With you in this life with God,

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Jonah Strickland
5 years ago
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I grew up a church kid. I had Sunday School attendance stars and sang in the King s Kids Choir. I was in the youth group, went through confirmation, and served on mission trips.

Some from CPC, others from other area churches, lots of church kids. This is a good thing! VBS is a time for intensive faith formation that s different from Sunday School.

God s love is really for me. But year s VBS has me thinking about how the church s ministry isn t just for church kids and, when they grow up, church people.

1 I grew up a church kid. I had Sunday School attendance stars and sang in the King s Kids Choir. I was in the youth group, went through confirmation, and served on mission trips. I played trombone in worship and took part in Vacation Bible School as a kid and as a youth helper. So, I know church kids when I see them, and this year s VBS was filled with church kids. Some from CPC, others from other area churches, lots of church kids. This is a good thing! VBS is a time for intensive faith formation that s different from Sunday School. It strengthens relationships among kids who, we pray, will grow together for years of their lives. Even for church kids, VBS can be a time when it really hits home that Jesus died for me. God s love is really for me. But year s VBS has me thinking about how the church s ministry isn t just for church kids and, when they grow up, church people. The VBS Bible points reveal this: When you are lonely Jesus rescues! When you worry Jesus rescues! When you struggle Jesus rescues! When you do wrong Jesus rescues! When you are powerless Jesus rescues! Our kids connected with loneliness, worry, struggle, having done wrong, and powerlessness, but not because they are church kids. It s because they are just kids who will grow into youth and adults that will live with such things for the rest of their lives, just like those one might call church kids or church people. Those that go to church and those that tend not to have the same soul. Vacation Bible School week often renews a faith conviction for me. This year it s that the gospel isn t just for church people. It s for all people. God s heart isn t bigger for church people, they don t find more favor in God s sight. It s equally large for all people because God doesn t play favorites. Jesus didn t say to go and make disciples of church people but of the nations, which is to say, of all people. If you ve been in worship lately, you may have noticed that our Bible passages from 2 Corinthians and Mark have led us into questions about hope, fear, struggle, helplessness, and limitations. There s a reason for this. Paul, and Jesus before him, proclaimed a message about God s new-making in our basic human situation. To start receiving it, you don t have to be churched, religious, or a certain stripe of person. You just have to be human, like Jesus. Which, as Christ Church renews in vision and mission, causes me to wonder, what would it mean for us to be a church that doesn t exist for church people but for all people with souls, bodies, hearts, and minds that are meant for God s love? Whatever it would come to look like, for sure it would make us a church nearer to the heart of Christ. With you in this life with God,

Faithful Homes and Habits Elizabeth Goodin Children's Ministry Director elizabeth@christpcusa.

2 Faithful Homes and Habits Elizabeth Goodin Children's Ministry Director I don t think that it would surprise anyone to hear that when surveyed, 86% of kids said that their most significant influencers were not teachers, coaches, small group leaders, friends, celebrities or YouTube stars, but their parents. Parents create the home culture that nurtures their children, and they serve as the role models from which their children learn their most significant daily lessons. If you were fortunate enough to be present at our recent Mother s and Father s Day panels, then you heard how the parents at Christ Church embrace their influence, taking the responsibility that comes with it very seriously. To impart in their children a strong sense of self-worth, our panel parents talked about how they strive to show them that their love is not dependent on what their children do but is based in who they are. To teach compassion, thoughtfulness, and respect, parents talked of living it themselves and teaching by example. In teaching faith, the approach was the same. CPC s children learn about God s unconditional love by witnessing and experiencing it in their families. And when teaching how faith shapes a life, our panel parents show it by living it. One dad said that it was in the daily habits. So, what might those daily habits look like? Here is a short list that I ve compiled, and I encourage parents to talk to each other further about what might appear on their own lists. Pray with your children. Pray together at meal time, bedtime, in times of crisis, in times of celebration, about important decisions; pray for them by name. Read the Bible together. Start with a storybook Bible when your children are young and most receptive to a great story, new ideas, and a warm lap. Encourage questions. The Gospel can stand up to scrutiny. Give your children the freedom to ask about what doesn t make sense to them. God will use your conversation to lead you together toward His truth. Serve together. Look for opportunities to serve, and bring your child with you. Your children will learn that valuing others and giving of oneself is part of life in the Kingdom of God. Worship together. Teach your child what to do and why it s important to you. Talk about the big idea at home. Even if your child is only listening second-hand, he ll absorb more than you think. Listen to praise music together. Music speaks on a different level. Give your child the opportunity to hear God through this powerful language. (Hello VBS music!) Point to God in the everyday. Look for God in the faces of others and in the coincidences. Remind your child of their constant companion, and encourage trust and faith. Show how goodness wins. Sometimes parents feel unprepared or unqualified to lead their children spiritually. I believe that the Holy Spirit will guide any small attempts, but for those wanting more tangible help, there are resources and tools available here at church and elsewhere in the form of groups, classes, books, articles, handouts, etc. Of course, the best advice can come from fellow parents. As one CPC mom said, We re all in this together. I certainly can t think of a more caring and faithful group of parents to travel with, can you? May God bless all your parenting journeys.

