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Features & News
May 9 - May 22, 2004
Worship Schedule Sunday 8:30 a.m. Worship in the Chapel 9:45 Church School
11:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary 5:00 p.m. Contemporary Worship: The Bridge
Recent Newsletters
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Two Weeks at a Glance Monday, May 10
8:00 a.m. - PBJ/ Room 100
Tuesday, May 11
7:00 p.m. - Session
Wednesday, May 12 Hacienda Give-Back Day
9:00 a.m. - Worship Team & Staff
10:45 a.m.- S Group/ Room 101
11:30 a.m. - The Bridge Worship Team
6:15 p.m. - Handbell Choir Rehearsal/ Room 100
6:30 p.m. - Jeff Patton/ Theater
7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, May 13
10:30 a.m. - Small Group/ Room 101
12:00 p.m. - Brown Bag Bible Study
7:00 p.m. - Trustees
Sunday, May 16 Confirmation Sunday
8:30 a.m. -Worship/ Chapel
9:30 a.m. - Confirmation Brunch/ Fellowship Hall
9:45 a.m. - Church School & Choir Rehearsal
11:00 a.m. - Worship/ Sanctuary
5:00 p.m. - The Bridge Service/ Fellowship Hall
6:00 p.m. - The Bridge Dinner/ Fellowship Hall
6:30 p.m. - PYF & Classes
7:00 p.m. - Mark Hayes Piano Concert/ Sanctuary
| Monday, May 17
8:00 a.m. - PBJ/ Room 100
11:30 a.m. - Nifty 60's/ Christiana Creek CC
Tuesday, May 18
7:00 p.m. - Session/ Reception Room
Wednesday, May 19
9:00 a.m. - Worship Team & Staff
9:30 a.m. - Ruth Circle/ Room 100
10:45 a.m.- S Group/ Room 101
11:30 a.m. - The Bridge Worship Team
6:15 p.m. - Handbell Choir Rehearsal/ Room 100
6:30 p.m. - Jeff Patton/ Theater
7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, May 20
10:30 a.m. - Small Group/ Room 101
12:00 p.m. - Brown Bag Bible Study/ Room 100
1:00 p.m. - Abigail Circle/ Reception Room
Saturday, May 22
10:00 a.m. - PYF Car Wash/ Church Parking Lot
12:00 p.m. - PW Spring Luncheon/ Reception Room
Sunday, May 23
8:30 a.m. -Worship/ Chapel
9:45 a.m. - Church School & Choir Rehearsal
11:00 a.m. - Worship/ Sanctuary
5:00 p.m. - The Bridge Service/ Fellowship Hall
6:00 p.m. - The Bridge Dinner/ Fellowship Hall
6:30 p.m. - PYF & Classes
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Church Consultation
Did you miss one (or more) of the evening seminars with Jeff Patton (our church consultant)? Do you want to review all that he had to say? Thanks to Todd Miller, we have DVDs of each of Jeff’s evening sessions, you have several opportunities to view them. Sunday mornings
| 9:45- 10:45 am.
| | Sunday nights after The Bridge | 6:30-7:30 p.m.
| | Wednesday nights | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. |
Each session was approximately two hours long, including questions. So, the ‘broadcast schedule’ will look like this: Time
| Sun
May 9
| Sun
May 9
| Wed
May 12
| Sun
May 16
| Sun
May 16
| Wed
May 19
| | Date | 9:45 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 9:45 | 6:30 | 6:30
| | Session | Thurs 1 | Thurs 2 | Thurs 2 | Thurs 2 | Fri 1
| Fri 1
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Keep in mind that we will be receiving a detailed written report from Jeff, but his oral presentation was valuable (and challenging!). Join us in the theater (downstairs) each week, and come hear what the buzz is all about!!! |
Well, we’re in that uncomfortable in-between stage. Our church consultant, Jeff Patton, has visited us, but (as of this writing) we haven’t received his written report. We’ve heard Jeff’s initial impressions and preliminary recommendations, but we don’t yet know his “final answer.” Jim Rasp says we’re “Patton - pending.”
It’s an awkward stage. Some heard Jeff say things that energized and excited them, and they’re eager to move ahead. Others heard things that made them nervous and uncertain; they’re rather dreading the final report. Still others heard so much, so fast, that they don’t know how to sort it out, or what it all means for our church.
