THE GRAPEVINE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SANDPOINT, IDAHO

Transcription

1 1 THE GRAPEVINE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SANDPOINT, IDAHO March/April 2018 From the Pastor Sometimes I still can t believe the Scottish Canal Authority allowed us to navigate a rented, 54-foot-long canal boat through the multimillion dollar Falkirk Wheel! Who am I? A sea captain? There s over 8 stories of height difference between the Clyde-Forth Canal and the Union Canal. This rotating boat lift was a Scottish Millennium Project and has received numerous engineering awards. Shawna and I rented a Narrow Boat for a week to tour the Union Canal and visit Edinburgh, but we had to go through the Falkirk Wheel at the beginning and ending of that tour. I had never driven a diesel powered boat with a tiller, rudder, and throttle like that boat had, until that very day. Any number of things could have gone wrong in terms of operator error. Yet, captain the boat, I did! Navigated into the lagoon, maneuvered into the gondola of the Falkirk Wheel, tied up to the side; we did everything we were told in our brief orientation and all in view of many tourists taking pictures and videos from the dock of this World Heritage Site. v=_tbh9se-kw8 is a link to a You Tube video that shows eight minutes of the wheel in action. This video features one of the tourist boats with seating. Our boat was more like a floating RV, complete with kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, dining, etc. Another difference is that the video features a sunny day. We were in the wind and rain, which complicated the navigating, but didn t dampen the spirit of adventure. At one point, as we were powering across the lagoon, approaching the entrance to this boat lift, the chatter in my mind came to a peak. That is when I told myself to stop questioning my commitment, that ready or not, we are moving forward! I decided that the only way driving that boat correctly was going to work was by having confidence in my abilities, in fully committing to the process. A little throttle, forward, then reverse, move the tiller, toss the rope, cut the engine. I actually made it look easy, and it was amazing to be entrusted with such an endeavor. This adventure is a good metaphor for our spiritual life. So many Christians, especially during Lent, cut themselves short and focus on the woe is me aspect of faith we ve been taught through the church using a sin/ redemption model. Penal Sacrificial Atonement Doctrine, for the last few centuries, has perpetuated the belief that we are separated from God through our sin. But sin can also be defined as the illusion of separation, and being unwilling to change. In fact, we are never separate from God, and no thing could be a thing without God to sustain it s being. We are, according to some, in the midst of a new reformation, where the internal chatter of our faith is getting challenged. With a similar dynamic to life on the boat that day, Christians are invited to move from asking, But who am I? to But I am! as we claim the humandivine connection as the Living Christ is embodied in our lives.

2 2 This emerging sense of original blessedness links us to ancient and deep wisdom, which the Gospel message has proclaimed in plain sight but has largely been overlooked by institutional religion and belief systems, shadowed by doctrines of original sin, guilt, shame, and the judgments of a wrathful God. Where is the good news with a God like that? Thankfully, the creative power of God is raising awareness throughout the world to the transforming presence of Christ incarnate, of God with us. Church forms are emerging where Christians are invited to take to heart the Eucharist's Sacramental equipping to become the body of Christ in the world. It is through the heart that this is perceived. Even when the storms come and the sailing isn t exactly smooth, the great I AM is living and calling us forward. And even when I m not so confident, it is Christ within me who is. May God bless us as a church as we seek, celebrate, and reflect God in all things, and all things in God. Peace, Pastor Andy SABBATICAL HIGHLIGHT The last planned event of the Sabbatical recently took place on Saturday, March 10, It was over two years ago that a bee keeping workshop was explored as a way to share information learned during the Sabbatical experience, particularly regarding the ApiTour through Slovenia exploring the A-Z Hive System. After brainstorming and dreaming, the Renewal Group put this in the proposal for the Lily Foundation grant. After the grant was awarded, Pastor Andy (me) purchased equipment to use as displays, and for over a year the empty hive has sat at my house in my Hermitage Room waiting for sharing. Two recent workshops fulfilled the Sabbatical vision of introducing a new idea to North Idaho. One was held at the church on March 10, and one was held in Ponderay on March 14. Both were well attended and the participants we eager to learn. It was fun to show pictures from the Sabbatical, featuring visits to Slovenian beekeepers showing their bee houses and equipment, along with their techniques and philosophies on bee management, Apitherapy, and other amazing things. One of the observations I shared in the workshop involved languages. In Slovenia, they speak Slovenian. This is a Slavic language and very different than anything I d heard before traveling there. We were thankful to have a translator for our guide, whose name is Janez. He knows several languages, and is fluent as he shares aspects of culture, history, and the particular jargon of beekeepers. Since Slovenia was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, historically the German language was very prevalent. Most of the places we toured, people first spoke Slovenian, but could also speak English, however, they would prefer speaking German over English. Shawna was an exchange student in southern Germany during her Junior year of high school and learned German, with what you might call a southern drawl from that region. In northern Germany, people assume she is from southern Germany. She speaks fluently and flawlessly, but her vocabulary is limited compared to actual Germans. She doesn t know as many words, or she may phrase something more like you would read it in a children s book. The words she does know, she can pronounce very well, so most of the time she can pass as a German. The Slovenian s faces would light up when they found out she could speak German, although it wouldn t be long before

