THE EPISTLE

Volume 13 Issue 4 APRIL 24, 2008

“As a child who was baptized in infancy

approaches adolescence, the local church
offers that person the opportunity to give a public
assent to the baptismal promises.
Confirmation celebrates this occasion of
affirmation of baptism in the life of the individual
and the local church.”
-Book of Worship
United Church of Christ

YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE CONFIRMED

On Pentecost Sunday, May 11, fourteen of our congregation’s young people are
candidates to affirm their baptismal vows in the Rite of Confirmation. During the past year they
have been instructed in the Christian faith and are now ready to make the faith their own.

At the conclusion of the Rite of Confirmation they will be welcomed as full mem-
bers of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, as we extend to them the hand of
Christian love and welcome:
Dan Allen, Ed Gharzouzi, Kyle Goodrich, Peter Jackson, Megan Jones, Michael Ledwin,
Luke Meraw, Conrad Record, Brad Record, Sean Reid, Meghan Strong, Ryne Veenema,
Taylor Waldrop, and Jill Weidman.
 THE WORSHIP PAGE
April , 27,
May 4, 11, 18, 25, 2008
Sunday Worship at 9:30 AM

Fellowship Time and Christian Education follow

April 27 Acts 17:22-31

Sixth Sunday of Easter Psalm 66:8-20
I Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
“We’re not Alone”
May 4 Acts 1:1-11
Ascension Sunday Psalm 47
The Eucharist Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 24:44-53
“Ripples on the Pond”
May 11 Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Rite of Confirmation I Corinthians 12:3b-13
John 20:19-23
“Don’t Worry or Don’t Fear”

May 18 Psalm 8
First Sunday after Pentecost 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
The Holy Trinity Matthew 28:16-20
ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY “The State of the Church”

May 25 Isaiah 49:8-16a

Psalm 131
I Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34
“Are You Being Served?”

First Congregational United Church of Christ

26 East Church Street Fairport NY 14450
 ANNUAL PROGRAM “Name Tag Sunday”
MEETING
Ever wonder who is sitting in the pew
The by laws of our church say that the an-
behind or in front of you at church? Have you
nual program meeting is to be held any-
ever forgotten someone’s name that you had
time during the month of May. Over the
such a nice conversation with last week dur-
years we have generally held this meeting
ing Fellowship Hour? I am sure if you are
on a Wednesday evening, sometimes along
like many of us, you wish the other person
with a pot luck supper.
was wearing a name tag. Why not join us in
annual meeting …… Church on Sunday, May 4, 2008 for our first
ever “NAME TAG SUNDAY”. We will be
It is often difficult to get folks to give up a
providing self-stick nametags that you can fill
beautiful late spring evening to come to
out and place on your clothing for the morn-
church and vote on a slate of officers and
ing. Name Tags will be provided in the bul-
board members where there is one candi-
letin the first Sunday of every month. You
date for each office.
will no longer need to search through the nu-
will be held …….. merous nametags hanging in Fellowship Hall.
This year the annual meeting will be held Looking forward to seeing everyone’s name
on Sunday May 18 as part of the worship on Sunday, May 4th for our first ever NAME
service. The sermon time will be used for a TAG SUNDAY!
“state of the church” address by the pastor Membership Committee
and following the last hymn the meeting
will be called to order; annual reports will
be accepted and officers and board mem-
bers voted on. Following the election those
that are there will be installed in their re-
spective offices. We will conclude with the
blessing and dismissal and then move on to
fellowship time.
…….on Sunday May 18

We hope that this change will allow more
of our members to be there to celebrate all
that we have accomplished over the past
year as members of Christ’s body here in
Fairport.
DONATIONS APPRECIATED SO MUCH
Thank you to all in the congregation who have
continued to donate books, clothes and school
supplies to the children at John James Audubon
School, #33, in Rochester. Everything gets used
and is so appreciated. Thanks!
 Sunday Morning Adult Education
To Focus On “Real Life” Faith Issues
Back by popular demand! Adult education classes in April and May will focus around DVDs
featuring pastor and author, Rob Bell. Led by Pastor Cedarleaf, these classes will look at is-
sues that are important to us and are presented in an easy-to-discuss and easy-to-understand
format.

On April 27, we’ll talk about what makes us happy. We’ll look at the times when we
wanted something badly, only to find out when we got it that it wasn’t so great after all.
We’ll also discuss how we feel when we ask God for something, and He doesn’t deliver right
away.

