Join us for Worship!  We are worshiping in person on Sundays at 9:30 am.  For those who wish to join us online please connect with us on YouTube at youtube.com/c/nyccucc.  If you would like to see the Sunday Bulletin that can be found on our website at http://nyccucc.com.  If you wish to make an offering it can be made online through Tithely at https://tithe.ly/give?c=1301940.  You can also give by text: Text “Give” to 883-751-0314.

Rummage Sale The Tuesday Gals are now preparing for the rummage sale to be held at NYCC on Saturday May 27 from 9:00-1:00 pm. Donations will be accepted in the Fellowship Hall from Monday May 22 through Friday May 26. Please DO NOT donate: electronics, VHS, Betamax, DVD’s Feel free to donate: Clothing, shoes, pocketbooks, books, puzzles, games and toys, kitchen items, small furniture, tools and seasonal items and, so on. Contact Kathy Whittier at 254-7509 or Gail Strattard at 450-1612 with any questions or more info.

Rummage Sale Clean Up Request   Women’s Fellowship are unable to find an organization to pick up any leftovers from the Rummage sale on Saturday.   They are asking anyone who may have a truck or good size vehicle, to take a load to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.  Women’s Fellowship will give anyone with a vehicle that can help $20 to cover their gas.  You may contact Gail Strattard at 450-1612 or Kathy Whittier at 254-7509 if you can help.

Strengthen the Church Special OfferingOn Sunday, May 28, we will receive the Strengthen the Church Offering, which reflects the commit­ment of all settings of the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and inno­vation in existing congregations as we work to become a multi- cultural/multi-racial, accessible to all Christian movement.

Please keep the following people in your prayers Diana Day Sandra and Vince Golonka Wayne Malloch Blanche Mays Cindy Tompson

Senior Recognition We will be recognizing graduating seniors from High School and College on Sunday, June, 11.  If you have someone in your family who is graduating please let Kathy Whittier know at 254-7509 or kwhit119@yahoo.com.   We will need:  Name of the senior What school they are graduating from Are they taking a gap year, going on to college (name), Military, working or Masters degree What ever you are comfortable providing is fine.

Open and Affirming Video Viewing We will play the ONA video again in July.  In the meantime, please feel free to watch it on your own by clicking on the link below. The recording is available via this link.

Invitation to the Women of NYCC The women of NYCC have been invited by the women of Gray Congregational to join them for dinner at the Chicadee Restaurant at 1472 Lisbon Street in Lewiston on Monday, June 19 at 5:30 pm.  They have also invited the women of the New Gloucester church as well. They will make reservations on June 4 so please let me know if you will be attending so that I can give Carol West our count.   My cell number is 207-653-1966. Marsha Heath

Notes from the Church Office The church will be closed on Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day. A pair of glasses have been found on a window sill in the Fellowship Hall.  If these are yours you will find them on the Gathering Space table. George Black will be out for a few weeks in June and July and will not be able to mow or trim the lawn.  His grandson David will be volunteering during this time.  We are in need of someone who can mow if David can’t do it every week.  If you are interested please give George a call. Please call the office at 829-3644 if you need his phone number.

NYCC Clothing Ministry Thank you for your generosity.  Many are living easier lives because of your donations.  Warmer weather is here, and clothing needs have changed. The Clothing Ministry of NYCC collects basic clothing and accessories to be given out by the NYCC Street Ministry or donated to Maine Needs or the Freeport Thrift Store.  If you are so moved, please add your contribution to the boxes in the gathering space.  Most needed and asked for items: Socks                                                           Baseball Hats                                                                                                  Underwear                                                         T-shirts                                                                                                   These items will be given out with the lunches when the NYCC crew visits Portland. If you have gently used summer clothing, like sneakers, t-shirts, shorts, pants, or leggings that you would like to give, please add these to the boxes, too.  Another frequent ask tarps, tents and sleeping bags for those living outside.  These items will be donated to Maine Needs or Freeport Thrift Store.  Questions, please ask Jeanne or Tracy.

Food Pantry   Communion Sunday has been our Sunday for food collection for local food pantries, but  you can add to the grocery cart at any time throughout the month.  Please help us fill the cart with these most needed items.  We are replacing our food pantry item list with food staples most requested by the food pantry. These items include: Boxed Cereal Oatmeal Peanut Butter Granola and Snack Bars Spaghetti or Macaroni Rice Canned Fruit Soup Canned Tuna or Chicken Jam and Jelly Juice Non Food such as paper products are always welcome and needed, too.Thank you for your generosity, This food will be distributed where it is most needed,  the Cumberland Food Pantry or Harrison Food Bank.

