Noisy Buckets Sundays - the Last Sunday of the Month

Roger Dart tells us that when there is a flood or hurricane or other disaster, one way the Disaster Relief Committee of the Illinois Conference helps out is with Church World Service Emergency Clean-Up Buckets. Each plastic bucket (with a resealable top) has scouring pads, sponges, a scrub brush, reusable cleaning towels, laundry detergent, dish soap, 50 clothespins, a clothesline, dust masks, waterproof gloves and leather work gloves, trash bags and insect repellent. The value of each filled bucket is $75.00. Our Sunday School has now begun giving its Sunday offerings for emergency clean-up buckets. And the congregation is invited to get involved too - on "Noisy Buckets Sundays" when, during the Time for Children, the kids bring the buckets to us for our spare change. As of the end of June, we have given $59.24 toward our first filled bucket. Just one of the ways we as a church are living out love for neighbor, one of the UCC's "Three Great Loves."

1. The Deerfield Farmers Market has begun. Trinity UCC will be participating on three Saturday's in the Gleanings Project of the Religious Leaders United.  The Gleanings Project distributes produce to those in need at the end of the Farmers Market.  For each date we need two volunteers to work with Roger Dart from 11:30 - 1:00. Our three dates are: July 21, August 4, and

September 1.

2. Our plans for the fall include entering into the process for becoming s "WISE" congregation. "WISE" is an acronym for Welcoming, Inclusive,Supportive and Engaged about mental health. This is a program actively supported by our UCC.

3. In January, our Love of Creation team will launch our multi-faceted effort to reduce impact on our planet. Stay tuned for more details about this most important initiative.

You may have noticed that we have recently posted "No Guns" signs by the entrances to Trinity. The Church Council investigated the use and requirements for such signs, and realized that any facility in which there is a pre-school, is required under Illinois' Firearms Concealed Carry Law, to post "No Guns" signs at its entrances. Since we house a Montessori pre-school, we decided that we had better comply with the law. After we spoke with the Montessori folks to advise them of the requirement, we obtained the signs (the size and design of which meet the legal requirements) from the Deerfield Police Department. (You may have noticed that schools, libraries, courts, other government buildings, park district facilities and the like are also required to post such signs, but enforcement of the signage requirement has been sporadic.)

What do the signs mean? They mean that even a person who has a concealed carry license may not bring a gun into our building or any other place where the signs are posted. They provide notice to anyone coming onto our property that bringing a gun there is a violation of the law and will subject them to arrest and to criminal penalties. (Law enforcement officers and armed security guards are, of course, not subject to these requirements and are allowed to carry weapons when they are on duty or acting in their official capacity.)

If you have any questions about the signs, please contact Lucy Dorenfeld.