On May 4, our focus will be on understanding the faith that God has in all of us. It’s easy
to feel “not good enough” or that maybe we don’t have what it takes. This class will help us
to see that it’s not so crazy to believe in a God that God actually believes in us.

On May 11, we’ll end the year by discussing how hard it is to have a relationship with a
God who has no shape or form. Where does Jesus come into play? How can we be “in tune”
with God? This will be our final Sunday morning adult education class for the 2007-2008
church school year.

Join us! We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study Continues Its

Focus On Proverbs & Parables
Our Wednesday Morning Bible Study group has resumed again after an Easter break, and is
continuing its focus on Proverbs & Parables. Our next class will be on April 23 at 11 a.m.
We’ll be discussing chapter 8 of our book. The chapter is called, “Trust in the Lord,” and
will include passages from John 10:1-18, 27; and selections from Proverbs 16.

***NOTE: There will be no adult education classes on April 13 or April 20, due to
Spring Break.***
 Pastoral
Perspective
Sometime or other….. a while
back someone probably came up with the
idea that corporations should have mission
statements. Now, for years and years cor-
porations assumed, with some justification,
that people knew what this or that company
was about. If your company name was
“Acme Brass Fasteners”, you could proba-
bly assume that this company made some-
thing to fasten one thing to another. How-
ever in the new world, you now have to
have a mission statement. Acme’s probably
begins like this: “Acme brass fasteners as-
pire to make the best brass fasteners that
money can buy……..”
Sometime or other after mission statements
had made their debut in corporations,
someone who had just left a meeting at his
or her company and gone to a church coun-
cil meeting suggested that Old Third
Church should have a m mission statement.
A committee was organized; meetings
scheduled and possibly a survey was taken
in the congregation and a year or two or
three later a mission statement was the re-
sult. This mission statement is now in their
by-laws and appears on their web page.
First Church doesn’t have a mission state-
ment as such; although we do list our pur-
poses in our by-laws. To refresh your
memory here they are:
1. To unite followers of Jesus Christ in fel-
lowship
2. To encourage and provide opportunities
for worshiping God, preaching the gospel
of Jesus Christ, and celebrating the sacra-
ments
3. To minister to members of this church
and of our community
4. To provide Christian education for chil-
dren, young people and adults
5. To witness to our faith by our example
as a congregation, by striving for right, jus-
tice and peace as individuals and as a
church, and by reaching out in mission
6. To welcome to our church all who desire
to join in these purposes
What do these purposes say about who and
what we are? (Cont next page)
 Third, we are a church which takes seri-
Pastoral ously to put feet on our faith. We are mission

Perspective oriented and we strive to do more than merely

(cont.inued)
First, we are a Christian Church. We are
not a collection of individuals each with his
or her religious opinions who gather to ex-
change information. We are part of the
Body of Christ, the church which began
with the first disciples and extends down
through time and beyond time. Here the
gospel of Jesus Christ is preached and here
we celebrate the sacraments, concrete ways
in which we experience the grace of God.
Second, we are a church which believes
in Christian education. We learn to be
Christians. There are practices which form
and strengthen our faith and which open to
us new dimensions of that faith. We be-
lieve in life long learning. You are never
too old or too young for education in the
faith.
put bandages on the wounds of our society,
important as that is. We also seek to speak
and to live the kingdom values of Jesus, as we
see them in the gospels, in such places as the
Sermon on the Mount.
Fourth, we are a church which welcomes
all who wish to join us on the path of Chris-
tian faith and discipleship. We will need to
agree on the basics, but beyond that there is
room for differences.
Do you know someone who is looking for a
church which seeks to be faithful to Jesus
Christ in word and deed; a church where you
don’t have to leave your brain at the door
when you join; a church which sees itself as
committed to Jesus Christ for the sake of the
world. Why not invite them to join
you at worship some Sunday morning.
Your pastor,
John

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Martha Bowman, St. John’s Home
Barbara Cobb, Fairport Baptist Home
Louise Deller, Aaron Manor
Geraldine Stearns, Perinton Manor
 MORNING CIRCLE
Our next meeting is on May 13 at Joyce Cowden’s
home. We will gather in the church parking lot at
9:30 AM to carpool as there is no on-street park-
ing. If you are unable to attend, please call Muriel
Gabbey at 377-9177 so we won’t wait for you at
church. This is our planning meeting so come
with ideas for programs and bring your sandwich
for lunch, as usual.

