Prospect Congregational Church Office Phone: 203-758-4872 Fax#: 203-758-6316

Church e-mail pccucc@snet.net Church Website www.prospectctucc.orq

Office Hours Monday 8:00 - Noon Tuesday - Friday 8:00-1:00

The Prospectus 2015

CHURCH STAFF Kristen Provost-Switzer, Pastor

Rev. Carmen Cavallaro, Minister of Visitation David Bell, Director of Music Ministry

Mark Wilson, Sunday School Administrator Tina Soderberg, Office Administrator

Prospectus Editors, Rick and Liz Normand Articles can be left in the mailbox in the coatroom or e-mailed to rickliz@aol.com or pccucc@snet.net. Deadline for the

newsletter is the third Wednesday of the month.

A letter from your Moderator

I am writing this on a glorious beautiful spring morning!!. I am thrilled that I can write and say, WE HAVE A NEW PASTOR!! (oops, Designated Term Pastor). Thank you to all that came and heard Kristin preach and stayed to vote. This is going to be an exciting time of newness. I’m excited to see the freshness she will bring to us. I don’t know the outcome of the special elevator meeting on the 17th but, pray for guidance on that day. It’s important to move forward with this as so many of our members struggle with the stairs. And our members in wheel chairs can finally come to a dinner. I remind you all of our financial commitment to the Elevator and our church budget. We all struggle financially with our own family finances and when it comes to the “extra” needs we have to pick and choose. (I know this very well). Just try and remember our church family, as you count your pennies each week. Yes we will be having another meeting but, it’s fun to get together isn’t it?? I thank The Board of Deacons who have continued to see us thru our time of change. How blessed were we to experience and help guide Dennis McGuire during his time with us as stu-dent Minister. I especially thank, Rev. Carmen Cavallaro for his love, prayers, support and leadership. I thank Erik Soderberg for his words of love and support. And David Bell who continues to be present in our family with his music and words of love. AND our church office Administrator- Tina Soderberg—I don’t know how without your dil-igence and guidance we would have worked so smoothly. You are all LOVED! We are entering into a great new path and I am thrilled to be a part of it. Blessings, Christine Creasey

On behalf of the Board of Deacons of the Prospect Congregational Church,

I am thrilled to announce that we have selected a candidate for Pastor. Her

name is Kristen Provost Switzer. At our special candidate Sunday meeting

she was overwhelmingly voted in as our Designated Term Pastor. Her first

day on the job will be Tuesday after Memorial Day.

Thank you, Rick Normand

Vice Chair, Board of Deacons

Brief resume’ of Kristen Provost Switzer

Education: Yale Divinity School Class of 2015 (courses completed in December, 2014) Youth Ministry Fellow, Yale Center for Faith and Culture, Yale Divinity

School Ministerial Intern at Spring glen Church, UCC Intern at Abraham’s Tent, Columbus House Ministerial Intern at United Church on the Green, UCC Certificate of Professional Ministry, Hartford Seminary, Class of 2013 Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Northeastern University Class of 2010

Professional Experience:

2014-Present--Stamford Hospital, Chaplain Intern—completing second unit of clinical Pastoral Ed.

2014-Present--Abraham’s Tent coordinator, Columbus House—Organize housing and spiritual support for 12 homeless men, from November to April

2013-2014—Youth Minister, Spring Glen Church, UCC, Hamden 2012-Present—Pulpit Supply, Connecticut Conference, UCC

Additional:

Financial planning for Ministers workshop by Presbyterian church at Yale Divinity School

UCC-approved Misconduct training at Yale Divinity School Writer for Light at Candle for Children, a denominational prayer vigil by the

Disciples of Christ

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you for the opportunity to serve this blessed congregation. I am humbled and have learned by first listening and then to lead form the balcony; and that every voice counts. This transitional period was

a unique example of how a church can share leadership and work through the difficult issues of the day.

We at Andover Newton are learning to ask the new questions of “How do we send them out” instead

of “How do we bring them in?”

