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Today, we join in an intergenerational celebration of Holy Communion at the 11:00 Service. Children grades 2-8 are encouraged to remain in the sanctuary for the whole hour. For our younger ones, our regular Sunday School programs will take place. Parents, please use this time in worship and celebration to engage your child on the meaning of Communion, and your family’s individual traditions and beliefs.
Neighbors in Need Offering: Today we will receive the Neighbors in Need special offering as part of Our Church’s Wider Mission through the United Church of Christ. The Neighbors in Need offering supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of the offering supports the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. We hope that you will prayerfully consider strong support for the Neighbors in Need offering today. Please note that we will continue to receive donations for the Neighbors in Need over the next few weeks for those who might wish to contribute at a later time.
New Members Information Session: Interested in learning more about the ministry of Rock Spring? Have you been attending for awhile, and are ready to “make the plunge” into a more active role in the life of the congregation? Do you just need to know what is up with the red comma pins??
If you need answers to these questions, or need to ask your own about Rock Spring Congregational UCC, please come and share in our New Members Classes this October. These gatherings began on October 1 and will continue on Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:30, through October 22. Please come and share in these information sessions! RSVP to joinus@rockspringucc.org.
Sunday School Painting the Tent of Hope: Parents, please note the article on the Tents of Hope in the Rock Spring News. Each Sunday, one grade level will be painting the tent. If your child’s class is scheduled, Dress for Mess! We will have smocks for those who need them.
10/5 Preschool
10/12 9:00 Sunday School; 11:00 Kindergarten/1st Grade
10/19 2nd/3rd Grades
10/26 4th/5th Grades
11/2 6th-8th and 9th-12th Grades
OWL Launch Team Members: The OWL Launch Team will have a meeting today, Sunday, October 5 after the 11:00 AM service. We will meet in the Pastoral Intern office. If you cannot make the meeting, please contact Christina right away; it is very important that all OWL Launch Team members attend this meeting. See you there!
Rock Spring’s Caring Ministry Needs You! Launched in January of 2006 by the Board of Deacons, the Caring Ministry is a network of care that supports members and friends of Rock Spring. Lay caregivers provide regular visits to those who are ill, homebound, or living in long-term-care facilities, in addition to visits to those in the hospital. Transportation volunteers provide rides to those who need help getting to church or to important appointments. And an extensive network of volunteers sends regular greetings to members no longer able to attend church, as well as cards expressing get-well wishes, sympathy, and congratulations on the birth of a baby. For those who desire to join our visitation ministry, a training program will be provided beginning in October. If you are interested in volunteering to send cards, offer rides, or visit people, please fill out the form provided in the pews and place it in the offering plate.
"Calling all singers! On October 16th we will begin preparing for our annual Christmas Concert. This year's featured selection is Bach's Magnificat. It is a true Baroque masterpiece, and we look forward to presenting it. The concert will be on December 14th at 4:00 p.m. Please join us from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 16th for our first rehearsal."
CROP WALK 2008: Consider walking or pledging for the Church World Services Crop Walk on October 18th. Go to the link below, the Rock Spring Crop site, and click on the thermometer picture on the lower right side of the window. You can also sign up to walk at this web location. Last year Rock Spring raised thousands of dollars and 25% or that money went to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Our church raised the second highest amount of money in Arlington. Here’s the link for our team:
http://www.cropwalkonline.org/site/TR/CropWalks/General?team_id=6780&pg=team&fr_id=2380
Questions: Laurie Rodgers or Marti Weston
TODAY: First public meting of V.O.I.C.E, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement in Northern Virginia. This is an interfaith arm of the Industrial Areas Foundation. It is a group of churches (40) in 4 Northern Virginia areas organized to make change on social justice issues. Their action agenda is Affordable Housing, Immigration, Homeless Services, Access to Health Care and Access to Mental Health Services. Issues which Rock Spring has been involved in. The action agenda will be presented on October 5, at First Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries, VA 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. with a goal of 2,000 in attendance. This is a great opportunity for Rock Spring to participate in this endeavor. Selected issues are ones that V.O.I.C.E. feels can be accomplished in 18-24 months. One goal in Arlington is to increase funds for Affordable Housing from $5 to $10M. In Montgomery County, V.O.I.C.E. won $25M dedicated annual fund for Affordable Housing. Participate in this group’s groundbreaking movement. For info call Ann Rudd.
Bead Workshop: Don’t forget our bead workshops continuing through October on: Monday October 20 at 7:30 pm –9:00 pm and Wednesday, October 8 at 10:00 am –2:00 pm. Everyone is welcome. Come and learn and create! Questions? Call Florence Otstot.
GREEN TIP: On Saturday, October 11 from 2pm-4pm, the Arlington Green Home Choice Program is sponsoring an open house in Clarendon. Take this opportunity to walk through a newly constructed green home featuring a partial solar electric system, cellulose spray foam insulation, highly efficient heating and air conditioning system, concrete countertops, tankless water heaters, dual-flush toilets, recycled glass tiles, and many other environmentally friendly features. The green home is located at 2208 N. 18th Street. For more information, please contact Helen Reinecke-Wilt at hreinecke-wilt@arlingtonva.us; or (703) 228-4792. Brought to you by Rock Spring's Eco-Justice Committee.
Call to Congregational Meeting
All members of Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ are hereby called to the Annual Budget/Ministry Goals meeting on Sunday, October 19, 2008, beginning with a light lunch provided by the Annual Giving Committee at 12:15 pm. A free-will offering will be taken for the meal. Child care will be provided during the business meeting. The agenda:
• Receive, discuss and act upon the proposed Budget/Ministry Goals for 2009, as recommended by Church Council.
• Receive, discuss and act upon any recommendations from the Nominating Committee.
• Receive, discuss and act upon any other business appropriate to come before the meeting.
Significant and exciting visions and challenges will be shared. In order to make informed decisions, it is important that we have as many members as possible participate.
The proposed Budget/Ministry Goals & other materials will be available from the office by October 1.
-Marie Morris, Clerk of the Church
Building the Beloved Community in the Potomac Association: You are invited to a series of honest conversations about racism among Potomac Association clergy, congregations, and friends. If you can go to one or more of these conversations, contact Janet Parker.
Saturday mornings, October 11, November 1, November 15
Goals:
To Acknowledge Racism in the Church and Society, and to
Work Together to Dismantle It--
To Live Out God's Call of Transformation as the
Beloved Community--
To Build an Anti-Racist Identity, Church and Network--
Three Places for Dialogue and Action:
October 11th Dr. Cain Hope Felder
“Race, Racism, …the Biblical Narratives”
and Current Realities
Bethesda United Church of Christ 9:00-11:45 am
10010 Fernwood Rd. Host Pastor: Rev. Allison C. G. Smith
Bethesda, MD 20817 301-365-3387
www.bethesdaucc.org
Saturday, November 1st
Anti Immigrant Sentiment: Patriotism or Exclusion?
Hispanic Ministry, National City Christian Church 9:00-11:30 am
5 Thomas Circle, NW #2 Host Pastor: Rev. Noemi Mena
Washington, DC 20005 202-232-0323
Saturday, November 15th
Racism and Urban Poverty
Covenant Baptist Church 9:00-11:30 am
3845 S. Capitol St., SW Host Pastors: Rev. Dennis Wiley and
Washington, DC 20032 Rev. Christine Wiley
www.covenantbaptistdc.org 202-562-5576