UNITED CHURCH NEWS July - August 2006

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

From the Interim Pastor’s Pen:

A few weeks ago one of our newest members sent me an email with the following article. She had submitted it to the Post Standard newspaper for the “What I Believe” series. We were delighted when on June 10, 2006 it was published along with a photo inside our sanctuary. I have included her words below because they are a positive reflection of you, the United Church.

Kathleen Waters, Interim Pastor

By Wendy Knafelc Schmidt

I believe that being a lesbian doesn't preclude me from God's love.

This one simple sentence took me years to understand and believe. Growing up, the message that I always heard the few times I went to church is there was no room for someone like me in any church. God does not love sinners, and lesbians such as myself were of the highest order of sinners.

I spent a lot of my adulthood shying away from organized religion. When my oldest daughter was born, I made an effort to attend one of the Unitarian churches in the area, but for me, something always felt lacking. I felt comfortable with the church school program, but the church itself just didn't speak to me the way I needed. I needed more religion and less social justice.

Don't get me wrong. I think there is a big place for social justice in religion; it's just that I missed singing hymns and praying to God. I missed the cross hanging over the chancel and the celebration of the religious holidays. I missed singing Praise God In the Highest.

Fast forward to 2005. I had met my partner, and we married (in the eyes of the Unitarian church) and had added another child to our family. Our oldest child had no formal religious basis, and I really felt that something spiritual was lacking once again in my life and my family.

We had attended some holiday services at my mother-in-law's home church, which was the church where my partner was raised. No one came out and told us we weren't welcome, but I never felt invited, more like tolerated.

My mother-in-law started to attend the United Church of Fayetteville, as some of her friends were members there. Having attended a musical program there in 2002, I knew from reading the church literature, that it was a welcoming church as it specifically stated the church welcomed everyone, including lesbians like me!

I knew from the first time I attended services there, this was the place for me. The inclusion statement was not just something written on paper, but it was something that was practiced personally to me the first time I walked in the door. It felt as though I had come home.

I felt for the first time that God did love me and that I could have a close and special relationship with Him. I am learning to read the Bible, and I am learning what it means to be a Christian. I am developing a new identity; one that I feel has been underneath all the time and just waiting to burst out!

Our daughters attend church school and are learning the stories of the Bible. My oldest child, who is 13, is in her Seeker's Class and learning not only about being a Presbyterian and a Baptist but learning about other faiths of the world. When she is ready to decide which spiritual path she will follow, it will be based in learning and in searching her own heart.

UCF has taken our family into its fold and holds us close. The interim pastor, Kathleen Waters, patiently answers my questions (and I have a lot of them) and has helped me to explore my burgeoning relationship with God.

I no longer question: Does God love me? I know He does. God doesn't pick and choose whom He loves. He doesn't put limits on His love. He loves everyone for who they are even lesbians like me.

WORSHIP FOR JULY-AUGUST 2006

Welcome to Worship at 9:25 AM!

Word to the Children each Sunday

Summer Child Care time: 9 AM-11 AM

Lemonade & Fellowship Time in Memorial Garden – 10:30 AM

July 2 Rev. Dr. Jon Regier, preaching Sacrament of Communion (Come forward)

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43; 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8:7-16

Liturgist: Dallas Bowser

Music led by Alice Hatt, Vocal Quartet

July 9 Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters, preaching

Sermon: “No Pain, No Gain”

Scripture: Mark 6:1-13; 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Liturgist: Norm Hatt

Music led by Alice Hatt; Men’s Chorus

July 16 Rev. Dr. Walt Ketcham, preaching

Sermon: “Are You Dancing Yet?”

