June 2006 Focus

FINLEY FOCUS

June 2006

Founded 1891 Picture by Karen Brown

From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

With the coming of June also comes the celebration of Pentecost – the time when the church celebrates the eternal presence of God through the Holy Spirit in the life of the faithful. But even though this month marks for us a time of celebration in the life of the church, it also marks for us a time of transition and change. With the coming of June also comes a change in routines and habits. School is out, vacation times start, and we find ourselves shifting down out of high gear ready to take a break from business as usual.

During this time of the year I am always mindful of the tension between the celebration of Pentecost and what it means for us, and the desire to slow down and get out of my routines and habits that have been the norm for the last nine months. Sometimes this tension is strong and I want to take a chill pill from my daily activities, but as is always the case, every year, this tension turns out to be the great motivator for a new sense of commitment to God and to his Church.

Every year at this time, I turn to the great promise made at Pentecost, the great promise of God’s presence and transforming power in our life together as Christ’s disciples. This great promise is the great reminder for me of the ways in which God continues to give us new opportunities to re-commit ourselves as Christ’s loving servants and faithful witnesses.

As we have been moving toward Pentecost, one of my ordination questions has continued to come to my mind as I go through my duties as your pastor – “Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?” This question continues to call out to me to always make sure that God is at the center of my life, and to always make sure that I routinely and habitually re-commit myself to serving God and God’s people with those gifts I have been given through the Spirit.

In our Ministry Covenant, we committed ourselves to one another to lead of life of spirituality, discipleship, and stewardship. As the covenant says,

“Our spirituality is not of ourselves, but a gift from God, therefore, it is through God that we are transformed, enriched, and empowered to lead Spirit-filled lives as Christ’s disciples. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to follow him in all that we do, and to become loving servants and faithful witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This unique calling means that we are called to be a friend of outcasts and sinners, to be witnesses to the Gospel, and to be servants of others.”

Being spiritual is about commitment, devotion, and discipleship. Being spiritual is about serving God and God’s people and God’s world with a committed energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. This is the power and message of the Pentecost event. It is for us the testimony and proclamation about the God we know in Jesus Christ and his eternal living spirit, that the living Christ is indeed at work in the church and in the world, calling us to embody his work in our mission and ministry, binding us together as brothers and sisters committed to his work, and giving us the spiritual gifts to carry out his work in his name.

As we move toward Pentecost and into June, and as we feel the tension between this time to celebrate and this time to take our chill pills and slow down, I will once again renew my commitment to serve God and God’s people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. And I hope you too will join me in making this renewed commitment as well.

Let us together re-commit ourselves to our calling as Christ’s chosen people. Let us respond in this time of change and transition with a time of celebration in all of our thanksgiving, joy, and devotion to the grace of God in Jesus Christ through the gift of his living Spirit. Together in Christ, we may give our lives to the service of his Church, always bearing fruit for his kingdom, as we join together in our calling to exhibit the kingdom of heaven to the world.

May the Spirit of the Living Christ be with you,

Dan

Calling all Kids….

Let’s Go to a Fiesta!

Vacation Bible School

July 16-21

6:15 – 8:00

preschool – 5^th grade

Volunteers needed.

Anyone interested in helping contact

Denise Brady 337-4361

Christian Education

Do you know everything you want to about the Bible?

Do you know everyone in this church really well?

If you answered “no” to either of these questions then,

Summer Sunday School is for YOU!

Summer Sunday school starts June 4^th… Come have fun and learn more about the people of the Bible. All are welcome. Meet new people or get to know people you already know better. We hope to see you Sun., June 4.

Fun With Scrapbooks

Thank you to those who joined me for scrapbooking last week! We enjoyed cropping, talking and sharing our pictures. Our next (yes next) crop will be on July 2^nd. All are welcome. Whether you are a novice or accomplished “scrapper” please join us. Call Julia Crist at 943-1123 for more information.

Presbyterian Women

Presbyterian Women will not meet again until the first Tues. in Sept. At that time we will hold installation of officers. All women are encouraged to attend, so please mark your calendars. Our meetings consist of meaningful bible studies and worthwhile projects, in the company of the women of the church who are your friends.

Mission and Outreach Ministry

Mike Robison to speak on Mission

On Thursday, June 1 at 7:00pm, Mike Robison will be giving a presentation on his work with Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship and his trip to Central Asia. He will tell us about the work of the church to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, and he will share with us his stories and his pictures. We hope you will come and be a part of this special event as we give thanks to God and show our support for God’s work in the world through one of our own here at Finley.

