THE EPISTLE

Volume 14 Issue 7 AUGUST 27, 2009

185th ANNIVERSARY
WEEKEND CELEBRATION
The 185th anniversary of First Church will be celebrated on the weekend of
September 26-27
with a chicken barbeque on Saturday and special celebration service on Sunday.
The actual date of the organization of First Church is December 19, but council decided
to celebrate earlier, so that we could take advantage of the beautiful fall weather.
The weekend festivities will begin with a chicken barbeque on Saturday September 26.
Chicken, salt potatoes, rolls and coleslaw will be served . There will be seating both inside and
outside or you can take your meal home to eat. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the
church office. Tell your friends and neighbors to come and enjoy a time of good food and fel-
lowship.
On Sunday September 27 we will gather to celebrate the Eucharist as we remember
the founding of our congregation in 1824. The Rev. Dr. David Felton, Regional Conference
Minister of the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ will co-celebrate the
Eucharist with Pastor Cedarleaf. Greetings from the town of Perinton will be brought by Super-
visor Jim Smith and greetings from the Village of Fairport by Mayor Fritz May. Members of
the Board of Elders will host a special fellowship time.
During the service we will dedicate a plaque outlining in brief the history of First
Church and its three buildings. This plaque will be affixed to the northwest corner of the church
building. We will also dedicate lighting in the columbarium.
There will be no Christian Education on this Sunday so that we might have time to chat
during fellowship time. This service is, of course, open to the community to please invite your
friends and neighbors. If you are aware of former members issue them an invitation also to join
us for this special service.
 Coming Up In Adult Education…..
Adult Education On Sunday mornings, during Christian Education Time:

September 20…..185 Years! – Come learn the history of the First Congre-
gational UCC as we celebrate our 185th birthday! This fact packed class will
be presented by church historian, Toni Thompson.

September 27…..Anniversary Celebration Sunday – No CE Classes

October 4, 11, 18 & 25…..The Ten Commandments – This 4-week class,

led by the ever- popular Dr. Timothy Dwyer, will be filled with rich history
and fascinating information about God’s Law and its significance to Moses
and the Israelites.

On Wednesday mornings, from 11 a.m. – noon:

September 16 & 23…..Join us as we once again begin our Wednesday

morning Bible studies. Stay tuned for the fall class topic. It will be an-
nounced soon!!!

All Wednesday classes will be held in the Snow Room. If you wish, you
may join us for a brief communion service in the sanctuary at noon each
Wednesday. There will be NO Wednesday Bible Study on September 30,
due to directory photos being taken.

“Undie Sunday” Will Be September 20

On Sunday, September 20, we will be collecting underwear and outerwear for the
children at Rochester School 33. Please bring in new packages of boys and girls
sizes 4 – 14 and new or gently used hats, mittens and gloves, also in children’s
sizes (small, medium or large). Collection bins will be set up in Fellowship Hall
beginning on Welcome Back Sunday, September 13.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

 The Church Council have elected to recognize the members
from our past who have made significant contributions to our church
history and are, in our estimation, “almost saints”.

Beginning with our Special Anniversary Sunday on September

27, 2009, we will be identifying special people from our church his-
tory who dedicated time and talent to further along the work of this
church, and on All Saints Sunday, November 1, 2009, we will be of-
fering special recognition to those men and women from our more re-
cent history who offered noteworthy effort in benefit of our congrega-
tion.

A lot of names come immediately to mind – Dewey Jackson, Sr.,

Mike Grose, Bertie Cleveland, Bill Roscoe, Les Slocum, Chuck Sum-
ner. But there are many, many more!

If you wish to nominate someone for this special recognition,

please write up a brief thumbnail sketch of the contribution they made
and either e-mail it to Historian Toni Thompson at
gathom@frontiernet.net or drop it in the Historian’s box at the back of
Fellowship Hall before October 18th.
NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
 First Congregational United Church of Christ
26 East Church Street Fairport NY 14450

WORSHIP DURNG THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2009

Sunday Worship at 9:30 AM
Fellowship Time and Christian Education follow

September 6: “Turning Points-1”

Isaiah 35:4-7a
Psalm 146
James 2:1-10
Mark 7:24-37

September 13: “Turning Points-2”

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 116:1-12
James 3:1-12
Mark 8:27-38

September 20: “Are You Being Served?”

Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm 54
James 3:13-4:3
Mark 9:30-37

September 27: Anniversary Celebration

Psalm 90:1-6, 16-17
Hebrews 12:1-2
Matthew 16:13-20

Adult education classes will resume on Sept. 20, 2009

EVENING CIRCLE
Monday, September 21, 6:30pm.
REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Martha Bowman, St. John’s Home Pot Luck supper at 6:30. Our
speaker will be Kelly Gillman, a repre-
Barbara Cobb, Fairport Baptist Home
sentative for One World Goods.
Louise Deller, Cherry Ridge
Please bring along an item for the food
Barbara Eaton, Perinton Park Manor
shelf, if you are able. See you then!
 PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE: “Looking to Jesus”
I’ve been thinking about anniversaries this summer. Last week marked the 40th anniver-
sary of the Woodstock Festival. For some this was the low point of culture and for others it was
a high point; a festival of peace and love. I suppose it depends on whether or not you were
there. Just for the record, I wasn’t! Oh, I knew about it and was close enough to have made the
trip in a few hours, except, of course, I would have been tied up in that massive traffic jam on
the New York Thruway.
I had just arrived at my first pastorate, the First Congregational Church in Turners Falls
Massachusetts, on the Connecticut River at Route 2 in Franklin County Massachusetts. I began
work on July 1 and so it probably wouldn’t have been a good idea to take time and go to Wood-
stock. Whatever it was or how you look at it, forty years later, it was a part of the culture of the
time, for both good and bad. While there was the drug downside, there was also the naïve
sweetness that drove so many young people to go, and maybe in our 20/20 hindsight we should-
n’t completely discard the whole experience.
Now September brings some more anniversaries for me personally and for all of us to-
gether. Jean and I celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary. These years have been a blessing and
a joy as we’ve worked together in all things. I’m not sure she knew just what she was getting
into when she married a fledgling pastor, but she jumped right in and has been jumping ever
since. There is no way I could have done what I’ve done without such a supportive spouse.
Forty years ago on September 28 I stood up in the sanctuary of the First Congregational
Church in Turners Falls, Massachusetts and was ordained by the Franklin Association of the
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. As I look at my ordination certificate
and see the signatures of those who are now part of the Church Triumphant, I’m reminded of
how connected we all are to those who have gone before us in the faith. I’m thankful for the
“one holy and catholic church” into which I was ordained and for its expression in the United
Church of Christ. This denomination with its long history in both predecessor denominations
and over fifty years as one has gone through some difficult times. Yet, I believe that it is still
the Body of Christ, broken though it might be, and that it still can be a blessing to the world.
On a September Sunday, twenty-five years ago, I preached my first sermon as your pas-
tor. In December of 1984 the Genesee Valley Association of the New York Conference of the
United Church of Christ installed me. In those twenty-five years we have worked and prayed
and laughed and cried together. We’ve seen our two boys grow up with wives and children of
their own. I’ve married both and baptized my two grandchildren, and we count it a blessing that
both of them and their families are part of Christ’s Church, Karl, Nicole, Gunnar and Ava here

PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE: (cont. next page)

 PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE: (cont.)

and David and Andrea at First Congregational in Milton Massachusetts. I thank each and every
one of you for the blessings you have shared with the Cedarleaf family over the years.
Finally, three months ahead of the actual date we celebrate the 185th anniversary of this
congregation. One hundred and eighty five years ago a handful of folks gathered together to
form a Congregational Church. They did so trusting in the providence of God and the power of
the Holy Spirit to prosper their work. Throughout those one hundred and eighty five years, this
congregation has been a stalwart part of the Perinton/Fairport Community. Its members have
served their community and continue to do so in so many different ways. I look forward to Sep-
tember 27 and our celebration of our life together as we gather around the Lord’s Table to give
thanks to God for sustaining our life and work together for so many years, and pray that as we
move forward that same power and presence will be with us.
Make a special effort to be with us all in worship on Sunday September 27 as we re-
member, reflect and celebrate God’s great love to us in the Body of Christ.