EVENING CIRCLE
The Evening Circle will meet at 7:00PM
on May 12, 2008 in Fellowship Hall. Our
program that evening will be "Gardening
Secrets" by Janice Coon. We will be
planting containers to take home. The
cost will be $10.00 per pot. Bring your
own containers(s), Janice will provide the SUMMER CAMPS AT
flowers. Please tell your caller by May
6th if you plan to plant so that Janice
DUNKIRK
knows how many plants to bring. Dunkirk Conference Center in Dunkirk,
New York has served the members of the United
It was a fun evening last year so please Church of Christ and its predecessor denomina-
plan to attend. We invite all to join us, tions for many years. Various camps for all ages
just call Beverly Gray 248 - 8960 or Judy are offered beginning the end of June. A number
Baxter 377 - 5305. of family camps are also offered along with a
variety of adult camps, including an adult music
Our sympathy is extended to Annette camp. This is a wonderful facility located on the
and Ray Ciccarelli and their family. shores of Lake Erie in Dunkirk, New York with
Annette’s father, Russell Poeltl died on 110 acres of woodland, streams, playing fields,
February 11, 2008. open grounds and nature trails. There are 23
heated cabins which house up to 12 campers
each.
Our Christian sympathy is extended to
Brochures and registration forms are
Rebecca and Michael Ledwin and their
available on the library check out table in
family on the recent death of Rebecca’s
Fellowship Hall.
stepfather, Dr. Harry Jacob Umlauf.
They attended his funeral service in San
Diego.
 SAFE JOURNEY AND DOUGH
How many times can you do something to benefit a local ministry AND enjoy yourself
with friends and family at the same time? The ministry is Safe Journey, which is celebrating its
10th year of offering numerous programs for survivors of domestic violence, as well as provid-
ing the community-at-large with information about this human tragedy.

The event is a DOUGH RAISING! On Friday, May 2nd, or Saturday, May 3rd, Uno's
Chicago Grill, across from Eastview Mall, will donate up to 20% of your check to Safe Journey.
All you have to do is present them with the appropriate coupon when you pay your bill.

The coupons are available under the poster advertising the event on the Missions bulle-
tin board in Fellowship Hall. Please feel free to make lots of copies and hand them out to your
family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. See Cathy Kinton in the church office (or call Pat
May at 223-3749) if you need more copies.

Thanks for your support of this worthwhile ministry!

 COOKIE SALE
Do you remember the assorted cookie plates that
were sold at our Antique Show for many years? The Morn-
ing Circle will again prepare these sweet treats and will sell
the plates after the service on April 27. The proceeds will go
to the church’s general fund.

OUR WEBSITE
Our website has a new look and updated material.
The Epistle and “News in the Pews” plus calendars of up-
coming events are available. Please check it out at
fairportucc.org. (Note: When viewing the Epistle, click on
the square icon found in the upper right hand side of the front
page. This will enlarge it so it is easy to view.)
And thanks to Jim Franzen, Skeeter Harris and
Crista Deniz for all their efforts to update the website. They
have put in many hours to make it user friendly.

CAREGIVER RESPITE
Mercy Respite for Caregivers offers unique respite, relief and
supportive service to family caregivers and friends who are
facing day in and day out the stresses of caregiving-burnout.
Full day respite: May 16, June 12, August 22 from 9 AM to
3 PM at the Mercy Prayer Center. We provide relaxation
techniques, conversation with other caregivers, music, yoga,
aroma therapy, healthy eating, journaling, home cooked
meals and prayerful reflections. Donation: $60 (sliding fee
scale available). Massage is optional and a separate fee. For
more information and to register, call: 585-271-0760 or
email: mercyrespite@frontiernet.net
 Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
On April 26
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26, to come enjoy a
hot breakfast with friends and support the youth group mission trip.
Tickets are on sale now after worship in
Fellowship Hall.

FORMER MEMBER OF FIRST

CHURCH TO RECEIVE
THEOLOGICAL DEGREE
John Morton, who with his wife Sylvia and son John,
were former members of First Church will receive the M.Div. de-
gree from Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves Missouri
on May 16. Last year, our former associate, Nadine Schrodt re-
ceived her M.Div. from Eden. Eden Theological Seminary is one of
the affiliated seminaries of the United Church of Christ.
The Mortons left Fairport in 1993 when John was trans-
ferred by Kodak to St. Louis. Since that time he went with another
company. After being offered an ultimatum to move or leave the
job, he answered God’s call to Christian ministry. Since last fall he
has been serving a Disciples of Christ congregation as a student
pastor. He is seeking standing in both the Disciples of Christ and
the United Church of Christ with a tentative ordination date of Au-
gust 31.
Sylvia, who was a former staff member here at First Church
works as a Head Start case manager and their son John works in the
computer industry. The Mortons send along their best wishes to our
congregation remembering fondly the time they spent with us.

