Alleluia Newsletter

August 2009

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From Me to You
From Your Session
Session Digest
Stewardship Ministry Update
Financial Secretary's Report to Session
Vacation Bible School
Children's Church
Antioch Youth News
Pasadena Presbyterian Women
Calendar
Library
Evangemissions
New Health and Wellness Ministry
Preschool
Do You Have a Great Recipe You Want to Share?
Sunday Worship Attendance
What's New at PPC
Birthdays

From Me to You:

“Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.”

 (1 Chronicles 16:10-11)

SEEKING the Lord always precedes and underlies SERVING the Lord.

Jesus is interested first and foremost in our friendship and love-life with Him: He puts our being His and being with Him ahead of doing anything for Him.

If we try to do for Him without first coming to, knowing and abiding in Him, we will quickly find ourselves tired, frustrated and confused, as if we are paddling up-stream on our own (which in fact we are).

God requires us to seek Him in order to serve Him!

“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

(Psalm 63:1)

Wanting God—desiring Jesus first—is what it takes to have and keep Him in first place.

When we put works ahead of worship, activities ahead of abiding, wequickly find ourselves out of gas and in great need for refilling and revival. We can’t do anything for God until He’s everything to us!

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

Seeking God’s face keeps us facing upward and outward with God in view.

Continuously increasing the intimacy of our love-life with Jesus is prerequisite to having and keeping a clean heart, clear conscience, willing mind and an open, obedient life in the Lord.  God transforms our “land” around us as He transform us—makes us His new creations in Christ.  

God works through us after and as He works in us!

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”

(Matthew 6:33)

Doing before delighting is like pulling the trigger before we have the target in sight: “ready, fire, aim!” Acting before abiding almost always results in us doing things in thewrong way, at the wrong time, or just doing things God doesn’t Call or want us to do. We can get so busy and diverted that our fruitfulness suffers and our joy in Jesus is lessened or lost—all of which leads to a diminished witness and love-life with the Lord.

Before we “busy” ourselves with the things of our church’s life and doing things  for Jesus, let’s make sure we are increasingly and deeply desiring, delighting in, listening to and loving Him!

Seeking to serve Jesus to His glory with you, His saints at PPC!

In Christ,

Carl

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From Your Session

Here's a quick report of your Session's most recent planning meeting on Saturday, June 20.

We first reflected as a group on how each of  the church's ministries tied into our purpose statement based on John 15:8. Here are a few examples of how each ministry fits into our purpose statement:

• “Glorifying God:”  Discipleship-- a wonderful week of Vacation Bible School; Worship--our weekly services; "Glorifying God".
• “Bearing Fruit:”  Evangemissions--through our missionary partners, Kairos, etc.; Discipleship--VBS both locally and directly.
• “Show ourselves to be Christ’s Disciples:”   Stewardship Ministry--by providing the rooms, air conditioning, etc., for worship and discipling activities: Fellowship Ministry--by practicing the art of Christian hospitality.
• Several ministries encompass many or all aspects of our purpose statement:  Youth ministry, Life Groups, Helping Hands, Sunday School classes, working on the facilities, as examples.

Session also discussed how to use the 123 and the 20 houses. The 123 House has been cleaned and is ready for a new use. The 123 house could be redesignated a “wellness” center to house community resourcing ministries, including and primarily our new Faith Community Nursing Ministry (Debbie Rivard), as well as a pantry, clothes closet, Helping Hands, and eventually a Deacon’s Ministry/Fund.  Intervarsity Christian Fellowship continues to use the 20 House as its office for two campus liaisons (for SPC and USFSP).

Other items the Session considered:  What does God have in the future for Pasadena? How does God want us to equip and train our members for good works (Ephesians 4)?  How is God working through us everyday? How do we wisely expand/utilize our existing blessings (faithful members, VBS, Sonrise Preschool, nearby colleges, schools)? How do Life Groups, Sunday School, et.al. equip our members and help them apply what they have learned about God?

The challenge for PPC and many of the churches in the U.S. continues to be shifting from a culture-driven/going to church model to a missional model of the church going to the world, and churches come alongside, supporting their members own ministries/missions in daily life.  For PPC, we already have a bridge to our surrounding community in Sonrise Preschool.  Focusing on reaching families via that connection should be a primary goal for 2009/2010.  Additionally, we need to work on training (not just teaching) our members to see and seize the evangelistic and discipling opportunities around them in daily life.  We also are seeking the Lord about His leading to opportunities beyond our present connections and horizon.

