June 2007

FINLEY FOCUS

June 2007

Founded 1891 Picture by Karen Brown

From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The coming of June means the end of school, the start of summer, vacations, and summer activities. The summer brings a needed break from the day in and day out routines and habits that have been such a big part of our lives for the last nine months. It is during these times of transitions and change that I’m always reminded of the ways in which God gives us new opportunities to re-commit ourselves as Christ’s loving servants and faithful witnesses. Now is one of these times. With all that goes on during the school year, it is easy to think of church as one more thing on your to-do-list. Now is an opportunity for you and your family to make a change in your routine – a real and lasting change that will greatly impact the spiritual lives of you and your children.

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 people is more than just about believing, it is about the testimony and proclamation about the God in whom we believe in, that the God we know in Jesus Christ is at work in the world, that our God has chosen us for salvation, that our God has created a people for God’s self to join together in relationship, that our God has bound us together by the Holy Spirit to be the body of Christ, called the Church, that is for God and for the world as Christ’s faithful disciples.

This is why spirituality, discipleship, and stewardship must be seen as one, because these three are the ways in which we faithfully embody God’s work of the Spirit in us and through us. Our spirituality is reflected in our discipleship and our giving. Our discipleship is given shape by our spirituality and offering. Our stewardship of time, talent, and money gives testimony to our spirituality and discipleship to Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God that God has chosen the church to be the instruments of God’s work in the world. Thanks be to God that God has given to the church the means of grace through the Sacraments to continue to do God’s ministry and mission. Thanks be to God that God has called the church into being, and has given the church our own flesh and blood to be the very body of Christ in the world.

Jesus says, “You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” Jesus has indeed chosen us and appointed us to go and bear much fruit. Let us re-commit ourselves to our calling as Christ’s chosen people. Let us respond in this time of change and transition with all thanksgiving, joy, and faith to the grace of God in Jesus Christ through the giving of all that we have and all that we are as Christ’s church.

May the Spirit of Christ be with you,

Dan

Lindsay McCormick will be getting married at our church on July 7 at 4pm...All of our congregation is invited to attend. There will be a reception at 5:30 at the Best Western Conference Center near Cracker Barrel in Waynesboro. She is marrying Stephen Campbell.

Please RSVP to the McCormick's at 337-2242, or 294-1813. Choices for entrees are chicken and steamship round.

Summer Sunday School

TEACHERS NEEDED!!

To start with, we would like to thank all of the dedicated Christian leaders that have been teaching the Sunday school classes each week from September through May.

Summer Sunday school will start the first Sunday in June and run through the first Sunday in September. The class will be an intergenerational class for all of the youth of the church. We will meet in the basement at 9:45 each Sunday.

In order to give the teachers of the youth classes a break we are asking volunteers to teach the class during the summer. There is a sign-up sheet on the board under the Windows Three, and on the bulletin board in the narthex. Everyone who is interested can sign up to teach one or more weeks. High school youth are invited to join the intergenerational class or if they prefer they can sign up to teach the class.

If you have never taught a youth Sunday school class you have no idea what you are missing! This will give you the opportunity to get to know the youth of the church; you can make a difference in the life of a child! When you became a member of Finley, you became part of the church family. All of us are responsible for the spiritual upbringing of the youth in our Church. Please do your part and volunteer to teach for a week or more this summer; you might make memories that you or a child will never forget!

If you are not volunteering because you think you do not know how to teach or do not know what to teach, do not worry we have that covered! We will have an easy to follow curriculum so that even someone that has never taught Sunday school can follow it without any problems. If you have any questions please contact Sue Brubaker or Don Markle, we will be happy to answer any questions that you have.

May the Lord bless you and keep you safe from all harm.

Sue Brubaker and Don Markle

Christian Education

Learn about God’s Word

On any given Sunday morning at Finley, you will find 7 to 9 able teachers dedicated to doing the work God has given us all to do; spread the gospel. These teachers are here with lessons prepared and the only complaint I ever hear from them is that sometimes no one shows up to listen, learn and share their efforts.

Proverbs 22:6 says “bring up your children in the ways of the Lord and when they are older they will not stray from them.” I believe our Sunday school program is helping to do just that, nurturing our children as each one of us promised to do when we stood up in response to that question at their baptisms. Most of us learned the stories and lessons of the Bible as small children either in the home or in a Sunday school setting and have kept these important stories and lessons with us as we have grown. These important lessons go a long way in helping us make right decisions as we grow and are faced with difficult situations.

There are many activities today that compete for our time, but I believe we all make time for the things we think are important to our families or us. Sometimes the opportunity to sleep in a little longer or relax and have another cup of coffee on Sunday morning can be very appealing, but I ask you to remember that there are those who took time to prepare a lesson for you and your children. They are giving of their time because they feel this is important.

Presently, on an average Sunday morning at Finley these 7 – 9 teachers I mentioned earlier would have an opportunity to teach 11 children and 15 adults. On this same Sunday morning, our Sunday school roster shows 75 children, and our membership roll shows approximately 200 total members. Yet, only 25-30 people make it to Sunday school. I hope this is not an example of the importance we put on taking the time to get up on Sunday morning and bring our children as well as ourselves to Sunday school.

