Happenings [November 2006]: Emmaus UCC

A Message from Reverend Bill

Gratitude and healing are bound together; ineffably and inextricably. The more aware we become of the great Divine Compassion that surrounds us, the more grateful we become for its loving presence. Our gratitude leads to healing on every level. The trick, of course, is to cut through all that obscures our perception of the Christ, another name for the embodiment of compassion and love wherever we might find it.

Recently, Joan Post and I enjoyed a wide-ranging telephone conversation that kept pointing to the simplicity and efficacy of the Golden Rule—a key tool in finding and living compassion. At the end of our talk, we joked that perhaps we had just solved all the world’s problems. Actually, I found myself saying that perhaps we had just repaired a tiny section of the worldquilt with a little stitch of love.

This is what healing takes, dear friends: “knitting” the repair of the world, by finding and practicing compassion for all.

I am so grateful for all of you.

Much peace; many blessings,

Note from the Moderator

In the process of approving our proposed budget at the congregational meeting, several questions were asked about our membership numbers. Jean Fox related that the actual number has stayed rather steady over the last decade, although members come and go. Someone asked a familiar follow up question—How do we increase membership? Should we be asking our friends, neighbors, co-workers, to visit? Then that same person helped to answer his own question by saying that it is not as simple as just extending an invitation. We need to extend invitations to certain events that may be of specific interest—to an intellectual seeker, to one of Bill's classes for instance; to a young parent, to our Sunday School; or to a newcomer in the area, to the Service and Mission’s Fall Fundraiser for fun and fellowship.

If growth is a goal, we also need to extend ourselves into the community based on what we are. "Still Speaking" has helped that effort. We are also discussing the idea of adding "Congregational" to the name of our Church, to make known our historical and philosophical underpinnings. But Emmaus has never been interested in growth for growth's sake. I remember being very moved by the discussions in the early 90's concerning the building of our current sanctuary. The congregation did not consider a new fancy sanctuary as a goal in itself, but rather as a means to strengthen and continue its programs for giving back to the community.

It has sometimes seemed to me that our membership numbers are an indication of the natural size of our congregation. Visitors stay if they make just the right number of connections, with just the right number of others, on just the right number of issues. If our numbers increased, would that change who joins us? Would it change our congregation? I think the answer is a resounding no. Our growth, should it happen, will never be a numbers game, but would continue in the same organic way as always, just as we live our lives here, through interconnecting circles.

Susan Rees, Moderator

Emmaus Goes Camping

On Sunday October 8 th, an excited group of campers gathered at Burke Lake Park. It was a beautiful, warm day for camping. As the adults set up their tents, the children excitedly explored nature and began a bug hunting expedition, which turned into a nature hike to collect twigs and rocks for craft projects. To their delight, the hike led to a well-appointed jungle gym After a delightful trek, all campers created pet rocks. A paint explosion left little Sarah Holec, and Ella and Julia Frazier with orange spots. However, no problem was too big for Heidi Warrington, and Cynthia Frazier, who quickly went into clean-up mode with Heidi’s wet wipes.

Soon the campfire and barbeque grill were blazing thanks to Matt Peterson. A traditional camping meal of hot dogs, hamburgers and side dishes was served. Although everyone ate heartily, it was the marshmallow roasting and smores making that were the hit. Annette Gildea and Karla Weeks came prepared with spears, while traditionalists used dirty sticks.

Later in the evening, Bill Bruck played the guitar while the rest of us sang. Scott Holec, Matt Peterson, and Annette Gildea can really carry a tune, but “Ruby Tuesday” is better left to the Rolling Stones. We started to worry that most of our musical picks were too old for young Courtney and Charles Starkey to know. But all fears were cast aside when little Leah Peterson, with her beautiful sweet voice, joined the adults in singing and surprised us all by knowing the words to “American Pie.” Three cheers to Meredith Peterson, who provided glow in the dark sticks for the children to play with in the tents while the adults sang.

