M A RCH
20 07
the Lifeline
NORWICH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
U NIT ED CHU RCH OF CHR IST
Congratulations
2007 CONFIRMATION CLASS
Eva
Sachsse
Steven
Lufkin
Kate
Johnstone
Chris
Stevens
Mary
Emma
Harry
Brownlow Kaufman Voelkel
Frank
Simpson
Forrest
Pratt
Confirmation
Teacher
The Lifeline – March 2007
1
NORWICH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Douglas S. Moore . . . . . . . . . Senior Pastor
Mary R. Brownlow . . . . . . Associate Pastor
Kathleen Sherlock-Green . . Choir Director
Jane Helms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organist
Tacy Colaiacomo . . . . .Organist-in-Training
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . & Office Manager
Joni Latuch–Lyman . . . . . . . . Bookkeeper
Richard Broussard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sexton
Thank You Letter
from St. Anthony’s Church
Note: This gift was inspired by Bob Linnell and his constant
search for ways to bring down walls.
,
Dear Reverend Moore
preciatitude and heartfelt ap
It is with the utmost gra
tion
ibu
ntr
co
thank you for the
tion that I am writing to
this
by
led
mb
rish. We are hu
rs.
made to St. Anthony Pa
ou
to
ity
un
mm
from your co
generous act of support
on
are, the cost of upkeep
As I am sure you are aw
a
d
an
ive
ns
pe
ex
as ours, is
buildings that are as old
aig
camp n
resources. Our capital
constant drain on our
ds we
y it will generate the fun
is beginning and we pra
f.
need to repair our roo
ly raised
contribution has not on
In the meantime your
it has
te,
ht into our coffers to da
our
the total we have broug
ve
hie
our hope that we will ac
raised our spirits and
er
oth
pass your gift on to an
goal and will be able to
community someday.
bless
re and asking God to
Thanking you once mo
u serve. I remain,
you and the people yo
, S.M.
Fr. Kenneth Thibodeau
2007 CHURCH OFFICERS
CHURCH COUNCIL
Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Grant
Vice-chair . . . . . . . Katherine Broussard
At-large Member . . . . . David Johnstone
BOARD OF DEACONS
Senior Deacons: . . . . . Anne Broussard
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Fawcett
Lynne LaBombard, Harry Dorman,
Amy Wyatt, Doug Lufkin,
Sarah Reeves, Don Helms
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chair: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chuck Egner
Willemien Miller, Marie-Elise Young,
Mark Lindberg, Martin Witschi
BOARD OF MISSION
Chairs: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diane Riley
. . . . . . . . . . . . Rita Severinghaus
Barbara Duncan, Letha Mills, Rick Von
Unwerth, Katy Gerke, Sharon Corrigan
BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Chairs: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Grant
Bob Miller, Ryan Adams, Henry Higgs,
Ellen Gnaedinger, Jinny Brack
OFFICERS
Auditor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rob Titus
Clerk . . . . . . . . . . .Christopher Ashley
Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . .Mary Sachsse
Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Judy Pond
Assistants . . . . . . . Stanton Williams
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter French
Delegates . . Peg Post, Doris Van Keuren
Alternates . . . . . . . . . Cleta Wheeler,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don Poulson
Head Usher . . . . . . John & Sarah Ware
Historian . . . . . . . . . . .Marion Gauthier
Moderator . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brooke Mohr
Assistant . . . . . . . John Severinghaus
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Jacobs
Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mel Biggs
Flower Committee
Deb Van Arman, Joanda Witschi,
Shirley Parker
Hospitality Committee
Marty James, Celina Barton,
Nancy Hoggson, Jo Dorman,
Anne Egner, Katherine Broussard
Investment Committee
Peter Mertz, Judy Moore, David Otto
Music Committee
Co Emlen, Erica Hamer,
Linda Himadi, Jon Voelkel
IF YOU WANT TO DONATE
FLOWERS FOR WORSHIP...
please contact Deb van Arman
at 649-1723 for help, information,
or to sign up. You may also sign
up on the “Flowers” sheet posted
at the back of the church.
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The Lifeline – March 2007
Nominating Committee
Mary Keeley, Mary Sachsse,
Cleta Wheeler, Flos Henry
Stewardship & Gifts Committee
Brooke Mohr, Herb Maurer,
Jenny Williams, Vicky Fish,
Deb Berryman, Karen Evans
Woodworth Fund Committee
Dick Broussard, Laird Myers, Cleta
Wheeler, Avery Post, Judy Hobbs
Pastor’s Note
“Looking for Christ” – A Sabbatical Message
February 18, 2007
There is a theological notion that
God has a “preferential option for the
poor.” The idea was a very popular
in the 70s and 80s though one does
not hear much about now. It is just
one of thousands of ideas about the
nature and character of God, but
it is not a bad notion to consider.
