"Way" Worship on July 4
Worship Series: Your Personal Jesus
Jesus once said that he is "the Way." His Way of living allows people to live this life fully and abundantly.

However, through the lens of fear, this label has been used to attempt to scare people into orthodoxy. Our nation faces similar fears.

This is Independence Day weekend, and with the hope of freedom and a better future, we will celebrate fearless worship!

(Also, beginning this Sunday, masks will be optional for vaccinated people and children under 12.)


Online Children's Sunday School. This week's Sunday School Bible story will go live on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. https://bit.ly/CCYouTubeVid 

Online Coffee & Conversation
Immediately following our online worship service at 9:15 a.m., grab a mug and come over to our community's Coffee & Conversation online. You can connect at https://bit.ly/CCCoffeeCon.

Worship Updates – Masks Optional
Masks are optional beginning July 4 with the following guidelines:
  • Children under 12 and unvaccinated people must wear masks at all times. Everyone must wear a mask when entering and exiting the building, but vaccinated people may take them off in the sanctuary during church.
  • The liturgists will begin reading in person on July 11.
  • Singing remains on hold for a few weeks while the impact of this move is evaluated.

Mystery Island VBS Starts Tuesday!
Register Now!!
Is there just one God? . . . Who is God? . . . What is God like? . . . Does God love me? . . . Can I know God?

Our kids grapple with questions like these every day. At Mystery Island, we’ll uncover the truth about our Creator God! There’s a sea of confusion about who God is and what he’s like, so we’ll track down the one true God and learn how amazing he is through the pages of Scripture.

Camp will be July 6-9, 9:00-11:30 a.m. Sign up your children, grandchildren and friends ages 4 years old through 4th grade at https://tinyurl.com/ColonialVBS-21.

We Need Volunteers!
We need volunteers to help with music, art, Bible stories, snacks, games and as small group leaders. Please join this fun by signing up here.
Called to Care Ministry Training Beginning in July
Beginning this summer, we are moving to a new caregiving program - Called to Care. Our current Stephens Ministers will become Called to Care Ministers. Beginning on Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m., Rev. Ryan Murray will begin monthly training for new Called to Care Ministers from Colonial Church and other church communities. The training sessions are approximately 2 hours long on the second Tuesday of each month for 7 months on Zoom. Following completion of the Called to Care training, we will commission the new care ministers in our church community. The training will equip ministers with resources for addressing many care situations such as cancer, grief, unemployment, divorce, and much more.
Upcoming Events
  • Worlds of Fun with Plymouth Church Youth - July 12.
  • Family Dinner Night - July 16, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Colonial. Youth will cook together and then dine together.
  • UCC Synod Youth Online Events - July 16-20
  • Christmas-Themed Scavenger Hunt - July 24, 8:00-9:30 p.m. at Colonial.
For more information about any event, email Meredith Griffiths, youth group leader.

June 27 Colonial Council Meeting Highlights
The Board of Property Management reported that issues remain with the sump pump in what was the art room.
 
The Board of Outreach reported that the Christmas in July fundraising will not happen this year as there already is $10,000 in the fund.

Mark Holland summarized his take-aways from recent Town Hall meetings.
 
Bill Sanderson, moderator 

Read the full minutes here.
Town Hall Meeting Results and Next Steps
Thanks to all who participated in the Town Hall meetings to garner interest in and gather feedback on a possible capital campaign. Click here to review Mark Holland's executive summary.

The council determined four areas of focus and assigned a task force to each. Task forces and leaders are:
  1. Sanctuary Roof — Chad Leabo
  2. Water damaged rooms on the lower level — Bill Sanderson
  3. Social Hall and lower-level kitchen — Martha Wofford
  4. Sanctuary update — Cindy Burgdorfer
Task force leaders will begin determining specific needs, identifying contractors and getting initial bids with the goal of beginning the capital campaign in the fall.

