Rock Spring News October 2013

Rock Spring News OCTOBER 2013 1

Rock Spring CongregationalUnited Church of Christ

5010 Little Falls Rd. Arlington, VA703-538-4886

www.rockspringucc.org

The Rock Spring NewsOctober 2013 Vol. 13 No.09

Kye Allums was born Kyler Kelcian “Kay-Kay” Allums and grew up in St. Paul, Minneapolis

He says he identified from childhood as a man in a woman’s body. Kye made

history as the first openly transgender athlete to play on an NCAA Division I college

basketball team while attending George Washington University. Today, he is a

transgender advocate, public speaker, mentor for LGBT youth, and one of the National

Black Justice Coalition’s Emerging Leaders. Visiting campuses, he spreads his belief that

“I am enough — what I say, what I feel, that is enough. You shouldn’t have to tweak

yourself to make somebody else happy.”

Kye will be our keynote speaker on October 20. He will share his story and

perspectives, followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion. This event is free

and open to the public. Please feel free to invite others who may be interested. A light

lunch will be served to those staying on after the 11:00service. To help us plan, please

email [email protected] if you will be having lunch; there is no need for

registration otherwise.

1:00 – 3:00 P.M. IN CARPENTER HALL, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

Understanding Transgender:Conversation with Kye Allums

.

Rock Spring News OCTOBER 2013 2 SEPTEMBER 2013 Rock Spring News

SundayS in OctOber at rOck Spring

OCTOBER 6

OCTOBER 13

OCTOBER 20

OCTOBER 27

Worldwide Communion SundayNeighbors in Need Special OfferingWorship at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.Isaiah 56:6-8 and Mark 14:22-25 “Table Talk”9:00 – 10:30 a.m. New Members Class begins 12:30 p.m. The Bible: A 21st Century Look at Basic Themes3:00 p.m. Blessing of the Animals

Worship at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.9:00 – 10:30 a.m. New Members Class

Worship at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.Genesis 32:22-31 and Luke 18:1-8 “Vulnerable Blessing”9:00 – 10:30 a.m. New Members Class 12:30 p.m. Prayer circle1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Understanding Transgender: Conversation with Kye Allums

Budget Goals MeetingWorship at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.Psalm 65:1, 9-13 and Joel 2:27-29 “New Visions”12:15 p.m. Budget Goals Meeting 2:00 p.m. Handmade Ministry6:30 p.m. Haunted House and Pumpkin Carving Pizza Party

EVERY SUNDAY IN OCTOBER

10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Video Discussion 10:00 a.m. Choristers

12:30 p.m. Youth Choir

6:30 p.m. Middle and Senior High Youth of Rock Spring


reflectiOnS

REV. KATHY DWYER

Children and Youth, or Worship). When you click on a specific event, you will usually find detailed information

about the event itself. So, if you are curious about “Thursday Friends,” click on the link (hint: they meet on the first

and third Thursday of the month) and you will find a description as well as a contact for information. If you have

an event to add to the calendar, please provide Angel a brief description of the event, a point of contact, and

a related photo if you have it.

As much as this site is useful to us internally, we hope the site will help those who are trying to find a new church

or who want to learn a little about Rock Spring before taking the step to walk through our doors. In the first five

days that the site has been live, we have had 317 unique visitors.

The development of the site has been a labor of love by many. It has been fun to work with Alicia Pritt and Cheryl

Burke from Theory One Design. Their love of hearing stories, sharing sacred conversation, and building communi-

cation tools that are both functional and authentic is evident every day. Their curiosity, generous spirit, creativity,

sense of humor, and earnest desire to bring their very best to their work have been a priceless gift in this process.

Sarah Cramer Shields of Cramer Photography is the kind of photographer who immediately puts everyone at

ease and that shows in her superb photography throughout the site. The staff has been eager to help and Angel

Washington, especially, has enthusiastically learned new skills so that our on-going execution will be smooth. The

web team (Charlie Gilmour, Jim Kane, Marti Weston, Dale Dwyer, Betsey Wildhack) have shepherded this project

from its conception with wisdom and care. I am grateful for each of them.