Instead of “how do we survive?” we ask “How do we serve?” Congregations find themselves

wondering how do we secure the future? At its core the issue is not about people and money. It is really about identity and purpose. The fundamental question that needs to be answered is not about structure or

survival, but about purpose. That is what God is up to in the world. Congregations exist to further the reign

of God in the world. In asking how do we serve, we align ourselves more fully with a gospel that asks that we

deny ourselves (Mark 8:34) and reminds us that to save our lives we need to lose our lives (Mark 8:35). This

new question helps the congregation move its focus from itself and its need to others and their needs.

It is agape – to love as doing and working for the good and growth of others. Above all it is service. In asking this question, congregations can reorient themselves to their more basic purpose. I believe Pro-

spect is healthy in this respect. I believe Prospect is well on the way of knowing thyself! I believe the Holy

Spirit is present at the Prospect Congregational Church. It is your spirit’s home.

In conclusion – God is love. I suppose that means the ultimate God of our spiritual journey is love. We experience love along the way, of course but the further along we go, the more open we are both to

receive and share love.

It is faith that we minister, relying on God’s love to sustain us and knowing that no matter the

difficulties we face, there is always a prayer! I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell

in your hearts through faith, as you are being routed and grounded in love.

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and

length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19) May you know this love in all that you do; believing

that it is God’s love and it is for you. May this congregation of which you are a part know this love as well,

may you share this love with each other and a world in desperate need, that we may truly be crucibles of hope.

Love Conquers All.

Dennis

SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ELEVA-

TOR UPDATE MAY 17, 2015

Since I have the opportunity, I wanted to give you all the update

on the vote that took place at today’s meeting. The original call was to vote on taking a loan for the shortfall of

$75,000.00 to be paid back with pledges and fundraising. That was vot-ed down due to the amount needed was higher. The shortfall was ap-proximately $75,000.00 but, we also needed to cover the pledges in the amount of approximately $48,000.00. The congregation present vot-ed to approve a loan (or line of credit) up to a maximum of $125,000.00.

I would encourage us all to pay our capital campaign pledges sooner rather than later if at all possible. Or perhaps some of you didn’t have a chance to make a pledge and would like to do so now.

It is planned that the construction will start June 1st of this year. Once construction starts it will take approximately 90 days. And that will be when the final payment will need to be made.

Please use caution during the construction period in the parking lot.

We are moving up!!! Christine Creasey Moderator

1 Lou Zhitomi 18 Kelly Harkins

5 Kenneth Jeannin 19 Christopher Jeannin

8 Helen Donovan 22 Joan Slapikas

Sue Loud 23 Carmen Cavallaro, Sr

9 Tyler Wellington 27 Jennifer Koehler

12 Kris Melninkaitis 30 Danny Beach

Erin Wester

13 Sue Cochran

Anniversaries

2 Roger & Virginia Allen

Happy Belated 50th Anniversary to Louis and Judy Zhitomi

Aunt Helen’s Turning 98

Aunt Helen's (Donovan) 98th birthday is June 8. Let’s see if we can send her 98 birthday cards. A labeled box will be put in the Narthex to put your cards in. Cards could be mailed to the church and we will make sure that she gets them. Then on her birthday she could open them.

“Nepal Relief” from the Board of Mission

Some have asked if there is a way to help support the relief efforts to

those affected by the massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal. The

Church World Services immediately supported the ACT Alliance mem-

bers in Nepal. Food, blankets and tarpaulins for shelter for more than 2,100

displaced families were distributed within the first few days.

Nepal’s government estimates some 2.8 million are without shelter. Tem-

porary sanitation and hygiene are particularly important to prevent outbreaks

of communicable diseases like cholera.

We can make contributions to the Church World Services emergency re-

sponse efforts through our church. Please make out your check to the Pro-

spect Congregational Church and put “Nepal Relief” on the memo line. We

will combine all of the donations and make one total donation. Thank you as

always for your generous support.

