Newsletter May 2012

Church on the Hill, United Church of Christ
Lenox, Massachusetts

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PASTOR’S PONDERINGS
The Easter season is one of joy because Jesus appears to us again and again to remind us that he is always present. It is unbelievable to us because we are a culture that needs evidence. I wonder what evidence you have of Jesus’ presence?

Could it be Jesus in the person you meet at the grocery store checkout counter? Could it be in a smile or kind word? Could it be in our weekly worship when we gather as community at Church on the Hill?  Could it be Jesus in the person you disagree with?

I saw the evidence in worship on April 22 when the youth group and choir led the congregation in a call and response, praising Jesus as the prince of peace. There was such joy in the whole congregation!

Let yourself be a witness to Jesus’ presence this month. Let yourself marvel in the blooming flowers, greening trees, singing birds, and laughing children. Let yourself recognize Jesus even in the disappointments and sorrows.  Take time for yourself. Rest.  Breathe. Notice what’s around you and within you.  Do you need more evidence? Pay attention.

Spring is a wonderful time to recognize God when the earth is full of joy and praise. Jesus came to us in love. Jesus walks with us in love. We will celebrate that love all the way through May to the time of Pentecost at the end of the month. Come to church and marvel!
Pastor Natalie

YOUTH GROUP NEWS
The youth group and some of the parents and the pastor of Church on the Hill met with Police Chief Steve O’Brien and School Superintendent Dr. Ed Costa to continue the conversation about addressing bullying in the schools. The town leaders really listened to the youth concerns and will follow up on several suggestions to create a safe space for students to speak up about bullying. I am proud of our youth group for taking leadership!

The youth also provided leadership in worship on April 22 along with John Cheney and the choir and brought great spirit and joy to the congregation in praise to God. Thanks to Brooks Sherman for his solo.

On April 29 Brooks Sherman, spoke about his faith journey as a Protestant at the “Speaking of Faith” forum with young people from the Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faiths at the Lichtenstein Center. There was a good turnout from members of Church on the Hill!

Natalie Shiras, Youth Group Leader

MODERATOR’S REPORT

“It is no wonder that just the touch of another human being at a dark time can be enough to save the day.”
Frederick Buechner
From Beyond Words

This quotation was in our Sunday bulletin a couple of weeks ago and I think that it sums up a lot of what is happening in our church lately.  First of all there has been the Called to Care class that six of our church members just completed.  This group will be there to make sure our shut-ins and other church members that are in need will be visited.  “The touch of another human being.”

The Outreach group is talking about members going on a regular base to visit residents at Sunset Nursing Home.  “The touch of another human being.”

Shirley Benson in her sermon on April 15 emphasized  “The gift of money is very much needed — but the hands on touch is essential.”

Touch someone today that is ill or hurting, a very simple act but it may be enough to save their day.

Blessings,
Carol W. Powell

AN OPEN LETTER TO FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF CHURCH ON THE HILL:

There seems to be a lot of misinformation being circulated among some members of our congregation regarding the preschool. I would like to set the record straight. Please bear with me – this long story does have a point.

Two years ago, following two rounds of Cottage Meetings and after months of work by the Strategic Planning Committee, our congregation decided that keeping both our buildings was a priority for the foreseeable future. At the same time, and after several years of substantial budget deficits, the congregation – through the Trustees – agreed, moving forward, to operate on a balanced budget. It’s important to keep these two facts in mind.

Most of the costs of running Church on the Hill are fixed. Approximately 70% of our budget goes toward staff salaries. The only way to substantially lower our expenditures and balance our budget this year was to reduce staff costs. Therefore, starting in January 2012, the position of Director of Christian Education was eliminated and the Pastor became a ¾ time position. Remember, we have committed ourselves to the upkeep of two historic properties.

So that we can afford to pay our staff, maintain our buildings and fund our missions, we also need to find different ways to increase our earned income. As so many people have pointed out, the Chapel in particular has been an under-utilized venue for many years. Lo and behold, last August a proposal to form a preschool and summer camp program in the Chapel was brought before the Trustees and the Church Council. The Church Council, as well as the Trustees, voted overwhelmingly to approve such a venture, and to rent out the basement to the new preschool.

The Trustees believe the presence of the preschool in the Chapel will help Church on the Hill remain vital and relevant in the community, provide a much-needed and affordable service to young families of Lenox, bring in income for the Church, and perhaps increase the number of new families coming to Church. If the preschool is successful, it’s to our benefit.

