A
summer letter to friends and colleagues:
There is a great relief that comes over me this time of year. It’s the
time when things wind down around agency work, and I get to think about
resting up a little before I go back into the swing of work! The GRCC
office will be closed during the month of July for the director to
regain her wits.
As I look over the first half of the year I am grateful to our members
and friends that have joined us in the many events we sponsored and
produced. I am hopeful that these opportunities have touched the hearts
of some people and perhaps even made a difference in their spiritual
and/or physical lives. I’m thinking of those events we helped sponsor
with the
Jewish Community Federation; one
in February, “
Out
In the
Cold,” and one in April, “
Earth-Sunday’s
Recycle ReUse.” (Many shoes
and boots were delivered to the
Brockport
Migrant Ministries and many
were delivered to the Haitian Relief Program.) I’m thinking of the 2nd
Annual Stations of the Cross Walk on Good Friday where hundreds of
people walked through the Beechwood neighborhood praying at places of
violence and places of hope. I’m think about the ongoing work of
The
Beloved Community Coalition and how they struggle to
build-bridges of
understanding and new relationships in our neighborhoods; the work of
the
Interfaith
Health Care Coalition that helps to educate us on health
care reform and holds our “toes to the fire” by reminding us that many
people go without health care for a variety of reasons, but mostly
because it’s not affordable. I’m thinking about the many people who
helped assist the “
Walkers
for a Nuclear-Free Future” by finding them
overnight accommodations, meals, and listening to their stories. I’m
thinking about the Summit on Urban Ministry where our denominational
leaders gathered to talk about ways to support and help one another to
do urban ministry. And wow… how about that
Faith In Action Celebration
Dinner where nearly 500 people came to acknowledge the
faithful work of
our honorees, and our key-awardees, Thomas Warfield, Jean Bartlett, and
RAIHN!
And that’s just a half year!
I am starting my summer vacation with a spiritual retreat at a
Benedictine monastery in Erie, PA.
I bring with me many prayers and
promises. I pray for the many people who continue to support GRCC and I
am thankful for their generosity, including the board of directors. I
promise to keep our
members and donors apprised of the
work of the
agency through newsletters, email,
Facebook and all the other
creative
ways of communication (even the telephone). I pray that the agency
continues to move forward in its ministry and draw in new faces…
younger ones… who find enthusiasm in doing spiritual work in the world.
I promise to listen to the voices of the unheard even when they are not
speaking. I pray for an end of the violence, fighting and killing in
our community. I promise to rest over the summer and not come into the
office even when our
VP
for Organization is pulling out his hair. I
pray no emergencies happen that cause me to break that promise!
One more thing I want to pray for and hope you join with me; I pray for
a solution to the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the many people
who have been harmed from it. This is something that affects not just
the people in that immediate area, but it affects us all. We have been
given the stewardship of this earth and we seem to be failing in our
caretaking. I promise to keep these things in my heart and in my
prayers this summer. I do believe in the power of prayer, or if you
will… the power of compassionate thoughts. For it does make a
difference.
Faithfully,
Marie
Executive Director
FEATURING: Member
Highlights
One of the more recent additions to the small
groups at UCC Webster is
a group called “Book Buddies” which was inspired by eleven year old,
Natalie Bila (who also participates in the Drama Kids, International
group hosted by the church). After helping to collect games for the
“Santa’s Workshop” for hospitalized children at Christmas time, Natalie
wondered how she could help children througho
ut the remainder of
the
year. Her curiosity led her to many inquiries which resulted in the
development of “Book Buddies”. From now until the end of April,
Natalie, now assisted by her 9 year old sister Sarah, will collect new
or gently used books for children in grades K-6 to be delivered in May
to students at Rochester City School #41. After just 3 weeks of
collection through the church, they have acquired over 250 books for
their project. After the winter recess, both girls will be looking for
book donations from their classmates at Willink Middle School and
DeWitt Rd. School in Webster, NY.
If you would like to help the girls with their book collection, you may
drop off books at the church, 570 Klem Road. Located in the Narthex is
a basket for the books.
GRCC
continues to be in prayer
with the greater community of Rochester and for all those affected by
violence. We support the efforts started by Deacon Bill Coffey, nearly
ten years ago when he and others in the area began to address the
homicides that were taking place on our streets by going to the sites
of shootings to pray and bless the family and neighborhood.
A prayer email chain was created.
People were encouraged after each
homicide to gather at the site to hold hands and send forth prayers of
healing and comfort. Those that cannot attend, pray from their home,
their office, their car... wherever it is best for them. To be a part
of this ongoing community of prayer and healing, please contact Bill
Coffey directly at: wcoffey2@rochester.rr.com
or email GRCC at grcc1@frontiernet.net.
A project of the Greater Rochester Community
of Churches, Faith Community Alliance, and Baptist Ministers Alliance.
Organization -
