Chicken BBQ: We’re still crunching the numbers to see how successful our Annual Chicken BBQ/Fundraiser for the Center for the Family was in terms of dollars. By all other measures, however, the big event was another great one! Thanks to all who volunteered---we couldn’t do it without you! And thanks to all of the family and extended family who bought and sold tickets. Kudos to the Chicken BBQ committee -- Harry Meehan, Buzz Kraus, Judith Nelson, Jim Cumming, Herb Sodher, Chuck Kochheiser, Grover Rose --- for another job well done!
You're Invited to Eleanor's Ecclesiastical Council: On Friday night, June 20, delegates and pastors from other churches in the Hudson-Mohawk Association of the UCC will gather at our church to examine Eleanor's fitness for ordination. At this "ecclesiastical council," Eleanor will present portions of her theology paper and then take questions from the assembly. Anyone is welcome to come and ask a question. At the end of the question-and-answer period, there will be a brief vote, followed by a dessert reception. The fun begins at 6:30pm and runs through approximately 8:30pm on Friday, June 20, here at the church. All interested parties are invited.
Our thanks to Terry Diggory for filling in as guest sermon presenter last week in Jay’s absence.
Register for Silver Bay Retreat: Registration and deposits for the Silver Bay Retreat (September 20th & 21st) are needed by the church office by June 30th. The retreat is an educational and fellowship experience for our entire church family held at the Silver Bay YMCA camp and conference center on Lake George. Dr. Timothy Johnson is our keynote speaker and we have planned a number of afternoon workshops suited to a variety of interests. Registration forms are available in the foyer or call Julie in the church office. We’d love to have you join us!
Plastic Bags Needed: The EOC is in need of plastic grocery bags for the food pantry. The bags can be left at the soup kitchen here at church or taken to the EOC office on New Street (just off of Route 50 at ESPY.)
Our Summer Schedule starts July 6: During the month of July, there will be a worship service here at 10:45am on Sundays, or you have the option of a 9am service at the United Methodist Church on Henning Road at the corner of Fifth Avenue. (NOTE: The same minister will do both services. Childcare will be available at the 9am service only.) During August there is ONE service at 9am at the United Methodist Church. Sermon duties are shared among the United Methodist ministers, Jay and Eleanor. On September 7th, we’re back to our regular 10:45am service at 24 Circular Street.
Summer Office Hours: Our office hours become somewhat “irregular” from June 26th through September 3rd. Voice mail and email will be checked frequently, however, so feel free to leave or send a message. We will get back to you in a timely fashion.
Loans for College Education: The PNECC Krumal Fund Committee wishes to remind members and friends of the church community that the committee is accepting applications for no interest loans for college or post-graduate education. Students faced with the need for a modest loan to help facilitate the costs of higher education are encouraged to apply. For further information or to request Krumal Fund loan applications feel free to contact committee member Chuck Kochheiser at 581-7578 or leave a request with Julie in the church office at 584-6091.
Help with Summer Gardening! The spring clean up day put our plant beds in good shape and we need your help to keep them looking that way over the summer. Please sign up to cover a week of watering the beds and planted barrels, if needed, light weeding to keep up with it, and any minor things to keep the beds looking good for the summer. A sign up sheet is in the fellowship hall. Call Don McPherson with any questions (584 – 9412.)
Be Generous with Your Tax Rebate: Congress has authorized billions of dollars to be sent to taxpayers as rebates. Imagine what might happen if 10, 20 or 30 percent of that was designated by the citizenry to go to charity. How many hungry folks might be fed. How many homeless folks might be housed. How many people experiencing disaster could be helped. Consider using part (or all!) of your rebate to help others.
You can give through the church to a "Katrina Fund" that will go to both the church we have been assisting in New Orleans and to our own church members on their next mission trip. (Just put "Katrina Fund" in the memo of your donation and either put in the plate or mail it in.)
You can give directly to help out in the current disasters through the national churches:
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (www.pcusa.org/pda/)
(They have access to the remote sections of Myanmar through Church World Service.)
UCC International Disaster Relief or UCC Emergency USA (www.ucc.org/disaster/)
(One Great Hour of Sharing also supports some of these efforts.)
Or support your favorite local or international charity.