Sunday Coffee  and Fellowship Time There is a signup sheet for the next two months on the table in the Gathering Space. There is nothing fancy about this!  Bring whatever you wouldlike.

May Meetings Choir Rehearsal – Wednesday Nights at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday Morning at 8:30 am Tuesday Gals meets on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Men’s Club meets on the third Saturday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at Toddy Brook Pet Place Pantry is open on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Register for Camp TODAY!Programming for all ages You are welcome here! Scholarships are available for all sessions.  Apply online by May 15, 2023 To sign up, visit www.pilgrimlodge.org 207-724-3200, info@ pilgrimlodge.org Pilgrim Lodge is a camp lovingly provided by the Maine Conference United Church of Christ since 1956.

Access worship directly on our YouTube channel (subscribe to our channel while you are there) at youtube.com/c/nyccucc

Join us for Worship! We are worshiping in person on Sundays at 9:30 am.  For those who wish to join us online please connect with us on YouTube at youtube.com/c/nyccucc.  If you would like to see the Sunday Bulletin that can be found on our website at http://nyccucc.com.  If you wish to make an offering it can be made online through Tithely at https://tithe.ly/give?c=1301940.  You can also give by text: Text “Give” to 883-751-0314.

Quantity vs Quality Luke wrote about the first Christian Church: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.      Acts 2:42-47 Jerry Uelsmann, a University of Florida photography professor, famously conducted an experiment on the first day of class. He divided students into two groups. The first was the Quantity Group. Their grade would be based on how many photos they could snap throughout the class. The second was the Quality Group. Their grade would be calculated on the excellence of their photos.  As the semester progressed, the difference between the two groups became clear. The quantity group freely experimented and improved their skills with practice daily. The quality group, on the other hand, hesitated to take photos and in the end, each produced one photo that was average at best. The faith of the early church was a daily faith—not a perfect faith. Was every meal the early believers shared the best cooked, or every sermon the most dynamic? Probably not. Yet God’s blessing flowed in response to the church’s daily devotion to him and to each other. Do you practice your faith every day, or are you paralyzed by the desire for perfection?  God, deliver us from perfectionism. Help us to pursue consistency in our walk with you and fellowship with others, for that is where your blessings lie. Amen. Grace & peace, Pastor Paul

Notes from the Church Office Carpet Cleaning – The Fellowship Hall Carpet is scheduled for cleaning on Friday, May 12 at 8:30 am.  The carpet will need a couple of hours of dying time after the cleaning so the Fellowship Hall will be closed off for the day until 4:30 pm.  The Greater Freeport Community Chorus will be holding a concert here in the Fellowship Hall on Friday, May 12 at 7 pm.  We have heard from others that this will be a great concert.  There are several members of NYCC in the Chorus, with Jesse Myers-Wakeman as the Conductor.  See the poster below or on the bulletin board.  Hope to see you there! The Trustees would like to thank all who helped on cleanup day!  And thank you to those who donated the Tony’s donuts and cider for break time.

Donate Roasting Chickens Hannaford Supermarkets has roasting chickens on sale this week through Saturday for .99 cents per pound.    Your donation will go toward our next chicken pie baking event.  Someone has already donated 4!   Our last pop up sale was very successful!  We sold out of chicken pies and have a few turkey pies still available.  If you choose to make a donation the chickens can be placed in a freezer in the kitchen or in a freezer in the basement freezer room.  If you come in during business hours Lyn would be happy to help with that.   Thank you so much.

Please keep the following people in your prayers Our prayers are with the family of Ladd Meyerhoff who passed away on May 3. Our Prayers are with Dan Day and his family on the passing of his wife Connie.  Diana Day Sandra and Vince Golonka Wayne Malloch Blanche Mays Cindy Tompson

Open and Affirming Follow-up In follow up to the video shown this past Sunday after the service, a big thank you to everyone who attended.  It was great to see so many joining in in exploring this subject at this point in time.We will show the video again in June and July, and there is a process recommended for further smaller group discussions. This will be lead in large part by the Deacons.  Stay tuned for more information.

