July 1, 2016   

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together!  
How, then, shall we live?
So much distress in our world! How, then, shall we live?
We have the parables of Jesus to guide us, such as the story of the Good Samaritan, a model for crossing societal norms to help another. The Sufi tell a similar story about a spiritual seeker who was so distracted by the sick, crippled, and beaten down who continuously passed by as he tried to pray that he cried out to God, "How is it that a loving creator can see such things and do nothing about them?" Out of the silence, God said, "I did do something about them. I created you."

How shall we live in this post-Istanbul, post-Pulse, post-San Bernadino, post-Sandy Hook, post-Columbine world? A friend whose daughter lives in Orlando shared this message from her. It's long, but so worth a read.

"I have come to see that what we are told are the 'real issues' behind 49 dead are lies, or at best half truths, contrived to give us an easy out from the real issue: that we have brought these horrors upon ourselves. That is a hard thing to hear but the truth is that we have created a society where this kind of horror is inevitable. As much as we want to blame something outside of us-guns, government, terrorists, the FBI, the mental health system-they are not to blame for this or any other atrocity we have faced. They are institutions that need to be examined thoughtfully and adjusted with prudence but they are not to blame. We are.
"We have become so enamored of our own opinions that anyone else's viewpoint is to be screamed down. We rejoice in name-calling. We delight in blaming "stupid boys" or "bitchy girls" for our inability to work with the opposite sex. We hide behind our faith and yell at fags and queers and freaks and whores. We hide behind our "right" to scream in public at "baby killers" and "welfare queens." We talk about black lives and blue lives instead of valuing all lives.
"We tolerate words and actions that would put a school child in detention but we use them freely on the internet and social media and, at times, with each other in person. We separate, divide and classify and then take pleasure in shaming another to feel superior in our own position. We imbibe "news" and media that provokes the most visceral emotional responses from us while calling thoughtful debate boring or uninteresting. We have become a nation of people who thirst for conflict instead of understanding.
"It should not take death for us to come together, but it often appears that this is the case... but only for a moment... and then the fighting resumes: my side, your side, our side, their side... and we all lose as we lower more bodies into the ground. Is it any wonder that our government is impotent when we cannot even have a civil discussion among ourselves?
"I KNOW that I can do better and these wonderful people who lost their lives DEMAND that I do. Their lives demand that I not allow their deaths to become fodder for a political party or agenda or an excuse for more hatred and division. Their lives demand that I take a hard, hard look in the mirror and see what I can do within my own sphere of influence to change the world.
"Every time we turned our heads away as some parent became unhinged at our child's soccer coach, every time we participated in a thread online that involved name calling and belittling of others, every time we "liked" and shared that meme poking fun at a fat person in Wal-Mart, each time we heard someone bully another and we stood by and did nothing, and every time we ourselves separate and classify each other, hate spreads. It spreads to our children so that they hurt so badly they kill their classmates and teachers and then they kill themselves. It spreads to our young people until they feel so utterly helpless that they too act out and harm those around them.
"If hate can spread, if we can change our social landscape so much as to allow inflammatory words and actions to become the norm, WE CAN CHANGE IT BACK. We have to change it back. Their lives... all of them from Oklahoma to Sandy Hook to Pulse... demand we do. I am making that promise to myself, and to my own child who will inherit the world that I create for him, that I will check my words before I say or print them, I will listen first and explain with compassion always, and that I will call out hate no matter how insignificant it may seem.
"We got to this point by ignoring the small infractions until finally they became horrific ones. I vow to do all I can to reverse that tide. I challenge you to do it too... and to spread the message that hate has no place in this country. It is only when we stop feeding this beast that we will ever be able to come together and solve the bigger issues that do face us... our broken mental health system, our failing schools, our impotent government, and the gaping holes in our gun laws... and solve them with prudence and common sense and not knee-jerk reactionary policy. We cannot reach the summit of a mountain without the first step. We are proving that much on a daily basis. We have to do something different. We have to BECOME different. And it starts with each one of us."
                                                                                    Pastor Ginny
  
SUMMER WORSHIP TIME... begins Sunday!
We return to informal "cafe church" in air-conditioned Cook Hall (Sundays at 9:30 in July and August). Our summer theme is "Finding God in the World." Breakfast will be provided!
Breakfast hosts are needed. Sign up on bulletin board or call Sue. 
 