If you would like to volunteer to join one of the task forces, please contact the task force leader or Heather in the church office.
Represent Colonial at the Virtual UCC General Synod
The United Church of Christ General Synod – Rooted in Love – will be July 11-18, 2021 completely virtual. We have funds to pay for someone from Colonial to participate - virtually. If you would like to participate, please contact Heather in the church office.

You can expect the vibrancy of Spirit-led worship with prophetic preaching, music- and art-filled experiences that will anchor us. You can expect the same Spirit-filled energy in an engaging meeting of the General Synod that tends to the business and forward-momentum of the United Church of Christ. And, you can expect to learn more and connect with the UCC by attending workshops and other opportunities being prepared for you.

Learn more about the program here.
Help Pastor Aaron Create Upcoming Sermon Series
You can help suggest ideas for sermon topics or series for this coming year. As we recover from this past year, what do you think would equip and encourage you? Let Pastor Aaron know with this short survey.
Food Donations
The need for food in the community is greater than ever. Consider donating to Cross-Lines Community Services or Harvesters in their efforts to feed the hungry. 

We Need Your Help to Serve Meals for AHH

We have resumed our support of the work that Woo and Artists Helping the Homeless offers by preparing and serving a meal on the fourth Sunday of each month. We will gather in Mill Creek park near the fountain on the plaza and serve buffet style on July 25. We need people to prepare the food, to bake cookies and to help serve, at 3:30 at the park. Let us know if you can help by signing up at https://tinyurl.com/AHH-Colonial21. Thanks for your help with this important outreach.
Colonial Women Activities
With the return of nice weather and many of us already having received COVID vaccinations, we are returning to in-person Colonial Women’s activities.
  • Colonial Women Coffee - 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 5, Big Biscuit.
  • Colonial Women Book Group - 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 9, Stacey Algren's home. We will discuss “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman.
  • Colonial Women Blue Moose Tuesday - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 13. Blue Moose Prairie Village.
Let's Fill the Wagon!

The red wagon in the narthex is eagerly awaiting cereal, peanut butter, tuna fish, anything thing you might place in your grocery cart.  Food pantries have even higher demand in the summer when kids are receiving meals at school. We also deliver perishable items and fresh produce you might have left over from your garden or a farmers’ market. Just place the donation in the refrigerator in the Heritage Room kitchen and leave a note in the red wagon to let us know. Board of Outreach members will deliver donations to Village Church Food Pantry, Catholic Charities, Cross-Lines Community Services, and Shawnee Food Pantry.
Your Support Matters

Our work together matters - to each other and to the community. Your pledges help Colonial do its work. You may mail in your pledge checks, as well as any other payments. An easier alternative is to make contributions online. You just fill in your banking information or provide a credit card and your name and email and what fund you are paying (Stewardship, food pantry, etc.) and the amount. Click the donate button below.

If you have any questions, you may email or call Heather in the office or Jayne Quimby, Financial Recorder.
Celebrations!
Please remember these folks who are celebrating milestones.

Happy Birthday!
July
1 Nora Carson
2 Honey Hannah
3 Vala Ferguson
4 Jan Neustrom

Happy Anniversary!
July
5 Joe & Linda Cunningham
6 Bernie & Nancy Thomsen
Calendar

Thursday, July 1
10:30 a.m. Thursday Study Group

Sunday, July 4          
8:30 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary or at https://colonialucc.online.church/
9:30 a.m. Online Children's Sunday School. https://www.youtube.com/user/ColonialUCC/videos
9:30 a.m. Coffee Fellowship Online https://bit.ly/CCCoffeeCon
10:15 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary or at https://colonialucc.online.church/

Monday, July 5
9:30 a.m. Colonial Women Coffee/Breakfast, Big Biscuit

Tuesday, July 6
9:30 a.m. Book Group
 
Full calendar at Colonial Calendar.  
Colonial Staff

Senior Minister: Rev. Aaron Roberts
Bell Choir Director: Hayden Ferguson
Organist: Dr. Joseph Kern
Communications Manager: Sally Huggins
Building Maintenance: Edson Palacios-Castrejon
Youth Group Leader: Meredith Griffiths
913-362-7735