Some salient facts:

1. The preschool is not a mission of the Church. The preschool is a tenant. The Church is its landlord.
2. The preschool is a not for profit educational program.
3. Anne Merritt made it her personal mission to help the preschool become a reality through her generous financial support, which funded needed capital improvements to the Chapel so that the preschool could use the downstairs space. Anne also donated money directly to the preschool to pay for supplies and equipment.
4. The preschool has offered to pay for new windows in the basement. The windows that are there now have lead paint on them, and the downstairs must be certified lead-free in order for the preschool to obtain its ECC license from the state.
5. The preschool has offered to pay for a small fence to be installed in the backyard, should a fence be necessary for insurance purposes. The fence had been previously approved both by the Lenox Historic District Commission and the Trustees.
6. The basement is open to any member of the Church when the preschool is not in session. The preschool hours are and have been published each week in the Sunday Bulletin to keep members informed about when the preschool is in session. The doors to the basement are kept locked because of safety and liability issues. Keys to the basement are located in the Church office.
7. The preschool has repeatedly invited friends and members of our congregation to become involved as volunteers and mentors in their programs. The preschool has also invited members of the Church to Open Houses and other events to meet the parents and families of the preschool children.

Finally — as a courtesy, anyone from the Church requesting the use of the parlor or the chapel room should inform both the Trustees and Office Administrator so that the calendar can be kept up-to-date and the building use managed, as needed.

If you have any questions or concerns about the commercial relationship between the preschool and Church on the Hill, please feel free to contact me.

If you have any questions about the preschool itself, please contact Courtney Gilardi. Her information is listed in the Church directory.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Walton Wilson
Chair of the Trustees
(413) 637-4786
waltonwilson.vox@gmail.com

TRUSTEES TABLET
Is it spring yet?

It’s been quite a busy month for the Trustees. I would like to extend my gratitude and deep appreciation to Bob Brown, Louise McCue, Larson Powell, Elaine Steinert and Lynn Sutton for their generosity of spirit and efforts on behalf of our congregation. Below is an abbreviated description of the various capital improvement projects for the Church and the Chapel currently in process.

THE CHURCH

1. Exterior shutters – The Trustees have set a June 1 deadline for receiving bids/proposals for the new shutters. Larson Powell and Louise McCue have received bids/proposals from CM Goodrich and Riverbend (Pittsfield) and Walton Wilson has received a bid from Shuttercraft  (Madision, CT). Tom Sherman and David DiGiorgis have also assisted on this project, and we expect to receive the results of their research shortly. Many, many thanks to Bill and Nancy Goessel for their generosity in funding this project.
2. Sound system– Darren O’Brien from Encore Audio came to the Church to review our current sound amplification system and to make suggestions about potential upgrades. There were some obvious steps recommended to us that would, in all likelihood, improve the sound quality and operation during Sunday services. A master plan will be drawn up and sent to us in the next few weeks.
3. Steeple– The Church has requested $45,300 from the Community Preservation Commission to pay for the steeple repair, as well as cover the costs of the recent engineering study. The CPC approved our request. However, it has been recently reported in The Berkshire Eagle that some of the Town Selectmen object to providing funds for this project. The question will be included in the Warrant for the Lenox Town Meeting on Thursday, May 3. All members and friends of Church on the Hill who reside in Lenox are encouraged to attend the meeting and to vote in favor of the motion to approve CPC funds for the repair and restoration of the Church steeple.Many thanks to Bob Brown for his extraordinary diligence in pursuing this matter. Also, our sincere thanks and appreciation to the entire Stevens Family for agreeing to allow us to use the Pauline Stevens Memorial Fund to support the repair and restoration of the steeple, as needed.
4. Steeple (Part B):The interior space at the top of the steeple is full of pigeon droppings, which is considered an environmental health hazard. This area needs to be cleaned and in effect sealed from re-entry by birds before other work can safely be done up there.  The first estimate we received for this work is $8,000.

