Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Transcription

1 July 2016 Vol XXXIV No. 7 Pastor s Page 2 Committee News 3 & Session 4 Announcements 5 Volunteers 6 Calendar 7 Miscellaneous 8 Upcoming Events Friday, July 8 Deadline to sign up for August 4 Madison Mallards Game. Wed., July 13 CE meets at church at 5:45 PM to drive to HSJC. Thursday, August 4 Madison Mallards Church Night at Warner Park. Picnic at 5:30 p.m.; Game at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, August 6 Pancake Breakfast in conjunction with Maxwell Street Days. Serving from 8 AM to 11 AM. Take Me Out to the Ballgame Presbyterian Night at the Mallards August 4 Cost: $20 Game Time: 7:05 p.m. Tailgate Buffet: 5:30-7:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining with other Presbyterians from around the Madison area for a night of fun and fellowship at the Mallards game, please let the office know by July 8. Checks should be made out to OCPC. "Madison Mallards" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - Church Commemorative Plate The plate shown here was recently donated to the church from the family of Janet Eisele Heiliger. It is currently displayed in Fellowship Hall. Can anyone tell us the history of this plate? Please contact Judy Pearson or the office with any details. Thank you!

2 2 Pastor s Page God shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. ~Isaiah 2:4 Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place; for all who live by the sword will perish by the sword. ~Matthew 26:51-52 If you, even you, had only known the ways that lead to peace. Jesus ~Luke 19:42 On June 12, the news broke as we prepared to enter worship, 50 dead and 53 wounded. Shocked and angered, I wondered how can this continue to happen in our country? How can we allow gun violence to continue? With sighs too deep for words we prayed for the victims of yet another senseless mass shooting, this one the worse in our nation s history. I would love to believe this was the last one, though I fear it will not be. Every day, we hear about multiple victim shootings that range from domestic violence to gang-related killings to shootings on college and school campuses. And then there are the mass shootings, like the one in Orlando. In light of Orlando, I wanted to share this prayer with you. It was written by the Rev. Laurie Ann Kraus, Associate Mission Director for the Presbyterian Disaster Agency following the killings in Orlando. Personally and pastorally, I feel it speaks to how many of us are feeling: Once again, Holy One, we cry, how long, O Lord? We wonder, when will it be enough? We pray you will forgive our society which tolerates violence, Our fearful xenophobia, and our willingness to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to words and deeds of intolerance aimed at those others we fear are not like us. The same lifeblood the gift of a loving God flows through all our veins, and spills out without regard to difference, staining the floors our places of fellowship, community, and learning. staining our lives with sorrow, fear and regret. Let the same heart beat as one among us, that we will draw together across these false divides, And rise up as one to breathe peace where there is no peace, and heal our communities and our world. God of life, whose presence sustains us in every circumstance, As the sound of gunfire echoes across Orlando we seek the grounding power of your love and compassion. We open our hearts in anger, sorrow and hope: For those who have been lost: brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends Your children, enjoying an evening of music and friendship, Whose lives were ended or maimed in a hail of hatred and gunfire We pray for those who have been spared and those whose lives are changed forever that they may find solace, sustenance, and strength in the hard days to come. We give thanks for first responders: who ran toward gunfire, rather than away who dropped everything to save the wounded and comfort survivors We pray for doctors and nurses and mental health providers who repair what has been broken who bring healing and hope in the face of the unchecked principalities and powers of violence. God of the rainbow, once long ago, you stretched your light across the heavens to renew your (continued on page 3)

