Eight youth and four adults just completed our third leg of the Erie Canal canoeing 20 miles from Lock #12 to Lock #8 just west of Schenectady from July 20-23.

The weather was exceptional and we are very proud of all our paddlers, particularly those who were canoeing for the first time. Going through a lock in a canoe is quite an experience and one nice lock operator let us go through and then turn around and come back the other way to unload at a convenient spot and still be able to have the lock experience.

Those who have canoed the canal with us all three years have now accumulated 125.5 miles!

We very sadly say goodbye to our 8th graders who will be moving up to InCasts in the fall. We wish all of our youth a happy and safe summer. Look for information in August about the youth groups starting up in the fall! Please contact Barbara Daley at 464-5239 or bdaley@tds.net for any information.

It is time to celebrate a great summer with some fun! On August 5th, after welcoming Rev. Carolyn Keilig to our pulpit, we will travel to the lake house of Rob Charron and Karen O’Brien for a church picnic. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. We are asking everyone to bring a dish to share to complement the meal. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and we will enjoy swimming, kayaking, boat rides and fellowship. It will be a great chance to meet Carolyn in a less formal setting. Put the date on your calendar and join us!

On Sunday, July 15th, at the Lower Village Chapel in Hillsboro, there will be a memorial service remembering and celebrating the life of our friend, Victor Schmid. The service will begin at 11:00 o’clock.

Victor passed away right before Christmas last year. The Rev. Peter Foss, former minister at Smith Memorial Congregational Church, will lead the service. On that Sunday, the Diaconate will hold a brief half hour service at our church so that people may then attend the memorial service. Victor and Trudy were both very active at our church over the years and it will be great to see Trudy and her family.

Following the service, there will be a reception and time of fellowship in the lower level of the chapel. Please note that the chapel is not handicap accessible. Smith Church will be helping the Ladies Aid society with the reception. Those who signed up to help with our new “Reception Committee” may be called on to bake a treat.

Our front door is wide open, windows are flung open and a new breeze is flowing through our sanctuary.

I am reminded that in some Biblical languages, wind and spirit are used interchangeably. Are we experiencing a new spirit in our congregation? Perhaps so. Many changes are taking place.

On the same day that we accepted Pastor Duke’s resignation as our interim minister, we found a new couple in our congregation who just happened to be retired ministers. By the time you read this, we will have been led in worship by both Elizabeth and Charlie Hambrick-Stowe. They brought a new energy to our pulpit and one of them will also lead us in worship on July 8th. They have appreciated the warm welcome they have received.

On July 1st and 22nd, we will again hear from Rev. Dawn Berry. Dawn has preached at our church before and we are pleased that she has agreed to fill two Sundays. The leadership of the church and the Diaconate met with and hired a new interim minister who will begin August 1st, Rev. Carolyn Keilig who resides in Hopkinton. She has a lot of experience being an interim and is excited to be working close to home. She has been hired for 30 hours a week which means she will help with Hillsboro House, be part of the Ministerium and have time for visiting some of our shut-ins. Those of us who have met her appreciated her energy and compassion. She also has experience with Christian education for all ages.

Our search committee for a settled pastor is working well together and awaiting the right profile.

At Church Council, we decided that we need to spend some “play” time together! On August 5h, which will be our first Sunday with Rev. Keilig, everyone is invited to the lakeside home of Rob Charron and Karen O’Brien for an after-church picnic. Good food (of course,) boating, swimming, kayaking and just relaxing are all part of the plan. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided. We ask that everyone bring a side dish to share. This will also give you a chance to meet and chat with Carolyn in a more informal setting.

The next month will be exciting and hopefully bring renewed energy to our congregation. Won’t you join us at 9:30 on Sunday mornings as we renew our commitment as the Christians Jesus hoped we would be?!

Come and be part of the planning for our coming church year!