EPISTLE 2008-03

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THE EPISTLEVolume 13 Issue 3 MARCH 27, 2008

On March 9, five new members joined our congregation. Welcome to:

MARCH 9, 2008

MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION SUNDAY

Theodore Avgerinos

941 Whitney Road W. is a retired School Administrator. Hes interests

are golf, volleyball, cooking, antiques and framing nostalgic images. He

is also starting a new handyman business and is a volunteer for Habitat

for Humanity.

Deborah Cutter

941 Whitney Road W is a legal secretary. She enjoys cards, games,

reading and baking. She is joining by letter of transfer from the First

Congregational Church, Norwood, MA.

Janice Ruesch

60 Clarkes Crossing is a retired nurse. Her interests includes home care,

gardening, her cats, Jack and Jill and dog, Jennie. She is transferring her

membership from Browncroft Community Church.

Jennifer and Dale Worrall

13 Stoneleigh Trail, Victor are transferring their membership from the

First Congregational Church in Ithaca, NY. Jennifer grew up in our

church. Her maiden name was Lyons. She is presently a stay-at-home

mother, but is also an attorney. Dale is also an attorney. Jennifer is in-

terested in swimming and reading. Dale enjoys football and running.

They have three children, Alexis (5 yrs), Olivia (3 yrs) and Zachary (5

months).

March 30

at

Church5:00 First

seating6:30 Second

seating

Silent

Auction

(Cont. on p. 7)

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THE WORSHIP PAGE

March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27,

May 4, 11, 2008Sunday Worship at 9:30 AM

Fellowship Time and Christian Education follow

March 30

Second Sunday of EasterActs II:14a, 22-32

Psalm 16I Peter 1:3-9

John 20:19-31

Second Hand Faith

April 6

Third Sunday of EasterThe Eucharist

Acts 2:14a, 36-41Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19

I Peter 1:17-23Luke 24:13-35

Strangers in a Strange Land

April 13

Fourth Sunday of EasterGood Shepherd Sunday

Acts 2:42-47Psalm 23

I Peter 2:19-25John 10:1-10

Guest Preacher: Dr. Tim Dwyer

April 20

Fifth Sunday of EasterActs 7:55-60

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16I Peter 2:2-10John 14:1-14

What am I Here For?

April 27

Sixth Sunday of EasterActs 17:22-31Psalm 66:8-20I Peter 3:13-22John 14:15-21

Were not Alone

First Congregational United Church of Christ

26 East Church Street Fairport NY 14450

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26 East Church Street Fairport NY 14450

THE WORSHIP PAGE

(continued)

March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27,May 4, 11, 2008Sunday Worship at 9:30 AM

Fellowship Time and Christian Education follow

May 4

Ascension SundayThe Eucharist

Acts 1:1-11Psalm 47

Ephesians 1:15-23

Luke 24:44-53Ripples on the Pond

May 11

PentecostRite of Confirmation

Acts 2:1-21Psalm 104:24-34, 35bI Corinthians 12:3b-13

John 20:19-23

Dont Worry or Dont Fear

TAIZE SERVICE

APRIL 6The monthly service of prayer and meditation in the style of Taize will be held

on Sunday April 6 at 5:00 PM, directly before the pot luck dinner. This is atime for centering our hearts and minds on Christ. The chants and simple re-

frains help us come together in a powerful way, joining energies uniting body,

mind and spirit.

Michele Brooks and Betsey McCrory are planning the service.

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PastoralPerspective

Change is the word this political season. The candidates of both parties promise change in one

way or another. Sometimes there are explanations of what that change might be and other times

it is more the idea of change itself. All of us know that things change and sometimes change is a

good thing and sometimes it is not. The way it is being used in the various campaigns point tothe positive aspects of change. Many people see change in negative ways. Things are not the

way they used to be and for many that is not a good thing. Sometimes change is even associated

with decay, as in the line from the old hymn Abide with Me.

Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me.

Here the changing order of things is contrasted to the changelessness of God, who abides with

us through it all.

