Assembly moves MLK s Letter from a Birmingham Jail toward confessional status

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1 The Villager July 5, 2018 Some of the headlines from GA 223 in St. Louis were: On fourth ballot, Cintrón-Olivieri, Kohlmann win close moderator contest Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri is an ESL teacher and a ruling elder at First Spanish Presbyterian Church in Miami. Last year she was moderator of the Presbytery of Tropical Florida. She was a Youth Advisory Delegate to the 205th General Assembly in 1993, and was asked at age 19 to serve on the session of Caparra Terrace Presbyterian Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Rev. Cindy Kohlmann has pastored congregations in Ohio and Massachusetts. She s currently resources presbyter for the Presbyteries of Boston and Northern New England. As resource presbyter, she designs leadership training opportunities, connects pastors and congregations with local and denominational resources and has helped start sometimes difficult conversations about structure and vision in the midst of change. Hundreds join march to St. Louis Justice Center calling for social, racial and economic justice. Participants including Co-Moderators Cintrón-Olivieri, and Kohlmann, along with the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson, General Assembly stated clerk joined other advocacy groups for the one-mile walk from the St. Louis convention center to the City Justice Center to participate in a bail out. Organizers say the jails are full of people being held on minor offenses, unable to pay cash bail. The marchers, working with local organizations such as the Bail Project and the St. Louis Action Council, took more than $47,000 collected at Saturday s opening worship offering and from online contributions to provide bail for persons who have been prescreened for release. Youth pitch in to share God s love in Ferguson Cleaning basements, tearing down metal sheds and filling dumpsters are hardly the activities most high school students would choose for summer vacation. But that s exactly what two groups of Presbyterian youth did in Ferguson, Mo., during the week of GA as part of the Hands and Feet initiative. Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb of 21,000, garnered national attention in August 2014, when a white police officer shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager. The Hands and Feet initiative was planned as a way for the PC(USA) to have a positive impact in the St. Louis area in conjunction with the 223rd General Assembly. Assembly moves MLK s Letter from a Birmingham Jail toward confessional status There is no plan for a contemporary statement of faith. This action allows the church can study the letter now and to discern whether [the letter] belongs in the Book of Confessions or whether we need to find a further category. (cont. on page 2) Worship Notes You are invited to prepare for worship during July by reflecting on these scriptures: July 8 Mark 6:1-13 (communion) July 15 Mark 6:14-29 July 22 Ephesians 2:11-22 July 29 Ephesians 3:14-21 Copies of Todd s sermon will be available in the Narthex in case you want to share it with a friend or reread a portion you missed. Text and audio are also available on the church s web-page: Maybe you have noticed that all the windows in the Administration/Education building have condensation between the panes due to a failure of the seals. New windows have been approved by the session! The total cost will be about $14,000. We are asking YOU if you would be willing to donate one of these 36 windows? Several session members have already done so. The price to donate a window is $350. If you would like to be a donor please let us know! (Any amount helps!) If you are interested in donating, there will be donor inserts in the bulletin every Sunday or you can contact Mary in the church office at or mary@vcpresby.org. Village Chapel Presbyterian Church 3818 Venable Avenue, SE Charleston, WV Villager 7/5/2018 p.1