TGIF- Fridays in the Summer
Join us for summer fellowship. Guests bring an appetizer or dessert to share. BYOB. Bring family & friends! Sign up to host!
TONIGHT: Sherry Poulson, 251 Silver Street, N Granby
July 8: Ginny & Doug's, 10R Greenwoods Rd, N Granby
July 15: Rowles, 19 Farmview Lane, Granby
July 22: Ford, 48 Day St South, West Granby
July 29: Letendre/Reek, 12 Fairmount Lane, Granby
Hosting slots are still open for August 5, 26, and September 2 
 
TAKE A WATER BOTTLE! 
When we re-gather on Homecoming Sunday, September 11, we will mark the beginning of the new church year by celebrating "A GATHERING OF THE WATERS." What is that, you ask?
People bring to the service a small amount of water from a place that is special to them. During the service, people one by one pour their water into a large bowl. As the water is added, the person who brought it tells why this water is special to them. The combined water will symbolize our shared faith coming from many different sources.
We have special one-ounce bottles for you to take with you on your travels this summer. Don't forget to take one!

EVERYDAY SAINTS - We want your nominations! 
Starting in September we begin a year-long celebration of people who've changed our lives. Some Sundays we will highlight the life and contributions of a public figure who is an inspiration to us. Other Sundays we will celebrate the lives of "saints among us," local people, who have had a positive impact on others. Nominate your favorite saints!

HANDY HELPERS NEEDED
Can you tune a mower, repair a broken stair tread, or program a cable TV remote?
Contact Sue or Ginny to add your name to a list we can call on when these needs arise among our frail elders.

MEALS-TO-GO - Help stock the freezer!
During the summer our Sunday Kitchen crew takes a break. But there are still 12-15 folks who look forward to that extra healthy, home cooked meal. When you prepare a meal, how about packaging and labeling the extra, and putting it in the church freezer so we can continue to help others?

COMPANIONSHIP
Could you spend a couple of hours in someone's home to give the caregiver a bit of respite - or just time to run a few errands? Call Ginny if you can help.

HOW DOES OUR GARDEN GROW?
With a little help from you! Come help water and weed.
Wednesdays 5-6pm and Saturdays 10-noon
With some community effort, our community garden will produce even more than last year!

FCC Men's Group - Reminder!
Sign up for the Habitat for Humanity days as part of our summer work project!!

Habitat house underway in Granby!
The foundation is in! And Don Shaw has managed to reserve five Saturdays for work teams from Granby's two UCC congregations. Sign up on the bulletin board across from the church office. There are just a couple of spots left.
NEW DATE!  July 16  
August 13 
September 10   (FULL) 
October 8 
November 5 
Volunteers must complete an application before they work. First-time volunteers, click here. Returning volunteers, click here. 
ABOUT THE YOUTH PERSPECTIVE TRIP, July 31 - Aug 6
While in Washington DC...
Dr Sayyid Syeed , National Director of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), awarded the HCEF 2015 Faith and Tolerance Award, has invited us to go with him to a Friday Prayer Vigil in the Capitol Building with members of congress from 12:30 - 1:00 on August 5th. He said on the phone "You are a blessing. Only in America could something like this happen!" He was thrilled that we want to meet with Muslim youth, and create interfaith dialogue--understanding and experiences that could counterbalance the fear and stigmatizing that result from events like the Orlando shooting.
 
TUESDAY SUMMER MOVIE NIGHTS 
for YOUTH, begin on July 5th, 7:30
  "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" 
 
Sunday night youth meet 
July 10, 17, & 24th, 
but not on July 3rd. 
 

Contacts 

Sue Miltenberger (Office Manager)
Rev. Ginny McDaniel (Senior Minister)

Rebecca Brown (Leader, Children & Youth Ministry 

Jerron Jorgensen (Music Director)

Church Office Phone: 860-653-4537   

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