The season of Easter which began on Easter Day continues on for what the church has called

The Great Fifty Days, ending with the festival of Pentecost. During that time, we seek to

understand and appreciate the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If the resurrection is

nothing else, it certainly is change. H e who was dead is alive and nothing will ever be the

same.

Steve Savides, the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Appleton Wisconsin, where

Jane Weeden, our former associate is on the staff, writes in his latest newsletter about a story

which came out of the Nuremburg War Crimes Trials at the end of World War II.

A witness appeared who had lived for a time in a grave in a Jewish grave-yard, in Wilna, Po-

land. It was the only place he and many others could live, when in hiding after they had es-

caped the gas chamber. Well, in a grave nearby a young woman gave birth to a boy. The

...knowthat things change

and sometimes change is agood thing and sometimes it is

not...

(Cont. on p. 5)

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eighty-year old grave-

digger, wrapped in a

linen shroud, assisted.

When the new-born

child uttered his firstcry, the old gravedigger

prayed: Great God,

hast Thou finally sent

the Messiah to us? For who else than the Messiah

Himself can be born in a grave.

The Christian faith is born in a grave in a garden.

The stone is rolled away and the one who was cru-

cified on Friday israised on Sunday, and

nothing is ever the

same. The resurrection of Jesus Christ lets loose life

on the world; new life which brings the church into

being and gives us the gospel of reconciliation. We

are all called on to proclaim that Jesus is alive and

is loosed on the world and that through the power

and presence of the Holy Spirit gives new life even

today.

This is really change and sometimes it is uncom-

fortable to change. The old order has passed away

and a new order is born, not the new world order of

this or that political party or thinker, but the new

world

order

which is the Kingdom of God. As those who follow

Him we are to seek to live it out here and now.Now that is change!

Your pastor,

John

Pastoral

Perspective

(cont.)

...and nothing isever the same...

...the Kingdom of God

Adult Education in April

To Focus On

Real Life Faith IssuesBack by popular demand! Adult edu-

cation classes in April will focus around

two DVDs featuring pastor and author,

Rob Bell. Led by Pastor Cedarleaf, these

classes will look at issues that are impor-

tant to us and are presented in an easy-to-

discuss and easy-to-understand format.

On April 6, well focus on loving eve-

ryone around us. Jesus said that the most

important thing in life is to love God with

everything weve got and love others the

same way. This class will look at the diffi-

culties we have in carrying out this com-

mand. Sometimes we strongly disagree

with other peoples political views, reli-

gious beliefs, behaviors, or something else,

and it makes it hard to love them espe-

cially when we feel that were right andtheyre very wrong.

On April 27, well talk about what

makes us happy. Well look at the times

when we wanted something badly, only to

find out when we got it that it wasnt so

great after all. Well also discuss how we

feel when we ask God for something, and

He doesnt deliver right away.

Join us! Wed love to hear your thoughts.

***NOTE: There will be no adult educa-tion classes on April 13 or April 20, due to

Spring Break.***

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REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:

Martha Bowman, St. Johns Home

Barbara Cobb, Fairport Baptist Home

Louise Deller, Aaron Manor

Geraldine Stearns, Perinton Manor

Thank You to All!

Thank you to our church family for all your

prayers and support throughout our adoption

process a two and one-half year paper preg-nancy. We were overwhelmed by all the people

who came to the airport to welcome Lily home.

We appreciate the cards, meals, gifts and good

wishes that have been sent our way.

We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful

church family.

The James Family

Roger, Carol, Hannah and now Lily!

TOOL RAFFLE

The Trustees are holding a tool raffle to

raise some of the money needed to offset the

fact that the Antique Show has been can-

celed. The intention is to raise the money out-

side of the church and not present the congre-

gation with another donation request.

However, if any church member is in-

terested in purchasing a $10.00 ticket to win

four DeWalt cordess tools (with case battery &

charger), they can contact Pastor Cedarleaf or

any trustee. 200 tickets will be sold.