Food Pantry   Communion Sunday has been our Sunday for food collection for local food pantries, but  you can add to the grocery cart at any time throughout the month.  Please help us fill the cart with these most needed items.  We are replacing our food pantry item list with food staples most requested by the food pantry. These items include: Boxed Cereal Oatmeal Peanut Butter Granola and Snack Bars Spaghetti or Macaroni Rice Canned Fruit Soup Canned Tuna or Chicken Jam and Jelly Juice Non Food such as paper products are always welcome and needed, too.Thank you for your generosity,  This food will be distributed where it is most needed,  the Cumberland Food Pantry or Harrison Food Bank.

Sunday Coffee  and Fellowship Time There is a signup sheet for the next two months on the table in the Gathering Space. There is nothing fancy about this!  Bring whatever you would like.

May Meetings Diaconate – Rescheduled to Sunday, May 14 @ 11 am.   Faith Formation – Sunday, May 14 @ 11:00 a.m. Missions – Monday, May 15 @ 7 pm via Zoom Council – Thursday, 18 at 6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal – Wednesday Nights at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday Morning at 8:30 am Tuesday Gals meets on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Men’s Club meets on the third Saturday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at Toddy Brook Pet Place Pantry is open on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Rummage Sale The Tuesday Gals are now preparing for the rummage sale to be held at NYCC on Saturday May 27 from 9:00-1:00 pm. Donations will be accepted in the Fellowship Hall from Monday May 22 through Friday May 26. Please DO NOT donate: electronics, VHS, Betamax, DVD’s Feel free to donate: Clothing, shoes, pocketbooks, books, puzzles, games and toys, kitchen items, small furniture, tools and seasonal items and, so on. Contact Kathy Whittier at 254-7509 or Gail Strattard at 450-1612 with any questions or more info.

NYCC Clothing Ministry Thank you for your generosity.  Many are warmer and living easier lives because of your donations.  Spring is here an clothing needs have changed. The Clothing Ministry of NYCC collects basic clothing and accessories to be given out by the NYCC Street Ministry or donated to Maine Needs or the Freeport Thrift Store.  If you are so moved, please add your contribution to the boxes in the gathering space.  Most needed and asked for items: Socks                                                           Baseball Hats                                                                                                  Underwear                                                         T-shirts                                                                                                   These items will be given out with the lunches when the NYCC crew visits Portland. If you have gently used spring coats, shoes, spring clothing, like long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirts, leggings, sweatpants or jeans that you would like to give, please add these to the boxes, too.  These items will be donated to Maine Needs or Freeport Thrift Store.  Questions, please ask Jeanne or Tracy.

Strengthen the Church Special Offering The Strengthen the Church Offering reflects the commitment of all settings of the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC.  The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations as we work to become a multicultural/multi-racial, accessible to all Christian movement.  We will be accepting this offering on Sunday, May 28.

Join us for Worship!  We are worshiping in person on Sundays at 9:30 am.  For those who wish to join us online please connect with us on YouTube at youtube.com/c/nyccucc.  If you would like to see the Sunday Bulletin that can be found on our website at http://nyccucc.com.  If you wish to make an offering it can be made online through Tithely at https://tithe.ly/give?c=1301940.  You can also give by text: Text “Give” to 883-751-0314.

Spring Church Cleanup  Saturday, May 6 from 9:00 am – Noon Join us as we spiff up the church yard, get the storm windows down, and anything else needed inside or outside to get the church ready for summer. Please bring work gloves and a rake if you plan to work outside Remember, Many hands make light work A snack will be provided Rain Date: Saturday, May 13 from 9:00 am – Noon

OPEN AND AFFIRMING VIDEO VIEWING Please join us on Sunday, May 7th, after the worship service and during coffee hour to view a video from the UCC about the process of Open and Affirming (otherwise known as ONA).  This will be our first viewing of this video with the hope that additional viewings will follow in June and July.  ONA is the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and non-binary persons (LGBTQ) in the church’s life and ministry.  There will be open discussions between all of us at a later date and a process prescribed within which to have these discussions.  The UCC will help guide us through this process as we learn more about it.  Please consider joining us on May 7th.  Marsha Heath, Moderator

Food Pantry  HELP FILL THE GROCERY CART THIS SUNDAY! Communion Sunday has been our Sunday for food collection for local food pantries, but  you can add to the grocery cart at any time throughout the month.  Please help us fill the cart with these most needed items.  We are replacing our food pantry item list with food staples most requested by the food pantry. These items include: Boxed Cereal Oatmeal Peanut Butter Granola and Snack Bars Spaghetti or Macaroni Rice Canned Fruit Soup Canned Tuna or Chicken Jam and Jelly Juice Non Food such as paper products are always welcome and needed, too.Thank you for your generosity,  This food will be distributed where it is most needed,  the Cumberland Food Pantry or Harrison Food Bank.

