Have a Minute?

By Hank Fairman

Within the community of those folks who write liturgy for worship in the Christian church, there is a running commentary on what to call the days after Easter. Looking back at old Rock Spring News articles, I see that we’ve bantered on the question, too.

“What do you call the church season between Easter and Advent?”

Words like “Ordinary Time, “Proper Time,” or the pragmatic “The nth Sunday after Easter or Pentecost” come to describe the elongated period of Summer and Autumn days. And this year, “Elongated” describes more than the time between sunrise and sunset. With our early Easter, our ordinary days number one less than the most possible: 253 days, properly.
We move into a season beyond the sadness of Holy Week, beyond the joy of Easter, and the inspiration of Pentecost. My mind remembers the great Chinese proverb and curse: “May you live in interesting times.”

Our friends at Wikipedia tell me that it is the first of a series of three proverbs (or curses), the others being: “May you come to the attention of those in authority”, and “May you find what you are looking for.”

Here at Rock Spring, I have no doubt that we will have days that seem far from “ordinary.” We are in interesting times. Times of transition, of mourning, and of healing. These are also times of new life and growth in our ministries, as long-planned and much-needed programs and small groups come to flower. Times when we will rejoice with our Confirmands and Graduates. Times when we celebrate our continuing social witness and good works (I know how much we enjoy coming to the attention of those in authority). Times when we will journey away, and serve the needs of those with whom we share our time. Times when we will gather in worship, in remembrance, and in fellowship as our unique and interesting part of the Body of Christ.

And with the guidance of our Interim Minster, I know that we will find what we are looking for: the new life that is our promise in Christ, and our continued purpose and vision in serving Arlington, Northern Virginia, our nation, and our world. Interesting, it shall truly be.

As we count down the beauty God gives us in the late Spring days and await the warmth of the Summer sun, may we all truly find what we are looking for, in our lives, and in our life together at Rock Spring.

 

Bi-Weekly Church Calendar

Please click here to view the current Rock Spring bi-weekly calendar.

 

News & Notes

 

Thoughts & Prayers

Rock Spring members have suffered some significant losses in the past couple of weeks, and our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to them.  Long-time member Curtis Miller died on April 5, and prayers are requested for his wife, Lois, as she copes with his loss.  His funeral was held on April 10 at Murphy's Funeral Home.   Prayers are also requested for Bob Cato, whose brother Richard died on April 5 from brain cancer.  Condolences are also offered to Vicki Lindsay and Meredith Wadman, whose friend Kate Kent tragically died at the young age of 44.  Please keep all of the bereaved in your prayers.

Prayers are also requested for Catherine Carlston who was hospitalized briefly and is now recuperating at Renaissance Gardens, Greenspring Village.

Rock Spring Council Update

April 3, 2008 The Rock Spring Church Council met with the interim pastor search committee and they introduced their recommended candidate for the position. His name is Doug Griffin and he has been doing interim pastor ministry in the Central Atlantic Conference for several years. Rev Griffin will begin his ministry at Rock Spring on July 7th. During that time we will have several meetings with him to provide early information to him on the church. We hope you will all introduce yourselves to Doug when he arrives and wish him a big Rock Spring welcome. During this period use of name tags will assist Doug in becoming familiar with Rock Springers and will show our friendliness.

During the interim period the Church Council has vowed to become more visible and available to everyone. Members will be wearing blue colored name tags so that fellow congregants will be able to identify us. Please feel free to share questions or concerns with us.

Jim Meehan
President, Rock Spring Church Council

Deacons Announcement -- Schedule Change

Rock Spring Members and Friends--

We wanted to let you all know as soon as possible that we plan to move to one service a bit earlier than usual this year. We will have one service at 10 am beginning Memorial Day weekend (May 25), 2008. We will combine the church school so that it will continue as previously planned through June 15. We anticipate RALLY DAY (with return to two services) to occur as previously scheduled on Sunday September 7, 2008. This is planned ONLY for this year in order to help our two pastors meet our many and varied expectations once Rev. Wildman leaves, since the interim senior pastor now is expected to arrive mid-July. Any concerns may be directed to the deacons at deacons@rockspringucc.org .

Sincerely, Shirley Meehan, Deacon Chair

Installation Service for Janet Parker:

The Potomac Association of the Central Atlantic Conference and Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ invites you to celebrate the Installation of the Reverend Dr. Janet L. Parker as the Pastor for Parish Life at Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ, Sunday, the First of  June, 2007.
 

