Worship

News and Events at CCC

Strengthen the Church Offering
Strengthen the Church Offering is one of four UCC-wide offerings collected each year.  As God calls our congregations to be “church” in new ways, your gift will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches, and develop spiritual life in our youth and young adults.  Because of this offering, many more will hear the good news that “God is still speaking.”  This offering will be collected today in the special offering envelopes available in your pew.

Children's Ministry at CCC Hosting a Diaper Drive for DC Diaper Bank!
In May, we focus on mothers, but some mothers have to make the choice between buying food or buying diapers for their little ones.  Through June 2nd, the children in our congregation will learn about the need for diapers in our our area during children's Communion time.  Next month, they will count all the donated diapers.  Have outgrown diapers or diapers left over from a visiting relative?  DC Diaper Bank accepts clean, disposable diapers in new packs or open packages.  Let's make sure our children have plenty of diapers to count and spread the word to your friends and neighbors.  CCC will be collecting all month long.  Any questions?  Contact Jane Meier.

Director of Youth Ministry Search  
The search is on for a Director of Youth Ministry who will develop and implement a cooperative youth ministry between Christ Congregational Church and Takoma Park Presbyterian Church. Our cooperative search committee is chaired by Kathleen Boucher. Don Collins, Rosemarie Kelly and Aaron Botsko also represent CCC. Check out the job description online at cccsilverpring.org, and please forward the information to any highly-qualified candidates! Ordained and lay persons will be considered for this "non-called" position.   We’ve extended the deadline for applications until May 31st.

Sisters for Sisters Meets Today!
Sisters for Sisters will meet today in the Conference Room at 12:00 p.m.  Please bring your bagged lunch.  Tea and coffee will be provided.  All CCC women are welcome!
  
CCC Book Group June Meeting
The CCC Book Group will meet at 7 p.m., Sunday, June 9th, at the home of Jackie and Jim Walters to discuss The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (1974). This novel of three days in the Battle of Gettysburg won the Pulitzer Prize. This year marks the 150th Anniversary of that battle. Questions, contact Mary Stone.

Looking for Summertime Church School Leaders
In an effort to give a rest to our dedicated year-round teaching teams, I am looking for volunteers to lead our Summer Church School classes. You can volunteer for one Sunday or several. We'll provide class materials, curriculum guides and shepherds from middle and high school! This session begins on June 16th and ends September 1st. Share your spirit with our children.   To sign up, contact Sue Wilson at Sue@cccsilverspring.org.

Donate Your Unused Coupons to Help Military Families!
Interested in assisting military families in need? Please consider donating your unused manufacturer grocery store coupons (non-expired and recently expired) to these families. Trisha Lay sends a large box each month and would welcome your coupons so more families can receive assistance with saving on their groceries. To participate, simply bring your coupons and drop them in the red and blue envelope on the bulletin board in the lobby.  Manufacturers’ coupons should be from the Sunday paper or online websites and not for local stores. Please contact Trisha Lay.

Montgomery Hospice Offers Summer Support Group Sessions Beginning This Week
 
This spring and summer Montgomery Hospice is offering a series of Bereavement Groups for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one.  The groups will provide emotional support and sharing of personal experiences, plus discussions of practical issues.  All of the sessions, which will take place on either a Tuesday or a Wednesday, start the week of May 19th and continue for six weeks. There is a $25 registration fee for all community persons and no fee for Montgomery Hospice family members.  Each group is limited to 11 persons, so register right away!
 
For a detailed listing of the various groups, locations and dates, see the notice on the main CCC bulletin board outside the office.  To register, call (201) 921-4400 and ask for the Bereavement Counselor at Montgomery Hospice.

Support Transparency of Extractive Industries' Relationships with Governments
The national UCC's Justice and Peace Action Network (JPANet) is calling on all members and friends to contact their members of Congress in support of Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act and corresponding SEC rules that require US and foreign oil and mining industries to annually report payments to US and foreign governments.  "From the western US and throughout Latin America, to the Congo, Central Asia and Indonesia, industrial mining creates massive holes in the earth in search for gold, copper and other rare-earth minerals . . . .  In many places . . . , however, few regulations and corrupt officials mean little protection is given to the rights of workers or landowners, or to the environment."  To learn more and to send electronic messages to Congress, go to http://www.ucc.org/justice/advocate-for-justice.html.  Scroll down to Take Action and click on "Protect the Environment from Destructive Extractive Industries."  Also, check out the UCC's support for the Safe Chemicals Act (S. 696) presently before the Senate.

