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CCB Amazing! 
News & Events to Nourish Your Soul By 
Greetings!   

Happy 237th Birthday to the United States of America!  Hard to believe how much our country has grown and that, no matter what obstacles happen, we have stuck together.

Despite it being the lazy, hazy days of summer, there is still important Church news to share.  Whatever you do this summer, please be safe and have fun!

Oh, almost forgot...our Summer Worship time is 9:00 am beginning Sunday, July 7th and continuing through Sunday, September 8th (Tavern Day).  Regular Worship will resume on September 15th, but I'll remind you!

Gone for the Summer?

Please remember to drop off or mail in your contributions in order to maintain a stable cash flow through the summer months.  A steady flow of income will help us preserve our investment portfolio. 

Checks can be mailed to the church at:

Congregational Church of Burlington

P.O. Box 1291, Burlington, CT 06013

Please remember to mark your envelope # on your check. Thank you.

Special Meeting Results
From the Deacon's Bench

We had a decent turnout on what turned out to be a gorgeous Sunday.  There were two votes and an information update.

Please find the two video links below for those that wish to see the meeting and the very active discussions that led to the final votes.

Here is what happened:
  1. Vote on recommended Steeple & Roof Repairs - Approved with 37 for, 2 against and no abstentions for up to $30,000.
  2. Update on Water Line Hookup was presented.
  3. Discuss 2013 Budget short-fall and the recommended Church Fund to withdraw from in order to maintain required cash flow - After discussion and several motions, it was unanimously voted to withdraw the anticipated $18,000 needed to balance the budget in this fashion:
    1. Up to $6,000 from the Church Move Fund
    2. Up to $6,000 from the Memorials Fund
    3. Up to $6,000 from the Parsonage Insurance Fund
CCB Special Meeting June 9, 2013 - Part One
CCB Special Meeting
June 9, 2013 - Part One
CCB Special Meeting June 9, 2013 - Part Two
CCB Special Meeting
June 9, 2013 - Part Two

 

As Business Committee Chairperson, I would like to thank all who spoke up, who shared some great ideas and who helped craft the final actions so we can get our committee work accomplished.

Fundraising News - It Begins with Fun! 

It's been very active the past few months and will continue in the future, so please support as many as you can...each success helps out immensely!

Scrips Program Participation
Gift Card participation has declined during the Spring.  Let's pick up our participation during the summer.

It is a perfect way to contribute to the church without spending more.  Please refer to the Scrip web-site page for details.

Can & Bottle Drive - July 20th
from 8:30 am until 12:00 Noon 
You will soon seen the signs around confirming that the rumor is true...The Big Tex is once again going to roll for our quarterly Can & Bottle Drive.

Bring your Fourth of July party returns as well as that mess in your garage, we'll get them returned for you!  If you can spare an hour or two, come on down to help make this day another fundraising success!

Tavern Day - Sunday, September 8th
The planning by the Chamber of Commerce is about to begin and we are once again going to man the hot dog & burger grill as well as our annual Apple Crisp and Potato tent.  Volunteers will be needed that weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), so mark your calendars.

Tavern Day is a big success for our Church from a fundraising and community awareness perspective and your help ensures the future of our Church.

Harwinton Fair - October 5th and 6th
The Fundraising Committee has reserved our space but now need your creative talents.  We need your quality handmade items that you would be interested in donating.

Items could include art work, photography, ceramics, pottery, stained glass, mosaics, knitted or crocheted items, cross-stitched, quilts, afghans, greeting cards, metals, wood crafts, etc.

The summer months are a perfect time to kick off your creative work. If you have items to donate please contact a committee member.

If you have an interest to teach or learn a skill on a Saturday morning please contact Sonia Higley (sonia.highley@sbcglobal.net). We would like to schedule time during the summer months for fellowship and to make items we can sell at the fair.

Malerbo Thank You
Thanks to all who volunteered!  This was the first session we did not need to make an emergency call for volunteers, thank you!  Still waiting for official news, but it looks like we beat last year's Spring total by a few hundred dollars!

 

June 23rd Spring Raffle Winners 

We would like to thank our raffle winners and all who supported this event by purchasing or selling tickets:

  • 1ST Prize  - 42" HDTV - Robin Giese
  • 2ND Prize - Kindle Fire HD - Gina D'Angelo

If you would like to be notified of committee meeting times, please email Sue Laramie (sueccb@gmail.com).  

CE Corner - Glad you Asked Edition

I know it's summer and right now no one wants to think about school, but I want to keep in the forefront of everyone's mind the need for Sunday School teachers in the fall.

 

I have already had some folks step up for next year but we need plenty more!  The more folks that volunteer the less stress on everyone.

