Fanfare
February 2015 Vol. 49 No. 2
PILGRIMAGE
Lessons for the Road
X
LENT @1stPres
We find and grow in faith one step at a time. While we may have made large
leaps of faith in our life, it is really in the day to day walking out of our faith
where we grow and deepen our relationship with the Sacred and with
ourselves. This is one reason why we have the spiritual practice of pilgrimage.
While actual pilgrimages to foreign places of spiritual significance are powerful,
we can be pilgrims on the Way right here at home. Pilgrimage is walking our
journey with awareness and intentionality. Instead of purely focusing on the
destination and the fastest and best way to get there, we take time to learn
from the path. This requires the trust that God, the Sacred, is with us every step
of the way.
Pilgrimage is walking our
journey with awareness and
intentionality… we take time
to learn from the path.
This requires the trust that
God, the Sacred, is with us
every step of the way.
It’s easy to let our faith become a set of beliefs about some far off destination. However, the Way of Jesus was
very much about how we let our beliefs shape the way we live and travel through life and to always be aware
that “God is with us”. This Lent we will be encouraging you to be a pilgrim. To let your feet be guided by God and
to prepare for the road of faith.
We will have some exciting opportunities for you in the weeks ahead.
Hear and Learn from a Pilgrim — Sunday Feb. 15, 4-6pm in Dennis Hall
The Pedal Pilgrim, Brian Heron, is a Presbyterian Pastor who has taken bicycle pilgrimages in the U.S.
and overseas. He will be bringing us tales and lessons from his latest Pilgrimage, From Rome to Rumi,
that led him through Catholic Italy, Orthodox Greece and Muslim Turkey.
Mark the Beginning of Your Journey — Wednesday Feb 18, 12:10pm and 6pm in the Sanctuary
Ash Wednesday services and imposition of ashes.
Lessons for the Road — Beginning Sunday, February 22nd at 9am.
Explore how faith helps shape our practice of prayer, with food, worship, money, service and community.
These and other opportunities will help provide us the next steps in our individual and corporate journey.
See you on the road!
First Presbyterian Church -114 SW Eighth Street - Corvallis, Oregon www.1stpres.org
8th Street Studies &
Adult Education
Sunday Classes: Living the Questions 2.0 We complete our Pre-­‐Lent exploration of Living the Questions 2.0 for the winter term. Living the Questions 2.0 is an open-­minded alternative to studies that attempt to give participants all the answers and instead strives to create an environment where participants can interact with one another in exploring what's next for Christianity. Attend one, a few, or all! You are welcome! February 1 The Myth of Redemptive Violence February 15 Prayer: Intimacy with God February 8 A Passion for Christ: Paul You are reminded that there is a 9 AM program for children led by our Children & Youth Ministry team. Special Event presented by Spiritual Life and Adult Ed Committees Sunday, February 15 @ 4-­6 PM Reverend Brian Heron, well-­‐known to many in our congregation through his work at our Mount Angel Spiritual Retreat, will present his personal pilgrimage experience with a talk, slide show and discussion of his journey through Greece and Turkey: From Rome to Rumi. Childcare will be available. Animate : Practices Sunday Mornings at 9 AM | Wednesday Evenings at 7:30 PM Animate: Practices is a seven-­‐session adult introduction to the central practices of the Christian faith beginning Sunday, February 22 at 9 AM & Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 PM. Please see the following page for details of each lesson.
FROM ROME TO RUMI
Sunday February 15, 4pm-6pm in Dennis Hall
First Presbyterian Church welcomes Brian Heron as he presents the lessons and wisdoms he gained from his own pilgrimage through
Catholic Italy, Orthodox Greece and Muslim Turkey.
Brian Heron is an ordained Presbyterian minister, writer, speaker and
blogger whose deepest passion is to unleash the voice of the soul in
our congregations and communities. His Rome to Rumi pilgrimage followed a route that mirrored the
movement from the head of the Church to the heart of mysticism, a movement Brian himself is
experiencing. His slide show presentation highlights his visit to the Vatican, following the pilgrim path of
St. Padre Pio, grinding his way through the mountains of Greece, and sharing tea and meals with
devoted Muslims in Turkey.
