the LifelineNORWICH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHUNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

j u n e 2012

Congratulations to our Confirmation Class of 2012

Peter Huizenga, Garrett LaRock, Erik Bidstrup, Marion Miller, and Ella Williams

The Lifeline – June 20122

2012 LEADERSHIP

ChurCh OffiCersChurch Council Chair . . . . Susan WhiteChurch Council Vice-chair . . .Bob MillerModerator . . . . . . . . John Severinghaus Vice Moderator . . . . . .Carolyn MertzClerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joanne Egner Ass't Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . Katy GerkeTreasurer . . . . . . . . .Christopher Ashley Ass't Treasurer . . . James HourdequinCollector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Judy PondAss't Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Auditor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BOard Of deaCOnsSenior Deacons . . . . . . . . . . .Paul Gerke . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sharon Corrigan

Christopher Ashley, Rita SeveringhausDick Broussard, Hillary White

BOard Of TrusTeesChair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Doug James

Carolyn Mertz, Stan Williams, Daniel Van Dorn, Avery Post, John Grant

BOard Of MissiOnChair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Doug Britton Deborah Berryman, Jeff Nielsen Kathy Grant, Vicky Fish, Heidi Webster

Board of Christian educationChair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Beliveau

Harry Higgs, Mary Sachsse, Ann Beams, Beth Bidstrup

COMMiTTeesflowers

Tilda White, Ryan Adams Deborah Van Arman

hospitalityEvelyn Gick, Anne Egner

Joan Wanner, Susan McGrewStephanie Smith

investmentMark Beliveau, Peter Mertz

MusicDon Helms

nominatingBarbara Duncan

Ann Waterfall, Katy Gerkestewardship

Priscilla Vincent, Jane Helms

Woodworth fundDoug James, Judy Hobbs

Mimi Simpson, Kenneth Cracknell Marianne Spalding

OtherAt-Large Church Council . Chuck EgnerHead Usher: . . . . . . . Willemien MillerHistorian: . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan WhiteDelegates: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avery Post . . . . . . . . . . . Kenneth Cracknell Alt . Delegates . .Katherine Broussard

NORWICH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHMary Brownlow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PastorKathleen Sherlock-Green . . . Choir DirectorJane Chase Helms . . . . . . Organist Emerita Tacy Colaiacomo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organist

Danielle Taylor . . . . Sunday School Coord . Jenny Gelfan . . . . . . . . . . . Office ManagerJoni Latuch-Lyman . . . . . . . . . BookkeeperDan Goulet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sexton

if YOu WanT TO dOnaTe fLOWers fOr WOrshiP...please contact Deb Van Arman at (802) 649-1723 for help, informa-tion, or to sign up . You may also sign up on the “Flowers” sheet posted at the back of the church .

V a C a T i O n B i B L e s C h O O L

Superheroes of the Spirit: The Golden Rule

Norwich Congregational Church, UCCVacation Bible Camp

August 20-24 • 12:00-3:30Ages K-8

To register call 649-1433

or email danielletaylor10@gmail .com

Kids, please join us for some summer fun, games, music, learning, and excitement!!! We will learn about the mean-ing of the word superhero, meet some real life superheroes and develop our own superhero identities in this week-long summer camp .

3The Lifeline – June 2012

When asked a question, Jesus would often reply with a parable rather than a direct answer . It seems that he wanted to “tease his disci-ples into active thought .” Since the time that the Gospels were written, we have absorbed these parables as part of our collective memory . Of-ten we listen to them without active thinking, as their very familiarity lulls us into a passive acceptance of lessons and morals .

Literally, ‘parable’ means com-parison, or putting two things alongside each other . Jesus would put something everyday and familiar - like seeds or dough or a vineyard or a traveler – into a new context . On one level, he asked people to re-examine their everyday lives and see how they measured up to ideals of justice and compassion . One another level, he asked people to imagine how spiritual realities break into the human condition: how to picture the work of God in the world .

This month, on June 10, we will celebrate our annual Children’s Sunday, and allow the younger members of our family of faith to

teach us . They will use the parables of Jesus, in reading, action and song to “arrest the hearers” in the pews . Maybe those ancient stories will come alive in a new way for you .