THANK YOU
Becky and Mike Ledwin and their family would like to thank the
congregation for everyone’s kindness, cards and prayers while
Becky’s stepfather was ill, and upon his recent death. The congre-
gation’s caring was greatly appreciated.
 Family News
Family Night Ice Cream Social on May 2
Families of preschoolers and elementary students are invited to enjoy a sweet year-end
celebration at our family night scheduled for Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. Join us, as we
have fun pigging out on ice cream, watch a “year in review” slide presentation, play
games, receive awards, and applaud our 5th graders, as they receive their official invitation
to join our church youth group! Sign up in Fellowship Hall or call the church office at

Hold the Date! May Rotation for

Preschoolers & Elementary Students Preschool & Elementary
Invited To Visit Students:
Kings of Israel
God’s Big Backyard – Saul and David
Aug. 4 – 8 &
The annual Fairport Community Vacation Bi-
ble School program will be held each morning
Preparing for Church
on August 4 – 8 in participating churches School Sunday!
(including ours!) on Church Street in the vil-
lage of Fairport. Following the theme, “God’s Through our drama, storytelling, art
Big Backyard,” children will learn how re- and movie classrooms, our preschool-
warding service can be. They will explore ers and elementary school students will
how to serve family, friends, neighbors, the learn about Saul, the first King of Is-
community and Jesus while enjoying interac- rael, and David, his successor on April
tive Bible stories, fun crafts and snacks. 27 and May 4. On May 11, the stu-
Student registration forms and volunteer forms dents will spend classtime preparing
should be available in Fellowship Hall by the for Church School Sunday the follow-
end of April. ing week.

Church School Sunday: May 18

Our church school students – all ages! – will participate in the worship service on this special
day celebrating the end of the church school year. During the service, the children will show-
case some of the things they’ve learned this year.
There will be no Children’s Chapel on this day.

JYF & SYF
Senior High To Examine
Music Choices and Their
Faith
The Senior High class will begin
a new study examining music choices
and how they align with our faith. Dur-
ing the classes, students will be encour-
aged to think about what they choose to
listen to versus simply being
“unconscious consumers.”
Spring Fling Dinner & Cele-
bration – May 16
Let’s wrap up the year with a bang! Plan
to attend our end-of-year potluck dinner
and celebration on Friday, May 16 from
6:30 – 8:30. You’ll enjoy mouth-
watering food, a year-in-review slide
presentation, a chocolate fountain,
awards, prizes and more! Sign up on the
youth group bulletin board in Fellowship
Hall. Parents are welcome to help serve
(and eat) the food.
Junior High and Confirmation
Class To Discuss Applying
Their Faith
in “REAL Time”
Our junior high and confirmation class will con-
clude the church school year with a DVD series
featuring pastor and author Rob Bell. The series
will focus on faith principles and how they might
apply to our lives today.
Raise Money to Fight Hunger at
the Annual CROP Walk – May 4
Join our team of walkers on Sunday, May 4,
from 12 – 3 p.m., as we participate in the annual
CROP Walk. CROP Walk is “neighbors walking
together to take a stand to fight hunger in this
world.” Walkers raise awareness and funds for in-
ternational hunger relief efforts, as well as local
hunger-fighting. The walk begins in the parking lot
near the out-door ice rink off Main Street in the Vil-
lage of Fairport. We walk on the canal. After our
walk, we’ll enjoy an ice cream from Lickety Splits.
Sign up on the youth group bulletin board in Fel-
lowship Hall. For more information, contact Mrs.
Hamill or Mrs. Weidman at 223-0224.

