This month sees a couple of major holidays; Mother s Day (May 8) and then Memorial Day (May 30). For many of us, Mother s Day will be a time to

Transcription

1 This month sees a couple of major holidays; Mother s Day (May 8) and then Memorial Day (May 30). For many of us, Mother s Day will be a time to remember our moms and grandmothers for they are no longer with us. For others it will be a time to either be with mom or at least send a card, give her a call and/or send flowers. Mother s day is an important day, may we give thanks for our mom. Then on Memorial Day, May 30, may we pause and remember all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, their life, that we might be free. These men and women go all the way back to the war for our independence and up to even our present days as some have died fighting ISIS and others of our days. May we pause and remember them. Forsyth will hold its Patriot s Parade on May 21 at 2 pm. The Mayor would like all those who have served our country to be in the parade. Maybe we can come up with a way to be a part and lift up all those of our congregation who are veterans. Here are some other important dates to remember. May 5 is National Day of Prayer, Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) and the day we remember the Ascension of Our Lord. A word about the National Day of Prayer. There is still space available at a table paid for by one of our members. So feel free to let us know you d like to attend. Then at noon on that day there will be a time for prayer near the Taney County Administrative offices. It s free and open to all. This is an important day to pray for our country and its leaders and those running for office. Just as every day is good for us to do just that. Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to remember all who died during the Holocaust of WWII. This day marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Day of Ascension of Our Lord; forty days after Jesus resurrection from the dead. It is reported (Acts 1:1-11) that Jesus ascended unto God s kingdom to be crowned the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords. Give thanks this day that Jesus is our eternal King and Lord. Then Sunday, May 15 is Pentecost Sunday, the day we ll remember God pouring out HIS Spirit upon the apostles and many followers of Christ. This gift is now given to all of us who believe and trust in the Christ. On Pentecost Sunday we ll celebrate this gift given to all of us. Lots to remember and give thanks for throughout May. Jesus Christ has ascended! He is our eternal King and Lord. Christ has sent HIS Spirit unto us! We are empowered through the Spirit to worship and serve the one who served us and gave his life for us. Thanks be unto God for the gift of HIS Spirit, the Holy Spirit, God s breath and wind in our sails of life. Pastor Dennis

2 Session Digest Thursday, April 21, 2013 In April, a couple of special meetings were held to receive new members; Bill and Sara Aley, and Clyde and Pam Henscheid. All joined by reaffirmation of faith. Bill renewing his membership in the church he grew up in. Pam and Clyde are C.J. Gailey s daughter and son-in-law. Please welcome them into the life and work of the church. April 21, 2016 stated meeting of the session Meeting opened with prayer at 5:30 pm by Pastor Dennis 9 of the 12 elders were present for the meeting. Devotion on Acts 1:1-11, Jesus ascension was led by Pastor Dennis. The elders heard a report on the refurbishing project. Then the elders reviewed together a list of several refurbishing projects the church would like completed. After discussion of each item, Pastor Dennis then asked each elder to select the top three projects that he/she would like to see completed and in what order. The top three items for completion were: 1) Upstairs men s restroom redesigned to accommodate handicapped individuals, 2) New LED lighting in Fellowship Hall (quotes to be obtained), 3) Front door replaced and automatic openers for handicapped accessibility along with security cameras for both the front and back doors. If these projects can be completed in a timely manner then a 4 th selection of Monitors for the sanctuary were listed. Other items on the list will be prioritized at a later date on completion of the first 3-4 items. Mary Parr reported the plans for the rummage sale on May 7 th at the church is moving along. She asked for a minute for mission during Sunday's worship to promote the collections of items from the congregation. All money earned will go toward the money match making goal of the church. Session approved plans to put together a new pictorial directory, using Michael Gibbs and his son as the photographers. Security issues were addressed by the elders. It was agreed to invite one of our local sheriff officers to visit with the elders at a date to be determined. Reports and plans of all session committees where heard. Financial reports for March were reviewed and approved. Members of the property and maintenance committee reported on the review of the church s insurance. It was noted that we ll see an increase in our premium because of two recent claims. They also shared that our insurance provider, American Family Insurance, advises us to obtain a hold harmless agreement with all groups using the church facilities. One will be obtained and shared with the elders at the next meeting. Also under their report, it was requested that two handicap parking signs be put up near the back door of the church. Elders agreed. Meeting adjourned with prayer at 7:45 pm. Next regular meeting: Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 6:30pm. 2

3 Does not reflect all of the salaries through the end of April. Benevolence Fund Report: During April we helped 15 people: 11 with rent, 2 with utilities, and 2 with family needs. We were blessed 2 donation to the fund this month. In addition, we received a generous Slusher grant! Thanks to all for your wonderful gifts! If you would like to make a donation to the Benevolent Fund, please do so by marking your check special gift - benevolent fund. You can also donate to the fund through our website s PayPal button. It s toward the bottom on the first page. Please mark your gift for the Benevolent Fund. Those who receive our assistance greatly appreciate your gifts! 3 Diabetic Focus Group The regular monthly meeting of the Diabetes Focus Group will be held on Monday, May 2, 2016, at 10:00 A.M. in Fellowship Hall. This month s meeting will be a time for sharing; recipes, diet tips, exercise ideas, etc., anything you think might be helpful to someone else with this disease. Come and share your tips for success with the group. We would like to line up a speaker for the next meeting so if you know of someone who would like to speak to the group, please share that with John Keith. Please join us and bring a friend or neighbor!

4 Sunday lectionary Readings for May: Sunday, May 1 Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 21:22-22:5; John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9 Thursday, May 5 Ascension of the Lord: Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47 or 93; Ephesians 1:15-23 and Luke 24:44-53 Sunday, May 8 Mother s Day; Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 2021; John 17:20-26 Sunday, May 15 Pentecost; Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21; John 14:8-27 Sunday, May 22 Trinity Sunday; Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5;1-5; John 16:12-15 Sunday, May 29 1 Kings 18:20-39; Psalm 96; Galatians 1:1-12; Luke 7:1-10 Would you like to attend the Ozark Mountain Prayer Breakfast? May 8, 6:30-8:30 am Branson Convention Center Through a generous donation, a table of 8 has been reserved for anyone wanting to attend this event. More information on the speaker can be found on the event website. If you would like to attend the breakfast, please contact the church office. Presbyterian Women Annual Birthday Luncheon/Tea Tuesday, May 3, :00 P.M. Our annual birthday luncheon will be held at the Blackberry Lane Tea Room in Forsyth. Please RSVP to the church office by Friday, April 29,

5 I love the month of May for many reasons. It is that time of year when churches are celebrating mothers and graduates, gearing up for Vacation Bible School and this year, celebrating Pentecost. The activity of the month has most churches doing missions in high gear. Something that has been talked about in a couple of committees in JCP is sharing what is going in in each church so other churches might get ideas for missions of their own, ideas for VBS and ideas for worship on Pentecost Sunday. The VBS sharing might help us as we try to come up with ideas or help us know which VBS programs are great and which ones are not so great. Sharing about Pentecost services might give churches new energy as they begin summer missions. So, If you have information, missions, celebrations or just stuff you would like to share, send it to me at pastoralpresbyter@gmail.com and I can put it in the Notices and on the website. This is just another way we can be connected as God s people who are called to be Presbyterian. Pastor Susan Rosenbaum The Bookies The May meeting of the Bookie Club is scheduled for Thursday the 5th at 10:30 AM in the hospitality room at Forsyth Community Presbyterian Church. Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See by Eric Weihenmayer. Sports and Recreation/Adventure/ Disability In this adventure-packed memoir, the author recalls rebelling against becoming blind by age fifteen. Relates acquiring a passion for mountaineering and developing the character traits that enabled him to succeed. Covers his climbing exploits and his wedding on top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Some strong language. Please join us and bring a friend! Planning ahead: The June book will be A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. We d love to have you join us to discuss this book! 5 Members of The Bookies Book Club

6 Our first annual chili cook-off was deemed a great success! We had 11 entries of very different kinds of chili. The judge was Lyle Rowland, Missouri State House Representative of District 155. Their were three categories of winners chosen: The hottest: Vera Hardin The Best: Donna Lakey The Most Unusual: Susan Wood Thank you to everyone who entered a pot of chili for the competition! State Rep Lyle Rowland with Steve Wood Vera Hardin, winner of The Hottest chili Donna Lakey, winner of The Best chili The next event planned by the Parish Activities Committee is a Women s Appreciation Tea on Thursday, May 26, at 2:00 p.m. All women of the church are invited to attend Susan Wood, winner of The Most Unusual Chili this event held in your honor! 6

