Our Prayers are with:
Ledorna- Friend of Cathi & John Truesdales
Lija- Renee Cole's colleage
Nancy Blackman
Marion Hancock
Helen Johnson
Those who are deployed,
Those who are seeking jobs
Those who are experiencing grief
Our Church
August Birthdays:
Barbara Hull, 8/22
Lucille Mock, Maryanna Savery, 8/25
Alice Gower, 8/28
Cindy Urbanski, 8/29
September Birthdays:
Louise Gregg, 9/2
Mackenzie Cole, 9/6
Mary Ann Watson, Paige Young,
Virginia Yinger, 9/7
Margaret Shull, 9/8
Keegan Alan Young, 9/9
Timothy McLaughlin, 9/15
Scott Warren,
9/16
Misty (Rich) Robinson, 9/18
Richard Miller, 9/19
Bill Foley, 9/20
Melody (Scott) Valet, 9/26
Eric Palmer, 9/28
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News and Events...
Message from Don
Dear members and friends:
I am happy and excited to be here and “getting underway.” I’ve certainly appreciated the many expressions of kindness and welcome that you have extended to me as well as to my wife, Joy. We are at the beginning of a really busy time in the life of any congregation. I look forward to the process of getting acquainted with you and urge you to feel free to stop by the office or contact me if in any way I can be of help to you. Although I reside in Overland Park, as you are aware, I am willing to be contacted at home or on my cell phone at such times as I am away from Warrensburg. That contact information is in this issue of the newsletter. In addition to Sundays, my hours at the church will typically be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:00 AM through 8:00 PM with some exceptions when I have meetings in the city. But I will make every effort to see that those exceptions are publicized in advance. It was exciting to me to have at least the brief opportunity to meet with most of the committees as well as the regular meeting of session last week.
As I stated to the members of the session and personnel committee at my interview, while interim ministry has certain tasks and processes that are expected and normative, it is not a “one-size-fits-all” situation. So we will be exploring together those things we need to be working on together, setting priorities and moving forward.
In Christ’s Love,
Don Wilson, Interim Pastor
The Warrensburg Christian Social Concerns committee met on Monday, July 19, at the Culton Street Outreach Center; from there we took a tour of the Survival House, under the direction of Kathy Kay, Director of the Center. DID YOU KNOW? There is a community-wide drive going on to raise funds for a much-needed larger house with adequate bathrooms, bedrooms, and storerooms for items donated. During June they sheltered 12 women and 13 children; they provided 1370 meals and snacks. Their Court Advocate had 20 new non-residential clients. These are women who are temporarily living with family members or friends, and require guidance through the court system, as well as monies to get re-established. Legal Aid works closely with Survival staff, and provides many services to the group. The volunteer Coordinator logged 209 direct volunteer service hours, with 12 new volunteers. The Senior Center delivers 105 meals per day, and serves many on site. The Center receives Federal and State funding of from 41-42% of the total budget. Medicaid reimburses for home-delivered meals to qualified persons. Local fundraising fills the gap to operate the Senior Center. President Phil Woodard announced he will contact personnel at the new Police building to set up a date for our group to tour the facility. The Food Center served an average of 1122 persons a month during the months of January through April. An Average of 154 individuals called at the last minute for goods and if approved by Catholic Charities, came to get food. Marilyn Mitchell, Mission representative.
Celebrate Christ, Our Peace
The Peacemaking Offering will be received on World Communion Sunday, October 3. The word "peace" is widely used in the Bible and has a wealth of meaning. In our study of the Bible, we begin to understand the meaning of peace and peacemaking. The stories of the BIble show us what happens to individuals and communities as we become peacemakers. The stories shape our calling to be peacemakers.
The Peacemaking Offering supports a variety of peacemaking efforts at all levels of the Presbyterian Church: 25 percent is retained by the local congregations, 25 percent is used by Presbyteries and Synods, and 50 percent is allocated to General Assembly ministries. Pray for peace, give generously, make a difference for peace in the world.
Annual Fish Fry
September 26th at 5:00 – 7:00 pm Annual Fish Fry to be held in the ABC bldg – we ask that you bring side dish/dessert to share.
Brown Bag Bible Study
Brown Bag Group has changed its meeting time to Tuesdays at noon located in Sterling Parlor.
Circle 3
Circle 3 meets Wed., Sept. 15 at 7:00 pm in Sterling Parlor. Please remember to bring your supplies for the School Kits. Cheryl has the lesson. Who would like to bring refreshments? Anyone who is not a member of a Circle is invited to join us. Contact Cindy Urbanski, 429-2015, if you have questions.
Construction Zone/Downstairs Restrooms Out of Service
Work is underway on the refurbishment of the downstairs restrooms, and during the next few weeks one or both of them may be out of service. The upstairs restrooms will be working and available for use. We look forward to the completion of this project in time for our centennial observances on October 10. It will give our sixty-year-old facilities a complete overhaul and facelift. We apologize for the inconvenience but are confident that we will all be pleased with the results.
Many of you already have contributed generously to this project, but we remain a few thousand dollars short of the total amount needed. We would welcome any additional donations that will move us closer to our final goal. You may place them in the offering plate or send them to the church office. Please include a notation designating them for the restroom project.
Centennial Celebration
On Sunday, October 10, please join us for the Centennial Celebration of the First Presbyterian Church building exactly one hundred years after the date of its dedication on October 10, 1910. The schedule for the day is exciting!
Les Anders
It is a privilege to return home after my ankle-scraping spill on South Main February 24. The medics of WMMC ordered me off my heavily-bandaged right foot until the damage was repaired. In desperate need of "hospice" care, I reported to my daughter Geraldine Hunt (baptized here a half-century ago), who lives in Waverly where her husband Bob serves on the faculty of the state school. A well-trained RN, Gerry took great care of me, and I am thankful to her and Bob as I am for those when sent get-well cards urged by the church office. Thank you all!
Honoring those who served
A few months ago our church honored those who served in World War II, and we got to know these men a little better because of this. We are now asking for the names of all of those who served in our Armed Forces during the Korean conflict and Viet Nam. If you served in a branch of the U.S. Forces during that time. Perhaps there was some confusion regarding those men and women who were in the military sometime during the Korean or Viet Nam era. You didn't have to serve overseas to qualify for his list. If you were in the military, you had a part in this history. If you did or if you know of someone who did, please contact Bob Gaw or Bob Blackman.
Women's Circle Meetings
All Women of the church are invited to attend.
We have a new fax machine
Thank you to First Christian Church for offering this new fax machine. And, thanks to Henry Croes for setting it up in the church office.
We need volunteers
We need volunteers to help out at the church office Mon. thru Fri. to mainly answer the phone. These are the times as follows: Mornings (9:30 am - 12 pm) and afternoons (2:30 - 5 pm). If you are available for any of these times, please contact the church office at 747-5731. Thank you for your continued support.
Adult Sunday School Class
The Old Kitchen Class continues to meet each Sunday at 9:30 downstairs in the church library. We read and discuss lessons from The Present Word Bible study series. The atmosphere is casual. You do not have to prepare in advance, and discussions are free flowing. This quarter the theme is Covenant Communities. You are welcome to join us.
This Week at First Presbyterian Church is available each week in your email box. If you are not receiving and would like to be included, send your email address to: fpcwbg@embarqmail.com.
You can make a contribution to Camps for Kids and write Heartland Presbyterian Center in the memo line. Send it to Camps for Kids, 1080 Washington, Kansas City, MO 64105. You can also donate through the website: www.campsforkids.org. Just be sure to designate Heartland as the recipient. The deadline for the matching program is July 31.
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