CHIME NOTES
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Contents:
Summer to Remember
Summer Sunday School
A note of thanks
Cookout Proceeds, etc.
Calendar Items

The First Church in Swampscott
Church Council 

Jim Kinchley, Chair
Lorraine Follis, Clerk
Karen Pagnotti, Treasurer
Holly Brauner
Isabel Park
Jen Reames, Nursery School Liaison
Michelle Steingiser
George Potts



Fruit Cup CHALLENGE
The Dennis Union church on Cape Cod has put out a challenge to all churches to collect items for food pantries.  How many cans of fruit (any kind, any size) can we bring in during the month of July? Bring them to Sunday worship, and put in the Food Pantry basket.



The next Concert on the Terrace will take place on Sunday, July 31st at 3 PM, and features Bobby Jo Valentine, a soulful singer songwriter from Northern California.  Click on the link and listen to a cool song called "Sing Along".

 

We were saddened to learn of the deaths this week of Cynthia Gunnoe and   Jeff Schlactenhaufen.  Cynthia attended The First Church for many years, and was the mother of Jennifer Coffey, and grandmother of Katie, Michael, and Kevin. Millie Howell was her step mother.  Jeff was related to Johanna Young (married to her niece Susie).  Jeff had been on our prayer list for five years, as he battled pancreatic cancer.  Jeff and family lived near Chicago, but had been regular visitors to the North Shore.

Dear Church,

Peace, grace, and God's love to you and to all your loved ones.  May God's mercy and light surround you, wherever you are.  It is good to be home.

I am excitedly preparing a sermon on Sodom and Gomorrah for Sunday!  Really :-) And it has nothing to do with the RNC Convention in Cleveland and/or the DNC Convention in Philly. It has been interesting and very challenging to work through these old (important) stories about Abraham and Sarah, and previously Elijah and Elisha.  

I invite you to think about what you already know about the story of Sodom and Gomorrah from the book of Genesis, and how this story has been commonly understood in our lifetime, and then wonder with me - if there is something we have been missing all along.  God help us all.

It has NOT been a quiet summer so far at First church.  And the action continues with more concerts on the Terrace including one coming up on July 31 with a Hopeful, Thoughtful-Folk-Pop Music event with  Bobby Jo V alentine - 
Sunday, July 31, 3:00 p-5:00p

Some of us are also working h ard to present a Celebration of Diversity Festival for August 13th 2pm.  There will be many performers,food, information and fun celebrating the breadth of communities here in Swampscott.  It will be on the town lawn and church lawn.

We need some volunteers to pull this off. Please contact Linda Lengyel, Sue Burgess, Heidi Whear or Ian Holland.

AND ...If you are interested in participating in a gentle walking group on Thursdays nights - please contact Michelle Steingiser.

God Help us ALL
Pastor Ian