April 2014 Sunday Schedule for the Season of Lent

9:00 am Open and Affirming Study Group

10:30 am Worship

11:00 am Children's Time (children excused from worship)

11:30 am Coffee Hour and Fellowship

April 6 - Fifth Sunday in Lent Scripture: John 11:1-45 Topic: Lazarus, Come Forth Children's Time: Getting ready for Palm Sunday SPECIAL EVENTS: 10:00 am Choir warm-up 11:30 am Freewill Lunch for everyone

April 13 - Palm Sunday Scripture: Matthew 21.1-11 Topic: Hosanna Children's Time: Breaking News from Jerusalem

April 20 - Easter Sunday Scripture: John 4.5-42 Topic: The Great Emptiness SPECIAL EVENTS: Easter Bonnets and Easter Lilies!!!

April 27 - Second Sunday of Easter Scripture: John 20.19-31 Topic: Healthy Doubting Children's Time SPECIAL EVENT: 9:00 am Open and Affirming Study Group

News Flash from Search Committee You may or may not know that in mid-March your Search Committee invited a candidate to Boise for an interview, for the candidate to preach in a neutral pulpit, for the candidate to catch a glimpse of Wright Church and get to know the Search Committee, for us to get to know the candidate, and for the candidate to experience Boise and the Treasure Valley. The Search Committee feels that we achieved our objective.

The Search Committee has done some real soul-searching and praying the past several months. We soon realized that the $16,517 deficit balance in the budget that was approved by the congregation in January 2014 was not an inviting scenario for a new pastor.

We began to look at part-time ministry as an alternative, since such a large portion (almost 50 %) of the budget was pastor salary and related items. You will remember that during the summer of 2013 Pastor Cynthia was with us on a part-time basis.

What part-time ministry might look like:

¾ time position

In the pulpit, preaching each Sunday

Office hours 2-3 days each week

Visitation, shut-ins, hospital, etc.

Emergency/crisis calls

When pastor on other job, someone fill in, be in office or on call (Yes, the pastor would probably have another part time job)

Diaconate pick up slack (need training and resources)

Continued on next page

How would this impact the pastor salary line in the budget and the bottom line of the budget?

The budget as approved in January, 2014, had a $48,400 ministry budget line item and an overall negative balance of $16,517. The part-time ministry budget line item would be $32,340 and an overall negative balance of $457.

The above items were discussed at the March Board meeting and it was moved, seconded, and passed that we move forward.

When we made this decision we had several candidates that we were in dialogue with. We were up front with them in our discussions about the budget situation. Some of the candidates withdrew from consideration and some wanted to continue our discussion. We ultimately decided on one candidate and invited that candidate to come to Boise for an interview. The above items were discussed with the candidate and were agreed upon in principle.

Your Search Committee has unanimously selected a candidate to present to you for your consideration.

Further details will be coming out in the next few weeks. This will involve the candidate returning to Boise to meet the Wright Family, the Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and members, the Diaconate, members of the congregation and friends of the congregation in informal settings. The candidate will lead worship and preach on Sunday morning. Following worship, a Congregational Meeting will be held to vote on extending a call to the candidate to become our pastor.

In accordance with our by-laws, a one-week notice must be given, a quorum of 35 members must be present with a 2/3 affirmative vote to extend the call. The Search Committee felt a written ballot would be appropriate.

Now for the “Candidating Weekend”. We have selected the weekend of Sunday, May 4.

Suggested events might include:

All church potluck

Coffee time with candidate

Gathering of board, committees, diaconate

Gathering of women’s fellowship, book club, etc.

The exact schedule is to be determined, perhaps Friday, Saturday, and Sunday events. If you are interested in helping, contact Carl Van Slyke.

You will note that I have not given any personal information about the candidate. We will be putting together a brochure as an introduction. There will be at least one mailing--possibly two. Information will be included in the Wright Ups and perhaps in the Wrap Up.

Your Search Committee is excited and the candidate is excited about Wright Church and the potential that is here.

For the Search Committee,

Carl Van Slyke, Chair

Reports and Meetings

NOTE: All board members and committee chairs are asked to attend all board meetings or send a representative of your committee. Your input into the life of the church is very important. The next Board meeting is April 16, 7:00 pm, in the social hall.

Open and Affirming Study Group We began the process to determine if Wright Church should become an Open and Affirming (ONA) church on March 2. While it was intended to have an 8-week study it has become evident that the group wants to begin to write an ONA statement for the consideration of the congregation.

The group will be meeting electronically for the next few weeks to review, write, edit, and finalize an ONA statement for Wright Church. Examples and drafts will be shared through email with everyone on the Wright Ups email list. Everyone is encouraged to contribute. Your thoughts, feelings, and opinions are needed. Study packets are available in the church office for anyone and everyone interested.

