Beloved South Church,

It’s been two weeks since we heard news of a young man killing nine people at Moth-er Emmanuel AME in Charleston, SC. These faithful people, ranging in age from 26 to 70 were drawing strength and hope from God’s good Word when they welcomed a stranger - a white man who sat with them for an hour before ruthlessly taking their

lives. This church is only 30 minutes from John’s Island, where our youth travel every year on their mission trip. In the days since this brutal attack, I vacillate be-tween anger and heartbreak. In my conversations with you, I’ve realized we are asking many of the same questions:

If violence can come into our sanctuaries, how do we create sacred space for each other?

Where is God in the midst of this tragedy?

Can God handle our anger, disappointment, frustration?

What does reconciliation and forgiveness look like and require? What do we have to learn from these families who have courageously offered forgiveness in the midst of pain and loss?

How do we actively work to dismantle systems of racism? How do we resist apathy and seek to change the culture of our country?

I have no answers. But I know that God’s spirit is at work, calling us to wres-tle with these hard questions, asking us to look at our own privilege and to advocate for change in our world. I ask that you join me in prayer, as we dis-

cern the work that God is calling us to, the work of embodying equality, jus-tice, and compassion in this world.

peace to you,

Dana

A LETTER FROM DANA

COMMUNION IN JULY

Communion will be served on Sunday July 12

(second vs. first Sunday ) service in July.

South Church in Andover, UCC

July/August 2015 Newsletter

SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL FUN IN THE SUN!

Sundays through Sept. 6 - 9:30-10:30am

A special outdoor Sunday School program for children, Pre-K through 5th grade. Children will begin in Worship and be dismissed. Nursery care is also available.

CHURCH OFFICE SUMMER HOURS The church office will be open Monday-Thursday,

9am - 1pm. Staff is often there later, call ahead.

DONATIONS

If you are looking for a concrete way to help the

beloved people of Emanuel Church in Charleston,

contributions to assist with the burial and expenses

related to those who lost their lives in the shooting

at Emanuel Church can be sent through our church.

Please make your check out to South Church and

note "Charleston" on the memo line.

Have you considered South Church in your will?

YOU DID IT!

The All Church picnic was a great success in many ways – great food, music, messages, involvement of children,

invited guests, and nearly ZERO waste! By using paper plates, reusable and paper cups, and church silverware, we

were able to recycle, drain, and compost nearly everything. Our “Waste Advisors” helped with a smile. Over 250

plates and cups were stacked to save space and then added to the compostables. In the end, we

- composted food and paper, filling two 13-gallon pails (taken to the Chinmara Maruti Center on North Main St,

who graciously shared their barrels with us because they compost all food waste every week)

- recycled a full 64-gallon cart’s worth of cans

- emptied out a few gallons of leftover drinks down the sink

- returned all the dishes to their owners

- had less than a half a bag of trash (mostly wrapping from the hot dogs and buns) left at the end.

My favorite comment of the day was "Gee, when you set it up right, there's really not much trash!" Thanks for all

your willingness to stretch and try a new thing. YOU did it!

Candy Dann on behalf of the Green Team

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A Rabbi, a Priest and a Minister

Get on an Airplane…

An Exciting and Fascinating Way to Travel to Israel!

Informational Meeting: Wednesday, September 2

at Temple Emanuel

This spring (March 28-April 8, 2016) a group consisting of

members and friends from Temple Emanuel, Christ Church,

and South Church in Andover will be travelling to Israel.

This interfaith journey is designed for vigorous adults who

have never been to Israel, or have never visited the Holy

Land with a mixed group of Jews and Christians. There is

something quite moving for Jews and Christians to see the

sights holy to other faiths through the eyes of their fellow

travelers.

The trip will be led by the clergy of the three houses of wor-

ship: Rabbi Robert Goldstein, Rev. Michael Hodges and Rev.

