The Season of Pentecost is an invitation to dream.
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Sunday, May 22, 2016 
Trinity Sunday
Worship at 8:30am with Communion & at 11:00am
Preaching: Rev. Lacey
Pericope of the day: John 15:26-16:15  
Worship Notes:
The Doctrine of the Trinity holds that God is three persons, each person is distinct, each person is fully God, and that there is one God. The Nicene Creed -adopted by the church in 325- describes Jesus as, "God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father." The Trinity means that God is in loving mutual relationship with God-self and that we are called to participate in that ongoing outpouring of love and relationship. 

Are you confused or does it all make perfect sense? How do you understand the nature of our triune God? What does Father, Son, and Holy Spirit mean to you? In John 16, Jesus tells his disciples he is returning the Father and in his absence the "advocate" will come. Their lives about to be turned upside down because Jesus is headed to the cross but they are promised comfort by the "spirit" that will remain with them. What does all of this mean for our lives today? Is there Good News to be found in the Doctrine of the Trinity?
BUDGET AND LEADERSHIP CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: JUNE 5

The annual Budget and Leadership Election Meeting will be on Sunday, June 5, following worship.  Items on the agenda include:
  1.  The 2016-2017 Operating Budget
  2. Amendments to The Articles that are intended to remove the "mandatory" term limits on boards and committees and continues our suspension of the Board of Christian Stewardship.  (The full text of the proposed amendments is available in the church office.)
  3. The Nominating Report for church leadership
  4.  The recommendations for 2016 Endowment Grants.
While we may "discuss" other topics, these are the only items on which we may take action at this meeting.  The meeting will also include several "celebrations."
 
All the documents will be available at the church chats on May 22 & 29. 
Following worship this Sunday, May 22 we will gather outside for a church luncheon. This is a pot-luck event so please bring a side item, dessert, or drink to share. We will have plenty of hot-dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers coming off the grill. If you have out-door games you can bring or if you have a hidden talent for face-painting please contact lacey@central-ucc.org. There will be tables and chairs inside for those who wish to get out of the heat. 
WOMEN'S DAYTIME BOOK GROUP: May 26 at 1:30pm
The book is In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume, the first adult novel by the beloved young adult author.  Our informal group meets in the Fireplace Room, every four-to-six weeks. Great conversation always. Read and attend as you can, with no commitment.  Send an e-mail to Geneva Benoit if you would like to be on the email list.
OFFICE CLOSED:  Monday, May 30
Central's Office will be closed Monday, May 30th in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday. The office will reopen Tuesday, May 31st and Vanessa will return on Wednesday, June 1st.
Day of Service at Central UCC 
Saturday, June 4- PLEASE RSVP
(8:30am-12:30pm)
It's time to give back to the campus, forest, and building that has given so much to us. On June 4th we plan to mulch the trails, weed the gardens, pressure wash the sidewalks, wash the windows, organize the kitchen, and landscape our beautiful green spaces. No matter what your skill level is there will be a job for you so please don't hesitate to RSVP. Do you want to participate? Do you have garden tools and extra work gloves we could borrow? What type of job would you like to do? Please contact Debbie Spearman with questions and suggestions. See you on June 4! 
Parent and Student Meeting 
South GA Farmworkers Health Project
Sunday, June 5, 9:30-10:30am 
Our week-long, service trip to Valdosta, Georgia is almost here. Join us as we gather to go over important details at our parent/student meeting on Sun., June 5. At this meeting Rev. Lacey will answer any questions you might have and also give out a "packing list" and room assignments for the trip. We will leave following worship on Sunday, June 19 and arrive back in Atlanta on June 24 around lunch time. If you haven't turned in your permission form or check- please do so ASAP.  Email Rev. Lacey.
She Was the Blue of the Sky
by Salena Ashby Harrell
Last Sunday on Pentecost, part of Salena's poem became our Gathering Litany in worship. In striking images, Salena wrote a narrative poem that was chosen by Lakeside High School and also by the district, Dekalb County, as the winner of the Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition. We are delighted to share her poem. You may download it by clicking here.
Membership Exploration (Office Conf. Rm)
June 5, 12, 19; join June 26
Looking to journey with spiritual pilgrims? Have you been considering Central as your community of faith? This 3-part class is specifically designed to share stories and information about Central and the UCC with those who are considering membership. While attendance at all three sessions is not necessary and attendance at all classes does not obligate you to anything, participants will have the opportunity to join Central at the end of this series of classes.
Questions? Contact Rev. Michael.



Earth Topics: Monday,
June 6, 6:30-8:00pm (Fireplace Room)
Last month, Ron Smith gave a presentation about sustainability. That very helpful presentation and discussion gave us a framework to think about the complexity of comprehending sustainability and of living sustainably. In June, Matt Carter will do a presentation about solar energy. Finding sustainable and renewable energy sources is one of the big questions with which we need to grapple. All are welcome to join us for this ongoing exploration of sustainability. For more information email Rev. Ginnie.
SE CONFERENCE OF THE UCC Annual Meeting (June 10-11)
50TH ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
We're excited for this year's annual meeting, our Jubilee year! We are pleased to be welcomed back to the lovely Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. Although the final details are still being arranged, the online registration is now open at www.secucc.org. There will be a Members in Discernment Retreat on Thursday-Friday. MIDS have received information about this retreat. There will be a Clergy Retreat on Thursday and Friday led by Rev. Kathy Clark, formerly staff to Southeast Conference and now on the national UCC staff.
Childcare is available every Sunday 
from 8:30 AM T0 12:15 PM (Rm 201)

