Earlier this summer, Dick Baxter finished his work as Interim Director of Plymouth Harbor. Many of us personally thanked him and the Plymouth Harbor Board was able to host a picnic reception for him; but, we did not want to "loose" a congregation-wide celebration in the "dog days of summer."  NOW is the time to properly thank him.

Following worship on Sunday, August 25, there will be a reception for Dick in the Commons. As has been our custom, if you wish to contribute to a "purse" for Dick, you may write checks to Central and note "Dick Baxter" in the memo line.  Interim work is hard work, you enter into a relationship knowing it will be short-term.  We are grateful for Dick's work and ministry to our vulnerable senior adults; be sure to stop by and say so.

Would you like to help Welcome Children and Families on Sunday morning? Our Welcome Team needs new members for this 9:30 to 10:45 AM opportunity to greet folks coming into the Education wing. Would you like to help with the snack and the welcoming of children into their Sunday school class. It's an opportunity to get to know some of the children at Central. Please contact Rev. Ginnie if you are interested. 

You will need Safe Church training to volunteer or chaperone with children and youth. For youth, 12 and older, who hang out with younger children, it is important to have this training. For parents who find themselves at gatherings or practices with the youth, it is important as an example and a practice to attend Safe Church Training. Please consider attending on September 22 from 9:30 to 10:45 AM in one of the Window Rooms in the Fellowship Hall. If you are interested, please sign up with Rev. Ginnie.

For our younger (3 & 4 year olds) children, Peggy Brodnax and Gracie Theobald will be learning and playing and building community with you. 

For the K to Fifth graders, we are learning about Monarch butterflies and their habitats, studying Psalm 95, sharing a snack and a little recess time before worship. We hope for a walk in the forest so good shoes and long pants are best for protection from bug bites. If you have any questions, please be in touch with Rev. Ginnie. 

On September 1, there will be no children's Sunday school, but there will be childcare for infants to 6 year olds.

Youth worship this Fall will be focused on Matthew 5 and 6. The youth will gather, share, sing and do activities to help them to focus on the sacredness of all life. Fellowship always follows the worship time. For more information, contact Lacey Brown.

Practical Theology:  

A Just Peace Covenant Community

Sundays, 9:30 to 10:45 AM 

Room 206, Education Wing 

Resuming September 8, 

Sundays, 9:30 to 10:45 AM

(Fellowship Hall, Steinhaus Library)

Rev. Michael will host a three-session Inquirers' Series from 9:45 to 10:30 AM in his conference room (office suite).  The sessions are designed for visitors to get to know him and each other a little better and explore both Central and the United Church of Christ. Attendees, of course, are not required to join following the sessions, but may if they feel ready to do so. The next "joining day" will be September 29. To register or for more information, email Rev. Michael.

Since 1984, Lena's Place Coffeehouse is a monthly opportunity to experience an eclectic mix of acoustic artists in a coffeehouse atmosphere. Lena's is staffed by volunteers. 

This month's musician at 9 PM is Vanessa Deliz, a singer/songwriter born and raised in the city of Miami, FL and now residing in Atlanta. 

Donations ($5 is suggested) are accepted to benefit Central's "Lena Werking Fund" for local charities. All proceeds in September go directly to Men Stopping Violence. 

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Rev. Ginnie.

COMPASSION MEDITATION: An On-Going Practice from 5:45 to 6:30 PM 

Do you already have a practice of meditation? Or are you a beginner? Whatever your experience may be, you're welcome to join the compassion meditation sitting and discussion from 5:45 to 6:30. Rev. Lou will answer questions about different approaches to meditation and provide practical suggestions to help you further incorporate this practice in your life.  PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME.

YOGA For All Levels: 6:30 to 7:30 PM 

Hatha yoga is a specific type of yoga that creates balance between the feminine and masculine aspects within all of us. The instructor is Molly Grubb. $10 per class.  PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME.

For more information, contact Rev. Lou Kavar,

Spiritual direction is a process through which an individual explores, develops, and deepens the spiritual dimension of life with the aid and guidance of a director or coach. It is a process whose focus is to better integrate the spiritual dimension of life with other life dimensions, including relationships, work, and leisure interests.

The Rev. Lou Kavar is available to you as a spiritual director.  For more information, contact Rev. Lou (Click here).

For Plymouth Harbor:

Hospitality Volunteers Needed 

Plymouth Harbor needs volunteers to sit by the entrance doors and welcome the participants and their families on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  Most people arrive between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, making this very appreciated contribution an easy morning. Please contact Kay  if you are interested.

THCA Wants to Get Fresh!!!

Toco Hills Community Alliance would like to expand our food pantry offerings to include produce and other fresh foods.  Much of these products are available at little or no cost to us, but, WE NEED REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS!  Among our eight churches, there have to be people with an old fridge in their garage or a chest freezer in their basement that is not being used. If you would like to make a tax deductable donation, or have a strong back and/or a truck, please contact  Mary Louise Wilson. Stay tuned to hear how God provides!

The story is that a long-time member of Central, Trudy Sanford, brought a fig tree from the Holy Land many years ago. It continues to bless us with its beauty and figs next to the pond by the front entrance of the church. Does anyone know more of the details of this story? Please contact Rev. Ginnie.

After 18 years of conference ministry in Ohio, Pacific NW, and Montana-North Wyoming, Randy retired on Halloween, 2011. Then he was lured back into service by the opportunity to help the SEC "bridge the gap" as it looks for a new Designated Conference Minister.  The duties of a Conference Minister are broad in scope,  but what is most compelling for Randy in SEC is its diversity and the way it has been attracting new affiliations, new leaders, and new church starts. This all bodes well for the future of the UCC! You can contact  Rev. Hyvonen by email.

After an intense search led by the Board of Trustees of Pacific School of Religion, members voted to elect The Rev. Stephen L. Sterner as Acting President of the seminary on Tuesday, July 23. Sterner has Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Lancaster Theological Seminary. He has been an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ for 43 years, serving in new and historic churches across the US. In 2008, he became Executive Minister for Local Church Ministries of the UCC in Cleveland, Ohio. Steve Sterner served as Senior Minister of our church, Central Congregational UCC in the 1980's and 1990's.

He and his wife Judy have 2 grown children, and Steve will be coming to PSR from residence in South Carolina. Visit www.psr.edu in the coming weeks to find out more about Rev. Sterner and our next steps towards a bold, new PSR.