Monthly Community Suppers The 15th of every month

Free to All

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Call/email for reservations

A monthly publication of the Somers Congregational Church, UCC August, 2012 Gathered in Somers, Connecticut, March 15, AD 1727 Volume 285 Number 8

The Reverend Dr. Barry Cass, Pastor

Church Email Addresses:

Barry Cass - bcass@somerscongregational.org Carly Sanborn - somerscong@somerscongregational.org Jacqueline Nappi - jnappi@somerscongregational.org Liz Scanlon - lscanlon@somerscongregational.org Barbara Anderson - careroom@somerscongregational.org

Website:

www.somerscongregational.org

The First Sunday of each month is

Name Badge Sunday!

Be known! Wear your Name Badge.

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW THIS FALL

The Music and Arts Committee is sponsoring a

Photography Show this fall: "Somers Seen" will

feature photographs of Somers and

environs. Anyone is welcome to enter up to four

photos. Submissions will be displayed in the

refurbished church office building in the fall, exact

dates to be determined. Requirements and time for

submissions will be available soon on the church

website, at the church office, and at Sunday

services at the hospital, but you can start now taking

photos of our town and its beautiful natural

surroundings, or you can look through past photos

for your submissions.

I can do all things through Christ

who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

In a fire recovery update I posted on our web site recently, I

mentioned many of the groups who have been hard at work over

the past seven months getting the church back on its feet and

keeping as many things normal as possible. In the course of

writing that I put down one of the things that has been the reality

for these past months, but which I had not stated bluntly before.

Every day, and pretty much every hour of every day since

January 1 our congregation has been dealing with the aftermath

of the fire in one way or another.

Initially we shared a lot about grief and tried to find ways to help one another work through the grief

caused by the loss of the Meeting House. I continue to be aware of the grief I am feeling and the grief others

are experiencing and still look to help address that as we move forward. Even this many months later there are

still times when I have to remind myself that the Meeting House is gone, still times when events and

circumstances remind me once again of our loss. But those are becoming fewer and further between as we all

move ahead.

There are many concerns that have arisen or have been intensified as a result of the Meeting House fire.

Worship attendance is always in the front of our minds as we continue to look for growth and vitality on Sunday

mornings. That concern has grown with the awareness that the change in our worship location is difficult for

some people to deal with and the extra distance can seem like a real challenge on some Sunday mornings.

The Stewardship Committee is well into the planning of our fall pledge campaign. Again, there is

always concern about meeting the budget and getting all the pledges we need for the coming year, but the

concern is even greater as we look toward this fall and into 2013. Although some expenses have been reduced

because the Meeting House is gone, the greatest percentage of our expenses have continued and even increased

in 2012. Our need for funds has not diminished and will increase again in 2013.

Communication is always a challenge in the church as we try to keep everyone informed of everything

all the time (see how impossible that sounds?). This year we have been challenged to keep everyone informed

as usual, but have also added the challenge of keeping people up to date with progress in rebuilding the Meeting

House, changes in location and schedule of events, and making sure the community beyond the congregation

knows we are still here, still active, and still available.

Midsummer is always a time when things slow down and people feel less connected to the church. This

year we are challenged because we really need our members and friends more than ever as our normal patterns

of participation and support are disrupted.

In the midst of the challenges, the confusion, the stress and increased demands on time and energy, I am

actually very hopeful about the future of our congregation. We continue to get support from unexpected

quarters and to have members and friends commit to the tasks before us with unprecedented energy and

enthusiasm.

Everyone is a part of the response we are making to the fire, and everyone is a part of the future we are

building. Your presence in worship helps maintain the energy and enthusiasm we need. Your support and

willingness to take part in the activities and life of the church speak loudly of the commitment you have to the

community we share. Your faithfulness in giving keeps us operating as we have in the past and help move us

forward with hope.

We continue to face challenges we had not imagined. You continue to respond with faith and

imagination. I know we are rebuilding, as we committed to do on January 2nd

and I am grateful to be making

this journey with all of you who have chosen to be a part of it.

