the sp re april 2018 · and a letter to mrs. d. a. neubauer, mrs. barbara gernert or mrs. diana...
TRANSCRIPT
April 2018 The Spire
First Presbyterian Church
169 W. College Street
P.O. Box 446
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: 724-627-6006
Fax: 724-852-2502
firstpreswbg.com
Facebook: First Presbyterian Church
of Waynesburg
As part of the worship bulletin for March 6, the sabbatical team1 shared a list of
Frequently Asked Questions regarding my coming summer sabbatical. They also asked
that it be placed in April’s Spire. Here it is – I am grateful for the team’s work and
thoughtfulness as the sabbatical time draws near!
What is a sabbatical? “A planned time of focus to strategically disengage from regular
and normal tasks so that ministry and mission may be viewed from a new perspective.” 2
Do other clergy go on sabbatical? Yes. It would fulfill the encouragement of ECO that
pastors serving in a congregation be granted a 3 to 6 month Sabbatical every 7 years. Bill
has served here since 2005, and this is his first sabbatical.
How long will Bill be gone? It will last for 12 weeks (3 months) during the summer of
2018. It will begin after morning worship on Sunday, June 3, and conclude on Sunday,
August 26.
What will Bill be doing on his sabbatical? It will entail study, prayer, renewal, and
travel.
Who will cover Bill’s responsibilities during his absence? We have a team of Session
members and staff that will take care of Bill’s responsibilities while he is on Sabbatical.
When Bill is in Waynesburg, per Personnel and Session direction, Bill will be limited to
pastoral ministry for death and bereavement. Becky Juliano will be the staff person who
take care of the day to day operations of the Church. Jeff McCracken and Tim Fox are
the Session representatives that will moderate Session meetings and assist Becky with
certain tasks. Maribeth Coote will assist Becky in day to day operations.
Who will I call to plan a special service? The church office will still be the contact to
schedule a special service. The office will then contact the appropriate person to
coordinate a special service.
Who will conduct Sunday worship? We will be having staff, congregation members and
special guests to conduct worship. All of this will be planned prior to Bill leaving for his
sabbatical.
Who should I contact for special prayer requests? The church office is the contact for
prayer requests and Maribeth will make sure that the prayer chain and staff is notified.
Who do I call if I have a family or personal crisis? Please call the church office, if during
office hours, and Becky Juliano after hours.
Who will pay for the sabbatical? It will incorporate a number of the recommendations
of our presbytery’s policy regarding time and compensation. (Bill will be using 2 of his 4
weeks of annual vacation; 4 weeks of accumulated study leave time; 6 weeks of paid
sabbatical time.)
Will the church budget be increased to cover Bill’s sabbatical expenses? No
Will the church just be in a “holding pattern” while Bill is away? All planning that
typically occurs throughout the summer and all Session business will still occur while
Bill is on Sabbatical. It is our hope that the Church continues to move forward with lay
leaders.
Will Bill be in contact with First Pres during his sabbatical? Bill will be in contact with
Katy Shultz or another member of the sabbatical team periodically throughout his time
away.
Will his family go with him? Karen will be going with Bill.
See you Sunday - Bill 1 Beth Calvario, Jeff McCracken, Katy Shultz, and Bill Wentzel. 2 http://oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/ministers/rationale-sabbatical-leave/
Every Sunday
Discipleship Hour
All ages
9:00 AM
Worship 10:30 AM
The Spire Content
Page 1:
From the Pastor
Page 2:
Discipleship & Fellowship
Page 3: Stewardship
Page 4:
Music & Children’s Ministry
Page 5:
Calendar
Page 6:
Crossroads Youth Ministry
Page 7:
Helpers & Birthdays
Discipleship & Fellowship by Becky Juliano
Everyone is invited! Take
advantage of a cheap dinner out
with all your First Pres friends and
family!
Enjoy a delicious meal for just $3/
person and $2/child ($10 family
max and university students are
$1).
The meal will be served starting at 5:30 PM. If you have
children in Pathways, our after school program, your whole
family is welcome to stay for dinner.
