YOUTH GROUPS

Sunday School classes continue, taught by Elder Peter Pfaff and Katy Naffziger-Brown, held during worship each Sunday. 

 
YOUTH GROUP Activities --   Next meeting:  Sept. 19, 12 noon  WE HAVE RETURNED!! from our summer mission trip to the Maine Seacost Missionary Society.  While there we were able to work with 3 families - putting in a window and clearing trash away from one home (it was her birthday, no less!).  Also, we primed and painted a building at another family's home.  And we worked on a single mother's new home so she won't have to live with her parents, and begin to become independent.  We helped lay a new floor foundation, removed the old roof and began putting new one on, and began putting shingles on the outside, as well as cleaning up trash from previous work.  All 3 families joined us for a shared picnic our last working day.  We also worked on a new 'lean-to' for the Missionary Society and its programs at the site. All were impressed by the trip and especially with that part of Maine, and many want to return.  We had one evening and one day in Bar Harbor.  We will look forward to presenting a program on our trip on Sunday, Oct. 3, at a pot luck supper.  More information to come.  The youth who went were:  Jamie Todaro, Christian Felser, Rachelle and Katie Petrell, Tony Izzo and Katelyn Gordon.  The Todaro families and Izzo families are going, with Grandpa Bill Carrick and Grandma Millie Stuff going, along with Dave Felser, Sheila Gordon and pastor acree.  We want to thank the congregation for their support.  As usual, it has been tremendous. 

Since our summer worship involves the congregation coming down to the front to receive communion and bring their offering, youth will not be needed to help with serving as diaconate.  When we resume the regular worship in the Fall, once more we expect the youth to assist with the offering and communion on the 4th Sunday each month.  We think it is important not only for the youth, but the church itself, to have youth involvement in worship leadership.     

Check out the website of the Disciples Youth Ministries:  www.disciplesyouth.com

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES-- PENTECOST, 2010

SUNDAY, Sept. 5  --  Labor Day weekend - OUTDOOR WORSHIP, 10:30 AM  (NO adult SS))

Regular schedule resumes Sept. 12        

--  9:30 AM  --  Lectionary Bible Study 

--  10:30 AM  --  Traditional Worship & Sunday School, nursery care                                     

THURSDAY EVENINGS -- THE OPEN TABLE: FOOD FOR LIFE; 6:30 PM, gather around a table for food and discussions on life and faith.  Participants will look at various faith traditions as well as our Christian faith to find answers to our questions.  Come and bring your appetites for growth; child care available upon request.

(Other Ministries:  

Choir rehearsal - on vacation until September

Life Today AA group  -  Friday, 8:00 pm 

Youth Group Meeting --  once a month, following worship; see youth group column this page/or service page calendar for specific dates (next meeting - Sunday, July 18, 11 am)

General Board meeting  (all church officers)  -  -- lST MONDAY, March, June, September (2nd Monday due to Labor Day), November, 7:00 PM

Christian Women's Fellowship  - 3 Wednesday evenings during year; call for information

Board of Elders meeting-- 2ND MONDAY (no scheduled meetings July-August, December), 7:30 PM

Board of Trustees meeting   -  1st Sunday, following worship, January, March, May, September, November, and as needed

Men's Gatherings  --  4-5 times a year, generally 2nd or 3rd Saturday, 9:00 AM; check schedule for exact times/dates

SEEKERS BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP (for women) -- Every other FIRST WEDNESDAY (Sept - 2nd Wednesday; Nov, Jan, Mar, May), 7:30 PM. Call church office for Book title, place

SPIRITUAL LIFE PRAYERTIME  -  Every other FIRST WEDNESDAY  
 (Aug, Oct, Dec, Feb, Apr, June), 7:00 PM

This congregation is a member of the Protestant denomination known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  This is a community of congregations throughout the United States and Canada who trace their roots to two early American Christian movements that attempted to overcome the scandal of divisions within the Church.  And although it failed in its attempts to unite all Christians into one church, it still views Christian unity as its "polar star," or as its long-term goal.  The denominational headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana (see link to www.disciples.org). 

Each local congregation is an autonomous unit.  We choose our own policies and procedures.  We recognize that we relate beyond ourselves to other persons in other places, but the local congregation is the heart of our community of faith.  The only requirement for membership is the confession of faith that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and I accpept him as Lord and Savior."  All else is a matter of one's relationship to God.  So we welcome all who seek to follow Jesus into our fellowship.  As such, we celebrate with "thanksgiving" each week at Communion, which is open to all, since we believe it is the "Lord's welcome table," not the possession of any one person or group.  We generally baptize by immersion at the age of consent or older.  We do, however, accept whatever form of baptism an individual has received.  Because we do not baptize infants, we do have a "service of presentation and dedication" for children to welcome them into the community of faith, and to promise to support the family in their upbringing.

We are related to other congregations of this tradition in the northeastern U.S. through the Northeast Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), approximately 60 churches in New England, New York State, and metropolitan New York City/New Jersey.    The interim Regional Minister is the Rev. Mary Ann Glover.  The Moderator is the Rev. Eric Clay. The General Minister and President of the denomination is the Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, who was the main speaker at the National Prayer Service on the day after the Inauguration of the President of the US. 

In Western New York, we relate to other Disciples of Christ congregations and the United Church of Christ congregations in an organization known as the Western New York Area Churches in Covenant (WNYACIC, or "Western Area").  Through this organization we do local mission, fellowship, education and spiritual growth events, including summer church camps and conferences.  The Moderator of the WNY CIC is Rev. George Cushing; vice - Moderataor is Rev. Marge Neal, a Disciple clergy.