“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?” (Matthew 24:45 ESV)

Each of us is drawn to God perhaps for different reasons. The Lord gives life to the ones who seek him! Yet even as we begin to follow Jesus we all learn from him that eternal life is based in faithful service to our God. What does it really mean to be faithful as a servant of the Lord?

First, of course, we need to be able to rightly hear the commands and directive of God in our life. This hearing comes by relationship with the Lord, led by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. History is littered with persons who believed God was telling them to do things and acted on this but were, in fact, driven by their own desires (which were often hurtful to others). This fall, as in our past four years, we will look to the Lord’s Word in the Old Testament to learn how those called into service faithfully (or unfaithfully) heard. Our sermon series is called “Faithful Servant Leader-ship” and applies to each us as God calls us to care for others.

Next, we need to prevent other things from completing our God-given works. This is devotion. Our life is a gift from God and appropriately should be offered back to the Lord in service (I write ‘should be’ because we are given free will which allows us to choose to return loving care to Jesus). All of us feel the constant pull to give priority to many person or things. We can only be devoted to one highest priority. All our other activ-ity is scheduled based on our highest value. As always, we look to Jesus to see how his relationship with our Father led him as our faithful model.

Third, we need to act wisely to care for those given to our care by the Lord. Wisdom begins with knowing our God, what God’s heart values, and putting these values into actions when decisions are at hand. Often our decisions have to do with how we serve others. Which of us has not regretted a choice we made because we were mislead by lack of knowl-edge or misplaced values.

Finally, we will grow in faithfulness. Jesus’ statement quoted above was followed by a promise that faithful servants will grow in responsibility. The Lord is patient with us as we grow following Jesus. We can be his en-couragement to one another as we ask one another, “What has the Lord called you to do?” In prayer we can also hear the Holy Spirit affirm his guidance for each other and in our work together. The Lord is on our side so that we grow in faithfulness and wisdom!

Pastor Martin

September Worship Schedule

September 2 Ephesians 3:14-19

We teach our children ‘Jesus Loves Me’ yet we might forget this truth in

stressful times of our life. How would you describes Jesus’ love for you?

“Faithful Servant Leadership”

September 9 1Samuel 8:19-9:2

At different points in our life the Lord will call us to care for others. How should this hold this responsibility? We begin by looking at the life of

King Saul.

September 16 1Samuel 17:8-11, 26, 45-47 Even as a youth David knew the Lord and his protection.

This infused David’s life to trust the Lord with great things on behalf of others. How can we do the same?

September 23 Psalm 51:1-19

King David was not perfect, yet he modeled repentance for others to follow. How can our repentance

help us to better serve those given to our care?

September 30

2Chronicles 6:18-21 The Lord gave King Solomon the

great gift of wisdom. Yet he struggled with conflicted devotion in his life. How can we remain devoted to the Lord so our service to others will be helpful?

Pastor’s Page

Northkirk Presbyterian September 2018

Grapevine

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Session Highlights

Meeting: August 21, 2018

1. Pastor Martin led a brief study time based on I Peter 2:12-17. What do people in our culture say about Christians: no fun, hypocrites, mean and terrible, unbending, close minded, rigid—based on how they believe we treat others. We need to take opportunity to deal with them one person at a time. How do we and should we treat others? The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

2. The Pastor’s report was lengthy and included:

An update on Dave Baird’s condition, Motion passed to invite the

congregation to donate blood at a local blood bank in Dave’s name.

MOPS will resume on September 5.

Executive Presbyter Timm High would like to meet with the Session for about 30 minutes. Motion passed to invite him to our September 18 Session meeting.

Pastor suggested and it was discussed that we remove restrictions on drinks and food in the sanc-tuary. Motion passed to remove restrictions on drinks in the sanctuary (but restrictions on food re-main).

Following discussion of four student suicides in the first two weeks of school, a Motion the Mission/Evangelism team was asked to organize an evening speaker to help parents care for their teenagers regarding mental health issues.

Team reports included:

Christian Education is still looking for Sunday School teachers for the 2018/2019 school year.

Facilities & Grounds is seeking a second quote on replacing our air conditioning units; Fishhook has stopped using our church; Classrooms 5 and 6 paint quotes received. Motion passed to proceed with painting and flooring in Classroom 5 and 6 with MOPS providing funding.

Membership/Fellowship proposed a harvest feast soup lunch on Sunday, October 28, in the Fellow-ship Hall following worship; Motion made and passed for this Harvest Feast.