Season of Lent
Lessons for the Road—Adult Education for Lent
Sundays, 9:00 AM Class Dennis Hall
Wednesdays, 7:30PM Youth House
We will be using ANIMATE:PRACTICES which begins with a 8-10 minute video from a
contemporary faith leader. The rest of the class will be facilitated discussion by Matt or Sharon.
There is a journal that accompanies this class that is not required but may enhance your
experience. The optional journals are $15. You must order a journal from the office by Feb 13. You
can look at a copy in the office to help you decide.
Feb 22:
Prayer | Oriented toward God |
Brian McLaren
Brian’s take on prayer is less about what prayer does or why we pray. Instead, he focuses on
giving us permission to pray in ways that are meaningful, helpful, and life giving.
March 1:
Food | Eating, with Jesus |
Sara Miles
Sara believes that French fries can be as holy as organic kale when they are offered and shared in
acts of love and fellowship. This point can get lost in our conversations about the “right” kind of
food.
March 8:
Worship and Sacraments |
Seeking God’s Presence | A Tapestry of Traditions |
Mike Slaughter
Phyllis Tickle
For many Christians, worship is synonymous with going to church. Mike challenges us to think
about worship as a much richer practice, one we can follow on our own and in community. Phyllis
asks us to revisit the ancient meaning of the sacraments and consider what we are really up to as
we take part in these practices.
March 15:
Money | The Joy of Sharing |
Shane Claiborne
Shane’s message can easily be construed as political, but he asks us to look beyond -isms and ologies to see financial generosity as a kingdom call, rather than a social position.
March 22:
Service | The Needs Right in Front of You |
Enuma Okoro
Enuma is a seasoned traveler, having lived and worked in countries on four continents. But she
encourages us to see the needs around us. This local context can give us a new understanding of
what service really looks like.
March 28:
Community | An Unexpected Family |
Doug Pagitt
Doug pushes us to think of community as more than just a nice idea. He invites us to remake our
communities by bringing our gifts, our talents, and our ideas with us wherever we go.
Embodied
Spirituality
Church News
CONTEMPLATIVE WORSHIP Our Pilgrimage Begins February 23, 7:00 pm Allison Room You don't have to go to Jerusalem to go on Pilgrimage. Join us in a quieter, slower space as we explore the elements of pilgrimage through readings, music, ritual and worship. GENTLE YOGA & MEDITATION Wednesdays at noon Allison Room Heart Month 2/4-­‐-­‐Gentle heart 2/11-­‐-­‐Courageous heart 2 /18-­‐-­‐Ash Wed. Service Embodied Pilgrimage-­‐-­‐Lent Following the themes of the Animate Study, 2/25-­‐ Prayer There are 38 Health benefits of Yoga! check them out here: www.yogajournal.com/article/health/count-­‐
yoga-­‐38-­‐ways Are you an early riser? If so, why not join the men's breakfast group? We meet at 7:00 AM at Elmer's restaurant on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. This is a very informal gathering where everyone gets together to discuss the affairs of the day.'s problems. All are welcome. Please join us. For more information please contact Len Maki or Peter Hutton.
THEOLOGY PUB
Tuesday Feb. 3rd 6pm @SKY
HIGH BREWERY*
A time to meet and casually discuss the
big questions of faith. No preaching, no
lectures, no one telling you what to think.
Our question this time:
Is the Bible really the ‘word of God’?
Located at 160 NW Jackson. We plan to
gather in the middle level pub between the
first and second floors.