THE CHAPEL

1. Alarm system– We are in the process of contacting local companies who might be able to come look at the current alarm system and make recommendations for improving service.
2. Outside ramp– There are several simple, relatively inexpensive portable ramps that would allow individuals who require mobility assistance (canes, walkers, wheelchairs, etc.)  to step up and over the curb between Main Street and the Chapel walkway. This would enable those people to park closer to the Chapel rather than have to walk uphill in the snow and ice from where the closest Handicapped Parking space is located. Given the arrival of spring and the fact that the Church has re-opened for Sunday service, the Trustees have tabled action on this project for the moment.
3. Mold– Expedient Solutions (an environmental remediation and cleaning company) will come back out in the late spring or early summer to assess how well the commercial dehumidifier is improving the air quality downstairs, thereby reducing the presence of mold in the space. Depending in part on the outcome of this test, the Trustees will consider whether to replace the carpet downstairs with new flooring.  (It should be noted that the preschool has enjoyed having the carpet downstairs, as long as it doesn’t begin to smell of mold.)
4. Completion of drainage system–Rick DiGrigoli, the contractor who constructed the new drainage system this past fall, will return in the near future to repair and re-seed the area along the side and rear of the Chapel, as needed.
5. Stove vent– Larson Powell proposed that a wall vent should be placed near the stove to release smoke, etc. to the outside. (There is no vent, at present, and it’s very difficult to open most of the windows, so any smoke tends to remain trapped downstairs.)
6. CO2 detector: As part of the process of obtaining their EEC license from the state, the preschool must submit to several inspections of the downstairs space, including visits from the Fire Chief, the Building Inspector, and Lead Inspector. The Fire Chief’s only comment was that the CO2 detector needed to be replaced, which the preschool will do.
7.  Exterior painting: Nick Pignatelli and his crew will begin repainting the Chapel exterior around Memorial Day, with the completion date no later than June 25.
8.  Entrance hallway and parlor: Louise McCue has expressed great interest in refurbishing the front hallway and the parlor. Louise would like to provide new lamps for the parlor, for example, and perhaps reorganize the front hallway, to make it cleaner and more attractive.  She will speak with the Memorial Fund Committee about requesting money for this.

OTHER ACTIONS:
The Trusteesunanimously approved Courtney Gilardi’sproposal to schedule a series of children’s day camps in the Chapel over the summer. One of the primary purposes of these camps would be to showcase the downstairs space in the Chapel where the preschool has been meeting this year, in an effort to get families interested in enrolling their children for the fall. There would be 6 week-long camps scheduled, starting on June 25 and running through August 3, and then 2 final camps from August 17-31. The camps would run Mondays – Thursdays, 8:00am – 12:30pm.

If the preschool continues this fall, it seems fairly certain that a fence will need to be installed in back of the Chapel for health and safety reasons. Lynn Sutton suggested that playground mulch be laid inside the fence: it’s inexpensive, it cushions the ground against potential falls, and it relieves us from needing to mow the grass inside the fence. (It also wards off ticks, apparently). Both the Trustees and the Town’s Historic District Committee had previously approved the preschool’s request to build a fence on the Church’s property.

The Church Council has asked whether the Trustees should require all parties who rent space in the Chapel to carry their own liability insurance. Although certain tenants (like the preschool) will be required to carry their own liability coverage, it seems at first glance that to require all tenants to carry insurance would be unnecessary and complicated, and the probable result would be that we would lose most of the groups that currently rent space from us in the Chapel. There is a clause in our standard rental form that states that the undersigned  “…will not hold the church, its staff or its members responsible for any negligent acts, accidents, or omissions during our use of the facility.” Our insurance carrier (Stuart Walker at Emery-Webb) will be contacted to follow up on this question, and to confirm that our coverage is adequate for this contingency.

One final note. For those members of the congregation who desire access to the Chapel kitchen — Robin keeps a key in the Church office that unlocks the door downstairs. Church members are welcome to use the kitchen anytime — except during those few hours of the week when the preschool is in session. The door to the downstairs is kept locked for three reasons: a) to keep the children from leaving the area, or to prevent someone unknown from entering the room when the preschool is in session; b) to protect the preschool’s equipment; c) to keep those items and kitchen supplies belonging to the Church from being taken by other tenants — which has been a problem in the past. In any case, all you need to do is ask Robin for the key, and return it to the office when you’re done. It’s that simple.

Respectfully submitted,

Walton Wilson for the Trustees (Bob Brown, Louise McCue, Larson Powell, Elaine Steinert, and Lynn Sutton)

OUTREACH MINISTRY
On the evening of April 17^th, the Outreach Committee shared our exciting and interactive Potluck Dinner at the lovely home of Shirley Benson in Lenox, MA.  The topics of our discussion included our Matching Donation Project, Initiatives for the Elderly and the Youth & KIVA.

Matching Donation Project
Congratulations to our Outreach Team!!! We have successfully met our matching goal project and have acquired a total of $2000 for local Outreach Missions within our three month deadline. Due to this success, we will entertain future opportunities to repeat another Matching Donation project.