Peace - - - Barry

****WILL NOT MEET IN AUGUST****

Get a head start on the book for September –

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's

Berlin By Erik Larson

Erik Larson has been widely acclaimed as a master of narrative non-fiction, and in

his new book, the bestselling author of Devil in the White City turns his hand to a

remarkable story set during Hitler’s rise to power.

The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s

Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history.

A mild-mannered professor from Chicago, Dodd brings along his wife, son, and flamboyant daughter, Martha.

At first Martha is entranced by the parties and pomp, and the handsome young men of the Third Reich with

their infectious enthusiasm for restoring Germany to a position of world prominence. Enamored of the “New

Germany,” she has one affair after another, including with the surprisingly honorable first chief of the Gestapo,

Rudolf Diels. But as evidence of Jewish persecution mounts, confirmed by chilling first-person testimony, her

father telegraphs his concerns to a largely indifferent State Department back home. Dodd watches with alarm as

Jews are attacked, the press is censored, and drafts of frightening new laws begin to circulate. As that first year

unfolds and the shadows deepen, the Dodd’s experience days full of excitement, intrigue, romance—and

ultimately, horror, when a climactic spasm of violence and murder reveals Hitler’s true character and ruthless

ambition.

From the Church Historian . . . .

Gifts to Our Archives Our archives have recently received some very nice gifts that I thought you might be interested in knowing about.

1. Wendy Peterson, the church historian at Ellington Congregational Church,

gave us a copy of a book “Letters from Nancy to Her Dear Mother”. Nancy Ann Sykes, who was born in

Somers in 1826, married Rev. Rollin Porter who, after being a teacher in Somersville from 1842 to

1845, went to seminary and was ordained in Somers in 1851. Shortly after their marriage in 1851 they

sailed for Gaboon, Africa as missionaries. The book, which was recently arranged and presented by

Mildred Dimock, is a collection of letters written by Nancy to her family describing their sailing trip and

their first few months in Africa. Unfortunately, Nancy, her husband and new baby all died about a year

after their arrival in Africa.

2. Katherine Jones Bruno, daughter of Rev. Edwin Jones, our pastor from 1925 to 1931, gave us a

wonderful packet of information from his time here including church bulletins with his handwritten

notes, copies of personal correspondence about furnishing the parsonage (He was newly married and

Somers was his first church), portrait pictures of Mr. Jones and his wife., a program from the

dedication of Kibbe Fuller school plus much more.

She also included a check to be used for the recreation of our “history wall”.

3. The Somers Historical Society (Carol Pyne and Jeanne Debell) scanned the information they have about

our church and gave us a CD with the information including a portrait of Rev. Wm. Strong, our pastor

from 1805 to 1829.

4. Ken Young, of Forever Young Videos, gave us copies of a DVD he had made from a film recording our

church’s 200th anniversary in 1927. You may have seen this on YouTube. Ken is also digitizing some of

our other films, floppy discs, VCR tapes etc.

5. Grace Horka gave us a very nice packet of church memorabilia that she had collected over the years. 6. Patricia Loftus, photographer of the Somers fire department, gave us a CD of the pictures of the fire

that destroyed our meeting house on Jan. 1. Thanks to all these people!

If you have church memorabilia that you think should be saved in our archives, we would love to have it and

will give it a good home.

If you would like to see any of our information, please call me.

Ailene Henry

Church Historian 860 749 2190

Altar Flowers for the Month of August August 5 Altar Flowers this morning are given by Anne and Dick Larson in loving memory of Brenden

August 12 Altar Flowers this morning are given by The Mehl Family in loving memory of Christine Taft in honor of her birthday August 19 OPEN August 26 OPEN

It is our custom that altar flowers are donated in memory of or in honor of loved ones. Arrangements can be bought or hand-done. An individual or a group of individuals can donate them.