Mission and Evangelism reminded everyone that we need to begin advertising the October 27 date for the CPR class and asking people to sign up. The class needs a minimum of 12 people with a maxi-mum of 18; cost is $60 per person and the class will last all day.

Personnel recommended offering the nursery attendant position to Treesa Drake; Motion passed.

The Riverside Presbytery Office continues to be closed. The staff is working remotely and can be reached by leaving a message at the office number (909/881-1595) or by email (http://www.riversidepresbytry.com/contact-us.html). Presbytery committees have been asked to meet else-where during this closure.

Average Sunday worship attendance for July 2018 included

60 Adults, 1 Youth, and 4 Children.

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Opportunities to Serve

Christian Education, Chair: Paula Emick Sunday School teacher

Small group leader or participant Friday evening Youth ministry or Children’s ministry

Summer movie nights

Facilities and Grounds, Chair: Ronn Campbell Monthly Saturday work parties, watch for announcements. Installation and/or repair of inside and outside equipment, general maintenance, Deep cleaning

events (pews, carpets, classrooms, etc. Planting, pruning, harvesting.

Membership/Fellowship, Chair: Diane Atherton Providing Sunday fellowship refreshments (advance signups requested)

Providing setup, cleanup, and food for special events Staffing the “name tag” table on the first Sunday of the month.

Helping with special church events.

Missions & Evangelism, Co-Chairs: Lazaro Silva & Pam Sickman Prepare sanctuary for special offerings,

Coordinate any Mission Events Help with MOPS (Cynthia Alvarez)

Prayer Shawl Ministry Plus (Sharon Hayden)

Music, Worship, and Arts,

Co-Chairs: Dean Collins & Grace Gonzales Ushers & Openers/Closers,

Worship Assistants and Alter Guild Vocal Choir: Wed. at 6 pm, Praise Band: Wed. at 7 pm.

Stewardship/Finance, Chair: Dan Beauvais

Offering counters Trained annual financial reviewer

We still have an opening for a Presbytery Meeting Representative, which can be a prior ruling elder. If interested call Pastor Martin.

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Events Coming Up

Homecoming Sunday—September 9th!

On Sunday, September 9th we will celebrate new beginnings at Northkirk! The Bible Studies that took summer breaks will be back in session that week, the choir will be back to singing during worship and MOPS will have already had their first meeting.

If you’d like to join any of these groups, contact the leader of the group or the church office for more information.

Caroline’s Art Exhibit on Display

Caroline Allbaugh (Tom & Bernadette’s daughter) and Amanda Santos have a sculptor exhibit called “Hope in Wanting” in the Maloof Woodland Garden now through March 30, 2019.

The Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts is located at the top of Carnelian at 5131 Carnelian Street, Rancho Cucamonga.

Caroline’s part of the exhibit is dedicated to her brother, Michael.

All exhibit are free to the public.

For all Presbyterian Women

in the Presbytery of Riverside

Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

Featuring Guest Speaker, Roceni Bakian

2018 Presbyterian International Peacemaker

Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.

Beaumont First Presbyterian Church

702 Euclid Avenue

Beaumont, California 92223

Registration $10 – Lunch Included

RSVP by Wednesday, October 3, 2018 to:

Lou Jolliff at: jolliff8771@roadrunner.com

(619) 403 - 3262

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In October

Northkirk will be hosting a

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), First Aid and

AED (Automated external defibrillator) Class on Saturday,

October 27th from 7:30 am—4:30 pm

The class is taught by two members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and will last approximately 8 hours. Space is limited to 18 students and must have a minimum of 12 students. Cost is $60.00 per student and will include a textbook, certification

for 2 years, pocket mask, first aid items, materials and supplies for the class.

The class includes hands-on training using both adult and child manikins.

There will be a continental breakfast

and lunch will be served during a 30 minute break.