3 (continued from page 2 Pastor s Page) covenant of peace with your people, you promised not to destroy. Help us in these days to believe that promise, and to participate in it, and to treasure the life which it treasures. In the wake of an event that should be impossible to contemplate but which has become all too common in our experience, open our eyes, break our hearts, and turn our hands to the movements of your Spirit, that our anger and sorrow may unite in service to build a reign of peace, where the lion and the lamb may dwell together, and terror no longer hold sway over our common life. In the name of Christ, our healer and our Light, we pray, Amen. Pastor Scott Youth Triennium 2016 Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Purdue University July Theme: Go into the world to make disciples This theme is as much about when they leave the Triennium as it is about the event itself. From the first worship service we will explore what happens AFTER the Triennium. Going is not busy work. Going is not escape. Going is not running away. GOING has the most impact when the process of going involves thoughtful and communal self-reflection. GOING is enabled by God s counsel, authority given to Jesus and shared with Jesus disciples. GOING is risky. GOING is often a process. But sometimes GOING is quick. Like the shepherds we refuse to let our fear hold us back or stop us from being present with Jesus. The biblical stories of GOING we will be exploring demonstrate the process of GOING. In each situation there is a NO moment or posture, a TURNING POINT (we are calling it a Turning Place) and a GO moment. We are human. This means that our GOING is not perfect, or always carefully choreographed and sometimes there is failure, sin or a problem. GO is a command. Go is a directive. To go with GOD is to embark on a worthy adventure. Pastor Scott will be volunteering at this year s Triennium, serving as a dorm supervisor/host for 500 youth and their adult leaders. This will be his 4th Triennium and his third in this role. Worship/Theology Notes By Judy Pearson The committee met on Tuesday, June 14, We reviewed the Book of Order for communion services. Discussed serving communion every Sunday versus once per month as we currently do. We will discuss with CE how our youth are instructed in the significance of The Lord s Supper. World Communion Sunday is October 2 this year. We will consider a confirmation class when we have youth of the appropriate age. For music during worship, we will attempt to do a three rotation schedule with our current musicians. A newsletter article will be written to ask for choir members and ask which Sunday of the month is preferred. On All Saints Sunday we will use the communion cloth. We discussed adding technology to our worship in the form of a big screen/flat screen in order to list hymns and announcements. We will bring this back to Session and the Building & Grounds Committee.

4 THE SESSION: Class of 2016: Cheryl Bettenhausen Fellowship Mission Nominating Judy Pearson Clerk of Session Memorial Hostess Worship/Theology Class of 2017: Kay Lund Fellowship Worship/Theology Charleen Janus Fellowship Nominating Dick Trailer Building and Grounds Finance-Stewardship Personnel Class of 2018 Renee Roland Johnson Christian Education Mark Touhey Building and Grounds Finance-Stewardship Personnel Treasurer: Dick Trailer BOARD OF DEACONS: Class of 2016: Al Bettenhausen Building and Grounds Worship/Theology Linda Porter, Co-Moderator Class of 2017: Trent Bettenhausen Nancy Kristiansen Class of 2018 Julie Anderson Ann Febock Secretary Mission Judy Schroeder, Co-Moderator Pastor / Moderator of Session: Rev. Scott Marrese-Wheeler (608) Cell Pastor@OCPChurch.com DEACONS CORNER By Deacon Judy Schroeder, Secretary pro tem We met on Sunday. June 12 and spent most of our time planning for the upcoming pancake breakfast that will be held on Saturday, August 6. Please see the sign-up sheets posted in the Fellowship Hall to help us out with ingredient donations and with sharing your talents by helping us make and serve the breakfast. We appreciate your help in making our fundraiser successful so we can give to wonderful causes such as the local food pantry and Heifer Fund International. SESSION NOTES By Elder Judy Pearson, Clerk of Session Stated meeting of the Session was held on Wednesday, June 8, Pastor Scott opened the meeting with prayer. We reviewed Pastor Scott s coming days off. Pulpit supply is in place. Approved sending a $100 donation to the Youth Triennium which Pastor Scott is attending as a volunteer. The finance report was reviewed in all budget/expense items. The stock market is up right now. Pastor reviewed the 2017 Montreat Youth Conference in North Carolina. We do have three possible youth that could attend. Fund raising would be needed. Thank you to Cheryl Stitz who volunteered to serve on the Personnel Committee. The next Session meeting will be on Sunday, July 31, 2016 following worship service. This is to be a combined July/August meeting with a full agenda. While Pastor Scott is out of the area in June, Pastor Hugh Drennan will be available for emergency contact only. Anyone in need of assistance is encouraged to first contact a Session member or Deacon for assistance. Budget Update: Year-to date Income: $37, Year-to-date Spending: $37,877.10

