Operation J.O.Y.: Help Wanted

Help Wanted: Brave individual needed to drive church van (or supply own transportation) on Wednesdays to pick up children from school and deliver them to First Presbyterian Church for Operation J.O.Y.

Hours: 2:50–3:30, weekly, except holidays. Salary: stars in your crown in heaven. Qualifications: must love children and see the value of teaching them about Jesus. This position may be shared by two or more individuals. Apply in church office or contact Ronnaug Bull. Take advantage of this opportunity to share in the work of God's kingdom!

Help Wanted: We are seeking a fun-loving person committed to Christ to oversee our refreshments for Operation J.O.Y. This individual must love children and love feeding them not only snacks but God's love. Needed every Wednesday, except holidays. If interested, contact Ronnaug Bull or the church office at 665-4475.

September—Closer Than You Think!

Yes, NOW is the time to mark your September calendar with these important dates:

Watch bulletin boards, worship bulletins, and the LANTERN for more information.

P. S. Volunteers always accepted.

Come to a Second-Sunday Afternoon Picnic

Come join us for a Second-Sunday picnic, watermelon-feed, and game night on Sunday afternoon, August 8! Although the exact time is yet to be determined, we do know that we'll meet at the church in the late afternoon for a potluck picnic on the lawn (rain location, Fellowship Hall).

In addition to the “luck” of potluck, the Deacons will provide watermelon for all. If you've ever wanted to see a Presbyterian spit, this may be your chance.

After we've eaten, stay to play a game on the lawn or in the park across the street. We'll have volleyball and croquet, but other games are welcome as well.

See you there!

To See Where We're Going, Know Where We Are

Next month the leadership of the church will gather to explore how we as a church are structured for mission. But you can't know where you are going unless you know where you are. So where are we right now? Our mission statement gives us some direction:

Inspired by faith and love in Jesus Christ, the community of First Presbyterian Church welcomes all God's children, helps them to grow in faith, and proclaims the gospel through worship, education, prayer, fellowship, nurture, service, and mission.

As Christians, we seek to be faithful stewards of all God's gifts and to build a community that reflects God's love, justice, mercy and peace, continually trusting the Holy Spirit to lead us to discover God's will. But how do we live up to these statements we've made?

Did you know that we have a Board of Deacons whose main calling is “to befriend the friendless” Did you know that the Session is divided into six committees: Budget & Finance, House & Grounds, Campus Ministry, Christian Education, Personnel, and Worship & Sacraments? And of course there are several other ministries we do that are not represented by these groups. This is where we all come in. A significant part of our stewardship involves how we use our abilities in service to others and in service to God. This is tied to our own spiritual growth as well. Very simply stated, we only have room to take in more when we are also giving out more.

Exciting ministry opportunities abound in the life of our church: working with the after-school program; taking food to the Food Depot; working in the Clothes Closet; visiting shut-ins; teaching (or sub-ing) in Sunday school; helping with the nursery and child care; participating in the worship service as liturgist, usher or provider of music; keeping up the building and grounds through lawn mowing, snow removal or maintenance; or helping maintain the fellowship of the church through praying, cooking or writing letters.

One of the issues the leadership will consider next month is how best to utilize the offerings of our time and talents. You will have an opportunity to speak up—let it be known how you would like to participate in our mission. Until then, please be prayerfully considering what part God is calling you to play. Talk to some trusted counselors (friends) as you explore the possibilities.

This promises to be an exciting season as we grow together in Christ.

Pastor Leslie

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Ephesians 2:19–22

Notes of Thanks

A heartfelt thanks to Charles Adams for the generous donation of the piano and podium to our church. The piano is in the Travers Room and will make a fine addition to our activities.

Your church family at 1st Presbyterian

Thank you so much for the beautiful Bible. I was touched to know the church was thinking of me. It has been wonderful reading it.

Samantha Allinson

B.I.B.L.E. Academy a Huge Success

Thank You seems inadequate, but thanks go to everyone who helped our Vacation Bible School make a positive impact for Christ on our children. Refreshments, decorating, teaching, helping—your contributions are greatly appreciated.

We enrolled over 50 children ages 3 through Grade 5 in our cooperative VBS this year. Each day began with group singing, offering, prayer, and a video. Classes then broke into age-appropriate groups for Bible study, crafts, music, and refreshment. The mission offering of $75.50 is being used to make dental kits for needy families in Kirksville. A dental kit includes six toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss.

The Closing Program was held at noon on Friday. Many parents and friends attended the program and enjoyed the picnic lunch together.

Thanks again for your help. We pray that you, too, rejoice in the joy of being part of those faithful ones who pass the Christian faith on to the next generation!

Above: Sydney Slavin witnesses the true reason for the fall of the Tower of Babel.

Mom or Dad & Ronnaug

The “Mom or Dad & Me” camp at Covenant Point is a camp designed to let young children experience church camp while still having the security of a parent's presence. I went to this camp over the weekend of June 25–27. This was a new experience for me, but well worth the effort. I shared this camp with twelve children ages 7 and 8, who came with one of their parents (or a relative).

The theme was “Join the Party.” We were invited to ``rejoice in the goodness of God's love as known through the camp community and the wonder of creation.” [From the introduction to the curriculum.]

