Happenings || Emmaus United Church of Christ

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Happenings, November 2007

A Message from Reverend Bill

The practice of gratitude is the fastest way to that point within where you are conscious of God, Self, and Others. Living from that point—no matter how hard the effort, no matter how dense the obstacles—is the only way we will create lasting peace.

Living from that space means that all is opened up and becomes spacious, infused with a sense of the holiness of creation and all within it.

Living from that space means that we honor the great invitation we have from Jesus the Christ to seek and to be the realm of God.

Living from that space means that we practice thanksgiving for all that comes our way—the joys, the concerns, the challenges.

Gratitude transforms.

Gratitude heals.

May this month of November which builds to a celebration of Thanksgiving be a day to day reminder of the One who seeks your wholeness. By being grateful, we are open to our own wholeness, and that of our world.

Peace,
Rev. Bill

Worship Schedule

All services begin at 10:30 a.m.

11/4 “War Cries” Holy Communion

11/11 “Imagining Jesus”

11/18 “Imagining Christ”

11/25 Gratitude Ceremony

All sermons will be available for downloading.

Service and Mission Fundraiser

Over seventy members of the Emmaus family and their friends and family members gathered for an evening of feasting, fun, and fundraising in the Emmaus Fellowship Hall the evening of Saturday, October 20, contributing over $3400 to Emmaus Service and Mission projects. The funds will be distributed to the national United Church of Christ Neighbors in Need fund and Emmaus's Richard Hunter School in Liberia.

A special thanks to the co-coordinators of the fundraiser—Sandy Sammer and Debra Nau. Also thanks to the other members of the Emmaus Board of Service and Mission and other members of the congregation who contributed food and donations for the Silent Auction and the Live Auction.

Allen Jensen

Donations Needed
Shaw Thanksgiving Baskets

Please help Shaw Community Ministry furnish Thanksgiving dinners to needy families in the inner city Shaw Community who cannot have a Thanksgiving Dinner without your donations.

You may help by providing a Thanksgiving basket (or bag) of the following non-perishable food items or equivalents: 2 boxes of stuffing mix, 2 cans of green beans, 2 cans of sweet potatoes, 2 cans of any fruit, 1 can of cranberry sauce, 2 boxes of macaroni and cheese, 1 box of muffin mix, 1 box of cake mix and 1 can of icing. You may leave your contributions in the coat room between November 5 and 19.

In addition to the above items, we also need financial contributions in order to purchase the Thanksgiving turkeys and other perishable items. The suggested amount is $25.00. Feel free to donate more or less if you wish, we will be happy with any amount! Checks should be made out to Shaw Community Ministry and left in the envelope on the bulletin board marked "Shaw Ministry." Or you may mail them to Debra Nau. Please call me if you are unable to bring your items to the church and I will make other arrangements to receive your donations.

On Thanksgiving, I will be giving thanks for being fortunate to belong to a group of people who care deeply and help the less fortunate have a similar meal with their families.

Thank you again. Be blessed.

Debra Nau

Spiritual Renewal/Prayer Space

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference" — the Serenity Prayer

On Sunday, November 4, at 7 p.m., we will explore Living the Serenity Prayer . What does it mean to accept? How do we get courage and wisdom? We do know that meditation often brings us serenity, so we will meditate on life's challenges and focus on inner peace. Following Rev. Bill's Sunday sermon on prayer on October 21, we will practice "listening" as well as asking for guidance. In the Prayer Space time we will concentrate on prayers of Thanksgiving.

Boyd and I will be going to India in mid December and will return in early January. We are prepared to experience challenges, and expect to call upon courage and wisdom. We want to learn from you how to live this Serenity Prayer.

Peace,
JoAn & Boyd Post

Health and Wellness Corner

Flu Shots

The date for flu shots has been set for Sunday, November 11 after church from 11:30 to 12:30, in the Education building. Cost for the shot is $25, payable by cash, money orders, or checks made out to Inova Flu Shot Program. Medicare Part B is accepted as payment in full, but you must show your Medicare card to use this benefit. Minimum age for the shot is 18 years old. If you have specific questions regarding the flu shot, visit www.inova.org/flu or call 1-877-895-5-BUG (284).

I know some people are concerned about getting the flu from the flu shot itself. Because the viruses in the flu vaccine are inactivated and noninfectious, one cannot get the flu from the flu shot. However, some people should not get the flu shot at all. They include those who are allergic to chicken eggs, thimerosal or other mercury compounds or other vaccine components; those who have ever had Guillain-Barre syndrome; or those have a fever or active respiratory infection. If you are currently on antibiotics, consult your physician.

Time to Talk Turkey

(From Inova's Congregational Health Partnership monthly e-bulletin.)

No, this isn't about how to prepare your turkey safely for the upcoming holidays, but how you could take the time to "talk turkey" when you gather around the Thanksgiving table this year. "Talking turkey" means not only sharing family stories, but learning about your family health history. Organize what you learn on your family tree. Share this information with your health care provider. This information can possibly help to spot patterns to assess your risk of inherited health problems. The Surgeon General offers a free tool for collecting and organizing your family health history at "My Family Health Portrait" at the Health and Human Services website. Another way of "talking turkey" is discussing being an organ and tissue donor, and finding out where family members' wills, advance directives, insurance, and other health and financial information is kept. This will help your family prepare for an emergency.

