Mar - United Christian Parish

Volume 21
Issue 3
March 2014
Lent
I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and
petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Daniel 9:3
For many Christian denominations and churches, Ash Wednesday, March 5, is the clarion call to “Repent and
believe the gospel” (Mk 1:15). For the following 40 days, the faithful willingly submit to fasting and self-denial in imitation of
Our Lord’s forty-day fast in the desert. It is in these dark and still nights, these desert-times, that the soul experiences its greatest growth. There, in the inner arena, the soul battles the world, the flesh and the devil just as Our Lord battled Satan’s triple
temptation in the desert. His battle was external, for Jesus could not sin; our battle is interior, but with a hope sustained by the
knowledge of Christ’s Easter victory over sin and death. Lent is a time of fasting, repentance, moderation, prayer, study and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside a time for reflection on Jesus Christ—His suffering, His sacrifice His life, death, burial
and resurrection.
Pilgrimage of Understanding—
Israel-Palestine, 2014
a UCP six week forum series
By Rev. Dr. Walter Owensby
Secretary of State John Kerry is reported on the verge of
unveiling a framework agreement for Israeli-Palestinian peace
developed with the regional antagonists. This is the most
assertive involvement of the U.S. to date in trying to help
resolve the 65 year stand-off.
series “Pilgrimage
of Understanding –
Israel-Palestine 2014.” The programs will be held in Rms.
113-114 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on successive Sundays from
March 2-April 6.
If all goes as hoped, final status negotiations may be underway
in April when a group from UCP and the Washington metroarea will journey to the region as part of the congregation’s
Travel Ministry.
Leaders are well-grounded in the religious significance of
the area as well as having long-standing involvement in the
region’s political realities and the search for a just and enduring peace. Several video resources will also be used as bridges
to comprehensive discussion. Here’s what’s in store:
Before that, however, the travelers will be joined by many others from the congregation and the Reston area in a six-session
Continue on p. 2
1
Forum
Continue form p. 1
March 2 – “IsraelPalestine: Deep
Background”
The issues that so
confound us did not
begin in 1948. They
have roots in: biblical
history; two millennia of Christendom
that resulted in the
persecution of Jews
Dr. Owensby
and crusades against
Muslims; centuries of militant Islam
culminating in the 500 year Ottoman
Empire; and European colonial hubris
that led to an irrational carving-up of
the Middle East after World War I. The
leader, the Rev. Dr. Walter Owensby is
a regular at UCP. His ties to the region
began with a year of undergraduate
study at the American University of
Beirut. A four-decade ministerial career
in the Presbyterian Church (USA)
concluded with 15 years at the denomination’s Washington Office that had
a focus on Middle East advocacy and
included numerous trips to Israel-Palestine and other countries in the region.
Susan Wilder, a Presbyterian Church
(USA) minister who will also lead the
UCP trip to Israel-Palestine. She has
lived in Jerusalem as part of a family in
diplomatic service and more recently
has served as Representative for Middle
East Policy in the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
March 16 – “The
Occupiers and the
Occupied”
Israelis live with a national fear of
extinction and thus with a determination to do whatever is necessary for their
own security. Palestinians are not only
separated between Gaza and the West
Bank. They are confronted with making
a life and developing a national identity
while being cut-off from one another,
from Israel and most of the world by the
Israeli separation barrier, Israeli settlements developed on Palestinian lands,
and Israeli laws that superintend every
aspect of Palestinian life. In the West
Bank, all this is enforced by an everpresent Israeli military. This disproportion of power not only maintains
impoverishment among most Palestinians but also feeds bitterness and mutual
distrust between them and Israel.
March 23 – “Searching
March 9 – “The
Peace, Security
Current Dilemma— for
Justice”
one land, two peoples, and
This has been the
three religions”
hope of most Israelis
Israel-Palestine is a
holy land with a notalways-holy history
vacillating between
euphoric hope, religious tensions, cultural
divides, and political
conflict. Israel has
Rev. Wilder
emerged as an economically developed country and a regional
military powerhouse while Palestinians
chafe under poverty, powerlessness and
military occupation. The presenter for
this and the next session will be the Rev.
and Palestinians, most
nations and most
churches for over
60 years. Yet despite
much diplomatic
pressure, numerAmbassador
ous conferences, and
Clark
a quarter century of
“peace process,” realities on the ground
are by most measures worse than ever.
The broad outline of what an agreement
might look like is widely acknowledged
even among many Israelis and Palestinians. Why then have peace talks failed
thus far? Is there any reason for greater
hope now? These and other questions
and issues will be addressed by Ambassador Warren Clark, a retired career
diplomat with the U.S. State Department and now director of Churches for
Middle East Peace. Ambassador Clark
is a member of the Episcopal Church
who began his retirement with studies at
the denomination’s Virginia Theological
Seminary.
March 30 – “The Role
of U.S. Policy in IsraelPalestine”
It has been asserted
for decades that U.S.
involvement in seeking Israeli-Palestinian
peace is indispensable.
If so, why? Our country has many interests
in the Middle East but
a “special relationship” Ambassador
Wilcox
with Israel is readily acknowledged. What does that mean and
how can it be expressed without impairing our efforts to broker a peace agreement? How do these issues play out in
the volatile and partisan politics within
the U.S. itself? These are among issues
that will be addressed by Ambassador
Philip Wilcox, also a career diplomat
with the U.S. State Department who
served at one point as U.S. Counsel in
Jerusalem. Now retired from government service, Ambassador Wilcox is
President of the Foundation for Middle
East Peace.
April 6 – “What Can We
Do?”