The Old Man of the Mountain    Rev. Dr. Paul A. Day Twenty years ago today we woke up to the news that during the night the Old Man of the Mountain slid down off Cannon Mountain. It had been a week of heavy rain – like this past week – and the profile disappeared in the rain and fog. All that was left were the cables that had been used to stabilize the rock formation. It’s time for New Hampshire to change its license plate and replace the Great Stone Face to the smooth cliff with the cables sticking out as a testament to the futility of human efforts.  My three daughters were all away at college at the time. Within hours all three had called home. They were deeply affected by the news. Franconia Notch had been a favorite stopping point on our frequent trips from Worcester, MA, to visit Diana’s parents in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.

The Old Man of the Mountain always held a special place in my heart as well, from frequent visits to my own grandparents in New Hampshire. They lived in North Conway, with a view across the valley to White Horse Ledge. When I was young the horse was still quite discernible; it has long since eroded away. When I was very young I saw pictures of Mt. Rushmore and assumed that it was a natural formation like White Horse Ledge and the Great Stone Face. I was amazed that Mother Nature had carved out images that resembled our presidents. Of course, it was not Mother Nature but Gutzon and Lincoln Borglum and those who worked for them. When I finally got to see Mt. Rushmore in person, while driving cross-country to my first pastorate in Washington, I was amazed by the human efforts to design and sculpt a whole mountain peak—six thousand feet high and carved entirely of granite. If you visit the national monument in person, you will notice that the four presidential faces are a bit chunky. The sculptors left an additional three inches of granite on top of each president’s face. It takes 10,000 years of rain erosion to wear away just one inch of granite. By leaving the granite, the sculptors signaled their confidence that the country would endure for 30,000 years and beyond. But beautiful as it is, our home is not this country nor any other early government. Even the most permanent structures – natural or man-made – are subject to erosion. Every government will eventually pass away. However, the love God has for us and the love he shows us is stronger than granite. It will never erode. It is incorruptible, indestructible. Jesus, help us to trust in your incorruptible love for us and to share that love with someone else today. Amen.Grace and peace, Pastor Paul

Notes from the Church Office Carpet Cleaning – The Fellowship Hall Carpet is scheduled for cleaning on Friday, May 12 at 8:30 am.  The carpet will need a couple of hours of dying time after the cleaning so the Fellowship Hall will be closed off for the day until 4:30 pm.  The Greater Freeport Community Chorus will be holding a concert here in the Fellowship Hall on Friday, May 12 at 7 pm.  We have heard from others that this will be a great concert.  There are several members of NYCC in the Chorus, with Jesse Myers-Wakeman as the Conductor.  See the poster below or on the bulletin board.  Hope to see you there! Thank you to everyone who helped with the worship service and reception during the Cumberland Association Spring meeting.  We had many volunteers involved in the set and up and clean up for this meeting.  The combined choir (Gray, New Gloucester and NYCC) led by David Myers-Wakeman sang beautifully.  Click the link below if you would like to hear them at   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1hVUdLDtFA&t=558s Have you seen the latest stained glass art installation from Lois K?  Check it out in the garden as you come in to the building.  It is just beautiful!   We have featured one of the panels in this weeks email.

Please keep the following people in your prayers Diana Day Sandra Hanson Green Sandra and Vince Golonka Wayne Malloch Blanche Mays Ladd Meyerhoff Cindy Tompson

Sunday Coffee  and Fellowship Time There is a signup sheet for the next two months onthe table in the Gathering Space.There is nothing fancy about this!  Bring whatever you wouldlike.

May Meetings Diaconate – Sunday, May 7 @11:00 am Trustees – Tuesday, May 9 @ 6 pm Faith Formation – Sunday, May 14 @ 11:00 a.m. Missions – Monday, May 15 @ 7 pm via Zoom Council – Thursday, 18 at 6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal – Wednesday Nights at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday Morning at 8:30 am Tuesday Gals meets on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Men’s Club meets on the third Saturday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at Toddy Brook Pet Place Pantry is open on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Rummage Sale The Tuesday Gals are now preparing for the rummage sale to be held at NYCC on Saturday May 27 from 9:00-1:00 pm. Donations will be accepted in the Fellowship Hall from Monday May 22 through Friday May 26. Please DO NOT donate: electronics, VHS, Betamax, DVD’s Feel free to donate: Clothing, shoes, pocketbooks, books, puzzles, games and toys, kitchen items, small furniture, tools and seasonal items and, so on. Contact Kathy Whittier at 254-7509 or Gail Strattard at 450-1612 with any questions or more info.

