THE PRESBYTERIAN

THE PRESBYTERIAN

1719 Texas Street Garden City, Kansas 67846

phone (620) 275-9141 fax (620) 275-9142

email: pcgardencity@sbcglobal.net www.pcgardencity.org

February 14, 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.

Sermons Ala Carte

The next Lenten lunch will be on Thursday, February 21 at Garden Valley Church

located at 1701 N 3rd. Sermon begins at 12:00 pm. Lunch follows at 12:30 pm.

The theme of this service will be “The Cross of Forgiveness ” presented by Lyle Stuehrenberg of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Soup Super Bowl Results

New England Patriots plus Band 73 cans of soup/30 cans of vegetables

New York Giants plus Cheerleaders 35 cans soup/ 18 cans of vegetables

$124 for Emmaus House Yeah for Emmaus House!

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.

Volunteers Needed

Here is a great opportunity to help your church!

Kathy Irvin and Nancy Sowers have been preparing and cleaning up Communion. There have been times when they have not been able to do this and need volunteers to help out. If you are interested in learning how communion is

prepared, training and support will be provided. Please contact the church office for more information.

Across the Pastor’s Desk

The wealthy young man said to Jesus, “All these (commandments) I have kept since my youth; what do I still lack?” Many loyal Presbyterians (and Episcopalians, United Methodists, Lutherans, Reformed, etc) have raised a similar questions: “In light of the religious atmosphere around us, what is it that we are lacking that so many so regularly

desert us?”

Depending on the atmosphere of a particular congregation the answers will differ. Some congregations will wring their hands in self-accusation; some will blame Pastor X and his staff; some will blame the congregation’s “traditionalism” - “Folks just don’t vibe to ‘Holy, holy, holy’ anymore”; some will blame the members loss of faith, etc . The list goes on and on. Among Presbyterians what seems to be the most central issue?

In the estimation of many observers the blind spot of most Presbyterians lies in the area of spirituality - lacking a robust and healthy piety that goes beyond merely being conventionally good and honest. Many suggest that a lack of depth and profundity (not necessarily education and sophistication) prevent our many other strengths from being felt more fully. Obviously such a description is not true of every one of us and cannot be applied across the board. Nevertheless it is true enough of our tradition as a whole that each of us needs to reflect on this issue.

Our national and local leaders have become sufficiently concerned that nationwide we strive to make readily available both to our members at large and to our leaders appropriate exposure and training so that spirituality may once more thrive among us.

For many people the word “spirituality” seems either strange or misleading. Several misconceptions about spirituality sometimes occur. It is not “Lone Ranger discipleship”- mystics don’t simply go off to themselves and forget about others. The spirituality movement doesn’t seek to impose an additional burden to our already overcrowded schedules. Nor is this a “Catholic” and not a “Protestant” activity. The Catholic spiritual writers are by far the best known, but from day one of the Reformation, prominent Protestant Christians have been active and contributing. Certainly this is not a way of returning to a stern, legalistic, and moralistic stance that many of us rebelled against in our youth. Spirituality is simply devotional depth in our Christian religious lives. It is a common Christian heritage. Just as there is no specifically “Reformed theology” (though there are particular Reformed emphasis and perspectives) so there is no specifically “Reformed spirituality” (though there are particular Reformed emphasis, practices, and perspectives)

This Lent might become a time for all of us to review our spiritual life and, in that light, renew our devotional practices. My own experience suggests that periodically we let otherwise good and desirable activities crowd out any time for praying and meditating. An old adage reflects this: “Whenever we are too busy to have time for prayer and meditation, we simply are too busy?” May this Lenten season become our time for a re-evaluation and a holy re-ordering!

Dr. James O Pitts, III

As many of you are aware, Dr. James O Pitts III has become the Interim Pastor for our church. Dr. Pitts has an extensive educational background as well as many years of service with the Presbyterian Church, directing churches through the Interim process. The qualifications Dr. Pitts brings to our congregation are the following:

Formal Education

1970–1974 – Union Theological Seminary / VA Doctor of Ministry; Pastoral Care; Systematic Theology

1971–1972 – Medical and Counseling Center / Lexington KY 3 quarters of CPE: chaplaincy & counseling

1963–1966 – Union Theological Seminary / VA Master of Divinity; Biblical Studies; History of Doctrine

1956–1960 – Rhodes College / Memphis TN B. A. in Psychology

Many addition Continuing Educational studies: Conflict Management; Congregational Redevelopment; Evaluation of Programs and Staff; Evangelism; Group Facilitation and Dynamics; Training and Supervision of Small Group Leaders; Leadership Development; Mediation Skills; Training volunteers

Past Experience:

Staff experience: Head of Staff of congregation of 350 (6 yrs) Chaplaincy Staff (10 chaplains) 2 yrs. Counseling Center Staffs (10–15 counseling professionals)

11/06-12/07- Brighton Presbyterian Church-Zanesville, OH/ Interim Pastor/130 members moderate sized city.

