Every August, for the last eight years, dear friends have invited our family to visit their island “camp” in the middle of a lake in New Hampshire. For my wife Genie and I it is always the most relaxing weekend of the summer as there is no place to go and the most taxing activities include sitting by the lake reading, napping, swimming, paddling in a kayak and enjoying the company of close friends. The lake is positively idyllic and the combination of the mountains, amazing views of the stars in the evening, loons, bald eagles and the sound of the wind through the trees always causes us to pause and acknowledge the natural beauty of God’s creation.

One of my favorite aspects of our annual trip to this lake is the Sunday chapel service that involves taking the camp’s boat to the worship service. The summer “Chapel” is actually an island in the middle of the lake that consists of outdoor benches nestled among the pine trees. The only structures are a shed to house the organ (which is operated by a hand crank, turned by volunteers behind a screen) a small tower with a bell, another shed to store the hymnals and prayer books and a majestic Birch Bark cross behind the outdoor lectern. Each Sunday during the summer a different visiting minister from around the region is invited to officiate the service, and is hosted for the weekend by members of the lake community.

This year when I went to “Church Island” the visiting minister was Jon Walton, a Presbyterian from New York City. He began his sermon by expounding on the myriad problems, economic and otherwise, that have become systemic in our nation and the world. Not surprisingly it was a long list and the litany was more than a little depressing. Also, it was a rude awakening and most unwelcome after two days in our idyllic respite from the ‘real’ world. Walton highlighted the increasing bifurcation between those in our society that are living comfortably and those that are barely able to make a living. He acknowledged not having a solution to this dilemma but that it was a degenerating situation for which something had to be done. Ultimately, he implored, we as Christians have a responsibility to address it.

The minister then proceeded to relate the story of a homeless man named “Ted” who made his home on a stoop near his apartment building in Manhattan. He told of how he would frequently encounter Ted and did what he could to help without getting into specifics. He then related that last Christmas, he received a card from Ted that had been delivered by hand to his doorman. The text of the card began with what would be considered a typical holiday greeting that, to the best of my recollection, read “Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year filled with blessings.” This was followed by, “You have no idea how grateful I am for everything you have done for me but most importantly for acknowledging me.” It was the validation of his worth as a human being, Walton related, that was particularly important to him.

Walton continued with a story about Andrew Young, former mayor of Atlanta. Against the advice of his staff, Young spent two days and nights disguised as a homeless man on the streets of Atlanta among the 5,000 homeless living in the city. Following this experience he said he empathized with the plight of the city’s homeless who in many cases became homeless by no fault of their own. When he was asked how it was that no one recognized him while in disguise, he responded that it was simple, “No one looks in the eyes of the homeless.”

Walton continued by quoting someone who had told him that, “Your entrance into heaven will only be achieved with a reference from a someone who is poor.” He closed by saying that he would be holding on tightly to his Christmas card from Ted.

As my host and I returned home from the service we felt somewhat depressed. The sermon left me feeling more than a bit uncomfortable and guilty about the generally comfortable nature of my own life. I know that I was not alone in that sentiment among the other worshippers there that day. I think one reason for this stems from the sentiment reflected in a Frederic Buechner quote that Rebecca cited in a recent sermon, “. . .in the long run, there can be no joy for anybody until there is joy finally for us all.”

The problem of increasing poverty seems intractable and grappling with it overwhelming. God has a way of periodically reminding me of the larger issues and what is important, and often when I least expect it.

At that moment I was convicted and became determined to alter my approach to poverty and to those I encounter who ask me for money as I make my way through the world. I will ask them their name, look them in the eye and, if possible, try to hear their story before I hand over a dollar or buy them something to eat. As Andrew Young quoted in the words of English evangelical preacher and martyr, John Bradford after Young’s experience on the streets of Atlanta, “There for the Grace of God go I.”

-John Trevor

Stewardship Message. . .

Count Yourself Blessed

I got my love of cooking from my grandmother. Years ago when I could just barely see over the counter, I remember my grandmother pouring flour from a ten-pound bag into a large mason jar where she kept it. I remember thinking: that flour is never going to fit in that little jar. But she would slap the sides of the jar and tap the bottom until finally every bit went in.

I can’t help but think of my grandmother when I read the text of Luke.

