Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)

Covering May 3, 2009 to May 16, 2009

Have a Minute?

By Douglas Griffin

It has been a year since Chuck Wildman’s resignation. A year since the final farewell celebration and the Wildmans’ move from Arlington to Massachusetts. It’s been a year since Rock Spring began discerning together what congregational life will look like and be like without Chuck’s pastoral leadership.

We have worked well to probe the dimensions of our community now. We have worked intentionally to be candid about ourselves and our past. We have worked deliberately to pause from our customary ways and ponder what new opportunities and strengths are surfacing among us.

From this year’s process of living into this in-between time I believe that we’ve done more than make solid progress toward being able to begin a search for our next senior pastor. We have discovered rich resources among us to celebrate and cherish. Rock Spring Church is blessed, really blessed! First, I am impressed by the chorus of voices who have expressed appreciation and gratitude for a rich tradition of gifted senior pastors who have enjoyed long and memorable tenures. The ministries of Paul Hunter, Sid Lovett, George Booth, and Chuck Wildman linger in the collective memory of Rock Spring as a rich legacy for which Rock Spring is deeply blessed.

Also, even though we are in between senior pastors, Rock Spring is blessed with the pastors who are here and will be here into the tenure of the next senior pastor. Hank Fairman and Janet Parker have stepped up to the plate and assumed responsibilities for added challenges that come with being in an interim period. One need only recall worship services as recently as Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday to recognize the unique pastoral imprint they make. All this, while ensuring the continuity and expansion of on-going programs and ministries of the church. Rock Spring is blessed by its called pastors who will welcome and team with the new senior pastor.

Finally, I am impressed by so many members of the congregation who have willingly, and even eagerly, taken on duties and tasks to think critically about our identity, to envision our future, and to think creatively about how Rock Spring might position itself to face a new era with new challenges. This church is filled with gifted, talented, and generous people! Rock Spring church is blessed by such a pool of lay leaders.

As we conclude the first year since Chuck Wildman’s retirement, we do recognize quite a bit that remains unanswered. We do have quite a bit that remains to be done. But we have discovered a lot, too. We have discovered how much we are blessed. Blessed by such a rich heritage of past senior pastors. Blessed by our called pastors who will be with us into the years just ahead. And blessed by a treasure trove of gifted lay leaders. Indeed, Rock Spring Church is blessed, triply blessed!

Peace,
Doug

Church Calendar

Please click here to view the current Rock Spring calendar.

What’s Happening in Our Interim Time?

John Roman to Chair Search Committee for Senior Pastor

Rock Spring’s search process is moving forward. Late last Fall, the Council held a session dedicated to beginning the formation of the search committee for the senior pastor. Council members broke into small groups to discuss what qualities they thought would be useful in members of such a committee. After a time, the Council rejoined to discuss what the groups identified. In addition to demographic diversity, the Council identified such characteristics as being: an active member of the church; a consensus builder; a good communicator; a forward thinker; and being a person who would not try to impose personal agendas on the church. In these days of on-line resumes, computer skills are also a plus.

At the conclusion of the November session, the Council was asked to recommend to Jim Meehan, Council President, the names of folks they thought would make good candidates. Jim also invited volunteers through announcements in the Rock Spring News and publicly during worship services

Since that time, Gail Howell, the present Council President, contacted individuals on the list who had been recommended by three or more Council members and ascertained whether they would be willing to be considered as a candidate for the committee. In its March meeting, Council once again focused on the search committee. It was clear from our review of the list of candidates that we needed to add candidates and additional possibilities were identified.

In the meantime, over the past several months, an Interim Team has been gathering data, conducting listening sessions, and preparing to draft the church profile. Now, the Church Council has taken the next step by appointing John Roman to Chair the Search Committee. John has been a key leader of the Interim Team and has been deeply involved at Rock Spring for the past 10 years. John has served as Chair of the Finance Board and worked on three pledge campaigns. He and his wife, Taryn, have 2 children, Matteo and Amanda. Taryn currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Christian Education.

