1. Art and Diseño

The Presbyterian
Messenger
Monthly Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church
Burley, Idaho February 2015
From the Desk of the Pastor
Inside
this
issue
• From the Desk of the Pastor
• Pastor’s Report
• Session Highlights
•
•
•
•
Scripture Lessons
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Committee Chairpersons
Tithes & Expenses
• Calendar
• February Servers
• Boy Scout News
• Presbyterian Women
• Committee Reports
• Contact Info.
• Prayer Requests
- By Rev. Josyph Andrews
Grace to you and Peace in the
name of our Risen Lord. It hardly
seems possible to think that it is
February already. It seems the time
is passing at warp speed. I want to
thank everybody for a great
congregational meeting and for your
support and vote of confidence. It
means a great deal to know that we
have had such a successful first
year. I look forward to seeing what
God has in store for us in the year
to come.
I would like to start something new
this year. I feel relatively sure that
some of you have questions about
what we do and why we do it. What
I propose is that if any of you have
some burning question, write it
down and give it to me or Barbra. I
will use a portion of this monthly
article to address such questions. I
find that if someone has a question
then probably others do as well.
This will help us all move forward in
our knowledge and better be able to
share with others why we do things.
One such question I have had in the
past is why we say that we believe
in the holy catholic church in the
Apostles Creed.
We profess a belief in the holy
catholic church as it applies to the
church universal. Notice that it is a
small case catholic as opposed to
the formal Catholic Church. Prior to
the reformation, there was only one
church – the Catholic Church.
Continued on page 2...
From the Desk of the Pastor - continued
The importance of the profession of the church universal has to do with our willingness to accept
the beliefs of other Christian faiths who also accept Jesus Christ as their savior. As Christians, we
are all part of the Body of Christ and as such stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in
Christ. It says that we are not the church, but part of The Church.
It is sometimes more important to consider why we do something as opposed to what we do. Paul
discusses this in 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 when he talks about eating the meat from the offerings to
various gods or idols. He tells us that since there is only one God and that all other gods do not
exist then it is not necessarily wrong to eat the meat offered to non-existent gods. The caveat he
gives us is that if doing so causes a believer to stumble then we should abstain. In other words, if
what we do causes a problem for someone else then we should not do it – not because it is
necessarily wrong, but because it affects others adversely. Kind of like having a glass of wine in
the presence of a reformed alcoholic, if your doing so causes them to relapse, or makes them
uncomfortable then you should abstain – in their presence.
As Christians, the world holds us to a higher standard than they do themselves. So, knowing that
the world needs a model of how to act, we should always be on our guard to make sure the world
has a positive model to follow. We have Jesus Christ as our model, but the secular world does not
know Jesus so they need people like us to teach them how to live and love. Since we know our
neighbors are watching so closely, let’s act as Jesus taught us to and make them wonder what is
going on here that everybody lives and acts differently. If they ask you what is going on, simply
tell them to come and see for themselves why we smile and always have hope. No sermon or
preaching, just exemplary living. Remember, we do not save anyone; we merely introduce them
to the one who does – Jesus Christ. Live your life as if the world depends on it – because they do.
God bless and keep you all,
Pastor Josyph
Pastors Report January 2015
Miles Driven Last month: 539
Visits: 25 (Home 23, Hospital Visits 1, Nursing Home 1)
Communion Served: (1st Sunday, Shut Ins 1)
Worship Services Conduced: 6
Weddings:
Funerals:
Baptisms:
Bible Study Groups met: 5 (Tuesday Men’s 4, Thursday Afternoon 1)
Committee Meetings Attended: 2
And the second is
like unto it, Thou
shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself.
—Romans 8:30
Love is patient; love is kind;
. . . love never ends.
—1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Session Highlights
Greetings from the Session,
The Session met for its regular
monthly meeting on January 14. All
of the Elders were present.
Moderator Pastor Josyph opened the
meeting with prayer and a scripture
from John 1:43.
There were no Presbytery or
Deacon reports. Pastor Josyph
reported that he enjoyed visiting all
of the members before and after
Christmas, making 23 home visits.
He visited one patient in the hospital
and one in the nursing home. He
served communion on one Sunday
and to two shut-ins. He
participated in the Bible Studies and
committee meetings during the
month. Thank you Josyph and Jean
for the Christmas visit. I enjoyed it
and I am sure that the rest of the
members did too.
Lenten daily study guides have
been ordered and will arrive soon.
Be sure and pick up one. Those of
you that have the magazine,
Presbyterians Today, have one in the
Jan/Feb issue. Use your copy for
your Lenten study with your family.
