A Creation Justice Church
Keep up the good work, UCG!

Last Sunday after worship, many of us gathered under this new banner, sent to us upon the completion of the processing of our materials to be recognized as a "Creation Justice Church" of the United Church of Christ!

To become recognized as a Creation Justice Church, we were asked to outline the work we've done in creating a church green team, divesting from fossil fuel holdings, pursuing green justice education, pursuing physical plant auditing and eco-friendly building improvements, promoting  local food systems, doing sustainability work in the community, etc. and to submit & have recognized the Creation Justice Covenant the board & congregation approved last October.

The UCC offers this process of recognition to help support churches in their on-going activities to support a sustainable future for our planet!  Congratulations, UCG, for standing for eco-justice!



Notes from the church office...

 Louise Gemmell has shortened summer hours.  She will be opening the office on this schedule:

    T, W, F,  9 AM - 12 PM and Th, 9 AM - 3 PM

Also, be aware that Pastor Dwight will be away next week preparing for, traveling to and participating in the ABC/USA Mission Summit in Portland, OR.  So in case of pastoral emergency, please contact Kim Keethler Ball.



Thank you!
...for another year of witness at the Columbus Pride Parade

 Last weekend, about 25 folks from UCG participated in the Pride Parade, some as marchers and riders accompanying the Central Ohio UCC Pride Group float, while others marched in other groups' contingents, and a good number gathered at the first ever "watch party" mid-way through the route.  Folks from at least seven UCC churches participated in the float.  A great way to remind folks that a number of churches in the area stand for love, justice and equality! 
 

Up-coming Sundays!
Looking forward to a great summer at UCG...

June 25th, 60th Anniversary of the UCC
   Recognition & Blessing of our BYC Attendees & Counselors
   Reception into Membership of Colleen Ball, Meghan Link & Logan Malone
   Short Congregational Meeting after worship (see below)
   Lunches on the Square preparations after worship

July 2nd, Rev. Dave Ball preaching on "Faith & Patriotism" at 10 AM Worship
   Together We Grow at 12 Noon in the Chapel - Pam Roberts from the "Together We Grow" program in Newark will come to speak with us about this community garden program. She will have a Power Point presentation about the gardens and the people the program serves.  In addition, she will talk about creating fertilizer with Bokashi, fermented organic matter. Together WE Grow is selling the products for making Bokashi. Invite your gardening friends to come and hear about the program. 12:00 in the chapel.

July 9th, Worship at 10 AM
   Summer Sunday Brunch in the Annex after worship   


Pastor's Sabbatical
Beginning July 1, 2017

As most of you know, Rev. Davidson will be on sabbatical from July 1 through October 31, 2017, so this coming Sunday will be his last Sunday with us for four months.

For more information on the sabbatical & for a brief description of the doctoral thesis he'll be working on during this time, click here



Brief Congregational Meeting after worship
This Sunday, June 25

After worship and before we work together to prepare sack lunches for the "Lunches on the Square" program, we'll be having a congregational meeting in the sanctuary.

The Church Board will be presenting a proposal for the congregation's consideration having to do with approving funding for our staffing during Rev. Davidson's upcoming sabbatical.  Our sabbatical interim pastors will be Rev. Dr. David Ball and Rev. Kim Keether Ball, who will take on the task as co-pastors. For those of you who may not know Kim & Dave very well, please read these introductions

We are fortunate not only that we have this talented clergy couple among us, but also that they're willing and able to provide full sabbatical coverage to UCG during Rev. Davidson's leave.


UCG at the 2017
Mission Summit
The Biennial Gathering of the
American Baptist Churches/USA

UCG will have quite a bit of representation this year at the Portland Mission Summit.  We are, once again, a sponsoring church of the Summit, and five members of UCG will be participating.  Dave Ball, who serves on the board of ABC/USA's International Ministries, will be in Portland for pre-summit activities, and Dwight, Kari, Sarah & Isaiah Davidson will be participating in the event itself. 

This year is the first year the brand new Creation Justice Network of the ABC/USA will have a booth in the Hall of Ministries and Dwight is helping to organize that--in fact, one of the prints we'll be handing out at the booth: "Hints for Greening Your Ministries" uses suggestions created by UCG's Green Justice Team.  Growing our networks and sharing our resources--this is all part of the work of our church, which has been faithful, for many decades, to provide leadership in the ABC/USA.


Baptist Youth Camp
July 2 -7, 2017

Baptist Youth Camp has come around again, year 11 for our church to participate in this multi-congregational camp.  Four youth and three adults will leave Granville Sunday, July 2nd for Laurel Springs, North Carolina (just off the Blue Ridge Parkway).  We'll join about 150 other people from 10 other churches around the country, including two Dayton congregations.  The week will include a bonfire and guitars on the mountain top, a camp wide party, a concert by camp alumni, a variety show to display campers' talents, daily Bible exploration, youth led worship every night, swimming, hiking, sports, lots of music and laughter, and multiple opportunities for each of us to grow and try something new. 

I'm grateful to the generous members of our congregation who have lessened the financial burden for each camper - they are a role model for specific church giving, putting their money where their hearts are! We'll load the van and shove off at 7:30 Sunday morning July 2. 

Anyone is welcome to join our circle and then wave us down the road.

Julie Reiswig



Circle News
UCG Circles are member-organized groups which provide opportunities for people to gather together to do something they enjoy or to explore a common interest!  Thank you, Circle conveners!

