Pasadena Presbyterian Church
June & July 2013
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From Me to You
Session Digest
Congregational Meeting
Financial Report
Evangemissions
Food Distribution Center
Women of the Church
Calendar
Pastor Carl Away for Trinidad Mission Trip
Preschool
Antioch Youth
Children's Church
Praise Kids
Library
Stewardship Ministry
2013 VBS
PPC Summer Camp
Youth and Young Adult Game Night
Sunday Worship Attendance
What's New at PPC
Birthdays
FROM ME TO YOU:
“Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news,
Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news;
Lift it up, do not fear; Say to the cities of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
(Isaiah 40:9)
Mountain tops are great places to see and proclaim the greatness of God!
In June and July, our congregation will be standing on two “peaks” where we will show and share the Good News of Jesus with the world:
--First, from June 10-14, we will conduct our annual, local mission trip called “VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL.” Typically, we have over 100 children from the community participating. Every year, dozens pray to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord; many more are given a step-up in their relationship with Jesus as His disciples; and, of course, our many, willing and wonderful volunteers show just what “blessed to be a blessing” means, in their loving service in and for Christ; (AND it just so happens that this year’s VBS theme is “Tell it on the mountain: where Jesus Christ is Lord!”)
--Second, from July 12-20, we will be sending a church planting mission team from PPC to San Fernando, Trinidad. Our team of 14 will be partnering with Pastor Anthony and Judy Oliver and their “Without Walls Evangelical Outreach International Church,” and with up to 6 other churches and mission agencies there. Our PPC team is being trained in 5 methods of evangelism, initial discipleship of new believers, and how to help start new churches. Our team will join with lay men and women from our partners there to help get the Gospel to people throughout central Trinidad. We are asking the Lord to plant at least 5 new micro-or-house churches in areas that currently have no church or witness of Christ.
Of course, neither of these “high point” opportunities will be all the Lord wants them to be without everyone at and as PPC joining in prayer. Jesus, when He sought the Father’s will, wisdom and Word, went up to the mountain to pray (Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:28). So, too, for us, one of the most important preparations we can do is “climb the hill” to be with God by getting down on our knees and seeking the Lord earnestly in prayer. As Paul wrote to the Colossians:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word,
so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ” (Col. 4:2-3).
Looking up, out and ahead, from the peak of prayer, to see Jesus better, and follow Him into His harvest, with you, His saints at and as PPC!
In Christ,
Carl
The Session met for its regular stated meeting on April 23, 2013 at 7 p.m. There were nine Elders present, including the Moderator, Pastor Carl. The meeting was opened with prayer by Pastor Carl. The following items were discussed and/or acted on.
1. The Session spent about an hour discussing parts of a book entitled, "I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church", written by Paul Nixon. We will continue discussing it in our next meetings.
2. Some time was spent discussing and evaluating the April 14 prayer service and congregational meeting.
3. The operating account balance as of 3-31-13 was $14,153.33.
4. A volunteer church wide work day for May 18 was approved. It later had to be canceled.
5. A letter of resignation as a Deacon and church member was received from Judy Bloomfield. It was approved effective
4-10-13.
6. During the time Pastor Carl will be in Trinidad, May 15-22, Gene Hammond and Larry Oline volunteered to be on call.
7. The van was sold for $15,000.
8. Elders Leslie Hughes and Andy White were approved as commissioners to Presbytery on May 9.
9. Some information was received and made available to the Session relative to a movement to "marry" Christianity and Islam.
Elder Tom Smith IV closed in prayer at 9 p.m. A copy of the full minutes of this meeting may be obtained from the office.
Respectfully submitted, Larry Oline, Clerk
SESSION has called a CONGREGATIONAL MEETING for Sunday June 9. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the report of the Nominating Committee, and elect 2 deacons and 3 elders. There will be a single service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School will be at 9am. Lunch for all follows in Fellowship Hall. VBS set-up follow lunch.
April 2013 Financial Report
The Financials for April show actual income $37,366.29 with expenses of $ 29,013.96 leaving us +$8,352.33 in the black.
PPC Foundation * |
|
| Pasadena Foundation | $ 27,936.22 |
Cash Available Checking Account Balance $ 27,815.31
Cash Reserves General Reserve MM $ 15,268.00
Total Cash (Checking Acct Bal. & MM) $ 43,083.31
*Values fluctuate with the stock market
EVANGEMISSION COMMITTEE REPORT
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:13-16, "It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."
