THE IXTHUS 
August 2009		  

Your Pastor’s Epistle

Dear Church Family,
             You got me!  I think Maria and I were the only ones who showed up last Friday night bearing an anniversary card for the Bodges!  It was such a grand, overwhelming night.  I was touched that there were so many of you present.  The food was fabulous, the atmosphere was electric, the roast proceeded in great humor, my favorite band the Grateful Bread provided awesome music and the displays of love were fantastic.  Someone, who no doubt is given to superlatives, remarked that it was the best event ever held at CPC. Barry Adeeb told his mother that it was the best organized event he had ever catered!  Special thanks to those brilliant planners.Other than Maria surprising me for my 40th  birthday, I cannot remember being so surprised.  Someone did come by about last Thursday and said, “so I hear you are going to Europe next summer.”  “Not me,” I replied.  “That must be someone else.”  Whoosh, it went just over my head.  Maria and I have already powwowed with Captain Floyd and we have made our reservations for next May.  If anyone wants to sail with us, we will sail on the Viking Helvitia from Basel, Switzerland on May 1.  And, of course, once you get over there, you may as well see a few other things, so we will extend about two weeks with a Eurail pass.  Thank you so much for your generosity.
All of this reminds me just how greatly God has blessed us with a remarkable congregation.  
There is so much that is exceptional and distinctive about this family of faith that fills my heart with gratitude, pride, and delight.  In the worst of all worlds, one would look back on the last quarter century with regret and remorse.  In the best of all worlds, one can look back and thank God for the satisfying journey and the many blessings along the way.  I live in the best of all worlds.

With deep gratitude in the Lord’s Service,
Gabe

DAISY’S DIARY

What dose it mean “to be the church?” We are people on the way, and the futures to which we are called are both individual and cooperate.

In the novel by Olive Ann Burns called Cold Sassy Tree, a husband and wife named Rucker & Love are at home on Sunday and they are talking. Rucker says to Love, “You miss going to the Methodist Church, don’t you?” She hesitated, “Sometimes, well every Sunday. It’s the way I was brought up.” Rucker: “You miss that collection plate goin around and Miss Effie Belle plowin up and down the pi-anna, and all them dull announcements, not to mention them dull sermons?” She replied: “I like being part of a congregation; I miss the people, Rucker.” Rucker: “All them dang hypocrites?” She replied: “My Mother always said never expect church members to be perfect, Christians are still people.” Rucker: “Well, she spoke the truth there.” “Most of us Christians need to go to church Rucker. By ourselves, we feel uneasy about God, and we’re too bashful to pray except when we’re sick or scared. We read our Bibles, but we never think things out.. Most of us Christians need to go to church Rucker.”

There is still time to show the world what the Christian Community is at its best. Our neighbors need to hear from us again. We are to be disciples. We are the people with hope in God’s future and can invite others to share in that hope with us.

Blessings,
Daisy
LUCINDA'S LIGHT & LOVE
What a wonderful year!  Planning and preparing both the Chancel choir and two hand bell ensembles has been a delight. Encouraging the youth and children of the church to share their talents is a marvelous treat.  There is great talent in this church and I would love to see everyone who is willing and available to take part.  A healthy music program is a vital to every church.  Not only does it enhance the worship experience, but it opens and prepares the heart to receive God’s word through scripture and message.

All that said, I know there are many folks in the congregation who have sung in choirs or ensembles in the past.  You may have even played in a band years ago in school, or maybe you just love to sing.  You are the folks I need to speak with.
You see, I have a dream for CPC.  My dream is to have 40 voices in the Chancel choir to either participate in the 8:30 or 11:00 am services. Singing in both is optional.  I also have a dream to have some of the younger families come and participate, too.

Your choir is a delightful group of “kids”…yes, I said “kids”, including myself because we all simply have fun.  We enjoy each other’s company and are a family who love to Praise God together.  It is enriching because the songs are scripturally based which helps us to grow in the Lord.

The Chancel Choir rehearsals are beginning, Wednesday, August 12th @ 7:00 pm in the Music room (Gabe’s former office). We are having a kickoff party @ Ron & Debi VanderBaan’s home on August 5th @ 7:00 pm.   The bell choirs will begin their rehearsals on August 11 for the Ringer Bearers @ 6:00 pm and the Glory Ringers begin on August 12th @ 5:45 pm.Come and join the fun with us.  Remember:  I have a dream for 40 voices.  Will you be one who will help my dream come true?

August Events

GET CONNECTED!
Sunday August 30, 9:45 am
Fellowship Hall
CPC invites ALL members of the congregation to come to a brand new event, Get Connected!
Breakfast items will be available from 9:30-9:45.  Presentations, skits, music, door prize drawings,
and much more will be featured in this MUST ATTEND event!  The goal is to help every member of
the congregation find their place in ministry and discipleship at CPC and Get Connected!
Contemporary worship will move to 11:00 in the sanctuary this day only so everyone
will be available to attend this fun gathering for all.

All Committee Breakfast
Saturday August 8, 8:30 AM
Fellowship Hall
If you are a member of one of the committees of session, Christian Education,
Fellowship, Finance, Mission, Personnel, Property, or Worship & Music, please plan
to attend this Thank You breakfast in your honor.

Christian Education Workday
Saturday, August 15, 8:30 am
All ages are welcome to join the CE committee as we get our classrooms ready for Fall.
We will have a job chart from which you may choose your duties, from sharpening
pencils to decorating classrooms.  Breakfast foods will be available.

Elementary Workshop Leaders Dinner
Thursday August 27, 6:30 PM
Education Building Room 18
There will be fun new changes to our workshop formats. Join us for planning, signing up,
and an overview, or just to find out more about teaching. Teachers prepare one lesson,
choose the 3 weeks to teach, & teach it to three different age groups.
Simple, easy, low commitment.  We need you!

Enrichment 2009
Montgomery Presbyterian Center
Saturday August 29, 9 am—3 pm
Meet at the church, van/bus leaves at 7:30
Class Brochures in the Narthex, Fellowship Hall, or Office
Cost to register for classes and lunch $20, All Welcome!
Fill out and send in your registration today, tell Nancy you plan to attend.
Classes include:
Creating Sacred Space with Art
Using Labyrinths
Developing Community Ministries (taught by Peyton  and  Gabe)
Moving into the Future by Embracing the Past—young adults
Reimagining Confirmation
What Did John Calvin Really Say?
Coming Home: Supporting our Troops and Families
Reformed Understanding of Eschatology and the End Times
Angelology for Presbyterians: The Role of Angels
Spiritual Formation in the Family
Missional Churches
Waters of Life: Living Waters for the World
Music in Church Worship: hymns, spirituals, and contemporary
Life’s Interruptions as a Means of Grace
Worshipful Work: For Committee Chairs
Worship 101: For Worship committee members
Missions at Home and Abroad:
Israel-Palestine: Biblical Texts, Modern Problems:
Good for Presbyterians Women’s Bible Leaders
Play in Christ’s Name

Youth Parent Dinner and Meeting
Sunday August 30, 5:00 PM
ALL Youth Parents, grade 6-12
Valuable information, Notary present

Teacher Commissioning
Sunday August 30
8:30 or 11:00 Worship

New Fall Discipleship Classes begin
Sunday September 13th

AGELESS WONDERS
Senior Adult Ministry for 55 and over
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 20th  6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall
Pot Luck Supper
Bring a salad or dessert to share. Beverage provided.  
August 27th  9:00 AM, Bus will leave the church .
Trip to World Golf Village and the Bob Hope Display, “Shanks for the Memory”