Pursuing peace and justice for Israelis
and Palestinians is not just for diplomats and bureaucrats. Ordinary Americans and church persons have a role as
well. That will be explored by Melinda
Thompson a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary. She has made five trips
to Israel-Palestine since 2006, is active
in the Middle East Concerns Team
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United Christian Parish of Reston
Enchiladas are like “Loaves and Fishes” at shelter
By Marilyn Silvey
Our weekly UCP preparation of Thursday dinner for 30 clients and staff at
the county’s Hypothermia Prevention
Shelter in Reston is generally predictable
by now—after all, we’ve been doing it
annually since the four-month winter
emergency shelter for our homeless
neighbors was opened nine years ago.
But snow changes everything.
Some years back, Ellyn Mukai was
scheduled to be the cook on a Thursday
when snow was predicted. Upon hearing the weather report in advance, Ellyn
and sous-chefs Jane Lynch
and Susan Erdman headed
for a grocery store to buy
needed foods for the
planned shelter meal, and
to the UCP kitchen to pick
up things like paper plates,
large foil dishes to cook in,
and coffee. Grace Borders,
dessert maker that week,
also heard the snow forecast and got ready.
So when the snow hit with
a vengence that Thursday, the cooks
were ready to cook at Ellyn’s home, and
that is what they did. But the issue became how to get the dinner to the shelter, across town. It took a lot of phone
calls to find a parishioner with a 4-wheel
drive car, but Mitch Chambliss came to
the rescue. Starting about 4:30 pm he
drove through the heavy snow, first to
Grace’s to pick up dessert, then to Ellyn’s
to load up the dinner, kept warm in an
insulated cooler, and finally to deliver it
all to the shelter for the waiting hungry
clients.
History came close to repeating itself this
year on Thursday, February 13. Actually,
while that was the day Penny Johnson
was scheduled to cook, two days earlier
she heard the weather forecast of heavy
snow the night of Feb. 12 and she called
me to propose that she and sous-chef
Kathy Kelley do the shopping and
cooking on Wednesday, and take the
food to the Rucker Shelter to refrigerate
overnight. But, she asked, could Rucker
Shelter staffers heat up the food and
transport it to the Hypothermia Shelter on Thursday? A call to our contact
at Cornerstones, which manages both
shelters for the county, confirmed that
was indeed possible. So Penny arranged
to take off work on Wed. and she and
Kathy went into action.
Then there was the matter of the bingo
game and the large bag of prizes that
we faithfully take to the Hypothermia
Shelter each week. Could we again
find a UCP member with a 4-wheel
drive car, and a work schedule that
would allow for transport of these items,
which are much-appreciated by shelter
clients? That proved a lot easier this time
around, as the assigned volunteers for
Feb. 13 were Jim McConnell and Claudia Stallings,
who have one 4-wheel
drive and one front-wheel
drive car, and who said
they “were not intimidated
by snow.” They agreed to
pick up the bingo game
and prizes at the church
on Wed. night, before the
snowstorm hit.
It all went like clockwork,
as the saying goes. The
food for 30—beef enchiladas, cheese
enchiladas for vegetarians, Spanish rice,
salad, roasted vegetables and chocolate
chip pudding—was prepared on Wed.
and taken to the Rucker Shelter, wellmarked with heating instructions and
final destination. The snow hit, right
on schedule Wed. night. Thursday late
afternoon, Jim and Claudia drove to the
Hypothermia Shelter at the usual 5:15—
and found nearly 40 clients there instead
of the usual maximum of 25, and most
of the dinner already eaten!
It seems that Rucker Shelter management decided to open the Hypothermia
Shelter early on Thursday because of the
heavy snow and to open an extra room
at the county building for additional
clients who, like the rest, would sleep
on thin mats on the floor. Of course the
clients were famished, and lit into the
meal early.
The following day, Claudia reported
on the evening. Everything went well,
she said, the food was great, the clients
especially like the special dessert, and
the only problem was that there were
not enough bingo cards for everyone to
have one or two, as usual, so the clients
had to share.
But, I asked Claudia, how was there
enough food? The meal was planned for
30 maximum, did it really stretch to feed
more than 40, perhaps 50, with staff?
Oh yes, Claudia said, there was plenty.
I should not have worried. Stories from
the Bible often are repeated in modern
life. This time it was like “The Loaves
and the Fishes.” When there is love and
caring for others, and there is sharing,
there can always be enough food.
Forum
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of National Capital Presbytery, and
is a member of the
Leadership Council of
Sabeel, an Ecumenical
Theological Center
based in Jerusalem.
Assisting her will be
Rev. Welch
The Reverend Rosemary Welch, a UCP
member who is a United Methodist
Church minister and former Consultant
of the Institute of Cultural Affairs. They
will review the policies and perspectives
of the denominational sponsors of UCP
in working for peace in Israel-Palestine
and focus on concrete ways to become
personally involved.
These six sessions will go a long way
in helping us better understand the
complexities of the relationship between
Israelis and Palestinians. More importantly, they will help us see how we can
be meaningfully involved in helping
to establish a just and lasting peace between two peoples – both of whom who
have endured too much suffering and
strife. Join in this “Pilgrimage of Understanding” that begins at UCP March
2 – and bring a friend! There are still
some openings to join the trip to Israel/
Palestine on (April 22 - May 3). Anyone
interested in going should contact Jean
Banks at [email protected].
3
Saturday, March 1
UCP Mardi
Gras Talent
& Chili Night
Chili supper at 5:00 pm (Fellowship Hall)
Chili needed
Entertainment: 6:00 pm (Sanctuary)
Great night for entertainment &
to JUST HAVE FUN AT UCP
The UCP MARDI GRAS is an intergenerational evening of assorted entertainment including comedians, soloists, large groups, small groups, magic
act, instrumentalists and vocalists, with/without karaoke, and/or combinations of all of the above & the evening will end with line dancing.
Invite your friends and neighbors, wear your “WILD
BEADS and/OR WILD WIG”, and have a blast being entertained and/or being part of the entertainment.