Our second Pot Luck - Just For Fun is set

for Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 5:30 PM.

The first one was a lot of fun, so be sure

to join in for a time of good company and

great food!

Sign-ups are on the rolling bulletin boardin Fellowship Hall (just so we know how

many tables and chairs to set up). Bring

your own service and a dish to pass - and

a big appetite.

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NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM APRIL 24, 2008.

Also on March 9, our congregation recognizedpeople who have been members who are cele-brating 5th year anniversaries (5, 10, 15 etc) andthose that have been members for 40 years or

more. They are:

Five years

Walter Adams, Ashley Ciccarelli, Deirdre andDon Eaton, Andrea Johnston, Deborah Mabry,Teddy Mierzwa, Douglas Osovski, Juliana Ties-

link, Emily Wright

Ten years

Margaret Daves, Paul DeLong, Elizabeth

Donaldson, Angie Last-Meraw, Gregory Lelek,Caroline Lizzio, Jessie McGrattan, Carol andMike ONeal, Tyler Obenaug, Kyle Preston,

Laurissa Prystaj

Fifteen years

David Cedarleaf, Tucker Henderson, Sherry

Jackson, Janice and Martin Stiles

Twenty years

James and Patricia Bradford, Jim Brush, Ray

and Annette Ciccarelli, Arthur and Sue Gable,Janis and Ralph Harper, Cheryl and ThomasHirsch, Leslie and Michael Morgan, Marion

Pieramico, Diana and Steven Smith

Twenty-five years

Bruce and Sharon Barmore, Joan and ThomasBigelow, Lisa Footer, Henry and Nancy Ral-

ston.

Thirty years

Sandra Allen, Laurie DeLong, Freda Sheldon,

Douglas Strong.

Thirty-five years

Sandra Blanchard, Janet and John Hecker, Jean

and Paul Jacoby, Barbara and Frank Strong.

Forty years or more

Marjorie Brooks

James and Mary Castor

Barbara and William Cobb

Dorothy and Richard Dudley

James Dudley

Jerry and Lois Evans

Sally Forgensi

Mary HoagMartha Holmes

Charlotte Jackson

Dewey Jackson, Jr.

William Jackson

Carol and Ed Johnston

David Mosher

Donald and Dorothy NaetzkerMichael Root

Eileen and Lester Slocum

John and Winifred Smith

Arthur and Catherine Steffen

Shirley Sumner

Janet Torrens

Ella WeirichDouglas and Jean Whitney

Arthur and Jean Wilson

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NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM APRIL 24, 2008

YOUTH MISSSION TRIP

NEEDS YOUR HELP!Our youth need to raise $6,500 to cover the

cost of the mission trip. We need silent auction

items for the upcoming Spaghetti dinner on March30.

Do you have an item or service to offer? If

so, signup on the rolling bulletin board in fellow-

ship hall or call Brian Sherry at 425-7336 or 233-

Spaghetti Dinner on

March 30 at Church

There will be a spaghetti din-

ner at the church on March 30 to

benefit the youth mission trip. There

will be two seatings- one at 5pm

and one at 6:30pm. A silent auc-

tion will also take place. Our youth

will be selling tickets in church dur-

ing the month of March.Our junior and senior high

youth will be traveling to Ohio in

July to repair and rebuild homes for

low income families through Reach

work camp. All proceeds from the

dinner and auction will reduce the

cost of the trip for the participants.

March 30 at Church5:00 First seating

6:30 Second seating

Silent Auction

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An extraordinary concert to celebrate

and support the Southwest Coalitions Habi-

tat House project will be held on Saturday,

April 26th

from 2 to 4 PM at Rush United

Methodist Church, 6200 Rush-Lima Rd.

(Route 15A, just south of the vil-

lage). Brighton UCC, First Congregational

UCC of Spencerport, Henrietta UCC, Union

Congregational UCC of Churchville, and the

Protestant Chaplaincy at UR are among the

supporting congregations.