There can be more than one bouquet on any given Sunday. If you would like to give flowers for the altar in August, please call Judy Mehl (860-749-6329)

Worship at Blair Manor On the Second Tuesday of each month our church is responsible for a worship

service at Blair Manor. Led by our pastor, worship begins at 10:30 A.M. and lasts

about a half hour. We are fortunate that Anne Larson accompanies the group in

singing two hymns most months. Other members and friends of the church are more

than welcome to join us, to be a part of the service and to add voices to the singing.

If you have any questions, talk to Barry.

The next Blair Manor worship service will be Tuesday, August 14 at 10:30 A.M.

Dear Members of Somers Congregational Church, I would like to thank all of the church members for your prayers and cards during and after my surgery. The surgery went well and I have been comforted by all of your thoughts, well wishes, emails and phone calls. I am blessed to have such a network of friends. Thank you, Rich Mazur

www.somerscongregational.org The church website will have weekly updates on the progress of the Meeting House. They can

be viewed by going to www.somerscongregational.org/restoration. You can also like us on

Facebook to be notified when the updates are posted.

Field of Flags The Field of Flags with 6,505 flags is currently at

the First Congregational Church in North Adams,

MA.

Weekly Scripture Readings for August 2012

* passage that will be Church School's prime focus for the week

**passage that will be Church School's secondary focus for the week

August 5 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Communion Sunday)

2 Samuel 11:26-12:113a Psalm 51:1-12 Ephesians 4:1-16 John 6:24-35

August 12 - Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 Psalm 130 Ephesians 4:25-5:2 John 6:35, 41-51

August 19 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

1 Kings 2:10-12 Psalm 111 Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58

August 26 - Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

1 Kings 8:1. 6, 10-11, 23-30 Psalm 84 Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69

Carlton Lloyd died on Friday, July 6, 2012. A Memorial Service was held at Somers

Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 10 and the Rev. Barry Cass officiated.

Evelyn Phillips died on February 10, 2012 in Stuart, FL. A Memorial Service was held

at the Somersville Congregational Church on July 14. Rev. Barry Cass officiated.

Somers Congregational United Church of Christ

599 Main Street, Somers, CT 860-763-4021

Free Community Supper Wednesday, August 15 5 to 6:30 P.M.

In the BUGBEE CENTER at the Church

EVERYONE is invited to share this free Community Supper and to enjoy the fellowship and

good time. The Kelleys and Urbons will be preparing a traditional hot dog and hamburger

cook-out for everyone’s enjoyment!

Bring your family and friends

Let us know you are coming by signing up at church, or calling or e-mailing the church office.

Needed items:

PEANUT BUTTER

JELLY

PASTA

We gratefully accept monetary donations as they go a

long way at Foodshare.

Vacation Bible School 2012 Wrap Up………

VBS was a huge success this year! There were 98 children registered for the week.

The children contributed to a mission project for Operation Kid to Kid, raising

funds to purchase bug nets for children in Mali, Africa. They raised $ 292.06, which is enough to purchase 48

nets. They also made cards to send to the children along with the donation.

There are many people I would like to thank for all their hard work and dedication:

Deb Barry, who started us off each day in Up and Away Sing and Play and did the wrap up at the end of the day

in Fly Away Finale.

Tyler Cass, who ran the Sky Dive Diner each day, making the snack of the day with the children

Tammy Bley- Gowash, who ran the All Star Games in the playground each day and was able to switch things

up when it rained the first day.

Jackie Nappi, who ran the Wild Blue Bible Adventures each day teaching the children a lesson and singing with

them.

Andy Phillips, who ran Imagination Station where the children enjoyed doing a science experiment each day.

Barbara & Thomas Anderson, who ran Movies and Missions working with the children to make cards for the

children in Mali, Africa.

Reverend Barry, who did Spotlight VBS each day, which included taking the children’s pictures each day and

putting them into a slide show with a story for the kids to watch every day.

JoAnn Hornyak, for all her beautiful scenery, Bible characters, and decorations that she made and set up.

Ann Kirkpatrick, JoAnn Hornyak, Jane Gamble and Rich Mazur for all their help with registration check in, and

any other things that were needed.