When the Spirit of Jesus comes to live in our hearts when we believe, we find that we now have a loving message of
reconciliation about Jesus we want to share with others. Seeing the love of Jesus for us compels us to share that message. This all happens because of God and His work in us. We are like ambassadors for Christ, as He is making His appeal to
others through us. May His grace continue to reach more and more people through us for His glory.
If you want to prayerfully and/or financially support the missionaries our ministry has selected, pray about the amount, and let us know your faith promise amount. We appreciate each of you taking part.
Larry Oline, Chairman
Last month your Food Distribution Center gave out 6,102 pounds of food to 176 families representing 449 individuals. Even more nourishment than those in need received from the food was the spiritual nourishment our PPC team offered through prayer, counseling and hugs. Could you use a hug or some prayer? Could you offer a hug or some prayer to someone else? Ok then, you’re hired – see you there.
HELLO CHURCH! The Food Distribution Center is a great way to help those in need with food and the love of Jesus but did you ever think of it as an opportunity to share Jesus (in a low-impact way) with your family, friends and neighbors who don’t know Jesus or have gotten away from a close relationship with Him? Yes, even those who don’t need food and are doing quite well financially need Jesus don’t they?
You can help us by looking for big-hearted, kind neighbors or family who don’t go to church and we need you to invite them to help. Yes, you read this right. We want you to look for neighbors, friends or family members who probably wouldn’t come to church with you but might be interested in helping out their community. We should be looking for the same kind of people God looks for. (See Cor. 1:26-31)
We need people to be trained to shop and people to help us to unload it and put it away. We occasionally could also use someone with a truck or van to haul the food. The days we are looking for help are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Your non-churched friends and family will be working side by side with some people who love and know God. It just might be more spiritually enlightening than squirming through church in the pew. You find the willing souls and we’ll
provide more details but volunteers need not work all days or even every week, just as they are available.
Corinthians 1:26-31 The Message: Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to
expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.”
For more information: Pastor Anthony, Pastor Bob, Larry & Barb Hendry, Pat Mancini, Gene Hammond
SATURDAY –APRIL 27th the “Rummage Sale” was held. We made a total of $552.00 in sales on that day which will be going to the Mission Scholarship Fund. Good work ladies!
SATURDAY – MAY 4TH was the WOC BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. We had about 40 in attendance. John
Morgan from Metropolitan Ministries was our guest speaker and had a very informative presentation and has invited any of us to come in for a tour. The Salad luncheon and style show were both successful. Canned goods and non-perishable items were brought for the PPC Food Distribution Center. Our offering totaled $537.00. The Presbyterian Women’s Honorary Membership Award was presented to Pat Drucker for her
outstanding work over the years in PW. Thanks to all the women who helped in the set-up and clean-up for the luncheon. It’s only successful when you have “all hands on deck”. It was a blessed day with worship, fellowship and fun.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE WOC COUNCIL will be held Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. in the Boswell Room.
“Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is uncertain, today is here. Use it wisely”. Encourage one another every day and show God’s love through you, to others.
In Christ’s Love,
Patricia Watts, Chairperson
Pastor Carl Away for Trinidad Mission Trip
Pastor Carl will be away leading the Trinidad Mission Trip July 11-22. Bob Bellingar will be on-call .
If you have a need or emergency during that time, please call Pastor Bob.
School is out for the Summer. See you August 19th!
Our Youth has partnered with K-Life of St. Petersburg. Here is a description of K-Life taken from the K-Life website, http://stpete.klife.com.
Please visit the K-Life website for the summer calendar.
YOUTH GAMES NIGHTS
Sunday, June 23
Sunday, July 21
4:30 – 7:00 PM – PPC Upstairs Classrooms — Dinner provided
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.”
Psalm 119:9
The children continue to grow in their faith through Bible stories about the early church from the book of Acts.
Children’s Church is a worship service designed specifically for children in preschool through grade 5. The children are dismissed from the Sanctuary each Sunday during the 9:00 AM service, with the exception of Communion Sunday.
“So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,
and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7
PRAISE KIDS WILL NOT MEET DURING THE SUMMER.
IT WILL RESUME ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH.
CHECK YOUR AUGUST NEWSLETTER FOR DETAILS.
TRAVEL WAS NOT DONE LIGHTLY IN BIBLE TIMES BUT THERE WERE ENJOYABLE TIMES
Nowadays many of us travel rather at whim. We think nothing of going away for a weekend or planning a summer vacation. Throughout Bible times it was much more hazardous and uncomfortable to travel.
