The Pastor s Corner. Saying Hello, Saying Good-Bye

Transcription

1 First Presbyterian Church of Redlands September 2016 THE MESSENGER The Pastor s Corner Saying Hello, Saying Good-Bye I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Calendar 2 Session Highlights 3 Announcements 4 Birthdays 5 SESSION MEMBERS Current members of the Session are: Moses Bakhsh Mark Evans Wilson Kayange Marcia Fagan Clerk of Session Harry Muaya Richard Frederick Luann Bangsund Kathleen Wilmot Ann Platz Jerri Rodewald Dick Jones Al Polchow Shirley Harry With a surgically repaired hip I ve had to say good-bye to running 6 to 12 miles a week and say hello to walk-running at the University of Redlands track. With the completion of one book for my book clubs I need to pick up the next one and see what it has to say about some other part of the world. That s what you re being asked to do as we say good-bye to each other on September 11 th and you say hello to a Temporary Pastor, and soon a Settled Pastor. The church is not the pastor, but these good-byes and hellos can get difficult in the actual doing. I will remember you fondly, pray for you fervently, and believe that the best is yet to come. You have a wonderful group of leaders and visionaries who believe First Presbyterian can be whatever it puts its mind to. Your task in the next few months will be to laugh at your mistakes and growing pains and rejoice that God is living and active among you. It s been a great 35 months among you. I wish you all of God s best as you grow and change and grow some more. Affectionately yours, Pastor Tom

2 Page 2 FPC-Redlands* Monthly Book Club The September book club meeting will be held on Thursday, the 1st at the home of Jerri Rodewald. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown will be the topic of discussion again. Dick Jones will lead the conversation. The book chosen for October is Before the Fall by Noah Hawley. Noah Hawley, known for his Emmy, PEN, Peabody, Critics Choice, and Golden Globe Awards has penned the thriller of the year, according to Goodreads.com. Martha Jane Bannister will host the October meeting and Helen Waitz will lead what promises to be an enthusiastic discussion of this exciting book. September 2016 September 1 Thursday 10:30 a.m. Deacons Meeting 7:00 p.m. FPC Book Club September 2 Friday Office Closed 10:00 a.m. Knitting Companions September 4 Sunday September 5 Monday Holiday Church Office Closed September 8 Thursday 9:30 a.m. Christian Education September 9 Friday 11:00 a.m. Coffee Shop Circle Jerri Rodewald hosts September 11 Sunday 10:45 a.m. Farewell Potluck for Pastor Tom September 12 Monday 5:00 p.m. Worship Committee Mtg. September 13 Tuesday 5:15 p.m. Property & Finance Committee meeting 7:00 p.m. Mission Commission September 15 Thursday Pastor Tom s last day at FPC Redlands September 18 Sunday 10:45 a.m. Choir Fund Raiser September 19 Monday 6:30 p.m. Session Meeting September 21 Wednesday 1:30 p.m. Wenonah Circle Mary Lou Jones hosts September 22 Thursday September 25 Sunday September 26 Monday 12:00 p.m. Bridge Club

3 The Messenger Page 3 Session Highlights August 2016 by Marcia Fagan The Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Redlands held its regularly monthly scheduled meeting on August 15, 2016 and took the following actions: Received the Financial Report for the month ending July 31, 2016: Total Income: $21, Total Expenditures: $22, Excess Income/Expenses: ($1,121.13) Balance in General Account: $57, Received the recommendation from the Christian Education Committee and subsequently approved the appointment of the following individuals to serve as Sunday School Teachers during the year: Gayle Timilione Tab Ndipagbor Christine Evans Wilson Kayange Moses Bakhsh Al Polchow Elected Jerri Rodewald and Luann Bangsund as Session representatives to the Church Officer Nominating Committee. Elected Al Polchow, Jean Vieten, and Jerri Rodewald as Commissioners to the Presbytery of Riverside for Jack Brennan, Wilson Kayange, and Marcia Fagan were elected as Alternate Commissioners. Appointed a Leap of Faith Fundraising Committee to look at priority areas for fundraising. Accepted, with regret, the resignation of Transitional Lead Pastor Tom Rennard, effective September 16, Appointed Marcia Fagan, Dick Jones, Al Polchow, and Luann Bangsund as a subcommittee to immediately search for a Temporary/Bridge Pastor. New Members Join First Presbyterian Church of Redlands Indonesian Ministry A Special Called Session meeting was held to welcome new members to the Indonesian congregation. Shown in the photo to the left: Elder Luann Bangsund; Sylvia Tendean; John J. Plassmayer; Pastor Tom Rennard; Pastor Hart Tan; and in the back row Elder Harry Muaya; Darren (child), Fredy Sugito and Belinda Hidayat (Sugito); Toga Tua Sirait and Sorta Alice Ruth Tobing (Sirait); Jamaris Purba, son Sebastian and Ria Margaretta Gurning (Purba); Erna Siregar (Ompi); Tiurlan Pasaribu; Albert Ompi.

