interim pastor/head of staff · 2018. 1. 3. · creciendo juntos after school program is starting a...
TRANSCRIPT
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GRACE PRESS
Interim Pastor/Head of Staff
Rev. Dr. Michael Wallman grew up in Malibu, CA, the oldest of 5 separately
adopted children. He has served Christ as an ordained Presbyterian Pastor
since 1979, when he graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary. He earned
his Doctor of Ministry degree from Dubuque Theological Seminary. Most of
his ministry has been in California, but he has served churches in Boulder,
Colorado and Shreveport, Louisiana. For the last 12 years, Pastor Mike has
been an Interim Pastor serving 5 congregations during pastoral transitions. His
most recent position was at First Presbyterian Church of Oceanside. Pastor
Mike is married to Joni and lives in Vista. They have four adult children and
five grandchildren. Playing his guitar and singing has been a great joy since his
youth and he stays active through surfing, cycling, skiing, and golf.
Secretary
Veronica Campos was raised in North County San Diego but now lives in
San Diego. She loves to spoil her 3 year old fur baby, Toby. Veronica likes
nature, adventure, and in her free time she enjoys hiking. Veronica has ex-
tensive office knowledge and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
After School Program Director
Maria Haigh is a native Californian, born and raised in Salinas. She has been
married for 25 years to Dave and they have two children;
Logan (19) and Savannah (15), and Bernie the family cat mascot. Both she and
her husband have worked in education their entire professional life, they have 39
years combined. Their journey together has taken them through many different
experiences including missionary ventures to Mexicali, Oaxaca and Calcutta,
India.
Maria’s educational background earned her an BA in Religion/Youth ministries
from Warner Pacific College and an MA in School Counseling from Chapman
University. Most recently she has worked as an adjunct instructor and college
counselor for a state university. The last two years have led them to the Oceans-
ide area, where her husband took a position as a Senior Instruction Designer for the University of
San Diego.
She loves serving the Lord with her time and talents and advocating for the “underdog.”
She brings enthusiasm, a love and compassion for others, and a passion for education. She is look-
ing forward to serving the children and families in the Vista community.
Meet our New Staff
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SEPTEMBER 2017
Here it is September, already!?! Yes, it is really here. So the notice goes out to each of the
church committees that it is time to prepare budget requests for next year and get them
to the Finance committee by the end of the month. The proposed budget expenses will have to
be closer to the anticipated receipts as the Newby Bequest Fund that has supported some of our
programs dwindles.
So the call also goes out to the membership suggesting that we plan our personal giving for the
coming year.
A pastoral message might in all likelihood, tell you the way to a happy Christian life is to give 10%
of our income, save 10% of our income and live happily on what is left. It really works for some.
Yet for others, it is difficult to jump right up to 10%. That thought brought about the idea of “Work-
ing toward Tithing.” We would succeed soon by increasing our giving by 1% of our income each
year. How soon would that get you to the ideal of 10%? For some, by the time they reach 10%
level it will have become a comfortable habit.
I know, it sounds easy to write and easy to read. The truth is, it just might work for you. Let’s all
pray about it.
Finance Committee Report
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GRACE PRESS Test imony and Cal l for Unity by Glenna Spindelman
So here we are again… waiting.
People wait all the time. In line at the grocery store. In the airport. At home for SDG&E or Cox Ca-
ble to arrive. For the doctor to call with test results or scheduling of treatment or surgery.
And now, we are waiting for the Presbytery to take us one step closer to welcoming our next head
pastor.
What do we do while we wait? Lean back, arms folded across our chest? Tap our foot, check our
watch, straining our eyes toward the horizon? Do we complain about the waiting? Do we tire of wait-
ing, and walk away?...
My hopes for Grace:
• That we live and thrive, hope and serve, and pray during this time.
• That we do not give up meeting together, working together - side by side - to keep our
church strong and obedient to the calling of the Holy Spirit.
• That we claim God’s promise in Isaiah, Chapter 40, Verse 31. “But they that wait upon the
Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and
not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Our responsibility, according to the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5, verse. 13 “You are the salt of the
earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for any-
thing, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Over the centuries, salt has been used not only to enhance flavor, but to preserve food. I say we
choose to be that salt that not only preserves our church during this waiting time, but to actively flavor
it.
Pastor Tom was with us for 21 years. A lifetime for some. I have been here for 31 years, some of you
have been here even longer. There are many in this church who were here for those years in between
Pastor John Chambers and Pastor Tom Straeter. What we saw back then, I hope to see once again.
Lay leadership arose from our midst to hold us together and make us stronger than ever. We learned
who we were and I believe we will learn who we are in the days ahead.
But we have suffered a tremendous loss that needs to be acknowledged and loss always carries with it
a period of grieving.
