first church news volumn 9 issue 7 july 2020 2020.pdf · 2020-07-03 · volumn 9 issue 7 first...
TRANSCRIPT
Volumn 9 issue 7
Ju ly 2020 First Church News
Chip’s Chatter
Greetings to all!
Well, we did it! We have re‐opened our
worship doors on June 21, 2020. What a
breath taking day it was. The weather was
perfect. The attendees were even better.
Our worship time was joyous and filled with
music. Our COVID‐19 protocols were fol‐
lowed exactly. A special shout out to the
many volunteers who helped insure the
procedures were followed.
Other church activities are being evaluated
for re‐start. Dianne Roholt is starting the
supper club again. Our Education commit‐
tee is starting to think of re‐starting the
Seekers group during the day. We have
found some great interviews with the late
Christian apologetic, Ravi Zacharias. Many
of the subjects deal with current events and
issues. We are planning on having com‐
munion of the first Sunday of July. We will
be “doing communion” differently as a re‐
sult of COVID‐19. We are also beginning
to discuss how we might be able to open
up our fellowship time. At this point, the
difficulty is centered around “social dis‐
tancing”. In the meantime, we can pray
for good weather and gather as we did
June 21 outside on the sidewalk.
One of my motivating thoughts towards re
‐opening deals with the subject of mental
health. I was visiting with a friend who is
also a professional therapist. She agrees
with me that nothing has been done to
address our mental health as a result of all
the shutdown/distancing requirements of
the pandemic. Church is a vital part of
one’s mental health. Everywhere you look
today, we see signs of stress fractures ap‐
pearing. The ongoing riots and civil unrest
are linked to the great stress and fear we
have. Do you realize that our seniors who
live in senior living/assisted living/nursing
homes have not felt the “hug” of a loved
one for nearly 3 months now? I met
someone the other day who put a chair
outside his mother’s nursing home win‐
dow just so they could visit but could not
PAGE 2
F i rs t Church News Chips Chatter-continued touch. Imagine what it must be like for
those on the second floor and above!
Imagine what it would have been like if our
churches were closed the Sunday after
Pearl Harbor. Imagine what it might be like
to worship after a church has burned.
Somehow, we find a way to do it. Church
helps to bring peace, comfort, and a sense
of normalcy to all that is happening around
us. After spending 5 years working with
both grieving people and recently divorced
individuals, those that make the most
“solid” recovery usually re‐discover the
faith they once had. They do it by attend‐
ing church and spending time with God.
Eventually all this will end. We will be stronger as a result. We will appreciate our time together more and more. I sus‐pect there will be a resurgence of faith, perhaps a spiritual revival. We need one now more than ever as we look for creative ways to worship.
Chip
Entrance to our church parking lot has changed. You will now enter from Minnesota Avenue and depart via the alleyways.
This change makes it easier for unfamiliar worshippers to find their way to our church and avoid street parking.
2 Chronicles 7‐14
If my people, who are called by my
name, will humble themselves and
pray and seek my face and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear
from heaven, and I will forgive their
sin and will heal their land.
Open Your Heart to Hunger in July
Summers can be tough on families in the best
of times. Now more than ever, families are feel‐
ing stressed and anxious about food. With kids
home from school, more meals are needed. In
April, nationwide,
more than 17% of
mothers reported
that their children
under 12 were not
getting enough to
eat ‐ a 400% in‐
crease from a similar survey in 2018.
During the July Open Your Heart Summer Chal‐
lenge, food shelves around the state attempt to
raise donations during a season when demand
is higher and donations are low. Please help us
continue to provide food for our neighbors by
donating in July. To donate on line, please see
our Facebook page or go to our website:
www.bcjsmn.org. We thank you and so do your
neighbors!
Volume 9 issue 7
Page 3
Supper Club will be meeting on Thursday, July 16th.
Please sign up at the church office: by email [email protected]–or–by phone; 444‐5016
This is an evening full of joy, laughter and good food.