The menu for the month (which is subject to change) is as
follows:
April 4 – Teriyaki Chicken and rice
April 11 – Taco bar
April 18 – Burgers with a French fry bar
April 25 – Hawaiian Chicken Luau
The SERVE class is part of
our Grow for Life
discipleship process at First
Pres. It focuses on helping
you identify the ways in
which God has gifted you
to serve Christ and his
Church. Topics for the class include spiritual gifts,
passions, abilities, personalities, and experiences and
how those shape how you minister.
The class will be held on Sunday, April 22nd from 9
AM to 10:15 AM. Childcare will be provided. Please
contact Becky Juliano ([email protected],
518-788-8768) to sign up for this class. A “reservation”
is helpful because there is a pre-class assignment that is
helpful for getting the most out of the class.
Wednesday Night Dinners @ First Pres
Join a Table Talk discussion
group! You can join whenever
and there’s no required time
commitment.
Table Talk discussions are groups
of 4-5 people that meet on Sunday
mornings during the GROW hour.
The group gathers to share
highlights from the scripture each person has been reading
throughout the week.
Table Talk discussions begin at 9 AM and conclude by 10
AM. Contact Becky Juliano for more information.
[email protected], 518-788-8768)
Sunday Discipleship Hour:
Table Talk Discussions
Shipwrecked is coming to First Pres and we will be
creating decorations to set the stage for kids.
We want to welcome them in a big way and we need
your help!
Starting in May we will begin to put some decorations
together to transform the church into an island paradise.
No artistic skill is needed, but if you have some that
would be a great bonus!
Please contact Becky Juliano if you are willing to give
some time (an hour or two a week or a Saturday
morning) to making some decorations.
Duties may include painting, cutting foam board, tracing,
building a waterfall or a tiki hut. Men with building
and problem solving skills are needed. Also contact
Becky (via text or email with pictures) if you have
anything that we might be able to use as part of our
decorations, (think boats, nautical decor, inflatable palm
trees, hammocks, etc. )
SERVE: Introduction
VBS Main Stage Decorating
All-Church Lunch
On April 15th there will be an all-church soup lunch
immediately following worship. Plan on coming
downstairs for some good soup and conversations around
the table! Mark it on your calendar now! All donations
received will benefit Crossroads youth ministries.
Stewardship by Ben McCracken
Managing God’s money……….
Jesus summed up the spiritual connection between money
and God this way: Where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also (Luke 12:34). Financial stewardship is
treasure management that helps us to escape the trap of
selfishness by keeping ourselves focused on God.
Financial update…
The resulting year-to-date surplus reflects the
significance of each persons giving.
Your prayers and support in meeting the financial needs
of our church do make a difference in allowing our
church to fulfill its mission.
Ben McCracken – Stewardship
Actual Budget
2/28/18 2018
Staff $35,029 $245,441
Property 6,820 47,000
Christian Ed 1,556 18,900
Evangelism 2,000
Fellowship 86 2,600
W & S 657 2,500
Office 3,974 12,500
Deacons 2,000
total ex-
pense $48,122 $332,941
Giving 50,598 272,200
Investments 8,923 59,875
Other 273 1,210
total income $59,794 $333,285
Surplus $11,672 $344
Dr. Gordon Jones Scholarship
Any Member of the First Presbyterian Church who will
be attending college or tech school for the 2018-2019
school year may apply for a $500 scholarship from the Dr.
Gordon Jones Scholarship fund. This is not a needs-based
scholarship.
Please send an application form, a recent grade report
and a letter to Mrs. D. A. Neubauer, Mrs. Barbara Gernert
or Mrs. Diana Dukate in care of First Presbyterian Church,
P. O. Box 446 stating that you are a member of the church,
the school you will be attending and field of study you
will be pursuing. These must be received by June 15,
2018.
Application forms are available in the church office.
