2 WEEKS TO SUMMER FEST!! There will be a logistic/planning meeting tomorrow (Monday) night June 30^th at 6:30pm and a whole committee meeting at 7pm.  All are welcome to join us as we finalize our plans for 350th summer fest 2008!

SUMMERFEST WORKERS NEEDED!   We have a long list of needs!  Workers, pies, set up crews and break down crews.  Please sign up to help on this very important fund raiser - soon!  Items we are looking to burrow for the weekend: walkie talkies’, erasable board & markers & large coolers.

Click here http://www.scarborough.me.us/350thcelebration/index.html for a short cut to Summer Fest on Town Of Scarborough website.

REVEREND CAROL ON VACATION: Reverend Carol will be on vacation from July 6th to August 10th.  Following is a list of the summer supply ministers we will have!

• July 6^th-  We will have a lay service.  Anyone who would like to lead part of this service, please see Sara.  We will be using  the communion service in the back of our Pilgrim Hymnal
• July 13th we will join Scarborough community at Memorial Park for the Ecumenical service at 8:30 AM
• July 20th Rev Garvey McLean
• July 27 Rev John Widdows
• August 3 and 10th Pastor Pat Jackman

THE FLOWERS THANK YOU! Please help with the watering of the flowers out front of the Church and on the side garden.  Keep a jug of water in your car and when you go by give the flowers a drink!

’08-’09 is the INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE PIPE ORGAN Proclaimed so by the Guild of Organists.  Our AUSTIN pipe organ (having turned 50 years old last year) is worthy of this celebration and we are featuring on-going special music moments highlighting our instrument.  Everett and Nancy will host an organ “walk-through” in the fall for all who are curious about Austin’s “innards”.  Nancy will exchange benches with Stewart Schuster for a Sunday as well.  So you’ll have an opportunity to experience his fine playing!  Also, Sunday October 19^th, the international organ spectacular experience will culminate with ALL pipe organs being played (worldwide!!) at the same time!  Stay tuned for more on the event.  The final spring meeting of the Portland chapter AGO (American Guild of Organists) will be held midday at the Temple in Ocean Park on Saturday June 14^th.  The program following the meeting, open to the public, will be duets played on organ, piano and other participating instruments.  Nancy and Stewart will be part of this program as well!  And finally, if you want to list to pipe organ music, tune to public radio Sunday evenings at 10-11:30PM 

Report of Attendance and Donations:

Attendance for 06/08: 20 Adults & 7 kids

ConKerr Cancer (http://www.conkerrcancer.org/) – after reading Ryan Kerr’s obituary, Brenda Monza was inspired to reach out to other children dealing with cancer with this great project of pillowcases.  Brenda is working with MMC on how we can help with this program. We invite you to make bright pillowcases for the children at MMC.  Also please look on the ConKerr Cancer web page.  This program was started by Ryan’s Mom when he was in the hospital.   Brenda will give us details during announcements and will be at coffee fellowship with additional info and pillowcase directions.

COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

Sitting in the midst of yet another snowstorm, how interesting to stop and picture life half-way around the world in Rwanda where snow is an unknown and their thoughts are set in the chore of gardening not shoveling.  Hum anyone here tempted to change places?

Has anyone kept track how long we have been sponsoring Nyirandagijmana?  Even I was off by a year when I looked back to see.  Do you think 6?  That was what I was remembering but no, with this month we have begun our 7th year!  We started in February 2002, when Nyirandagijmana was 9 years old.  This Sept. she will turn 16.  Such informative years, the years that actually make or break the child God set her forth to be.  What a thrill to think that we have provided her the opportunities through health care, schooling, religious training, adequate clothing, food etc. to develop into a young woman knowing in her heart about compassion from strangers that transformed her life, strengthening her body, enriching her mind, developing her self-esteem and confidence so that she can let her salt and light permeate those around her bringing God the glory that we are all put on this earth to do.  Thank-you one and all for your long term devotion making this mission so successful.

Each year we receive an updated picture of Nyirandagijmana.  In her last letter she requested one of us.  If any of you have a nice picture I would love to send some to her.  I don't think we would ever get everyone here for a group picture which would be fun to send but that could be the next best thing.  Also anyone who would ever like to take a turn writing to her that would be great.  I'd love it and know she would too.  Nyirandagijmana always asks about what animals we have and plants we grow and since our family has or does neither someone who does would be real interesting to her.  She probably can't imagine how we don't.

I also want to share a few highlights from this year's annual report:

·          83% of total expenditures are spent on program activities

·          478 new church partners offering Compassion to their communities

·          160,000 new children received sponsors this year

·          870,000 children now receiving Compassion outreach

·          24 countries in the Compassion program

·          21% ministry revenues increased this year

WOW!!  How awesome to see this kind of growth, just like the mustard seed, starting so small, and growing so strong and mighty!

As life goes on embracing the many changes that that entails our sponsor commitments also change.  Again we have had a family step aside, opening a slot for a new sponsor.  A sponsorship is a commitment for $32 a month.  Our church has 14 sponsors.  One covering each month plus a special optional gift sent for her birthday and at Christmas.  We would love to have someone new step forward offering to fill this vacant spot!!  Call me anytime to learn more:

Amy Kaplan   773-0889.

Finally just to thank those who have been so devoted this past year, I thank you because it is such a joy to me but without fail Nyirandagijmana always starts each letter thanking us too and wishing us peace and love in Jesus' name.

