July 2017

In This Issue:

Pastor’s Message

2 3

Greeters Fellowship Liturgists Deacons Birthdays Anniversaries

4

Announcements 5 6

Calendar 7

Church Information 8

July 2017

BELLVIEWS FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH DALLAS CENTER, IA

UPCOMING EVENTS:

July 6—Mobile Food Bank @ FPC, 4-6pm

July 8—Carpenter’s 4th Annual Show & Roast

July 9-15—Summer Church Camp

July 23-26—VBS @ DC United Methodist Church

“Hero Central”

We at FPC have a vision to… Know Jesus:

To listen to his story, to sing his praises, To paint His portrait for all to share

First Presbyterian Church of Dallas Center

Page 1

General Office Hours 9:00 a.m.—12:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Pastor’s Office Hours 8:00 a.m.—Noon Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

July 2017 Page 2

“Spiritual, but not Religious” (reprinted from October, 2012)

‘Spiritual, but not religious.’ What an interesting phrase. More and more people in our culture are identifying themselves with this cryptic title, particularly younger generations. It seems that those who identify themselves this way recognize and/or acknowledge some kind of mysterious, transcendent existence, (whether it’s God or some other form of divine) but are leery of becom-ing a part of any kind of organized religion. I’m not sure I blame them. Heck, if you follow politics you watch Christianity politicized and abused to promote partisan fiscal & social agendas all the time. You read stories of clergy sex scandals, church employee money laundering cases, and of course Westboro Baptist Church pro-testing at the funerals of fallen soldiers. You have Judaism associated with the Palestinian strug-gle. Islam is unfortunately linked with terrorism. For as much good as organized religion does, what sticks in the mind of younger generations, as well as others, are the scandals, squabbles, hate-mongering, exclusion, and political ranting. And I’m sure it gets tiresome. I have a good friend who told me quite frankly, “Adam, I don’t need any more drama and con-flict in my life, so I stay away from church.” I grieve that the image of religion, particularly the Church, is tarnished with overtly public sin-ful behavior, but does that mean that a ‘spiritual but not religious’ approach is a better option? To start with, I am going to talk about some of my concerns with the concept of ‘spiritual, but not religious that, while seemingly negative, reflect on the condition of our culture in pursuit of our spiritual questions. SBNR seems to be a kind of ‘Burger King’ (have it your way) approach: one can create one’s own personal belief in some transcendent power (God or some other divine something), and then fashion that something in one’s own image or in the way that is most comfortable to them. One can pick and choose parts of other religions or practices that they like or that affirms what they already think. I remember when I worked as a hospital chaplain, one of my chaplain col-leagues introduced himself as a practicing Zen Buddhist & Christian. I wasn’t sure what to think, but knew Buddhism was more of a lifestyle than a religion not so inconsistent with Christian prac-tices. This opened my eyes to the plurality of religion in our culture and the interchange of beliefs and practices. I know many folks who simply incorporate all the things they like from other reli-gions and mesh them together to form their own, individual religion. The trouble is this does nothing more than affirm a person and their words and actions right where they are with little to no challenge for growth or change. Values and virtues can shift wherever the wind blows as one has no real commitment to them. One can justify just about any type of behavior when it suits the situation. ‘Spiritual, but not religious’ (SBNR) is not a product of American individualism (AI), but AI is a catalyst for this concept. A SBNR approach tends to focus on me and mine first because it is not a set of community values and beliefs, but rather it is about the individual needs & wants first. There is also no community aspect for support or for holding one accountable for words and ac-tions. There is no motivation to do anything other than what makes one feel good. We are a culture that is all about ‘feeling good.’ But is that all that life is about? For some, perhaps so. (cont. pg. 3)

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‘Spiritual, but not religious’ (SBNR) is not a product of American individualism (AI), but AI is a catalyst for this concept. A SBNR approach tends to focus on me and mine first because it is not a set of community values and beliefs, but rather it is about the individual needs & wants first. There is also no community aspect for support or for holding one ac-countable for words and actions.

There is no motivation to do anything other than what makes one feel good. We are a culture that is all about ‘feeling good.’ But is that all that life is about? For some, perhaps so.