Grace and peace,

– Kathy

I am delighted to report that Rock Spring’s new web site is up and running!

Over the coming weeks and months new features will be added, including a section

called “meet our members,” and a members only section where you will be able to

maintain your own profile (address, phone number, etc) and access that information for

others. We will also be able to store minutes from meetings and important documents

such as our constitution and annual reports so that they will be readily available to anyone

who wants the information. Please visit the site and give us feedback.

We would love to know what you like, what you find useful, and things you would like to

see added or adapted.

The calendar is one of the best tools on the site. At the top of the calendar page

there is a filter so that you can choose to look for certain kinds of events (e.g. Concerts,

OCTOBER 2013 Rock Spring News Rock Spring News OCTOBER 2013 4

reflectiOnS

REV. MARK SURIANO

I also want to acknowledge Linda Carder’s vision and hard work as she comes to the end of her year with us as the Director of Children’s Ministries and returns to retirement. Linda has been a terrific asset, a constant champion of children, and a wonderful colleague. I appreci-ate her bright-eyed excitement and will miss her running into my office with a new idea or a computer question! I hope you will join me in thanking her for all these things and more as she moves on to other interests in the church. I look forward to working with her on other projects in the months ahead.

This fall YoRS is meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and I am looking forward to seeing all the youth, hearing their stories, experiencing their craziness, and learning from them. I hope that you will encourage your middle and senior high youth to come to these gatherings and I ask that you keep an eye out for upcoming email about schedules and events.

Finally, don’t forget to save the date for the Haunted House and Pumpkin Carving/Coloring pizza party on October 27!

Peace and all good things

– Mark

Fall is my favorite season of the year, the cool crisp days are a welcome relief from the heat of summer and the skies turn that beautiful blue that seems so expansive and full of possibility. As the heat of summer seems to be abating though the program year is heating up, filled with its own set of possibilities and promise.

I would like to thank Betsey Wildhack, Betsy Thomassen, Bob Martinage, Dave Divecha and Richard Lee for making the Homecoming Picnic such a hit. It was great to get together “just because” and enjoy fellowship and laughter and their hard work was essential to giving us that opportunity.


ten exciting thingS gOing On at rOck Spring that yOu ShOuld knOw abOut:

10. Did you participate in the congregational conversation on September 22 to discuss ordained staffing (aka: pastors!): how many do we need? how many do we want? how many can we afford? what do we hope the focus of their ministry will be? We had a terrifically productive discussion.Would you like a summary? Contact the office at [email protected]. Do you have input? Contact Kathy Dwyer or Rebecca Womeldorf.

9. The annual “Budget Goals” meeting for the church will be held on October 27, 2013. Representatives from the Finance Board will outline and explain the proposed 2014 budget, which reflects objectives identified by Rock Spring’s various boards, committees, task forces, and staff for the next year (leavened by financial realities). The annual stewardship campaign will kick-off after the budget goals meeting. Come see what your fellow congregants have labored to present, and then, be heard! Do we have it about right? Do you want the church to do more? Do less? Give more? Give differently? What would inspire you to want to do more and give more?

8. Our former Pastor for Parish Life Janet Parker will have her service of Installation as the Senior Pastor of the First Congregational Church in Salem, Oregon. on October 20, 2013. She has asked Kathy to officiate and to give the sermon. We give thanks for Rock Spring’s extended community of faith and fellowship, and the many blessings of enduring relationships.

7. Sarah Steel continues on staff but has shifted her role to accommodate our evolving needs. As Rock Spring’s “Operations Consultant,” Sarah will work closely with the Finance and Property Boards, with the specific goal of allowing our pastors to focus more on true pastoral concerns.

6. Rock Spring Ambassadors assist in the office on a volunteer basis, helping to lower our administrative expenses but as importantly incorporating more members into the day-to-day operations of the church. Do you feel called to serve your church in this capacity? Answer! Talk to Kathy or one of our existing ambassadors for more details.

5. Taize returns! This Candlelight Evening Prayer service is held from 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. on the first Friday of the month from October through April. It features beautiful and meditative centering music, scripture readings, silence, singing, and prayer. Join us on October 4.

