« Sunday, April 29, 2007 Bulletin | Main | Sunday, May 6, 2007 Bulletin »
May 01, 2007
May Newsletter
A Parting Word
Faith Church is a congregation of a kind and size that a pastor can get arms around it. This was how Barbara Taylor Brown, an Episcopal priest, described what she was looking for when she left the staff of a large congregation in New York City for a small congregation in rural Georgia. Often churches are referred to as big or small, traditional or trendy, or in other dichotomies. Faith Church is of a kind and size that a pastor can get arms around it. This describes its character not its size.
Such a community fosters the participation of its people. Indeed, without this participation such a congregation founders because it is the devotion of people that fuels the momentum of the life together. Devotion to the Triune God, devotion to one another, devotion to my place in the body: that's what makes it work. Without this, what is there?
How fondly I hold this congregation in my heart. I shall pray for your well-being in every way. I know you will accept the leadership of the ones who come to serve you as Interim and then regular pastor. Though I am compelled to keep my distance from the congregation so as to allow the pastors who follow me to do their work without my interference, I shall participate in my prayers for you. That is a kind of meddling I should think every governing body in heaven and on earth would endorse. Fare well.
Pastor Stuart Robertson
Worship Information
Sunday, May 6th - Steve Varys will be preaching
Sunday, May 20th - Will Miller will be preaching
Sunday, May 13th - Nancy Dunn will be preaching
Sunday, May 27th - Ralph Smith will be preaching
Clerk's Corner
During his waning days of his pastorate we are all very thankful for the faithful discharge of duties to the Congregation and to the wider community by Pastor Robertson. We ask God's blessings on him and his family as Pastor Robertson launches into a new career as Continuing Lecturer in the Jewish Studies Program at Purdue University, and on all his future endeavors. According to the Book of Order Pastor Robertson is denied access for one year after his retirement date, to the building and to facilities on the grounds of Faith Church, and to any formal interactions with his former parishioners. However, we are grateful that he will continue to reside in our community and thereby facilitate the continuation of a tradition of friendship that has lasted for nearly twenty one years.
A gala dinner honoring Pastor Robertson and Bonnie was held on Sunday evening, April 15, 2007. The attendance by 174 individuals at this event attests to the high esteem in which the Pastor is held. An enormous debt of gratitude is owed to those who organized, planned for, publicized, set up and dismantled, shopped for food, prepared dinner, waited on table, participated in the acts during dinner, cleaned up after dinner, and otherwise helped in bringing this event to fruition. The dinner was an enormous success.
The search for an Interim Pastor is still in progress. One candidate visited
the Church during the fourth week of April but has not yet responded to an offer of appointment.
At its April 6, 2007 meeting the Session authorized the performance of the Sacrament of Baptism for Mayfawny Bergmann by profession of faith, Evan Kain, Leah Sameh by profession of faith, and Anthony Van Tuinen.
A special Congregational meeting is called at the conclusion of Pastor Robertson's final Sunday worship service on April 29, 2007 to seek approval by the Congregation for a dissolution of the pastoral relation between Reverend Robertson and the Faith Presbyterian Church community. This then will enable Pastor Robertson to retire from his present position.
A special meeting of Session with the local Committee on Ministry is set for April 24, 2007, to fulfill the requirements of the Book of Order, according to which Session has to vote on whether to grant Emeritus status to Pastor Robertson. If the vote is in the affirmative the matter will likewise be placed before the Congregation at the upcoming special Congregational meeting.
The next regular meeting of Session is set for June 12, 2007, unless earlier meetings are required by ongoing developments. During any absence of clergy Elder Jurgen Honig was elected Moderator of such Session meetings until an Interim Pastor is installed.
Jurgen Honig
Clerk of Session
Many Thanks
To all who contributed food for our Easter Brunch.
To Jane and Jackie Stewart, Lonnie Kucik, Arthur and the Youth Group for our traditional egg hunt.
To the Lamb Cake Bakers: Peggy Housley, Sueanne Bergmann, and Sophie and Mayfawny Bergmann.
