Christ Presbyterian Church · Christ Presbyterian Church “broke bread together as much V S kids...
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Christ Presbyterian Church Vacation Bible School week is far and away the most fun of the church year. (Check out the pictures inside and the banner video on the church’s Facebook page!) I’m not talking just about the young people. I’ve heard more than once, “Matt, I’m not sure who’s having more fun, you or the kids!” This is good for my soul. I’ve been accused, and am surely guilty at times, of being “too serious.” And while there are substantive elements of VBS (read Elizabeth Goodin’s column on this) and serious elements to church, our Lord who was nothing if not substantive and at times serious, was also known and criticized for being partygoer! Acts says that in the months after Jesus’ resurrection, his followers not only met daily in the temple courts, but also “broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (2:46), apparently enjoying food together as much VBS kids munching “Zebra snacks!” Was this merely because they were happy and liked other, or were they tapping into something essential to God’s life with us, such as what Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote in his poem, “As Kingfishers Catch Fire”: …Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his To the Father through the features of men's faces. (emphasis added) And what we hear from 13 th -century German theologian Meister Eckhart, that “truly, God laughs and plays.” Did God himself enjoy VBS as much as or even more than anyone else? Some of the church’s gathering this summer will just be to enjoy time together. Look inside more about: Dinner and a Movie, Saturday, July 13, 6 p.m. Summer Brunch, Sunday, August 4, 9:30 a.m. Fall Missions Cookout, Sunday, September 8, 11:30 a.m. These open-door events are action on our Vision, “Loving God, sharing relationships, serving others from the heart of Christ.” If they are resonant with the heart of Christ, I would hope that friends and neighbors we invite would have a good time! Acts says the earliest church was “enjoying the favor of all the people” (2:47). How could they have been so favored if they weren’t just fun to be around? In an entertainment seeking culture that can make fun an end in itself, the church offers an alternative: fun as a byproduct and natural outflow of the Spirit in the church, inspiring joy (Gal 5:22). Grateful for the Spirit at play in VBS and the life of Christ Church, Mark Your Calendar: Outdoor Worship Dates Sundays 7/28 & 8/25 10:30am, in the Pavilion
Transcript of Christ Presbyterian Church · Christ Presbyterian Church “broke bread together as much V S kids...
Christ Presbyterian Church
Vacation Bible School week is far and away the most fun of the church year. (Check out the pictures inside and the banner video on the church’s Facebook page!) I’m not talking just about the young people. I’ve heard more than once, “Matt, I’m not sure who’s having more fun, you or the kids!” This is good for my soul. I’ve been accused, and am surely guilty at times, of being “too serious.” And while there are substantive elements of VBS (read Elizabeth Goodin’s column on this) and serious elements to church, our Lord who was nothing if not substantive and at times serious, was also known and criticized for being partygoer! Acts says that in the months after Jesus’ resurrection, his followers not only met daily in the temple courts, but also “broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (2:46), apparently enjoying food together as much VBS kids munching “Zebra snacks!” Was this merely because they were happy and liked other, or were they tapping into something essential to God’s life with us, such as what Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote in his poem, “As Kingfishers Catch Fire”:
…Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his To the Father through the features of men's faces. (emphasis added)
And what we hear from 13th-century German theologian Meister Eckhart, that “truly, God laughs and plays.” Did God himself enjoy VBS as much as or even more than anyone else? Some of the church’s gathering this summer will just be to enjoy time together. Look inside more about:
Dinner and a Movie, Saturday, July 13, 6 p.m. Summer Brunch, Sunday, August 4, 9:30 a.m. Fall Missions Cookout, Sunday, September 8, 11:30 a.m.
These open-door events are action on our Vision, “Loving God, sharing relationships, serving others from the heart of Christ.” If they are resonant with the heart of Christ, I would hope that friends and neighbors we invite would have a good time! Acts says the earliest church was “enjoying the favor of all the people” (2:47). How could they have been so favored if they weren’t just fun to be around? In an entertainment seeking culture that can make fun an end in itself, the church offers an alternative: fun as a byproduct and natural outflow of the Spirit in the church, inspiring joy (Gal 5:22). Grateful for the Spirit at play in VBS and the life of Christ Church,
Mark Your Calendar:
Outdoor Worship Dates
Sundays 7/28 & 8/25
10:30am, in the Pavilion
Looking forward to seeing you! Sunday August 4th
9:30am
Connecting with God through
Visual Images
Women’s One-Day Retreat
Bay Presbyterian Church
Bay Village
Sat. July 20,
9:00am - 4:00pm
RED BAG ITEMS NEEDED FOR
JULY: Soup & Tuna
Thank you VBS Volunteers and Attendees
Thank you for your donation and for supporting the Food Pantry.
