 The
United Church of Los Alamos
United Chimes: Vol. 39, No. 8, August 2003
Table
of Contents
Interim Pastor Reverend Howard E. Grant, JR., D. Min. and Joyce As we read this Chimes article, Reverend Howard and Joyce Grant are settling into the manse. They expect to arrive in Los Alamos July 30th. Reverend Grant expects to preach at the 8:00 and 9:30 am Services, August 3, 2003 with the able collaboration of Pastors Logan and Worley. We look forward to the coming year with Reverend Grant leading the congregation while our Senior Pastor Search Committee pursues the challenge of identifying a permanent Senior Pastor. As you will recall, Reverend Howard and Joyce come to us from Salida, Colorado. While their permanent home is in Salida, their Los Alamos home will be the United Church's manse. They expect to be in residence while here with our Church family with intermittent visits back to Salida. Howard will be "open for business" in the Pastor’s Study beginning August 1, 2003. Joyce will find the many activities of the United Church an exciting opportunity to broaden her already broad interest in God's service as well as learning about our unique community and its history. She also hopes to become a part of the church music programs of Suzanne Johnson, where her skills and interest in playing the organ will be a new asset. The many new faces of the United Church family will be a challenge for Howard and Joyce to learn. The Board of Elders suggests that we all wear our name tags to permit them to know us quickly. Many of us have permanent name tags, as well as there are temporary tags in the fellowship wing of the sanctuary for most of us. Should anyone need a name tag, let one of us or the staff know of your needs. While we have had the opportunity to view the photographs of the Grants displayed in the Fellowship Hall, it will be great to have them with us in person. Reverend Howard and Joyce, WELCOME TO THE UNITED CHURCH. The Board of Elders Please
Take Note
Here is a list of events that will be going on for the youth groups for August. So if you are bummed out that school will be starting soon don't be, because there are still lots of fun events planned for you!!! August 3rd-9th: Sonlight Christian Camp for 6th, 7th and 8th graders who didn't sign up for the June session. August 12th-13th: We will be having a meteor shower/sleep over at the church. ( More information to come later on)..P.S. This is LeeAnn and Becky's last day at the church for the summer. August 21st-24th: We will take our annual trip up to Elitch Gardens. Please call the church at 662-2971 to RSVP by August 18th if you have any questions. August 29th-Sept. 1st: All Church Camp!!! This is always exciting because it’s a fun way to relax with our family and church friends after a hot summer and starting the school year off. If any of you would like to help out with children's program for the elementary school kids, please talk to Deb. As always, we will continue to have prayer breakfast, every Thursday morning at 7am in Craig Hall. Thanks,
Think
We Need a “Stronger Youth Ministry”?
Prayer
Breakfast Update
There have been a couple of slight changes, however, that I wanted to pass on, particularly to those who might be considering coming some Thursday morning: The meeting place has been moved from my office to Craig Hall (it was getting to be pretty cramped quarters in my office!). The cost of a burrito has been increased from $4.00 to $5.00. The initial impetus for that was an increase in price at Chile Works (up from $3.80-something to $4.30-something). After a discussion with the kids about this, however, we decided to increase what we “charge” to $5.00, with the extra $0.50 or so that we’ll “make” on each burrito earmarked for a special activity or treat of some sort at the end of each semester. As always, however, do not let the cost stop you from coming. There are literally thousands of dollars in our Youth Scholarship Fund, just waiting to be used up. Just talk with me privately. Hope to see even more of you senior highers in the coming weeks! “Saturday
Sundaes"
On Saturday, August 2nd, come to the church lawn at 7:00 PM, and we’ll feed you while you feed us. That is, we’ll share some ice cream with you while, we hope, you’ll share some ideas with us about what would make Sunday School better. We’ll ask “WHAT?”
What topics would be of interest to you?
So come, and eat, and eat, and eat, and let us pick your brains. And your souls. We want your input. We need your help. See you then! Beginning this fall, the Jr. Usher program will begin again, under the direction of Rick Mooday and Deb Worley. We will invite students who are entering grades 5-8, as well as their parents, to a training session later this month, or perhaps in early September, and those trained will then begin serving with the adult ushers during the 9:30 worship service. Those of you in those grades, watch your mail in the coming weeks for a personal invitation! A men's fellowship group has been meeting every other week on Wednesday nights at 6 pm over pizza and drinks, or other food such as BBQ. Our latest topic of discussion is the book "Listening for God" by Flannery O'Connor et al. All men are welcome to participate! For more info, please contact Steve Paglieri. Need
an Umbrella?