A Council Task Force is now working with John and Rev. Doug Griffin to identify a slate of candidates to comprise the Search Committee. The Task Force (which includes Sarah Gilmour, Jason Henderson and Ashley Martinage) is seeking a balanced Committee that truly represents the Congregation. They are working from a list of Rock Spring members who have volunteered or been identified as potential Search Committee members. The Task Force hopes to have a proposed Search Committee ready for the Council’s consideration at its April meeting.

Once the Search Committee is formed, the search team will blast off, greatly assisted by the great efforts of the Interim Team and the congregation to finalize the church profile in preparation for the search for Rock Spring’s next senior pastor.

News and Notes

Joys and Concerns

Prayers are requested for Jim Mayer who continues to battle cancer, and thanks are offered to Rock Springers and others who are continuing support to the Mayers during his treatment.

Congratulations and Welcome to our New Members!

We give thanks to God for increasing our congregation through the addition of eight new members who joined the church on April 19, at the 11:00 service. A warm “welcome home” is extended to Chris Bavolack, Jared Carlson, Collette and Neil Dziemian, Holly Krull and Wendell Jenkins, Masako “Chaco” Morgan, and Melanie Solomon. Please reach out and meet our newest members.

DVDs of Ellen Bozman’s memorial service now available

We have received four copies of Ellen Bozman’s memorial service from the County, and they may be borrowed from the Rock Spring Library.

Invitation from Endowment Fund on Anniversary of Chuck’s Retirement

We have just passed the one year mark since Chuck Wildman’s retirement. We still, and will always, hold Anne and Chuck dear in our hearts. The Wildman Intern Fund was established upon Chuck’s retirement as a way to honor Anne and Chuck and received $13,115 in gifts to support having pastoral interns at Rock Spring. Now would be a great time to add to this Fund. Please forward or deliver checks payable to
Rock Spring Church Congregational Church Endowment Fund, with a notation for the Wildman Intern Fund, to the church office.

Thanks,

Don Manning, Chairperson, Rock Spring Congregational Church Endowment Fund.

Board of Deacons News

Extend a Welcome, Wear a Name Tag!

Isaiah 43:2 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by
name, you are mine.

Our names are important to us, are a part of us. Sharing our names is a special part of the hospitality extended in our welcome. Wearing our name tags can make the welcome even more Extravagant! More than sharing our names, a name tag can make it easier to form new connections and foster existing ones. It acknowledges that some people are helped by visual information as well as audible. A committee name on the tag can help a person feel more included by knowing their ideas and/or concerns have gone to the right place. It can relieve the awkward situation of having to ask “What was your name again?” and therefore make it easier to greet one another.

So, now you’re thinking “How do I get a name tag?” The church office is ready to help out! Simply contact the office by phone or email and they will create a name tag and have it waiting for you on the table at the back of the Sanctuary. They will even email you to let you know it’s ready. Another way to notify the office is to leave a note next to your name in the Friendship Pad in the pews. You don’t even have to be a member to get a name tag!

Until you get your name tag, or for the times when you forget to bring it to worship on Sundays, there are blank adhesive name tags in the pews next to the prayer cards.

I look forward to sharing my name with you and connecting with who you are.

Peace and Blessings,
Jason Henderson
Chair, Board of Deacons

Moveable Feast: Saturday, May 9

Moveable Feast – Sign up by May 5th: Mixer on Saturday, May 9th, 5-7 p.m.
Join the Moveable Feast and get to know other Rock Springers in a small group setting. Our next mixer is Saturday, May 9th, from 5-7 p.m. in Carpenter Hall. Singles or couples (spouse, significant other, or friend) will be randomly assigned to a group of 6-8 people. The group will meet at least 3 times over the next 4 months. Please bring an appetizer for about five people to share. Children are welcome and childcare will be provided. To make sure we can organize the groups and provide clear information, we need to have you sign up no later than Tuesday, May 5th. You can sign up one of many ways: email – Emory Hackman , call, fill out the form in the pews and place it in offering plate, or the sign up sheet in the Saegmuller Room. We hope you can join us, but if not – consider the next opportunity this fall.