THIS WEEKEND!  UCG Dinner Circle! 
RSVP for this month's dinner, June 24th 
"Dear Dinner Circle Compatriots,
     We are hosting this month's dinner circle at our home, 4 Sheppard Place, Granville, on Saturday, June 24 at 6:30 PM. Weather permitting, we'll be on the deck overlooking our back yard; otherwise, we'll spread out inside the house.
     We will be providing drinks-water, iced tea, beer, wine-and two kinds of curry: chicken and a vegan version with tofu. Both will be mildly spiced, but we'll have options available if you want to spice things up. There'll be basmati rice, naan, and a range of small dishes such as chopped peanuts, coconut, raitas, chutney, etc., to add as you like.
     Please provide an appetizer, a salad, or a dessert as your contribution.
Because of size constraints, we are limiting the number of guests to 25: first come first served. Let us know as soon as possible if you plan to come and what you will be bringing!!
  Judith Thomas and Jerry Griffin
740-403-0300, 740-403-6399

Sitting Zen (Zazen)
is meeting in UCG's Chapel on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:00-7:20 PM,  If you're new to sitting, an orientation is available every Tuesday at 6:30.   For more info, see the FB Page-Granville Meditation

The Growing Food Circle will be meeting in July--time & place TBA!  Contact Jean Farmer for information on what this group has been up to! 

NOTE! Growing Older Together is taking a break during the summer months! 
 



Did you know...
that the UCC has been active in advocacy for the normalization of relationships with Cuba?

Many of us are familiar with the long history of the Alliance of Baptists' work in advocating a normalization of US-Cuban relationships.  But we may not be as familiar with similar efforts happening through UCC connections.  At this summer's General Synod of the UCC--celebrating the 60th anniversary of the denomination--a resolution will be brought forward as a result of much study and effort: "Bring Down the Wall in the Caribbean."  To read more about the history of UCC work in this area, and to preview the resolution, click here!

A reminder about the UCG Message Board!
Since our What's Up e-mails come out only bi-weekly, the Message Board is an important way to get news out quick!  Please sign up!

      As many of you know, the UCG Message Board is a Google e-mail group we can all use to pass along information about important events, community initiatives and even personal needs--directly to all others on the Message Board. 
      Since the bi-weekly "What's Up" e-mails that come from the Church Office contain news primarily related to events directly sponsored by UCG, the Message Board expands our communications capacity by helping people find out about, and to share information regarding events hosted by other groups (beyond the church) as well.  The Message Board also allows our Church Office to distribute important information in a timely manner between bi-weekly "What's Up" e-mails.
      Don't be concerned about "littering up" your inbox!  You don't have to receive every Message Board e-mail separately!  You can elect to receive a daily digest (this is the default option), or an abridged version.  All you need is a Google account (please sign up using an e-mail address linked to that Google account!)  So don't hesitate to sign up & stay "in the loop!" Simply navigate to this address to sign up -
 

Meditation & Spirituality Practices Group
Every Monday...
Meditation/Contemplation is from 3:15-3:45 PM in the Chapel
Book Discussion to follow, 4-5 PM
 
In the Spring, our meditation time will be on Mondays, 3:15-3:45.  This is open to everyone.  Spiritual Practices Monday Group will have our discussion from 4-5 PM.  We will be be reading a new book, Happiness, by Thich Nhat Hanh . Note: please enter the church through the "office" door, as the others are generally locked!

Doris Jane Conway (djconway40@gmail.com)


BPFNA's Summer Conference
AKA "Peace Camp" 
July 17-22, Mision Mazahua, Toluca, Mexico
Registration has been extended!

Click here to read more about this year's Peace Camp, and to find registration information.  The registration deadline is approaching quickly!  We do have a few vouchers for FREE registration for first-time attendees.  The vouchers cover conference fees (but not room or meals).  See Dwight or Louise for details.


It's time to register!
Aug. 7-11, 2017, 9 AM - Noon
 
Ceciel Shaw, UCG's Director of Ministry to Children & Families, is already preparing for this fun, week-long "camp" to be held just before the new school year starts.  Kids will be learning about conflict resolution, their connection to others and the earth, ways to gain inner peace, and how some of the world's major religious traditions encourage peacefulness and peace-making.

And... "it's time to register for Peace Village, if you haven't already!
(You should be able to access this link on your phone.
Please let me know if you have any concerns.)

If you have older children (13+) who would like to help out during the week in an assistant counselor role, we'd love to have them! 

Looking forward to a meaningful and FUN week! - Ceciel"



June is "Pasta & Spaghetti" Month
for our Licking County Food Pantry collection

The donation basket for these items is near the piano in the Chapel.  Thanks for your donations!  And remember that you may give financially as well.


Coming Up!
In the next week...

Every Weekday, 9AM-3 PM
SPARK Day Program for Adults with Disabilities in the Annex upper levels
Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool is now on Summer Break!

Thursday, June 22
Granville Meditation (Zen Sitting) in the UCG Chapel, 7 PM

Friday, June 23

AA in the Main Building Basement, 7 PM

Saturday, June 24
UCG Dinner Circle at Judith & Jerry's, 6:30 PM

Sunday, June 25

Worship
in the Sanctuary, 10 AM
Nursery, 9:45 AM -11:15 AM
Brief Congregational Meeting after worship
Lunches on the Square preparations after worship

Monday, June 26
Meditation/Contemplation, 3:15-3:45
Spiritual Book Group, 4 PM

Tuesday, June 27
Pastor departs for ABC/USA Mission Summit in Portland
Granville Meditation (Zen Sitting) at the UCG Chapel, 7 PM


Remember that you can always access a detailed calendar on the church website.
Click here & bookmark it if you'd like!