|
|
Gracias! Lots of Notes of Thanks that We Should Share
| Thanks to Gwen Wray-Samans for hosting coffee time for the second consecutive Sunday!
Thanks to Clark Chesser for extending gracious hospitality to the exploring membership gathering.
Help Wanted!
The sign up sheet for hosting coffee hour is posted on the bulletin board outside of the church office, and there are plenty of dates open beginning with Feb. 13.
(You can check the schedule each week on the calendar on the CPC web site.
|
Session Endorses New Music Position, Approves Budget for 2011
| |
At its planning retreat last weekend, CPC's session endorsed the recommendation from the music ministry task force to create a new quarter-time director of congregational music position, and budgeted $6,400 for a partial year.
The new position will be included in the budget as presented for congregational affirmation Sunday, Jan. 30. Following that meeting, session plans to create a small task force that will seek applicants for the new position, conduct interviews and make a recommendation to session.
The new position includes these responsibilities:
* Planning and overseeing the music program for all worship services.
* Directing the choir, and building it up.
* Growing the congregation's music ministry, including music with young people and children.
* Planning and providing for special music events.
The new position works within the approved budget, but the approved budget will work better if we meet our pledge goal.
We have received 31 pledges thus far for the 2011 CPC budget, and the drive stands at $76,726. Our goal is $85,000.
Thanks so much to all those who have pledged already. It is tremendously helpful to the budget process. If you haven't offered your pledge yet, please do so now. You can simply send an e-mail to Reg Mitchell with your pledge amount. Also let Reg know if you plan to honor the pledge on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis or some other schedule that fits your own circumstance.
Give until giving makes a difference in your life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday Will Be a Big Day
Be a Part of It!
Progressive ... Inclusive ... Diverse |
January.2011
|
Greetings!
 Though the liturgical calendar tells us that we are in "ordinary time" now, there will be nothing ordinary about this Sunday morning! We'll begin it early, with a special session meeting at 9:00 a.m. for the purpose of welcoming new members, then in worship we will publicly receive several folks into our communion. Join us in this celebration!Following worship we will share a potluck brunch and conduct our annual congregational meeting downstairs in Wilson Hall. Last Chance: Big Impression Sunday's meeting includes the congregation's reception of the budget that session approved earlier this month. The budget for 2011 includes the creation of a new "director of congregational music" position that grew from suggestions during last fall's small group gatherings. I am confident that the new staff position will stretch our ministry in exciting ways, and enhance our worship. Obviously, it also stretches our budget. Thus I extend this last invitation to add your pledge to our budget now. We have received pledges ranging from a few hundred dollars to about $10,000. Every dollar makes a difference in the life of Clarendon Presbyterian. I invite you to give until giving makes a difference in your life. While it's never too late to offer a pledge to the church's budget, this is the last chance to offer a pledge before the congregation formally receives that budget. peace, DavidPS: under the heading "decent and in order" comes this reminder that our January congregational meeting is this Sunday, Jan. 30, following worship. |
|
Gick Up a Phone and Change the Church
The Open Doors chapter of More Light Presbyterians is working to get out the vote in National Capital Presbytery in support of an overture that would delete language from the Presbyterian Book of Order that discriminates against GLBT people.
 To succeed, we need your help!
On Thursday, Feb. 10, at 6:00 p.m. MLP is holding a phone bank session to call all the active and retired pastors in National Capital Presbytery. We will ask them to attend one of the cluster meetings NCP is holding in March for conversation about the overtures, and also to come to the Presbytery meeting on April 30 when the overtures will be voted on. We need to make about 300 phone calls!
This is an opportunity for our congregation to show our support for the end of discrimination in our church. National Capital has supported such efforts in the past, but we cannot take anything for granted. The voting on this overture in the Presbyter of the James last month resulted in a tie. A tie counts as a "no" vote. One more vote would have swung a fairly conservative presbytery toward a more welcoming and inclusive denomination.
The phone bank callers will meet at Western Presbyterian Church, 2401 Virginia Ave., NW, in Foggy Bottom. The calls should only take about an hour and we'll have pizza after we finish calling. Will you join us? Please email Diane Curran dcurran@harmoncurran.com or Sherry Trafford at sherry_trafford@hotmail.com to let us know you are coming and to find out more ways you can help.
|
Prayers of the People
Our Seasons of the Spirit prayers for the coming week include our congregation and those whose lives we touch through our local and national mission efforts; and these members of the CPC family: Gillian Burgess and Grant Mandsager and Sydney Susan. Please let them know that you are holding them in the light.
Our texts for the week include Psalm 122; Psalm 67; 1 Chronicles 15:16-21; 1 Corinthians 12 & 13; 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2; Romans 12:1-8.
|
Come and Sing! John Bell Is Coming to Arlington
 John Bell, who led an evening of congregational song at Clarendon two years ago, is returning to Arlington to lead a series of workshops and worship services at Arlington Presbyterian Church, March 13-16.
John is a minister in the Church of Scotland and a member of the Iona Community, where he has helped to lead a broad renewal movement in congregational singing and global hymnody.
Details are available on the National Capital Presbytery web site, and there's a flyer on the bulletin board outside the office at church.
If you've never had the opportunity to sing with John, make sure you mark your calendars for Sunday evening, March 13, at 7:00, when he will lead a community sing. You will be part of making some beautiful music, and you'll have a blast while doing it.
|
|
|
|
|
