THE WRIGHT UPS Wright Congregational United Church of Christ 4821 Franklin Rd, Boise, ID 83705 Office: Tues-Thurs 9-Noon and 1-3:00 208-343-0292 email: church.office@wrightucc.org web: www.wrightucc.org
JUNE 2017 ISSUE House of Belonging When I was young I belonged to family of five children and two parents. I was the youngest child, meaning while I was little I had less of my mother’s attention than my older siblings, but after all the others left the nest I had Mom and Dad all to myself for three years. Those were good years. When it came time for me to graduate and move on I secretly knew I was Mom’s favorite child. I held on to that knowledge for many years and cherished this unspoken secret between my mother and me until one night many years later my siblings and I gathered around a campfire talking about our childhood. Much to my dismay, my brother half jokingly confessed he suspected he was Mom’s favorite. If that wasn’t enough each of my sisters confessed they knew they were Mom’s favorite child. How could this be? How did she make each of us feel especially loved by her? Did she really have a favorite and why was this so important to us? The need to be loved and to belong to something bigger than ourselves is one of the basic requirements for a healthy life. We spend a good portion of our lives looking for that love and acceptance and our need to belong never goes away until we finally accept our sacred place in the family of God. The church is God’s best tool to create an earthly home for us to be loved and accepted for exactly who we are. The church is where we claim our identity as a child of God and when that happens the entire human race becomes our family. When the church is healthy it becomes a home where we can belong and thrive and know that if we were to leave the community we would be greatly missed. God is using Wright Church to be a healthy home where people can belong and be loved. We have people who have belonged to Wright Church for most or all of their lives. We have many new people who are joining for different reasons. Some are attracted to the feel of a small church. Some like the people and the activities we offer. Some are excited about the possibilities of what Wright Church is becoming. Whatever your reasons for being a part of Wright Church, I welcome you. I am excited to be your pastor, but I am very aware that I am only a small part of this family. Christ is the head of this household and we are all a part of the family of God. You are loved beyond measure and I wouldn’t be surprised if you are God’s favorite. If my mom was able to accomplish that lofty parental goal I’m pretty sure God can do that, too. God bless you all, my siblings. (even God’s favorites) Pastor Kathy
Worship Schedule June 4 Pentecost Acts 2:1-21 Preaching: Rev. Kathy Abend “Birthday Presents” Wright Choir singing Holy Communion Servers: Carol Rivers, Deb Carlson, Carl Van Slyke Music: Anne Burkholder and Whitney Kats Lay Leader: Carol Card Altar Flowers/Design: Kathy Abend Coffee Hosts: Kathy and Chris Abend and Choir Greeters: Deb Carlson and Lois Wade Sunday School: Lois Taylor June 11 Trinity Sunday Genesis: 1-1-2, 4a Proverbs 8:22-31 Preaching: Rev. Kathy Abend “Meet Sophia” Music: Anne Burkholder and Whitney Kats Lay Leader: Lois Taylor Altar Flowers: Carol and Jerry Card Coffee Hosts: Janice Aagaard, Don Bellomy, Rick Buckham Greeters: Jerry and Carol Card Sunday School: Pam McDonald June 18 Father’s Day Matthew 6:24-34 Preaching: Rev. Kathy Abend “Do not worry?!” Music: Anne Burkholder and Whitney Kats Lay Leader: Tom Eubanks Altar Flowers: Open Coffee Hosts: Ramseys and Capshaws Greeters: Dale and Mary Ellen Parsons Sunday School: June 25 Outdoor Worship and BBQ Psalm 104 Preaching: Rev. Kathy Abend “Stewards of Creation” Music: Anne Burkholder and Whitney Kats Lay Leader: Nancy Miller Altar Flowers: Dale and Betty Ramsey Coffee Hosts: Outside BBW and Potluck Sunday School:
July 2 Worship in Music Jack Brown: guitarist/vocalist leading worship and music Lay Leader: Carl Van Slyke Ushers for June: Chuck Pond, Dale Ramsey, Dwain Baxter, Frank Capshaw
June Celebrations
BIRTHDAYS: June 2-Kathy Abend; June 6-Willard Dykes; June 9-Carol Sullivan; June 11-Ellie Kennedy; June
15-Nancy Hyder; June 18-Cathy Andrews & Jerry Card; June 23-Karyn Bennett; June 25-Griffin Hartman; June 28-Carol Mansfield; June 30-Clay Shockley. ANNIVERSARIES: June 2-Jack & Joan Wenske; June 10-Pat & Jim Tennyson; June 12-Chuck & Meredith Pond; June 15-Dale & Mary Ellen Parsons; June 17-Peggy Higgins & Ellie Kennedy; June 22-Sally and Dan VanderVeen; June 24-Pam & Dave McDonald; June 28-Frank & Jama Capshaw; June 30-Dale & Betty Ramsey; June 30-Carie & Sam Carlsen If you would like to be included in our birthday or anniversary list please give the office a call.