Thank you so much to all the crew leaders who were in charge of a group of children each day….

Brandon Scanlon, Brian Rossini, Hannah Mulvihill, Christopher Uyar, Jessica Trusch, Samantha Gay, Darcy

Anderson, Jacob Phillips, Luke Phillips, Zach Bley, Melissa Morton, Laura Morton, Connor Mulvihill,

Margaret Festi, Sarah Renzoni, Jen Balnais, Karen Wojcik, Sarah Uyar, and Hannah Uyar.

Thank you to Sharon Renzoni for coordinating the pizza get-together at the end of the week for all the helpers.

Thank you to everyone who donated food and paper goods for our snacks each day.

Thank you to my husband David who helped all week with whatever I needed him to do and all his support.

The fact that we were able to hold VBS in the Bugbee Center was a huge blessing and a very uplifting

experience to remind us that the church is still here.

It truly was a wonderful week for all the children and everyone involved!

Homecoming Sunday is Sunday, September 9, 2012. Worship and Sunday School classes will continue to be

held at Johnson Memorial Community Medical Education Complex, 201 Chestnut Hill Road, Stafford.

Registrations begin at 9:30 am with an opportunity to meet the Sunday School teachers and light refreshments.

If you would like to register sooner, you can fill out the attached registration form in Highlights and email it

back to me or you can bring it that morning.

Liz Scanlon, Christian Education Director

SOMERS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Sunday School Registration Form 2012 / 2013

Please use one form per child

Child’s name: _____________________________________________________________

Name of Parent(s) or Guardian(s): _____________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Telephone Number: ________________________________________________________

E-mail: __________________________________________________________________ (most communication will be via email)

Grade entering: _______ Age of child: _______ Date of Birth: ______________________

Allergies:_________________________________________________________________

Information regarding your child: ______________________________________________

Child’s interests: ___________________________________________________________

Please check the areas in which you are willing to volunteer.

___ Teach Sunday school

___ Substitute for Teachers

___ Thanksgiving Event Helper

___ Christmas Pageant Helper

___ Care Room Volunteer

Parent/Guardian Signature ___________________________________________________

Council Corner July 17, 2012 Inventory update. Committees have been reviewing the items in the

inventory list that was completed by the public adjuster. They are

ensuring that the items they submitted are somewhere on the inventory

list, but also re-checking the lists, especially for the areas that were

destroyed by the fire. It is difficult to remember every item when

entire rooms are gone.

Items in Storage. Boxes of the Bugbee kitchen items were delivered from storage. Women’s Fellowship

unpacked and sorted the items. Additional boxes will be delivered in early August.

Restoration Committee update. The wiring for the fire alarm system has been completed. The fire

alarm panel cannot be installed until the sheetrock is completed. We are waiting word for when the

demolition of the exterior wall can begin.

Building Committee update. The Building Committee meets weekly with the Hugh Schweitzer (architect)

and Noel Petra (construction). (see article by Mark Marshall).

Background Checks. The Council accepted the recommendations from Margaret Festi, Lisa Gay and Liz

Scanlon for a program for background checks for volunteers. We will continue to use the

“Employment/Authorized Volunteer Application and Disclosure Form” in our Safe Church Manual and a

background check will be required for: Sky Advisors, YAK advisors, Deacons, Church School teachers,

Care Room provider and substitute teachers for church school. VBS volunteers will not be required to

have a background check. The background check will include criminal records and sex offender registries

for all 50 states and Washington DC and will be done through an organization called Praesidium. A Social

security number is not required. Only the name that is provided is investigated (vs. any aliases that

someone may be using with a social security number). The cost for each reference check will be covered

by money in Safe Church Fund. The program will be effective now.

Organ Committee update. The contract for the organ builder has been reviewed and should be finalized

soon so our organ builders can begin work.