It is surely very clear that this letter was written with the hopes and expectations of getting more children involved in our Sunday school programs. Of course, they cannot drive themselves, so when you bring them, you now have the chance to join one of our two adult classes. In doing so you become an example to your children. I hope you will all decide to become more involved with our Sunday school programs

Thanks,

David Brubaker

Sunday School Superintendent

Musical Note from Elise

Sunday, June 24: Hold the Date

There are plans in the works for a picnic on the lawn at Finley on Sunday, June 24 immediately following the morning service. The Faithful Men will sing during the early afternoon of that day, so mark your calendar now to be at Finley on that Sunday. Tell your family and friends and let's all work diligently to have a good size crowd at the Sunday morning worship, the picnic and The Faithful Men concert that will follow.

The Chancel Choir will continue to practice on Wednesday nights at 7:30 until June 6. June 6 will be the last practice before we take a summer break. Watch your bulletin and the Focus for the date of our first practice of Autumn.

And by the way, did I tell you that Harold and I are awaiting the arrival of our first grandbaby? Our daughter Aaron and her husband Brian are expecting a baby the first part of September, so we share our joy and covet your prayers for the "soon to be three" Doyle family.

As you travel this summer, attend church and send postcards back to us at Finley. We will post them on our bulletin boards and through them, will know that you are spreading God's light wherever you travel!

Our monthly Men’s Fellowship Breakfast will be served on Sunday, June 3, at 8:30 am. All men are encouraged to join us for food, fellowship and service. If you have not attended yet, or not in a while, consider making time to attend.

A big Thanks to everyone who clipped coupons throughout the year. All of your clipping was greatly appreciated and contributed heavily to the total earnings of $557 used to purchase library books for the VSDB Library!!! That makes this year our best earnings year ever!!

Although the school year is nearly over, you can continue to help during the summer. Keep clipping those BoxTops for Education coupons and I'll keep collecting them. I’ve already gathered over 300 coupons since my last submission in March, so keep up the good work J

Many thanks and Happy summer clipping!

Margie Robison

Librarian - VSDB

Grilled Ginger Pork

Marinade:

½ cup sherry vinegar 2 ½ tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon peeled grated ginger 2 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary salt & pepper to taste

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

12 oz pork tenderloin

Mix all marinade ingredients. Place pork in marinade & refrigerate overnight. Heat grill to med high. Grill pork for 10 min, covered, turn and grill for another 10 min. Allow to rest for 5 min. before slicing and serving.

Handbell Choir – Third Octave Purchase

Our Handbell choir is expanding our musical horizons! The Session has approved the purchase of a third octave of Schulmerich handbells to add to the two octaves of handbells given to Finley by the Shipp family in memory of James H. Shipp, Jr. in 1983. The cost of the third octave and necessary accessories totals $3,450.

We would like to ask for your help in meeting our goal of raising $3,450 by July 1^st.So far we have received $1,685! This leaves $1,765 to go. For those interested there is the option to “Buy-A-Bell,” where one contributes the cost of a particular bell ($166-$366) and a plaque will be installed on the case. Contact Ann Willey for details. Contributions of any amount may be given with the weekly offering or mailed to the church with “Handbell Fund” designated on the checks. If you have any questions please contact Chris Davis (540.448.1260, davisct@gmail.com) or Ann Willey (337.3275). Thank you for your support!

Youth News

Middle School Youth Group: Meetings will be at the Nelson’s house Sunday nights at 7:00 pm.

High School Youth Group: Fellowship & Devotion at the Coble’s 7:00-9:00.

	Nursery Schedule	Visitation Schedule
June 3	David & Lisa Seaman; Paul Willey	Darlene Bowles
June 10	Jeff & Julia Crist; Mary Hadley	Janet Robinette & Doris Willey
June 17	Dawn & Jay Christian; Denise Brady	Marjorie Shreckhise
June 24	Greg & Amy Allen; Carolyn Palmer	Esther Winton & Beverley Ellis

Jane Schumin (CH)
Paul Willey	Yvonne Simmons
Darlene Bowles	Tom Elliott
Randy Fink	Sue Brubaker

Birthdays and Anniversaries in

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Jonathan Smith’s Birthday

John Mimms’ Birthday

Margie Robison’s Birthday

Brianna Early’s Birthday

Gloyd & Jacquelyn May’s Anniversary

Jacquelyn May’s Birthday

Steve & Sheri Nelson’s Birthday

Jeff Crist’s & Joe Crist’s Birthday

Hollie Matthews’ & Ben Meijer’s Birthday

Ben & Shirley Meijer’s Anniversary

Zachary Allen’s Birthday

GW & Amanda Argenbright’s Anniversary

Mary Beth Early’s Birthday

Paul & Donna Swink’s Anniversary

2007

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Men’s Breakfast 8:30am

4¢-a-Meal

Chancel Choir practice 7:30

Session

7 pm

No choir practice

Flag Day

Father’s Day

No choir practice

Focus article deadline

Summer Solstice -

1^st day of Summer!

Picnic &

Faithful Men concert

No choir practice