Easter comes early this year (March 23). March tends to be blizzard season for Rochester. Maybe we could have a sledding and cross-country-skiing party after our Easter sunrise service at Tinker Park.

It’s always pleasant to have Easter when trees are budding, daffodils are blooming, and the earth is starting to come to life again. That’s why our celebration of Christ’s resurrection easily blended with the pagan holiday that celebrated the pagan goddess Eastre, who was honored at the spring equinox. ( That pagan holiday is where we get our Easter eggs, chicks and bunnies from.) But celebrating Easter before winter has let loose its icy grip takes us to the heart of the Christian story. The first Easter happened, not as a part of nature’s annual cycle of death and rebirth, but as divine Light breaking into human blindness, as divine Love sacrificially suffering for our human sins, as divine Grace offering us a new start, and as divine Life blowing away the finality of death.

Anne Lamott (author of Traveling Mercies and Plan B) describes what it means to let this good news dawn in her own life, that has often felt more like winter than spring:

Jesus said from the cross (OK, so I'm paraphrasing), "Look, you're a human, you're badly wired, you're in desperate need of grace. And you will die, as I am dying up here. But we can surrender: We can commend our spirit into my father's hands. We need to forgive everyone first, though, because we don't want to die angry, like other people I could mention ..." (I love that He didn't name names. I love that Scripture does not read: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, except for that awful Annie Lamott, who in 2,000 years will usually know exactly what she was doing wrong. But We'll forgive her anyway, because You said to.")

Jesus opened himself up entirely to the fear and suffering even though he would have preferred a little something from Column B. He said, "If it is possible, let this cup pass from me," but he kept his eye on the prize, which was feeling loved by God, which is new life.

Whatever the weather conditions and whatever human condition you may find yourself in, I pray that you will experience God’s gift of eternal hope breaking into your life and soul and calling you to life anew, life abundant, and life eternal.

In hope in the face of it all,

Pastor Dave

Attention: Moms of All Ages –

A Bible Study Just for You!

As moms, sometimes we can get so caught up in caring for our families that we forget to care for our own souls. Join other moms and together we’ll read the book Tender Mercy for a Mother’s Soul by Angela Thomas Guffey. Throughout the book we’ll read and discuss scriptures. We’ll learn practical ideas for growing in a daily personal walk with Jesus. This book is meant to motivate even the busiest mom. The day and time for this Bible Study is yet to be determined ~ it can be based on your schedule and we can bring our children to play while we talk. Please call Kim Tanner at 359-9501, if you are interested in this discussion group to nurture your soul.

How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith during Lent.

“Diana Bass has debunked the myth that the only churches that are growing are Evangelical and Pentecostal.”

Jim Wallis: Editor, Sojourners

Diana Butler Bass reports on her research where she identified those factors, which were contributing to flourishing mainline churches’ health and vitality. How practices such as hospitality, diversity, justice, discernment and worship contribute to and impact the ongoing health and vitality of the church. Her how-to approach was written for Protestants who are eager to remain faithful to their tradition while becoming a vital spiritual community.

The group will meet for six weeks on Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30PM at the home of Alan and Sue Dailey in Brighton from Sunday February 10^th through Sunday March 16^th. Copies of the discussion schedule are in the church office.

This book will also be the topic of discussion at the GVA Spring Assembly, April 27th at Lakeville UCC and the New York Conference Annual Meeting at Silver Bay Conference Center in June.

Maundy Thursday Service March 20

Maundy Thursday is the day that Jesus had his last supper with his disciples, was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, and began the ordeal known as the Passion, which led to his death.

We will have a service here at 7:30 PM March 20 that will help us participate in this drama and receive the gifts of Jesus’ amazing faith and sacrifice. This is one of the most moving and inspiring services of the year. Child care will be provided.

Ecumenical Good Friday Service

Our community Good Friday service will be on March 21st at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 3825 E. Henrietta Rd., at 12:00 noon.service is being planned by Rev. Julie Cicora and Rev. Louise Josephson.soup and bread lunch will follow.Please sign up on the Sign-Up Board if you plan to attend the lunch and if you can bring soup or bread.

Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service

Celebrate Easter morning with folks from all over our community.community ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service will be at 7:00 AM March 23 at Tinker Nature Center.Gene Ver will be leading the service. Use the parking lot off Pittsford-Henrietta Town Line Rd. on the east side of the park.

Come and see the:

Rochester Red Wings vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees!

Saturday, May 31

Picnic 6 pm, game 7:05 pm

Enjoy an all you can eat picnic with hamburgers and hot dogs followed by the game. There will be fireworks after the game!

The prices have dropped a little from last year due to early deposits and earlier game date. The cost for the picnic and game is:

adults: $17.50

children ages 4-12 $12.50

children 3 and under are $7.50

The cost for the game only is $7.50/person Tickets must be purchased in advance! Bring your friends and family and enjoy a great spring evening at Frontier Field! The picnic is rain or shine. Should the game be postponed due to rain, the game tickets will be honored for a makeup game. Please sign up on the sheet in the back of the sanctuary or see Laura Markwick (218-0504) to reserve your space /purchase your tickets!

Environmental Idea for March

Increasing numbers of people at HUCC are looking for ways to purchase food that is locally produced. There is a website you can visit that will provide you with information on all kinds of local growers: it is http://www.localharvest.org. When you reach the homepage, click on “farms,” then enter your zipcode and a list of growers will be shown; many of them also grow their products organically. You can find everything from fruits and vegetables to bison, beef, chicken and other animal meats. One of the farms listed is McDonald Farm in Romulus, which delivers frozen free-range, pasture fed chicken, beef, pork, lamb, turkey and eggs to local pick-up sites. For local vegetables, the Tanner family recommends Windy Meadow Farms in Walworth, which also delivers to several locations. Their website is http://www.windymeadowfarms.com. If a number of families are interested in purchasing these foods, we might be able to use HUCC as a drop-off location. If you are interested, contact Elizabeth Pixley @ 334-0977 or epixley@rochester.rr.com).

CAMPERSHIPS AVAILABLE

This month our mission focus will be Cameron Community Ministries (CCM). CCM is an ecumenical urban community center in Rochester’s Lyell-Otis neighborhood, which is an area of high poverty. It is a place where people from local churches, schools and other organizations can actively serve the community. Cameron offers a multitude of programs, which include: Hot Lunch Program, Kid’s Café Supper, Sunday Celebration, Reading Program, Learning Partners, Summer Safe Haven, Family Computer Learning Program, Clothing House.

Cameron is again participating in the “Feinstein Challenge”. This is a program that matches dollar for dollar any money and food donations in March and April. Therefore our March Mission Dollars of $300 will grow to $600. If anyone wishes to make additional contributions during March & April please make checks out to: HUCC Benevolence Fund and write CCM – Feinstein Challenge on the Memo Line of the Check. Food donations that are in need are: coffee, juice, creamer, rice, adobo, sasson, cumin, chili seasoning & hot sauce.

From the Board of Christian Outreach

CAMERON COMMUNITY MINISTRIES

SUNDAY CELEBRATION – MARCH 30^TH

For those of you who are new to HUCC, we have been strong supporters of Cameron Community Ministries (CCM) in many ways for many years. CCM is an ecumenical urban community center in Rochester’s Lyell-Otis neighborhood, which is an area of high poverty. It is a place where people from local churches, schools and other organizations can actively serve the community. Cameron offers a multitude of programs, one of which is Sunday Celebration.

Each year the Board of Christian Outreach provides and serves an evening meal and short worship service at their location at 48 Cameron Street. This year we will be doing it on March 30^th. All are invited to either donate food and supplies as well as volunteer (6-8 people) on site to prepare, serve and join in this meal and service. We will meet in the church kitchen at 2:00 PM to prepare the main casserole, organize and load up cars to arrive at Cameron at 3:15 PM. Once at Cameron volunteers will continue meal preparation and set up the dining room. The guests arrive by 4:30 PM at which time the short worship service is presented. Meal service begins at 4:45 PM. Of course, clean up follows and we are usually finished by 5:30 PM.