Help
Yourself to Some Ice Cream…
Women
Retreat 2003
All
Church Camp Activities
Activities will be posted for you to sign up for: Fascinating
Hikes: Pack your hat, water bottles, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Sorry, the horses are gone, so leave your riding boots at home. Deb will have some activities for the teens or they can just join the older folks. For the brave, fun-loving, uninhibited souls, don't forget to be practicing a talent or arranging a skit for the campfire Saturday night. There is also a wonderful Paleontology display next door to the museum, and a great library across the street from the pool with a nice selection of books, even a kid’s room. The library is open 24 hours in case you can't sleep and want to read, also it’s very cool in there, temperature wise too. In the building where we will be, up the hill from the Big Tree, there is a great gift shop. So check things out, you will be amazed what you will find. Come and join the fun or just bring your easy camp chair or hammock and relax, that's a very important activity at Ghost Ranch.. For questions or suggestions, call Irene Powell. Coming
Attractions In Adult Education
The Word of God for You Is it hard for you to read and understand scripture? Do you want to explore ways of reading scripture and applying it to your life? Do you want to learn resources and techniques to make scripture more understandable? This class will help you in all these areas. Taught by Kathleen Logan The God We Never Knew, by Marcus Borg Marcus Borg will be our guest speaker for a lecture series on January 23-25, 2004. Last year, Kathleen Logan led a discussion of one his most popular books, Meeting Jesus Again For the First Time. This class will offer another opportunity to explore more of Marcus Borg’s ideas in contemporary theology in his clearly written book, The God We Never Knew. Borg makes an important point as the theme of the book: How we think about God affects how we think about Jesus and Christianity, and how we experience the religious life. How we think about God can make Christianity credible or incredible. If someone asks the question, “Do you believe in God?” you cannot begin to answer without asking another question: “What do you mean by God?” How would you answer that question? Borg describes the various ways in which we image God, and their implications for our spiritual devotion, personal transformation, relationship with others, and our role in transforming the world. Come and join in the discussion. The group will be led by Mary and Ken Freese. Contempory Christian Music Music is the language of the heart. There are many ways and styles to worship the Lord. Experience Christian praise and worship music in the Contemporary/Rock format. For six Sundays, we'll explore various groups and single artists by listening to several songs each meeting (lyrics in hand) and then discussing the song. All ages welcome. Columbarium
Walkway
Companions
in Christ Sign Up
Individuals who study each day about prayer, scripture, and discernment, and who keep a personal notebook or journal of their learnings and questions. A small group of people who meet weekly to support one another, share about what God is revealing in their reflections, and open themselves to exploring on a deeper level the theme of the week. Individuals who know that daily spiritual disciplines and weekly meetings offer a good balance and provide holy ground for growing in faith. If you wish to develop your daily disciplines and you long for a small group with which to share the journey of faith, come join Companions in Christ. Information
Sessions will be held on August 24th and September 7th
For more information contact Pastor Kathleen Logan or stop by the church office. A registration form is in this issue of Chimes or from the church office. Registration deadline is September 14th. Companions
in Christ Registration Form
Address__________________________________________________________ Phone: Day______________________Night____________________________ Fax_____________________________E-mail___________________________
I would like to be part of Companions in Christ I want
more information on Companions in Christ
My Preferred meeting time(s) for the weekly two hour meetings are (check all that apply) Sunday
Morning ___ Afternoon ___ Evening ___
I will need help with childcare ____ Other concerns
or special needs:______________________________________
Please return form to Pastor Kathleen Logan by September 14th. Groups will begin in October. 2nd
Annual Men's Retreat
August
2003 Lunch Bunch
Janet Tallman
Reminders
Liturgists for August: Lorna Cooper, John Puckett, Youth, Nona Bowman and Charmian Schaller. Chimes
Newsletter on the Web
Liturgists for August: Lorna Cooper, John Puckett, Youth, Nona Bowman and Charmian Schaller. Coffee
Hosts for August
Coffee host volunteers are always in demand. If you can help one Sunday, please call Irene Powell at. Volunteer
of the Month