Dana Allen Walsh. The first informational meeting will be

held on Wednesday, September 2, 7:00 pm. at Temple

Emanuel. Anyone interested in the trip should attend. Rab-

bi Goldstein, Rev. Hodges and Rev. Walsh will be available

to answer any and all questions. For more information

about this amazing journey, call the Temple office.

“APPS” with ALEX

Coming Up

July 21- August 29

"Apps (Appetizers) with Alex" will

be a series of 5-6 pot luck

dinners, similar to last summer's

"Dinners with Dana", to give parishioners a chance to

meet and greet Alex Will, our new associate pastor. The

dinners will be once a week between July 19 & August

29, held at the homes of our volunteer hosts and host-

esses. Watch the weekly newsletter and Sunday bulletin

for information on how sign up for one of the dinners.

Good food with fresh, inspiring conversation: what could

be more delectable!

HEALING HANDS

Knitting Ministry

Meetings will resume regularly on the fourth Tuesday of

the month in September, (22) at 7:00pm. Meanwhile,

those who want to get together informally may contact

each other to arrange a time to meet. We are hoping to

build up our supply of prayer shawls and wraps for those

in our church family in need of comforting. Questions?

Contact Jennifer at jrogers-kyis@mindspring.com.

GIVING GARDEN

The Giving Garden is taking root! July is going to be a busy

month at the garden while we prepare the soil and plant

vegetables to feed our neighbors.

We welcome all volunteers and all ages to come take a turn

helping out in the garden. No need for gardening experience;

just come learn, have fun, and get your hands dirty. If you are

an experienced gardener or farmer at heart, we welcome your

expertise! We also need to collect garden tools, so please check

your garages and local yard sales for shovels, hand tools,

wheelbarrows, hoses etc.

In addition to gardening projects, we hope to be building

structures such as a fence, storage shed, and compost area.

You can find more information and sign up to help out at

southchurch.com/giving-garden or contact Emily Strong

efs422@yahoo.com or Fran Fink francis.fink@verizon.net.

NEW MEMBERS Joined March 22, 2015

William and Heidi Bryan

9 Bryan Lane, Andover

(214) 697-2404, (214) 549-7235

Ronald and Janis Hill

15 Abbott Street, Andover

978-475-7085

Rashida Mack

22 Keystone Way, Andover

978-604-1656

Jeffrey and Lisa Thoma

Children: Spencer and Audrey

141 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover

978-409-7338

Garrett and Jennifer Tietjen

Daughter, Caroline

2 Chestnut Street, Andover

860-966-9915

(family missing from above picture)

Save this information with your cur-

rent church directory.

3

THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER IS CHANGING!

We’re switching the format of our newsletter from monthly issues to three seasonal issues. Each newsletter will focus

on a particular liturgical season and will feature the upcom-ing themes of worship, special events, and various ways to be involved. It will also include articles reflecting in a deeper, more meaningful way on what’s happening in the life of our congregation. Our first seasonal newsletter co-vers September, October, and early November. The dead-line to submit pictures and articles for that newsletter is no

later than August 17th. The next issues of the newsletter will cover Advent & Epiphany and then Lent & Eastertide. If you have questions or concerns about this change in for-mat, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the church office.

Look out for our new Seasonal Newsletters!

- Fall issue (Sept/Oct/early November) Deadline: August 17th - Advent & Epiphany issue (Dec, Jan, & early Feb.)

Deadline: October 26th - Lent & Eastertide issue (late Feb, March, & April) Deadline: January 18th

MEMORIAL GIFTS COMMITTEE

The Memorial Gifts Committee welcomes gifts in

memory of loved ones who have passed away. These

gifts purchase items for the church that are not

included in the church budget.

All names of those memorialized are recorded in a

special remembrance book. If you have any questions

please contact Sally Hudgins at 207-363-7092 or

rhudgie@earthlink.net.

4

OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Our sympathy to Debbie Bohrer and family on the death

of her aunt Ruth Vanden Eynden in Ohio.