What is Ash Wednesday and Lent? In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count). Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. In the typical Ash Wednesday observance, Christians are invited to receive the imposition of ashes. The Pastor applies ashes in the shape of the cross on the forehead of each, while speaking the words, "For dust you are and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). This is what God spoke to Adam and Eve after they had eaten of the forbidden fruit and fallen into sin. These words indicated to our first parents the bitterest fruit of their sin, namely death. In the context of the Ash Wednesday imposition of ashes, they remind us of our mortality and limitations. The cross reminds each penitent of the good news that we have a God of mercy who offers eternal life through Jesus Christ. Join us at either 12:15 pm or 6 pm in the sanctuary to receive the sign of the cross and mark the beginning of Lent. 1st Presbyterian Piecemakers
Our donation/raffle and quilt show on December 7th was a huge success. We so appreciate the participation of everyone in our donation/raffle, the purchase of quilts and the nice comments we received about our quilts. We donated 152 quilts this year, with 98 going to the children through the Bright Gifts Program. We would not be able to continue this worthwhile mission without the support of all of you. We meet Wednesday mornings at 9 AM in Room B-­‐3. No matter your skill level, everyone is welcome. We also appreciate donations of fabric, batting or other supplies. Please call me at 541-­‐752-­‐6587 or e-­‐mail me at laki33@comcast.net if you have any questions or donations. Again, we thank all of you and so appreciate your support. Presbyterian Women
Replacing the Onion Peel—
18TH Century Style
Thanks for the Calendars
On February 17th at 10 am we are delighted
to have Nancy Bryant do a show and tell of
the 18th Century style of peeling an onion;
well actually it is about the layer upon layer
that the well-dressed woman had to wear in
the 18th century. Nancy will begin with a
basic chemise and will add the many
layers of clothing articles, with the
help of her lady in waiting, which
would have been the routine for a wellto-do woman in that century. Because
of the styles of the era and explaining
the layers and the fabrics, we shall learn
about the homes and lives of women for
this unique time. We may learn why they
wore wigs, seldom bathed and
misconceptions on what was good for your
health. This will be an opportunity for
coffee or tea, a sweet morning treat and a
fascinating look into times past. There will
be an opportunity to sign up for the
program the two Sundays prior to February
17th and to offer to bring your favorite
treat to share with other Presbyterian
Women (and men).
Sarah Circle
Thanks to your generosity in bringing your extra unused, current calendars to church. I have been Sarah Circle will meet at the home able to send almost 500 calendars to Phoenix of Sharon Fries, Collegiate Academy. The children, their families 1142 West Hills and the PCA staff greatly appreciate these gifts. A Place, on calendar allows these very Tuesday, Feb. poor families to learn to 10 at 9:30 am. plan and look ahead, keep Muriel appointments, and to be Lawrence will responsible to turn in school lead the work on time. This school is discussion of turning failing students into chapter 6 in Reconciling Paul, ”The Aroma of God Among Us”. Please college bound young people. Schools in Phoenix read 2 Corinthians 2:14-­17 and are year-­‐round so the need for calendars is year-­‐
6:14-­7:1 in preparation. You are round. Please continue dropping off calendars in the church office any time. Thanks for your help! invited! Call Muriel (541-­752-­6172) with questions. Linda Schapper
February
Challenge Offering
GINGOOG CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Gingoog City, Mindanao, Philippines
For the first time in its history, Gingoog Christian College (GiCC) exceeded its enrollment expectations for the school year 2014-­‐15 in both high school and college departments, thus triggering off an urgent need for more space. Thanks to the First Presbyterian Church of Corvallis, many dreams have become realities for so many. Majority of GiCC students come from poor to low-­‐income households, and many are from large families where two or more siblings are in school. A typical family usually has the father as the sole breadwinner (most mothers take care of the children and household chores). They take whatever menial job they can take just to “make both ends meet.” Some mothers are forced to engage in odd jobs during their spare time if only to supplement their husband’s earnings. In some cases families are separated when the father or the mother ends up working in a distant place. Everybody recognizes the value of education and parents foresee and anticipate a brighter future for the family when their children pursue an education. GiCC continues to provide low-­‐cost quality education centered on Christ’s life and teachings. It works with parents and the community in ensuring that young people are equipped and protected from lawless recruiters who continue to lure them into criminality and other abominable activities. Gingoog Christian College may be the farthest mission outreach that First Church has committed into, but the kindness and goodwill that its members have extended, and the sense of gratitude that the students, their families, and the community have felt, can never be measured by distance, time, or number. Nor can they be fully expressed in words. Indeed, it is a fulfillment of Christ’s commission to “go out into the world and preach the good news…” (Mark 16:15). Whatever little help that each member, worshiper, or friend of our First Church Family can share -­‐ after meeting their pledge and commitment to the church -­‐ will go a very long way to save a young soul, to fulfill a family’s dream, and to partner with an institution fully committed to God’s commandments and Christ’s examples. When issuing a check, please write it out to “First Presbyterian Church,” and indicate “For GiCC Fund” on the ‘Memo’ box or line. Thank you so much, and God bless you. Gideon Z. Alegado, EdD GiCC President GiCC high School students during an outdoor program in honor of visiting dignitaries and guests.
