THE PRESBYTERIAN
1719 Texas Street
Garden City, Kansas 67846
phone (620) 275-9141 fax
(620) 275-9142
email:
pcgardencity@sbcglobal.net
www.pcgardencity.org
January 30, 2008
Mission
Statement
As faithful members of the Presbyterian Church of Garden City, Kansas,
we accept God’s
call to be involved in the ministry of God’s church.
Our mission is a twofold responsibility; to
nurture and support our local church;
and to follow
Christ’s call to serve in the world, thereby proclaiming the Gospel to
all.
Souper Bowl Sunday!
Who’s going to win?
EMMAUS
HOUSE!!!
Show your
support for the New England Patriots or New York Giants,
by bringing soup cans (or other canned goods) to benefit the Emmaus House. Goal posts will be set up in the Atrium
and you
can place your cans to support your favorite team.
3 cans are
needed for field goals
6 cans for
touchdowns
Support your team and help us
alleviate hunger in our town! Canned goods will also be available for purchase
by the Lay Ministry committee.
Sermons Ala
Carte
The 2008 Lenten luncheons will begin on Thursday, February 7
at Garden Valley Church located at 1701 N 3rd.
Sermons begin at 12:00 pmLunch follows at 12:30
pm. Cost of lunch $4.00
The theme of this service will be “The Cross of
Rebellion” presented by Marion Heisey and Jon Ail of GVC .
Across the Pastor’s Desk
In general our church - PC USA - holds to a basic philosophy: for the
good of the pastor and the pastor’s family and for the good of the
congregation, a minister retiring as a pastor does not remain within that same
congregation. Usually it is difficult
for a long-term pastoral leader to change his/her status without an extended
period of time away. So we urge, and
often demand, that a minister attend another congregation, preferably in a
different community. Generally, this
has proven to be most effective in most cases.
This principle weighed heavily in the mind of both Dave and Cheryl when
he first announced his intent to retire at the end of December. They were to move to another community.
There he would take up a different kind of ministry beyond retirement. However this planned step by step process
was necessarily sped up and frustrated by health issues requiring an unplanned
resignation based on permanent disability. Fortunately Charlie Ayers and the
Session were able to step into this sudden void to pick up the pieces.
Now what? This is what
everybody’s asks: Dave, Cheryl, the Session, you, the congregation, presbytery
colleagues, presbytery officials, and my own.
What now is the best course?
Will the general philosophy be sufficient? All of us have simply had to ad lib our responses; we
still are ad libbing and will probably have to do so for a while longer.
One difficulty: Dave’s continuing health issues make any move away from
here problematic. Compounded is the
reality of Garden’s City’s relative geographical isolation. We live at least 45 minutes away from
another Presbyterian congregation. This
makes the basic principle difficult to implement effectively in this particular
instance. Additionally Cheryl’s support
system, badly needed when most of her energies involve nursing care, is all the
more critical. These factors prompt us
to rethink: how best to implement our basic philosophy in this unique situation.
One of the happiest realities in all of this for me, as an Interim
Pastor, is that Dave doesn’t want to interfere nor even to try to pull the
strings from the background. Even
before I had talked with the Search Committee, our General Presbyter - Don
Owens- had said this and convinced me.
The Search Committee, reflecting the Session’s opinion, spoke similarly.
Happily I have also heard this from Dave himself. That also has been my own observation. I have worked where retired pastors spoke
this word but acted out another! In
this situation that seems extremely improbable. What if that changes? Then appropriate strategies would need to
be devised!
I have interacted with Dave in several settings, including three
personal and candid conversations. I
feel quite comfortable and relaxed in our relationship. Though I will call on Dave periodically, our
deacons will do the bulk of the pastoral care.
I will be available to Dave and to Cheryl on an as-requested basis.
Currently specific plans are in the formative stage. The Session and/or I will inform you as
these plans materialize. Be assured of this:
your Session and/or I will update you on at least a weekly basis, when and if
there is anything to report. Otherwise,
the less said, the better.
I hope that this will calm any fears about our congregation moving
forward! It is my intention that the
Interim Ministry objectives shall go forward as these were laid out to me by
your Session and endorsed by your Presbytery.
I have enjoyed my stay among you and look forward to the completion of a
successful Interim Ministry within the next 18 to 24 months. Again I thank you that through your Session
I was invited to lead you through this potentially creative time in your
congregational life.
Jim
Here’s the Scoop on Adult Opportunities –
In our ballot, the largest category of votes was for Bible/Theology, and
Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings were the times getting the most votes,
sooo….
“The Mighty Acts of God” led by Jim Pitts will begin on Sunday, Feb.3 at 9:15
a.m. Beginning the following week, you will have two opportunities every
week to join in the discussion: Sunday,
9:15-10:30 a.m. and again Wednesday evenings, 6:00-7:30
p.m. Expect to read assigned
scripture each week before the discussion.
This group will meet in the library.
People also expressed interest in Church History, Christian Living topics,
books, movies and a variety of Current Issues.
There was no consensus on a time to meet other than Sunday mornings and
Wed. evenings. There was a fair amount of interest in on-line discussion
groups. The CE Committee will take
these up at their Feb. 5th
meeting.
If you would like to be part of the CE committee, please come on the 5th at
7:00 p.m., or contact Mary.
“Green” Presbyterians can recycle their used ink cartridges (There is a
drop-off box in the atrium.) and their used aluminum cans (There is a recycle
bin in the furnace room.)
Thank you to all who continue to support our Youth
Mission Fund by purchasing Dillon’s certificates. Your purchases add up – last
year we added $750 to our fund by your purchases of certificates. These certificates can also be used at the
Dillons gas station by the west Dillons store.
Ladies Bible
Study
“Desperate Women of the Bible”
Kathryn Ochampaugh will be leading a Ladies
Bible study Thursday evenings in the Parlor beginning at 7:00 pm.
Dinner with Jim
Interim pastor, Jim Pitts, is requesting the pleasure of your
company at a special congregational dinner following worship on Sunday,
February 17, to give him the opportunity to learn more about our
church...past and present. The Fellowship Committee will be in charge of meal
arrangements and hopes for a big attendance at this informal “fireside chat”
with our new pastor.
SCHEDULE CHANGE
February’s Potluck
Dinner and Celebration Worship
The monthly potluck
dinner will be held on Ash Wednesday, February 6
at 6:00 pm followed
by Celebration worship.
Regular youth group
activities will take place on Feb. 20
Check the library cart for these recent arrivals or featured titles:
Closing the Chart, A Dying Physician
Examines Family, Faith, and Medicine
“Dr. Hsi’s insightful and frank
account of his frustrations, fears, and faith are more than helpful. They are
truly inspiring.” –Dr. Rev. Paul Debenport, First Presbyterian Church,
Albuquerque, (Dr. Hsi’s pastor)
100 Creative Teaching Techniques for
Religion Teachers, Phyllis vos Wezeman
A Knight to Remember, (Veggie
Tales),
by Cindy Kenney & Doug Peterson
Several books on adoption:
A Forever Family, by Roslyn Banish
“Why Was I Adopted?”, by Carole
Livingston
Adoption: Let’s Talk About It, by Fred Rogers
Happy Adoption Day!, by John McCutcheon
Update from
Music Ministry:
Special Music in February will
feature Daryl Hamlett, Janet Major, Church Band, Bell Choir, Children's Choir,
and NEW to the service at 10:35 AM will be some piano/soloists adding Meditation
and Prayer with Music Ministry to the start of the service.
