Glorify, Build,

REACH

The purpose of St. Peter’s First Community Church is to glorify God, build up the body of Christ, and reach out to those in our community and world to help them become

followers of Christ.

Eva

nge

l

April

2017

Entering New Seasons

Unlike most years, it seems that 2017

has had several false starts toward

spring transitioning into summer. We

experienced very warm weather in

January and February, nothing like the

climate that we are used to here in the

Midwest. Then, as quickly as the warm

temperatures had appeared, they would

disappear in sleet and ice. It always felt

like, “Spring is here!!” “Wait, no it

isn’t.” Even the local flowers and

shrubs were tricked into early budding.

What is the difference between

successful and unsuccessful transitions?

The biggest factor is a widely held,

agreed upon vision consistently being

fleshed out into reality through common

behaviors in word and deed. In his 1999

book, Transitioning: Leading Your

Church Through Change, Dan

Southerland opens with a simple but

compelling anecdote to illustrate this

significant truth:

Travis and Garrett are each

given a block of wood and a

knife. Both boys immediately

begin whittling. Both are

working hard. Both are serious

about their work. Both are

enjoying the task.

When they are finished, the

two boys have quite different

results. Travis has carved a

boat. Garrett has whittled his

wood away into a pile of

shavings.

What was different about the

two boys? Travis had vision -

which meant he could see the

end result. He also understood

transition - how to get from

where he was to where he

wanted to go. He had a

purpose, a target, and a

strategy. Garrett - while

working equally hard - was just

whittling. (Southerland, 13)

St. Peter’s First Community Church is

more like Travis than Garrett. It became

clear during the feedback interviews

that there were two broad outlooks on

what an ideal pastoral transition would

look like and there were three themes

that emerged regarding our desire for

the new minister. Generally speaking,

we measure the success of this

transition in two ways: by how we hang

together in supporting new pastoral

leadership and by identifying a minister

that is a good fit for our congregation’s

needs. Those needs came out as three

general themes: high relational IQ, high

biblical IQ, and a high character

professional. We want a minister that

makes time to be with people while

balancing work and tasks. We want a

minister that challenges us with strong

biblical teaching. Finally, we want a

pastor that walks the talk with high

character and competency for the work

of local church life. As we continue in

this transition together by praying for

the search committee, welcoming the

new minister, and working together in

the coming years we will find ourselves

enjoying the fruitful budding of a new

season of ministry in the long history of

St. Peter’s First Community Church.

If you are unable to volunteer as scheduled, please find a replacement and notify

Megan in the church office of the change as soon as possible.

April 2 April 9

(Palm Sunday)

April 16

(Easter) April 23 April 30

Snacks Harters Velma, Nancy, and

Rose

Easter Sunday -

No Snacks X X

Reader Sally Morrison Jenna Strick Shari Brinneman Jay Rinehart Brandy Kalhoefer

Acolyte Megan Engle Bailey

Baumgardner Jana Krueger Kylie Gamlin Claudia Wilson

Ring Bell Rick Chesterman Bruner Girls Claudia Wilson Baumgardner Kids Foust Kids

Sound System Phil Engle Drew Morrison Brian Royer Mike Lyons David Morrison

Video Tech Ryan Lemon Sandy Hacker Phil Engle Barb Baker Ryan Lemon

Songleaders Barb Derr,

Lisa Harter,

Jim Hildebrand

David Morrison,

Bonnie Hosler,

Becky Lyons

Barb Derr, Adrian

Halverstadt, David

Morrison

Ann Ambler,

Lisa Harter,

Jim Hildebrand

Something Biblical

Open/Close Duty Brian Royer David Morrison Tom Jennings Tom Hosler Mike Lyons

Announcements Brian Royer Jim Ambler David Morrison Adrian Halverstadt Brian Royer

Nursery Helper Drew Morrison Sandy Stephan Kasey Davis Sandy Shoemaker Sandy Stephan

Little Discoverers

Teacher/Helper Dawn Williams Barb Derr Megan Condry

Megan Condry and

Lauren Baker Dawn Williams

Young Explorers

Teacher/Helper

Claudia Wilson and

Shari Brinneman Lauren Baker

Kids Upstairs -

Easter Sunday

Claudia Wilson and

Shari Brinneman

Spring Fun (classes

combined)

Kids Ignite

Teacher/Helper Megan Condry Megan Condry

Kids Upstairs -

Easter Sunday Megan Condry

Spring Fun (classes

combined)

