It is the season of travel.  Folks with summer homes are making plans to have the electricity turned on and the well primed.  AAA is gathering maps and making reservations for those planning vacations.  Family reunions are being organized, cottages rented, airline tickets purchased.  Everyone, it seems, is hitting the road.

How appropriate, then, that in worship, through the summer into early fall, we will be reading the stories of God's people on the move.  Abraham and Sarah will pull up stakes from Ur and head out to a destination unknown, relying simply on God's leading.  Jacob will flee from home, having cheated his brother out of both inheritance and blessing.  Joseph will travel to Egypt as a slave and his descendants will leave Egypt and slavery for the Promised Land.  Having left home to follow an itinerant rabbi, Jesus' followers will travel from town to town healing and proclaiming the good news.  And Jesus himself is never still for long; he too hits the road making his way from Nazareth and finally to Jerusalem.

Our ancestors in the faith were wanderers, not so much restless as driven.  Like us, they wanted to settle down, go about some ordinary existence, watch the kids grow up and start their families, and finally grow old, bouncing a grandbaby on the knee.  But there was something, or rather Someone, who poked and prodded, whispered and shouted, who got them out the door and on the way.  They had no idea where they were headed, only that they traveled with God.  It is startling to think of what they gave up to do so-home, security, safety, good job, family, nice things, a pleasant life-all the things we strive so hard to obtain.  And yet, freed from such attachments, they discovered instead a commitment to God whose steadfast love and righteousness never failed them.

Maybe you're traveling this summer.  Maybe you are having a stay-cation.  Either way, may you consider the journey you are being called to make, the journey from attachments to commitment, the journey to and with our God.  As some star travelers once said, "May the Force be with you."

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!

In January, Brooks Sumberg came to FPC to share his vision and to plant a seed.  "Build a vegetable garden and feed the hungry!"  Many members joined him in the Chapel to hear the rest of his story, and the journey of the Harvest Now garden began.

Over the winter and early spring - with many e-mails back and forth - a plan was made.  The.. who will help; the... where will we build it; the... how will we fund it... questions were answered.  There were many helping hands to make it all happen.  The Session for approving the project and making the garden the recipient of the local portion of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering.  Rick Mattice for managing the building of the raised beds.  Wendy Olson for enlisting Shemim Nurseries to graciously donate the topsoil, Barbara Miller for getting the fencing arranged.  And many hard working volunteers who gave lots of time and hard work. 

One rainy Saturday in February, with John Spearman and Rick's power saws we took down a large tree that was leaning over the driveway and blocking the sun for garden area.  Rick picked-up donated wood, and started the seedlings for our zucchini harvest on Robin's dining room table.  Ken Davis made trips to the beach to pick up sea weed to add to the beds.  Norman and Rick had many trips to Home Depot to buy sand, and fixtures to make water available for the garden. 

Once the boxes were built, we filled them with compost (many trips to Scofieldtown dump by Rick and Ken Davis.)  And then the top soil arrived - all 12 yards of it.  Bobby Anderson, Andrew Persaud, John Spearman spent hours shoveling dirt to fill the boxes.  We mixed the soil and the sand and spread it smooth.  We planted the already established zucchini plants (thanks Robin) and added marigolds to attract the bees for pollination (who knew???) and laid out the soaker hoses.   

Thanks to all those who have helped so far.  The planting is done, but the harvest is still to come and we'd love to welcome some additional members to join in tending and watering the garden thru the summer so that we can deliver a bountiful harvest to the Food Bank. We promise not to overtax any one individual.  There is a sign up sheet on one of the bulletin boards outside Room 12 or you can send an email to harvestnow@fishchurch.org.  

Don't Miss This Concert 

Mid-Year

Stewardship

Report 

While it is not quite the half-way point in 2011-it is a useful point to check our Stewardship results and look at our financial year so far.  It is not as exciting as our summer plans, but necessary on the road to fiscal rebirth for our operations here at FPC.

For 2011 we have received 151 pledges totaling $445,080.  That is 52% out of a potential 289 pledging units in the Congregation and those pledges roughly break down as follows:                  

Session has continued to be mindful of spending and has pared the operating budget of FPC to where the projected budget gap is now less than $120,000 (about half of what it has been in recent years).  We began the "Extra Measure" efforts and have had some early responses-it is an opportunity for all of us to give an Extra Measure to bring FPC back to a better financial health and use one of our restricted endowment funds to match the amount raised.  So far we have received gifts or commitments of $39,449 from the Congregation.  We are a bit more than half way to our goal of  $60,000-but there is still a long way to go.

Thank you to all who have heard the call and are assisting to bridge the gap.  Please every one consider if you are able to give an Extra Measure.

Have a great summer!

Session Finance Task Force 

Janna Bellwin        Steve Gibbs        Kwab Gyasi-Twum  

Willard Hill            Jane Love           Kurt Nelson                       

Creative Space Returns

If you're looking for Artistic outlets for your child this summer, join us at Creative Space right here at FPC. Since 1992 children have spent summer hours at FPC expressing themselves creatively. This summer program is offered down stairs in rooms 1 and 2 (the Creative Learning rooms) for another summer of drawing, painting sculpting, sewing etc. We will begin on June 27 and keep on creating until August 19. Joanie Merrell is assisted by creative youth from our community providing artistic and child sensitive guidance to the children of all ages.  *(Sorry, Infants and toddlers not included.)