In anticipation of Jeff’s report, let me lift out some things I heard Jeff say:
- Maintenance or Mission? Like many long-established mainline churches, our congregation faces a crucial choice between focusing on our own needs and desires. or focusing on others whom Christ calls us to reach. Is our church primarily about us - maintaining the status quo to focus on the needs of those already in the church — or is it primarily about mission to others?
- What is our Mission? If we have a mission beyond mere survival (and churches which have no mission beyond survival generally don't survive), what is it? Jeff suggested that we’ve done important work on clarifying our values and beliefs, but we don’t have a clear sense of our mission. I’ve heard a number of folks agreeing with this assessment, as do I. How shall we move toward clarifying our mission? Stay tuned....
- Jesus Christ: Jeff suggested that we need to pay more attention to the person and call of Christ. In our religiously pluralistic culture “God is everywhere,” our distinction as Christians is our understanding and experience of God’s unique revelation in Jesus Christ. Like many Presbyterian churches, we have tended to focus more on the First Person of the Trinity (God) than on the Second Person (Christ). Are we ready to get more serious about Jesus?
- Harmony: Jeff suggested we have a cult of harmony - were so wary of controversy that we’re afraid to rock the boat. Do you think that’s true? Or have we learned how to handle and grow from the healthy exchange of diverse opinions? As we’re working through this process, I suspect that we’ll have an opportunity to test our ability to handle differences
- Stewardship: Jeff said we don’t take stewardship - the connection between our faith and our giving - seriously enough. He challenged us to move boldly to proportional giving: giving not just to meet the church’s budget, but as a growing proportion of our income. Proportional giving moves us toward the Biblical standard of tithing, and is a significant part of an individual’s spiritual growth. What do you think? As you can imagine, you’ll be hearing more about this....
I could go on, but I want to stop here to note that Jeff is focusing on the basics of our faith. He will have a lot to say about particularities of our building, our parking, our worship (style, music, and preaching), our organizational structure, our “placement process” (i.e. nominations), our visitor welcome and assimilation, and so forth. But, however central those issues may be to some of us, I think Jeff would say they are secondary to the core issues of our faith and mission.
These are daunting questions. But don’t be daunted or discouraged. I think Jeff found us healthier and full of more potential than most churches he visits. And I think we’re healthy enough, mature enough, and faithful enough to handle Jeff’s assessment and recommendations in a life-giving way. Remember that when we receive his report, we will distribute it and then call an all-church meeting to field questions and concerns about it.
We’re in that awkward in-between stage. But then, Christians are in-between people: in-between Christ’s earthly incarnation and His triumphal return; in-between our faith’s baptismal beginning and its completion at the throne of grace; in-between the old life that we used to live and the new life to which Christ calls us. The Christian promise is that, by God’s grace, the best is yet to come. Jeff suggested that the best days of First Presbyterian may still be ahead of us. Can you catch that dream?
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Activities and Events
On Sunday, May 16, at 7:00 p.m., Mark Hayes, pianist, composer, arranger, and producer will present a concert in our sanctuary. Also featured in this concert are the Chancel Choirs of First Presbyterian Church, Goshen; Faith United Methodist Church, Goshen; Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, South Bend; and our own Chancel Choir.
Mark Hayes has taken his love of music from his hometown in northern Illinois to the music scene of Europe, the far East, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Brazil. Now an internationally-known writer, his music can be found in the music libraries of the finest churches and universities in the country. His works are regularly featured at annual conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference.
The free concert is sponsored by the Ralph and Barbara Miller Endowment for Arts and Enrichment and is open to the public at no charge
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Vacation Bible School
It is hard to believe that VBS is just around the corner. At SonGames 2004 with an Olympic theme. children will meet one of Gods most valuable players. Paul, and through his adventures, they’ll learn what it means to be a member of God’s team. Please, take time to pray and decide if you want to be a part of the team that shares God’s light with the little ones in our church. We can’t do it without you, and it will mean so much to them. Fill out the following form and put it in the offering plate or put it in the office or just contact one of the coordinators. Thanks be to God. He gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57)
Vacation Bible School Volunteers
Dates: Sunday, June 27 (Opening Ceremony and Olympic Games)
Monday, June 28 - Thursday, July 1
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Help is needed in the following areas:
| Decorating
| Simple Dinners (Monday-Thursday) |
| Prayer support | Publicity |
| Bible teaching
| Crafts |
| Greeter and Group Guide | Recreation games |
| Activity centers | Music |
| Skits
| Follow-up |
| Other |
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If you have any questions about Vacation Bible School or your involvement in it, please call Cheryl Ann Miller 266-1249 or Mindy Suhr 266-9870.