Slowly the campfire circle grew smaller as people went off to sleep in their tents. Abby Bruck and Marsha Komandts’ grandson Jared stayed up and after all their playmates had disappeared. Despite cold night temperatures, strange bird noises, and a surprising loud beltway hum, everyone got some sleep.

In the morning, bedraggled campers were grateful for Matt and Meredith Peterson’s great-tasting coffee. Thanks to everyone who attended and a special thanks to Courtney Starkey for providing water and coloring books. To see pictures of the event go to www.wishuponaSTARKEY.com and click on pictures of community events.

Anita Bruck

Road to Emmaus Sunday School Update

Our Road to Emmaus Workshop Sunday School is off to a great start! The kids had a terrific time learning about David in September, especially building giant Goliaths out of garbage bags. In October, they have been studying Isaiah and learning about his vision and prophecies of a Messiah. In remembrance of the prophecies, they have made a variety of creations: crowns & thrones, symbolic kaleidoscopes, and dioramas. They even had a chance to learn about the Jewish dietary laws and sample some new foods. Finally, look for an upcoming showing during coffee hour of our Messiah movie trailer, compiled during our Video Live Isaiah workshop.

Keep your eyes out for our late winter and spring sign-up sheet for workshop leaders. It is a wonderful chance to get to know the children and is only a three-week commitment. No teaching experience is necessary and we provide all the supplies. Come join us!

Julie Holec and Heidi Warrington

Look What Is “Happening” at Emmaus!

Here is a list of events, many sponsored by the Board of Deacons, and other information not covered elsewhere in Happenings.

Confirmation Class for 9 th & 10 th Graders starts October 22 nd. Contact person: Mary Barrino-Smith, 703-938-1555.

Conversations on Membership with Emmaus will be held on Sunday, October 22 nd, directly after church at the home of Joan & Skip Wolfe. Lunch and child care will be provided. Contact person: Rev. Bill Federici, 703-938-1555.

“Festival of the Boards” is being held on Sunday, November 5 th, directly after church in the parlor. Stay for a light lunch and learn about where you can give some of your time to Emmaus! Contact person: Jayne McLaughlin, 703-255-1528.

Emmaus Photo Directory will be ready for distribution during the first part of November. Contact person: Laurie Forbes .

Christmas Potluck Dinner & Senior High Holiday Production will be held on Sunday evening, December 10 th, at the Vienna Community Center. Plan to bring the family and a dish to share! A wonderful Emmaus Tradition! Contact person: Kim Engmann.

Jayne McLaughlin
Board of Deacons

Letter from Islamabad

Coming to Pakistan just as Ramazan (how Pakistanis say Ramadan) is about to start has meant I've had a sound introduction to what such a holiday means to a Muslim city. People fast from dawn to dusk, neither drinking nor eating anything, and every day the newspapers print exactly which minute is considered to be dawn and which dusk. Iftar—the meal at the end of the fast—is on everyone's mind during the afternoon. One day when a project meeting lasted a bit longer than planned, the staff said, “Well, we'll have Iftar here.” We broke out some plates and spoons and the driver went off to find food. All the restaurants are closed until dusk now (which is hard on those of us who want to eat lunch) but there is a lively celebration after dark.

My staff kindly insists that I continue to drink water and have tea during the day, and I find cups waiting when I enter my office after a meeting. I tried to drink out of their view at first, but people explained to me that watching someone else eat was an integral part of Ramazan. One needed to be reminded of one's religious duties, after all. I still don't feel like asking for something to drink during a meeting, but I'm accepting of what comes.

There is also a sense of living in prayer here, along with the Bible verse of "praying always." Fasting reminds people often of their God, and it reminds me, too. We pray before each meeting—in Arabic, Urdu, Pashto, or in my case, English. We share the prayer duties, rotating among us all. I have not been able to say "Mother/Father God" as that feels like I'm pushing folks too far, but they have liked my open prayer style, as I have appreciated the translations of their prayers. We are living in God's time here.