Prize for bringing the most people—be sure they all sign in with contact
info & list your name—all must be present for you to win.
Karaoke machine available
Bring non-perishable food item to share with Cornerstone
For more information contact: Cheryl Fields, [email protected]; Penny
Johnson (chili),[email protected]; Jeff Smith, [email protected];
Kathy Schauer-Schmidt, [email protected]
4
United Christian Parish of Reston
MONTHLY FILM:
“Children of Congo”
By Kay Rodgers
Who: UCP members, friends, and neighbors
What: UCP’s Community Movie Night (free admission)
Where: Room 117 at UCP
JMT to premier
advocacy skills
workshop
By Louisa Davis
When: Friday, Mar. 21, 7 p.m.
Why: To view the documentary film, Children of Congo:
From War to Witchcraft
Children of Congo: From
War to Witchcraft presents
the realities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) that are the motivation for UCP’s joining the
“Congo Initiative” to give
assistance to the African
nation. This is a difficult film
to watch but come see it
anyway. You will learn about
the economic, social, and
political crises that cause displacements, poverty, homelessness, illness, disease,
accidents, and hunger. You
also will learn about efforts
to counter these crises.
The DRC gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Five
million people died during the ten-year period prior to the
documentary because of war and the aftermath of war. Onehalf of the deaths were children under the age of five years.
There is continued battling, poverty, and violence in the
streets. There is child prostitution and disintegration in most
areas of life.
As you will see in the film, a number of organizations are
working to provide much- needed education, training, health
care, and affordable housing in the Congo, and they are attempting to create a sense of community and hope, especially
for the children. L’Oeuvre de Reclassement et de Protection
des Enfants de la Rue (ORPER), Habitat for Humanity, the Don
Bosco Orphanage, and others are working in Kinshasha and
Goma with aggressive street children and others in an effort to
bring hope to a seemingly hopeless situation.
There is a great need for hope in the Congo. People without
hope are people without a future. In practical terms, there is a
need for good government, for the development of infrastructure, and for the restoration of social integration. The need
is great. Come see the need and see why UCP is seeking to
contribute to transformation and renewal in this nation.
The documentary lasts about one hour. Light Beam Productions released the film, written and directed by Dan Balluff, in
2008. But the conditions shown have not changed since then.
No rating is provided for the documentary; viewer discretion is
advised. Discussion will follow.
On Sunday, March 9th,
at 12:30, at UCP, I will
be “premiering”—meaning doing a trial presentation —of the advocacy
skills workshop that
I have been asked to
offer at the national
Ecumenical Advocacy
Days conference later in
March.
I invite you to come and help me prepare my conference
presentation, and I think it will be an interesting exercise for
all who take part.
This will be the 12th annual Ecumenical Advocacy Day
gathering,open to all interested persons. This year’s theme is
“Resisting Violence, Building Peace,” and it will be held at the
Doubletree Hotel in Crystal City from March 21-24. Additional information including online registration may be found
at http://afdvocacydays.org/2014-resisting-violence-buildingpeace/
The title of my 45-minute workshop is “Power, Love and
Empathy forAdvocacy: An Introduction to Nonviolent Communication.”
We will be using the practical wisdom and deep spirituality of
Marshall Rosenberg, an American psychologist who created
Nonviolent Communication, a process to resolve conflicts
and differences peacefully. We will practice
1. Clarifying/empathizing with the humanizing feelings and
universal needs (or core values) that both we and our political
opponents likely have;
2. Making bridge-building concrete and in-the-moment
observations; and
3. Creating and persisting with positive, doable, timely, concrete requests
that move both our relationships and our work for peace and
right relations(justice) along with energy and co-creativity.
These simple skills of authentic and connecting “power with”
others can deepen, heal, and transform our own hearts, our
advocacy work, and our communities of faith and support.
Thanks in advance if you will be able to assist me.
5
PARISH PROFILES
Rhonda Savage
Church Administrator
(This series will focus on notables in our Parish who make a daily contribution to its success.)
Rhonda Savage was working at
Curves in Reston in 2008 when one
of the members noticed her friendliness and upbeat manner and asked
her a question: A local church was
looking for a new administrator,
might she be interested?
“Possibly,” Rhonda replied.
“I’ll ask our recently retired administrator to come and talk with you,” said Suzanne Rudiselle.
So Annette Reed stopped by and, as the saying goes, the rest is
history. Rhonda joined our staff that July.
Born in West Virginia, Rhonda married at 17 and lived in
Indiana, Korea (Army husband) and Texas before moving to
Northern VA in 1996. Over the years she earned an associate’s
degree in business management and worked at a variety of
places, including comScore Networks and Paragren Technologies, both in Reston. She finds her current job challenging.
“It’s the most difficult job I’ve ever had. It was a two-year
learning curve for me! There are so many details - such as different paperwork and guidelines for each of our four denominations.”
But she enjoys working at UCP.
“The people here are so kind and interesting; I really like the
interaction with everyone, and I love working with Pastor Joan,
she is very inspirational.”
Rhonda is very family-oriented and says her family—which
includes her mother, husband Steve, two step children, two
children and four grandchildren— “makes the world go
round”. Her mother lives in West Virginia and her son lives in
Indiana, but her daughter, Jennifer, lives here with her husband and four children, ages 9 to 16, and Rhonda does a lot
of things with them. Last year she brought her grandkids to our
Stop Hunger Now event.
Rhonda is also very involved in various arts and crafts, and
formerly taught classes in making greeting cards. At UCP’s
women’s retreat at Bethany Beach last year, she led the arts
and crafts session, She also enjoys doing “zentangle,” which
she describes as “yoga for the mind.”
After UCP had a series of part-time administrative assistants,
Rhonda suggested someone she describes as “dependable,
with great organizational skills”—her daughter, Jennifer, who
joined our church staff in August, 2012.
