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September 2008 News 

After hearing from friends about giant cockroaches (aka palmetto bugs), I’ve never had any great desire to live in Georgia. Except maybe about this time of year, and for one tasty reason. Peaches. golden, succulent, bigger-than-a-baseball peaches. Honeyed-juice-dripping-off-your-elbows peaches.

Savoring that perfect peach is a sublime and rare experience for me, which of course makes it all that much more memorable. One summer evening, almost 20 years ago, I’m sitting on the concrete steps outside my apartment in Fairfield, Connecticut. After two hours of playing tennis and chugging Gatorade, I’m ready. I turn the rosy-cheeked fruit, searching for the perfect spot. I sink my teeth through the velvety skin. Immediately my chin is drenched, drips splattering stars on the hot concrete. Two more bites, and two new constellations bloom below the points of my elbows. The flavor fills my mouth, and I don’t want to swallow. I try to lick my arms. All too soon, I’m left with a brown, wrinkled pit; the buzzing company of wasps; and an experience I had no idea would become such a strong memory.

Benjamin Franklin said beer is proof that God loves us. I say our senses are proof enough. The taste of a peach (or a beer). The scent of a newborn’s scalp or a spicy pine forest. The lilt of a lover’s voice or waves shooshing on the shore. A fiery sunset or family and friends laughing around the dinner table.

Our senses overflow—into tears, into serenity, into richness. Into a phrase that haunts me and intrigues me and gives me goose bumps. Our senses overflow, and we "touch the face of God."

High Flight, a poem written by a pilot in World War I about the glory of flying. The final song from the musical Les Miserables. A scrapbook journaling entry about a new mother’s thoughts on giving birth. A recent Reflections piece in our Sunday bulletin. All have used this phrase. All speak of a singular moment that fills the taste, touch, sight, hearing, or scent that so enrich our lives.

When we engage our senses, slow down and let the moment sink in to memory, we live our lives fully. We open our selves, our souls, to God’s blessings.

How have you touched the face of God?
I know that when I do, he has peach fuzz.

PS—Happy New Year! Susan Smith

At the August 12^th Board of Directors meeting, it was reported that budget projections continue to be met. Thanks to all who continue to generously support our church. Foundation Fund withdrawals have been less than expected through the end of July to meet budget obligations. Board authorization was granted to withdraw additional monies to meet upcoming August and September expenses.

The upcoming "Holy Smoke Barbecue" is scheduled for Saturday, September 6^th and is one of our major fundraisers of the year. Please purchase your tickets and come out and enjoy the good food and entertainment. Thanks to Ben Cornwell for again organizing the yearly barbecue. Thanks to Kim Harbath for arranging the talented musicians to perform at the barbecue. Ben wants all reservations in by Labor Day so food can be ordered.

Additional maintenance and "to do" list items may be found in the volunteer sign-up notebook. Please volunteer to help with repairing and maintaining the church facilities.

Albertson’s Community Partner Program

Did you know that we earn about $40 each quarter from Albertson’s without doing anything special? Some of our friends and members who shop at Albertson’s have a Community Partner Card for our church associated with their Preferred Savings card. Every time they use their card to purchase groceries, Albertson’s adds to our church fund. At the end of each quarter, a percentage of this fund is awarded to us in the form of a check.

If you shop at Albertson’s, even occasionally, and you are not already helping our church or another organization, consider helping our church earn extra funds. Speak to Carolyn Somer about getting a Community Partner card.

From the Deacons

In its August 5^th meeting, Deacons Carolyn Somer and Mary Lou Birkenmeyer firmed up plans talked about in the last several months of meetings as follows:

As we welcome you to worship and the programs of the church we also extend an invitation for us to get to know one another better and for you to become a member of the church. The process is a simple two-step:

First, we invite you to a "Getting-To Know-One-Another Lunch" with some of our members. This will be an informal lunch in the cottage following worship on either September 21^st or 28^th depending on the best time for all. This is a good opportunity to ask questions you have about the church as we will share what membership in this church is like.

Secondly, in worship, hopefully on October 5^th, or whenever it is convenient for you, we will welcome you into the membership of the church in a simple way, singing and sharing the church’s covenant with you, the covenant we often say in worship.

Please contact Bob Nuhn or call Jeannine in the church office if you are interested in joining us for lunch on Sept. 21^st or 28^th.

With summer vacations ending, we’ll all have more opportunities to get together, both in large and small groups. Please follow up with activities in your small groups of 6 to 8. These offer a fun, informal way to get to know one another a little better. And don’t forget to invite some of our new guests to join you.

We have a fairly effective email list, which we’ve been using to share prayer concerns and other information of general interest between issues of the newsletter. However, not everyone can be reached by email. So we would like to start a phone tree. If you do not have email access, or would rather receive information by phone, please let Jeannine Heppler know by calling the church office and we will put together a phone tree to get the word out to you.