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1:3-14

Liturgist: Chris Harrison

Music led by Alice Hatt, Women’s Chorus

July 23 Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters, preaching

Sermon: “Traveling to the Other Side”

Scripture: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56; 2 Samuel 7:1-14a; Psalm 89:20-37; Ephesians 2:11-22

Liturgist: Gloria Manuel

Music led by Alice Hatt, Summer Handbells

July 30 Rev. Peter Anderson, preaching

Sermon: “Let God Have It:

Scripture: John 6:1-21; Ephesians 3:14-21

August 6 Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters, preaching

Sermon: “Truth Telling” Sacrament of Communion (Come forward)

Scripture: John 6:24-35; 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a; Psalm 51:1-12

Music led by Alice Hatt

August 13 Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters, preaching

Sermon: “Imitators of God”

Scripture: John 6:35, 41-51; 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Liturgist: Barbara Morison

Music led by Alice Hatt

August 20 Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters, preaching

Sermon: “Anything You Ask”

Scripture: John 6:51-58; 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20

Liturgist: Sherry Sutliff

Music led by Alice Hatt

August 27 Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters, preaching

Sermon: “The Tough Road Ahead”

Scripture: John 6:56-69; 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10-20

Music led by Jennifer Greene; Trio: Tim Schmidt, guitar, Lorraine Schmidt, recorder,

and Sul-Young Choi, flute

Welcome Our Guest Preachers

July 2, Jon Regier

The Rev. Dr. Jon Regier is a friend of UCF, having served as the interim pastor prior to Phil Courtney’s pastorate. Jon is the former Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches and very involved in the founding the InterReligious Council of CNY. Presently he and his wife Joyce are enjoying retirement, spending their summer in New York sailing and their winters in Durham, North Carolina.

July 16, Walt Ketcham

The Rev. Dr. Walt Ketcham has served as an interim pastor at the United Church during a six month period of time in the late 90s when Phil Courtney was on sabbatical in Guatemala. Prior to that Walt was the Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of New York State. Walt and his wife Betty live in Tully and enjoy trips to Florida in the winter

July 30, Peter Anderson

The Rev. Peter A. Anderson is a retired minister and member of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse, residing in Skaneateles. In addition to serving parishes, he has served as an administrator at several colleges, including Cazenovia College and Onondaga Community College.

Pastoral Care coverage in July & August

Elders for the month of July are Beth Krauss and Tracey Kuhns.

Elder for the month of August is Kathy Bohnsack.

The pastor works with our Congregational Care Committee and can be reached through the church office (637-3186), elders of the month, or home phone.

Purpose of Elders of the Month: For those members with a crisis, emergency situation, a particular concern or need for care, the elders of the month are available to assist the pastor, when a pastor is unavailable, or when the church office is closed.

Procedure for calling: please call the church office weekdays between 9 AM – 3 PM; otherwise call either the elders of the month or the pastoral caregiver.

We are happy to welcome Diane and Richard Brundage to our church family. Diane and Richard moved to the area about a year ago. They have a daughter Alison, who is a student at the SUNY at Albany. Diane works for M&T Bank on Erie Blvd. Prior to moving to Manlius she was a nursery school teacher. Richard is a manager at AXA Equitable. He is involved in Leadership Greater Syracuse and the Rescue Mission. Both Diane and Richard enjoy time with their daughter, music, theater, travel, kayaking and motorcycling. They were both active in volunteering at their previous church in Briarcliffe, NY. Welcome!

We also are very pleased to welcome Judy and Jane Richardson as re-newed members of United Church. Judy and Jane are the daughters of Nancy and Bud Richardson. They both grew up in this church and joined the church as youth. They recently returned to Fayetteville after teaching school in Connecticut for nearly thirty years. They are both reactivating their membership!

Worship and Spiritual Life

Summer worship services provide opportunities for people to be involved in “one-time” offerings of various musical ensembles throughout the summer. There are several choir opportunities with different groups of people: take a look below and see how you might be involved in something different for a summer Sunday worship; sign up as indicated. We look forward to seeing you! There will also be other times for youth and adult soloists and instrumentalists to offer their gifts over the summer. Summer is a good time to sing in one of our special choirs or offer your musical interests in some other way!

Men’s Chorus

Join our men of the church - youth and adults - to sing in worship on Sunday, July 9^th! There will be a rehearsal on Thursday, July 6^th at 7:15 p.m. in Beard Lounge. Please let me know of your interest. Contact the church office by Wed. July 5^th or email Alice Hatt.)