Lent begins with Shrove Tues on
Feb. 17. The Scouts will be hosting
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.
Mark you calendars and come enjoy
a great meal and support the Scouts.
Lent officially begins on Ash
Wednesday, Feb. 18. Pastor Josyph
will be in the sanctuary from noon
to one P.M. and from 6-7 P.M. for
the dispensation of ashes. It will be
a come and go event. Drop in for a
prayer and a few remarks to start
you on your Lenten journey.
Lenten lunches will begin Wed.
Feb. 25 and end Wednesday March
25. A light lunch will be served
and free will offering taken. The
offering goes toward Camp
Sawtooth scholarships for the
youth. There will be good
fellowship and a short message and
worship service. Volunteers are
needed to cook and serve lunch.
Tithes for the month of
December were $9048 and
expenses were $12,230. Mission
payments were made. All bills
were paid and staff compensated.
The total tithes for 2014 were
$109,015 and total expenditures
were $133,270. We are fast using
up our small savings buffer. We
also had added expense this year
with pastor moving costs and
unexpected sewer problems at the
Manse. The Manse expenses were
partly paid with sausage supper and
memorial funds. This makes up for
part of our higher expenditures.
Building and Grounds is working
on getting the bell tower repaired
and resurfacing of the parking lot
when weather permits.
The Budget for 2015 was
adopted. The total was $124,338,
which was less than the $133,340
for 2014. The Session worked hard
to keep costs as low as possible. A
copy of the budget is available in
the church office or in the Annual
Church Report for 2014.
The new choir robes are in and
will be dedicated on Feb. 8th. The
funds for the robes were given in
honor of Rosie Everheart by her
family. Thank you to Darla Holl
(Rosie’s daughter) for your generous
donation!
Congratulations to the new officers
elected for 2015 and beyond. Elders
are Kathy Poulton, Kristi Pugh,
Larry Mulholland, Carleen Clayville,
and George McGee. Deacons are
Paul Pugh, Gary Hollinger, Linda
Culley, Janell Martin, Sharon
Napier, Chris Scott, and Tom
Clayville.
There has been a change in the
By-laws of the Church. We will be
electing 6 Elders and 6 Deacons to
fill positions on these boards. Due to
shrinking and aging numbers of our
congregations, the Session felt that is
was time to reduce the number on
each board. We feel positive that
new members will join us in the near
future and we can expand our
programs. Until such time we will
work with fewer members on our
governing boards.
The Pastor’s Call was adjusted
slightly from $57,551 to $60,638
about a 3% raise. All staff was
evaluated and salaries were added to
the budget.
The Session is looking forward to a
busy 2015. We appreciate and love
our congregation. All Session
meetings are open to visitors, new
suggestions and ideas. Let us know
what you think.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Poulton, Clerk of Session
Scripture Lessons
In preparation for Pastor Josyph’s ministry of the
Word, we encourage you to read the scripture verses
for each Sunday.
February 1 [4th Sunday after Epiph any]
Deut. 18:15-20; Ps 111;
1 Cor. 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28
February 8 [5th Sunday after Epiph any]
Isa. 40:21-31; Ps. 147:1-11,20c;
1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39
February 15 [Tr ansfigur ation of th e Lor d]
2 Kings 2:1-12; Ps. 50:1-6;
2 Cor. 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
February 22 [1st Sunday in Lent]
Gen. 9:8-17; Ps. 25:1-10;
1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15
February Birthdays &
Anniversaries
01 Dale Martin
01 Lewisa Andrews
03 Kathy Wetzstein
07 Teressa Andrews Burns
07 Bill Stabley
11 Gerald Stoller
12 Ruth Behr
15 Teri Stabley
17 Gary Hollinger
18 Linda Hollinger
18 Jan Behr
22 Christine Scott
22 Elaine Victor
23 Molly Hasselbring
23 Larry & Gwen Mulholland
Committee
Chairpersons
Building & Grounds
Larry Mulholland
Christian Education
Erika Wittman
Fellowship
Terrie Shockey
Finance
Carleen Clayville
Missions, Evangelism & Outreach
George McGee
Personnel & Nominating
Erika Wittman
Worship
Kristi Pugh
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and
of angels, but do not have love, I am a
noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I
have prophetic powers, and understand all
mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have
all faith, so as to remove mountains, but
do not have love, I am nothing. If I give
away all my possessions, and if I hand over
my body so that I may boast, but do not
have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not
envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It
does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in
wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It
bears all things, believes all things, hopes
all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. —1 Corinthians 13:1-8
God Bless Your Special Day!