Library News
Celebrate Library
Month
Search for these writers and more on the library shelves. The library is open every
Sunday morning and at various times throughout the week.
We can’t consult with these recognized visionaries in person but we can discover their insights into
life and spirituality through their writings. Their voices still speak today. There are over 2600
writers residing on the library shelves covering over 1800 subjects. The writers’ lives span from
before the earliest Christians to now. Here is a sampling of their wisdom:
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) A human being is a vessel that God has built for himself and filled
with his inspiration so that his works are perfected in it.
Francis of Assissi (1182-1226) Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you
are doing
the impossible. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) To reach something good, it is very useful to have
gone astray, and thus acquire experience. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Music is the mediator between the
spiritual and the sensual life. Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) The greatest trap in our life is not success,
popularity or power, but self-rejection. Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly.
The hard truth is that all people love poorly. We need to forgive and be
forgiven every day, every hour increasingly. That is the great work of love
among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family.
Leo Buscaglia (1924-1998) The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of
knowledge and it becomes another’s, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual
spiritual exercises
Barbara Kingsolver (1955—) Empathy is really the opposite of spiritual meanness. It’s the capacity to
understand that every war is both won and lost. And take someone else’s pain is as meaningful as your
own. Thomas Merton (1915-1958) We stumble and fall constantly even when we
are most enlightened. But when we are in true spiritual darkness, we do not
even know that we have fallen. Elaine Pagels (1943-) I realize that I cannot live without a spiritual dimension
in my life.
Dr. Seuss. from Oh! The Places You’ll Go!----Today is the day! Your mountain is waiting. So—-get on your way!
Psalm 136:26-­‐-­‐Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. Stewardship Today
Stewardship Today
Sustaining our Faith Through Stewardship
The Stewardship Committee would like to bring you up to date on our 2015 Stewardship
Campaign. We thank all who responded with a pledge for your generous support. This is a
great beginning but we are not where we hope to be.
Our goal this year is to sustain our successful ministries and programs based on the
comparable income level we had in 2014. So far we have not reached our goal of pledged
income needed to meet that goal.
In 2014, we received 198 pledges for a total of $488,540.
So far for 2015 we have received 174 pledges for a total of $432,907.
This means we have a $55,000 deficit in pledges to reach our goal of maintaining our growing
ministries. Please consider making a commitment to close the gap so we can sustain our
ministries and our mission:
“Rooted in God’s grace, growing through spiritual understanding to know, love and serve Christ
Presbyterian
Preschool & Childcare
As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Presbyterian Childcare staff continue to teach children loving
and kind ways of treating each other. Our goal is to teach children to love themselves and others
which will then result in the best role models for society. To achieve this, teachers are always
striving to learn the best curriculum and teaching strategies. In January and in months to come,
staff will be involved in a variety of training/classes to promote the best ways to help children
learn and reach their potential.
