Window. An engaged partner sharing the good news with a world in need of God s peace, love, Bible Journey. The. Black Mountain Presbyterian Church

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1 Black Mountain Presbyterian Church A CONGREGATION OF THE PC(USA) 117 Montreat Road, PO Box 39 Black Mountain, NC Fax: Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE P A I D BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC Permit No. 36 Bible Journey During the church school hour on Sunday mornings, the children are learning Bible stories in a new way. At the beginning of the hour the children gather for singing, prayers, and to hear the story. Then they explore the story in other rooms through several choices such as art, drama, cooking, games. Each unit will last a month. The fall schedule of stories includes Creation, Moses, and David. Would you like to get to know some of the children in our midst? We could use a few more assistants on a rotational basis. Talk to Ginny Soll to learn more. Window The news of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church September 25 through October 15, 2016 The An engaged partner sharing the good news with a world in need of God s peace, love, and justice, Black Mountain Presbyterian has been a telling presence in the Swannanoa Valley since With stirring worship services, beautiful traditions, and a welcoming open spirit, BMPC is a home for people of all ages and backgrounds to deepen their faith and make a difference in the world. Our church offers ministries in adult, children, and youth education; music and the arts; and social justice, with a highly engaged congregation welcoming and caring deeply for all people within and beyond its walls. As an active and influential member in our community, BMPC collaborates with other faith and benevolent partners to make our community a place where justice flourishes, love is shared, and people are valued. All of this happens, Because you Give to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church! Can I share with you once again how grateful I am to be your pastor? What a difference you are making in so many lives! The breadth of our ministry is dependent on the generosity of you, our donors. As we approach stewardship season, I ask you to prayerfully consider your gift to BMPC. There are some new and exciting ways of giving this fall! Details in the next Window. I remain grateful for each and every one of you. BMPC is starting a once-a-month creative, hands-on intergenerational worship service on September 25 and will continue on the last Sunday of Oct. and Nov. We will have a potluck dinner Bring your whole self to God following worship. A team of church members and staff have been designing this service for months and are excited about the movement of the Holy Spirit in our dreaming and planning. We hope you ll join us to Engage your whole selves in worship and in our community of faith on September 25 at 5 p.m. to worship through creativity, conversation, & embodied prayer

2 CalendarMany other groups meet here, but only BMPC events are reflected on this calendar. Sunday, September 25 Stewardship Kickoff Five Cents A Meal 8:30 a.m. FirstLight 9:40 a.m. Church School 11:00 a.m. Worship Service 12:00 p.m. Stewardship Luncheon 1:00 p.m. Sewing Ministry 5:00 p.m. ENGAGE Worship 5:00 p.m. Handbells Monday, September 26 5:30 p.m. Preaching Group Tuesday, September 27 1:00 p.m. PW Bible Study 2:15 p.m. PW Coordinating Team 5:30 p.m. Preaching Group 7:00 p.m. Prophets Wednesday, September 28 3:15 p.m. mā-i Children s Program 5:30 p.m. Preaching Group 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Sunday, October 2 World Communion Sunday 8:30 a.m. FirstLight 9:40 a.m. Church School 11:00 a.m. Worship Service 3:30 p.m. Officer Training 5:00 p.m. Handbells 5:00 p.m. MS & HS Youth Monday, October 3 11:30 a.m. Stewardship Ministry Team Tuesday, October 4 7:00 p.m. Prophets 2 Wednesday, October 5 3:15 p.m. MA-I 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Thursday, October 6 1:30 p.m. Red Cross Blood Drive Friday, October 7 7:00 p.m. Church Retreat at Holston Saturday, October 8 All day Church Retreat at Holston Sunday, October 9 Last morning of Church Retreat 8:30 a.m. FirstLight 9:40 a.m. Church School 11:00 a.m. Worship Service 2:00 p.m. SVCM Hunger First Baptist Church 5:00 p.m. Handbells Monday, October 10 No Weekday School Teacher workday 9:00 a.m. Endowment Ministry 10:00 a.m. Finance Ministry Team 5:00 p.m. Nurture Ministry Team 6:45 p.m. Ministry Teams Tuesday, October 11 11:00 a.m. PW Fall Gathering 7:00 p.m. Prophets Wednesday, October 12 10:00 a.m. The Window folding team 3:15 p.m. mā-i Children s Program 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir The next Window deadline is Friday, October 7, and covers news from October 16 to November 5. mā-i intern As