4. It takes a village to do a great many things -- can a village help Arlingtonians to “age in place“ rather than moving from their homes? Rock Spring hosted a community forum on September 18 to explore the concept. Talk to Charles Spencer if you want to learn more, or go to www.arlnvil.com.

3. Neighborhood House renovations in the works? Not yet. We are stepping back and focusing on our mis-sion for the space, building on the tremendous and thought-provoking work of the Neighborhood House Task Force. Ideas? Questions? Contact Bob Martinage, At-Large Council member, who has agreed to lead the next phase of exploration and discussion.

2. In late October, a Rock Spring team consisting of Senior Pastor Kathy Dwyer, pastoral intern Laura Martin, Marty Stansell-Gamm, and Howard Hjort —accompanied by UCC Central Atlantic Conference Minister John Deckenback -- will travel to Jerusalem to explore ways to deepen our budding relationship with the Church of the Redeemer, which is an outgrowth of our decision last year to become a Global Mission congregation. This visit is first and foremost an important step in the process of building a relationship.

1. Our new web site is up and running, with up-to-date calendar information and details about many programs.

As you can see, there are many more than 10 exciting things going on at Rock Spring. God is still speaking, and working, through his church!

Rebecca Womeldorf, Council [email protected]


FRIDAY EVENING SUNDAY AFTERNOON7:00-9:00 12:30-2:00

October 4, 2013 October 6, 2013 How we got the bible New Testament Sources; Bible versions; translation issues

November 1, 2013 November 3, 2013 Survey of the Old Testament (including stories behind the Jewish holidays)

December 6, 2013 December 8, 2013 Survey of the New Testament (authors and their agendas) Birth Narratives

January 3, 2014 January 5, 2014 Birth Narratives

February 1, 2014 February 3, 2014 The Life and Times of Jesus

March 7, 2014 March 9, 2014 Matriarchs and Heroines

April 4, 2014 April 6, 2014 Wicked Women of the Bible

May 2, 2014 May 4, 2014 TBA

Spiritual grOwth & learning

Candlelight Evening Prayer Servicewith music in the style of Taizé returnsFirst Fridays from October – April, 6:30-7:00pm

October 4

November 1

December 6

January 3

February 7

March 7

April 4

Modeled after the Taizé community in France, the services include sung prayers and periods of silence. The tone is quietly joyful and full of hope.

The Bible:A 21st Century Look at Basic ThemesYou are invited to join us in learning about the Bible. The class meets monthly in the Peace Room. No commitment

or sign-up required. No homework or tests. Classes are led by Carol George ([email protected]) and Janice

Langholz ([email protected]). Here is a listing of the topics we will be covering in the Bible Basics class this year:


Spiritual grOwth & learning

Blessing of the AnimalsOn Sunday, October 6, 2013, 3:00 p.m. Rock Spring will celebrate its 5th Blessingof the Animals on the lawn. Come with the pets who share their life with you. Please be sure all dogs are on leashes.

“Sustenance for the Soul” Rock Spring Women’s Retreat

Saturday, November 169 am – 4 pmCarpenter HallRetreat Leader: Laura Martin

Do you often desire to include devotion and worship in the rhythm of your daily life, to make sacred time amid crowd-

ed schedules? In this daylong retreat, Laura Martin will lead us in exploring how to create spaces throughout our days

that are nourishing and meaningful.

Through large- and small-group work, creative exploration, and discussions, women will experience a range of ways

to deeply “check in” with the Holy, with others, and with their own selves.

Laura Martin is in her fourth year of study at Wesley Theological Seminary and has been a pastoral intern at Rock Spring

since September 2012.

Your registration fee of $25 includes lunch.

Two ways to register:

1. Sign up online through the church website by clicking here.

2. Fill out a registration form, which can be found on the big table in the Saegmuller Room.

Your registration fee may be paid at the retreat (checks payable to: Women’s Fellowship of Rock Spring Church).

Registration closes Nov. 9. Questions? Contact Donna Moss or Eileen Jinks.