2014 Year to Date
Tithes and Expenses
December
Tithes $9,088.00
Expenses $12,929.99
YTD Totals:
Tithes $109,015.30
Expenses $133,269.63
February 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
9:30 am
2
3
7:30 am Men’s
4
5
5
7
13
14
Breakfast
Sunday school
10:45 am Worship
Communion Sunday
2:30 pm Bible study
8:30 am—4:00 pm
Classical
Conversations
Worship & Deacon
meeting after church
4:30 pm Choir
Practice
7:00 pm Scouts
8
9:30 am
9
10
7:30 am Men’s
11
12
Valentine’ Day
Breakfast
Sunday school
10:45 am Worship
8:30 am—4:00 pm
Classical
Conversations
Dedication of new
Choir Robes
10:00 am
PW Valentine
Celebration
2:30 pm Bible study
4:30 pm Choir
Practice
7:00 pm Session
7:00 pm Scouts
15
16
7:30 am Men’s
Breakfast
8:30 am—4:00 pm
Classical
Conversations
5:00-7:00 pm
Shrove Tuesday
Pancake Supper
9:30 am
Sunday school
10:45 am Worship
22
1st Sunday in Lent
9:30 am
Sunday school
10:45 am Worship
Game Day after
church
17
19
18
20
21
27
28
Shrove Tuesday
Transfiguration of
the Lord
23
Ash Wednesday
12-1 pm & 6-7 pm
Pastor Josyph
Available for
dispensation of ashes
24
7:30 am Men’s
25
8:30 am—4:00 pm
Classical
Conversations
12 noon
Lenten Luncheon
2:30 pm Bible study
4:30 pm Choir
Practice
26
Breakfast
2:30 pm Bible study
4:30 pm Choir
Practice
7:00 pm Scouts
February Servers ~ Thank You!
Head Usher: Tom Clayville
Head Greeter: Jerry Vegwert
Communion Servers: Kristi Pugh, Erika Wittman, Tom Clayville, Paul Pugh
Lay Readers: 2/1 _____, 2/8 _____, 2/15 _____, 2/22 _____
Children’s Time: 2/1 _____, 2/8 _____, 2/15 _____, 2/22 _____
Coffee Hour: 2/1 Fellowship, 2/8 _____, 2/15 _____, 2/22 _____
Boy Scout News
Hey everybody, scouts is moving along quite well. The boys have been working on numerous merit
badges, such as family life and fire safety. We would also like to let everybody know that if anybody
needs a service project done, they can contact either me or my dad at church.
Thank you and God bless,
Mason Wittman
Scouts meet every Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the church
Any questions, please call the Dan or Mason Wittman at 678-4846
Second Best?
Leah must have laid awake all night thinking of the
moment when her new husband would awaken. She
knew that it was not her face he expected to see, but
Rachel’s. Jacob had been a victim of deception, and
when he realized that a “bait and switch” had occurred,
he quickly made a new deal with Laban to claim the
woman he had been promised (Gen. 29:25-27).
Have you ever felt insignificant or second-best? Leah
felt that way. It’s seen in the names she chose for her
first three sons (vv.31-35). Reuben means “See, a Son”;
Simeon means “Heard”; and Levi means “Attached.”
Their names were all plays on words that indicated the
lack of love she felt from Jacob. With each son’s birth,
she desperately hoped she would move up in Jacob’s
affections and earn his love. But slowly Leah’s attitude
changed, and she named her fourth son Judah, which
means “Praise” (v. 35). Though she felt unloved by her
husband, perhaps she now realized she was greatly
loved by God.
We can never “earn” God’s love, because it’s not
dependent on what we do. In truth, the Bible tells us
that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
(Rom 5:8). In God’s eyes, we are worth the best that
heaven could offer—the gift of His precious Son.
—Cindy Hess Kasper
(Read: Genesis 29:16-30)
Greetings Church Members,
Thank you for your donation and all your support
of Camp Sawtooth.
Summer 2014 was a great summer at Camp
Sawtooth with 5 weeks of youth camps; we had
approx. 177 campers and 41 volunteers, both of
those numbers are up. We had over 47 people
who came and volunteered their time for work
weekend to prepare the camp. After youth camps
were finished we had several weekends booked for
retreats, family camps and reunions.
We know Camp Sawtooth is a special place where
many youth meet Christ for the first time, and
they learn and grow in their faith. Without your
generous support this would not be a possibility
Blessings,
Steve & Senita Watkins
Camp Sawtooth Directors
(Donation for 2014 $1,000.00)
Thank you for your gifts and support for PFF
(Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship)
(Donations for 2014 $500.00
And the second is
like unto it, Thou
shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself.