Appointments. No appointments were made in June. All committees are filled. Community Supper. The

Urbans and kellys will be hosting the August 15 suppeK. September will be sponsored by the Mission

Board. October will be sponsored by the Nominating Committee. Any board or committee, group of

friends, neighborhoods or families can host a community supper. Just call the church office to reserve a

month. Donations from the previous month cover the expenses for the next month.

Building Fund. The Church Council approved $80.00 for the police coverage from the Silk City Chorus

concert.

Questions or Comments about the new church? If you have any questions or comments about the new

building (sanctuary, chancel, narthex, Pilgrim Hall, church kitchen) the Building Committee still wants to

hear from you as decisions are not yet final. Please send comments to: build@somerscongregational.org

You can also leave written questions/comments in the building committee mailbox in the office trailer.

Anne Kirkpatrick (abksomers@aol.com)

The Pound Auction is Coming Again

Sat., Sept. 29, 2012, 7 pm

Now is the time to start thinking about what you can

bring to the Pound Auction. Whatever you choose to bring

must weigh one pound and it must be wrapped. Anything

goes! All proceeds will benefit the Network Against Domestic

Abuse. Dessert and beverages will be served. More

information to follow in September Highlights. Save the date!

I’m Sue Zdebski, our church liaison to the Covenant to Care Adopt a Social Worker Program. In the last

few months, our church was able to help at least ten local families that were not able to afford their basic

necessities. This was made possible through mission pledges and special item donations. Some of the items

included car seats, diapers, various gift cards, bed frames, and a wooden table and chairs.

During this time of year, there is a particular need for back to school items. Through this very active

program, these children in need are able to begin school with the proper school supplies.

Thanks for your support, so we can lessen some of the stress on many families and help them to heal and

make their families stronger.

Any questions, please call me at 860-749-8213

BACKPACKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS (Note: Backpacks are needed for students grades K-12)

3 RING BINDERS – 1 inch and 2 inch LOOSE-LEAF NOTEBOOK PAPER

COMPOSITION NOTEBOOKS PADS FOR BINDERS

DIVIDER, POCKETS, INSERTS FOR BINDERS ZIPPERED POUCHES FOR NOTEBOOKS

GLUE STICKS PENS/PENCILS/RETRACTABLE PENCILS

ERASERS RULERS

STICKY NOTE PADS RULED INDEX CARDS

SAFETY SCISSORS BASIC CALCULATORS

BOOK COVERS

ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF . . . .

* FOR SOMERS KIDS IN NEED AND COVENANT TO CARE KIDS *

Please drop the supplies you bring in the bin labeled “Back Packs” at JMH Educational Center by August 12th

Somers Congregational Church

Building Committee – August 2012 Highlights

Building Committee Members: Jim Jewell, Pat Jones, John Jones, Diane Joseph (secretary), Tom Mehl, Sara

Mulvihill, Mark Marschall (Chair), Barry Cass ex-officio, Anne Kirkpatrick ex-officio. Donna Hanks will work

with us as Treasurer of the Insurance Committee.

The Building Committee continues to work with our architects, Clohessy Harris & Kaiser, LLC

(www.chkarch.com) and our Construction Manager, Petra Construction Corp. (www.petraconstruction.com) to

meet our goal of breaking ground this September so we can have the building under cover by the end of

December. The team continues with the later stages of Phase C, Design Development, and has worked with the

Restoration Committee to help make decisions to get the Church Offices renovation work done with decisions

made that are consistent with the needs of the new Meeting House. Decisions such as the temporary heat for

the Church Offices and plans for the demolition of the old firewall that will provide what is needed for the new

firewall are examples of work done by both committees this month. A lot of emphasis and coordination of

efforts was placed in that area of the overall project that is the boundary line of where Green Constructions

responsibilities will end and Petra Construction’s responsibilities will start. Our architects and their consultants

have worked with Green Construction to help develop plans that will serve the scopes of both projects and

utilize our funding as efficiently as possible.