ma-i (the Music and Arts Immersion on Wednesday afternoons) begins this fall, we are pleased to welcome David Joseph as an intern working with the program. David will be assisting in all aspects of the program. When you see him, please make him feel welcome. We are delighted to help foster his career interests and that he can lend his talents to our music ministry. David Joseph, from Concord, North Carolina, attended Concord High School from and was a part of the All-state North Carolina Chorus Festival for four years and a part of the North Carolina Honors chorus for years 2010 and David is currently a student at Montreat College studying music education with a concentration in choral studies. Over the summers he is also the creative dramatics director Kanuga Conferences Inc. in Hendersonville North Carolina. David plans to continue growing his music education background and hopes to teach middle school chorus. Get away from the crazy! Register now for the BMPC Retreat at Holston Camp and Retreat Center October 7-9 Join Pastors Mary Katherine and Berry and your church family for fun and fellowship. Registration deadline September 26. Final payment due September 30. Pick up an information sheet with a registration form in the narthex or click on Family Retreat on the home page at bmpcnc.org High energy at Youth Kickoff on September 18. See next page for more... 3

3 On September 18, we kicked off another year of youth ministry with a potluck dinner for youth and their parents. We had over 100 folks eating dinner together around tables. More than 50 youth, several of them new to BMPC, gathered to play and pray together. God is doing a powerful thing with our youth ministry at BMPC through our youth advisors, programming, and families. 4 Our middle school and high school youth gather for Church School each Sunday morning in the Church House. After a kickoff breakfast on September 11, we had our first Church School on September 18. The Middle School youth are working on artistic representations of the Scripture passage that they will use in a liturgical movement installation for the Engage worship service on September 25 at 5pm. Our High School youth studied Genesis creation story outside on the church playground on September 18. 5

4 Adult Church School Becomers Class 1 Corinthians, Library. Bible Exploration study of the book of Romans, CR2 Biblical Perspectives September 25 Judaism, Rabbi Wolff Alterman October 2 World Communion, Sam Baraki October 9 Climate as a Political Issue, Jeannie Franklin Faith Builders We are an inclusive study/fellowship group which focuses on a variety of topics chosen by the group itself. We also invite various church members from within or outside the group to share their faith journeys from time to time. Join us in the Parlor. New Class Wired Word Led by Mary Katherine Robinson, The Wired Word is a contemporary study of newsworthy weekly issues confronting families, individuals, communities, churches and countries. Issues are framed by Biblical passages in a manner which is respectful, nurturing, challenging and which encourages the presence of the Holy Spirit. Each week a new topic is sent via to people who sign up containing the story line, secular news coverage, video links, and questions in relation to the story with relevant passages from the Bible. Join us upstairs in Room Presbyterian Women Circle Meetings Tuesday, October 4 Elizabeth 10 a.m., Carol Cauthen, 6 Wagon Trail Esther 10 a.m., Alice Smith, 1 Wagon Trail Miriam 10 a.m. at the church Naomi 7 p.m. at the church Priscilla 10 a.m., Katherine Holman, 104 W. Greenbriar Rd. Rebekah 2:30 p.m., Highland Farms Lodge Ruth 1:30 p.m., Olivia LaMotte, 141 Woodburn Dr., Swannanoa Sarah 10 a.m., Florence Shelor, 15 Wagon Trail PW October Opportunities It s not too late for you to become a part of Presbyterian Women and join us for Bible Study, Mission Support, and wonderful fellowship. We will be meeting Tuesday, October 4. If you are not part of a circle and would like to join, please call Jane Collins, On Tuesday, October 11, at noon we will have our Fall Gathering in Fellowship Hall with a potluck salad luncheon. Following lunch will be our Thank Offering Celebration In the Shadow of Your WIngs led by Gay Mothershed, a member of our church and longtime denominational leader. Dedication Service for Solar Panels September 11, 2016 BMPC Artists & Crafters Show Thursday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. Our Fellowship Hall will be filled with beautiful works of art! Paintings Fabric Jewelry Calligraphy Poetry Pottery Photographs Woodwork Culinary Basketry or anything else you have created and would like to share! Tables will be set up and easels will be available for those who need them to display their work. We want artists to be available to answer any questions about technique, training or