To the many Gracious Saints in and around First Presbyterian Church,

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1 To the many Gracious Saints in and around First Presbyterian Church, The month of May was filled with growth -- the community garden is growing four new members joined the Church a dynamic conversation was began between the Session and Board of Deacons defining the meaning of church membership and the future ministries of the Church two dozen people turned out for the gigantic Church Clean Up Day, filling our dumpster to the point of overflowing! (Those participating on Saturday were treated to donuts provided by Joel Franklin.) several unused pianos around the Church found new homes throughout the community. Our Spiritual Cup is running over. Kim Roider began another wonderful Women s Bible Study on Sunday morning. Kim exhibits a love of God and a love of God s Word which inspires several women in our congregation. If you have not attended her class, I prayerfully ask that you would seriously consider attending within this next month. Shortly, I will be announcing the start of a Men s Ministry. I am working with one of our new members, Lee Balis, who shares this passion for an effective Men s Ministry. It is my hope that by the end of the summer several men of our congregation will be meeting weekly for Bible study and encouragement for our walk of faith in Jesus Christ. I am sensing a true hunger within our congregation to once again become a relevant congregation ministering to the needs of our broader community and supporting Presbyterian mission endeavors around the world. I am convinced as your Transitional Pastor that this resurgence is a key ingredient to our congregational survival. I do not know of a single thriving congregation that does not embrace the community directly around the church campus and has a sincere desire to share the love of God. One important step in our revitalization took a huge initial first leap. On Friday and Saturday, May 19-20, our major church facility clean up was begun. Our initial efforts are very commendable. There are still many rooms and areas that need our attention. If you are interested in assisting in this enormous effort, please look for the announcement of our next formal clean up day or call the church office to volunteer a few hours over the next few months. Every effort is sincerely appreciated. The next important step in preparation for the Calling of your new Pastor is to build a consensus in the congregation defining the specific purpose of our ministry at El Dorado and Vine. The primary group assigned to this task is the Session. But I will strongly encourage the Session to engage as many members as interested in this important dialogue. I cannot emphasize the importance of this step too much. When a congregation is able to articulate with one voice what it s purpose is, are much more likely to select a candidate who is right to be their next Pastor. (continued on page 2)

2 Transitional Thoughts (con t.) This dialogue will begin with a day long seminar in the near future. Your voice, as led by the Holy Spirit, is an important one to be heard. More information about this will be in the bulletin and Window soon. The Finance, Building & Grounds Committee appreciates the many suggestions that have been submitted on the bulletin board in Westminster Hall. Suggestions are farreaching and transformational. The myriad of suggestions will be contemplated by the Committee with a list of priorities forwarded to the Session. The Session will be sharing this facility priority list with the congregation in the very near future. I consider it a great honor to be your Interim/ Transitional Pastor as we prepare for the faith-based, dynamic future of our congregation. Your servant in Christ, Pastor Kim Restore will be hosting their 5th annual summer leadership camp June 5th-9th and 12th-16th. The Great Voyage is a summer leadership camp that aims to empower students grades 6 th -12 th in an e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e creativity and passions will be explored, community will be built, and leadership lessons will equip them to step out boldly as leaders. We traditionally host between youth, and the cost per camper is $50 for the two weeks. If it is on your heart to sponsor a camper with a scholarship or to support the camp in any other way, we would greatly appreciate that. Please contact the Restore office at info@restorestockton.com or Restore s monthly Come to the Table outreach event has now been in place for six months, and many lives are being impacted as a result. This event was started with a heart to reach out to the homeless in our community and bring them into family. Rather than just handing out food, we invite those who are outcast by society to come in to an inviting place, sit at a table, and share a meal with people who care about them and see their value. The Robes of Righteousness clothing closet is also open at this time as a resource for the people who come, as well as the Midtown Food Pantry. People s lives are being transformed from the inside out as they come back month after month to hear people speak words of life and love over them. There are truly no words to explain how beautiful and impactful this time is both for the people from our community who come and for those who come to serve them. God s love is so powerful! If you are interested in partnering with this ministry in any way, please call the Restore office at or info@restorestockton.com Date June 4 June 11 June 18 June 25 Name Janet Sepiol Amanda VanZwaluwenburg Kate Salamon Gail Herron PG 2 JUNE 2017

3 In order to help avoid the heat of the day during the summer, beginning Sunday, June 4th, worship will begin at 9:30 a.m. This will be worship time throughout the summer, ending August 27th. Mark your calendar so you won t be late! June 4th is Pentecost and it s Red Day for Church. Everyone should wear red and plan to stay for our Tongues of Fire luncheon. So, on the first Sunday in June, be sure to bring red food, spicy food, or whatever food you like on a warm June day. Bring whatever the Spirits lead you to bring! Look for an reminder that will have all the final details. Remember that this is the first day we will have the 9:30 a.m. service time, so brunch food is also an Our church has partnered with EWaste 4 Good through Tri-Valley Recycling here in Stockton. They pay when you recycle old electronics, including TVs, cords, monitors and computers. Because we are now registered with them as a non-profit, when you recycle you can tell them it is for First Presbyterian Church, and any amounts earned from what you are recycling will be credited to our account. All you have to do is go to their website and complete the requested information. Within a few days, a dispatcher will call you to schedule an inhome or office pick up. You can also call them at to set an appointment for pick-up or you can deliver your items to Tri Valley Recycling, 1988 E. Alpine. We hope this will help you clean out your old electronics. Thank you for your support! JUNE 2017 PG 3

