Beth's Blogs

Dear Beth,

Emily Cooke, Chair of the Pastor Nominating Committee sent us a letter from the PNC. I think we are close to calling a pastor; what do you think?

Still Just Wondering

Since the work of the PNC is confidential, I really don’t know much more for sure than the letter that the PNC wrote to the congregation this month. They are at the point of listening to the candidates preach in a neutral pulpit so the entire committee can hear them and meet with them for the final stage of interviews. Please pray hard now that in this group of candidates there is a match! Pray also for the PNC’ers that they can maintain their dedication, energy, and cohesiveness in the final stretch. And thank them and their families for the sacrifices they have made!

Hi Beth,

I noted that on the kiosk in the Narthex is a letter from the White House addressed to Cynthia Tice and Friends of Rockville United Church. Since Cindy has passed away, what does this mean?

Missing Her

It took me a while to piece all this together. You may remember that RUC back in July sent a petition to our elected officials asking them to “promote Congressional support and Presidential leadership to achieve an immediate cease-fire in Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza.” Cindy was the first one to sign the petition addressed to President Bush. Sadly, on December 9th, Cindy passed away. Darren K. Hipp, the Special Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Correspondence, replied on White House stationery on December 19th. The text of the letter reads: “On behalf of President Bush, thank you for your correspondence about the current situation in the Middle East. President Bush’s vision for the Middle East is guided by the clear principle that all people in the region deserve to live safe from terrorism and under a democratic and honest government. He also believes that people who live in freedom are more likely to reject terrorism. The President has pledged that America will be an active partner of every party that seeks true peace. For more information on this developing situation, please visit the White House website at whitehouse.gov/infocus/mideast. Thank you again for writing, and best wishes.” As one of her friends, I find this a sad and amazing reminder of her life.

Dear Readers,

Lee and Ken Fisher, who have been two of the movers and shakers from this congregation with Garrett County Habitat for Humanity Project, left a letter in my mailbox. Our own Don Hartranft has a business that involves disposing of home furnishings and property from estates and from other sources. He has been working quietly behind the scenes to support Habitat. Lee and Ken write: “He appraises jewelry and antiques for our annual yard sale; he takes unsold books, CD’s, records; etc. to auction and unsold clothing to InterFaith Clothing. All of the income from these activities is donated to the Habitat Project.” He has branched out and does the same thing for the Sandy Spring Friends Meeting Annual Book Sale. Young Friends of Sandy Spring Friends Meeting were so impressed with his dedication, generosity, and the Habitat Project that they wrote a $500.00 check for the RUC Garrett County Habitat Project. Don, with your generous spirit and kind heart, you serve as an example to all of us. Thank you! ”

Love and cheers,

Beth

My dear Beth,

I want my photo in the 40th Anniversary slide show. Is it too late?

My Moment in Time

No, we are just beginning! 2007 is the 40th anniversary of the founding of Rockville United Church (RUC) and Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR). One of the ways we’re celebrating is to make a slide show of our RUC families in the 60’s when RUC was founded. We showed the first edition of it at our kick-off 40th anniversary celebration on Saturday, January 13th. Linda Pattison (our daughter-in-law) invites you to give her your pictures and she will add them to the slide show. We will continue to show the growing slide show at each of our monthly celebrations. Several kids have wanted their pictures included even though they weren’t even twinkles in their parents’ eyes. We say, “Yes!” At the end of the year Linda will provide the slide show in electronic form so you can have your own personal copy. (For the calendar of our monthly celebration events, please look in the narthex, in our monthly newsletter, or on our website, www.rockvilleunitedchurch.org. )

Readers with questions should write Beth Pattison, President of RUC Church Council, at BPattison@RockvilleUnitedChurch.org, ask her directly, or leave the question in her mailbox at RUC.