From time to time, I hear con-temporary stories that are unusual and yet iconic, something that cap-tures my imagination and gives me some insight into human failings and potential . There is the story of a pastor who had owned a college class ring with his fraternity insignia on it for 40 years, but had not worn it because he no longer wanted to display this statement of identity . Lately, especially, the meaning of membership in a fraternity, with its age-old traditions of hazing, seemed tainted . So he decided to sell the ring and transform it into a Mother’s Day gift for his wife .

This summer, we will once again have a Union worship service, joining with St Barnabas Episco-pal Church and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley to share song, prayer, readings and preaching . This will take place on July 29, and include a breakfast before worship . Every

time we engage in these ecumenical or interfaith gatherings, I feel that we embody trust and generosity, and reject suspicion and insularity . We act on Jesus’ prayer “that they will all be one .” (John 17: 11, 21,22)

Perhaps you have heard similar stories or told similar stories . What is your parable of transformation? What images would you use to portray God’s Spirit breaking into your life? Where have you been surprised into a new understand-ing of your neighbor, a new hope for sprouting seeds, a new sense of a comforting shepherd? These are the stories that bind a congregation together into a joyful, purposeful, and supportive community . These are the stories worth passing on to the next generation .

Mary

From the Minister"At its simplest a parable is a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application to tease it into active thought."

— Bible Scholar C. H. Dodd

The Lifeline – June 20124

Meg is a junior at Rivendell . Her favorite classes are chemistry and history . She also studies French . She’s been to France twice . In April 2011 she stayed in Saverne near Strasbourg for 19 days . In the summer of 2010 she was in a pupil to pupil program and loved the French family she stayed with . She also traveled to Italy, Austria, Ger-many, and Switzerland . She found that her French was good enough to understand even high-speed conversation . “I also got to stay in a hostel in Paris quite close to Notre-Dame . We saw the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysées, Sacré-Coeur, and Monmartre .”

Meg began coming to the Norwich Congregational Church in first grade . “My mother and Kathy Sherlock-Green are friends, and Kathy invited me to try Junior Choir . “I really liked the church; it was both familiar and unique . I’ve learned a lot being in the Junior and Youth Choirs . With Kathy’s help I auditioned four times for the American Choral Directors’ Associ-ation . They have conferences every year . At the conferences they have concerts that showcase exemplary works . I sent in tapes of my singing and was accepted three times . Then they send you music that you must memorize because there are only

three days of rehearsal before the performance .”

Meg has also taken piano lessons and horseback riding lessons . She has appeared in many theatri-cal productions including most recently Footloose . She’s also been in two productions at Northern Stage: she was the youngest child in The Sound of Music and she was in the ensemble of A Christmas Carol .

Meg is now looking at colleges . “I have broad interests and no career ideas yet so I’m looking at liberal arts colleges not too far from home .”

Member Profile

Meg McCormack

As I begin to grow more comfortable with my role as Sunday School Coordinator, I am beginning to look ahead to the future of our youth program and see new avenues for exploration . One thing that has been mentioned to me in different contexts (meetings, coffee hour, on the street in Norwich) is the desire of the church to offer opportunities for inter-generational activity . Here are a few things on the menu so far, with more to come in the fall:

VOLunTeer: I work hard to prepare lessons for our children each Sunday, but with the growing number of kids attending church, I am always desperate for more adult bodies to help facilitate the activities part of the day . Please consider joining me upstairs sometime even if you would just like to sit and observe . We always love the company!

haVe LunCh WiTh us: During the week of August 20-24, while we hold our annual Vacation Bible Camp, we will have an open-congregation brown bag lunch every day from 12-12:30 . There is NO WORK involved in this job – all you have to do is bring your lunch and join us in the Parish Hall! Warning: There may be some challenging Bible Riddles to solve while you eat…

MOre in The faLL: There will be many more opportunities for this kind of activity in the fall . Stay tuned… and enjoy your summer!

Danielle Taylor

Opportunities Across Generations: New Goal of Sunday School Program

5The Lifeline – June 2012

Present: Susan White (Chair), Bob Miller (Vice Chair), Chuck Egner (At large), Doug James (Trust-ees), Stan Williams (Trustees), Paul Gerke (Deacons), Hillary White (Deacons), Priscilla Vincent (Stew-ardship),, Joanne Egner (Clerk), Rev . Mary Brownlow (Pastor)

Opening prayer led by Paul Gerke .