NYCC STREET MINISTRY  NEWS BIT After reading in the local papers that the city of Portland was going to clear out the encampment behind Trader Joes, Caroline and I did not know where we might find the folks that we served “brunch” to on Sat. April 22. We drove around and didn’t see much action in any of the places we used to stop.  Sooooo, we went to the Trader Joe’s space and there they were!  Things looked different. The number of tents or homemade shelters looked about the same, but they were bunched very close together and the spaces on either end of the encampment were quite clean, AND there was a huge pile of of large green trash bags, chockablock full, ready to be taken away. We don’t know who tidied things up, but we hope the “tenters” helped……alot.  It wasn’t a very warm day, so we just handed out the treats to a hand coming out of an opening in the tent, usually with huge thank you’s and bless you’s.  There has been much in the news lately about the need for housing and other services for the unhoused….nothing new on this matter, but it seems that there is more action and less talk, so maybe conditions will improve. Caroline and I will continue doing what we do and we can do it only because of your support. Thank-you so much.   Jeanne

NYCC Clothing Ministry Thank you for your generosity.  Many are warmer and living easier lives because of your donations.  Spring is here an clothing needs have changed. The Clothing Ministry of NYCC collects basic clothing and accessories to be given out by the NYCC Street Ministry or donated to Maine Needs or the Freeport Thrift Store.  If you are so moved, please add your contribution to the boxes in the gathering space.  Most needed and asked for items: Socks                                                           Baseball Hats                                                                                                  Underwear                                                         T-shirts                                                                                                   These items will be given out with the lunches when the NYCC crew visits Portland. If you have gently used spring coats, shoes, spring clothing, like long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirts, leggings, sweatpants or jeans that you would like to give, please add these to the boxes, too.  These items will be donated to Maine Needs or Freeport Thrift Store.  Questions, please ask Jeanne or Tracy.

Register for Camp TODAY! Programming for all ages You are welcome here! Scholarships are available for all sessions.  Apply online by May 15, 2023 To sign up, visit www.pilgrimlodge.org 207-724-3200, info@ pilgrimlodge.orgPilgrim Lodge is a amp lovingly provided by the Maine Conference United Church of Christ since 1956.

Access worship directly on our YouTube channel (subscribe to our channel while you are there) at youtube.com/c/nyccucc

Join us for Worship!  We are worshiping in person on Sundays at 9:30 am.  For those who wish to join us online please connect with us on YouTube at youtube.com/c/nyccucc.  If you would like to see the Sunday Bulletin that can be found on our website at http://nyccucc.com.  If you wish to make an offering it can be made online through Tithely at https://tithe.ly/give?c=1301940.  You can also give by text: Text “Give” to 883-751-0314.

Notes from the Church Office The lights in the Gathering Space were left on, and the front doors were left unlocked after church on Sunday.  Thank you to Pam P. from the daycare for noticing and taking care of it.  Please make sure the doors are locked and lights are turned off if you are the last one to leave the building.  Oh, and please be sure to swiggle those numbers on the lockbox after using it so the code isn’t visible. A funeral will be held at the church on Saturday, April 29 at 11 am for Pearl L. Brackett followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall.  Pearl and family were members of NYCC for many years.   The Greater Freeport Community Chorus will be holding a concert here in the Fellowship Hall on Friday, May 12 at 7 pm.  I have heard from others that this is a great concert to attend.  There are several members of NYCC in the choir, and  Jesse Myers-Wakeman is the Conductor. Hope to see you there!

Thank You Dough Ball Makers A shout out to the intrepid group that came in yesterday and made 200 dough balls for future chicken and strawberry festival pies!

Spring Church Cleanup  Saturday, May 6 from 9:00 am – Noon Join us as we spiff up the church yard, get the storm windows down, and anything else needed inside or outside to get the church ready for summer. Please bring work gloves and a rake if you plan to work outside. Remember, Many hands make light work. A snack will be provided. Rain Date: Saturday, May 13 from 9:00 am – Noon

Sunday Coffee  and Fellowship Time There is a signup sheet for the next two months on the table in the Gathering Space. There is nothing fancy about this!  Bring whatever you would like.

