ALL ARE WELCOME IN THE CHURCH SCHOOL AT PAYSON PARK CHURCH:
GOD’S GARDEN, Growing in Faith

God’s Garden, Growing in Faith is a welcoming place for the church community and not just for parents and children! Volunteers from the entire church community are needed. Perhaps being with the youth on a Sunday morning could be a way for YOU to help fulfill our mission. “We believe God is calling us to walk in the ways of Jesus Christ and to bear witness to the Gospel through worship and service, empowered by the Holy Spirit.”
Teaching contributes to the faith development of our youth as well as the future of our church. Plus, it will deepen the understanding of your own personal faith.
Teaching in God's Garden is a shared responsibility of everyone, a contribution well needed. Where do you see yourself? Perhaps reading a story in Bible exploration, creating in an art workshop or having fun in a puppet workshop. Speak with Cindy Lou Benson, Christian Education Director, for helpful suggestions and ideas.

Consider Volunteering in the Children’s Ministry Program...
What you do... matters!
Jesus smiles when he sees your ministry
You pass on faith and hope to a future adult
You help children find their voice You change the world — one child at a time
If the Bible were still being written today,
the writers would be writing about the likes of you
As you encourage a child's faith.. You encourage your faith
You get to watch children become friends and followers of Jesus
Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith… and your ministry
Kid’s fingerprints leave a mark on your heart
Children are counting on you If not you, then who?
God has called you
© Group Publishing

WHAT’S ON YOUR READING LIST?
SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM OUR PASTOR

Having these weeks of sabbatical not only allows me to deepen my skills in ministry, it also affords me time to think creatively about the upcoming program year. Reading Anne Tyler‟s latest novel, “Noah‟s Compass,” just released this year, has inspired me to begin planning a sermon series for the fall which will incorporate her other works, stories filled with portraits of deep humanity, touching realism, and thought provoking healing. Of the dozen or so novels she‟s written I‟ll keep it to this simple list: “Saint Maybe,” “A Patchwork Planet,” and “Ladder of Years.” If you‟re looking for something to read this summer, call the local library and order a copy of one of Tyler‟s books. Each month next fall, I‟ll lead a night of discussion and then incorporate the novel‟s themes into that given week‟s sermon.

SUMMER COMMITTEE MEETINGS
While summer can be a time of sabbatical from our usual activities during the program year, we also work to prepare for the fall season during this time. To that end, some committees may be meeting in July and August, but at the time of this Messenger‟s publication, dates had not been set. All meetings of the church are open, and if you are interested in attending any committee, of which you are not a for-mal member, please see the weekly calendar in the worship bulletin or call the church office. Meetings of the Church Council, Bylaw, Finance, Property and other committees during the summer are not “secret” gatherings. Please call the church office or our moderator if you would like more information!

SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS!
SUMMER LAY PREACHERS WELCOMED
Do you have “a word” to share with your friends at Payson Park? Would you like to offer “the good news” to others? As decided by the Diaconate, we’ll welcome lay preachers to our pulpit in the month of August. If you would like to preach, please speak with Lael.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
SUMMER UNION SERVICES
Following our annual tradition, the first Sunday of each month we’ll worship together with our friends from other Belmont UCC churches. Sunday, August 1st, we’re all invited to worship at Waverly Congregational Church for the 10:00 service, and on Labor Day week-end we’ll gather at Plymouth Congregational Church for the 9:30 service. These are spirited summer ser-vices we hope you’ll attend. Plan to join together in the spirit of God’s wider community!

ANNOUNCING: SUPER SATURDAY!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Franklin, MA
Join hundreds of delegates, pastors and lay leaders from all over the Conference for our first SUPER SATURDAY – a full day of workshops and networking around best practices for church leaders.

UCC ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE
Annual Meeting attendees challenged to re-think church
More than 500 people attended the 211th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference at the DCU Center on Saturday, where they were encouraged to re-think what church is and what church does.

Visit the ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE PAGE AT www.macucc.org for:

A summary of the meeting
Quotes from attendees about how they were "provoked"
Video & audio recordings of Quinn Caldwell's sermon and Jim Antal's address
The text of Jim Antal's address
A photo album from the meeting
Final text of the Resolution on a Massachusetts Innocence Commission

UCC RESPONSE TO THE GULF OIL SPILL
The United Church of Christ National Disaster Ministries has been involved in assisting with technology-caused disaster for ten years. The UCC is preparing to assist in an ecumenical response with unmet needs in the Gulf that may be identified in the next couple of weeks.

Find out how you can help. Go to www.macucc.org

RESPONDING TO THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE:
LIFTING UP HOPE
The Pentecostal Church of Chile is already hard at work building houses for displaced people in Chile. See pictures of their work and find out how your church can contribute to this effort and to the training of people to deal in trauma healing.

RESPONDING TO THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI:
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
After one month in Haiti, United Church of Christ donations reached 150,000+ people.

HEALTH KITS
Many of our churches have made or have plans to make hygiene kits. The Friends of the Massachusetts Conference has donated money to cover the expense of shipping these kits.

Living with the realities of war, we extend our prayers for the world from our Sunday worship services to our daily lives. As we pray for peace for all people, we hold especially close those serving overseas. Payson Park Church member Ben Mailhot and former member Clint Lawler are currently on tours in Afghanistan, and we receive word that they are doing well. Thank you for remembering them and their families in this turbulent time. Cards to Ben and Lynne Mailhot may be sent to 57 Gilbert Road, Belmont, MA 02478

GOOD AFTERNOONS:
WEDNESDAY'S IN THE FALL, MEETING AT 2:00

With summer’s arrival, the Good Afternoons will break from their monthly discussions about the care of and healing of the body.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE:
A RAINBOW OF CARING
The Church World Service blanket drive held in connection with Mother’s Day in May took in $815. These familiar gray wool blankets arrive in areas where victims have lost homes, families, and hope. The Tools of Hope Program creates a rainbow of help and hope each time the right tool is placed in the hands of people in need. If it empowers people and brings better tomorrow, it’s a tool of hope! A simple truth: ordinary things that we often take for granted like…blankets, clean water, education, tents, garden tools, seeds – can make a world of difference for people devastated by tragedy, as well as those working to build a better life for themselves and their community. Many congregants were part of this beautiful rainbow of caring. During fellowship hour on May 2 & 9, we had the opportunity to make a $5.00 donation and receive a card to honor someone special on Mother’s Day. Thank you for the generous way in which Payson Park Church responds each year to this mission initiative.
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me.” Matthew 25