Jefferson United Church of Christ

Je f f e r s o n U n i t e d C h u r c h o f C h r i s t
...sharing the light of God
P as tor s J o hn & R eb ec c a Sh il li ngb ur g
From the Pastors’ Desk
Upcoming Events
May 24th
Pentecost
June 7th
Worship in
the Park
June 13th
8:00 am
Weekend
Food for
Children
Food Pickup
June 20th
JUCC Car
Show
June 22nd
through
June 26th
JEM
Vacation
Bible School
Sunday
Worship
The 8:38
8:38 am
Faith
Formation
9:30 am
Worship
10:30 am
Communion 1st
Sunday of the Month
What Does It Mean to be Church?
Meriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary gives the following
definitions for church: a building that is used for Christian religious
services; religious services held in a church; a particular Christian
group. When capitalized, Church refers to all of Christianity
together, often called the Church Universal.
In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul wrote, “For in the one Spirit we
were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and
we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” Even in those early days,
Paul was urging the followers of Christ to remain unified, a unity he
pictured as the body of Christ. The church as the body of Christ—
Paul used this image to urge unity, not uniformity. As he argued, the
body’s parts could not all be the same; their differences allow the
body to function when they work together.
As Christianity grew and changed, Christians allowed
differences to shatter the unity of the Church. The Eastern and
Western traditions split in the 11th century. In the 16th century the
Reformed tradition, among whose descendants is the UCC, split
from the Western (Roman Catholic) tradition over differences in
what constituted faithful practices. In fact, the Reformed tradition
recognized that the Church must continually reexamine itself in light
of new understandings of how God is at work in the world—we are
Reformed but always reforming.
When the United Church of Christ was formed in 1957,
Christians in this country were searching for ways to recreate the
unity that had been lost. The UCC came together from diverse
backgrounds: the German Reformed, Congregational, German
Evangelical, and Christian denominations. As these traditions joined
together, they discovered some of the challenges of becoming one
church. In particular, they recognized that faithful Christians must
embrace our diversity rather than forcing conformity.
The goal of the UCC has been—and still is—to become a
united and uniting church. Our mottos reflect this goal: "That they
T h e R e fo r m e r
M ay 2 01 5
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may all be one" (John 17:21) and "In essentials–unity, in nonessentials–diversity, in all
things–charity," (The comma after charity reflects our belief that God is still speaking today: “Never place a period where God has placed a comma,”).
Why does this matter at Jefferson UCC? Like every congregation, we face the
continual challenge of creating unity while celebrating the diversity of our members. We
can be tempted to think we are unified in what we believe; yet the reality is that we are
unified in the One whom we follow. By embracing our differences and finding unity in
essentials, we can be a bold testimony of God’s grace to the world.
What are the essentials that unify us? What is essential to being Christian?
The earliest confession of faith was “Jesus is Lord.” Profound in its simplicity,
even this three-word confession can embrace many different understandings of what it
means to confess that Jesus is Lord. For some, it means faithfully attending church every
Sunday and giving 10% of our income to the church. For others, it means how we define
God. And yet, our unity isn’t based on practices or beliefs. Our unity comes from our
common confession that we follow Jesus and that we live in the way of Jesus.
As your Pastors, we celebrate that unity comes not in our beliefs or how we
worship, but in joining our lives together in worship, prayer, learning, fellowship, and
service. God is still speaking today, and as a church community let us continue to ask,
“What is God calling us to do today?”
Blessings,
John & Rebecca
Upcoming Events
May 24 (Sun)
Pentecost
6:00 pm
June 7 (Sun)
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group Meeting
@ Ruritan Center
Worship in the Park with Christ Reformed UCC
June 13 (Sat)
8:00 am
Weekend Food for Children food pickup
June 20 (Sat)
9:00 am
18th Annual Car & Truck Show
June 22—26
Vacation Bible School @ UMC
July 11 (Sat)
8:00 am
Weekend Food for Children food pickup
August 8 (Sat)
8:00 am
Weekend Food for Children food pickup
Sharing the Light of God Through Ministry to Others
Page 3
Help the
Weekend Food for Children
Backpack Ministry
by bringing:
5-7 ounce cans of tuna or chicken
School Supplies
This summer we will have another opportunity to help children in
our community who are in need: the three churches of Jefferson
Ecumenical Ministries will work with Valley Elementary to provide
those children with backpacks and school supplies at the beginning
of the next school year. Watch for more information on how you can
participate!