PLEASE SEE THE SIGN-UP SHEETS IN THE BACK OF THE SANCTUARY.

Carol Loughner, Board of Christian Outreach

February’s Mission Focus

Our mission focus for February was support of relief efforts for Iraqi refugees, based on the “100,000 for Peace” appeal from the national UCC Wider Church Ministries office. A Jan. 6 fund-raising goal date was set because of its symbolism: Jan. 6 is the day celebrated as Christmas Eve by Iraq's largely Orthodox Christian community; for western Christians, Jan. 6 is the day of Epiphany.

By January 2, $105,505 had already been collected to provide humanitarian assistance to some of the 4 million Iraqis that have been displaced by the war.15 - 20% of Iraq's population uprooted from their homes, the situation is severe. Most are seeking safety in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

Gifts to the fund are being used to provide food, water, health care and education for war-affected Iraqi families displaced in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. The UCC/Disciples' Global Ministries is working with partners in the region, such as Action by Churches Together and the Middle East Council of Churches, to aid those impacted first-hand by war violence. Every dollar contributed goes directly to supporting refugees. Although the initial goal of $100,000 has been reached, much more will be needed to help with this need. The Board of Christian Outreach sent $300help with this ongoing effort.

Church leaders also have called for 100,000 prayers for U.S. service personnel. Hundreds of prayers already have been penned online at http://www.ucc.org/100kforpeace/100000-prayers.html.

UCCNY Women’s Annual Conference

May 1-3, 2008

“Living God’s Dream Faithfully”

The UCCNY women will hold their annual conference again at Watson Homestead on May 1-3, 2008. All UCC women are invited to attend. The Keynote speaker this year is the Rev. Laurie Tiberi, who is the Chaplain at the University of Rochester. Leading worship is the Rev. Laurie Craig, which some of you might remember, as she was an intern with us several years ago. There will be many exciting workshops and activities to attend. Watson offers a pool for swimming, Hayrides and great spaces for nature walks. The Rev. Marion Shearer will be bringing her telescope for star-gazing and will be doing some Star Storytelling. It is a good time to get together and worship with UCC Women across the state. If you would like to know more about this event, you can ask Elizabeth Pixley, Pastor Martha or Marcie Gass, who have attended this event. Registration forms are available through the Women’s Fellowship or the church office. The deadline is March 26th.

Karaoke Night-March 29th

Come join us for an adults' night out at Eric Falla's house! We had a blast last year--a blast from the past with many songs that were oldies but goodies! Even some people who vowed they would never get up and sing in front of others joined in some "group sings". We will have music choices for many generations. Come to sing or come to listen, but definitely come for the lively fellowship! It's a great way to get to know more people in our church family.

Date: Saturday, March 29

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Eric Falla's house (directions coming soon)

Bring: an appetizer or a dessert

Beverages will be provided by Eric Falla and Dawn Pixley/Jerry Hawk. We are asking each person to contribute a dollar or two, so that we can give a gift card of appreciation to the lender of the Karaoke machine and music.

Hope to see lots of you there! If you have any questions, please contact Dawn Pixley at 271-3079 or depixley@yahoo.com.

We were so proud of the kids and how they sang "Do Lord" with such gusto! They received MANY compliments. We plan to learn two new songs starting in March, one of which we HOPE to sing with Seventh Day (if scheduling works out). Here is our rehearsal schedule:

March 2: Rehearse after church

March 9: Rehearse after church

March 30: Rehearse after church

April 6: Tentative plan to sing in church (We will make an announcement to arrive early if this plan works out.)

Thanks to all of the parents who wait so patiently for us to practice after church is over. We know it can be a long morning, and we try to keep the rehearsals as short and productive as possible. We hope to see lots of kids at the March rehearsals, and hopefully some new faces too!

Dawn Pixley & Laura Markwick

Where Did I Park My Car?

You may remember that in September I announced that there would be an offering of two classes about mental aerobics, taught by Barbara Bruce.