R. Wallace and Margaret Maxwell
Need Based Scholarship Fund
CRITERIA
1. Applicant must reside in Greene County
2. Applicant must have applied and been accepted to:
2 or 4 year college
(bachelor of science, bachelor of arts,
or associates degree)
certificate of completion, trade or technical school
Applications available in the church office April 30,
2018. Deadline: Must be received in the First Pres-
byterian Office no later than 2:00p.m. May 15,
2018 ,300 N. Richhill Street Waynesburg, PA 15370
Actual
Missions 2018
Christian Missions - Crow $400
Interserve - Nicky Stock 400
Interserve - Paul & Pat Stock 400
Caribbean Youth Network 400
Equip International 400
Christian Bible Ministeries CBM 500
Habitat for Humanity - Greene 500
Pine Springs Camp 500
CBM - Judy Virgili 400
CCO 400
Waynesburg Christian Outreach 400
Crisis Pregnancy Center 400
Jubilee - WU 1,229
Bethany Inter'l - Maddy Cerra 200
Houses for Haiti 7,059
Dominican Republic Items 356
Resurrection Power - Washington Presby
Samaritan's Purse
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Washington City Mission
JAARS
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Corner Cupboard Food Bank
total expense $13,944
Transfer to Dominican Republic Mission $250
Pledged Giving 5,469
CCO - designated 404
Balance 12-31-2017 8,325
total $14,198
Balance $4
Music & Children’s Ministry by Tomē Custer
For the past few weeks at Pathways, we've been learning how sin can make a real mess of things. Sins like pride
and lies and impatience can leave us feeling, well, dirty, just like the faces in these pictures (even though chocolate
syrup is way more fun to clean up than sin is).
But the good news is that no mess is too big for Jesus.
Peter lied and was prideful, and he was impatient and Christ still made it right. If you see our kids at church or
dinner, ask them how stories like that one, along with the lives of Samson and Moses, have taught them that no
matter how messy sin makes us…. Jesus can wash us clean again!
Chatham Knight—
What a mess! :) Nora Christner–
What a mess!:)
Have you ever felt like
life is just a big mess?
Or like no matter how hard
you try to do the right thing,
you end up making
a mess of yourself?
Save the Date June 25-29
Join the fun!. Your help is needed!
Please reach out to Tomē Custer
Meet Braydon and his sister Cadence.....
And Brayden and his sister Cadence.
(Yes, Braydon and Brayden are spelled differently.)
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April 2018
MS
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In March at Crossroads we had the pleasure of getting to
listen to four special guests who sat down for an
interview about life, faith, and a plethora of related
topics.
Our first guest was First Pres’ very own, Sara Christner,
who graciously shared her wise and encouraging words
about faith, love, work, social media, teen culture,
creativity, sports, and more.
One of my takeaways from that conversation was hearing
how even though Sara grew up in a Christian household,
one of the things that profoundly impacted her faith as a
teenager was the time she spent at youth camp.
This immediately brought 3 things to my attention: our
spring retreat, our high school mission trip to the
Dominican Republic, and our middle school trip to Pine
Springs for Mission EX.
There is no question that Jesus calls us to “go”, and
when we “go” incredible things happen. Outside of our
comfort zones, outside of routine, and outside of
familiarity, our senses and our spirit awaken to the
possibility of a new horizon.
There, in the wilderness of an unrecognized
landscape, God shows up to meet us. It happened
this way for Abraham, Moses, David, and so many
others of us.
These are more than just activities. Truly, these are
unique opportunities for students to encounter God and
the potential could be life-changing.
I urge you to consider registering your child for one of
these trips:
April 27-29
Summit (Middle and High school retreat)
June 24-28 Mission Ex (Middle school)
July 5-12 Dominican Republic Mission Trip (High School)
Crossroads Youth Ministry by Juan Gallo
Thank you
for support-
ing the 37
Waynesburg
University
students who
attended the
Jubilee Con-
Juan S. Gallo
Director of Youth Ministry
Night of a Million Stars
Come & See Students Shine!
When:
Sunday April 22, 5:30 -7:30pm
Cost:
$7 suggested donation
$40 for a table of 8
3 course meal & entertainment
We encourage you to participate and donate through a
live auction of gifts, talents, and services, offered by
our youth and staff.
We also invite you to join in the fun and dress-up as
formal as you’d like!
.
happy birthday to you!
