POGO Visit to Linton's

 PoGO (Presbyterians on the Go) and Ruth and Jack Linton invite all to enjoy the beautiful gardens at Linton's home on Sunday, June 3 from 3:00 to 6:00.  Click for details.
 

All Church Dinner

On Monday, June 4 , our church is hosting 27 cyclists from Johns Hopkins University who are riding across the country to raise awareness and funds for cancer.  You are invited to have dinner with the cyclists at 6:30 p.m., and to attend the public program at 7:30.  Click for details.

The Happiest Baby Class

Is coming to our church again on Saturday, June 16.  This is a wonderful gift to parents of newborns.  Click for details.

What is the future of moderate-to-liberal "mainline" congregations? The bookshelves burst with volumes exploring the "mainline decline" that has afflicted Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Lutherans for almost four decades. During most of this period, the conventional wisdom has been that only conservative evangelical churches with contemporary worship grow, while, with a few notable large-church exceptions (e.g. Fourth Presbyterian in Chicago, Second Presbyterian in Indianapolis), moderate-to-liberal "mainline" congregations wither. Thus the conventional prescription has been: mainline churches must become more evangelical ("The Purpose-Driven Church") and more contemporary (too many books to mention).

But is this the only answer? What about congregations that don't find conservative and evangelical Christianity to accurately reflect their understanding of Jesus Christ? Is there no hope for them? Has the populace as a whole turned evangelical? Has the desire for a more moderate, inclusive, open Christianity that once characterized the "Protestant establishment" totally disappeared? Are young adults all attuned to the Religious Right?

A few years ago, researcher Diana Butler Bass found herself in an Episcopalian congregation that was, paradoxically, unabashedly liberal, deeply spiritual, and thriving. Suspecting that the conventional wisdom might be mistaken, she began seeking moderate-to-liberal "mainline" congregations that were likewise healthy, vibrant, and growing. Her first book, Practicing Congregations, intrigued the the Lilly Endowment, which funded her to do a nation-wide study of such churches. And she found a number of them -- Presbyterian, Methodist, United Church of Christ, Episcopalian, and Lutheran.

Why were these congregations thriving, while so many of their denominational sister-churches were declining? Unlike some of the "cookie-cutter" evangelical mega-churches, who all follow the same patterns, they were highly diverse. But, she discerned, they shared a similar commitment: to be "intentional" about grounding themselves in spiritual practices. There were a variety of spiritual practices - prayer, spiritual discernment, hospitality, healing, service, and others - but all the congregations were very intentional about not just "doing church." They enabled and expected their members to grow spiritually. Several required a demanding year-long process of spiritual growth for membership.

Butler Bass calls these "Practicing Congregations," who were embracing "intentional Christianity." She found that these churches were attracting significant numbers of "spiritual seekers," including young adults, who valued their more open, inclusive understanding of the Christian faith. She has written three books about her quest: Practicing Congregations, From Nomads to Pilgrims, and Christianity for the Rest of Us.

Needless to say, Butler Bass seems to offer a ray of hope to congregations who have been having trouble feeling hopeful. I've been intrigued, and so went to hear her at a conference May 10-12 at the National Cathedral in D.C. Several of the pastors from the congregations she profiles in her books were also there. Are you intrigued? I still am, and hope to be exploring these issues with the session and many of you in the months ahead.

Saving Jesus

Wednesday's Table, the small group that meets at 11:00 a.m. Wednesdays at the church, invites you to experience the challenging, thought-provoking exploration of Jesus Christ in the "Saving Jesus" video series.  The sessions will meet in the Reception Room starting June 13 .  

9:45 a.m.  Resources for Restless Doubters: You're on to Something!

On Sunday mornings at 9:45, starting June 3, the Rev. Dr. Greg Hinkle of the Samaritan Center will present a class exploring how faith develops over a lifetime - and the vital role of doubt.  In Greg's words: 

I'm presenting an "integral faith" approach, which looks at  stage, state, and  shadow. People will gain a sense of where they stand on the  grand developmental process of faith, maturity, and wholeness. It  will help  them understand the great value in both their restlessness and their  doubt, as well as what they're on to. They will have a clearer understanding of the "Emperor's new clothes" reality that makes them doubt, as well as the  deeper soul that makes them restless.

Intrigued?  Come and join us in the Reception Room.

Brown Bag Book Bunch 

Everyone is invited to this monthly discussion of worthy books.  Read and come for a lively discussion!  Join us on the first Monday of the month at 11:00 am.

Upcoming sessions:

June 4	A Risk Worth Taking by Robin Pilcher
July 2	The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington
August 6	Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
September 10	Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
October 1	Damage Control by Robert Dugoni

Vacation Bible School

Things are starting to come together for VBS, but volunteers are still needed in some areas.  Please fill out the volunteer sheet in the bulletin if you can help out, or you can contact me at 523-0866 or Kristy at presby.net .  Volunteers are needed to teach preschoolers, teach crafts or games, and we need Captains to lead the children through the different activities.  Thank you to all of you who have volunteered already.  There will be a light dinner beforehand for volunteers and nursery care for the children of volunteers.  We would like children to pre-register for VBS.  You can go to the website to register online at presby.net or fpcbridge.com and look for Great Bible Reef or look for registration forms to come in the mail.  

A great thank you to all who have been helping me get adjusted to my new role!
     

Kristy Nix, Interim Children's Coordinator

We need your help.  Sunday June 10 is a VBS decorating craft work day.  We need people to help paint, put decorations together, and other projects.  You don't even have to bring any creative ideas, just able bodies.  We will meet after the last service in Fellowship Hall.  Wear paint clothes.  If you have any old white sheets you can donate to be painted, fish nets, stuffed sea creatures, pool buoy dividers, please bring them in.  Lunch will be provided, so please call the office so we can have enough food for everyone.

Sunday School Schedule

June 17 will be the last day of class for the year; classes will resume August 26.

Kindergarten thru 6th grade
 (meet in Fountain View Library - Room 200)
 9:45 - 10:30 a.m.  &  10:45 - 11:45 a.m.

3 to 5 year olds
 (Sonshine Kids - Room 104)   9:45 a.m.

Birth to 3 year olds
(Noah's Ark Nursery - Room 103)  8:30 - noon

You may join any of these groups at any time during Sunday morning. We welcome you!

Summer Camp at Geneva Center

Geneva Center, our presbytery camp near Rochester, IN (about 75 min. south), has some wonderful summer camp opportunities for children & youth.  Call the camp for a brochure  (574) 223-6915, or check out their website at www.genevacenter.org,   Application forms are available in the church office or at the welcome desk.  Scholarship help for up to half the cost of camping is available from the church.   To request scholarship help, talk to Steve Braden.

AN INVITATION from PRESBYTERIANS ON THE GO!!!

PoGo and Ruth and Jack Linton invite all to enjoy the gardens and lake on Sunday, June 3 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Ice tea, lemonade, and tasty treats will be served as we stroll and sit in the gardens. Comfortable shoes and casual clothes are suggested. Parking is available on either side of the street at 51349 Maplewood Drive. Canned goods for Church Community Services will be collected. In order to plan for refreshments, we request you sign the sheet at the table near the Gathering Place. (Maps are available there!) Rain date is June 10. Hope to see you there!

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

If you enjoy the music from Rogers and Hammerstein join PoGO when we carpool to Warsaw to see this musical revue. We will hear the lyrics and the melodies with new scenarios and arrangements, without losing the heart of the original songs from Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, The King and I, South Pacific, and others. Grand Night for Singing earned two Tony nominations in 1994 for the Best Musical and Best Book.   So mark your calendar and sign up now. The date for the performance is Sunday, August 19 at 2:00. A group price is $19 per senior ($22 for other adults) and must be paid by July 1.

Our Emergency Fund Status

The church's Emergency Fund is used largely to supplement help from Church Community Services for needy families, usually for rent or utilities.  Since the beginning of the year, we have helped 21 families with rent, prescriptions, utility payments, or transportation.  We are one of the few churches who have such funds, and they are greatly appreciated.   However, our funds are dwindling:  The balance at the end of the month of April was $292.91 - only enough to help 5-6 families.    If you would like to help needy Elkhart families, please make a special donation, marking it "Emergency Fund."  Thank you!

Once again the generosity of this congregation has come shining through.  The total funds from the fish banks, the Lily Fund after purchasing the lilies, and other donations came to $5,143.48.  What a difference those funds will make in the lives of people facing hunger, recovery from disaster, and the need to build their lives all over again!  Thank you for "serving one another with the gifts you have received."

Hosting Hopkins 4K Bicycle Tour

For the sixth year, a group of students from The Johns Hopkins University is bicycling across the country to raise money for cancer treatment and research.   The tour, known as the Hopkins 4K for Cancer, will visit Elkhart for the first time on Monday, June 4.  Our church will host this year’s group of twenty-seven riders.  They will reach town in the late afternoon, will shower at the YMCA, and will join us (and people from United Cancer Services and the American Cancer Society) for a picnic supper.  At 7:30 they will present a brief program for the public.

The dinner & program are free, and this is not a fund-raiser; attendees will not be solicited for donations.  Ice cream and dessert will be served. 

Come and join us for this picnic dinner (weather permitting) in our courtyard, and for the program.  Food will be provided; bring a dessert to share.

Can you help with the dinner or the breakfast we will serve to the riders Tuesday morning?  Please sign up, call the office, or call Connie Minzey (264-2205).

Habitat for Humanity Apostles' Build

This year's Habitat Apostles' Build will take place in October.  Our church will be joining other churches to build a house at 1917 Benham Avenue.  The Partner Family is Shealvonne Wilson, her mother Mattie, and her four sons, Tarin (12), Dwayne (10), Clinton (9), and Dennis (8).  Shealvonne works at Homecrest Cabinets and her sons all do well in school.  