Church School Classes. Sunday Morning at 9:45 a.m.
Sonshine Kids class for pre-schoolers in Room 106.
JAM (Jesus and Me) Time for elementary age children upstairs. Bible stories are learned and experienced in creative ways using the Workshop Rotation multi-sensory model.
Youth Sunday School... The Junior & Senior High Classes meet in the Sr. High Room.
New Horizons ongoing class for youth and adults with special needs. This is taught by special education teacher, Cheri Lea, and is held in Room 108.
Tough Issues...Rudy Gourdine will lead a class on Spirituality and Aging on Sunday, May 16. This class will be held in the Reception Room.
Jeff Patton Videos See Church Consultation
Sunday Night Classes at The Bridge
Jeff Patton Videos See Church Consultation
Brown Bag Bible Study-Thursdays at Noon
Feeling God’s Blessing When Things Are Distressing…A new Thursday noon Bible study began April 15 and will end on May 20.. The Rev. Walt Davis, our soon-to-be parish associate, is leading this six session study of Philippians. Bring your Bible, a brown-bag lunch, and an inquiring mind.
Help Support Beardsley’s (our Partner School)
Half-Price Book Fair!
Whether you’re buying for your children, grandchildren or yourself (love to read children’s literature?), stop by Beardsley Elementary School on May 18, 19, or 20 from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. and/or during their Spring Fling which is held on May 21 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. for the half-price Scholastic Book Fair.
Per Capita
As Presbyterians, we celebrate being a “connectional church,” in which congregations share in mission and ministry at the regional (presbytery), multi-state (synod), and national (General Assembly) levels. We support this mission and ministry in two ways:
through the “per capita apportionment” (which funds the operations at each level required by our constitution) and “shared mission” (which funds other programs and staff). The per capita apportionment is set each year by the presbytery, synod, and general assembly.
The Stewardship and Finance Commission asks that you give prayerful thought to making an additional contribution this year to cover your own per capita apportionment. We are grateful for the many of you that have contributed to your per capita in past years.
For 2004, the per capita amount is $25.66 per active member. As an example, if you are part of a 2-parent, 2-child household, and both of your children are members (i.e., they have been confirmed), your total per capita allocation would then be $102.64.
Please consider making your per capita apportionment today. Mark your check “per capita.”
Presbyterian Plotters
Dear Gardeners, Thank you for adopting a plot and committing your “magic” to have wonderful gardens. We are all anxious to see the Lord’s wonderful and beautiful flowers materialize in front of our eyes. Over and above planting flowers and plants it will also require weeding, trimming, and pruning.
This Mother’s Day may be a good opportunity to check and assess the flower beds. We will spray those weeds that grow on sidewalks and driveways. Karen Cittadine so graciously had leaves cleaned up. She will have plants trimmed and she also adopted additional plots. Karen we thank you from the bottom of our heart.
The map of the plots is on the wall adjacent to the sanctuary. Each plot is numbered. We also made a spreadsheet showing names of the gardeners and committed plot(s). Please look it over and if we need to make any correction(s) please mark it on the spread sheet.
We need several more volunteer gardeners. Please feel free to mark your name on the spreadsheet and mark your Garden Plot number. If you know someone who would like participate in gardening please let me or Cinda know.
If you have any questions, or if you need any special supplies, please give me a call.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAPPY GARDENING!!!!