We are honored to count you as a partner in our effort to feed our neighbors in need and lead the community to end hunger.
Your donation helps ensure that everyone who seeks assistance at our food pantry has enough food to eat.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
Come and learn with us to better reach out to the nations thru InterVarsity's International Student Ministry here at Case Western and Cleveland State Universities. Training and information will be offered Tues, July 16th, 6:30-8:30 pm in the parlor of Church of the Saviour, 2537 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 RSVP [email protected]
FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD ITEM GIVEAWAY 9:00 am. Sat, Aug 10th. We need used items suitable for apartment living for new graduate international students. Items can be dropped off at Church of the Saviour's Great Hall on Friday Aug 9th, or email Bok for pickup and assistance prior to Aug 9th. We need DRIVERS also to help with delivery and transportation on the morning of the giveaway. Please email: [email protected] if you are able to help.
Life is Wild…God is Good! With Vacation Bible School at Christ Church, we have arrived at a winning formula. Our volunteers and leaders are invested in doing their best for the kids God brings through our doors, and the wonderful support from our congregation in other essential ways helps us to dream big and set lofty goals. I want to thank you all for your part in helping our kids to know the goodness of God. If I were to say what works best about VBS, I would say it’s that we meet kids right where they are. They love to move, so we play active games with them. They love to create, so we give them materials and help them to make something of their own. They love catchy melodies and rhythms, so we teach them how to sing and dance to them. They love to eat, so we feed them! But there are also times when kids’ lives can be wild, and they need to hear that when life is sometimes unfair, scary, sad, or marked by change, God is indeed good. And so we decorate the church to look like the African savannah and find many ways to tell them that. In expressing their favorites from the week, there was no part of VBS that the kids left out. “We liked everything!” It worked. At the end of the week when we see our kids in their VBS T-shirts pumping their fists and singing about God’s power and presence, we get a lump in our throat because we know that in that moment, they know. We’re filled with hope that when those kids need God to be near, they will experience what has made the difference in all of our lives. God is good. That’s what I love about VBS. We meet kids where they are, and we show them that God is right there too. And on that, they can hang their safari hat. God Bless, and Happy Summer!
Elizabeth Goodin
Children's Ministry Director
Looking forward to seeing all ages!
Intergenerational Sunday school class
God in Stories Reflections and activities
based on the morning’s message
Sundays, July 7 – 28 9:30 – 10:20 a.m. Fellowship Hall
Team-led by Elizabeth Goodin and Pastor Matt Reeves
Accessible to children; meaningful for all!
BIRTHDAYS
Sam Bergman 07/02
Jeanette Metcalf 07/02
Jack Rutz 07/02
Jim Metcalf 07/03
Jim Hart 07/04
Lois Toth 07/09
Barbara Van Kampen 07/09
Emma Haggerty 07/12
Jack Zimmermann 07/14
Aila Knight 07/15
Barbara Bodmer 07/19
Claire Metcalf 07/20
Piper Knight 07/21
Michele Dawson 07/24
Rob Russell 07/24
Gregory Warner 07/24
Chuck Scott 07/27
Jocelyn Chenoweth 07/28
Mike Maclellan 07/31
ANNIVERSARIES
Paul & Shari McCaslin 07/01
Dave & Irene Wunderle 07/03
Paul & Trish Lawrence 07/07
Dave & Heidi Starke 07/07
Brad & Sharon Schaeffer 07/09
Howard & Pat Schmies 07/12
Aland & Judi Smith 07/12
Greg & Karena McCandless 07/15
Mike & Cyndie Tropf 07/28
FLORAL ARRANGEMENT If you desire to purchase a special floral arrangement for a Sunday morning worship service, please
contact: Trish Lawrence at:
216-765-1064 or email [email protected]
COFFEE HOUR If you desire to host a special Sunday
morning, Coffee Hour in honor or in celebration of someone,
please contact: Barbara Bodmer at:
440-256-1181 or email
Church office hours:
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Monday - Thursday
Contact Information
Christ Presbyterian Church
12419 Chillicothe Rd.
Chesterland, OH 44026
440-729-1688
Website:
www.christpcusa.org
Church Office e-mail:
Pastor Matt's e-mail:
