Inside this issue

Barb’s Corner …………………..…..2

Etiquette of Illness………………...3

New Members …….………………..4

Fellowship Hour Schedule……..5

ONA……………………………………….6

Quick Links

Barb’s Corner

Etiquette of Illness

New Members

Fellowship/Save the Date

Blood Drive

ONA

Pastor’s Reflection

We're getting everything ready.

We took PJ to big sister class.

We're pulling the baby clothes back

out of the attic.

We're packing the "go bag."

At the end of the month, we will bring a new life

into this world when our second child is born.

They call it "nesting." Nesting is anything you do to help prepare your

home for the arrival of a child. For parents who don't carry their children

inside their bodies, the future arrival of a child can feel much more

distant and abstract. Experts say that "nesting" is what makes the

upcoming change feel real, tangible, and imminent.

So my question for you: have you been doing any nesting?

You may not be expecting a new baby, but the truth of life is that the

world is constantly changing either around us or through us. One of the

hardest part, about change is that it can sometimes feel so abstract,

invisible, and distant until all of the sudden it smacks us in the face.

Even good change enacted without proper preparation can turn into a

disaster. But with the proper training regimen, even the most traumatic

change can be an opportunity for bringing new life into this world. In

scripture, we are often warned to be prepared for Jesus's arrival as if we

were preparing for an unexpected thief in the night. I always thought it

was weird to compare Jesus's arrival to something so negative, but there

is truth to the sentiment that even good surprises can feel like bad ones

when you aren't ready.

So have you been doing any nesting? Have you been preparing yourself

for whatever twist life will throw your way? It is in doing this work, it is

in doing this "nesting" that God will feel real, tangible, and imminent.

If you aren't sure what "nesting" looks like -- well then the good news

for you is that's what church is for. We're training ourselves to receive

whatever life has in store for us, so that we can turn even death into new

life through resurrection. 1

June 2017 Springboard

Barb’s Corner

2

Rev. Barb Frey

Summer Sunday School starts June 18 for K -5th grade Summer Sunday School meets in the large open space on the lower level.

(Supervised Toddler Room available 9:45-11am)

Theme: “An Illustrated Earth…Celebrating God’s Creation” An Illustrated Earth helps children to remember to celebrate God’s

creation while they enjoy the outdoors. They will be able to read

Bible stories, engage with the stories creatively, reflect on questions

that will use their imaginations, and work on a coloring project that

can be done individually. Each Lesson is linked to a Bible story. There

are Water Stories, Food and Plant Stories, Animal Stories. These

will be Creative, Active experiences. The dates for Summer Sunday

School are June 18, 25—July 9, 16, 23, 30---August 6, 13, 20, 27. No

Summer Sunday School or Toddler Room on either the 4th of July or

Labor Day weekends.

A “Seussical” Summer Read Together (young and old alike) LET’S READ and (re)DISCOVER

“Horton Hears a Who” “Sneetches” “The Lorax” “Yertle the Turtle” “Butter Battle Book” Read these books silently, Read them aloud, Read them together with persons

you love, Read them over and over again.

Perhaps, you will not be able to stop reading with these five books, and you

might want to explore more of the 50 or so books he wrote.

Each book has a message.

Dr. Seuss’s biographer said:

“Indeed, what Walt Disney was to entertainment, Theodor Seuss Geisel was to art and literature.”

In honor of this storyteller with his unique language , characters and ridiculous fun, come to “Green Eggs and Ham” Brunch and Discussion after worship on August 27.

Did you know that he wrote this best selling title on a dare?

Sermon Sound-Bite "And in the story of the ascension we see, that as we see Jesus for the last time before the Spirit comes at Pentecost, we are reminded that what he intends for us as his followers is for us to be it the world, not to look to the heavens, to let him go so that we can take the roles and ministries to which we are called. In his end is our beginning, just as in all ends there are new beginnings.” - Pastor Clare Robert

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Do’s and Don’t’s— “The Etiquette of Illness”

Every human being has a great, yet often unknown . To care, to be compassionate, to become present to the other, to listen, to hear and to receive. If that gift would be set free and made available, miracles could take place. - Henri J.M. Nouwen

When our friends or family members face serious illness, we too are challenged to be helpful and caring listeners and support. Sometimes we are not sure what to say, or what to do.

Yet each of us does have the capacity to care, the ability to extend ourselves, and can learn the art of listening, so as to be a healing presence for another.

When the Rev. Laura Fitzpatrick Nager presented her workshop on the “Etiquette of Illness” she suggested the practice of Near Listening.

* Ask open ended questions, which open a door to the other person’s situation * Don’t try to fix the situation, but simply be there, without distractions. * There are no perfect words, so don’t worry about saying the wrong thing. * But don’t overemphasize positive thinking or your own point of view—let the other person be a guide. * Don’t take it personally if the other person is not interested or having a difficult day. * Don’t impose suggestions like vitamins and or other “miracle” cures or make medical judgments.

“Healing presence is the condition of being consciously and compassionately in the present moment with another believing in and affirming their potential for wholeness wherever they are in life.” James Miller and S. Cutshall

Let’s continue the conversation this coming year as we learn how to support each other through the ups and downs of life’s challenges.

