Chasing After Contentment

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 O C T O B E R Inside this issue: Financial News 2 Session /Deacon Highlights Birthdays & Anniversaries 2 3 Thank You 3 Movie Night 3 Harvest Bon Fire 3 Retirement 3 Bell Choir 3 Mission Study Committee Guess Who s Coming to Dinner 4 4 PW Happenings 4 For Kids 5 Chasing After Contentment Dear Friends, It s October and we have been riding down this trail for a long time and I can see the end. My problem is I don t know what it means, except that so much will change when I arrive. This past year has found me whining and complaining a lot. It has been my health issues with my leg and now hip that has caused me to make the most noise. But it is also the winding down of what has been my life. For years I have been helping churches plan their future. a future in which I was involved. Now I have session meetings where our plans are for me to begin to phase out. Life as I have known it is about to come to an end. Chasing after something to hang on to I arrived at some comments Paul makes in the book of Philippians. This book finds him in prison. What was familiar to him which was spreading the gospel throughout the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea area had come to an end. This book finds him jailed in Rome still hoping he would be released in order to take the gospel to Spain. His life in Philippians has taken a dramatic shift. Yet, I don t hear him complaining and whining. Rather he writes this: I m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess happy that you re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don t have a sense of needing anything personally. I ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don t mean that your help didn t mean a lot to me it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. Philippians 4:10-14 The Message I have three months to live into this passage. I have been assured by so many of you that my life will not be over. I have a home, a wife and family here, and a marvelous opportunity to drop everything on any particular day and just go fishing. I ve dreamed about (Continued on page 3) Worship Lessons October 5 October 12 October 19 October 26 World Communion The Bible Old Testament New Testament Reformation Day

2 Page 2 October 24th Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00am -1:00pm Friday is the Pastor s day off Office office@firstpresnampa.org Pastor s balaams@firstpresnampa.org Website: Phone: (208) Fax: (208) Nampa First United Presbyterian Church Purpose Statement To bring people together to love and magnify God through worship, to minister to the needs of all His children, to fellowship in God's family, to spread the Good News, and to develop people to Christ-like maturity for their mission in the world. General Fund Financial Activity As of September 26, 2014 Revenue to date: $138, Expenses to date: $150, Net income: -$11, Building Fund Debt Balance as of August 27, 2014: $82, Balance as of September 26, 2014: $79, Session Highlights September 15, 2014 We met with David Carlson of the Parma Presbyterian church; he gave insights into hiring an interim pastor; The Finance Committee will start working on next year s budget in October; The Swanson farewell party will be January 3; Bruce s last Sunday will be January 4. The Fellowship and Outreach committees will be planning the farewell celebration; Guess Who s Coming to Dinner events have begun; see Cindy Larimer to get in on a dinner! When the Mission Study Committee finishes their report, they will submit it to the Committee on Ministry (Presbytery), and then ask Presbytery for permission to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee. The next meeting will be on October 20th at 7:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Mary Stafford, Clerk of Session Deacons report September 8, 2014 Birthday calls were made and cards were sent during the summer. There was discussion about the Adopt-A-Senior program and Bruce will request a representative from CCOOA to attend a meeting to answer questions. Hope House dinner will be in December and a visitation will be in November. Lee Robinson has taken the responsibility of taking the can tabs to the Ronald McDonald house. The next meeting will be on Monday, October 6th at 7:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Wendy Coons, Secretary

3 Page 3 Known October Birthdays 10/01 Jonica Johnson 10/02 Bud Bennett 10/02 Ita Stam 10/04 Syrita Kuntz 10/08 Peggy Finnin 10/09 Wayne Johnson 10/13 Sharyn Barrett 10/13 Richard Radasch 10/15 Dorothy Fox 10/15 Ray Lance 10/19 Ron Howell 10/21 Royce Batey 10/21 James Greene 10/25 Jeanne Wiebold 10/28 Chuck Anderson 10/30 Mark Larimer 10/31 Nancy DeLong 10/31 Linda Swanson Thank-you to all of the wonderful people who joined in for the barbeque. It was a great get together to start the fall off. A special thanks to each of you who brought fresh vegetables, fruit and side dishes! The food was truly a blessing. The Congregational Life Committee is looking forward to seeing all of you at the upcoming events. Known October Anniversaries 10/04/58 James & Barbara Greene 10/05/84 Shane & Catherine Schamber 10/07/78 Steve & Senita Watkins 10/16/54 Bob & Dorothy Horn 10/17/39 Wayne & Lela Johnson 10/29/49 Bob & Vivian Potter Movie Night - October 18th Movie Night continues on Saturday, October 18th. The movie is And So It Goes and is out on video. We begin with a potluck and continue with discussion. We view the movie at home before we meet at 5:30 PM. If this interests you, go pick up the movie, watch it, and come eat with us. Chasing After Contentment (Continued from page 1) the opportunity, but it will be different when there are no excuses. Trusting God is tough stuff sometimes. For me, I am not really suffering, but I do feel unsure. Yet Paul says it and I would modify it for me, I will be learning to be quite content with whatever my circumstances. Warmly, Harvest Bon Fire Congregational Life Committee is at it again...please join us on Saturday, October 25 th at 5:30pm for a Harvest Bon Fire! We will be meeting at the lot adjacent to the church parking lot. Bring a chair and/or a blanket if you d like. We will be roasting hot dogs, and making Retirement Celebration Be sure to mark your calendars and save the date for Bruce and Debbie Swanson s retirement celebration on Saturday January 3, Watch for more details to come in the next few months. s mores. We may also have some light musical entertainment! If you have any wood that you d like to donate for the event, please contact Ann Guzman. Everyone is invited to attend and join in a fun evening of fellowship! Bell choir article The Bell Choir will start rehearsals soon and they are looking for more people to play. If you are interested in learning to play the bells and playing in the Choir, please contact Sean Rogers, our Minister of Music. You are not required to have any experience to participate.