The minutes of the March 28, 2012 Church Council Meeting were unanimously approved . (C . Egner moved; B . Miller 2nd)

Trustees: Stan presented a letter from

the Board of Trustees that will be printed in the upcoming Lifeline regarding financial audit options . The Board recommends we engage an external accounting firm to review the financial procedures and controls of the Church . Based upon the results of the financial review, the Trustees anticipate changes to the by-laws will be required to the job descriptions of the Collector and the Internal Auditor .

The Council approved the ap-proach outlined in the Board of Trustees letter to be printed in the Lifeline . Unanimous (D . James moved; Paul Gerke 2nd)

The Council agreed to bring the results of the financial review and any necessary by-law changes before a warned congregational meeting . The Council expressed their gratitude to the Trustees for their diligence in thinking through this matter . A special thanks also to Mark Beliveau, Carolyn Mertz, and Stan Williams for sharing their time and financial expertise .

Doug reported that an inspection of the steeple had been completed and he is waiting to receive an esti-mate to repair the leak .

Woodworth Committee: Doug reported that the Wood-

worth Committee had approved to reimburse Mary up to $5,000 for building materials needed for the youth work trip to Alabama . Mary will be requesting a reimbursement of $3,600 at the next meeting .

Mary reported the details of the work that was done in Alabama . The bulk of the money was spent on lumber and insulation so that they could frame interior walls of the building and reframe doors and windows .

The Council agreed to allow the Woodworth Fund to reimburse Mary $3,600 for building materials purchased on the recent youth work trip to Alabama . Unanimous (C . Egner moved; S . Williams 2nd)

deacons: Paul reported that the Deacons

were discussing ways to assimilate new members . One suggestion was to host a breakfast several weeks after new members joined the Church . Paul also reported that the Deacons agreed to have the Deacon Greeter assist with counting the of-fering after service on Sunday .

Christian ed: Mary reported that the 2nd Sun-

day in May will be Confirmation/Youth Sunday and the youth will report on the work trip . Danielle is making plans for Children’s Sunday on the 2nd Sunday in June and for Vacation Bible School in August . Dennis McCullough will be leading a 2nd hour discussion this Sunday and an adult education series based on the radio program “On Being” will be held during May . With the exception of Bible Study, no adult education programs are planned for the summer .

Mission: No report .

stewardship: Priscilla reported that she is

trying to build community around stewardship so that it is not a one-person show .

Pastor’s report: Mary reported that plans for an-

other musical event are in the works . She has been trying to schedule John Bell from the Iona Community but that isn’t likely until sometime in 2013 . Mary will be coordinating with other churches on a Union Service at the end of July .

Mary also reported that Sharon Corrigan has been working with Danielle Taylor on a public health education program in India that uses street theatre .

human Trafficking Program: Mary reported that a Dartmouth

student of Evelyn Gick’s was orga-nizing a band called “Not for Sale” that offers music and a presentation about human trafficking (www .notforsalecampaign .org) . The group would like us to consider mak-ing the Church available for them to raise awareness about the issue . The cost to put on the event would be in the range of $500 to $1,000 .

The Council agreed that this could be an interesting program for the Church to become involved with however, it needed ownership . Mary will contact Doug Britton of Missions so that he can circulate the idea with his Board .

Priorities and Core Values: Mary shared what she had

learned from John Erickson about a visioning process that the Lutheran Church had recently completed . Through a structured process they

Church Council Minutes for April 25, 2012

Continues on Page 7

The Lifeline – June 20126

From the Board of TrusteesThe Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that on July 1, 2012, the Norwich

Congregational Church will begin accepting electronic funds transfer (EFT) for Pledges, Mission Offerings and other gifts to the church .

The Church Council voted on May 23, 2012 to enter into a contract with Vanco Services to handle the processing of these transactions . Vanco is the vendor that is recommended by the UCC . They have extensive experience working with religious organizations .

how do efTs work? You provide your bank routing and account information; the amount and fre-

quency of your payment; and the church account to which it should be applied (Pledge, Mission Offering or Other Gift) .

Vanco will set up a one-time or recurring debit from your account directly to the church’s account . No more check-writing or pledge envelopes needed .