An Indiana eighth-grade field trip to Washington, D.C., is
Jennifer Marshak
Administrative Assistant
responsible for Jennifer Marshak being
in this area today.
“I fell in love with D.C. and said, ‘I’m
going to live here someday!’”
With that in mind, Jennifer applied
to Georgetown and George Mason
Universities. She was wait-listed at the
former and not offered enough financial aid at the latter. Then, a friend,
Jake Marshak, suggested The George
Washington University where he had been admitted.
“Money was very tight, but I applied at GW with my last $50,
and I received enough aid, fellowships and grants to be able to
go.”
Once at GW, the two began dating and they were married in
1995, after Jennifer earned a BA in Speech Communication.
Jake is currently Senior Director of Information Technology at
the Brookings Institution. They have four children: Gloria, 16;
Nathan, 14; Henry, 11; and Josephine, 9.
6
A stay-at-home mom for 14 years, Jennifer has been very
involved with her children’s activities, especially Girl Scouts
(troop leader for four years) and Boy Scouts (Cub Scout den
leader for five years and current committee member of a Cub
Scout Pack and a Boy Scout Venture Crew.) She is also very active at the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation where she
has a paid position as art teacher for children in grades K-6.
Raised Southern Baptist, Jennifer converted to Judaism after
her first child was born.
Before she started work in the UCP office, Jennifer Marshak
had no qualms about her part-time hours which “. . .allowed
me to ease back into the workforce and still be home when
my kids are,” or about working with her mother.
“We’ve always gotten along very well - except maybe for a
short while when I was a teenager!” she smiled.
Jennifer is back in school as well, taking classes at NVCC and
preparing to apply to George Mason University. Her goals are
to earn a masters’ degree in secondary education and become
a high school English teacher.
United Christian Parish of Reston
Alfred Norwood, Jr.
Sexton
Alfred Norwood, Jr. , who has been
our church full-time church sexton
since August, 2012, still has a bit
of an accent from his native North
Carolina, where he still visits as often
as he can.
Maryland and Delaware. These days, Alfred spends a lot of
time at Fairfax Hospital, where his oldest grandchild is being
treated for cancer. (We sadly report, that on Feb. 21, Alfred’s
grandson, Brandon Weaver, 24, succumbed to his illness. The
funeral is scheduled for Feb. 28 at Mount Olive Baptist Church
on Centerville Rd.)
“I don’t want to lose my accent or
lingo, and I cook—and eat—Southern style.”
Alfred studied electrical engineering at NOVA but has had a
wide variety of jobs over the years.
But he doesn’t get “back home” too often as his five children
and nine grandchildren (ages 9 – 24) are scattered in Virginia,
“I’m a ‘Jack of a Few Trades’ but I’m not a master of any,” he
laughs.
Michael Neal
Part-Time Sexton
Alfred and his wife live in Manassas and attend Mt. Calvary Baptist
Church in Alexandria, where he used
to sing in the choir. Asked to describe
himself, he said, “I’m a good, honest
man, full of humor, who loves to see
people laugh.”
ing painting, installing floors, co-owning a moving company
named “Pack Mules,” and working in construction.
Michael’s passion is fish—watching them, catching them,
cooking and eating them.
“When I was 11, my grandma gave me a small fish in a bowl,
and I just sat and looked at it, and that got me started. Now
I have three fish tanks, I go fishing wherever there is wate—I
caught a four-foot catfish in Manassas last year—and I make
crab pizza, fish tacos, and much more.”
Michael Neal, who joined our staff
in January, is also a man who likes to
laugh. He’s sorry that he and Alfred don’t often get to work together, for he says they are “like Batman and Robin” as a team. Michael attends Grace Covenant Church, which has buildings
in Chantilly and Sterling.
Born in Fairfax, Michael grew up in Manassas and has lived
in Reston for the past two years. He is currently looking for
a full-time job and has had a variety of experience – includ-
Women In The Spirit (W.I.T.S.)
One-Day Retreat
DATE: Saturday, March 15, 2014
TIME: 10 AM to 3 PM
PLACE: United Christian Parish of Reston, ROOM 107
Kay Rodgers will lead us is a one-day women’s retreat. Our focus will be on bringing calm into our lives through play, story, and contemplation. This one-day retreat will allow those who could not come to the fall retreat to actively participate.
Those who were able to attend the fall retreat will reinforce their experiences.
Registration forms are available at UCP. The registration fee is $15 per person. A
light lunch will be served.
For additional information, please contact Nancy Vollmer by email nwvollmer@
yahoo.com or by calling 703-860-8587.
7
Youth group members jump, eat, ski —and more
By Billie Sutter, Director of Christian Education
What has the
UCP Youth
Group been up
to lately? Lots of
fun and mission
and learning!
In January the
youth visited
Rebounderz, a
jumping fitness
Billie Sutter, DCE
center in Sterling, for some
jumping good fun...and pizza. Even
the most physically fit came out of the
trampoline area saying they had thought
there were in shape, but were beginning to wonder about that. It was a great
night....the first time at Rebounderz...it
may not be the last.
Later in January, the annual ski retreat
found adults and youth bound for WISP
for some great skiing. The slopes were
perfect, the weather was perfect, and
everyone had a terrific time...and even
found time to worship and celebrate
communion. A surprise visit from the Indrisano family was an exceptional treat!
Special thanks to Ashley Aschenbach,
Jeff Confer, Trudy McCrea,Roy Oishi
and Steve Webb for sharing their time,
energy, skiing abilities, and themselves
with the youth.
Those who were at UCP instead of on
the ski retreat helped the congregation
predict the winner of the Super Bowl yet
again—14 of15 years now! The Souper
Bowl of Caring provided the opportunity
for worshippers to contribute to the hunger-related activities of FISH—Friendly
Instant Sympathetic Help. With everyone’s help, $919.69 will be contributed
to FISH to helps local people in need.