“God has a preferential option for
the poor.” I know for me it feels true,
and that it has both a wonderful and
frightful hold on me. I think that it
has been with me for years though I
have done my best to keep it at a distance. “God has a preferential option
for the poor.”
I remember riding in our family
Plymouth from the North Side to
the South Side of Chicago to watch
the White Sox play baseball. As we
approached 35th and Shields, the
home of old Comisky Park, Mom
would tell us to roll up the windows
and lock the doors and not to stare.
Even if it were 90° outside, we would
obey, stealing only quick glances at
the slums, the shacks, the old men
with brown paper bags held to their
mouths, the trash blowing about the
streets, and the despair.
After the game, after a couple of
hours of cheering and eating hot dogs
and peanuts in the shell, we would
repeat the process. Lock the doors,
roll up the windows and try not to
stare at the slums and the people who
lived there as we drove back to the
North Side and home.
I remember in Mexico City in
1978, Judy was showing me where
she lived as a young girl. We were
walking in the center of the city and
turned down a narrow side street
teeming with people. As we walked,
heads and eyes straight ahead, I felt
someone grab my arm. I yanked it
away in sheer panic, and as I did
so I looked down into the beautiful brown eyes of a young mother
holding her begging hand up to me.
I turned and fled from her as fast as
I possibly could never once looking
back lest I see those eyes.
I remember in Nicaragua in 1984
visiting small villages in a time of war.
I remember the poor people, the
wounded, and the orphans. I remember riding around the countryside
in a grand big bus and pulling into
villages, our bus alone being worth
more than the entire village would
earn in a generation. I remember being warned not to give gifts or trinkets
because it would only tease and excite
the villagers. So, we pulled in, looked
around, took pictures and left in our
big, safe bus.
I remember Cambodia in 2005
and I will never forget the poverty,
the terrible and raw wound of war,
the pain of loss in so many eyes, the
mud brown pits from which children
hauled water for drinking and cooking. I remember seeing so much and
yet being there only a few days before
boarding out great jet to return to our
home.
I remember these places and others much closer to home where I have
seen the poor, and it seems to me I
have never been in such a place long
enough to discover if the peculiar notion about God and the poor is true:
Does God have a preferential option
PHOTO: SCOTT MUIRHEAD
Hebrews 12: 1-3, 13: 1-3 • Matthew 25:31-40 • Luke 6: 17-23
for the poor? Does Christ have a
preferential option for the poor?
But I believe it is true. I believe
that God in Christ has a preferential
option for the poor. Not that Christ
encourages poverty, pain, despair and
suffering. Never that. In fact the truth
must be exactly the opposite: Christ
must despise the callousness of those
systems, cultures, and actions that
foster and perpetuate poverty: Christ
must be constantly working on the
hearts of all to end the disgrace and
brutality, the despair and hopelessness of poverty.
God’s preferential option for the
poor is made known through the
presence of Christ with the poor. The
preference is that Christ prefers to
be with the poor, prefers to be with
those in pain, with those who suffer.
The preferential option is that Christ
always opts to be with the poor and
the despairing and to bring them
comfort, courage, strength and hope.
Christ prefers the presence of the
poor and it is from their midst that
Christ calls to those who pass by,
those who prefer to be with their own
kind, to stop and stay awhile and
perhaps encounter Christ who is with
the poor.
Continues on Page 6
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Member Profile
Doug James
Doug was born in Toledo, Ohio
in 1934 and grew up in Sylvania,
just outside of Toledo. His family attended the Ashland Avenue
Baptist Church in Toledo (Northern Baptist) which used the Westminster choir system with multiple
choirs from Cherub to Senior so he
has been singing since childhood.
He sang in the Glee Club in college
and was able to sing one year with
the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
under Robert Shaw which was a
mountaintop experience. For years
he was too busy to sing, but since
professional duties have eased he
and Marty have enjoyed singing in
our choir.
He went to Denison University
in Ohio and there he met Marty
Watkins. They were married shortly
after graduation and celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary last
summer. They have four children,
two boys and two girls, and six
grandchildren, two girls and four
boys. They also hosted a teenage
Cambodian refugee who became
part of the family.
Initially in college, Doug thought
he would be a nuclear chemist, but
after two years, switched to a political science major since his father
was a lawyer. Then he became
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The Lifeline – March 2007
interested in medicine through an
interest in psychiatry and the fact
that science and the humanities
converge in medicine. He went to
Harvard Medical School and Marty
taught school in Brookline to support them. There he found that
clinical psychiatry was not attractive
and ended up studying internal
medicine with a specialty in Cardiology. That required four years
of residency at Western Reserve in
Cleveland, and two years of cardiology fellowship at the University of
Rochester in Rochester, New York.