Your pastor,

John

Got an idea/issue for our MORNING CIRCLE

Church? Bring it to a Mem- Morning Circle will meet on September 8
ber-at-Large! at 10 AM in Fellowship Hall. Please bring
Currently First Church has three Members-at-
an UNLABELED picture of yourself as a
Large, each of whom serves a three-year
term. They are: Paul Yerrick (10), John Quattro- baby or pre-scholler.
ciocchi (11), and Norma Harrington (12). New members are always welcome. Bring
Members-at-Large are appointed by the Church
your sandwich for lunch—beverage and
Council upon the recommendation of the Nomi-
nating Committee and are the representatives of dessert are provided.
the Congregation, including youth, at Church Please note: For our November meeting we
Council meetings. They may raise issues/ideas to
will be discussing the book, Amish Grace by
the Council on behalf of the Congregation. They
also speak and vote on behalf of the general Donald B. Kraybill, Steven, M. Nolt and
membership on all issues. If you have an idea, David L. Weaver-Zercher.
issue or comment you want the Council to know
about, let a Members-at Large know. They repre-

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

 Family News
Preschool & Elementary School Happenings
September 13: Don’t Miss Welcome Back Sunday & Family Picnic!!
We can’t wait to see all your smiling faces on Sunday, September 13, at our “Welcome
Back” Sunday worship service and family picnic! Please bring a dish to pass, your own place
settings & a blanket or chairs. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided. Our picnic will be
held on the grassy lot behind the church, near the playground. Our youth group will run fun
games and activities for the children. (NOTE: There will be no church school today.)

September 19: Acolyte Training To Be Held

Calling all 5 – 8th graders who would like to serve in our church as acolytes this year!
th

Mrs. Hamill will run a brief training class on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. – noon in the
sanctuary. If you have already been trained, you do NOT need to attend this class. You
MUST, however, call Mrs. Hamill at 425-1958 and tell her that you’d like to be put on the
schedule again this year. Sign up for the training in Fellowship Hall or call Mrs. Hamill to
sign up.

September 20: Undie Sunday Collection Day

On Sunday, September 20, we will be collecting underwear and outerwear for the chil-
dren at Rochester School 33. Please bring in new packages of boys and girls sizes 4 – 14 and
new or gently used hats, mittens and gloves, also in children’s sizes (small, medium or large).
Collection bins will be set up in Fellowship Hall beginning on Welcome Back Sunday, Septem-
ber 13.

September 20: Church School Begins

We’re looking forward to another great year in church school. We’re excited to offer a
new preschool class for 3 and 4 year olds. This class will be held during CE time in a Bertha
Agor Nursery School Room on the lower level. Our Kindergarten – 5th grade students will be-
gin with a special rotation class on “Loving Our Neighbors.”

September 27: Anniversary Celebration Sunday

There will be no church school classes today.
 Family News
Junior & Senior High Happenings
September 11: JYF & SYF Welcome Back Parties
All 6 – 8th graders are invited to join the fun as we greet friends, new and old! The
th

party will be held at Weidman’s house, 16 Folkside Lane, Fairport. Call Mrs. Weidman at 223-
8978 or email her at weidman4@rochester.rr.com to let her know that you can make it!
All 9th – 12th graders are invited to a “great new year” kickoff event at our church on Sept. 11
from 7 – 9 p.m. We can’t wait to see all of you again!!

September 13: Picnic Games Committee

Hey all you JYF and SYFers! We need your face painting, burlap bag racing and bean-
bag throwing skills as we run the games at our annual church picnic! Let Mrs. Hamill know if
you can make it, and she’ll assign you to a game to run. Call her at 425-1958.

September 20: Church School Classes Begin

In Junior High, we’ll start off the year at the beginning….with “Creation”! Let’s listen
once more to all the wondrous things our Almighty God created. For our Senior High classes,
Mrs. Hamill is still working on the fantastic material you’ll be covering this fall. Stay tuned!!

September 27: The Dirt on Drugs & Alcohol

Attention Parents & Junior High & Senior High students!!! This presentation is a
“MUST SEE!” Eastside Churches have all pitched in to bring national speaker, Justin Looka-
doo, back to Fairport to talk to all of you. He is a dynamic speaker, who really connects with
kids. This time, he will give you the real dirt on drugs and alcohol. His schedule is as follows:
• Parent Session – 1- 2:30 p.m.
• Middle School Session – 4:30 – 6 p.m.
High School Session – 7 – 8:30 p.m.
These sessions will be held at Risen Christ Lutheran Church in Fairport. Cost is $10. Friends
are welcome and encouraged!

