Dear friends,

I’d like to begin this September missive with a quote not from Scripture or poetry, not from theology or high literature, but from one of the best rock and roll bands on the scene these days: Sleater-Kinney. (The theologian Karl Barth listened to Mozart and opera before entering his study every day – why should ministers do any less with the musical currents of their day?), Sleater-Kinney are comprised of three women who emerged from the Pacific Northwest, and for twenty years now they’ve been putting together noisy, smart, angry, and vulnerable observations of what it is to be alive right now. On their latest, The Center Won’t Hold, they speak into the anxieties and tensions brewing in our collective lives, and they offer something of an antidote. Here’s what they sing on one of their strongest tracks, “The Future is Here:”

I start my day on a tiny screen Try to connect the words, they're right in front of me I walk to work out on the city streets No one speaks to me, their stony faces beat Never have I felt so lost and alone Are you my friend, are you there for me… I need you more than I ever have Because the future's here, and we can't go back

The singer goes on to speak of ending the day alone, staring at a tiny screen, still feeling alone, but reaching out now for connection. “Tell me if you feel lost and alone, I am your friend, just come over here,” she sings.

That vision of alienation and loneliness, coupled with the strong urge to reach out, to connect, to lean on others, to do something old fashioned like cultivating a friendship, make the album a lovely and welcoming tonic for the times in which we’re living. I don’t know about you, but many of the encounters that I’ve had lately have included admissions of fatigue, being overwhelmed, feeling a sense of lingering unease, and sometimes feeling discouraged, or even feeling outright despair. It’s real, and it’s coming from multiple directions at once – guns and detention camps, climate disasters and a toxic and degraded public sphere. Somehow, it renders us all more alone. And helpless.

“It is not good for (humans) to be alone,” the writer of Genesis says in the opening pages of the Bible. “We are each members of the other,” the Apostle Paul writes some thousand pages (and a few hundred years) later. They affirm one of the deepest truths of what it means to be human, and what it is to retain the best parts of who we are in ambiguous historical moments. We reach out, we do our best to connect, and we cultivate that old-fashioned virtue called friendship. We affirm the best in one another, and we rebuke those forces that keep us isolated, fearful, and suspicious. We get together, and learn to celebrate that which transcends us, that which anchors us, that which can bind and gather us. And together, we do what we can to roll back the night.

That’s why, even as I feel the familiar melancholic blues that arrive on schedule at the end of summer, I’m also excited about what the fall season will bring for all of us. It brings with it the promise of getting together, of connecting, and of finding one another one more time after summer has scattered us. It brings with it the opportunity to renew our commitments, to share our sorrows, and to get on with the work of taking care of one another amidst too much alienation and loneliness.

I hope you’ll come and be a part of things this fall. Above all, I hope you’ll join us on Sunday mornings, when we gather for worship and for the very ordinary reason of community and friendship. But we also have some wonderful things happening – an organ concert from Simon Holt to benefit our immigration work, a visit from an indomitable priest hailing from Mauritius (a friend of Marilyn Nelson’s), visits from some of our closest friends in our Tree of Life network, and a journey to Mexico to experience a celebration and ritual dear to our neighbors south of the border. There’s work to be done, for sure, but more importantly, there are opportunities to reach out, to connect, and to practice that old fashioned virtue celebrated by that very new fashioned band, Sleater-Kinney: friendship.

I’m looking forward to getting together. See you soon, and stay human…

The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme

September 2019

Memorials Ned Castner Miles Stray

Milton Allen Tim Keenan Joan Kelley Suzanne Brown

Dr. Robert Chapman, grandson of The Rev. Mortimer Chapman, minister of our church at the time of the historic burning of the Meetinghouse

Join us for WELCOMING SUNDAY September 8, 2019

WORSHIP SERVICES RETURN TO 9:00 & 11:00 A.M. “GOD’S NEIGHBORHOOD” SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC AT CAMP CLAIRE @ 1:00 P.M.

Sunday Worship Services at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. We will resume our regular Sunday morning schedule on Sunday, Sept. 8, offering services at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. - with the opportunity to join in fellowship and coffee after each service in our Parish House. (Please note, however, that on Stewardship Sunday, Sept. 22, we will only have one Sunday morning service at 10:00 a.m.) Sunday School Resumes. Our Sunday School program, God’s Neighborhood, resumes Sunday, Sept. 8, with a focus this year on “Ordinary Heroes of the Bible and Today: Stories & Strengths.” We have programs for children of all ages, from kindergarten up through high school. (Sunday School will start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m. Children are dismissed to their classes during the first hymn at our 9:00 a.m. worship service. Nursery care is also available during the 9:00 a.m. service.) Annual Church Picnic at Camp Claire. Our annual church picnic will take place at Camp Claire, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 8. Please plan to attend and, if you can, bring a salad, side dish or dessert to share. We hope to see you there!