Unfortunately he finished his
training in 1966 just as Lyndon
Johnson was escalating the war in
Vietnam. So he was drafted and
spent a year in Saigon at the 3rd
Field Hospital on the edge of Saigon. Marty went home to Westerville, Ohio to live with her three
small children and her mother for
the year. Fortunately, Doug’s tour
in Vietnam was relatively secure,
but the experience changed the way
he viewed the world. It led to a fascination with human decision making both in medicine and in society
as a whole which has continued
ever since. He remembers rereading
Catch 22, surprised at how well it
captured the bizarre aspects of war.
On returning he was assigned to
the military Valley Forge Hospital
in Phoenixville, Pa., and lived in
Villanova, reunited with Marty and
the children. On leaving the army
in 1968, he decided to join the
Hitchcock Clinic and the nascent
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical
Center. Initially the family lived
on Cliff Street in Norwich and it
was then Doug and Marty began to
attend the Norwich Congregational
Church with Yorke Peeler as Pastor.
The Medical Center has grown
over the past 39 years. Doug was
made Chief of Cardiology in 1987
and stepped down in 2001. Now
there are 27 cardiologists there and
soon to be more. Doug “retired”
to work half time in 2006. “The
changes in medicine in the half
century since I started medical
school are amazing! There is still
so much that is not known, but
the powerful tools of molecular
biology combined with computing
power for information processing
are revealing the incredibly complex
mechanisms of nature which are
extraordinarily interconnected. It
is both fascinating and awesome.
In contrast, human error continues
and somehow must be better solved
if we are to survive on this planet.”
Fortunately in retirement, there
is plenty that Doug (and Marty) like
to do. He is an endless reader (generally non-fiction) who likes to play
the piano, listen to classical and jazz
music, and he used to carve. They
both like mountain biking, skiing,
gardening, canoe tripping in the
Canadian north woods, refinishing
furniture, spending time with
family, and travelling.
From the Associate Pastor
“Lord, who throughout these forty days for us
didst fast and pray, teach us with thee to mourn
our sins and close by thee to stay.”
Claudia F. Hernaman, Pilgrim Hymnal # 153
Many of us struggle with the
somber tone of Lent. We welcome
the anticipation of Advent, the joy
of Christmas, the glory of Easter,
the exuberance of Pentecost. But
the shift in mood to penitence,
contemplation and introspection is
difficult. We would rather that our
worship be uplifting, not dreary.
So we may need reminding each
year that Lent is a drama – the
drama of drawing close to Christ
on the road to Jerusalem. It’s an adventure that can pull us out of ruts
of indifference or predictability.
Lent propels us forward in to time
of new beginnings.
During these forty days we can
set our moral compass to a truer
direction. This is not just about selfdenial, though it is true that our
own short-comings may be thrown
into higher relief. It is about a
subtle shift in priorities that moves
us to reach out to others. It is about
feeding as much as fasting, about
kind words as much as prayer. It
is an opportunity for fulfilling our
potential.
Each of us may have a private
Lenten discipline. We also have the
opportunity to gather in our sanctuary for Wednesday Vespers during
this season. But as a church, we
can also look for ways to “stay close
to Jesus” and to re-set our moral
compass. In a way, the changes made
necessary by our building project
can help us with this endeavor. We
must draw together and prioritize in
our common life. This can be seen
as an adventure – story – a parable
of community. How do we adapt?
What can we retain? What will fall
away? These are Lenten questions.
So I invite you on this journey
– not only of mourning our sins
through fasting and prayer – but
of contemplation, creativity and
adventure. How do we fit into the
drama of the Gospel? Maybe this is
a good time to find out.
Mary Brownlow
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5
“Looking for Christ” – A Sabbatical Message continued from Page 3
The Gospels show us Jesus’ preference. One cannot read the Gospels and
not be struck by the fact that Jesus seems to opt for the poor, the marginal,
and the needy every time. Jesus spent his time, almost all of it, with the poor.
It is good to remember that the only people Jesus ever called blessed are the
poor: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Jesus
seemed to prefer their company then and there is no reason to believe his
preference is any different today.
Jesus very clearly aligned himself with the poor and the needy. In fact, at one
point in the Gospel message there is an absolute identity drawn between the
poor and the Christ: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we
see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When
did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply,
‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and
sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
I read these words, words in which Jesus the Christ is perfectly aligned with
those who suffer, and I remember locking the car doors and not staring, yanking
my arm away in fear, climbing into a great big bus or flying home after an interesting visit. I read these words, I remember, and I wonder, “Is this how I have
treated Christ?” The answer always seems far too clear.
I know that so many of you here spend so much time with those whose
company Christ seems to prefer: so much time with the sick and the needy, the
homeless and the aimless, the hungry and the needy. I know that and it is wonderful and a powerful source of strength within our church.
