First Presbyterian Church

Newsletter 250 W. Huron, Vassar, MI 48768 VassarFPC.org August 2017

...from Doug’s desk... Once again, let me express my thanks to you all for allowing me time to reset, refocus, study, and be challenged through others’ study, as we prepare for another year of ministry together. Vacation this year has been rather limited due to my ongoing health struggles, but we continue to pursue a diagnosis and hopefully a fix. In the meantime, I've been able to do little more than lash myself to the mast as the storm blows.

It has been a reminder to me of the stormy times in which we all live. And this has reminded me of a story from Acts that I was challenged and encouraged by two summers ago, and which I now share with you again. It is the story of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27, and it has taken on fresh meaning for me as of late.

Paul was not a willing passenger on this boat: he was a prisoner being taken to Rome. Paul also warned the captain of impending disaster, but being a prisoner was of course ignored. Everything that happened on this voyage happened to Paul. And what happened was BAD: night after night storms buffeted the ship. Cargo was tossed. The ship was held together only by passing ropes underneath it. Everyone was constantly wet, cold, shivering. Death seemed imminent, hope lost. But then, God shows up.

Luke, the author of Acts, uses up a lot of precious parchment to tell this story in great detail—something unusual in biblical writing. So the question becomes, “why?” The suggestion is made by some scholars that Luke saw in this story a powerful metaphor for the Church: a Church being persecuted in various ways and, like Paul and his shipmates, fighting to survive in the storms. If this is the case, we need to read this story on two levels. One is “historical:” retelling what happened and marveling at God’s provision. The other is metaphorical: seeing in this story the story of the Church and we who serve within it. Indeed, an image often used of the Church throughout the centuries has been that of a wind-driven ship.

If we look at this story through this second lens, we observe some things that are both encouraging and perhaps troubling: 1) God doesn’t stop the storm. God may allow the storms we experience to rage and destroy for a long time. 2) God nonetheless promises we ourselves won’t “go down with the ship.” We can take heart: God will preserve us, sustain us, rescue us. And yet... 3) we may lose the ship. God promises to rescue us, but not necessarily our “ship.” That belief or person or idea we’ve been trusting in may or may not survive the journey. We must trust in God alone.

What are you trusting in as we approach a new year of ministry together? What is your highest priority? What do you fiercely protect when threatened? If the answer is anything other than “God,” know that God will never abandon you to the waves, but nor does He promise to preserve the “ship” you trust in. Whether fair weather or foul, let us renew our trust in God alone, and hold everything else loosely.

Shalom,

VBS 2017 Sun Aug 6th - Wed Aug

9th, 6:00 - 8:00pm

Cookout & Bounce House Sunday night at the Bandshell below the church -

Right after Riverfest Worship!

Info: Kevin Haines @ (989) 871-3293

Do you or someone you know need visitation?

In the hospital? Home bound? In a nursing facility? Please let the church office know so that Pastor Doug can visit them! You may

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION DEADLINE

August. 25th

PASTOR DOUG’S CONTACT INFO: Cell/Text: (989) 780-2813

Email: PastorDoug@VassarFPC.orgFacebook: facebook.com/pastordougabelLinkedIN: linkedin.com/in/pastordougabel

TWITTER: @REV_DSA

The Women's Book Study will resume on September 6 and will

continue the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at 12:30

pm at the church.  We will be discussing Session 6 in our book, "All Things New" by Kelly Minter.  Please contact Diane Rice (989-992-9333) if

questions.

Sunday School resumes on

September 10th at 9:00 AM

When back to school shopping, please remember to purchase a few extra supplies to help our

teachers. Bins for extra supplies will be at the school Open Houses on August 29th!

No June Financial Report due to no

Session Mtg in July

COMMUNION SERVERS Aug 6th~ Assist~ Steve Franko 1~ Diane Rice 2~ Dianne Hackett 3~ Bob Strecker 4~ JoLinda Manus

GREETERS

6th~ Lynn & Cheryl Childs 13th~ Winona Williams & B.J. Warle 20th~ Bill & Linda Shoop 27th~ Alex & Sue Campbell

USHERS

6th~ Lori Hubbard, Mary Kennard 13th~ Mark Bilbee, Mark O’Connor, Bobby Staten 20th~ Kevin Haines, Mike Kennard, Dan Zuzula 27th~ Alex Campbell, Sue Campbell, Dan Johnson

WORSHIP LEADERS

6th~ Steve Franko 13th~ Dianne Hackett 20th~ Tanya Steele 27th~ Lori Hubbard

VIDEO/TECH

6th~ Tanya Steele 13th~ Shelley Abel 20th~ Nathan Abel 27th~ Dianne Hackett

3 Debbie Van Wormer 14 Tim Franko 15 Marshall Brightman 15 Nancy Zuzula 17 Rose Lambert 17 Emily Finta 21 Jason Jacot 24 Lori Hubbard 28 Dominick Franko 28 Russ Hubbard

5 Jim & Mary Lou DuBois12 Steve & Lynn Franko13 Scott & Kim Wegrzyn14 Russ & Lori Hubbard14 Jack & Pam Revette20 Kim & Debbie Van Wormer 20 Kevin & Brenda Haines 23 Mike & Mary Kennard31 Al & Holly Williams

WHAT’S GOING ON???