What options will i have as to frequency of payments? One-time, weekly or monthly .

What will this cost? The cost to NCC is a one-time set-up fee for each donor account of 50¢ . An ad-

ditional 25¢ is charged for each actual transaction ($4/year for monthly dona-tions or $13/year for weekly donations) The cost to you will be zero, unless you choose to increase your donation to defray the church’s cost .

how and when can i sign up? Our electronic payments program will be introduced in two phases:

1 On July 1, enrollment will begin using a paper form .

2 As soon as our redesigned website is up and running we will add a web-based sign-up where users will click a link on our website and be transferred to a fully secure enrollment site managed by Vanco .

Will my bank information be safe? Once you have enrolled by paper form, the form will be destroyed and your

information will be secure at Vanco . Web-based enrollment will be fully secure from the moment you enter Vanco’s site to sign up .

Can i cancel this once i have set it up? Cancellation must be made in writing and will take up to 60 days .

7The Lifeline – June 2012

The Lifeline – June 20128

This presentation on ideas for stewardship has as its scriptural inspiration I Corinthians, chapter 12 . Here Paul talks about the diverse gifts of the spirit, and then goes on to make the wonderful and accessible analogy of members of the church being part of the body of Christ; and how each member, even if not comely, is necessary for the functioning of the whole .

This cannot be boiled down into a slogan, so why not consider this an invitation to the congregation to read the chapter (frequently!) and meditate upon it .

What is stewardship? Certainly it is important not just a month long program of pledge-raising for the church budget . We are called to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us: the buildings, the bud-get, the congregation, each other . As good stewards or managers it is our responsibility to nurture, cultivate, sustain, and perhaps augment and grow, that which we have been given . It is also our responsibility to wel-come, invite in, and embrace new people, new ideas, new ways of doing things .

Although it is extremely difficult to ask people for money, think of a different way to be a manager of your gifts . Everyone has gifts . We are gifted people . It is easy to think of the many gifts that have been conferred upon us, starting with the gift of life itself . But there is another kind of gift that we could explore; the gifts within us, that we bring to others . The idea of a gift works two ways: there is what you receive, and then there is what you bring . It is harder to recognize what we bring .

For example, there is the gift of just showing up on Sunday mornings . We could call that “steadfastness” . It certainly means a lot to the worship leaders, and it makes us a community . There is the gift of strength, when a community prays together . The gift of prayer is so easy to overlook, and some people are powerhouses of prayer .

Paul does not expect any one person to be graced with multiple gifts (he was a realist) . Each of brings distinct and separate things to the table . Let’s engage in a process of discovery within the congregation, in which we help and encourage each other to recognize, draw out, develop, and celebrate the gifts that we bring – gifts that we may not know that we have .

As part of a new program of thinking about this kind of stewardship, we could use the Lifeline, perhaps every month, and encourage people who like to write to write some of the pieces for us . We might get up in front of the congregation on a somewhat regular basis to talk about this . Remember the outstanding job that Carolyn Mertz and Brooke Mohr did when they were heading up our capital campaign for the building proj-ect . They or someone else got up often and moved us sometimes to tears . They had vision and courage .

We would like to engage you, the congregation – in writing pieces for the Lifeline, in briefly addressing the Sunday morning gathering, and in contributing other ideas . We do a stewardship brunch on the final stew-ardship Sunday; do we want to have other food-related get-togethers? In our congregation music is a special privilege . Think about these lines from two of our hymns:

“We give thee but thine own, whate’er the gift may be…”

“What can I bring Him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.If I were a wise man, I would do my part.

But what I can I give Him, give my heart.”

Perhaps some of this may be useful as a start .

Priscilla Vincent and Jane HelmsYour musically minded Stewardship Committee

Thinking About Stewardship

9The Lifeline – June 2012

Summer is upon us!

Children’s Sunday on June 10th marks the end of another Sunday School academic year . Sunday School Coordinator, Danielle Taylor, will take the summer off to rejuvenate and prepare for another fun and educa-tional year starting in September . During the summer months, members of the Christian Education Board as well as other volunteers from church will offer a low-key, relaxing program on Sundays . As usual, Nursery Care is always provided for our little tots .