Weddings

Gretchen Emily Wortman & Eric Charles Wade, June 1, 2019 Rachel Elizabeth Zarra & Ryan Taylor-Laddy Locks, June 8, 2019

Meghan McLean & Jude Nelson, June 8, 2019 Isabelle Handy Comstock & Colin Sebastian Reed Bernier, June 22, 2019

Cari Blanchard & Greg Ellis, June 29, 2019

Baptisms

Zoë Liscord Chapman June 16, 2019 Jayce Selden Barreto and Sawyer Edith Barreto June 23, 2019

Charlotte Elizabeth Greenwood July 28, 2019 Sierra Christina DiVito August 4, 2019

Ladies Who Stitch After a great summer break, which included several wonderful luncheon get togethers, the Ladies Who Stitch, will be back at work in the Sheffield Auditorium from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Mondays – beginning September 9th. We are twenty generous, talented women who love to sew, knit, and create things to sell and donate in support of FCCOL and each other. Our goods will again be available during the fall and spring LBS luncheons, the Sunday coffee hours that precede them, and during our Monday working hours. In addition to creating new things, we are occasionally able to fulfill special requests for such things as mending, hemming, and minor alterations – for which we charge a nominal fee. Questions: Contact Eunice via email eunicetaylor@me.com.

Save the Date! Women’s Retreat Day Saturday, November 2nd 9:30-3:00 pm held at

Mercy By the Sea, Madison CT (www.mercybythesea.org) $25.00 includes lunch.

Please register early to save a place!

LBS LUNCHEONS - Save The Date! The Ladies Benevolent Society resumes its monthly luncheons and programs on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 12:00 noon.. As always, we will meet in FCCOL’s Fellowship Room. The cost of the luncheon is $5 plus a canned good for the Shoreline Food Pantry. The Ladies Who Stitch will share recent projects and have items available for purchase. We will commence gathering this fall by attending to our focus and awareness of being present. Jerry Silbert of Watershed Partnership will speak to us on the many benefits which mindfulness practices can have on our wellbeing. In addition to our own welfare, it is essential for each of us to be attuned to the needs around us as we revisit our Ladies Benevolent Society allocations throughout the year. Please call the church’s office (860-434-8686) and rsvp prior to Friday, September 6th. Looking forward to seeing you. Next LBS luncheon will be held on October 8th. Information regarding the programs of Sacred Place, one of our current charities will be presented to you. Stay tuned!!!

Wings of Justice returns to Mexico A Guadalupe Experience, Day of the Dead October 29 - November 7, 2019. We will visit to Cuernavaca Mexico to the Guadalupe Experience, this time to immerse ourselves in the Day of the Dead! Come learn what this has to do with Mexico, with Latin American culture and spirituality, and with the many social justice struggles that are occurring in Latin America these days. We do have a few spaces left, deadline to commit is September 10. Cost is $1200 per person and includes all accommodations and most meals. Airfare is not included, flights tend to run about $400. Email marytomassetti@gmail.com if you are interested.

Another way to Support the Food Pantry Stop & Shop and Big Y are selling reusable community tote bags that come with a giving tag. Simply follow the instructions on said tag and $1 will be donated to the FCCOL Food Pantry.

Church News

SENIOR CHOIR

Our All-Church Potluck Picnic

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH

1:00 pm at Camp Claire

Enjoy beautiful Hamburg Cove and swim, kayak, and canoe with your family and friends.

There will be arts and crafts for children, volley ball and other games. Bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share and come and enjoy a Sunday afternoon of fellowship.

All are welcome!

Directions to 15 Oakland Ave, Old Lyme, CT 06371. FROM HARTFORD AND POINTS NORTH: I-91 South. Exit 22S (left exit) to Route 9 South. Exit 1 to I-95 North to exit 70 (first exit after the bridge). At the end of the exit take a left onto Route 156. Follow Route 156 for approximately 4.6 miles and take a left onto Cove Road (at the Camp Claire sign), and continue to the left. At the top of the hill take a right onto Oakland Ave. FROM NEW HAVEN AND POINTS SOUTH: I-95 North to exit 70 (first exit after the bridge). At the end of the exit take a left onto Route 156. Follow route 156 for approximately 4.6 miles and take a left onto Cove Road (at the Camp Claire sign), and continue to the left. At the top of the hill take a right onto Oakland Ave. FROM RHODE ISLAND AND POINTS EAST: Take I-95 South to exit 70. At the traffic light go straight through onto U.S. Route 1 (Halls Road). Take a right onto Route 156. Follow Route 156 for approximately 4.4 miles and take a left onto Cove Road (at the Camp Claire sign), and continue to the left. At the top of the hill take a right onto Oakland Ave.