5 Building Problem There is water in the basement. Again. The good news is that this time leaks are not related to our new roof, which seems to be doing well. The problem this time is actually connected to the driveway and parking lot. The problem is most serious on the east side of the building, resulting in lots of water in the Thronson room. Soil around the building has settled over the years. Gradually, this lowering has resulted in water flowing toward the building, rather than away, which compounds the problem. The blacktop is pulling away from the foundation, creating a gap where water enters. The really short term "solution" would be to seal the gap with hot tar, which has been done before. To do this along the east side of the driveway by the Thronson room would cost $600, with no guarantees. Water would still settle along the foundation, causing problems in the future. The "ideal" solution would be to have the entire parking lot redone. Eventually we would all like to see this happen. There are potholes and weeds, and the blacktop is deteriorating. If the blacktop were redone, it would be graded so that all water flowed away from the building. This is the long term solution to stopping the water in the basement. However, the estimate to do the entire project came in at $40,000, which seems to be beyond our current capabilities. A third option would be to regrade and reblacktop the driveway from the highway to beyond the side door. This would solve the water issue and fix some of the worst potholes, but would not address the rest of the parking lot. One estimate for this job came in at a more manageable $7,400. Please discuss the issues with Session members over the coming weeks so that Session can make the best possible decision. Building & Grounds, Mark Touhey, Jerry Thiltgen, Dick Trailer PLEASE HOLD THESE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS IN PRAYER MEMBERS Ken Bilstad Mary Trailer FRIENDS Stacey Brandenburg (friend of OCPC & Julie Floyd Anderson) Judy Brandt (choir director at Grace Lutheran Church) Gretchen Burt and her family (cousin of Kay Lund) Griffin Clark (grandson of Bill & Patty Strohbusch) Nancy & Lori Davis (relatives of Kay Lund) Don Dieter (Marilyn Schuster s brother-in-law) Marjorie Erickson (friend of Kay Lund) Jane Feggestad Jacque Freund (friend of Kay Lund) Judy Hottman (friend of Judy Pearson) Egil Kristiansen (Jan Kristiansen s brother in Oslo, Norway) Charlene Charlie Porter Kodi Porter (son of Jeremy & Abby Porter) Vicki Redford and her son, Ryan Shawn Spack (son of Jenine & Jack Spack) Our children and unchurched children and families, our military around the world, our enemies, our church leaders, families and individuals experiencing financial, job-hunting, health, or relationship problems. Families who are grieving the loss of loved ones. If you would like to be added to our weekly prayer list, please leave word in the church office or contact the pastor. Permission to be included in this publicly posted list has been obtained from those listed or their families. Thank You By Mare Stewart, Strawberry Luncheon Chairman Thank you to those who donated salads for the Strawberry Salad Luncheon held on Saturday June 25, Thank you also to those who worked to set up, serve and clean up on Saturday, and serve at coffee hour on Sunday. Your help and donations were greatly appreciated. We had wonderful attendance this year about 105 and took in $900 before expenses. The music, provided by The Promised Band, was enjoyed by all. Thanks again for making this a welcoming event for our church and community. If you brought a salad to the luncheon, please remember to pick up your bowl from the kitchen!

