessica Powers, as quoted by Dolores Lackey, Grieving With Grace: A Women’s Perspective, ©2008 Jesus says, “God’s Spirit blows where it will.” (John 3:8). If we hope to recognize God’s Spirit stirring in our own lives, no matter what we are facing, we too need to lean and to listen, not rigidly expecting God’s Spirit to blow when or as we will it. We too may walk for a time in “waylessness,” not yet know-ing where God’s Spirit will lead us. But just as surely as God’s Spirit came to Jesus’ earliest followers during the first Pentecost, we too can trust that God’s Spirit is present for and among us. And we are loved by God. Always. We in Pastoral Care are also leaning and listening for the leading of God’s Spirit in how we might best care for you. One recent nudging is for grief support as church and other activities slow down for the summer. Look soon for details about a group forming here. Wishing you a blessed and Spirit-filled summer,

PASTORAL CARE

Tea and Conversation

Pastoral Care Ministry, with the help of Deacon Joanne Burns, has begun a series of quarterly gatherings for women, “Tea and Conversation”. This series sprang from the sense that many of the church women had felt iso-lated over the long winter, and would like a chance to gather in their church home. Our next gathering will be Thursday, June 9 at 11:00am in the Parlor. We’ll serve a light summer lunch: tea sandwiches, iced tea and lemon-ade, and then Chris Delmar will start our conversation by reading a few verses of Scripture. We will talk infor-mally about how those words might be speaking to us that day. No preparation is needed for any of these gather-

ings. Please RSVP to Debbie Chapman in the Church Office, 203-966-2651 x31.

Thanks for a Year of Volunteering

Pastoral Care Ministry wishes to thank everyone who has volunteered during the year to help fellow parishioners by holding them in prayer, by writing notes, providing rides, preparing and delivering meals, delivering flowers at Christmas and Easter, and providing other assistance as needed. We regret that we cannot thank each of you by name, as some of you have quietly left meals in the church freezer without telling us who you are. We have been wit-ness to hundreds of instances of “God’s hands on earth,” and we thank you all for the love and care shown to your neighbors.

ADULT EDUCATION

Celebrating the Wisdom of Women and Our Women of Wisdom

On Sunday, May 15th, Pastoral Care Ministry hosted a luncheon for all the women of the church. Led by Chris Delmar, and coordinated by Debbie Chapman with the help of many volunteers, the afternoon was a wonderful time spent meeting up with old friends, making new friends, sharing stories, and enjoying fellowship in a spiritual setting. We also lifted up all our Women of Wisdom who were un-able to be present with us.

Pastoral Care Ministries would like to thank the following people for their help: Gwen Bihl, Larry Brown, Jim Cole, Jody Davis (music), Judy Dunn, Elizabeth Garrett (dessert), Margery Howes, Dick Hyde, Judy Hyde, Kris Johnson (flowers), Anthony Jones, Amy Malling, Pat Stewart, Avril Sweeny, Nancy Upton (music and clean-up) and Anne Wilkinson; also thanks to our wonderful local caterer, Marge Foster, for the delicious food.

More thanks are due to our YG volunteers for set-up and serving: Julianne Beck, Charlotte Burch, Scott Cerick, Hayley Charas, Courtney Cole, Jake Hennessy, Cameron Lancaster, Emily Mitaro, Caroline Muller, Lex Najarian, Julie Newton, and Emily Pugliese; and to our YG leaders, Caroline and Chris, for arranging this help for us.

Our Honored Guests Front Row: Gertrude Mead, Lois Spinola, Marge Gore, Betsey Caldwell, Sally Finger, Bee Griffin, Carol Coyle; Back Row: Levora D’Acosta, Irene Swanson, Edith Bickley, Joan Igler, Ann Gillerlain, Barbara Porterfield, Phyllis Linden

PASTORAL CARE

PARISH NEWS

HomeFront Day

On Saturday, May 7, we marked our twentieth year of providing volunteers to support a HomeFront Day service project. HomeFront is a community-based, volunteer-driven home repair program that provides free repairs to low-income homeowners, thus enabling them to remain in their homes with an improved quality of life. HomeFront Day typically occurs each year, all around Fairfield County and beyond, on the first Saturday of May.

