UNITED CHURCH NEWS APRIL 2007

“A community of faith providing nurture, strength, & direction for living today in God’s world.”

Pastor Search Nominating Committee Report

The Pastor Search Nominating Committee of the United Church of Fayetteville is delighted to announce that we have voted enthusiastically and unanimously to nominate Rev. Dr. Linda D. Even as pastor/head of staff. We have reached an agreement with Dr. Even regarding the financial package (“terms of call”) for her appointment. We will present Dr. Even to the church on the week-end of April 20-22, during which church members are heartily encouraged to meet with her. She will lead worship and preach on Sunday morning, April 22^nd, after which a congregational meeting will be convened to discuss and vote on the committee’s nomination, including the terms of call.

Linda Even grew up in the greater Philadelphia area. She attended college at Pennsylvania State University where she earned a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry and also an M.B.A. in Not-for-Profit Administration. It was during her time in business school that she started attending the State College Presbyterian Church and eventually felt a call to ministry. Responding to that call, she moved to Chicago to attend McCormick Theological Seminary, a PCUSA institution, where she earned a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. Ten years later, she earned a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree in Pastoral Theology from Drew Theological School.

Dr. Even has been a Presbyterian minister for fifteen years, serving as an Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Bay City, Michigan, and more recently at Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has gained broad experience in pastoral ministry in these large churches, each with staffs of multiple pastors. Her initial special area of expertise was pastoral care and, based on references’ comments and our direct impression of her, she is clearly very gifted in this area. In addition, she preached frequently and preaching has become a particular passion of hers. We experienced Dr. Even to be a moving preacher and several references mentioned that it was her preaching, in particular, that drew them to the church. She is also a gifted writer and an experienced and accomplished church leader.

After reading more than two hundred resumes, listening to countless recorded sermons, and interviewing by phone and in person almost a dozen ministers, we are very confident that, with the support of your prayers and patience, we have found the right pastor to lead United Church in its ministry in Fayetteville and Central New York for years to come. It has been well worth the wait!

More information will be forthcoming in the weeks before April 22^nd. We look forward to presenting Dr. Even to you and we urge everyone in the church to take advantage of every opportunity that week-end to meet and get to know her.

Jim Watts (chair); Jackie Meyer (vice-chair); David DeHority; Joanne Birge; Kevin Sweder; Sarah Spencer; Sul-Young Choi

Submitted by Jim Watts, chair

Worship for April 2007

Sunday Worship at 10:25 AM, Child Care provided 9 AM - Noon

Before worship coffee fellowship with Adult Ed groups at 9 AM (except Palm Sunday & Easter Sunday)

Fellowship Time each week after worship in Fellowship Hall

April 1 Palm Sunday -- Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (served)

10:25 AM Meditation: “Let this mind…” Rev. James C. Bresnahan

Scriptures: Luke 19:28-40; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Phil 2:5-11

“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

8:15 AM Palm Sunday Breakfast & “A Walk Through Holy Week” – for all ages

April 5 Maundy Thursday (sanctuary)

7:30 PM Worship with Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (come forward)

Scriptures: Exodus 12:1-4; 11-14; Psalm 116; John 13:1-17, 31b-35

“Jesus said to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you.” Luke 22

April 5 – 6 (Thursday – Friday) Prayer Vigil (sanctuary)

The sanctuary will be open for prayer and meditation. The self-guided “Journey of the Cross” is marked by Holy Week symbols, poems, reflections, music. Sign up for individual, family or group times on the hallway chart.

April 6 Good Friday “Tenebrae” Service of Shadows (sanctuary)

7:30 PM Scriptures: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; John 18:1-19:42

The Good Friday drama will be revealed through scriptures, prayers, hymns and music; the service concludes with Prayers around the cross

April 8 Easter Sunday – Festival of the Resurrection

10:15 AM Worship –

Musical Gathering with Brass Quartet, Organ, Handbells and Timpani

Sermon Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters

Scriptures: Acts 10:34-43; Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Cor. 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12

Dedication of One Great Hour of Sharing offering

April 15 2^nd Sunday of Easter

10:25 AM Laity Sunday: Witness of Men of the Church

Scriptures: Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31

April 22 3^rd Sunday of Easter

10:25 AM Sermon Rev. Dr. Linda Even

Scriptures: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

April 29 4^th Sunday of Easter

10:25 AM Meditation Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters

Scriptures: Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23 Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30

We will experience worshipful work as our congregational meeting will take place after our worship service.

Congregational Meeting

Our Guest Preachers:

The Rev. James C. Bresnahan -- Jim retired in 2005 after having served as a Lutheran pastor in Central NY for forty years. Over the last twenty five of those years he was pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville. He now spends his time leading workshops and seminars for clergy and laity and developing educational programs for InterFaith Works of Central NY (formerly, IRC). He has been married for over forty years to Joyce Dunn Bresnahan, who continues her long career as a hospice nurse. Together they have a son and daughter, and five granddaughters. They continue to reside in Manlius.
Jim holds degrees from the City College of New York, with a major in Latin and Greek; the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia; and Colgate-Rochester Divinity School. He studied for two years as well at the University of Tuebingen in Germany.