“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you give back.” (Luke 6:38)

I love the picture it paints of God trying to get every blessing possible into the measuring cup that we use. The trouble is, we tend to use the smallest measure possible when we give. We think: “What is the least I can do and still be acceptable?”—as God tries desperately to fit a ten-pound blessing into a quarter-cup measure.

-Coy D. James, Cathedral of Hope, Dallas, TX

Resolution of Witness

The delegates to General Synod passed a Resolution of Witness “To Counter Actions of Hostility Against Islam and the Muslim Community.”

The resolution was prompted by recent anti-Muslim actions including rhetorically violent demonstrations at a fundraiser of the Islamic Circle of North America in Yorba Linda, CA; Congressional hearings entitled “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response sponsored by Rep. Peter King (R-NYC; and the burning of a Qu’an by a Christian pastor in Florida.

The Muslim community, one of the fastest growing religious communities in the United States, has experienced increased suspicion and hostility based on ignorance and prejudice against them. The UCC engages in interfaith relations with Jews and Muslims in the US and with interfaith partners around the world. The UCC has spoken clearly against anti-Semitism. It has consistently opposed violence by word or deed based on hatred of a race, gender, culture or faith.

In the Resolution the General Synod expressed “its clear support for neighbors in the Muslim community, both in the United States and around the world, who feel the impact of anti-Islamic rhetoric and action” and denounced “actions against Islam or Muslims based on ignorance or fear”. It encouraged “all settings of the United Church of Christ to seek ways to learn more about Islam, to engage in relationships with Muslim Americans, and to work to counter what was been labeled Islamophobia” and “to speak out against religiously- and racially-motivated hatred, violence and actions such as the desecration of religious symbols and sacred texts”.

After the final vote, Mohammed Sammak, an international invited guest, offered thanks on behalf of the Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue in Lebanon, of which he is general secretary. “[The passage of this resolution] shows clearly that the UCC is up to the standards of the Christian values that the church is promoting, and the United States of America is also up to the standard of the humanitarianism she speaks always about.”

Because of the rise of fundamentalism and extremism in the Middle East, Sammak told the assembly, Christians in the Middle East suffer. Fundamentalism, he said, means “monopolizing God, and monopolizing truth, and refusing all other beliefs. Here Christians and Muslims suffer together.”

By adopting this resolution, he said, “You send a clear message to the people of the Middle East, the whole Islamic world that this is Christianity… and this is a message of love.”

ANGELLIC KNITTERS

Sunday, October 9

11:45-1:00 p.m. Deacon’s Room

Come join the fun: whether you knit, aspire to knit, or who just want to experience fellowship and participate in the blessing of the prayer shawls that are lovingly made for others! As an added bonus, if you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit we’ll teach you! Questions? Call Janice Libby or Claudia.

CCC ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

Come, learn with us!

9:00 a.m. on 10/2, 10/23 & 10/30

(No class on 10/9 and 10/16!)

Fireplace Room

As we continue to learn about ourselves and the faith of others this month will include some varied offerings!

10/2—Lee Clasper-Torch

The Quakers, the Mennonites, and the Brethren are America’s three major “peace churches.” Come find out why the Church of the Brethren are sometimes called Dunkers along with other fascinating information from Lee who is an ordained minister in this denomination and who teaches religion and philosophy at Moses Brown School!

10/9 & 10/16—no class (Claudia’s on the New Orleans Mission Trip)

10/23—Guest speaker Nancy Schempp

Nancy is a Christian Science Practitioner who lives here in RI, but who travels to share her gifts in counseling and the practice of Christian Science throughout the Northeast and Midwest. Founded as a church by Mary Baker Eddy in 1875 in nearby MA, there are approximately 200,000 members worldwide.

10/30—Intro to The Mormons, a documentary about one of the fastest growing religions in America—12 million and counting!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT BOOK GROUP

Thursday, October 27

7:00-8:30 p.m. at May Grant’s

This month we will discuss The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Set at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair, Larson takes us on a journey through “murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America.” Every Sunday when you look at the Holy City coming down from the heavens in the window in the West Transept you are looking at the skyline of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair! A Central connection… Join us for what should be a wonderful discussion! Questions? Call Claudia.

CCC MEDITATION GROUP

Thursday, October 6 at 6 p.m.

