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First Congregational Church of Reno
627 Sunnyside Drive
Reno, NV 89503
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
N E W S F RO M T H E P E W S
RENO, NV
F i r s t C o n g r e g at i o n a l
C h u rc h o f R e n o
PERMIT NO. 46
March 2015
Phone: 775-747-1414
Fax: 775-747-1805
E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours Mo—Th 10 –3, Fri 10-1
An Open & Affirming Congregation
United Church of Christ & Disciples of Christ
Return Service Requested
February 2015
Minister: Rev. Rich Smith, Editor: Cindy Evans
Dear Friends:
We have learned from scripture that life has its seasons. For the past
five years FCC has been a wonderful place for me on my journey.
While I have served the congregation, I have also received much more
than employee compensation. I have been blessed by my relationships
with all of you.
As I entered a new season in my life, I made the hard choice to move
on to full time employment. As this issue goes to print I will be finishing
my time with FCC.
W E’ RE A LSO ON THE W EB
www.renofirstcongregational.org
We are an Open & Affirming congregation,
welcoming all persons -- regardless of race,
ethnic background, economic status, gender,
age, personal ability, or sexual orientation -into the full life and ministry of the church.
It’s a bittersweet feeling, but perhaps on occasion, as Rich often says: I will see you on Sunday. Thank you for the opportunity to be in service to this wonderful community.
Faithfully yours, Cindy Evans
FROM PASTOR
The job of Church Administrator is really more of an art than a job. One has to multi-task,
working with the needs of our many building users, support the leaders and members of the
congregation, pay the bills and maintain the church records, deal with the public, unjam the
copier, and answer to a very demanding minister who expects the administrator to be at
his beck and call – all the while remaining sane, calm and cheerful! It’s a rare person who
can do this well and make it look easy, and that’s why we’re going to miss Cindy! She has
been the nerve center of the church for the past 5 ½ years and her work has made much of
my work possible. We wish her all God’s blessings as she embarks on new adventures. On
Sunday, March 8 we will honor her during the Fellowship Time after worship, so I hope
you’ll be there to say thanks and Godspeed.
While Cindy can’t really be replaced, a small committee appointed by the Church Council
is very close to selecting a person to be our new administrator, and we’ll let you know.
Change is never easy, but without change, we go the way of the dinosaurs.....
...see you in Church!
– Rich
First Congregational Church of Reno
In Our Church Family
March Worship Themes
March 1: The Needle: A Story with a Point
Psalm 90, Commumion
March 8: 10 Commandments 2.0
Exodus 20:1-17
March 15: Watch out for Snakes!
Numbers 21:4-9
Please Hold in Prayer…
Our homebound: Harold & Arleen Heinen (Harold celebrated
his 99th birthday on the February 23rd), Vesta Carucci,
Margaret Saltzer Cline & Ralph Cline, Margie Beck and
Corrine Curtis.
Henry deWyk, Eric Johnson, George Noble and for health
concerns.
Yvonne Anderson’s great nephew Danny recovering from an
accident.
Bob Kurvers 1st
March 22: The Cardiac Covenant
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Ken Rickett recovering from surgery
Dave Kary 6th
March 29 PALM SUNDAY: Cross Talk
Mark 15: 1-39
Ted’s mother, Sharon
Foa Sofara 7th
Debbie’s mother, Mary
John Biondo 8th
April 5 EASTER: The Inconvenient Truth About Resurrection
Mark 16:1-8
Some important details
Worship begins at 10:00 am. The Nursery is open at 9:40 (In the Annex,
just past the Sanctuary) for children four and under. Older children are
welcome to attend Sunday school following the Children’s Conversation.
First Sundays, children start out in Sunday School and join their families
for communion.
Prayers for mothers including:
And Helen Blanke’s mom
Virginia Burn, residing at
Atria in Reno, welcomes visits
and prayers. Call the office
for contact information.
Kim Kary 5th
Dayne Webb 6th
Melissa Yerxa 8th
Francisco Flores-Sofara 9th
Jan Haneline 10th
Sam Bennett 14th
Marilyn Knipe 14th
Cindy Evans 16th
Claribel Russell 18th
Thank you all for submitting you pledges! Now that you have that out of
the way, think about setting up automatic payments from your bank so
you don't have to remember to bring your checkbook every week. If you
need help getting this set up our have questions, contact Georgia at 775 232 7001 or [email protected].
Our next reception of new members is
Chai Cook 21st
planned for Sunday, March 22.
Bill Macauley 23rd
Let Rich know if you are interested—he’d
Luke Arnone 30th
love to have a conversation!
Steve Lauritzen 31st
If you don’t see your birthday or anniversary, please accept our apologies!
We would appreciate a phone call with the all the details!
First Congregational Church of Reno
Opportunities for Lent...