August 2017 July 2017S M T W T F S

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August 2017S M T W T F S

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September 2017S M T W T F S

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

3010:00 AM Worship

31 1 2 34:00 PM CROP Wlak Recruiters' Meeting6:30 PM Discipleship & Growth Team7:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

4 5

6VBS 2017COMMUNION

10:00 AM Worship

7 8 9 105:30 PM Deacons7:00 PM Session

11 12

1310:00 AM Worship

14 158:30 AM WIC

166:30 PM Communica-tion & Publicity Team

7:30 PM Mission & Outreach Team

177:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

18 19

2010:00 AM Worship

2110:00 AM Book Club

228:30 AM WIC

23 247:00 PM Worship & Music Team

25 26

2710:00 AM Worship

28 298:30 AM WIC

30 31 1 2

3010:00 AM Worship

31 1 2 34:00 PM CROP Wlak Recruiters' Meeting6:30 PM Discipleship & Growth Team7:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

4 5

6VBS 2017COMMUNION

10:00 AM Worship

7 8 9 105:30 PM Deacons7:00 PM Session

11 12

1310:00 AM Worship

14 158:30 AM WIC

166:30 PM Communica-tion & Publicity Team

7:30 PM Mission & Outreach Team

177:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

18 19

2010:00 AM Worship

2110:00 AM Book Club

228:30 AM WIC

23 247:00 PM Worship & Music Team

25 26

2710:00 AM Worship

28 298:30 AM WIC

30 31 1 2

3010:00 AM Worship

31 1 2 34:00 PM CROP Wlak Recruiters' Meeting6:30 PM Discipleship & Growth Team7:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

4 5

6VBS 2017COMMUNION

10:00 AM Worship

7 8 9 105:30 PM Deacons7:00 PM Session

11 12

1310:00 AM Worship

14 158:30 AM WIC

166:30 PM Communica-tion & Publicity Team

7:30 PM Mission & Outreach Team

177:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

18 19

2010:00 AM Worship

2110:00 AM Book Club

228:30 AM WIC

23 247:00 PM Worship & Music Team

25 26

2710:00 AM Worship

28 298:30 AM WIC

30 31 1 2

3010:00 AM Worship

31 1 2 34:00 PM CROP Wlak Recruiters' Meeting6:30 PM Discipleship & Growth Team7:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

4 5

6VBS 2017COMMUNION

10:00 AM Worship

7 8 9 105:30 PM Deacons7:00 PM Session

11 12

1310:00 AM Worship

14 158:30 AM WIC

166:30 PM Communica-tion & Publicity Team

7:30 PM Mission & Outreach Team

177:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

18 19

2010:00 AM Worship

2110:00 AM Book Club

228:30 AM WIC

23 247:00 PM Worship & Music Team

25 26

2710:00 AM Worship

28 298:30 AM WIC

30 31 1 2

Page 1/1Eastern Time Time Zone

Please note: this calendar is always on the website at

vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

and is subject to change.

Vassar First Presbyterian Church Ministry Team Summaries

If you would like to be a part of any of these ministries, please contact the chairperson.Come find your place with us as we build God’s Kingdom together!

