The renewal of your mind

Transcription

1 F I R S T U N I T E D P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H N A M P A, I D A H O N O V E M B E R Inside this issue: Financial News 2 Session Highlights 2 Presbyterian History 3 Christian Education 3 Birthdays & Anniversaries 4 New Members 5 Presbyterian Women 5 Directory Update 6 The renewal of your mind Dear Friends, I am one of those that believes we act according to how we perceive the world and its future. Even when the world shows itself to be quite contrary to our conclusions, we still insist on our conclusions. So the optimist lives according to their worldview as does the pessimist. A died in the wool Republican or Democrat can refuse to look at any alternative view. There is a reason that undergirds their conclusion which may or may not be consistent with the world of reality. We see this same pattern played out in marriages. One spouse assumes the other will behave according to their perspective. What a surprise there is when viewpoints collide. Certainly we see this same pattern played out in churches. Only in churches as in died in the wool Republicans/Democrats we sometimes listen to our own perspectives rather than God s. In fact, we baptize our conclusions and expect the remainder of the church to conform. The Apostle Paul spoke to this when he said, Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. (Romans 12:2) Perspectives come from faith. Faith is what we believe. Biblical faith is different from simply what we believe. Biblical faith is informed by the Bible which challenges through the life of Jesus to live transformed from the world s values rather than conformed. God in Jesus Christ comes into the midst of whatever is happening in life and challenges twisted perspectives with a particular perspective of faith. This perspective reverses our first response to become uninvolved to acting with a deep concern for the other person(s). Recently we have seen the opposite occur. The stock market fell and the investments of the future have been threatened. The bailouts came and we still saw at least one business respond with incredible insensitivity with a half a million dollar weekend lavish training for its employees. When all this happens people get angry and lose trust. A colleague wrote recently the stock market represents misappropriating the prosperity with which we have been blessed. (Those in charge should) account for our failure to honor the obligation of Christian stewardship, which includes shunning ostentation, caring for the creation and giving out of gratitude to God. The Idaho Press Tribune recently had an article in which Lynn Hoffman, executive director of the Boise-based Idaho Nonprofit Center speculated on concern nonprofits have (Continued on page 4) Worship Lessons November 2 All Saints Day 2 Peter 1:3-15 Who in the world were they? November 9 Jeremiah 1:1-10 Old Testament: The Biblical Symbol of Coming of Age November 16 Luke 12:41-48 New Testament: The Biblical Coming of Age November 23 Psalm 95:1-7 Doing it!!! November 30 Christ the King Sunday Matthew 16:13-20 C mon, who are you really?

2 Page 2 General Fund Financial Activity September 30 Anticipated Receipts toward budgeted expenses this month $16,725 Anticipated Receipts toward budgeted expenses year-todate $150,525 Actual Receipts this month for budget $12,616 Actual Receipts year-to-date $152,068 Expenses this month $12,716 Expenses year-to-date $144,919 Session Highlights from September 22 meeting November 12 Office Hours Monday - Wednesday, Friday 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Thursday 12:30-4:30 pm A conditional use permit has been issued to our church by Nampa Planning and Zoning Department. This is necessary before we consider altering our building in any way. Switches on timers will be installed in the handicap access bathrooms. The nominating committee is at work. Respectfully submitted, Sally Moore, Clerk of Session Friday is the Pastor s day off Office office@firstpresnampa.org Pastor s balaams@firstpresnampa.org Website: Phone: (208) Fax: (208) Thank you to those who assembled the last issue of The Link: Cathy Barrette, Dorothy Fox & Gwen Sample. Too many Thanksgivings? May your stuffing be tasty, May your turkey be plump, May your potatoes and gravy Have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious, May your pies take the prize. May your holiday meals Stay off your thighs. -via Lowell Yoder, Holland, OH The Joyful Noiseletter

