When David Martinez was here last month, he told me about his work as a chaplain in a palliative care-hospice unit. In that conversation, he mentioned there are four things that are important to say as a life draws near to its end.  

They are

• Forgive me. I forgive you.
• Thank you.
• I love you.
• Good-bye.

It struck me, as he spoke, that these are the things we need to say at any ending-when a child goes off to college or gets married, when you move to a new place, when you change jobs, and ideally, when a divorce occurs. So allow me this opportunity to say these important things to you.

Forgive me. I have made plenty of mistakes over our years together, both sins of omission and commission, some I am aware of and some I am not. I am grateful to those of you who were willing to speak the truth in love to me when I offended you and for allowing us to hash out our differences together. Whether we have spoken of the offense or not, I ask you for forgiveness and offer forgiveness as well, that we may part in peace.

Thank you. The list for all for which I am grateful, is long, much too long to put down here. You have been generous with your kind words and deeds toward me and my family. You have welcomed me into your lives and allowed me the pastoral privilege of sharing with you your times of deep joy and great sorrow. You have shown me in thousands of ways what it means to be a faithful follower of Christ.

I love you. We clergy have to learn a great deal about the Bible, theology, church history, and practical theology in seminary. When we finish school, take our final exams and are approved for ordination, then we start to learn how to be pastors. It is no longer the professors but the people of the church who teach us. I have been richly blessed because you have loved me into being a pastor, into being your pastor. I hope that I have returned the gift.

Good-bye. The dictionary says that good-bye is an alternative way of saying "God be with you." I leave knowing that you are in good hands. David, as you know, is a fine pastor and will lead you into the future God has planned for the Fish Church. But even more importantly, you are in the loving hands of our gracious God. So I say good-bye, knowing that you and I are in God's care and, therefore, face futures filled with hope and new possibilities.

May you know and share God's grace in Jesus Christ.

The Harvest Garden has been planted and is growing!

We decided to have multiple crops this year. Last year was our "learning curve" year and we planted only one crop of zucchini.  We were invaded by beetles and lost most of the crop by August. But not before we delivered over 100 lbs of zucchini to the Food Bank.

This year we have an early spring crop growing of lettuce, radishes, broccoli and turnips and beets.  We have already taken many bags of radishes, bags of different lettuces and broccoli and a few turnips to the Food Bank.  We have planted a late spring crop of tomatoes, beans and herbs, and will be putting in more lettuce and in July more Zucchini.

A great big thank you to our dedicated gardeners, Bobby Anderson, Ken Davis, Andrew and Ingrid Persuad, Diane Dischino, Alex Leach, Bromleigh Burton and Eileen Neville.

And a huge huge thanks you to Rick Mattice for growing every one of our veggie plants from seed over the winter, and for Robin for allowing him to take over their dining room with seedlings.

Anyone interested in joining us, please let David knowand we will add to you our list.  Many hands lighten the load. 

Mid-Year Stewardship Report 

For the 2012 Stewardship campaign, FPC has received 150 pledges for a total of just over $437,944. The attached chart breaks down the sizes of the pledges for this year. Our congregation family has about 280 possible "pledging units" and those remaining units contribute in what we call "open plate" giving. Combined, the pledges plus open plate accounts for about 75% of our overall revenue.

Thanks to your generosity and commitment to supporting FPC, our overall revenues are running very close to plan for the year thus far-but our church continues to operate at a deficit, budgeted for 2012 at $136,592. Your session is working to manage expenses with thrift and sound judgment, encouraging new income from rental of church facilities, for example. Next week's inaugural FPC Carnival is another creative way to help us narrow-or close-that funding gap. If you are now able to make a pledge, or can help by boosting your current commitment, your gesture will be welcomed and appreciated!

FPC Session Serving People Team: 

Terry Anstine, Willard Hill and Jane Love

Creative Space Returns

On June 1, 2012 Creative Space opened to a small group of young artists for the 21st summer!!!

If you're looking for Artistic outlets for your child this summer, join us at Creative Space right here at FPC. This summer program is offered downstairs in rooms 1 and 2 (the Creative Learning rooms) for another summer of drawing, painting sculpting, sewing etc. Joanie Merrell is assisted by creative youth from our community providing artistic and child sensitive guidance to 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, offering this summer program to children of our community since 1992.

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.

Creative Learning @FPC

It seems impossible that we have nearly come to the end of our third school year, but here we are with just a few weeks left. Our garden has begun to produce raddishes and lettuce and the bean plants are flowering. Praying mantises hatched in our science center, thanks to Ellen Greene's keen discovery of a "strange mass" in her garden. Now they are growing and guarding our vegetables. Lisa Naumann has helped the children create a script for our end of the year play and rehearsals have begun. Terry Anstine has been teaching us traditional songs and helping us to understand their meaning and origins. We are looking forward to summer with happy anticipation but also with some sadness about saying goodbye, at least for a while.

THREE ADDITIONAL  

WEEKS THIS YEAR! 

7 - 9 PM Thursdays

June 28 - August 9  

June 28

7 p.m.  Carillon

8 p.m.  Side Effects

July 5

7 p.m.  Carillon

8 p.m. Frenetix with Will Fulton

July 12

7 p.m.  Carillon

8 p.m. Retroexpress with Felicia Carroll  

July 19

6 p.m.  Summer Jazz 2012

7 p.m. Carillon

8 p.m. Keltic Kick with Doug Abel

July 26

7 p.m. Carillon

8 p.m. The Arthur Lipner Group World Jazz

August 2

7 p.m.  Joe Bouza and Friends with David Merrell

August 9

7 p.m.  VamaTonZ with David Merrell