Pastor s Page. God looked down at the world, grinned and rubbed his clouds together.

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1 Rev. Diarmuid O Hara or (H) July 2009 The mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bainbridge is to serve God s community and grow in faith as we learn, express and share God s love in the encouragement and support of children, families and our local schools. Pastor s Page God looked down at the world, grinned and rubbed his clouds together. Tiny as it was in his huge, unending universe, somehow this planet known as Earth fascinated him. Time and time again, though there was much more that God s attention could have been on much more that he could have devoted his time and energy toward the Lord gazed at Earth. As though in a trance, he would wave his clouds and new beings were brought to life, or blew out of his invisible mouth and storms raced across the earth, or waved the clouds over part of the planet and beautiful, calm weather covered an area. There was much that occurred, much that the beings responded to, and much that nature caused to happen. But all was closely watched by God. He scowled at some things, smiled at others, and on a few occasions even laughed. Watching a world that he had created was a 24/365 for the Lord. Well, actually 303. Summer had arrived! And that meant two months 62 days to ease up on caring about the human beings. Although taking a quick look at them every so often, God basically figured that most anything could wait until the fall. Ten months a year was enough. July and August, as many of the humans called that time of the year, was a good time, as God saw it, to look about at other parts of the universe and place his attention on various things that had little to do with Earth. I can do without watching People, God said to himself. Then, in an afterthought, he mumbled, Actually, they can t do without me. A long pause. Ah! So be it. I don t need them; they ll just have to wait! With that, the Lord made a grand sweep with his right cloud, turning away from Earth and heading out into infinity. For two whole months the Lord ignored Earth and all the people, animals and things that were on it. As he saw it, everything would be the same when he returned in the fall season. Yet, each year when this occurred God was always surprised to see that, when he returned, things were not the same. A lot, both good and bad, had happened while he was away. Each time as he thought about it, God realized that things would be different if he had paid attention to what was going on. Still, though, every year he turned and went away when July arrived. Thank goodness that it was only God who chose to ignore the people. At least the people did not turn their backs. Lord, Lordy! Can you imagine what it might be like were it the people who turned their backs on God during summer were it people who figured that worshipping God could wait until fall?

2 Happy Birthday for July July 5 Charlotte Cole 9 Ken Green 9 Susan Pixley 11 Evelyn Baker 13 Sherry Palmatier 14 Eli Kelly 15 Kristen Winn 16 Ethan Beames 21 Daniel Nages 21 Sarah Cannistra 24 Terri Volkert 25 Don Phelps 26 Betty Knight 27 Jaclyn Reynolds 27 Jennifer Beames 29 Ed Colburn 29 Lorrie Herron 29 Judy Volkert 29 Barbara Renton 30 Lindsay Barnhart 30 Mary Ellen Whitmore 31 Trent Thornton 31 Sara Balmos Wedding Anniversaries for July July 1 Paul & Judith Niles 1 Don & Robin Robertson 8 Lynn & Tim Thomas 23 George & Carolyn Williams Ushers for July July 5 Paul & Dorian Cliffe 12 Vince & Kathy Taylor 19 Carrie Higley & Jaclyn Reynolds 26 Bruce & Chris Cumming Greeters for July July 5 Helen Caffee & Karen Roszkowski 12 George & Paula Gifford 19 The Nages Family 26 Sandy DuMond & Mary Ellen Whitmore Communion Servers for July Splinters from Session Session met on June 9th and... Opened with prayer Had Rev. Sue Goodin, our COM liaison as a guest to help us think through our finances and get to know us Elected Mary Ellen Whitmore as commissioner to the June 16 Presbytery Assembly meeting Voted to send $150 from Mission money to the Foster s in Florida to help with adoption expenses. Flyers available for others in the congregation to help too Had devotions shared by Marlene Barnhart Voted to have proceeds from the BBQ go to the general fund Approved building use for 50th anniversary party on July 18 Voted to have summer worship and picnic held locally, not at Oquaga Park, on July 26th Adjourned at 8:45 PM to meet next on August 11 Ushers for August Aug. 2 Linda Noble & Judy Volkert 9 Billy Holden & James O Hara 16 John & Ann Baier 23 Tim & Lynn Thomas 30 Zach Nages & Jared Barnhart Greeters for August Aug. 2 Marty & Evelyn Baker 9 Joe & Eileen Bianchi 16 Don & Robin Robertson 23 Paul & Judy Niles 30 Roger, Marlene & Lindsay Barnhart Communion Servers for August Marlene Barnhart, *Roger Barnhart, Phillip Darling, Dorian Bunting-Cliffe If you cannot fill your Sunday, please find someone to change with. *Indicates home communion server for the month. *Mary Ellen Whitmore, Roxie Holden, Doreen Laing, Bruce Cumming