how you learned to do your craft! Dessert will be served. Exhibitors, please sign up on the sign-up sheet in the narthex. Weekday School News We are off and running towards a great year. Our first weeks of school have been wonderful. Only a few tears from both children and parents. The staff are settling into the routine and doing a great job. We have three new staff members this year. Our teams are: April Roy, Giraffe Class Lead teacher; Sandra Arrowood, Giraffe Assistant Teacher; Tanya Banks, Giraffe Assistant Teacher; Laura Centers, Kangaroo Lead Teacher; Julee Propes, Kangaroo Assistant Teacher; Netsanet Baraki Solomon, Raccoon Class Lead Teacher, Kristin Sargent, Raccoon Assistant Teacher, and Carrie Schmitz who is the Parent Morning Out Teacher, Kim Fisher and Kristi Morgan are our Floaters. This group is truly amazing. I feel very fortunate to be working with them. We have a total of 66 children in the Weekday School this year. Out of those 68 only 16 are members of this church, 27 are affiliated with other church congregations and 23 are not affiliated with any church. Thanks to the generosity of this congregation, we are currently providing scholarship assistance to three of our families who would not be able to be here without some help. We are proud to be a part of the mission and ministry of this church. Please be in prayer for the staff, children and families of your Weekday School. Alice Patton 7

5 As you can see, we all had a blast at the Labor Day Church Picnic at Rockmont. 8 LIBRARY NEWS Two new purchases for the library are books that are lighter in sprit and cheerful in tone. Both help readers revise their perspectives, even change their habits, and recognize God in unexpected ways. The titles are When God Winks at You and God Never Blinks. Squire Rushnell s book has the subtitle: How God Speaks Directly to You Through the Power of Coincidence. He says God cares about the details of your life and no matter the circumstances, you are not alone. God is with you. God s presence may seem a coincidence, but it is really a godwink. Rushnell has gathered amazing reallife stories that are examples of God winking at individuals. All of the incidents show God s hand in people s lives, often recognized after the fact. Some of the people are just like most of us; others are the experiences of famous people, such as Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Rudolph Giuliani, and Billy Graham. Rushnell is a New York Times author and television production director. He says, When God winks, He is reaffirming that there is absolutely nothing about us that He does not know every hurt, our every desire. And that to me is very comforting. The subtitle of Regina Brett s book God Never Blinks is 50 Lessons for Life s Little Detours. She gives the details of her troubled life, saying that she always felt that God had blinked when she was born. Only in later life did she acknowledge that her belief was false. Instead, God turned her personal story into one of happiness and success. She began to write her life rules that other people might realize that God will help you and never blinks at any time in your life. These lessons became essays printed in column form in Ohio s largest newspaper and later were compiled in this book. She is still a columnist for the newspaper and has a weekly radio program with an NPR affiliate station in Cleveland, Ohio. Neither of these books should be read as self-help selections: most of us feel we do not need those editions. Rather, both of these books can be read for pure pleasure and enjoyment. But, be careful: they might influence you to recognize and change some of your ways of thinking. POTATO LUNCH SUNDAY OCTOBER 16 Fund-raiser to help our youth go on retreats and conferences YOUTH All Youth September 25 ENGAGE worship and potluck 5-7pm. Youth families strongly encouraged to attend. Middle School October 2 Hike and Cookout in Montreat, 5-7pm 7-9 BMPC Camp Holston (Friday evening through Sunday late morning) 16 Potato Lunch High School October 2 Gunns, 5-7pm 7-9 BMPC Camp Holston (Friday evening through Sunday late morning) 16 Outdoor movie 9

