Resurrection Signs

Spring has finally arrived and the earth is breaking out all over.  We are in the season of Eastertide - remembering Jesus' post-resurrection appearances.  But I'm also being blessed by current signs of resurrection.  Evidences of new life, of transformation, in our midst.  After all, if the truth of resurrection was only for Jesus, and not for all of us, then "So what?"

So, where am I seeing resurrection?

In the powerful Statements of Faith from the young people who were confirmed this past Sunday.  And in their care for each other. 

In the grace-filled Spirit that fills the Creative Learning @FPC rooms each weekday afternoon.  And in the new lives being made possible for the students.

In the courageous decision of my nephew to seek help for his PTSD.

In the enthusiasm of our Harvest Now team to create a garden to feed the hungry in our midst.

In the powerful testimonies that were shared in the Lenten E-Devotionals.  (Thank you one can all).  And in the beauty and creativity of the "I AM" artists - Caryl Castellion, Elaine Best, Debbie Hurrell, David Merrell, Marian Wulffleff, Julie Nixon, Beth Einhorn and Steve Hart.

In listening to a 50-something man share how his faith has recently moved from his head to his heart and hearing the passion in his voice as he talks about his dreams for what is yet to come.

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;

The Passover of gladness, The Passover of God.

From death to life eternal, From this world to the sky,

Our Christ has brought us over With hymns of victory.

Our God is good!  Very good indeed!

Wishing you resurrection!

               Blessings,  

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul set the precedent for seeking an extra measure of help when he saw the state of disrepair at the Jerusalem church.  He set up a collection among all the churches throughout the Mediterranean region to help pay for the urgent restoration of this pivotal church.  Knowing that everything they had belonged to God, the faithful sold their belongings to be able to give bountifully.

After years of deficits in our operating budgets, we too find ourselves in need at FPC and must turn to you to ask that you consider an extra measure commitment in your contributions to help us pay for the church's operating costs.  As stated in prior communications, there are high costs associated with running the church.  Snow plowing, lawn care, electricity, custodial, oil and insurance are just a few of our costs, and they seem to increase every year.  At the same time, we are able to offer our facilities for helpful, community-based programs such as AA meetings, yoga, and HIV-AIDS support groups, and to fund specific mission projects.  We do this joyfully, but all of the associated expenses come out of our operating budget.  Even after instituting difficult and deep budget cuts, we are still faced with a projected deficit for 2011 in excess of $100,000.  Endowment Fund 1 ("EF1"), our only endowment fund available for so-called "discretionary usage", will be fully depleted this year if we use it to cover the deficit, leaving us with no cushion for future years.   

On Sunday May 1, we launched "An Extra Measure" campaign to fill the gap and to get us on a giving path that will more accurately reflect our expenses and help us move forward on a surer footing.  Our goal for this campaign is to raise approximately $60,000.  This amount represents about 15% of the current 2011 pledge total.  Assuming we attain our target, we will be able to obtain matching funds from one of our other more restrictive endowments, resulting in a total of $120,000 in funds raised and covering our projected deficit for the year.

Your gift may be a one-time gift, or it may be given monthly across the remaining months of 2011.  Please fill out the enclosed commitment card and return it to the church as soon as possible.  You may also make a commitment on the FPC website (www.fishchurch.org/extrameasure.cfm). 

Please join us in considering this critical, extra gift for 2011.

You may contact any members of the Task Force below via the church office with any questions or concerns.

Prayerfully yours,

Session Finance Task Force

Janna Bellwin                 Steve Gibbs

Kwab Gyasi-Twum         Willard Hill

Jane Love                         Kurt Nelson

Pentecost Picnic will be held on Sunday, June 12th

Everyone will enjoy a time for fellowship, food and fun!

Now is the time to put the date on your calendar.

The tickets will cost $2 (children), $5 (adults),  

and $12 (family)

Eats will include chicken, sausage and peppers,  

and birthday cake!

Come celebrate the birthday of the church.

Our deacons are planning a really celebratory party!

Sign up to make a salad for 8.  

Choose either jello, macaroni, potato, or tossed.

Tickets will be sold outside the lounge  

starting Sunday, May 15^th.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL!

The raised-bed frames have been built!  The seedlings are growing.  And here's some great news - Shemin Nurseries is going to donate the topsoil.  (A BIG Thank you to Wendi Ohlson for procuring that donation.).

If you'd like to help prepare the beds we could use kitchen compost, or if you are walking the beach you can collect seaweed, or if you have any surplus bags of potting soil or peat moss in the garage, please bring them so it can be added to the beds.

It won't be long before the planting and watering and weeding and caring begins so that we can reap a bountiful harvest of fresh zucchini for the hungry right here in Stamford who are served by the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County

And if you would like to join the Harvest Now Gardening Team, please speak to David or send him an email at drvd@fishchurch.org and he'll make sure you get on the email list

Letters to the congregation:

Thanks to everyone who helped make Meg's memorial service such a wonderful tribute to a special lady.  We were truly awed by the turnout and the nice things people said.  We all loved her!

Thank you

Blessings and love to all.

Michael, Edward and Elida Nosenzo

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *  

and...

Thank you to all  the Deacons, Creative Learning kids and the congregation for your cards, prayers and kindness.

Mary Kean

Creative Learning @FPC

We have been blessed for the past two months with students from NCC completing community service requirements by working with our children. Their semester is ending and we are looking for additional volunteers. We would love to share your talents. If you can teach piano, we really want to learn. We have a beautiful piano in our music room. If you like rhythm and drumming, we have a wonderful collection of hand drums and rhythm instruments and would love a learning opportunity with them. If you would teach dance or drama, please come lead us!

Are you an artist with a special talent? Come inspire us! Do you have a favorite story to share?

We are starting to think about our garden and would love friendly gardeners to grow with us.

Again, I invite you to join us in this mission. I believe anyone can make a contribution to the lives of these children. We still need additional help with reading and/or homework daily.

Remember to check out the bulletin board outside the lounge and sign up to volunteer if you can. We are here daily after school until 6:30pm. For information please contact Joanie Merrell, our Director, at 965-8390 or by email to: jmcreativelearning@gmail.com.

Keep on praying for God's leadership  

as we do this work together!!!

Spring

"Getting Ready"  Series

May 1              Mike Perry and Bill Ward will speak on the  

                       financial and legal aspects in this first of three  

                       "End of Life"  programs.

May 15             Virginia Lee MSW, from a nursing care facility  

                       and Rory Miller a gerontologist at Danbury  

                       Hospital will help us look at medical issues and  

                       decisions in the second of the "End of Life"  

                       series.

May 22            Mary Thies will lead a discussion on what our  

                       faith has to say about death and dying in the  

                       final program of this series.  

Please keep checking our bulletin board as we go into Lent and Spring as we will update our programs.  

If you have a favorite book that has helped you on your journey of faith and think it would make a good group discussion, please bring it to our attention....

       Your Adult Learning Committee....

Elaine Best..  Eileen Neville..  Mike Parry.. Bea Maguire