July 16, 2008

Old South News & Notes
Church Website: www.oldsouthcongregational.org
Email: oldsouth@gwi.net
Phone: (207) 622-1220
Church Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and by appointment

The Rev. Susan M. Reisert, Minister (home phone: (207) 877-8489; smreiser@colby.edu)
Joseph Desrochers, Christian Education Director
Peggy Harrington, Administrative Assistant

The Weekly Calendar

Pastor's office hours for the next week: (Wednesday to Tuesday): Thursday, 9:15 - 11:45. Next week, I'm on vacation! Please call the church office if you are in need of pastoral assistance. The Rev. Kim Murphy is covering for pastoral needs during my vacation.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Peggy is back (see below)! She will be in the office Monday through Thursday each week, 9:00 - noon.

The Thinking Spot

I was inspired to provide this Mission Moment from the UCC this week since Margaret will be at Pilgrim Lodge next week. Margaret has been looking forward to her week at camp since the day she left last summer.

Church Camp: Brought to you by Our Church's Wider Mission
What percentage of Our Church's Wider Mission goes foradministration? That's a question often voiced by church memberswishing to give responsibly. It can be difficult to answer. Keepreading and you'll see why.

Lives can be shaped or changed at church camp. Ask the campersand you'll hear:
"I really enjoyed who I was at camp. I was able to be myself."
"We had a special sense of community where everyone couldfeel loved and included."
"Camp gave me a safe place to talk about my beliefs and
questions, surrounded by others doing the same thing."
"Great friendships and great memories."
"A place to grow in trusting God and appreciate God'screation."
"Music, music, music. Discovering my gifts."

And a camp counselor says, "A week at church camp can have as much impact as a year of Sunday school. A lot of kids will remember camp as one of the most significant faith events in their lives. I do."

Conference camp trustees work creatively to promote camp usage and set registration fees to cover costs-directors and staff, training volunteers, processing registrations, food, equipment, program supplies, insurance, facilities upkeep, and remodeling and additions. Our Church's Wider Mission may supplement fees, paying staff salaries, promoting camp, providing camp scholarships, or balancing the camp budget when needed. Is that administration? Or is it program? If it builds faith and transforms
lives, does it matter?

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

OHD HEAVENLY BEAN SUPPER

First of all, many thanks to everyone who responded to the request for assistance!

Here's important information about drop-off, set-up, etc.:

Beans and pie drop-off: If you don't have a key to the building, please drop off your beans and/or pies during one of the following times: Thursday, 9:00 - noon; Friday, 9:00 - noon; or, Friday, after 2:00. If you are dropping off a pie that needs to be refrigerated, please try to wait until Friday afternoon, since fridge space will be limited. Pies that do not require refrigeration, may be placed on the shelves just inside the back door. ALSO, please LABEL your pies!!!!

Tables will be set up on Wednesday, late in the afternoon.

The rest of set-up will take place Friday afternoon, after 2:00. Please join us!!

We will also need help cleaning up, after 7:00.

FMI: Get in touch with Kay Rand or call the church office.

AN OLD SOUTH SUMMER

Will you be traveling this summer? Going someplace exciting-far away or even close to home? Will you visit a church or some other religious site? Will you endeavor to share the good news this summer-in your travels or at home?

We'll be compiling an "Old South Summer" bulletin board, in the vestry, for your photos and stories. Please bring in a photo or two (especially if you visit a church or other religious site) and post it on the board. A description or story to go along with your photo(s) would also be most welcome. Stories about sharing your faith are also welcome (you don't need a photo!). Let's share our summer adventures!

IT"S OFFICIAL-WE ARE AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING CHURCH!

We just received notification yesterday that our ONA statement was accepted by the UCC Coalition. We are now an official Open and Affirming Church and will be listed as such on the UCC Website.

REV. REISERT'S VACATION

Rev. Reisert will be on vacation next week (July 21 through July 28). The Rev. Kim Murphy will be available for any pastoral needs. Karen and Rick Erickson will help lead worship on July 27. They will speak about their recent experience at the Maine Conference Annual Meeting.