As many of you may already know, I started my position here on December 1st. I am a Canadian
transplant from Banff, Alberta and I received a Bachelor of Education from the University of
Alberta, with a focus on early childhood and elementary education. I have worked in a variety of
preschools and childcare centers and have also taught Kindergarten through 2nd grade. I moved
to Corvallis from San Diego in 2004 where my 2 daughters, now 15 and 16 years were born.
Previously to working here, I was an Education Program Director for The Boys &
Girls Club. I am so grateful to be here and will continue to make the Presbyterian
Preschool & Childcare Center the best it can be. I look forward to meeting you all!
Monica Schuerkamp, Director
SouperBowl was a Huge Success! We served about 150 folks and couldn’t have done it
without all the volunteer soup makers and cookie bakers! Thanks to the following people:
Soup: Milt Plocher, Nancy Ashby, Lyle and Sharon Fries (2 soups), Judy Miller, Judy Maki, Lisa
Conner, Colleen Tautges, Marilyn Hull, Harriet Lorz, Bina Schulte, Barbara McMinds,
and Ann Asbell.
Cookie bakers: Jane & Lisa Stone, Janet Jarvis, Judy MIller, Barbara Goetze, Ruby Frakes, Cindy
Bruce, Margaret Taylor, Martha Norman, and Judy Maki.
Fellowship Committee & Helpers: Teresa Welch, Sandy Willis, Barbara Malloy, Jennifer Conner,
Laura Zaerr, Judy & Len Maki, Marilyn Hull, Barbara McMinds, Brenda Hamilton, Judy and Rick
Miller, Don Stevens, Harriet Lorz, Margaret Taylor, and Milt Plocher.
Creamy white chicken chili
1 lb. chicken breast, cut into 1/2 in. cubes
1 med. onion, chopped
1 1/2 t garlic powder
1 T veg oil
2 (15 oz) cans great northern beans (drained
and rinsed)
1 c. chicken broth
1 can (4oz) chopped green chilies
1 t salt
1 t ground cumin
1 t oregano
1/2 t pepper
¼ t cayenne pepper
1 c. sour cream
½ cup heavy whipping cream
Saute chicken and onion until cooked. Add
the rest of the ingredients except sour cream,
bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer
uncovered for 30 mins. (May be cooked in
crock pot for 4-5 hours on high or 6-8 hours
on low.) Remove from heat, stir in sour
cream and serve immediately. Monterey Jack
cheese sprinkled on top.
Crock Pot Chili
2 lbs of ground beef, (or ground turkey)
browned in a small amount of oil
2 cans diced tomatoes
(undrained), 14.5 oz.
1 green pepper chopped
1 large onion chopped
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
2 cans spicy chili beans
1 small can tomato paste
¾ cup diced celery
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
Place all ingredients in 5 qt crock pot.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Cook on high
for 5 to 6 hours.
Support the Presbyterian Preschool and Childcare Center by purchasing the second edition 2015 Cookbook written by our Kitchen Steward and cook, Jeanne Taylor-­‐Whitty. Jeanne’s recipes start from “scratch” using fresh ingredients, dried herbs, spices, salt, pepper and olive oil. She reminds us to always taste our foods for the correct seasonings before serving! Order forms for the PSCC Cookbook are outside the window at the church office. The cookbook can be pre-­‐ordered for $10 a copy and comes in a binder with drawings as dividers. The recipes include soups, baked dishes, rice dishes, desserts and snacks. YUM! Cream of Beet Soup
(Colleen Tautges)
4 regular size cans of beets,
drained, rinsed and cut into
small pieces.
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
3 cans chicken broth
(14.5oz.)
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
dash white pepper
Melt butter in a large
stockpot, stir in flour. Cook
1-2 minutes. Add heated
chicken broth, stirring with a
wire whisk. Bring to a boil,
simmer 5 minutes.
Cool and add to beets. Puree
until smooth in batches. Stir
in the rest of the ingredients
and bring to a simmer.