We did all the usual things you do at camp—Bible study, campfire with singing and s'mores, games, crafts, nature hikes, worship, swimming and more. The parents were given a couple of hours off Saturday morning and again Saturday afternoon while the children had activities with the leaders. The Talent Show on Saturday evening and new songs about Jesus were two of the highlights for everyone in attendance. But best of all, children and parents are planning to return next summer.

Thank you so much for allowing me to direct this camp. As always, it is one of the highlights of my summer. Your continued prayers and support for our Christian Education Ministry are requested. And may all be for the glory of God! Thanks again.

Ronnaug

New First Presbyterian Web Site—You Can Help!

Connecting to PC(USA)

With the PC(USA) moving to biennial assemblies, they would like us to be aware of all the other ways we have to connect to other Presbyterians. Here are some suggestions:

Help Support Jennifer Sieh in Mission

Many of you will remember Jennifer Sieh as a member of our community who lived in the Westminster House and worshiped with us during the time she was at Truman. After she graduated two years ago, God called Jen to the Hollywood Urban Project, an outreach ministry to the homeless and poor in Hollywood, CA. HUP is a mission project of the PC(USA). As a young adult Volunteer-in-Mission, Jen raised her own financial support for two years to continue in this work.

This upcoming year, Jennifer is being called to serve in the United Kingdom for a year (the Sheffield area—a mining region). She will be leading Bible studies, counseling, volunteering in a school, and working at a House church (administrative church work). Again, Jen will serve through the PC(USA)'s young adult Volunteer-in-Mission program. Please prayerfully and thoughtfully consider being a part of Jen's ministry by covenanting to support her financially. Financial covenant forms are in the church office. Until Jennifer heads to England, she can be reached via mail service at:

Ms. Jennifer Sieh
510 8th Street
Ames, IA 50010

Your Christian witness can extend to England by being a partner with Jennifer. Thank you for your loving-kindness, prayer, and compassion.

Session Affirms and Celebrates the Work of the Church During the Past Year

Cease to dwell on days gone by and brood over past history, for I am doing a new thing in your midst; can you not perceive it?

Isaiah 43:18

Change can be a difficult thing. Yet, the tradition and history of Christ's church is about change and growth. Not change for change's sake, but change for the purpose of the growth of Christ's body, the church. Over this past year, First Presbyterian Church has faced the challenges of what it means to be a church in our changing society.

As we continue to face challenges in the coming years, our session voted to publicly affirm the work of this church over the past year:

• First, we celebrate and praise God for the work of our pastor, Leslie Traylor.
• We also thank God for the sometimes difficult work of our Session and its committees: Personnel, Budget and Finance, Campus Ministry, House and Grounds, Worship and Sacraments, Christian Education, and Memorials.
• We thank God for the continued work of our Deacons.
• We thank God for the ongoing work of our administrative assistant, Danny Bull.
• We thank God for the blessings of the work of our Christian Education Coordinator, Ronnaug Bull.
• And we thank God for the community of faith that continues to celebrate the glory that is God each week through worship, prayer, mission, and study.

This time of year a new “class” of Elders and Deacons are elected for three-year terms. Through the Holy Spirit, God creates the energy, and each of us become the transformers of that energy—through worship, Bible study, prayer, and mission outreach—for the purpose of being Christ's body here on earth.

Notes from the Archives

Twenty years ago this month...

We held a full-day workshop for the leadership of the church to address the “urgent need of our local church for earnest, prayerful decisions about our ministry and its priorities.” This workshop was held as part of the PC(USA)'s year-long program Today into Tomorrow: A Year of Consultations, intended to smooth the transition as the separate Presbyterian bodies came together to form the PC(USA).

The decision reached by our church after the leadership workshop was that our priorities and mission were sound, but that “we need to actually do what we say we are going to do.” Perhaps this is a good lesson as we prepare for another such leadership retreat.

Thirty years ago this month...

Our pastor wrote on the Watergate impeachment:

We've lost our sense of truth and goodness because we've been worshiping false gods... A righteous nation cannot exist apart from righteous citizens. Can this experience lead us to repentance, and back to Jesus Christ, the lord of life, love and true liberty...?

Forty years ago this month...

The church solicited member donations to “aid 38 young persons (minorities)” from around the United States in attending college.

The newsletter was full of news of members' summer vacations, including this one: “The Stanley Bohon family returned home last week from a trip in the East. They stopped in Williamsburg, Gettesberg [sic] and Washington, DC.”

Church Budget Update

The Budget and Finance committee has decided that our members should be advised of the status of First Presbyterian's direct mission support this calendar year. We pledged $1000 per month ($12,000 for the year), and on June 30 we have only been able to send $2000. This puts us $4000 behind for the first six months of this year.

We are asking you to please consider giving additional support now if you are one of those who normally give extra at the end of the year.

Martha Rowe, Treasurer

Rural India Ministries

Witnessing Ministries of Christ is actively transforming the lives of the Bangi Untouchable People in India through the Rural Presbyterian Church. To learn more about these people and this ministry, please stop by Leslie's study—they've sent a marvelous, informative magazine.