Our sympathy to Elaine and Jonathan Fuller and family on

the death of mother/grandmother Jane Fuller on May 28

in Haverhill.

Our sympathy to the Washburn family on the recent

death of their friend Don Criniti.

Our sympathy to Lynda & Roy Paris and daughter Sarah-

Ann on the death of Lynda’s mother/South Church

member Jennie Carey on June 27. A memorial service,

officiated by Rev. Dana Allen Walsh, was held in Malden

on July 2.

We celebrate the birth of Corey Hunter Gendron born

on June 4 to Stephanie and Zack Gendron. He joins big

sister Libby. Grandparents are Wayne & Robyn Gendron.

IN APPRECIATION

I would like to thank David Sleight for bringing me the

beautiful bouquet of flowers from the altar and the flower

committee for sending them. They were very much

appreciated and enjoyed. Sue Barry

Thank you very much for your generous donations of the

dishwasher and freezer. You have no idea how much we

needed them. They look so nice in our kitchen. We are

really grateful for your help and encouragement of our

program and us girls in general. Amari, Deanna,

Nilda, Jenny, Elise, Susan and Kelly

What an unexpected surprise to see flowers at my door. I

brought them to David to celebrate his new apartment in

Amesbury. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.

Thank you. Marty and David Doyle

NEW PHOTO DIRECTORY HOME PHONE and/or CELL PHONE?

Which number(s) do you want listed in our new church

photo directory? We have the ability to list two phone

numbers per family. Several of you have replaced your

home phone with a cell number. Is there a second num-

ber (cell or other ) you would like listed? Please inform

the church office asap. Unless you notify us, we will only

print the main number listed in our files! Also: please

check that we have your correct current information. link

(If you need the password, call the church office.)

The

South Church Steeple is lighted during July

in loving memory of

Solveig Cook

by the Cook Family

The

South Church Steeple is lighted during August

in loving memory of

Dr. William D. Lilly

by his wife and family

and

in loving memory of

our parents

Blanche & Gilbert DeMoor

by Norma Morava & Marilyn Fitzgerald

DID YOU KNOW…

That when the first addition to our building was finished in 1956, a

capital campaign began in 1957 to burn the mortgage by 1960, the

100th anniversary of the building of our 4th and current Meeting

House? The brochure notes that now that we have built for the

growth of our children, now we must ensure that we do not

mortgage their future and the ministry of South Church.

Due to generous givers this year, our bank mortgage has been paid,

leaving a loan owed to one of our own trust funds at a favorable

rate, which means we have some breathing room to look at the

hopes and wishes from our recent 300th Anniversary of entering a

faithful 4th Century. We closed the 300th Celebration in 2012 with

the same benediction that closed the 200th Celebration 100 years

before by Rev. Frank Shipman. “It is our privilege to make the

future. A voice sounds in our ears, ‘Be faithful.’ And our answer is –

‘This anniversary helps me to see more clearly what this church has

meant to the past, and may mean in the future, and my own place in

the chain of influence. I will be faithful to its sacred trust.’” Truly a

timeless blessing that we each influence the ministry of South

Church.

Well, the 4th Century is here, so now what? We are fully staffed and

financially stable. It appears the Future Is Here! Perhaps the slogan

for this year’s annual pledge should be just that, “So Now What?”

What else needs fortifying through the annual budget? We are not

technically organized and proficient, what about that? What needs

to be sustained forever? Is it time to become a co-op teaching

church and support ministerial interns? How about realizing a real

green endeavor and replace our money and energy gobbling steam

heat boiler? Maybe a capital campaign for… you name it.

