The calendar for June points us toward the end of the program year, which will come to a close with a doubleheader on the 20th.  The final Church School play/musical will be performed during the Worship Service on that Sunday, which is also the day for the Congregational Meeting after church.  Planners for both events are hoping that folks who have one of these events in mind will also be on hand for the other!

Church School will continue throughout the summer, ably overseen by Gail McPeek.  We will have two classes grouped by age every Sunday, and recent experience has demonstrated that we will have a good turnout every week.  We enlist teachers on a weekly basis, and are eager for some new faces in the ranks.  If you would like to try your hand, please let either Gail or me know.  She does a great job preparing the lessons, so it’s a turn-key operation.  Thanks in advance for considering this possibility!

Although we are still basking in the glow of a wonderful Confirmation Sunday on Pentecost, plans are well underway for next year’s class, which will begin on September 12th.  I have contacted the parents of the potential Confirmands, and have already had some affirmative responses.  The year-long class is a significant time commitment for the students, but both parents and young adults in this year’s cohort have been emphatic that it was worth the effort.  One of the most important aspects of the Confirmation process is the role of the adult mentor, and I am very eager to hear from any members of the congregation who would like to consider making a significant difference in the life of one of these students.  Please contact me if you are interested, or would like more information.

We are also in the planning process for a number of other events in the fall.  Ernie Drown, Ann Bradley and I are cooking up a concert for younger children on September 5th that will be pure fun.  Save the date, and stay tuned for details.  Since the start of school may keep many of you in town on that Labor Day weekend, we thought we’d keep things from being too prosaic.  The following weekend will officially open the program year, with the Recovenanting ceremony, All-Church Picnic, beginning of Church School, and the first Confirmation class.  Busy Day!

We have several Adult Education offerings in the planning stages, and hope to have Fred Berthold return to teach another class.  He is thinking of a series on the subject of Evil, although first he needs to decide of he’s fur it, or agin’ it.  We are also hoping to have Chris Jernstedt teach a class on Brain Science and Faith.  Watch this space for more information.

Thanks to the dozens and dozens of volunteers who have made all of our Religious Education programs so fruitful this year. Best wishes for a safe and happy summer!

~Rob Grabill