Crossroads Notes:

Come to Camp Wilmot (NH) It’s not too late to join us!!!           We are still accepting registrations for summer camp 2006. Our theme this summer is “Peace Be With You”. For registrations, see our website at www.campwilmot.org or call 603-768-3350. Camp Wilmot is our Presbyterian summer camp for youth (grades 3-12), families, and disabled adults. We run 6 full weeks of camp starting July 9, including a one-week canoe trip in Maine. Our activities are numerous and range from things like archery, to African dance & drumming, to kayaking, to newspaper writing, to ultimate Frisbee, to cabin Bible studies, to creative worship, to eco-stewardship activities, to group-building challenges. We also have a few slots left for summer staff positions with options of 1-5 weeks of work. Send an email to Rob Mark the Director at campwilmot@hotmail.com, or call 603-768-3350 or see Rod MacDonald for more info. Hope to see you at Wilmot! Walk for Hunger Report           On what was the last beautiful day before the rain started, 11 walkers from BPC joined 43,000 others to raise funds for the 400+ food programs in Massachusetts supported by Project Bread. Our team was made up of Candy and Sarah McLaughlin, Caitlin and Colin Rivet, Sue McGilvray-Rivet, Linda and Dave Delman, Linda Roscoe, Amina Meho, Ray Gabler and Laura Drew. Thanks to the BPC family and others, we raised $771 and had a great time doing it! Looking For M.A.T.E. Volunteers!           Is this your year to go to Maine (July 30-August 4) to help repair/renovate homes of rural elderly and needy? Speak to Rod. A great crew is assembling, and its not too late for you! A planning meeting is planned for Sunday, June 4, 3:00 p.m. From the Stewardship Committee           Thanks to all who contributed to ‘One Great Hour of Sharing’. In keeping with the One Great Hour emphasis on water, we are sharing this information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ‘As storm water flows over driveways, lawns, and sidewalks, it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants. Storm water can flow into a storm sewer system or directly to a lake, stream, river, wetland, or coastal water. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the water bodies we use for swimming, fishing, and providing drinking water. Polluted runoff is the nation’s greatest threat to clean water. By practicing healthy household habits, homeowners can keep common pollutants like pesticides, pet waste, grass clippings, and automotive fluids off the ground and out of storm water’. Visit www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater, for more information Pentecost Offering           Pentecost Sunday is an amazing, life-giving day in the community of faith. At Pentecost, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to transform human life and all of creation. Through participation in the Pentecost Offering we take part in bringing the transforming love of God to those in need, especially to children at risk, youth, and young adults.           Using Pentecost Offering receipts, we help provide avenues through which children are rescued from trauma, disease, neglect, and exploitation in this country and around the world. The offering undergirds the hope we have for the church and the world by assisting in guiding and nurturing the faith of Presbyterian young people. And, with support from the offering, we call forth a new generation of leadership in mission service through National and International Young Adult Volunteers and Interns, and develop our future leaders on college campuses nationwide.           Congregations are encouraged to keep forty percent of the offering for local use with children at risk. Sixty percent will go to the General Assembly for child advocacy and ministries with youth and young adults. Offering will be received on June 4. Sunday Morning Rides Needed           There are two people who need rides to and from church. Please speak to Joanne Stephens. Sign up in Fellowship Hall.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!           We are pleased to announce that Burlington Presbyterian now has a sound system due to the generosity of several families who gave contributions to the Memorial Fund and the hard work of the Sound Committee, especially Scott Davis and Jay David. The debut of portions of the system occurred on May 14, 2006. Many in the congregation noticed the two speakers mounted above the hymn announcement boards when they entered the sanctuary. There is also a speaker on a column facing the choir.           There are four microphones available. The primary one is a fixed panel attached to the pulpit. This carries the voices of the minister and the worship assistant. The handheld wireless microphone was successfully used on the 14th by the young people who were confirmed into our church that day. It is easily passed from one person to another. There is also a portable clip-on used for the first time on May 21st during the Word for Children. In addition, for future special occasions, there is a vocal/special music soloist microphone. The system can be plugged into a cassette, cd, or ipod player for liturgical dance or other performances. The equipment for the sound system is in front of the bell choir cabinet and is best left alone as there are wires which could get unplugged.           Adjustments to the system will be made as we go through the learning process of using the various components. The best sound is expected to be in the middle of the sanctuary, toward the center aisle, since that is where both speakers face. It will be more difficult to hear at the ends of the pews, due to the low ceiling. We encourage you to try listening in different spots to see what best meets your needs. Look at the speakers – when one is facing you directly, the sound will be best. The less you see of the black sides of the speaker, the better the sound will be.           We also encourage you to try out the system. Our hope is that more people will be encouraged to participate in the service who may have held back in the past because they felt they couldn’t be heard. As we get used to the system, we encourage those helping with worship to arrange for a warm-up/tune-up with the equipment before their first use.           Comments about the system are welcome. Please talk to Marti Huff, Worship Committee Chair, or other members of the committee, including Rod. It will be helpful if you explain where you were sitting in relationship to your comment. We cordially invite your feedback (pun intended). Listen, use, and enjoy! Contributions for the system came from the following families: Don Hunter Murray Cooper Farrah Lamb Dahlia Doyle Jim Eaton’s father Tillie MacDonald Contributed by Millie Wiegand Worship Committee Member Deacons Corner Yard Sale           It is springtime and once again it is time to get ready for the annual church yard sale. This year the yard sale will be June 10th, rain or shine. The proceeds this year will be divided: $450 to MATE for summer workers, $350 to Cabanlutan, $200 for the Seminary Student Fund and the rest to the Trustees for their use. The sale will be held both inside and outside the church.           As you start your spring cleaning remember to put things aside for the sale. Items can be dropped off at the church starting on Tuesday May 30. Workers will be at the church from 7-9 p.m. during the week to accept items. Large items – furniture, etc. – should be brought after June 6. Nothing will be accepted after 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 9. For any large item not sold it will be the responsibility of the person bringing it to dispose of it after the yard sale. Please bring only items that are clean and in working order. Any electronic item should be marked as to its working condition. Plants are a big seller so get busy with your cuttings. Workers will be needed to price and sort things the two weeks before and also for the day of the sale. Sign-up sheets will be posted on the board in Fellowship Hall soon. Any questions? Please see Marion McPhee. Tools           In addition, please mark your calendars for Tools Sunday, June 18 and plan to support this important effort to help others. Listen for details during announcement time on upcoming Sundays. Per Capita           The Presbyterian Church form of government incorporates several levels of administration. Locally we have our Session. Directly above us is the Presbytery of Boston. Above them is the Synod of the Northeast, and finally, above all the Synods is the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We provide for the costs of our Session via our annual operating budget. The administrative costs of the higher governmental agencies are provide by the per capita assessment levied based on our membership. For 2006 the per capita assessment amounts to $41.45. This provides the following per capita amounts: $32.18 to Presbytery, $3.70 to Synod, and $5.57 to General Assembly.           In order to increase the amount of our operating budget that can be applied to mission projects we hope that our members will contribute separately to the per capita expense. For those of you that use offering envelopes, there is a per capita envelope at the front of your box. In other instances, you may notate your check if a portion of it is for per capita.           If you have questions speak to our treasurer, Jim Brunner.