“Elderly & Youth” Initiative Programs
John Cheney, our wonderful Musical Director has volunteered to spearhead an initiative program involving the ‘Elderly and the Youth” at Sunset and Kimball Farm’s Senior Assisted Living Centers in the Berkshires.  After sharing some fantastic ideas with management, the Outreach Mission was enthusiastically received and programs consisting of “live musical entertainment” as well as “one on one” companionship sessions will be created and implemented this summer.  Participants will include adults as well as our local youth. We are thrilled, excited and looking forward to this new opportunity!

“Lenox Camperships”
One or our most dedicated and passionate Outreach Mission members, Shirley Benson, has liasoned with the Lenox Community Center to provide a generous donation on behalf of Church on the Hill’s Outreach Mission to sponsor the enrollment of (4) four children to attend summer camp in Lenox, MA this year.   In addition, an “Arts & Crafts’ Program is about to unfold at the Lenox Community Center where we will provide crafts classes for the youth on building birdhouses.  Landscape artist, Michael Cohen will also offer “adult and youth” watercolor painting workshops.

KIVA
Update!  We have successfully sponsored 7 (seven) loans to various international small businesses which have been fully funded.  These loans are expected to be paid back in May/June of this year.

Our next potluck meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5^th at 5:30pm in the home of Penny and Hale Carey in Lee, MA.

As always, we welcome and encourage your thoughts, comments and participation in our missions.  Please join us at our next Potluck meeting and let us know “your” thoughts!!

Blessings !

submitted by Esther Roman for the Outreach Ministry

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLET
Well, everyone, time has run out! A very disappointing few have sent in their meaningful Advent stories or quotes to share. I guess I just took for granted that this year, there would be a lot of participation, but not so. As I’ve said before, I understand that it’s early to be thinking along the lines of the Advent season, so if  you do get inspired between now and October 1^st. send your material to the church office in care of Robin.
Have a wonderful summer!
Shirley Benson

LITTLE EXPLORERS SUMMER CAMP COMING SOON!
I am pleased to announce that summer camps have been approved to run between June 25- August 3 in the lower level of the chapel.  Built around a variety of notable children’s books, our summer camps will take children ages 3-5 on an adventure designed to inspire and engage their minds.  In this fun-filled, imaginative program they will discover and learn about the world and community we live in.  There will be a sibling option for younger campers, who will need to be accompanied by an adult in order to participate.

The summer camp will be a wonderful way to showcase the beautiful space we’ve created, welcome new families to our community and provide our youngest learners a small, child centered, nurturing and fun-filled summer experience.

The days will be Monday – Thursday from 8:30 am-12:30 pm. The camp would store our belongings in the three small rooms when Knesset Israel have their four Friday lecture series. The proposed camps would not interfere with the Church’s Craft Fair, and will store our belongings to make room for tables, etc. Summer camps are licensed by Tri-Town health and we are quickly moving through this process.

Big ‘Thank Yous’ to Walton and Barbara, the COH Council and Trustees and all the congregation for your continued support and enthusiasm for our early childhood programming.