6 September is Hunger Action Month In Buncombe County, 15.4% or 34,990 people, are food insecure or unsure of where the next meal is coming from.¹ Two of our mission partners, SVCM, an emergency food source, and Bounty and Soul, distributing free produce in five weekly markets, are working continuously to help our neighbors in need. Bounty and Soul is encouraging collection of healthy food options, and we can join with their efforts to provide nutritious options for the SVCM pantry shelves. When you are shopping for a Can-in-Each- Hand, consider selecting food that can provide the health benefits that fuel active children and adults and support those who may not have access to healthy choices elsewhere. Bounty and Soul recommends the following nutritious choices: Canned or Dried Beans: Black, Kidney, Garbanzo, Navy, White Northern, Lentils, etc. Canned Vegetables: (organic if possible!) Corn, Beans, Peas, Spinach, Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce, coconut milk Grains: Quinoa, Brown Rice, Oats (Steel cut, Old Fashioned), Whole Grain Pasta, Gluten Free Pasta Canned Meat: Light Tuna (packed in water), Sardines (packed in water), Wild Salmon, anchovies Soup: Organic Soups, Stews or Soup mix, vegetable or chicken broth (low sodium, no MSG) Condiments: Olive Oil, Unrefined Coconut Oil, Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Balsamic Vinegar, Salsa, Whole Grain or Dijon Mustard, Olives Snacks: Gluten Free Crackers, Rice Cakes, Trail Mix, Nuts, Seeds, Salsa, Low Sugar Granola Bars (less than 8 gms sugar/bar), Dried Fruits Nut Butters: Almond Butter, Natural Peanut Butter, Tahini Beverages: Shelf-Stable unsweetened Non-dairy milk (Almond, Coconut, Flax), seltzer water, low sugar coconut water (less than 8 gms sugar per serving) Cereals: Whole Grain, Less than 8 grms sugar/serving, Optional: Organic/Gluten Free. Avoid high fructose corn syrup. BMPC consistently donates at least two Ingles boxes of food each week to SVCM. Our record of regular giving, along with that of other faith communities, helps fill the shelves of SVCM s pantry. By selecting food that has lasting nutritional value we renew our commitment to not only easing food insecurity but also to caring for the well-being of those who must rely on the generosity of others to survive. Thank you for your continued support of SVCM, your recognition of the value of healthy eating for all the family of God, and your service in the name of our Lord, who instructed us to Feed my sheep. ¹Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap, Jessi in Malawi In a workshop at the Atlanta Next conference last spring, a woman was speaking about how separated her church felt from world missions.when Black Mountain Presbyterian Church was mentioned, she said. Oh, of course, that s a difference case. Indeed, as a congregation, we are blessed by missionaries in our midst who have served throughout the world, and the tradition continues as Jessi Stitt, once again, ventures out in God s name, and with the love and prayers of BMPC. Jessi will return to Malawi for three weeks in October to work for a third year with Marion Medical Mission helping install clean water wells. Afterward, she will be in Nkhoma visiting Ebenezer school where she served Jessi also worked two years in Haiti where she enjoyed Stop Hunger Now meals, perhaps ones we packed, supplied to the school where she worked. We are blessed by the legacy of the mission work done by so many BMPC members and the tradition continues as Jessi and others follow in their footsteps. Global Mission Opportunities Periodically, the Presbytery of WNC will organize a delegation to Global and domestic destinations in support of mission activities. Annually trips are taken to Malawi and bi-annually to Guatemala. If this interests you, please visit the WNC Presbytery presbyterywnc.org/mission-trips. Applications are being taken for the May 2017 trip to Nkhoma, Malawi, Africa. Application deadline is Monday, November 14. Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Walk for Hunger Relief Sunday, October 9, 2:00 First Baptist Church, Black Mountain Donations collected and walker sign-ups in the narthex after church Make checks to SVCM with Walk for Hunger on the memo line Contributions are tax-deductible and help SVCM combat hunger in the Valley. 10% goes to Church World Service for global hunger relief SVCM needs Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry is in need of the following: canned items (corn, mixed vegetables, pinto beans, pork and beans, diced tomato, red kidney beans), cooking oil (small bottles), toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, bar soap, diapers (size 4, 5, and 6) baby wipes, towels, wash clothes, and sheets. Monetary donations designated to food are welcome (send to P.O. Box 235). Drop off items at 101 N. Ridgeway Ave., Black Mountain. 11