Shaw Community Ministry Update
As indicated in earlier Shaw updates in the last month, the next major project and event for Shaw is selecting the recipients for the Shaw the annual college scholarships and the dinner on 6/18 at Lincoln Temple in DC to celebrate the Scholars (usually 10) selected to receive the scholarships.  Last year, I participated in interviewing the candidates and it was a very moving experience. Most of the kids have had to overcome significant personal challenges during high school  as well as the academic challenges of getting prepared to attend college. I look forward to participating in the interviews again this year. As in past years, Shaw will be looking to its sponsoring Churches, including CCC, for contributions to fund scholarships. Shaw is also launching its spring drive to raise funds for the Camp Shining Star, its summer day camp that gives 50 kids a wonderful out-of-school experience when they would otherwise have nothing to do. This camp focuses on fun but also provides important enrichment experiences for kids who need help achieving and maintaining grade-level skills over the summer. This year camp will be academic and life skills to help the kids become self- sustaining, productive citizens and to prevent summer learning loss.  Each week will have its own theme but we have a long term project of planning, designing, planting, and harvesting a community garden at Lincoln Congregational Temple’s grounds. The community garden will be the focal point of our Science, Technology, Math and Engineering (STEM) instruction. The youth will also participate in a river clean up as well as setting up a compost, rain barrel and recycling program in the Shaw neighborhood. 

If you can provide a contribution (no matter how small) to the Shaw scholarship program or the summer camp, please make your check payable to Shaw Community Ministry and mark either ‘College Scholarship Program’ or ‘Summer Camp’ on the memo line.  Please put the check in an envelope with my name (Marjorie Hoffman) and put it in the Social Witness Board Box in the CCC office. Thank you so much for any help you can provide.Marjorie Hoffman, CC Shaw Board Member

Updates from Your Board for Social Witness
Project Mala - Please read the message from Project Mala on the Social Witness bulletin board in the Church Lobby. We have donated funds to this school for children who come from impoverished homes in India. The success story this year is that 180 children have never missed a class, and 11 children have never missed a class in 8 years! These children go to school then go home to often full-time, manual labor jobs. We are happy to have had a small role in their success.
 
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Food Collection - Please remember to bring in nonperishable food items and toiletries for those in our community who are in need. Each week we take your donations to St. Luke’s church where the food and other items are distributed. The box for your contributions is next to the Pastoral Care Table in the Church Lobby.

Coming On June 9th
Did you know that the United States has the highest incarceration rate of all countries in the world?  How did this come about, and what can be done about it? Mark Mauer, Executive Director of the Sentencing Project and an engaging speaker, will be with us after the 10:30 service on June 9th to address this staggering justice issue of mass incarceration.

Invitation to 2013 National Prayer Breakfast on Creation Care
On Monday (May 20th) at 9:30 a.m., the National Religious Coalition on Creation Care is holding its annual National Prayer Breakfast on Creation Care, at which it will be honoring Bill McKibben and highlighting religious reasons for addressing global climate change. You’re invited to attend! Speakers will include Dr. James Hansen (former NASA scientist, recently resigned) and religious leaders in environmental stewardship from six major faith traditions. The breakfast will be held at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005. No pre-registration is necessary.  For more information, go to http://www.nrccc.org/.Jim Conklin

Another Chance to Switch to Wind Power!
Groundswell, which brought low-cost wind-generated electricity for CCC and 25 of its families last summer, is again finalizing an agreement to provide environmentally-friendly electricity generated by wind in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia at competitive rates. If you’re currently buying electricity produced by coal- or gas-fired power plants and would like to do the environment a favor (think of your health, and that of your children and grandchildren), this might be your best opportunity this year. More details in early June; in the meantime, notify your supplier not to extend an electric power contract that expires between now and August, so that you can make the switch easily. The few cents per month it may cost you will be well spent! Jim Conklin

Update Your Contact Information
We are endeavoring to update the contact information for members and friends of CCC in time for the Annual Meeting.  Over the next few days, please check the contact information (street address, preferred phone number and e-mail address) that we presently have for you (in the membership list dated 3/4/13) and fill out the new green “Contact Info. Update” form that’s available in the Church Office if anything needs to be changed.  Or, go to the CCC website, and fill out the online form there and send it to us.  We hope that we’ll be able to find you in the new church year.

Changes to CCC Bylaws
On Sunday June 2nd, during the church’s Annual Meeting, the congregation will be asked to vote on the proposed changes to Article I Membership of the CCC  Bylaws.  Information about the proposed changes and the motion can be found on the bulletin board outside the church office and on the church web site.  Print copies are also available in the church office.     

2012-13 CCC Annual Report
The draft of the 2012-13 CCC Annual Report will be available for review next Sunday, May 26th.  The membership will vote on whether to accept the 2012-13 CCC Annual Report at the Annual Meeting on the following Sunday, June 2nd. 

The draft of the 2012-13 CCC Annual Report will be available for review at the Sunday, May 25th worship service.  The membership will vote on whether to accept the 2012-13 CCC Annual Report at the Annual Meeting on the following Sunday, June 2nd.

Changes to CCC Bylaws
On Sunday June 2nd, during the church’s Annual Meeting, the congregation will be asked to vote on the proposed changes to Article I Membership of the CCC  Bylaws.  Information about the proposed changes and the motion can be found on the bulletin board outside the church office and on the church web site.  Print copies are also available in the church office.