To all members of the Senior Choir - welcome to a new season of singing and Fall music-making at FCCOL! Here is our September schedule! Wednesday, September 4 Rehearsal at 7:30 pm

Sunday, September 8 Singing at the 9:00 am service with a rehearsal at 8:15 am

Wednesday, September 11 Rehearsal at 7:30 pm

Sunday, September 15 Singing at the 11:00 am service with a rehearsal at 10:15 am

Wednesday, September 18 Rehearsal at 7:30 pm

Sunday, September 22 Singing at the 9:00 am service with a rehearsal at 8:15 am

Wednesday, September 25 Rehearsal at 7:30 pm

Sunday, September 29 Singing at 11:00 am with a rehearsal at 10:15am

Many thanks, Simon

Simon Holt 860.705.3037

IMMIGRATION’S INSPIRATIONS A BENEFIT CONCERT SATURDAY, SEPT. 14

Join us on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., for a special fund-raising concert in the Meetinghouse that will help raise money for our ongoing efforts to help area families facing deportation crises. Admission to the concert is a free-will donation. The concert will be followed by refreshments and raffles in the Fellowship Hall. The benefit concert, arranged and performed by FCCOL’s Director of Music Simon Holt, is called “Immigration’s Inspirations: A Celebration of Foreign-Born Composers Whose Works Influenced American Music & Culture” – and features musical selections by foreign composers who either emigrated to America, whose U.S. tours and works heavily influenced American composers, or whose works celebrated iconic overseas buildings that influenced American architecture. All proceeds will go to support the charitable work of FCCOL’s Immigration Assistance Committee (IAC), which connects immigrant families connect free or low-cost legal aid before and during deportation proceedings; and helps them understand their rights under federal and state law, particularly when their families include members who are U.S. residents. The IAC played an instrumental role in helping a New Britain couple, Malik bin Rehman and Zahida Altaf – whose daughter is a U.S. citizen – win a stay of deportation after initially seeking sanctuary in FCCOL. The family is currently awaiting a ruling from the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. The IAC is also working to reunite the Torres family from Waterbury. In August 2018, Miguel Torres and his two children, all of whom are U.S. citizens, watched helplessly as their wife and mother, Glenda Cardenas Caballero, was deported to Honduras even though she had complied with all ICE directives and her immigration case was under appeal. Pieces performed during the benefit concert will include: “Humoresque” by Pietro Yon, who was born in Italy and moved to the U.S. in 1907 “Sonata II” by Paul Hindeminth, who was born in Germany and moved to the U.S. in 1940 “Grand Chorus in March Form” by Alexandre Guilmant, whose U.S. tours were instrumental in

establishing American improvisational styles “Suite Gothique” by Loen Boellmann, who composed a piece celebrating Notre Dame, an iconic

building that influenced American architecture “Imperial March” by Edward Elgar, an English composer whose U.S. tours were immensely

popular “Fantasia in G major BWV 572” by J.S. Bach, the German-born father of all composers of music

for the organ “Thema met Variaties” by Hendrik Andriessen, which was written for Lady Susi Jeans, the

Austrian-born organist, teacher and musicologist who taught several influential 21st Century European organists

“Carillon de Westminster” by Louis Vierne, a Frenchman who composed a piece celebrating Westminster Abbey, another iconic building that influenced American architecture

If you are unable to attend but would like to support the IAC, you can send a tax-deductible contribution via check or money order to:

Our Sunday School program, God’s Neighborhood, resumes Sunday, Sept. 8, with a focus this year on “Ordinary Heroes of the Bible and Today: Stories & Strengths.” We have programs for children of all ages, from kindergarten up through middle school. Our high-school-aged youth often volunteer to help lead classes for younger children. September 8 at 9:30— This morning we will introduce ordinary heroes from the Bible and today, and discuss their qualities and strengths. September 15 at 9:30- Joseph and his brothers, part 1 Genesis 37 September 22 at 10- Joseph and his brothers, part 2 Genesis 37 September 29 at 9:30- Mariam Exodus 2 and 15 Backpacks and school supplies needed! For the month of September, Gods Neighborhood is collecting new and gently used backpacks and school supplies to share with children of incarcerated parents. Please make your donation and support our community in need. Annual Church Picnic at Camp Claire. Our annual church picnic will take place at Camp Claire, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 8. Please plan to attend and, if you can, bring a salad, side dish or dessert to share. We hope to see you there! Senior Pilgrim Fellowship (high-school-aged youth) typically have one service and one social activity planned each month. Many of these youth also lead or assist in the Sunday School Classrooms serving as role models for our younger children. SPF youth also are invited to participate in the 9 am service reading, offering children’s sermons or reflecting on Service trip experiences. Some of the activities include: Bowling, Midnight Run, Breakfast Run, service trip to Haiti, serving at New London Community Meal Center, a trip to St. John the Divine, game nights, bon fires, kayak trips and the Annual Box Night homelessness awareness night. Junior Pilgrim Fellowship (middle school youth) meet every Sunday morning during God’s Neighborhood to discuss Social Justice Issues and Environmental Issues and plan and carry out service projects that relate to them. In the past they have made homemade bread and bookshelves for the Homeless Hospitality Center, and participated in a joint trip with Storefront School to Bushy Hill Ropes Course. They also attend the Breakfast Run with the SPF, have bonfires, game nights and go bowling. The JPF also may participate in the 9 a.m. service through readings and other activities. The JPF will plan for their year during the morning of September 8. The first Sunday Night Soup meeting for JPF and SPF will be September 29. Please look for more information in the weeks to come! Interested in making your Confirmation this year? We will be starting our Confirmation program in January, but prospective confirmands are encouraged to attend our Pilgrim Fellowship Soup and Conversation nights (5-7 pm) starting September 29th. For more information contact Laura at lfitz.nager@gmail.com or Lisa Doggart lisadoggart@gmail.com.