7 A team from Black Mountain Presbyterian Church has been going to the AHOPE day center in downtown Asheville for the past seven months. This team consists of Susan Dannenberg, Ruth Duckworth, Anne Drummond, John and Betsy Murphy, Dave McClintock, Susan Jumper, Martha Murphy, Scottie Cannon, Grace Stitt, Margie Stansell, Mary Begley and Margo Smith. On the second Sunday morning of each month our team helps provide a variety of services at the day center including staffing the front desk, checking people in, answering the phone, and giving out towels, soap, razors, squirts of shaving cream, motrin, cough drops, bandaids, vitamins and other various and sundry necessary items. Other duties include getting mail to clients, giving out clean socks and underwear, making endless pots of coffee, keeping the kitchen area clean, and sweeping and mopping the floors after the guests leave at noon. We wash towels and make container runs downstairs so that people can get their personal items out of storage. The atmosphere is generally one of cordiality and organized 12 AHOPE Team Update chaos. While we do this, the AHOPE staff try to meet with clients one on one and help them apply for housing, get identity cards, make doctor s appointments and whatever else they may need. Guests come in all shapes and sizes. Some look homeless mismatched clothes, not the best hygiene and ragged haircuts and beards. Others, however, you would probably never recognize as homeless if you met them on a street. Some have jobs, and are just trying to get by in a tight housing market. Others have true issues with substance abuse, health, and mental illness which are barriers to their finding permanent housing. AHOPE keeps a census and checks guests in this last Sunday there were 133 homeless guests and 17 who did not have their own homes but were staying with either a friend or somewhere with a roof over their heads. For the most part the guests are polite, extremely resilient, hardy, and used to fending for themselves on the streets. upcoming youth events They often pitch in to help volunteers out grabbing a broom and sweeping, washing down tables, carrying out heavy pots of coffee or putting garbage out. They are truly appreciative of our being there and they watch out for each other. AHOPE is a community, a place where people can connect with friends, drink coffee together, meet with staff and generally try to put their lives back together. There are always needs at AHOPE and the BMPC volunteers are always trying to figure out what the greatest needs are and how we as a church can help out. While the center does not provide a formal breakfast, we do put out whatever food people or restaurants have donated. Guests may breakfast on cheetos and chocolate cake if that s all we have. The center usually has bread, milk and peanut butter but everything else is in short supply and sometimes even that runs out. This past weekend some of our volunteers had made muffins and hard boiled eggs which were literally gone in about 15 minutes. It is hard to see people eagerly eating what most of us would throw out. I would like to propose a Food Friday when members of our congregation could bring food items to the church kitchen on the Fridays before our group goes to AHOPE. Literally anything could be brought and it would be eaten; however, items which can be easily carried such as apples, bananas, hard boiled eggs, muffins, cheese squares, cereal bars, etc are most appropriate. In addition, we would like to have a box for donated items such as men s underwear (size medium and large), women s underwear (same sizes), T- shirts, socks (they prefer plain white), wash cloths, and used towels. In the winter hats, gloves, and scarves would be much appreciated. You will be hearing later in the season from the Mission Committee about Undy Sunday but truly, we can use the items any time. Thank you for supporting this important work. I think for all of us who volunteer at AHOPE it feels like a different form of worship and one which I think we all find immensely rewarding. The staff at AHOPE are awesome dedicated, calm in the midst of chaos, respectful of guests and firm when they need to be. If you are interested in volunteering please contact John Murphy ( ) or Betsy Murphy ( ) or you can them at jbmurphy5@ gmail.com. You can also contact Sharon Blythe (Volunteers Program Director) at the AHOPE center directly at

8 Ellen Farrior s response to Ethan Kadau s Guatemala story 14 Ethan s Guatemala Story On the evening we arrived at Eben-Ezer church, I heard that my Guatemalan friend Dither was coming by. As I was eating dinner, he walked into the room. I had not seen any recent pictures of him, but I knew that he was Dither. I stood up and we hugged each other, both of us the same height, age, and stature. Formerly separated by thousands of miles, I had finally met my special hermano en Jesus. Dither and I began communicating when we were seven years old through our church s pen pal program, and have stayed in touch ever since. Though we are very similar, we have grown up in very different circumstances. The two of us, both passionate about our family, education, church, and futbol, have one major difference. I was born into a fortunate family in the United States, and he was born into a town in Guatemala that isn t even on the tourist map. Quite frankly, it isn t fair. Dither has to wake up in the early hours of the morning to go work as a car mechanic. For many hours he works to support his family. Over this summer, I got to go sit on a lifeguard stand