The study group will re-assemble on Sunday, April 27, at 9:00 am.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the ONA Study Group, do not hesitate to talk with Rev. Cynthia.

Financial Summary For February 2014

Income $12,397.03 Expenses (8,721.52) Balance 2880.28

The balance looks better temporarily due to the check ($6,500) received from the DeBeaumont Fund. Your continued faithfulness is greatly appreciated. Any loose change you have for the furnace fund will also help. We also have an expense for the toppling of some trees in the back. Just like your home there are always some unexpected expenses that throw the budget into chaos. Thanks again for your continued support of the church’s ministries.

Janice Aagaard, Treasurer

Deacons' Meeting The next meeting of the Diaconate will be on Sunday, April 6, at 11:45 following the worship service. Please get a cup of coffee and a goodie and move up to the Upper Room for our meeting.

Carl Van Slyke, Chairperson

All articles for the May 2014 edition of the Wright Ups are due in the office on or before April 25.

April Worship Team

Lay Worship Leader Clay Shockley and Jim Morrow

Ushers Frank Capshaw, Wes and Cathy Andrews, Will Patterson

Care Givers Carol Rivers

Altar Care Marilyn Williams

Communion Servers Marilyn Williams, Carol Rivers, Clay and Laura Shockley

Date Greeters Fellowship Hosts Flowers

4-6 Chuck and Meredith Pond Sunday School free will lunch Marilyn Williams

4-13 Dale and Betty Ramsey Kim & Mike Smith and kids Palm Sunday

4-20 Jane Penrod and Lois Taylor Easter Lilies

4-27 Linda & Dwain Baxter Linda and Dwain Baxter

Church Missions

April Bench Supper All hands are needed as Wright Church continues to serve our free monthly meal to the Bench community.

Our next supper is Thursday, April 24. Please contact Julie Patterson if you are interested in helping with suppers.

Furnace Fund Is Heating Up The Furnace Fund is coming along. Be sure and drop your loose change and dollars into our giving jar located in the narthex on Sunday mornings. Please do what you can to help us cover the almost $4000 bill.

Donations can be made to the Building Fund noting that it is to help pay the furnace bill.

Help Restock the Pantry Our pantry continues to be used by the community and we are running low on both food and paper goods such as t-paper and Kleenex.

Do you see yourself in this picture? If so, we will see you at

choir practice on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:00 pm in the

sanctuary. The choir will sing on Sunday, April 6 with a warm-up at

10:00 am.

The Choir will also rehearse on Wednesday, April 30, to prepare for Sunday, May 4 when the pastor candidate will lead worship.

Easter Egg Cetera

Easter Egg Hunt Central Bench Neighborhood Association is hosting an Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19, from 11:00 to 1:00 at Wright church. The event is open to all neighborhood children and their families.

Put on Your Easter Bonnet In keeping with tradition (for the last couple years anyway), you are invited and encouraged to wear your best Easter bonnet on Easter Sunday, April 20. So get yours out, dust it off, and show it off during worship on Easter Sunday.

Easter Lilies

Please bring an Easter lily to decorate the sanctuary on Easter Sunday. Flowers can be dropped off either on the Thursday before or bring it on Easter Sunday.

Personal Touches

Thank You from Sierra I would like to thank you for the scholarship check that I received from you. I am currently in my second semester at BSU and taking a lot of credits. College life is going well now that I have the swing to things. I appreciate the continued support from you all and hope that I can come visit soon.

Take care,

Sierra Hunt

Celebrations in April

Birthdays

April 4 Tom Eubanks

April 5 Kellie Canning

April 11 Dale Parsons

April 12 Bob Balfour & Marilyn Williams

April 14 Samantha Flaherty

April 17 Dakota Hunt

April 18 Dave Turner

April 19 Bethene Dykes and Mike Smith

April 22 Jane Eubanks

April 29 Will Patterson

April 30 Charlotte Day

Anniversary's

April 6 Loyd & Patti Bliss

April 13 Ronna & Larry Sundell

April 14 Dwain & Linda Baxter

Memorials Memorials were given in loving memory for the following:

Ruby Oliason by Janice Aagaard

Hugh Gielser by Janice Aagaard

Jo Elliott-Blakeslee and Amy Linkert by Ron & Syl Apperson

Attention All Wright Church Artists, Crafters, and Hobbyists

We will be having a craft fair in conjunction with the BUGS plant sale May 9 and 10. Get your items ready to sell. We can provide our Wright Church members with free space, tables, and chairs if needed. For non-members the charge for a 12 x 12 space is $25 and they keep all their sales. Money will go to the general fund for Wright Church. Applications are on the downstairs bulletin board or give the office a call.