God’s Neighborhood’ Sunday School

Welcome to God’s Neighborhood

‘God’s Neighborhood’ Sunday School Program Christian Education for Children Pre-K through Grade 12

Registra�on 2019-2020 New ________Returning ________

Name __________________________________________________________________

Age__________ Date of Birth _____________ Grade _____

Email______________________________________

Special needs, allergies, diet restrictions_______________________________________

Child’s special skills or talents_______________________________________________

Name___________________________________________________________________

Age___________ Date of Birth ____________Grade________

Email______________________________________________________

Special needs, allergies, diet restrictions_____________________________

Child’s special skills or talents_______________________________

Name____________________________________________________________________

Age__________ Date of Birth______________ Grade_____________________________

Email______________________________________

Special needs, allergies, diet restrictions_____________________________

Child’s special skills or talents_____________________________________

Parents Names_____________________________________________________________

Address(es)______________________________________________

Home Phone____________________________ Cell phone _______________________

Email______________________________________________

Contact Preference: Email ____ Phone ____

Photo Release*: Granted ____ Denied ____ (*Children will not be identified by name.)

Signature: ________________________________________________________________

Would you be willing to volunteer from time to time or help with special programs?

Yes ____ No ____

Check which volunteer opportunities might interest you:

________ Help out in nursery

________ Sunday School Teacher

________ Board of Youth Education

________ Substitute Teacher

________ Photography

________ Help with potluck suppers and picnics

________ Help with special crafts

________ Help with the Christmas Pageant and other special programs

Any special skills you’d like to share?___________________________________________

Are you new to FCCOL?_______________ Would you like to become a member?_______

Final White Elephant Sale report for 2019 Another great year for the White elephant sale. Rain, heat and humidity made intake a challenge this year, and even with one less day and no night intake we were still maxed out in some departments and not so much in others, which makes setting records each year difficult as you can only sell what you receive. Bottom line Gross sales including consignment from last year => $88,519 - [just $4k less than last year's record] Net

sale =>> $77,841 - 5th best Ever. Out of [21] departments [8] exceeded last years record sale. There were [3] new all-time department sales records: Baked Goods $1,079 Flowers and baskets $4,648 Jewelry $8,718 Thanks to everyone who helped make this such a success. The LBS board meets periodically to review applicants for the sale proceeds. Some $76,200 was recently mailed out as a result of the success of this and

prior years’ sales. Next year will be our 84th sale. Dates are July 10th and 11th. Bob Davis – WES chairman

Departments 2019 Net sales

Art Works 6,318

Baked goods 1,079

Books & Music 3,079

Children Books 909

Children Clothing 1,671

* Coffee and donuts 667

Electrical - AV/lamps/appl 5,619

Flowers & baskets 4,648

* Food/soda 2008 867

Furniture - Large 4,347

Furniture - Small 3,630

Jewelry 8,318

Kitchenware[incl P&P] 3,630

Knick knacks 2,109

Linens 5,543

Luxury 8,835

Men's Clothing 3,471

Sporting Goods 5,812

Toys 2,802

Women's/acc's 2014 13,452

Misc 20

Dept Sales $86,825

General expenses -$8,984

Net WES Sales $77,841

* Net [sales - dept expenses]

White Elephant Sale

THANK YOU BAKERS!!!!

The White Elephant Bakery Committee

sends thanks to the dozens of bakers

who contributed such deliciously good

things for this year’s sale. It was a

dream to think we could beat last year’s

total, but thanks to you all we did!

2019 was a record – $1,079!

THANKS!!!!

Climate Change Task Force The presidential campaign is heating up with plenty of discussion on climate change. This focus will serve us well. Separately, this topic is getting increased coverage on TV and major publications. All these talking points can be a lot to absorb. The FCCOL climate change task force will try to help our congregation navigate through the various perspectives.. With this in mind, three topics are already scheduled for adult forums this fall.