NEWS FROM THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BOARD

Introducing a New Twist on Back to School

On September 15th, Rock Spring kicked off its 2013-14 Sunday

School Year with a wonderful all-church picnic, games, and moon

bounce--many, many thanks to everyone who contributed to mak-

ing this day such a success.

children, yOuth & familieS

This year, the Christian Education Board is delighted to introduce the Rotation Model, a new curriculum approach (for

us) to Sunday School. So how does the rotation model work? Each week the children will take part in one of six distinct

workshops, focused around a common theme. Each “rotation” will last from 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the church

season. At many times in the year, they will mirror the theme being explored in worship. Our goal with this model is

to have the children gain deep learning and insight through hands-on, experiential learning. At the 11:00 service the

children will be broken into three age-clustered groups and each group will have “shepherds” to guide the children

through their morning and to assist the teachers teaching the various workshops. We will follow the Rotation Model at

the 9:00 a.m. service as well, most likely with one, multi-age group.

Our younger children (pre-K and K at 9:00 and pre-K at 11:00) will continue to go to Sunday school in a more traditional

classroom. And of course, the nursery is always staffed and ready for our very youngest Rock Springers. Doing all of

this takes many, many dedicated hands—we will celebrate you all by name in due time, but for now please know how

very much everyone’s energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and plain, old hard work are appreciated.

Whether or not you have a child in Sunday school, take a moment to visit the beautifully transformed workshop

classrooms—each has been carefully designed to highlight the theme and purpose of that classroom. I promise you,

seeing them will make you want to go back to Sunday school yourself! Many thanks to Linda Carter and her cast

of angels who have worked so hard and so creatively to launch our Rotation Model curriculum. We are very excited

about it and hope our children, their parents, and every Rock Springer will want to take part.

STAFFING TRANSITIONS

Rock Spring, its children and certainly the Christian Education Board

have been extraordinarily blessed by Linda Carter’s generosity, skill, and

dedication as our Interim Director of Children’s Ministries. We were so

grateful and blessed when Linda stepped up to this task last fall for (and

she was very clear on this) one year. As that year comes to a close,

Linda will step down from her role in mid-November. We are extraor-

dinarily blessed (again!) that Ashley Martinage felt called to step into

Linda’s shoes and will begin as our new Director of Children’s Ministries

in November.



WHAT A NICE PLACE TO COME TO SUNDAY SCHOOL

(REFLECTIONS BY AN ANONYMOUS OBSERVER)

Well, they had been telling us that some new and exciting things were going to happen, and they did! As I came into

church that day, parents were busy getting name tags on their bouncy and excited little ones. I smiled and spoke to

some of them, and went in the sanctuary to my usual seat. Then, as I sat in my pew, I noticed someone with a shep-

herd’s crook, of all things, standing in one of the aisles. The shepherd’s crook had a bright symbol on it. I think it was a

sun. This person also wore a vest with many pockets. Then I noticed two more folks dressed this way. Okay, I thought,

I wonder what is next? Then during children’s time, I figured it out! Each child had a symbol on his or her name tag

which matched the symbol on one of the shepherd’s crooks. Pretty soon, each child was scampering over to join their

shepherd. Then they all left the sanctuary in groups, with Linda leading the littlest children.

During the rest of the worship service, I occasionally wondered what was going on with the children. So when it was

over, I went to the Hunter Building to check it out. Parents were gathering in the hallway which was decorated to

the hilt! There were pictures of creation posted on all the walls along with scriptural verses and poetry. And from the

ceiling hung a blue sky! The parents were asking Linda about all the decorations. She said that Betsy Thomassen had

decorated the hallway, Joyce and Al Shuman had decorated the Sacred Story Theater, Jack and Carolyn Ebeler

had decorated the Drama and Discovery Room and she had done the Art Room. The Movie marquee was built by

Bob Martinage, and the signs for the Art Studio and the Music and Movement room were made by Gail Briggs. Just

then the children began pouring out of the rooms. I heard some of them excitedly telling their parents that they had

watched a movie and eaten popcorn, and others were chatting about some science experiment that they had

done, and still others had taken photographs of the creation around Rock Spring Church. So then I just had to go into

the rooms. One actually looked like a movie theater and another looked just like an Art Studio. There were valences

on windows and all our costumes were sorted and put away neatly in the drama room. Wow, I thought, what a nice

place to come to Sunday school.