Two other major areas of emphasis this month were contracts and opening discussions and exchange of

information with our insurance company. Two contracts are currently being reviewed by the Building

Committee and our attorney, Mark Maniscalco. The organ contract presented to the church by our organ

builder, Richards Fowkes & Co., was reviewed by the Building Committee and our attorney and a written

response was sent to Richards Fowkes. They have responded to our proposed changes on July 16th

and there

appears to be an open communication to revise their contract so both parties will be comfortable signing it. We

are hopeful they will be able to begin working on our organ soon.

The construction manager contract is also being reviewed. Petra Construction is using an industry standard

contract form from the American Institute of Architects because our project is greater than a $2M project. The

AIA has provided a contract form for decades and they have routinely revised it over the years based on input

from Owners, Architects, and Construction Managers. The contract form is considered to be fair to all parties

and outlines the specific responsibilities of all parties and the penalties if a party does not meet their

responsibilities. There are two major sections of the contract. The first is Document A133 which is the

“Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Constructor”, and the second is

Document A201 which is the “General Conditions of the Contract for Construction.” As of July 17th

, the

Building Committee has reviewed both sections of the contract that was presented by Petra Construction with

our attorney. We are currently reviewing our comments with CHK Architects for two reasons. The first is the

contract specifically outlines the responsibilities of the Architect in the relationship with the Owner and the

Construction Manager. The second is the Building Committee included clauses in our contract with CHK

Architects requiring them to assist us with the review of the Construction Manager contract knowing we would

be using the AIA contract forms. We are hopeful to have our response to Petra Construction within the next

two weeks.

In last month’s report, we stated that Petra Construction had their construction estimate prepared to share with

the insurance company by their deadline of June 15th

. Since then, the estimates from the insurance company

and the church’s estimator, WorldClaim, have been reviewed by all three parties. Our insurance agent has been

helpful in opening discussions between Petra Construction and the insurance company and teleconferences have

been held to prepare for a face-to-face meeting between both parties in the future. The insurance company has

requested information to support the differences between their estimate and the estimate prepared by Petra

Construction. We are currently discussing the best way to present this information that can be done as quickly

as possible and in the most economic way. This will require additional work for both Petra Construction and

CHK Architects and they will present proposals for our review. This is a major point in our project that needs

to be supported properly to get the proper documentation to justify what it will cost to build our new Meeting

House. The Building Committee has told CHK Architects and Petra Construction to continue with the site and

concrete foundation work so we can proceed as planned in September. At our Building Committee meeting on

July 24th

, we made the decision to have our groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, September 23rd

with

mobilization by Petra Construction beginning soon after that date. More information will be available in the

coming weeks.

Other project activities this month included some further research on church bell options that can be considered.

In our meetings with Verdin and Church Specialties last month, both companies mentioned there is a market for

used bells that could be considered. This month, we learned Verdin did not have any used bells, but Church

Specialties does have a 1000-lb bell very similar to our old 990-lb bell that they are holding for us while they

can provide us information and a sales proposal. More information will be available after we receive

information from the vendor.

The chapel in the Bugbee Center was used to layout a mock-up of the proposed Chancel configuration so the

Building Committee and other church committees such as the Board of Deacons could actually see and

“experience” the space as opposed to only seeing it on a blueprint. Some minor modifications were suggested

that CHK will put into their design.

Dan Clayton, the acoustical consultant that works for CHK Architects has reviewed the work of our Technology

Committee and is currently revising his scope of work and contract costs to be in line with the work our

Technology Committee has already done. CHK Architects expects to have their revised proposal within the

next week. Dan has also recently shared a prioritized list of his acoustical recommendations to CHK that was

shared with the Building Committee on July 17th

. This list will be used to make decisions consistent with our

budget and our desire to provide good quality acoustics for audio and music in the Meeting House.

The “Finishes Experts” from our church will have another meeting with Jackie Smith, the interior designer for

CHK Architects, on July 26th

at CHK’s offices in Simsbury. The Building Committee received feedback from

our architect’s presentation on June 3rd

which we passed along to CHK. We have also received

recommendations from the acoustical consultant regarding materials of construction that require decisions to be

made on finishes as well. This routine review meeting will enable Jackie to share what she has learned as well

as to show some new finishes to the team.

