THE PRESBYTERIAN

March 26, 2008

Congregational Meeting

A Congregational Meeting has been scheduled for April 13 following worship for the purpose of

electing an Elder to fill the vacancy for the Class of 2008

 

March 30, 2008 

Greeters - Nancy and Virginia Sowers

Lay Leader - Leona Meadors

Ushers – The Ochampaugh family

Fellowship - The Neff family

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

 

 

Across the Pastor’s Desk

     Several people have wondered and asked about the Mission Study Committee: Are they active? Are they just sitting on their hands?  Have they come up with anything?  When will we hear from them? These are reasonable questions and to some degree Chairman Bob Law has answered some of them in his Minute for Mission at the Easter Service. Also more information will be forthcoming shortly.

 

     As your Interim Pastor, I began meeting with this group and our General Presbyter the first week that I arrived.  Everybody helped me to get on board with what they were doing and thinking. This Committee has worked hard.  It usually meets in two hour segments with precious little time wasted. Most of the time it has met weekly. A lot of energy has been expended by them in compiling and analyzing the congregational responses they received. Then they began hammering out in simple language the Core Congregational Values that were implied in these responses. Thereafter they developed Provisional Vision statement, also in easy to grasp terms.

 

     All of this may sound simple, like “We could’ve done this in two or three weeks”. I assure you, that trying to develop statements that attempt to reflect the legitimate concerns of a congregation this size is no easy task!  They had to look at what they were writing down from the many different perspectives. Their questions were: “How well does this catch the vision of our long-term members?”  “How will this sound to new congregational members?” “How adequately does this incorporate some of the basic concerns of our youth?” “How will this read to potential pastoral candidates?  Will they think that we are Bible-thumping fanatics? Will they wonder if we support PC (USA)?” “Can we find the right words to attract the kind of candidates we want?” And of course all of the above had to be tested by the most critical question of all: “Are we seriously reflecting the Biblical, the Reformed, and our local traditions?”

 

     Now they have done the first leg of the work. The next leg is left to us as a congregation. All of this committee work has the word “Provisional” stamped over it in big, red letters. It was presented to the Session recently with the understanding that their work was but a “first draft”.  While the Session had neither problems with it nor criticisms of it, the Session did not want to approve it for fear that “approval” would imply that the work was final - “a done deal”. Far from it!  The Session commends it to you the congregation for your consideration and for your additional comments. This is also what the Committee wants!

 

     Now the Committee is seeking congregational input.  That means from you - the reader!  Preparing the documents that will eventually get into the hands of pastoral candidates may be one of the most decisive things you could be asked to do for the next decade! The genius of our presbyterian system is that we seek to involve the congregation in every phase of the pastoral search process. The more and the better quality congregational input this committee gets, the better able they will be to present to the Session an adequate “Final Version”. Then we can get moving more quickly on the actual search process.

 

Your interest and your ideas are needed now!

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

  

After Prom Get Together

Interested in an ‘after prom’ get together?

Starting at 11:30 pm for Presbyterian Youth and friends.

There will be games, foosball, ping-pong, a place to visit.

Breakfast will be served at 5:30 am.

If you would like to help chaperone or if you would like to

supply snacks or items for breakfast,

please contact Kathy Irvin at 275-7501.

 

Relay for Life

The Relay for Life event will be held on May 2-3

Saturday, April 5 from 10:00 am to noon

there will be a Cancer Survivor and Caregiver’s brunch at the Community Congregational Church located at 710 N 3rd.

For more information contact Nancy Woods at 275-4951.

 

Help Wanted!!!

     Each spring we seem to have a list of items that require our attention around the church, replace lights, clean gutters, etc. This year we have scheduled a work day for April 12  beginning at 8:00 am.

If you have  some spare time please stop by the church to help out. Thank you.

 

  

Presbyterian Women Annual Spring Rummage Sale

Spring is in the air and once again we start to think about the Presbyterian Women’s Spring Rummage Sale.

This year’s Rummage Sale will be held on

Thursday, April 24th and Friday, April 25th.