Lorie Brush

An Evening of Family Fun

The Board of Service and Mission is sponsoring the annual Fall Fundraising Dinner on Saturday, November 4 at 6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This glorious evening will be filled with delicious food, a wonderful silent auction and the ever popular live auction for amazing desserts. You will also have the opportunity to learn briefly about the UCC initiative for Neighbors in Need and our own special affiliation with the Richard Hunter school in Liberia, Africa.

How to Take Part in the Fun

You may donate an item for the silent auction, cook your famous chili, soup or stew recipe or create a dessert to be auctioned. Or simply plan to attend that evening with your family. If you have never joined us before for this evening, this is the year! Do not miss this night!

Chili/ Soup/Stew Cook-off

We are not a competitive group but we do love good food. Last year was a great success with everyone voting on his or her favorite chili and soup. Winners will get prizes, but everyone will get to enjoy the delicious food.

Babysitting Available

Some of our senior high students have offered to babysit for the younger guests, who might enjoy a movie in the education building during the live auction. Please let us know when you sign up how many children will need babysitting.

Donation to the Silent Auction

This may be the perfect place to do all your Christmas shopping! There will be a full array of items to be bid upon. Donations for vacation homes for a weekend or sporting, theatre or ballet tickets are more than welcome. Baskets of coffee, chocolate, tea, children’s games, gardening, pet paraphernalia and sports toys would be great additions. Homemade pottery, needlepoint, crocheted items, piano lessons, tutoring, babysitting, jewelry, flower arrangements, a holiday decoration, and autographed books are just few items that always sell well. Use your imagination and create a new item for our silent auction.

Price for the Evening

The cost is $10 per person or $20 per family. This includes appetizers, salads, breads, and beverages, including wine and coffee. Please make your reservation early.

Please contact Elizabeth Hawkins at 703-821-7378 for more information.

Elizabeth Hawkins
Service and Mission

Health and Wellness Corner

Flu Shots Scheduled for December 3

If all goes according to plan, flu shots will be available this winter. Emmaus has scheduled a flu vaccine clinic for Sunday, December 3, immediately after church in the Christian Education building. The cost is $25 and is covered by Medicare Part B. Please remember to bring your card! Those who have their Medicare benefits with an HMO or other managed care plan must receive the shot from your primary provider unless you wish to pay for it at the clinic. Cash, checks and money orders are accepted, but no credit cards.

Blood Contributions

Emmaus continues to be part of Inova's Blood Donor Services (IBDS). I hope that more of you have given of your precious blood and time to the ongoing blood need. Call the IBDS at 1-866-BLOODSAVES (256-6372) to make an appointment. Please be sure to give Emmaus' contributing number 1098 for us to receive credit.

Women's Red Tent Book Group

Our next gathering is scheduled for Sunday, November 12, after church for a potluck brunch at Corky Hanna’s house to discuss the book The Mighty and the Almighty by Madeline Albright, facilitated by Pris Kirby. (A side note regarding Emmaus and Ms. Albright—Rev. Bill loaned her the wooden foot stand on the altar for when she read from her book at Tysons’ Borders.) All women are welcome to join this lively group for socialization and enlightenment! Please contact me at 703-938-1264 if you would like to be added to my reminder e-mail list and if you would like to join us for our gathering this month.

As the warm summer days turn to cooler autumn evenings, please balance your lives with some relaxation time to enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

Marsha Komandt
Health and Wellness Coordinator

Spiritual Renewal

Prayer Space walked the Labyrinth at Little River UCC on July 16, 2006. The weather was lovely and we had a good number of walkers. Libby Barton blessed us with her insect repellent to ward off the mosquitoes. Marsha Komandt, who has organized Labyrinth walks for her “Life With Cancer” patients, gave us a good orientation about the history and meaning of this type of meditation.