4 Page 4 Mission Study Committee The survey is out and you should all have a copy! If you don't you can pick one up in the church office. The Mission Study Committee has been meeting regularly and working diligently to determine the status of our church now and where we want to go in the future, but we need input from EVERY member of the congregation. This will help us as a church body to serve the needs of our worshipers, our community, Guess Who s Coming to Dinner Guess who s coming to dinner is back! What is this, you may ask? It s a great way to join others for dinner and conversation. There is one catch.the host won t know who is coming for dinner and the guest won t know who will be attending with them. How does this work? Those interested in hosting would open their home and prepare dinner for 8 to 10 guests (the host can determine the PW Happenings The next PWCT meetings will be on October 14th and November 11th at 10:00 AM. PW Holiday Bazaar will be on Saturday, November 8th from 8:00-3:00. It will include a soup and pie lunch. The Bazaar will feature craft and baked items our youth, and a new pastor when the time comes. Please be vocal beyond filling out the survey and post your feelings on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall, put a note in the suggestion box, or visit with a member of the Mission Study Committee. Watch for other opportunities to share your thoughts and GET YOUR SURVEYS BACK TO US by October 5th. number of guests) at an arranged date and time. Those interested in attending a dinner would be contacted and told the place and time to show up. It is a fun evening and a great way to get to know others in our congregation! If you are interested in hosting a dinner or attending, or both, please complete a form and turn it in to the church office or contact Cindy for sale with over 20 vendors signed up. If you have any long rectangular tables we could borrow for our vendors to use that day, please contact one of the PW ladies. The Christmas Tea will be on Tuesday, December 9th at 6:30 PM. Watch for more details in November. What s a Christian to do with Halloween? These days, children associate Halloween with trick-or-treating and candy. But centuries ago, Christians named the night before All Hallows Day (All Saints Day) All Hallows Eve. As the faithful prepared to remember people who were entrusted to resurrection life, they adopted various traditions to poke fun at death. Around the world, Christians observe Halloween differently: In Poland, kids pray aloud while walking through forests to comfort souls of the dead. In Spain, tolling church bells remind people to remember the saints. In Finland, so many people light candles in cemeteries that the observance is called seas of light. Although some Christians steer clear of Halloween, others use it as an evangelism opportunity and provide entertainment alternatives such as harvest parties. No matter your views, you can remind children that, though it s fun to pretend, we can always be ourselves with God. Whatever our features and flaws, we need not and cannot hide from God behind masks. God made us in his holy image and loves us as his holy hallowed! children.

5 Page 5 From Pastor Bruce Dear kids, I hope you are enjoying Sunday School. I like the idea of you all being together and helping one another. It is so important that you learn about the Bible and do so by helping one another. Years ago Sunday School didn t exist. Very young children like yourself worked. Sunday was a day that was recognized as a day when no one worked. Children worked long hours. For example, in the 1780 s a law was passed that children would only work twelve hours per day. So, Sunday School was developed to teach young people how to read and write. They practiced their reading at home with their parents by reading the Bible. In 1870 public schools were set in place to educate children. Sunday was still not a work day, so the Sunday School time shifted to become a time to teach Christianity. The best discussion though I think is what you have with your Mom and Dad. Ask them about where they learned about Christianity and from whom. I could make for a great conversation. Thinking of you, Bible Verses of the Month Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone. Mark 16:15

6 Answer: D (See Leviticus 16:10, 21, NIV.) Page 6 Known October Birthdays 10/6 Anna Peterson 10/7 Olivia Crowley 10/31 Brianna Hendrix Join us at Sunday School. We are have a great time learning about the Bible. 9:00 9:50 AM Bible Quiz What modern expression comes from the practice, described in Leviticus, of a priest confessing Israel s sins over the head of an animal and sending it (and the sins with it) into the desert? A. hogwash B. from the horse s mouth C. monkey business D. scapegoat

7 5 World Communion 26 Reformation Sunday 15 Adjusted Office Hours: 16 Office Closed 23 Adjusted Office Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 8:45a Adult Sunday School 9:00a Sunday School 9:30a Chancel Choir 10:00a Worship-Communion 12 8:45a Adult Sunday School 9:00a Sunday School 9:30a Chancel choir 10:00a Worship 19 8:45a Adult Sunday School 9:00a Sunday School 9:30a Chancel Choir 10:00a Worship 8:45a Adult Sunday School 9:00a Sunday School 9:30a Chancel Choir 10:00a Worship 6 7:00a Deacons 7:00p Boy Scouts 13 9:00a Worship Committee 7:00p Boy Scouts 20 Community Shelter Meal 7:00p Session 7:00p Boy Scouts 27 7:00p Boy Scouts :00a PWCT :00p Jr. Jammers 9:30a Worship Committee 9:00-12: :00a Brunch Bunch 7:30a Nampa Caring Community Hours: 9:00-12: :00a Jr. Jammers 17 Office Closed Link Deadline :30p Movie Night And So It Goes 5:30p Harvest Bon Fire

8 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 If this publication is no longer needed, please notify the church office. Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Nampa, ID Permit No. 180 September September September September