The Giving Committee used to be named Stewardship, but that

definition is more about managing our resources, not receiving

them, or, as we Congregationalists are very bad at, The Ask for

money. 300 years ago the Deacons and Moderator proposed the

amounts needed per MEMBER to provide the necessities of wor-

ship: Communion wine and bread, perhaps a cloth, candles, etc. But

most of the items used were gifts! From the Communion table and

set, a christening basin, to candle sticks and foot warmer boxes. We

like to say that with our faith we will provide, but I think it was more

faith in those who were ASKED, that indeed provided.

“So Now What?”

And now you know…

Charlotte Lyons, Historical Committee

5

OUR WHOLE LIVES

SEXUALITY EDUCATION Offered again for next year’s 8th graders!

This year’s program was such a big success, that adult

facilitators, Emily O’Hara and Renee Manning want to lead

it again. Therefore, we’re offering it next year for our 8th

grade class and, if room, their friends, beginning the end

of December through May. All families with current 7th

graders are encouraged to make room in their young

person’s schedule for this “coming of age” values-based

program. Registration will begin late this summer.

Who would have guessed South Church members and

youth would volunteer to devote so many hours to

sexuality education? Who would have guessed that youth

would willingly give up some of their activities and sports

to be there? Who would have guessed it would be so

meaningful to them that they’d make it a #1 priority?

Who would have guessed that, already, two more South

Church adults want to lead next year’s class along with

Renee and Emily? Many thanks and God’s blessings to

this very first South Church OWL class: Nick Bohrer,

Madeline Bronder, Max Davis, Mia Galat, Paige Long, Ryan

McDonald; facilitators, Emily O’Hara and Renee Manning.

PRESERVING HISTORY We are looking into preserving the huge wall photo in the

Fellowship Hall of an aerial view of Andover in 1940. Are

you interested? The clock in the back of the sanctuary,

given in 1832, also needs some attention. Would you be

willing to research these efforts? Are you familiar with

writing or identifying grants we could apply for, to pay for

these treasures? Would you like to pay for these projects

in memory of a loved one? Please contact Char Lyons at

char@charlyons.com, 978-474-4489, or Donna Kelley at

donna.ip.kelley57@gmail.com. P.S. The Historical closet

needs filing and sorting, are you interested in helping? If

yes, please contact Char.

SUMMER WORSHIP MUSIC

July 5 Brian Diehl, Trombone

July 12 The Henke-McGrath Family

July 19 Carol-Georgine West, Organist

July 26 Tyler Gioacchini, Baritone

Aug 2 Nancy Miller, string player

Aug 16 Ron Dann, clarinet & Martha Beasley, flute

Aug 23 Donna Schroeder and Carol-Georgine West,

piano duet

Aug 30 Graham Cook, vocalist

South Church In Andover is an Open and Affirming Congregation

of the United Church of Christ

ALL MEMBERS ARE MINISTERS

Dana Allen Walsh, Senior. Pastor

Alex Shea Will, Associate Pastor (begins July 15)

Terry Ebner, Minister of Spiritual Formation

Sherry Tupper, Minister of Visitation

Laura Weiss, Minister of Music

Jennifer Murray, Youth Coordinator

Linda Francalancia Hacker, Office Administrator

Diane Morris, Admin. Assistant & Webmaster

Dave Stanwood, Sexton

Joanne Smith, Finance Administrator

David Welbourn, Moderator

Anne Hemmer, Treasurer

Phone: 978-475-0321 www.southchurch.com

SOUTH CHURCH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - July/August 2015

WELCOME STATEMENT

We are glad you are here. We are a Christ-centered community that

celebrates the love of God. Although we are of varied minds, we are one

body, bound together in Christ. We recognize the uniqueness of every

individual as God's beloved child. We seek to respond faithfully to God's

call for justice for all creation. We strive in word and deed to be faithful to

Jesus' model of loving acceptance. We seek to create a sanctuary where all

will know they are welcomed and included. You are welcomed, no matter

your age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation,

marital status, race and ethnicity, physical and mental ability or economic

circumstance, into the full life and ministry of South Church, including

worship, sacraments and rites. Join us as we grow together in God's love.