But I know that for me at this time, I need to spend more time in those places
where Christ might just prefer to be, I need to spend more than a few days or a
few hours with those who just might be “the least of these.”
On Christmas Eve 1979, Bishop Oscar Romero, spoke these words on the radio to the people of El Salvador: “We must not seek the child Jesus in the pretty
figures of our Christmas cribs. We must seek him among the undernourished
children who have gone to bed tonight with nothing to eat, among the poor
newsboys who will sleep covered with newspapers in doorways tonight.”
These words frighten me but they strike me as absolutely true. I know that
more than anything else, it is this notion, this idea of where Christ prefers to be
that leads me to New Orleans.
I am not going there to save the city: heaven knows I cannot do that. I am not
going there to save the people: that is also far beyond anything I might do. I am
going to New Orleans looking for Christ, expecting to run into Christ there and
hopefully, in that encounter, to be saved.
I pray this sabbatical time will be the time, finally, when I learn to unlock the
doors, roll down the windows, leave my arm in the grasp of one who is hungry,
to stay awhile before returning to the safety and comfort of my home. I hope to
encounter the living proof of Christ’s preferential option for the poor. And for
giving me this opportunity, I offer you my deepest thanksgiving.
Amen.
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The Lifeline – March 2007
March Mission
Offerings
Through ONE GREAT HOUR
OF SHARING, United Church
of Christ members and other
Christians reach out in the name
of Christ to:
• Support self-help programs
in more than 80 nations to
build sustainable communities by enabling them to rise
above hunger, disease, illiteracy and other forces that
deny and destroy dignity.
• Respond to disasters by
providing both emergency
and long-term assistance to
victims of hurricanes, floods,
tidal waves, fires, civil strife,
wars and other natural or
human-caused catastrophic
events.
• Minister to refugees with
help, hope, hospitality and
advocacy for people who
have been uprooted from
their homes.
The United Church of Christ
unites with Christians in eight
other Protestant denominations
and Church World Service in a
remarkable network of service and
caring that is efficient, effective
and faithful.
The UCC annually channels
more than $3 million through
One Great Hour of Sharing to humanitarian needs in the world.
All of our March Mission Offerings will go to One Great Hour
of Sharing. Please give generously.
Minutes of the 2006 Annual Meeting: February 11, 2007
John Severinghaus called the meeting to order at 12:04
PM. In attendance were 52 people, as counted by the
clerk. Doug Moore gave the opening prayer.
Brooke Mohr was nominated for moderator; John
Severinghaus was nominated as assistant moderator. They
were elected by a unanimous vote.
A motion was made to approve the minutes of the
2005 Annual Meeting as printed and distributed at the
meeting. Mvd: G. Brooks, 2nd: A. Broussard. Minutes were
approved unanimously.
A motion was made to approve a change in the Bylaws, Article 7, paragraphs 1,4,&6 to change the name of
the Board of Missions to the Board of Social Action and
Mission. Mvd: C. Mertz, 2nd: R. Severinghaus.
D. Moore gave a history of the committee’s name:
there had been 2 committees, social action and mission
that were combined into a single committee. Social Action was dropped several years ago when By-law changes
were approved. The new name better reflected the actual
functioning of the committee and that wouldn’t change.
Other discussion mentioned the distinction between
mission and ministries, the need for further understanding of the work of the Missions Board, and the lack of a
general congregational discussion of this change.
The motion required a ¾ majority and it failed on a
voice vote.
The chair entertained a motion to hear and act upon
the reports of the officers and committees, except for
Nominating, Stewardship, Investment and Woodworth
Committees, the Trustees, and the 2007 budget. Mvd: R.
Titus, 2nd: F. Henry
Gracious Promise:
C. Mertz expressed the committee’s appreciation for
the response from the Church to accomplish the goal.
The congregation expressed thanks to Carolyn and also to
Brooke Mohr.
Building Committee:
C. Mertz distributed a new report to replace the one
published in the annual report. D. Moore reported
that the sanctuary work was completed for less than the
estimate, but the parish hall work would require another
$200,000 for a total of $1,802,490 for the entire project.
The committee was working to reduce the costs, without
decreasing space for any of the church’s programs. They
had been successful with this approach to this point.
There was considerable discussion of the details and
the approach, but it agreed to plan on spending up to
$1,802,490. Three possible avenues for the money were:
fund raising (particularly outside the church in the local
community), borrowing from the Trust Fund, a mortgage.
The trustees plan to consider the various options.
Doug Britton and Doug Moore received applause for
their efforts on the building project.
