CHERRY FORK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

May, 2014Session Minutes

The Session of the Cherry Fork Presbyterian Church met on March 18 at 6:30 pm in the church social room.Present were Elders Dan Raines, Diana Shreffler, Jane Leonard, Jackie DeAtley, Ryan Wagner, and Gary Kimberly.   Also present were Clerk, Lucinda Raines and Moderator, Rev. Robert League, who opened the meeting with “The Meaning of Membership” and prayer.

The minutes of the congregational meeting and the January Session meeting were presented and approved. Information was received on the Crop Walk which is to be held on May 4 at Adams Lake. Maundy Thursday services will be held on April 17 at the Seaman Presbyterian Church. The annual Eastern Area picnic and meeting will be June 23. Communion was served to 36 communicants on February 9, and 48 on March 9. Financial reports for January and February were presented and approved. The Memorial Fund has a balance of $4760, which included the Foster memorial contributions. Several ideas have been given for improvements and repairs of the church. The church insurance through Guide One and One License for copyright of material have been renewed. The lift has been serviced and repairs made.

  Rev. League reported 12 home visits and one funeral.  The Bible study group has completed the study of Mark. The Pastor’s vacation is April 21-May 5, and May 12-19. Dean Kirker will lead services on April 27 and May 18. The Gideons will be the guest speaker on May 4. Rev. League asked permission to perform the

wedding of Kerry Shupert and Whitney Siders at a different location from the church. There was a discussion of offering a catechism class for new members.

Richard S. Baldridge, 79, passed away February 23, 2014. He was a member for 40 years and former Elder and Trustee of the Cherry Fork Presbyterian Church. Funeral services were held at the Cherry Fork Presbyterian Church, March 1, with burial in the Cherry Fork Cemetery.

The committee chairmen for this year are: Worship - Jane Leonard, Missions - Gary Kimberly, Compassion - Jackie DeAtley, Fellowship - Diana Shreffler, Spiritual Growth - Dan Raines, and Christian Education - Ryan Wagner. Ryan will be working on Bible School, asking for a director, setting a date, and getting curriculum. Diana Shreffler is getting the Easter Breakfast planned. The time is set for 8 A.M. Dan Raines is looking about a sound system to enhance the worship service, and is gathering price options.

The One Call system was reviewed and will be upgraded to a membership of 75 numbers at a price of $376.92 per year.

At 8:30 the meeting was adjourned until the next regular meeting April 15 at 6:30 pm.  The meeting ended with praying together the Lord's Prayer.Lucinda Raines, clerk

Cherry Fork Presbyterian Women

The Cherry Fork Presbyterian women met on April 2 in the social room. Evelyn Grooms, hostess, read “Songs of Easter” for the devotions. Sarah K. Blythe,

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secretary, read the secretary’s report. Ann Downs, treasurer, presented the treasurer’s report. Nine members answered the roll call by bringing diapers for the Pregnancy Resource Center. Sue Fulton, moderator, had prayer and we signed cards for the ones named. Sue read a thank-you card from the Interfaith House. On April 16 we will make the Easter plates at 6:30 p.m. The Mother/Daughter Banquet will be at Moyers on Wednesday, May 14. Give Sue the number of reservations on Sunday, May 11.

Colleen Shoemaker lit the Christ Candle and had our lesson on “Becoming a Holy People”. The scripture was from Exodus 19:3-6; 24: 3-8, 15-18 and from Deuteronomy 7: 7-9.

Evelyn Grooms served delicious refreshments. The next meeting will be May 7 with Ruth E. Fulton as our hostess. Bring a donation for the crop walk for the roll call.Corresponding secretary, Sarah K. Blythe. Food for the Soul

After January and February cancellations for Food for the Soul, on March 28th, we served Lasagna, Garlic Bread and Salad to 43 people.    The menu for April 25th will be Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Cole Slaw and Potato Chips. On May 30th, we will be serving Spaghetti, Salad and Garlic Bread.  June 27th, it will be time again for Hamburgers or Hot Dogs, Potato Chips and Drinks.  Join us for food and fellowship.

Would You Like To Become A Member Of The Cherry

Fork Presbyterian Church?Now is the time! An Adult

Catechism class will be starting soon for any adult interested in becoming an official member of our Presbyterian Church family, whether through new church membership or transfer from another church membership. Class dates and times to be determined, based upon responses and convenient scheduling for all involved. If interested, please contact Pastor Robert League or

Elder Diana Shreffler. We’re looking forward to the next step in your faith journey!

There will be seven class meetings,and people are invited to attend whether they wish to join the church or not.It will be a good chance to discuss any questions or concerns people have about the church, the Bible, or the Christian faith.

Thank YouDear Caring Committee:

Thank you for the pretty Barbie. Purple is my favorite color and I really enjoy playing with Barbie’s.Love, Leah Caldwell

Dear Loved Ones of Cherry Fork Presbyterian Church:

Thank you so much for the most generous gift! We have been so blessed by so many people. Thank you! Ford and Maggie Hoff

Newsletter ItemsTo email items for the monthly news-

letter, please send them by Wednesday evening after the Sunday the items are due. It is not a problem to add them. My email address is: b_shupert@yahoo.com.

Upcoming Events for MayGreeters: 5/4: Pete Wagner family5/11: Jason Work family5/18 Nick Shreffler family5/25: Jared Shupert family

5/30: Food for the Soul 5-7 p.m.

Caring Committee: Jackie DeAtley & Peggy FosterAlter Flowers: Jackie DeAtley Newsletter Emailed

If anyone would prefer to receive this newsletter via email rather than paper form, just send an email tob_shupert@yahoo.com to confirm this choice. Thank you.