Welcome New Members
On Sunday, May 21, 2017 12 new members were welcomed into the Wright Church Community! Chris Abend Roy & Nancy Berto Glenda & Clint Randall Pam & Dave McDonald Carrie Carlson Liz Vorbeck and John Wiskus Carol Borgus Catherine McCafferty
Our Dirt Lot Comes to Life
How great it looks. Eight trees are planted, the drip water system is in and big rocks are in place. A BIG THANK YOU to the Robb family for their financial donation to make this a reality and to Jack Wenske for his time, sweat and effort to bring it to life for all to enjoy.
Book Club News
The Book Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 1:00 pm in the church library. All are welcome to come, enjoy a cup of tea, a snack and an interesting discussion. June 1- Library Church—A Man Called Ove Please note change of location. July 6- Your favorite poetry.
Thursday Evening Bible study June 1 at 7:00 pm. in the Upper Room. We will be studying Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott. Come, learn a simple way to pray!
Pentecost Sunday – June 4 Wear Red!
Children’s Sunday School Starts! June 4, 2017
All children are invited to Sunday School after the Children’s Sermon this Sunday. We will be starting a 12Week series called An Illustrated Compassion: Learning to Love Like God. Children and adults will be coloring four posters during the summer and learning stories of compassion from the Old Testament and the New Testament. They will also learn what it looks like to live a compassionate life today. If you are interested in helping in the Sunday School Room, please let Lois Taylor or Pastor Kathy know and we will put you in the rotation. No preparation is required but a loving heart for children is most essential.
Special Offering…Strengthen the Church
As a part of our Wider Mission, our congregation along with other UCC churches will be taking a special offering on June 4th. This offering called Strengthen the Church is intended to do exactly that. STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH. The funds from this offering help develop the spiritual life of our youth and young adult’s ministries. It will support leaders for new churches in areas where the voice of the UCC has not yet been heard. The funds collected will help to revitalize congregations and provide pastoral leadership. With this offering, you can be a part of spreading God’s Still Speaking word. You can be a part of keeping the United Church of Christ alive throughout the world. Special envelopes will be provided in your bulletin on June 4.
Lunch Bunch will meet Thursday, June 8 at 1:00 pm at Jaker's off Eagle Road. Everyone is welcome to come for great food, and fellowship. No program just friendships.
Men's Fellowship The last Men’s Fellowship meeting until fall will be on Saturday, June 10
th
at 9:00am in the social hall. Chris Abend will talk about the Idaho Potato Industry and how his Company is involved in it. Fruit, muffins, OJ and coffee will be provided. A $5 donation is requested to cover the food cost and to start a kitty. The ladies are invited to participate. Questions call Tom Eubanks at 343 5755
Boise Pride Festival is Friday, June 16 & Saturday, June 17 at Capitol Park downtown.
Wright Church will be there – come see us. We have been invited to share a booth with 1st church. If you are interested please contact Robin or Pastor Kathy.
Wright One's
Anyone who identifies as single is welcome to join in on the fun. Friday, June 16 we will meet at the church at 10:15 am and car pool to Deli Days at Beth Israel Synagogue on Latah Street. You can purchase lunch, drinks and desserts. We will eat and tour the synagogue and the grounds. There is also entertainment on the lawn. Contact Carol Rivers if you would like to attend. Wednesday, July 12 at 6:30 pm we will have our annual summer barbeque at the home of Carl Van Slyke in Kuna. Bring your own meat to cook and a side dish to share. RSVP to Carl or Carol.
Articles for July Wright Ups
Due in the office on or before Tuesday, June 20. Please and thank you.
Board of Directors to Meet
Wednesday, June 21 at 7:00 pm in the social hall. If you are a board chair or a committee chair and are unable to attend please send a representative. Everyone is welcome.
Bench Supper
Thursday, June 22 at 6:00 pm.
Sign up sheet will be available for your helping hands.