PSCC Cookbook
1st Pres Choir News
Chancel Choir to Bring Much Needed
Harmony to Our Nation’s Capital
Our own Chancel Choir has been invited to
participate in the National Memorial Day
Choral Festival on Sunday May 24th, 2015.
We will sing in a large festival choir in the
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts, in Washington DC, before the
Memorial Day Parade on Monday the 25th.
Dr. Craig Jessop, Dean of the Caine
College of the Arts at Utah State University,
will be the Artistic
Director.
The choir will leave
Corvallis on May 20th
and return on the 26th.
While in Washington
DC, we will tour the
presidential and war
memorials, Fort
McHenry, the US
Holocaust Memorial
Museum, Mount
Vernon, Embassy
Row, Ford’s Theater, a Smithsonian
Institute Museum, participate in a wreathlaying ceremony, and attend the National
Memorial Day Parade.
The 1st Presbyterian Chancel Choir is
extending an invitation to the congregation
to come along with us. If you sing and
would like to join the choir for this concert
trip, we will begin rehearsals in January. If
you just want to accompany the choir for
seven days of fun, exploring, and music,
we would love to have you come along.
We have always had non-singers on all our
trips. You will not find a more fun group to travel with!
The price for the trip is $2,639.00 and
includes air transportation, hotel, entry fees
to museums, and approximately 14 meals.
Some travel insurance will also be included
in the price, but purchasing additional
insurance is recommended. If you wish to
arrange your own air
transportation the price is
$2,128.00.
If you are interested in joining our
trip or wish more information,
contact Gary Meddaugh at
541-791-7355 or email him at
gary_meddaugh@hotmail.com.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
9-10:30am:
Piecemakers (B3)
7-9pm: Choir (S)
We
Friday
9am: Tai Chi (D2,3)
Ash ervices th S
18
uary
d Febr pm an 0
e
12:1 m in th
p
6:00 ctuary
San
day dnes
Thursday
February 2015 1st Presbyterian
Sunday
9am: Tai Chi (D2,
3)
Check with church@1stpres.org for changes or updates
9am: Children’s
Fellowship (B3/EH)
12:30pm: Hula
(DH)
7-9:00pm Great
Decisions (D3)
(2/10/15 meeting
moved to 2/12/15)
9am: Library Open
9:am: Adult Ed, (DH)
12:00pm: Wednesday
Book Club (L)
Noon-1:00pm: Gentle
Yoga & Meditation
(AR)
11am: Coffee Hour (DH)
3-4pm: Tai Chi (DH)
10am: Worship (S)
11:15am: Centering
Prayer (AR)
5:30-7pm: Club 56 (YH)
7-9pm: Youth Group (YH)
Monthly Committee Meetings & Important Dates
CHILDREN,YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRIES
NEWSLETTER
Febru
a
ry
2015
A PILGRIMAGE THROUGH LENT
When I think of a pilgrimage, I think of the hundreds of
thousands of Muslims who make their way to Mecca in
Saudi Arabia. This pilgrimage, called Hajj, is a yearly
event, and the 5th pillar of Islam, a religious obligation
to be completed at least once in a person’s lifetime (if
they’re physically and financially able to do so). Nearly
2 million Muslims participate each year. And it can cost
up to $8,000 (or more) coming from the USA.
Our pilgrimage isn’t going to be quite that physically or
financially exhausting, however we hope it will be
equally as transformative for you and your family as
we prepare for Easter. As we talked about last year,
working through the dark and
pensive season of Lent can be
challenging for families; especially
when our kids are little, incredibly
busy, or a combination thereof. But
there is plenty you can do to make
Lent meaningful for the whole family. Below I’ve listed a “roadmap” of sorts
to help guide your family through Lent.
This list is just a suggestion and
includes a bunch of ideas; many of
which can be done around the dinner table. It starts
with Ash Wednesday and ends at the beginning of Holy
Week, Palm Sunday. I hope you’ll find an activity or two that will work well
for your family!