The Rev. Dr. Linda Even – Please refer to page one of this newsletter.

Worship, Music & Spiritual Life

April 1 – Palm Sunday Intergenerational Sunday

Church Breakfast – 8:15 AM (sponsored by Men’s Covenant)

“A Walk Through Holy Week”

a congregational event for the whole church family!

After breakfast, children and adults will share in a unique Biblical dramatization! “A Walk through Holy Week” is a very powerful experience. Together we will experience the events of Holy Week in Jerusalem so that we can better understand the story that is at the center of our Christian faith. Over 25 Seekers and high school youth will participate in the dramatic costumed roles.

The Intergenerational Sunday is planned by our Educational Branch committees (Children’s, Youth & Adult) and the Worship & Spiritual Life Committee. Church School, Choirs, and Adult Ed classes will not meet separately on this Sunday; everyone will gather in Fellowship Hall

April 1 +Palm/Passion Sunday+ 10:25 AM

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. As early as the fourth century, the church in Jerusalem began the custom of reenacting the entry of Jesus into the city. At the Mount of Olives, people gathered to hear the gospel passages about the triumphal entry. A procession then followed into the city. People held palm branches and sang, “Hosanna!” The tradition spread and has taken on many different expressions throughout the Christian church. Today many congregations celebrate both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday on the Sunday before Easter.

April 5^th 7:30 PM +Maundy Thursday+ The Lord’s Supper

Jesus washed his friends’ feet and they shared a meal, he asked his friends to pray. Maundy Thursday comes from "mandatum novum," Jesus' new commandment, to "love one another even as I have loved you"

“Walk Through Holy Week”

Join us for this family activity full of drama and song on Palm Sunday, April 1st. The tour full begins with a Congregational Breakfast at 8:15 a.m. Follow Jesus and the palm-waving crowds into the city, then travel to the Temple, Upper Room, Gethsemane, Pilate’s Court, Golgotha and the Tomb.

SPECIAL CONGREGATONAL MEETING ON APRIL 22 !!! Exciting changes are in the air and we will all have several chances to meet Rev. Linda Even, the pastoral candidate during the weekend of April 20-22. The decision to accept her as our new pastor will be yours to make at the special congregational meeting on April 22 following service. CHILDCARE will be provided for all congregation-wide events that weekend. We want you all to be there!

BIBLEMANIA 2007 "BY HOOK OR BY HARP" Mark Friday, May 4, 5:30 p.m. – Sat, May 5, 11 a.m. on your calendar for this overnight filled with bible learning, songs, games, crafts and dinner in a desert tent. Saturday morning, felt wool and visit with a real live lamb. Get ready to dive into the middle of the Bible and explore the Psalms!! Invite your friends now! Open

to 1st through 7th graders.

LENTEN FELLOWSHIP FOR KIDS WAS FUN! Kids crafted their way through the symbols of Lent with Leanne Larson at the Wednesday Soup Suppers. Along the way they learned the stories each symbol had to tell about the ministry of Jesus. Each week, kids place the symbol into a plastic Easter egg, creating their own set of Easter story eggs in a decorated egg carton.

WAY-OFF BROADWAY VARIETY SHOW AND DESSERT EXTRAVAGANZA !!!!

This is your chance to share the many talents God has heaped upon you. The Variety Show and Dessert Extravaganza is set for Saturday, April 28th, 7:00 p.m. In addition to gifted hams, the event needs bakers, kitchen crew, techies, and appreciative audience members! Now, get out there and sign up to participate in this rip-roaring good time !!!!! No excuses -we know who you are!!!!

TEACHERS IN TRAINING . . . Our Sunday School teachers met with Zan Currin after church on March 25 for a little in-house training. Zan is a long time educator turned graduate student specializing in guiding/teaching kids with challenging behaviors. Much was explored at this meeting which we hope to make the start of a continuing opportunity for learning. The desire of the teachers to learn how to better reach out to our kids was very evident and we, as a church, are graced with many creative, deeply caring teachers that are eager to help our children discover their faith. I know I am thankful for everyone of them. Thanks to Dori Parmenter for providing childcare for this event.

CALLING ALL CAMPERS !!!!! Mark Twain once said, "Every child deserves at least one great summer..." Make plans with your friends and families for faith-filled summer adventure at camp. Find fun, fun, fun for everyone at Vanderkamp, Camp Iroquois, Camp Vick and Camp Pathfinder!!!!!! Short stays for first-time campers, wacky camps, equestrian camps, extreme camps, family camps, special needs camps. Check out details and download forms at the websites listed below.

