News of the Clinton United Presbyterian

Church

The CUP

The Rev. Laura E. Strauss

Minister

Jesus le Christ, lumiere interieure, ne

laisse pas mes tenebres me parler. Jesus

le Christ, lumiere interieure, donne moi

d’acceluielir ton amour.

Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within

us. Let not my doubts or my darkness

speak to me. Lord, Jesus Christ, your

light shines within us. Let me heart

always welcome your love.

- Chants de Taize, 2019-2020

Another trip to Taize is in the books and,

thanks be to God, this trip went seam-

lessly! This meant that I, as the trip

leader, could enjoy all seven days that the

Taize monastery had to offer. Namely,

getting all of their chants stuck in my

head! One of my favorite chants is the

one recorded above, which focuses on the

light of Jesus Christ. What can we learn

from meditating on this light?

First, we must remember, “light is not so

much what you directly see as that by

which you see everything else.” (Richard

Rohr, The Universal Christ.) The light of

Jesus Christ isn’t a light that we gaze

upon, much as we don’t gaze upon the

sun. Rather, the light of Jesus Christ is a

light that enables us to see all things in a

Christlike way. We see the holy, divine

presence in everyone whom we meet and

every part of creation that we encounter.

It’s keeping our sense of wonder as we

realize every person we speak with is

made in God’s image, holy and dearly

loved by our Lord. It’s looking upon this

world, from the stink bugs (yes, the stink

bugs!) to the polar ice caps with the eyes

of the God who made them.

Second, the light of Christ is a light

permeating all darkness. Richard Rohr

writes that scientists have discovered,

“what looks like darkness to the human

eye is actually filled with tiny particles

called neutrinos, slivers of light that pass

through the entire universe. Apparently

there is no such thing as total darkness

anywhere, even though the human eye

thinks there is. John’s Gospel was more

accurate than we realized when it

described Christ as ‘a light that darkness

cannot overcome. (1:5)” The light of Jesus

Christ is a present light even when it is

invisible to the human eye. What comfort

and what hope when we face our worst

difficulties!

Finally, the light of Christ is reflected in

us. This is because we are created in

God’s image. What difference would it

make in your life if you were to look in the

mirror each morning and to say, “I am

made in God’s image. God has declared

me good.” Imagine doing this before

brushing your teeth, washing your hair, or

rubbing the crusties out of your eyes. Our

world would change entirely! We’d walk

through the world empowered for

kindness, mercy, grace, and compassion

as never before! Imagine believing such

goodness about yourself, but likewise

believing such goodness in all the children

of God who surround you.

The joy of the gospel is the joy of the light

of Jesus, reflected most thoroughly in his

resurrection and ascension. May we live

into his light until the day of his return.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Laura

Special Dates in July 2019

• Canada Day, July 1st

• U.S. Independence Day, July 4th

In Need of Counseling from a

Christian Counselor? Pastor Laura most often refers individuals

to Samaritan Counseling Center. They

provide Christian counseling as well as

spiritual guidance. Offices are located

throughout the region. You can call them

at 412-741-7430 or go to their web site,

www.samaritancounseling.net.

Finance and Stewardship

Team Meeting:

Tuesday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Send Dakota a Card! Here's his address! If you would like to send a

"Thinking of You" card to Dakota Lamb while he is currently doing his internship at Walt Disney

World, here is his address: 14804 Avenue of the Groves

Apt. 11315 Winter Garden, FL 34787

Sending Cards to Tim: If you would like to

send a card to Tim Brosius, following the passing of his beloved wife Debbie, cards can be mailed to: Mr. Tim Brosius, 48 Country Club Drive, Oakdale, PA 15071. Baptism Luncheon Celebration! The Hilpert

Family invites you to celebrate the baptism of

their son, Asher Hilpert, on Sunday, July 7 during the 10:00 a.m. worship service. A luncheon will follow. A Hair-Raising Mission Fundraiser: When Samson's hair was cut, he didn't get very far. But when you cut Mark McConnell's hair, you

can help him and the mission team get all the way to Florida! Join the mission team for a

mission trip gasoline fundraiser on July 7 following worship. Make a donation, take a pair of scissors, and cut that hair down to size! All donations will go toward fuel on the mission

trip to Florida! It's sure to be a hair-raising event! The mission team and Mark's mom thank you for your help! Note: No beard trimming will take place at this fundraiser! Mission Trip to the Florida panhandle: The

mission trip will take place July 13-20. We will

be performing hurricane disaster relief work. All skill sets and levels are necessary. The Sacrament of Communion: The Lord's Supper will be observed next on Sunday, July 28 during the 10:00 a.m. worship service.