Musicians and

groups will focus on

the themes of home

and community, the

values that motivateevery Habitat building

project. Musicians

will include a five-

octave handbell choir,

inspiring worship

band, percussion en-

semble, musical com-

edy, and an all-clergy

band put together forthe occasionthe

Holy Rock & Rollers.

A free will offering will be requested

during the performance. Dont be surprised

if donations are collected in empty paint

cans, or if the greeters are wearing work

clothes and tool belts. Our Habitat Coali-

tion is serious about building the house this

summer and the concert is an important way

of raising the funds to make it a reality.

Multiply the fun and the support for

this project by bringing your friends. As an

added bonus there will be a huge garage sale

going on in another part of the building, and

an opportunity to

see the beautiful

quilt that will be

raffled later this

year.

Our Habitat

House will be built

in the JOSANNA

area of Rochester

near PAETEC

Park. Some houses

have already been

started in that area

by other Habitatgroups. The goal is

to transform an impoverished neighborhood

into a safe, family friendly commu-

nity. This concert will help make that goal a

reality.

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Family News

FAIRPORT VACATION

BIBLE SCHOOL

SAVE THE DATE!!

The annual Fairport Community Vaca-

tion Bible School program will be held

each morning on August 4 8 in par-

ticipating churches (including ours!) on

Church Street in the village of Fairport.

Following the theme, GODS BIG

BACKYARD, children will learn how

rewarding service can be. They will

explore how to serve family, friends,

neighbors, the community and Jesus

while enjoying interactive Bible sto-

ries, fun crafts and snacks

Fairport Community Vacation BibleSchool is a fun-filled week of music,

games, crafts and growing in Gods

love! Children from age 3 to entering

7th grade are welcome to come spend

five action packed mornings in GODS

BIG BACKYARD! Teen and adult

volunteers are always needed and ap-

preciated! We have a job for every-

one! This year, FCVBS will held fromAugust 4 through August 8. Look for

registration and volunteer forms at

your church or the Fairport Public Li-

brary starting in April. Contact

Heather Moore with any questions

April Rotation Studies:

Kings of Israel

Saul and DavidThrough our drama, storytelling, art and

movie classrooms, our preschoolers and ele-

mentary school students will learn about

Saul, the first King of Israel, and David, his

successor.

Junior High and Confirma-

tion Class To Discuss Apply-

ing Their Faith in REAL

Time

Our junior high and confirmation class willconclude the church school year with a DVD

series featuring pastor and author Rob Bell.

The series will focus on faith principles and

how they might apply to our lives today.

******NO CHURCH SCHOOL

CLASSES WILL BE HELDONAPRIL 13 OR 20 DUE TO

SPRING BREAK. CLASSES

WILL RESUME ON APRIL

27.****

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Family News (p.2)

May 11, 2008

After a year of study, discussions with our pas-

tor, and participation in a community mission

project, a church project and the class project

a Passover Seder meal, our confirmands will

stand before the congregation and make the

faith their own on Sunday, May 11.

College Scholarship

Each year the Board of Family Ministry in conjunction with the Memorial Committee

offers a $500 scholarship to a graduating high school senior planning to attend a two or four

year college in the fall. The criteria that will be used in considering applicants are: member of

our church, graduating senior with plans to attend college in the fall, demonstrated involvement

in the church, quality of essay, and strength of letters of recommendation. Information and ap-

plication packets are available in the church office and on the Family Ministry bulletin board in

Fellowship Hall. All eligible students are encouraged to apply. All applications must be com-

plete and submitted to the church office by May 1, 2008.

Please contact Felicia Johansen at 377-5211 if you have any questions.

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Senior High To Ex-

amine Music Choices

and Their FaithThe Senior High class will begin a new study

examining music choices and how they align

with our faith. During the classes, students

will be encouraged to think about what they

choose listen to versus simply being

unconscious consumers.

JYF & SYF


YOUTH GROUP EVENTS COMING UP.