Electrical Rates and Discount Power

Effective July 1st Eversource has reduced their electrical rates from $.126/kwh to $.0825/kwh. Discount Power rate is $.067/kwh for 5 months and $.099 for a 1 yr contract. Therefore, if you were planning to sign-up

with Discount Power to help the church, we recommend you only sign up for the 5 month plan and re-evaluate at the end of that period to decide what is

best for you. If you do sign up with Discount Power make sure you make your change a the end of the 5 month period, otherwise you will be rolled

over to their variable rates.

Safe Church Training If you wish to work with our youth and have not done Safe Church Training, you will need to take the full training, which will take no long-er than a hour. The full training will take place on Sunday June 14 or June 28. Please call Kelly Shaffer at 203-331-5228 to RSVP so that she can make sure to have enough materials. Everyone who works with our children needs to be trained.

From the Scholarship Committee: Applications for the 2015 – 2016 Scholarship Awards will be available in the Narthex as of May 12, 2014. All church members who are attending college in September are eligible to receive an award. Each year a new form must be submitted to receive the scholarship. The completed form should be returned by May 31, 2015. Return to committee members: Debbie Brooks Sandy Pavlowski Diana Trumbley Sheryl Mann Forms can also be mailed to: Prospect Congregational Church 25 Center Street Prospect, CT 06712 This year’s Scholarships will be presented on Sunday, June 14, 2015.

See/Call Dennnis McGuire (203-592-6574) For Details

Applications for Scholarships are due by June 1st

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR MAY & JUNE, 2015

May 3 Acts 8:26-40 May 17 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Psalm 22:25-31 Psalm 1 1 John 4:7-21 1 John 5:9-13 John 15:1-8 John 17:6-19 Theme: Abiding in Love Theme: Guided in Prayer May 10 Acts 10:44-48 May 24 Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 98 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b 1 John 5:1-6 Romans 8:22-27 John 15:9-17 John 15:26-15:4b-15 Theme: Friends Together Theme: Spirit For All May 31 Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 29 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17 Theme: Mysterious Encounter

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June 7 1 Samuel 8:4-11 June 21 1 Samuel 17:32-49 Psalm 130 Job 38:1-11 Genesis 3:8-15 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 4:35-41 Mark 3:20-35

Theme: Theme: God’s Will Theme: In the Boat Together June 14 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 June 24 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Ezekiel 17:22-24 Psalm 130 Genesis 3:8-15 Solomon 1:13-15, 2:23-24 Psalm 92 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 2 Corinthians 5:6-17 Mark 5:21-43 Mark 4:26-34 Theme: Flourishing Theme: Healing Powers

Experience the Season

Of Pentecost At the

PROSPECT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Worship May 25, 10:00 AM Worship—Firefighter’s/Heritage Sunday

May 31, 10:00 AM Worship June 7, 10:00 AM Communion and Confirmation Sunday

June 14, 10:00 AM Children’s Day Worship and Scholarship Sunday June 21, 10: 00 AM Celebration of Music

June 28, 10:00 AM Worship

Fellowship and Celebration No Men’s Breakfast until the Fall Season Evening Women, June 17, Picnic 6:30 PM

Senior Youth Fellowship every Sunday, 6:00-8:00 PM

Spiritual Enrichment Weekly Bible Study Tuesdays, 10:00 AM

Mission Opportunities Collecting summer items for the Homeless

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Deacon Of the

Month:

Joe Masulli

1 7p Deacons’ Mtg

2 10a Bible Stdy

3 4 5 6

7 Confirmation Sunday

10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr

8 7p Committee Night

9 10a Bible Stdy

10 11 12 13

14 Children’s/Scholarship Sunday 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr

15 7p Council Meeting

16 10a Bible Stdy

17 6:30p Evening

Women’s

18 19 20

21 Music

Celebration 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr 11:30a Semi-Annual Mtg

22 23 10a Bible Stdy

24 25 26 27

28 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hr

29 30

June 2015