Pathfinder -www.abc-nys.org/camps/

Open House – June 2, Cooperstown, NY

Camp Vick -www.abc-nys.org/camps/

Open House – June 9, Sandusky, NY

Vanderkamp -www.vk.org/summercamp/

Open House -Sunday, June 3rd from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Cleveland, NY

Camp Iroquois -www.campiroquois.org/

YMCA Day camp in Manlius, NY

Camp scholarships applications are available in the church office. Submit before April 30.

APRIL SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION: ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

Children’s Worship offerings in April will go to One Great Hour of Sharing. One Great Hour of Sharing is an ecumenical program that raises money and awareness to build sustainable communities, provide disaster relief and minister to refugees. Your child received an OGHS fish bank and a giving calendar to help them learn more about people in need around the world. Please turn in OGHS fish banks by Easter Sunday, April 8.

Judy Spencer

Director of Children’s Ministries

Adult Education - April 2007

Forums and Bible Study

Sunday mornings from 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM

I. Adult Forum [Meets in Beard Lounge]

Forums are presentations and discussions which focus on timely topics of Christian social concern, personal and spiritual development, Bible study, or explorations of our Christian heritage and world religions. Through Forums we seek to provide a place for understanding special topics or current issues of our Christian presence in the community and world.

April 1: Intergenerational Sunday – a Walk Through Holy Week (No Adult Forum)

April 8: Celebration of Easter – no Adult education classes.

April 15: Gustav Neibuhr: Treatment of the issues of immigration in media and contemporary Christianity. Gustav Neibuhr is the former religion editor for the New York Times and currently teaches at Syracuse University in the Department of Religion and in the Newhouse School of Journalism.

April 22: Video: “An Inconvenient Truth” (award winning film by Al Gore on the challenge of global warming); Part I; discussion following video showing.

April 29: Video: “An Inconvenient Truth”, Part II.

II. Bible Study in Women’s Lounge [Meets in Women’s Lounge]

April 15 – 29: 9:00 AM. Led by Fred Davey, the group will read and discuss a book of the Bible to be chosen by the group. Study of the Book of Hebrews has been completed.

III. A Parents’ Place [Meets on basement level in Room 5]

9:15 AM. Informal, unstructured conversation about the joys and challenges of raising children. Coffee and tea available.

The Lenten series of “Living the Questions” has been completed. It will resume on two Sunday evenings in May to complete the last 2 sessions, dates and times to be announced.

Board Meeting Highlights

March 20th

Rev. Russ Duncan, pastor of the Morrisville Community Church was introduced.

Jim Spencer, John Price and David May (from DCI Sound) were present to discuss the final proposal for the sound system (Capital Campaign AV project).

The Board will hold a retreat on April 21 from 9-2 (approximately) on how to make our church more welcoming – resource materials from several sources have been discussed.

Jim Watts reported that the Reverend Dr. Linda Even of Cincinnati, Ohio has been issued a call to ministry at United Church of Fayetteville. The candidating weekend will be the 21^st and 22^nd of April. Reverend Even will lead worship and preach, and a Congregational meeting, called by board for purpose of electing a pastor, will follow the worship service. The Board approved a motion to call a congregational meeting on Sunday, April 22, 2007 immediately following worship for the purpose of acting on the recommendation of the PSNC to call the Rev. Dr. Linda D. Even as Pastor of the United Church of Fayetteville.

Beth noted the regular annual meeting to be held April 29. April Annual Meeting reports are due April 9^th

Suggestions for members of the new nominating committee were offered.

The Board approved the updated Job Description for the Minister of Music and Worship

Preparation for the 75^th Anniversary Celebration will be headed up by the Bornings, Fred Davey, and the Sandles.

The Adopt-a-Spot project was discussed - it is a list of small projects which could be accomplished by volunteers and generally supervised by Pam Speer and Stu Woodcock.

Two proposals for acquiring a copier to replace the non-working duplicating machine were discussed. It was approved to authorize Bob Craft and Lisa Minutoli to buy a copier which could also function as a network printer with cost not to exceed $8000 and the urging that they be conservative. Funds would come from the Capital Campaign reserve fund.

It was approved that UCF sponsor a Race for the Cure team with UCF as the name approved.

The Board meeting scheduled for April 15th with seekers moved to April 29 in the morning due the fact that many will be away on April Break.

ANNUAL MEETING – SUNDAY APRIL 27, 2007

The Annual Congregational Meeting of the United Church of Fayetteville will be held on Sunday, April 27. Annual reports will be available on Sunday, April 13^th. Committee and staff reports should be received in the office by April 9^th.

The steeple series

The UNITED CHURCH OF

FAYETTEVILLE

Presents

11^th Annual

Way off broadway

VARIETY SHOW

And

DESSERT

EXTRAVAGANZA

Saturday, April 28, 2007

7:00 PM

$5.00 includes dessert and unlimited coffee and tea

To support UCF Youth Mission Trips

Fellowship Hall

United Church of Fayetteville

310 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville, NY (315) 637-3186

The UCF parking lot is accessible from Walnut Street,

Genesee Street, and Chapel Street.

On-street parking is also readily available.