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EPISTLE

Bradford Congregational

Church – UCC

Bradford, VT (802) 222-4034

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Can I Live Here?

Kenneth L. Samuel

"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He

whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth

from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong

. . ." - Psalm 15

I have traveled across counties, countries and continents to visit shrines and

cathedrals. I've been blessed to visit the sacred sites of the Holy Land in Israel on

more than one occasion. I've toured the Vatican and stood in St Peter's square

before the grand basilica in Rome. I've stood at the Acropolis in Athens where

philosophers expounded and the Apostle Paul preached. I've sailed the Aegean

Sea to the Island of Patmos, where the Apostle John received the book of

Revelation.

Yet, despite all these visits to sacred places, Psalm 15 reminds me that the

essence of sacredness is not in a location but in a lifestyle. Sacred sites are

preserved and revered because they help us to feel closer to God, and yet the

Psalmist informs us that we can be no closer to God than the values we uphold in

our everyday lives. As inspiring as they are, visits to holy places (including

church on Sunday morning) do not constitute real holiness or sacredness.

Real holiness is determined by the honesty of our relationships, by the justice we

promote in our communities, by the respect we express for others and by using

our financial blessings to help those in need. The sacred is not really about

special places, but good values that should be lived out in every place.

SEPTEMBER, 2015 See us on Facebook!

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And when we live our faith in the love we share, in the service we give and in the

justice we promote, we never leave the holy place, because we personify it.

What? Didn't you know that you are the temple of the most high God? Let's

become the church that we invite others to attend.

Prayer Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. And with

thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary, Lord, for you. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kenneth L. Samuel is Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia.

THURSDAY September 3rd … CHURCH COUNCIL

Pam Lucas, our Associate Conference Minister, will attend our

September Church Council meeting to help us begin forming a minister

search committee. If you would like to be a member of the Search

Committee please inform a Council or Diaconate member. This is a

wonderful opportunity to help our church move into the future. Please

consider serving!

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PRAYER CONCERNS

We always welcome new “links” in the prayer chain. If you would like to be on the

prayer email list, please let me know. You can also call or email any time with

prayer requests (222-9679 or bridgetalex123@hotmail.com) -Bridget Peters

Among those who were lifted up in prayer in the past month:

Diane Burgess Cass Poulos Kristin Rose Unnamed friend James Berry

Dick Swenson Howard Grant Margaret Staples’ nephew George

Christie Welch Mary Trischman

Our sympathy and love to the family and friends of

Royce Boyd Harry Brainerd Jack Shepard Paul Hodge Millie Bruder

Steve Johnson Diana Wilson

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A Wise and Discerning People

Talitha Arnold

You must observe these (commandments) diligently, . . . (and others) will say,

"Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!" - Deuteronomy 4:6

Can you hear the urgency in Moses' voice? He knows he's not going with his

people into their new life beyond the wilderness. He also knows that no matter

the landscape, the temptations and trials they experienced in the desert will

continue throughout their lives.

So Moses urges them to let those lives—and the lives of their children and their

children's children--be shaped by God's word. As we gear up for the new school

year, we would be smart to heed Moses' urgent command. Like those ancient

Israelites, we too need to be "wise and discerning people." That means we take

seriously our ministries of teaching and faith formation—for all ages.

The African-American theologian Howard Thurman knew the importance of

such ministry. In his classic Disciplines of the Spirit, Thurman wrote of growing

up in a Christian tradition with yearly "revivals," when "opportunity was

provided for the surrender of the individual life to God." But Thurman noted,

"The church did not leave (the person) there." With the sponsorship of an older

Christian, "experienced in the Way," the person participated in a weekly prayer

service and other faith formation times. "Nurture in the Christian life," Thurman

affirmed, "was another way of providing a time of intensive, deepening

experience which gave the new resolve a chance to establish itself as a permanent

outlet for the creative energies of God."

Like the Israelites, we are called to be a "wise and discerning people"--or in

Thurman's words, "the permanent outlet for the creative energies of God." The

place to begin is with our commitment to education.