7 PANTHER PARTNERS MENTOR PROGRAM A child will soon forget the presents you give them, but they ll never forget your presence in their life. Spring is here! And that means it s time to seek volunteers who would like to mentor a first grader at Forsyth Elementary School for this fall! We have found that meeting with the child for 30 minutes a week seems to work best. We ve had fun getting to know our child through games and puzzles (available in the Game Closet in the room where we meet one-on-one with the child), through reading books, or eating lunch with them. WE ARE NOT TUTORS! We currently have 72 mentors from 9 area churches who are enjoying their mentoring experience. Our goal is for our current mentors to continue this fall with the same child who will be advancing to the next grade. Hopefully there will be 20 new volunteers each fall to mentor incoming 1st graders. These are children who can benefit from a long-term, positive role model in their lives. If you have any questions about being a mentor, please call Jeanne Legge at or talk with one of the other mentors to get some feedback about their experiences. Many of us travel during the year but have been able to send postcards to the child while we re gone and share our adventures/pictures with the child upon our return. So, your travel shouldn t be a barrier in being a mentor. Training will be provided to mentors in early September. Please pray about how you can be part of this great opportunity to show God s love for the children of Forsyth and, in turn, have a rewarding experience. If you want to volunteer, or are just curious and need more information, please leave this form in the church office or in the offering plate. 1 Student + 1 Mentor = 2 Lives, Changed Forever Name Phone Address address Will volunteer as a mentor Would like more information 7

8 Wish list of future projects: 1. Upstairs men s restroom handicap redesign 2. New LED lighting in Fellowship Hall 3. Front doors replaced and automatic openers for handicap accessibility and security for front and back doors 4. Monitors for the sanctuary 5. New LED lighting upstairs 6. New LED sign out front 7. Parking lot sealed 8. Sanctuary doors replaced 9. Carpeting in the sanctuary 10. New outside lighting 11. Baby changing station in women s restroom Building fund donations received to date: Memorials $6,425 Donations $3,950 Total Donations $10,375 Donations rec in April +$ 4,200 $14,575 Projects completed so far: 8 Electrical $8362 Drywall/Painting $6485 Plumbing $3105 Audio/Video $1256 Total Expenses $19,208

9 GETTING TO KNOW ELDER: Steve Wood trying to marry off the kids, but it is not common to have kids marrying off their parents. For fun, Steve and his wife Susan enjoy raising and showing Missouri Fox Trotter horses, fishing, hunting, and traveling. He has been a boater most of his life and was also a pilot for many years. They also enjoy going 4-wheeling in the Mark Twain National Forest. Be careful, guys! As they say, Steve Wood is an apple that didn t fall far from the tree. He grew up in Nixa, where his parents lived in the mid 40 s when Steve was born, with his brother being born 5 years later. Steve s dad was a dentist in Nixa; his mother ran the office for many years until his dad and 8 other doctors started Parkcrest Dental Clinic. Nixa High School was much smaller back in those days having only baseball, basketball and track as sports for the students. Steve really didn t care as he was more involved with FFA, raising registered Hereford cows, doing odd jobs, hauling hay and mowing yards all over Nixa, the typical life of a country boy. After high school he attended Drury, Southern Illinois University, and Southwest MO State. I don t think it would be much of a stretch to call Steve an entrepreneur. He has owned Tri- Lakes Petroleum Co., Tri-Lakes Propane Co., Oasis Travel Center and Prime Time Stores in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. He currently owns Outback properties in Branson. The last one means that he owns the Outback Steak House. Try his great fried chicken some Sunday afternoon. One has to wonder, How did he ever find time to serve his country by spending 6 years in the Army Reserves?" Approximately 8 years ago, Susan s daughter told Steve that he needed to meet her mother. Well, I guess he finally got around to it and by doing so was blessed by finding a very special lady. We hear a lot about parents As you can tell, he lives a pretty boring life. That is why he tells me that the only thing he hasn t gotten to do yet is to go mining for gold in Alaska. When it gets hot here in mid-missouri, Steve and Susan enjoy heading north to their home in Custer, S. Dakota. Jeanne and I have been there and it is fabulous. I asked Steve what things were important to him. He said, I always try to do the right thing; sometimes that is very hard. I was raised on what a handshake means, and I wish times were still like that. It was so simple a concept. Steve said he and Susan really like Forsyth and it s friendly people. Their church family is very important to them. Steve, being one who never passes the opportunity to partake of a good meal, enjoys the church dinners and get-togethers. Like the rest of us, he has a great appreciation for Pastor Dennis. Steve and Susan have become an important part of our church family. They re always there to offer help when needed. Susan is very active on the Parish Activity committee. Thanks to both of them for sharing their talents and the love for our church. Steve began his first term as an Elder in January of this year and has already had a significant impact on the Session. The next time you see Steve, thank him for his service as an elder. You're also encouraged to share your ideas, suggestions and concerns with not only Steve, but any of our other elders. 9