September 22 ‘Results of Church Survey on Climate Change’ (are there differences in opinion?)

September 29 ‘The Environmental Advantages of a Plant Based Diet – or Vegetarianism 101’ (bring your appetite!)

October 13 ‘Citizen’s Climate Lobby-How to address Climate Change’ (guaranteed to enhance our perspective)

Please add these dates to your calendar. Thank you. For the climate change task force, Donald Gonci

Recycling in Old Lyme Improving Old Lyme’s recycling efforts are among steps Old Lyme’s Sustainable Committee took towards achieving Sustainable CT certification. “What’s In / What’s Out” labels for green recycling bins serve as a reminder of proper curbside recycling.

To encourage improved curbside recycling, labels are available in the church foyer, and residents are asked to apply them to the lids of their recycling bins. Inappropriate materials may trigger fines to the town. So it’s important for Old Lyme permanent and temporary residents to understand proper separation of materials.

SustainableCT is a statewide program that provides a framework of actions for towns to create more sustainable communities and also earn recognition. In 2019, several members of FCCOL have been participating in a variety of efforts, which range from arts and culture to housing in nine different categories. h�ps://sustainablect.org/ac�ons-cer�fica�ons/ac�ons/

Household GreenTips for Fall Check the air pressure in your tires. Cooler temperatures lower tire pressure and that, in turn, lowers

fuel efficiency. So check your tires and make sure that they are properly inflated. Move furniture or any obstructions from vents, baseboard heaters, registers on the floor or radiators so

that air moves freely. If you have a radiator ... place a reflecting panel behind it ... you can purchase one at a home center or make one yourself with a plywood panel and aluminum foil.

Vacuum the refrigerator coils to keep the compressor running efficiently. It's also a good time to check

that the refrigerator is level ... the door should automatically swing shut instead of staying open. Check the seal on the door ... try closing it on a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, it's time to replace the gaskets. Here's another tip for running the refrigerator efficiently ... don't over fill it. Allowing room for cool air to circulate will keep everything at the right temperature.

On Our Environment

In loving memory of Joan Kelley

As many of you know by now, in the early on the morning of July 23rd, Joan Kelley died after a long struggle with

cancer. Joan was our church administrator for nearly 12 years. In that capacity, she was the first person that many

people encountered when they walked through our doors, or when they called on the phone, the very definition of

the values of hospitality and grace that we seek to practice. She was unfailingly kind, diplomatic, calm, and

thoughtful in her interactions. She was supremely well organized. And she was unflappable in the face of most any

administrative storm, save for those occasions when the copier was unresponsive on a Friday afternoon. Even then,

she found a way to do what needed to be done.

But for so many of us, she was so much more than a colleague, or a welcoming presence in the office. She was a

dear friend. Above all, Joan loved gathering with friends, being with friends, spending time with those she cared

about deeply. Some of those friends lived on the West Coast, in her beloved Portland, a place that gave her

immense joy. Some were in other parts of the country. But many of her best friends were in Connecticut. They

accompanied her to doctor’s appointments during her struggle with cancer. They gathered with her for meals, or

for walks. And when the time came, they surrounded her bedside, and helped her to know that she wasn’t alone,

that she was loved, and that she was an important part of their lives. Joan taught us all something of what it is to be

a friend. But so did those who gathered around her at the end. Surely that’s one of the most important gifts we can

give to one another – to accompany a friend as they make the passage from life toward the mystery of what may

follow.

Speaking personally, I’ll miss Joan tremendously. I’ll miss her golden retriever, Molly, greeting me at the door of

the office, or shifting contentedly at Joan’s feet beneath her desk. I’ll miss her updates about her children, David

and Kathy, and hearing the news about her grandchildren. I’ll miss her excitement, and occasional exasperation,

with her latest puppy, Zoe. I’ll miss her enthusiasm for life. I’ll miss the courage and determination that she

brought to her struggle with cancer, and her resolution that the disease would not diminish her will toward life. I’ll

miss those things and so much more. We all will.

But I’ll miss something else as well. Often, Joan would hand me a copy of a poem she had read, something that

caught her attention and was worth passing along. A few months ago, she handed me a copy of Mary Oliver’s

poem “When Death Comes.” Despite the title, it’s a hopeful poem, as Joan always was. It wasn’t that Joan spent

her time anticipating death. It was rather that, having lived with cancer, she continually sought out how best to live

in this world, now, a quest that the poem affirms.

I reread the poem again this morning when news of her death arrived, and it seemed a perfect description of all we

knew and loved best about Joan: she didn’t simply visit the world. She greeted it with wonder, a bride married to

amazement, a bridegroom taking the world into her arms. As she once offered it to me, I offer its final lines now to

you.