Mother’s Day Breakfast

Have you ever heard the voice of your mother (mother-in-law, grandmother, adoptive older/wiser female in your life) say, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day?”

This year, on May 10, the Youth of Rock Spring would like to add to the chorus of, “Thanks, Mom!” with a breakfast in honor of the many wonderful and unique expressions of motherhood in our lives. Join in a creative feast made my the Middle High and Senior High Youth in between services. We’ll start serving at 9:30, and wrap up at 11:15 (because Mom always said, “You better be in church on Sunday!”).

A freewill offering will be taken to help cover costs, and support our growing Youth Ministries.

Save the Date: Caring Ministry Resource and Sharing Session

The final session for this program year will be held on Monday, May 11, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Saegmuller Room. Led by Rev. Doug Griffin and Rev. Janet Parker, the evening’s theme is “Spiritual Care Without Being Religious” and will focus on the many ways to bring a sense of spirituality to visits. In addition, Ellen Swain will present a critical incident reflection. Please RSVP to Susan Daniels if you can attend.

Women’s Fellowship News

New Tables for Carpenter Hall

Many thanks to the Overholts for helping Women’s Fellowship select and order 11 new, white, rectangular tables for use in Carpenter Hall. Please help extend the life of all the tables by cleaning them after use, covering them completely if using to do art projects (it is very hard to remove glue, glitter, paint and marker), not leaving them out in the rain (metal parts rust), and remembering that they are not designed for sitting or standing upon.

Aprons Galore!

On behalf of all who use the Rock Spring Church kitchen, Women’s Fellowship thanks the nine women who made 10 aprons for the kitchen. Our thanks go to Patricia Marx, Martha Jolkovski, Lisa Wenger, Cristina Robles, Gail Briggs, Christina Fairman, Peggy Greenwood, and Donna Cartwright. The one who guided the way ,Joyce Mader, did a superb job in leading those who don’t sew very well. Check the aprons out at the next event — roses, stripes, psychedelic, peace, love and broccoli!

Food Safety Manager Opportunity

The Women’s Fellowship has the study guide and will pay for testing and the certificate, if you are willing to become a Food Safety Manager for our Rock Spring kitchen. We need several members to be certified in order to comply with county regulations. Your obligation is to be available a couple of times a year to oversee kitchen food storage, cooking, and cleanup procedures. If you were certified less than five years ago and have your original certificate, you can easily be recertified without the test. Please contact Peggy Greenwood for the study guide or to inquire about an extension of your certification.

Bead Workshops

Don’t forget our bead workshop. We will be selling our necklaces, made from the Sunday bulletins, in Carpenter Hall during the YoRS pancake breakfast on Mother’s Day, May 10th.

The workshop resumes Wednesdays May 13, June 10, and July 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Monday evenings May 18, June 15, and July 20 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Questions? Call Florence Otstot or Patricia Marx.

Bus Operating Committee Needs a New Chair

The Rock Spring Bus has a committee which has formed to support the operations. This committee is currently chaired by Jim Meehan. Jim and Shirley will be taking an extended trip around the country beginning in June so the Bus Committee needs a new Leader.

Responsibilities of the chair are not usually demanding. The chair serves as a point of contact on all bus matters. Recently we added the EFC Metro to the schedule and then had to relocate all bus operations there because of Yorktown HS rebuilding. Announcements and coordination with the driver were done without a lot of work. Maintenance on the bus is minimal but occasionally we have issues and the bus needs to go to Koons Ford or another place. Members that wish to be drivers of the bus need approval and certification by the check out driver. Jim has been that point and now the new chair will assume that role. There aren’t many users of the bus so the time spent coordinating its use is minimal.

If you are willing to help us out please contact Jim Meehan.

