First Presbyterian Church of Downey

Transcription

1 Presbyterian 2013 MAY First Presbyterian Church of Downey Press Newsletter Volume 30, Issue 5 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 16 INSIDE THIS ISSUE PASTOR TIM S LETTER PASTOR TIM S BIO WYCLIFFE ON A MISSION EVENTS & UPDATES HALL OF FAME PUPPET SHOW MAY CALENDAR EASTER PICS

2 Dear FPC family and friends, Let me start off by saying, I m just loving it here at FPC so far! What a great congregation, session, staff, history, location, facility and ministry you enjoy! Just in case you were not in worship on April 21, I m reproducing my remarks from that day just below, so you can use them to answer your questions (and the questions of others!) and for guiding your prayers. Every blessing to you! Pastor Tim FIRST, let me say THANK YOU! to the Session and Search Committee for the invitation to walk with you on the journey AND to Pastor Alfredo, our excellent staff and others for their gracious welcome! NEXT, let s answer a few questions: [1] Why should we have an Interim Pastor? Because: we re in a transition; transitions require leadership; FPC Downey needs the support of a full staff; it takes time to discern the Lord s leading for the next chapter of FPC s life and ministry; I can help with all that! Together, we will draw on and celebrate the best of your past; we ll call on the gifts and vision of today s congregation; we ll explore possibilities, and prepare for the future. It will be my job to help you be ready for that moment when you call your new Senior Pastor, and step into the future! [2] How long will all this take? As long as the Lord has in mind. I am here to work myself out of a job. I will see to it that the goal of preparing for and finding a permanent Pastor is always before us. Two things you need to know: (a) that the visioning and preparing and search process often takes about two years; (b) that God has already chosen your next pastor! That person is in ministry somewhere right now and you and that person will connect in God s perfect timing. [3] Will you bring a lot of changes to FPC? Change is a part of life! Changes have already come to FPC! As you know, the best changes in a great church are always a result of: (a) God the Father s clear leading (b) the consensus of the leadership as it follows Christ the Son; (c) the willingness of the congregation in the power of the Holy Spirit. Whatever changes are necessary, we ll discover together, and craft them, together. [4] What are you going to do first at FPC? Get Oriented Move in, find the light switches and coffee pot! Get Acquainted Learn your name (don t be afraid to repeat it to me!), get to know you, listen to you and share my heart, form friendships with you and the leadership at FPC. Get Organized Start planning for and celebrating in worship, meet with the leadership, and begin addressing church concerns. Think Forward Lay out a path for: pastoral care and leadership development; clarifying FPC s vision for ministry; implementing the search process. [5] What can we do to help the process move along? Three things: (a) Believe In God s sovereign control and loving purposes for you in this transition; In yourselves, in your leadership, and in your future! Remember, The future is as bright as the promises of God! (b) Stay Steady Keep on doing what you are doing. Don t put anything on hold or withdraw to the sidelines, waiting to see who the next pastor is. Worship, give, do ministry, reach out! Invite friends to join you for worship and life at FPC. (c) Pray A Lot For your elders, deacons, pastors, staff for all church leaders; For a season of energy and growth at FPC; for God s perfect will to be made known; for that new pastor and family, just over the horizon; for the ministry and witness of First Presbyterian Church of Downey. Let s join with that single woman for many years a celebrated missionary in Latin America who wrote: I m not afraid of tomorrow, because I ve seen yesterday, and I love today!

3 F e T i a m r r e Just in case you missed the announcement this past Easter Here is Pastor Tim s bio: From late Tim Fearer served the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. as a Theological Educator and Leadership Developer in western Turkey. Located in the southern coastal city of Antalya and then in Istanbul, Tim worked with a broad range of students in various capacities with a special focus on mentoring Turkish pastors and other church leaders. A minister member of the Presbytery of Santa Barbara, Tim previously served for eleven years as pastor and head-ofstaff for the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Hueneme in the Oxnard / Ventura area ( ). From 1986 to 1993 Tim was the Director of Adult Education at Trinity United Presbyterian of Santa Ana, California. Tim also has served on various boards of national ministry organizations, is a contributing author to several publications and holds degrees from Westmont College (Santa Barbara, CA), Princeton Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Religion/Old Testament from the Claremont Graduate University. Tim s mother, Dorothy, along with his brother, Todd, and family live in Santa Barbara. He enjoys bicycling, surfing, reading, visiting with friends and spending time with his three nephews! Tim is very much looking forward to getting to know the First Presbyterian Church of Downey family and serving alongside each individual and ministry group in the exciting days and months ahead! Thank you all for your patience and your prayers during the selection process. The Interim Pastor Nominating Committee Ginger Duron Donna Huff Brian Johnson Cheryl McCaughan Eric Stender Dennis Symonds

