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Is It Time for you to Join CPC?
| Several of you have asked this fall about joining the church.
We're planning to put together an "exploring membership" group for January.
Would you like to be part of this group?
Please let me know as soon as you can so we can begin working out a schedule of gatherings. Send me a note at:
revdocdee@gmail.com.
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Gracias! & Help ...
| Thanks to Ron Bookbinder for hosting coffee time Sunday morning.
We look forward to Clark Chesser's gracious hospitality this Sunday.
We have no one signed up to host coffee time on Nov. 28. Can you host? Please let me know: revdocdee@gmail.com.
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Worship Team Wants You!
| This month in worship we have heard some beautiful stories of unexpected hospitality that witness to the abundance of creation.
We continue that theme this weekend, and then move, on the final Sunday of November, into the season of Advent.
During Advent, we are looking for stories of unexpected gifts. Do you have such a story of a time when you received just what you needed, at just the right time, from an unexpected source?
Send me a note.
What's your story?
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Pledge Sunday
| Sunday, Nov. 28, is pledge dedication Sunday. Begin the church year (it's also the first Sunday of Advent) with your pledge to the 2011 Clarendon budget. Pledge forms are available in the narthex at church, and will also be mailed to you this month.
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Small Groups
| This fall session members have hosted a series of small group gatherings to talk about "all things CPC" -- or, at least, about some important things CPC, including worship, mission and spiritual formation.
We have almost completed the gatherings. As of today we have one group to go.
The conversations have already led to a couple of innovations. You may have noticed that we are saying a bit about hymns and anthems during worship on Sunday. You may also have read about the music study team that session has created. Both of those come directly from suggestions made in small groups. There are other innovations coming soon.
These have been wonderful gatherings thus far, so when you invite comes, please make every effort to attend.
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A Season for
Giving Thanks
Progressive ... Inclusive ... Diverse | November.2010
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Greetings!
 Henri Nouwen observed that gratitude is the attitude common to all authentic religious expression. To say, "thank you," is the way we first give voice to our faith. Anne Lamott puts it this way: "Here are the two best prayers I know: "Help me, help me, help me" and "Thank you, thank you, thank you."Sunday morning we will take a moment to give thanks as we draw to a close our November series on unexpected hospitality. We'll read more of the manna story ( Exodus 16), and hear a beautiful story of hospitality from Peg True. In addition, Sarah Morse, volunteer and special events coordinator at A-SPAN, will join us in worship to offer a moment for mission. Take a moment this week, consider what you are grateful for, and give thanks. peace,
DavidPS: When I consider my own gratitude, I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve with you in our common ministry at Clarendon. Session met last night and we conducted the annual review of the membership roles. We moved nine people to the inactive role; most of these being folks who have moved out of Arlington in the past 18 months. These transitions drop our membership below 60. Speaking of membership, if you've been considering it please check out the invitation in the column to the left. |
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AFAC Baggers Fill 500, and CPC Adds 120 Pounds
 Last Monday evening 15 Clarendon folks set a new record by filling 500 bags of groceries in 35 minutes. For those of you keeping score at home ... well, if you're keeping score at home you should leave home and come join us at AFAC next month!
In addition to filling AFAC's shelves with food to be handed out this week, CPC donated about 120 pounds of non-perishable foods to the center. Our donations arrived on the heals of the Boy Scouts' "Scouting for Food" collection, so AFAC is enjoying relative abundance this month.
Another big "thanks" to Cheryl for hosting the baggers after our service. We enjoyed a delicious meal of soups and breads, and we also celebrated the opening of Don Hodgen's Beaujolais nouveau!
We'll do it all again, Monday, Dec. 20, at 7:00 p.m. Plan to join us for a joyous evening of giving back for the sake of our sisters and brothers in Arlington who will struggle this winter to eat.
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Advent: A Joyous Season of Worship, Fun and Service
Advent, the season of expectation and preparation for the coming again of Christ into our lives, begins on the final Sunday of November. We will mark the season in a variety of ways as the days grow shorter and Christmastide draws closer.  Sunday worship during Advent will again include the lighting of candles, and the liturgy of readings and litanies of the season. Advent also begins the Christian calendar, and we'll mark that by gathering at table and sharing the Lord's Supper. As we do each year, we will gather on Christmas Eve (7:30 p.m.) for a service of lessons and carols in the candlelit beauty of the sanctuary. In addition to worshiping well, December willed be filled with opportunities to serve and to share the joy of the season with one another. - Saturday, December 4, we're having a spiff-up, fix-up morning from 9:00 to noon.
- Sunday, December 5, following worship we'll deck the halls. Join us for some festive fun!
- Saturday, December 11: The Lederle-Ensign clan invites you to their annual cookie baking open house from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We'll have a steaming pot of chili, and enough sugar, butter and flour to put a small army into a food coma.
- Sunday, December 12: Plan to stay after worship for "Carols and Cookies," as we sing our favorite Christmas hymns and munch on cookies from the great cookie bake.
- Monday, December 20: Our monthly evening of bagging groceries at AFAC.
- Friday, December 24: We feed folks with A-SPAN at 6:00 p.m., and gather for Christmas Eve lessons and carols at 7:30.
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Music Study Team Begins Its Work
Responding to the promptings of the small group meetings this fall, session has asked a small task group (Clark Chesser, Carol Deford, Travis Reindl and Peg True) to study music ministry at CPC. The group has been asked to do the following:
- to take the information gathered through the small groups and other means that they determine;
- to look at the history of music ministry at CPC;
- to look at music ministries in other small, progressive congregations; and
- to draft a mission/vision statement for music ministry at Clarendon.
The group has also been asked to develop a position description for leading such a ministry. Session anticipates receiving information prior to its January planning retreat, and bringing a report to the congregation at the January 30 congregational meeting. The group begins its work this Sunday. Please keep them in your prayers as they do their part to help us all make a joyful noise unto the Lord. |
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