Forest Hills Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 May 2015 Monthly Newsletter Forest Hills Presbyterian Church Mark Your Calendar April 30 Silpada Fundraiser 4:00 PM May 3 ACCESS 6 Food Collection Congregational Breakfast 10:30 AM May 9 Kids Night Out 6:00 PM May 16 Mobile Food Truck 8:15 AM May 21 Healing Service 7:00 PM Here is a great article on church growth. How does Forest Hills Presbyterian fit in? Seven Reasons Some Church Members Don t Want Their Churches to Grow. It is highly unusual to hear church members say that they don t desire their churches to be obedient to the Great Commission. Indeed, it is common for the members of a pastor search committee to tell a prospective pastor that they are looking for a leader who will guide the church toward growth. And most church members do desire to see their churches grow... until the growth affects them. It is at that point they can become disillusioned and critical. So what is it about growth that impacts some members negatively? Let me suggest seven reasons. 1. Loss of familiarity. When a church is growing, it becomes a different church over time. The difference is not necessarily good or bad, but it s not the same as it was in earlier years. Some church members grieve when they see their churches change. They miss the good old days. Continued on page 2

2 Seven Reasons (continued) 2. Loss of memories. I recently heard a poignant story from a lady whose church was demolishing the old worship center to build a new one to accommodate growth. She and her husband were married in the old worship center. She understandably grieved at the loss of that physical reminder of their wedding. 3. Loss of comfort. Growth can mean that the closest parking spots are no longer available. Growth can mean that the traffic flow in the parking lot is more difficult. Church members can feel that their creature comforts are compromised by growth. 4. Loss of power. New people in a church can mean that power bases are diluted. The growth can result in new influencers in the church. Some of the longer-tenured influencers may not like that. 5. Loss of perceived intimacy. It s a common response: I used to know everyone in this church. I just don t feel as close to members as I once did. Indeed, growth can mean that all the members may not know each other as they did when the church was smaller. 6. Loss of worship style. New members and attendees might have different worship style preferences. They often influence church leaders to make changes. Existing members may resent these changes. They might also start worship wars. 7. Loss of worship time. Growth in the church may necessitate adding worship services or changing times of worship services. Some members may be frustrated that they have lost their worship time. Obedience to the Great Commission often results in growth in the church. But growth in the church is not always received well by some members. Some of these members have an attitude that the church is there to serve them and to cater to their needs. Healthy church members understand they are to be giving and sacrificial members of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12). They will rejoice when more members join the fellowship, and when more people become believers in Christ. Let me know your thoughts. Shalom, Jim New Members joining! Please help me in welcoming to our family of faith on June 7 th : Sandy Armstrong Melissa Murray; child Caleb Jessica and Scot VanSolkema; child Autumn Brandi Van Leeuwen; husband Bill, children Lydia and Lexi

