Invitation Providence Moves Into the Community

Transcription

1 PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MAY 2015 the Invitation Providence Moves Into the Community May 2 8:00am - 4:00pm Providence volunteers move out into the community to do good in Christ s name on Saturday, May 2! Volunteers participate by repairing, painting and cleaning yards for needy homeowners. They make and take cookies and goodie bags to the police station, 3 fires stations, nursing homes, and our shut-ins. The day begins with breakfast. Child care is provided so parents may participate. If you have volunteered and have not been contacted by a team leader, contact David Carré at or carre1252@gmail.com and he will place you on a team. Everest Vacation Bible School is coming! August 3-7 VIRGINIA BEACH WEATHER ALERT!! FORECAST FOR AUGUST 2015! This area will be unexpectedly expecting FREEZING temperatures!! Providence will be transformed into... EVEREST!!! We need your help to make this worthwhile outreach ministry come to life. To be successful and impactful, this program will first need a Director or Co-Directors! Adult Station Leaders and youth leaders for our Climbing Crews are essential for this expedition to be a reality! If you want to know more and want be part of this challenging expedition, please contact members of the Christian Education Committee: Robin Birdwell, Ray Maxwell or Emily Pursel. Upcoming Events Providence Moves Into the Community Saturday, May 2 Mission Matters Youth - making lunches and gathering summer supplies for homeless Sunday, May 3 1:00pm Men s Softball Games Mondays, May 4, 11, & 18 Committee Night Monday, May 4 7:30pm Gad-Abouts Annual Birthday Party at Imperial Palace Tuesday, May 5 11:30am Presbyterian Men s Dinner Thursday, May 7 6:30pm Presbyterian Women s Birthday Offering Received & Honorary Lifetime Membership Awarded Sunday, May 10 11:00am Strawberry Social Sunday, May 17 12:15pm Youth Fellowship at Virginia Aquarium s Adventure Park Sunday, May 17 1:00-6:00pm Serving Meal at the Judeo- Christian Outreach Center Friday, May 29 Graduate Recognition Sunday, May 31 A CARING CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP REACHING OUT IN RESPONSE TO GOD S LOVE PAGE 1

2 From My Open Door Biblical Mysteries and Myths: Each person has a guardian angel that watches over them. I'd like to think so, and many people do think so. But if we do have a special guardian angel protecting us, then why do we still have accidents and things like that? Did the guardian angel look away, go on vacation, fall asleep at the halo? Whenever I m asked why bad things happen to us, I have to admit that I don t have a full answer to that question. Truth is evil is real, and none of us are free from its devastation. But the Bible does tell us that for the believer nothing happens outside God s control and yes, if we know Christ, His angels continually watch over us. The Bible does talk about angels and gives us the impression that guardian angels exists. Psalm 91:11 says that God will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Hebrews 1:14 asks, Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?. The key passage that most guardian angel adherents lift up is Matthew Jeffrey S. Bell, Pastor 18:10, "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." However, the phrase "these little ones" in Matthew does not refer to children (infants, toddlers, and such) but to all believers in Christ. And rather than only one angel of God assigned to one of God s children, scripture teaches that a host of angels protect God s people and go before us so that, even when hard times come, Satan can never snatch us away from God s care. While the angels are real, each person does not have a guardian angel. Christians should not become preoccupied with them or worship them. God alone is worthy of our worship, and Christ alone saves us. We should trust Him alone as our Savior, for Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). See you in Church Jeff SESSION NOTES The Session met on Monday, April 13, 2015 and concluded the following business: 1. Joyfully received Billy, Loretta, William, and Joshua Ricketts into membership in the church. 2. Approved the realignment of $20,000 from the Administration Committee budget to the Property Committee budget to provide funds for the design and development of a columbarium. 3. Approved a request to hold a dedication ceremony for the new playscape on May 17th. 4. Approved a request to hold a School s Out Movie Night on June 28th. The Session set aside time to discuss the many letters received regarding Amendment 14F to the Book of Order, which allows, but does not require, pastors and sessions to conduct/approve marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples. The Session will prayerfully seek discernment and God s will for Providence before taking up the matter at the May Session meeting. We request that the congregation also pray about this matter. Each member of the congregation is encouraged to join the conversation. COLUMBARIUM UPDATE The Columbarium Task Force is pleased to report that Session has approved moving forward on columbarium installation. We will survey the congregation on May 17. Following worship, please join us in the Fellowship Hall to view a rendering and information, see a sample niche, and chat with the Task Force. Information about cremation, the columbarium to be built at Providence, documents that will be required, and costs and benefits of this choice will be available. The columbarium at Providence will be located in the courtyard and will take the form of a wall attached to the exterior of the church sanctuary with individual spaces or niches available. By installing a columbarium at Providence, we are: Keeping tradition by: renewing the practice of a churchyard burial where the departed rest on church property; providing the opportunity to remain at home for those who have been part of the Providence family; maintaining a quiet, peaceful, worshipful place where friends and relatives can pray, meditate and remember. Being good stewards by: using the already beautiful courtyard space as a memorial garden; providing a cost effective solution to church members and their families (cremation costs much less than a traditional burial and columbarium niches cost less than most cemetery plots). Please fill out the survey in the May 17 bulletin and visit the Columbarium information table to learn more. A CARING CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP REACHING OUT IN RESPONSE TO GOD S LOVE PAGE 2