Pastor’s Report:
D. Moore discussed his and Judy’s plans to work in
New Orleans helping reconstruction efforts during March
and April. He reported that Rebecca Delzell would be the
interim pastor helping Mary during his sabbatical.
Associate Pastor’s Report:
Mary Brownlow didn’t have a report, but the strong
sense of the meeting was that her name ought to appear
somewhere in the minutes for all that she does.
Hospitality Committee:
Sustained applause for their efforts this year.
Music Committee:
R. McGaw suggested installing lights for the guest
musicians’ benefit. Responding to a question about the
piano, J. Helms pointed out that the piano needs replacement and a committee had been formed: Doug James,
Yolanda Witschi, Mary Brown, and Jane Helms. Other
volunteers were welcome. D. Moore announced that the
handbells had arrived and would be stored at his house
until the renovations were complete. Applause was given
to the music committee.
Women’s Fellowship:
M. Keeley thanked the Women’s Fellowship for their
strong support of the PINS Program.
Board of Mission:
Please add Barbara Duncan to the list of members.
Motion passed unanimously.
Nominating Committee:
Motion to approve the Nominating Committee Report
and list of officers and committee/board members. Mvd:
B. Duncan, 2nd: R. Severinghaus.
A typo was identified: Karen Evans name should have
been listed on the Stewardship Committee (3 year term).
Also a question was raised regarding Jenny Williams continuing on the Stewardship Committee. The motion passed
unanimously.
Continues on Page 8
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7
Annual Meeting Minutes continued from Page 7
Board of Trustees, Stewardship and
Investment Committees, and the
Woodworth Fund reports:
Motion to hear and act upon these reports.
Mvd: C. Egner, 2nd: M. Sachsse.
E. Day reported that the most recent (2/7/07) pledge
total is $198, 784, almost the same as last year. She
reminded us that if the budgeted expenses were met, the
Stewardship Committee planned to distribute any “extra”
pledges for appropriate use in the community.
F. Henry asked that the Woodward Committee be
notified when money was deposited into the Woodworth
Fund. Motion passed unanimously.
2007 Budget:
A motion to approve the 2007 budget as printed was
made. Mvd: S. Reeves, 2nd: F. Nye.
W. Miller pointed out reductions in revenue due to the
construction on the parish hall requiring tenants to move
out and the additional costs of securing space for the
church offices and Sunday School and health insurance.
The trust fund revenue (#4001) was set a 4.5%. Staff salary items were increased 4%, with changes in allocations
within that figure. The sabbatical fund (#6045) had been
under funded and was increased to $3000. Copier costs
($6512) were up as the new copier would print the LIFELINE, and LIFELINE costs (#6540) were down.
W. Miller pointed out the Deficit and the Carry Forwards at the end of the budget. The Trustees were getting
a better grip on the carry forward funds and this figure
would be smaller in the future. Also the Sabbatical money
had been included in the Carry Forward and was being
removed this year to a separate fund. This reduction of
the Carry Forward would create funding pressure on
programs in future years.
A question arose regarding line #4113, loose gifts.
These were budgeted at $8,000 but usually came in over
$20,000. R. Titus told the meeting that undesignated gifts
(without a gift policy) need to go into the operating fund.
The Trustees will look into this situation.
K. Gerke asked if line # 6701, UCC Per Capita and
line #6702 Basic Support should be moved to the Missions budget. A. Post reminded the meeting that at the
2005 Annual Meeting a motion had been passed to have
“the Church Council place on its agenda consideration of
where to locate in the structure and organization of our
church our membership in the UCC including per capita
giving and the delegate relationship to the Vermont
Conference and to the Windsor/Orange Association and
our support of Basic support of our Church’s Wider Mission”. He urged the Church Council to put this task onto
its 2007 agenda. Motion passed unanimously.
Meeting was adjourned at 2:04 PM.
Christopher Ashley, clerk
Church Council Minutes: February 24, 2007
The February Church Council Meeting was not held
due to a lack of business requiring action at the beginning of the month. The following 3 motions were needed
following the annual meeting. They were approved using
email and phone messages:
1. A request from the Woodworth Committee for
$5000 to help pay for the pick up truck Doug and
Judy Moore are taking to New Orleans.
To be held after worship on Sunday, March 25,
2007 to transact the following business:
• To receive a presentation from the Building
Committee and to make decisions regarding:
2. A request from the Woodworth Committee for
$5000 to help with costs of the April Youth Work
Trip.
