September CHANGE IN WORSHIP TIME Worship time returns to 10:30 a.m. September 2nd Pastor Kim was unavailable to write an article this month, so we bring you... Greetings from the Second Floor By: Nathan Werth Grants & Sustainability Coordinator Reinvent South Stockton Coalition I have the nervous habit of pacing while I m on the phone. A couple of months ago when the Reinvent South Stockton Coalition (RSSC) was based out of the Huddle building downtown I had a pretty mundane pacing circuit, walking up and down the one hallway. These days I find myself getting lost during conference calls. But with each call I keep finding more incredible rooms and spaces within this beautiful building. The RSSC team has been based out of this wonderful building for about two months now. We ve fallen in love with it. When I gave my daughter the tour she determined that Hogwarts was actually in Stockton, which to me was a testament to how magical this building can feel. RSSC are place-based collective impact projects, which is nonprofitese for a project that brings together partners within a specific area (South Stockton and Downtown) to improve the community. Initiated four years ago by now Mayor Michael Tubbs, Pastor Amelia Adams, and your former congregant Hector Lara, the mission of RSSC is to create balance in Stockton by improving people s lives in areas that have been disinvested since the days of the New Deal and red-lining practices. If you read the paper you may have noticed that we ve received quite a bit of recognition over the past year. With our growth we hope to see more good things happen for our community. We d like to take a moment and thank both the staff and the congregation of First Presbyterian Church. In the past we have told our funders that our work can be summarized in one term: love. We seek to bring love to Stockton, and we are greatly indebted to Pastor Kim and your church for having the vision to recognize that this is what we all collectively work towards. We would encourage you to not be a stranger! Our team is based out of the offices above Westminster Hall and we can usually be found here Mondays through Fridays during traditional work hours.
DEACONS PROJECT REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES FOR COLOMBIA The Deacons Summer into Fall project to benefit the children of El Tres, Columbia continues. El Tres is one of the areas where Doug and Cheryl Hunt have helped install water systems so the people can have clean water. The children at the local Compassion Center will benefit from having sports bottles to collect drinking water so they have it while at school. Our goal is to collect 60-75 new or gently used sports water bottles for them. Cheryl and Doug will help with the delivery. A box will be in Westminster Hall from mid- August through September for your donations or you can make monetary donations, and bottles will be purchased. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support. MEET OUR NEW PIANIST Ethan Albala has joined the FPC staff as our pianist. A Stockton-area based Music Director, pianist, actor, and lighting designer, he is currently a senior Vocal Performance Major at the University of the Pacific, studying voice and piano. In addition to being a student, Ethan works as a Music Director and Conductor for local theatre companies. At Showbiz Theatre Co., he served as Music Director and Conductor for The Rocky Horror Picture Show and A Christmas Carol. At Stockton Civic Theatre, he served as Assistant Music Director for A Little Night Music, and Conductor for Sister Act., and most recently, was both Music Director and Conductor for Stephen Sondheim s Company. Ethan spent two years serving as the Music Director for the First Congregational Church of Stockton, where he lead a small but mighty choir. He also would often play piano for services, fostering a love for music in worship. Ethan started an event called Coffee House Jazz, where his jazz combo regularly performed for the congregation, raising funds for the Music Ministry. Ethan has made numerous appearances acting onstage at theatre companies in Stockton, including Stockton Civic Theatre, Showbiz Theatre Co., Pacific Opera Theatre, and St. Mary s High School. In addition to his work in music and theatre, he has also worked as a theatrical lighting designer and electrician. I am excited to begin a new phase of my career as First Presbyterian s pianist. PG 2
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES If you are interested in singing with the Temple Choir, please see John Vaughn. ROBES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS DONATION HOLD We are so grateful to those of you who have donated clothes or shoes to Robes of Righteousness. During September, we are reorganizing and renewing our vision. Please hold any clothes or shoe donations during September. We will let you know when we are once again accepting items. Thank you for your generosity. May God bless you with precious gifts that money can t buy on your special day the gift of love the gift of friendship the gift of family the gift of happiness September 9 September 13 September 16 September 17 September 18 September 24 September 27 September 30 **Black = Birthdays **Red = Anniversaries Sylvia Cavanaugh Janet Sepiol Nathan Alessio Kathi Yeager Autumn Alessio Lizzie Zipper Sebastian Wright Bill Alessio We will be recognizing birthdays and anniversaries every month during worship on the fourth Sunday, followed by birthday cake in Westminster Hall. If your name or date is wrong, or you are not on the list and want to be, please let the Office know: 209-465-2653. Thank you. PG 3
MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON While the weather is still nice, we will once again barbecue for the Fellowship Luncheon on September 8th. Our Grill Master, Bill Buckley, will be manning our bbq one more time! The Fellowship Committee will provide the hot dogs, buns, mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. We are asking the congregation to bring salads, fruit, chips, desserts, chili, and anything else you like on your hot dogs! Come and spend time with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Thanks to all who have donated to help support our monthly luncheons. READERS-R-US Readers-R-Us will be meeting on Wednesday, September 12th at 3:00 p.m. at Gail Herrons s house to discuss Small Great Things By Judy Piccoult G.I.F.T. Growing In Faith Together Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 Stewardship 2018 I rejoice in the faithfulness and generosity of this congregation fully funding the Koinonia Project. This is the continuation of First Presbyterian Church s commitment to the community and investment in facilities and programs. Thank you all for your contributions! As you know, Stewardship goes on all year long. The Committee is now focused on the annual pledge drive that will culminate in November and help us fund facilities, staff, and programs during the upcoming year. All we have has come from God and our work is planning to give a generous portion back for His work. What gifts do you receive from First Presbyterian Church? Many of these are funded through our generous stewardship giving. Think and pray about your contribution to the work being performed here. Join us as we build for the future. Gail Herron Stewardship Committee Chair PG 4