3 THIS MONTH AT PROVIDENCE FRIDAY, MAY 1 Terry Parson s Birthday SATURDAY, MAY 2 8:00am Providence Moves Into the Community Doris Phillips Birthday Glynn Rogers Birthday Cathy Polychroni s Birthday SUNDAY, MAY 3 with Communion 12:15pm VBS Informational Meeting 1:00pm Mission Matters Youth MONDAY, MAY 4 Laura Nielson s Birthday 6:45pm Men s Softball Games (City View Field #1) 7:00pm Committee Chairs 7:00pm Boy Scouts 7:30pm Committee Night TUESDAY, MAY 5 11:30am Gad-Abouts WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 Sandy Allweins Birthday 6:00pm Kirk Night 6:30pm Kirkmusik 7:30pm Chancel Choir THURSDAY, MAY 7 National Day of Prayer Travis Cole s Birthday Nora Bell s Birthday 6:30pm Presbyterian Men s Dinner FRIDAY, MAY 8 Jo Claire Marshall s Birthday SATURDAY, MAY 9 Sam Grady s Birthday SUNDAY, MAY 10 Mother s Day Petey Reynolds s Birthday Lucy Sparks Birthday Women s Sunday - PW Honorary Lifetime Membership Award MONDAY, MAY 11 7:00pm Session New Members Received 7:00pm Boy Scouts 8:45pm Men s Softball Games (PAAC Red Field #4) TUESDAY, MAY 12 10:00am Dorcas Circle WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 Coleen Crawford s Birthday Bob Collins Birthday 9:45am Mary and Martha Circle 6:00pm Kirk Night 6:30pm Kirkmusik 7:30pm Chancel Choir THURSDAY, MAY 14 7:00pm Women s Bible Study 9:00pm Men s Softball Practice FRIDAY, MAY 15 Newsletter Submission Deadline SATURDAY, MAY 16 Sybil Naujoks Birthday 9:00am Courtyard Graces 4:00pm Parents Group Potluck SUNDAY, MAY 17 Radu Bogdan s Birthday Dylan Thomas Birthday 12:15pm Strawberry Social 1:00pm Youth Fellowship at Virginia Aquarium s Adventure Park 6:00pm Ruth Circle MONDAY, MAY 18 Howard Phillips Birthday 7:00pm Boy Scouts 6:45pm Men s Softball Games (PAAC Red Field #2) TUESDAY, MAY 19 WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 Brian Pursel s Birthday Kelsey Olenych s Birthday Joyce Semones Birthday 6:00pm Kirk Night 6:30pm Kirkmusik 7:30pm Chancel Choir THURSDAY, MAY 21 Ray Hodges Birthday Paul Hickman s Birthday 7:00pm Care Team Leaders FRIDAY, MAY 22 Judy Easton s Birthday SATURDAY, MAY 23 SUNDAY, MAY 24 Pentecost Haley Burdette s Birthday 12:15pm Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team MONDAY, MAY 25 Memorial Day Church Office Closed TUESDAY, MAY 26 Terri Hanson s Birthday Jake Yurasko s Birthday WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 Tom Chadwick s Birthday Mary McBride s Birthday 7:30pm Chancel Choir THURSDAY, MAY 28 FRIDAY, MAY 29 Serve meal at Judeo-Christian Outreach Center; bring food items to church 9am - 2pm SATURDAY, MAY 30 Homer Wooddell s Birthday Ellen Cutchins Birthday Isaiah Richardson s Birthday SUNDAY, MAY 31 Trinity Sunday Linda Dean s Birthday Graduate Recognition A CARING CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP REACHING OUT IN RESPONSE TO GOD S LOVE PAGE 3