I am just reminding you that there will be a sign-up poster for you to indicate your interest; it will be on the bulletin board at the back of the sanctuary. The classes will be in our Fellowship Hall on Saturday mornings, April 12 and 19, from 9:30 to 11:30. A suggested donation of $5.00 covers your attendance for both Saturdays. I took these classes from Barbara last fall, and they were wonderful!

Call Judy Hawk, 533-1681 after April 6 if you have questions.

CAMERON COMMUNITY MINISTRIES

CLOTHING HOUSE ACCEPTING DONATIONS

The following Wish List items are needed at the Clothing House. A box will be provided at the back of the sanctuary for delivery to Cameron on a regular basis. Thank you for your contributions

.Youth Program

· Seasonal Craft Projects

Reading Program

· Gently used books: beginning reader to 4^th grade

· Issues of Highlights or other children’s magazines

Kitchen Supplies and Food

· Mayonnaise & Salad Dressing

· COFFEE**

· Coffee Creamer**

· Canned Fruit & Vegetables

· Juice & Rice

· Adobo, sasson, cumin, chili seasoning, hot sauce

· 6” foam dessert plates (sturdy)

Office

· Postage Stamps

Household Items

· Blankets, sheets, pillows, comforters

· Bath towels

Pots & pans & silverware

Clothing House (Current season, Please)

· Clothing in all sizes especially XXL sizes

· Winter Coats & Boots

· Men’s Gloves

· Children’s Clothes Girls 5-8 and Boys 14-16

· Nightgowns & Pajamas

· NEW Women’s Underpants (sizes 5-9)

· NEW Men’s Underwear (sizes 30-38)

Men’s & Boy’s shoes

Baby Items

· Diapers (sizes 2-6 & pullpups)

· Blankets, sleepers, onesies

· Baby shampoo, diaper cream, lotion & powder

Person Hygiene Items

· DEODORANT (Unisex not florals or sports)

· Maxi pads**

· Tampons**

Shaving Cream

**ITEMS OF CRITICAL NEED

Please note: Cameron cannot accept any items in need of repair. They also cannot accept baby furniture, cribs or car seats due to safety & recall hazards

Easter Offering: “One Great Hour of Sharing”

Yoliswa was a very unhappy girl when, at age 12, she ran away from her impoverished home in Atlantis, South Africa with two friends. She wanted to escape from poverty and from a mother with a history of alcohol abuse. “I was fed up with life, especially my life. I wanted something better.”

Yoliswa and her friends hitchhiked to Cape Town in an unsuccessful attempt to find the aunt of one of the other girls. They met other youngsters who offered shelter, but ultimately the girls always had to move on – even sleeping in a park.

Eventually, the girls heard about Ons Plek, a shelter for female street children who had no other place to turn. Yoliswa has been there every day since. She is now in her third and final year studying for a nursing diploma. Gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing support Ons Plek in providing these critical services to children.

This is just one example of how your gifts make a difference.

Working with international ministry partners in over 80 countries and with the domestic UCC disaster and refugee networks, the One Great Hour of Sharing offering is used to help people make vital basic improvements in their lives. Nine Christian denominations support this offering together, a life-giving tradition that began in 1949. Of every dollar given in 2006, the last year for which complete figures are available, 92 cents were used directly for mission programming.

By giving to One Great Hour of Sharing, we join with communities struggling to overcome poverty, illiteracy, illness, and the dangers of war and disasters. Together we follow God’s call – sharing resources, changing lives!

Awesome Support for RHAFT

The Southwest Habitat Coalition, which now includes 18 faith groups from Rush, Henrietta, Chili, Gates and Brighton, will begin building our house late this summer. Groundbreaking is scheduled for August.

It will be built on either Orange or Grape Street depending on the arrangements made for us by Flower City Habitat for Humanity. These streets are located in what is known as the JOSANA neighborhood, west of PAETEC Park and north of 490 West. It is part of Rochester’s “Crescent of Poverty”.

