Inside this issue: F I R S T U N I T E D P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U RC H N A M P A, I DA H O

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1 F I R S T U N I T E D P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U RC H N A M P A, I DA H O Nampa First United Presbyterian Church Purpose Statement To bring people together to love and magnify God through worship, to minister to the needs of all His children, to fellowship in God's family, to spread the Good News, and to develop people to Christ-like maturity for their mission in the world. Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00am -1:00pm Office firstpresnampa@gmail.com Website: Phone: (208) Fax: (208) Pastor Aaron Berkowitz alb733@gmail.com Phone: Pastor s Office Hours Mondays & Thursdays 10:30am -1:00pm Inside this issue: A U G U S T Pastor s Message 2 Book Suggestions 2 General Fund Activity 3 Session/Deacons Highlights 3 Membership Class 3 Birthdays & Anniversaries 4 Nursery News 4 Movie Night 4 Lunch & Learn 4 NNU Choir & Orchestra Concert 4 Youth Activities 5 Confirmation Class 5 Kids Page 6 Calendar of Events 7

2 Page 2 When I have been able, I have been studying in preparation for our Bible Study on the book of Job. Why do good people suffer? is a different question to different people. The idea of suffering and the experience of suffering are two very different things. There are some who want an answer they can understand because they believe it will protect them somehow. I can tell you from my experience with many case studies that it will not. I can also tell you that although you may find an answer, we, the group studying together, will not all reach the same conclusions. If you are accustomed to certain other Bible studies, you may be expecting me to teach the book of Job in a way that reaches definitive answers. I will tell you now that will not be the case. I am not like those pastors who offer authoritative, conversation-ending-dogma. I offer perspectives that start conversations, not pronouncements that settle the matter once and for all. The book of Job endures precisely because the matter it dramatizes will never be settled in this life. I hope you will come to our Lunch and Learn Bible study. But I hope you will not expect pat answers. I simply don't believe in them. Job is part of what we call the Wisdom Tradition. As such, it belongs in the same category as Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. All three Biblical books explore the problem of evil: If God is Good, why is there suffering in the world? Proverbs agrees with Genesis 3 that suffering exists as punishment for evil; God rewards good with blessings, and punishes evil with suffering. Ecclesiastes says that many good people suffer, and many wicked people prosper, so with some resignation, we should honor God and take as much joy as we can in life. But where Ecclesiastes and Proverbs use philosophy and argument, Job uses narrative to make the topic personal. Job searches for the meaning of suffering with intense feeling, not academic curiosity. Job loses his wealth, health, and his children. What does he want? What we all would: comfort, answers, and a hearing before God. He gets his hearing before God. Come and hear the story. Join the conversation. Hope to see you Thursday, September 7th at noon. -Pastor Aaron Book Suggestions from Pastor Aaron This month I want to recommend to you one of my favorite books of all time. A very wise theology professor, and a Presbyterian Pastor, once suggested this book. To this day, it has been the single most influential book I have ever read. I would like to say it represents my positions on everything from Scriptural authority to church governance. What I can say is that I want it to be true, and the book represents my ideals. Robert McAfee Brown writes about the character of Protestantism. Protestantism is the large umbrella that our church sits under, alongside Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, and many others. You could also say that Protestants are those Christians who are not Catholic or Eastern Orthodox. The book answers many questions with astonishing clarity. What is the difference between Catholic and Protestant beyond the obvious visible forms? What unites all of the Protestant denominations? What are the most important beliefs and which are less important? Why are there so many denominations? If you have ever wondered about any of these, this book will help you. It is out of print, but you can buy new and used copies on Amazon. If you don't have access to an Amazon account, come to the church and we can order a copy for you. I am happy to support anyone who wants to read this book!