10 Food Pantry Sundays BIRTHDAYS 3 Don Clotworthy 6 Rodney Parsons 8 Joyce Jensen 11 Beverly Feirtag 23 Ron Frostman, Ken Lestrud 24 Bill Winkert 26 Vera Taylor 27 Charles Baker 30 Bonita Kissee-Soutee ANNIVERSARIES 26 Arliss & Linda Stillings, 41 years 31 Jeff and Allison Merrell, 16 years The first Sunday of each month we will have a special offering for Christian Action Ministries Food Pantry. Although food can be donated for this effort, CAM can turn each $1 into $4 to purchase food for the pantry. The total food pantry collection for April was $46. Quote of the month: Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving! 2016 Per Capita Rate Albert Einstein Per capita is an amount of money per member that our congregation pays to our larger Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This annual amount is shared between our local presbytery, regional synod and General Assembly. For 2016, our per capita rate is $31.00 per member. Any contributions toward this amount would be appreciated. Please be sure to note your contribution as Per Capita to be sure it s credited correctly. To date we have received $406 toward the per capita assessment. Thank you! RUMMAGE SALE Saturday, May 7, :00 a.m. to? If you have anything you would like to donate to the church for the sale, it can be dropped off at the church during the week prior. All sale proceeds will go toward the building fund fundraiser. Please NO CLOTHES, NO electronics or TVs! Veterans and others who would like to participate are asked to sign up at Forsyth City Hall. The parade will start at Forsyth High School and travel along Highway 160 to the Taney County Courthouse. 10

11 Ushers/Greeters Liturgist Terry & Shirley Earll Charlie Baker Rose Franceschini 1 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Every Sunday: Sunday School 9:00 am *Worship 10:30 CAM Food Pantry Sunday Dinner with Friends-TBA Piano recital 1:00 pm 2 Diabetes Focus Group Yoga 5:30 pm Yoga 5:30 pm Yoga 5:30 pm Yoga 5:30 pm (Office Closed) 3 PW Birthday Luncheon/Tea 1:00 pm 10 Chamber Lunch 11:30 am 17 Exercise Wmn s Breakfast Men s Breakfast Hannah Circle 1:00 pm Choir 7:00 pm 11 Wmn s Breakfast Men s Breakfast Calico Cutups Choir 7:00 pm 18 Wmn s Breakfast Men s Breakfast Choir 7:00 pm 25 Wmn s Breakfast Men s Breakfast Choir 7:00 pm 5 Oz. Mtn. Prayer Brkfast 6:30 am Exercise 10 am The Bookies 10:30 am Session Meeting 6:30 pm 26 Women s Appreciation Tea 2:00 pm 6 Care Center Birthday Party 2:30 pm 13 Esther Circle 11:00 am Forsyth Senior Ctr Breakfast 7 Kids Fun Day 9-Noon Patriot Day Parade 2:00 pm *If you would like a copy of Sunday s service, a DVD can be made available to you. Please contact the church office for more information. 11

12 COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH P.O. Box 486 Forsyth, MO C O M M U N I T Y P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H PO Box Main Street Forsyth, Missouri (417) Dennis Winzenried, Pastor Website: compresby@centurytel.net Community Presbyterian Church Staff Members Pastor...Dennis D. Winzenried Secretary...Denise Carr Choir Director.Arliss Stillings Organist.Linda Stillings Custodian....Paul Weeks Sunday School Sunday Worship Service 9:00 am 10:30 am 12