Back in 2005, after the loss of my mother-in-law, my father, mother, and my dear husband, Kirk, - all in
less than 10 months’ time - I learned that grief can be paralyzing. But there came the morning when
I awoke, yet another day of not wanting to pull my head out from under my pillow. Somehow my
fingers, resting on the side of my neck, found a pulse, a strong, steady pulse. My grieving mind brought
Continued on Page 7...
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SEPTEMBER 2017Test imony and Cal l for Unity cont. . . me a big sigh, tears, and the crushing reality that Kirk’s heart was no longer beating. In the midst of my
tears I heard a gentle, yet firm voice. “That’s right, my child. He no longer has a pulse, but you still do.”
It was clear what I was to do with that revelation. It was time to get out from under that pillow. Time to
get up and out, and see what God had for me to do that day. And the next and the next.
Brothers and Sisters, this church still has a strong and steady pulse. It is time to wake up, get up and out
and see what God has for each one of us to do. We need to be that collective heartbeat, not waiting to
see what others are doing and decide whether we like it or not.
We, need to step up and step in, not waiting for our orderly, yet painfully slow Presbyterian process to
fix everything for us. God has given us our Vision. God has given us our Mission. It is up to each of us to
do what we can.
Do what we are called to do.
Do what we are commanded to do - to make us strong, to keep us strong. To keep us heading for-
ward, in the direction that God has for this church. And it is not the sole responsibility of those in lead-
ership.
Please, next Sunday write the words “I WILL SERVE” on the blue cards before you drop them in the
offering plate.
In the last few weeks, this song has been sung as a part of our worship. It’s time we live this declaration.
“We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side”
Creciendo Juntos After School Program is starting a new year in September!
My name is Maria Haigh and I will be serving as the Creciendo Juntos new After
School Program Director. I am delighted to be part of this program that reaches
out to the children and families in the Vista community.
Be a volunteer and make a difference. It only takes 1.5 hours a week to make a difference in the life of a
child! Are you ready to share your time and talents?
I am looking forward meeting you, please contact me at [email protected] or 760-724-0077.
Hasta Pronto!Continued on Page 7...
Creciendo Juntos
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GRACE PRESS
A very special thanks to the flock at Grace from Tom, Sherry, and the entire Straeter family. The
reception that was held for us in early August was such a blessing. We felt loved, appreciated
and encouraged through your attendance. We also want to thank you for the gift cards and finan-
cial support that were so graciously given. My family has been blessed to be a part of the Grace
family over the past twenty-one years and has been encouraged as we’ve sought God’s direction
and will. Our prayer is that Grace Presbyterian Church continues to be the hands and feet of our
Lord Jesus Christ throughout the Vista community. We have so many wonderful memories that will
be cherished deep within our hearts. May the Lord bless you and keep you from this day forward till
we meet again.
Grace & Peace
Pastor Tom Straeter
October 21, 2017
The Crafter’s Guild of All Saints
Episcopal Church is hosting a crafters
fair. They are bringing together various
North County faith based organizations
to present and sell their homemade
goods. All sale proceeds will go back to
each participant’s church.
Sue Bouchard is going to be a part of this
event on behalf of Grace Presbyterian. If
you would like to join her with your own
crafts please contact her at [email protected].
Opportunity to serve the Grace youth: We are in great need for Sunday School teachers and
a volunteer coordinator for the program. Isn’t it the desire for our children to know the Lord
and what a difference He can make in their lives?
Once a month, you as a teacher can come alongside the parent(s) and provide a solid foundation
for each child in the program. Please consider and pray about this opportunity, then contact Susan
Hiltbrand at (760) 533-4130, and she can provide the details. We are in need of eight volunteers who
would teach just one Sunday a month. All materials would be provided. The blessings you might
receive by reaching out are sometimes far greater than you could imagine.
Thank you from Pastor Tom
Save the Date
Chi ldren’s Ministry
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SEPTEMBER 2017
At 9am worship on
Sunday, September 10th,
let us join grandparents
everywhere to honor our
grandchildren by uniting in
prayer for them.
Grandparents@Prayer
Join our next
Grandparents@Prayer
meeting on October 29 in
room 10 half an hour before
the traditional service begins.
You will make God smile.