3 Page 3 General Fund Financial Activity Revenue to date $107, Expenses to date $109, Difference -$2, Balance as of May 31, 2017: $29, Balance as of July 19, 2017: $26, August 25, 2017 Session Highlights July 18, 2017 At its regular meeting on July 18, Session: heard preliminary plans for a fall stewardship drive and celebration. designated Barbara Hindman as one of our delegates to the meeting of the Presbytery of Boise on August 19 in King Hill. set September for the beginning date for a 6-week confirmation class and a new lunch time Bible study (Lunch and Learn) on the book of Job. applauded the Memorial Committee for purchasing 40 more chairs for the church and having reflective film installed on the windows in the fellowship room. considered finding nominees for clergy, elder, and young adult delegates to General Assembly on June 16-23, scheduled the next regular Session meeting for August 15, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Respectfully submitted, Linda Zornik, Clerk of Session Deacons report July 10, 2017 Deacons will be dependent on congregational giving in the pew envelopes as their funds will be separate from the church s money. There have been a lot of illness recently, requiring more visitation and care from Deacons to supplement Pastor Aaron s work. The active fall schedule will include a New Members class, a new Confirmation class, a new Lunch and Learn noontime bible study on Job starting in September and an active Stewardship Drive. We need to attract more youth. Having a full-time adult youth director is a project in the wings. The next meeting will be Monday, August 7th at 7:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Wendy Bierman, Secretary Membership Class There will be a two-part membership class held after the worship services on Sundays, September 17th and 24th. We will meet in the Fireside room, lunch will be provided, and each class will be about 1 ½ hours. This is an opportunity for you to explore membership at First United Presbyterian Church. Attending these classes does not mean you are automatically expected to join. Discussion will include history of the Presbyterian church in general, the meaning and purpose of membership, and the opportunities for involvement in our church. Please contact the office if you plan to attend so we can prepare the materials and lunch.

4 Page 4 8/01 Marge McKee 8/03 Larry Green 8/07 Janis Batey 8/07 Lori Ober 8/07 Brenda Takatori 8/08 Debra Winch Hayes Kneidl 8/12 Manny Guzman 8/12 Gene Rutan 8/13 Barbara Hindman 8/14 Julie Niediek 8/19 Phil Durfee 8/19 Tiffany Neely 8/20 Wendy Coons 8/21 Dottie Christensen 8/21 Steve Watkins 8/23 Jennifer Cole 8/24 Shirley Carl 8/24 Aaron Berkowitz 8/26 Gussie Choat 8/30 John Krommenhoek Known August Birthdays 8/6 Joseph Neely 8/15 Megan Lolley 8/22 Ian Leavitt Movie Night There will not be a movie night in August. The next movie night will be Saturday, September 23rd at 5:30 PM. The movie is The Zookeepers Wife. Watch the movie ahead of time and then bring a potluck dish to share, your own table service and beverage and join in the discussion and fellowship. Lunch & Learn Bible Study Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? That is the most difficult religious question of all time. For thousands of years, theologians have proposed various answers. Everyone who has seriously considered this question has used the book of Job. We will read the book of Job ourselves to determine what it has to say. The best part is we will do this while eating lunch together. Bring your lunch and your Bible! Thursday afternoons from 12:00pm to 1:00pm starting September 7th. Nursery Thank you to our nursery volunteers who helped in July! Sharyn Barrett Paul & Shawna Anderson Yvonne Baker Shirley Horrace Jo Anne Kennick 8/01 Tom & Jean Borer 8/05 Jack & Betty Baker 8/07 Paul & Shawna Anderson 8/08/87 Roger & Miriam Haylett 8/13/88 Scott & Wendy Hamilton 8/14/99 Mark & Cindy Dion 8/15 Don & Yvonne Miller 8/22 Gary & Barbara Hindman 8/25/56 Ronald & Nancy Howell 8/25/72 Tom & Pat Cole 8/25/90 Tom & Stefanie Crowley 8/26/49 Bud & Pat Bennett NNU Choir & Orchestra Concert Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 10 th! The NNU Choir and Orchestra concert will be at 6:00 pm here at the church. This auditioned ensemble of around 90 students performs extensively throughout the region and internationally. Their dynamic concerts feature a variety of music from hymn settings, contemporary Christian, classical choral/ orchestra repertoire, and a cappella settings. Here is the nursery schedule for August. 8/6: Brett Lolley & Melanie Jones 8/13: Sarah Berkowitz 8/20: Barbara Hindman 8/27: Ann Guzman