2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Commissioners overwhelmingly approve the Way Forward plan by a more than 10-1 margin. The report is designed to, discern the vision for structure and function of our Denomination. Actions seeking peace on the Korean Peninsula, in Sudan, and Central America approved One resolution designated September 2018 as Korean mission month and called on Presbyterians to pray for peace in the Korean Peninsula and for victims of division and conflict on both sides of the Korean Peninsula. Another called for support and prayer for the church and people of South Sudan. And finally, the Assembly called on the federal government to immediately end the newly implemented zero-tolerance policy that is tearing apart families and to reunite parents and children that have been separated as soon as possible. Assembly addresses racism, gun violence, and capital punishment including a recommendation to reconstitute the Racism Truth and Reconciliation Commission; an overture to strongly condemn the unjust, racist disparagement of people and entire nations, promoted by politicians and government officials at all levels, in the mistaken effort to place America First ; a resolution calling for the PC(USA) to pray for a movement of the Spirit to engage Presbyterian congregations in a nationwide action to prevent gun violence; an overture that calls for an immediate moratorium on the imposition of the death penalty in all jurisdictions that impose capital punishment and for the commutation of all death sentences to sentences of life imprisonment; and a resolution addressing sexual misconduct within the PC(USA) per capita set at $8.95 for the next two years as a result of the financial implications of the 16 new committees, task forces and groups established at this Assembly. Per capita funding is the only source of revenue for the work of the Office of the General Assembly (OGA). It funds the biennial meetings of the General Assembly, the denomination s records and statistics, the work of the stated clerk and co-moderators of the General Assembly, mid council relations, shared costs with the Presbyterian Mission Agency, ecumenical relations and 62% of the budget of the Presbyterian Historical Society. Both sides on fossil fuel divestment issue look ahead after the commissioners decision to accept a minority report asking the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to continue its engagement with fossil fuel companies. Being at the table is very critical, said Joseph Kinard, MRTI Committee chair. We have an opportunity to speak truth to power, not only on the streets but in the boardroom. We hope Fossil Free PCUSA representatives will help connect us to their frontline partners and help us be their conduit to the corporations. YAAD collection of $1605 goes to three good causes Presbyterian Disaster Assistance received $535 for Puerto Rico hurricane relief to honor Co-Moderator Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri. PDA s refugee support efforts received the same amount in the name of the other co-moderator, the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann. The remainder honored Stated Clerk the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson and one of his favorite movements, the Poor People s Campaign. Many thanks for all your prayers for the members of the delegation from the Presbytery of WV and the work of the whole General Assembly. May God guide our next steps as a denomination! PS For more details go to Water refund? You may have seen that a judge gave final approval to a settlement in response to the water crisis of January It promises a windfall for each household, starting at $550. Checks should be mailed soon. The Session agreed to tithe the portion the church will receive as a non-profit business (roughly $1900) to Common Grounds ministry to the needy. 10% = $190 for them. Would you be willing to tithe your settlement to Common Grounds too? Chick Maddox gathering Villager 7/5/2018 p. 2 On Monday, June 18th, Chick Maddox was found dead in his apartment. Many of you remember Chick from his time as a member here and his work with drug and alcohol addiction prevention efforts. The family will be having a private graveside service, but they are Inviting his friends to gather at Village Chapel from noon to 1 PM on Wednesday, July 18 in the fellowship hall. This will be a time to tell stories and celebrate his life.

3 July Communion We will celebrate communion on Sunday, July 8th. Prepare your hearts and minds to receive this joyful sacrament! If you are in the habit of attending Sunday School, what will you do for Theological Reflection, Fellowship, and Bible Study during the months your class is on recess? Come to Coffee and Conversation Sundays, 10 AM, Fellowship Hall We ll discuss a news article or an issue of the day over a steaming cup of coffee. MONDAY: 8 AM - 3 PM TUESDAY: 8 AM - 2 PM WEDNSEDAY: 8 AM - 2 PM THURSDAY: CLOSED FRIDAY: 8 AM - 2 PM Saturday, August 25th %10 of all sales will go to benefit the Ronald McDonald House and the trucks will feed the resident families for free. Villager 7/5/2018 p. 3 On Wednesday, July 11th all the men of the church are invited to a men s dinner hosted by South Park Presbyterian. In case you did not get enough on the 4th of July, the menu will be hotdogs with all the fixings'! So come with an appetite! Usually there is a speaker, but this month we ll catch up on how our summers are going, or tell jokes, or talk about vacation experiences. Join us at 6:15 PM. Questions? Call Jim Sothen at (304)