1. The proposed renovations and addition to the
Parish Wing (“the Project”)
3. A motion to call a Congregational Meeting for
March 25, 2007, following worship. Warning as follows, printed on the right:
3. The projected financial summary of the proposal
Voting for: Chuck Egner, John Grant, Rita Severinghaus, Jim Fawcett, Katherine Broussard, David Johnstone,
Tom Evans, Christopher Ashley. Voting against: none
8
Warning of the Special Congregational
Meeting of Norwich Congregational
Church, UCC
The Lifeline – March 2007
2. The projected costs associated with the proposal
• To vote to authorize the Board of Trustees to adopt a
plan to satisfy any financial shortfall between monies
received and monies expended for the Project
Christopher Ashley, Clerk
Update from the
Building Committee
Things are underfoot in the Parish Wing of the church – literally! The
church offices relocated to the second floor of the parsonage, now occupied
by Re/Max. Doug, Mary and Tacy are settled in and up and running the
church from this somewhat remote location. A trailer has been moved to
the backyard, into which everything that is not needed for the duration of
the move has been stored. Many thanks to the Moving Committee, Deb
Caulo, Vicki Fish, and Judy Moore, for organizing, and to the many volunteers who helped pack, trash and move furniture and boxes. We couldn’t
have done it without you!
The Building Committee has selected a contractor for our design/build
team. Joining UK Architects will be Kessel/Duff. They are headquartered
in Burlington, VT, and have projects all over New Hampshire and Vermont. Recent projects in our backyard include the VINS building and King
Arthur Flour’s retail store and corporate offices. We are excited about the
experience that they bring to the table.
We are working on the budget, as was noted at the Annual Meeting. We
have determined that we cannot get to our original budget of $1 million
without cutting significant programs from the design. The Building Committee was not willing to compromise the overall plan which achieved the
space requirements of many constituents of the church. We are working
hard to bring the cost down, which now stands at $1,155,000. We expect a
shortfall of about $200,000 between the funds available and the total project costs, including a contingency budget of $100,000.
At the May 6, 2006 Congregational Meeting, the congregation authorized
the Trustees to spend the money raised in a Gracious Promise Campaign.
These funds, $1,566,881, combined grants, other gifts and interest, total just
over $1.6 million. With over $600,000 spent to date (sanctuary construction, architectural fees, fundraising costs, etc.), there is approximately $1
million available from the funds raised to begin work on the Parish Wing.
The Trustees voted to allow the Building Committee to sign a construction
contract for an amount not to exceed $1.2 million, with the proviso that not
more than $1 million could be expended until the balance of the shortfall is
raised.
On March 25, there will be a Congregational Meeting to bring the
congregation up to date on the design, cost and plans for the building. We
will vote to authorize the Trustees to adopt a plan to satisfy the shortfall.
Options include raising more funds, borrowing funds, or cutting programs
from the design. We hope that you will all plan to attend the meeting after
worship on Sunday March 25.
Hi! I’m Rebecca. That lady you
might have heard of already who
will be assisting Pastor Mary while
Pastor Doug is on Sabbatical.
I am originally from Colorado,
having lived my preschool and
early elementary school days in
Maui, Hawaii and growing up
thereafter in California. I attended the University of Oregon
in Eugene, Oregon. Then, in
my senior year in College, being
called into the ministry I returned
to California to begin my studies
at the Pacific School of Religion
in Berkeley, California.
It was while in Seminary that I
was reunited with my high school
sweetheart, Michael, whom I
married. We had our first child
before graduation. After seminary
I trained for a year to become a
chaplain and was hired at Marian
Medical Center in Santa Maria,
California (which is about an
hour and a half north of Santa
Barbara and four hours south
of Monterey) where I worked 4
years. I arrived in Vermont with
my husband, Michael, and our
children, Torin (now age 10) and
Alana (now age 6) in the summer of 2003. I served the Sharon
Congregational Church until
December of this past year and
am now following God’s lead to
my next calling and place for my
family and me to call home.
I feel very blessed to have the
opportunity to minister among
you and look forward to my two
months at the Norwich Congregational Church as a wonderful way
to transition into my next place
of ministry. I hope to get to know
many of you as we celebrate God’s
constant presence in our lives!
The Lifeline – March 2007
9
Dominican Republic Trip Report: Jan 19-Feb 3, 2007
Following a lovely blessing by Mary
Brownlow, NCC Assoc. Pastor, a group
representing members of our church
and UV residents departed Norwich
by car on January 19 to brave our NE
weather. We had 36 pieces of luggage
with us! Upon arrival at the airport
in Burlington we learned our scheduled flight had been cancelled due
to weather. Thus began our journey
to our ultimate destination, Cotui,
Dominican Republic.
This trip is our first of two work
project visits planned this year by
Dominican Republic Projects under
the auspices of NCC-UCC.
TRIP PARTICIPANTS
Dick Brousssard; Katherine Broussard; Monte Peterson – King Arthur
Flour baker; Colleen Warren, RN;
Annie LaBrecque, RN; Michael
Young, 8th grade teacher; Chris
Yerlig, Mime Performer; Zooey Zullo,
Crochet bags project coordinator
OUR TRIP’S OBJECTIVES
Follow-up on ongoing projects: La
Colonia Community Center and
K-8 School, Three village ovens, La
Colonia Women’s Co-op, and visits to
programs being supported: Lions Club
Health Center and Nursing Home.