 

The kids get the benefit of the faith and wisdom that you have to offer and the responsibilities of teaching are lightened for all.  A real win/win situation for everyone.

 

So please act now, avoid the rush, the traffic jams, the long bread lines and drop Tim Higley or me (Jill Treff) an email and say "Why yes Jill (or Tim) I'd love to be a part of the teaching teams in our church, I've just been waiting for you to ask!".

 

To make it really simple, we'll copy and paste that line into the email for you...all you have to do is click on Tim's or my email link!!

 

That would be perfect.  If you have a particular grade you'd like to teach just stick that in the email too and we'll set you up.

 

On behalf of the children of our church I thank you.

 

Jill Treff 

 

Incoming Pre-Confirmation Class Parents

Christian Education would like to get the parents and kids in next year's Pre-Confirmation class together to plan a schedule that works for everyone.

We will be contacting the parents of next year's 8th graders to have a brief meeting either during the summer months or in early September.

The goal is to create an active and fun class for the kids as they grow spiritually toward the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Tim Higley or Jill Treff will be in touch to set this special meeting.
Covenant to Care for Youth - UPDATE

I had the pleasure of attending the Department of Children and Families (DCF) graduation party in Hartford. It was a wonderful celebration for some pretty amazing young people.

Our church was mentioned as contributing to the event because of the gift cards we donated.

I sat with our social worker, Colleen, and a mom with her 4 foster sons who we know by their first names.  Daquan who graduated, and his 3 foster brothers, Jimmy (JJ), Jeremy and Carlos. Some of you bought them Christmas gifts.  They are very polite, impressive boys, all dressed up and present to celebrate their foster brother's achievements.

Colleen had 3 clients graduate from high school - Daquan will be entering the work force, Anderson will be majoring in psychology at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Santalee will be studying Human Services at Goodwin College.

They were joined by about 40 other equally impressive young people graduating from high school or college.  One of the keynote speakers was a 23-year-old recent graduate of American University in Washington, DC named Tina. Tina spoke to her fellow "foster kids" and told them they had choices.

They could choose to be victims, or they could choose to follow her philosophy of No Regrets.  She told them to be grateful for the people in their lives who were there for them, namely their foster families and their case workers.  She encouraged them to believe in themselves, to ask for help when they needed it, and to work hard to achieve their dreams.

Now that she's got her bachelor's degree, she's on her way to the University of Maryland to get her Master's in Social Work and plans to help young people in foster care.  She received a standing ovation. We were all in awe.

It was such an inspiring night.  Thank you all for your recent donations of gift cards for the graduation party, gifts for the recent birthdays, and for all the toiletries, school supplies, and everything else you have donated.

The foster mother of those 4 boys took me aside when we were leaving. She asked me to pass along her thanks to you all for everything. She told me to tell you that it makes a difference.  A big difference.

Thank you!
Linda Sartinsky
More News of Interest...
Hear ye, Hear Ye...more news!

 

The Business Committee will be overseeing several projects this summer.  We are still working out final details with the Town, contractors and plumbers...but, here is the preliminary timeline:

  • Water Line Hook-up: It is expected that work will begin by the end of July for this one or two day project.  Our main entrance will be closed during that time so they can cut, lay pipe and re-patch our driveway.
     
  • Roof Replacement: We are anticipating that work will begin by the final week of July and take about 3 or 4 weeks to complete.  The driveway impacts are not known at this time, but notice will be shared as the contractor gives us more details.

    Look for details on the "Raise the Roof! Buy a Bundle" fundraising program...we get a 40-year roof today and pay ourselves back over the next few years...a win-win for all! 

Our committee will be meeting in July and August so we can stay on top of these projects and assist the contractors as needed.  Please pardon our dust during this time! 

In This Issue
Special Meeting Results
Fundraising Updates
CE Corner - Glad You Asked
Covenant to Care for Youth Update
More News of Interest

Pastor's Monthly Message

Pastor's Monthly Message

From the
Deacon's Bench
From the Deacon's Bench

Moments With God
Moment's With God

Special Links
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Congregational Church of Burlington
Once again, I find it AMAZING with all we do as a Church Family for so many others.  It truly is inspiring.

As you can see from the Special Meeting, we have a challenge before the Congregation.  I shared one solution in last month's newsletter (which you can see in our Archive).

Whatever you can do to help, it's appreciated and timely.  Thank you to those who can give more to God and to those who volunteer or support Scrips.  Every little bit helps!

 

Enjoy your summer and be safe in all you do,

 

 

Jerry Burns
Business Committee Chair
Copyright (c) 2013 Congregational Church of Burlington