Grove Presbyterian Church 50 E. Bel Air Avenue Aberdeen, MD 21001 410-272-0896

Volume 15 Issue 5

From Pastor Merritt…

May 2017

Birthdays 7

Calendar 8

Inside this issue:

Th

e

Visitor Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As most of you will have heard by now, the congregation unanimously voted on Sunday to grant me a paid six month leave of absence for family and med i ca l i s s u es . T he S es s i o n recommended this leave to the congregation in light of the numerous health concerns within my extended family, and the toll these were taking on my own health. It is a generous gift being given to me and to my family. Please know how much each of us appreciates the love and concern embodied in this leave.

My leave starts tomorrow, April 25. During my leave I will be addressing: my own health, especially by meeting regularly with a therapist; my parents needs as they transition from their beloved home of over fifty years (which they designed and built!) to assisted living; and the needs of my daughter, who has recently experienced some additional health concerns. My parents’ needs will have me travelling to Florida for some time. As many of you have already experienced with your own parents, this will not be vacation. Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful that this congregation understands how important it is that I be a part of that

transition. I will also be spending more time with Elizabeth in addressing her needs and issues.

Since a key feature of this leave will also deal with my stress level, I have resigned from all Presbytery responsibilities, and also all i n t e r f a i t h a n d c o m m u n i t y organizations. In January I told

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance that I would not be a v a i l a b l e f o r deployment this year, and moved from the National Response Team to t h e N a t i o n a l Volunteer Team for the future.

The Session and I have worked together to make sure that Grove’s needs are met while I am away. Jack Carlson will moderate the Session. Dr. George Toole will preach all Communion Sundays (and some others as well), lead the Tuesday morning Bible Study Class, and provide pastoral care. Elders in the church will also be preaching. Please contact the church leadership for any needs that might arise. You have proven in the past that you all are a capable and faithful group of Christians who work together for the good of Christ’s Church. I am deeply (continued on page 2)

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(Continued from page 1) sorry that I am having to ask you to do so again, but so very grateful for your resilience and the gifts which Christ has given you.

Please keep me and my family in your prayers. I look forward to the healing that will occur in Christ’s name, and to returning to you as soon as I am able, with renewed strength and hope, to renewed service among you. I will continue to keep you all in my prayers as well. In Christ’s love, Grove will serve Thursday May 4th with the results being written in the June Newsletter.

Thrift shop proceeds for March were $185. Still unpacking boxes of stored spring/summer clothing items to hang on the racks to sell. The temperature swings of cool to hot and back to cool have kept sales of summer clothing down a bit. Summer heat will eventually settle into the area and the shop is prepared for the bump up in sales.

Sunday, May 21, 2017 In the Monroe Building’s Mitchell Hall

Right after worship (around 11:35 a.m.)

Please bring salads, sandwiches or side dishes.

Drinks and desserts provided. Bring a friend!

Grove Presbyterian Fellowship Ministry

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Reach Europe. Change the world. gemission.org

APRIL 2017 Mark & Marti Mylin Mark continues to adapt to the contact lens and does not yet have the final configuration of lens and eye-glasses. He had the stitches removed from his eye in February, which changed the shape of the eye and thus his prescription. He is able to read now, but still with difficulty.

~Please pray for Mark to persevere in the midst of this seemingly endless trial. In February, Marti co-led an eight-day long training module for women, equipping them to lead other women in studying the Bible and Christian growth. Four of the five women who came took vaca-tion time to participate. One woman left young children with grand-parents so she could come. It was a joy to see these women as-similating the skills and concepts which will enable them to influ-ence other Christian women in their walk of faith with Christ.

Marti started working last year with the French national committee which develops and promotes several training modules. Four courses are presently available: a basic discipleship course, how to lead small discipleship and Bible study groups, how to study the Bi-

ble and prepare Bible discussions, and relational Biblical counseling.

~Pray for the women who have received training through these courses. Ask God to make them use-ful to their churches and fruitful as their confidence in Him overflows into the lives of the women around them.