3 Loving God with all your mind (This is the first of a monthly column in the Link which will explore understanding Presbyterianism. This first column explores John Calvin and the following will explore Reformed Theology as presented in the Institutes of the Christian Religion.) It is about time to celebrate John Calvin s birthday. He was born July 10, 1509 in France. Our national church is beginning the beginning of the celebration in October. So let s begin. Calvin is credited as the founder of the Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Faith. The reformed faith is the primary expression of the faith of the Reformation. The Institutes of the Christian Religion is the book that Calvin wrote the first time in It was a small book that reflected on the relevant questions of the time. The purpose was to give lay people an opportunity to understand theology of the Protestant Church. This book was rewritten every few years until in 1559 the book was printed and the six chapters from the first edition had become eighty chapters. Calvin s father dreamed that his son would be a lawyer. He was sent to school accordingly. but Calvin had some kind of sudden conversion experience in 1533 or 34 in which he abandoned the superstitions of Page 3 the Papacy (the Roman Catholic Church of the time). As a convert Calvin identified his gifts as those of a scholar. In 1536 on his way to a retreat where he was going to continue to write and develop an understanding of Protestant faith, he traveled through Geneva. Guillaume Farel was the leader of the Reformation in Geneva, but recognized Calvin s skill and asked him to stay. Calvin tried to pass and Farel said to Calvin that he would go to Hell unless he stayed for Geneva was a call to Calvin. Calvin thought about it and stayed. He never became a member of the city council with the challenge from Farel to reform the city. The remainder of his life was spent answering Farel s call. Remember Calvin wasn t the single supporter of this new movement called Protestantism. Martin Luther is credited as initiating the Reformation, but there were many others who contributed such as Martin Bucer, Phillip Malancthon, Ulrich Zwingli, Henry Bullinger, and others. These men fought three fronts: the Catholics, the Secularists, and the heretics. It was in this context that our church began. What it stood for next month. -Bruce Swanson Variety of activities for our kids It is that time of year when we need to start thinking about the holiday season. I will put forward a better effort to keep a calendar up to date in the back hallway. Please check for information and watch for notes coming home as events and activities are scheduled. We will continue our First Friday Activity Night. In October, we watched a movie and made caramel apples. November is yet to be determined, but sure to be a good time. If you haven t attended yet, come out for an evening with friends. Activities begin at 6:00 pm and are wrapped up around 8:00 pm. Dalton Maritt has volunteered to help with whatever activity is going on. We are very grateful for his time. Rehearsal for the December Christmas Pageant will begin before you know it. Please remember that auditions and rehearsals take place during the Sunday School hour from 9:00 to 10:00 am. If your kids would like to be in the program, please make an effort to have them regularly attend Sunday School. This will really help Nancy Howell and Anne Curran who have gracious agreed to direct another performance. Plans are being made for another fun trip to the Retirement Homes for Christmas Caroling. Sean will once again play and lead our musical selections. Thanks for your continued help and support of our Sunday School and youth programs. Keep the children in your prayers as plans and programs are in the workings. Faithfully, Rona Peterson Laughter is an instant vacation. -Milton Berle, The Joyful Noiseletter

4 Page 4 Known November Birthdays 11/02 Jack Baker 11/02 Melva Redding 11/04 Gerard Baker 11/05 Art Carlson 11/05 Brent Rowland 11/06 Roger Fisk 11/08 Amanda Brumbaugh 11/08 Tara Rowland 11/11 Ina Sano 11/12 Tom Borer 11/12 Dorlene Gaines 11/13 Ken Sano 11/14 Pat Carlson 11/17 Nancy Howell 11/19 Ahmad Golrangi 11/19 Paul Ryan 11/28 Virginia Allen Known November Anniversaries 11/05/76 Chuck & Donna Bowlus 11/07/54 Marvin & Mary Ann Huter 11/16/91 Tom & Julie Reed 11/19/52 Jerry & Jean Agnew 11/22/03 Larry & Wanda Yellen 11/23 Dick & Janet Stellway 11/27/74 Herb & Pat Carlson 11/28/52 John & Karla Krommenhoek 11/28/58 Rodney & Sally Moore God s memory lapse Our memory bank can churn up some bad stuff occasionally. There you are, not quite asleep, when suddenly a past sin pays a painful visit. The ugly details of bad decisions and actions can leave our spirit in a shambles. How should we handle this haunting problem? First, we need a visit with God, who knows just how to deal with our painful memories. He has a unique ability to forgive and forget, if we re sincere in our request for reconciliation. As Micah 7:19 (NRSV) says, God will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Corrie ten Boom had the right idea. She said God buries our sins in the sea and puts a sign on the bank saying, No fishing allowed! After we accept God s forgiveness, we must forgive ourselves and move on into the future God has for us. Paul s words to the Philippians are relevant for Christians struggling with past sins: One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14, NRSV). The Newsletter Newsletter The renewal of your mind (Continued from page 1) for this next year, It s the same kind of concern you hear in the general economy. People are afraid of what they don t know. This is still in the fear stage. Most (fears) haven t been realized. There isn t an actual reportable downturn in overall dollars raised. We don t know yet. In response, people hold tight to their money and giving decreases. This is not a congregation that has conformed to that trend; you have been most generous. As a church we are approaching stewardship again. It is an issue for us all year long, but in particular we focus on it once a year so that we can plan. We ask people to estimate what they will be able to do this next year so that the most responsible plan for spending might be organized. One of the perspectives I live with is how fortunate I am to be living under your care. This has been a great place for Debbie and me. As a church I think we have done some good things and I believe my perspective we are on the verge of doing more my problem is I just don t know what it will be, but it is my hope it will be done in the context of our call to this community of Nampa and the Treasure Valley. When the time comes I ask that you pray and consider your estimate. We are living in an exciting if not chaotic time. I remember the question for me of the 1960 s was, are we breaking down or breaking open? My perspective we are breaking open to some unique faith decisions that God is bringing to us to guide our future.