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7 MISSIONS Kids Hope Mentoring Wrapping up a fantastic second school year of mentoring at Kettle Lake Elementary! Our mentors are making the most out of the last few hours with their students. Thank you for supporting this consistent local mission through donations, prayers and words of encouragement. Take a moment to chat with any of the following mentors who have dedicated their time and hearts to 15 students: Stephanie Barton Mimi Cole Judy Herrick Chris Hull Karrie Kline Lisa Marco Dorothy Mazur Jan Pietrzyk Billy Roberts Audrey Sparks Sharon Stadler Tom Sullivan Jill Tarpinian Jeanne Waller We are already making plans for Fall! I would love to discuss opportunities for you to be involved with Kids Hope. Sheli Langejans, sheli@fhpcusa.org. ACCESS 6 Food Collection Sunday, May 3 The food we give to ACCESS 6 helps individuals/families in crisis in 6 rural townships: Ada, Cascade, Lowell, Caledonia, Vergennes and Bowne. Food is collected the first Sunday of every month, but the ACCESS 6 grocery cart is always available in the coat room area for donations. Some suggestions are: canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, pork and beans, macaroni and cheese, soups, powdered milk, crackers, jams and jellies, peanut butter, and any other non-perishable, packaged foods. Thank you!! Collecting Hygiene Kits: We are collecting hygiene kits now through May 10. Below is a list of some suggested items. Please place your donations in a gallon or quart-sized Ziploc bag and drop them in the container in the Narthex labeled: Hygiene Kit Donations. These kits will be sold for $2 when we serve at the Mobile Food Pantry on Saturday, May 16. Suggested Items: Toiletry Case Hairbrush Comb Toothpaste Toothbrush Toothbrush Case Shampoo Soap Body Wash Razor Shaving Cream Deodorant Mobile Food Truck: The mobile food truck sponsored by FHPC will be at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, 1205 Grandville Ave., SW on Saturday, May 16, 8:15 10 AM. We need volunteers to unload food in the truck and set up for distribution. We will be distributing baked goods, produce and some dairy products. There will be some clean up after the distribution is finished. We welcome families to come and serve. Sign up on our website, Kids Food Basket: A group of 10 volunteers is needed to help pack Sack Suppers at Kids Food Basket, 2055 Oak Industrial Pkwy., on the second Monday of each month from 12 to 1 PM. This month s date is May 11. Please sign up on the Missions slat wall in the Narthex.

8 Parish Nurse Newsletter Temple Triathlon! Are you finding this helpful? Have you felt how healthy eating affects how well you feel? Sunday, April 26 marked the two week mark, already!! I am excited to announce the winner with the highest number of points for this two week period. The first of our three prizes goes to Nancy Ryskamp. She won a fifty dollar gift certificate to Dick s Sporting Goods! Congratulations, Nancy, for your commitment to the Temple Triathlon Healthy Living Activities. Please continue to turn in your weekly points, either by to me at parishnurse@fhpcusa.org, or by jotting your points down on a note and placing it in the Black Point Pail on the desk in my office. The next two week prize will be a gift certificate to Harvest Health Foods! The points for this two week period need to be turned in by Sunday, May 10 at noon to compete for the prize! Thank you!! Thank you!! To all who attempted and donated blood to the blood drive!! You have greatly helped a person in need of the lifesaving gift of blood! We started out the morning with twelve people signed up, and ended the morning with twenty-five people registering to give and twenty who were able to! Thank you for helping meet our goal!! Shalom, Nancy PRAYER CONCERNS In Medical Facilities Don Breckenridge (Heartland Health Care, 2320 East Beltline, GR 49548, Rm. 604) Recovering at Home Jim Westveld Carol Hordyk (hip surgery) In Retirement Facilities Ed Hordyk, Porter Hills (inoperable cancer) JoAnn Strayhorn (Sunrise Assisted Living) Barbara Sjoerdsma (Clark Retirement) Eleanor Vollwiler (Maple Creek) Other Jeff Sauter, (relative of Sandy Armstrong), cancer Richard Weirick (Marilee Chamberlain s father), cancer Ed Gerger, in Porter Hills under Hospice care Kevin Ayres (son of Bev Ayres), lost job. Walt White (Don Brown s brother), cancer Julie Caris, diagnosed with breast cancer. Prayers for a son, for continued sobriety. Vicki (friend of Bruce & Leslie Bonney s), undergoing chemo for breast cancer Members of our Armed Forces Christina Hindley (friend of Anita Brocker), inoperable cancer. Gabbi, Granddaughter of Larry and Renee Donovan. (Gabbi suffers from Congenital Ullrich Muscular Dystrophy.)