LOOKING FOR CHILD CARE

Interested in spending some quality time with the youngest Old South member?

Amy and Benjamin Wilmot are looking for some help with childcare for Liam the first week in August and the first week in September, when Amy's mom (who usually provides child care) will be away. If you are interested, please contact Amy at awilmot@gwi.net.

PASTOR'S OFFICE HOURS FOR SUMMER

It's summer and my kids are out of school and that means that my office hours will become fairly erratic from week to week, depending on which camp (if any) my children are participating in and what Joe's schedule is. So please remember to call ahead if you are planning to come by for a visit. I will do the best I can to provide an accurate view of office hours in the News&Notes and the bulletin, but some weeks will be more difficult than others.

FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO

The Open and Affirming Committee has purchased a copy of this documentary for use by church members. The film follows several families that have dealt with a family member coming out as gay or lesbian. The film also contains important information about what the Bible really says. If you are interested in borrowing this film, please call the church office or respond by return e-mail.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN EXPLORING YOUR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL?

The Maine Conference is developing an Academy for Congregational Leadership. The Academy is intended to be a gathering of Christian learners dedicated to growing in faith, deepening in knowledge, and developing the leadership necessary for vibrant life in the church today. It consists of a two-year core program of monthly classes/retreats with an optional third year of specialization. The primary site for class meetings will be the Bangor Theological Seminary campus at Husson College in Bangor. Retreat sites are still under negotiation. Anticipated annual costs for participants are $800 tuition plus the cost of books. It is intended that students and their congregations would share these expenses.

Please let me know if this sounds interesting to you. I have more information and registration forms.

THE LUNCH BUNCH

The Lunch Bunch is in session at South Parish, Wednesdays at noon. All are welcome for this Bible Study! We usually begin our discussion at 12:15 and we end before 1:00.

CARDS and NOTES

The following people would appreciate hearing from you:

Lorraine Stiles
Sandy River Center
119 Livermore Falls Rd.
Farmington, ME 04938

Barbara Shepherd
Augusta Rehabilitation Center
Room 7A
Augusta, ME 04330

(Do you know someone else who appreciate a card? Let me know!)

SOUND AMPLIFICATION

We have sound amplification devices. They are located in a basket in the entrance to the church closest to the vestry. Please see Cornell Knight if you have any questions about their use.

ARE YOU READY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR CHURCH? AND 16 WAYS TO SAY "I LOVE MY CHURCH"

We have a couple of great little booklets to help you with this all-important work of evangelism. Please pick up your copies in the vestry.

BREAD OF LIFE MINISTRIES

BOL is in need of volunteers, especially in the kitchen at lunchtime. If you are interested, please call Patsy Tessier, Kitchen Manager, 621-2541.

NURSERY STAFFING

We are looking for staffing for the Nursery. Would you be willing to be available to staff the nursery on a Sunday morning every four to six weeks? If so, please contact Rev. Reisert or call the church office.

DEACON'S FUND

The Diaconate has provided envelopes in the pews for your contribution to the Diaconate Fund. The fund is used to assist those in financial emergencies and to support a number of local, not-for-profit organizations throughout the year. Monies raised in the month of July will go to Pilgrim Lodge camperships.

OLD SOUTH CHURCH SLATES FOR SALE

We still have slates available for sale. The slates are from the roof of the Old South Church that over the years have fallen off. They now have a picture of the beautiful Old South Church printed on them. They are a remarkable piece of art and memorabilia from one of Maine's historical churches which dates back to 1790. Please speak to Cornell Knight if you are interested.

A FUNNY-Church Bulletin Bloopers

· For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

· The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

·Potluck supper: prayer and medication to follow.

·The concert held in Fellowship Hall was a great success. Special thanks are due to the minister's daughter, who labored the whole evening at the piano, which as usual fell upon her.

·Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

·The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.

·Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 to 8:30p.m. Please use the back door.

·Ushers will eat latecomers.

·The Rev. Merriwether spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience.

·Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.

·Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to church secretary.

·The choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

·Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

·The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind and they may be seen in the church basement Friday.

·A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow