THE PRESBYTERIAN
The
Presbyterian Church of Garden City Newsletter 275-9141 April 25, 2007
As
faithful members of the Presbyterian Church of Garden City,
From the Clerk of Session
Yesterday
I was sitting in the church office, working on a project with Connie, when a
Garden City pastor came in and asked who was the “head elder”. Connie pointed
to me. Of course, we have no such person and if we did I would not want to be
“it” because I am certainly not qualified. But, as clerk of session there are
certain tasks I should be taking care of as long as Dave is recovering. As much
as I hate the thought, I might have to wade through the Book of Order and
become better informed.
It
seems to me that usually the best policy is for all of us to be better
informed, to know the truth. Among a church family, or any other group for that
matter, it just fuels speculation and rumors when people have to guess what is
going on.
So, to
keep you the congregation better informed I will try to fill you in on our
situation. Dave has been very sick and
he still has a long way to go in recovery and rehabilitation. Following his by-pass surgery he developed
an infection in his leg that is very serious and is taking a long time to heal.
There was also a nerve damaged during the surgery that is preventing him from
adequately keeping his oxygen level up. His mind is sharp but his energy is low
and it takes a lot of effort to do the physical therapy and occupational
therapy he needs to be mobile. They are severely restricting his fluid intake
to reduce the strain on his body from fluid retention.
He
is getting better but the process is slow. By the time you get this newsletter
he will most likely be back in Garden City and at
The
church has been functioning in Dave’s absence with the extra efforts of Connie
and Mary and we do appreciate EVERYTHING they do. We also have many others who
do their jobs (paid and volunteer) and more including Adah Jenkins, Audrey Law,
Bob Whippo, Doug Heatwole, and I know I will forget somebody if I try to name
everybody. The fact is that the church is supposed to work this way, with many
people helping where they see a need, but it is so much more difficult without
our leader Dave.
The
Session has some decisions to make. We don’t know how long Dave will need to
recover but it will most likely be months, not weeks. Charles Ayers has been
asked to moderate the Session meeting on April 30 and he is available for other
needs, such as funerals. We know that he will be a good source of information
on our options. I honestly don’t know what those will be or how Dave’s
impending retirement will be a factor.
One thing
that the Session needs to act on quickly is the appointment of a committee to
do a mission study of our church. This study is the first requirement toward
the eventual search for a new pastor after Dave retires and it is the only
thing we can do until Dave actually does retire. Please let me know if you want
to be on that committee.
This is
not an easy or comfortable time for our church but we can handle it if we all
help. Do your part and more, say “yes,
I will” when asked, keep a positive attitude, give your opinion but support
those who have to make decisions, and pray for Dave and our church.
Ann Hamlett, Clerk of Session
Wehave scheduled a work day
forMay 5beginningat8:00 am. Wewould like to get
thelawnsfertilized, replace light bulbs, do somepainting,etc. If you have some
spare time pleasestop by the church to help out. Thankyou. Camp
Scholarships
Looking for
some joy in your life?
We’ve got it coming in small,
but exuberant and thirsty packages called children! We have Living Water to give them, and we are looking for people
who love God and love being around His kids to join us. Spend 5 afternoons
(+preparation time) to bring children closer to our King during
We have wonderful Bible
lessons, exciting craft and science activities, puppetry and music, snacks and
recreation built into our mission-based theme, “Clean Water for All God’s
Children.” Be part of team!
Director or co-directors
Bible Story Leader – Preschool
Leader
Group Leader (stays with group
& leads group reflection time)
Activity leaders in
Recreation – Music –
Help with publicity,
registration, decorating.
If teaching
or helping with VBS doesn’t work for you –
consider other opportunities
for the same kind of joy. Our Sunday
School children and youth are just as “thirsty” and working with them provides
the kind of joy not found anywhere else!
We’ve been blessed to have teams of teachers or sponsors in our
classrooms or groups, so they can have time off when their schedule
requires. Many hands lighten the load
and increase the joy. (Thank you Ann Hamlett and Virginia Sowers for being lone
teacher/helper in the Preschool Class this year!) These are precious hours in the lives of the children and youth,
but the adults find they too benefit from the joy the young people bring, and
from watching the Spirit
of God take hold in their
lives.
I especially want to encourage two groups of people to
consider being a teacher or sponsor – those without children, and those with
children or grandchildren! There is no
question that being around young people keeps us young, even if the hair turns
gray! Consider being part of our team
in the coming months. ~Mary
Women’s Day Out
Miles of Smiles Therapeutic Riding Program announces their 4th annual
Women’s Day Out Saturday, April 28, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at
the Fiesta Courtyard. Admission is free.
Ladies this is your day for pampering and
shopping!!!
Donate your used ink cartridges and cell
phones and get your name in for a special drawing!
Adult
Opportunities
Sunday's 9:30 - 10:30 am
Four Accounts of the Resurrection
April 29 - Part 2 of 2
led by Mike Collins
Understanding Depression
May 6, 13 & 20
led by
Brenda Watson,
Marilyn Peterson - Rundell
with assistance by
Esther Munyon, a Nurse Practicioner
in the area of Mental Health.
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS FOR SUNDAY
April 29, 2007
Greeters - Dorothea Kline and Adah Jenkins
Lay Leader - Chip Marcy
Ushers - The McVey family
Fellowship - Nancy Gilmer
Pray healing for Leona Crotty, Barbara Coram (Kathy Irvin’s
mother), Greg Adams, Dave Sweley,
Anna McVey, Rolland Mathias, Les DePew, Yvonne Allman, Pat LeClerc,
Susan Brookover, Bob Whippo, Dale Meadors, Marge Williams, Linda
Friesner, Ruth Powell, Caroline Sundquist, John Lechliter, Nancy Stegman, Eden
Raine, Belinda Fouse.
(Please
call the church with your personal prayer request). God Bless All Of You.
The following families have recently lost
loved ones.
Please pray for Don Schroeder and family on the death of Joyce.
This
week’s prayer family Tom and
Virginia & Larry and Jeb Meschke.
Please pray for the Covenant Presbyterian Church in
Birthdays
Robin Valenzula 4/29
Marian
McNaught 4/30
Carol
Hodgkinson 5/2
Matthew
Friesen 5/4
Tanya
Munoz 5/4
Nancy
Gilmer 5/6
Jeanne
Hamilton 5/6
Helen
Doubrava 5/7
Lorene
Walker 5/7
Gladys
Cripe 5/10
Anniversaries
Gary & Stephanie Reidel
5/2/1992
This Week’s Activities
Sunday, April 29
Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am,
Worship 10:45 am
Monday, April 30
Session @ 7:00 pm
Tuesday, May 1
Celebration Team @ 7:00 pm
Wednesday, May 2
Celebrate Kids! @ 5:00 pm, Youth Groups @ 6:00
pm, Choir @ 7:30 pm, Worship @ 8:30 pm
Thursday, May 3
Lay Ministry @ 6:00 pm, O & E @ 6:30 pm
Friday, May 4
PW Board @ 10:00 am
Saturday, May 5
Good News Kids music practice @ 11:00 am
Sunday, May 6
Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am,
Worship @ 10:45 am
Tuesday, May 8
Memorial @ noon, Celebration Team @ 7:00 pm, CE @
7:00 pm
Wednesday, May 9
Celebrate Kids! @ 5:00 pm, Youth Groups @ 6:00,
Choir @ 7:30 pm
Thursday, May 10
Circle I @ 9:30 am, Circle II @ 2:00 pm,
Personnel @ 5:45 pm, Circle III @ 7:30 pm