The Building Committee continues to interface with the various committees to provide the architect and the

construction manager with the information required to develop the designs and plan for the construction. The

committee also continues to receive mail via their e-mail address: build@somerscongregational.org which will

remain active for members of the congregation to communicate with us. When e-mails are sent to this address, the

message is received by every member of the Building Committee.

In summary, there is a lot of important “behind the scenes” type of work being done that simply needs to be done

before we can put a shovel in the ground. We wish we could move faster but we simply need to follow the proper

steps to have the proper contracts in place and make sure we understand our budget before we begin the actual

construction phase beyond getting our site work and foundation done. We will continue to communicate our

progress and we welcome your feedback.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark Marschall

The Don Kennett Memorial CROP Walk October 14, 2012

Mark your calendar! Once again this year we will be

starting and ending at Sonny’s Place, there will be a

choice to walk the 5K or 10K route, a [percentage of the

funds raised will be given to Champ’s Place (our own

Food Pantry), the Confirmation Class will form the core

of out walkers and there will be special recognition given to the walker who raises the most funds to

help combat hunger.

In addition to helping raise for to combat local and global hunger, the CROP Walk is a great way to

spend an afternoon! With a choice of either the 5K or 10K walk through the safe neighborhoods of

Somers, there is something for nearly everyone.

WALKERS are encouraged to sign up family and friends as sponsors, raising funds for the cause.

THOSE NOT WALKING are urged to participate by sponsoring one who does.

Our church has a great tradition of supporting the annual Don Kennett Memorial CROP Walk, and we

would like to make 2012 the BIGGEST and most generous walk yet.

Proud To Be An American

The Mission Board is sponsoring a “Red White and Blue

Collection” beginning on July 4th

and ending on Labor Day.

The goal of the drive is to collect items for members of the

military stationed in Afghanistan. The Mission Board’s

contact is Janice Morton’s cousin whose unit will be deployed

to Afghanistan this summer. Janice’s cousin is First Sergeant

Dawn Adams who, along with Capt. Tew, is in command of

the 287 members of the 2nd

Marine Logistics Group – Combat

Logistics Battalion 2. Their unit is currently stationed in Camp

Lejeune in North Carolina and this is their second deployment to Afghanistan.

If you are interested in reading bios of Captain Tew and First Sergeant Adams, please see the link below:

http://www.marines.mil/unit/2ndmlg/clb2/Pages/leadership/TSCo.aspx

Below is a list of items that you can donate in the box for the Marines in Afghanistan:

Hygiene Items: Bar Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Deodorant, Mouthwash, Sunblock, Shaving Cream,

Disposable Razors, Shampoo, Hand Lotion, Chapstick, Foot Powder. Note: Hand Sanitizer is not allowed

Comfort Items: New Magazines, Puzzle or Sudoku Books, Handmade Items (i.e. small pillow, blanket, prayer

shawl, etc.), journals, books with inspirational quotes…be creative!

The Missions Board would like to thank you in advance for your participation in this important drive.

Homecoming Sunday September 9 Johnson memorial hospital educational center

(Sunday school registration @ 9:30 a.m.)

Ground breaking ceremony September 23 (599 main street @ 4:00 p.m.)

More details in September highlights

Deadline for Next Highlights is August 22, 2012.

U.S. Postage Paid

Non-Profit Org. Permit Number

334 Enfield, CT 06082

Somers Congregational Church

599 Main Street, PO Box 295 Somers, CT 06071

To Be Removed From Mailing List Check Here □ and Return.

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Sunday Worship: 8:15 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Office Hours (M-Th.): 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Telephone: (860) 763-4021 Fax: (860) 763-5146 E-mail: somerscong@somerscongregational.org Web site: www.somerscongregational.org

Senior Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Barry Cass Administrative Secretary: Carly Sanborn Organist/Music Director: Jacqueline Nappi CE Director: Liz Scanlon Care Room: Barbara Anderson