Dear Friends,

As we get closer to school ending and vacations beginning, I invite you to celebrate with our children and youth by making a special effort to attend the Confirmation Service on June 5th and the Children's Day Service on June 12th.

The following students are members of the confirmation class: Mallory, Kaitlynne, Steven, Jacob, Melanie and Lindsay. These students have met with me since October 2010 and have completed a test and written their Statement of Faith, sharing this with the Board of Deacons. They have also visited a Jewish Synagogue, a Mosque, the Shiloh Baptist Church in New London, and spent a weekend in Boston working with the Boston Mission Society helping the homeless. On Sunday, June 5th, they will make their commitment to our church through the rite of Confirmation and we will welcome them into church membership.

"SHINE, JESUS, SHINE" is the theme for Children's Sunday. The message is that we all have the light of Jesus shining in us not only when we gather on Sundays, but each and every day as we go about work and our community service. We will celebrate various vocations through words, music, and dress. Some of the children will be scientists, some athletes, some teachers, nurses, doctors, farmers, at home Moms or Dads, and many more. You are invited to wear your uniform as a way of identifying what you do or have done (military, police, firemen). Or, you can bring something with you that identifies your work. I especially think this message is important to our children and helps them realize that church and having faith is not totally separate from work. The light of Christ shines in us whatever we are.

At the end of the service, the children will lead us to the fellowship hall where we will have lunch and spend a few moments thanking our teachers and Bertie, who has led our children's music program. This is Bertie's last year with us and we want to thank her for all her time and love. Please join us.

Love and joy,

                    Pastor Sharon