Say a prayer for Joan’s family, for her brother Peter, for her son David, for her daughter Kathy, as well as their

respective families. Say a prayer for all of those friends and family who will miss Joan most. And remember

tonight to say “I love you” to all of those in your life that you’re privileged to call friends, or family. I have a hunch

that’s what Joan would like.

With love…

Steve

For Joan…

When it's over, I don't want to wonder

if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,

or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

--Mary Oliver

Joan Kelley Memorial Service

On Saturday, September 7th, 2019 at 2:00pm, a memorial service will be held

in honor of our beloved Joan. Please mark your calendars.

Her obituary can be found on www.rwwfh.com, The Hartford Courant,

The Day, and LymeLine.com.

Stewardship Sunday Sunday, September 22nd

10 AM (One Service Only)

Followed by A Community Conversation

in Fellowship Hall 11 AM—12 PM

Hosted by the Board of Stewardship

Our theme this year — “There Will Your Heart Be Also” — begs the question, where is our heart as a church? Join us for a continuation of the discussion that Steve begins from the pulpit. Our hope is that together we will find a renewed

appreciation for the work of the church in our lives and the lives of others.

Light refreshments, spirited conversation and discovery of shared interests

Board of Stewardship: Mary Kate Cox (chair), Jonathan French, Tom Grant, Diane Hart, Steve Hart, Allison Hine, Sandy Long, Wayne Mountz, Jeanne Thomas, Mike Winterfield

With appreciation for our valued departing member, Wendy Rieder.

2020 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

“There Will Your Heart Be Also”

CHURCH BUSINESS NEWS

Uses of Life Insurance for Planned Giving

Planned Giving is about giving the Church assets that it can use at some later point. Many of the articles I have written previously have described how you can make a gift to the Church and yet receive an income for your lifetime first before the Church receives the donation.

Life Insurance could work similarly, but the most common use is to give the Church the gift of the premium for a policy on your life. Note the table below for a gift of a $100,000 policy to the Church:

Age Annual Premium

40 $803 50 $1032 60 $1685 70 $2822 80 $5607

You get to deduct 100% of the gift of premium to the Church and the Church will receive the $100,000. What a meaningful gift for a small amount of money! Of course, various methods of paying the policy over shorter time frames and your health affect the actual premium that is charged, but in most circumstances this is a great way to give to the Church in a meaningful way.

Perhaps you have a policy that already exists. That policy could be gifted to the Church and you can receive an income for life based upon the cash value of the policy. If the policy is a term insurance policy, it might be able to be sold. The sale price could be given to the Church and you could receive a deduction for a percentage of the gift.

So there are many ways to make a Planned Gift with life insurance. Please feel free to contact Tom Grant at 860-598-9419 or tcgrant9215@gmail.com should you have questions about this topic.

WHEN MAKING A GIFT OF STOCK

Please notify the church of your gift, including the designated use, at the time you request your broker to make the transfer. It is most often the case that the donor’s name does not come through to us through the brokerage transfer system, so we don’t know whom to credit for the contribution! We can provide you with an instruction sheet with the account information for your broker. In addition, at the turn of the calendar year, we also need to know for which year you intend the gift. If you have any questions or need further information please feel free to call Teri Gedrys or me at the church office 860-434-8686. We appreciate your help. In that regard, please call if you donated 12 shares of Union Pacific Corporation!

Bob McCracken, Treasurer

WHEN SENDING A CHECK

Please be sure to note on the check where the offering is to be credited (e.g. pledge, food pantry, donation, Habitat, etc.). We want to make sure your contribution goes to the right place! Thanks again.

Tree of Life News

Tree of Life Annual Fall Conference Series Save the Date! October 19th – 27th

In the West Bank, Palestinian children are being pulled from their beds in the middle of the night, blindfolded, thrown into jeeps and held under military detention. In Gaza, children struggle to do homework by candlelight and shake in fear at the sound of planes, having seen first-hand the devastation caused by one-ton bombs and 155 mm artillery shells.

As Americans we need to hear the cries of these children and ask ourselves how we might be in solidarity with them. How can we support them and provide hope? Hope for freedom. Hope for safety. Hope for a future.

This year’s theme is Solidarity, and in this series we will hear from those who exemplify what it means to be in solidarity with Palestine. We will also hear from Palestinian youth ambassadors who will share how they cope, and what brings them hope.

Speakers include: Cindy & Craig Corrie, Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice / Mark Braverman, Kairos USA / Rabbi Meryl Crean, Jewish Voice for Peace / Meera Shaw, Palestine Legal / Palestinian Student Youth Ambassadors.

Plus music and dabke dancers!

How can we bring solidarity, hope and the promise of a new day for those who languish in the darkness? Join us and learn how you can be a part of the answer to that question!

