CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
July 2008
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FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH |
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| Uniting
Notes July 2008 |
| 740 N. Turquoise Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86001 | 928-774-0890 | e-mail: fccflagstaff@hotmail.com | www.fccflagstaff.org |
In this third installment of the continuing series on church growth I take up the subject of Maturational Growth. While this may seem somewhat redundant it, like the previous concepts of growth in the church, has more than one layer.
To be clear let me first define the term. According to Ted Buckle, an expert in matters of church growth, Maturational Growth refers to the interior lives of the members of the congregation. "It is the ability of a congregation to challenge, support, and encourage each one of its members to grow in the maturity of their faith, to deepen their spiritual roots, and to broaden their religious imaginations."
In the season of Lent we are sometimes reminded of the last seven words of Christ on the cross. From time to time I read that the seven last words of the church are, "We've never done it that way before." It is the tug-of -war between valuing and upholding tradition and the need to stretch and explore where God might be leading us as a people of faith. There is a delicate balance between active memory of a church's history and enslavement to its tradition. This is not a simple matter for the church to contend with. Often the very identity of a congregation is inextricably bound up in its tradition, hence the idea of "growing in maturity." Upheaval is not the order of the day, particularly in the bucolic setting we enjoy here in Northern Arizona. But this mere geographic element doesn't excuse us from the call to grow, to broaden and deepen our faith, spirituality and "religious imagination.
The issues by which we, everyone of us at the dawn of the 21st century, are stimulated, even provoked, are also the building blocks of the process of Maturational Growth. These range from matters of the language we use in the context of worship to deciding to whom our doors should be open as a covenanting, worshiping community of faith. From exploring new ways to worship to resisting the temptation to attach our worship practice to the next fad creating a stir. To illustrate this, the example of a church in the inner-city of Philadelphia at which I worked as a seminarian some years ago will serve.
The church is St. Michael And All Angels Episcopal church. For almost two hundred years it has occupied the same corner in what was once the lively center of Old Town Philadelphia. As is typical of large eastern American cities, people began to move to the suburbs and urban decay set in. Concurrently, this once affluent neighborhood became crime ridden and impoverished. After the 1980s it also became the center of the gay community (known as the "gay ghetto" which also brought a host of problems with its advent.
What St. Michael's bears witness to today is exactly the dynamic of Maturational Growth. The Rector shared with me that when he arrived he assumed he would mostly be burying the elderly members of his church. What he found was that the average age of the people he was called to bury were not those in their 70s or 80s, but those in their 30s due to the AIDS epidemic. What was a marvelous and powerful reflection of Christ in these Christians who remained in the inner-city as members of their historic church was the love, care, support and acceptance they had of their younger brothers and sisters who now sit by them in their pews, the same pews once occupied by some of the most famous names in American history.
These older Episcopalians chose not to leave their church, but to stay and make their church what God was calling it to be, a house of worship for all God's people, to tend to the needs of "the least of these."
One of the most poignant communion services I have ever experienced was in St. Michael And All Angels church. Watching the sharing of hymnals and the elements of the sacrament among the long-time members with their gay brothers and sisters new to the faith was a sermon beyond the pen of any preacher I know.
Our situation is not the same but the principle is identical. Where and to what are we being called? God knows. But for us to discern the future for our lives and church requires an attentive ear and willing spirit.
The prophet Isaiah put it this way: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. {19} I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)
I remember the words of an old sage as he approached retirement from ministry speaking about the dynamic of the church. He said, "Change is inevitable, growth remains optional." So it does, but the future lies in the direction of growth not in the mentality of sedimentation. One gives life the other creates fossils.
I wish you Peace.
Until next time,
Loving God, thank you for reminding us that we are never alone. Let us pray...
Karen Cooper, Herb Couch, the family of Betty Suntheimer, Doris and Cliff White.
There will be no prayer circle meeting in July.
Congratulations to Leroy & Rita Calbom on their 50th Anniversary!
The Dine With Nine groups continue throughout the summer. If you are not part of a group and would like to participate, please contact Sandy Znetko.
Dine With Nine groups consist of 6 to 9 people per group and meet about 4 times (depending on the size of the groups) during the 4-month period. The purpose is to get to know the people in the group better.
We'd like to see everyone in the church involved. Summer is a good time to be a part of this program. There are many outdoor activities that can be incorporated with the meal—like a picnic in the park.
The Reel Theology film night—the third Friday of the month at 7:00 p.m.—will feature Bella, a motion picture masterpiece winning the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. Bella is a powerful and moving unique story that will lift your spirits and capture your heart. An international soccer star is on his way to sign a multimillion dollar contract when a series of events unfold that brings his career to an abrupt end. A beautiful waitress, struggling to make it in New York City, discovers something about herself that she's unprepared for. In one irreversible moment, their lives are turned upside down... until a simple gesture of kindness brings them both together, turning an ordinary day into an unforgettable experience.
Bring your favorite movie snack, and, if you like, wear your pj's and bring your "comfy" chair.
Mark your calendar for FCCF's participation in the 2nd annual July 4th of July parade. Everyone who was in the parade last year had a good time and it gives our church some exposure to the Flagstaff community. The parade will start at 9:00AM this year so we need to be at the staging area by 8:00AM. So that means being at the church by 7:00AM to decorate the parade wagon. Bring water for drinking, sun block, hat, and spray bottle for keeping cool.
Then in the afternoon, Ray and Vera King have invited everyone to their home at 330 E Comanche (maps are in the bookcase in back of the sanctuary) starting around 4:00PM for a BBQ. Bring something to grill, something to drink, and a side dish for everyone to share. Thank you Ray and Vera!
Call Rich Fleck if you have any questions Rich Fleck.