Greeter-Wm St Jennifer Braun Shari Brinneman Mike Ward Ben and Kasey

Davis

Kevin and Sandy

Shoemaker

Ushers & Greeters

- West

Mike & Sandy

Hacker Meyer Family

Vern and Theda

Neel

Mike and Sandy

Hacker

Jay and Karen

Rinehart

Usher & Greeters -

East Claudia Wilson Geoffrey Guy Brett Evans Brett Evans Brett Evans

Usher - Center Tracy Blocker and

Terry Rodgers

Kenny Foust and

Tom Jennings

Tracy Blocker and

Terry Rodgers

Adam Myers and

Phil Engle

Rick Chesterman

and Rick Baker

Birthdays

04/01, Jay Rinehart

04/02, Sally Morrison

04/03, Jennifer Haneline

Satin Lemon

04/04, Kylie Gamlin

Shirla Eisberg

04/08, Barry Jarvis

04/12, Robin Baker

04/16, Geoffrey Guy

04/17, Arthur Kalhoefer

Ryan Lemon

04/20, Leah Campbell

04/21, Jeff Baumgardner

Kenzie Gamlin

Megan Anderson

04/22, Jim Hildebrand

Cindy Yeiter

04/26, Libby Davison

04/27, Maddox Baker

Bernie Bingham

04/28, Sherry Baker

Anniversaries

04/03, Joshua & Claire Moudy

04/06, JR & Maureen Flynn

04/08, Don & Anne Malone

04/15, Terry & Dorothy

Rodgers

04/16, Ben & Kasey Davis

04/20, Efford & Sara Hamilton

4/22, Bill & Arlene Switzer

TEAM UPDATES

Finance Team:

February 2017

Income: Unified Budget Giving $ 8,521

Trust Income $ 1,298

Miscellaneous Income $ 180

Expenses: $ 14,313

Youth and Children’s Ministry:

Please see the children and youth page for updates.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Please continue to pray for:

All those facing financial, emotional, spiritual, and health stresses.

*If you would like to be added to the email prayer chain and receive prayer

requests throughout the week, please contact Megan Engle at

stpetersfirst@att.net to let her know.*

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Called Congregational Meeting will take place Sunday, April 23 after worship

to learn about an upcoming restoration project of tuck pointing and painting. Photos will

be shared on the big screen showing areas of concern with the brick and mortar, as well

as areas that need painted. Details about financing this project will also be provided.

This project was one of the items listed in our 2012 Solidifying the Foundation and we

would like to revisit this project with the congregation.

Save the Date: The Property Team will be holding a work day at SPFCC on May 6th, if

it rains the make up date with be May 20th. If you are available, your time spent helping

clean up the church on these dates would be much appreciated!

SPFCC Office Hours: The SPFCC office will be open Monday through Thursday from

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. while Megan Engle is on maternity leave, approximately February 20th through May 8th.

ATTENTION! St. Peter's First Community "Lunch Bunch"! Please make plans to attend a great time of

fellowship AND delicious food on Tuesday, April 18.

Save the date for Mary’s Garden Tea and Basket Party set to take place at SPFCC on April 29, 2017!

Themed baskets for the event are needed and must be turned in by April 9th. A wrapping party will be held

on April 9th at 4 pm. If you are interested in helping with the event or donating a basket, please see Katie

Schilling.

Tickets for Mary’s Garden Tea and Basket Party are now available for $5 each. Please see Katie

Schilling after church or stop at the church office to pick up your tickets! The Tea is set to take place at

SPFCC on Saturday, April 29, 2017.

SPFCC will be offering a brief time of weekly prayer Sunday mornings at 8:45 am for 15-20 minutes to

pray for the pastoral transition. Please join us in a time of focused prayer together.

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thank you to all who provided meals to Phil, Megan, & Eloise Engle through Share a Meal. They greatly

appreciated your support and generosity as they welcome baby Emmitt into their family. Your delicious

meals were such a blessing!

Easter Bags! We will be delivering Easter bags to our shut-ins the week between Palm Sunday and Easter.

If you would like your cards or small goodies to be included in the bags, please have them at the church by

April 2nd. Easter bags will be delivered to 20 shut-in friends listed below. If you are interested in helping

deliver please see Sally Morrison or Ann Ambler. Thank you!