We are preparing to do a “test run” of a six- week introduc-tion to the Biblical faith. This French-produced series of short videos is called Passerelles vers Dieu (Gateways to God). We plan to invite two couples from our village to go through the series with us. We, of course, want them to learn the ba-sics of the Christian gospel, but we also hope they will help us to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the pres-entation and how we might best use it with others to commu-nicate the truth about Jesus. ~Pray for honest dialogue with the neighbors we invite to view the Passerelles vid-eos. Ask God to open the hearts of some to believe and trust Jesus. Pray that we may continue to have opportu-nities to speak of Christ and to study the Bible with many – in our village, at the university, and in Angers. Thank you for supporting the work of the gospel in France through your friendship, finances, and prayers,

In Christ,

Mark & Marti Mylin mhm82fr@gmail.com (Marti) mdm955i@gmail.com (Mark)

Serving with Greater Europe Mission, 18950 Base Camp Road, Monument CO 80132 (800-436-4488) 7 chemin de la moinerie, 49170 St Martin du Fouilloux, France

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Grove Day at Bob Evans The manager at Bob Evans in Aberdeen has arranged to make the third Tuesday of each month "Grove Presbyterian Day." The next date is Tuesday, May 16. This is a great opportunity to share our fellowship with each other and to extend that fellowship to include our families, friends and neighbors. Fliers with details will be available at the church, in the bulletins, and by contacting Dave Yensan. Grove will receive 15% of every check which is accompanied by a flier. Let's make this a regular event, get a group together for breakfast, lunch or supper and assist Grove in its funding.

A Merry Heart....

A prayer for Mom

A young boy had been misbehaving, so his mother sent him to his room. Sometime later, he came out and told his mom he’d prayed about the matter. “That’s good,” she replied. “If you ask God for help to not misbehave, he’ll help you.”

“Oh, I didn’t pray for help behaving,” said the

boy. “I prayed for God to help you put up with me.”☺

Notes from the Mission Team

Aiza Berengoy, the child we sponsor through Compassion International, is now 17 years old. She hopes to become a teacher. She lives on the island of Visayas, which is between Luzon and Mindanao. Her father is a farmer. Here is her latest letter:

February 25, 2017 Dear Grove Presbyterian Church, I am blessed that [God] is good to us. He is able to unite us through prayers and letters. How are you? May God continue to bless you as well as your church. My family and I are in good health. God is faithful in supplying our needs. It’s been a whole year of blessings since the school has started. It’s about a month to go before the end of class. I will be in Grade 12 this coming June. I thank God that He supply the needs in my study. Thank you alsi for prayers and sup-ports especially in financial aspects. I may not be able to return all the efforts you did for me, but I’m trying to do my studies so I can return all the efforts you did. Thank you so much! Do you have any church activities this week? Please continue to pray for the salvation of my family. God bles you more abundantly!

Love, Aiza

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Enjoy Dinner! Music! Bible Study! Arts & Crafts!

Welcome, K—5th Grade! (ages 5 to 11 years old)

When? Monday—Friday June 26th—30th

Time? 6:00 p.m.—8:15 p.m.

SIGN UP NOW! Call Grove Church Office: 410-272-0896

(Between 9:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m.)

50 East Bel Air Avenue Aberdeen, MD 21001

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“Deacons’ Doings” God is Good and the Cupboard shelves are showing proof of that! Recently, we received:

Aberdeen Lion-Lioness Club – Eve & Chuck Jacobs delivered 160 non-perishable items (including 48 toilet papers - WOW!)

Aberdeen Earth Day Celebration – A truckload of canned and non-perishable items collected at this celebration were transported to our shelves! Thanks Mary Anne & Paul Thomas and Linda & Jack Dempsey Shop Rite Grant - 79 Cases of food (valued at $999.62) were moved to our cupboard on Tuesday, April 25! Thanks go to Marsha & Bruce Gerdom, Linda & Jack Dempsey, Dick Harrison, Jacob Schatz, Steve Stephens. Cupboard Needs – Jelly, Toilet Paper and Bar Soap

(Please note – we have an abundance of cereal at this time – THANK YOU!)

Blessings to all!