Gulf Coast Mission Trip Update

Our next Gulf Coast Mission Team meeting will be Wednesday, June 28 at 6:30pm. Our plans are moving along nicely, and we are still looking for people to fill the remaining slots for the trip. If you are interested in being part of the Gulf Coast Mission Team, please let Dan know as soon as possible.

The Mission and Outreach Ministry would like to collect Flood Buckets for the Gulf Coast Mission Team to donate to the church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. These products would help a family start the clean-up process in the event of another flood. All items must fit in the bucket with the lid sealed to make transportation easier.

Flood Buckets consist of the following items –

5-gallon bucket with reseal able lid

Bleach (two quarts)

5 scouring pads

7 sponges

1 scrub brush

10 cleaning towels (reusable)

Liquid laundry detergent, 50 oz. bottle

1 household cleaner, 16 – 32 oz. bottle

Disinfectant dish soap, 20 or 28 oz. bottle

50 clothes pines

Clothes line, 50 or 100 ft.

5 dust mask

2 pair latex gloves

1 pair work gloves

Roll of heavy-duty trash bags, 30-45 gallons (remove roll from box before placing in bucket)

1 insect repellant spray, 6-14 oz. (If aerosol, cans must have protective caps)

We will start collecting these buckets on Pentecost and collect them until September 17. If you can purchase a bucket and all the stuffings we would greatly appreciate it. If the bucket is two expensive for one person, pick another to share the expense with. A bucket would be great for a family or Sunday School project. If you have questions, please see Jacquelyn May (337-0935) or Dan Matthews (337-3561).

From the Frontier

“Central Asia Prayer Network”

“Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:11 NIV

Friends, I received word last night that the Finley Mission and Benevolence Committee has recommended, and it has been approved by the session, to contribute $500 to the support of this ministry. Margie and I want to thank you for your support.

In the last Finley Focus I told the story of “Gazan” the Karakalpak minister in Uzbekistan who asked us to pray for him and the church there. Throughout Central Asia I heard this request “pray for us.” I made the commitment to a number of indigenous people and our missionaries that I would share their requests for intercessory prayer when I visited churches and promote prayer for them when I could. To that end we have begun what we are calling the “Central Asia Prayer Network.” This is a group of people and churches that we will send periodic specific and general prayer requests and news to, from, and regarding Central Asia. Typically this information will go out by email but may be received by regular postal mail if specifically requested. Our first mailing was sent out earlier this week to approximately 60 individuals and churches.

If you would like to be a part of this intercessory prayer movement for the people and the Christian Movement in Central Asia please email or otherwise contact me, and I will insure that you are included in the network: miker@pff.net .

Blessings ~ Mike

Plans for Drainage Improvement

Hello, my name is Brian Boswell, and I am a member of Finley and Boy Scout Troop 11. My Eagle Scout project has been progressing very nicely. If you have not heard, I will be working to correct some drainage problems in the front yard of the church. My plan is to put in new underground piping to drain the water directly down to the street. The first step will be to dig the trenches for the pipes. The existing pipes would be shortened, and the new ones would be attached. The three pipes would come down the yard at an angle, combine into one, and continue down to the bottom of the driveway. After the trenches have been refilled, new grass will be planted over them. This plan has been cleared with both the county and the church session.
The dates of the work will be Friday, June 9 and Saturday June 10. I would like to thank everyone who has given a donation to this project thus far; it has been a huge help in moving this project forward. If you would like more information on this, please see my display in the narthex. Thank you for your continued assistance in making this project a success.

Yard Sale tally: $371.25! Thanks to all who helped, all who donated, and all who shopped!

From The Fellowship Committee

June 4 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast at 8:30 am. All men are encouraged to

join us for food, fellowship and service.

