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Gracias! Lots of Notes of Thanks that We Should Share
| Thanks to Gwen Wray-Samans and Molly DeMaret-Tahu for hosting recent coffee times.
No one is signed up for this week. Can you host?
Gwen is on again on July 24, and Chuck Abbott is signed up for the 31st. We look forward to their hospitality.
Coffee hour hosts are listed on the church calendar on our web site. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board outside of the church office.
A big thanks to James Fisher who keeps our Facebook presence lively!
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Summer Schedule
| The CPC e-news will appear twice monthly through August. If you have dates, updates, news, milestones, or other information to share with the community, please send it along but be aware that the publication schedule will slow down for summer.
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Milestones
| Birthday Bash!
Happy Birthday to Travis Reindl, who turns 40 this Saturday, and to Barbara Allen, Karen Kimmel, and Kristie Kern who also mark their natal day this Saturday! Heather Murray celebrates her birthday July 23, and Gwen Wray-Samans celebrates hers on July 28.
Congratulations to Clark Chesser and the rest of the Alexandria Harmonizers who took home a bronze medal from a major vocal competition in Kansas City earlier this month.
Barbara Allen asks prayers for her mother, Mildred, who is struggling through recovery from recent surgery.
In this space we celebrate moments and milestones in the lives of members of the community. So, if you have a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, a promotion, a retirement, or other milestone to celebrate send me a note and we'll shout it out right here.
Likewise, if you have a prayer concern that you'd like lifted up in the prayer lives of the the community, let me know and we'll list that here, as well.
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Mark Your
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Coming soon to the wee kirk:
AFAC grocery bagging, Monday, July 18, 7:00 p.m.
An Evening with Matt Black, Saturday, August 6, 7:00 p.m.
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Summer Is for Listening
Progressive ... Inclusive ... Diverse |
July.2011
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Greetings!
 What is your favorite sound of summer? The splash of a swimming pool? Nighttime insects calling to one another? The sizzle of something tasty on the grill? Lawnmowers? The crack of the bat? Fireworks? Summer is filled with its own unique and distinctive sounds that call us out into God's good creation, even on hot, hot days when the nicest sound might just be the hum of the air conditioner. God speaks to us in all kinds of ways -- the sounds of summer, the voice of a loved one, the words of scripture, the lines of great art. Every season invites us to listen, and summer often offers a more leisurely pace for listening. During some weeks in the remains of this summer we're going to spend time listening -- to each other and for God's voice in the midst of our common life at Clarendon. Beginning in worship this Sunday we'll spend time listening for God speaking through the texts of the day (this Sunday those texts include Psalm 139 and Romans 8:12-25) and through our own conversations about life together at Clarendon. We'll use the fruit of these conversations in making plans, setting goals and crafting a budget for next year, so if you are in town please join the worshipful conversation. grace and peace, David PS: Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 18. Something big is coming your way. |
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Plot Against Hunger Is Now in the Ground!
 Thanks to the hard work of Gillian Burgess, James Fisher, Sam Foulke, Don Hodgen, and Yvonne Thelwell (who coordinate the akido group) Clarendon has an AFAC Plot Against Hunger.
(Thanks also to Martin and Hannah, whose parents did not get them to the plot on time, for weeding around other parts of the grounds Sunday evening.)
The good people of Sam's Farm donated quite a few mature seedlings that are now in the ground on the Jackson Street side of church.
The kids (and teachers) of the Clarendon Child Care Center have volunteered to water the garden during the week, making our Plot Against Hunger and true community project.
As with every garden, this one will need lots of work to keep down weeds and, later on, to harvest! The fresh food from our "farm" will go to AFAC to feed our neighbors in need.
If you'd like to get involved in the plot, contact Gillian.
Meanwhile, if you've got extra produce from your own garden and would like to share with the church community, please feel free to bring it in on Sundays. We have a gleaning table in the sanctuary. |
 Summer Fun!
The first two big events for summer are in the books. Thanks to all who came out last month to enjoy "An Evening In Dushanbe." Suzanne Matula shared her experiences of living and working in Tajikistan, and we shared a delicious dinner from the Labanese Taverna. (Thanks to Mike Bagwell for coordinating the entire evening.) Last weekend a good crowed turned out to enjoy "An Evening with Scott Pryor." Scott, whom Philly Weekly calls "perhaps the finest acoustic songwriter in Philadelphia," entertained for about two hours playing songs from his current EP, If We Set Out Now, and older works as well. Said one member of the audience, "great event; I'm inspired!" If you want to be similarly inspired by another talented young singer-songwriter, join us Saturday, August 6, at 7:00 p.m. for "An Evening with Matt Black." Meanwhile, mark your calendar for Sunday, August 28, when we'll worship in the woods at Mason Neck State Park for our annual church picnic.
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 | | Former GA Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase being arrested in front of the White House. |
Former Moderator Arrested at White House in Colombia Free Trade Witness
Monday four members of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship-Rick Ufford-Chase (executive director of PPF and moderator of the 216th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.), Rev. Sally Juarez, Kevin Moran, and Katie Rains-were arrested in front of the White House in a peaceful, nonviolent demonstration against the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Those arrested were part of a rally in Lafayette Park that drew more than 200 participants, including dozens of Presbyterians. Dozens of participants, including your pastor, carried "coffins" to represent the 51 labor unionists murdered last year in Colombia. Speakers from the labor, environmental, human rights and faith communities (including the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, coordinator of the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness) in the U.S. and Colombia sent a message to President Obama, urging him to keep a campaign promise to oppose to the pending Free Trade Agreement with Colombia. Speakers stressed that the agreement will have disastrous affects on union workers, displaced persons, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, farmers, and the environment in Colombia. |
New Form of Government Takes Effect in PC(USA)
This week the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) entered a new era as the new form of government approved by last summer's General Assembly (and ratified by a majority of presbyteries in voting since the assembly) to effect. The effective date, July 10, coincided with the 501st anniversary of the birth of John Calvin. If anyone knew where his body was buried the grave could be checked for signs of rolling over or not. NFOG includes the new ordination standard (the now ratified amendment 10-A) which makes the way clear for ordaining gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons to church office. The new form of government also changes the titles of two of those offices: elders are now ruling elders and ministers of word and sacrament are now teaching elders. It remains to be seen what practical changes will result for Clarendon, but at the very least you can anticipate voting on a few clerical changes to our congregational by-laws at the October congregational meeting as we move to align those by-laws with the new numbering system in the revised denominational constitution. |
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