Lynn had easy access to flowers for many years. She started a part time floral business out of her home when her children were in high school. She did mostly weddings and arrangements for the church. She has since slowly eased out of her business and does only flowers for the Church. She has been the chairman of the Flower Committee for fifteen years. As a member of the Los Alamos Garden Club, she served as a flower show judge. During the twenty years she has lived in Los Alamos, she has been a member of United Church. Her other volunteer endeavors include serving on the Christian Education Board and the Board of Elders. She has also helped out in the Thrift Shop. Lynn has three quilts that alternately hang in the back of the sanctuary. Her Cross Quilt is hanging now. Soon she will hang the Lilies Quilt, which was designed by her daughter, Amy, and quilted by Lynn. In the fall, you’ll see her Leaf Quilt, which was inspired by Ecclesiastics. Lynn is currently part of the committee that is working on the seven days of creation quilts and has recently finished a landscape project. The set of three quilts that fit together capture a panoramic view off the end of Los Pueblos. She hopes to get them up soon as well. In her community, she has served as the Vice President of the Quilt Guild. She sells her quilts at the Quilt Markets, like the Quilt Guild and Quilt shows. While her kids were young, Lynn was involved with the girl scouts, cub scouts, pre-school, and the PTO. Her daughter, Amy, is a graphic designer in Belleview, and son, Cory, is a landscape architect in Seattle. When her husband, Monte, retires next year, they will become full time travelers in their motor home. Unfortunately for the United Church, Lynn will formally retire from the Flower Committee. Why does she volunteer? She enjoys doing flowers and quilts, and through her creations, she gives her talent back to the Church. She loves being a part of the United Church family. Her flower arrangements have made the services special, as have her quilts. I’m sure, like me, you’ll miss her flowers when she rides off into the sunset in her motor home.
By Angie Chipera
Prayers for Isabelle “Bunty” Van Vessem for the passing of her husband, Al Van Vessem Prayer
Concerns
Nedra Barnes Barbara Jean Wilson Prayer Letter Telephone Prayer Chain If you want prayer for yourself or someone close to you, don’t hesitate to call the coordinator, Shelly Wageman. To receive the Prayer Letter, contact the Church Office at 662-2971 or email at UCoffice@losalamos.org It is Jesus’
name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete
healing to him, as you can all see.
The
Language of Thanks
Now I find the same truth applicable in speaking of Andrea’s and my farewell. No words are adequate to express our thanksgiving. The last two weeks were simply overwhelming. The reception, dinner and “roast” were delightful. The gifts will be treasured. To have my whole family present made it very special. You can be sure we will often view the video made of that extraordinary evening. And then the next Sunday . . my last Sunday . . . a Sunday for a final sermon . . . with baptisms and communion! It will never be forgotten. And the love gift ($4,425.) was overwhelming. So, though words are inadequate, thank you, thank you, thank you. Our drive to Bend was uneventful. We are still unpacking boxes but are beginning to settle in our new home. Jay Dee Conrad The Shoes Don't Fit! I hear that a picture of Joyce and me is being displayed in your church foyer, and this has been going on for several weeks. Now, if our picture hasn't scared you off, I hope our being with you won't either, since we're anxious to meet all of you. Wow! Both of us are excited and honored that we shall be living among you during these days of transition to your new pastor. It now becomes my opportunity to lead this congregation while you seek your new permanent Senior Pastor. I am humbled and honored to have been chosen by your Interim-Pastor Search Committee, Elders, and Personnel Committee. The hospitality that I experienced during my days of interview was superb! I am most impressed with these people and also with your outstanding church staff. I ask for your prayers and support during my stay with you, and I promise you my daily prayers for The United Church of Los Alamos. From every quarter I hear of how Jay Dee served an awesome pastor to you over a period of 10 1/2 years. That represents a powerful long-term ministry for which I rejoice. This heritage shall serve your church well for decades to come! NO ONE will ever replace Jay Dee or fill his shoes, least of all me. But I will give you my very best in the time we share together. I join in your vision that God has in mind at least one person who will come and most effectively serve as your Senior Pastor after this transition time. That person will bring her or his distinct blessings and gifts to this congregation and empower you to effectively move through the twenty-first century in Christ's Spirit. Joyce and I are anxious to meet each of you. Know that I plan to be in my office beginning August 1st, and it will be a joy to have you drop by. Also feel free to drop by the Manse and say, "Hi !" In the spirit of Christ's love, Howard Return to Table of Contents |
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