June 2014

First Congregational Church, UCC

1200 N. Eastern, Las Vegas, NV 89101 Office (702) 642-2220 www.ucclasvegas.org

www.facebook.com/ucclasvegas

At its September meeting the Ministry and Mission Board voted to continue a tradition we first started in June, 2010 – a service of the Blessing of the Animals. Though the first one was in June, the following year we changed it to the third Sunday in October in order to be closer to Francis of Assisi’s birthday. I had worried that this might have been something that had run its course, since this would be the fifth year in a row we had done it – but members of the Board felt that it was an event that many people really appreciated. Some felt that their animals really needed blessing! So…..for the fifth consecutive year…..a service of the Blessing of the Animals on October 19. My memory is that last year the only type of animal we had were dogs. So…..this year bring your fish and gerbils and cats and horses and camels and…..well, who knows what-all you have out there. October 19 is also the day for CROP Walk that afternoon, as you’ll read about elsewhere in this Clarion. As long as you are sure that your pets are up-to-date on shots and they are kept on a leash, the CROP Walk organizers encourage you to bring them along. It may be more fun to do that “walk to alleviate hunger” with a pet by your side. As I noted in a press release at the time of our first such service: Churches across the country have been holding these kinds of services for some time. A growing number of congregations from Massachusetts to Texas to California are holding “pet-centric” services – in fact, perhaps as many as 500 congregations (including one in a Boston suburb called Woof 'n Worship!), according to Laura Hobgood-Oster, a religion professor at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Dr. Hobgood-Oster goes on to say, "It's the changing family structure, where pets are really central and religious communities are starting to recognize that people need various kinds of rituals that include their pets. More and more people in mainline Christianity are

2 June 2014

considering them to have some kind of soul." God’s love includes all of God’s creatures. For many of us our pets are as important a part of our households as any other family member. A service like this “blessing of the animals” is an important way for the church to recognize this reality – and more: to celebrate it. As one pastor who has initiated such a service says, “when we love a dog and a dog loves us, that's a part of God and God is a part of that. So we honor that." A certificate of blessing will be given for each pet following the service.

Peace, Dave

Come join us for the 31st Annual CROP Hunger Walk on October 19th. This years walk will take place at Christ

Church Episcopal located at 2000 S. Maryland Parkway. Registration is at 1:30pm and the walk beings at 2:00pm.

See Samantha Patterson for your walk materials.

June 2014 3

We are a 5-for-5 church. We contribute to all five of the UCC's special offerings. In June our gift of $144 to Strengthen the Church. showed our concern for na-tional church extension and support. Now it's time for Neighbors in Need. NIN is a special mission offering of the UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the USA. One third of NIN funds support the Coun-cil for American Indian Ministries. Two thirds of the offering is used by UCC's Justice & Witness Ministries to support a variety of Justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, education, and direct service projects. We can be sure the money is spent wisely and efficiently. We will dedicate our NIN offering on World Communion Sunday, October 3rd. Our local outreach goes on: The evening Bread Distribution will continue and will be evaluated. Attendance has ranged between 12 and 3. Crop Walk is scheduled for October 19. See Samantha Patterson or Nelson Grandjean for information. A Blessing of the Animals service is scheduled for the same day.

Don Schmiedel, Chair

4 June 2014

There has been a lot of work done around the church this last month. All the trees on the property have been trimmed except for the olive trees which will be taken care of this month. The large bushes along with the rose bushes in the front of the property have been trimmed back for the fall. Painting around the cross in the bread room has been completed and really makes the cross stand out. In the entryway of the church some touch up paint-ing has been completed also. One of the fences on the south side of the property that protect the A/C units has been fixed and painted again. The leak in the hall office is now fixed. We thank everyone who donated funds to accomplish this task. During this last big storm we had no leaking in the hall. The sale of the church is proceeding as we look for new parties to purchase the property. In the next week or so the selling committee will be lowering the price of the property.

Don Grandjean, Chair

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Our campers truly enjoyed themselves at Pilgrim Pines in July. We sent Harry Frink, Maddie Farago and Caitlyn Orozco in July. Harry stole the talent show again with a John Wayne song this year. Our campers and their families thank you for all your support and donations at our campership luncheons throughout the year! We are already planning ahead to next summer’s camp. Children's Sunday School continues to do well with Javion and Taco being our primary children. We are always looking for volunteers to help teach a month of Sunday School. We have the lesson and activity already planned out so its very easy to step in and help. Please see any board member if interested. Adult Sunday School continues to have lively discussions every week. Everyone is welcome to attend. Coffee and snacks are served. We have the new curriculum for the coming year. We are looking into opportunities for our youth to serve the community. Three Square Food bank and Ronald McDonald House are ideas on our list again as well as other needs in the community.