Our team of more than 35 adults and teens met at a home in West Norwalk, where volunteer contractor Jim Chevalier led this year’s renovations. The project entailed scraping and repainting the home’s exterior, as well as priming and painting the kitchen. The large complement of workers was a true example that “many hands make light work.” The project was completed by mid-afternoon - providing the elderly, wheelchair-bound homeowner with a bright ivory kitchen, as well as a light grey exterior, white trim, and a sky-blue front door.

A big thank you to all our volunteers for their selfless gift of time and talent!

-submitted by Beth Bagley

SERVICE MINISTRIES

PARISH NEWS

LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE!

Open Door Shelter Lunch Prep & Serve TUESDAY JUNE 28

Come help prepare and serve lunch at the Open Door Shelter in Norwalk. Volunteers meet in the parking circle at the front of the church at 10:30am to carpool over to the shelter, and we will be back at the church by 2:30pm. Please contact Bob Druckenmiller to volunteer: [email protected]

Pacific House Shelter Dinner Prep & Serve THURSDAY JUNE 16

Volunteers are needed to help prepare dinner, in advance, to serve 80 men. Food contributions should be dropped off by 4:30pm in the Smith Hall kitchen on March 17. Please contact Linda Twombly to volunteer:

[email protected] 203-966-4013

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEW CANAAN

Sunday Monday Tuesday

5 Communion / Choir Recognition 8:00am Service of Worship, Chapel 8:30am Chancel Choir, Meeting House 9:30am Service of Worship, Meeting House 9:30am Church School Chapel Service 10:30am Fellowship Hour, Smith Hall 11:15am Service of Worship, Meeting H. 5:00 Beacon of Light Dinner, Italian Center

6 6:00pm Music Committee, Parlor 6:30pm Senior High School Ministries, Room 8 7:30pm Adult Education, Crib Room 7:30pm Children & Family Ministries, Room 7 7:30pm Deacons, Parlor 7:30pm Fellowship, Room 8 7:30pm Middle School Ministries, Smith Hall 7:30pm MSA Committee, Room 6 7:30pm Trustees, Library

7 1:30pm Staff Meeting, Library 4:30pm Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team, Library 5:00pm YG Event, Parlor/Patio

12 Children’s Sunday 8:00am Service of Worship, Garden 10:00am Service of Worship, Meeting H. 10:00am Church School to age 4 11:00am All-Church Picnic 2:00pm MSYG Pool Party 5:00pm YG Pool Party

13 10:00am Prayer Shawl Ministry, Parlor 7:30pm Church Council, Library

14 1:30pm Staff Meeting, Library

19 8:00am Service of Worship, Garden 10:00am Service of Worship, Meeting H. 10:00am Church School 11:00am Refreshments, Parlor

20

21 1:30pm Staff Meeting, Library

26 Baptisms 8:00am Service of Worship, Garden 10:00am Service of Worship, Meeting H. 10:00am Church School 11:00am Refreshments, Parlor

27 9:15am Vacation Bible Camp, United Methodist Church

28 9:15am Vacation Bible Camp, United Methodist Church 10:30am Open Door Lunch 6:45pm Stephen Ministers, Parlor

AA 7:30am Monday—Friday Smith hall

JUNE 2011

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 12:00pm Worship Service Bulletin Deadline, Church Office 4:15pm Spirit Singers Choir, Music Center 5:00pm Children’s Choir, Music Center 7:00pm Men’s Fellowship Dinner, Roger Sherman Inn

2 10:00am-3:00pm, Staff Retreat; Church Office closed 4:00pm Guppies, Mead Park 5:00pm JYG, Mead Park 6:00pm Quest for Truth, Parlor 7:00pm Quest for the Spirit, YG Lounge

3 4

8 8:00am Buildings & Grounds, Library 12:00pm Worship Service Bulletin Deadline, Church Office

9 11:00am Women’s Tea and Conversation, Parlor 4:00pm Guppies, Smith Hall 5:00pm JYG, Smith Hall 6:00pm Quest for Truth, Parlor 7:00pm Quest for the Spirit, YG Lounge