You Can Help!
Our church has been designated as a summer pickup location for the
Weekend Food for Children Ministry. Pickup dates will be on
Saturday, June 13, Saturday, July 11 and Saturday, August 8 from
8:00 am—12:00 pm. Volunteers will be needed to help distribute the
food. If you would like to help, contact the church office at
301-473-8262.
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group
A support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease or other memory-loss
disorders has been started in the Jefferson area. The group meets on the fourth Sunday of each
month at the Ruritan Center from 6-7 pm. There is no charge to participate and the sessions are
confidential. Pastor John is one of the facilitators for the group.
Page 4
April Consistory Highlights
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New hearing impaired receivers have been purchased and are working well. The new
Pastor’s microphones are also working well.
The Little Free Library has been installed on the front lawn. Congratulations and a big
thank you to Andrew Burke for all his hard work on this project.
A new Worship Committee is being formed. If anyone is interested in participating, please
contact the Church Office, (301-473-8262).
The Consistory approved a motion to accept a proposal to lease a new copier. The new
proposal will save approximately $100 per month.
It was noted that nursery workers are needed.
Support The Cemetery
Another year has rolled around and the Cemetery Board needs your
support for the grass-mowing and maintenance for the coming year. Help
us keep the cemetery in a clean condition. Mowing is expensive and
repairing the stones is a project that takes a lot of time, as well. Any
amount that you can contribute will be greatly appreciated!
Make checks payable to “Jefferson Reformed Cemetery, Inc.”
The Cemetery Board
We need your support!
Whether it’s paying the church’s electric bill or
teaching our children, without your contributions,
we would close our doors! Our fundraisers help, but
most of what we do comes from the generous giving
within our community! Please consider ways to help
our community of faith grow. Give $5 more a week;
invite a neighbor; teach a class. All of these are ways
to give faithfully of our time, talent, and tithes.
Whatever we do, we can do it together...as a
community of faith!
The annual Mother-Daughter Banquet will be held on
Wednesday, May 6th at 7:00 pm at the Jefferson Ruritan
Center. A turkey dinner will be served. The cost of the
banquet is $9.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Children ages 5-10,
and under age five is free. Contact Jane Smith or
Anna Mae Zecher for tickets.
Page 5
Sharing the Light of God
Take a look under the hood…and join us!
18th Annual Jefferson UCC
Car & Truck Show
June 20, 2015
Sponsored by JUCC’s Outreach Committee. For additional information
contact John Edwards (301) 991-1033 George Klouda (301) 473-4905
Vickie Bell (301) 473-787
carshow@jeffersonucc.org
Flyers will be at the church or online
http://jeffersonucc.org/PDF/Other/2015CarShowFlyer.pdf
Jefferson Community Yoga
Join Us!
Open to anyone 18 & over
Instructor: Jan Faulkner
Cost: $5.00 per class; no commitment.
Web site: google.com/site/jcommunityyoga/
5/2
Saturday
UCC
5/6
Wednesday
UCC
5/9
Saturday
UCC
5/13
Wednesday
St Paul
5/16
Saturday
UCC
5/20
Wednesday
St Paul
5/23
Saturday
St Paul
5/27
Wednesday
St Paul
5/30
Saturday
St Paul
Page 6
th
DATE
June 7
at 11:00 AM
PLACE
Catoctin Creek Nature Center
2929 Sumantown Road
Middletown, MD
WHAT
Worship & Fellowship
Great food, Activities & More
Hope
You
Can
Join
Us!
DIRECTIONS FROM CHURCH:
Left onto Jefferson Pike/Route 180.
Right onto Old Middletown Road.
Continue for approx. 2 miles.
Turn left onto Sumantown Road.
Bear left to stay on Sumantown Road.
Nature Center is approx. 1/2 mile on the left.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE
WILL NOT HAVE A
WORSHIP SERVICE OR
FAITH FORMATION
CLASSES AT THE CHURCH.
COST FOR LUNCH IS $3 PER PERSON/$10 PER FAMILY.
CHICKEN AND DRINKS WILL BE PROVIDED.
PLEASE BRING A SIDE DISH OR DESSERT TO SHARE.
Please let us know if you plan to attend. There is a sign up
sheet in the sanctuary or you call the church office.
We need a headcount so we can order enough food.
Please bring lawn chairs.
Sharing the Light of God
Page 7
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School will be held June 22nd through June 26th at the Jefferson
United Methodist Church. The theme this year will be G-Force, God’s Love in
Action.