Please contact your elders with your thoughts and ideas how we can "Glorify God, Bear Much Fruit, Show Ourselves to Be Disciples of Christ"  together here at Pasadena. We'd like to thank you for your faithful service to God, and your support of the Lord’s work here at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

Your Session

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Session Digest: May 26, 2009

The stated meeting of the Session on May 26 was opened with prayer by Pastor Carl Crawford, Moderator. Praise and thanksgiving were given for some exciting events in the lives of the elders and for the influence of the many godly men and women in their lives.

The following items were discussed and acted on:

• Welcomed Norman Loy into membership by reaffirmation of faith
• Sonrise Preschool annual report presented by Laura Woodard (no action required)
• Approved Debbie Rivard to contract with Bay Care for the Faith Community Nursing program at Pasadena
• Members transferred: Alex Haak to Northside Baptist, Hal and Joy Feininger to Pasadena Community, and Charles Crawford to Carrollton Presbyterian, Carrollton, GA
  
• Approved bid to have Couch’s Pest Control eradicate termites in the manse garage
  
• Approved removal of the Director of Family Ministries from Wish List
  
• Approved moving Communion for July from the 5th to the 12th
  
• Approved a Carroll Brown Celtic Christmas Concert for Dec. 1
  
• Approved Pastor Carl’s vacation June 27 through July 5

The meeting was closed at 10:55 PM with a season of prayer.

Rexena B Casey, Clerk pro tem

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Session Digest: June 23, 2009

• Session received reports on Youth Ministry from Rob Taylor, Dave Pilkington and Leslie Hughes.  No Youth Ministry staff position exists or is being offered to anyone at this time.
  
• Session decided not to go to one service in August.
  
• Session received notification that Lois Watson had joined First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg.  Session also received a letter from Dr. Terry Collier, announcing his resignation from counseling ministry at PPC and starting a new counseling ministry and position at Anona Methodist Church.
  
• May financial reports were received and approved.  A July 4th cake sale by the Youth Ministry was approved, with proceeds going to help fund youth activities.
  
• Pastor Bob Bellingar, H.R., was approved to lead worship, preach and perform any needed pastoral duties during Pastor Crawford’s vacation leave.
  
• The next Stated meeting of Session is July 28th, 7pm.

+++Complete Session minutes are public record and are available for review
in the Church Office by any PPC member +++

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Stewardship Ministry Update

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Financial Secretary's Report to Session: June 30, 2009

The Financials for June show actual income $18,362.72 with expenses of $31,128.14 leaving us $12,765.42 in the red.                

Cash Reserves             $112,961.12

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Vacation Bible School

A special thank-you to all of the wonderful VBS volunteers -- you all had servants' hearts.  The presence of the Holy Spirit was so evident throughout the entire week, and there were 47 children who prayed to ask Jesus into their hearts for the first time!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1

Leslie Hughes

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Children's Church

Children's Church will begin again on September 14th.  The children's message will continue through the month of August during the 8:30 service.

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."  Proverbs 22:6

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What's Happening in the Antioch Youth Group

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! to everyone who helped or made, bought or donated to our 2nd annual 4th of July Cake Auction this year we raised $665.00 which is $30 more than last year we really appreciate this church and your generosity in giving to our Youth. God has provided through each on of you!!
 
The youth calendar is still not finalized at this time. See Rob or Leslie for more information.
 
August 2nd “Out to Lunch” immediately following Sunday School we will meet and go as a group to lunch for fun and fellowship.
 
Each Sunday  the Youth meets in the Fellowship Hall @ 5:00 pm for Dinner provided by volunteers with love, then we meet in the youth room upstairs for a time of fun, Bible Study and recreation.
 
August 21st Friday Night is Mystery Night Out " Details to come". God Bless You all for your support
 
God Loves You and so do I
 
ROB TAYLOR

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Pasadena Presbyterian Women

THE PURPOSE OF PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN:

FORGIVEN AND FREED BY GOD IN JESUS CHRIST AND EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE COMMIT OURSELVES. . . . .
To nurture our faith through prayer and bible study
To support the mission of the church worldwide
To work for justice and peace
To build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (USA) and witnesses to the promise of God’s Kingdom.