PAGE 8
GRACE PRESS Local Missions: Chaplain Phi l l ipsChaplain Richard Phillips August 22, 2017
4890 Pointillist Ct, Oceanside, CA 92057 [email protected] (760) 631-7764
Scripture
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses…., God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:12-13
Prayer Requests
Wisdom in Writing book on Pastoral Care to the hurting Protection from Disease Development of Volunteers Relief of Neuropathy pain Energy for fast paced days Opportunities to share Christ SAVE THE DATE OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY OCTOBER 15TH
PHILLIPS Heathcare Chaplains Ministry Association
Donate To Ministry
HCMA (acct# 479) 101 S. Kraemer Blvd Suite 123A Placentia, CA 92870 www.hcmachaplains.org
The guilt of past sins can weigh heavily on the human spirit. Such was the case with a middle aged lady who stopped by the chaplain office for some desperately needed counsel. She is someone I had met a few years ago, who at the time couldn’t accept that her husband was actively dying. She said he was much older, and he had treated her with great love and kindness all of their marriage. Now she was suffering deep guilt over her unfaithfulness to him while he was still alive, and recently had even contemplated taking her life. Seeing a therapist hadn’t helped. She believed in God but nothing specific like Christianity. Her confession was very genuine and remorseful with tears as she felt a sense of great guilt, especially after her first husband had been so loving, kind and generous to her. After listening carefully to her story and concerns, I asked permission to share the only way I knew of experiencing liberating forgiveness and having a transformed life. She eagerly agreed, so I shared the Gospel and how I too had been in great need of God’s forgiveness for many sins of the past. I explained God’s great love, mercy and grace in sending Jesus to die on a cross in our place, and His bodily resurrection. She delighted to hear of God’s forgiveness that He offers in Christ, along with the freedom from condemnation, and the transforming life as we can live in Him. She was very responsive and greatly encouraged and wanting me to pray for her to receive Christ into her heart. A compassionate prayer was given, with the Gospel of Christ at the center of it, along with the transforming power God provides. Afterward, I felt led to share the story in the Bible of Jesus encountering the woman caught in adultery and accusers wanting to stone her. Jesus drew in the sand (maybe many types of their sins) and said to the accusers, “he who is without sin may throw the first stone.” They all left one by one without throwing any stones. Then Jesus said to her, “your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more!” My counselee expressed a deep commitment to not sin in adultery again. I explained that we won’t be perfect, but we are being transformed when we are daily trusting in Christ. She was very very grateful and said she had been helped a lot. I had spent about 40 minutes with her and had ignored the office phone ringing. The conversation seemed too important to interrupt it. Later I learned that ICU had called for a patient death and they wanted a chaplain for the family. But as it turned out I had already ministered to the family earlier and they were doing ok now.
PAGE 9
SEPTEMBER 2017Local Missions: Chaplain WestbrookChaplain Richard Phillips August 22, 2017
4890 Pointillist Ct, Oceanside, CA 92057 [email protected] (760) 631-7764
Scripture
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses…., God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:12-13
Prayer Requests
Wisdom in Writing book on Pastoral Care to the hurting Protection from Disease Development of Volunteers Relief of Neuropathy pain Energy for fast paced days Opportunities to share Christ SAVE THE DATE OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY OCTOBER 15TH
PHILLIPS Heathcare Chaplains Ministry Association
Donate To Ministry
HCMA (acct# 479) 101 S. Kraemer Blvd Suite 123A Placentia, CA 92870 www.hcmachaplains.org
The guilt of past sins can weigh heavily on the human spirit. Such was the case with a middle aged lady who stopped by the chaplain office for some desperately needed counsel. She is someone I had met a few years ago, who at the time couldn’t accept that her husband was actively dying. She said he was much older, and he had treated her with great love and kindness all of their marriage. Now she was suffering deep guilt over her unfaithfulness to him while he was still alive, and recently had even contemplated taking her life. Seeing a therapist hadn’t helped. She believed in God but nothing specific like Christianity. Her confession was very genuine and remorseful with tears as she felt a sense of great guilt, especially after her first husband had been so loving, kind and generous to her. After listening carefully to her story and concerns, I asked permission to share the only way I knew of experiencing liberating forgiveness and having a transformed life. She eagerly agreed, so I shared the Gospel and how I too had been in great need of God’s forgiveness for many sins of the past. I explained God’s great love, mercy and grace in sending Jesus to die on a cross in our place, and His bodily resurrection. She delighted to hear of God’s forgiveness that He offers in Christ, along with the freedom from condemnation, and the transforming life as we can live in Him. She was very responsive and greatly encouraged and wanting me to pray for her to receive Christ into her heart. A compassionate prayer was given, with the Gospel of Christ at the center of it, along with the transforming power God provides. Afterward, I felt led to share the story in the Bible of Jesus encountering the woman caught in adultery and accusers wanting to stone her. Jesus drew in the sand (maybe many types of their sins) and said to the accusers, “he who is without sin may throw the first stone.” They all left one by one without throwing any stones. Then Jesus said to her, “your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more!” My counselee expressed a deep commitment to not sin in adultery again. I explained that we won’t be perfect, but we are being transformed when we are daily trusting in Christ. She was very very grateful and said she had been helped a lot. I had spent about 40 minutes with her and had ignored the office phone ringing. The conversation seemed too important to interrupt it. Later I learned that ICU had called for a patient death and they wanted a chaplain for the family. But as it turned out I had already ministered to the family earlier and they were doing ok now.