Heritage of Huntington: Heritage Pointe (Warren):

Maribelle Bechstein Joan Diffenbaugh

John Hacker Betty Henderson

Jean Ann Heiney Mary Alice Shideler

Ada Ulrich

Home: Miller’s in Markle:

Melvin Cox Jerry Baker

Edna Gamble

Mary Gelzleichter

Dan Kimmel

Madeline Lee

Freda Martin

Betty Moldenhauer

Virginia Oden

Russell Poehler

Marland Sell

Frances Shuff

Maxine Spicer

Children’s Update

*The kids in the Young Explorers

and Kids Ignite classes had fun

preparing and serving snacks

recently. They did a great job

working together to provide

yummy treats for all to enjoy!

*April 9th is Palm Sunday and the

kids will once again be helping with the Palm Parade. For

Easter Sunday, April 16th, children 6 years of age and older

will be worshipping upstairs as we celebrate our Savior’s

resurrection. Children’s classes will be available for

children 5 years of age and younger during the service.

Celebration Moment: I am always impressed with how well

the kids do when they host snacks. They are so eager to

serve and help and do a great job working together!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Homework Help Update

*The program is for Middle & High School students and

meets Mondays – Thursdays from 3:00-5:30 pm.

*Homework Help will not be meeting April 3-6 while

HCCSC is on spring break

*Thank you to all who brought in brownies and sheet cake

for the United Way Thank You Luncheon. Your delicious

desserts were a hit! Thanks for your continued support of

the Homework Help program.

Celebration Moment: Recently several students have had

aha moments! It is always great to see students grasp a

concept. It’s encouraging to see students understanding that

when they work hard and turn in their assignments on time,

their grades improve. It’s great to celebrate these

accomplishments with the students!

Youth Update

*Youth group meets on Wednesday evenings from

7-8:30 pm. All middle and high school students are

welcome to attend.

*We kicked off the Lenten season by attending an Ash

Wednesday service. The youth enjoyed participating in the

service and had many great questions afterwards.

Celebration Moment: I am encouraged by how much the

students enjoy attending our weekly youth group gatherings.

Often I hear that Wednesday evenings are the highlight of

their week! The youth are connecting with one another,

sharing with the adults who care deeply about them, and

growing in their relationship with Jesus.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

HKC Update

*HKC meets on Monday evenings

from 6:30-8:30 pm for kids in

2nd-6th grade (or ages 8-12). If

interested in joining, see the

brochures in the William St. foyer.

*We are looking for additional

volunteers to help on Monday

evenings. If you would be

interested in building relationships

with students, sharing Jesus, and

having fun, see Megan for more

details.

Celebration Moment: It’s great to see the kids and the

volunteers connecting and growing deeper in their

relationships. I love that when a volunteer walks into the

room, several kids run over to them and share hugs and

stories. I’m encouraged by the impact these adult volunteers

are making on the lives of the kids who attend.

Please continue to pray for all the children & youth involved in these activities.

Pray for the volunteers who interact with them each week.

Real Rest

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.

I’ll show you how to take a real rest” (Matthew 11:28-30,

The Message).

Every time I hear these words I find myself saying, yes,

this sounds so beautiful. I am tired and worn out.

Recovering my life and experiencing real rest sounds

amazing. I want that! Yet for some reason, I forget that

these words are meant for me and this kind of life is

possible.

I have been known to say the phrase, “I don’t rest well,”

more often than not. I struggle to truly rest and to not be

doing some sort of activity. I am often held captive to “the

list” or in my case many lists. I can’t rest because there is

always something to be done. This is probably why, despite

the fact that I know it really isn’t possible, I still try to

multitask so much of the time. I can’t let myself just “be”

because I feel guilty, like I need to be doing something.

Often I find myself extremely restless when I am seeking to

rest.

Why is rest so difficult? Why does real rest seem to be so

elusive? We live in a world where our productivity reigns

and rest at times appears to be only for the weak. I am so

thankful that God sees things differently. God cares about

the whole of who we are, knows our need for rest, and calls

us to a more full life when we take time to get away with

Him. Rest isn’t only important but it is an essential part of

our existence. The heart of rest according to Matthew 11 is

getting away with God. We have to get away from our lives,

the chaos, the busyness, and the tasks to truly find our lives.

“To practice Sabbath is to practice a stillness that brings

clarity to our lives” (Rest, 29).

Stillness brings clarity. When we quiet ourselves and

rest, something happens. Slowing down helps us to see more

clearly. Resting allows us to search deeper within ourselves

and allow the one who made us to reveal more of who He is

into our lives. When I’m too busy, I’m just running from

one thing to the next, marking things off the list, often not

giving real thought to the things and people around me. It’s

when I rest that I am able to step outside myself and truly see

others, see their situations, see their needs, and be refueled to

continue on with them. When I allow Jesus to help me find

“real rest” I find that I am more rooted, focused, and present.