Installation Council ~  2:00 p.m.
Service of Installation   ~  3:00 p.m.
with reception following in the Saegmuller Room
 

Please mark your calendars, and come share in this time of celebration.

AIDS/Lifecycle 7

Rock Springer Wade Sharp is participating in a week-long bicycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to help raise money to provide education., treatment, and other critical services to people living with HIV/AIDS. He needs to raise a minimum of $2500 (and ride 545 miles in a week). If you wish to learn more about the event or to donate, you can access his ride website at http://www.aidslifecycle.org/5583

Gene Schultheis Treasure on Display at The Newseum

The NEWSEUM re-opened in Washington DC on April 11th. Visitors to the 6th floor look can for the "Early News" section in which an exquisite block printed (Chinese) Ming Dynasty book of Tang poetry, owned by long time Rock Springer Gene Schulteis, is on prominent display.

Authors Abound at Rock Spring

 

Celebration and Book Signing Event for Gene Schultheis and Cicely Angleton:

Sunday, May 4, after 11:00 service.  Our two exceptional resident poets, Eugenia (Gene) Schultheis and Cicely Angleton, have together just published a treasure of a new book  "SELECTED POEMS", with an especially beautiful foreword by Chuck Wildman.  Poem titles such as  "To Crow (and St. Francis)" and "Sic Transit Gloria" are enticing indeed!  This is a book to own and to give.  Cost is $12.00, and for those who cannot be present May 4, copies will be available for purchase thereafter as well.

Charles Spencer's two-volume history of Edisto Island, South Carolina, was published in March by The History Press of Charleston. 

The titles are Edisto Island, 1663 to 1860: Wild Eden to Cotton Aristocracy and Edisto Island, 1861 to 2006: Ruin, Recovery and Rebirth.  Their publication is the culmination of a multi-year project since Charles retired from full-time employment.  Both volumes are available now from local and national book sellers, by special order, and Charles will be happy to sign them.  He has also donated a copy of both volumes to the Rohrer Memorial Library at Rock Spring, where they join a substantial collection of works by Rock Springers.  Check them out!

Open and Affirming: An Ongoing Journey

What does it mean to be an open and affirming congregation, eight years after we voted to become one? How is Rock Spring viewed in the community? How do we live up to our commitment to marriage equality? What more should we be doing, besides keeping our doors open to all?

Your Social Action Board does not know the answers to these questions, but believes it is important to keep asking them of ourselves and others. To focus and steer this ongoing conversation, the Board has created an Open and Affirming Standing Committee, with members both from the board and the congregation. Please speak to (or E-mail) one of the persons below. Give them your support, encouragement, and ideas. Better still, join this committee, which will meet as needed. The next meeting will be at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 27; please bring a sandwich and come if you can. These are the Standing Committee members so far: Cherie Bottum, John Bottum, Sam Cline, Rose Mary Garcia, Kelly Hamilton-Bracy, Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Howard Hjort, Susan Johnson, Masami Kojima, Peter Moll, Janet Parker, Wade Sharp, Charles Spencer, and Rebecca Womeldorf.

 

Mark Your Calendar Now -- The Capital Pride Parade  

Since 2001, Rock Spring members have been marching in the annual D.C. Pride Parade, as a means of informing the GLBT community of the metropolitan area that Rock Spring Church is open and affirming, and that we support their struggle for full equality. The Committee hopes we can increase our presence this year to at least twenty marchers. All ages are welcome. The date is Saturday, June 14, at 6:30 p.m. Please
join us in this public witness for equality. It's important!

Witness For Peace At The White House on April 20th

The Washington regional interfaith Christian Peace Witness for Iraq (CPWI) continues its monthly prayer vigils on third Sundays at 5:00 p.m. in LaFayette Park, across from the White House. CPWI has a permit for
these events, and no one has been arrested. Members of Rock Spring are invited to participate. For April 20, please contact Charles Spencer if you want to coordinate transportation. For future
months, please sign up for specific dates on the sheets in the Saegmuller Room. The Social Action Board urges each of us to consider prayerfully this opportunity to witness publicly for peace with justice
in Iraq.

 

Earth Sunday--April 20, 2008

This year, Rock Spring will celebrate Earth Sunday, also called Integrity of Creation Sunday, on April 20 during both worship services and during an after-church event.  The Eco-Justice Committee is planning fun, interactive, and educational indoor/outdoor activities for all to celebrate Earth Day and to remind us of our stewardship responsibility to care for God's creation.  Come for lunch and fun activities including a truly “earthy” project to help green our church grounds and plant an organic garden that will produce fresh vegetables for AFAC; demonstrations to learn what's what about wattage and compact fluorescent light bulbs; and more.  Dress code for church that Sunday is casual!  Wear clothes that can get dirty if you want to help with the garden or landscaping. Mark April 20 on your calendars and plan to join us!