5 Meet some of our new members Kip Winter I am delighted to join the congregation. I've recently retired and returned to my roots to be near my brother, sister, cousins and dear old friends. In recent years, I've been part of a handbell choir, greeting ministry and older singles groups at church. My previous church was Alderwood Community Church in Lynnwood, WA. I was born in Ontario (nee Karen Peterson) and graduated from Middleton High School and the University of Idaho with a journalism degree. My love of newspapers began in high school when I was a local "correspondent" for the Caldwell paper you may remember the brief columns about neighbors' trips, visitors and achievements? After graduation I worked for the Lewiston Morning Tribune before moving to Iowa, Wisconsin, Long Beach and Monterey, California, and the Seattle area. My two favorite jobs were assistant state editor for the Milwaukee paper and market researcher for The Seattle Times. Along the way I married Max Winter and we raised a son, Warren. He's married and they live in Chicago with their one-year -old son. Since they move more often than I did as a young adult (and certainly more than I want to as a retiree), I chose to live near family and save my nickels and dimes for visits to them. I'm looking forward to making many new friends at First Pres. Page 5 Linda Swanson I was born in Washington, DC and was saved by Billy Graham when I was 13 years old at the San Francisco Cow Palace. Over the years I have been part of a few different denominations baptized Lutheran and also connected with Southern Baptist. I firmly believe in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and that through Jesus Christ we can all be saved. He is our Savior! PW Thank Offering Fall has arrived and PW groups across the nation are getting ready for the annual Thank Offering. It all began in 1888 when Eliza Clokey of Springfield, Ohio suggested a special day of prayer and thanks to God and an extra gift. These gifts saved the mission activity of the day. This year 28 projects have been approved and will receive the Thank Offerings of % will be used for health and medical work and edu- cation. Families, women and children both in the US and the world will benefit. Envelopes are placed on the PW table outside the office door. The dedication will be November 18 at the PW Coordinating Team meeting.. The theme this year is Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Miscellaneous PW projects Thank you to all who continue to bring clothing for the Valley Crisis Center. The boxes under the PW bulletin board keep filling! A thank you note has arrived thanking all for the Campbell labels and box tops sent to Menaul School. This is a continuing project, and labels and tops may be placed in the envelope attached to the PW bulletin board. A new PW project is collecting stamps foreign, commemorative, large-sized ones. A retired Presbyterian missionary sends these to a stamp dealer and proceeds go to schools and projects in the Congo. Give them to Ruth Solomon and she will send them to the collector. Generous giving produces rejoicing in one s soul. -David M. Vaughn, The Joyful Noiseletter

6 Page 6 New church directory is published and available at the church Keep ringing the bell The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, is one of America s oldest colleges. A littleknown fact is that this honored institution was closed in 1881 due to the Civil War and a lack of finances. It remained closed for seven years. Yet its president, Benjamin Ewell, never lost hope for the school. In anticipation of the day when the college would re-open and fill with students, he rang its bell every day of those seven years. Christians can maintain this type of persistent hope, too, no matter how bleak our situations look. As Paul writes, we boast in our hope, which does not disappoint us (see Romans 5:2-5, NRSV). The Newsletter Newsletter How do you explain the unexplainable? When we encounter God, or when God encounters us, explaining the experience can be a challenge. We may do so haltingly, with fear that others will misunderstand us or think we re mentally unstable. Paul tried to explain this type of encounter. Yet readers of his mystical experience found in 2 Corinthians 12 may be puzzled. Paul says he was so deep in prayer that he didn t know whether he was in or out of his body. He refers to the exceptional character of the revelations (2 Corinthians 12:7, NRSV). This passage deals with going deep in the Spirit when praying. Mystics, people who patiently make real and vital contact with God, understand the strange spiritual experiences that are possible when deep in prayer. They understand that the unexplainable can t be explained. They can only reveal that they ve related intimately to God. The good news is that you don t need to be an apostle or pastor to experience this close relationship with God. All of us have 24/7 access to our Savior, who longs to hear from us. The Newsletter Newsletter Count your blessings Count your blessings instead of your crosses; Count your gains instead of your losses. Count your joys instead of your woes; Count your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears. Count your full years instead of your lean; Count your kind deeds instead of your mean. Count your health instead of your wealth; Count on God instead of yourself. The Newsletter Newsletter

