August 20, 2008

FILLING UP FOR FALL!

With the hot weather it may not feel like fall is around the corner, but it is and with that, FILL UP FOR FALL preparations are under way and we need your help. We are still rounding up fall Sunday School teachers to FILL a couple openings for the first rotation, September 14-October 5. Get ready for RALLY SUNDAY on September 7^th. Sunday School registration will take place beginning at 10:30A.M. and children will begin in worship at 11:00. We are also looking to FILL vacancies on the following: Council Youth Rep, one opening on Christian Education, one on Christian Service, one on Church Growth and two on the Fellowship Board. Please plan on FILLING the sanctuary for HOMECOMING SUNDAY on September 14^th when we will install Council officers and new Board members and thenFILLING Lions Park afterwards for an all-church picnic, sponsored by our Church Growth Board. Choir rehearsal resumes on Wednesday, September 10^th at 8:15 P.M. and as always, you are encouraged to FILL up the chancel with your voice.

SUMMER MEETINGS

Please note the following meetings scheduled for August:

August 25- Boards, 6:15 P.M.

(Business Affairs, Christian Service, Fellowship, Worship)

August 25- Church Council, 7:30 P.M.

You asked for it and we're working on it! The NEW church directory is being edited with the intention of distributing them on Homecoming Sunday, September 14^th. If there are any updates to your household information, please call or email the office to let us know of address changes, phone numbers, emails, cell phone numbers, etc. Also, if there is any information you do NOT wish to be published, please let us know. Thank you for your cooperation!

It's that time of year again when the school bells will be ringing. CUMC's Outreach Committee has launched their "school supplies drive" on a table in the narthex. Some families simply cannot afford the cost of school supplies, and we want every child in our community to have the supplies they need to start the school year. Please bring in backpacks, folders, glue sticks, pencils, calculators, crayons, notebooks, markers, rulers, etc. for distribution to area schools before August 27^th. Thank you.

Help get the UCC's ads back on TV and air Steeples to a national audience! Together we can tell the story of the United Church of Christ. Between now and September 1^st, we need to raise $350,000. We need you, your church, family and friends to show the abundant spirit that is the United Church of Christ. We need 1,000 UCC members and supporters to give just $50 by week's end in order to meet our goal of $50,000 per week. You know the ad. The one with the little girl playing the Steeple game? "Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the door and see all the people." We plan to bring this message of unity, welcome and hope to millions of people this fall. Make checks payable to United Church of Christ with All The People Fund in the memo area and mail to: All The People Fund/Financial Services

United Church of Christ

700 Prospect Ave., E

Cleveland, OH 44115-1100

Every four years the UCC sponsors a 4 day National Youth Event, this year held at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in late July. A busload of 27 high school youth and 6 sponsors made the ten day trip from our Conference. Four youth from our church attended: Spencer Hopkins, Max Johnson, Calvin Kosmerl, and JJ Petersen. The $1000 trip was assisted by the Bertsche Memorial Fund, which provided a $500 scholarship for each of our youth.

The National Youth Event was a great experience. I made a lot of new friends around the state and country as well as strengthened the friendships I already had. I really enjoyed the bus ride, because we got to sleep for long periods of time and hang out. When we stopped in St. Louis, we went to a Cardinals game which was really cool. On the return trip, we stayed a day in the Twin Cities and went to the Mall of America. After the mall, we went to a Twins game and we sat right in the home-run section. I learned a lot from the programs and lectures from the event. They gave me perspective on the lives of people my age such as a Darfur refugee and a Muslim. The University of Tennessee campus that we stayed on was really nice too. There were plenty of fun things to do like go bowling or swimming. We also ended up playing golf. I really appreciate being given the opportunity to take this trip. -Spencer Hopkins

The National Youth Event in Tennessee was an amazing experience. The trip there and back was lots of fun, spending time with old friends from Camp Mimanagish and staying at UCC churches and Eden Seminary. Seeing Mt. Rushmore and touring the Golden Arches in St. Louis on the way was really neat, and the ferry boat ride in Chicago and shopping at the Mall of America on the way back was cool also. We also saw the Twins beat the White Sox 6-5 in Minneapolis. In Tennessee I met lots of new people. There were many good speakers and workshops. I especially enjoyed the workshop on telling our sacred stories. I also enjoyed the music and playing basketball. I was interviewed by the NYE news lady, who filmed me dancing on stage. The weather was humid, but not as hot as the NYE experience. Thank you for helping me to have this wonderful experience. It was a great way to top off my senior year. -JJ Petersen

Denise Jackson's Hot Five-Bean Salad

8 slices bacon � cup water

Dash pepper 16 ounce can cut green beans

1 � tsp. salt 16 ounce can lima beans

2/3 cup sugar 16 ounce can cut wax beans

2 Tbsp. cornstarch 15 � ounce can red kidney beans

� cup vinegar 15 ounce can garbanzo beans

In a large skillet cook bacon till crisp; drain, reserving � cup drippings in the skillet. Crumble bacon and set aside. Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt and pepper; stir into reserved drippings. Stir in vinegar and water; cook and stir until boiling. Drain all cans of beans; stir beans into skillet. Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes. Stir in crumbled bacon. Transfer to serving dish. Makes 10-12 servings.

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS/GOOD NEWS SCHEDULE

Summer office hours are Monday-Thursday,

8:30 A.M.-4:00 P.M. and Friday, 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.

The next Good News will be mailed on August 27^th .