I have taken care of myself, found my identity in Christ, and

am able to move throughout my day rested and rooted in

Him. This “real rest” enables me to know who I am and then

to see those around me more clearly. “Stopping gives us a

great gift, especially if in that stopping, we respond to the

divine invitation: come to me. We get a chance to be our

true selves – fully loved children of God who share that love

with others. We realize that we are beloved lovers” (Rest, 30

-31).

More and more I’m finding that rest is essential to my

well-being. For too long I’ve made rest more difficult than it

needs to be and I’ve carried around a lot of guilt about it.

I’ve decided to set down the lies that needing rest makes me

weak and instead embrace the words of Jesus that say, rest

brings life! “My soul finds rest in God alone” (Psalm 62:1).

Real rest is found when I rest in God. It’s the deep kind of

rest that fills my soul and gives me the strength to continue

in life and relationships. Real rest allows me to see myself

and others differently. When I rest well, I find that I’m more

likely to enjoy other forms of rest and relaxing activities. I

am more prepared and energized for the day ahead and more

focused on God and what He is saying to me.

I’m slowly trying to create space in my life for this kind

of real rest. It’s a challenge to forgo the to-do list, to set

aside tasks, to fight the lies of guilt and perfectionism, and to

just be present with God. When I do this, it’s a beautiful

experience. On a recent Saturday morning, I got away and

sat with a good book, my journal, and a warm cup of coffee.

I had no time limit, no place to be, and I just allowed myself

to be. A few hours seemed to go by quickly and yet the time

did not feel rushed at all. I felt a peace and calm come over

me as I asked Jesus to help me find real rest and recover my

life. A few months ago I went on a prayer retreat in the

morning and I remember feeling so rested, free, and

energized throughout the rest of the day.

“It’s a gift, but we can’t receive it if we don’t stop to open

it. Once we do, we realize that stopping, rest, is actually the

secret to getting more done, to understanding and living our

true priorities, to enjoying our lives, and to experiencing the

presence of God” (Rest, 30). Rest is a gift! Jesus freely

offers us to find real rest in Him. Will we take Jesus up on

his offer? What do we want to give the people around us?

Do we want to live a life where we just keep running, doing

and striving and miss out on real and fulfilling rest? Where

can you create space in your life for real rest? It’s a gift;

receive it. You’ll be so glad that you did!

A Letter from Megan Condry

SPFCC April Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 9:30 am Worship

3

6 pm Something Biblical practice

6:30 pm HKC

4 6:30 pm Community Prayer Service - New Hope

5 6:30 pm Choir 7 pm Youth Group

6 6:30 pm God Speed

7

8

9 8:30 am Fellowship Team Meeting

9:30 am Worship-Palm Sunday

1 - 5 pm FH Rental

10 6-8 pm Girl Scouts 6:30 pm HKC HH

11

SeniorPak Prep

6 pm YSB Parenting Class

6:30 pm Women’s Team Meeting

7 pm Circle

HH

12

6:30 pm Choir

7 pm Youth Group

HH

13

Maundy Thursday

6:30 pm God Speed

HH

14 Good Friday

15

16

8 am Men’s Breakfast

8:30 am Children’s Team Meeting

9:30 am Worship-Easter Sunday

17

6-8 pm Girl Scouts

6 pm Something Biblical practice

6:30 pm HKC

HH

18

12 pm Senior Luncheon 6:30 pm Council HH

19

10 am-12 pm Cooking with Love 6:30 pm Choir 7 pm Youth Group HH

20

6:30 pm God Speed HH

21

22

23

9:30 am Worship Congregational Meeting

24

5:30 pm Worship Team Meeting

6-8 pm Girl Scouts

6:30 pm HKC

HH

25

SeniorPak Prep 6:30 pm Property Team Meeting HH

26 6:30 pm Choir 7 pm Youth Group HH

27 6:30 pm God Speed

28 Ladies Tea Prep

29 9-11 am Ladies Tea

*HH denotes Homework Help program, which runs from 3 - 5:30 p.m.

30

9:30 am Worship

A Note From the Ministry Coordinator:

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.”

Psalm 55:22

“You’re doing it,” the nurses told me as I delivered my

precious baby boy. And, I was doing it, even as I was telling

them, “I can’t do it!”