Parish House Program Update

Council previously approved a “Parish House Program” at Rock Spring – a part-time internship program for divinity students that would take advantage of our currently vacant parsonage. Several student/interns would live together at the parsonage (with free living expenses as their compensation) and work with the pastoral team to provide service at Rock Spring about 15 hours per week as part of their educational program. An oversight committee has been formed, consisting of Dick Metzger, Judy Johnson, and Jack Ebeler with Rev. Hank Fairman staffing for the Pastoral Team. They are now refining the structure of the program and beginning to reach out to local seminaries to identify candidates. The target date is to start the program in August, 2009.

Two weeks ago, the Oversight Team met with several candidates for the placements. The Oversight Team will be meeting with the Pastors in the next week to introduce the candidates, and move forward with finalizing their placements. We hope to be able to introduce next year’s interns to you very soon! Questions? Ideas? Concerns? Please let any of the committee members know!

Into the Spirit

This informal discussion talks about Christian spiritual practices and the role those practices could play at Rock Spring. Topics include the uneasy relationship between spiritual devotions and the Reformed tradition (particularly for men), and neuroscience’s recent discoveries concerning meditation. Participants will also learn about and join in an ancient form of Christian meditation, the Lectio Divina. Dick Metzger and Barbara Kinney will facilitate the discussion from 11:30 to 1:30 pm on Sunday, June 14th, in the Peace Room following the first 10:00 am service of the Summer schedule.

Taking a Closer Look at the Bible

Have you ever heard Bible passages that seem confusing, obscure, maybe even wrong? Have you ever been tempted to take a minister aside after a service and ask: “Okay, just what were those Bible readings all about?” If you’ve ever felt this way, Rock Spring’s Lectionary Bible Study group was probably made for you! The “lectionary” is the schedule of scripture readings, tied to the liturgical year, which is shared by Christians across many denominational lines, including Catholics and most mainline Protestants. Typically led by the minister who will preach on the following Sunday, each Tuesday morning in the Saegmuller Room from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the designated scripture readings are given a respectful but no-holds-barred examination. No preparation or homework is required, coffee and snacks are provided, and folks attend as their schedules and other interests permit. Please consider modifying your work (or retirement) schedule, and try out the Bible Study soon. You may not get all the answers you want, but you’re sure to enjoy asking your questions and meeting other people who share your desire to explore scripture!

Sunday School News and Notes

During the 9:00 hour, we offer professional care in our Infant and Toddler Nurseries, and a multi-age class for Pre-K-2nd Grade. At 11:00, we offer professional care in our Infant and Toddler Nurseries, and classes for Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten-1st Grades, 2nd-3rd Grades, and 4th-5th Grades. Classes for the upper grades will meet during the 11:00 hour for 6th-8th Grades and 9th-12th Grades. The goal is to provide a more age-relevant encounter with the Bible and faith, and provide an experiential time for all of our youth to examine their faith.

Our Sunday School uses the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum. For more information on the scope and sequence, the foundations, and the specifics of the curriculum, please visit www.spiritseasons.com.

Summer Sunday School begins on June 14. Care to help out?

The Board of Christian Education is seeking teachers for Summer Sunday School (June 14-August 30). Classes are during the 10 a.m. service, after the children’s moment. Two multi-age classes will be offered (pre-K-1st grade and 2nd-5th grade), and we are seeking at least two teachers for each classroom. Please let us know if you are interested in teaching by emailing christianed@rockspringucc.org.

Youth of Rock Spring (YoRS)

Middle High YoRS

Looking Forward

Thanks to the keen readers of the last Weekly Update! Several of you noted my poor wording of “finishing out the year.” No, we’re not done for the year—not for awhile! This week, we come back together, sharing in fun, faith, and fellowship through Memorial Day weekend. Traditionally, we have not met on Mother’s Day, but we can talk about that at our coming meetings.

And who knows? I’m looking for some dates in the summer to share together, too! Mid-week Lock-in? Water Park? Camping trip? Who knows? Let’s start thinking!

Parent’s Meeting, 5/31
Parents, we will have our wrap-up/evaluation meeting for both MH and SH YoRS on Sunday, 5/31 from 6:30-8:30. Please bring a snack to pass, your wisdom, and insight! The Board of Christian Education will join with us for a time of visioning, as we look to next year’s YoRS Youth Ministry. Please RSVP by 5/15 to yors@rockspringucc.org.