4 The Messenger Family Service Association of Redlands Adopt a Family Program Although the calendar says summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas will soon be here, and Family Service Association is already planning this year s Adopt-A- Family program. The Adopt-A-Family program matches families in need with individuals, groups, and businesses who want to provide a family with holiday gifts and food. Since January, our case managers have been identifying families who need help. They are selective about the families in the program, choosing those who are working hard toward greater self-sufficiency. The support you can provide will ensure that they will be able to celebrate the holidays. To adopt a family for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, you may simply fill out the form that may be found in the Church office or contact Penny Ramos at pennyramos50@gmail.com. Donor applications will be accepted through September 15, You will receive a confirmation letter with all of the necessary dates and information early in October. Thank you for assisting Family Service Association in their mission to alleviate poverty, encourage selfsufficiency, and promote the dignity of all people. Together we can make a real difference for families in need. The Wenonah Bible Study group and the Coffee Shop Circle resume their regular meetings again this month. The Coffee Shop Bible Study Group (grown too large for the coffee shop) meets the second Friday of the month at 11:00 a.m. Jerri Rodewald will be hosting the September meeting. The Wenonah Circle starts their season on the third Wednesday of the month, at 1:30 p.m. Mary Lou Jones will be hosting the group in her new home at 23 West Palm Lane Drive, in Redlands. Sunrise Prayer and Study began another six-week course on August 18th. Meetings are in the Narthex at 7:00 a.m. and finish by 7:45 to speed you on your way to the day s activities. The final meeting will be held on September 8th. Page 4 Joni and Friends Wheels for the World You can change a life with the gift of mobility by donating your no-longerneeded wheel chairs to the 9th annual Inland Empire Wheelchair Drive. Your manually propelled wheelchairs, wheelchair foot rests, walkers (collapsible), crutches and canes (aluminum) can be refurbished and repurposed. Your donations are carefully restored to working condition and then given to people in third world countries who might not have access to these wonderful devices. Call the Church for more information on how to donate. Or check out the web site Deacon s Message We are beginning our new Church year, and we'd like to introduce the Board of Deacons: Alice Munde- Kayange, Susan Glascom, Lois Bohlman, Dorothy Moore, Lynn Phelps, Izar Martinez. Joula Kussey, Jean Veiten, and Gayle Timilione. Our Board is self-funded and very grateful for the monetary support from our church members. Any donations can be put into the green envelopes in the pews, and then placed into the offering baskets. Some of the projects that we support quarterly are the following: Family Service of Redlands (There is a donation basket in the church Narthex that is for nonperishable donations) Home Again Salvation Army of Redlands Peanut Butter and Rice Fund Salvation Army Bus passes and Gas cards VA charitable services bus passes Youth Hope Christian Counseling Services Thank you and God bless you for your continued support so that the Deacons can meet their financial obligations.

5 Page 5 September 1 September 4 September 6 September 8 September 10 September 12 September 13 September 13 September 15 September 16 September 18 September 19 September 20 September 21 September 23 September 26 September 30 Happy Birthday! Dick Jones Eleanor W. Merritt Hina Barkat Izar Martinez Jerri Rodewald Kasim Barus Susan Glascom Tehseen Suhail Hameed Barkat Mahtab Bhatti Monica M. Frederick Mary Lou Jones Patti Robertson JoAnne Andersen Diane Glascom Hart J. Tan Beverly Gaston Gordon Keith Jackson October 22, 1919 August 11, 2016 The life of Jack Tompkins was celebrated in a memorial service in the Sanctuary on Saturday, August 6th. Jack, a long-time member was fondly remembered by many friends and associates. Jack Dillon Tompkins January 13, June 13, 2016 And our dear friend, Gordon Jackson was memorialized on Tuesday, August 30. He and Janet had celebrated 70 years of marriage on July 20, of this year.

6 First Presbyterian Church of Redlands 100 Cajon Street PO BOX 2009 Redlands, CA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Phone: Visit us on the web at: fpcredlands.org Save Postage + Save Paper = Save $$ If you receive your Messenger by , the photos appear in color and are much clearer. If you would like to have yours ed, just call the office. (909) You can still receive a paper copy in the mail too if you like both. F I R S T PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF REDLANDS An Inclusive Community of Faith, Hope and Love The mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Redlands is to grow spiritually with the community by sharing the love of Jesus Christ with all who seek to know God through worship, prayer, fellowship, and evangelism.