Pre-School Bible Story Time
11:00 AM TO 12:00 PM (Rm 202)

Children's Sacred Program: Godly Play
5 YEARS OLD TO FIRST GRADES - GODLY PLAY
10:50 Gather in Room 202; 11:00 AM The Godly Play teachers bring the children from Room 202 to Room 207 where the Godly Play program happens! In the Godly Play program is a sacred time with our children. Its story and reflection, community sharing and prayer, feast and blessing. All the parts of Godly Play make for the whole sacred time. The room is set up so that the children can live visually, verbally and with hands-on connections in the middle of the stories of our faith. The children hear sacred stories of the Old and New Testament, Jesus' parables, stories about Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter and stories about the church. After they hear the story, the kids have a chance to wonder about the story in conversation and respond to the story using art. We wrap up our special time together with a community time of sharing, praying and blessing.

SECOND TO FIFTH GRADES - GODLY PLAY
At 9:30 in Room 208. The 2nd to 5th Grade Sunday School will be exploring the Old Testament all year. For the older children, we, too, are engaging the older children in a sacred time of story, reflection, sharing, praying and blessing. With all the "liturgy" of our hour together, we hope for the children to gain a sense of the mystery and sacredness of God's presence in their lives.

Children's Music
Central's Children's Music Group includes children in grades 1-5.  Children attending the 11:00 worship service leave with the Music Director during the closing hymn, and meet in Room 209, dismissing at 12:30. The Children's Music Group incorporates a mixture of vocal and instrumental music (tone chimes, barred instruments, percussion). On several Sundays each year, the children participate in the 11:00 AM worship, sharing the music they have learned. 
Contact: Rev. Ginnie 
Sunday Morning Opportunities to Connect

Conversations: 
Sundays, 9:30-10:45am (Room 204) 
Come join our small group at any time.  Our only dogma is "no-prep."  Our current DVD, featuring Walter Brueggemann (back by popular demand), reframes the Exodus story in surprising ways.  Brueggemann says, "It is a journey from slavery to covenant that we keep making over and over again . . . [because] Pharaoh has immense power always to draw us back into slavery." In thinking about our modern lives, how have we been drawn back into slavery?  Drop in as your schedule allows and you'll find lively conversation and a warm community.  Contact Sally Harrell.  
 
Practical Theology:
Sundays, 9:30-10:45am (Room 206)
Practical Theology: A Just Peace Covenant Community Class studies, explores and takes action on current issues.  We focus on scholarly Biblical and Progressive Theological issues of the day. 
Date: May 22nd:  There will be no Class.  We will attend the Church Chat.
Date: May 29th:  We will begin our search for a new study.  Please be prepared with some suggestions.

Sacred Journeys:
Sundays, 9:30-10:45am (Library, Fellowship Hall)
Each week this group explores how spirit guides our personal journeys, and we gain new insights by listening to each other.  It is a sacred hour +, from 9:30 to about 10:50, where the discussion might be inspired one week by a poem, another by an excerpt from a book, a film clip, or an audio tape. Contact Peter Benoit.
Camp Beech Grove
Registration Is Open: central-ucc.org
6 wks, May 31-July 8,
All-Day Sessions, 5-8 years
Our small camp (24 maximum campers) offers young children opportunities to play in and learn about the forest and its habitats.  Every day the kids enjoy forest walks and soak in all they can see, touch and hear. For more information, email: beechgrove@central-ucc.org  
 
Need Volunteers for Montclair Connection to Camp Beech Grove
the week of June 27 - July 1 and
the week of July 5 - July 8 
 
We very greatly need breakfast providers and lunch makers  during  the weeks of June 27 - July 1 and July 5 - 8 for Montclair Children attending Camp Beech Grove:
  • Bag lunch makers to coordinate with breakfast servers (Work at home)
  • Breakfast servers to bring a simple breakfast to the Montclair Elementary School about 8:15am and serve the children around 8:30am. You will be done at 9:00 am when the bus takes the children to Central UCC.

There are folks who can give detailed instructions of what needs to happen for these two volunteer jobs. Thank you for considering. 

 
If you have questions or interest, please contact Rev. Ginnie.
A Forest from used materials
There is a wonderful book called "The Tin Forest" by Helen Ward. In it an old man creates a forest out of trash. What small treasures do you have that could help us create a miniature forest from used materials. The campers at Camp Beech Grove will be working on their own forest. Please bring any items to the church office.
If you have questions, contact Rev. Ginnie.
Donate to our ministries today!
Central UCC wouldn't be the amazing community of faith that it is, without your on going support. Thank you for giving. Your generosity is changing lives. 
CLEAN UP, CLEAN UP, EVERY BODY EVERY WHERE! THCA
Toco Hills Community Alliance is looking for someone, or a team of some ones to come in one afternoon a week, for about an hour to sweep and mop our premises. We have about 100 people a day coming through, eating lunch and getting groceries, so our floors get pretty dirty.  There is a lot of flexibility on times. Any time after 3:45pm and before 11:30 am would work well.  This would be a great summer service project for a family.  Please contact Mary-Louise Wilson at marylouisew1@aol.com, if you feel you could help.
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