June 25 Coffee downstairs in the Fellowship hall after worship

From the Shenandoah Presbytery

A Note from Tom Hay, General Presbyter

I’ve got to do something about my southern accent. Though, like people who snore, I’ve never heard myself so I don’t really know it is there. But my accent made it awkward to celebrate Easter in Ethiopia last month. I was there with five other people – Dan McCoig, associate pastor at Winchester First and two other Winchester First members and two members from Bethany Church in Staunton – to teach, preach and visit with our partners in Mettu and Jimma, Ethiopia.
Because they celebrate Easter on the Coptic calendar, their Easter came the week after our own and I found myself – still recovering from jet lag – invited to preach at the Katta Church in Mettu. Dan (who was also preaching at a church that day) and I thought we might learn to say “Christ is Risen” in the language of the Oromo people who would be our primary congregation. “Christos Ka-eera” we heard and repeated over and over again until I felt confident I could pull it off.
The church was packed and the overflow shed outside was full as well. We heard the youth choir singing songs they had composed in the magic tones and energetic beat of their worship music. There were prayers and smiles and the reading of scripture. It was exciting to be there and to feel the resurrection spirit overwhelm us.
Then I was introduced and invited, along with my translator, to preach.
“Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” I began, and the translator dutifully repeated it in Oromo while I waited for my big moment.
"Christos Ka-eera" I proclaimed with all the confidence I could muster. "Christos Ka-eera!" There was a pause and nothing happened. The translator turned to me and asked “what did you just say?”
“Christos Ka-eera”, I said, “I’m saying Christ is Risen in Oromo.”
“Oh” he said kindly, if still a bit confused. Then he turned to the congregation.
“Christos Ka-eera” he said and the congregation broke into joyful applause.
I thought I had just said that, but I was to learn over the next week that my southern tongue just doesn’t do Oromo any justice.
But you know what? It didn’t matter. Somehow in the noise and the crowds and the music the resurrection word was proclaimed. I couldn’t find a way to announce Christ’s resurrection, but the Spirit of Christ did make the message clear and abundant. So that everywhere we went in our Ethiopian journey, we saw that resurrection message in the stories: of widows given new life by the church; of young women given new hope by the opportunities the church provides for meaningful work; of children orphaned by AIDS who get the chance to take care of their younger siblings and still go to school; of college students crowding beneath tarps to worship and receive Christ; of high schoolers lifted up by American English teachers; and new pastors struggling with their calls.
Christos Ka-eera, Christ is Risen, and in whatever language (and whatever accent) that word transforms lives.

A Letter from the Moderator to Finley

Dear Dan and all those gathered at Finley Memorial,

My thoughts and prayers are with you this week. I praise God for you and for your long and faithful service to the community of Stuarts Draft and for this presbytery. As you approach your 96^th ‘Birthday’ as a congregation, I pray that you will be especially ‘attentive’ to God’s presence in your midst and to the ‘newness’ to which God is calling you.

May God bless you richly as you continue to witness to God’s love and justice in the world.

Grace and peace to you,

Mary Lou McMillin

Moderator – Shenandoah Presbytery

May 9, 2006

	Nursery Schedule	Visitation Schedule
June 4	Jeff & Julia Crist, Tammy Steele	Marjorie Shreckhise
June 11	Dawn & Jay Christian; Denise Brady	Esther Winton & Beverley Ellis
June 18	Greg & Amy Allen; Carolyn Palmer	John Gibson & Gloyd May
June 25	Darlene Bowles, Jill Matthews & Kathy Boswell	David Wenner & Don Markle

Usher List

Jane Schumin (CH)	Yvonne Simmons
Paul Willey	Tom Elliott
Darlene Bowles	Esther Winton
Randy Fink

Middle School Youth Group: Meetings Sunday evenings, 7-8:15 at the Nelson’s.

High School Youth Group: Special activities TBA

Birthdays and Anniversaries in June 2006

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Jonathan Smith’s Birthday

John Mimm’s Birthday

Margie Robison’s Birthday

Brianna Early’s Birthday

Gloyd & Jacquelyn May’s Anniversary

Jacquelyn May’s Birthday

Steve & Sheri Nelson’s Anniversary

Jeff Crist’s & Joe Crist’s Birthday

Hollie Matthews’ Birthday

Ben Meijer’s Birthday

Ben & Shirley Meijer’s Anniversary

Zakary Allen’s Birthday

GW & Amanda Argenbright’s Anniversary

Mary Beth Early’s Birthday

Paul & Donna Swink’s Anniversary

June 2006

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Mike Robison to speak at 7:00 pm

Men’s Breakfast 8:30am

4¢-a-Meal

Scrapbooking after worship

Pentecost

Session

7 pm

Bible Study 7pm

Chancel Choir 7:30 pm

Eagle Project on the front lawn

Trinity Sunday

Chancel Choir 7:30 pm

Flag Day

General Assembly Convenes

Father’s Day

Chancel Choir 7:30 pm

Finley Focus Articles Due