What's Up at UCG?

What's Up at UCG?

The United Church of Granville

May 27, 2015

Coming Up at UCG...

You can always access a detailed calendar on the church website. Click here & bookmark it if you'd like!

Thursday, May 28
Property Group, 10 AM

Friday, May 29
AA in the Annex, 7 PM

Sunday, May 31

Trinity Sunday
Worship, 10 AM
Refreshments to follow
Nursery, 11:30-12:15

Monday, June 1

Church office closed

Summer church office hours begin

"Grace in Aging" Book Discussion Group, 3 PM

Meditation/Contemplation in the Martin Reading Room, 4:15-4:45

Tuesday, June 2

No Pastor's River Road Coffee Hours this week

Wednesday, June 3
Men's Breakfast at the Sparta, 6:30 AM

Other Dates to Remember

June 1-6 Pastor Dwight in Boston
Jun 7 Vivienne Lang's Baptism during morning worship!
Jun 8-12 Granville Ecumenical Vacation Bible School
Jun 16 Growing Old Together (GOT) Group at Jerry & Judith's, 7:30 PM

Jun 20 UCG & UCC Pride at the Columbus Pride Parade
Jun 26-28 ABC/USA Biennial Mission Summit in Kansas City, KS
Jun 26-30 UCC 30th General Synod in Cleveland, OH
June 28 Lunches on the Square
Jun 28-Jul 3 Baptist Youth Camp (BYC), Laurel Ridge Campground, NC
Jul 6-11 BPFNA Summer Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA
Jul 12 Open Board Meeting
Aug 19 GEVSD First Day of School
Sept 6 Sacredness of Labor Sunday
Sept 13 UCG Christian Ed Kickoff
Sept 20 Peace Sunday
Sept 25-26 ABC/RGR Annual Gathering in Rochester, NY
Sept 26 UCC Central Southeast Ohio Association Fall Meeting

Good Causes

Youth Fundraiser Plant Sale
June 6, 8:30-Noon
on the UCG lawn
Donations of plants accepted. All proceeds go to provide scholarships for youth going to summer camp this year.
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Kudos to Bryn Bird Walsh!

...for working with the Chamber of Commerce, the Ministerium and the Farm Market vendors to put together a nice "Celebration of the Growing Season" this year. Read the article in the Newark Advocate here. There are even a few quotes from "yours truly." - Dwight
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UCC Clergy Rallied for Change in Cleveland -- "In downtown Cleveland Tuesday morning, May 26, United Church of Christ clergy joined their colleagues in a march and rally organized by area churches to protest a not-guilty verdict in the trial of Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo." Read full coverage here. We thank our denominational and local leaders for their thoughtful and prophetic statement.
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For those of us who care deeply about promoting solar energy in our community, we have a unique opportunity to support an exciting new venture in downtown Newark. Richard Downs, an experienced local solar installer, and Jeremy King, Sustainability Coordinator at Denison, have offered to organize and oversee the installation of solar panels on the YES Club, a highly-visible downtown building used for a much-loved local youth program. We see this as a wonderful "hands-on" community demonstration and education project about the benefits of solar, engaging both youth and adults.

This project depends on community support. The YES for Solar! Fund has been established at the Licking County Foundation to hold contributions which are raised to cover the costs of this project.

For more information or to donate, click here!

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"Peace Camp!"

Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America/Bautistas por la Paz 2015 Summer Conference...
...materials have arrived. Check them out in the literature rack in the sanctuary. This year's conference will be at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA, July 6-11th.

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Do you know of someone who may need some extra care in the congregation?
Contact Louise Gemmell with details, and she can pass it along to appropriate staff and our Congregational Care group. Thanks so much!

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Consider joining the Justice & Peace Action Network! Did you know that the UCC has a Justice and Peace Action Network you can be a part of?

Click here

to join and get news of ways you can speak your mind on issues of peace and justice to those in positions of leadership.

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Progressives for Social Justice in Licking County, Ohio Facebook Group

Feel free to send the church an e-mail if you'd like to join this closed Facebook group, and someone in the group can add you as a member.
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The Food Pantry

June is Pasta & Spaghetti Sauce Month for the Food Pantry. A donation basket is near the piano in the Chapel. Remember that you may also give financially as well (envelopes are available by the donation basket).

For more information, see

www.foodpantrynetwork.net

A Note about
"What's Up at UCG?"