On the flip side, these concerns do not describe everyone. I know, care for, and re-spect many people who identify themselves as SBNR. I do not necessarily think SBNR is some kind of ‘cop-out’ attempt at discernment of the divine or transcendent (as some oth-ers have stated in recent articles), although that may be the case for some, but is a faithful pursuit of answering real existential, epistemological questions. For that, I admire people for their spiritual discernment, but mourn the institutional barriers religion, particularly Christianity, has erected over the years that have kept seekers from the Church.

While I cannot speak for other religions, or even all of Christianity for that matter, maybe what SBNR people need to see from the Church, from you and me, is that Christi-anity is not about the institution, traditions, dogma, liturgy, politics, and all that other stuff that seems to be a barrier for others. Christianity is about a community that loves God and loves each other, and follows Jesus in their lives; a community that is all about the care of everyone with no exceptions; a community that brings compassion, understanding, and love to schools, to the workplace, to politics, to business, to economics, to foreign policy, to the world. Christianity is all about treating everyone like the children of God that they are. Unfortunately we have not always been great at doing that.

Maybe instead of Christians saying, “Well, the SBNR people just need to change;” or “are misguided and unwilling to commit;” or expecting them to walk into our church build-ings on Sunday morning, maybe we should reevaluate what we are doing; what barriers we have erected that keep people from asking their important, spiritual questions in the Church. Maybe we should stop assuming that we, Christians, are in the right, and everyone else in the wrong. The Church is comprised of broken, sinful human beings and therefore will never be perfect, but it doesn’t mean we can’t get better. Faith in Christ can only make us better. What can your congregation do to better reflect the love of God for humanity that welcomes our SBNR brothers into our communities? Are we willing to risk it all to do so, just as Christ asks the rich man to give up all that he has to follow him? It is my hope that we risk it all to follow Jesus now and in the future.

With Grace and Peace, Pastor Adam

Birthdays in July

July 06—Adam Smith

July 07—Darren Madole

July 10—Lorry Hoksch

July 10—Jon Johnson

July 12—Betsy Bejarno

July 14—Niah Howard

July 15—Elsa Lint

July 16—Cindy Carpenter

July 16—Lincoln Harris

July 21—Janice Miles

July 21—Darcy Kidd

July 23—Scott Kopecky

July 25—Shelby Johnson

July 26—Brice McCleary

July 27—Shirley Thomas

July 27—Brooklyn Myers

GREETERS for

July/AUG

July 02—Ken & Jeani Shepherd July 09—Justin & Corinne Rowe July 16—Tom & Karla Pinegar July 23—Arlene Swendsen July 30—Jordan Lint & Amanda Niebuhr-Lint Aug 06—Jeanette Bodermann Aug 13—C. J. & Erin lane Aug 20—John & Carol Arrasmith Aug 27—Laura & Audie Carman

If you are not able to serve on the day scheduled, please trade with someone and contact the church office.

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LITURGISTS For July

July 02—Aaron Wilson July 09—Will Myers July 16—Richard Myers July 23—Cindy Kisting July 30—Youth

Deacons FOR

July/AUG

July 02—Marco Bejarno July 09—Delaney Kidd July 16—Jeff Van Houten July 23—Craig Ivers July 30—Curt Pion Aug 06—Kurt Greiman Aug 13—Denise Kelly Aug 20—Marco Bejarno Aug 27—Delaney Kidd

Anniversaries in July

July 01—Troy & Paige Fenn 2000 July 01—Dan & Heather Willrich 2000 July 02—Dave & Sheryl Shields 1988 July 05—Tyler & Amanda Carman 2013 July 08—Marco & Betsy Bejarno 2006 July 10—Gary & Nancy Wilson 1971 July 20—Curt & Cindy Pion 1996

Fellowship for

July/AUG

July 02—Corey & Ryan Coon July 09—Dennis & Barb Britson July 16—Rhett & Joanne Knoll July 23—Tim & Debbie Snyder July 30—Troy & Paige Fenn Aug 06—TBA Aug 13—Ben & Denise Kelly Aug 20—Richard Myers Aug 27—The Myers Family

If you are not able to serve on the day scheduled, please trade with someone or call Richard Myers, 515-710-1445.

July 2017 Page 5

Prayer List

As part of our shared ministry, we continue to be in prayer with many in our congregation in their times of need. As our ministry continues, we hope to keep our prayer list current. If you would like the support of your congregation's prayer, please let Nancy Zehr, our church secretary, or Pastor Adam know to add your name or your family's names to the list. If your name has been on the list and you wish it to be re-moved, please also let Pastor Adam or Nancy Z. know. We want to keep this important part of our shared fellowship reflective of your present needs and situations. Thank you!

