The United Church of Auburn at 77 Metcalf Drive is enjoying a busy summer.

Congratulations go out to its young people for some fine accomplishments. Amanda Waby earned a bachelors degree in forensic chemistry with a minor in anthropology from Buffalo State College. Amanda will be participating in an internship this month at the Erie County Medical Examiner's office.

Amanda Kopp graduated with an advanced regents diploma from Weedsport Junior-Senior High School and will be pursuing a degree in nursing from Morrisville State College this fall.

Phillip Burke earned his second bachelor's degree from Syracuse University. Congratulations to all for such hard work and great accomplishments.

The United Church of Christ will be awarding scholarships to members at the end of July. Applications are available by calling 776-9319.

Vacation Bible School begins this week at the United Church of Christ.

It runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, July 23 through 27. This program is for ages 4 to 12 and the theme this year is “Going Fishing!” Included in this summer fun will be games, songs and crafts. For more information and to register, call 252-4397.

Following this week of evening Vacation Bible School, the church will have a special worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 29. This will be an informal service outside on the lawn, which will include worshipping God through scripture, the message, joys and concerns, skits and singing accompanied by guitars. Special thanks to Nancy Sheehe who will be leading the guitarists.

The UCA Church family picnic will immediately follow this special worship service. Hot dogs, rolls and paper products will be provided, and everyone is invited to bring a dish to pass. Special thanks to Mary Jane Sanders for organizing the picnic.

Also, special thanks goes out to Kathy Bagley, John Wiggins and Judi Spin for planting and tending the flower beds.

The United Church of Christ also offers summer camp for the older and more adventurous camper.

Camp Gregory Expedition Camp is for youth in eighth through 12th grades who have lots of energy and are interested in challenging themselves while working as a team.

This camp takes place Aug. 5 through 11 and includes devotional and spiritual exercises as well as tent camping in the Adirondacks, kayaking on the Hudson River, scuba diving and mountain climbing. The cost is $230. To learn more, contact Pastor Larry at 252-4397 or visit www.campgregory.org.

The Contagious Christian classes at UCA began July 8 and continue every Sunday afternoon from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the church. Learn how to share your faith and bring others to know Jesus.

Many thanks to the United Church of Christ for sharing its news.

Have a great week and remember, God made you and he loves you so much.

“God is the most lovable of all things, and meditation on God's nature is the strongest incentive there is to love and devotion; but because our minds are not strong in themselves, we need to be led by knowledge, and so to love God by way of the world we sense, and above all by thinking of Christ the man, so that by seeing God with our eyes we can be lifted up to love what we cannot see.”

- St. Thomas Aquinas

Denise Bennett is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Auburn. She can be reached at deniseb132@yahoo.com