We will also take on our first challenge of the year: planning and executing the annual Haunted House! This year’s Pumpkin Carving Party/Haunted House will be Sunday, October 27 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. We have lots to do to get ready, and need lots of fresh ideas.

We are always welcoming new friends, so please come and join us. Questions? Contact Ashley Martinage by email ([email protected]) or via phone/text at 703.447.0873.

sure you bring lots of canned or boxed goods to keep us busy a while. We are also getting ready for the Halloween Party on October 27 and the possibility of a Lock-In (or two!) in the upcoming months.

An email goes out to all the SH youth and their parents each week, if you have not received an email and think you should have please let Mark know at [email protected]!

SH YoRS Leaders

SENIOR HIGH YORSWe had a great first meeting of the year, welcoming four new ninth graders to the SH YoRS family with abundant fun and food. Thanks to Heather Moore we were able to put together the individual puzzle pieces of our lives into the whole puzzle of who we are as SH YoRS. We are planning for and exciting year and hope that more senior high youth will join us in the weeks to come so that they can join in!

On Sunday, September 29 we will join with the Middle High youth to help with the AFAC food drive during the Sunday services , so make

MIDDLE HIGH YORS

What a great group of 6th-8th graders!

We kicked off the program year in fine fashion with games, visioning,

and the newly traditional Chocolate Fondue Feast. We also began

transforming our meeting space – the stage of Neighborhood House –

into a more inviting place.

In October, we will focus on group building, playing lots of cooperative

games that help us learn how to work together and trust each other.


SOcial actiOn and miSSiOn

“AGING IN PLACE” FORUM HOSTED AT ROCK SPRINGAbout 50 people attended a community forum, sponsored by the Social Action and Mission (SAM) Board, hosted by Rock Spring Church on September 18, to focus attention on the un-met needs of aging Arlington residents who prefer to remain in their homes rather than move into retirement communities. The forum tapped into a growing local and national movement called “neighborhood villages,” in which residents who are over 55 and who live within a defined neighborhood form a dues-supported, professionally-managed association for mutual support. The “village” then recruits and assigns volunteers to provide non-medical support services to the members, as needed, in their homes. (Each member continues to receive health care from their own providers, but the “village” can provide volunteer drivers when needed.)

Carol Paquette, co-chair of the Arlington Neighborhood Villages planning group, was the main speaker. Ms. Paquette described the proposed master plan for “villages” county-wide, listed some of the types of volunteer services that members of a “village” could expect to receive, and explained how neighborhoods or civic associations will need to advertise and recruit quali-fied residents to join and start up a “village.” She also answered questions from the audience, which included representatives from several civic associations in North Arlington who had been specifically invited.

Anyone interested in learning more, but who missed this forum at Rock Spring, may attend a simi-lar public meeting at Washington-Lee High School on October 23, 7:30-9:00 p.m. A two-page Fact Sheet can be found online at http://arlnvil.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANV_Fact-sheet.pdf. A Rock Spring committee will continue to monitor developments. If you would like to serve on this committee, please contact Charles Spencer ([email protected]).

NEWS FROM OPEN AND AFFIRMING COMMITTEEOctober is LGBT History Month and October 11 is National Coming Out Day.Rock Spring will host two events in October:

Understanding Transgender: Conversation with Kye Allums 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in Carpenter Hall, Sunday, October 20 (see cover story)

The ONA Committee is showing an exhibit of photographs and interviews with 20 families that have lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) members throughout the month of October in the Saegmuller Room. Through first-person accounts, this exhibit makes visible the love and care in these families. Created by the award-winning Family Diversity Projects, Love Makes a Family seeks to enhance our understanding of what it means to cherish and affirm diversity.

Love Makes a Family- Portraits of LGBT People and their Families



ECO-JUSTICETheEco-Justice Committee will meet on Monday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Rock Spring. The mission of the Rock Spring Eco-Justice Committee is to raise awareness of environmental jus-tice issues and to promote better stewardship of earth’s resources, both as individuals and as a church. All are welcome. For more information, contact Chris Keefer ([email protected]).

