THE PRESBYTERIAN

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. 

 

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS FOR SUNDAY  

March 16, 2008 

Greeters - Nancy Gilmer and Joy Anstaett 

Lay Leader - High School Youth

Ushers - High School Youth

Fellowship - The Whippo family

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

 

Across the Pastor’s Desk

     At a recent ministerial meeting one presenter explained the program he was offering and then carefully explained the basic beliefs of that particular group.  I was impressed with his clarity and his candor.  I wondered, “Could the average Presbyterian be as clear as this man had been?”

 

     One of the problems the hypothetical Presbyterian mentioned above might have is that we don’t have a handy list of five, ten, or even fifteen faith assertions that he or she could refer to easily.  It is not that we don’t have any basic beliefs; in fact we do.  Every ordained officer (minister, elder, and deacon) pledge themselves to affirm our “essential tenets”, but those tenets are nowhere specifically defined.  In fact we studiously avoid having a handy list of “essential tenets” that anybody could rattle off and then declare, “these are what make me a Presbyterian”.

 

     The closest we might come is to say, “We affirm, as our basic outline of faith, the Apostles’ and Nicene creeds”.  While this would not exhaust the question, it would be a good start.

 

     So who are we religiously and theologically at the beginning of a new century?  PC (USA) papers and documents generally reflect a position called “Modern Orthodoxy” or “Post-Critical Orthodoxy”.  This means that we espouse a form of Christian orthodoxy that takes seriously many of the scientific, historical, geological, literary, and psychological discoveries that have been made in the past 500 years.  Taking these seriously inevitably effect the way in which we express our faith.  Despite this we continue to affirm the broad outlines of the Classical Christian Faith: affirming the Scriptures as basic rule of faith and life, worshiping God as the Trinity, confessing Christ as both true God and truly human, stressing God’s grace as the “source and fuel” of the Christian life, seeing the created universe as basically good, even if distorted by evil, etc.

 

     While we may have some difficulty rattling off our “essential tenets” in three minutes, they are there.  These tenets we pray each week, read in the Scriptures, and hear proclaimed from our pulpits.  Since many of us know the Apostles’ Creed by heart that would be a good starting point for any discussions you might wish to have.

 

 

Sermons Ala Carte

The next Lenten lunch  will be on Thursday, March  20  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  Resurrection ” presented by Terry Major. 

 

Maundy Thursday

March 20th

Communion Service will begin at 7:00 pm.

Deacons will be assisting with Communion.

 

 

A Prayer Service will be held Good Friday,

March 21st at 7:00 pm.

 

Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 22, 10:00 – 11:00

  What do eggs have to do with the real story of Easter?  Come find out!  Activities for toddlers through 4th graders, assisted by 5th – 12 graders, & adults.  Sign up in the Atrium if you can help. Eggs and candy to fill the eggs still needed. Please bring in to Mary by March 17th.

 

Easter Sunrise Service 7:00 a.m., in our Atrium

“A Trip to the Holy Land”

Worship Leaders and Tour Guides:  Our High School students

Meet at the Atrium Station,  at 7:00 for an on-time departure

(Breakfast will be served after the trip, no ID required). 

NOTE THE CHANGE IN TIME to 7:00 AM

 

Easter Lilies

We are taking orders for Easter Lilies to be placed in the sanctuary. If you wish to honor or remember someone with an Easter Lily, please call the church office to place your order. This year’s cost will be $19.00.

 

Adult Opportunity

March 30th

     Dr. Hughes, the oncologist in Garden City will be teaching an adult Sunday School class on the subject of cancer on March 30th. Dr. Hughes is willing to answer our congregations questions if he has them ahead of time.  Mary will have a board set up in the atrium today for you to post your questions.

 

 

 

      Mark your calendars for these Coming Events:

Beach Party VBS, June 16-20, 9:00-12:00 AM,

VBeach Be-Attitudes, VSurf ’n’ Sand Science Lab,  Vfun music, crafts and games.

(NOTE THE CHANGE IN TIME FROM PAST YEARS.)  Adult & youth helpers will be needed.  – Can YOU help??

 

Summer Camps at Westminster Woods

See www.westminsterwoodscamp.com for more info, but here are the dates:

3 & 4TH grades, June 1-4        5 & 6th grades, June 9-13

7 & 8th grades, June 16-20     9th – 12th grades, June 22-28

Receive a $75 scholarship from our church if you complete registration and pay by April 27th.  Forms will be here next week. 

 

Jr. & Sr. High Youth Mission Trip, July 12-19/20

This looks to be another great mission opportunity for our youth!  PCUSA is partnering with YouthWorks this year.  See www.youthworks.com for sample daily schedules. Together with youth from other Presbyterian Churches (Madison WI, Donough GA and Lake Avon OH), we’ll work at mission projects in Louisville, KY, (where PCUSA has its national offices).  A $50 non-fundable deposit is due in our office by April 4.  Additional costs will be covered by Youth Mission Fund, but some fundraising will be needed, especially as the cost of gas keeps going up!  We need at least 2 adults to go.  If you are interested, please talk with Mary. 

 

 

To Our Church Family;

   At a time like the week of Feb 8 and the loss of our Mother and Grandmother, when the road seems long and dark it is a blessing to have special people like our church family in our lives to brighten the way. You know what we needed to survive at a time when we had no idea of our needs.

   A sincere ‘Thank You’ for the prayers, cards, food, kind words and listening ears. They are truly what has gotten us through to this point.

 

In Christ’s love

Steve, Kathy, Brad, KayeLani and Brevin Irvin

 

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.

 

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS 

   Full-time college students are reminded that now is the time to apply for our church scholarships. These forms are available in the church office, along with the criteria used for selection.

 

Do You Have  A Graduate?

If you are graduating or have a son or daughter graduating from High School, College or Graduate School, please let Mary know by April 4.

 

WORLD WATER DAY – MARCH 22, 2008

    The international observance of World Water Day grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.  World Water Day, established by the United Nations on March 22, 1992, marks the season of heavy rain in many countries.  The UN Water group has decided the 2008 theme for World Water Day will be sanitation in support of the International Year of Sanitation.  Learn more about World Water Day at www.worldwaterday.org

Learn more about the International Year of Sanitation at www.unwater.org

 

 

Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering

Saturday, April 12, 2008

First Presbyterian Church, Wichita

Registration 8:30 - 9:00 am

Cost $10.00

Lunch reservations required - call

316-263-0248 by April 5th

(Men are welcome to attend)

 

Presbyterian Men’s 3 Person Scramble

Golf Tournament

Saturday, April 19th

Hesston Golf Park

$37.50 per person

(includes: green fees; cart fees and deluxe lunch)

Registration deadline: April 5

PWissink@aol.com

 

SUMMER SERVICE AND YEAR LONG SERVICE

OPPORTUNITIES

Summer volunteer placements (housing/stipend included) are available through the Presbyterian Church.  Ghost Ranch Conference Center, Abiqiui, New Mexico needs assistance in summer activity program K-12, hospitality, dining hall, life guards and other positions.  Other urban and rural placements are available.  Go to www.pcusa.org/nvo and click on Summer Service.

 

FATHER & SON MISSION WEEKS IN THE GULF

    Each year when the statistics of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are gathered it is found that many ask,

“Where are the men”?  The experience of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) in response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma has shown that there are thousands of Presbyterian men active and interested in mission. 

Register now for the Father & Son Mission Weeks in the Gulf

(June 8-14, 2008 and June 15-21, 2008). 