Carolyn Patterson, Acting Chair

6 June 2014

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8 June 2014

This month for the fifth time -- as we have for the past four years -- we will have a special service of the Blessing of the Animals, on October 19

th.

Bring your pet to church with you (any kind of pet, although camels and horses are somewhat discouraged) to have them participate in worship with all of us two-legged creatures and receive a special in-dividual blessing. [For those of you who are going to the CROP Walk later that day, it might be fun to take your pet along with you on the walk.]

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Jared Scheppmann and his wife, Stefani, will be leaving on September 16 for a year in Kampala, Uganda. They will be non-paid staff at Noah’s Ark, one of many orphanages in Uganda (www.nacmu.org). This is their second trip to No-ah’s Ark, they were there for 9 weeks earlier this year, and will be their fifth trip to Uganda. A few of the older FCC members will probably remember our daughter and Jared’s mother, Karen, and possibly even Jared. Jared, who is an ordained Pastor, will be taking a large role in the weekend church services; preaching at some of the services and will serve as youth pastor to the teens, as well as per-forming executive duties, working closely with the founder and director of Noah’s Ark. Stefani will work with the 3 year olds and will also be working closely with No-ah’s Ark social workers and will be visiting with families with children in local vil-lages. The Scheppman's have rented their house, sold one car, and pretty much sold or donated (to Safe Nest) most of their personal property. We are requesting prayers for both Jared and Stefani; for their travel, their health and safety once they arrive in Kampala. We pray that they will be a bless-ing not only to the children (approx. 160), but to the adult workers, other volun-teers and Piet and Pita who are the founders of Noah’s Ark.

Ray and Adelle Eicher

10 June 2014

Oct 5 Jeanette Matsuura

Oct 12 James Norman

Oct 19 Marcus Bugler

Oct 26 Don Schmiedel

October 2014

1 2 3

Pinochle

4

5 World

Communion

Sunday

Congregators

6 7 8 9 10 11

12

Leadership

Sunday

13

Columbus

Day

14 15 16 17

Pantry

18

19

Blessing of the

Animals

CROP Walk

20 21 22 23 24 25

26

Reformation

Sunday

27 28 29 30 31

Nevada Day

Refomation

Day

Finances August YTD

Contributions 2,801 32,731

Building Usage 1,500 21,674

Total Income 4,301 55,405

Operation & Administration 977 10,434

Utilities 491 5,394

Building & Grounds 302 11,753

Salaries 3,755 40,166

Total Expenses 5,205 63,024

Net -904 -7,619

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Sun

9:15am 10:30am 10:50am 11:30am

FCC Adult Ed FCC Services

Youth Education FCC Coffee Hour

Mon 9am -12pm FCC Office

Tue 7:00pm - 9:00pm Agape Dancers

Wed 9am -12pm FCC Office

Thu 9:30am - 10:00am Bread Run

Fri 9am -12pm

6:30pm - 9:30pm FCC Office

Torre Fuerte (sanc)

Sat 8:30am - 2:pm

12:30pm - 1:30pm 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Torre Fuerte (sanc) Torre Fuerte (hall)

Torre Fuerte( sanc)

October 4 Deborah & David Gaeding

October 16 Chris & Carla Orozco

October 27 Mark & Ofelia Ricker

October 9 Kay Obenour

October 11 Carri Ann Orozco

October 18 Ann Pomeroy

October 24 Tom Berly

October 25 Jean Sitkiewicz

October 30 Gail Wells

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Adult Education 9:00 AM

Sunday Service 10:30 AM

Youth & Nursery 10:50 AM

Coffee & Fellowship 11:30 AM

Arizona Charlies West Oct 7

Bonanza Lounge Oct 14

Cannery on Craig Oct 21

50’s Diner Oct 28

Tuesday’s 9am Breakfast

Pinochle Oct 3

World Communion Sun-day

Congregators Oct 5

Leadership Sunday Oct 12

Columbus Day Oct 13

Pantry Oct 17

Blessing of the Animals CROP Hunger Walk

Oct 19

Reformation Sunday Oct 26

Reformation Day Nevada Day Halloween

Oct 31

Other Happenings

Sunday Schedule