3 3 they would go back to Slovenian and use our guide for translation. That was just easier, plus, I didn t understand either German or Slovenian. Like most Americans, I only speak English, even though I took two years of French in high school. It is difficult to maintain a language if you don t practice and keep expanding your vocabulary. That gets to this month s Sabbatical highlight shared by Shawna: speaking German, being in Germany, enjoying the immersion experience of another culture. Shawna was able to practice, learn new words, and watch people express their disbelief when they found out she was American. She could pass as a German, but I could not. For example, when we borrowed our friend s motorhome to visit Italy, it had German license plates, so in the campground other German tourists would walk by and say things in German. Um, I m not actually German, I am American and only speak English, is what I would admit right away after an awkward silence, then they would switch instantly to English, plus I would call for Shawna to come outside and chat in a mix of German and English. It was fun, and a good reminder that to really get to know someone, it helps to speak their language. To experience the fullness of a culture, having access to the native language really helps, even though catching certain phrases may take years. You know you ve mastered a language when you can laugh at the jokes. Otherwise, you just sit there like I did until someone explains it in your language, but by then the joke has passed, and jokes are not usually as funny when they need explaining. Driving that motorhome and crossing the border from Italy into Austria, where Austrians speak German, brought with it a sense of relief as things could be more familiar, understood, and communicated. Shawna did a great job improving her German during the months in Europe, patiently doing all the talking as I stood quietly in the background at the counters of post offices, banks, tourist information centers, and other places. It felt strange for me to not be the one doing the talking, and the Germans would look at me as if I had some condition until they realized I could only speak English. Shawna enjoyed speaking German in the land of amazing history and culture, immersed in ways that only traveling for an extended time can offer.

4 4 THANK YOU!!! As Pastor, I realize that the ministry of First Presbyterian Church is a shared adventure and calling. I want to thank the people of the church for supporting me in living out this vocation, even as I encourage you through my role as a Teaching Elder, and walk the road of discipleship together. There have been many recent events, and specifically I want to thank Presbyterian Women for leading the Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday on March 4, and Barbara Rolph for preaching and leading communion. It was a nice Sunday for me to sing with the choir and learn from others. Also, the Earth Care Committee (Bill Love, Marilyn Robertson, Margaret Ann Maricle, Dave and Lynn Pietz, Carol Curtis, along with Judy Labrie) hosted the Bee Keeping Workshop on March 10, and the hospitality and education was appreciated by all those present. Thank you for helping that workshop take place in such an amazing way. Also, although there are many other events and people to recognize, I would like to specifically mention the shared retreats with Cedar Hills Church. The retreat planning team met many, many times and these three Contemplative Prayer retreats went very well as they reached out to many people from the community, including several churches and some who do not have a church home. Finally, a special thanks to Gary Pietsch for creating a prayer shawl that was blessed and given to Mary Bauer. She is thankful to receive the special gift, and the prayers Thank you to the retreat team, Sharon Anderson, Judy Labrie, Ginny Moody, Deborah Dickerson, Colin Moody, and the many others who helped these retreats happen. Also, a still ongoing project involves updating the church website. Sharon Anderson, Judy Labrie, Carol Curtis, Mickey Quinn and Kathleen Huntley, and I have given countless hours in meetings, project tasks, and design. It is getting closer to going public thanks to the work of Ubeity, LLC. Finally, for all those other projects and people I forgot to mention, I m sorry about that. But everyone please feel included in my saying, Thank You for your active ministry. In Christ, may we continue to share God s love and grace with the world. Peace and All Good, Pastor Andy

5 5 PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN Four intriguing personalities were portrayed (in costume) at the March 13 PW meeting. The Sampler of Influential Idaho Women included (from right) Louise Shadduck, Mother Johanna Zumstein (Foundress of St. Gertrudes ), Sacajawea, and Ella Mae Farmin. Four of our own ladies prepared and shared a program that was both informative and fun! Each woman presented her part in developing the west and Sandpoint areas. Lesson was led by Marion Ruyle and discussion followed on what to use for next year s study. April s program will be by Valerie McCormick, Director of the halfway house program in the former bed and breakfast. DEACONS Thank you to everyone who came and enjoyed the evening of fun on St. Patrick s Day. If you missed it... be sure not to next year as you missed a fun evening with good food, fun entertainment and fellowship! The Deacons presented checks for $ to the Bonner Gospel Mission and the Bonner Community Food Bank.