5 Youth Activities Update Most of July was left wide open for the youth, as that is the busy season for Camp Sawtooth. Several of the youth of the church attended Camp Sawtooth in July, and if you happen to see them wearing their yellow shirt ask them how they liked it. As we look towards the month of August, plans are underway to prepare for Sunday school, youth group, and Presby Kids Club. So, without further ado here is the plan for the near future: Sunday school begins the Sunday after Labor Day, September 10. That being said, we are again looking for people to volunteer as Sunday school teachers, whether it is one Sunday or a month of Sundays. A sign-up sheet is in the back if you would like to sign up for either the 2 nd through 5 th grade or the 6 th through 12 th grade classes. You can also sign up through to Brett Lolley or Tiffany Neely. The volunteers last year did such a great job, and we hope to get the same level of dedication for this year s Sunday school. By moving Sunday school to run concurrent to the service, we saw better attendance than the year before, so we are continuing to offer Sunday school during the service. Presby Kids Club and Youth Group will begin on September 17, and continue on through the year on the 1 st and 3 rd Sundays. Plans haven t been finalized for activities, but a Welcome Back theme will carry the night. If you know a youth that would like to join us for an evening of fun games and good food, please invite them to come. It should be great fun! Brett Lolley Page 5 Confirmation Class All students grades 6 or higher are invited to attend a confirmation class this Fall. We will cover the essential Christian teachings that all members of our church should know. After attending this class, students will have the opportunity to meet with our Session and be received as full members of this congregation. However, attending the class does not obligate a student to join, the choice is theirs. Also, if a student has not White Flower Hello there, little plain white flower Not showy like your yellow neighbor, Mr. Pot O Gold Or clever like Miss Bleedingheart, But in God s scheme of nature You have a part. Look Closely! Your petals have an interesting design In the middle is a circle of color Sometimes red, sometimes yellow, even black See little flower, though void of color Beauty you do not lack. been baptized in a Christian church, that student can be baptized prior to entering membership. We will meet in the Fireside room Thursday nights, 6:00pm to 7:30pm, September 7th - October 12th. That is 6 sessions. A light dinner will be served to open the meeting. Please sign up so we will know how much food to prepare. Humans are much like flowers Some showy, some clever and some plain But, with their various designs and spots of color God with his scheme and overflowing heart Has given to each an important part. By Faith McCallum Betty Pearson s sister

6 Answer: C (See Genesis 30:19-21.) Page 6 Bible Quiz Jacob had two wives, two concubines (his wives maids), 12 sons and one daughter. Who gave birth to the daughter, Dinah? A. Zilpah B. Bilhah C. Leah D. Rachel

7 6 8:45a Bible Study 10:00a Worship Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 13 8:45a Bible Study 10:00a Worship-Communion 20 8:45a Bible Study 10:00a Worship 5:30p UT/ID Performing Arts Concert 27 8:45a Bible Study 10:00a Worship 7 7:00p Boy Scouts 7:00p Deacons 14 9:00a Worship Committee 7:00p Boy Scouts 21 Community Shelter Meal 7:00p Boy Scouts 28 7:00p Boy Scouts 1 10:00a PW meeting :00a Brunch Bunch 15 5:00p Boy Scout Popcorn meeting 7:00p Session meeting Family Camp at Camp Sawtooth :00a Presbytery Meeting at King Hill 25 The Link Deadline 26 9:00a Seminary Without Walls

8 400 Lake Lowell Avenue Nampa, ID If this publication is no longer needed, please notify the church office. F I R S T U N I T E D P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H July July July July