4 MISSION MATTERS YOUTH GROUP MAKING A DIFFERENCE The Providence Presbyterian Church Mission Matters youth group has been following a very different path this year. The group has been focused on Christ s call to help the least of these. They initially raised funds needed to build a well for a foreign village that had no clean water. Afterwards, they met Mariah Smith, 21 year-old founder of Blankets for the Homeless. In the last few months, this group has made hundreds of bag lunches, Easter baskets for homeless families and assisted the BFTH folks in reorganizing the contents of their van. The Mission Matters group will return to action on Sunday, May 3 when they ll make (100) more meals for those who have no place to live. Then, they ll enjoy a special celebration on May 17 at the Adventure Park at the Virginia Aquarium. If you see a member of this wonderful group at church, you re encouraged to give them a pat on the back and let them know how proud their church family is of what they ve accomplished this year! Please also continue to keep the Mission Matters group, the Blankets for the Homeless ministry and all who have no place to live in your prayers! NOTE: Our Blankets for the Homeless mission partners are in desperate need of a commercial office/warehouse space. They ve been growing rapidly (giving out over 80,000 blankets in four years) while operating out of their family s town home. A commercial space that allowed donation drop-offs and organized storage of the items that they use would be a huge answer to prayer. Please let Pastor Billy know if you have any location ideas! SUMMER ITEMS FOR THE HOMELESS NEEDED Most of us would imagine that if we had no place to live, the warm weather would be a huge improvement over the cold weather. Unfortunately, spring marks the end of many homeless shelters. Churches stop opening their doors to help and assume that folks without places to live will be o.k. during the spring and summer because the weather is more mild. Truth-be-told, this time of the year can be incredibly difficult for those who live outdoors (especially for those living in the woods). The Mission Matters Youth Group is working to build an inventory for Blankets for the Homeless to help get homeless folks through the summer. If you d like to assist, please bring summer items (like insect repellent, Chapstick, sun block, wipes, t-shirts, shorts, etc.) to the Fellowship Hall through the summer. Thanks, in advance, for making a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate and for supporting Mission Matters and Blankets for the Homeless in their efforts. WORKCAMP WINTERSVILLE, OH Our youth mission trip to Wintersville, Ohio, is fast approaching! This summer we will make a difference in the lives of families in need of home repairs and in the lives of our youth Workcamp volunteers. Join us on Sunday, May 17 for a Workcamp fundraiser at Ruby Tuesday s Kempsville location! Twenty percent of your bill will be returned to the youth. Don t forget to let your server know that you are there to support the youth of Providence. Many thanks to all youth and adults involved with the Aberdeen Barn fundraiser. Special thanks to Judy and David Cole for coordinating this highly successful fundraiser. Over $1400 was raised toward our trip in June! Stay tuned in upcoming newsletters and flyers at Providence for more information as Workcamp draws near. The youth look forward to sharing their experiences with you throughout the year. For more information, please contact Kevin Daley at or mcpox2@cox.net. A CARING CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP REACHING OUT IN RESPONSE TO GOD S LOVE PAGE 4