Games Night Scheduled For March 28All 6th 12th graders are invited to attend a Games Night in Upper Fellowship Hall on Friday

night, March 28, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Watch the youth group bulletin board for more details!

Spaghetti Dinner Mission Trip Fundraiser March 30Come help with a spaghetti dinner to raise money for our upcoming mission trip! Sell some

tickets, work a shift, donate a silent auction item, and enjoy a delicious meal. Sign up to help in

Fellowship Hall. All hands are needed!

Pancake Breakfast Mission Trip Fundraiser April 26Another opportunity to defray mission trip costs! Watch the youth group bulletin board in Fel-

lowship Hall for ways to help with this fundraiser.

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JYF & SYF30 Hour Famine Report

Be generous and share your food with the poor. You will

be blessed for it. (Proverbs 22:9)

The 30 Hour Famine participants surely feel

blessed to have shared in this awesome experi-

ence and thank the congregation for its support.

We begin our fast after lunch on Friday, Feb.

29. Our group of nine senior high students and

two adults met at our church at 5:30 p.m. Fri-

day evening for the opening ceremony. The

sanctuary was filled with 150 youth from 8-10

area youth groups. We opened with music,

singing and a prayer from John.

Following the ceremony, the youth divided into

six groups and traveled throughout the church

to listen to various speakers talk about life in

areas around the world that suffer from poverty,war and hunger. Speakers represented Mexico,

India, Palestine, Sierra Leone, Niger, Kenya,

and Zimbabwe. A big Thank You! to

Deirdre Eaton for her compelling speech about

Zimbabwe.

After enjoying some late-night bowling at Fair-

view Lanes, our youth group concluded the

evening with a midnight candlelight prayer ser-

vice and sleepover at our church.

Saturday morning was dedicated to service pro-jects. Our youth divided into two groups, withone group going to Bethany House a home-less shelter for women and children, and theother group going to Saints Place a refugee

resettlement organization. At BethanyHouse, we cleaned, sorted and shelved toys,shoveled snow, and learned about Bethanyhouse. At Saints Place, we had a tour andlearned about the services provided and therefugees they serve. We also helped organ-ize storage in Saints Place garage.Throughout the Famine, participants wereallowed to drink as much juice and/or wateras they wanted.

Back at church, we played Tribe Indone-

sia, an awareness-raising game. Each par-

ticipant took on the identity of an actual

child in Indonesia, complete with various

handicaps such as eye patches, heavy back-

packs to illustrate being weak and tired from

hunger, wearing a heavy winter coat to rep-

resent fever from malaria, and one partici-

pant couldnt speak due to past trauma.

Tribes had to complete various challenges,

while learning about life in Indonesia and its

difficulties. Bible study and journaling were

part of this activity.

The closing ceremony at the Fairport United

Methodist Church included a band, singing,presentations from the many participating

youth groups about service projects, and

comments about where the participants saw

Jesus during the Fast. The event ended

with a delicious meal of water, rice and

chicken broth.

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The Epistle is printed once a month

By the First Congregational United

Church of Christ, 26 East Church St.,

Fairport, New York 14450

Office Phone: 585-223-0224

Fax: 585- 223-4264

Pastors Phone 585-223-8172

E-mail: [email protected]

Webpage: fairportucc.org

Office Hours: M-F 9:00-3:30

Church Service 9:30AM

Sunday School: 10:50AM

Pastor: Rev. Dr. John Cedarleaf

Christian Ed. & Family Ministries:

Kelly Weidman & Karen Hamill

Admin. Asst: Cathy Kinton

Church Moderator: Hank Ralston

Organist: Beatrice Benedict

Choir Director: James C. Jefferis

Business Administrator: Sue Brooks

Epistle Editor: Bill Lindsay

Wedding Coordinator: Sue Bickel


26 East Church Street

Fairport NY 14450

Address Service Requested

Dated Material

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDFAIRPORT N.Y.PERMIT NO. 61

EPISTLE 2008-03

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