10 11

15 12:00pm Worship Service Bulletin Deadline, Church Office 1:30pm Wedding Shower for Elizabeth and Jonah, Parlor

16 4:30pm Pacific House

17

18

22 12:00pm Worship Service Bulletin Deadline, Church Office 7:00pm YG Quest Sendoff Dinner

23 YG Quest Trip Departs (very early A.M.)

24

25



7/1 9:15am Vacation Bible Camp, United Methodist Church

7/2 YG Quest Returns (approx. 7:00pm)

TODDLERTIME

Toddlertime Nursery School

Summer camp registration is underway at Toddlertime for ages almost two through pre-kindergarten. Under the supervision of a professional early childhood staff, campers will enjoy weekly themes, special events, movement, art, science, water play and gym.

2’s: 2 days 9-11am 3’s: 4 days 9-12pm 4’s: 4 days 9-1pm 5’s: 4 days 9-2pm Splash into Summer June 13-24 Land of the Lost (week 1) Yo Ho! Yo Ho! Pirates and Mermaids Here We Go! (week 2) Summer Camp June 27-July 29 Session I June 27-July 8 Under the Big Top (week 1) Lions, Tigers & Bears, OH MY! (week 2) Session 2 July 11-July 22 Beyond the Castle Walls (week 1) Once Upon a Time (week 2)

Session 3 July 25-29 (one week session) The Wild, Wild West For forms, details and registration information call 203-972-3111 or visit www.toddlertimens.org. And looking ahead to the fall… Toddlertime Nursery School has limited spaces available for the 2011-2012 school year. In op-eration for 32 years, Toddlertime offers classes for children ages 21 months through 6 years old. Two’s may choose two or three days a week 9-11:30am. Threes may choose three or five days a week from 9-12pm. Fours may choose four or five days with two extended days until 1pm. The Fives go Monday-Friday with three extended days until 2pm. The Fives program is intended for children who have already completed a fours program and are eligible for kindergarten (turn five by December 31, 2011) but prefer an extra year of preschool. The fives program offers a small, personalized classroom with a low student to teacher ratio. Toddlertime starts the day after Labor Day and runs until June 15, with a total of 175 days of school. Toddlertime also offers an exciting enrichment program every day from 12-2pm. The 2011-2012 schedules include gym, art, theatre, Spanish, science, and cooking. Toddlertime also runs a summer camp though July (please see above). For more information about Toddlertime visit www.toddlertimens.org or call 203-972-3111. Toddlertime is located at 23 Park Street in The Congregational Church.

OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY

Telephone: 203-966-2651 E-mail Ext. The Rev. Harold E. Masback, III, Senior Minister [email protected] 1

The Rev. Jonah K. Bartlett, Associate Minister [email protected] 3

The Rev. Chris M. Delmar, Minister of Pastoral Care and Nurture [email protected] 2

Rob Mills, Chief Administrative Officer [email protected] 21

Dr. Jo Deen Blaine Davis, Director of Music Ministries [email protected] 4

Caroline Ainsworth, Director of Youth Ministries [email protected] 34

Debbie Chapman, Pastoral Care Coordinator [email protected] 31

Leigh Engen, Director of Youth Missions and Outreach [email protected] 38

Chris Guda, Director of Youth Ministries [email protected] 32

Christy Lombardozzi, Director of Children’s Formation & Music [email protected] 35

Amy Malling, Administrative Assistant for Christian Education [email protected] 5

Marie-Ange Masters, Director of Accounting & Purchasing [email protected] 23

Kelly Morrissey, Executive Assistant to the Senior Minister [email protected] 22

Elizabeth Smith, Director of Service Ministries [email protected] 6

Anne Wilkinson, Administrative Assistant [email protected] 36

David Winkworth, Director of Communications [email protected] 33

Anthony Jones, Sexton

“From God’s Acre” is not published in July and August. The deadline for entries for the September newsletter is August 15. Submissions should be E-mailed to David Winkworth at [email protected].

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THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEW CANAAN 23 PARK STREET, NEW CANAAN, CT 06840

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