All are welcome!
SUPPER CLUB @ 5:30, July 16 At
Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge 7598 Bemidji Rd NE
July Service Chair‐Libby Underhill
Joyce Ackerman 218‐407‐0867 Gloria Aylesworth 751‐7841
Cheryl Hiltz 751‐1667 Libby Underhill 444‐9774
F i rs t Church News Page 4
FINANCIAL REPORT—Month Ending 5-31-20
Monthly requirement to meet our budget $10,705.00
Total Income $11,432.92 Total Expenses $ 7.095.59 Net Income $ 4,337.33
Thank you for supporting our church
Communion July 5th:
Set Up: Barb McGregor and Joan Forbes
Serve & Clean up: Dixie Wirkus, Gini Sande, Joyce Ackerman, Palmer Berg, Linnea Mostad
From the Church Office
Sunday Worship Attendance Report June 21 31 June 28 28
Head Usher—Gloria Phelps
Greeter Liturgists:
July 5 Linnea Mostad—Brenda Miller Libby Underhill
July 12 Gini Sande‐Mary Lou Miller Bill Beck
July 19 Mary Hayes‐Duane Hayes Dianne Roholt
July 26 Vera Weis‐Mary Lou Miller Mark Robinson
15 Doug Cronemiller
27 Linnea Mostad
27 H.B. Roholt
30 Jon Langhout
Fi rs t Church News Page 5
Bemidji Northwoods Caregivers
ELEVEN SECONDS
Missy Thomas, Northwoods Caregivers
I read a short story once about a husband who consistently left an empty ice cube tray in the
freezer. Drove the wife nuts… I can relate. My husband is a college graduate, employed as a
software engineer and double‐duties as the company’s IT guy. He is the most honest person I
know, his sense of humor won me over immediately and he is a goofy, loving Dad. It seems he
is also completely incapable of putting his dirty socks ANYWHERE but on the living room floor.
It is mystifying. We’ve been married 15 years and I’d like a chance at another 15,( so…back to
the ice story.) One day, the wife timed how long it took to fill up the tray and stick it in the
freezer. She approached her husband and said, “I know you promised to love me forever, but
could you just love me for 11 seconds?”
We have so many seniors in our community with an “empty ice cube tray.” They may not be
able to drive anymore and need a ride to their medical appointments. Maybe they use a
walker and have difficulty carrying groceries. Maybe their 1 trip to church each week is the
only chance they have to enjoy the company of others and get their “ice cube trays” filled.
It may take more than 11 seconds to bring one of our beloved elders to
their doctor appointment, or do some shopping for them on our way home
from work or swing by and pick them up on our way to church. But these
simple, yet deliberate, acts of compassion will make an impact on our com‐
munity and the seniors living here in their own homes. Consider becoming
a volunteer with Northwoods Caregivers and make a difference to those
who will remember your kindness …for far more than 11 seconds.
*Northwoods Caregivers provides Local Transportation and Grocery Shopping Assistance and
also offers other services such as Respite Care, Homemaking, and Caregiver Coaching
&Support.
www.northwoodscaregivers.org
218‐333‐8264
Volume 9 issue 7 page 6
First Presbyterian Church Bemidji, MN June 16, 2020 The monthly stated meeting of the session of First Presbyterian Church was held in the church fellowship hall on June 16 at 1:00 pm. The meeting was opened prayer and a reading by Moderator Pastor Chip Holt.
ELDERS PRESENT CONSTITUTING A QUO‐
RUM: Gloria Phelps, Palmer Berg, Donna Dickinson, Linnea Mostad, Libby Underhill
ELDERS ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Cheryl Hiltz OTHERS PRESENT: Clerk of Session Mary
Hayes QUORUM DECLARED ADOPTION OF AGENDA MSP to accept the
agenda. MEETING MINUTES The minutes from the‐
March 17, May 19, and June 4session meetings were approved.