Canal Days Parking Mission Trip Fundraiser – June 6 – 8

Youth group members (and their parents!) are needed to help park cars at our biggest fundraiser
of the year during Canal Days, June 6 – 8. Watch the youth group bulletin board for more in-
formation regarding work shifts and responsibilities.
 Treasurer’s Report

First Congregational Church Total income for the first quarter was
Income Statement
Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 better than budget by $29,543. Of
B/(W) *
that total, Giving was $26,946 higher
Actual Budget Budget than planned. Pre-payments of full
Income year pledges accounted for $19,735
Giving, including plate collections $ 79,646 52,700 $ 26,946
Previous Year Giving 1,009 - 1,009 of the total.
Rent 2,946 2,946 -
Interest 2,767 150 2,617
Fund Raising 420 2,000 (1,580)
Flower Donations 871 540 331 Expenses for the first quarter were
Room Rental & Other Donations 420 200 220
better than budget by $1,908. Church
Total Income 88,079 58,536 29,543
maintenance was better than budget
Expenses
by $1,520, while gas for the church
Salaries and Related Benefits
Church Utilities & Supplies
49,956
6,788
49,956
5,405
266
(1,383)
was worse than anticipated by
Church Maintenance
Insurance
2,730
424
4,250
475
1,520
51
$1,354. Boards and Committees and
Office Expenses 2,827 2,570 (257) Missions donations were both better
Boards & Committees 2,086 2,925 839
Genesee Valley Assoc. Dues 551 575 24 than budget.
Missions Donations 3,638 4,400 762
Flowers 180 270 90
Other Miscellaneous 19 15 (4)
Net income for the first quarter was
Total Expenses 69,199 70,841 1,908
$18,880, $31,451 better than budget,
Net Income $ 18,880 $ (12,305) $ 31,451
primarily due to higher than antici-
* B/(W) = Better or Worse than
pated Giving.

Nancy Keith, Treasurer

NURSE, CRAFT LEADER

& REGISTRAR NEEED!
Fairport Community Vacation Bible School needs your
help to fill a few positions! Specific needs are: a registered
nurse (This person needs to be on site the week of August 4-8);
a craft leader or a team of craft leaders (someone excited about
designing and organizing crafts in the weeks leading up to VBS
as well as supervising craft groups during VBS); and a regis-
trar (This person will receive/organize all student registration
forms, a background in Microsoft Excel is helpful. This person
does NOT need to be available during the VBS week). Please
contact Heather Moore by email at
H.Moore_FCVBS@yahoo.com or by phone at (585) 259-0122 to get involved with this won-
derful ministry!
Look for student registration forms and volunteer forms in your church and the library by
late April!
 First Congregational UCC Fairport NY

Creation
In other days…. of
First Congregational
B y T o n i T h o m p s o n

On December 18, 1824, three men and six women met at the
home of Jesse Perrin for the purpose of creating a new church in
the Congregational tradition. The nine members were Mrs. Hulda
Wight, Mrs. Nancy Blackman, Mr. Lemuel Wight, Mrs. Leah Pack-
ard, Mrs. Lucy Eaton, Mrs. Lettice Norton, Mr. Simon Bristol,
Mrs. Lucy Bristol and Mr. William Stebbings.
Hulda Wight was the sister of Jesse and Glover Perrin, for
whom the Town or Perinton is named. Her husband Abner fought
in the battles of Lexington and Concord. Her seventh child was the
first white child born in Perinton who survived to adulthood.
Nancy Blackman was the daughter of Jesse Perrin. Her mar-
riage in 1803 was the first to be performed in Perinton. When she
died in 1877 at the age of 93, she was the last surviving "first set-
tler".
Simon Bristol had been conducting Sabbath School in area
school houses as early as 1820. (Sabbath School was not formally
organized until 1835.) His son George was the first child to be bap-
tized in 1825.
Lucy Eaton came to this area with her husband Stephen in
1810. Stephen was a Revolutionary War veteran, as were the
Perrins and Abner Wight, and he became the postmaster and
highway overseer.
The Epistle is printed once a month
By the First Congregational United
Church of Christ, 26 East Church St.,
Fairport, New York 14450

Office Phone: 585-223-0224

Fax: 585- 223-4264
Pastor’s Phone 585-223-8172
E-mail: church1@choicemail.com
Webpage: fairportucc.org
Office Hours: M-F 9:00-3:30

Church Service 9:30AM

Sunday School: 10:50AM

Pastor: Rev. Dr. John Cedarleaf

Christian Ed. & Family Ministries:
Kelly Weidman & Karen Hamill
Admin. Asst: Cathy Kinton
Church Moderator: Hank Ralston
Organist: Beatrice Benedict
Choir Director: James C. Jefferis
Business Administrator: Sue Brooks
Epistle Editor: Bill Lindsay
Wedding Coordinator: Sue Bickel

First Congregational United Church of Christ NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

26 East Church Street
U.S. POSTAGE
Fairport NY 14450
PAID
FAIRPORT N.Y.
PERMIT NO. 61
Address Service Requested

Dated Material

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM May 22, 2008