Healing the Earth      Rev. Dr. Paul A. Day On Sunday I talked about the Jewish concept Tikkun Olam – Healing the Earth. Originally the term referred to observing God’s commandments. Over time it has encompassed the pursuit of righteousness and justice in all its forms. This week is bracketed by Earth Day (4/22) and Arbor Day (4/28) – today Healing or Repairing the Earth points to Environmental Justice, or our proper stewardship of creation. Arbor Day reminds us to invest in the future: In the ancient Jewish commentaries on Genesis it is said that, wherever Abraham went as he roamed about the Promised Land, he planted trees. Modern Israel continues its efforts at re-forestation; in 1990 I had the opportunity to plant a tree on the hills outside Jerusalem. The great Reformer Martin Luther was asked what he would do if he knew that the world would end tomorrow; he replied, “I would plant an apple tree today.” On Easter Sunday I shared part of Wendell Berry’s poem in the bulletin: Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias. . . . Put your faith in the two inches of humus that will build under the trees every thousand years. . . . Expect the end of the world. Laugh. Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful though you have considered all the facts. . . . Practice resurrection.         — from Manifesto: The Mad Farmer’s Liberation Front Smack dab in the middle of this week is National Audubon Day. COVID-19 provided a big boost to the hobby of bird-watching. It was one way people could get out into the fresh air and engage in a somewhat social activity at a safe distance. It didn’t hurt that we had some interesting vagrant visitors to Maine – a South American black hawk in Portland, and the Stellar’s Sea Eagle, to name a couple. And Jesus endorsed birding! He said, “Look at the birds!” (Luke 12:24)

I enjoy bird-watching on a casual basis, but am far from expert. My friend, Stephen, can point to a couple of specks in the sky and identify them. I need a bit more help. I live in a prime area for bird-watching: behind me is the Audubon Sanctuary and Capisic Park is just down the street. I especially love waterfowl and raptors, and I love to hear woodpeckers and songbirds. When it comes to the environment, we are reminded that birds are, literally, the “canaries in the coal mine.” We have made great strides in restoring some bird populations, such as eagles. However, other species – songbirds and shore birds – seem to be declining. And their traditional ranges are changing. However, as much as I enjoy bird-watching outdoors, I admit to having ornithophobia – an irrational fear of birds at close quarters. I don’t know if it’s because I was bombed by seagulls too many times on the beach, or by pigeons in the schoolyard? Or that I saw Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds at a tender age. I also have a vague recollection of a parakeet flying around our apartment when I was very young. Another of Jesus’ teachings speaks to my fears, reasonable or irrational: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted.” (Matthew 10:29-30) Of course, for some of us, counting the hairs of our head is fairly easy. One of my favorite Gospel songs is “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDr4wQxJfZ0Grace & peace, Pastor Paul

OPEN AND AFFIRMING VIDEO VIEWING Please join us on Sunday, May 7th, after the worship service and during coffee hour to view a video from the UCC about the process of Open and Affirming (otherwise known as ONA).  This will be our first viewing of this video with the hope that additional viewings will follow in June and July.  ONA is the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and non-binary persons (LGBTQ) in the church’s life and ministry.  There will be open discussions between all of us at a later date and a process prescribed within which to have these discussions.  The UCC will help guide us through this process as we learn more about it.  Please consider joining us on May 7th.  Marsha Heath, Moderator

Please keep the following people in your prayers The Family of Pearl L. Brackett Diana Day Sandra Hanson Green Sandra and Vince Golonka Wayne Malloch Blanche Mays Ladd Meyerhoff Cindy Tompson

May Meetings Diaconate – Sunday, May 7 @11:00 am Trustees – Tuesday, May 9 @ 6 pm Faith Formation – Sunday, May 14 @ 11:00 a.m. Missions – Monday, May 15 @ 7 pm via Zoom Council – Thursday, 18 at 6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal – Wednesday Nights at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday Morning at 8:30 am Tuesday Gals meets on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Men’s Club meets on the third Saturday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at Toddy Brook Pet Place Pantry is open on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00-10:00 a.m.