4 Each newsletter we will be sharing one of Jane Macpherson s exercises that help Improve balance. Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death for senior citizens. However, you don t have to fall prey to slips and falls. By exercising, you can improve your balance and your strength, so you can stand tall and feel more confident when walking. Exercise 3: Clock Reach You ll need a chair for this exercise. Imagine you are standing in the center of a clock. The number 12 is directly in front of you, and the number 6 is directly behind you. Hold the chair with your left hand. Lift your right leg, and extend your right arm so it s pointing to the number 12. Next, point your arm towards the number 3, and finally, point it behind you at the number 6. Bring your arm back to the number 3, and then to the number 12. Look straight ahead the whole time. Repeat this exercise twice per side. Division I 1. Randolph Street 2. Bible Center Blue 3. Mt. Pleasant 4. Sacred Heart 5. Morris Memorial 6. Bible Center Gray 7. Village Chapel 8. Southridge Church of God Division II 9.SEChurchofNazarene 10. Emmanuel 11. Resurection Church 12. St. Matthews 13. St. George 14. SC Church of Nazarene Come cheer us on! Month Date Day 6:15 PM 7:15 PM 8:15 PM 9:15 PM July 2 Mon. *6-7 *6-7 *1-3 *1-3 July 3 Tues. No Games July 4 Wed. No Games July 5 Thurs. *5-7 *5-7 July 6 Fri. *2-3 *2-3 *8-6 *8-6 July 7 Sat. Make-Up Games July 9 Mon. *1-2 *1-2 *3-4 *3-4 July 10 Tues. *9-12 *9-12 July 11 Wed. *14-10 *14-10 *13-11 *13-11 July 12 Thurs. *7-8 *7-8 July 13 Fri. *5-6 *5-6 July 14 Sat. Make-Up Games July 16 Mon. Play-Off Begins *DoesNotCountintheStandings Skaggs Fund initiated Village Chapel recently received a $25,000 gift from the Skaggs Family Foundation to establish the Betty M. Skaggs Legacy Fund in recognition of all the blessings she has known as part of this congregation. A task force was set up by the Session to make recommendations. They recommended, and the Session endorsed, that 75% be considered principal, 15% designated for VC needs, and 10% be available for grants and special projects. Ordinarily the principal would not be touched except in the case of an extraordinary opportunity or challenge. VC needs might include capital improvement projects or temporary staffing for a short-term ministry, or a major shortfall in the budget, etc. Grants and scholarships might include sending a kid to Bluestone or a youth to Montreat; or a college scholarship; or support for Common Grounds Thanksgiving baskets, or a Waters of the World well, or a weekend backpack food program, etc. A significant portion of the funds will be invested with the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. The Fund is already making an impact. We have made two grants already: 1. To Maddy Smith to help her apply to take LPN classes at Garnet Career Center in August; 2. To Rachel Stump to attend the Montreat Youth conference June 9-16 If you would like to make a similar impact, today and long into the future, please consider making your own contribution. The Session has set a goal of raising an additional 10% ($2,500) to do similar work as the Skaggs fund. This contribution might be a direct gift, or a pledge over time, or a bequest in your will. Let s talk about the details. Villager 7/5/2018 p. 4

5 Each month we will spotlight one member without telling you who it is. Instead we will tell you fun facts about the person and include some sort of photo for a hint. The people who correctly answer will be placed into a drawing for a beautiful stain glass cross. Please notify Mary in the office with your guess! mary@vcpresby.org In the following newsletter we will reveal who was in the spotlight and who won the drawing! Thank you to everyone who submitted their guess! Congratulations to Lynne Gunnoe for winning this month s drawing! This member: Was born in Charleston, WV and raised in Barboursville/Huntington Has one older brother Has one son Went to WVU for chemistry and pharmacy Has one cat and two dogs Likes to play tennis and golf and likes to exercise Favorite movie is Mary Poppins and he is a Disney fanatic Favorite book is the Harry Potter series Was an all-sate basketball player Todd Zubick is this month s Spotlight Member? Blessing Bag Project Thank you all for your generosity! With your help the Service team has successfully completed 100+ bags, and they are now available in the fellowship hall for you to pick up at your convenience. Statistical Report 7/1/2018 6/24/2018 6/17/2018 Worship Non-Pledged $ $$ $ Pledged $3, $3, $3, Loose Offering $16.00 $22.90 $50.00 Misc. Income $ $ $ Total $4, $3, $4, Trinity's Table and Manna Meals need volunteers. Now is the perfect opportunity for you to make a difference in our communities! Signup Sheet, along with additional dates, is in the Fellowship Hall! Saturday, July 22, at Trinity s Table - 4:30 pm to 7:00pm Sunday, September 29, at Manna Meal - 11:30am to 1:00pm Those of you who have chosen to donate to Village Chapel through Kroger s Community Rewards program, are helping us make a difference! This past quarter we received a check for $77.64 If you have not yet signed up please register online at Kroger communityrewards.com. Villager 7/5/2018 p. 5