February Hymns will be: #85 "What Wondrous
Love is This" (Romans
5:1-11);
#229 "From All that Dwell Beneath the Skies" ( Psalm 95); #84 "In the Cross of Christ I Glory"
(Lent); #216 "O Sing a New Song to the Lord" (Praise); #78
"Alas, Did My Savior Bleed" (Romans 5:12-19); #210 "Our God Our Help in Ages Past" ( Psalm 32); #74 "Jesus On the Mountain Peak"
(Transfiguration, 2 Peter
1:16-21);
#181 "Come Sing to God" (Psalm 99)
Benediction in February: "May the Lord
Mighty God"
Choir Offerings will be: #225 "Praise the
Lord"; #80 "Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley" (Lent) "He
Never Failed Me Yet".; "Lord
Listen to Your Children Praying" #2193; "Come Thou Font of Every
Blessing"; "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place" (Janet Major,
Soloist); "As the Deer" #2025 ; "In Remembrance of
Me" #2254; Bwana Awabariki (May God Give You Blessings) (Featuring Daryl
Hamlett)
March will feature: Tom Rishel, vocal solo with
choir, Church Band, Meditation & Prayer Soloists before church, Children's
Choir, Bell Choir, Praise Band and much more.
Please see the website for specifics on times and dates of all music www.pcgardencity.org
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS FOR SUNDAY
February 3, 2007
Greeters - Ken and Connie Harsha
Lay Leader - Leona Meadors
Ushers - Adah Jenkins, Donna Jameson, Darlene and
Madelyn Mathias.
Fellowship - Rodney and Tara York and family.
Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell
Watson
February Birthdays Anniversaries
Melinda Hitz 2/2 Mike
& Carol Deaver
Larry
Jenkins 2/2 2/6/1988
Jennifer
Jones 2/2
Carolyn
Salyer 2/2
Beth
Crotty 2/3
Jim
Cornett 2/5 Have we missed your
birthday?
Nathan
Ansley 2/7 Anniversary?
Amanda
McVey 2/8 Please let us
know.
Dorothea
Kline 2/10 Contact the church office with your information.
Jeff
Headrick 2/11
Kirstin
Neff 2/12
Merrill
Renick 2/12
Marge
Williams 2/12
Matt
Jones 2/13
Church
Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:
Jim Hamlett, Larry Sanders, Rhonda Hutton, Rolland Mathias, Virginia
Marge Williams, Meschke, the Burnside family, Jack Reeve, Laurie Bock, Gary
Friesner, Greg Adams, Bob Whippo, Debbie Harden, Gladys Cripe, Dave Sweley, Laurie
Bock, Pat LeClerc, Susan Brookover, Dale Meadors, Linda Friesner, Glen
Woods, John Hoxie, Caroline Sundquist, Nancy Stegman, Belinda Fouse, Kim Eakes,
Ruth Oliver.
(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 the family of Laramee and Raelee
James.
This
week’s prayer family: Doug,
Theresa, Mike and Shelby Heatwole.
This
week’s prayer church: the
Presbyterian Church in Cambridge, KS.
Activities
Sunday, February 3
Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship w/Communion @ 10:45 am
Tuesday, February 5
Praise Band @ 7:00 pm, CE @ 7:00 pm
Wednesday, February 6
Celebrate Kids! @ 5:00 pm, Family Worship w/Pot Luck dinner @ 6:00 pm, Choir @ 7:30 pm, Worship @ 8:30 pm
Thursday, February 7
Circle I @ 9:30 am, Sermons ala Carte @ noon, Circle II @ 2:00 pm, Mission Study @ 5:30 pm, Lay Ministry @ 6:00 pm,
O & E @ 6:30 pm, Circle III @ 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 10
Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship @ 10:45 am
Tuesday, February 12
Presbytery in Wichita
Praise Team @ 7:00 pm
Wednesday, February 13
Celebrate Kids! @ 5:00 pm, Youth groups @ 6:00 pm, Choir @ 7:30 pm
Thursday, February 14
Sermons ala Carte @ noon
Sunday, February 17
Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship @ 10:45 am