 

NOVAM Benefit April 26

Just imagine that we could help everyone who has AIDS or is HIV positive! That is what faith leaders in Northern Virginia did when they started the Northern Virginia Aids Ministry (NOVAM). This organization provides services, education, and support to hundreds of people who are living with the disease. Our church contributes to NOVAM from its annual stewardship budget, but the organization also needs Rock Springers' support as well. Come to the IMAGINE party in Carpenter Hall as we join other faith communities imagining, and maybe even helping to create a world that takes care of everyone with this terrible illness. Bring a covered dish and a small contribution on Saturday, April 26th at 6:30 PM. All contributions are welcome, and a $25 contribution admits one person to the silent auction at the Torpedo Factory later on in the evening. In addition, bring a picture, poster, or other memento of someone you know who is fighting or fought AIDS so we can celebrate their lives. As an extra treat, we will be entertained by the Rock Spring Brass!

Eco-Justice Green Tip of The Week

GREEN TIP: This week, now that spring is here, plant a native plant in your yard, or in a pot on your balcony. Native plants have many benefits, including being generally easier to care for, and attracting local wildlife. If you're not sure what to plant, or want to learn more, visit the excellent website of the Virginia Native Plant Society: http://www.vnps.org/ Try it! Brought to you by Rock Spring's Ecojustice Committee.

Communication Class for Parents

Want PEACE in your home? Are you frustrated with your relationship with your kids? Try "How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and How to Listen so Kids will Talk." A Communication Class for Parents. May 1 - June 5th,
Thursdays at 7:00 - 8:45, RSC, $115. Led by Francine Gilbert Ronis, LPC frgilbert@gmail.com. Registration will be open until April 24th. Sign-up sheet in the Saegmuller Room. Questions? Ask Bill Clarke, Rose Mary Garcia, Deborah Duffy, or the CE Board.

Sunday School News & Notes

As we come into our period of Interim Ministry, the Board of Christian Education will be taking a few steps to help people feel more at home. Every week at the 11 AM service (and at the 10 AM throughout the summer) one member of the CE Board will circulate to each of the classrooms, after the children's moment, to assist any families in finding the appropriate classroom for their child/ren, and ensure that each classroom has at least two teachers/adults in each classroom. The host will be wearing a nametag with CE host written on it.

Please note that for 2008, the Deacons made the decision to move the switch to a single service at 10:00 am from Memorial Day to Labor Day Our regular classes will continue until June 15. The rest of the summer will be divided into two sessions (June 22-July 20 and July 27-August 24) with 3 Sunday School classes (preK-K, 1st-2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade.) If you are interested in teaching the Summer session, please contact Taryn Roman or email christianed@rockspringucc.org.

On Sunday, June 8, we will honor all of our teachers with a special moment in worship. If you have shared your gifts with our children, youth, and adults this year, please mark your calendar!

Confirmation Class

With the varied and busy lives our youth lead today, this year’s Confirmation Class agreed to meet on Sunday mornings from 9:00-10:30, on a (mostly) every-other-week schedule. Upcoming dates and homework for Confirmation are:

4/20/08	Continuing our work on our Affirmations of Faith
5/4/08	Continuing our work on our Affirmations of Faith

We’ll have a special meeting to work on our Mission Project on Saturday April 19, from 10:00-3:00. We’ll be digging, leveling, and building raised vegetable gardens to grow food for the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). This year is the second in AFAC’s local effort to obtain more fresh produce for the families it serves. It is part of the national Plant A Row for the Hungry program through which gardeners are urged to donate a portion of their vegetables and fruits to local food pantries. The Confirmation Class will build it; we’ll plant it as part of our Earth Day celebration, and then we’ll need everyone’s help to tend it over the summer months! Look for more news on this in the coming RSN’s.

This year’s class will conclude with a special dinner on Saturday, May 17, beginning at 5:00. The Confirmands will share their Affirmations of Faith at a special service following the meal in the sanctuary. The Service of Confirmation will take place on Sunday, May 18, with the Confirmands leading both worship services, with the Order for Confirmation at 11:00.