3 Financial Picture: Continuing our practice to keep you informed - Actual receipts in May $4, Actual operating expense in May $6, Please keep your church pledge up to date during the summer months Spiritual Nurture Committee There will be no Spiritual Nurture Committee meeting this month. Summer Worship Time Change Our summer worship services from July 5 th to September 6 th will be held at 10am Adult Choir Adult Choir will take a break for the summer. Thank you to Paula Gifford, Bert Banks, Evelyn Baker, Anita Schmitz, Judy Niles, Bill Smith, Diarmuid O Hara, Tim Thomas, Dorian Bunting-Cliffe, Diane & Rick Bunting, Paula Banks, & Jean Schlafer for using your talents to praise God and lead our congregation in worship of our Lord. Have a restful summer! See you in the fall. Outdoor Services We will have outdoor services on July 26 th & August 16 th in the church backyard. Bring a lawn chair and come enjoy worship in the great outdoors! Church Website Have you checked out the pictures on church s website lately? We re almost at 2000 visitors! The web address is: If you see any errors or have anything you would like listed on the site please contact Cheryl Nages cnages@stny.rr.com

4 Children s Sunday Follow Up The Children s Sunday Service was a great way to end our Sunday School year. Thanks to all of the children who participated in the service and all of the adults who helped out! Tannar & May Cliffe provided piano music, Jillian Cannistra & Kori Thornton were ushers, Lindsey Barnhart led us in prayer, Brandon Scherhauffer was our liturgist, Sara & Jillian Cannistra, Kisten & Cordel Vandermark, Kori & Trent Thornton, Maya & Tanner Cliffe, Brandon & Devon Scherhauffer, Emily Nages and Lindsay Barnhart delighted us with their songs, and Emily & Zachary Nages, Taylor Cannistra, Marissa Thornton and Jared Barnhart provided a fun offertory. Be sure to look at all the great pictures on the church website. Congratulations to the following Sunday School Children who received attendance pins for the Sunday School Year: Tannar & Maya Cliffe, Marissa Thornton, Kisten, Cordel & Corben Vandermark, Kori & Trent Thornton & Emily Nages. We look forward to seeing all of the children at Vacation Bible School in August. THANKS! A very special thanks to everyone who helped out with Children s Sunday School this year: Evelyn Baker, Marlene Barnhart, Chris Cumming, Eileen Bianchi, Diane & Rick Bunting, Robin Cannistra, Dorian Cliffe, Paula Gifford, Carrie Higley, Betsy & Bobby Holden, Cheryl Nages, Judy Niles, Linda Noble, Anne O'Hara, Karen Roszkowski, Bonnie Scherhaufer, Anita Schmitz, Chris Thornton, & Carolyn Williams. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 2 Corinthians 9: Sunday School Coordinator The Spiritual Nurture Committee is looking for Cheryl Nages is stepping down after 8 years of seractivities. Please prayerfully consider using your have about 15 children grade 5 and younger that could be tailored to fit your specific talents & skills. Cheryl will be available to help guide anyone who please contact any member of the Spiritual Nurture Committee. someone to work as Sunday School Coordinator. vice to focus her time and attention on youth group gifts for the education of our youngest disciples. We need your guidance. The format of Sunday school The curriculum has already been ordered and is interested. If you would like more information Graduate Bibles This year we were pleased to present personalized bibles to graduating seniors Carrie Safford & Tyler Butler as well as exchange student Zane Foott. Worship was followed by a special coffee hour in their honor. Best of luck to these young adults! Outdoor Service July 26 On Sunday July 26th we will have an outdoor service here at our church in the backyard with a picnic to follow. Remember... Worship will be at 10:00 AM. Bring your lawn chair and a dish to pass. Table service, meat and beverages will be provided.