CORRESPONDENCE A letter was received
from member H.B. Roholt requesting to be removed from the church rolls. MSP to ac‐cept.
CLERK’S REPORT was reviewed. First Presbyterian Church, Bemidji, MN,
Clerk’s Report June 16, 2019 Weddings: none Baptisms: none Deaths: Carol Irene Quinn Close 9‐28‐
1928 to 6‐1‐2020 Services pending. New Members: none Return to Active Membership: none
Request Transfer of Membership: none
Removed from Membership Roll: none
Communion: None Membership as of June 16, 2020 73 Sunday Worship Attendance All worship
gatherings were cancelled due to coro‐navirus
FINANCIAL REPORT The financial report
was distributed and reviewed. . COMMITTEE REPORTS Administration/Personnel Chairperson:
Donna Dickinson Recommendation to session: Pay Organist Stacy $50 per taping in addition to her regular $100 per Sunday. Passed. The committee, consisting of Donna and Gloria Phelps, will review Chip’s contract which was up on June 1 and bring a recommenda‐tion to the next session meeting.
Buildings & Grounds Chairperson: Palmer Berg Roof leak investigation continues.
Finance & Stewardship Chairperson: Cheryl Hiltz No report
Adult & Christian Education Chairperson: Linnea Mostad No report
Outreach Chairperson: Libby Underhill Sunday service’s reopening will be an‐nounced on the marquee.
Worship & Music Chairperson: Gloria Phelps Chip reviewed details of the COVID plan in preparation for services resuming starting this Sunday.
Computer Chairperson: Cheryl Hiltz Soft‐ware installation is done.
Kitchen Session Contact Person: Cheryl Hiltz No report.
Page 7
OTHER BUSINESS MSP to approve. A request for a memorial ser‐vice to be held at First Presbyterian for former member Steven Stortroen on August 1. Next Meeting: July 21 at 1:00 pm. in church
conference room. Chip will moderate. The meeting was adjourned with prayer led by
Pastor Chip at 1:50 pm. Respectfully submitted,
___________________ Mary Hayes, Clerk of Session
Our fourth grader celebrated his birthday on crutches, so he couldn’t carry the cupcakes into school with-out help. I asked our sixth-grader, Noah, to help his brother carry them in. “I could,” he said, “but I’d prefer not to.” Spotting a teaching moment, my husband asked Noah, “What would Jesus do?” Noah answered, “Jesus would heal him so he could carry his own cupcakes.” —Rachel Nichols
A Christian guy named Bill saw an ad online for a Christian horse, so he went to check it out. The horse’s owner said, “It’s easy to ride him. Just say ‘Praise the Lord!’ to make him go and ‘Amen!’ to make him stop.” Bill got on the horse and said, “Praise the Lord!” Sure enough, the horse started to walk. “Praise the Lord!” he said again, and the horse began to trot. “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” he yelled, and the horse broke into a gallop. Bill was enjoying his ride so much that he al-most didn’t notice the cliff he and the horse were about to go over. Bill shouted “AMEN!” at the top of his lungs, and the horse stopped right at the edge of the cliff. Relieved, Bill said, “Phew! Praise the Lord!” —Submitted by Z.S. via rd.com
After pulling three double shifts in a row, my brother Billy, a hotel clerk, was worn out. On one of his few breaks, he went to the hotel restaurant to grab a bite. When his food came, Billy, his mind in a fog, bowed his head for the blessing and whispered these words to God: “Good evening, Holiday Inn, how can I help you?” —Bob Cook
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4
5 Chip Commun-ion
6 7 8 9 10 11
12 Chip
13 14 15 16 5:30 Supper Club Ruttger’s
17 18
19 Chip
20 21 1:00 Session Meeting
22 23 24 25
26 Chip
27 28 29 30 31
Sundays
10:00 Worship Service
11:00 Fellowship
July 2020