On Sunday, Feb. 23, our
young people gathered
with youth from other UCC
Potomac Association youth
groups to greet old friends,
meet new ones, and learn
more about supporting stewardship of the earth. In addition to senior high students
participating for a week at
the Almost Heaven Habitat
for Humanity site in West VA
this summer, there will be a
new mission opportunity for
middle schoolers who have
completed 6th-8th grades.
Reach Beyond Mission will
offer these younger students
an opportunity to serve four
days in DC with City
Gate, a program to
help younger children
increase their learning
skills.
UCP’s youth continue to stretch and
grow and hope you’ll
support them as they
do—and possibly
even grow a little as
well! Sunday School,
confirmation, youth
group events and
activities, summer mission experiences—all
help our young people
as they grow emotionally, physically, mentally and
spiritually.
Above, Youth jump for joy at Rebounderz.
Below Checking phones and eating pizza keep
the Youth going.
Below, UCP Youth and adults ready for some
great skiing at WISP
Also in February, the youth group held
a discussion about stereotypes and how
we think we know something, but may
not realize all that is reality. Bridgette
and Nancy shared some about their lives
in China and how things are different
for them in the US. We continue to hold
their families in China in prayer, as we
know they do.
8
United Christian Parish of Reston
Support Girl
Scout Sunday,
March 9
Girl Scout week is celebrated in March,
starting with Girl Scout Sunday and
ending with Girl Scout Sabbath on a
Saturday, with the Girl Scout Birthday
mid-week on March 12. This week gives
girls an opportunity to attend their place
of worship and be recognized as a Girl
Scout. These days can also be a time
when girls explore other faiths. Each year
a scout may earn a “My Promise, My
Faith” religious award as she explores
her own faith through the scouting
program.
Girl scouting began in 1912 with 18
members and has now grown to support
over 3.6 million girls in the United States
as they begin their 102th anniversary
celebration year. Girl scouting continues
to inspire, challenge and empower girls
everywhere.
Girl Scouts are invited to live the Girl
Scout Promise “to serve God” by assisting with the UCP worship services
on Girl Scout Sunday, March 9, 2014.
Contact Cyndie at mlipari1 at cox.net,
by February 27, if your Girl Scout can
volunteer that day, specifying which
church service is preferred and the scout’s
Girl Scout
grade.
Sunday
Below Brownies
handed out bulletins
at last year’s services
Right, Girl Scout
Sunday patch
Donate cookies Store loyalty
cards can help
for soldiers
By Karen McDonald
Lake Anne
On March 9, this year’s Girl Scout Sunday, you are invited to “donate” a box of Elem School
Girl Scout cookies to be sent to soldiers
and others stationed overseas. Last year,
UCP parishioners generously donated
more than 100 boxes of Girl Scout
cookies and $85 toward shipping costs
for our UCP family members in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Here’s just one example of the grateful
responses we’ve received:
“The soldiers of the 1st of the 40th U.S
Cavalry Regiment enjoyed your package
and immediately feasted on the bounty
therein… I would like to take this opportunity to thank St. John Neumann
Catholic Church, United Christian Parish, and all of their parishioners for their
continuing prayers and support. The
undying support shown by strong Girl
Scout Troops and Parishes throughout
the country allows us to continue our
cause with reinforced positivism.”
Look for the special “Cookies for Soldiers” table between services on March
9 to make your donation. Be sure to
also stop by the “Card” table to write
your own personal message to someone
overseas.
Two special notes:
If you know of soldiers or others of the
UCP parish overseas that would appreciate receiving a box of girl scout cookies
along with handmade greeting cards,
please forward detailed mailing information to Karen McDonald, gfrazer@
verizon.net.
If you are a girl scout (past or present)
and would like to help at the “Cookies for Soldiers” table or the “Card”
table on March 9, please contact Karen
McDonald,[email protected].
By Rebecca Turner
Do you shop at Giant, Safeway, or
Harris Teeter? Your store loyalty cards
can benefit the Lake Anne Elementary
School Partnership, one of UCP’s Missions’ projects. All three supermarkets
have programs in which money is given
to a designated school when you use
your card.
If you shop at Safeway, go to: www.
escrip.com. Register your Club Card
there and choose Lake Anne Elementary
School as the recipient.
If you are a Giant shopper, you can
participate in the “A+ School Rewards
Program” (you must register each school
year.) Register your Giant Card at:
www.giantfood.com.
Harris Teeter has a “Together in
Education” program. Register your VIC
card at www.HarrisTeeter.com. If you
would rather not sign up online, you
can go to the Customer Service Department at any of these stores to sign up
in person. You can also apply for a card
there if you don’t have one.
Target’s “Take Charge of Education”
program donates 1% of the amount of
your purchases when you charge them
on your Target REDCard. Go to www.
target.com to designate Lake Anne ES.
These are easy ways to help and perhaps
you know of others. Please take a few
minutes to register your cards so that
every time you go shopping you will
help out the school next door.