5 Renewable Energy Hungrhearts editor, Tammy Wiens Even without paying close attention to the media coverage it s nearly impossible to escape notice of all the consideration given to being green. From print to broadcast to Internet news, scarcely a day goes by without mention of clean energy, greenhouse gasses, buying organic, eating local, recycling, or some new plan to reduce our carbon footprint. Every publication from Sojourners magazine to The New York Times is writing about being green. As people of faith we can enter into the conversation from a perspective that is spiritually motivated even if we don t fully comprehend or appreciate the rhetoric of big business and oil companies, environmentalists and conservationists, celebrities and head of state. Being overwhelmed by the politics or economics - or, for that matter, the science - of being green, does not need to diminish our imagination for all the ways we might green up our spiritual practices. Not that we should choose ignorance over a more serious effort to understand global warming, mountaintop removal, nonrenewable fossil fuels, and the like. But if none of these inconvenient truths have claimed your attention, then consider going green for purely spiritual reasons. The best strategy for finding the point at which green practices and spiritual practices intersect is to begin at the beginning, Begin with Genesis - with the goodness of all God created. The politicians, scientists, and journalists who promote support for this or that solution often begin by looking at the problems. Then they startle us with the clear and present danger that will result should we refuse to curb our uses and abuses of the earth s resources. A spiritual approach, however, doesn t begin with the problem. It begins with the knowledge of, and love for, our Creator and all creation. Genesis paints an exquisite portrait of all God breathed into being on each of the six days of creation. But the seventh day initiates a most astonishing creation. God creates shabat. Circadian rhythms, plant dormancy, life cycles, hibernation, the need for sleep... These are some of the outcomes of God s seventh-day design. God creates rest. Sabbath honors the necessary wisdom of dormancy. If certain plant species, for example, do not lie dormant for winter, they will not bear fruit in the spring. If this continues for more than a season, the plant begins to die. If dormancy continues to be prevented the entire species will die. A period of rest - in which nutrition and fertility most readily coalesce - is not simply a human psychological conve- nience; it is a spiritual and biological necessity. Wayne Muller, Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives. It kinda makes me wonder how much greener our lives would be if we intentionally recovered a spiritual practice of Sabbath keeping. By simply following the sacred rhythm God set out for us at creation, we would find healing for our soul as well as healing for the earth. What if we were to imitate the Jewish tradition of Shabbat in which we refrain from all use of technology for a 24-hour period each week? What if we only went places that were within walking distance on Sundays? What if we unplugged every appliance in our homes for the better part of a day? Without a doubt we d reduce our carbon footprint, but think too of our reduced stress, our improved physical health, and our spiritual well-being! Most of us are not ready for such a radical conversion, but we could take simpler steps toward a recovery of Sabbath practices. God knows it won t be easy. That s probably why God listed remember to keep the Sabbath among the Ten Commandments instead of leaving resting up[ to our discretion. Initially, we may wonder what to do with our day if we re not catching up on work. But in time, the Spirit will feed our imagination for how best to enjoy Sabbath. Oh, sure, we ll go back to work on Monday and more than likely resort to the habit of running ourselves ragged all week long, but we ll do so with a new awareness of the rest that awaits us. And while we rest, all of creation rests too. That s what I call renewable energy. HERSHEY PARK, HERE WE COME! On Wednesday, July 22 all youth, middle school, high school and church members are invited to join in the fun of a day trip to Hershey Park. Please contact the following people for more information (and watch the web site): Anne O Hara, , Cheryl Nages or Pastor O Hara

6 Minute for Mission from the 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study United Kingdom and Ireland In August 2002, Whitehouse Presbyterian Church suffered an arson attack amid ongoing sectarian tensions in North Belfast. The sanctuary burned to the ground. Though no one has ever been charged, all indicators pointed to youth from a nearby Catholic/Republican district, carrying out what they would have viewed as a revenge attack for damage done to their side some month earlier by individuals from a nearby Protestant/Loyalist area. With the help of many others, not least their neighboring Roman Catholic parishes, the Whitehouse congregation raised funds to rebuild, and the sanctuary reopened in February Today, one of the weekly activities in the new structure is a Friends and Neighbors club for those over 50 - including many from that same Catholic/Republican district. As those divided by decades of sectarian tension meet to drink coffee, play Bocca, and share a meal, they are also restoring trust. Likewise, youth from Whitehouse and youth from St. Bernard s Roman Catholic Church, which was burned down two years before Whitehouse, took part in a Kairos program designed to enable young people to be creative peacemakers and builders for the future. Neither the older nor the younger people view justice as getting revenge for something that has happened to them. For them, doing justice is about rebuilding right relationships and making sure that the future can be different from the past. Prayer Reconciling God, we pray for all those who by refusing to be controlled by the past do justice as they help to build your new future. May we also be given the courage to respond to injury by reaching out across divisions to foster right relationships. Amen Bar Be Qu Thanks Many thanks to all who helped with our annual Brooks Bar be Qu fundraiser. Many hands helped prepare salads, beans as well as helped serve / sell chicken. We sold 425 halves of chicken and over 200 side dishes. A profit of $ was made, which will go directly into our general operating fund. Thanks again! Vacation Bible School 09 Son Rock Kids Camp Calling all students entering K - 9th grade! July from 6-8 PM an outdoor adventure camp like no other, where children will learn how their lives can be transformed by God s great love for them. A light supper will be served at 5:30 PM in the backyard of our church and we will join in the sanctuary at 6:00 PM for opening worship. A free will offering will betaken each night to go toward our VBS mission project of helping to rebuild the Greenlawn Elementary School playground. We still need Camp Counselors for VBS to escort children from one location to another. Please contact Marlene Barnhart if you can help in any way at or mbarnhart4@stny.rr.com. The following items are needed for VBS. If you could help in donating/lending any of these items it would be greatly appreciated. Be sure to label your items if you want them returned. 2 pool noodles whistle 2 beach balls of different colors Rope... LOTS of rope 2 large foam balls 1 soccer ball 2 high pressure water guns 2 buckets 2 large sponges Various artificial Christmas trees 4+ large fans