As we come to the end of this year’s program, a note of thanks for the families of our confirmation class, and for the Confirmands! This year has been a good and fun time of sharing!

Middle High YoRS

April showers bring May flowers, and (sadly) the end of another MH-YoRS season. Below is our schedule of meetings until Summer kicks in. Please note the special End-Of-Year Retreat at the Morland’s Cabin! We’ll be leaving Saturday morning, May 30, and returning Sunday morning, June 1—just in time for Rev. Parker’s Service of Installation! Lots of cool things going on in April and May. Don’t miss the fun!

Middle High YoRS Dates:

4/20/08	Earth Sunday Celebration—Special Time, 12:30-3:00 Wear jeans and close-toed shoes
4/27/08	Heading Out to Play—Mini Golf, Bowling, or something equally cool
5/4/08	Back to our Regular Haunts, Neighborhood House, 6:30-8:30
5/11/08	Mother’s Day Mayhem (we’ll be like little angels, really!) 6:30-8:30
5/18/2008	The Last Regular Meeting, Neighborhood House, 6:30-8:30
5/25/08	No MH-YoRS, Memorial Day Weekend
5/31-6/1	End-Of-Year Retreat to the Morland’s Cabin, final details soon!

Senior High Youth of Rock Spring (SH-YoRS)

Last month, we announced our participation in the Tents of Hope campaign, joining with the many partners in a public witness for the people of the Darfur region in Sudan. You’ll hear more from us soon on this project, but we wanted to tell you about the bigger picture.

We’ve asked the Potomac Association to join with us in the campaign. On Saturday, April 26, a delegation from YoRS and the Social Action Board will present Tents of Hope to the Association at the Spring Meeting (Rock Spring is hosting the meeting, too!), asking our brother and sister churches to add their witness to the campaign. The Association Committee on Christian Education and Committee on Social Action and Mission have both joined in the campaign. From one voice of hope, a choir will come to sing! We’ll have more information on the project in the coming months. Keep reading!

Soon, though, we’ll be heading out on our Summer Mission Experience, and we need your help! Check out the article below on the trip to the Pittsburgh Project!

Senior High YoRS Dates

5/01/08	SH YoRS Lunch Meeting, 12:30-Peace Room
5/9/08	Cake-‘n-Bake Cake Baking, 5:30-8:00ish
5/10/08	Cake-‘n-Bake Cake Decorating, 10:00-2:00ish
5/11/08	Cake-‘n-Bake Cake Delivery, following worship on Mother’s Day

For more information on our Middle High and Senior High Youth Ministries, please

For more information on all of Rock Spring’s educational ministries, please visit:
www.rockspringucc.org/html/education.

Summer Mission Experience 2008 and this Year’s Fund Raiser

We’re all set to go, and our registrations are in! Now, we need your help with some of the expenses for the trip. We are excited to offer to you:
The First-Ever “Bake a Cake for your Mom” Mother’s Day Cake-and-Bake Sale!

Here’s the details:
From now until April May 1, orders will be taken by our Mission Experience Team for specialty cakes for you to give to your mom, grandma, mother-in-law, and all the many “situational” moms in your life. The cakes will be baked on Friday, May 9; decorated on Saturday, May 10, and will be ready for pick-up after worship on Sunday, May 11.
Each cake costs $24 (that’s one dollar for each person going on the Mission Trip). Order forms are available in the Saegmuller Room, or by clicking here .
These funds will go to support the travel costs of the trip to help out the Pittsburgh Project. If you are a baker, you are welcome to help with providing items for the bake sale, too! Our hope is to raise $2000, to reduce the per-person cost of the trip for everyone. Please, share in the Cake-and-Bake fund raiser, and you too can enthusiastically shout, “And I helped!!”

The Details on the Mission Experience:
Who: High School Youth, who have completed 9th grade
When: June 29-July 5 (as agreed)
How much: $450, with food/lodging/transportation included
**Please note: the cost per person will go down, based on our fund raising.  In the case of financial need, please contact Pastor Hank personally (and confidentially).

Participants and Parents, please remember--the balance of fees ($400) is due 4/27.

For more information on our Middle High and Senior High Youth Ministries, please email yors@rockspringucc.org.

Church Staff

Pastor for Parish Life
Pastor for Children,Youth & Families
Director of Music
Asst. Director of Music
Office Administrator
Administrative Assistant & Bookkeeper
Property Manager
Child Care Providers	Fern Lawrence & Roxanne Clark
Custodians	Willis Gardner, Vicki Morales
Bus Driver	Rico Picarriello