for a few hours every couple of days and save all of my earnings. It isn t fair that I am guaranteed a free high school education, and many Guatemalan boys my age can t pay for school and have to work just to support their families. It isn t fair that my biggest worries are what college I am going to attend and how I m going to do on the ACT when there are boys in Guatemala that are worried about where their next meal will come from. But because the world we live in is unfair, those of us who have been blessed with endless opportunity are charged to help those who have not been blessed with that luxury. A quote that our youth advisor, Reid Kirkpatrick shared with me: to whom much is given, much is required. I believe those simple words are ones to live by. Because of us at BMPC, my friend Dither and many other youth at Eben-Ezer are able to go to school and create a better life for themselves and their families. When I look at Dither, I see the same hope and aspirations that I have for success and I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to act on their dreams. BMPC is making that possible for the youth at Eben-Ezer Church. Ethan Kadau, 16, high school junior Ellen s response Dear Ethan, I am writing in response to your very thoughtful reflection on your experience with your penpal, Dither Del Valle, while visiting in Guatemala this past summer. I loved the tracing of your exchange of letters and pictures over the years. Then, when you described the very moment of recognizing and hugging each other, tears of joy streamed down my face! I have longed to share with the caring folks of our church commuinity the depth of my feelings for our companions in the faith in Guatemala the demands of their lives and the strength and authenticity of their faith. Through your powerful portrayal of the contrast in your and Dither s lives, you have done that. I honor your recognition of the inequality of your circumstances and the sincerity of your respect for him. Your letter reflects the deepening of kinship. I have longed for with our truly loved Christian br thers and sisters in Guatemala. In the love of our Good Shepherd, Ellen Farrior BIRTHDAYS SEPTEMBER 25 Jerry Newbold Holly Childs 26 John DeWitt Jeremiah Donaldson Eli Barker Gracie Corn 27 Jerone Herring Steven Coward John Hopkins Elizabeth Hunnicut 28 Sue Smith Beate Kaufman Cathy Evans 29 Sara LeVan Vivian Cooley 30 Debbie Home Bob Sperry Bill Cox Cindy Hile OCTOBER 1 Mary Knight Nick Murphy Mary Scott Robinson Will Chilton 3 Eleanor Landers 5 Doris Hogle 6 Tonia Allen 7 Annie Brady 8 Craig Cooley Rick Spielman 9 Barbara Jenkins Dave Johnson 10 Gayle Shelton David Duncan 11 Dot Kaylor Renee Sandy Daryl Fisher Kristi Morgan 12 Art Lindsay Bill Waterstradt Josie Munn 13 Barbara Massey Paul Willison 14 Lucy Dusthimer 15 Pete Peery Thank You BMPC family Dear BMPC, I am going back to Malawi with Marion Medical Mission next month! I will be there for three weeks (October 9-30) helping install shallow wells. MMM's goal this year is 2,500 wells and I hope to help with 100 of them, bringing clean water to about 150,000 more people. If you've heard me talk about my experiences with MMM, you know that the villagers dig and prepare the wells, and then I drive the truck with the pipes and Malawian personnel who install the pipes. Then I give them instructions on how to use the wells, and we all sing and dance. The village chiefs and elders say prayers and give thanks to God and to us, and then we pile back into the truck and head to the next village. It is lots of fun and pretty exhausting. When I'm finished with the shallow wells I will visit Ebenezer school in Nkhoma for a few days where I lived and worked for 2-1/2 years. I want to thank every one of you for your continued generous support of my mission work and for all your prayers and good wishes. I look forward to returning with more stories and pictures to share. If I can get internet connections I will try to post to my blog, Peace, Jessi Stitt To all the good folks at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, On behalf of the Taiwanese and Guatemalan pastors who participated in the retreat Sowing Seeds of Understanding I want to thank you for your warm and gracious welcome to all of them. I am grateful for the use of the bus, for the hard work of and Anne Drummond and Jim Layman, for those who hosted the pastors in their homes on Friday evening, for the wonderful welcome on Sunday morning at worship. The pastors were deeply impacted by their time in your midst, and I know their ministries in Taiwan and Guatemala will be different because of their time here. Thank you to Mary Katherine and Berry and Beth Gunn and so many others for sharing your time with our guests. In our deeply divided world it was such a joy to see the unity we share in Jesus Christ. Gratefully, John McCall 15