“FATHER PAOLO” KIDNAPPED During the early days of the civil war in Syria, in July 2012, Rock Spring Church co-sponsored and hosted a community-wide evening forum on peace-making in Syria. Carpenter Hall was filled to capacity, not only by Rock Springers, but by our Muslim friends from Dar al Hijrah, and by Syrian-Americans throughout the Washington metropolitan area. We shared a meal provided by our cohost Dar al Hijrah, and raised more than $1,000 in contributions for a U.S. nonprofit dedicated solely to humanitarian aid for refugees from the war in Syria. The keynote speaker that night was Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, an Italian Jesuit priest who had lived and worked in Syria for several decades. He restored an ancient mountain-top Christian monastery near Damascus and

NEIGHBORS IN NEEDOn October 6 we will collect the Neighbors in Need special offering. One third of the offering supports the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM), and two thirds supports the Justice and Witness Min-istries (JWM). CAIM includes five ministries and 22 congregations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska. The JWM “helps local congregations and all settings of the church respond to God’s commandments to do justice, seek peace and effect change for a better world (www.ucc.org/justice).” Please give generously.er ([email protected]).

offered hospitality and meeting space for Syrians of all faiths who believe in peaceful coexistence among religions. A month before he came to Rock Spring, he was expelled from Syria by order of President Bashar al Assad. Father Paolo spoke to us eloquently of the need for interfaith dialogue and a peaceful transition of power in Syria. In July 2013 Father Paolo apparently returned to Syria, and was soon kidnapped on the streets of the city of Raqqa by militants of a Sunni Islamist umbrella group based in Iraq but with significant pres-ence in eastern Syria. There were reports that he had been executed, however, others have said he is still alive. We ask for you all to pray that he is safe, and that he will be released unharmed.

As a Just Peace Church with a Global Mission commitment, we pray for all who strive for peace with justice for everyone, in the midst of conflicts around the world, forgoing comfortable lives at home, and often risking their health and their lives. Amen.



I think people who persevere in practicing Christianity in Jerusalem--a shrinking minority in an ancient, conflicted land--deserve attention from Just Peace churches worldwide. What do they teach us about being Christian? I hope by knowing them better that my circles of affinity, compassion, understanding, and genuine friendship will grow. What else? I don’t know yet, but what rich possibilities!

I am your scout. I take your questions, messages, hopes, and offers of friendship to people who want to know us. And I will bring back the faces, stories, and responses we encounter. I will break ground and facilitate for you—for your future discoveries, relationships, and journeys—especially for our young people. Does your child want to meet a coun-terpart from Jerusalem? Travel? Talk to me: what connections and information should I seek?

Only God loves every person in the world with the extravagant, limitless passion we devote to family and friends. But for every stranger we invite into our personal circles--especially strangers who are REALLY strange to us--our hearts expand. And these expanded hearts ask of us, inexorably, something new. Palestinian Christians call: “Come and see.” So we begin. . . Marty Stansell-Gamm

Global Mission-Why Jerusalem? This month we share perspectives from two of our travelers on what they are expecting from our upcoming trip.

I will be joining John Deckenback, Kathy Dwyer, Laura Martin, and Marty Stansell-Gamm on Rock Spring’s initial visit to our Global Mission partner church - The Church of the Redeemer. What are my expectations? In general, I expect to return with a much better understanding of the circumstances under which the members of the Church of the Redeemer live, their concerns, and the role they play in implementing the Mission of their parent, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

I expect to learn how the ELCJHL is pursuing its Mission, especially with respect to: the call to serve the marginalized, the elderly, those who suffer or are traumatized, and all who are in need; to promote unity, make a joint witness and seek to speak with a prophetic voice against any kind of injustice or any violation of human rights; to be a catalyst for a just peace; and, to engage in interfaith dialogue, seeking to cooperate positively for a just peace throughout the Middle East.

Armed with these facts I expect to be in a position to help Rock Spring discern its role as a partner to the Church of the Redeemer. Howard Hjort


muSic nOteS

culture and thought. Four of these performances will take place at Rock Spring United Congrega-tional Church of Christ. These concerts are free--your donations are gratefully accepted.

