On Sunday, September 30th at 4 p.m. the rain stopped, and the cold wind held off long enough for 15 people to gather in the grove and celebrate a Blessing of the Animals service.  We had about a dozen dogs and their masters.  The service was a celebration of pets and their importance that pets play in the joy of life.  The Blessing asked that the pet and the master enjoy life together and find joy with the the God who created them.

Church Clean-up

A dedicated band of volunteers dug in on a dreary October day to clean up around the outside of Smyrna.  Thank you for all your hard work!

The Building Committee has been busy the last month interviewing contractors for the building project.  This resulted in the selection of Riedman Construction of Mt. Angel to recommend to the congregation.  Tom Riedman is a local contractor who specializes in home and small business construction and remodeling.  As an action item at the October 17 Quarterly Meeting, a motion was passed to enter into an agreement with Riedman with construction to begin in the spring.  A companion motion to appoint a committee to work on a plan for fundraising was approved.  

The methods considered are:  soliciting funds from our members and friends, borrowing from our members for a fixed term and borrowing from the UCC’s Cornerstone Fund.  A suggested slogan:  “Still Growing after 116 years.”  The committee has met and made minor changes to the plans and will meet with the contractor for firming up a price and to sign a contract.

Library News

We have a lovely new book ready to be added to the church library.  It is called The Log Cabin Church by Ellen Howard, who lives in Salem, OR.  This book was given by Linda Melcher and she wrote these words on the inside cover: “This book is given in memory and love to our dear Betty Butcher Cheadle.”

The Stitch Club has also added 4 new books to the children’s section of our library.  Two are Little Golden Books which have been popular for many years.  The other two are board books designed for young children and are by Jamie Lee Curtis.  The first is “Tell Me Again About the Night I was Born” and the second is “When I Was Little — a Four-Year-Old’s Memoir of Her Youth.”

Happy Reading!

—Elaine—

Thank You!

I want to thank all my family and friends for making my 80th birthday party so memorable.  It was filled with good conversation, delicious food and lovely flowers.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

—Virginia Yoder—

Were there 80 cupcakes?

Virginia Yoder (center) celebrates her 80th birthday with daughters Arlene Hampton (left) and Louise Adams (right)

Sunday School Teachers Needed

We still need Sunday School volunteers to teach our youth. The sign-up sheet is in the Narthex. You only have to sign up for one month. Sunday School for our youth is during church service and is held every Sunday except Communion Sunday.

Fall Cluster Meeting 2007

Smyrna United Church of Christ will host the Central Pacific Conference Women’s Fall Cluster Meeting on Tuesday, November 13, 2007.  Please contact DaNelda Strode (503-710-4411) to make reservations by Nov. 7, 2007.

Registration ($7) will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by Worship led by the Corvallis Congregational UCC.  An offering for the Rev. Anne Smith Education Loan/Grant Fund will be taken.

At 10:15 a.m., the program, “Be A Global Missions Church” facilitated by the Rev. Jean Doane is scheduled.

Lebenslauf

As part of my chaplain training, I was introduced to the term, “Lebenslauf.”  Lebenslauf is a German word that literally means life path.  In the Moravian tradition each member of the church would record in writing their personal experiences throughout the course of their life.  These personal testimonies are used to record a person’s awareness of God’s presence and action in his or her life.

The Lebenslauf tradition is a wonderful way for every person to reflect upon and witness to the effect God has had in their individual life.  If you choose to share these stories with the Smyrna the faith of the congregation is strengthened.  Finally, the Lebenslauf can be a wonderful gift to leave with your children.

The following general categories are covered in the Lebenslauf:

1. Summary information (name, age, children, birthplace, places lived, employment, hobbies, parents, siblings, etc)

2. The meaning of your birth for your family

3. Injunctions (Our family …., We always …)

4. Major losses and disappointments

5. Major successes and transforming events

6. Medical history

7. Socio-cultural history

8. Religious history

9. Key relationships

In reviewing your life, the goal is to look for evidence of God’s presence and themes that occur throughout your life.  Writing your Lebenslauf may seem like a great deal of work.  It may be easier to record your thoughts and then have them transcribed.

If you would like to try putting together your Lebenslauf, I would be honored to work with you.  You may be surprised to find out how often God has touched you.

--- Pastor Dave

UCY Happenings-

The United Church Youth has started up again. Any children in the 3rd - 12th Grade are welcome to join. Angie Stierle and I and occasionally Rev. Dave Akers will take the children to different places of entertainment, and will go visit with some of the elderly, people with Cancer or other long term illnesses, and people with broken bones. UCY regularly collects pop cans at the church to help them go places, and they usually have some other fund raisers to help them contribute some funds to various things. This year, some of the group’s funds went towards the Rev. Jim Buffington Retirement Gift and to the Molalla Food Bank. Occasionally, they will make some craft projects or some desserts to give to people or sell, and the group funds pay for all of the craft materials for those projects and the ingredients for the desserts. They also help serve drinks and bus tables for the Strawberry Festival and serve an Easter Breakfast. In October, they helped the Molalla Community gather up some much needed items to send to our Troops overseas in time for Christmas by inviting the congregation to help contribute to it, and it was a success. The congregation managed to fill the church collection box. Thank you all very much! I am sure the Troops will enjoy all of your contributions. Also, the UCY group is always open to trying some new ideas.

Here were the Calendar Dates for the UCY Events and Community Project for October:

Oct. 14th - Six UCYers and 4 Adults went to Fir Point Farms for a day of some Fall Fun, and then we all went to visit with Jackie and Bill Sperb. Click here to see photos of the Fall Fun are on the Photo Page.

Oct. 28th - That was the last day for everyone to bring there much needed items for the Troops overseas. After Coffee Hour, Sandra Mahar made sure the items made it to the collection site in Molalla.

The November Calendar will be announced at church.

If anyone new would like to join the UCY, then please contact one of the Leaders:

Sandra Mahar -      Home: 503-829-4449 

                                Cell: 503-348-9150

Angie Stierle -        Cell: 503-984-4429

Thanks - Happy Harvest! 

Sandra J. Mahar

This total includes the donations taken at the Charity Picnic which will be passed on to the charities.

Thomas Daniels Web Consulting