Deadline for the

June Grove Visitor

is Monday,

May 22

VOLUME 15 ISSUE 5 PAGE 7

May 1 Wyatt Jeter

May 2 Alexandra Bennett

May 4 Donna Kniss

May 6 Kyle Shetterly

May 7 Betty Kruczynski

May 9 Deb Adams

May 10 Mary Lou Brown

May 10 Michael Wenger

May 11 Rob Weber

May 14 Shannon Sepulveda

May 20 Carlla Jones

May 20 Mikie Troy

May 20 Vallerie Jeter

May 21 Cynthia Powell

May 29 Mary-Lynne Livezey

May 29 Erin Weber

May 30 Beth Carroll

May 30 Ned Prenatt

May 30 Eve Jacobs

Dear friends at Grove, Thank you so much for the cards and gifts for secretary’s day! Sheila

BROCCOLI CASSEROLE

Janet Moxley Mix together: 1 medium onion, chopped and sautéed in ½ stick butter 2 cups cooled rice 1 10 oz pack frozen chopped broccoli, uncooked or the equivalent fresh broccoli, chopped Heat for sauce: 1 10 oz can cream of chicken soup ½ cup milk ½ lb Velveeta cheese Place vegetable mixture in oblong dish. Pour sauce over vegetables. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Do not cover. Variations: Add chicken pieces to the mixture. Use mushroom soup, celery soup or cheddar cheese soup or any combination of these for the sauce. Just before serving, sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over top if casserole and allow to melt.

VOLUME 15 ISSUE PAGE 8

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop 7p Rebekah Circle

2 5-7a Korean Church 10:30a Bible Study 7p Bible Study 8-10a Deacons 7p Boy Scouts

3 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop 7p Deacons Cupboard

4 5-7a Korean Church 10a Sarah Circle 11:30a Martha Meal 7-8:30p Chancel Choir 7-9p AA

5 5-7a Korean Church 5-7p Girl Scouts 7p AA 7:30p Korean Church

6

7 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Worship 11:45a Coffee Hour (Bradley & Rickey) 1p Korean Church

8 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop 3p HFH 7p FAP

9 5-7a Korean Church 10:30a Bible Study 7p Bible Study 8-10a Deacons 7p Boy Scouts

10 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop 7p AA 7p Deacons Cupboard

11 5-7a Korean Church 11:30a Martha Meal 7-8:30p Chancel Choir 7-9p AA

12 5-7a Korean Church 5-7p Girl Scouts 7p AA 7:30p Korean Church 6-10p Kurt Schlegel

13

14 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Worship 11:45a Coffee Hour (Jones & Bissett) 1p Korean Church

15 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop 5:30p Trustees 7p Deacons 6p Bel Mar Coin Club

16 5-7a Korean Church 10:30a Bible Study 7p Bible Study 8-10a Deacons 7p Boy Scouts

17 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop 7p Deacons Cupboard

18 5-7a Korean Church 11:30a Martha Meal 7-8:30p Chancel Choir 7-9p AA

19 5-7a Korean Church 5-7p Girl Scouts 7p AA 7:30p Korean Church

20

21 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Worship 11:45a Coffee Hour 1p Korean Church

22 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop 7p Session Newsletter Deadline

23 5-7a Korean Church 10:30a Bible Study 7p Bible Study 8-10a Deacons 7p Boy Scouts

24 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop 7p Deacons Cupboard

25 5-7a Korean Church 11:30a Martha Meal 7-8:30p Chancel Choir 7-9p AA

26 5-7a Korean Church 5-7p Girl Scouts 7p AA 7:30p Korean Church 6-10p Kurt Schlegel

27

28 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Worship 11:45a Coffee Hour (Bounds & Jeter) 1p Korean Church

29 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop

30 5-7a Korean Church 8-10a Deacons 7p Boy Scouts

31 5-7a Korean Church 10a Thrift Shop 7p Deacons Cupboard

FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED Grove Presbyterian Church 50 East Bel Air Avenue Aberdeen, MD 21001 (410) 272-0896 GroveChurch@verizon.net