Because a number of people were not able to be there in July, we planned another walk for September 17, and again we were blessed with the gift of good weather. This time we walked while two deer watched us. They turned their heads from side to side, seemingly wondering what kind of ritual these strange humans were practicing as they walked in circles and in silence. It was also a joy to have baby Sam Clement, who seemed to contemplate the quiet as well as the rest of us. He had an easy ride on mom Jessica’s hip. We will look ahead to next summer for opportunities to experience more quiet, contemplative walks.

Join us on November 5 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Sanctuary for Spiritual Renewal-Prayer Space. Sabine Boots will lead us in a Healing Meditation. Sabine has found a way to integrate this type of meditation into her busy schedule.

JoAn Post

Spiritual Knitting

We began Spiritual Knitting under the guidance of Lisa Usher on June 11. Some new knitters found that learning to knit takes longer than one night, but experienced knitters are willing to help the beginners. On June 25, we had a power failure and were huddled in the parlor with only the candles for light. The storm did not let up, but we all managed to get home safely.

On August 13 th, in addition to knitting and sharing stories about the people we think of as we progress “one stitch at a time,” we blessed a beautiful shawl that Wanda Butler had completed to send to a cousin’s ailing wife. At the September 24 gathering we shared our concerns for some of the older people we know, and blessed the soft white baby blanket which Carol Roach had worked on while waiting at the hospital for daughter Michelle’s baby, Brandon, to be born. We commiserated with Hannah and Kristen Overturf over the death of their 16-year-old dog, Logan, which had moved here with them from Oregon.

We are very grateful to Lisa Usher for suggesting this special time to quietly work and share concerns. Our next gathering will be November 19 th in the Emmaus Parlor at 7:00 p.m. Although “Spiritual Knitting” sounds a little exclusive, we also welcome warmly those who do any kind of quiet handwork such as crocheting, quilting, or embroidery. Call Lisa at 703-876-5865 or JoAn Post at 703-281-9309 for more information.

JoAn Post

Why I'm Voting No on Ballot Question #1

As you've heard discussed by Jim Scott, Susan Rees, and others in church, a proposed constitutional amendment will be on the Virginia ballot next month, an amendment that many of us at Emmaus find very disturbing. Voters may see something called a "Marriage Amendment," but not read and thought about the whole text and therefore not have the full story they need to make an appropriate decision Here's an explanation of what this is all about.

Those who favor the amendment claim that the point is to "protect marriage" by preventing gays from having any legal recognition of their relationships. In the most generous terms, this argument is a curious one, since Virginia already has existing laws that ban gay marriage and
civil unions. The primary problem with the amendment is that the language is so broad
as to be unclear. Here is the amendment verbatim: "Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions. This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effect, of marriage."

It's simply hard to tell exactly what this means, and this vagueness raises the potential for a host of unintended consequences. For example, the term "unmarried individuals" would apply to straight couples as well as gays, and there are many "effects" of marriage that are actually basic legal and human rights available to all.

Many opponents fear that, without legal recognition of unmarried couple relationships, some domestic violence prosecutions may be impeded. There are also concerns about economic consequences if businesses choose to leave or avoid Virginia because state law is contrary to companies' existing offerings of partner benefits to unmarried employees—the type of benefit that many firms feel is crucial to attracting the type of talent they need.

I understand and respect that some people may have a problem with "gay marriage." But here's the critical point—this amendment is not about gay marriage or civil unions. Such unions are already illegal in Virginia, and those laws aren't likely to go away soon. This amendment reaches far beyond that into people’s basic civil rights—the right of all individuals to carry on the their lives like anyone else.

What does it mean on a personal level? Let me give you some examples from my own life.

