July/Aug Thoughts from Rev. Michael Fry. The Session. Board Of Deacons. First Presbyterian Church of Avon

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1 First Presbyterian Church of Avon T h e We a t h e r Va n e July/Aug 2016 The Session Christen Trewer- Clerk of Session/ Christ.Ed Randy Ayers Rob Hatfield Stewardship Julie Mead Fun Raisers/ Fellowship/Hospitality Sue Orman Nominating Kay Pfluke Personnel/ Stewardship Kathy Rider Crisis Aid/Presb Scott Schlesing Fellowship/ Fun Raisers/Hospitality/ Venture Crew 86 Duane Staples Nom./ Rummage Sales/Trustee Judy Staudinger Memorial/ Rummage Sales Bob Tugel Special Accts Julie Witzel Mission Interp./ Board Of Deacons Betty Taromino- Chair /PO Carl Hogan Personnell/Nom Kathy Merrell Candles Susie Rothrock Crisis Aid Lisa Schillinger Memorial Audrey Schlesing Crisis Aid Amy Sinclair Sunshine/Cheer Christine Turk Flowers Ashley Schillinger Youth Helper Thoughts from Rev. Michael Fry Summer is a time of growth and life. We have a small vegetable garden in our backyard that is already producing lettuce greens and radishes. My son is looking forward to eating the peas that are climbing the trellis and my daughter is eyeing the cherry tomato plants. The local farm stand in York currently has strawberries that have just been picked. There are probably as many approaches to gardening as there are people who garden and at the same time one thing all gardeners have in common is intentionality. The gardener takes steps to prepare the soil, plant the seed, care for it through weeding and watering, and then enjoys the fruit it produces. Whether you garden or not, I am willing to bet that you are being intentional as you plan your summer. As I write this, school is in its last week and you are probably finishing your plans for weekend getaways, camping trips, and precious time off from work or time away from home. In a similar way, we will be intentional in our time together during this interim period. This summer I will be getting to know you and hearing your stories; the insights and perspectives on the church s history that you share will be invaluable to our work together. This is the first intentional step of interim ministry: reflecting on the church s history to see where it has been and how it got to where it is now, so that we can discern its direction in the future. We could think of East Avon as a garden and ourselves as the gardeners: right now we are now taking the time to plan, prepare the soil, and plant the seeds of ministry that, with proper care, patience, prayer, and God s help, will produce fruit that will nourish others and us. (Continued on page 2)

2 The WeatherVane Page 2 (Continued from page 1) Patience, prayer, and trust will help us in our time together as interim pastor and congregation. Just as we wait with varying degrees of patience for plants to grow, we will need to exercise patience with the interim process, the presbytery, and each other as we work through the process of interim ministry. You are in my prayers daily and I encourage you to pray for each other, the session, the deacons, and me. As your pastor I welcome your prayers for guidance, understanding, and wisdom as I seek to walk alongside you through the interim process. Finally we need to trust that God has brought us together for this time and this purpose, remembering, for everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven, (Ecclesiastes 3). May this be a time for patience, prayer, and trust as we prepare for the future God is growing in this garden in East Avon. In Christ s Peace, Rev. Mike Rev Michael Fry Update: Not sure how many of you have been able to attend since Rev. Fry has been preaching, but if you have not been here, you are missing out. He has sermons that closely relate to the bible verses for the week. He wears the mobile microphone so he moves about the church when he is speaking to both the congregation and the children. C H U R C H S T A F F Interim Pastor: Rev Michael Fry revmichaelfry@gmail.com Organist/Bell Choir: Joanne Cole Choir Director: Isaac Hutton Secretary: Debi Leinbach for WeatherVane articles: debileinbach@outlook.com Treasurer: Lori Cruz Church: He is very responsive to the needs of the church. For example, on one Sunday, folks in the back of the church were expressing their concerns for folks that needed our prayers. There was a bit of a struggle trying to get the unfamiliar names correct. As a corrective measure, the following week, Rev Mike took it upon himself to move up and down the aisle of the church to better be able to hear, respond and include the specific prayer requests. I know that he has also contacted church members who are in the hospital and moving to the nursing home personally. He is reaching out to our church family with respect and a desire to learn about people in our congregation. He is not afraid to ask questions to do things the right way so he doesn t ruffle any feathers. He is following our traditional style for communion for now and after he assesses how we do things, he may decide to change things up a little bit. He is making himself part of our church and is open to suggestions. So, if you haven t had a chance to meet Rev. Mike, please join us and get to know him. He is easy to hear and understand and will have a smile for each and every one he meets. Hoping to see you all soon! Betty Taromino