9
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible Adventure
rd
4th - 6th Grade
9:30 am – 3:00 pm
3 years* - 3 grade
9:30 am -12:30 pm
July 14 - 18, 2014
Registration Form
United Christian Parish of Reston
Return form and registration fee before June 16 to:
UCP; 11508 North Shore Drive; Reston, VA 20190
Registration Fee: $10 per family
Make checks out to UCP and write “VBS” in the memo field
 Check if financial aid is needed to cover registration fee
*3 years by January 1, 2014 and able to toilet themselves
Child’s full name: __________________________________ Name called: ______________ Gender: M
F
(circle one)
Birth date: _____________ Grade or Preschool level completed: ________ Entering Kndg Fall, 2014? ______
Parent/Guardian name(s): ___________________________________________________________________
Home address: ____________________________________________________________________________
street
city
zip
Phone numbers: ___________________________________________________________________________
Circle 1st to call in emergency:
home
mother: cell or work
father: cell or work
Emergency contact: ________________________________________________________________________
name
relationship
phone
Emergency contact: ________________________________________________________________________
name
relationship
phone
Parent’s Email address: _______________________________________Cell phone: ____________________
Church affiliation: __________________________________________________________________________
Food or other allergies, medical/behavior considerations, or other information you care
to share about your child:
Medical permission to treat:
In case of injury or illness requiring immediate emergency medical attention, I authorize any of the adult leaders
supervising my child to seek medical care for my child. I authorize any doctor, hospital, or medical care institution or
practioner to provide necessary medical care or hospitalization to my minor child, upon request of one of the
accompanying adult leaders.
Permission to photograph:
I give permission to photograph my child and to use his/her image this week at VBS/VBA, in the church newsletter, on
the church website, church social media platforms, etc.
__________________________________________
Parent/guardian signature
10
__________________________
date
United Christian Parish of Reston
Appreciation
UCP Photo Directory Team was a success
By Kathy Schauer-Schmidt
It's a joy to work with competent people
and create a product—in this case, our
new UCP photo directory—that is appreciated by many.
I want to recognize the amazingly
talented and patient Photo Directory
Team for all their hard work: Sheila Allen, Art Banks, Joan Bell-Haynes, Darcie
Davis, Cheryl Fields, Gary Haneline, Jack
Moore, Bob Reed, and David Roe. Bob
made it possible for us to use a builder's
photo on the cover. Joan designed the
staff page. Sheila, Art and David edited the contact pages. Jack and Darcie provided additional proofreading.
Cheryl gave me the courage to delete
photos, even if they were some peoples'
favorites. Gary created the Excel worksheets used for directory distribution and
inventory management. I loved playing
with the layout. The entire team is very
satisfied with the final result.
The Photo Directory Team worked via
e-mail without a single group meeting.
The most important features were the
honesty expressed, the respect for each
other, and the willingness to work hard
with a difficult deadline.
I also want to thank those who sat in the
narthex to collect corrected information,
then later distributed directories.
Only God is perfect. If you find errors,
please do not blame our team. Remem-
WANTED:
During nasty and rainy weather, Umbrella
Hospitality Volunteers are needed to assist our
members and guests who are using wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or canes, as they get
out of their cars to enter our church and as
they return to their cars after church. Volunteers hold our UCP golf-sized umbrellas over
themselves and the church attendees as together they enter and leave the building remaining
dry at all times. Sign up to help at the kiosk or
contact Kathy Lamkin, 703.437.0802.
WANTED:
Volunteer(s) to help to create an informative,
photo and music CD for the UCP guest bags
that tells the story of UCP and a little bit about
us. It could be less than 10 minutes long. Our
last one was 7 minutes long and created while
we were still in the old building. Contact Kathy
Schauer-Schmidt, Witness Ministry Chair, [email protected]
ber that before the directories were
printed, we brought the contact pages to
the narthex for two Sundays so people
could verify their own information. But if
you do discover errors, please notify me;
my goal is to correct them before the delivery of our electronic photo directories,
which will be sent to everyone who has
an email address in the directory."
The CP Photo & Video Company was
fun to work with and respectful of UCP's
needs and our space. I had never done
anything like this before but would
gladly do it again someday, especially
with this company and our Photo Directory Team.
New Guidelines for UCP
Communications
By Jack Moore
Witness has published guidelines for communications
both within our UCP congregation and externally with
the community. The guidelines document current processes to facilitate a more consistent flow of information.
They provide information on the format, advance notice,
and point of contact for each of the following media:
Website
Sanctuary and kiosk monitors
Connections Corner (new slatwalls)
Press releases
Parish Life newsletter
Weekly bulletin
Friendship pads
Outdoor main sign and banners
You may obtain a copy of these guidelines on the Communications Corner.
11
3rd annual STOP HUNGER NOW!
scheduled for May
Steve Lambakis
Join us on Sunday, May 4 at 2 pm for a UCP tradition—the
3rd Annual Stop Hunger Now! meal packaging event. It is a
fun and rewarding hands-on mission opportunity involving
members and friends of UCP and people from the local community.
Come join the fun and the music! We need families and
participants of all ages and abilities to help Stop Hunger Now!
(#StopHungerNow). If you need to sit, you can sit. There is a
task for everyone.
Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food (millions of
meals each year since 1998!) around the world. Meals packaged at UCP in 2012 and 2013 were delivered to the hungry
and poor in Cambodia, Guatemala, and Zambia.
We need 120 volunteers to package 30,000 meals. So we need
YOU!
If you have questions, contact organizer Steve Lambakis at
[email protected] or the Chair of the UCP Missions
Ministry, John Moore at [email protected].
Also on May 4th, the Youth
Group invites you to join them
for a Taco Bar Lunch that includes vegetarian and glutenfree options in the Multipurpose Room (Room 107)
following the 11:00 service. This is a fundraiser in support of
their chosen mission project, BeFriend-A-Child. This mentoring program provides opportunities for companionship,
guidance and support to children who are at risk of abuse and
neglect or who have been abused and neglected.
Come make it a ‘Day of Mission’ with UCP: lunch will be
served until the Stop Hunger Now! bagging event begins.
Your donation also is welcome. Just write a check to UCP and
write “Stop Hunger Now” in the memo line. You can put a
check in the offering plate or donate at the door. You do not
need to donate to participate.
Come and be a part of one of the most successful programs
ever undertaken to alleviate starvation in our world.
Sympathy
ADULT ISSUE CLASS
WHAT IS THE
ECONOMY FOR,
ANYWAY?