01 Gary L. Gernert
Laila King
Marissa Krall
Kat Lynerd
Fred F. Waine
02 Marion M. Berryhill
Tamara Christine Cerra
Carolyn J. McGrath
William Winters
04 Thomas Camps
Vincent James Camps
Myles Cramer
05 Barbara H. Andrews
Chuck R. Baily Jr
06 Daisy Mae Robinson
08 Gianna Nicole Stephenson
09 Margo Lee Allison
Jeffrey Klinefelter
10 Cathie Giachetti
Glenn R. Toothman
11 Butch Brunell
Russell R. Williams
13 Ashley Ann Baily
Meghan Phillips
14 Avery McConville
Justin Ben Stephenson
16 Brynn Lee Bortz
17 Jackson Fox
18 Madison Sarah Blair
Bill Deweese
19 Josh D. Sumpter
20 Sophina Maute
21 Harold P. Barrett
Tara Bortz
Hannah Katherine Kalsey
22 Aiden John McGrath
23 Zachary David Pollock
Katy R. Shultz
24 Grant Michael St. John
William C. Wentzel
25 Kathleen Brown
Joshua T McCracken
Dianne Toothman
26 Leo Jacob Christner
Janette Kline
Katie Kline
28 Robert Fox
Elle June Owen
Nursery Helpers 1 Ben Maxwell
8 Ethan Maxwell
15 Rachel Calvario
22 Grace Kalsey
29 Brianna Pettit
Ushers Dick Bortz
Matt Blair
Craig Cerra
Charlie Huffman
Ben T. McCracken
Children in Worship 1 Ethan & Joel
8 Leo & Anatasia
15 Eliza & Travis
22 Brianna & Braydon
29Travis & Josh
Connie Teagarden
Ruth Mitchell
Marie Simmons
Mary Louise & John Rice
Bill Thomas
April Helpers
Pray for the following service personnel:
Pray for these friends and loved ones
April Birthdays
Casey Parsons
Jason Cowart
Edward Wagner
Jake Wilson
Brandon Brown
Daniel Calvario
Andrew Cowell
David Calcek,
Drew McConville
Ryan McGrath
Peter Coote
Ecumenical Greene County Prison Ministry-By Connie Hart 1st UM Church.
Shirley Baily and Pastor Bill are on the team.
A few weeks ago, a lovely lady showed up at First United Methodist church
looking for the choir. She wanted to deliver a note to the choir on behalf of
she and her husband, an inmate at SCI Greene.
She delivered the message verbally to the Class where most choir members
attend. They were thankful to receive these words of gratitude!
Her husband, is one of the nearly 100 faces in the audience when we attend
Sunday evening worship services when Pastor Bill Sukolsky preaches or
when the United Methodist choir presents their seasonal cantata.
Here are their words:
“My husband, who is incarcerated at SCI Greene, has asked me to please
deliver a message to you. “My absolute favorite times of the year are when
you come to minister in the Word of God and song!!”
Pastor Bill, you handle the text so well, and apply the Bible so practically to
life. You are always such a blessing!!
Choir members, you sing not only beautifully, but the music chosen is music
that speaks to the heart. I always receive such a blessing and go back to my
cell so enriched and encouraged in my spirit!! Christmas becomes Christ-
mas when you come and sing the beautiful cantata.
Thank you each one for your labor of love and unselfish giving! I always
pray that God will bless your serving Him by giving of yourselves and time
to us.
Hebrews 6:10 ‘For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of
love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have minis-
tered….and do minister’.
We were exceedingly blessed by their words of gratitude and give God all
the glory for allowing us to be part of His awesome work at SCI Greene.
Please pray that God will minister to even more hearts of these precious
brothers in Christ. (Hebrews 13:3).
Connie Hart, Shirley Baily, Rex Gardner, Teresa Roberts,
& Pastor Bill Sukolsky
First Presbyterian Church
169 West College St.,
P.O. Box 446
Waynesburg, PA 15370
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Bill Sukolsky
Pastor
412-913-9851
Becky Juliano
Director of Discipleship & Ministry
518-788-8768
Sara Christner, Harrison Scott
Pianists
Nelson Fox
Organist
Ben R. McCracken
Treasurer
Shelley McCracken
Financial Clerk
Juan Gallo
Director of Student Ministries
954-696-5178
Tome Custer
Director of Music & Children’s Ministries
724-998-3382
Maribeth Coote
Administrative Assistant
724-627-6006
Patrecia Baily
Financial Secretary
Vicki Cline
Custodian
The mission of ECO is to
BUILD flourishing CHURCHES
that make disciples of
JESUS CHRIST