Volunteers are still needed! Please consider donating your time one Sunday in summer to our Sunday School program . Materials and projects are provided – all we need is a friendly body to spend some time with the kids . Contact Laura Beliveau by calling 603-643-5030 or email at laurabeliveau87@gmail .com if you are interested .

Sunday School News!

Mission Offering for May and June, 2012In May and June our Mission Offering will go to Windsor County Partners . Since 1974 WCP has been offering

mentoring partnerships (free of charge) to any Windsor County child who could benefit from a long-term, trusting relationship . To date, over 1,100 youth-adult partnerships have been created and sustained .

A guidance counselor, therapist or parent/guardian refers a child (a Junior Partner) to the program . Mentors and applicants are interviewed and matched, based on compatibility, interests and proximity . Says one mom, “The Windsor County Partners’ staff was great in listening and working with us… .My son and his mentor have had a great relationship for over the past three years . [My son] has more friends and is improving all the time in his school work .” (From WCP literature) .

For local kids ages 8-17, the gift of a WCP mentor is life affirming . The financial gift makes a visible difference in the life of our community . WCP succeeds on a personal and regional level by:

• Reaching out to at-risk youth• Providing resources to mentors• Closely monitoring progress and measuring results

If you’d like to know more about the program or become a Senior Partner (mentor), you can learn more at www .WCPartners .org . In the meantime, we hope you give generously to WCP during the months of May and June through the yellow envelopes found in the pews .

identified the things that were really important to them – worship, social ministry, sense of belonging, and sustainability of leadership .

The Council discussed ways that we could identify the core values of the Church and to bring them forth in our decisions so that we are very intentional about what we do . By understanding the passions and the gifts of the Congregation, we can also create energy that will

sustain leadership rather than burn-ing them out .

Hillary expressed the need for better communication and using online communication as a vehicle to facilitate connectedness .

Bob mentioned that the Church Profile was a good source for iden-tifying core values and that it is a continual process . Susan recalled one of the ideas that came out of

the cottage meetings was to engage the Church in an overarching proj-ect where we could add value – not just money .

next Meeting:Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 7:00

PM .

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM . Unanimous (C . Egner moved; B . Miller 2nd)

Joanne Egner, Clerk

Church Council, cont .

The Lifeline – June 201210

Non-profitOrganizationUS Postage

PAIDNorwich, VTPermit No . 1

nOrWiCh COngregaTiOnaL ChurChuniTed ChurCh Of ChrisT15 Church Street • PO Box 236

Norwich, VT 05055-0236Tel: (802) 649-1433 • Fax (802) 649-2805

Office Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9–1Email: . . . . . . . . . . . .nccucc2@myfairpoint .netWebsite: . . . . . www .norwichcongregational .orgPastor: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev . Mary Brownlow

an OPen and affirMing COngregaTiOn WOrshiPing On

sundaYs aT 10 aM

LifeLineCoordinator / Editor / Photographer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda HimadiDesigner: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Douglas LufkinSend articles to: . . . .nccucc2@myfairpoint .net

deadline for next issue: June 15, 2012

E -MAIL ADDRESSES

If the church does not have your e-mail address, and you would like to be kept abreast of an-nouncements and events at church – by this no cost/no waste option – please send an email to the church office at nccucc2@myfairpoint.net.

Pastoral

When I was youngerit was plain to meI must make something of myself .Older nowI walk back streetsadmiring the housesof the very poor:roof out of line with sidesthe yards clutteredwith old chicken wire, ashes,furniture gone wrong;the fences and outhousesbuilt of barrel-stavesand parts of boxes, all,if I am fortunate,smeared a bluish greenthat properly weatheredpleases me bestof all colors .

No onewill believe thisof vast import to the nation .

William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)Contemporary American Poetry (New York,

N. Y.: The Macmillan Company, 1963)

Letters of ThanksDear Norwich Congregational Church,

On behalf of YMCA’s Camp Coniston camper’s board and staff, I wish to thank you for your generous donation of $507 . Our mission is to create experiences that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all … we will use this for a child in your area .

John Tilly, Executive Director, YMCA Camp Coniston.

5 Norwich Churches’ Rummage Salewill be July 13-15

Bring your treasures to NCC or Tracy Hall during the week of July 9th.