“You’re doing it,” are words that have continued to

echo in my mind throughout the first month of Emmitt’s

life. “You’re doing it,” is what I told myself when I was

discharged from the hospital and went home two days after

Emmitt was born while he stayed at the hospital in the

NICU for four more days. Leaving him there was not easy,

and although we went to sit with him and take care of him

during the day while he stayed in the hospital, our twenty-

three-month-old daughter needed us to be with her at home

in the evenings. Thankfully, I was often reassured by the

nurses that they were taking good care of Emmitt while he

remained in the hospital, and I was confident he was being

taken care of well. “You’re doing it,” is what I told myself

as I made it through my first day home alone with a toddler

and a newborn, even when the toddler had to be reminded

every other minute to be more gentle with the baby, and

even when she didn’t quite yet understand that I couldn’t

hold only her any longer, but had to hold the baby

sometimes, too. I have yet to venture out of the house on

my own with a toddler and a newborn, but I will do that,

too, and we will likely all come through it just fine!

God has also been reminding me, “You’re doing it,”

when I wonder whether I’m enjoying this journey enough,

whether I’m really soaking it all in and cherishing the

moments as I feel like I should be. Some days, I know I

look more forward to nap time than Eloise does, so then I

will have only one crying child who wants to be held. I try

to sit and play with Eloise when she asks me to do so, and I

try to feed Emmitt as soon as he gets hungry, but some days

it seems like too much to enjoy. How can I possibly enjoy it

when all I do is rush from the toddler’s need to the infant’s

need and back again without a moment to even think?

When I bring these questions to God, he reminds me that

these are the times I’m doing it only because He is

sustaining me. Sometimes I try so hard to get it all done,

and try to force myself to enjoy it, that it’s not possible to

be present in the moment. Even in the midst of the chaos,

when I take a step back, God helps me realize that although

both the toddler and the newborn are screaming, their

overall needs are being met. God is taking care of them, and

He is taking care of me. If I let go just a little bit, I realize

God is doing it. He is sustaining me.

When I focus so intently on being present, enjoying the

moment, and cherishing these times, I’m not able to do so,

but when I instead surrender and trust that God is doing it,

that is when I am able to just live. When I let go of the

pressure to be more than I am able to be on my own, then I

can soak in the sweet baby smell as I hold my newborn

without feeling like I need to hold him all day in order to

fully cherish these moments, and I can laugh or cry when

both kids are screaming at once, and I can let someone else

watch the kids so that I can take a break from the screaming

and go to the grocery store without feeling guilty about it.

God is teaching me that it is okay not to enjoy every minute,

and that this doesn’t mean I’m doing something wrong, that

I’m a bad mom, or that I don’t love my kids. I can trust

God…to take care of my kids

when I’m not there. I can trust

God…to continue to mold and

shape me to be the mom my kids

need me to be. I can trust God…

to carry my burdens when I

bring them to Him. When things

are far different than I

anticipated they would be, when

I’m unable to cherish the

moment, or even when things do

go exactly as I’ve planned, I can trust that God is doing “it,”

whatever the “it” may be on that given day. And, that is

what I want my children to see and to learn anyway…not

self-reliance, but God-reliance. God is always up to

something, and He will work in our lives in amazing ways

when we lay our burdens down before Him.

What burdens do you bear? What are you trusting God

to do in your life? What do you need to surrender to Him in

order to let go of the pressures weighing you down? I pray

each of us will reflect on what we need to let go in order for

God to mold and shape us into the men and women He has

called us to be. May you lay your burdens down at the foot

of the cross and live freely in Christ Jesus. ~Megan Engle

Eva

ng

el

ST. PETER’S FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH 206 ETNA AVENUE HUNTINGTON, IN 46750

Worship 9:30 am Conversation and Refreshments

10:45am

Glorify, Build,

REACH

The purpose of St. Peter’s First Community Church is to glorify God, build up the body of

Christ, and reach out to those in our community and world to help them become followers of

Christ.

ST. PETER’S FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH

phone: 260.356.7728

fax: 260.356.7514

email: stpetersfirst@att.net

web: www.spfcc.org

https://www.facebook.com/StPetersFirstCommunityChurch

Megan Engle, Ministry Coordinator

Office Hours:

Monday-Thursday 8 am-4 pm

Richard Strick, Pastor

260.224.2146

rstrickbttc@yahoo.com

Becky Lyons, Financial Secretary

stpetersfirstcom@yahoo.com

Megan Condry, Youth & Children’s Director

419.733.1272

megancondry@gmail.com

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11