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Following is part of a newsletter that Matthew and Erin Trefz received on news from the orphanage they visited in Russia.

Alone No More“Bringing Jesus to

Orphans”Please pray for the peace in

Ukraine! Pray for salvation of many people there in spite of political unrest and economical downfall. Kursk area has common border with Ukraine, we have first refugees from Ukraine. There may be more if new nationalistic Ukrainian government would not pay attention to the needs and interests of eastern Ukrainians . . .

Spring has come to Kursk! The sun is like God’s love warming the earth and hearts. Go away, sadness and frosts! Come on to the new achievements for the sake of God! The “Alone no More” team is grateful to God and to you for all the spiritual and financial opportunities that we have for working with the ones we paternalize.

We are grateful to Christ for the “Flight School of Life”: it’s a real blessing for the 56 teens from three orphanages of Kursk and Kursk region. We have an opportunity to deliver very good and deep spiritual lessons (we support the lessons with some illustrations) the goal of which is forming in orphans a healthy personality. Each meeting of ours is not a long but a very meaningful high-day for both the children and us: they are looking forward for the day of the lessons, they are attending them with great joy and they are calling us and send messages to us discussing the issues that are of great importance for them.

We managed not only to create a training program, but also to build some relationship with each (!) teen, and this is a great grace from the Lord. These lessons are not out of the field of vision of the

orphanages authorities: the positive comments given by the teens break the firm negative stereotypes concerning Protestant churches! Our goal is to prepare and to inspire our girls and boys, as much as we can, for their future independent life. Not for just independent life out of the orphanage, but for the life with the Lord, with His principles and laws!

Here is one of the testimonies (the girl’s name is Dasha): “I was able to trust others for the first time during the last three years. The things that happened in my family and the things that are going on in the orphanage are depressing me very much. Here I am happy and I am glad to learn what God wants to tell me!”

We are glorifying the Lord for the “Training Farm” Project. By the mercy of Christ, we have survived through winter and are preparing for the active work with the participants of the Project. As we had planned, we have finished making the chickens cages and the sheep and horses boxes. Praise the Lord! It’s a big work that would be impossible without your support and prayers!

Now we have four guys who participate in the Project. All of them are orphanage grads. Their names are Russlan, Victor and two Andrews. Russlan was living at the farm all winter long: he was taking care of the animals and the property. He showed himself as a very hard-working man, a good manager who can take care not only about himself, but also about the ones he is responsible for. Andrew (one of the two Andrews) lived in a family in winter. Now he has moved to the farm together with other two Mokva orphanage grads: there’s much work there now.

One of the guys, Victor, has a baby. The living conditions are not possible for the baby to live together with her Dad. So the little girl is now living at her relatives. Victor needs “to land on feet”: to retrieve the lost documents, to find some good job to be able to pay for the rent of some place of living and to provide for his baby. If we had not interfered into his life he would have been deprived of his parental rights and the

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baby would have been taken to some orphanage. But Victor is a good Dad: he takes care of the little girl on his own; the mother having abandoned them. Our goal is to help him save the family and to help the young man adapt to independent life and to be able to live on his own. Unfortunately, it’s a typical situation when young people, orphanage grads, cannot solve some common and important life problems.

Our expenses for the equipment installation are higher than we had planned (due to the inflation), that’s why we had to spend on it the money saved for buying the hens. We are praying very deeply for the Lord to fill this vacuum so that we could buy the first batch of hens and food for them. As soon as we do it we will be able to expect the first production for selling it; the income will go to the guy’s needs and to the farm development. The Lord has been blessing us till this moment, so we trust that with Him we will overcome all the hardships!

In our team we have a wonderful mentor. His name is Valery Nickolaevich. With great enthusiasm he comes to the farm to help, to have some fellowship and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For example, after having read the book “More Than a Carpenter” Russlan keeps on studying God’s Word with great interest. We are praying for Christ to transform the lives of all the guys who are the present and the future participants of the Training farm Project.

We hope in the Holy Spirit as far as the preparation for the summer evangelization is concerned. We are intended and determined to do the camp and some kayak trips for some teens and orphans (all this will be based on the Evangelism Programs). We are dedicated in this prayer. We have no finances. But we have our trust in the Lord! So we are optimists!!!

From the bottom of our heart we are grateful to each coworker who is not indifferent to the problems of orphans in our country! We are praising Christ for everyone who is praying and who is sacrificing financially for evangelism and cultural

upbringing of these young people. We hope that God will bless our co-operation and let us reach new goals for Hid Glory. In Christ,The Orphans Ministry Head,Ilya Fadeev.

Prayer Joys & Concerns Military personnelUnemployedKeith and Dixie BaldridgeSally and Doug Gunter HomelessGloria Puckett familyDorothy McIntireBetty BaldridgeBill MillerMatthew Trefz’ friend Achmud from UkraineCharles and Norine BehmSteve and Nancy DarbyDavid WorkInterfaith HouseJane Greggor’s sisterDavid Askren familyDebbie BryantElijah ZinzerLeah Jane and Dean McClellan Maggie and Elford Hoff Elijah ZinzerJosh ShoemakerJim “Bo” WilliamsJohnny and Jane BrownJoe DavisKathryn ShoemakerAmy HowardTeresa GaffinJames William WorkMatt LeonardShawn Hopklins Joe Miller’s nephewCharles and Carolyn CarpenterNancy and Nelson AtkinsonShawn West familyTerry and Sally Young familyJane Leonard

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Harry LeonardEllen Foster

Vacation Bible School VBS will be June 16th-20th. Anyone

who would like to help in any way would be

greatly appreciated. There will be a sign up sheet at the church or they can contact Stephanie Shupert.

Check out the church website at www.cherryforkpresbyterian.org