Alex Eraybar
848-1848
Brown Bag Book Bunch
The Book Bunch is reading some great books! If you're a reader, come join us! Our next meeting is June 7, 2004, at 11:30 am. Our list of books for 2004 is almost complete, but we can always make room for more. If you have a book to suggest, please do so. We'll see you next year!
| June | East of Eden, by John Steinbeck | | July | Angle of Repose, by Wallace Erle Stegner | | August | A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving | | September | The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown | | October | Probable Future, by Alice Hoffman | November
| Leap of Faith, by Queen Noor |
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The Marvelous Month of May May 11 Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
| Coordinating Team |
| May12 Wednesday 1:00p.m.
| Circle I |
| May 19 Wednesday 9:30 am.
| Ruth Circle |
| May 20 Thursday 1:00 p.m.
| Abigail Circle |
| May22 Saturday 12:00 noon
| Spring Luncheon
Catie Brownewell will present our program |
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Our Calling to God’s Vision
June 11-13, women from the Synod of Lincoln Trails will gather in Bloomington, IL. The Keynote Speaker will be Lillian Oats, PWCCT (Presbyterian Women Churchwide Coordinating Team) Vice- Moderator for Justice and Peace. Cost is $105 (before May 10), $125 (after May 10). Contact Alice Morris (522-9985) to make your reservation.  Have you sent in your recipes yet? I have to admit - I haven’t either - but I did pick out about eight that I am considering. So far, I have one beverage, one sauce, two casseroles two desserts - well, you get the picture. Choose your favorite recipes, copy them down, and send them in. We’ll decide the categories for you - you don’t have to worry about that. June 6 is the deadline, but if you send them in now, you won’t have to do it later. The cookbook is going to be great, but it’ll be even better with your recipes. Send them in now! Mission News...The hand towels collection was a big success!! Heartfelt thanks and admiration go to all Presbyterian Women who contributed. We collected 69 towels. The Elkhart unit of Church Women United will take all the towels collected from local churches to a Church World Service Center where the health kits will be assembled. Presbyterian Women Officers
Moderator
| Harriet Sloop
| Vice-Moderator
| Barbara Harman
| Secretary
| Patricia Charles
| Treasurer
| Marsha Brownewell
| Mission/Sewing
| Jane Cherepak, Jill Stoll
| Publicity
| Alice Morris
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Circle Moderators and Representatives
Abigail Circle
| Debby Wright
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| Circle I
| Jill Stoll
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| | Lydia Circle | Cheryl Ann Miller
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| | Ruth Circle | Mary Wagner
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| | New Paths Circle | Carol Steede
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| | Foundation Representative | Mary Seddon
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| | Church Women United Representative | Patricia Charles
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“Hope in the Lord, Jesus Christ”
“The best week my family spends together all year.”
“Synod School is a week of fellowship, relaxation, learning, and worship with Presbyterians around the Synod. Whether it is your first time or your fifteenth time, it always feels like home.” | Class Choices of Bible Study, Crafts, Theology, Music and Much more!
July 11-16 at Hanover College Hanover, Indiana
Creative Worship
Music, Music, Music
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Intergenerational & Adult Programs
| May 11-12 | Profession Church Secretaries Retreat | | June 4-5 | Pastor’s Spouse Retreat | | July 7-9 | Grand Camp | | August 1-6 | Intergenerational Wonders of Watercolor & S’mores and More | | September 7-9 | Silent Retreat | | October 4-7 | Expressions in Glass: Explore the Nearly lost art of Stained Glass Making |
2004 Geneva Center Summer Camp Schedule
| Event
| Capacity
| Grades
| Cost
| June 11-13
| You & Me
| 24
| 1&2
| $85/$65
| Week One
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| | June 20-25 | Discovery Camp 1
| 28 | 4-6
| $230
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| Explorers 1
| 14 | 7-8
| $235
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| Pathfinders
| 14 | 9-12
| $240 | Week Two
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| | June 27– July 2 | Discovery Camp 2
| 28 | 4-6 | $230 |
| Wilderness
| 10
| 6-7 | $235 |
| LIT
| 14 | 11-12 | $235 | Week Three
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| | July 7-9 | Firstimers
| 28 | 3-5 | $125 |
| Grand Camp
| 30
| 6-12
| $120 | Week Four
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| | July 11-16 | Jr. High Riverwalkers1
| 14 | 7-8
| $240 |
| Explorers 2
| 28 | 7-8 | $235 |
| Sr. High MAD
| 14 | 9-12 | $240 | Week Five
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| | July 18-23 | Discovery Camp 3
| 28 | 4-6
| $230 |
| Jr. High MAD
| 28 | 7-8 | $240 |
| Sr. High Riverwalkers
| 10
| 9-12
| $240 | Week Six
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| | July 25-30 | Elementary MAD
| 28
| 4-6 | $240 |
| Jr. High Riverwalkers 2
| 10 | 7-8
| $240 |
| Campference
| 40
| 9-12
| $240 | Week Seven
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| | August 1-6 | Intergenerational Watercolor
| 24
| All
| $475/$395 | September 4-6
| Family Camp
| 24
| All
| $90/$70 |
It’s Not Too Late. ..Camp Registrations can be found in the information racks located around the church. There are several camps that are already full, so get those registrations in as soon as possible. Grant applications are available in the church office.