 

 

4th Annual Emmaus House Lasagna Dinner

St. James Lutheran Church - 1608 Belmont

Saturday, April 19, 2008

5:00 - 8:00 pm

Adults $7.50 Children (11 and under) $4.00

Take Out dinners available

Also, available 9 x 13 pan of Lasagna either cooked or uncooked

Reservations close Monday, April 14, 2008

 

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?? 

Sign up on the board in the Atrium. 

See Mary if you have questions.

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

Come  to Worship and Potluck on Wednesday, April 16

     Amanda McVey would like to organize the Wednesday worship serve and Family Potluck for her Buff Project on April 16, 2008. The theme of the worship service will be India, and Amanda will hand out Indian recipes the Sunday before, April 13, 2008. Amanda chose India as the theme because she has a big heart or it ever since she read a series about the untouchables a couple of years ago. The  service will include a power-point presentation that will educate everyone about the untouchables and what they go through on a daily basis. Later in the service, Amanda will ask for a free-will donation for Lian and Clara Tombing. Lian and Clara run an orphanage and school in India for needy children, mostly untouchable children. If you want more information about Lian and Clara Tombing, you can go to their website at: www.covenantseminary.edu

 

Don’t Miss It!!!

     Ole’ Fashioned Chicken Dinner following Worship on Sunday, April 20. Chicken provided by the Fellowship Committee with the congregation invited to bring side dishes or dessert. Then join the old favorite music sing-along accompanied by Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Hodges on the piano. We’ll be adding “DIXIE” to the song fest this year in honor of Pastor Pitts.

 

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

 

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

 

TEE-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST

      In an effort to draw eye-catching attention to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s evangelism efforts, the General Assembly Council’s Evangelism and Church Growth ministry area is holding a contest to find the best graphic tee-shirt design in the denomination. 

     Only middle school or high school students from a PC(USA) congregation, new church development or Bible fellowship are eligible to win.  The winning design will be unfurled at the Evangelism Breakfast at the upcoming 218th PC(USA) General Assembly on June 26 in San Jose, CA.  Designs may include up to three colors and must be received by April 14, 2008.  Only one design per students will be judged. 

     For additional information contact Robert Klouw, Associate for Communication – 8888-728-7228 ext. 5803.

 

April Birthdays

Andrea Brown                        4/2

Michael Tarwater     4/3     

Steve Irvin                 4/4

Paige Jones                4/4

Adah Jenkins             4/5

Zachary Hopkins       4/7

Yvonne Allman           4/8

Lynda Copple              4/9

Frances Muck                        4/10

Susan Brookover       4/14

Anna McVey               4/14

Judy Cornett             4/24

Joan Nichols              4/24

Kelley Reeve               4/25

Joe York                    4/26

Aaron Hamlett          4/27

Katie Ford                  4/28

Gay Morgan                4/28

Marian McNaught     4/30

 

April Anniversaries

Donald & Carolyn Ochampaugh   4/9/1961

 

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, 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 and Janet Major and Mildred Rumpf.

This week’s prayer church: First Presbyterian Church in            Coldwater, KS.   

 

Activities

 Sunday, March 30 

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

 Tuesday, April 1

 CE @ 6:00 pm, Praise Team @ 7:00            

 Wednesday, April 2 

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

Worship @ 8:30 pm

Thursday,   April 3

 Lay Ministry @ 6:00 pm, O & E @ 6:30 pm, Personnel @ 7:00 pm

 Friday,  April 4

 PW Board @ 10:00 am

 

 Sunday,  April 6

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Mission Study @ 9:30 am

Worship @ 10:45 am, Mission Study @ 12:30 pm

 Tuesday,  April 8

Praise Team @ 7:00 pm

Wednesday,  April 9

Mission Study @ 1:00 pm, Celebrate Kids! @ 5:00 pm, Youth groups @ 6:00 pm

Mission Study @ 6:30 pm, Choir @ 7:30 pm

Thursday, April 10

Circle I @ 9:30 am, Deacons @ 11:30 am, Circle II @ 2:00 pm, Circle III @ 7:30 pm

Saturday, April 12

Workday @ 8:00 am

Sunday, 13

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

                                                Congregational Meeting