submitted by Courtney Gilardi-Coco

SUPER SATURDAY MACUCC WORKSHOPS
On Saturday, March 3, five people from Church on the Hill, led by Natalie Shiras, attended a semiannual MACUCC workshop in Longmeadow. The morning worship for over 320 attendees from across the state set an inspirational tone with emphasis on music.
Patrick Evans’ skill in getting everyone to join in the spirited singing, even when some of us were unfamiliar with the music and the words, was a model of inspiration and an exciting way to begin the day. My morning workshop was aimed mainly at those already involved with leading worship for youth groups. I brought back some notes that could be helpful.
Rev. Peter Wells led the afternoon workshop “The Intersection  of Faith and Politics: We have to go there.” As the title implies, the tone of the workshop ended on a positively  imperative tone calling all of us to find ways of transposing our faith into social action in forms that suit us. His introductory question allowed everyone to respond with what each of us viewed as the most important current social issue. There was a wide variety; the only issue that got repeated attention was intolerance of diversity, whether as immigration, racism, or anti-gay prejudice.  From that Peter handed out examples of scriptures illustrating that calls to act on our belief go back to the Old Testament. They included Isaiah 58.1-10 and 65. 17-25; Luke 1.45-55,  4.16-21, and 9.51; Mark 12.28-31; Revelations 21.1-5. Even the familiar passages among these I had never viewed as political. Very quickly the workshop was a mind opener because so many participants shared their understanding of the political imperative imbedded in the passages – and not a few of us confessed that we had missed it before.
We spent half the workshop opening each other’s minds, hearts and spirits to the fact that the call to action for social justice, the dominant theme of the workshop, is a vital part of the Biblical story before, during, and after Jesus’ life and the Biblical message for us. The second half we discussed what the call means today, what morality we derive from the call, and what action should ensue. Peter Wells concluded by quietly exhorting us to expand our faith into such action including leadership for social justice. Those from cities and some larger towns enunciated specific ways they had already begun this journey; some others saw specific opportunities to engage; a few of us left with a renewed commitment to seek such engagement ourselves; to begin at the very least by modeling civility in reaching out to people with differing attitudes and experiences and move from there into “Walking the talk.” Resurgence of the Outreach group centers on this kind of action; notes from these meetings show how it has been happening for ten years anyway. Involvement with Kiva and Bridge and the current youth activity responding to bullying and some dangerous decision making among a few Lenox youth show that this spirit, this morality, is spreading. How we confront our Christian call to love our neighbor and like Gandhi to love our enemies as we do our friends may be the next step – and perhaps how this call defines the morality of our attitude and behavior at town meetings and in elections local and national. Please let Outreach know what this call means to you.
submitted by Bob Gardiner

LAY CAREGIVERS TEAM
Six lay caregivers, Shirley Benson, Bob Gardiner, Elaine Hunter, Zoë Jilleen, Charlotte Pignatelli, and Eleanor Van Alstyne will be installed during worship on May 7. These members of Church on the Hill have taken the United Church of Christ “Called to Care” training to provide intentional care for members and friends of the church. The Care Givers Team will meet regularly with the pastor for ongoing education, prayers and support. They bring compassion, confidentiality and a listening ear. Let’s affirm this new ministry and know that these six are available for pastoral visiting.
Natalie Shiras

AWAKENINGS
During my week away at the end of April I attended “Awakenings”, a conference held at the United Congregational Church in Holyoke. There were stories about building bridges between different viewpoints, there was jazz music and a capella music during worship. There were talks by theologians about God’s dream for us—living the kingdom of God here on earth. There were Bible studies and presentations about Christianity in Korea and the Middle East. I return to you refreshed after each of my weeks away, ready to bring new ideas and new insights to Church on the Hill.
Natalie Shiras

JAZZ VESPERS
Trinity Episcopal Church invites all the Lenox churches to a 5 pm Vespers Service with the Ike Sturm Jazz Ensemble on Sunday May 20.

BERKSHIREASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting of the Berkshire Association, made up of the 23 churches of the United Church of Christ in Berkshire County, will meet at the Lee Congregational Church (UCC) on Sunday, May 20 at 3 pm. There will be a jazz worship service with several churches participating including Esther Roman from Church on the Hill, followed by the business meeting. All are invited to participate and get to know our other churches.
Natalie Shiras

IN OUR PRAYERS
Our sister churches, Trinity United Methodist, in St. Petersburg, Russia working with the Boomerang Invalid Society, Peniel Shepherd Ministry, in Accra, Ghana (Braimah Wallah’s church), and  Centro de Restauracion Sion in Puriscal, Costa Rica, The Christian Center, and The Lenox Food Pantry, Nancy Beaudry (mother of Jen Beaudry), Rob Brocklehurst (friend of Charlie Rae), Alice Brown (sister of Eleanor Van Alstyne), Marci Brown, Sheila Cascley (friend of Elaine Steinert), Ruth Chandler, James Cox (brother of Eleanor Van Alstyne), Jay Dallett (nephew of Tom Littlefield), Jessica Dehn, Benjamin Delafield (grandson of Terry Weaver), Chris Doyle, Bonnie Gable,  Richard Hernandez (friend of Esther Roman), Katharine Houk (friend of Christine Hoppus),  Christopher Johnson and Tim Johnson (sons of Joy Killfoile), Timothy Jones (grandson of Doris Jones), Glenn & Barbara Jorn, Jay Joyce (son of Peggy Joyce), Tim Long (friend of Shirley Benson), Jeannette O’Brien, Sue Parker (friend of Barbara Sims), Ed and Pegge Sawyer,  Bob Stevens, Ashley Thomas (member of Church on the Hill family, dear to Barbara Sims and Walton Wilson), Judy Thompson, Meta Ukena (friend of Church on the Hill), Braimah Wallah & family,  any unspoken requests, the men and women in the military and their loved ones.