ROAR! Vacation

Bible School: This year's VBS is from July 8 - 12, 9:00

a.m. - noon. This event is free for all children. We'll learn Bible stories, sing songs, play games

outside, and enjoy delicious snacks. Those interested in volunteering, please contact

Brenda Metz.

Attic Treasures and Bake Sale: Mark your calendars for

August 15 - 17 for the annual Attic Treasures and Bake Sale. Save your finest treasures to be sold and collect your favorite recipes for treats. This event raises money for

the mission work of our congregation, such as our summer mission trip to Florida for

hurricane disaster relief work. Please Note Session Meetings: Because of the church schedule, our summer session dates will take place on the following dates: Thursday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday, August 22 at 7:00 p.m.

Membership Team: The Membership Team will be meeting on Sunday, September 29 and Sunday, December 29 at 9:00 a.m." Thank you!

Special Thank You / New Doors Thanks to the great work done in tearing

out the old Christian Education Building

main entrance doors and installing new

steel security doors. Our hats off to Mark

McConnell, Dennis Macek, Yum Groom,

Greg Reddick, Richard McConnell, and

Dale Huemmrich. And a special thanks to

Leah Clydesdale who had to finish

cleaning up the mess we made!!!!

Special Thank You / Clean-up Day

Thank you so much for the great turn out

we had on May 25th for our annual Spring

Clean-up Day! We spread 8 yards of

mulch. Planted flowers, and did some

clean-up around the building.

Special thanks to Greg Reddick who

helped Dale do the edging of the beds the

day before.

Thank you to Greg Reddick, Rev. Laura

Strauss, Lynn Hamil, Mark Thomas, Dane

Thomas, Lindsay Thomas, Yum Groom,

Jay Marshall, Jim, Murin, Rachele Murin,

and Dale Huemmrich.

We are looking for few good men……

or women!

On Sunday August 25th we need to have a

person to operate the church sound system.

All of our regular “sound system folks” will

not be available. It would be great to have a

few more people with the knowledge to

operate the system. We have a simple

documentation sheet to help, and a short

training class would be made available to

you. It really isn’t too difficult!

Please see Dale Huemmrich (724-457-7194)

to set up a time for some training.

Ecumenical Events

Rodef Shalom Biblical Botanical

Garden: 4905 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4,

Pittsburgh, 15213,

biblicalgardenpittsburgh.org, June 1 -

Sept. 15, Sun - Thurs. 10 am - 2 pm,

Wed. 7 pm - dusk, Sat. 12 pm - 1 pm;

Enter a replica of ancient Israel in our

Biblical Botanical Garden with more than

100 temperate and tropical plants. See

the land of the Bible in a setting with a

cascading waterfall, the Jordan, which

meanders through the garden from Lake

Kineret to the Dead Sea. Group tours by

appointment.

St. Paul Cathedral Concert

Series: 108 N. Dithridge St. Pittsburgh,

15213, Sundays at 3:30 p.m. July 7,

Edward Alan Moore of East Liberty

Presbyterian Church, July 14, Michael

Andrew Hammer of Third Presbyterian

Church, July 28, Bruce Ludwick of

Cathedral of St. Paul, August 4, James

Burns of Westminster Presbyterian

Church, August 11, Daniel Kovacic of St.

John Capistran Church

Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery,

Prophet Elias Feast Day: 121 St Elias

Lane, Saxonburg, PA, 16056, 724-352-

3999, Saturday, July 20, 9 am - 3 pm,

FREE, Following worship the Monastery

will provide lunch and will have baked

goods and hand crafts available for

purchase. All guests of the monastery are

asked to dress modestly.