Women’s Chorus

The Women’s Chorus sings in worship on Sunday, July 16^th. You don’t have to be in the choir to join us - all girls, youth and adult women are invited to join! Just let me know that you are coming and I’ll have music ready. (Call the church office to sign up by Tuesday, July 11^th or email Alice Hatt.) Rehearsal will be Wednesday, July 12^th at 7:15 p.m. in Beard Lounge.

Summer Handbells

Youth and Adults will play in worship on Sunday, July 23^rd - members will rehearse on Wed. July 19^th at 7:15 p.m. Contact the church office by Mon. July 17^th to sign up or email Alice Hatt. Let’s ring together again and keep up our style!

Word with the Children There will be time for word with the children each Sunday this summer, children of all ages are welcome to come down front!

Garden Flowers for the Table

Flowers in your garden may be abundant this summer - sign up to bring some garden flowers for the Communion table! See the Flower chart by Fellowship Hall or contact Marti Vasiliades.

Welcome Home Sunday is September 10^th

The Senior Choir will sing in the 9:25 AM service followed by the Fellowship Brunch. After worship we will have choir registrations and information table for all the choirs.

Summer Family Times

On those summer occasions when it is not possible for you to worship at United Church or another church, plan a gathering time with family or friends wherever you are. Here are some simple ideas for a time of family devotions on vacation:

* Find the setting to gather in a place other than that associated with routine. If there is natural beauty around you, include it; celebrate the "natural" beauty you find in each other as well as in God.

* Take along the family Bible for reading Psalms together; learn to recite from memory Psalm 23 or Psalm 100.

* Read Matthew 6:19-34 and talk together about what it means to you.

* Pray together; include prayers for people near and far, known and unknown to you. Pray the Lord’s Prayer.

* Use a grace for mealtimes, or create a simple litany of thanks, each one contributing a phrase.

* Gather around a campfire and sing your favorite songs and hymns.

Worship & Spiritual Life, continued….

Vacation Time Litany

Summer vacation time is an opportunity for a moment of informal worship with your family. This litany is appropriate to do before your family departs on a vacation or when friends or loved ones are traveling.

Begin by having someone read from Psalm 139:7-12 (NRSV):

Reader: Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night. Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

(1) God is with us in our home,

(2) And God is with us wherever we go.

(1) As we work and play, God is with us.

(2) As we travel, around our block or around the world, God is with us.

(1) We know that no matter where we are,

(2) No matter what happens,

(1) God loves us and cares for us.

(2) God loves and cares not only for us, but for all of God's people.

Because we trust in God's love and care, we pray for ourselves and those we love.

And now we pray especially for:

(Let family members offer their own prayers for safe travel and for loved ones

and friends who are traveling.)

Thank you, God, for hearing our prayers and for being with us wherever we go!

Thank you, God, for loving us! Amen.

(from Pockets magazine website)

A CELEBRATION OF GOD’S DIVERSE UNIVERSE

O God of the blue, red, brown, black and multicolored bird,

of the singing, humming, and silent bird,

of the noisy woodpecker and the cooing dove,

of perfect yellow sunflowers, fanciful laughing pansies,

and pungent purple, lavender,

thank you for our beautiful gifts of rich difference and variety.

O God, whose countless shades of green we cannot discern,

who made no two leaves, grasses, animals, or humans alike,

who made blue sky, white and gray clouds,

soft reddish-brown and black earthen soils,

infinite desert sands and impenetrable oceans deep,

we thank you for the manifold and diverse universe you have made

and shared with us. (From “Guide My Feet” by Marian Wright Edelman)

-- Alice Dickerson Hatt, Minister of Music & Worship

Remember John 13? Our youth group seems to. Jesus, in an act of symbolism, washed his disciple’s feet. Jesus served throughout his life, but in this chapter he serves his disciples, even those that are soon to betray him. Jesus said in 13:15, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” This youth group served throughout the year, and soon a good number of them will go in the sweltering heat to REACH out to those in need of adequate home repair. This group is amazing! They are serving just as Christ did, and that is something that United Church should celebrate. We truly have a Christ-centered youth group.