Minimum age is 14 years.  It is not necessary to be part of an organized group. The PDA will create clusters and assign leaders for the responsibilities in the village.  Register now by calling 866-732-6121

 

PEACE AND JUSTICE WEEK – GHOST RANCH –

ABIQUIUI, NM – JULY 28-August 3

Join the exploration of Paths toward Peace and Justice:  Spirituality, Earth-Care, and the Prophetic Word in a Time of Violence.  Each morning will feature seminars on a variety of issues and artistic expressions related to peacemaking, justice and earth-care.  Afternoons will include optional activities and free time to enjoy Ghost Ranch.  Evenings will center on all-Ranch worship.  This event is a partnership between Ghost Ranch, the Witherspoon Society, the Peacemaking Program, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, and Presbyterians for Restoring Creation.

 

FAITH in 3D Dare.  Discover.  Dream.  January 16-19, 2009

     On January 16-19, 2009 youth from The Presbyterian Church (USA), The Episcopal Church, and  the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will meet at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL for Faith in 3D.  This tri-denominational event will give students the opportunity to experience worship from a faith perspective different from their own, build relationships with youth from around the country, and experience the wonder and magic that is Walt Disney World.  In this ecumenical community, students will be DARED to live and act faithfully in the world; DISCOVER the depth and richness of an authentic faith in Jesus the Christ; and have the opportunity to DREAM ways in which their faith can make a difference in their lives. Registration opens April 1, 2008.  Online registration will be convenient and simple for all groups. Visit  www.faithin3d.org to register on or after April 1, 2008.   

 

The Young Adult Volunteer Program (19-30 years of age)

of the Presbyterian Church USA is a year long commitment.  Twenty different sites from Southeast Alaska, Hollywood, CA, Northern Ireland, South India to Guatemala and Great Britain and more are available – for more information, go to www.pcusa.org/nvo and click on Young Adults

 

Ecumenical Musical Day of Reflection for Music Ministers *   

with Eric H. F. Law

     Saturday, April 26th ~

Dominican Chapel of the Plains

3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS

Registration at 1 pm ~ Sessions from 1:30-4:30 pm

 

 Sunday, April 27th ~

Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe

3231 14th, Dodge City, KS

                                                                               Registration at 1:30 pm ~ Sessions from 2-5 pm.

                                        

$10 fee includes materials.  ~  All ages welcome!

*Non-musicians are most welcome.

 

     Father Law was born in Hong Kong and moved to New York while a teenager. Quick to smile with an inviting demeanor…

     Father Law stresses that successful intercultural living doesn’t imply a total meshing of cultural communities in every social and spiritual activity. "You need to figure out when to be separate, and when to be together.  It’s okay to have a Spanish Mass and an English Mass, but don’t stop there or you will have two Towers of Babel. You need to come down to level ground to meet each other."

   “I can teach people to sing in any language with a very simple method.  This method is a real example of how people move from “the learning phase” to “internalizing the song” of worship.  In liturgy, people can be free to use their time more spiritually when they are released from worrying about what is being said in a language they don’t understand”.

                                                - Eric H. F. Law (The Bush was Blazing but not Consumed)

For more information:

Mary Jane Goebel

29468 NW 217 RD   Jetmore, KS  67854 

620-357-6466

mjgoebel@jetmorek12.org

 

March Birthdays

Donald Ochampaugh 3/16

Judy Ackley              3/19

Linda Mueller             3/19

Carolyn Ochampaugh            3/20

Jerrod Ansley           3/21

Kathryn Ochampaugh 3/22

Amy McVey                3/23

Molly Meschke           3/23

Blanche Larson          3/27

Kendall Golay             3/28

Lauren Jones             3/28

Chelsea York              3/28

Dude Summers           3/29

 Have we missed your birthday? Anniversary?

Please let us know. Contact the church office with your information.

 

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

Les DePew, Jim Hamlett, Larry Sanders, Rhonda Hutton, Rolland Mathias, Marge Williams, Virginia 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, Wesley Sterling, Karen Dunbar, Adria Doll, 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 Kathy Irvin and family.

 

This week’s prayer family: Ron, Pat, Kinlee, Bailey and Patsy Roth.

This week’s prayer church: Calvary Presbyterian Church in Wichita, KS.