McClure Lectures in World Mission

and Evangelism: Pittsburgh Theological

Seminary, www.pts.edu/CE,

ConEd@pts.edu, 412-924-1345,

September 30 - October 1, 2019, Lectures

by Al Tizon, Executive Minister of Serve

Globally

Offer Welcome to Immigrants! The

second annual Allies in Faith program,

cosponsored by Christian Associates of

Southwestern PA and Pittsburgh

Theological Seminary, will take place

September 11-12. Allies in Faith is a

learning experience that will prepare you

to extend hospitality to immigrants and

refugees. Applications are due August

28. If you would like to apply or have

questions, contact Helen Blier at 412-924-

1346.

The Women's group of the Clinton Church

is a small group of ladies that study

together, pray together, and work

together for the good of our church and

community. It is our hope that this

coming season, more of the church ladies

will join us for bible study and discussion

of the needs and concerns of our church

and family. Please plan to join us on

September 5th at 6:30 and get involved

with this active group. Also, we have a

group of ladies from the WAMA that are

working on kits for "Days for Girls". This

is a wonderful mission project for our

entire church community to be involved in

and we can always use your help to

continue this wonderful program.

Choir Notes.

The chancel Choir is

on a well-deserved

break for the summer and will resume

singing in September. We have dedicated

our voices to God's praises and will

continue in September with practice

starting on Tuesday evening September

3rd at 7:00. Please come a join us and

make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Down the Bowling Alley.

The bowling league will be once again

starting to roll on Wednesday August 28th

at 6"30 at Center Lanes in Alliquippa. If

you are looking for a great fun fellowship

winter activity to keep you from getting

cabin fever, plan to join us then.

Friday Night

Golf

The golf league has

been meeting on Friday

evenings for tee off at 5

at the Ponderosa Golf Lands. We have a

wonderful relaxing nine holes of golf and

then enjoy a light dinner in the club

house. We always are looking for more

folks to join us for this wonderful summer

activity. See you on the LINKS!!!!!

Jarrod Stickley ............ 1 Tim Brosius ……………….2 Nathaniel Lapin .......... 3 Judy Heck ................... 6 Brett Collins ................ 9 Jared Boustead ......... 11 Lynn McConnell …….13 Pam Heck ................. 14 Zach Metz ................. 15 Amanda Collins ........ 15 Keri Watters ............. 16 Brian Karcz ............... 19 Ginger Leber ............ 21 June Miller ................ 22 Amanda Watters ...... 22 Joyce Houston .......... 27 Kathy Huffman ......... 29 Sydney Watters ....... 30 Jennifer Hart ............ 31

blog: http://outofthedustandus.blogspot.com/ latest PCUSA mission newsletter: Spiritual Business

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Increase in ministry

decrease in ministry

This has been a busy year. Part of it is family -

we have a toddler and we are working to teach three other children to respect and an adult child trying to finish high school. But another part has been travel, fish, meetings, teachings, conferences, lending a hand, harvesting moringa and planning.

Running with our neighbors

During this busy year our neighborhood has continued to change. New homes are built. People have moved in and out. And sadly now

we don't know everyone in the neighborhood.

Our 'old' friends are still around - who we don't get to visit as often as we would like. But it is rather strange to walk through the neighborhood and not know everyone's name. Of course a two room home can have 20

people living there easily, but that didn't use to stop us!

Neighbors braiding our hair

The point of all this is that it is becoming more and more difficult to connect in ministry in our neighborhood now that we are in full swing in

our ministry. We knew this day would come and talked about how our language learning was ministry, but it is sad for us to have less

time to focus in this area and not to know all our neighbors.-- La Maestra

Intergenerational play, which is hardly seen.

The Drive

Jana and I departed in the morning on May 10th for a week-long road trip on our way out to Estes Park, Colorado for a long and full summer of ministry! It was so refreshing, fun and peaceful to have a week alone together after a busy semester. We spent a night at her

family’s cottage in Michigan, a full day in

Omaha, NE exploring the town, and then three days in Gunnison National Forest in Colorado camping. We saw some wildlife, went on a couple of hikes, and cooked lots of camp food! One of the best parts of this trip was what made it possible- our new van- Betty! We

purchased this beautiful 2007 Honda Odyssey just before leaving Ohio and it has already been put to great use getting us out here, taking students on drives to town, in the

mountains, and all over. We had been praying all semester since Jana’s old van was totaled for God to provide something new that would

be used for ministry and He has provided!