First Presbyterian Online!

Don’t forget to keep up-to-date with the life and min-istry of FPC using the church website: www.dcpresbyterian.org. You can find information about church events, listen to Sunday’s worship mes-sages, look through photos, download forms and monthly newsletters, lift up prayer requests, and the like. Also find us on Facebook at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas Center or follow us on Twitter at First Presby. Church @ FirstPresbyDCIA. We’re al-ways open to feedback to find ways to better com-municate the life and ministry of our congregation to each other and to the world around us.

Celebration of Communion

Communion will be celebrated the first Sunday of each month. Additional Communion dates will remain for Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, & Easter services.

Building Project News: This is an update on

the progress of our proposed building project from the Capital Development Committee and the Ses-sion. Members of both groups met with our architect on Wed., June 21 at the church. We reviewed revised plans which reflect concerns and suggestions from the commit-tee, the Session and the congregation. It was decided to divide the project into two possible phases of construc-tion, beginning with the much-needed education wing. However, we can still decide to do both simultaneously if we wish. It was decided to use a well-known estimating firm from Ames to work with the architect’s preliminary drawings to give us a reasonable estimate of the cost of the entire building project, since we know this is very important information to many in the congregation. During the month of August, after we have received the cost estimate and have more definitive design drawings to share, we will be preparing and distributing information for the members of the congregation to review. Then, after we leave our summer activities and travels behind, and get back to school schedules and the usual fall pro-gramming, we will have several informational meeting opportunities for the members of the congregation in which they can comment and ask questions before we bring the project to a congregational vote, hopefully by the first of October. As the CDC and Session continue to work on this project, they are excited to see the possibili-ties for our congregation and community. We encourage you to stay informed, ask questions, and prepare to com-mit to helping this vision become a reality!

VBS 2017 Hero Central July 23-26: Don't forget to mark your calendars!! VBS will be at the Methodist Church in Dallas Center from 5:30-7:45pm July 23-26! To

register your child(ren), go to the following website: http://cokesburyvbs.com/DCFP

CUMC. You do not need to enter t-shirt siz-es! We are still looking for middle school/high school youth helpers, and would wel-

come any additional adult helpers! There is also a sign-up sheet in the back of the nar-thex by the pizza coupon donation box to

sign up for VBS food donations. Monetary donations will also be accepted! Thank you in advance! Please contact Abbey Drake or

Betsy Bejarno with questions!

2017 Summer Church Camp - July 9–15

Mark your calendars, church camp will be here before you know it! Camp Wesley Woods in Indianola is the site for this week of fun. There are different camps for different age groups. Scholarships are available to help pay for camp. Our church provides a scholarship equal to 25% of the total cost of camp. Additionally, Presbytery of Des Moines also provides a scholarship. If you have any questions or would like enrollment forms, please talk with Ann Beavers.

July 2017 Page 6

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July 2017 page 8 Bellviews

Church Address:

First Presbyterian Church 1204 13th Street

PO Box 368 Dallas Center, IA 50063

Contact Information: Pastor: Rev. Adam Smith

Cell: 515-528-3538 Church Phone: 515-992-3531

Church’s Website: dcpresbyterian.org

Pastor’s E-mail: pastor@dcpresbyterian.org

Church’s E-mail: office@dcpresbyterian.org

The Session Church Staff

Pastor…………...Rev. Adam Smith Secretary………..Nancy K. Zehr Choir Director….Jeani Shepherd Organists…...…...Carol Arrasmith & Jeani Shepherd Pianists……….....Carol Arrasmith & Abbey Drake

Board of Deacons

Class of 2017 Marco Bejarno Curt Pion Class of 2018 Craig Ivers Jeff Van Houten Class of 2019 Kurt Greiman Denise Kelly Youth Deacon Delaney Kidd

Class of 2017 Duane Heaberlin Cathy Kelly Gary Wilson Class of 2018 Darci Kidd Richard Myers Jeani Shepherd Class of 2019 Ann Beavers Abbey Drake Julie Kopecky

Youth Elder Ben Beavers Treasurer Sue Beavers Clerk of Session Nancy Wilson Capital Development Committee: Sue Beavers, Dennis Britson, Trent Drake, Tina Greiman, Mitch Hansen, Duane Heaberlin, and Aaron Wilson