On Sunday, September 7^th we will have an Intergenerational Communion Worship and Potluck Picnic on the church cottage lawn. This service of worship will include a Blessing of the Animals. We will offer an individual blessing for you and your pet(s). Friendly and well-behaved animals are welcomed. Pets must be under control and suitably restrained. For pets who become nervous, aggressive, or simply can't make it, you may bring a photograph, a play toy or, other appropriate symbol to represent them. If you are interested in participating in this blessing, please sign up in the Signup Notebook or call the church office.

Karoline and Serena Chamberlain and Jean Chevalier and their families say, "Thank you very much for supporting their going to Camp LaForet this summer. Without the generous financial support of our congregation, the Rocky Mountain Conference UCC, the Utah Association UCC, and the Pinedale, Wyoming Community UCC, these girls could not have attended.

Shannon Chevalier was also able to attend the MADD Camp at LaForet and is most grateful for the experience.

This year we are joining several local faith communities and the Ogden East Stake in the Fall Festival on Saturday, September 13, at Mount Ogden Park. The whole community is invited to enjoy this family event. During the morning there are various sports activities—5K run/walk, tennis tournament, and scramble foursome golf tournament. If you are interested in these, please speak to Carolyn Somer for further contact information.

In the afternoon between 4 and 7 p.m. there will be a series of displays and activities provided by churches and wards, information booths by community organizations, food, and entertainment. A can of food is all you need for admission.

Included in this year’s festival will be a Humanitarian Project to prepare "dignity bags" for clients at St. Anne’s Center and the Ogden Rescue Mission. Our church is helping to collect personal care items, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap and shampoo. During the event we will provide volunteers to assemble these bags.

There are several ways you can help us collect personal care items:

• Ask you dentist for donations.
• Collect soap and shampoo at hotels you visit.
• Ask local motels for donation.
• Purchase personal care items when on sale.

Please bring items to church by September 7^th.

Sunday School for all ages will begin with The Spirited Adult Class meeting at 9:00 A.M. in the cottage beginning September 14^th. This year Arlene Szalay will be the leader using the Seasons of the Spirit adult resource, which follows the common ecumenical lectionary of scriptures also used in worship. These discussions will be integrated with world wide, interfaith spiritual practices.

Sunday School for Children and Youth will be held during worship in the cottage with leaders sharing the responsibility so they may also attend worship from time-to-time. Leslie Chevalier and Windsor White will lead the youth age 12 and up, while Julie Chamberlain and Lisa Olson will share the group of preschool and elementary aged children. Shannon Chevalier will assist the leaders. More assistants and substitute leaders will be needed throughout the year—please sign up to be in the volunteer pool!

Please note, these three new small groups are being developed based on your interests last spring. Small groups continue while there is interest and they are dropped when interests change, then new groups are formed when new interests are expressed. This is a healthy, lively way to "be" church and we hope you enjoy the variety.

Join us on Tuesday, September 9^th at 6:30 P.M. for a Potluck Supper and Book Discussion in the fellowship hall. Bring ideas, and/or a copy of a book, you would like to discuss with others. Bob Nuhn will facilitate this group to begin with and, hopefully, others will facilitate future discussions. Perhaps this group will remain "Potluck & Books" or become "Dessert & Books" and it could change the time and place depending on what the group decides.

Bob will present examples of books on the topics of God, Jesus, Spirit, faith, Gnosticism, church vitality, worship, spirituality, other religions, mysticism and metaphysics.

Please signup in the Signup Notebook or call the church office and join us Tuesday the 9^th.

The 3^rd Thursday Coffee and Conversation group is for Bob Nuhn’s benefit as well as yours. The conversation will be whatever we want them to be, people and pastor together. We will meet at Dylan’s on the corner of 12^th and Monroe at 9:30 A.M. every 3^rd Thursday.

Come whenever you can with whatever is on your mind. Let’s share coffee and conversation together. Obviously Dylan’s is open for breakfast at this time if you wish.

4^th Saturday Spirituality Breakfast and Church Work Project Begins Sept. 27^th

The 4^th Saturday Spiritual Breakfast and Church Work Project (There has to be a better name—even 4^th SSB&CWP doesn’t work.) will meet in the fellowship hall on September 27^th from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. for a simple continental breakfast and discussion of a spiritual nature. Bob Nuhn will facilitate the first couple months and, hopefully, others will continue the leadership as time goes by.

From 10:00 A.M. until 12 Noon or so, we will be free to work on projects at church, helping out the Directors with their "To Do" list. Wear work clothes and we will try to get out the word ahead of time about what project is in the works for each of these Saturdays so you can bring the necessary tools.

Obviously, some of you will come only for the Spirituality Breakfast and others will come only for the Work Project. That is fine. Hopefully also, you will be able to attend both parts of these Saturday mornings.