National Donor Sabbath

November 11 is also National Donor Sabbath, when congregations can be made aware of the critical need for lifesaving organs and tissue for transplant. Most religions consider organ, eye, and tissue donation as one of the highest expressions of compassion and generosity. There will be informational cards available at the flu shot table on Sunday the 11th as well as in the foyer of the church. To be a donor in Virginia, Maryland, or DC, or for additional information, go to www.BeADonor.org.

Women's Red Tent Book Group

Our next book gathering is scheduled for Sunday, November 11 (following the flu shots: busy Sunday) at the home of Corky Hanna for a potluck brunch. Our selection is Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. An electronic message is sent out as a reminder to those who have expressed interest in being part of this group. If you would like to be part of this group or the electronic mailing, please let me know. Newcomers are always warmly welcomed.

Thanksgiving blessings to you all as you approach the upcoming holiday,

Marsha Komandt
Health and Wellness Coordinator

Christian Education News

Bring on the games!

This month, the children will learn about Joseph's time in Egypt. Joseph was known as many different things: the dreamer, the slave, and the prisoner. No matter what label he was given, he always modeled God's love and grace to the world around him. To illustrate the concept of the roles people play, the children will play a reverse Simon Says. They'll also explore Joseph's different feelings about his family relationships with a game of Four Square, Battleship and Jeopardy. Come prepared to play!!

Thank you to all the wonderful workshop leaders and shepherds who volunteered their time in October. The children had a wonderful time tie-dying shirts and making dream catchers. Our Bulletin Board in the Education Building is decorated with the Emmaus Children's Coat of Many Colors. Stop by and see what makes our children special.

We are still in need of leaders for our December and January workshops. If you have been a member of Emmaus for at least six months and would like to volunteer, please contact me.

Maryanne Warrick

Homelessness in Fairfax County

What do a Russian ballerina, a computer technician, a Greek merchant marine, a lawyer, a nurse, a guidance counselor, and a hairdresser have in common? All of them are or have been homeless in Fairfax County. As of January, at least 1,813 people were homeless in Fairfax County. Of that total, 730 were single adults and 1,083 were people in families (from the Fairfax County website).

Fairfax County has created a plan to end homelessness in ten years. This plan emphasizes creating more permanent housing, thus moving away from building more homeless shelters and getting more people into permanent housing. The county has also started a Partnership for Permanent Housing program, one that moves 25 families from homelessness into homeownership.

It is difficult to capture the county's story of homelessness in sound bites. To do so accurately, one would need to tell 1,813 separate stories. In my own work with chronically homeless adults, I am daily charged and changed by the stories I hear. I invite you to consider how your faith calls you to enter this story.

Learn more about the ten year plan and homelessness in Fairfax County.

Laura Martin
Social Justice Task Force

Contribute to Happenings

For next month's 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 the Happenings editor.

Maintenance Reserve Needs Your Help

Emmaus is facing two large capital expenses that require $20,000 in immediate financial contributions from the congregation. In late October, the Property Management Board selected a contractor to repave both parking lots, whose aging bases are rapidly eroding. The approximate cost of replacement is $63,000.

During Building and Grounds Day on October 27, volunteers discovered that the flat portion of the Sanctuary Building roof was leaking in several places following two days of heavy rain. That portion will likely have to be repaired in the next few weeks.

With a little over $50,000 in the maintenance reserve fund, the church needs about $20,000 to cover the costs of these replacements. The Property Management Board is asking for $20,000, not just because it's a round number, but also because it's critical to reestablish a positive maintenance reserve as quickly as possible.

This is admittedly a substantial amount of money to request at this time of year. Keep in mind that your contribution, large or small, will go a very long way to helping Emmaus accomplish its long-term maintenance goals. To place the current request in perspective, the Board estimates that resurfacing the parking lots makes up a third of the total capital replacement funds needed over the next 10 years. Meeting this goal makes it more likely that we'll be able to fund our future maintenance needs with more deliberation and less urgency than current circumstances dictate.

I thank you in advance for your continued faithfulness and generosity. Please be sure to designate "maintenance reserve" on your contribution. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about the maintenance reserve in general or this request in particular.

Robert Gibbs

Building and Grounds Day

Thank you, Emmaus building and grounds volunteers!

Despite a rainy start, our final Building and Grounds Day of 2007 was a success inside and out. Thanks to all who polished furniture, cleaned and repaired air conditioners in the Education Building, and replaced lights. Those are the details that accumulate over time and make the difference in the look and feel of our church both for our members and for visitors.

Special thanks are due to the hardy crew who braved the monster yellow jacket nest in the mulch pile and removed it from the lower parking lot. We suffered only a single casualty, and I trust he'll be ready to join us again in the spring.

Our faithful volunteers included Wanda Butler, Kevin Cardany, Sue Clark, Howard Hanna, Lynn Higgs, David and Eric Stevens, Geneve Mantri and his cousin David, Judy Smith, and Skip Wolfe.

Robert Gibbs

December Happenings Deadline: November 17, Noon

Learn more about Happenings and how to contribute.

Calendar of Emmaus Events

Thursday, November 1 – 7:30 pm Emmauscares Class in the Parlor

Sunday, November 4 – 10:30 am Worship Service; 11:45 am Congregational Meeting; 7 pm Spiritual Renewal/Prayerspace

Thursday, November 8 – 7:30 pm Emmauscares Class in the Parlor

Sunday, November 11 – 10:30 Worship Service; 11:30 am Flu Shots; 12:30 pm Red Tent Book Club

Sunday, November 18 – 10:30 am Worship Service

Wednesday, November 21 – 12:30 pm TOBs

Sunday, November 25 – 10:30 am Worship Service

(Please send all calendar items to Louise Baxter by November 17 at noon.)