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| This 'n' ThatThank you for the flowers Jim received when he was in Elkhart General Hospital. Also the Caring Card which he now keeps in his room at East Lake Terrace and which he enjoys so much with family photos added to it. Your kindness is appreciated.
Thank you, Daisy & Jim Eastman
| High School Seniors will be recognized on Sunday, May 23, at the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Graduates, please call the church office and let us know your plans after graduation. We’ll include those plans in a future newsletter! Also, if there are any other graduates (college, technical school, etc.), please call the office with that information.
| Hacienda Giveback Day
The PYF (Presbyterian Youth Fellowship) is having a Hacienda Giveback Day on Wednesday, May 12. Please pick up a coupon on the table by the Gathering Place, presenting it to your server when paying for your bill. Hacienda will then donate a portion of the bill to our First Presbyterian Church Youth Triennium Fund. We greatly appreciate your support. For more coupons, please see a PYF youth.
| The FLAMINGOS are back! Make sure to get your insurance so that you won’t wake up one morning to a flock of pink birds covering your yard. Insurance is only $10, and can be purchased this Sunday and next. If you are so lucky as to find those birds in your yard, you’ll need to call the PYF Flock Squad and pay $25 to get them removed. All proceeds will help us attend this summer’s Presbyterian Youth Triennium Conference at Purdue University.
CAR WASH!
The PYF will host a car wash on Saturday, May 22 from 10:00 a.m. until 200 pm We appreciate your support in helping us to attend the Presbyterian Youth Triennium. (Let’s just hope it’s sunny out!)
| Newsletter Deadline
The next newsletter will be inserted in the bulletin on May 25, and mailed the following week to those who are not in worship. Please submit articles for that newsletter by May 14. | Do you have a prayer concern?
Do you know of someone in the hospital, recovering from illness, etc.? Let us know, so we can hold you or your friend in prayer. Contact Pat Van Dyke or Bea Pyle to be placed on the prayer chain, or send information to prayer@www.presbyelk.org .
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| May 16 | May 23
| May 30
| A.M. Preacher
| Steve Braden
| Kathleen O’Connell | Steve Braden | P.M. Preacher
| Kathleen O’Connell
| Kathleen O’Connell | Steve Braden | Liturgist
| Rachel Sirinek
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| | Greeters | Chris Witman
Bruce Klonowski
| Freya Burket
Steve Seward
| Steve Eldridge
Lynnette Valentijn
| 8:30 am Ushers
| Ruth & Jack Linton | Ruth & Jack Linton
| Ruth & Jack Linton
| | 11:00 am Ushers | Barb & Bob Hodgson
Bill Rice, & Ann Wieringa
| Laura O’Neill
Mary, John, & Christopher
Seddon
| Kathy/Rachel & Alan Sirinek
Kathy & Bob Wall
| Choirs
| Chancel Choir
| Chancel Choir
| Chancel Choir
| A. M. Hospitality Host
| Barbara Adcock
| Sue Griffen
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| | P. M. Hospitality Host |
| Ruth & Alex Eraybar
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| Counters
| Todd Miller
Sean Wall
Alex Eraybar
| Todd Miller
Sean Wall
Alex Eraybar
| Todd Miller
Sean Wall
Alex Eraybar
| FISH
| Sydney Rieckhoff Sarah James
| Chery! Ann MiUer
| Michele Disch
Justine Van Dyke
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