6 If you are unable to serve Communion, as Usher/Greeter, or Lector, please try to find someone to substitute for you. Or, contact Al Bettenhausen (608) or Judy Pearson (608) AUG 7 * Kay & Stub Lund * Judy Schroeder JUL 10 JUL 17 JUL 24 1 AUG 7 Cheryl & Al Bettenhausen Ann & Dale Febock Al Bettenhausen; Mark Olson Cathy & Jerry Thiltgen Jo Kubina; Mare Stewart Judy Schroeder & Mark Touhey JUL 10 JUL 17 JUL 24 1 AUG 7 Trevor Leto Renee Roland Johnson Grace Leto Jenine Spack Judy Pearson Julie Anderson JUL 10 JUL 17 JUL 24 1 JUL 10 JUL 17 JUL 24 1 AUG 7 AUG 14 4 th of July Weekend No Coffee Hour Kari & Trent Bettenhausen; Sue & Derek Bettenhausen Mare Stewart Judy Schroeder & Mark Touhey Nancy & Jan Kristiansen Lori Peterson & Bruce Erickson JUL/AUG Jul 1-15: OPEN; Jul 16-31: OPEN; Aug 1-15: OPEN

7 DATE BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES DATE BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES July 1 Nancy Kristiansen July 23 Michael & Linda Porter July 12 Bud Rumpf July 25 Patty Strohbusch July 14 Bobbi Rumpf July 28 Samuel Hanson July 17 Staci Marrese-Wheeler July 30 Nancy Bowe Scanzello July 18 Nancy Breitsprecher July 31 Sue Bettenhausen July 19 Ann Febock Mark & Mary Olson July 31 Judy Pearson July 20 Linda Porter Sunday Schedule Worship Service 10:00 Communion first Sunday of each month Sunday School 10:00 from September through May Abbreviation Key AA: Alcoholics Anonymous CCA: Cambridge Clergy Assoc. CC: Communications Committee CE: Christian Education FC: Fellowship Committee GN: Good News MG: Membership & Growth OA: Overeaters Anonymous SG: Support Group WT: Worship & Theology YG: Youth Group July 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday AM CE Independence Day AM 11 AM Session :30 PM AA :45 PM CE meets at church to visit Humane Society of Jefferson County Newsletter articles due 14 7:30 PM AA 21 7:30 PM AA Newsletter articles due :30 PM AA 8 Deadline to sign up for August 6 Madison Mallards game National Presbyterian Youth Triennium at Purdue University

8 Kudos To: Thank you to all who set up, brought salads, worked at, and cleaned up at the Annual Strawberry Luncheon, Saturday, June 25 th from 11-1 p.m. A special thank you to The Promised Band who played and entertained us during lunch, and a big thanks to Elder Mare Stewart who arranged their being with us. See article in this newsletter about another successful luncheon this year. All the people who have noticed tasks that needed to be done and, without fanfare, stepped up to keep the church clean. Sue Braden, Barb Brown, Sylvia Jensen, Bobbi Rumpf and Mare Stewart for providing special music during our Sunday, June 26 worship. Everyone who delivered Meals on Wheels Kay Lund, Bud & Bobbi Rumpf, Ralph Spaulding, Patti Strohbusch and Mark Touhey. Pastor Scott for providing the bread every month for the Lord s Supper. The Building & Grounds Committee for keeping the lawn mowed. CHURCH SCHEDULE WORSHIP SERVICE & CHURCH SCHOOL: 10:00 a.m. Sunday COMMUNION: First Sunday of each month FELLOWSHIP & REFRESHMENTS: Following worship service each week. VIDEO OF WORSHIP: Cable Channel 98 or 987 Sun 5:30 PM; M-T 8 AM & Noon (Link to video also available on our website or Facebook page) OFFICE HOURS PASTORAL OFFICE HOURS: Generally 9:00-12:00 Tue BUSINESS OFFICE HOURS: 8:00-12:00 Mon Thu TELEPHONE/FAX: Office@OCPChurch.com or Pastor@OCPChurch.com WEB: Visit us on Facebook: Oakland-Cambridge Presbyterian Church You're Invited What: Pancake Breakfast When: Saturday, August 6 th 8:00 to 11:00 AM (Maxwell Street Weekend) Where: Fellowship Hall Volunteers Needed! (see Notes on page 4)