Administration (Scott Wegrzyn)This team has two sub-teams: personnel and finance. It oversees these and other general administrative concerns of the church. It crafts a budget proposal each year for Session to approve, oversees staff, considers staffing structure, crafts job descriptions, and recommends building use policy. Buildings & Grounds (Lynn Childs)This team handles all things related to facility and property, such as routine maintenance, small repairs, facility or equipment upgrades, tech needs, or large projects as approved by Session. The church owns not only the church building and grounds, but also the upper parking lot and the pastor’s manse, as well as the equipment and appliances inside them.Communication and Publicity (Shelley Abel)This team’s focus is providing for and managing communications and publicity, with internally and externally, by prioritizing and appropriately timing these things and implying the most effective method for them. This is not only so that any given need gets the best exposure appropriate to it, but so that key events or initiatives don’t get “lost in the noise.” The team will work closely with the church secretary to execute communication and publicity, but will curate what, how, and when any communication publicity is done, and help establish processes and strategies for easy management of the same.Community Connections (Lynn Childs)This team’s focus is any event or project that brings the community together in Christian fellowship: which is “Christian-speak” for having fun and making connections. It serves a practical and cohesive function in our community of faith, and at the same time provides a safe space for new people to get to know us. The team executes several events each year to that end, and looks for smaller ways to facilitate a sense of connection between friends and members as well.Discipleship & Growth (Kevin Haines)This team’s stated mission is “Inviting you on a Journey with Jesus.” It oversees, enables, resources, and supports the person-inviting, disciple-making and disciple-growing aspects of the church’s ministry, from nursery to families to ecumenical Youth Group and VBS, to adult professionals, to retirees. It is concerned with education, but not merely as knowledge transfer, but heart changing: helping people of any age or stage meet Jesus, grow in faith, and become committed followers of Jesus. This team also oversees and resources any small groups that form, from study groups to affinity groups to service/mission groups. Mission & Outreach (Shelley Abel)This team concerns itself with supporting mission efforts that do not typically fall under our own congregation’s ministry. These may be local, regional, statewide, national, or global in nature. In many cases that support is financial, such as perhaps funding a missionary abroad. It may also sometimes be more personal, like forming a work trip to a devastated area of our nation.Worship & Music (Steve Franko)The worship & music team concerns itself with providing for the worship and music aspects of our congregation, and considers not only present needs but future directions for forms of and tools for worship. There are practical matters like making sure ushering and children’s sermons are covered, resourcing our choirs and accompanists, making sure candles are stocked, etc. It also, in collaboration with the pastor and music staff, considers weightier matters like the practice and philosophy of worship.

(Note: Nominating team is not listed because at-large members of this team are nominated by previous nominating team and elected at the congregational meeting. Steve Franko is the chairperson this year)

CONTACT PERSONS

Pastor Doug Abel, (989) 780-2813 (Voice, VM, or Text) Angie Ayotte, Church Office: (989) 823-7671

Elders

Shelley Abel (989) 780-2817 Kevin Haines (989) 871-3293.............. ....................

Nicole Baker (917) 776-9546 Dan Johnson (Clerk) (989) 823-2525............. ........

Alex Campbell (989) 823-3848 Diane Rice (989) 992-9333........... ........................

Lynn Childs (989) 868-4802 Scott Wegrzyn (989) 529-1147............... ..................

Steve Franko (989) 823-7590............

Deacons

Louanne Campbell (989) 823-3624 Bobby Staten (989) 823-1235... ....................

Mike Kennard. (989) 823-2192 Tanya Steele............... (989) 823-2278........... .....

Cheryl Sholty (989) 823-2438 Carol Swaffer (989) 823-3756............ ...................

Kim Wegrzyn, Mod (989) 233-8460...

PRAYER CHAINS

Telephone Chain: Louanne Campbell....823-3624

Email Chain: Angie Ayotte (office@VassarFPC.org)

or Pastor Doug (PastorDoug@VassarFPC.org)

Contact Persons Session Ministry Teams: Administration (Finance & Personnel) Scott Wegrzyn 529-1147 ........................... Buildings & Grounds Lynn Childs 868-4802 ...................................................... Discipleship & Growth Kevin Haines 823-3293 ................................................... Communication & Publicity Shelley Abel 780-2817 ............................................ Community Connections Lynn Childs 868-4802 ............................................... Mission & Outreach Shelley Abel 780-2817 ....................................................... Nominating Steve Franko 823-7590 .................................................................... Worship & Music Steve Franko 823-7590 ...........................................................

Deacons Kimberly Wegrzyn 233-8460 ...........................................................................Vassar Community Youth Initiative Pastor Doug 780-2813 ...................................Choir (Shared with FUMC) Pat Middlin 545-0948...............................................

Session Highlights

Session met on Thursday, June 8th, 2017. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting. Pastor Doug Abel was our Moderator. (There was no Session meeting in July)

• A quorum of Elders and Pastor Doug were present. Alex Campbell, Dan Johnson and Diane Rice were excused.

• No Minutes were discussed due to Dan Johnson’s abscess.

• Financial report shows we are operating on a -$1,884.16. A lot of big bills were due in February and March, including apportionment and liability insurance.

• 5th Sunday was on April 30th. This 5th Sunday went toward the Emily Becker Scholarship Fund. Next one will be July 30th.

• 2017 apportionment is $26.17. We ask that once again, if you see fit to do so, please help cover the church's cost by making a donation of that amount per member.

• Communion was served July 2nd, 2017. Next communion will be served on August 6th, 2017.

• Motion was made and supported to approve the baptism of Jean Loomis on June 11th, 2017;

• Pastor Doug will be on a study leave from June 19th to 25th.

• There will be some work done In the manse and the church.

• Mission committee has approve $40/month for the Ludwig family in Niger.

• Discussion was held for moving the piano to the side of the organ, and moving the front two long pews out, and move the short pews back. Looks like this will happen.

• Next Session meeting will be Thursday, August 10th..

Respectfully submitted,

Dan Johnson

Clerk of Session

First Presbyterian Church

P.O. Box 117

Vassar, MI 48768