• Biobriefs of La Colonia women’s co-op members.
• Respond to requests for assistance creating more crochet
women’s co-ops.
• Assessment of the three ovens
and their use. Baking day w/village members.
• Distributing clothing shipped in
the Fall ‘06
• Securing Peace Corps support
for the three outdoor clay oven
villages.
10
The Lifeline – March 2007
• Community health/education
assessments
• Ascertaining community interest
re: April ‘07 work project visit by
The Sharon Academy.
• Explore possibility of construction of an open air community
center/school in El Meladito.
Our visit was a productive one, offering cultural/language immersion,
hard work and joyful times with town
and village residents.
Feedback from all trip participants
has been very positive. RNs became
acquainted with the healthcare crisis
in D.R. through a meeting w/Dr. Alfredo Acosta, DM Specialist. We also
visited the Lions Club Health Center
for Opthalmology and Diabetes and
the Nursing Home. Donations of eyeglasses, diabetic supplies and bedding
were made.
Teachers had first hand experiences with the educational system, visiting several schools. Our baker was
accompanied at each site by a local
baker who shared and celebrated the
language of baking. Participants were
able to witness and assist at a working meeting of the women’s co-op. In
addition, we lived in community in
an active neighborhood(“some said
‘camped out’). We were all pressed to
live with less.
We met many of our objectives,
although time limitations interfered
with accomplishing some.
Of note, some of our shopping
trips for produce would yield pineapples(4), avocados(3) and a dozen
oranges for a total cost of $4!
LA COLONIA
WOMEN’S CO-OP
Meetings were held with the executive committee as well as with the
membership. Executive committee
members received acknowledgements
and gifts for their hard work. The
membership presented us with 100+
crochet bags.
Current issues:
• Access to meeting sites. Group
meets weekly on Tues 2-6p. La
Colonia school building is busy
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
with students up until 5p. New
meeting site located near school.
Locating enough supply of clean
plastic bags for crochet project.
Enforcement of standards and
expectations based on established bylaws.
Several new initiatives were addressed including:
Technical Institute workshop on
Organizational Dynamics and
Leadership.
Standardization of crochet bags,
prices, sizes and styles.
Need for additional funds in coop bank account to supplement
cost of plastic bags if purchased.
Discussions with two communities re: starting women’s co-op
with the support of the La Colonia group. Two different groups
received crochet hooks, scissors
and a supply of plastic bags. The
Technical Institute expressed an
interest in creating a community
crochet co-op.
LA COLONIA COMMUNITY
CENTER and K-8 SCHOOL
School director met with Rita to
address current space issues. Rita
donated laminated world and US
maps courtesy of DHMC. Map and
poster donations were also made to:
El Meladito School, Sabana del Rey
School, Salome Urena School, and
the Technical/Vocational Institute
public library.
The La Colonia school offers two
shifts to nearly 150 students. Building maintenance is being addressed
by community with the support of
the Lions Club. The Lions Club is
also facilitating communication w/
government representatives in order
to expedite final construction of local
school and establish better utilization
of multipurpose community center as
originally intended.
The new government-built school
building is anticipated adjacent to old
school site in the next 2-3 yrs.
OVENS
With the leadership of Monte
Peterson, King Arthur Flour baker,
and 300 lbs of flour donated by KAF,
we carried out baking activities in the
three village communities; there was
wonderful community participation
and interest. Monte focused on baking local foods in addition to demonstrating baking of crackers, pizza and
pita pockets--a definite hit!
Oven repair in El Meladito was
initially delayed due to absence of
building materials, however, by February 2 all materials had been gathered
and a community repair project was
planned for February 4.
OTHER PROJECTS
The group departed on January
27; Rita stayed til Feb. 3. Additional
meetings were scheduled with the
Peace Corps, Technical Institute,
Diabetic Clinic at the Health Center,
and the Women’s Ministry Office.
Several village representatives
and the executive committee of the
Lions Club attended the meeting
with Miguel Leon, D.R. Peace Corps
Health Director. We were given wonderful news. In addition to offering
support to the three village communities which have outdoor ovens, a fiveyear agreement to assist 12 additional
village communities was offered.
Program initiatives will be in the
areas of health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS
education and women’s health-addressing teenage pregnancy. It was
also proposed that the additional
village communities can request
drinking water installations as their
initial Peace Corps project.
Peace Corps volunteers will arrive
in September, work will begin in December ‘07. Mr. Leon, accompanied
by Mr. M. Massey(D.R. Peace Corps
Director)plan on visiting Cotui twice
before December ‘07. Currently 9
out of the 12 additional communities have stepped forward and have
requested to participate.