And a special Thank-You to Carol Graefnitz and Ann Freeman who coordinated the brunch.
Congregational Life Committee
Faith Presbyterian Women Spring Plans
April has been a busy month at Faith, but now Faith Women are ready to get together again for some special programs.
First, the promised Saturday Lunch in May. We have a room reserved at Puccini’s on the Levee on Saturday, May 19, from 11:30am – 1:00pm. Our small mission outreach will help the folks at Tippecanoe Villa, whose incomes do not always cover their needs. Please bring personal hygiene items, such as Dove and Olay hand soap, shampoo, cream rinse, toothpaste, denture cleaning tablets, hairspray, deodorants, shaving cream, etc., for both men and women.
It is not too early to look ahead to June 3, when we will have our annual Mitford Tea. This year hour theme will be: “Things my mother taught me”, and there will be an opportunity for anyone who wants to, to relate in a few sentences what wisdom you received from your Mom. As usual, we will have a decorating theme as well. Would you like to decorate and set a table around the subject of Spring Time? If you do, please call Nancy Dunn by May 15. We will probably need 5 – 7 tables to be decorated, dishes, flowers, objects d’art, etc. Tea Time will be from 3:30pm – 5:00pm. Willing to make some Mitford goodies? Again, call Nancy Dunn (she’s kind of in charge).
Now for a look at summer. There has been a request for a Women’s summer Bible Study. How about a Patio Bible Study in July and August? We will probably move the time to 9:00am, if that suits people.
Also this summer we will have a Lady Bag Lunch. That just means that you bring our own brown bag with food and drink, so the kitchen crew will have nothing to clean up afterwards. No date has been set yet for this event.
In the mean time, and always, make use of the means of grace, i.e. worship, prayer, study, contact with members of the body of Christ at Faith Church, where we are blessed to be a blessing.
For the FWF Planning Committee
Grieke Toebes
A Clarification - by - Ralph Smith
In January of 2002, I was invited by Pastor Robertson and the Session of Faith Presbyterian Church to become the Parish Associate. I gladly accepted their kind invitation.
Some folks have confused the term “Parish Associate” and “Associate Pastor”. An associate pastor is a full time position to which a congregation calls minister. This is very different from that of a parish associate. A parish associate is a part time position, which the Book of Order describes this way:
“The relation shall be established, upon nomination by the pastor, between the parish associate, the session, and the presbytery. The parish associate shall be responsible to the pastor, as head of staff, on an “as needed, as available” basis.”
My main responsibilities have been to preach when requested by the pastor and to do home and hospital visitation when requested by the pastor. I have enjoyed very much these activities over the past five years.
When the pastor retires and leaves, the relationship between parish associate and pastor ceases to exist. The Book of Order states: “The agreement between the session, the parish associate
and the presbytery shall terminate when the call to the installed pastor is dissolved.”
Therein lays the confusion. The Book of Order says that the agreement shall terminate. That is all! I am not being terminated, as some folks have indicated! Others have expressed regret that I will no longer be allowed to attend Faith Church. All this is in error!!!
The only churches to which I should not return and participate in (except with the invitation of the pastor and session) are churches where I was the installed pastor. Former pastors, who return to their former churches, can create difficulties for the new pastor who may be trying to establish pastoral relationships with the members of his/here new congregation. For this reason, many presbyteries have firm policies that discourage former pastors from maintaining relationships with former churches and former church members.
In my situation with Faith Church, since the parish associate agreement was with the session and presbytery, when the pastor leaves, the agreement is terminated. However, I do not have to leave.
In fact, I will, be glad to continue helping as the Session may seed needed, except now it will be on an informal basis.
Ralph Smith
'Twas a Wee, Winsome Evening
And everyone enjoyed themselves. Including our guests of honor, Stuart and Bonnie Robertson, and most of the Robertson clan. (Thank goodness, no tartans or kilts!)
Many, many thanks are owed to those who gave their all, and let’s hope we can remember them all: Set-up featured Don Gentry, Ron Smith, Stan Hem and Dennis Dunn.