Any one, both children and adults, interested in making gift bags to benefit Heifer International is invited to contact Lynn Rusch to help with this project. Last year we sold enough bags ($240) to buy 2 sheep for the Navajo Reservation sheep project sponsored by Heifer International.
The Flagstaff Medical Center ER clinic coordinator and a representative from the Coconino Senior Living Foundation received 15 and 25 lapgans respectively. In addition, the Safe Child Center received 11 lapgans and the FMC Neonatal Center, 3 lapgans. In all, 54 lapgans were given to these organizations within the Flagstaff community.
The Knit Wits will meet on Saturday, July 19, at 1:30 p.m. If you like to knit or crochet or want to be a part of the fun, please join the group. Or, if you have yarn, please consider donating it to the Knit Wits.
If you like to quilt or want to learn how to quilt, you are welcome to participate in the "Christmas in July" project. The group meets Tuesdays, July 1, 8, 22, and 29, from 9 to noon. The Christmas quilts will be donated to the Toys for Tots Program.
Please join us for American Cancer Society's Climb to Conquer Cancer. This 7-mile walk up Snowbowl Road is open to everyone. You don't need to walk or run the whole way- you can catch a bus whenever you feel the need. The important thing is to show support for the fight against cancer and feel the strong community spirit involved with this event.
You can register for the walk online (www.flagstaffclimb.com, be sure to select our "First Congregational Church of Flagstaff" team) or in-person. Either way, in order to get t-shirts with our Church's name on the back, we need to have all team registrations by July 13. If you don't feel like walking but would like to make a donation, feel free to do so, again either online or in person.
If you have questions contact call me, or the American Cancer Society, 526-3800.
Pride in the Pines
For the second year in a row FCCF's ONA Task Force Volunteered at Flagstaff's Pride in the Pines. This year their efforts were focused on the children's activity area. Bobbie Ursin acted as coordinator and developed numerous activities for children and their families including "Planet Tolerance Mural," "Rainbow & the Ark Mural," Face Painting, Jewelry Making, Fun Chaser Making and Bounce House supervision. Other volunteers included: John Leung, Vic Page, Sandy Znetko, Nanc Shibley, Cecile LeBlanc, Rebecca Campbell, Betsey Buford (Rebecca's grad student).We observed strong parenting care & skills among LGBT couples and the children were very cooperative & polite. We look forward to working with this event again next year.
Sunday, July 20, is the date for the next Book Group meeting. The group will begin the new program year with The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. This very popular book was written for artists and wannabe-artists but its message and its exercises are relevant for all people—whether explicitly artistic or not—for nurturing creative expressions in all aspects of our lives. Lynn Rusch is hosting the supper at her home.
We will read up to page 24 for the July meeting and thereafter we will work with one chapter each month in addition to our book selection of the month. This should be fun for all of us!
The upcoming books are Bel Canto by Ann Pachett (August 17th) and The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (September 21st). Bel Canto is about a hostage situation taking place in an unnamed South American country that includes a world-famous soprano. Opera and terrorism make strange bedfellows, but in this novel they complement each other nicely. Mary Coy will host the August meeting.
The September book, The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie is a humorous, but heart-breaking, look at the life of a 14 year-old teenage on the Spokane Indian Reservation (young adult novel). Cecile LeBlanc is hosting this meeting.
All meetings include a light supper provided by the hostess and begin at 5:00 p.m., generally on the third Sunday of each month. We are always open to and very welcoming of new members and/or persons who just want to try it out.
Book Club Readings
Thank you to everyone who attended our annual church meeting on June 8. It was good to look back on all of the work done by our church over the last year, including our 50th Anniversary celebration. We approved an 18 month budget for 2008-2009. (If you haven't yet turned in your pledge, it isn't too late. Mail it to the church or put it in the offering plate on Sunday.) We elected our Church Council for the next year. Finally, we presented a beautiful framed photograph of our church (thank you, Sandy Znetko) to Janine, Dave, Charlie and Sam Ostergren. They have been a vital part of our congregation and will be missed after their move to Indiana.
Now that the new church year has begun, we have some opportunities to serve. Our budget no longer supports having an Office Manager, so help with the office duties will be appreciated. Talk with Pastor Bill if you can assist in this way. We also have important Church Council positions that need to be filled. First, we need a chairperson for the Community and World commission. If two of you would like to share this job, that would be fine. Second, we need a secretary for the Church Council. If you can take notes, and type them up for the next council meeting, you can do this job! The only requirement for each of these jobs is that you be a member of FCCF and that you can attend Council meetings on the 2nd Monday evening of each month. Please contact Sharon at if you'd like to volunteer or need more information.
Volunteers are needed on a weekly basis for Sunday mornings. There is a white board in the fellowship hall where you can sign up to be a liturgist, greeter, usher or kitchen angel (who cleans up the kitchen and fellowship hall after the fellowship time.) Kids are encouraged to sign up to acolyte. Each commission also has many areas where you can participate. Be open to saying "yes" if someone calls and asks for your help.
Of course, we have time to play together, too. Plan to join our 4th of July parade float and later in the day, meet at Ray and Vera King's home for dinner. Details about both of these events can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. Our Dine with Nine groups, Reel Theology, Book Club, Extreme Outdoor Congregationalists, and Knit Wits are just some of the opportunities you have to socialize with others in our congregation. I encourage you to be a part of one or more of these groups.
Our recent Vitality Survey showed a slight increase in our vitality since the previous survey. As we continue to become a more vital church, we need each member and friend of FCCF to step up and volunteer to help with both the work and social activities of the church. I hope we can count on you to say "Yes" when you are called.
Sharon Fox
Moderator
| © 2008 First Congregational Church of Flagstaff | Last modified 2008 July 1 |