Paul "traveled 12,000 miles on his epic mission," according to Everyday Life in Bible Times by National Geographic, one of the items in the library which illuminate how people lived so long ago. We seek to understand a different way of life so that we can understand the nuances of the Bible. These journeys can become more than lines on a map in the back of the Bible when we learn how people lived back then.
God designed the Sabbath and the festivals which the Jewish people celebrated to be times of remembering Him and His good works and enjoy the times of feasting and fellowship. At first, just men traveled to celebrate the three "pilgrimage" feasts but in later times whole families came, such as when young Jesus was left in Jerusalem and his parents had to return to find Him. "At Passover contemporary writers estimated that some two-and-one-half million people moved toward Jerusalem in the days of the New Testament," according to the book The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times.
Hazards such as thieves, weather, pirates, being second class to cargo and riding uncomfortably or walking really long distances were common parts of travel. DVDs such as the Drive Thru History series which "highlight the people, places and events that have shaped our world and the Christian faith" are an invigorating way to enhance our Bible study. Come check these items out!
Laurie Smith
Librarian
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) – Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Thanks again for those that have been volunteering to help with keeping our grounds maintained. We need your help and greatly appreciate the time that you have freely given. If you would like to find out more about other opportunities to use your gifts, please see Elder Andy White (grounds maintenance) or any of your Elders.
John Odom
Stewardship Chair
2013 VBS JUNE 10—14
6/2 — VBS Volunteer Commissioning
6/9 — VBS Setup
JUNE 17—21 — Beach & Weather Camp
JUNE 24—28 — Critter Camp
Camps open to children age 3 through just completed 5th grade. Cost is $75/week. Camps run from 9:00 AM—Noon daily.
Snack provided each day.
REGISTRATION: Now until the beginning of camps
Registration forms available in the church office, as well as on the church website,
Youth and Young Adult Game Night
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
SUNDAY, June 23, 4:30 – 7:00 PM
SUNDAY, July 21, 4:30 – 7:00 PM
Upstairs Classrooms
Dinner served
- Games that appeal to everyone
- Fun and fellowship!
- Board games, video games
- Ping pong, foosball
- You don’t have to be an expert gamer to participate!
| 9:00 a.m. | 11:00 a.m | Total | |
| April 28 | 58 | 46 | 104 |
| May 05 | 72 | 47 |
119 |
| May 12 | 80 | 41 | 121 |
| May 19 | 44 | 34 | 78 |
| May 26 | 56 | 49 | 105 |
Thank You
I thank my Pasadena family for your prayers, cards, visits and calls during my recent hospitalization and re-hab. My recovery was much faster than expected and I am coming along very well with continued therapy.
With much appreciation and love,
Ann Carney
Thanks
Vicki Danz would like to thank you all for the prayers and acts of love shown to her and her family after the passing of her mother, Roberta Mineo.
Metropolitan Ministries
Felicia Ragland is the Senior Ambassador for Metropolitan Ministries. For more Information please call her.
Dollars for Deacons
Please Remember The Dollars For Deacons Envelopes In the Sanctuary
Church Facility Usage & Harmless Agreement
If you have a group that is not a ministry of the church and you would like to use the facility, you must come into the office for a copy of the Guidelines for Outside Users of Church Facilities and sign the Church Facility Usage and Hold Harmless Agreement.
We have been instructed that this is imperative by our insurance company.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Giving Statements
Giving Statements will be sent out upon request for the quarter.
Everyone will receive a final year statement at the end of the year for tax purposes.
Format for Submitting Information To Be Printed
- Submit information 2 weeks prior to date needed print ready.
- Send information as an Electronic File MS Word Format.
- Newsletter articles are always due by the 15th of the month.
- Newsletter articles should be in font no larger than 10.
- Newsletter articles should be titled with ministry, month and year ie, “Stewardship February 2012”.
Sunday School Schedule
- Elementary: Fellowship Hall, Leslie Hughes
- Youth: Fellowship Hall, Leslie Hughes
- College/ Career Class: Room 206,Tom Smith IV
- Friendship Class: Boswell, Tom Smith III
- 1 Corinthians Adult Bible Study: Room 204, Pastor Bob
- Fruit of the Spirit: Chapel, Debbie Saathoff
- Tested By Fire: Room 201, Patti Burrows
Please Help Keep Our Facilities Nice!
Please do not put paper flyers or announcements on the walls! We have billboards for our various ministries and groups to use to post items. If you need somthing posted, please check with the appropriate ministry or group or the church office. Thanks for keeping our facilities nice!
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