Our November 2nd and 3rd concerts are a collaboration with Rick Robinson, bassist, composer, and founder of Detroit-based CutTime. This program will be a celebration of African American composers and will feature works by Ellington, Joplin, William Grant Still, Adolphus Hailstork and original works by Rick, performed on strings and percussion.

Saturday, November 2, 2013 – 10:30 a.m.Children’s Concert featuring IBIS Chamber Music Society

Sunday, November 3, 2013 – 4:00 p.m.Rock Spring Recital Series – Featuring IBIS Chamber Music Society

THE ROCK SPRING RECITAL SERIESBack by popular demand, IBIS Chamber Mu-sic Society brings us two concerts this Novem-ber to begin our Rock Spring Recital Series. Please consider joining us for one of our sea-son “kick-off” concerts if you haven’t been with us before. IBIS Chamber Music will spend their 2013-14 season celebrating American music, perform-ing music by American composers (including a new commission for the ensemble), com-posers who immigrated to the US, and music that celebrates the American landscape,

CHOIR INTERNS AT ROCK SPRINGAs you may recall in last month’s issue of the Rock Spring News, we intro-duced you to Nathaniel Stern, an active choral musician who attends HB Woodlawn School and will be with us this year in the Men’s Choir and the Sanctuary Choir. We are thrilled to also welcome Hannah (pronounced “Hah-nah”) Pho. She will be in our soprano section lending her beautiful voice to the anthems you hear each week, and will also be a soloist in our Christmas concert.Check out her solo (“Laudate Dominum”) in our worship service from this past August on the Rock Spring web site!

ANNIVERSARY GIFT BENEFITS ORGANGail and John Howell recently decided that a great way to celebrate 40 years together, other than going to the theater, was to become Rock Spring organ donors by presenting the Music Endowment with a gift of $10, 000 for the organ fund. Rock Spring extends its thanks to them both and congratulates them on their anniversary.


rOck Spring review

News and NotesCall to Congregational Budget Goals MeetingAll members of Rock Spring Congregational UCC are hereby called to aCongregational Meeting, Sunday, October 27, 2013 in the church sanctuary immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Childcare will be provided.

Agenda: • Receive and discuss Budget Goals for Fiscal Year 2013 • Receive and discuss Stewardship Campaign • Receive and act upon any new business

Andy SchwarzClerk of the Church

Markers and MilestonesCongratulations to Ed Roberts and Muriel Von Villas, whose daughter Rebecca Roberts was married to Benjamin Martin at Rock Spring on Saturday, September 21, 2013.

Congratulations to Mike and Julia Hoglund who welcomed Katherine Anne Hoglund to the world on August 1, 2013.

Congratulations to Becci Hufford Truong and Tai Truong who welcomed Ella Truong to the world on July 28, 2013.

Congratulations to Jason Henderson and Leigh Ann Slonka who will be married on Sunday, October 13, 2013 in Pennsylvania.

Congratulations to Janet Parker, former Pastor of Parish Life at Rock Spring, who will be in-stalled as Senior Minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Salem, Oregon. You may send a note of good wishes to Janet: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 700 Marion Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301

OCTOBER 2013 Rock Spring News16

Rock Spring Congregational5010 Little Falls RoadArlington, VA 22207

Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ

The Congregation, The Ministers

Kathryn N. Dwyer, Senior [email protected]

Mark J. Suriano, Transitional Associate [email protected]

Linda Carder, Interim Director of Children’s [email protected]

Elizabeth Kluegel Niblock, Director of [email protected]

Edward Roberts, Assistant Director of Music, Organist

[email protected]

5010 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA 22207 – 1810703.538.4886 www.rockspringucc.org

Administrative Staff:

Sarah Lengyel Steel,Operations [email protected]

Angel M. Washington, Office [email protected]

Pastoral Interns:Kyle Wyman & Laura Martin

Childcare Staff:

Fern Lawrence, Cecilia Welch, Judy Carrillo,& Blanca Cespedes

Custodial Staff:Willis Gardener & Vicki Morales

Documents

Rock Spring News October 2013