Fellowship and Study Activities

Women's Fellowship On Wednesday, April 2, at 1:00 pm, the Women's Fellowship will be having a work day at the home of Ruby Oliason. Ruby died last month and left half of her estate to Wright Church. We will be going through the house and boxing items for the upcoming rummage sale. The address is 7301 Cedarwood Drive. It is located behind the McDonald's at the intersection of Cole and Overland but you can't get there from the McDonald's parking lot! Turn either east on Brentwood or north on Brooklawn. See map.

Janice Aagaard

President

Sunday School Freewill Lunch The Sunday School is hosting another freewill lunch following worship on April 6. Everyone is invited to attend this great fellowship event.

On Saturday, April 19, we will gather at Carol's home at 9:30 am and then carpool to the Boise Watershed for a tour. We will return to Carol's for a potluck lunch and games. Please RSVP to Carol Rivers.

The Bible Study Group is walking through Holy Week with the book, The Last Week by Crossan and Borg. We meet on Wednesdays at 10:00 in the social hall.

The book club meets on the first Thursday each month at 1:00 pm in the library. All are welcome to come and enjoy a cup of tea and an interesting discussion.

Thursday April 3 The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

It's back to the classics in April for the Book Club. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep to whisk him away on an adventure.

May 1 The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass (edition to be determined)

June 5 The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean

July (TBA since it conflicts with Independence Day) Bring one or two favorite poems to share.

August 7 Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

Lunch bunch is gathering on April 24, the fourth Thursday this month, at 1:00 pm at the Luciano's Restaurant. All are invited. Let Pat Robb or the office know if you can join us.

Arts, Crafts, and Potluck We had six folks join us for our first crafters gathering in March. So we have decided to do it again.

The group will meet the 3rd

Friday of the un-even months (you know – 1,3,5,7,9,11). Bring a potluck to share, your preferred drink and whatever craft you wish to work on. It's fun to share craft ideas, foods and fellowship. Plan on joining us on May 16 from 11:30 - 3:00.

April 2014

Room Key SH-Social Hall UR-Upper Room S-Sanctuary K - Kitchen

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 7- Alanon SH

2 10 Lenten Study-SH 12:30 WF Spring Luncheon-SH

3

1- Book Club L

4 2-NAMI UR

5

6 5th Sunday of Lent

10:00 Choir Warm-Up

10:30 Worship-Communion 11:30 Sunday School free will lunch

11:45 Diaconate Meeting-UR

7

8 7- Alanon SH

9

10-Lenten Study-SH 6- Huntington’s SH

10 9:00 AM RUMMAGE SALE SET UP

11 9-RUMMAGE SALE 2-NAMI UR

12

9-RUMMAGE SALE

13 Palm Sunday

10:30 Worship 11:30 Fellowship/Coffee

14

15

7- Alanon SH

16

10-Lenten Study-SH 7:00- Board of Directors SH

17 Maundy Thursday

18 2-NAMI UR

19

9:30am Wright Ones-@ Carols-Watershed Tour 11-CBNA Egg Hunt & Fun

20 EASTER SUNDAY

10:30 Worship 11:30 Fellowship/Coffee

21

7-Search Comm. UR

22 7- Alanon SH

23

24

1- Lunch Bunch at Luciano's 6:00 pm Bench Community Supper

25 Wright Up articles due 2-NAMI UR

26

27

9:00 Open & Affirming 10:30 Worship

Children's Sunday School 11:30 Fellowship/Coffee

28 6:00 CBNA

29 7- Alanon SH

30 7-Choir Rehearsal -S

Wright Community Congregational Church United Church of Christ 4821 Franklin Road, Boise ID 83705 wrightucc.com

April 2014 Vol. 2014 Issue 4 Published Monthly

Contact us: Phone: 208.343.0292 E-Mail: church@wrightucc.com Web: wrightucc.com

Ministers: You

Interim Pastor: Rev. Cynthia Brandt

Office Administrator: Robin Canning

Organist: Ginny Trapp

Board Chairman: Chuck Pond

Moderator: Carl Van Slyke

Sunday Schedule: 10:30 Worship 11:00 Children's Time 11:30 Fellowship Time Cry Room available for restless little ones.

Communion 1st Sunday of each month

Return service requested

If it is April, which it is, then it must be about time for the Wright Rummage Sale!

And it is!

Bring in your spring cleaning treasures for the sale which will be held on Friday April 11 and Saturday April 12.

Give the office a call if you have larger items and need help getting them to the church.

Set up will be on Thursday at 9:00 am.