PLANNING APRIL ‘07 VISIT
CLOTHING DISTRIBUTION
Rita inventoried 10 boxes of clothing shipped in the Fall and other donated clothing carried in our luggage.
This very sensitive and difficult
task of clothes distribution was completed in stages. Clothing donated
by students from Woodstock Middle
School and Marion Cross School was
distributed to children in several villages, El Limón, Sabana del Rey, Los
Jobos, Jima Abajo, Plazeta, Las Tres
Bocas. Photos documented the event.
We were introduced to the village
community of Cascajal. This community had been awaiting our visit
and had an opportunity through its
leadership to make formal requests
for assistance for its open air community center/
school/church.
The community
requested medical
care through visiting
medical clinics,
building of a community oven, and
the construction of
a much needed outhouse for the school
building. The Lions
Club offered to assist with the mobile
medical clinics. The
community was informed that the
other two projects would be explored
by our organization.
The Lions Club offered their support for the April ‘07 work project
visit and recommended we pursue
the building of a double outhouse for
the Cascajal school as well as general
building and roof improvements to
the school building.
This work will be carried out with
the support of The Sharon Academy
juniors, seniors and teachers during
their visit April 12-21.
DRP board members Vanessa
Rubera, RN and Ginny Brack, MD
along w/Vanessa’s friend Sheldon,
will join me for project preparation
April 4-12.
I must mention that the highlight
of our visit was the participation
of Chris Yerlig, professional mime
performer for Project Troubador.
His presence dissolved all language
and cultural barriers. Each village
community school in addition to
town schools, neighborhoods and the
Lions Club benefited from his lighthearted and wonderful performances.
Chris performed in more than 10
schools, each with 100-200 students.
Other highlights included a
required TV appearance by our group
accompanying the Lions Club on
the local TV station, and a farewell
dinner and dance celebration with
plaques, certificates and many good
wishes for our future return.
Margarita Ruiz Severinghaus
The Lifeline – March 2007
11
Non-profit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Norwich, VT
Permit No. 1
NORWICH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
United Church of Christ
15 Church Street • PO Box 236
Norwich, VT 05055-0236
(802) 649-1433
Email: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]
Website: . . . . .www.norwichcongregational.org
Senior Pastor: . . . . . . . Rev. Douglas S. Moore
Associate Pastor: . . . . Rev. Mary R. Brownlow
AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING
CONGREGATION WORSHIPING ON
SUNDAYS AT 10 AM
We, the members of the Norwich Congregational
Church, United Church of Christ, declare ourselves
to be an open and affirming congregation. God created each of us. As recipients of God’s grace and love,
unearned and freely given, we are called to love the
Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul
and with all our strength, and to love our neighbors
as ourselves.
Accordingly, we will strive to welcome people of
every sexual orientation, ethnic origin, physical or
mental ability, economic status, marital status, or
age, as we welcome all God’s children, regardless of
any distinction that has become a barrier to the love
we are commanded to embody.
With God’s help, we will work to do justice, love
mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
LIFELINE
Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . Mary R. Brownlow
Editor/Photographer: . . . . . . . . . Linda Himadi
Designer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Douglas Lufkin
Email: . . . . . . . [email protected]
Deadline for next issue: February 20, 2007
Sabbaths 1999 VI
We travelers, walking to the sun, can’t see
Ahead, but looking back the very light
That blinded us shows us the way we came,
Along which blessings now appear, risen
As if from sightlessness to sight, and we,
By blessing brightly lit, keep going toward
That blessed light that yet to us is dark.
Wendell Berry, born 1934
I May, I Might, I Must
If you will tell me why the fen
appears impassable, I then
will tell you why I think that I
can get across it if I try.
Marianne Moore, (1887-1972)
12
The Lifeline – March 2007
Women’s Fellowship
Women from our church at Kendal in Hanover, 80 Lyme
Road will host the next Women’s Fellowship meeting, Friday,
March 9th. Meet in front of Tracy Hall about 11:40 a.m. if
you would like to carpool. Bring a sandwich; beverages will be
served. Questions call Tilda at 649-1654 or Anne Broussard at
295-2706.
Warning of the Special Congregational Meeting of Norwich Congregational Church, UCC
To be held after worship on Sunday, March 25, 2007 to
transact the following business:
• To receive a presentation from the Building
Committee and to make decisions regarding:
1. The proposed renovations and addition to the Parish
Wing (“the Project”)
2. The projected costs associated with the proposal
3. The projected financial summary of the proposal
• To vote to authorize the Board of Trustees to adopt a plan to
satisfy any financial shortfall between monies received and
monies expended for the Project