The Tuesday Gals are now preparing for the rummage sale to be held at NYCC on Saturday May 27 from 9:00-1:00 pm. Donations will be accepted in the Fellowship Hall from Monday May 22 through Friday May 26. Please DO NOT donate: electronics, VHS, Betamax, DVD’s Feel free to donate: Clothing, shoes, pocketbooks, books, puzzles, games and toys, kitchen items, small furniture, tools and seasonal items and, so on. Contact Kathy Whittier at 254-7509 or Gail Strattard at 450-1612 with any questions or more info.

NYCC STREET MINISTRY  NEWS BIT After reading in the local papers that the city of Portland was going to clear out the encampment behind Trader Joes, Caroline and I did not know where we might find the folks that we served “brunch” to on Sat. April 22. We drove around and didn’t see much action in any of the places we used to stop.  Sooooo, we went to the Trader Joe’s space and there they were!  Things looked different. The number of tents or homemade shelters looked about the same, but they were bunched very close together and the spaces on either end of the encampment were quite clean, AND there was a huge pile of of large green trash bags, chockablock full, ready to be taken away. We don’t know who tidied things up, but we hope the “tenters” helped……alot.  It wasn’t a very warm day, so we just handed out the treats to a hand coming out of an opening in the tent, usually with huge thank you’s and bless you’s.  There has been much in the news lately about the need for housing and other services for the unhoused….nothing new on this matter, but it seems that there is more action and less talk, so maybe conditions will improve. Caroline and I will continue doing what we do and we can do it only because of your support. Thank-you so much.   Jeanne

Chicken and Gravy Pie / Turkey and Gravy Pie  SaleCost:  9″ pie – $24 each.            pint of poultry gravy – $6 each.  If you would like to purchase a pie this will be ongoing until we sell out.  On a Sunday you can reach out to Mark, Marsha, Lois or Leah.  If it is during the week the office is open Monday-Thursday 8am-12 pm.  Help yourself to a pie in the freezer (We will keep the kitchen hallway freezer stocked), and then pay Lyn or leave payment in cash or check on the office desk.  If you have any questions call the office at 829-3644.

Conference Dues Conference dues for each church are calculated on the number of members reported as of the last years fiscal term.  This is regardless of whether they attend or not, but are on the membership list at the end of the year. The dues this year are $19.00 per member.  This amounts to about $1,820.00 for this year. This is a “chunk of change” for our church as we are watching our budget very carefully. It would be greatly appreciated if you could help us by remitting your portion of the dues. If you have remitted payment already, it is greatly appreciated! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Lois Knight, Financial Secretary.

NYCC Clothing Ministry Thank you for your generosity.  Many are warmer and living easier lives because of your donations.  Spring is here an clothing needs have changed. The Clothing Ministry of NYCC collects basic clothing and accessories to be given out by the NYCC Street Ministry or donated to Maine Needs or the Freeport Thrift Store.  If you are so moved, please add your contribution to the boxes in the gathering space.  Most needed and asked for items: Socks                                                           Baseball Hats                                                                                                  Underwear                                                         T-shirts                                                                                                   These items will be given out with the lunches when the NYCC crew visits Portland. If you have gently used spring coats, shoes, spring clothing, like long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirts, leggings, sweatpants or jeans that you would like to give, please add these to the boxes, too.  These items will be donated to Maine Needs or Freeport Thrift Store.  Questions, please ask Jeanne or Tracy.

Food Pantry  Communion Sunday has been our Sunday for food collection for local food pantries, but  you can add to the grocery cart at any time throughout the month.  Please help us fill the cart with these most needed items.  We are replacing our food pantry item list with food staples most requested by the food pantry. These items include: Boxed Cereal Oatmeal Peanut Butter Granola and Snack Bars Spaghetti or Macaroni Rice Canned Fruit Soup Canned Tuna or Chicken Jam and Jelly Juice Non Food such as paper products are always welcome and needed, too. Thank you for your generosity,  This food will be distributed where it is most needed,  the Cumberland Food Pantry or Harrison Food Bank.

Register for Camp TODAY!Programming for all ages You are welcome here! Scholarships are available for all sessions.  Apply online by May 15, 2023 To sign up, visit www.pilgrimlodge.org 207-724-3200, info@ pilgrimlodge.orgPilgrim Lodge is a amp lovingly provided by the Maine Conference United Church of Christ since 1956.

Access worship directly on our YouTube channel (subscribe to our channel while you are there) at youtube.com/c/nyccucc