Applying beautification, wall decorations, china and silver were: Barb Knox (head beautificater), Ann Freeman, Carol Graefnitz, Tammy Sandel, Kathy Bowker, Cathy McKinnis and Barb Wiggs.
Slingin’ hash were: Jackie Stewart, Carol Gentry, Kristin Hem, Deb Johnson, Lonni Kucik, Dennis Dunn, Carol Graefnitz, Lois Wark, Julie Powell, Jim Powell and Jane Stewart.
The Christians who served the Lions were: Jackie Stewart, Leah Sameh, Amy Sameh, Ron Smith, Nancy Dunn, Carson McVay, Graham Bethel, Nancy Moore, Stan Hem, Mayfawny Bergmann, Kathryn Goodrich and Elizabeth Goodrich.
By serving at this banquet, Kristin Hem has qualified for the coveted “Church Lady” designation and will be notified about the requirements at a later date.
John Miller had a hand in the food (Oh, no!) and counted noses. Thank you, John.
Jim Powell did duty as valet parking coordinator.
“Life in the Day of a Pastor” was written, produced and joyfully directed by Tom Goodrich with a supporting cast of characters: Tammy Sandel, Ken Sandel, (quite a fashion plate in that kilt, Ken!), Nancy Dunn and starring Elizabeth Goodrich in her debut as a hardened felon.
Praiseworthy music was provided by Elaine McVay and Tammy Sandel, Ace Tyler and His Friends (including some Robertson friends), and the Faith Choir, directed by Nadya Dubikovsky and accompanied by Marilyn Sameh. You all did good!
Quilting bees were Carol Gentry, Carol Goodrich, Kathleen Kirsch (creator of the white church), Nancy Dunn, Jan Hem and Cathy McKinnis; and everyone who signed the quilt.
Clean-up featured Ron Smith, Jane Stewart, Terry Stuart, Stan Hem, Dennis Dunn, Lonni Kucik, Dave Kucik, and not to forget the VoToWaDiAH folks (Volunteers To Wash Dishes at Home). You know who you are.
Advice and suggestions cheerfully administered in the heat of the battle by Jan Hem.
Stephanie Cardwell handled reservations, hysterical committee members and produced the printed programs. Thank you!
Food prepared by MCL Cafeteria and eaten by all those attending and even by some who didn’t. (Wow, that carrot cake!) The butter is still AWOL for those who wonder.
Our host for the evening was Don Gentry who had all the right words and sentiments at just the right times.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you! And also thank you to those whose names should be in here and isn’t!
The Pastor Appreciation Committee The Decorations Committee
The Quilt Committee The Set-Up and Clean-Up Committee
The VoToWaDiAH Committee The Program Committee
The Food Committee
Birthdays
May 1 Reed Clinton
May 1 Marilyn Hinze
May 2 Grace Czerwonky
May 3 Laura Tyler
May 5 Robert Landolt
May 8 Jeremy Powell
May 9 Jacqueline Meriwether
May 17 James Bosler
May 18 Knox Clinton
May 20 Jackie Tyler
May 20 Alice Mundell
May 22 Piers Houtsma
May 27 Eve Hanson
May 28 Madison Catongia
May 31 Jan Hem
Anniversaries
May 6 Dave & Lonni Kucik
May 12 Jay & Jenne McMillin
May 22 Steve & Mary Lou Varys
May 26 Donald & Penny Winship
May 26 Ken & Tammy Sandel
Community Worship Services
• Sun., May 6 St. Mary’s Healthcare 2:30pm
• Sun., May 13 Tippecanoe Villa 1:30pm
• Sun., May 13 Friendship House 3:00pm
• Sun., May 20 Davis Manor 3:00pm
• Sun., May 27 Rosewalk Commons 2:30pm
The Deacons invite you to become a part of
this ministry
Worship With Us
We invite you to join in the worship of God each Sunday morning at 9:30am. We also invite you to participate in the prayers, fellowship, work and activities of this church.
For more information about this opportunity to be involved at Faith Presbyterian Church, please call or talk to any member of Session or call the church office at 743-3683.
Posted by faithpres at May 1, 2007 10:21 AM