Leadership Training

Since arriving in Colorado, I have led worship for every session (that’s over 35 songs so far),

gathered a group of about 40 LT participants and staff who are passionate about ministering to the 134 international employees here this summer at the YMCA, and gone on a few hikes with friends! My friend Hunter (the goofy blonde guy) just finished his sophomore year

at Kent and raised support to be an intern out

here this summer with LT. Though he is young, he has a ton of charisma and personality and he really loves people and God. I’ve really enjoyed spending time with him, helping him grow in his leadership and recently talking about how to really see God as a good Father.

Our first hike together was with Dylan, a

recent graduate from Kent State, who is spending the summer out here before finding a job in journalism. We were able to talk about each other’s lives and some deep theological

questions we have. The conversation was clearly better than the view, as it was incredibly snowy still that week and at the top we were in a dense cloud! Hunter and I went on another hike last week

with our friend John who has been in Estes the

last three summers and recently moved out here permanently, working in town. We had both met John in previous LT’s and were able to spend time learning about his life this past year and his walk with God. I actually saw

John get baptized out here back in 2017!

Praise God that he is still walking closely with Jesus.

Thank you for your support and partnership in this incredible ministry! I am so grateful that I get to be out here sharing the gospel because of your generosity and prayers! Please pray

we might see international co-workers at the Y come to know Jesus this summer from Spain,

Columbia, Thailand, Malaysia and all over!

e-mail sent June 10, 2019

STEWARDSHIP MATTERS

Chris Roseland

Our connectional church

South Carolina to Syria, Texas to Thailand

… the language of ‘mission’ connects us

As a mission engagement advisor for the

Presbyterian Mission Agency, often when I

visit with congregational and mid council

leaders, I’ll ask them, “What does it mean

to be a connectional church?” In other

words, “What connects us?”

The answers vary —our polity, our history,

our theology, just to name a few. Yet we

know that not everyone is familiar with

the Book of Order, is aware of our

Presbyterian past or subscribes uniformly

to Reformed doctrine.

Our conversation eventually turns toward

mission. Mission is common ground for

our diverse, divided denomination.

Generally, when we come together in

mission, we set aside political,

philosophical, economic and theological

differences to focus on immediate needs.

A good example is the support of

Presbyterians across the Church for our

work in Syria.

War has caused continuing suffering and

displacement in Syria since 2012. World

Mission and Presbyterian Disaster

Assistance (PDA) collaborate closely with

the National Evangelical Synod of Lebanon

and Syria in the region, each contributing

to programs and projects that align with

its respective core mission, helping to

unite people in this important cause.

You see, mission harnesses diverse talents

and unites

our diverse Church. It enables our Church

to develop a common purpose around the

world and among PC(USA) congregations

of all sizes in all places.

The PC(USA) needs the passion for

mission that exists in churches both large

and small. You can find a deep mission

commitment in large congregations such

as Westminster Presbyterian Church in

Greenville, South Carolina, which has

more than 1,700 members. Over the past

two years, it has supported four mission

co-worker couples and four individual

mission coworkers through financial gifts,

partnership and prayer. It also has

developed relationships with them through

correspondence, through mission co-

worker visits to the congregation and

sometimes through visits from

Westminster mission teams to the places

where the mission co-workers serve. On

these visits, Westminster members

develop friendships with local Christians

and join with them in mutual ministries.

Equally important to our Church is the

unwavering mission conviction of small

congregations such as First Presbyterian

Church in Temple, Texas. For several

years, First Presbyterian supported

Sharon Bryant, a mission co-worker in

Thailand. Sharon was ordained in First’s

Presbytery, Grace. First Presbyterian felt a

close bond with Sharon and her ministry,

which helps the Church of Christ in

Thailand (CCT) extend English-language

skills to the Thai people. The CCT sees

this outreach as a way to increase

people’s employability and to raise its

visibility. When dwindling numbers forced

First Presbyterian to close, Grace

Presbyterian, which received many of First

Presbyterian’s members, began

supporting Sharon. Obviously, Grace

Presbyterian could sense First

Presbyterian’s dedication to Sharon’s

ministry. Kudos to Grace for honoring this

commitment.

While the stories of Westminster in

Greenville and First in Temple are

significantly different, they both

demonstrate a deep commitment to

growing God’s reign through our Church’s

mission. Such witnesses heal our world

and unify our Church.

In these turbulent times for our Church,

our country and our world, let us hold one

another closer. Our Reformed tradition

allows for a wide range of differences.

However, when we focus on our common

mission and share the love of God and

grace of Jesus Christ, we include every-

one. When we choose love and continue

to reach out, we become the connectional

church that our tradition calls us to be.

Chris Roseland is a mission engagement

advisor with the Presbyterian Mission Agency. He can be reached at chris.roseland@pcusa.org.

Article from Mission Crossroads – Spring 2019

Ministering to refugees

and immigrants in partnership New mission co-worker to be called to El

Salvador

The Reformed Calvinist Church of El

Salvador (IRCES) is a unique church

partner. Though small in number, it is big

in vision and commitment to the gospel.

Grounded in their reformed identity, they

are always making time to analyze and

discern their call, based on the context in

which they serve. From way south of the

border, our partners are watching and

anticipating the direct impact of U.S.

immigration policy, as they turn to U.S.

longtime mission partners and confidants

to ask, “What are you going to do about

this? How can we face this together?”

It is because of the trust we have built

together and their courage to ask these

questions, the 2018 PC(USA) General

Assembly passed a resolution, authored

by Pacific Presbytery, that seeks to equip

the PC(USA) and IRCES to act on behalf of

those suffering the injustices of our

broken immigration system.

World Mission is moving forward in the

recruitment process to call a mission co-

worker to work in partnership with IRCES

and other churches in the Northern

Triangle of Central America and Mexico.

This mission co-worker will work to

develop a Meso-American refugee and

immigration advocacy network. We are

also finalizing the design of a training and

empowerment program to form young

adult leaders to be peacebuilders in their

communities. We will launch the program

later this year in El Salvador. The long-

term hope is to replicate the program in

Guatemala and Honduras.

Another exciting outcome of the questions

being asked of us by IRCES is a new

partnership between Presbyterian Disaster

Assistance (PDA) and IRCES to provide

humanitarian and pastoral care to

Salvadorans who are returned by the U.S.

government. Susan Krehbiel, associate for

refugees and asylum with PDA, said that,

“While the PC(USA) and IRCES have

enjoyed an ecclesial and missional

relationship for decades, this new ministry

area for IRCES fits naturally with the role

of PDA, thereby expanding the way the

two churches relate to each other.”

The establishment of a transitional shelter

and services was first proposed by IRCES

in response to an announcement by the

U.S. government to end Temporary

Protective Status (TPS) for 195,000

Salvadorans in

2019. While a court injunction has

postponed the termination of TPS until at

least January 2020, the church is moving

forward with preparations. All this is

taking place in the midst of growing

violence and political strife in the Northern

Triangle of Central America. This

humanitarian crisis has brought greater

national and regional collaboration among

churches and church-based relief

organizations working with those who are

forced to leave their home countries in

search of safety.

PDA and World Mission staff recently

visited IRCES to continue to work out

practical details and to deepen

understanding of the national and regional

context of this new project. Tracey King-

Ortega, is World Mission's regional liaison

for Central America.

Tracey King-Ortega, is World Mission's

regional liaison for Central America.

Photo by Tracey King-Ortega

Representatives from Presbyterian Disaster

Assistance observe training for church leaders volunteering to work with Salvadorans forced to

return from the U.S. and Mexico. This new ministry provides accompaniment and shelter to ease

migrants’ transition to their country of birth.

SHARE THE VISION

Support God’s mission in Central America: pcusa.org/donate/E200518 Make a gift to support PDA’s

international refugee programs:

pcusa.org/donate/DR000156

Beyond the postcard While tourist attractions in Puerto Rico are in good shape, much of the island is

still in recovery

Rich Copley and Rick Jones

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – It’s a pretty port of call.

Blocks from where cruise ships pull into San

Juan terminal, visitors can find Old San Juan, with its mix of history, shops and restaurants, all open for business.

“People go to hotels, Old San Juan and they

see the stores open, lights … and they say, ‘Oh, everything is back to normal,’” says the Rev. Edwin A. González- Castillo.

Except it’s not.

You don’t have to look far to discover how far from normal this United States territory is more than a year after being ravaged by

Hurricane María, which was a high-Category 4 storm when it made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017. It’s considered the worst natural disaster on record for the island and the worst Atlantic hurricane in more than a decade.

Just a five-mile drive from historic old San Juan, you find that many homes are still

covered by the blue tarps they were given after having their roofs blown away in the storm. Head out into the island, and there is plenty of evidence of the storm, from ravaged vegetation to structural debris to roads still in need of repair.

González-Castillo, who was a pastor in Vega

Alta and stated clerk of the Presbytery of San Juan when María struck and is now the associate for Disaster Response and Refugee Ministry for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), says that while people put on a brave face, especially for visitors, emotions are still fresh.

“Inside, they’re destroyed,” he says. “They’re

tired of waking up every morning to figure out how to lift themselves and their families out of their situations.”

EDUARDO MARTINEZ

Survivors in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico pose in front of their home

“BUT IT’S NOT THERE ANYMORE” The mere mention of the storm causes Lares

farm owner Lourdes Perez’s chin to tremble, and tears fill her eyes. Everything was lost: the coffee trees, the plantain trees — everything from the farm she and her husband, César Oliver, had been building for more than three decades.

Evidence of María’s wrath on Hidropónicos César y Lourdes’ farm in the steep mountains

of this northwestern Puerto Rico town is obvious: twisted metal lies on paths cut

through the farm, some structures are still broken and tattered, and on a tour through the property, Lourdes describes what was in certain sections, punctuated by the refrain,

“but it’s not there anymore.”

There is also modest evidence of revival, from building materials to sweet pepper marmalade, Lourdes and César’s attempt to create a little revenue in the aftermath of the storm.

“The most important thing that we need to do is rebuild the farm, so we can again give the community a place to work,” Lourdes says.

Before the storm, the farm employed about a

dozen people in the community — primarily

seniors who don’t have many sources of

income in the mountainous region.

“The reason you see them cry so many times is it’s not the same when you lose part of your house, because it’s just your house, and it’s

sad, but it affects only you … but in this case, it’s the jobs of a dozen people in that community, a dozen families affected,” González-Castillo says. MICHELLE MUÑIZ

Volunteers from Knox Presbyterian Church gather for a prayer outside of La Casona de Monteflores Presbyterian Church

“CHURCHES WERE THE FIRST

RESPONDERS” Recovery, González-Castillo says, is very much tied to income and social status, with a lot of the government’s priority going to highly visible areas of San Juan and other populous areas. The island has also suffered from

neglect by the government, which he says has

hired “in many, many cases, inefficient contractors” to carry out recovery jobs such as delivering meals and repairing homes. He also points out that many citizens have trouble finding help because of poorly marked Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

offices and most information being online, where people without computers or electricity can’t access it.

In many communities, González-Castillo says churches were the first responders to the disaster and remain primary players in recovery, from local congregations to national

organizations like the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Beyond the postcard……...con’t

In the three presbyteries that cover the island,

Presbyterian churches acted immediately to help their communities. Emergency needs were met by supplying food, first aid, water, tarps, filters and more.

YOUR GIFTS TO ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING AT WORK In San Juan, PDA partnered with the Presby-

terian Hunger Program and the Presbyterian

Committee on the Self- Development of People, the three offices supported by the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, to support the work of Fideicomiso de la Tierra del Caño Martín Peña, a community land trust that manages 200 acres along the canal, through

collective ownership of its members. The trust was created to protect the rights of residents, many of whom for many decades informally built on the land, which was previously owned

by the government.

One of the chief concerns is gentrification, which could occur with coming ecological

projects along the canal to improve water flow and reduce pollution in the canal. The $15,000 grant goes to support personnel to manage the complex documentation required to establish residents’ ownership of the property.

In addition to the $15,000, PDA contributed an additional $25,000 for roof repairs with Fideicomiso.

“Fideicomiso is so big and well-respected, for the community to see the Presbyterian Church get involved is a very big thing,” says González-Castillo. “People see that we are not doing it to get more people into the church but to reflect Christ to the community.”

MORE THAN A SUMMER CAMP Jim Kirk, PDA’s associate for national disaster response, was on his third trip to Puerto Rico in December and noted that he has moved from working with government, community and church leaders in the beginning to more one-on one interactions, which has been revealing.

“Fifteen months is sticking in my mind,” Kirk

says, driving the twisting mountain road from Lares to Guacio. “It’s been 15 months and a woman in Vieques is still putting pots around her house to collect water that leaks through

the roof that FEMA was supposed to have fixed.”

One place where work is underway is Campamento El Guacio, a retreat center in the western part of the island.

Guacio was one of the initial recipients of PDA funds in the days following Hurricane María. “We made a connection early through José

González-Colón,” Kirk says, referring to the moderator of the Sínodo Presbiteriano Boriquén in western Puerto Rico. “We awarded a grant to meet the needs at Guacio to help them continue to do the good work they were doing.”

Though the camp itself was hard hit by María,

it quickly became a resource for the surrounding community in the weeks and months following María, helping supply needs from water and ice to a psychologist to help people shattered by the storm and its aftermath.

In addition to providing agricultural

opportunities to the community, Guacio is at

the forefront of projects such as introducing solar power to the community and restoring one of its dorm complexes to house volunteers who come to work in the area. There are also ambitions to revitalize decades-old projects, such as functional crafts and construction from

bamboo on the property.

“Instead of dampening the revitalization efforts, the storm lit a fire under them,” Kirk

says. Since the first time he visited Guacio, Kirk says, “There has been exponential progress to improve the camp, which has put it in a position to better serve the entire

community.”

Members of Savannah Presbyterian Church and Knox Presbyterian Church volunteer in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María Photos by Michelle Muñiz

HOW YOU CAN HELP ›› Designate gifts to DR000194-Puerto Rico

›› Volunteer: visit www.pcusa.org/ pdavolunteersites or email pda.callcenter@ pcusa.org

Article from Mission Mosaic – Year in Review 2018

Community Involvement

The Deacon’s Giving Campaign: if you know someone that needs a visit or a meal taken to them, we can help with that, please contact Pastor Laura or Judy Heck. Our job is to serve our congregation and community in helpful ways.

Through the month of July we will be collecting Paper Products – plates,

napkins, paper towels, toilet tissue Items can be placed in the container in the

main entryway (narthex) of the church. Faith In Action We are still here for our seniors for Dr. appointments, etc… we are in need of drivers. If you have a few hours a month, please consider driving for this cause. Contact Judy Heck for more information (724) 899-3159.

Thank you for your financial support to

Clinton UP Church!

Church Directory

The Reverend Laura E. Strauss 25 Wilson Road, Clinton, PA 15026

Church Phone: 724-695-7993, Fax: 724-695-7097 Church e-mail: clintupch@gmail.com

Facebook: Clinton U.P. Church Website: clintonupchurch.weebly.com

Financial Asst.—Sophie Guzma, Administrative Asst. – Laura Burns

Choir Director—Cindy Macek, Organist—Erma Wilson,

Treasurer – Sophie Guzma, Church Sexton—Leah Clydesdale

Session Clerk of Session - Amanda Wade

Lynn Kopko, Amanda Wade, Christina Nicastro - 2019 Linda Briggs, Leah Clydesdale, Scott Hilpert- 2020

Judy Huemmrich, Joe Miller -2021 Deacons

June Miller, Megan Kopko – 2019, Beverly Hilpert, Bill Marburger - 2020

Sandi Cogis and Judy Heck - 2021 Trustees

Walter (Yum) Groom---2019 Dale Huemmrich---2020, Rich McConnell – 2021

Dan Heck –2022, Dennis Macek---2023 Auditors

Dakota Lamb- 2019, Heather Campbell 2020, Lorrie Leonard---2021

Sunday School Superintendent—Rachel Ayers

Asst. Superintendent—Brenda Lamb Secretary/Treasurer—Maxine Wilson,

Cradle Roll—Amber Hilpert Cemetery Board

Devin Messner---2019, Bill Marburger-2020, Dennis Macek-2021, Rick Lamb-2022, Zach Metz--2023

Nominating Team Judy Huemmrich, Rachel Ayers, Judy Heck, Leah Clydesdale

Finance Team Ethan Strauss, Thomas McCullough, Lynne Hamil,

Jennifer Rossman, Scott Hilpert, Joseph Miller Safety Team

Joe Miller, Mark McConnell, Heather Campbell & Rick Lamb

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