Presbyterian Women of Tampa Bay will be holding their Help Shops in September.  There will be one at      Zephyrhills First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, September 10th and the other one is at First Presbyterian Church, downtown St. Pete on Saturday, September 12th.  Watch for all the details on our bulletin board.  It would be great to have a large group of us attend the Saturday Help Shop since it is in our neighborhood.  Deadline is   August 31st  ( the cost for the luncheon is $7.00) so please contact either Ann Carney or myself if you are interested in attending.

Presbyterian Women are looking forward to the new Bible study on Joshua: A Journey of Faith which will begin with our circle meetings in September.  This should be very challenging and again Pastor Carl will give us a written overview of this study, as he did with our study on Luke’s Gospel for the Poor.  The Bible Study leaders are invited to attend our Council Meeting on September 1st at 9:30 a.m. in the Boswell Room and at the completion of the  meeting,  Pastor Carl will give us a written overview of the new study.  We do appreciate all that he contributed last year with his study helps and look forward to the coming year.

June, July and August are the months that Presbyterian Women take a time for spiritual refreshment and a time to reflect and relax.  Our monthly circle meetings begin again in September thru May.  We would invite any of you women not actively involved to “give us a try”.   As stated in the June/July Alleluia News we told you we would list the circles in this newsletter.  At present we have the following circles and their meeting times:
Esther Circle – meets the 2nd Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.
Rachel Circle – meets the 2nd Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Ruth Circle – meets the 2nd Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.

Please contact Shirley Hartsfield, our Circle Coordinator @ 360-7373 if you are interested in joining us for bible study and fellowship, or if you would desire another time (day or night) we can always start another circle.  Please let us know how we can accommodate you!

Check out the new carpeting in the Boswell Room.  Again, thanks to our dear friend, Ruby Bortz for being so  generous with her bequest to Presbyterian Women.  Thanks also to Dave Terhune for the excellent paint job.

Any suggestions, comments or anyone who would enjoy leadership, please give me a call @302-0888.   

In Christ’s Love,
Patricia Watts, Acting Moderator

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August Can Be a Fun Time for Every Age to Learn in the Library

To ease into the upcoming school year, you may want to peruse some of these books:

• I Wonder Why Soap Makes Bubble and Other Questions About Science This book answers this and other questions such as "What is sound?" and "Why do cakes rise?" and is a way to introduce science by answering questions children have with easy and entertaining experiments. Beautifully illustrated, it is great for parents and children to read together.
  
• Read Fantastic Frogs, an easy reader for grades K-2, which has great illustrations which will spark interest in these creatures God made.
  
• First and second graders could try A Girl Named Helen Keller, a Hello Reader.
  
• Has your child learned some Spanish? Try Lily the Lost and Found Lamb, in both English and Spanish, for ages 4-8.
  
• Bible Pals Things to Know presents short versions of Bible stories but also labels various parts of the illustrations so that children may learn vocabulary by seeing an illustration.

If you would like to get some ideas about making the coming school year better for your children or grandchildren:

• Storytime with Your Children: Insights and Suggestions for Reading Aloud With Your Children by Edie Lauckner and Aid Association For Lutherans
• Getting the Best Out of Public Schools by Dr. Steven and Virelle kidder   
• How to Help Your Child Survive and Thrive in Public School by Cliff Schimmels
• The Way They Learn How to Discover and Teach to Your Child's Strength by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias.

Laurie Smith,
Librarian

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Evangemission

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  James 5:16

Because of your continued prayers and support for our missionaries, these missionaries are funded through October of this year.  Please continue to pray that God will continue to provide funds that will enable us to meet our commitments to our missionaries through the end of the year -- and beyond.

In Mark 15:15-16 Jesus said to his disciples, "'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'"  According to this passage, we are ALL commanded to tell people about the Good News of Jesus Christ.  So in essence, we are all missionaries if we are carrying out Christ's commandment of spreading the good news!  Pray about stepping out of your comfort zone -- about sharing the gospel with someone around you who doesn't know Christ.  Be the missionary you are!