The dates for our church's hands-on building work:  Thursday, October 11, and Friday, October 12 .  Watch for further details about how to sign up.  Coordinating our effort is Braden McCormick (email:bmccormick at unitedshade.com ).

As with last year's build, our church needs to raise $4,000 for our share of the build.  Can you contribute?  Please make checks payable to the church, marked "Habitat."  

Trustee Notes

Handicap Access Under the Portico…The Trustees have contracted to build up the driveway under the west portico to sidewalk level.  This will give handicap access to the church from the west side - very handy in inclement weather.

Church Name on East Side…The Trustees and Invitation Team have ordered lettering to put the church's name on the east exterior wall, in a style similar to that on the Chapel.   In the winter, it will be visible to westbound travelers on Beardsley.
 

Church Community Services (CCS), our ecumenical food pantry, distributes bags of food and (as funds are available) assistance with rent and utility payments to local families needing emergency help. Our church supports CCS with regular donations from our mission budget, and a number of our members make individual contributions toward rent assistance (since CCS now incorporates the work of the former Dave's Place). Several of our members volunteer at CCS, and they can always use more volunteers!

We collect grocery donations each Sunday on the following schedule:

First Sunday - Fish (canned tuna & salmon) Second Sunday - Spaghetti & Spam (sauce & canned meat) Third Sunday - Oral Hygiene & Toiletries (toothpaste, personal care) Fourth Sunday - Canned Fruit Fifth Sunday - Cleaning Supplies for Faith Mission

Jazz Sunday…Our Jazz Sunday, June 24, will feature clarinetist extraordinaire Dave Bennett. Bennett was here last year with the New Reformation Band (which is not appearing at this year's festival). At age 20 he is an authentic musical prodigy who has been touring nationally since age 14 and has recorded a CD tribute to Benny Goodman. He will be joined by vocalist Chris Witman, Celia Weiss, and other outstanding musicians for a memorable service. Invite your friends!

 

Presbyterian Women

We commit ourselves:

to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible Study,

to support the mission of the church worldwide, to work for justice and peace,

and to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (USA) and witnesses to the promise of God's Kingdom.
 

Thank you so much for all of your caring thoughts, cards, visits, the beautiful Easter Lily and especially all the prayers during Bob’s illness and passing.  It is and has been a great comfort.
Sincerely,  Lori Eber

Dear Presbyterians:
The Easter Lily is still pretty.  It has been a joy.  Nancy & David Stetz delivered the Lily plant to me.  We had an interesting conversation.  I was glad to see them.  God bless everyone!
                Avia Baker

Thank you sincerely for sharing our sorrow.  Your kindness is deeply appreciated and will always be remembered.   Thank you also for the lovely arrangement and quilt.
The family of Nancy Jean Whalen

Dear Staff & Members:
When I returned from Easter Dinner with my brother the lovely Easter Lily was outside my door.  The Lily has blossoms again today.  I miss attending services but it is impossible for me to do now.    It is good to be remembered. 
Elizabeth Wood

Praise God!
Many thanks to our church friends who have offered friendship, prayers, and support during the past difficult days.  Barbara has improved a great deal and is living at Rosewood Center.  She continues to receive dialysis treatments three times a week. 
Luella Karay

Church Women United
A carry-in picnic is planned for Friday, June 1 at noon at Winding Waters Brethren Church on CR 6, across from Mary Feeser School.  It will be a 65th Birthday Celebration of Church Women United.  Bring a dish to share and table service.  Drinks and birthday cake will be furnished.  It is suggested that we bring 65 dimes ($6.50) as an offering to Church Women United.  Please call Pat Charles at 264-6407 if you have questions.

Do you have a prayer concern?

G. Edwin Compton
September 18, 1909 - April 29, 2007

Dr. Max L. Gerber
August 29, 1923 - April 30, 2007

Robert W. Eber
March 20, 1929 - May 16, 2007

 

The sympathy of the congregation is extended to:
Brent Lea, Cheri Lea’s husband, on the death of his mother, Christine Lea, who died on March 11.

Josphat Mwaniki on the death of his mother, who died in Kenya.

Jennifer Pitcher on the death of her father, Bill Spencer, on April 26.

Nella Putman on the death of her mother, Monna Darkwood, on April 24.

Pat & Marguerite Butler, on the death of their grandson, Ben Ebener, in Jacksonville, Florida on May 17.

Congratulations to…
Shawna Reyes on the birth of her daughter, Olivia Angeline, on April  24.

Chad & Nikki Gernand, on the birth of their son, Joel Andrew, on April 28.

Graduates…High school, college,  or technical school seniors will be recognized on Sunday, June 3 during the worship services.  Graduates, please call the church office and let us know your plans after graduation and send a picture.  We’ll include those pictures and plans in a future newsletter.

Worship in the Park August 22…Our outdoor service will be held at Island Park Pavilion at 10:30 a.m., followed by a picnic.  Mark your calendars!