O ur Nor th e r n Ca l if, Neva da C onf e r e nc e M in is t e r C a nd i da te
How Does a Believer
Cross the Road? . . .
A Lenten dialogue
Wednesdays, February 25
through March 25, 2015,
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursdays, February 19 through March
26, 2015, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Crossings. Decisions. We all experience
them. Crossroads and intersections are
everywhere in life – including matters of
faith. Join us through this Lenten Season
for a dialogue about faith journeys.
What gets in the way of our faith and
life decisions? What if others don’t
agree? How do we travel in our community alongside friends whose views aren’t
the same?
The title is inspired by Brian McLaren’s
book – Why did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? –
but the resources for this series are diverse. This is not about “what” to believe,
but how we can go about a bolder and
more productive faith journey. Whether
you’re new to studying matters of faith,
or a veteran of religious study, please
join us! We will journey and learn together.
RELENT, A Lenten devotional by the StillSpeaking writers group, will be available in
the narthex for anyone who is interested in
a devotional at home during this season.
Travel with Lynn & Jay Arnone
as they share stories & photos
from their year in Austria.
All ages welcome!
Friday, March 27th
7:00 pm in the Annex
Bring your own beverage and a
snack to share.
Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center is
looking for faith-based volunteers to
support their Spiritual Care Service department. If you would like to learn
more about the needs and training
available, there is a flyer at the communication center,
or visit their
web site and
look for
”Volunteer
Services”
Diane Lynn Weible grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, attended
Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, and Eden Theological
Seminary in St. Louis. She was ordained by the St. Louis Association of the former Missouri Conference of the United
Church of Christ in May 1991. In July of that year she and
her husband Tim became missionaries with the United Church
Board for World Ministries and were assigned to Tono,
Iwate Prefecture, Japan. They served there for 12 years, Diane serving as the Associate
Pastor of the Tono Church and also as a staff of the church-related kindergarten, then its
Vice Principal and later as the Principal.
In 2004 the Weibles moved to Hawaii where Tim became the Pastor and Diane the Associate Pastor at Kailua Christian Church (UCC). Two years later Diane became the Minister of
Communication of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ Since 2008 she has
been serving as the Conference’s Associate Conference Minister.
DIANE’S VISION FOR THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
“We are at the threshold of exciting changes. People want the church to BE something and
not just exist. They want to know that the church is working to heal brokenness in our world.
My vision for the UCC is that we embark on an exciting journey of rediscovery about what
God is calling us to do in the new reality of the twenty-first century church. God needs our
local churches to be agents of transformation in their communities and throughout the world
and the Conference is a place that can provide resources and support to engage and challenge us to be about that ministry.”
DIANE’S VISION FOR OUR CONFERENCE
“The diversity, the theology, and the inclusivity of the Northern California Nevada Conference excite me, but one statement in your profile particularly caught my attention: “If it’s not
working, we try something different.” This tells me of a willingness to engage in dialogue in
order to carry out the ministry of Jesus Christ in a way that addresses the brokenness in our
world and works to bring healing. It also speaks to me of the willingness to take risks to be
about God’s work in the world. Risk can be scary, but it is in being willing to take risks that
we often find ourselves in the best position to partner with others to bring God to the places
where God is needed most.”
A special meeting of the Conference will be held April 11 in Palo Alto to vote on Diane’s
candidacy. Marc Ullom served on the Search Committee.
First Congregational Church of Reno
Afternoon Circle will be meeting on Wednesday, March 11 at 1:00pm
in the Annex behind the church. After a brief business meeting, Marc
Ullom will lead us in a dialogue based on his Lenten study entitled How
Does a Believer Cross the Road? June Thomas will be providing refreshments. Please come and join us. If you have any questions please contact Celeste Robinson at 775-376-8423.
With Rich’s retirement several well-tended beds
in the Community Garden are now available for
growing your favorite vegies this summer. If you are
interested, please let Jerry Robinson know and he’ll
set you up with your own 12 x 4 raised bed. It’s
watered automatically after the danger of freezing
has passed, but you still have the fun of planting,
weeding and harvesting the tastiest and healthiest
food you’ll ever eat!
Our commemoration of Maundy Thursday will be held on
April 2 in two parts. The first begins at 6:30 in the CE Building
where we share a simple supper of corn chowder, bread, and
fruit concluding with communion around the table. Then at
7:30 we move to the Sanctuary for a Service of Tenebrae, recalling the events in the Garden of Gethsemane that culminated in Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, with readings, hymns and
choir anthems. The service ends in darkness and silence as we
go forth to await the Easter dawn.
One Great Hour of
Sharing® is the Lenten
Offering of the United
Church of Christ that
supports disaster, refugee, and development,
often referred to as
missions. We will receive this offering on
March 15th.
Type:
Lily
In Memory
Dedication:
Dedication:
Given by:
Tulip
In Celebration
Hyacinth
Daffodil
In Honor of