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Prayer Thank you, God, for the call to be "wise and discerning people." And

thank you for teachers, youth ministers, mentors, and all "Ministers of

Education" who help us heed that call. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Talitha Arnold is Senior Minister of the United Church of Santa Fe (UCC), Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is the author of Worship for Vital Congregations, published by The Pilgrim Press.

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP next meeting is Sept. 2nd at 6:30 in the vestry

Bazaar News: we are in need of someone to do the dining room and have

servers.

We are asking for items for the following tables: food, candy, crafts and gifts,

Attic Collectibles. Leave at the church Oct. 15 and 16.

We are looking for donations for the corn chowder luncheon. The following

items are needed: 5 lbs. onions, 25 lbs. potatoes, 2 lbs. bacon, 10 cans whole

corn, 20 cans cream corn, 2 gallons milk, 6 quarts half ‘n’ half, 1 bag oyster

crackers, 5 large cans tuna, 1 bunch celery, 4 dozen eggs, 4 gallons cider, 2

quarts mayo, 4 loaves white bread, 4 loaves wheat bread.

Please call Maribeth Ames at 222-9696 if you will be donating any of the

above.

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Lectionary Readings for SEPTEMBER

Please note: This list of readings includes both

tracks of the Revised Common Lectionary for the

time after Pentecost. The semicontinuous track moves sequentially through

major stories and themes from the Old Testament. The complementary track

provides Old Testament readings related to the Gospel selection for the day.

September 6 Semicontinuous

Proverbs 22:1–2, 8–9, 22–23

Psalm 125

James 2:1–10 (11–13) 14–17

Mark 7:24–37

Complementary

Isaiah 35:4–7a

Psalm 146

James 2:1–10 [11–13] 14–17

Mark 7:24–37

September 13 Semicontinuous

Proverbs 1:20–33

Psalm 19

James 3:1–12

Mark 8:27–38

Complementary

Isaiah 50:4–9a

Psalm 116:1–9

James 3:1–12

Mark 8:27–38

September 20

Semicontinuous

Proverbs 31:10–31

Psalm 1

James 3:13–4:3, 7–8a

Mark 9:30–37

Complementary

Jeremiah 11:18–20

Psalm 54

James 3:13–4:3, 7–8a

Mark 9:30–37

September 27

Semicontinuous

Esther 7:1–6, 9–10; 9:20–22

Psalm 124

James 5:13–20

Mark 9:38–50

Complementary

Numbers 11:4–6, 10–16, 24–29

Psalm 19:7–14

James 5:13–20

Mark 9:38–50

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The Chicken Pie Supper is

September 26th

Now is the time to give me a call

(802-449-4689) or drop me an email

(m3site@charter.net ) if you can take

part.

This supper is a Bradford 250 event

and the proceeds will be going to the

Tower Renovation! How appropriate!!

The idea came about during early 250

meetings when we were recalling

traditions that had been so “Bradford.” This supper was one of the first mentioned.

Because this is a 250 event you will see some workers from other churches, too! A

nice ecumenical and community service effort!

The specific ways to help:

set-up (includes moving tables and chairs)

preparing vegetables for cooking (washing, paring, etc.)

making the slaw*

cooking the chicken pies*

cooking the vegetables*

baking dessert pies

serving/hosting

clean up (includes moving tables and chairs)

*since this is a Bradford 250 event we will do the cooking the way it

was done originally, all in the church kitchen the day of the supper!

The ONE sitting is at 5pm following the all-day craft fair and flea market. It will

be by donation with net proceeds going to the Clock Tower project.

Marcia and Kara Tomlinson

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Sunday School

Way back in February, the Valentine’s

fundraising dinner raised $130 for the

children to donate to charity. They knew

they wanted their donation to help

animals in some way, and in the end they

decided to split it: $65 to New Digs for

Dogs in Haverhill, and $65 to the Upper

Valley Humane Society. This month, the

kids made art and cards to send along

with the donations.

We are very excited to announce that the

Munson’s have generously agreed to host

the children again this year for apple-

picking and

cider

making! We

will gather at

the Munson’s

house at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 20th. Do you

have some children in your life that might enjoy this

outing? We welcome children, grandchildren,

nephews, nieces and neighbors—they need not have

any connection with the church. Please let Bridget

Peters know if you can come, or if you need any more

information. (802-222-9679 or

bridgetalex123@hotmail.com)

Regular Sunday School curriculum resumes

September 6th, with weekly readings and activities to help the kids learn about the

Bible and build their own faith.