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

 Dear Congregation,
Thank you for supporting me in my Ea-
gle Scout project! Thanks to your dona-
tions and others, I was able to collect a
great deal of items for the Advent House
hospice in Fairport. I collected 185 rolls
of toilet paper, 27 containers of hand
soap, 46 boxes of tea, and many other
things that Advent House needed.
Thank you for helping out this volun-
Our condolences is extended to David and Janice
teer-based organization, and also help-
Coon and their family on the death of Fred Coon,
ing me reach my rank of Eagle Scout.
David’s father. He passed away on June 30, 2009
and was a resident of Elmira, New York. Sincerely,
Alex Reid
Dear Friends,

Friends
Thank you so much for all the calls, cards,
Doug and I want to thank you for your
flowers, visits, and meals we received while I
kind thoughts at the death of my mom, Alta
was sick this spring.
Hutchings. Until the mid 60's my parents
Thanks also for all the cards, calls and the
were very involved with the First Congre-
beautiful dish garden we received when my
gational Church in Fairport. I still have a
mother died in May.
Christmas ornament mom made for the first
You have made both of these troubles bear-
"antique sale" in the late 50's or early 60's!
able. We appreciate the wonderful friends that
Mom had Alzheimer's for about 10
we have at First Church.
years. We are very thankful that her strug-
gle is over and she is at peace. For Doug
Sincerely,
and me this has been an especially mean-
Beverly and Chic Gray
ingful time because all our children were
here for the family memorial service last
CONGRATULATIONS TO week- it was wonderful to hear all the
THE NEWLYWEDS "remembers." Thank you for keeping the
Whitney family in your prayers.
Best wishes to newlyweds Chris Bennett and
Jean Whitney
Christine Compton. They were married in
Michigan on August 15, 2009. Chris is the son
of Bonney Bennett.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

 SILVER ANNIVERSARY PARTY
for
THE SALEM NUTRITION CENTER
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Green Lantern Inn, Fairport
5 PM Social Hour, 6 PM Dinner

Featuring…

Buffet Dinner
Al Smith, Master of Ceremonies
A Tribute to Sue Forsyth
The Herman Family Singers
Cost is $25 per person. Reservations can be made on Mondays through Jan
Goodman, on Tuesdays through Shirley London, or checks can be sent to Salem
Nutirition Center, c/o Salem UCC, 60 Bittner St. Rochester, NY 14604
Checks should be made payable to the Salem Nutrition Center, noting the 9/24
dinner.
Reservation and payments must be made by September 15, 2009.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

Mission & Works (cont,)

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Do you have 30 minutes per week to spare? Volunteers are needed to provide telephone check-
ins and friendly phone calls to area seniors in need of reassurance. Help neighbors who are
lonely, homebound, isolated, recovering from surgery, or living alone. Training and support
provided. Call Lifespan of Greater Rochester’s Partners in Caring Program, 244-8400 x177 for
more information.
Do you have 30 minutes per week to spare? Volunteers are needed to provide telephone check-
ins and friendly phone calls to area seniors in need of reassurance. Help neighbors who are
lonely, homebound, isolated, recovering from surgery, or living alone. Training and support
provided. Call Lifespan of Greater Rochester’s Partners in Caring Program, 244-8400 x177 for
more information.

ADVENT HOUSE 17TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Tournament will be held this year at the Victor Hills Golf Club on Friday, September 18,
2009. Using a Scrable format, this tournament promises to be bigger and better—more play-
ers and great prizes that have come to characterize this tournament. New for 2009: Registra-
tion begins at 11 AM with a “Shot Gun” start scheduled for Noon. Dinner is served right after
the last golfers come in and once again will include a New York Strip Steak dinner. A raffle
for some very nice prizes and award prizes for low men’s and women’s scramble scores.
Check out our website at www.theadventhouse.org for registration forms, more information
or on the community bulletin board or call Vicki Deady at 223-6112.