— Jonathan
FAMILY FRIENDLY LENTEN PILGRIMAGE:
ASH WEDNESDAY
I encourage you to bring you family to one of our Ash
Wednesday services (12:10 or 6:00pm). This is a very
real and tangible way to mark the beginning of Lent. A SIX WEEK JOURNEY
Using Ash Wednesday as your starting point, mark
each new week in Lent by focusing on a different
pilgrimage or hiking related theme. WK 1: PREPARE YOURSELVES — Each day this
week, think about one thing you might need on a hike.
A map? Snacks? A backpack? Camera? How do these
things relate to what we might need as we make our
way to Holy Week? The Bible and stories of Jesus’
ministry might be our map; remembering to say thank
you for our food and snacks, etc. Be sure to talk about
why you’re participating in this pilgrimage as a family.
WK 2: FIRST STEPS — Beginnings are always full of
excitement. Use that excitement to plan a few activities
your family will try over the next few weeks. Maybe
you’ll give up meat on Fridays. Maybe you’ll promise to
say grace before dinner and prayers before bed.
Maybe you’ll all agree to volunteer at a local
organization. The options are limitless!
WK 3: TAKE NOTICE — A lot is
happening in the world around us, and
not all of it is good. Find a world map
and each night this week, talk about a
different part of the world (or USA)
and pray for that place. Put a smily
face sticker on each place you pray
for!
WK 4: STAY ENCOURAGED —
Lent can be hard, especially if
you’re struggling to keep on with
your pilgrimage! Take time this week to
lift up each member of your family! Each night
this week celebrate one person by eating their favorite
food for dinner, playing their favorite game, watching
their favorite show, etc. Then take turns telling them
what you love about them!
WK 5: REMEMBER — This week, tell stories of Jesus.
Remind yourselves of his birth (Luke 2:1-20), the story
of his baptism (Matthew 3:13-17), about his Disciples
(Luke 5:1-11, 8:1-3), and about the time he fed the
5,000 (John 6:1-14). Read about when Jesus calmed
the sea (Matthew 8:23-27), of his teachings on the
Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), and about which rule Jesus
thinks is the most important (Matthew 22:34-46). There
are so many others, find your family favorites!
WK 6: PREPARE FOR THE END — Now that Lent is
coming to an end, talk about your journey, where have
you been and what have you done as a family? Each
night this week, look back on one thing you did and
what you learned. At the end of the week, talk about
what you might like to do as a family during Holy Week.
We’ll have lots going on around church; check out your
March Fanfare for options!
Be sure to read your e-mail updates from
Children@1stPres for links to crafts, activities, and more!
THE PROBLEM WITH
SUNDAY SCHOOL
THE “WELCOME! CAN YOU HELP?” MODEL IS
NOT SUSTAINABLE.
with “You wanna teach Sunday School?” or
“Would you like to be on our committee?”
Many individuals who bring their kids to church
these days grew up in the church and want the
same for their kids. But with all they do both at
home, at their kid’s schools, at work, and (for many
families connected with our congregation) around
church, there’s little time left over to nourish their
own faith and spirit. In short, we’re setting them up
for burn out. Ask anyone in the church to list the top 10 things
they want for our congregation and chances are
“more young families” will land somewhere in the
top 5 or 6. It makes sense: having a wide range of
individuals and families from a
variety of generations helps
make a congregation healthy
spiritually, financially and
What if we implemented a
otherwise. “You CANNOT teach Sunday
School until your kids are in
college” model of ministry
with the young families in our
congregation?
We’re lucky to have a lot of
great families (both young and
not-so-young) in our
congregation. And we’re equally
lucky that many of the adults in
those families volunteer their
time to help teach their own
kid’s Sunday school class. And
while only a couple have voiced any concern about
missing worship and the like, I believe it should
give us all pause. What happens if the parents in those young
families don’t actually get the opportunity to attend
worship or engage in one of the classes or
contemplative spaces provided by Adult Ed. or
Spiritual Life? The answer is unfortunately simple:
they either burn out (best case scenario), or leave.