To register and pay for the class contact Gail Valenti

in the church office (909) 989-4919 or fill out a registration slip at church

Join our Harvest Feast—October 28th

“You are to observe the Festival of Harvest, celebrating the first fruits of your work in planting the field, and the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather the fruit of your work from the field.” Exodus 23:16 The festivals of the Bible are timed around the harvest seasons of the Holy Land: Spring, late Summer and Autumn. The harvest festival is symbolic of how God is carrying out His plan to gather a harvest of humanity into His soon-coming Kingdom. Join us on October 28 immediately following our worship service for our Harvest Feast. We will be serving a variety of soup, bread and cookies. We are looking for people to make a crock-pot of soup to share. If you would like to contribute to the feast, please email Diane Atherton at diane.atherton@verizon.net

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Prayer Calendar

2

Music, Worship & Art Ministry

9

Personnel Committee

16

Stewardship & Finance

Committee

23

Pastor Martin

3

Margaret Merhoff

10

Cathy Moody

17

Lee & Nancy Rash

24

Aline Sardão

4

Eric & Nancy Michalski

11

Cliff & Lisa Newman

18

Mark & Pam Rock

25

Bill & Emily Scholz

5

Steve & Marion Mildon

12

Don & Sharon

Peart

19

Ed Rugh

6

Trudy Milne

13

Rebecca

Peters

20

Paul & Winnie Sage

7

The Miranda Family

14

Eugene & Lily Pyu

21

Mary Sanders

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ESL Bible Study

15

Wed. Eve. Bible Study

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Sunday School

1

Early Risers Bible Study

26

Sue Sharra

27

Pam Sickman

28

The Silva Family

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Happy Birthday to:

Marion Mildon 9/4

Patricia Huntsman 9/5

Glen Gonzales 9/6

Jolynn Stahl 9/13

Emily Scholz 9/20

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Children’s Group

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Gail Valenti

Happy Anniversary to:

Bill & Emily Scholz 9/20

Paul & Margaret McGough 9/22

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September 2018

All events are held at the church unless otherwise noted:

**Prayer Partners, Alta Laguna Mobile Home Park, #49, contact Nancy Rash for entry code 909-908-6405

*** Early Risers’ Bible Study, Coco’s on Haven/Baseline, contact Lee Rash 909-225-4977

****Prayer Shawl Ministries Plus, Alta Laguna Mobile Home Park #40, contact Sharon Hayden for entry code 909-972-5186

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

9 am Campus Work Day

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8:30 am Bible Study

9:30 am Worship With communion

3

Office Closed

4

9 am Prayer Partners**

7 pm Team

Meetings

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6:30 am—Bible Study ***

9 am MOPS 6 pm Choir

7 pm Praise Band

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7:30 pm Children’s

Group & Cross Point

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9 am NK Writers’ Group

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8:30 am Bible Study

9:30 am Worship Homecoming Sunday

11 am 3D Group

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9 am Prayer Partners**

7 pm Deacons Meeting

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6:30 am—Bible Study *** 6 pm Choir 7 pm Praise

Band 7pm Wed Eve

Bible Study

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1:30 pm Prayer Shawl

Ministry +

14

7:30 pm Children’s

Group & Cross Point 7:30 pm ESL Bible Study

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8:30 am Bible Study

9:30 am Worship

11 am 3D Group

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9 am Prayer Partners**

7 pm Session

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6:30 am—Bible Study ***

9 am MOPS

6 pm Choir 7pm Praise Band

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7:30 pm Children’s

Group & Cross Point

Sept. Grape-

vine articles are due

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9 am NK Writers

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8:30 am Bible Study

9:30 am Worship

11 am 3D Group

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25

9 am Prayer Partners**

26

6:30 am—Bible Study ***

6 pm Choir

7pm Wed Bible Study

7 pm Praise Band

27

1:30 pm Prayer Shawl

Ministry +

28

7:30 pm Children’s

Group & Cross Point 7:30 pm ESL Bible Study

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8:30 am Bible Study

9:30 am Worship

11 am 3D Group

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Missions

Food of the Month: Peanut Butter

During the month of August, we’ll collect peanut butter for the S.O.V.A. food bank. These food donations are used to help feed people in our community that otherwise wouldn’t have enough food to feed their families.

Karen’s Garden

If you’d like to use a plot in Karen’s Garden to grow your own

fresh organic produce, please contact Ed Rugh at erugh3@gmail.com to obtain a form to fill out. There are a few guidelines to follow. Ed will let you know which plots are still available.

Mops Update

We are off and running this month for our 5th year of Northkirk MOPS and are excited by all the new

leaders, Mentor Moms and staff we will have to make this the best year yet for our young mothers and their children. Our theme, “Find Your Fire” from Romans 12:11-13 reminds us that God has placed in us, all that we need to hope with joyfulness, suffer with patience, and pray with faithful-ness.

We had a successful MOPS leadership meeting at the Smith’s home where Lorraine gave a beauti-ful Biblical teaching on our theme. Later we met to design our program; the hospitality, the childcare, the small group interactions, the mentoring, and the off-campus play dates.