CASA VOLUNTEER TRAINING

Court Appointed Special Advocates is looking for volunteers to serve as advocates for the
best interests of abused and/or neglected children. Responsible adults who are interested in
making a difference in the life of a child are encouraged to join CASA’s team of volunteers.
CASA will hold a tr aining course for prospective volunteers in October 2009. Prior to at-
tending the training course, prospective volunteers must submit a completed application
packet and be interviwed. To learn moare, plase call 585-428-5297 or visit the CASA web-
site at www.casarochester.org.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

Mission & Works (cont,)
My Brother’s Keeper
A Social and Environmentally-Conscious Gift Bazaar
On Friday November 20 and Saturday November 21, First Church will be hosting a special bazaar
featuring vendors who sell environmentally and socially-responsible
gifts. The idea behind this show is that we all are to care for our broth-
ers and sisters and for the Earth and can show our support by making
purchases with a purpose.
Some notable vendors will include Kingdom Ventures, One World
Goods, Healthy Sisters Soup & Bean Works, Coffee Connection and
more. Products will include coffee, hand-made soaps, fair-trade gifts
from Africa, South America, Russia and the Far East, jewelry, baskets
and other items in time for the holiday season. There will also be full
food service catered by ABVI-Goodwill catering services. In addition, arrangements are being made
to have an electronics recycling company provide a truck for attendees to drop off their used elec-
tronic equipment so that it can be recycled responsibly.
Volunteers will be needed to help prepare the church for the event, assist vendors and provide food
and parking service during the show. Signups will be in Fellowship hall starting in October.
Vendor spaces are still available: to qualify to participate in this bazaar a vendors must be one or
more of the following: (1) Fair Trade; (2) Eco-Friendly; (3) Organic; (4) Recycled/Reused products;
(5) Locally produced products; and/or (6) Products that provide benefits to disabled, unemployed,
poor or displaced individuals. Please forward information about potential vendors to Crista Deniz.

Featured Vendor:
Kingdom Ventures, Inc
~Offering you Products with Purpose from around the globe.

Kingdom Ventures was founded in 2005 by
Rebecca and Glenn Fadner. They trade with
vendors from all over the globe using a Fair
Trade philosophy. They define Fair Trade
as a trading partnership, based on dialogue,
transparency and respect, which seeks
greater equity in international trade. It con-
tributes to sustainable development by of-
fering better trading conditions to, and se-
curing the rights of, marginalized producers
and workers – especially in the Southern
Hemisphere.
Their shop features goods from the countries
of Kenya, Cambodia, Thailand, Turkey and
Honduras. Items for sale include placemats
& table runners, batiks, blankets, jewelry,
greeting cards, plates, framed pictures, carv-
ings, handbags, ornaments, pashminas, pil-
lows and rugs.
Visit their shop at 336 Arnett Blvd,
Rochester, NY 14619 or online at:
www.kingdom-ventures.com
 CHURCH EVENTS PHOTOS NEEDED
Calling all photographers. Do you have pictures that tell the story of our church,
its members, its missions and our fellowship? If so, please see Nan Notar to have
your pictures included in the next Church Directory.

We need YOU to make our Church

Family Album complete!

Portrait sessions will take place at

church on:

September 30-October 3rd

We have chosen Lifetouch Church Directories
and Portraits to tell the story of our
Church family.
In your session you will:
• Be professionally photographed
• Be able to view your portraits immediately
• Have an opportunity to purchase additional portraits – they make great gifts!
• Portraits will be here in plenty of time for Christmas!

There is no sitting fee and each family will receive

a FREE color 8x10 portrait and church directory
for participating at no cost to our church.
Two easy ways to sign-up!
You can sign up before and after Sunday service in September
Online now at: http://www.fairportucc.org anytime

We are looking forward to seeing you in our directory! Watch for the Portrait Sitting Guide with
tips on how to prepare for your session. Make this a fun time – be creative! Bring your pet to in-
clude in the portrait; if you’re musically inclined, bring your instrument; if you have a hobby, why
not bring your favorite prop!

We ask that you allow up to an hour during which time you will check in, be photographed and
select your portraits.

Questions, contact Maureen Campolieto 223-4498 or mcampolieto@frontiernet.net