4 WYCLIFFE on a Mission WE RE HELPING TO SPREAD THE WORD (IN 2000 LANGUAGES!) Presbyterians have engaged in the work of Bible translation for generations. Helping people gain access to God s word in the language they understand is essential to fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. FPC Downey is joining hundreds of other Presbyterian congregations to help carry out that legacy today by supporting Wycliffe Bible Translators, the world s largest ministry for Bible translation. Today about 209million peopledo not have any Scripture in their language. Wycliffe s vision is to see the Bible accessible to all people in the language they understand best. In the process, Wycliffe also focuses on community development, literacy development, and church partnerships. Bible translation can provide individuals with both spiritual and physical freedom as God s Word becomes flesh, speaks their language, and transforms their lives for the better. Introducing God s Word to women and men in the language that speaks to their hearts is perhaps the most effective means of evangelism, said Tom Taylor, president of the Presbyterian Foundation. The work of Bible translation is also foundational to combatting poverty, caring for the unloved, feeding the hungry, and raising the opportunities for literacy, education and cultural preservation. No single group does these things better, more faithfully, or on a larger scale than Wycliffe Bible Translators. At least 4.8 billion people have a Bible available in their first language. An additional 595 million people, speaking 1,275 languages, have the New Testament. Current estimates suggest around 209million people speaking nearly 2,000 languages may have a need for Bible translation to begin. The Last Languages Initiative aims to see spiritual transformation in the people groups of the world by helping them translate God s Word into the languages they understand best. HOW YOU CAN HELP PRAY: Resources include: Wycliffe s prayer blog, updated daily with new requests; the Bibles Peoples Prayer Project, where interested supporters can receive specific prayer needs for a people group and updates about their translation progress; opportunities to pray for a Wycliffe missionary; and more. Visit for more information. GIVE: With your partnership Wycliffe can help reach the Last Languages Initiative. GO: Not only are people needed to work in language development and Bible translation, but many are also needed in essential jobs such as teaching, IT, and management. There are also many short-term service opportunities with Wycliffe for all ages and walks of life. Learn more at

5 The Solid Rock Construction Company is on their 2013 Tour and we are privileged to have them at First Presbyterian Church. Please join us for a very entertaining musical and storytelling based on the Bible. When: Friday June 21, 2013 at 7 pm. HALL OF FAME PUPPET SHOW * JUNE 21, 2013 * 7 PM Where: Cumberland Hall and Church Sanctuary What will they do: They will be in Cumberland Hall from 7pm-7:30 pm for Balloon Twisting (Ballooning) and from 7:40-8:25 pm they will be in the sanctuary for their Hall of the Fame Show. What we need to do: Bring neighbors, friends and family. Light refreshments will be served after the show in Cumberland Hall. For more information contact Alfredo Delgado (562) Happy Mother s Day! May 12

6 MAY 2 MAY 13 MAY 11 MAY 12 MAY 19 MAY 27 Events & Updates NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER CIRCLE 1 BIBLE STUDY will meet on Monday, May 13, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in the church parlor. Shirley Potter will lead the study entitled" When the Kids are Grownup Too". The Text is from Exodus 18. We welcome anyone who would enjoy a small group study. For more information, please call Lois DeLine (562) PRESBYTERIAN MEN OF LOS RANCHOS is having their 25 th Annual Spring Gathering on Saturday, May 11, It will be at the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos, CA. Emad Samir, Egyptologist and Scholar in Residence, will be speaking on Joseph: The Plan of God. For more info, please contact Don Travis at (714) MOTHER S DAY PENTECOST SUNDAY MEMORIAL DAY is May 27. The church office will be closed. PRAY FOR SHUT-INS Dolly Fisher Silverado Sr. Living, Alhambra Margie Kalie Hacienda Grande, Long Beach Miyo Yokota Sunrise Senior Living, Hermosa Beach Beth Moritz With her son in Pomona, CA OUR STEWARDSHIP DISPLAYED MONTHLY INCOME & EXPENSES: 2013 MONTH INCOME EXPENSES NET INC/ (EXP) Y-T-D INCOME Y-T-D EXPENSES Y-T-D NET INC/(EXP) JAN 28,061 29,366 (1,305) 28,061 29,366 (1,305) FEB 18,981 23,387 (4,406) 47,042 52,753 (5,711) MAR 33,204 23,242 9,962 80,246 75,995 4,251

7 May Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday 7:30 pm CHOIR YOUTH GROUP COMMUNION 9 am EDUCATION HOUR 10 am WORSHIP 7:30 pm BAND MOTHER S DAY 9 am EDUCATION HOUR 10 am WORSHIP 7 pm ALL TEAMS 7:30 pm CHOIR PENTECOST SUNDAY 9 am EDUCATION HOUR 10 am WORSHIP am EDUCATION HOUR 10 am WORSHIP WHOLE CHILD 2:00 pm CIRCLE 1 BIBLE STUDY MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY 7 pm DEACONS 7:30 pm BAND 7 pm SESSION 7:30 pm BAND 7:30 pm BAND Happy Birthday! NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 7:30 pm CHOIR 7:30 pm CHOIR 7:30 pm CHOIR YOUTH GROUP YOUTH GROUP YOUTH GROUP YOUTH GROUP 9 am PRAYER 9 am PRAYER 9 am PRAYER 9 am PRAYER MAY 1 Virginia Macauley MAY 5 Eric Ruckman MAY 6 Kendra Huff MAY 7 Dixie Johnston MAY 8 Lon Dayhoff MAY 9 Carolina Delgado MAY 10 Brianne Umana MAY 13 Esther Lorendo MAY 20 Rebecca Greving MAY 21 Verna Adsit MAY 23 Norma Galvan MAY 25 Ashley Thomas MAY 28 David Diaz Nicholas Gasdia Chelsea Heine MAY 29 Lilian De La O Charles Jones MAY 30 Margie Hille MAY 31 Nicole Heine

8 EASTER PICS Above Easter photos ~ Courtesy of Brian Johnson and Henry Pedroza First Presbyterian Church of Downey PO Box 5069, Downey Avenue Downey, CA (562)