A Bayberry Block

And so, it's been three weeks since my last posting. I began a posting on August 7 (the day between the observances of the only nuclear bombs dropped during a time of war) but I found myself staring at the blinking cursor on the blank page. I even had a catchy title, "Between Then and Again!" I might still find the words to go with the title (and the thought underlying it all).

My blog server tells me that I've written 152 postings (since January 15, 2007). I guess I'm due for a case of writer's block.

It's been a great summer though. I've worked on stuff around the house. Work continues on various resources for the New York Conference (An introductory video on the UCC Manual on Church; transferring the Powerpoint presentations of Casting Your Nets and OCWM into a more internet-friendly video format; further development of my website -- http://www.flowingstreams.org/). But, no blog postings since August 3...that is, until now.

Much has been going on in the world (and even in and across the UCC) while I've been enduring blog withdrawal: the Olympics, the Russian invasion of Georgia, a change of power in Pakistan, the U.S. Presidential Campaign, tropical storm Fay, to name a few events.

The UCC has another nationwide TV ad campaign underway. The deadline is fast approaching for contributions toward the $350,000 campaign goal. Here is the link describing the campaign and for donations: http://www.ucc.org/allthepeople/.

Here's the ad "All the People".

The Oneida Association Global Church Committee is planning a Mission Fair for our churches on September 13, at the Fairmount Community Church, Syracuse to benefit "Tents of Hope".

Tents of Hope provides a tangible way for church folks to actually do something to help refugees from the genocide in Darfur. Here is the link to the online flier for our event: http://www.flowingstreams.org/Oneida/Oneida%20Mission%20Fair.htm.



From noon to 4:00 we'll paint 12" square canvases that will be sent to a U.N. Refugee Camp in Chad. The squares will be sewn together there into a tent. It takes 300 squares to make one tent. By the way the event will also include visits from the local Sudanese community, the regional director of Church World Service, videos on the crisis in Darfur, a chicken barbecue, a bake sale...and, did I mention, great fun!



Well, that's all for now. I guess I'm out of the blocks (to borrow an Olympic metaphor).



Blessings,



Rick Cowles