I have an Ipod, which I listen to almost all the time. An Ipod, for those of you that don’t know, is a device that holds hundreds of songs and you can listen to it in your car, home or plug in headphones and listen to it while running/walking etc. Everyone has a few songs on their Ipod that they are sort of ashamed of. I know I do. The song is Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. I love this song. This is a song that came out at the right time in my life. Bedingfield’s song is about starting a new chapter in life, and how we have the power to create the story of our lives. Here are some lyrics from that song:

I am unwritten. Can't read my mind I'm undefined. I'm just beginning. The pens in my hand, ending unplanned. Staring at the blank page before you. Open up the dirty window. Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find. Reaching for something in the distance. So close you can almost taste it” and here is the chorus, “No one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken, live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins the rest is still unwritten.”

Our life is unwritten, and we have the pen to write the next chapter. High school grads, seekers and youth group are going through transition and creating a new chapter to their book. I am excited to start a new chapter in my life too. Also, United Church’s future is unplanned. Uniquely everyone in the church has the pen to write the next chapter in the illustrious life of this church. If our youth is any indication (following Christ’s lead and ultimately being Christ-centered) the future looks marvelous. Your foundation is Christ, and Christ is indestructible. The rest is still unwritten. Now that is quite exciting!

God bless,

Tim Underwood

July events:

REACH mission trip to Lampeter, PA. July 9-14^th

Lizzy Price is in the production Fiddler on the Roof at the New times theatre at the Fairgrounds. Friday/Sat showings at 8pm and Sunday showing 2pm throughout June last show on July 8^th.

SETTIN' SAIL

SEEKERS

ON A JOURNEY OF FAITH

Upcoming Seeker Events:

July 15 6-11 p.m. Pool Party at the Hines

Aug. 20 6-9 p.m. Picnic at Rev. Waters

Sept.10 9:25 a.m. Welcome Back Sunday Worship Service and Brunch - Sunday School and Choir Registration

11:30 a.m. Teacher Orientation

Sept. 17 9:00 a.m. Begin Sunday School and Choir

Looking for Community Service This Summer? Ask your mentor or parent to help you find an opportunity to serve and put your faith into action. Check out opportunities by calling United Way. Take a chance and try something new. Also, remember to keep your community service and church service logs up to date. You will find the forms to fill out in your Seeker notebooks. Remember to get a signature from a supervising adult.

It’s Another Swim Party !!!! What would you call a cool pool filled with lots of friends mixed with great food and a summer evening campfire? Fun, fun, fun !!!!! Seekers will meet on Fri., July 15 from 6-11 p.m. at the Hines’ home for an evening of wet and wild fun in the pool. RSVP ASAP with Brenda Hines and let her know if you can be there and what dish you will bring to pass. See you all there !!!!!

Cool Camps !!!!! There's still time to register for some awesome summer fun at Vanderkamp, Camp Iroquois, Camp Vick and Camp Pathfinder. Grab a friend and sign up for water fun, sports, fellowship crafts and fun, fun, fun!!!!!! Attending camp can be great training for becoming a counselor when you’re older. Information and registration forms outside the sanctuary.

End of Summer Bar-B-Q !!!!! Seekers are invited to Rev. Water’s house on Sunday, August 20 from 5-8 p.m. for a barbeque and the chance to swap summer stories and get revved up for the fall. There will be lots of good food with room to run and have fun !!! RSVP with Rev. Waters to reserve your place at the picnic table !!!!!

Looking Forward !!! Join us at church on September 10th for the Welcome Back Sunday’s 9:25 a.m. service and Sunday school/choir registration, followed by a fabulous brunch. Teacher Orientation will be at 11:30 a.m. that same day. The following Sunday, September 17th will be opening day of another fantastic Sunday school year at United Church!

CLASS OF 2006

Congratulations to our College Graduates!!!

Christine Willyard graduated from George Washington University in May with a degree in Accounting. She is working for an accounting firm.

Kimberly Elizabeth Anya Ensher

Kim graduated from SUNY Oneonta on May 20, 2006, having majored in Child and Family Studies. During her last semester at Oneonta, she traveled to