We hope you find these e-mails informative and useful, but we also know that many of you have full in-boxes already! If you'd rather not receive these mid-week updates from UCG, you may unsubscribe by following the link at the bottom of this page. We'll be sad to see you go, but we understand!

The United Church of Granville

115 W. Broadway
SW Corner of Broadway & Main
Granville, OH 43023
(740) 587-0336

Electronic Giving
UCG now has a system in place which allows you to contribute by automatic deposit. Click here to find out more or to sign up.

And remember that you can always listen to past

sermons on our webpage!

Thought for the Day

"At every hour and moment, let us guard our minds against those things that obscure the soul's mirror. . .if we cleanse the eye of the mind, we will find all things hidden within us."

- Philotheos of Sinai, 9th c.

It's that time of year... "Congratulations!" to all those graduates close to our hearts this season. We'll be recognizing a few this Sunday!

Also this Sunday, join us as we also pause to celebrate the 196th "Birthday" of our congregation. On June 6th, 1819, back when Ohio was considered the "western wilderness," the "Baptist Church of Christ" was established here in Granville by 19 people who met in a barn, then took turns meeting in each ot

hers' homes. A short 11 years later, that group assisted Rev. John Pratt from Baptist-related Brown University in establishing the Granville Literary and Theological Institution in it's meeting house. This would later become Denison University.

We give thanks that we come from a long line of people committed to a just and democratic society, to humble inquiry, to respectful dialogue, and to a grounding in the Sacred.

Shalom, Dwight

Thanks, Mathew!

Next time you see Mathew McFarren tell him "Thank You!" for all the time he spends carefully thinking about and working on our buildings. The new Annex doors went up today!
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Louise Gemmell's Summer Office Hours
...begin Monday, June 1st. The church office will be closed Mondays, open 9-Noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays, and open 9-3 on Thursdays.
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Pastor Dwight at Andover Newton, June 1-6

Note that Pastor Dwight will be away for doctoral work, but in the case of an emergency, he may be contacted by cell phone (937) 728-1681. Revs. Scott Schieber of Highwater Congregational (614) 226-1314 and Mark Katrick of St. John's UCC (740) 323-2854 may be contacted as well.

Note that since Pastor Dwight will be away, there will be no "What's Up" e-mail next week! If you have announcements, please forward them to Louise for inclusion in the Sunday worship bulletin ( [email protected]).
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Children's Church

(PreK-5th grade)

will meet this summer!

"We're focusing on appreciating the earth and learning more about natural resources and how to conserve them. Using a curriculum called Loving Our Neighbor, The Earth: Creative-Spirituality Activities we have already learned about the connection between plants, soil and water and set up an experiment to observe changes to topsoil throughout the summer. These science-based lessons are complemented with some open-ended discussions about how one can experience God and the interconnectionness of nature, animals, and people.

Lots of outdoor time and fun team building activities, too!

Can't wait to see you there!" - Ceciel

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This Sunday, May 31
Trinity Sunday

Worship, 10 AM, with a Happy Birthday to UCG, a recognition of graduates, and a message from Isaiah 6-- "Meeting Zoe Will Change Your Life" by Dwight Davidson.

"I've looked God in the face! The very One ! The One -of-the-Many!" - Isa. 6:5

A ctivities after worship --

Refreshments/Coffee Time congratulating our graduates
Nursery will continue until 12:15

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Mondays at 3 PM...

We're discussing the book

The Grace in Aging: Awaken as you Grow Older

by Kathleen Dowling Singh in the Martin Reading Room at UCG. The topic this Monday will be "Presence--Liberation from frivolity and other inessentials."
[email protected].

All are welcome!

Join Friends for Meditation!

Mondays, 4:15-4:45

Meditation/Contemplation in the Martin Reading Room. Come and enjoy silence & stillness. A way to deepen your interior space. Everyone is welcome!

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Men's Breakfast at the Sparta Next Wednesday, June 3rd, 6:30-7:30 AM

All are welcome to come and join us for good food & good conversation! 16 W. Main St., Newark.
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Summer Sunday Brunches!
Beginning June 14th, after worship

Five minute coffee conversations are great, but eating together is even better! On most Sundays this summer (except for Lunches on the Square Sundays and the July 4th weekend) we're going to be hosting a brunch in the Annex after morning worship--from 11:15--with some tables set up outside if weather permits. Kids are welcome to play in and around the Annex while we eat. A good chance to make some new friends.

