THIS Sunday, August 4, 10:00 a.m.
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Guest Preacher: The Reverend Kaz Bem
Bernard Crane (Musician/Music Director)
What’s Next
Gail’s last day is July 17. During this transition period to finding an Interim Pastor, guest preachers this summer include Sarah Hubbell, Susan Scott, Kaz Bem, Gary Gumuchian, and Skip Lloyd. Watch your weekly emails and the summer newsletter for details as we move through the summer. The Reverend Skip Lloyd (978-391-4115; thelloydfam@aol.com) and The Reverend Marvin Caldwell (978-448-5496; mjcaldwell71@gmail.com) are available for pastoral emergencies.
Accessibility Steering Team Update
The goal of the Accessibility Project is to make both main floors of the church fully accessible to all people who are physically challenged.
Did you know that the proposed design calls for a three-stop elevator? This feature completely eliminates the need for a ramp, which translates to significant savings in cost and maintenance of a ramp. You can find out about other features of the project on page 5 of the June newsletter.
We hope you will attend the presentation of the proposed project on September 22 at coffee hour. And please seek out any one of us between now and Sept. 22. We’d be happy to discuss features of the project with you. Thank you!
The Team:
Bebe Goudey, Chair; Anne Cahill; Chip Detwiller; Karen Sherwin; Christopher Sullivan; Sara Zambuto
2019 Backpack Drive
Sharing Christ ~ Changing Lives ~ Providing Backpacks!
We are ready to launch our second UCC Groton Backpack Drive and will be providing 250-300 students with backpacks and school supplies on August 23, 2019. Cheerful volunteers (YOU) are the key to making this program a success. Here’s how you can help:
Volunteer to set-up at Devens Community Center, August 21-22. We need people to be “on call” to unload a truck and help stock tables at several times (morning, afternoon and evening). All church youth are welcome and encouraged!
Volunteer on Distribution Day, Friday, August 23. Be a greeter (check people in) or a “personal shopper” with families during two shifts (8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.) at Devens Community Center. Due to privacy concerns, volunteers must be adults.
Volunteer over the following weekend or Monday/Tuesday the following week to help with clean-up, organization of remaining supplies, and distribution of supplies to area schools.
Make a monetary donation (used to buy school supplies and backpacks). To give online click here; or send a check made out to UCC Groton (Memo: Backpack Drive) to Carol Zaiatz, UCC, 220 Main Street, Groton, MA 01450.
Shop for backpacks: A large number of backpacks are being donated by others, but we are responsible for providing approximately 50 varied backpacks for middle school, high school, and college students. Backpacks must be provided by August 1.
Volunteer to shop in early August for any shortfall of school supplies that may still be needed. If you enjoy finding bargains and bulk-shopping (either online or in person), we may need a few people to help with last-minute shopping of outstanding items (to be determined). If they are items we have assigned, you can be reimbursed for the cost of purchased items.
Donate school supplies: The following items are needed to round out the many donations provided by others. Please only provide items with the specifications listed here and feel free to buy in bulk to get the best deals:
—150 3-ring binders with 2-inch rings
—500 pocket folders
—90 packs of index cards (no more than 100 cards per pack)
—150 packs college-ruled 3-ring binder paper (pre-holed or “filler paper”)
—150 college-ruled composition books
—120 packs of dividers for 3-ring binders
—120 mechanical pencils
Please consider giving a few hours of your time so that area children can share in the excitement of a new school year without the worry of being unprepared. Donations of backpacks and supplies will be collected in Fellowship Hall near the choir room beginning July 18.
Thinking Ahead – The Harvest Fair
Saturday, October 5
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Missions Committee has chosen Hagar’s Sisters as the recipient of our proceeds from the Harvest Fair. Their mission is “Ending the cycle of violence through the transforming power of God.”
In Preparation this summer:
Save your kids clothes for donating to the Children’s Clothing room.
Do you have an idea for the Silent Auction? It can be a physical thing (tickets to an event, a vacation home, a painting, a handmade blanket….) or you could offer your services (house painting, making dinner, cleaning a yard…). Contact Liz Brennan (Liz.Corcoran@Bain.com)
Bake and freeze things for the bake table. Do you have an extra crop of blueberries? Save them for blueberry pies!
Do you have an idea for the fair or want to help somewhere specific?
Contact Mary Hanson (Mary.Hanson@monotype.com)