MH-YoRS Dates
5/3/2009 Regular Meeting-6:30-8:30, Carpenter Hall
5/10/2009 Mother’s Day Breakfast w/ SH YoRS-In Between Sunday Worship Services
More details in future Weekly Updates

5/17/2009 Last “regular” meeting for Spring-6:30-8:30, Carpenter Hall

5/31/2009 YoRS Parent’s Meeting (Parents only)-6:30-8:30, Carpenter Hall

Senior High YoRS

Mission Trippers—

The remainder of the fees were due on 4/15. Did you drop off your payment? If not, please bring it with you this week! And… Thank you to Warren Overholt! He is our first confirmed Chaperone for the Mission experience! More soon!

Looking Forward
Thanks to the keen readers of the last Weekly Update! Several of you noted my poor wording of “finishing out the year.” No, we’re not done for the year—not for awhile! This week, we come back together, sharing in fun, faith, and fellowship through Memorial Day weekend. But we’ve got a lot on our calendar after that (not counting the Mission Experience!). Just take a look!

Announcing the 2009 CAC Youth Event (featuring 40 Days!)
You are cordially invited to the first Central Atlantic Conference Summer Youth Event! This is a gathering of all the UCC Youth from New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Three days of faithful fun (and a lot of cool activities!). This will take place at Stevenson University, Baltimore, Maryland from July 24-26, 2009.

From the Event planners:

The theme for the Conference Youth Event is God’s Buffet: Making Choices Amidst Abundance. We are given an abundance of opportunities in our life to serve God everyday and we need to make choices on how we live out our relationship with God. We are called to serve God, not just on Sunday, but all day, every day. Come to CYE and explore your relationship with God, the UCC and other youth!

The cool part? Our own 40 Days will be the house band! Come support the Band, and share in the fun! Registration material will be coming shortly!

Parent’s Meeting, 5/31
Parents, we will have our wrap-up/evaluation meeting for both MH and SH YoRS on Sunday, 5/31 from 6:30-8:30. Please bring a snack to pass, your wisdom, and insight! The Board of Christian Education will join with us for a time of visioning, as we look to next year’s YoRS Youth Ministry. Please RSVP by 5/15 to yors@rockspringucc.org.

SH-YoRS Dates
5/3/2009 Regular Meeting-1:00-3:00, Carpenter Hall
5/10/2009 Mother’s Day Breakfast w/ MH YoRS–Between Sunday Worship Services
5/17/2009 Confirmation Sunday—No Regular Meeting
5/24/2009 Memorial Day Weekend—No Regular Meeting
5/31/2009 Final Meeting before Mission Trip, 1:00-3:00
YoRS Parent’s Meeting (Parents only)-6:30-8:30, Carpenter Hall

6/7/2009 Women’s Fellowship/YoRS Strawberry Festival & Cookout (after worship)

6/28-7/4 SH YoRS Summer Mission Experience @ Almost Heaven HFH-Franklin, WV
7/17-19 Rock-in the Woods Church Camping Trip
7/24-26 Central Atlantic Conference Youth Event (featuring 40 Days)-Baltimore, MD

Confirmation Class

This year’s Confirmation Class is coming to a close. Soon we will welcome our youth into full membership in our congregation, and celebrate this moment on life’s journey. Please come and support our youth as they lead us in worship and take on the Covenant of Rock Spring. Confirmation Sunday will be held on 5/17.

Thank you, students and parents for a wonderful year of faith formation and discovery!

Class Schedule:
5/3 Finalizing our Affirmations
5/16 Confirmation Class Celebration Dinner
5/17 Confirmation Sunday

Open and Affiriming News

Join Other Rock Springers in Capital Pride events

As a public expression of our commitment to being open and affirming, Rock Spring will once again be participating in the annual Capital Pride parade and street festival this year. We have been participating since 2001, the year after the congregation voted to become open and affirming. We invite you to march, represent Rock Spring at our church’s table at the festival, and attend the Northern Virginia interfaith service in Clarendon. You can view the photos of our participation in the parade and festival in 2008 on the ONA section of our website.