01/05–08/06-Church in the Hills – Bellaire, MI/Interim Pastor/165 members

11/02–10/04 – Bethany PC / Joplin MO / Interim Pastor / 150 members / moderate sized city

11/02–12/04 – FPC of Webb City / Webb City MO / Interim Pastor / 80 members / small city

08/01–10/02 – Mental Health Clinic / Gautier MS / Clinical Specialist for psychiatric emergencies

04/00–07/01 – First PC / Havana FL / Designated Pastor / 80 members /

small city

1986–2000 – Stated and Temporary Supply / Worship, Pastoral Care, Leadership, Teaching / Presbyteries of South Alabama, South Mississippi, and South Louisiana /Offices in Daphne AL & Baton Rouge LA… Churches with one pastor / small town / city and suburban, up to 400

1976–1984 – Stated Supply / First Presbyterian Church / Citronelle. Coordinated this church with Pastoral Care & Counseling

1976–2000 – Counseling Services / Mobile AL / Pastoral Counselor / Individual, Marital, Family, and Group Therapy / Parenting, Communication, Marriage Enrichment Group/ validated ministry in metropolitan area

1968–1973 – United Presbyterian Church / Harrodsburg KY / Head of Staff / 350 / Small city and county seat

Committee minutes due Tuesday, February 19

Easter Lilies

A Proverb on Knowledge & Wisdom

Eat honey, dear child—it's good for you—
delicacies that melt in your mouth.
Likewise knowledge,
wisdom for your soul—
Get that and your future's secured,
hope is on solid rock.

Proverbs 24:13-14 (The Message)

Y’all over Age 18:

Don’t miss out on Jim’s class in the Library, “The Mighty Acts of God.” Class starts Sunday’s at 9:15 a.m. If you can’t be there for the Sunday class, join them on Wednesday evenings, 6:15 – 7:30.

Youth Learn About Poverty and Hunger

Just before our “Souper Bowl” Sunday, our Youth group focused on hunger awareness. Activities included a special meal of beans, rice and water followed by a puppet show. We also saw visual illustrations of how much of our federal budget is used for poverty relief, and of what unequal distribution of wealth in the world looks like. Our Prime Time Presbies made up rice packets with a message to distribute in church on the following Sunday, and our High Schoolers wrote letters to our U.S. Senators and Representatives.

Mary will be attending the APCE (Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators) conference Feb. 13 -16. She is looking forward to some great workshops and bringing lots of good things back!

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS FOR SUNDAY

February 17, 2007

Greeters - Wayne and Ellen Lynn

Lay Leader - Prime Time Presbies

Ushers - Prime Time Presbies

Fellowship - “Fellowship Committee”

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

February Birthdays

Rebecca Friesen 2/15

Daric Sanders 2/16

Paulasue Sawyers 2/16

Deanne Peat 2/18

Larry Zant 2/18

Zack McVey 2/19

Ron Roth 2/20

Candice Erwin 2/23

Lloydeen Wolfe 2/23

Leona Crotty 2/25

Brevin Irvin 2/25

Harvey Sanders 2/28

Activities

Sunday, February 17

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship @ 10:45 am

Congregational dinner

Tuesday, February 19

Stewardship @ 6:30 pm, Praise Band @ 7:00 pm

Wednesday, February 20

Celebrate Kids! @ 5:00 pm, Youth groups @ 6:00 pm, Choir @ 7:30 pm

Thursday, February 21

Sermons ala Carte @ noon

Sunday, February 24

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship @ 10:45 am

Monday, February 25

Session @ 6:30 pm

Tuesday, February 26

Praise Team @ 7:00 pm,

Wednesday, February 27

Celebrate Kids! @ 5:00 pm, Youth groups @ 6:00 pm, Choir @ 7:30 pm

Thursday, February 28

Sermons ala Carte @ noon

Sunday, March 2

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship @ 10:45 am