May Birthdays
and Anniversaries
Lia Fitzgerald – 2^nd
Tom & Betsy Sherman – 3^rd
Chris & Pat Doyle – 4^th
Doris Jones – 6^th
Bill & Susan Dunleavy – 10^th
Christine Hoppus and Harvey Siegel– 11^th
Lynn & Emily Wilson – 14^th
Don Fitzgerald – 15^th
Susan McNinch – 17^th
Joe & Lisa Simonetta – 17^th
Dave & Barbara Frost – 23^rd
Bob & Sandy Boylston – 30^th
MacKenzie Hunter – 30^th 

MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS!  This month we meet Bob Gardiner

Bob was born in Holyoke.  After a few years in Boston, his family moved to Monterey.  He attended Searles Academy.  He graduated from Colgate University and then spent two years in the US Army.  After the army, he attended Boston University for graduate school and earned a Masters degree in English literature.

He met Ruth, the love of his life, while living in Monterey.  They were friends for several years and both loved going to concerts at Tanglewood.  It was by chance that he saw her walking into the lobby at Symphony Hall in Boston and that was “all she wrote” for he knew she was the one for him.  The following summer he took her to a Tanglewood concert and proposed because he knew that she could not say no at Tanglewood!  They were married in Gordon Chapel at Old South Church and were married for 51 years.  Ruth had a beautiful voice and loved to sing.  She studied voice and piano at the New England Conservatory.  They had a warm place in their hearts for Tanglewood and that was where their romance blossomed.

Bob taught English and poetry at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut for 44 years.  He said:  “I went there as a young whippersnapper and retired as an old fogy.”  Well you know he is far from an old fogy!  Ruth and Bob visited the Church on the Hill a few times until her health problems prevented them from attending.  After losing his soul-mate and support, Bob returned to the Church on the Hill to renew his faith through thinking, feeling and living the qualities that Jesus taught us to live.  Those qualities and teachings of Jesus are what leads his life today.

Bob is taking an active part in the church:  singing in the choir, reading scripture, Bible study, and participating in the Outreach ministry.  Outreach in many forms is a great part of his life.  Elder Services put him in touch with a man who needed a friend in Great Barrington.  It was a perfect match as the gentleman had taught English and poetry at the university level and they have a lot in common regarding reading and writing.  Bob skis at Notchview and is an ambassador on the trails for assistance to the many skiers.  He helps to maintain the trails and last summer he helped build a new trail and four bridges.  He worships God through nature and has a reverence for His beautiful creation.  This summer he will be an usher and tour guide at his beloved Tanglewood.  Underneath the surface of all these activities are expressions of love and living a Christian life.  Bob says that “Jesus helps us to understand how much God is behind our capacity and that means expanding our capacity as we become more.”  Yes – he is living the life.

Bob is very proud of his son, Philip, who lives in Yonkers, New York.  He is a commercial actor and has done some independent work in Manhattan.  He has had lead roles in Middletown, New Haven, and New London, Connecticut.  He was in the Diary of Anne Frank at the Westport Country Play house.  Philip works as a broker in New York City.

Interviewed and submitted by John Cheney

June Hilltopics deadline: May 29th

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP
Wednesday, May 9th  -  12 Noon at the Chapel of the Parlor.  Bring your brown bag lunch Everyone is welcome!  See you there!

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
Spread the Love!  Your gift to Strengthen the Church builds the UCC’s future now by funding the Stillspeaking Ministry, new and renewing churches, youth and young adult ministries, and lay and pastoral leadership formation – especially among women and people of color.

Please give generously – Envelopes will be in the bulletin on May 13 and 20 and the collection will take place on the 20^th and blessed during the Candle of Witness lit by Amy Chin.  Thank you!

FUN(D) RAISER FOR THE CHURCH ON THE HILL!
BUNCO NIGHT——–Let’s Roll!!!!
No experience needed!  Just roll the dice….we provide instructions for this very easy game!  No gambling involved! Bring your friends and have a great time for a great cause!
COST:     $20 per person….including munchies, desserts and door prizes.
WHEN:    Friday May 11, 2012
WHERE:  Upstairs Chapel of Church on the Hill
TIME:      6:30pm – 8:30pm
PLEASE RSVP:  call Church on the Hill, 413-637-1001 by May 8^th (seating is limited)