• The parade will step off at 6:30 pm on Saturday, June 13, and is from 23rd and P Street to 14th and N Street in town. For the first time this year, we will have use of a convertible so that those who are not able to walk the entire distance can ride in the car. We have a banner proclaiming that Rock Spring Congregational UCC supports marriage quality. All communities of faith march in succession, and UCC churches march one after another. We would like as many people as possible to march—it is a powerful public witness to our commitment to being an open and affirming and just peace church, and the on-lookers really appreciate it.

• The street festival will be held between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, on Pennsylvania NW between 4th and 7th. We will have our own booth and a table with literature about Rock Spring and answer questions from visitors about our church as well as UCC generally. We need volunteers for the table in two-hour slots.

• The interfaith service—“Claiming the Promise”—will be held the week before at Clarendon Presbyterian. The service this year will focus around the dual theme of celebrating the promises couples make to one another and of affirming our conviction that all relationships should be treated equally and that legal marriage should be available to all. The next issue of the Rock Spring News will have more details.

If you are interested in marching or volunteering to staff Rock Spring’s table at the festival, please email socialaction@rockspringucc.org or contact Masami Kojima.

Rock Springers witness against hate at GMU

Seven people from Rock Spring Church journeyed to Fairfax City early on Monday morning, March 30, to participate in a public counter-protest against anti-gay demonstrators near George Mason University. The event was triggered by an announcement that a delegation from Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) in Kansas City planned to protest at a major intersection during morning rush hour against the university’s Pride Alliance and its Pride Week, which kicked off that Monday. The WBC has gained national attention in recent years for its coast-to-coast protests featuring particularly offensive epithets such as “God Hates Fags” and “America is Doomed.”

People of Faith for Equality Virginia invited Northern Virginia congregations to join a counter-protest, and Rock Spring was one of several that responded on short notice. The Rev. Janet Parker and six lay members faced the rush-hour traffic on a sidewalk reserved by police for the counter-protest and held up signs identifying Rock Spring as an Open and Affirming Church and a supporter of marriage equality. Counter-protesters, mainly GMU students, outnumbered the WBC protesters by about 40 to 1. The students clearly appreciated the presence of a supportive religious community standing with them as they faced the hatred of Westboro Baptist Church. The event drew considerable interest from commuters, and ended peacefully about 40 minutes after it began.

The protest and counter-protest were covered in detail by George Mason’s student newspaper, the Broadside. Reporting that students from other local colleges and community churches joined the Mason students to protest, an April 6 Broadside article quoted Howard Hjort, former chair of Rock Spring’s Social Action Board: “ ‘We support marriage equality,’ said Howard Hjort, a member of the Rock Spring United Church of Christ, who came to support the efforts of the Pride Alliance. ‘We are adamantly opposed to discrimination. We think they [the WBC] are clearly on the wrong track.’ (Full text of the Broadside article is available at www.broadsideonline.com/index.php.)”

Rock Spring advertisement in Washington Blade

Rock Spring Church and two other UCC churches were among many communities of faith that placed advertisements in the March 27 spirituality issue of the Washington Blade, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender newspaper in the DC metropolitan area. Our advertisement invited people to experience Rock Spring and stated that we are an open and affirming congregation, we support marriage equality, and that we have a long history of advocating for the principles of peace, justice, and equality.

Eco Justice Committee Green Tip

An August 2008 report by ForestEthics calculates that the 100 billion pieces of junk mail sent every year in the US (that’s 848 per household) contribute just as much to climate change as 9 million cars, and use enough energy to heat 13 million homes over winter. This week, do what you can to reduce unwanted/junk mail. Here is one website you can visit that offers many good tips on how you can stop junk mail: http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/junkmail.html.

Brought to you by Rock Spring’s Eco-Justice Committee

Church Staff

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