Leslie Hughes—EvangeMissions Chair

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New Health and Wellness Ministry

Welcome to the Newsletter site for Pasadena’s Health and Wellness Ministry!  I had the privilege of coming before session in June to present a proposal for a Faith Community Nurse (FCN) AKA Parish Nurse Program, which was approved with enthusiasm.  It is a ministry effort that has been a long time coming as I was first asked to consider it 15 years ago.  At that time I did not have the credentials or the desire to go back to school to get them.  But God’s plans and HIS timing are perfect.  Two years ago on the plane coming home from Ecuador I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I was to return to school to complete my graduate work in nursing for God’s glory to minister through healthcare, who knew HE would take me full circle right here at PPC!  A FCN is a Registered Professional Nurse who serves as a member of the ministry staff to promote the health and wellness of the congregation.   The role of the FCN is to be an educator, advocator, health ministry leader, prayer warrior and community liaison.  It is a ministry that walks alongside God’s people providing support and nurture: internally through congregational care and externally by outreach efforts through health clinics and class offerings.

I will use this column each month to share with you health and wellness information, along with a bulletin board in the hallway addressing a different health topic each month.

We have projected a kick-off event for the ministry in September.  Please plan on joining us for some healthy food, good fellowship and as an added bonus, find out the age of your body in spite of the years.  Even better, find out how to extend those years!

I will be calling and making visits to congregation members who are hospitalized, in skilled care facilities and are homebound.  God has always had a plan for PPC.   The session has worked hard, we have a vision and some wonderful new caring ministries; but it takes all of us working together to make effective use of our resources.  I look forward to serving with you as we work together for the body of Christ.

In HIS power and for HIS glory,
Debbie Rivard, RN

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Preschool

Preschool will be back in session on August 24th.

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Do You Have A Great Recipe You Want to Share?

The Monday Morning Crafters group is now accepting recipes to be used in their up coming cookbook.  If you have one or a few favorite recipes that you would like included in the publication, please see one of the crafters or turn it in at the office. It is preferable to have all recipes typed, but not mandatory. If you can’t type them, PLEASE print clearly and don’t forget to add your name. Recipes will not be returned. The Monday Morning Crafters group meets every Monday at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. For more information or to submit recipes, please see Ruth Hansel, Vicki Danz, Shirley Phillips, Felicia Ragland, Brenda Taylor or Cathy Taylor.

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Sunday Worship Attendance

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What's New At PPC

Dear Friends,

Thanks to the congregation which generously brought in plastic bottles, paper towel tubes and wrapping paper tubes for Vacation Bible School crafts. 

A display of what these items were used for is in the hall opposite the library. The toilet paper tubes became the rooster which crowed when Peter denied Jesus. Paper towel and wrapping paper tubes gave the preschoolers fishing poles. Some bottles became a butterfly-and-flower-wind-catcher, complete with Bible verse; while other bottles were used to contain the water and Peter's boat, representing when he and Jesus walked on water. Top portions of plastic bottles became spring-like toys; others were even octopi. There were so many bottles that we used more of them for battery-candle holders and more spring toys for the Fourth of July Picnic.

Also, thanks to the Monday Morning  Crafters and others who prepared craft materials.

Laurie Smith,
VBS Craft Director

Thank You

From Andrew Talbert:

I will be graduating this summer from Fuller Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity degree.  My wife and I will then be moving to  England where I will pursue a Ph.D in New Testament at the University of Nottingham.  Eventually, we hope to minister in a German-speaking context, working on    inter-cultural relations between Turkish and German communities.

PPC has played a formative role in what led me to the path of ministry I’m pursuing. Thanks to you all for your friendship and helping to shape my life for the Lord’s service!

Counseling Corner

I want to express my appreciation and thanks for all the words of encouragement and the support of PPC for the past 10 years. It will always be a time in my life that I will cherish the fond memories and relationship.

May God Bless You
Terry Collier

Friendship Class Books

Friendship Class quarterlies will be distributed on August 23rd and August 30th in the hall next to the office.

Prayer Request E-mail List

Our PPC e-mail praise/prayer list is being revised. 

If you would like to be included on our e-mail list to receive current Prayer Requests, please send your e-mail address to the church office. Please be sure to put Prayer Request E-mail List in the Subject line.

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