Peace,

Pastor Clare

Sermon Sound-Bite

“The Christian scripture takes for granted that there is a world to come, and Jesus certainly is reassuring that in his father’s house there are many mansions, but he is also quite clear, that the work of the gospel is here and now and that the kin-dom, the realm of God is among us. The world is not just a waiting room for heaven.” Pastor Clare Robert

4

Inter Faith Blood Drive Wednesday, June 21, 2017 1:30 - 7:00 pm At Temple Beth Shohom.

If you are able, please come! The need for blood is always great and YOU could be an important part of the solution. If you are at least 17 years old, weigh 110 lbs. or more and are healthy please donate blood and provide hope, healing and life.

One pint of blood can help up to 3 people. Amazing isn't it, to think that you can do that.

Please call 1 - 800 - RED - CROSS ( 1 - 800 - 733 - 2767 ) or redcrossblood.org to make an appointment and BE A HERO !!

Sermon Sound-Bite "Think about a recent unre-solved conflict in your life, whether it’s personal or com-munal. Think of the main argu-ment you would make to argue that you are in the right. Now imagine what it would look like to let go of being right and instead make nourishment your goal." - Pastor Jack

My name is Terri Lee Waller, either Terri Lee or Terri is fine. I am a social worker and a very proud native of New Haven. I live alone in Fair Haven. I was a long time member of the now closed, Metropolitan Community Church of New Haven which had a ministry supporting social justice and GLBT Christians. We shared space and services with the United Church of Christ. I visited many congregations and I'm glad to finally have found my church home here at SGC.

“Creative Kids—Summer Edition”

A New Program At SGC for kids ages 5-7

Creative Kids is the creation of two Hamden teachers; Deborah Ferguson, retired Kindergarten teacher and Robin Curcio, current Kindergarten teacher at West Woods School. Besides being teachers, Debbie and Robin are sisters! Both love working with young children and have many years of experience between them. This is a continuation of the classes that Debbie and Robin have taught in Hamden schools as after school programs. It is the first time they have conducted the classes in the summer. They are hoping to reach families who want their children to participate in creative and imaginative activities and simply have fun. Classes will include arts and crafts, science, literature and art.

There will be two sessions of classes:

June 26- June 30, 2017 9am - 12 Noon July 31 - August 4, 2017 9am - 12 Noon. Cost: $175 per week. Contact Debbie Ferguson for more information 203-506-6298 or deborahferguson@sbcglobal.net

I have been attending SGC since 2012 and Jennifer Heath and I were married here in 2013. In that time, I have come to know many people in the congregation and feel quite at home. While I was never on the fence about joining, I also never got around to officially joining. Soon after Jack arrived, I decided it was time to join SGC. Outside of church I enjoy time with my family, running, and trying new things - this year that means guitar lessons and sailing. I work for The Jackson Laboratory in Farmington where I lead its fundraising team to support the Lab's scientific research.

Peter Lamothe

Terri Lee Waller

Welcome to New Members! In May, SGC welcomed 2 New Members! We are happy to have Peter Lamothe and Terri Lee Waller part of our congregation!

6

Fellowship Hour Hosting Schedule Below is the Fellowship Hour hosting schedule for June 2017. If you are not able to host on your

assigned date, we ask that you try to help find a replacement, perhaps swapping with an individual/family

scheduled later in the months ahead. Please notify Debby Jagielow of any changes. She will update the master

calendar and the church office. To find the phone numbers or email addresses of other members, be sure to

log in as a member on this website, and then you may access a downloadable church directory from the right

hand navigation menu.

Date Host Family 1 Family 2 6/4/17 Stefanie Summerer Mary Cameron Jennifer & Evan Heath

6/11/17 Liz Wootton Helen Schaefer

06/18/2017 Debby Jagielow Debra Tangarone Mimi Houston

Father's Day

6/25/17 Katharine Healy Barbara Hobbs

Save the Date! June 4, 5-7pm Final Visioning Session: Come have fun and enjoy a meal while dreaming

about what's possible at church. This will be the third of a 3-part series where we start brainstorming a vision for our next 5, 10, 15, 25 years. This third session's discussions will focus on how we can more fully use our space to enact our ministries. Dinner and childcare included. High Schoolers and Middle Schoolers are encouraged to participate in discussions. RSVP to jack@springglenchurch.org.

June 11 Youth & Children Sunday and All Church Birthday Party! The “ youngens” will take over worship and share their wisdom and their talent with us. We will also be celebrating 60 years of Spring Glen Nursery School, who have prayerfully decided to suspend operation at the end of this school year.

June 18: Summer Sunday School Starts.

August 27 “ Green Eggs and Ham” Brunch and Discussion after worship.

Celebrating Graduates! Congratulations to the Following Graduates!

Jasmine Brownell is graduating from Hamden High School. She will be attending Quinnipiac

University in the fall, studying Psychology.

Zoeann Day will start her Freshman year at Keene State College next fall, studying

Journalism.

Alec Uyeki received his BA from Wheaton College.

Jesse Hirsch graduated from Northeastern with a Masters of Science in Global Studies and

International Affairs

PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE

Spring Glen Church

Senior Pastor: Jack Perkins Davidson

1825 Whitney Ave.

Hamden, CT 06517

Phone: 203-288-3381

E-mail:

melissa@springglenchurch.org

The most updated calendar can be found on the Spring Glen Church Website: www.springglenchurch.org