Dates & Locations

October 19: Hartford, Conn. Artists Collective

October 20/am: Old Lyme, Conn. First Congregational Church of Old Lyme

October 20/pm: Woodbridge, Conn. Palestine Museum US

October 23: Sheffield, Mass. (Berkshires)

October 24: Hartford, Conn. UConn School of Law

October 27/am: Barnstable, Mass. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

October 27/pm: Harwich, Mass. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church

Other venues to be announced.

Visit www.tolef.org for more information.

TOL friends Tamer and Nadine Al-Sahouri

Tree of Life News

Tree of Life 2019 Siraj Awards

Each year we present Siraj Awards to those who have distinguished themselves by their volunteer spirit which strengthens the work we do.

The Arabic word "Siraj" means torch, and it's good to remember those who have been torchbearers for us, who have a passion for human rights, and who take seriously Jesus's words "You are the light of this world."

This year our Board selected two to be the recipients of our Siraj Awards - Mary House of Portland Oregon, and our very own Nicholas Westbrook of Old Lyme.

“No one has the right to sit down and feel hopeless. There’s too much work to do.” ~ Dorothy Day

Nicholas Westbrook

Thanks to Nick's leadership, Tree of Life sold close to 1.5 tons of olive oil last year! Referred to as "Education in a Bottle," our sales of olive oil, za'atar, and other Palestinian craft products, support our Palestinian academic scholar-ship programs. Our scholarships helped more than 20 students at six Universities in the West Bank and Gaza last year!

This initiative also benefits the Palestinian farmers who provide us with organically grown, fair trade olive oil under very challenging conditions, and the Palestinian businessmen who help us import the goods.

You'll see Nick at our events offering a sampling of pita dipped in olive oil and za'atar, and sharing his delicious olive oil cake using a recipe from The Gaza Kitchen, written by Laila el-Haddad, a Tree of Life Advisor.

In biblical times, olive oil was also used as lamp fuel - Siraj. The prophecy of Isaiah says, "A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench. He will faithfully bring forth justice."

That's our friend, Nicholas Westbrook! Thanks to Nick's quiet ministry among us, tons of hope has been brought to the olive farmers in Palestine and tons of hope has been given to Palestinian college students! Thank you Nick for being Siraj for us!

Adult Enrichment Programs

BOOK GROUP

On Sept. 24th and Oct. 29th (10:45 am in Hoag Parlor) we will discuss No Ordinary Time, The Rise of Spiritual Intelligence and Evolutionary Creativity by Jan Phillips. This extraordinary book of daily readings offers spiritual guidance and opportunities for personal growth. Please join us! All welcome.

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP

This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. -Rumi

Please join us as we listen to one another, offer support and find ways to face the challenges and gifts of caregiving with love. We meet the last Friday of each month in Hoag Parlor. Next sessions: August 30th, September 27th

MEMOIR GROUP: Writing Down the Days

Join us as we explore writing memoir. Using informal writing prompts, participants will give voice to memories and the stories that make up our days. No writing experience necessary...just a willingness to pay attention. Thursday, September 26th 10:00-11:30. Questions? Email Laura at lfitz.nager@gmail.com.

BIBLE STUDY

This fall Becky Crosby will lead a study on the life of King David in 1 & 2 Samuel and 1Kings 1-2. We will also read Geraldine Brook's "The Secret Chord," a well written story of the troubled life of David that offers many life lessons for our lives today. We will begin with an introduction on Thursday, September 19 at 10:45 in the church's library. We will take a 3 week break while Becky is in Haiti and resume on October 17 to Christmas. Please join us!! Bring your Bible. If you don't have one, we have one for you! If you would like to contact Becky please do so at: <rtcros@ftcrosby.com>

ADULT FORUMS The adult forums will resume between the 9:00 and 11:00 services on September 22. The first three programs will be conducted by the church's climate change working group. The September 22 and 29 programs will be presented by the members of the working group. The speakers at the third program on October 13 (there will be no forum on October 6, a Communion Sunday) will be Anne Schmidt and Roger Kuhns of the Connecticut Citizens Climate Change Lobby. Suggestions for future adult forums are greatly appreciated. Please notify Carleen, Laura or David Ogle (davidbogle@aol.com) with recommendations.