7 Especially for you from Pastor Bruce Dear children, Time is travelling past us faster than Scooby Doo falling into a deep hole. It feels like you were born yesterday and now you re walking, talking, smiling, going to school, and being a surprise every day as you become more than what you were. You are becoming a human being, you have personality, and I am amazed at you. At the same time you are making decisions about this world into which you have arrived. You are making conclusions about how you operate in this world. For instance in your family you are faced with questions such as: If I ask Mom to buy me a toy will she or should I ask Dad and skip Mom? Is there a way I can get my brother or sister in trouble? How do I get away with not eating this thing Mom cooked for dinner? There are those of us around you trying to help you in this world of yours. You must have more questions: Why do we go to church? Why do they send me to Sunday School? What was Bruce trying to say when I went up in front of the church? Who are these people sitting in the pews anyway? When do we get to the cookies? And then there is the rest of the world into which you have been born: What is this voting thing? Why does my Dad/Mom get so excited talking about these candidates? What is a financial disaster does it mean I won t get my toy? There are things around us that need our attention. As Christians we need to be sensitive to the world, but Jesus said, Don t become the world. Jesus was saying that you are unique and part of your existence is to become a more caring individual in this world to do things in the ways that Jesus did to not become like others but to be the person that God has called you to be Today, remember again, you are unique and special. There is no one like you. God has a special purpose for you. The first purpose is to enjoy God. The second is to know you are a child of God and because of this God has a plan for you. Bible Verse of the Month You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14

8 Known November Birthdays 11/2... Liam Barrett 11/10... Lucas Schamber 11/16... Shania Schrick 11/17... Dalton Maritt 11/27... Parker Hendrix First Friday Activity Night November 7 6:00-8:00 pm for grades 1-8 Bible Quiz Jesus teaches us to share what he has given us with others in need. Each Sunday you may bring an offering to Sunday School which will be sent to Life for Children, an organization helping children in Brazil. Isaiah, a spokesman for God, looked for the Messiah to come from a certain family. He wrote: A shoot shall come out from the stump of, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:1-3, NRSV). From whom did Isaiah say the Messiah would come? A. Adam B. Noah C. Samson D. Jesse Answer: D

9 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 9:00a Sunday School 9:10a Chancel Choir 10:00a Worship 9 9:00a Sunday School 9:10a Chancel Choir 10:00a Worship 7:30p Robyn Wells concert 3 2:00p Bible Study at SunBridge 7:00p Deacons 7:00p Boy Scouts 10 9:00a Worship Committee 7:00p Boy Scouts 4 5 9:00a Bulletin deadline 4:30p JuBELLant Rngrs 5:45p Koinonia Bells 6:30p TGIW-Trinity Luth. 7:15p Chancel Choir Link deadline 9:00a Bulletin deadline 4:30p JuBELLant Rngrs 5:45p Koinonia Bells 6:30p TGIW-Trinity Luth. 7:15p Chancel Choir 6 6:45p SWW 13 10:00a Brunch Bunch 6:45p SWW 7 6:00p Activity Night Grades :30 p Movie Night Star Chambers :00a Sunday School 9:10a Chancel Choir 10:00a Worship 17 Community Shelter Meal 2:00p Bible Study at SunBridge 7:00p Boy Scouts 18 10:00a PWCT 19 9:00a Bulletin deadline 4:30p JuBELLant Rngrs 5:45p Koinonia Bells 6:30p TGIW-Trinity Luth. 7:15p Chancel Choir Set up for Thanksgiving Dinner 23 9:00a Sunday School 9:10a Chancel Choir 10:00a Worship 11:15a Thanksgiving Dinner 24 9:00a Bulletin deadline 7:00p Session 7:00p 3 C s Bible Study 7:00p Boy Scouts :30p JuBELLant Rngrs 5:45p Koinonia Bells 6:30p TGIW-Trinity Luth. 7:15p Chancel Choir st Sunday Advent 9:00a Sunday School 9:10a Chancel Choir 10:00a Worship

10 September September October October October Set your clocks back 1 hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 1. F I R S T U N I T E D P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H 400 Lake Lowell Avenue Nampa, ID PASTOR: Bruce D. Swanson RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Nampa, ID Permit No. 180 If this publication is no longer needed, please notify the church office.