Deacon’s Room

Join us as we explore our faith through thoughtful reflection including Lectio Divina and a variety of prayer practices. Whether you call it meditation, contemplation, mindful deliberation, or any other descriptive name, the practice of spending regular time in such a practice is just plain good for the body and the soul. Call Claudia with any questions—331-1960.

Terrace on the West Lawn

-A New Opportunity for Giving-

Over the Summer some important changes occurred on the West Lawn between the Church and Hamilton House. Gone is a large mulberry tree that was causing damage to our building. In its place is a lovely new brick terrace, a new tree and extensive plantings.

With these new additions, comes a new and exciting opportunity to help fund the Step Forward! Capital Campaign for the restoration of our beloved Central Church. Each of the nearly 600 bricks laid in the new Terrace are designed to be engraved with a name or a personal message. For a donation of $200 to the Step Forward! Capital Campaign your name, date(s) and a brief personal message will be engraved on your brick and placed in the terrace as a permanent reminder of your support of Central. Some of the ways your brick can be engraved might include:

• Your name, your children’s names or grandchildren’s names
• A message of remembrance, such as
• In Memory of . . . or In Honor of. . .
• Commemorating important dates like baptisms confirmations, birthdays, weddings
• Other celebrations

You may purchase as many bricks as you wish, each for a $200 donation. Each brick can accommodate up to three lines with eighteen characters per line. A form on which to write the inscription you want engraved on your brick(s) is included in this newsletter mailing and additional forms are available in the Church office. Order forms were also distributed during the worship service on September eighteenth.

Every brick purchased and placed in the new Terrace will move us closer to reaching our Step Forward! goal! Thanks, as always, for your continuing support of our Church.

Central Supper Club

Central Supper Club is a great way to get to know other members in the church in a small group in someone’s home. The groups are made up of 8-10 people and the host sets a date which is convenient for everyone in the group and makes the main meal—the other members bring appetizers, salad, dessert and wine. Some groups have met only once, but many have continued for 2, 3 or 4 times rotating to other member’s homes. Signups are at coffee hour on Sunday, October 16th, 23rd and 30th. If you have any questions, please contact Martha Nichols or Julia Bush. We hope you will be a part of our great Supper Club!

PARENT/CHILD BOOK GROUP?

We are exploring the idea of forming a parent/child book group that would meet monthly or even bimonthly. Children in the early grades might read a short book or two with their caregivers and come to church for a related activity. If we have more interest from parents and children in the upper grades, we might read novels with religious or spiritual themes. We are open to suggestions! Please contact Carolyn Birbiglia of the Religious Education Committee.

CALL FOR GAS GRILLS

Our two gas grills are in poor condition. If you are interested in donating your grill (and getting a better burger at church picnics!), please contact Carolyn Birbiglia.

YOUTH MUSICAL?

We would love to hear from anyone who has some experience in youth music and might be interested in directing or co-directing a Central Congregational youth musical. There are many exciting Christian youth musicals available with CD accompaniment tracks. This would be a partial year project. Rev. Claudia Demick is available for consultation. Please contact Cheryl Space.

GAME NIGHT

Join us on NOVEMBER 4, 6-8 PM at COMMUNITY CHURCH

Did you know that Community Church has a BOWLING ALLEY, a POOL TABLE and a PING PONG TABLE in its basement? They also have a HALFPIPE – yes, minors must have their parent/guardian sign a release form! Please join the RE Committee and our neighbors down the street for this fun-filled Friday night and bring your friends. We’ll also have our Bingo ball and games for younger children. All are welcome! There will be a small-suggested donation for pizza, drinks and dessert.

Mission 1:

The UCC churches are all joining together this November for Mission 1, an initiative to combat the ever-increasing problem of hunger in the United States. From November 1, 2011 through November 11, 2011, Mission 1 seeks to raise an additional $111,111 in donations for Neighbors in Need, write 11,111 letters to Congress and otherwise engage churches in combating hunger in their own ways. Please join Central is collecting 1,111 items of food, to be donated to Camp Street Ministries. Collections will start Sunday, September 25 and end November 11^th. Needed items are: cereals, pasta, stuffing, or cans of tuna fish, corn, peas, beans and gravy. Items can be brought to the front of the church and placed in the basket during the first hymn, second verse. Stayed tuned for more information regarding the Mission 1 initiative.