The Adult Issues Class will take on “What is the economy for,
anyway?” during the Sundays of March. The five week series
represents a critique of the incentives in our current market
economy, the values it promotes, and some of the results
it produces in society. Leaders will be Elliot Wicks, Walter
Alcorn and Jeff Smith. They will examine some alternative
values in economic systems and how we as Christians should
go about determining the ones we strive for. Attention will be
given to the way “goods” and “bads” are counted in the GDP;
how economic incentives might be shaped to aid the environment; and the extent of income and wealth inequality and
what to do about it.
12
To Marilyn and Bob Orr on the death of
Marilyn’s brother.
To Alfred Norwood and family on the death of
his grandson, Brandon Weaver, 24, on Feb. 21,
of cancer. The funeral is scheduled for Feb. 28 at
Mount Olive Baptist Church on Centerville Rd.
To Patty Leto and family on the death of her sister,
Diana Kapnistos Hester, on Jan. 8, A memorial
service was held at UCP on Feb. 8.
A monthly publication of the United Christian Parish, Reston, VA, an ecumenical ministry representing the United
Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the
United Church of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Editor and Production: Joellyn Kinzer
Editorial Coordinator: Marilyn Silvey
Photos: John Moore, Billie Sutter
United Christian Parish of Reston
Welcome To The United Christian Parish Of Reston
An ecumenical church uniting in ministry four denominations: the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ), the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church
Ministerial Team
Trustees Council Co-chairs:-------Lee Schmidt and Kathy Zora
Pastor:------------------------------------ The Rev. Joan Bell-Haynes
Director of Christian Education:-------------------Billie P. Sutter
Parish Associate: ---------------------------- The Rev. Lloyd Kinzer
Pastors Emeriti:------------------------ The Rev. Suzanne Rudiselle
The Rev. J. Robert Regan, Jr.
Administration:---------------- Rhonda Savage; Jennifer Marshak
Preschool Director:----------------------------------------- Jane Plum
Music Director:-----------------------------------------Kevin Fletcher
Organist/Pianist:-----------------Yvonne Kauffman, Claudia Libero
Choir Directors: Adult Choir - Kevin Fletcher; Genesis Choir Yvonne Kauffman; Handbells - David Tiller; Total Praise Dance Beth Hetzler; UCPraise Band - Joe Bocchairo
Child Care:-------------------------------Sonali Silva. Nora Vivanco
Human & Admin. Resources Council Chair:- Claudia Stallings
Parish Board Clerk: ---------------------------------- Nancy Vollmer
Treasurer------------------------------------------------- Gerry Havran
Sextons:------------ Alfred Norwood, Jr., Micael Neal (part time)
Parish Board Lay Ministers
Moderator:--------------------------------------------------- Jeff Smith
Lay Leader: -------------------------------------------- Sara McAlpine
Denominational Liaison: Menda Ahart (UCC); Jim Vollmer
(CCDoC); Fran McElvey (PCUSA); and Robert Reed (UMC)
Ministries:
Christian Education: Mitch Chambliss, chair; Congregational
Life: Penny Johnson, chair; Missions: John Moore, chair
Stewardship/Finance: Donna Harris chair, Witness: Kathy
Schauer-Schmidt, chair,; Worship: Joe Bocchiaro, chair
Schedule for
Sunday preaching
in Pastor Joan’s absence
Mar 2, Billie Sutter
Mar 9 Girl Scout, Rev. Suzanne Rudiselle
Mar 16, Rev. Lloyd Kinzer
Mar 23, Rev. Stephanie McLemore, chaplain at Lynchburg
College
Mar 30, Rev. Dr. Kwame Osei Reed UCC, Associate Conference Minister, Potomac Association,
April 6, Kay Rodgers
April 13, Rev. Walt Owensby, Palm Sunday
Addresses and Phone
11508 North Shore Dr., Reston, VA 20190
[email protected] 703.620.3065
www.ucpreston.org
Sunday Worship Schedule
8:30 a.m. ---------------------- Worship (1st Sunday Communion)
Nursery Care available for Newborn to 23 mos. & Child Care
available for 2s & 3s during entire service.
Children welcome in worship
9:50 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages
2s-3s, 4s/K, Grades 1– 6, Jr. High, Sr. High,
Adult Classes: Connections and Issues
Nursery Care available for Newborn to 23 months.
11 a.m. ------- Worship & Weekly Communion “Godly Play” for
4s-Grade 1 is after the Passing of the Peace
Nursery and Child Care same as 8:30 a.m.
6 p.m. ------------------------------------- Youth Group with Supper
7:30 p.m. --------------------------------- Lay-Led Informal Worship
Please hold
in your prayers
Oscar Haynes, Pastor
Joan, and their family
as Oscar struggles
with his illness.
JoAnne Norton is coordinating meals for
them. She can be contacted at
[email protected] or 571.241.2599.
April 20, Rev. LaVerne Gill, Easter
13
March 2014
S
M
T
W
F
T
S
1
UCP Mardi
Gras Talent
& Chili Night
2
Worship Schedule and
Sunday Classes p. 13
3
Israel/Palestine Forum, 2:30 p.m.,
Rms 113, and 114
Handbells Rehearsal, 4 p.m.,
Sanctuary\
Youth Group, 6 p.m., Rm 107
Lay-led Worship, 7:30 p.m., Rm 117
BSA 1970, 7 p.m.,
Rm 107, 7 p.m.,
Rm 115
CEM, 7:30 p.m., Rm.