Virginia is already difficult for gays. We can't adopt, we can't be foster parents, and we can't enter into civil unions. The only protections that Annette and I can put into place for our children and each other are via contracts: wills, powers of attorney, and other agreements. If this amendment is passed, all such contracts—regarding medical decisions, child custody and guardianship, and property ownership—would be rendered unenforceable.

Annette has her own small business that she runs out of our home. I work for a large company where I have excellent benefits, including the ability to enroll the children and Annette into health and life insurance plans. If this amendment passes, my family could lose its health insurance. In this case, Annette would most likely be forced to go back to work in a corporate setting just so we could afford coverage. We would lose the blessed flexibility we now enjoy with a parent working at home, and Devon would end up spending long hours in childcare.

If I lost my spouse by death, I may end up at the mercy of a Virginia judge to decide how much I would see my children, if ever. Our older son Ian has a father who lives in the area, but Ian's primary residence has always been with us since infancy. If both of Ian's biological parents perished, I would have no legal custody rights. However, the woman who recently married Ian's father would have custody rights, even if she divorced his father tomorrow. Ian is old enough that he might have some say in his outcome, but for younger kids it's far worse if their surviving parent is gay and not biologically related to them. In such cases it's possible that children could be taken and put up for adoption or foster care.

If this amendment passes, I suspect it will soon be challenged and eventually voided on constitutional grounds. Nonetheless, if this amendment passes and Virginia judges start enforcing it, Annette and I, like thousands of other gay couples, will simply have to leave the state.

Karla Weeks

The Future of Happenings

Happenings returns from four-month hiatus with a “makeover.” I hope that the newsletter will provide our community with a venue that allows us as a congregation to talk to one another about things that matter to us, whether they be great or small, mundane or extraordinary. Reverend Bill often talks about the horizontal covenant we have with each other, and Happenings is one way of strengthening that covenant.

To that end, I need your help in making Happenings as vibrant as Emmaus. Happenings needs contributions in the form of articles, announcements, observations, jokes, member profiles, photos, or even reproducible artwork. The contributions can be from anyone of any age. For the December issue, I would like to compile brief reflections on Christmas from the congregation, perhaps a memory of a Christmas past, what Christmas has come to mean to you, or your deepest Christmas wish. If you have a thought, no matter how brief, please feel free to send it to me for next month’s issue.

Happenings also needs a calendar and someone who will take on the job of compiling the calendar (from the blue book in the office and from submissions to Happenings) for publication. If you can work on the Happenings calendar, please let me know.

We also need people to help compile Happenings each month during office hours, so if you can help with that, please let me know.

You can send submissions or questions to or call me at 703-319-0621. The deadline for the December issue is November 19 at noon. Many thanks!

Carmen Sanchez

Shepherd’s Center

The Shepherd's Center is an interfaith organization of persons, 50 and over. We provide various services that enable older adults in need to live independently in their own homes as long as possible. Nineteen area congregations, community groups, and businesses support the Shepherd’s Center. The opportunities to give back to our community through the Shepherd’s Center are many!

Programs include classes & workshops, discussion groups on topics such as world affairs, support groups, lunches, bridge, t'ai chi, and day trips for all interests.

Services provided include medical transportation, companion shopping, friendly callers, health education, record-keeping assistance, minor home repairs, caregiver retreats and many more.

We do have several fundraisers during the year. Just recently we sponsored an Evening of Entertainment featuring Debi Smith, who was mentioned in one of Doug Norell's sermons. She has performed all over the world and locally at Wolf Trap and the Birchmere. She writes many of her own songs from everyday experiences. Those of us lucky enough to see her saw a wonderful performance.

Our church is one of the sponsors of the Shepherd's Center. For more information, talk to Wanda Butler, our church representative.

Wanda Butler

11/5	“Healing Seat” Holy Communion
11/12	“That Which Arises”
11/19	“That Which Remains” HARVEST SUNDAY CELEBRATION
11/26	“Fat Thanks” Family Intergenerational Service

Happenings, November 2006