5 STRAWBERRY SOCIAL If you please, the Fellowship Committee requests your presence at the annual Strawberry Social immediately following the worship service on Sunday, May 17. Fellowship and a treat of delicious fresh strawberries, yummy cake, and plenty of whipped cream will be enjoyed by all! PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN Mark your calendars now for the following opportunities for the women of Providence! Women s Bowling Outing - All women are invited to join in the fun on Saturday, May 9, 1:00-3:00pm, at Indian River Lanes as we roll strikes, spares, and even a few gutter balls! Presbyterian Women Birthday Celebration, Sunday, May 10 - The Birthday Offering, received during worship on Sunday, May 10, and at Circle meetings in May, is a PW offering collected in the spring of each year to celebrate special blessings in the lives of Presbyterian Women. The offering funds up to five mission projects such as agricultural development, child care, community organization, criminal justice, drug counseling, economic justice, elderly care, employment training, homelessness, literacy, violence and women s concerns. Also during worship, one special Providence woman will receive the Honorary Lifetime Membership. Following worship, join us for cake in the Fellowship Hall as we celebrate the gifts of women in the Church. 27th Annual PW Synod Summer Gathering at Massanetta Springs is June Visit the Summer Gathering website for a downloadable registration form: images.acswebnetworks.com/1/2067/pwfinal2015ssgbrochure.pdf. We plan to take the church bus, leaving early Friday morning, June 12, and returning on Saturday evening for those unable to attend the entire weekend. For more information or to sign up for the bus, see PW bulletin board. Questions? ppw@provpres.org. ALL FAITH NIGHT AT HARBOR PARK Baseball, food and friendship abound at All Faith Night! Watch the Norfolk Tides play, grab a hot dog, and laugh with Providence friends on Tuesday, July 21. Tickets are only $8 each and are on sale following worship on June 28, July 5, and July 12. Don t be left out of this fun event! (Beat the traffic and ride the Tide with friends to Harbor Park!) PARENT S GROUP The Parent s Group will gather together in May before going into summer recess in June. Future fall plans currently includes following a Meaningful Relationships group study titled Parenting starting in September. If you re a single or married parent, you are encouraged to set aside some time for getting to know other PPC parents and families on Saturday, May 16, from 4:00-7:00pm. We ll gather for a pot-luck dinner at the home of Ashley & Mike Schroeder. Please contact Pastor Billy Ricketts at familylife@provpres.org or , if you have questions. PARTNER IN EDUCATION The Farm Fresh receipt program, benefiting Fairfield Elementary School, will end on May 31. Please turn in receipts as you get them to help volunteers avoid a backlog in June to total and send out for redemption. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry! A CARING CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP REACHING OUT IN RESPONSE TO GOD S LOVE PAGE 5

6 GRADUATE RECOGNITION Calling all Graduates!! Providence will recognize our 2015 graduates during worship on Sunday, May 31. We are compiling a list of high school and college graduates for the Sunday bulletin, newsletter, and graduate bulletin board. Please submit your name, where you are graduating from, your plans after graduation and a picture to the church office or to office@provpres.org by May 17th. NEWSLETTER INFORMATION Newsletter items should be submitted no later than the 15 th of each month for the following month s edition. Please newsletter items to: publications@provpres.org. Providence Presbyterian Church 5497 Providence Road, Virginia Beach, VA office@provpres.org Church Staff Pastor Rev. Jeffrey S. Bell Parish Associate Rev. Tom Chadwick Pastor of Family Life Ministries Pastor Billy Ricketts Director of Music Valetta Fellenbaum Organist John Dixon Administrative Assistant Karen Cagni Kitchen Coordinator Terrie Wichrowski Nursery Supervisor Michelle Wofford Treasurer Carolyn Knowles Financial Secretary Ted Salter Sextons Gus and Mary Ann Villies The Session Moderator: Rev. Jeffrey S. Bell Clerk of Session: Gary Reese Administration *Glynn Rogers, Mike Schroeder, Dianne Stockmeier Christian Education *Robin Birdwell, Ray Maxwell Congregational Care *Anita Matteson, Don Singletary *committee chair Fellowship *Carol Hickman, Susan Ayers Mission/Outreach/Evangelism *Sandra Rushton Property *George Fitzgerald, Riley Hensly Worship *Tom Barrow, Cecilia Daley PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 5497 Providence Road Virginia Beach, VA office@provpres.org