Please keep our ministry in your prayers, and pray that our young moms, especially those who don’t know Jesus as their personal savior, will trust in God this year to be their hope and strength.

Peace & Global Witness Offering—October 7th

A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of injustice across the world. Individual congregations are encouraged to utilize up to 25% of this Offering to connect with the global witness of Christ's peace. Mid councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness. Please give to this worthwhile mission.

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I had the opportunity to spend the month of June in Peru with our New World Mission Association and lead a short mission team of High School kids and their advisors to several mountain communities. We did evangelistic outreach to mostly children and teenagers, using puppet shows, drama, fun music and games. In Peru, we can do programs in the local schools, so we told the story of the Good Samaritan, The Prodi-gal Son, did a skit about bullying, and my teens gave their personal testimonies about how they came to know God. We also worked with our mission’s local churches and did visitations to the poorest areas in Lima, inviting them to find a caring community in our church.

Cynthia Alvarez, Missionary NEWMA

Missionary Outreach to Peru

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Reflections of July

The net operating deficit is subsidized by investment funds. The session has budgeted $138,760.09 to be withdrawn from our investments this year. So far, we have withdrawn $33,516.16. We have had some unusual expenses lately. Our air conditioning and heating systems need to be replaced will be a huge expense. A new refrigerator was purchased for the kitchen and we will need to replace our electronic drums. If anyone would like to make a donation toward these items, it would be much appreciated. If anyone has questions regarding our budget, bank balances or investments, please contact the church office at 909-989-4919 and your questions will be forwarded to our church treasurer or to someone on the stewardship/finance team. Emily Scholz, Church Treasurer

Treasurer’s Report

as of July 31, 2018

Operational Budget July Budget July Actual Year to Date Budget Year to Date Actual

Giving/Receipts 13,909.83 19,279.18 97,360.85 113,798.65

Expenses 25,538.96 21,584.63 178,375.29 150,857.68

Net Operating

Surplus/Deficit

-11,629.13 -2,305.45 -81,014.44 -37,059.03

Paint & Pray Event

On July 28th, Chris Maitlen gathered a group of people to go to Arts Amore in Upland.

It’s interesting to see the variation in each piece of art even though they all began with the same template of a simple dove.

The paintings are on display in the Fellowship Hall until they find a permanent home.

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Christian Education

We still need more Sunday school teachers for the 2018-2019 school year. Please

contact Paula Emick or Pastor Martin if you’d like to serve Northkirk in this way.

The children’s Sunday School program will continue with the “Dig In” program which

we used last year. This is a simple program to follow and the Sunday school

teachers can review it ahead of time and choose which portions they want to use

for that Sunday’s lesson. There is a core Bible lesson and the teachers can “build”

their lesson from suggested music, crafts, science project and activities that are

based on the Core Bible lesson. Sunday school will resume on September 9th.

Sunday Morning Bible Study “God is in the Laundry Room” meets at 8:30 am in room 5. Contact Teri Smits at tsmitsmits@aol.com

3D Group will resume on Sept. 9th at 11 am. If you’d like to discuss the sermon in more detail join us in Pastor Martin’s office for a “Digging Deeper Discussion”.

Monday Evening Bible Study will remain on break through the fall.

Early Risers’ Bible Study meets at 6:30 every Wednesday morning for breakfast, fellowship and Bible Study at Coco’s Restaurant at Haven & Baseline in Rancho Cucamonga. Questions? contact Lee Rash at leland941@verizon.net

Wednesday Evening Bible Study meets on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month at 7 pm in Pastor Martin’s office.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Plus will resume on Thursday, September 13th at 1:30 pm at Sharon Hayden’s home. Call Sharon for entry code. ESL Bible Study will resume on Sept. 14th and will be from 7-8 pm. This is a great Bible Study for people who are learning English as a second language.

Bible Studies

VISITORS are WELCOME

Sunday Morning Worship Service at 9:30 AM

Sunday School for Preschool through 5th Grade

Sunday Teen Bible Study at 11:45 AM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STAFF:

The Rev. Martin Smith, Pastor, msmith@northkirk.org

Aline Sardão, Music Director, asardao@northkirk.org

Gail Valenti, Church Secretary, northkirkoffice@northkirk.org

Harold Willome, Pianist, HJW1244@aol.com

Pilar Yarur, Custodian

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Publication of Northkirk Presbyterian Church

(909) 989-4919

www.northkirk.org

9101 19th Street

Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701

909-989-4919

northkirkoffice@northkirk.org