Employment

Seeking Employment:

Rab Nawaz/KAPPRI PAINTING, LLC Free estimates. Power painting, power washing interior and exterior, gutter cleaning, wallpaper install and removal. 30+ years experience. Satisfaction guaranteed. The church has experience with this company. Kappripainting@gmail.com, 860-857-0326. Home Health Aid, House Keeping Hope Helwig at 860-514-9623. Ironing: Yaldiz Hamou, who with the rest of her delightful family continue to settle into life as Old Lyme residents (a welcome change from their previous challenges in Syria), is happy to welcome your ironing needs into her non-smoking home. Pease feel free to contact her directly for further details at 860-389-2788. American Craftsmen need America’s help. Let me restore your family heirloom as a furniture maker of 33 years. My work includes restoration of antiques, work on cherished family pieces, and general furniture repair. As well, my passion is designing and building fine furniture: large and small pieces include dining and side tables, beds, benches, and chairs; religious pieces, pet coffins, etc. Please contact Dick Humphreville at 860-442-5003 or www.humphrevillefurniture.com. Home Designer Design & drawing from concept to construction documents for new homes, additions, and renovations. Servicing home owners, builders, and architects. Other services include drawings to help sell a house, develop & present an idea. Computer aided using DATA CAD 12 - 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional. David S Nelson-Building Design Service 860 434-5526 DSNdesign@comcast.net. The "Pet Nanny" Carol Giuliano, an Old Lyme resident, will provide loving care for your pets when you are not there. Over forty years experience with all types of animals. Call (203) 738-9932.

Weaving Classes Always wanted to learn to weave? Start by weaving a rag rug on Stephanie Morton's ENORMOUS loom in her Lyme studio. Call her at 860-434-1188 or 917-3429. Sue Mandeville Transpor tation and/or accompaniment to professional or medical appointments, outpatient surgeries and home stay following anesthesia. Airport, train or bus transport. Livery license, insured, references and medical training. Call Sue Mandeville 860-908-2310. Lorelei Mitchell Mediator , Lorelei Mitchell, is available to assist with family dilemmas, landlord-tenant disputes or workplace conflict. Mediation is a better alternative to litigation and can often transform relationships, while giving you a say in the outcome. Call Lorelei Mitchell at (860) 536-0260 or email lmitchell18@comcast.net to schedule a consultation. Guli Gvelesiani I lived in Old Lyme and worked for 7 years as a live-in caregiver for a church family. I am seeking a new full time, live-in position with a caring family. I can provide references. Please call Guli at 860-391-5691. We periodically receive requests to post notice of people who can be hired to help transport, help in light housekeeping or help by offering companionship to those who are housebound. We are not able to make recommendations; but their names and number are listed below. Marilyn Taylor 860-373-1789 Marion Campo 860-865-5447 Martha Durfee 860-575-6518 Sissy Stinson 860-308-4756

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The Firs t Congregational Church of Old Lyme

Staff

The Rev. Dr. Steven R. Jungkeit, Senior Minister (860-434-8686)

The Rev. Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager, Senior Associate Minister (860-304-9096)

The Rev. Carleen R. Gerber, Associate Minister (860-434-0058)

Simon D. Holt, Director of Music (860-705-3037)

The Rev. David W. Good, Minister Emeritus

The Rev. Rebecca T. Crosby, Minister for Haitian Outreach

Rebecca A. Francisco, a recent graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, serves as minister to the South Lyme Union Chapel.

Lisa Doggart, Church School Leader

Mary Tomassetti, Coordinator (860-391-5384)

Lisa Doggart, Junior and Senior Pilgrim Fellowship Leader

Lisa Feltes, Director of Children’s Music (860-691-2226)

Robert McCracken, Church Administrator

Teri Gedrys, Bookkeeper

Mark Testori, Sexton

Church Office Tel: 860-434-8686

Fax: 860-434-1135

e-mail: fccol@fccol.org

Website: www.fccol.org

Sunday Worship - 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School - 9:00 a.m.

Summer Sunday Worship - 10:00 a.m. (June 2 to September 1)

South Lyme Union Chapel Worship - 9:00 a.m.

Pastoral Counseling Center Tel: 860-767-0221

Candace E. Wilson-Stanberry, MSN

Counseling and Psychotherapy Tel: 860-434-3813

Cary Walker, LCSW

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF OLD LYME,

Member U.C.C.

The reproduction of our Meetinghouse on the cover is from a sketch by William Steeves.

The next FCCOL Newsletter will be in October; deadline is September 20th.

Please e-mail the church office at <fccol@fccol.org> if you want to be removed from the newsletter mailing list and read it on the website. Each household that can read the newsletter

on (and print from) the website rather than receive it by mail will save the church $5.17 each and every year. We will ask for your e-mail address so we can alert you when the new issue is

available on our website. Thanks for your help!

U.S. Postage Paid Permit #7

Old Saybrook, CT Non-Profit Organization

The First Congregational Church

2 Ferry Road Old Lyme, Connecticut 06371

THE FOOD PANTRY NEEDS HELP FROM ALL OF US

Whenever you come to church….worship, church events, meetings, or just to visit…. PLEASE bring some non-perishable food items each time to restock the food pantry.

Please let us know if you have some time to volunteer at the food pantry and/or with food drives.