Our Compassion family:  Rena Thorndike, the O'Donnell Family, the Burger Family, the Sterling Family, the Salisbury Family, Lenny Douglas, Mildred Chalmers, Edrice Bates, the Kaplan Family, the Brennan Family, Charlotte Boston, Susan Snow, Robin Provincher, and the Rioux Family. 

VESTRY MEMBERS 

Shawn Brennan (Chair) - 

Mike Wood - 

Debbie Reed -  

Bill Daley -  

Brenda Monz -  

Margot Hodgkins -  

Tracey O’Roak (Clerk) - 

Michelle King (Treasurer)  -  

Charlotte Boston (Cash Receipts Clerk) - Call Church Phone - Leave a message

WHAT DO RETURNABLE BOTTLES, FUNDRAISERS, DISCRETIONARY FUND AND CLYNK HAVE IN COMMON?  CLYNK is the bottle return center at most Hannaford stores in the area.  Shawn & Ann used the CLYNK card to purchased supplies for the recent Bean hole Bean super.  Cinny Wood used the CLYNK card to purchase supplies for the recent Founders luncheon and the Organ Guild luncheon which totaled $80.  Other CLYNK monies are going into the discretionary fund for Rev Carol’s usage.  How can YOU help?  By bring in your clean returnable bottles and dropping them in the collection CLYNK bags and then returning a bag back to a CLYNK center.  We also could use help filling clink bags.  If you have a few minuets to spare on Sunday mornings, could you help us out?  Cinny Wood will be happy to answer any questions you may have! 

The Bible in 60 Days - Would you like to join our kids and read through the major stories, prayers, songs, poems, letters, and visions of the Bible in 60 days?  You can pick up a reading plan at the back of the church.   It is for adults as well as kids. From the very beginning to the very end (Genesis to Revelations) we will hit the best of the Bible.  The readings are short and understandable.  Give it a try!  It would be great to do it as a family.  You can read it aloud together.  Or, you can read it separately and talk about it together.  Or, just encourage each other to keep checking off the 60 days.  Our goal is to read through the bible by the last day of Sunday School June 1, 2008.   Click Here to go to the 60 day Reading Guide. 

Life Application Study Bible - This is a great bible for adults to use.  It introduces the mega-themes in each book of the Bible.  It has short biographies of all the famous and infamous in the Bible.  It has maps and more.  Most of all, every page has footnotes that relate what you are reading directly to your life today.  You can order it from Amazon, or get it at Borders bookstore.

PICTURES OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY – We are always collecting pictures of people, pets and places of our church family.  If you have a picture of a church activity, or just something that is special to you, bring it in and put it on our picture table at the entrance. 

POD CASTING FROM BLUE POINT

Have you missed a sermon? Want to share it with someone? Hear it again? We now have the weekly sermons uploaded so you can hear it directly from your computer or subscribe to it on your IPod or MP3 player. Go to the following link: http://bluepointchurch.libsyn.com/  You can also hear them directly from the Church website's Sermons 2007 page

 http://www.bluepointchurch.org/sermons/sermonarchives2007.htm  

Directions for how do download to your computer can be found on the Sermons 2007 page.  From there you can upload to you iPod or MP3 player.

COMMITTEES - Many of our committees are in need of members to be on them. If you see a committee listed that interests you, please see a Vestry member and ask about it:  Building & Grounds, Christian Ed, Fundraising, Deacons, Finance & Stewardship, Music. and Missions.

COFFEE & CONVERSATION - Pastor Carol loves conversation and loves coffee. If you are interested, you can call her cell phone 838-8565 or email her at clkerr@maine.rr.com. 

And EASY way to support the Blue Point Congregational Church while getting yourself a GREAT DEAL!

Please help support the Blue Point Congregational Church’s ongoing ministries.  Through a unique and simple internet ordering system, you may order  quality Rada Cutlery kitchen knives, utensils, gift sets and other merchandise direct from the manufacturer at very low prices.   This means that not only will you get a great deal on amazing products but that you will also be helping our church with it’s ongoing ministries.   A link for information on how to order will  be here shortly.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO GIVE OTHER PEOPLE RIDES TO CHURCH. If you have a little extra time on Sunday, please think about picking up some of our parishioners who can’t drive and bring them to church. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Carol.

We do have some new name tags in the name tag holder . Please look to see if your name is there and if not, please sign the sheet to have one made. We are getting many new people coming to our church! To help them feel welcome and get to know your name please remember to wear your name tag. Plus, we will have a blue basket next to the coffee downstairs that you can put your name tag in when you leave. One of our friendly church mice will return them upstairs for the next Sunday.

Sign up sheets for Greeters are on the bulletin board in the Narthex!

Volunteers are most welcome to PLEASE add you name to the lists.

Cartridge World, Phil Coupe’s local ink cartridge business, located at 245 US Rte 1 in Scarborough will gladly take your used ink and laser toner cartridges, refill and recycle them at half the cost of a new one!

For each $15 in refill cost, Phil will donate $2 to the church! If you have old unused cartridges, drop them in the collection box at church or at Cartridge World and the church will benefit as well.

Please support the church and the environment with your used ink cartridges!

God  is  still  speaking ,

Many thanks to GWI in Biddeford for providing Blue Point Church with free internet access and e-mail service.