And stay tuned for more fun kid events coming up this fall and winter, including a

movie night in October, Christmas Pageant in December, and an outdoor winter

party in January!

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EIGHTH ANNUAL ALL-CHURCH YARD SALE

Here’s the great news from this year’s Yard Sale. We made $963.85!

And we were able to donate blankets, linens, cookware, dishes, implements and

more to the West Newbury Congregational Church’s ingathering for shipment to

Zimbabwe.

Co-Chairs – Dan Perry, Eris Eastman, Vida Perry-Munson, Linda Gross, Sue

Eastman, Maryjane Krepper, Martina Stever

Our Wider Christian Fellowship

The West Newbury Congregational Church is ingathering practically anything

gently used you can donate to be shipped to Zimbabwe: tools, kitchen items, (new)

batteries, clothing, shoes, fabric, knitting needles, non-perishable packaged and dry

foods … weight is not a consideration as it’s shipped by the cubic foot. The last

day to drop off items is 9/15. Also, if you can spare $10 to defray their shipping

cost?

Grace UMC will be hosting its Community potluck Supper Saturday, Sept. 5th at

5:30. Please help spread the news!

MUSIC

By mid September the Music Committee will have met

with Organist and Choir Director John Atwood and Rev.

Kinder to map out the music for the new church year.

Look for announcements for recitals, special music

offerings, and hymn sings. And, speaking of hymns,

please let any of us know if YOU have a favorite hymn., or if you associate a

particular hymn with a particular time of year and would like to have it sung then.

Marcia Tomlinson, Penny Perryman, Bridget Peters

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Note seen on the back of the Aug. 30th bulletin:

Last Wednesday was our Community Supper. Did we outdo last

month’s landmark turnout?! Perhaps not, but the exuberance of so many

children was enervating! Thanks especially to those who stayed to clean

up after the young families needed to leave to put sleepy school kids to

bed.

Reminder: our Monthly Potluck Community Supper is the 4th Wednesday of

each month (except November and December … stay tuned in case that

changes) and is a collaborative effort by us all … no specific committee … no

chairmen or secretaries … just hungry folk coming together!

DIACONATE

The Board met briefly following worship on Aug. 30th to

plan the upcoming

SEPTEMBER 13th WELCOME SUNDAY

with SUNDAES

EVERYONE is invited to this welcome back after

summer vacations and to celebrate the Deacons will be

providing a really sweet and savory make your own

Sunday Sundae buffet during the fellowship time.

BRING A FRIEND!!!!!

Reminder: every first Sunday the Deacon Fund envelopes are available for

donations. The Fund is used to supply emergency care.

Your Deacons include: Carole Taylor, Dan Perry, Jim Perry, Kathy Munson,

Marcia Tomlinson and chair Ginny Moore.

Marcia Tomlinson, Secretary for the Diaconate

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Church Families from Long Ago The Peters Family, cont.

THE BRADFORD FAIR

Envelope for 1908 Fair

Letterhead for Annual Meeting – 1906

Mr. A. W. Peters, Vice President

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Spectators on North

Side (behind an early

Peters’ barn) of what

is now Fairground

Rd. … dated Oct. 28

19__?

Spectators in

Grandstand watching

sulky horse race –

dated July 1910

A Special Attraction:

“Welcome and

Alexander the Great

at Bradford, Vt. Fair”

No date

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Oxen on Parade

Dated Sept. 1913

Cattle at the Fairgrounds

No date

Fair Goers

Previous to 1913

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All of these and the

pictures following are

some of the floats in the

Fair Parade of the early

1900s

The Fairs from 110 years ago look

like lots of fun. Wish we still had

floats like these! I’m old enough to

remember some like these – in

Bradford and in East Corinth. I

think the last one was in 1965 for

our Bicentennial. Mr. J. Edward

Peters was in that parade as Gov.

Benning Wentworth. Mr. Peters

invited me to ride with him for part

of the parade. Of course I accepted!

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Eris Eastman, Historian