Bench Supper needs funds
This is a wonderful loving offering we offer to folks from all over the valley. A hot meal, dessert and beverage. To put on the supper it costs between $100.00 to $150.00 per month depending on the menu, and we serve between 60 and 100 people. That's men, women and children. We would ask that if you are unable to come and help with the meal that you make a contribution. Please mark your checks "Bench Supper". Any and all contributions help. If you should have any questions please contact Janice Aagaard.
June BBQ Potluck
Sunday, June 25 following our outdoor worship. Meats furnished by the Board of Directors. Please bring a potluck to share. If you or your group would like to host a monthly potluck please contact Joan Wenske or put your name on the sign up list in the social hall.
Pastor Kathy's June schedule:
Pastor Kathy will be out of the office beginning Monday, June 26. Jack Brown will be doing our musical worship service on Sunday, July 2. Robin will be on vacation beginning June 30 thru July 11. If you would be interested in coming in and covering the phones on July 11 please give Robin a call.
Craft Group has a new name!
We will now be known as the "Crafty Characters" Yip, pretty much describes us! There is no gathering again until September. But remember to work on your crafts for the Oct. 21 Bazaar. You can donate one or more items to the Wright Church table or have a table to sell your own items. Plus starting this year we will be selling bakes goods. Any questions please contact Carol Rivers.
New Website and e-mail
Please change your address books to the new e-mail address: church.office@wrightucc.org Web Site: Wrightucc.org
Food And Hygiene Pantry
Thank you to all for your generous donations to our food pantry. We do need help keeping the pantry stocked. Donations of canned foods, meats, veggies, fruits, soups, stews, and things that will warm the body are always needed. Personal hygiene items are also in demand such as toilet tissue, Kleenex, soaps, Wet Ones, tooth paste & brushes, female items, etc. Thanks again for your generosity. Our pantry gets almost emptied during our Bench Suppers.
We LOVE our volunteers....
And here is why...Since the first of the year (2017) 1089.0 volunteer hours have been donated and recorded on the volunteer sheets and we are sure there are many, many more not logged. WAY TO GO WRIGHT CHURCH. ***If you volunteer in any way to help the church please take a volunteer hour sheet. They are located at the office window. Keep track of you monthly volunteering and turn it in at the end of the month. Thank you in advance for everything you do for Wright Church.
Women's Fellowship will not meet in June, July & August. So stay tuned for upcoming meeting beginning in September.
Lawn Mowing Schedule
Thank you to all who have signed up to mow the lawn! Before June 4—Mike Smith Before June 11—Chuck and Meredith Pond Before June 18—Wes Andrews Before June 25—Chris Abend Before July 2—Dick Thatcher
Coffee, Altar Flowers and Potluck Hosts
Please don't be shy. Supporters of Altar Flowers are needed. You can supply them yourself or give the church $20.00 and a member of the Diaconate will purchase them for you, you may take them home after worship. Contact the church office with question. If you have any questions about being a coffee host please speak to Joan Wenske. Hosts are also needed for our Potlucks. It's easy. Set up and clean up is all that is needed. We encourage committee's to sign up. Coffee hour hosts is a great way to meet people as they come through the line for coffee.
New Picture
Thank you to Joan Wenske for donating the beautiful picture in the stair way leading to the downstairs.
Treasurer's Report General Fund Income General Fund Expenses Increase (Decrease) Special Fund Expenses Income Spent Ruby Oliason Fund used Total Change for month
April 2017 $11,588.61 7,764.29 $3,824.32
YTD $36,102.71 29,224.21 $6,878.50
$1,170.53 3,965.27 625.00 - $3,419.74
$3,290.83 6,887.01 2,500.00 -$6,096.18
Budget $91,960.00 91,935.00 $25.00
Please note a significant increase in the General Fund Income due to generous giving and increased attendance. Significant Special Fund expenditures were One Great Hour of Sharing and the development of our unimproved parking lot. If you would like a copy of the complete Treasurer's Report they are available in the office.
Loving gifts have been given by: Dale & Mary Ellen Parsons, Carl Van Slyke, Chuck & Meredith Pond, and Carol Rivers in loving memory of Audrey Beckstead. Honorarium gifts have been given by Carol Rivers in honor of Pam and Dave McDonald.