3 The WeatherVane Page 3 Many of the Sunday School participants were present for the picture taken after the Childrens Day Service. It was a fun and busy Fathers Day/ Graduate Recognition/Sunday School Teacher Appreciation/Third Grade Bible Receiving/ Childrens Day Service. More pictures on page 6. Please Remember: If you are mailing in your Pledges or you are using Bill Pay to send payment to the Post Office Box: PO Box 189 Avon, New York Thank You! Lori Cruz Rev. Fry, Christen Trewer and Third Graders Amy and Emily Sinclair and Jacob Trewer with their new Bibles J U L Y A C O L Y T E S A U G U S T A C O L Y T E S July 3 Genevieve Strom July 10 July 17 July 24 Communion Robert Schillinger Ben Taromino Aug 7 Aug 14 Aug 21 Communion Robert Schillinger Ben Taromino July 31 Genevieve Strom Aug 28 Genevieve Strom

4 The WeatherVane Page 4 Just for Laughs...

5 T h e W ea t h er V a ne P a ge 5 * phone numbers on front of newsletter For more information on the Golf Tournament contact Julie Mead* or Scott Schlesing* or Kevin Tucker or pick up a brochure in the Fellowship Hall

6 The WeatherVane Page 6 Thank you to our Sunday School Teachers Just a quick thank you to our Sunday School Staff this year. They worked very hard to come up with activities based on the curriculum so that our children learn more about God, our church and our beliefs. This is a very difficult task since they have from 3 year olds all the way up to 6 th graders in one group. We are very fortunate to have a few young adults who also join the teachers for project execution and assistance each week. We appreciate our Sunday School Teachers and Helpers To put a quick plug in for the fall Sunday School..it would make the life of our Sunday School teachers a whole lot easier if the children of our church came more regularly. When the class size changes from 1 to 15 on any given week, it is very difficult for the teachers to prepare a lesson for the week. They have to prepare for each age level because they aren t sure who is going to show up on any given week. Having been a Sunday School teacher for well over 25 years, I truly understand the difficulties these teachers are having trying to prepare and interesting lesson, appropriate for the whole group on a regular basis and then have no one but their own child show up that Sunday. We want to make sure our children come to church on a regular basis and have a great program for them that keeps their interest so that they become adult members in a church when the time comes. Very true these children may not be living in Avon when that time comes, but there will be others that are. We want to remain a vibrant church that grows and meets the needs of all our families. If we can get more consistent in our attendance, then perhaps we can spilt the children up in to groups so that even better, more age appropriate lessons can be prepared. Yes, we would need even more volunteers, but what a joy it would be to see our church full of joyful children again. And remember that your children s friends are always welcome to join in. Hugs and Love to you All. Betty T. Third Graders Anna Sinclair, Emily Sinclair and Jacob Trewer received Bibles on Childrens Sunday.

7 The WeatherVane Page 7 Balance May 1, 2016 $24,289.13

8 The WeatherVane Page 8 July 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Sept. WV articles due 8/22 or before Each Mon. PW Crafters 9:30 am Each Thurs 12:15AA 7:30pm AA & Alanon 1 2 Each Sat. 12 Noon SIS

9 The WeatherVane Page 9 August 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Sept. WV articles due 8/22 or before Each Mon. PW Crafters 9:30 am Each Thurs 12:15AA 7:30pm AA & Alanon Each Sat. 12 Noon SIS :00pm Session

10 First Presbyterian Church 5605 E. Avon Lima Road Avon, NY September 2016 WeatherVane Articles Due August 22, or earlier if able July/Aug. 16 WeatherVane Or current resident NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO.21 AVON, NY High School Graduates Lindsay Welch and Alison Gregor were honored on