Of all the needy areas in the "crescent," the JOSANA neighborhood faces some of the most serious problems. The neighborhood is poor and 74 percent minority. Family incomes are well below the “Median Family Income”. 44 percent of adult residents never graduated from high school.

The neighborhood exhibits numerous signs of deterioration and instability including the fact that

1. almost all buildings are over 50 years old and in poor repair,

2. over half the buildings are owned by absentee landlords, and

3. 43 percent of renters have been at their addresses for less than one year.

The goal of Habitat for Humanity is to transform neighborhoods by building several homes on the same street. This helps the new homeowners to develop a sense of pride in their neighborhood and commitment to its safety.

Sometimes, when we read of the violence and problems in Rochester, we feel helpless and unable to change things. Building a Habitat Houses is one effective way to make a difference. Thank you for being involved in this very worthwhile project.

Harmony for Habitat - April 26

Birthdays:

Mar. 2nd Tara Ulmer

Mar. 4th Don Haft

Mar. 5th Audrey Minton

Scott Nevol

Mar. 6th Lois Winters

Mar. 7th David Hudak

Mar. 9th Martha Stone

Chad Palmer

Mar. 11th Meena Potter

Wayne Turner

Mar. 12th Mary Anne Bleiler

Linda Knisely

Mar. 13th Benjamin Sentiff

Clara Travis

Dan Wright

Mar. 15th William Wu

Mar. 20th Ruth Bridenbaker

Kristin Palmer

Mar. 22nd Delores Knisely

Mar. 23rd Rachel Keenan

Mar. 24th Adam Hawk

Mar. 25th Linda Feasel

Mar. 27th Trudy Guerdat

Samuel Markwick

Mar. 29th Noah Hathaway

Ethel Kidd

Mar. 30th Kristina Jones

Mark Knissely

Mar. 31st Barbara Haft

Anniversaries:

Don and Barbara Easterly March 8th

Richard and Sue Polochock March 8th

Ron and Lois Winters March 14th

David and Carolyn Inglis March 17th

Dean and Ruth Bridenbaker March 23rd

Todd and Lisa Brown March 25th

Eric and Danielle Dunton March 25th

Living in Harmony News

At our March meeting we will focus on “stuff” we accumulate and how it fits into the larger picture.

The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled film looking at the underside of our production and consumption patterns, with a special focus on the United States. All the stuff in our lives, beginning from the extraction of the resources to make it, through its production, sale, use and disposal, affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues and calls for all of us to create a more sustainable and just world. It will teach you something. It will make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Come join us on Tuesday, March 11, from 7 – 9 pm. For more information, contact Elizabeth Pixley (334-0977 or epixley@rochester.rr.com).

Order Form for Easter Lilies

$7.50 each

_____*Please specify number of plants requested

In Honor of _________________________________________________

In Memory of _________________________________________________

Given by _________________________________________________

Attach this order slip to a check made out to Deacons Fund, and put in the offering plate,

A Word from Your Pastor

Attention: Moms of All Ages –

A Bible Study Just for You!

Maundy Thursday Service March 20

Ecumenical Good Friday Service and

Easter Sunrise Service

It's baseball time!!

Environmental Idea for March

CAMPERSHIPS AVAILABLE

MARCH MISSION OF THE MONTH “A DOUBLE WHAMMY”

February’s Mission Focus

UCCNY Women’s Annual Conference

May 1-3, 2008

“Living God’s Dream Faithfully”

Karaoke Night-March 29th

Children's Choir News

Where Did I Park My Car?

Do You Need a Ride to Church?

CAMERON COMMUNITY MINISTRIES

CLOTHING HOUSE ACCEPTING DONATIONS

Easter Offering: “One Great Hour of Sharing”

Awesome Support for RHAFT

Coalition News

Harmony for Habitat - April 26

Habitat Coalition

Golf Tournament—Help Wanted

Youth Flower Sale!

UCC NY State Youth Event March 7-9

March Birthdays and Anniversaries

Living in Harmony News

Leadership Training For Committee and Board Chairs and Group Leaders