The main character in this month s book, A Flurry of Worry by Jeff White, is someone our VBS kids have already met.

Beacon is concerned, bothered, anxious, and full of butterflies about his upcoming camping trip.

When Beacon s friends see his overstuffed beak (and heart), they lovingly encourage him to let go of his heavy burdens, and they remind him that

3 The main character in this month s book, A Flurry of Worry by Jeff White, is someone our VBS kids have already met. He is none other than Shipwrecked VBS buddy, Beacon the Toucan, who helped to teach Tuesday s message, When you worry Jesus rescues! Beacon is concerned, bothered, anxious, and full of butterflies about his upcoming camping trip. Anticipating all the What if s, he overfills his beak with provisions, just in case. When Beacon s friends see his overstuffed beak (and heart), they lovingly encourage him to let go of his heavy burdens, and they remind him that the only thing that really matters is being together. Let God do the worrying for you! advises his appropriately-named friend, Hope. We should all have such a friend. Life is full of worries, and most of those are wasted energy. God is strong enough to carry our burdens. What would happen if we just let him?

Thank you VBS Volunteers You were a blessing! You were up before dawn and started your day. You sped off to work as is always the way. But this week is different, there's no time for errands run.

You've got a job to do. The kids are anxious. They can't wait to see what they'll do! VBS starts with the pledges just like when we were young. It's a special part of VBS. Now it really has begun!

They drink a lot of Kool-Aid and play some silly games. Of course, there's the Bible time with lessons from God's Word. These stories teach a lesson that's important to be heard.

4 Thank you VBS Volunteers You were a blessing! You were up before dawn and started your day. You sped off to work as is always the way. But this week is different, there's no time for errands run. The chores at home will have to wait or just go undone. The laundry piles up and so does the dust. Things that are usually important, this week just aren't a must. It's because this week is VBS! You've got a job to do. The kids are anxious. They can't wait to see what they'll do! VBS starts with the pledges just like when we were young. It's a special part of VBS. Now it really has begun! The kids love all the crafts with the glitter, paint, and glue. They love to sing the songs and do the hand motions, too. They love the skits and characters. They know all their names! They drink a lot of Kool-Aid and play some silly games. Of course, there's the Bible time with lessons from God's Word. These stories teach a lesson that's important to be heard. All this makes up Bible School; it's such a busy week. The adults are worn out by Thursday. (Is anyone too tired to speak?) But it's okay that you are tired - you know why you do what you do. It's because of the love of Jesus! Yes, He's the reason, it's true. He gives new life abundantly! He changed your very heart. He loves the children, oh so much. He wants you to be a part. He wants you to love and teach them. He's wants you to plant the seeds. The seeds that become a harvest when these young lives proceed. He asks you to wrap your arms around some very special kids. You see, when the warmth of your arms is felt, He's using your arms as His. -Terri Bordeaux We chose this because we couldn t have said it better.

Cory Fetzer Youth Ministry Director cory@christpcusa.org 330-472-6988 (cell) Christmas in July This month the Fetzer family is expecting a new addition.

And expecting the unexpected is kind of a cool and terrifying thing.

just waiting for something to happen! This season of my life reminds me of Advent, which is a season of expectations and waiting on the coming baby Jesus.