117
Worship, 7:30 p.m., ,
Rm. 116
9
10
Worship Schedule and
Sunday Classes p. 13
Leader Dev, 12:30 p.m., Rms 113,
and 114
Israel/Palestine Forum, 2:30 p.m.,
Rms 113, and 114
Handbells Rehearsal, 4 p.m.,
Sanctuary
Youth Group, 6 p.m., Rm 107
Lay-led Worship, 7:30 p.m., Rm 117
BSA 1970, 7 p.m.,
Rm 107
Stewardship/
Finance, 7:30 p.m.,
Rm 117
4
Confirmation
Class,
4:15 p.m., Rm
116, 117
Youth Ministry, 7
p.m., Rm 115
Congregational
Life, 7:30, Rm 116
UCPraise, 7:30
p.m., Sanctuary
11
Prayer & Fellowship Grp, 6
5 Study
11:30 a.m., Rm. 116
GSA 3500,3:30 p.m., Rm 204,
Genesis Choir 4:45 p.m., Rm 115,
116, and 119
Total Praise, 6 p.m., Sanctuary,
Rm 205
PAC, 7 p.m., Rm 115
FISH Financial Wkshp 7 p.m., Rm
107
BS 1970 Badge Class, 7 p.m., Rm
115,
Ash Wednesday Service 7:30 p.m.
Sanctuary
12
Confirmation Class,
4:15 p.m., Rm 116,
117
UCPraise, 7:30 p.m.,
Sanctuary
Missions, 7:30 p.m.,
Rms 113 and 114
Witness, 7:30,
Library
Genesis Choir 4:45 p.m., Rm
119
Total Praise, 6 p.m., Rm 205,
Sanctuary
Needle or Not, 7 p.m.,
Sanctuary, Rm 116
BS 1970 Badge Class, 7 p.m.,
Rm 115
Adult Choir, 7:30 p.m., Rm 119,
Sanctuary
Hypothermia Shelter
Cooking, noon, kitchen
Hypothermia Shelter
Dinner, 5 p.m., away
In the Other Rm, 7 p.m.,
Away
Contemplative Prayer,
7:30 p.m., Rm. 117
13
5 p.m., Rm 107
7
8
Senior High
Sexuality Event
4 p.m.,
Rm 113-116
14
Hypothermia Shelter
Cooking, noon, kitchen
Hypothermia Shelter
Dinner, 5 p.m., away
In the Other Rm, 7 p.m.,
Away
Tech, 7:30 p.m., Rm. 115
Contemplative Prayer,
7:30 p.m., Rm. 117
9 a.m.,
Rm 113-114
15
Men’s Group
Breakfast, 8
a.m., Rm 107
W.I.T.S. Retreat,
10 a.m., Rm 107
Newsletter
Deadline
Schedule and 17
16 Worship
Sunday Classes p. 13
18
19
20
21
22
Schedule and 24
23 Worship
Sunday Classes p. 13
25
26
27Hypothermia
28
Shelter Cooking,
29
BSA 1970, 7 p.m.,
Rm 107
Connections Class, 9:50 a.m.,
Rm 111
JMT 12:30 p.m., Rm 117
Leader Dev, 12:30 p.m., Rms 113, HARC, 7:30 p.m.,
Rm 117
and 114
Israel/Palestine Forum, 2:30 p.m.,
Rms 113, and 114
Handbells Rehearsal, 4 p.m.,
Sanctuary
Youth Group, 6 p.m., Rm 107
Lay-led Worship, 7:30 p.m., Rm 117
Connections Class, 9:50 a.m.,
Rm 111
JMT 12:30 p.m., Rm 117
Israel/Palestine Forum, 2:30 p.m.,
Rms 113, and 114
Handbells Rehearsal, 4 p.m.,
Sanctuary
Youth Group, 6 p.m., Rm 107
Lay-led Worship, 7:30 p.m., Rm 117
BSA 1970, 7 p.m.,
Rm 107
Board, 7:30 p.m.,
Rm 113
Confirmation
Class,
4:15 p.m., Rms
116, 117
UCPraise
6:30 p.m.
Sanctuary
Confirmation Class,
4:15 p.m., Rm 116,
117
UCPraise
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary
W.I.T.S Book Grp
7:30 p.m., away
Study Prayer & Fellowship Grp,
11:30 a.m., Rm. 116
GSA 3500,3:30 p.m., Rm 207,
Genesis Choir 4:45 p.m., Rm 119
Total Praise, 6 p.m., Rm 205,
Sanctuary
BS 1970 Badge Class, 7 p.m., Rm
115
Adult Choir, 7:30 p.m., Rm 119,
Sanctuary
Genesis Choir 4:45 p.m.,
Rm 119
Total Praise, 6 p.m., Rm 205,
Sanctuary
Needle or Not, 7 p.m., Sanctuary,
Rm 116
BS 1970 Badge Class, 7 p.m.,
Rm 115
Adult Choir, 7:30 p.m., Rm 119,
Sanctuary
Schedule and
30 Worship
31
Sunday Classes p. 13
Connections Class, 9:50 a.m.,
BSA 1970, 7 p.m.,
Rm 111
Rm 107
Israel/Palestine Forum, 2:30 p.m.,
Rms 113, and 114
Handbells Rehearsal, 4 p.m.,
Sanctuary
Youth Group, 6 p.m., Rm 107
Lay-led Worship, 7:30 p.m., Rm 117
14
United Christian Parish of Reston
Hypothermia Shelter
Cooking, noon, kitchen
Hypothermia Shelter
Dinner, 5 p.m., away
Trustees 5 p.m., Rm 116
In the Other Rm, 7 p.m.,
Away
Contemplative Prayer,
7:30 p.m., Rm. 117
noon, kitchen
Hypothermia Shelter
Dinner, 5 p.m., away
In the Other Rm, 7 p.m.,
Away
Contemplative Prayer,
7:30 p.m., Rm. 117
MOVIE NIGHT
Children of
the Congo
7 p.m., Rm 117
15
United Christian Parish of Reston
11508 North Shore Drive
Reston, VA 20190
(703) 620-3065
www.ucpreston.org
16