PAGE 10
GRACE PRESS
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3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
12pm Telecare
If you have a birthday or anniversary in September and your name does not appear above,
please contact the church office at 760-724-0077 to update our records. Thank you!
10:30am PWC Luncheon5:30pm Telecare7pm Deacons
6am Men’s Break-fast (Spanish)8am Men’s Break-fast (English)
SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT
9am PWC Coord. 10am E & L6:30pm Session
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
S U N D A Y S
9 & 10:30am: Worship Services
9 & 10:30am: Adult Studies
10:30am: Spanish Service
10:30am: Children’s Sunday
School
M O N D A Y S
7pm: AA meeting
T U E S D A Y S
5:15pm: Soup Kitchen
7pm: Men’s Bible Study
W E D N E S D A Y S
9:30am: Staff Meeting
1pm: Knitting Ladies
T H U R S D A Y S
9:30am: Nutrition Class
10am: Bible Study
6pm: Hand Bell Choir
6:30pm: Spanish Bible Study
7:30pm: Choir Rehearsal
FRIDAYS
10am E & L6:30pm Spanish Min. Leader Mtg.
12:30pm Finance
Committee
11:30am Comm. Fellowship
11:30am Comm. Fell.
9:30am PEO Book Club
10am E & L6:30pm Trad. Visionary Team
OFFICE CLOSED
17 Richard & Arcilia Tauber (57 years)
30 Earl & Valerie Allen (28 years)
1 Dorene Comerford
Gloria Cosgrove
2 Mark Hiltbrand
Donna Hubner
3 Ben Elliott
8 Carol Roley
9 Pat Carriker
11 Peg Long
12 Anna Belle Beaman
12 Pat Whisler
13 Marilyn Lee
Dick Woolsey
15 Norm Long
17 Judith Domercq
Merisue Repik
18 Barbara Goemer
19 Hannah Dickson
21 Sherry Straeter
21 Tom Straeter
22 Letty Calhoun
26 Scott Earnest
27 Karin Eldridge
28 Kate Duff
Asa Mori
30 Brooklyn Enger
PAGE 11
SEPTEMBER 2017
Albina Lumetta
Alice Nolf
Bill Greenway
Bob Wilson
Carol Lewis
Cathy Medlyn
Chad Woolsey
Charlotte Damon
Colbie Kelley
Debbie Barrie
Denise Stockman
Dickson Family
Dodie Bumgardner
Ed Neuman
Edna Murray
Elizabeth Johnson
Erin Eldridge
Fanny Aliaga
Grigorii Kirillov
Letty Calhoun
Marilyn Lee
Mark Compton
Maxine Fox
Mori Family
Neil Kirkland
Pauline Whiting
Phil Damon
Rich Yates
Rita Sinatra
Shane Ogard
Taryn Johnson
Terry Breen
Terry-Jeanne Sawyer
Trisha Roast-Sinatra
William Story
Yvonne Jones
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
Punch/Coffee Flowers
September 3 Deacons The Woolsey’s
September 10 Deacons Anna Belle Beaman
September 17 Deacons Juliet Faul
September 24 Deacons Available
Punch/Coffee Service and Flowers for September
Reidmuller Scholarship Committee Update
At this time, the Reidmuller Scholarship will not be available for application for the fall semester.
Church Staff
G R A C E P R E S B Y T E R I A NC H U R C H
1450 E. Vista WayVista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-724-0077
Fax: 760-724-2534
E-mail: [email protected]
www.gpcvista.org
Address Service Requested
W H E R E G O D ’ S F A M I L Y G R O W S
GRACEPRESBYTERIAN
NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH
facebook.com/GPCVista
Interim Pastor/Head of Staff Rev. Dr. Michael Wallman
Associate Pastor of Hispanic Ministries Rev. Eliecer Barrantes
Administrator Christie Elliott
Bookkeeper Albina Lumetta
Secretary Veronica Campos
Bridge Ministries Director Felipe Huguet
After School Program Director Maria Haigh
Chancel Choir Director Jayne Parker
Organist Frances Hummel
Hand Bell Choir Director Pat Sexton
Facilities Jim Aliaga
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IS A CONFESSING CHURCH, and we believe:
That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the way of salvation.
That Holy Scripture is the triune God’s revealed Word,
the Church’s only infallible rule of faith and life.
That God’s people are called to holiness in all aspects of life.