6 Please remember the following people in your prayers on these dates: July 5 Sandra Copeland 6 Leon Copeland 7 Vicki Cunningham 8 Ira Morris 9 Doug Curnutte 10 Sharon Curnutte 11 Warren Danzer 12 Sheila Danzer 13 David Dawson 14 Joyce Dunlap 30 Carter France 15 Laura Durray 16 Aaron Durray 17 Gavin Durray 18 Blake Durray 19 Dianne Ellis 20 Anthony Falbo 21 Grace Falbo 22 Max Falbo 23 John Fleck 24 Donzy Fleck 25 Kate Forman 26 Isaac Forman 27 Nora Forman 28 Vera Forman 29 Martha Foster August 1 Melissa France 2 Kendall France An important part of our caring for each other is the Prayer Chain. You can participate by or phone. Betsy White (betsywhite06@yahoo.com) is the contact and Mary Lee Jung ( ) is the phone contact. You may also contact Mary Howard in the church office ( or Mary@vcpresby.org) She will direct your prayer request to Betsy and Mary Lee. If you would like to be added to the Prayer Chain, please contact Mary Howard. Toilet Paper Donations Needed! As part of Village Chapel s Ministry to Common Grounds, we donate toilet paper for those less fortunate. The Presbyterian Women have set the second Sunday of every month the official donation Sunday for toilet paper. You can just bring your donation with you to Church and place it in the specified area at the back of the Sanctuary. Thank you in advance for you generosity! Sunday Morning Cards for Members Don t forget to check the prayer display in the fellowship hall each week! There are cards that need to be signed for those members and friends who are currently dealing with illness, grieving, homebound, celebrations, thank you, or other issues. You may also add a card for others and we will take care of the addressing and mailing. Make sure that it is clear who the card is for (just add their name to the envelope). I have a plant on my desk that came with clear instruction on how to nurture it optimum sunlight, water, and temperature. Wouldn t it be nice to have similar information to help us nurture our own faith or that of our children or grandchildren? Well, the presbytery of WV is providing weekly ideas for nurturing faith. Here are this months: July 8: Psalm 48:12 reads, Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. The Lord will be our guide forever. This week, think about the way in which God offers you refuge and guidance. Using the words from this psalm, take a prayer walk around your community. If you cannot walk far, you can take a prayer walk in your backyard or imagine yourself taking a walk in the comfort of your living room chair. As you walk, notice what you see. What are memories from these places? Where do you see God's presence in these places? Thank God for this presence and pray for all those who will pass by or be in these places, that they too will experience God's care and guidance. July 15: Read aloud Ephesians 1:3-14. The first verse (v. 3) says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. How long has it been since you counted your blessings? Take time to list some of your blessings and share them with someone this week. Conclude your time of prayer by singing the chorus of the song Count Your Blessings : Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God has done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings, see what God has done. July 22: Read 2 Samuel 7:1-14a. God and the prophet Nathan discuss King David. God talks about how it will be God who will establish the house for the people, and that the Lord has not asked David to build him a house out of cedar. The reading ends with a promise, which we remember at Advent (as we think of Christ's birth), at Easter (as we celebrate the Kingdom established by Jesus through his resurrection) and in every season of the church year, as we are invited to live in the light of this kingdom rather than the lesser kingdoms that surround us. Read 2 Samuel 7:13-14 again. Pray today concerning what thing God would have you add or take away from your daily living so that you can live in the light of God s Kingdom. July 29: Read John 6:1-21, the story of the loaves and fish the miracle story repeated in each of the gospels. I participated in the annual leaf raking community service project of the Fellowship of Christian Students at our local high school. As an adult chaperone, I asked the coordinator if we needed to bring rakes, etc., and she said that she had told all the students to bring rakes, but there was no way to know how many would appear. We decided it would be a loaves and fish experience because we would all bring what we had. We had plenty of rakes even a few to spare. What about in your life? How have you seen this miraculous story unfold? Draw a picture of your experience. Write a poem about this experience. Tell your story with a friend, fellow church member, or neighbor. Whatever you do, thank God for the gift of enough. By the way, you are enough, too! Villager 7/5/2018 p. 6

7 July 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Newsletter :30 AM Bridge Group 5 PMT ai Chi 9:45am 9:30 Lectionary AM Bridge Group Group 10:30am 5 PM Tai Bridge Chi Group 6 Pm Stewardship Mtg INDEPENDENCE DAY Church Office 11:30 AM Bridge Mary on Vacation 12 PM Chick Maddox Gathering 7 PM Worship Ministry Team Meeting 9 AM Moon & Stars Quilters in FH :15 PM Trinity s Table 9:30 AM Bridge Group 5 PM Tai Chi 11:30 AM Bridge 10 AM Quilters PM NA Meeting :30 AM Bridge Group 5 PM Tai Chi 11:30 AM Bridge July Birthdays: 2 Jill Savage, 5-John Hawley, 7-Sharon Richardson, 8-Dreama White, Helen Singleton, 10- Krista Brogan, 11 Beth Haddock, 12-Shannon Bland, 14-Erin Chiparo, 15- Sawyer Brogan, 17 Riley Haddock, 19-Terry Hickernell, 24-Sheila Danzer, 26-Cindy Hanna, 28-John France