4 It is not too late to join the new Women s Bible Study group, studying Keep It Shut by Karen Ehman. This study explores how to better control your tongue, knowing what to say and how to say it, and realizing when it is best to say nothing at all. Because of the change in Worship time, this group will begin meeting after Worship on June 4th. The schedule of the remaining classes will be: If you would like to host two or more of the youth traveling with the Celebration Ringers while they are here in June, please contact Suzi in the office or complete the form you ll find in the June 4th bulletin. June 11th June 25th July 2nd July 9th After Worship After Worship After Worship After Worship See Kim Roider if you are interested in joining this dynamic study. Don t forget to donate 2 canned food items on the first Sunday of every month. These items go into our Food Pantry. Readers R Us will be meeting Thursday, June 8th at 3:00 p.m. Kathy White s home Art Expressions of San Joaquin invite you to a free photo exhibit featuring the works of Elizabeth Ardery Lawrence. Thursday, June 22, Gallery Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (2318 Pacific Avenue/Miracle Mile) Reception: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of Beth s work will be donated to St. Mary s Dining Hall. Contact Eleanor or Bob Lawrence with questions PG 4 JUNE 2017

5 The Blessings of Stewardship Summer is coming and the First Presbyterian Choir and Music Program will be active. In late June and July we will have special soloists during Church. Beginning on July 23rd, we will start our Summer All Church, Family Choir. This choir will meet each week at 8:30 a.m. doing music that will be fun for all involved. Each week we hope that many of you who are not able to commit to a full year of choir can come and share in each week s musical offering. There is no requirement to be there every Sunday, just come as often as you are able. We will share with the congregation each week whether we are few or many, so I hope many will come so we will be many each week. Also beginning on July 25th the Bell Choir will begin to ring again after church each week. if you have some experience reading music and would like to participate in a new worship activity, please remain after Church on July 25th. Rehearsals will begin approximately 30 minutes after Church is over. While we often think of the obligations of Stewardship, the real center is the Blessings of Stewardship. To quote those with a gift for words: Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don t have, you will never, ever have enough. Oprah Winfrey. Stewardship is everything we do after we say, I believe. Anonymous Meditate on the Blessings of Stewardship. Saturday, July 15th is Ports Faith Night. We have 25 tickets available for members and friends. Please contact Suzi in the office for tickets - limit 4 per family. Summer brings an exciting season for our Music Program. I hope many of you will decide to participate. Contact John Vaughn for details. JUNE 2017 PG 5

6 Dear Friends at First Presbyterian Church, Four new members were approved by Session for membership by Reaffirmation of Faith: Hector & Elsbeth Lara and Lee & Gloria Balis. Session approved the Summer Worship time change to 9:30 a.m. beginning June 4th and continuing through the end of August. The Mission Committee invites anyone interested in befriending families who find themselves between homes to the second Community Meeting on Tuesday, June 6th, at 7:00 p.m., First Congregational Church (3409 Brookside Rd.). See Kathy White or Cheryl Hunt if you are interested. What a joy to meet with so many faith groups! I have spent many pleasant hours remembering the wonderful party you gave me for my retirement from the Organist position at First Presbyterian Church. The beautiful album provides the spark for hundreds of vivid memories, and the dozens of beautiful cards trigger more. The photo of the organ is a treasure and everything is so carefully assembled. You know I will be pouring over its pages dozens of times. To have Gus Wright attend the party was priceless. How very special to have him arrange his trip in order to be here then. I appreciate every person who took the time to come that Saturday afternoon, and all the kind folks who provided the delicious food, composed the clever songs and prepared the verses. John Vaughn and Suzi Treganza were two of them and there were others. Thank you! I will always remember my 23 years at First Presbyterian Church. Presbyterian Women will meet on Tuesday, June 6th, for their last Bible Study lesson. I hope you have read Luke 10:38-42 several times and answered all the questions. I found these passages helpful during a difficult week when I had to make hard decisions. Fondly, Marie Medford On Tuesday, June 20th, we will have our luncheon. Surprises are always in store! You can find more information on the tragedy in Syria on the Presbyterian Disaster Response Website. You may remember that Dr. Mary Mikhael said that the solution will not be solved militarily. We have some advocacy to do! Thank you to Autumn, Tola, Marilyn, and others who helped with our literacy challenge. Cheryl Hunt, Chair To everyone who celebrates their birthday in June. We wish you many blessings. PG 6 JUNE 2017

7 Are you interested in serving on a committee? Or perhaps you have a question for one of our committee chairs. Here is a list of the committees, the name of the Chair and the day and time they usually meet: Christian Education Currently being reorganized Fellowship Merilyn Vaughn Meets as needed Finance, Building & Grounds Eric Goldsmith Meets 2nd Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Mission Cheryl Hunt and Kathy White, Co-Chairs Meets 1st Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Stewardship Gail Herron Meets as needed Support & Endowment Janet Sepiol Meets as needed While recent temperatures may seem a little hot for most of us, summer vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant, basil, zucchini, peppers, corn, cucumbers and melons will not be complaining. Some tomatoes are already starting to form. Though many associate summertime temperatures with crisp summer salads, lettuce does not do well in hot weather and will usually go to seed quickly. This is also the case for chard, broccoli, kale, spinach, and cauliflower. These veggies are best suited for our fall/winter garden. Just about all of the plots have been spoken for except the tan raised bed at the north end of row 2. Though you can start plants from seed, most folks buy seedlings from garden centers and position them close to the emitters so they will receive ample water. If you are interested in using part or all of the remaining bed, please contact Suzi and get started enjoying fresh from the garden produce! Worship & Music Lee Mecum & Gretchen Louden, Co-Chair Meets 1st Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Worship Technology Earl Roider Meets as needed JUNE 2017 PG 7

8 First Presbyterian Church of Stockton 31 E. Vine Street Stockton, CA Phone: Website: fpcstockton.org Business Office Hours: Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The deadline for submission of articles for the July Window is June 20th. JUNE 2017