6 6 EARTH CARE NEWS AND RECYCLING NEWS 2017 PROJECTS COMPLETED WITHOUT SPENDING MONEY We should rejoice about some accomplishments of the past year that did NOT drain the church budget or our personal budgets, because they were using the maxim of Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle. Thanks to the Deacons, we recycled an estimated 360# of materials that would have otherwise been trash. And, in diligent efforts that are both Mission and Earth Care, we collected 25 Bibles, 7 New Testaments, and 2 Old Testaments for the Bible Foundation. We sent varied Christian literature (13#) to Christian Resources International. We turned in for repair and reuse 3 computers, 3 laptops, 1 monitor, 3 printers, 1 keyboard, 1 wireless router, 1 toner cartridge, & 2 satellite boxes. Also, we continue to collect Box tops and Labels for Education, eye glasses and cases for Eye Care International, pop tops for Ronald McDonald House, egg cartons & plastic grocery bags for the Food Bank, and cell phones for Hope Line from Horizon. Most of these projects are coordinated by Anna Bates. Thanks for your long term, patient efforts, Anna! Our church has been recertified as an Earth Care Congregation, based on our efforts in 2017! Many local people, including our Earth Care Team, felt encouraged about Bonner County recycling opportunities last summer when the Dufort Collection Site made Single Stream recycling available, and referred to that as a pilot program. We have now learned from the County Public Works Department that there are no current plans to expand the program to other collection sites in the county, because of costs. After the recycled materials are sorted in Spokane, most of them are eventually shipped to China for processing. China has announced that their facilities are overburdened with more materials than they can process. They are accepting less from the US, and will probably be raising the fees. If alternate processing plants are located, the local plans may change. There are a few success stories in recycling, and we should still make the effort. Items that do actually become useable products again include office paper, newspaper, and cardboard. We should continue the diligent church and personal efforts to recycle these products, and to complete the cycle by PURCHASING PAPER GOODS MADE FROM RECYCLED PAPER. (Some of the processing of paper is done in the U.S.). It is also fortunate and convenient that curbside Single Stream recycling is available in Sandpoint city limits.

7 7 APRIL BIRTHDAYS 2 Bill Love 3 Anne Marie Casey 6 Elizabeth Griswold 12 Lani Wahl 13 Barbara Rolph 16 Joyce Boeck 30 Pastor Andy & Dave Pietz April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. (Sonnet XCVIII) William Shakespeare, Shakespeare's Sonnets

8 8 Calendar Announcements April 1 Easter Sunday 10:30 Worship. No Sunday school or Fellowship time before or after worship. April 2-May 21 Free Parenting Program, Mondays 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the LillyBrooke Family Justice Center, 227 First Avenue, Sandpoint. Call (208) to sign up. Flyer is on the Church Bulletin Board. 3 Church Breakfast 8:00 a.m. at Connies Café 8 Deacons Meeting 8:00 a.m. 8 Membership & Outreach Meeting and Earth Care Committee Meeting, after Worship 9-15 Pastor Andy on Study Leave at St. Gertrude s Monastery 14 PW Spring Gathering in Spokane 21 Highway Cleanup 10 a.m. at the Westmond Store, BRING GLOVES, Lunch at the Humes Home, 2004 Winchester Way, Sandpoint, ID May 6 Pastor Appreciation Potluck Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Fellowship, following service Monday 6:00 p.m. Al-Anon Tuesday Book Study Group 1:30 p.m. Contemplative Prayer Group 3:00 p.m. Choir Practice, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday 5:30 p.m. Companions in Christ on 1st & 3rd Wednesdays Church Breakfast 8:00 a.m. at Connies Café 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month Thursday 12:00 p.m. Al-Anon 7:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous Regular Monthly Events

9 9 First Presbyterian Church Ministers: Members and Friends Pastor Andy Kennaly 417 North Fourth Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho Pastor cell phone: