The PresbyterianA Newsletter of the First Presbyterian Church125 South Poplar Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820

August 2018

“Where everyone is welcome”

Letter from the Pastor

Forming a Vision Team As many of you know, we are in the process of forming a “Vision Team” for our church. In light of this, many others have asked, “Why?” or “What is that?” Very briefly, I will try to explain what the Vision Team’s purpose is and will be. The intent of a Vision Team is to begin the process of “church revitalization.” Now, before anyone panics, saying we need revitalization does NOT mean that we are dying. It does mean, however, that we need to find an intentional, focused direction as a church and be faithful to the call of God. I can assure you, we are not the only church going through something like this. In fact, many other churches in our presbytery are going through the same training and process. But, what does true revitalization look like? For many, you might think that the primary goal of revitalization is to get more people in the doors on Sunday morning—but that’s not it. To be “revitalized” is to become re-engaged with God’s mission in the world and in our community by finding the place God has called us to serve outside of our church building. So, what will this look like?The Vision Team will have three primary responsibilities. 1) Gather to pray. The Vision team will seek to discern God’s will as to where our church is called to serve. This will be the bulk of the beginning stages, even into the later stages of this process. This time is spent asking God “How can we serve this community? How can we be your agents of good? Where are the broken places that we are gifted to step into?” This will happen through prayer walks, group prayer, and each member finding a prayer partner in the church who will pray with them. After this time of prayer and discernment, the Vision Team will have the place/people/neighborhood that we are called to serve. The next thing they will do is figure out…2) How are we going to reach them? In this phase, the Vision Team will address the purpose (who are we going to reach), the objectives (how are we going to reach them), the goals (when are we going to do these things), and the strategy (with whom are we going to do these things?) All of these things are for the purpose of moving the church beyond our walls and into the community. And all of this is to be very intentional. Why? If we are doing a lot of different things, or donating money to a lot of different organizations, we may not actually be building relationships with anyone. If I were to ask you “who have you gotten to know” and you were to say “no one,” then we are not doing it right. The purpose, then, is to serve our community, in order to build authentic relationships, in order to share the Gospel. After there is a clear cut plan, they will send it to Session who will then vote to approve it and give their full support. It will then come back to the Vision Team, who will then seek…

3) Implementation. At this point, the Vision Team will put the plan into action. In short, that’s what the Vision Team will do. The universal rule is that the more we focus our resources and gifts towards a single vision, the more people we will reach. The less focused our vision is (i.e. doing all lot of things poorly, instead of a few things well) the less people we will reach. We believe that God will bless us as we seek to be faithful to the work of his Kingdom, but we must be unequivocally devoted to loving our community and serving them well, going to them with the love and mercy of God! “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” – Jeremiah 29:7 For His Kingdom,

Jeremy McNeillPastor, First Presbyterian ChurchBucyrus, OH(256)-652-7823

BORN Dunk Tankat the Bratwurst Festival

Pastor Jeremy has graciously volunteered to participate in the BORN DUNK TANK!!

Please plan to “SUPPORT” him on Thursday @ 3:00 PM, Aug. 16th.BORN will appreciate everyone's participation and

help First Presbyterian earn the “Golden Dunker Award “that goes to the group that earns the most donations for BORN.

Author of Life Book Club The Author of Life Book Club will resume in September.

Youth GroupThe First Presbyterian Youth group will meet on Sunday, August 5st, @ 1:00 PM.

Deacons MeetingThe Deacon's meeting will be on Wednesday, August 8th @ 5:00 PM in Fellowship Hall.

Finance CommitteeThe Finance Committee will meet Monday, August 13th, @ 9:30 AM at the church.

Gamma DeltaGamma Delta will meet on Wednesday, August 15th, @ 12:30 PM for a potluck at Aumiller Park.

Session MeetingThe Session meeting will be on Thursday, August 16th, @ 7:00 PM in Fellowship Hall.

Presbyterian WomenThe Presbyterian Women will meet on Tuesday, August 21st, @ 12:00 PM, at Pisanello’s. The business meeting and Bible study will follow in Fellowship Hall.

Presbyterian MenThe Presbyterian Men's group meets each Friday @ 7:00 AM, at the Pelican , the last Friday of each month they will meet at Bucyrus Diner. All men of FPC are invited to attend.

In Our PrayersSurgery, Injury, and/or Recuperating: Judy Diederich, Denny Wells, Kennedy SharrockNancy Crum (knee surgery July 2nd)

Shut-Ins: Margaret Price, Grace Kearns, Glenn & Jeannie Gibson, Mary Kiess

Family and Friends of Members: Jeri Hargis' granddaughter Brooke for back surgeryJohn Scott (Kathy Bardon's relative)Mi-Lynn Mok (Joyce Hahn’s granddaughter)Michael Cole (son of John & Phyllis Cole)Connie Watts grandson KadeSharon Roth (friend of Kathy Bardon)Cody Howard (friend of Ashleigh Helbert)Florence Cooper (Vickie Ahlefeld's mother)Sandy Will (Carrie Diebler's mother)

Cancer Jeff ReserNancy CrumBruce Price, in remission (Dan's brother)Susan Murphey (Jan Fulton's cousin)Ann Pokopac (Kathy Bardon's sister)Jim Krieg (Friend of Chuck Fancourt)Nancy Hicks (friend of the Bacon's)

Military: John T. Ballinger III, Cody Gibson, Keagan Rios,Levi Diebler, Jason Hahn, Daron Watts, Zach Wilson, John Bacon, Todd Loy, Brydan Lohr

Prayer RequestsAdd to Prayer Requests _____ Remove from Prayer Request _____Prayers are needed for: _______________________________

Member ___ Member’s family____ Friend of member____________________________________________________________________Requested by: ______________________________

Deacon of the Month: Brooke YoungElder of the Month: Barb Price

Michelle will be out of the officeAugust 13th through 17th.

Happy Birthday 3 Dan Price 7 Ashleigh Helbert

Brooke Young 11 Carrie Diebler 12 Joey Rager 14 Carissa Diebler 16 Trent Butterfield 18 Ed Dolch 20 Tom Britton 22 Tom Rarick23 Kevin Pelter 25 Jana Dlubak

Dorothy Watts 29 Spencer Mutchler

Happy Anniversary5 Lori and Charles Rager 15 Trent and Mollie Butterfield22 Leon and Carrie Diebler 27 Kevin and Kami Pelter

Children's Time 05 – Debbie Hablitzel12 – Beth Barton19 – Dorothy Watts26 – Dave Hablitzel

Ushers/Greeters 05 – Dan & Barb Price

Lori & Sam Rager12 - Dan & Barb Price

Ronda & Victoria Hoerig19 - Dan & Barb Price

Danny Nickler & Gennie Rios26 - Dan & Barb Price

Lori & Sam Rager

Altar Flowers 05 – Scott & Mary Lou Hastings12 - Dan & Barb Price19 – Carrie Diebler26 – Kevin & Kami Pelter

Liturgists 05 – Joe Collene12 - Marcia Stout19 - Angela Collene26 - Jared Young

Special Music for August05 – Harold Fitz12 - United in Harmony19 - UKe3 Bailey & Abby Niedermier

& Melia Williamson26 – Tena & Abbey

Michelle will be out of the office Aug. 13-17.

Gamma DeltaBucyrus 1 st Friday

The Gamma Delta will be selling their cookbooks during 1st Friday in August and September. Please come to downtown Bucyrus to support them.

Vacation Bible SchoolVBS starts on August 5th through the 9th at BUMC Outreach Center.Registration forms are available at the back of the sanctuary.

Congregational LifeSEE FLYER ATTACHED

First Presbyterian will host National Night Out the evening of August 7th. Congregational Life members have a great event planned in the parking lot of the church. The Galion Fire Dept's Smoke House and the Humane Society will be there,a bicycle safety course will be set up and numerous other fun things for kids. There will be food and water available. Everyone is invited to bring a covered dish & your ownchair. A pop-up tent is needed. Volunteers for set-up & tear are needed. There will be more information to follow, if you have any questions contact Brooke Young.

Clerk’s CornerCommittee chairs/co-chairs:Administration, Finance and Stewardship - Tami Robinson Buildings and Grounds - Al FultonChristian Education - Joe Collene &

Kathy ByrneCongregational Life - Brooke Young &

Tami Robinson Mission - Barb PricePersonnel - Tami Robinson, ClerkWorship and Arts - Tami Robinson &

David HablitzelVision - Pastor Jeremy National Night Out will be held on August7 from 5 - 8 P.M. Bring a covered dish and lawn chair and join us for food, fellowship, and fun! There are a lot of activities planned,so don’t miss out! Christian Education is in need of teachersfor the youth beginning in September. Contact Joe Collene or Kathy Byrne and be a part of this much needed service to our church. Also consider being a member of this committee. Also prayerfully consider being on Mission,Worship and/or Vision Committees….these committees will be working actively to expand our church beyond the walls! The driveway and parking lot will be redone after the Bratwurst Festival. This willentail more than just putting new blacktop down! An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has been ordered and training will take place after its arrival. If you are interested in learning how to use the AED, please contact the church office and get on the list.

Presbyterian DollsWe have two new Presbyterian Dolls in the doll room. Received a phone call from Linda Dionne, Marquette Michigan, she asked if she could donate the dolls back to the churchthat her Grandmother, Cecilia Miller Carl, gave her and her cousin. She included the following letter:I would like to donate my Victorian dolls back to the First Church's Doll Museum. MyGrandmother, Cecilia Miller Carl was from Bucyrus before living in the Detroit area. While visiting family in Bucyrus, sh bought the hand painted dolls from the Ladies Aid Society for her only two granddaughters about 50 years ago. My cousin and I enjoyedour dolls from grandma for many years. They were a regular fixture on our beds. Sadly, neither of us have little girls to pass them on to. My cousin has since passed away and I really think the museum would be a good home for them now.

Linda Dionne

August 5th - 9th Vacation Bible School

August 7th National Night Out

August 16th - 18th Bratwurst Festival

MEN'S BREAKFASTThe men's breakfast will be held Wednesday, August 8th @ 7:00 AM in the Bucyrus Community Hospital Cafeteria. Todd Martin will be the Guest Speaker. Todd is the Superintendent at Colonel Crawford Schools and is a 1986 Graduate of Colonel Crawford High School. Sponsored by Woodlawn United Methodist Church, Pastor Tom Gruver.

Congratulations Tyler, Emily & Noah

Congratulations to our 4-H county winners! We are so proud of you! Tyler & Emily are Ohio State Fair bound. Good Luck to you both!

Vacation Bible School TASTY TREATS

VBS registration forms are in the backof the church. VBS will be held August 5th-9th @ Bucyrus United Methodist Outreach Center for children ages 3-11. Please invite your children's friends to register too. See Angela Collene for more details.

Come join us forNational Night Out