This summer we will put our faith into action serving the community and the broader church in several ways.

Book Collection
We are receiving donations of children's books for the Arlington Pediatric Clinic. Drop off new or slightly used books in the narthex.

AFAC Service
On the third Monday evening (7:00) of each month we will bag groceries at the Arlington Food Assistance Center. This month that falls on the 21st, the first day of summer!

Hungry remains an urgent issue for many families in Arlington. Last week AFAC served 1,228 families including 2,170 adults and 1,400 children. These figures represent a 10-percent increase from one year ago and a 66-percent increase from this time in 2008.

To increase our impact, on Sunday, June 20, we will receive a food offering of non-perishable items. Last month we donated about 125 pounds of food.

A-SPAN Opportunity
Next month, on Thursday the 22nd, we will volunteer with the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network preparing and delivering a meal to homeless neighbors in Arlington. The details on this event will be forthcoming, but please mark your calendars now for this important service opportunity.

GA Overtures
When the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meets next month in Minneapolis Clarendon's voice will be heard. The overtures that our session sent to GA (through National Capital Presbytery) will challenge the church to reflect gospel values by removing barriers to the ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons of faith, changing the language of our Book of Worship to make marriage liturgies inclusive of same-gender couples, and challenging the entire church to a season of study and discernment on our commitment to nonviolence. David will being serving the presbytery as an overture advocate on these issues.

Other Opportunities
We continue to be in conversation with Habitat for Humanity concerning their ongoing project in South Arlington. We hope to arrange a work day with Habitat this summer. Stay tuned!

Summer seems a perfect time for relaxed worship in the beauty of God's creation. This summer we will step outside for worship one evening each month, beginning Tuesday, June 22.

Weather permitting, we'll gather on the "grassy knoll" on the playground for a brief time of community worship filled with story, song and prayer.

Then we'll share a tasty summer treat and some good fellowship.

If it's raining we will move into the sanctuary.

Looking down the road, we will hold vespers services Tuesday, July 20, and Tuesday, August 24.

Summer is a time of gracious Sabbath, and most of us will spend some time away over the next several months. The kids and I will be in Chattanooga for a week in mid-July, and I'll be down at Camp Hanover as pastor-in-residence for two weeks in August.

It is easy in the midst of all the traveling to forget a few details. One details I'd encourage you to be mindful of is your pledge to the church.

We sometimes run into cash-flow issues during July and August, and we'd love to avoid that this summer. You can help by keeping current through the summer. If you have any questions about your pledges (or if you did not make a pledge to the 2010 budget but would like to do so now) please contact elder Reg Mitchell.

Thanks so much for your faithful support of the mission and ministry of Clarendon Presbyterian Church.