So, let’s honestly ask ourselves: Can we really
expect those young families to stick around if we
continue to follow “Welcome to First Presbyterian!”
Likewise, there are an equal
number of individuals (if not
more) who never went to church
as a kid and are trying it out for
the first time themselves. They
like our congregation and want
to be involved, but as they’re
still working on growing their
own faith, it’s hard to conceive
teaching or leading beyond
Sunday morning worship or
sitting in on an Adult Ed. class. This isn’t a problem unique to our church, but what
if we came up with a solution that was? What if we
implemented a “You CANNOT teach Sunday
School until your kids are in college” model of
ministry with the young families in our
congregation? What if those whose kids are grown
or out of the state took the lead on teaching our
youngest disciples so that their parents could
concentrate on things like parenting, growing their
own faith, and nurturing a life of faith at home. I know it sounds crazy, but I can’t help but wonder
if it might just be crazy enough to work… Coming Up in Sunday School
February 01: Teaching & Healing — Mark 1:21-28
February 08: Jesus Heals — Mark 1:29-39
February 15: The Transfiguration — Mark 9:2-9
February 22: Noah’s Ark — Genesis 6-9
FEATURING: YOU(TH)!
EACH MONTH WE FEATURE ONE THE AWESOME KIDS, TWEENS, OR TEENS OF FIRST PRES.
Because many of you have expressed interest in getting to know the kids and youth of our congregation a bit more,
we will be introducing “Getting to Know You(th)” Beginning in the March Fanfare!
This will be an opportunity for you to share a little bit about yourself: your favorite music, food, movies, etc. But it is
also a place for you to submit your writing, photography, scanned art work, pictures of you scoring the winning
goal, newspaper clippings of the cool things you do around town… you get the idea!
And to get us started Jonathan has a challenge for you! The first kid/tween/teen who volunteers to be featured in
March will receive a $10 gift certificate to Yogurt Extreme! Below you’ll see a sample featuring Jonathan.
Jonathan’s Favorite…
In his free time,
Jonathan…
Book: The Sun Also Rises
Movie: Garden State
TV Show: Parks & Recreation
Band: Imagine Dragons
Food: Tacos!
likes playing with his daughter;
hanging out with his wife, Alex;
cooking; reading; playing his
Playstation 4; and traveling.
He has most recently started
commuting to work by bike!
MID/SR HIGH YOUTH GROUP
FEBRUARY DROP-IN DATES & LOCATIONS
AFTERNOON MOVIE
YOGURT EXTREME
Sunday February 8TH Sunday February 22ND THEATER, MOVIE, & TIME TBD
Follow us on Facebook for updates.
Or share your phone number with
Jonathan for text updates.
4PM-5PM
OUR TREAT!
Follow us on Facebook for updates.
The Middle/Senior High Youth Group at First Pres. is faith-filled, spirit-nourishing, and stress-less!
You always have the power to tell us if you want more, like a class or retreat. Above all, YG is a
way for us to stay connected to one another and to our faith!
UPCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY
04 - CLUB 56, 5:30-7PM 08 - MID & SR. HIGH YOUTH DROP-IN @ THE MOVIES, TBD
11 - CLUB 56, 5:30-7PM
18 - CLUB 56, 5:30-7PM
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE, 6PM
21 - MID & SR. HIGH YOUTH DROP-IN @ YOGURT EXTREME, 5-6PM
25 - CLUB 56, 5:30-7PM - CLUB NIGHT
Frozen Movie Night was a HUGE
With 80 people (around 37 kids) in attendance, 70 boxes of popcorn eaten (not including refills!), 30+
marshmallow snowmen made, and lots of singing along, our latest Family Movie Night was a hit!
Visit 1stpres.org to sign up for email updates from Children@1stpres
facebook.com/1stprescorvallis.cyf