Pilgrim Cove Camp
Jim Hues of New Plymouth UCC will have a display table during coffee hour at Wright Church on June 18th. He will be available with fliers and information to answer any questions about camp. Stop by the table and check our Pilgrim Cove Camp. http://www.pilgrimcovecamp.com 208-634-5555 We have a very full season ahead of us! Drop by for a visit. Blessed are we!
CBNA News (Central Bench Neighborhood Association)
Our Community Garden is shaping up to be a beautiful and productive garden. It is a great place to get to know our neighbors, get our hands dirty, and enjoy God’s creation. Ivy Shay is volunteering to coordinate our Community Garden. She can be reached at 406-396-4772 or shayivy13@gmail.com Weeding is always needed in the common areas and plots are still available.
Mahjong
Everyone is welcome to come play Mahjong at Ethel Farnsworth's home. Please contact her for the game days.
New faces! Are you wearing your name tag? – Don't have a name tag, you say! – No problem.
Please fill out a pew card indicating you would like a name tag, or put your name on the yellow pad behind the greeters and bingo you will have a name tag for the next Sunday. They will appear in the name tag holder at the top of the steps.
Welcome Whitney Kats to Wright Church Staff!
Please help me welcome Whitney Kats to our Wright Church staff. She will be playing the piano along with Anne on the organ and assisting in worship design. Whitney moved to Boise in August 2015 from Iowa to be with her (now) wife, Kyra Kats. She received her Bachelor's degree from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, where she majored in Theology: Biblical Studies, and minored in Worship Arts. She is excited to help out in worship at Wright!
Question of the Day?? Fun Facts!
We have folks that have been involved in Wright Church for many years. Do you know what family has had continious active members involved in Wright Church the longest? Answer on calendar page. The answer is according to our record book.
Attention: It's missing!
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of the portable Microphone, Stand and Amp that was in the social hall please contact the office or simply return it should you have borrowed it and forgot you had it! No questions asked! It just needs to find its way home because it is needed during meetings in the social hall. Please help us find the missing
Remember the "olden days"?
We want to reminisce – remember the sayings: "If you dropped it, pick it up" – "If you got it out, put it away" – "If you opened it, close it" – "If you dirtied it, clean it" - "If you brought it, take it home" – "If it needs emptying, empty it" – " the janitor is not your mother" and so on. I'm sure you have heard these and many more. Well, Wright Church is "going old school" and putting these saying into effect, especially in our kitchen and social hall. All items should be cleaned, dried and put away following any and all events, please. It is not the job of the staff to pick up or put away items following meetings, or group gatherings. If there are food items left over from suppers, dinners or potlucks and you brought it please take them home. There is no one here to do leftovers like at your homes.
June 2017 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1 1-Book Club at Joan Wenske's
4
5
6
7
Friday
2
7-Bible Study
7-Laura Owens Violin Recital
8
9
Saturday
3
10
Pentecost 10:30 Choir Warm up 11-Worship/ Communion 12-Fellowship/ coffee
11
11-Nancy Hyder Celebration of Life 7-Alanon
7-Bible Study
12
13
14
15
11-Worship 12-Fellowship/ Coffee
18
9-Men's Fellowship
1-Lunch Bunch at Jakers, Meridian
19
7-Alanon
6-Huntington
7-Bible Study
20
21
22
7-Alanon
7-Board of Directors
6:00 Bench Community Supper
16
17
10:15 Wright Ones Deli Days
10:00 am Boise Pride
5-Pride set upCapitol Park
23
Father's Day 11-Worship 12-Fellowship/ Coffee Pilgrim Cove Camp display
7-Bible Study
25 60th Anniv. of the UCC 11-Outside Worship 12-Potluck Barbeque
26
27
Pastor Kathy is out of the office this week
7-Alanon
28
29
30 Robin's vacation begins
Eubanks/Baer
24
The Wright Ups Wright Community Congregational Church United Church of Christ 4821 Franklin Rd Boise, Idaho 83705 Return Service Requested June, 2017 Vol. 2017 Issue 6
Phone: 208.343.0292 e-mail: church.office@wrightucc.org web: www.wrightucc.org Ministers: All Of Us Pastor: Rev. Kathy Abend Office Admin: Robin Canning Board Chair: Chuck Pond Organist: Ann Burkholder Pianist and Worship Design: Whitney Kats Moderator: Carl Van Slyke
We are joyfully an Open and Affirming Church 11:00 Worship Noon: Fellowship Communion: 1st Sunday of each month Sunday School for Children after Children’s Sermon Nursery Available