As we move into our busy fall season, we are reminded of our parking challenges. If you are able to walk up from the lower lot or (better yet!) the Stapleton School lot, please make a practice of parking in one of those two lots on Sunday mornings! You’ll get a little Sunday morning exercise, […]
Steeple
The Steeple, September 2018
The Steeple is our monthly newsletter, available in print from the church office or in various locations around our main building. This page displays the articles and featured events that were included in this issue. You can also see this issue, formatted as it was for print. Articles Featured Featured Events
Gardening Update
I started interning with Open Spirit in October, and it’s been my pleasure to help support and share the stewardship of the grounds―as well as to create more gardens that welcome the community, human and non-human alike! In winter Ted and I got to know and learn from local plant experts. We also discovered the […]
Green Coffee Hour: Summer Edition
Dishwasher service goes on hiatus for the summer (like the choir), so we encourage you to bring your travel mug to church with you. You can also borrow a mug from our “ugly mug” collection, bring it home to wash, and return it when you can. We have plenty of paper cups and you are […]
Kermit’s Corner: Congregational Challenge
Can you walk/bike/carpool to church 3X this summer? Our walk/bike/carpool to church day in April gave many of us a taste of how “slowing down” a simple trip to worship could change one’s day. For myself, I carpooled to the service with Peggy Harrison, who I am just getting to know, and had a chance […]
Summer Education Plans
Greetings and Peace to you all from Christian Education! It is my fourth day on the job here as interim director, and I am so humbly grateful for this opportunity to be a part of the ministry we share with our youth and families. I am so happy to be a part of a church […]
Summer Music Plans
Following our final choir service of the year, someone said to me, “Now you get to start planning it all over again!” How astute they were, because as the choir takes a break for a few months, my work shifts to a heavier focus on the administrative planning that will alleviate autumnal stress as […]
Built Together
Dear Church, It’s hard to believe that it has only been 18 months since I began my time here as your associate pastor. Together, we have been through much: successfully navigated a church merger, went on a service trip, had the best Christmas pageant ever, and started up a new worship service. We studied the […]
BOCE Changes
Change is afoot! With my departure coming up quickly, leadership changes are happening in our Christian education and faith formation programs. I would first like to welcome our two new board members, Cindy Sweeney and Rob Delossa. Cindy comes to us with years of serving on many committees in the church including BOCE. Rob is […]
Kermit’s Corner: “Mottainai” and Coffee Mugs
In Japan, there is a movement to encourage citizens to return to the frugal practice of bringing reusable chopsticks when eating out. This is part of the general idea of “mottainai,” or “don’t waste,” and is beautifully highlighted in the book Replenishing the Earth, by Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner lauded for her […]