Rebecca Nelson WE SAID GOODBYE... On August 5th, our Interim Organist, Rebecca Nelson, played her final worship service. We thank Rebecca for all the hours she spent bringing beautiful music to our Sanctuary. CHURCH WISH LIST In hopes of stretching the Church s budget, there are some items that could be donated to the Church. These items are: Reams of paper for our copier letter, legal (bulletins), and ledger sizes (Window) Bio-degradable paper plates (9 ), bowls, cold cups and coffee cups for coffee hour, Fellowship Lunches, and other meetings that take place here. No Styrofoam or plastic please. Coffee decaf and regular (ground) Power washer (we currently borrow Pastor Kim s) Pledge furniture polish (no generic please) Thank you to all who have helped. If you are able to donate any of these items, please contact Suzi in the Church Office. Hector & Elsbeth Lara On August 12th, we said goodbye to Hector & Elsbeth, who have moved to The Netherlands. Hector will be a professor at the Hague University. Hector was an Elder and Elsbeth worked with our Praise Band. We will miss his wise counsel and her beautiful music. Best of luck to them as they begin their new adventure. FINANCIAL UPDATE July 2018 Income $35,829.46* Expenses $19,889.34 Net Income $15,940.12 *Includes funds transfer from Support and Endowment to help offset monthly short fall. PG 5
ART EXPRESSIONS NEW TIME Starting Wednesday, September 5th, Art Expressions will meet from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm in Westminster Hall. If you have an interest in drawing, please feel free to attend (although there is an instructor, no actual teaching takes place; just helpful hints). You must have your own supplies. All levels are welcome. No charge; however, they do take a collection. Have questions? Contact Georgia Baxter at 598-1113 (call or text). WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY On September 16th, at 9:00am, we will begin another Women's Bible Study. The study will delve into the matriarchal lives of women such as Sarah, Hagar, and Rebekah and show us that these women were very human and flawed just like us. The title of our study is, Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, Flawed Women Loved by a Flawless God, by Liz Curtis Higgs. All women are welcome, so please plan to join us and see what God has in store for you. PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE We are pleased to report that the Nominating Committee of the congregation has been working hard in the discernment of who should serve on the Pastor Nominating Committee. They are currently talking to several potential candidates. Once five potential candidates have agreed to serve, their names and biographical statements will be shared with the congregation and a Congregational Meeting will be held for their election. A responsibility of each and every member of the church during this important time is to be praying for this process as well as for our new Pastor and his or her family. The Nominating Committee of the congregation is comprised of: Ruling Elder, Kate Salamon, Chair Sylva Cavanaugh, Deacons Rep. Mara Duffy Cheryl Hunt Earl Roider, Jr. Any questions, see Kim Roider any Sunday morning. PG 6
RESTORE UPDATE This month, Restore is excited to highlight some recent community partnerships that we have been engaged with, specifically through events and projects at First Presbyterian Church. We believe that God s call on his people is for us to work together as one global church body to impact lives from all areas, and we absolutely love engaging other churches, businesses, and organizations to accomplish together the greater work of building God s kingdom. Our August Come to the Table event brought together volunteers from five different local groups. People from Mosaic Church of Stockton, First Presbyterian Church, Gravity, Restore, and the Gospel Center Rescue Mission came together to serve and love on the disadvantaged in our community. It was a beautiful day of watching unity truly be walked out among God s people. In addition to events that bring people together at First Pres, there are projects happening consistently that are creating bonds of unity among organizations and churches. A young married couple who are Restore missionaries have been renovating the upstairs apartment for about a year, and through their efforts it is being restored to its former glory and more. Our Little Free Library is a busy place! If you have any books, magazines and comic books you no longer need, please consider donating them to our Little Free Library. We find that our neighbors read whatever we put into the box and they have very eclectic taste! You can bring any items to church on Sunday or they can be dropped off at the Church Office between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. during the week. Thank you! Furthermore, the local organization Creative Property Renewal (CPR), which employs men in the Magnolia Historic District to train and teach in construction and contracting skills, has been working on various projects around the First Presbyterian building. CPR has repaired water damage to the ceilings in both Westminster Hall and one of the upstairs offices (which is now being used full-time). They were also responsible for rewiring the marquis on Center Street, so that the electrical system is now within the back gate and not out on the street. They are currently in the process of remodeling the back bathroom by the sanctuary as well. Praise God for community partnerships and the ways He graciously engages us in the glorious work of building the kingdom together! PG 7
First Presbyterian Church of Stockton 31 E. Vine Street Stockton, CA 95202 Phone: 209-465-2653 Email: office@fpcstockton.org Website: fpcstockton.org Business Office Hours: Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our Mission Statement: As God s family, through Jesus Christ, we seek to know God through prayer, worship, and Bible study to be open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to share God s love with each other, our community, and the world The deadline for submission of articles for the October Window is September 20th. WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Date Name September 2 Doug Hunt September 9 Gail Herron September 16 Merilyn Vaughn September 23 Sylvia Cavanaugh September 30 Bill Alessio