Our Minister's Message                    (back to top of page)

Well, I’ll admit it. I don’t always know what God’s will is. I pray, talk to folks, seek the scripture’s guidance, pray some more, talk to some other people, continue to read the Bible and, finally, I make a decision and take some action praying it is indeed God’s will. Sometimes I believe it is, sometimes I’m shown it isn’t and most of the time I just don’t know.

Back in February we adopted an interim budget slashing salaries, turning to a part-time pastorate and deciding my last Sunday with you would be June 28th. Since then you have worked hard to discern God’s will for your future under the guidance of the Resurrection Connection. Folks at church have been asking me, “Shepard, why are you leaving us? You don’t have a call.” Friends at home have been asking me, “Shepard, why are you leaving the church? You don’t have a job.” Most often my response has been something like, “. . . because we felt this is what God was guiding us to do.” It may well have been but something else has come to pass: I will be staying on as your pastor part-time until such time as I am called elsewhere or you decide to call another.

Is this God’s will? I didn’t hear a voice calling me back to Shelton. Nothing leapt out at me from the scriptures. The tradition I’m most familiar with is “once you’ve set your hand to the plow, don’t look back.” But many of you voiced a desire that I remain with you, and friends pointed out the needlessness of my leaving. And there is the fact that I didn’t have a job come June 28th. There are those who see my staying on as your pastor a smart economic decision. Others might call it convenience. And there are those of us who might dare say this is perhaps the will of God.

We can never really know what God’s will is for us specifically. Using all the tools available to the faithful we go through our lives making judgments, devising plans, making choices, choosing this over that praying we are doing what God desires for us. Sometimes we come closer than others, sometimes we miss it altogether. But we never get it completely right. That’s not for us to do. The stories of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness show us that the will of Jesus and the will are the same: they are One. Our’s is to do the best we can knowing all we do is imperfect and that the One who is perfect forgives us and sends us back into the fray.

Everything seems to be saying that our continued partnership in ministry is God’s will for us; yet, I’m open to the possibility it may not. However, until such time as we are shown otherwise I will continue to wake up in the morning with a smile on my face and joy and hopefulness in my heart at the privilege of being your pastor. And at night I will fall asleep in a sea of thankfulness.

In Hopeful Expectation of the Coming of our Sovereign Jesus Christ,

Shepard Parsons
Pastor, Shelton Congregational Church

 

Happy Anniversary to:

August 15th - Kim & Ron Karkut

August 31st - Dale & Larry Schremmer

If you would like to share your birthday or anniversary date with us, please contact the office, or write it down on a piece of paper and place it in the offering plate on any Sunday.

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Church Attendance

May 2009 3rd - 42 Church 10th - 40 Church 17th - 47 Church 24th - 36 Church 31st - 50 Church

 

Nursery Volunteers   (back to top of page)

NURSERY COVERAGE

Check with the church office.

As always, if you find you have a conflict with your Sunday, please arrange to switch with someone and let the church office know. Thanks! 

Fellowship Time

We all look forward to fellowship time after our worship service. We like visiting with our church friends and of course, snacking on a few goodies! The summer months are here, even though the weather hasn’t yet shown us summer temperatures. So let’s put away the coffee pots and start with a refreshing cup of lemonade or iced tea (or a little bit of both as Glenn Wells drinks his)! We need hosts to volunteer - dates are available in July and August. Snacks can be as easy as store bought coffee cake and cookies, or cheese and crackers, veggies or fruit. It’s pretty easy - we just need to sign up. Thanks for your help and we’ll see you at Fellowship!

Bible Passage of the Month

Lay Readers:

Check with the church office.

Help Needed!

You do not need to be a member of the Deacons Committee to lay read, take offering, usher or be a greeter. Please check with the church office for more information.

Deacons Committee

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Notes and Thanks...   (back to top of page)

Resurrection Connection Update

Since the Save our Church Committee was formed in late March, we have made great progress. Some of the things we have done include:

Renamed the committee “Resurrection Connection”
Congregation Conversations were held on April 19th, May 3rd, and June 6th
A Tri-fold brochure was sent to membership and visitors with information about the current state
of our church, introduced the Resurrection Connection and invited all to participate.
“Share your Gifts” Pot Luck Dinner was held on May 8th
Reconciliation Sunday – a Sunday worship devoted to reconciliation and healing was held on
May 17th.
Calls were made to membership, personally inviting them to participate in the potluck dinner,
Reconciliation Sunday and our group conversations.
Creation of a call list for personal contact and invitations to events
Resurrection Connection Bulletin Board in Beard Room to keep everyone informed and inspired
Submission of Resurrection Connection news to the Hill Topper
Special meeting was held with Susan Townsley, Regional Minister, Fairfield County, Connecticut
Conference, United Church of Christ on May 21st.

Our group meetings have been enlightening and productive. From them, we have gathered that

We want to remain Shelton Congregational Church
We want to reach out to our community and to our membership
We must develop effective communication with the congregation and the community
We are a congregation of committed compassionate members with many gifts to share with each
other
We understand that, financially, the church can only support a part-time pastor at best
We, the Resurrection Connection, will be proceeding to discern God’s mission for us as a church.
We have much more work to do. (continued on next page)
Resurrection Connection continued…...

In the coming weeks the Resurrection Connection will be hosting several events.

Congregation Conversations - August 2nd and August 16th
Saturday September 19th – Pot Luck/Talent Show

Once again, the Resurrection Connection invites you to participate in our conversations. Your presence will help to stimulate conversation. Hopefully, these conversations will stimulate you as a vital piece in our pursuit of a new beginning for our church. Your input is needed. Your attendance at every gathering is not required. We are happy to receive your thoughts, questions or ideas via mail, email or by phone and will include them at our meetings. Contact information can be found on the bulletin board downstairs. There are also copies located in the Narthex.

Our church needs you - your gifts, your talents and your spiritual support. Please join us as we embark on this journey of discovery.

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We were sad to have our Church Organist, Tanya Yedigarova leave her position here at SCC. Tanya has been employed with us for close to 9 years and had a great opportunity to take a position with a church doing 3 services per week. Thankfully, David Irvine has agreed to play in Tanya’s place as well as direct the Choir and they both continue to amaze us each week with their beautiful music! We will miss you Tanya!

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Donate your used suitcases to Connecticut kids!

Your suitcases or large duffel bags will be given to a child to keep as their own. Suitcases will be used here in the local area when children are suddenly removed from their homes. Call Partners United for Children at (203) 583-9374 for a donation location.

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From the church mailbox:

No mail this month.

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The deadline for the September Hilltopper is Tuesday August 18th.
All articles must be submitted by then to be included.

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COMMUNION SUNDAY/FOOD BANK

On the first Sunday of each and every month we will collect donations for our food bank. As special container will be placed in the Narthex and non-perishable food donations will be gratefully accepted.

Did you know that 33% of households served by Food Banks include at least one employed adult? 75 % have incomes below the federal poverty level. Sometimes hard working people are at risk for hunger. A survey of food pantry and soup kitchen clients in Connecticut revealed that 42% had to choose between paying for food or utilities; 34% had to choose between food or paying rent; and 30 % had to choose between food or medical care.

Shelton Congregational Church collects food for the Valley Food Bank year round. Lucille Wells spearheads this effort at our church.

Please take a minute to devise your plan to remember to bring your non-perishable donations to church on Communion Sunday.

The container will be in the Narthex all the time and you are most welcome to bring donations every Sunday. Wouldn’t it be great to have a full container on Communion Sunday. You might not hear a “thank you” but your contribution will be appreciated.

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