The Learning Community of FPC recognizes the need to provide affirming opportunities for children  to grow creatively and is excited to offer this summer program to children of our community.

The program runs Monday through Friday 9-12am. Scheduling is flexible to meet individual needs. Further information, schedules and brochures are available at the church, call Joanie Merrell at 203-322-3575 or email jmcreativespace@gmail.com.

THREE ADDITIONAL  

WEEKS THIS YEAR! 

7 - 9 PM Thursdays

June 30 - August 11

June 30

7 p.m.  Carillon

8 p.m.  The Caribbean Cruisers with Arthur Lipner

July 7

7 p.m.  Carillon

8 p.m. The Thousand Pities with Matt Davis

July 14

7 p.m.  Carillon

8 p.m. Retroexpress with Felicia Carroll

July 21

7 p.m.  Summer Jazz 2011

8 p.m. Keltic Kick with Doug Abel

July 28

7 p.m. Carillon

8 p.m. Joe Bousa & the Canned Monster Nuts Band

with David Merrell

August 4

7 p.m.  The Brubeck Brothers Quartet

August 11

7 p.m.  The Subourbons with Will Fulton

Bring a picnic and blankets or chairs

and join us on the lawn in front of Fellowship Hall.

Show off your church by inviting  

your friends and neighbors.  

These are children friendly! 

Art at the Fish Church      

Presents the work of Heidi Lewis Coleman

Would you like to own one of the Lenten "I Am" artworks?  Well, all you have to do is be the high bidder and it can be yours.

The following pieces are available:

The Door

The Vine #1

The Vine #2

The Bread of Life

The Light of the World

The Way

The Resurrection and the Life

Here is how the auction will work.  The minimum bid is $100.  If you are interested in one of the pieces, you will submit your "best offer" - the top price you are willing to pay - either by email to 2011lentenart@fishchurch.org or by placing your bid in the box on the desk in the church office.  Please be sure to include your name, the piece you are interested in and your "highest and best" bid. 

All proceeds will go to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering - one-half to disaster assistance around the world and one-half to FPC's Harvest Now garden that is raising fresh produce for the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County.

Deadline for bids is June 19th. 

Acts 6-8

During the curriculum year, our Church School children have been studying about Jesus' life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension.   Later, the Book of Acts introduced the students to the early church - where believers were called "Followers of the Way."  At Pentecost, Greek Jews heard and understood the message that Peter was relating.  They became "followers" - but the Apostles did not want them to participate on their level.  However these leaders needed help in their ministry, especially to supervise the public tables.  People were discriminated against there and the Apostles did not have the time to deal with the problem.  So seven Greek Jews were chosen to take on the task.  These men were called Deacons - derived from the Greek verb which means "to minister."  The seven were prayed over and ordained by the laying of hands.

The children learned about Stephen who was martyred for his following of Christ (with Saul holding the crowd's cloaks during the stoning).  Philip, another of the seven deacons, was a lesson where the children learned about the conversation and baptism of the Ethiopian. 

An opportunity to connect the early church to our own congregation opened up and we took advantage of it.  Several of our fourth/fifth grade children had parents or teachers who were to be ordained and/or installed as deacons in our church.  The children could see this service first hand.  The class was taken to the sanctuary for the Ordination/Installation service and the laying-of-hands by the officers present.  It was a wonderful opportunity to connect the lessons in our class with the activities of our church!

Scottie Winter 

To All the Saints at Stamford,

There are still several things I have left undone since John's death.  Thanking the good people of this congregation is surely the most important.

I have always felt this congregation and our clergy to be the one I have been most privileged to enjoy.  And that's for sure.  I can never thank you enough for all the wonderful notes, calls, visits and prayers.

Thank you, most gratefully, times without number.

Dorothy Mix

P.S.  The History Office would most appreciate the return of the Wallace Harrison biography which has been borrowed.

Creative Learning @FPC

Somehow we have nearly come to the end of our second school year. These past months have been filled with activity. We discovered baking potatoes as a wonderful snack addition with sour cream, black pepper and shredded cheeses. (a nice source of potassium too!!)

One early release day,  Pam McLaughlin brought girl scouts to read with us and a play to enact. This was really fun. The "Build On" team of volunteers from the high schools brought us both an art project and time outside with playground games. Rick Mattice took groups of our students out to revitalize our garden and began the new growing season. Vegetables and flowers are beginning to grow.  (God has been watering them well!) We have plans to cook with Sue Pritchard Downing and do more planting.

Looking back over the year, our volunteers, teachers and parents have noticed the children's growth. We have better readers, better workers, more understanding mathmaticians and a diverse group of former strangers who have become second family to each other. This has been a good year and now we take a moment to celebrate that together. On June 24^th we will celebrate our volunteers, children and families. Our year end dinner will include something from each of the children. Every one is working on a contribution: music, drama, decorations and wonderful food.

Also it is time to plan for the fall. We are beginning registration for the new school year. If you have a child needing a good place to go after school, contact Joanie now. There are limited vacant slots. Please contact Joanie Merrell at 203 965-8390 or by email to jmcreativelearning @gmail.com.

Thank you all, for your prayers, support and good works.