"Thanks to so many of you for signing up already to help!

We still need team members!

Check the list on the back table in the sanctuary and add your name(s) on the dates when you can help!"

- Kitty & Doris Jane
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UCC General Synod 30

June 26-30, 2015

in Cleveland, Ohio!

The Ohio Conference
of the UCC is busy preparing an EXTRAVAGANT WELCOME for more than 4000 delegates and visitors to General Synod, June 26-30, 2015 right here at the Cleveland Convention Center. As part of the Local Arrangements Committee we anticipate the need for 450 enthusiastic volunteers. There are opportunities for everyone. Want to smile and greet? We need you! Want to pass communion? We need you! Want to take notes at meetings? We need you! Want to help with kids? We need you! WE NEED YOU!!!!

The list and description of all opportunities is found online http://www.ucc.org/synod/overview-of-volunteer.html. We encourage you to take a moment to look over the volunteer opportunities and consider how you can best serve during this important event in the life of our church. Once you've made your choice, please click on this link: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=217476303

See you all then! We are extremely grateful for your participation!

Sincerely,

Sue & Derry Wimer Co-Chairs, Local Arrangements Committee, General Synod 30

440-655-3732
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2015 Granville Ecumenical Vacation Bible School

St. Edward the Confessor, Centenary Methodist, First Presbyterian, St. Luke and The United Church of Granville announce the 33rd annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) to be held Monday-Friday, June 8-12, 9:00am-12pm each day. The theme of this summer's program is God's Love In Action, and the on-site host is St. Edward's.
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Are you interested in another way of praying?

Come join Pastor Dwight this summer for zazen in the chapel
Thursdays from June 11th. First timers come at 6:30 PM;
regulars be on the mats or seated in chairs by 7 PM when the bell will ring. 7-7:30 sitting, and short (15 minute) sharing of insight afterwards. Bring your own zafu & zabuton if you like, or some will be provided at church.

"Christian Zen practice is simply zazen, exactly as taught by the many spiritual generations of Zen teachers."
- T. Chetwynd in Reflections on the Tradition of Meditation: Christianity and Zen Buddhism
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Did you know?

...that Joanna Samuelson, who has served UCG as a seminarian since August, 2013, will be finishing up her two-year internship at the church soon? Joanna's last Sunday at UCG will be June 14th. Joanna has contributed so much to our congregation during these two years--we'll be sorry to see her move on, but at the same time, we're glad that she'll be embarking on yet another stage of her preparation for ministry !
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Growing Old Together (GOTS) Group
Tuesday, June 16, 7:30 PM at Judith & Jerry's home
4 Sheppard Pl., Granville

"We plan to talk about end of life choices, using the "Five Wishes" format for decision making. You can find information about Five Wishes at this web page: http://tinyurl.com/aowrxjf
Those who wish can also read Atal Gawande's thought-provoking book, Being Mortal, as background for our discussion.
Find out more about it here: http://tinyurl.com/pbmhde8
In the meantime, here's an interesting article on brain health from the new PBS website Next Avenue (nextavenue.org) designed to address topics of interest to people who are 50+.
http://tinyurl.com/mlwcm2v
I hope you'll join us. If you plan to, please let me know ( [email protected]). - Judith Thomas
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T-Shirt orders are due soon!!!!

UCC Pride at the Pride Festival 2015

June 19th & 20th, Downtown Columbus

"This year will mark the 3rd year people from Central Ohio Open & Affirming UCC Churches (the UCC Pride Group) have been participating together in the Pride Festival. This year, we hope to have more than 200 marchers from 12 UCC churches!

Parade Details: Breakfast at St. John's UCC, 9 AM

Step off for the Parade is 11 AM this year

There will be a float for those who cannot walk

You can volunteer to help at the booth!

NEW THIS YEAR!!! We're asking ALL marchers & volunteers to fill out this form which contains more detailed information and hand it in at your church.

If you need a shirt, turn your form in by JUNE 10th!"

(AT UCG, there's a tray for these on the welcome table!)

A little trivia: Our church has been marching in the Columbus Pride Parade for decades & was the first church to participate in the Columbus march.

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New! UCC Central Southeast Ohio Association's

new website is up and running! Check it out here...

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