5 Cory Fetzer Youth Ministry Director (cell) Christmas in July This month the Fetzer family is expecting a new addition. Technically the baby is due June 30 but it s currently June 27 and no baby yet, plus our first, Micah, was 8 days late so who knows what s going to happen. And expecting the unexpected is kind of a cool and terrifying thing. If you ve ever had a child or had a friend or family member expecting a new baby you can relate; especially in those final weeks when the carseat is in the car, the go bag is ready and now you re just waiting for something to happen! This season of my life reminds me of Advent, which is a season of expectations and waiting on the coming baby Jesus. We sit, we wait, we re anxious, and we re excited for this good news that is coming to change the world! I m definitely not saying my new baby is any kind of messianic expectation, but this new baby will change our family s world and all of the feelings of a new baby coming are tied closely to the feelings of Advent. Growing up I didn t really understand the concept of Advent in church, I just knew we lit some candles each week until it was Christmas. But now after becoming a parent I really understand the expectancy and waiting that comes along with the final weeks of a pregnancy. There s something beautiful and sacred about this time in life where we re waiting for a new life to emerge, and I love how the church fathers and mothers created Advent to celebrate Jesus life while using those same feelings of excitement and fear that parents remember so fondly. So as my family celebrates our own small advent let s remember the big one that happened a few thousand years ago and how that birth in a barn in Bethlehem changed so many lives and the world. The Fetzer family is getting our own new gift but all of us have received an even better Gift through Jesus that started with His birth and the Advent season. It s never too early to celebrate Christmas!

BIRTHDAYS Sam Bergman 07/02 Jeanette Metcalf 07/02 Jack Rutz 07/02 Jim Metcalf 07/03 Jim Hart 07/04 Lois Toth 07/09 Barbara Van Kampen 07/09 Janet McIntee 07/10 Jack Zimmermann 07/14 Aila Knight

Maclellan 07/31 ANNIVERSARIES Paul & Shari McCaslin 07/01 Dave & Irene Wunderle 07/03 Paul & Trish Lawrence 07/07 Dave & Heidi Starke 07/07 Brad & Sharon Schaeffer 07/09 Howard & Pat Schmies 07/12

please contact: Shari McCaslin at: 440-646-9812 or email pnsmccaslin@windstream.

9 BIRTHDAYS Sam Bergman 07/02 Jeanette Metcalf 07/02 Jack Rutz 07/02 Jim Metcalf 07/03 Jim Hart 07/04 Lois Toth 07/09 Barbara Van Kampen 07/09 Janet McIntee 07/10 Jack Zimmermann 07/14 Aila Knight 07/15 Barbara Bodmer 07/19 Claire Metcalf 07/20 Piper Knight 07/21 Michele Dawson 07/24 Rob Russell 07/24 Gregory Warner 07/24 Chuck Scott 07/27 Jocelyn Chenoweth 07/28 Carolyn Fondrk 07/29 Mike Maclellan 07/31 ANNIVERSARIES Paul & Shari McCaslin 07/01 Dave & Irene Wunderle 07/03 Paul & Trish Lawrence 07/07 Dave & Heidi Starke 07/07 Brad & Sharon Schaeffer 07/09 Howard & Pat Schmies 07/12 Aland & Judi Smith 07/12 Greg & Karena McCandless 07/15 Mike & Cyndie Tropf 07/28 FLORAL ARRANGEMENT If you desire to purchase a special floral arrangement for a Sunday morning worship service, please contact: Shari McCaslin at: or pnsmccaslin@windstream.net COFFEE HOUR If you wish to host a special Sunday morning, Coffee Hour in honor or in celebration of someone, please contact: Amy Rau at: or arau@lincolnelectric.com Church office hours: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Monday - Thursday Contact Information Christ Presbyterian Church Chillicothe Rd. Chesterland, OH Fax: Website: Church Office office@christpcusa.org Pastor Matt's matt@christpcusa.org 2018 OPERATING BUDGET Month Actual Income Actual Expenses Difference (Income Expenses) Jan-May $ 108, $106, $ 1, Reserve as of January 1 st : ($1,488.24) Operating Fund Balance $ Please keep your pledge up to date to support operating budget. 10

Wishing you and our community a joyous Christmas this year,

Wishing you and our community a joyous Christmas this year, In the Bible, angels are God s great inviters. The angel Gabriel invited Zechariah to joy and gladness at the birth of John, and then invited Mary into God s plan to enter the world in a Son. The night