At G-Force VBS, kids will explore how to put their faith into action. Kids will
experience God’s unstoppable love and discover how to fuel up and move in and
through life with God.
Little Free Library
Thanks to Andrew Burke,
who oversaw the building
and installation of JUCC's
Little Free Library for his
Eagle Scout Project!
What a wonderful gift to all
of Jefferson!
Easter 2015
Page 8
Pictures from our journey through Holy Week: our Seder Meal,
Easter morning crafts, and Easter Sunday Worship.
Pictures by George Klouda
Page 9
Sharing the Light of God
May 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
9:00 am Yoga
3
4
5
6
6:00 pm Yoga
7
8
7:00 pm Choir
Rehearsal
9
9:00 am Yoga
7:00 pm
Mother
Daughter
Banquet @
Ruritan Center
10
11
12
13
14
15
7:00 pm Choir
Rehearsal
17
18
19
20
7:00 pm
Consistory
Meeting
24
Pentecost
Sunday
6:00 pm
Alzheimer’s
Caregiver
Support Group
31
25
26
7:00 pm
Outreach
Committee
Meeting
21
16
9:00 am Yoga
22
23
29
30
7:00 pm Choir
Rehearsal
27
28
Page 10
May Birthdays
2nd Emily Grove Davis
Lilah Utterback
11th
Logan Sandy
24th
Scott Midula
14th
Tommy Crutchfield
25th
Donna Lakin
Melody Grove
26th
Christopher Smith
28th
Lisa Humerick
Jordan Nicholson
5th Katelyn Lakin
17th
Peg Arnold
6th George Lakin
18th
Cody Crowl
Bryan Heath
7th Donnie Corun
20th
Matthew Hainline
Kay Nicholson
Denny Remsburg
21st
Debbie Taulton
Elise Younger
22nd Michelle Gwinn
8th Tom Taulton
Andrew Burke
9th Darren Remsburg
Kelly Roesch Kelly
10th Pastor Rebecca Shillingburg
23rd
Zachary Humerick
May Anniversaries
9th Pete and Alice Drayer
10th Bryan and Natalia Heath
11th David and Cheryl Remsburg
12th Pastors John and Rebecca Shillingburg
Greg and Elizabeth Nichols
16th Brick and Betty Remsburg
20th Mark and Tina Cooper
Skip and Andrea Vermillion
30th Robby and Tracey Whipp
30th
Ashley Corun
31st
Fran Jewell
Sharing the Light of God
Page 11
Please Keep These Members and Friends in Your Prayers
Independent Living
Ruth and Merle Mayner
Please Remember in Prayer:
Homewood
Long Term Assisted Care
Patsy Cochran
Homewood
Jim Crampton
Home
Shirley Crampton
Tranquility
Sylvia Flook
Tranquility
In Military Service
Drew Dunham
Aaron Stauffer
John K. Shillingburg
A glimpse of one of our sanctuary stained glass
windows courtesy of Dave Snyder
Olivia Bailey
Steven Liersemann
Pat Blank
Connie Marshburn
Dianne Bowers
Xia Martinez
Barbara Burke
Kelly & Jane Morgan
Frank Cebulski
Nancy Nichols
James Crampton
Nancy Peacock
Shirley Crampton
Kenny Piper
Debbie Crutchfield
Woody Price
Lisa Dunaway
Debbie Remsberg
Doris Edwards
Joan Remsberg
Shirley Eiker
Rosemary Rosensteel
Charlie Hackley
Barry Swartz
Mary Handley
John Taulton
Mary Harris
Family of Debbie Taylor
Luther Hargett
Melissa Tewes-Riley
Doug Hemp
Kaylynn Tobery
Jenny Hemp
Yvonne Tobery
Chris Hoffman
Jennifer Underwood
Jimmy Huffer
Tricia Virts
Terry Ifert
Ronnie Whipp
Rebecca Johnson
Patricia Wiles
Alma Lakin
Kylee Yoder
Please help us keep our prayer list up to date.
If you know of anyone who needs to be added
or removed, please contact Debbie at the
church office (301-473-8262). Thank you.
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FREDERICK, MD
PERMIT #2911
Je f fe r s o n U n i t e d Ch u rc h o f Ch ri s t
P.O. Box 579
3837 Jefferson Pike
Jefferson, MD 21755
Phone: 301-473-8262
Email: contact@jeffersonucc.org
Visit us at www.jeffersonucc.org
...a UCC Community of Faith
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