9 ANNOUNCEMENTS Healing Service Offered On Thursday evening, May 21, 7:00 PM, we will offer a healing service for anyone wishing to come and worship, be anointed for healing, offer prayers for one another and our world. If you would like to offer or receive prayers for healing for our world, our church, a friend, relative or you, please come and worship with us for this special time of scripture, hymns and prayers. Silpada Fundraiser for FHPC Youth Mission Trip. Thursday, April 30, 4:00 7:00 PM at Leslie DeJong s home. Come join the party, try on new spring looks, find an earring mate, have your jewelry polished/cleaned, share a laugh and help the Youth get to NYC where they will help others in need! Phone/Online orders accepted through 5/3. Call Leslie DeJong. Preschool Summer Camp is Now Enrolling! Ages 3-6 (must have turned 3 by Dec. 1, 2014 and be potty trained). Two sessions are offered: #1 May 18-21, Fantastical Fantasies Week Meet mermaids, pirates, princesses, giants, fairies and more! #2 May 26-29, A Year in a Week An entire year of seasonal fun wrapped into 4 days! Enrollment Forms available at the welcome desk in the Narthex. Call the preschool for more information: Save the Date...Save Your Rummage. As you spring clean, don t forget to set aside items for our Annual Rummage Sale, scheduled for Saturday, October 3, More information will be available as the date draws near. If you require storage or have questions, please contact Reggie Harris or Kathy Cunningham.

10 CALENDAR Wednesday, April 29 6:00 PM Genelefe Assoc. / Bread House 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Sanctuary 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Choir Room Thursday, April 30 4:00 PM Silpada Fundraiser / 3324 Buckhaven Dr. 6:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 345 / Fellowship Hall Friday, May 1 Saturday, May 2 Sunday, May 3 ACCESS 6 Food Collection Communion Served by Intinction 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary Children, Pre-K-4 th, are dismissed TRU Worship 10:30 AM Congregational Breakfast / Fellowship Hall Monday, May 4 10:00 AM Program Staff Meeting / Lounge 11:00 AM All Staff Meeting / Lounge Tuesday, May 5 5:00 PM Missions / Lounge 6:30 PM Session / Bread House Wednesday, May 6 7:45 AM Men s Breakfast / The Gathering Place 6:00 PM Pub Theology / Gravel Bottom Brewery 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Sanctuary 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Choir Room Thursday, May 7 6:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 345 / Fellowship Hall 6:15 PM Worship Band Rehearsal / Sanctuary Friday, May 8 Saturday, May 9 6:00 PM Kids Night Out / Core Sunday, May 10 Mother s Day 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary Children, Pre-K-4 th, are dismissed TRU Worship 10:45 AM Education Hour / Cancelled Monday, May 11 10:00 AM Program Staff Meeting / Lounge 12:00 PM Kids Food Basket / 2055 Oak Industrial Pkwy 6:30 PM Boy Scout Committee / Room 26 Tuesday, May 12 Wednesday, May 13 9:00 AM Health Ministries / Parish Nurse Office 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Sanctuary 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Choir Room Thursday, May 14 6:30 PM Preschool Graduation / Sanctuary Friday, May 15 Saturday, May 16 8:15 AM Mobile Food Truck / 1205 Grandville Ave SW Sunday, May 17 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary Children, Pre-K-4 th, are dismissed TRU Worship 10:45 AM Education Hour & Engage/ Lower Level 4:00 PM Jr. High Youth Group / Core 6:00 PM Sr. High Youth Group / Core Monday, May 18 Summer Camp 10:00 AM Program Staff Meeting / Lounge 7:00 PM Finance Committee / Lounge Tuesday, May 19 Summer Camp 7:00 PM Board of Deacons / Room 26 Wednesday, May 20 7:45 AM Men s Breakfast / The Gathering Place Summer Camp 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Sanctuary 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Choir Room Thursday, May 21 Summer Camp 6:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 345 / Fellowship Hall 7:00 PM Healing Service / Sanctuary Friday, May 22 Saturday, May 23 Sunday, May 24 - Pentecost 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary Children, Pre-K-4 th, are dismissed TRU Worship Monday, May 25 Memorial Day Office Closed Tuesday, May 26 Summer Camp