—Romans 8:30
Presbyterian Women in the News
********** SAVE THE DATE **********
SATURDAY, February 14, 2015
Please join us for our February Brunch!
The time is 10:00 a.m.
It’s our Valentine Celebration, and we’ve
planned a really fun craft project!
Plus food!
Please plan to attend . . .
and bring a friend!
Thank you,
Carleen Clayville, Moderator
MARK YOU CALENDAR ~ LOTS GOING ON!
February:
08 Dedication of new Choir Robes
14 PW Valentine Celebration 10:00 am
15 Transfiguration of the Lord
17 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5-7 pm (hosted by Scouts)
18 Ash Wednesday, Pastor available 12-1 & 6-7pm for dispensation
of ashes
22 1st Sunday in Lent
22 Game Day after church
25 Lenten Luncheon 12 noon (Feb. 25—Mar. 25)
March:
01 2nd Sunday in Lent
08 3rd Sunday in Lent
08 Daylight saving time begins *turn clocks ‘forward’
15 4th Sunday in Lent
20 First Day of Spring!!!
22 5th Sunday in Lent
29 Palm Sunday (Holy Week begins)
Lent
Lent is a solemn observance in the liturgical
year of many Christian denominations,
lasting for a period of approximately six
weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. In the
general Latin-rite and more Western
denominations Lent is taken to run from Ash
Wednesday to Maundy Thursday (Holy
Thursday) morning or to Easter Eve.
The traditional purpose of Lent is the
preparation of the believer through prayer,
penance, repentance, almsgiving, and
self-denial. Its institutional purpose is
heightened in the annual commemoration of
Holy Week, marking the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events
of the Bible when Jesus is crucified on Good
Friday, which then culminates in the
celebration Easter Sunday of the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
During Lent, many of the faithful commit to
fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries
as a form of penitence.
Lent is traditionally described as lasting for
forty days, in commemoration of the forty
days which, according to the Gospels of
Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent fasting
in the desert before the beginning of his
public ministry, where he endured
temptation by the devil.
However, different Christian denominations
calculate the forty days of Lent differently. In
most Western traditions the Sundays are
not counted as part of Lent; thus the period
from Ash Wednesday until Easter consists of
40 days when the Sundays are excluded.
Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down is life for his
friends. —John 15:13
Faith doesn’t get us out of t ouble;
faith gets us through it!
Committee Reports
WORSHIP
Greetings from the Worship Committee!
The Choir is receiving new robes and they will be dedicated on
February 8th. Shrove Tuesday will be on the 17th of February. The
Scouts are sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast once again. Please
come and support our Scouts. Pastor Josyph will be available to
distribute ashes on Wednesday from noon until 1 p.m. and again
from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Lenten Luncheons will begin on February 25th.
Please come and participate. Easter is right around the corner. We
will be having our annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 4th. We will be
looking for donations of plastic eggs and candy. Last year we had
about 200 children show up! All donations are greatly appreciated!
Hope everyone has a great February!
Respectfully Submitted,
Kristi Pugh,
Worship Committee Chair
DEACON REPORT
During our December 2014 meeting, the Deacons
approved $500 to start a new box program for the
needy. Earlier in the year, Pastor Josyph brought up
the idea of putting a few boxes of food together for
community members who come in needing food and
support. Items that would go into these boxes could
include canned foods, rice, pasta, and other needed
items to sustain individuals or families for a short
period of time. We look forward to getting that going.
Thinking of Lent
Advent prepares us for Christ’s birth; Lent
prepares us for the glorious act of Christ’s
resurrection. Churches have special services
during the weeks of Lent, but it’s what each of
us does regarding our spiritual life that makes
lent most meaningful.
Lent is a good time to read, study and
inwardly digest the four gospels. (The word
gospel means “good news.”)
A college student decided to work his way
through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for his
Lenten devotional time. Soon he was fascinated
by the stories, such as the Pharisees and
Sadducees trying to trap Jesus in debate. The
brilliant Jesus handled every occasion with
wisdom, leaving the authorities dumbfounded.
During his devotional time, the student was
filled with laughter and amazement at the
brilliant son of God, who was only in his 30s.
Get to know the good news, and you’ll
understand the young man’s amazement.
FELLOWSHIP
Happy Valentines Day!
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Pugh
Feb. 22nd - Game Day after church
Serving soup
Please bring your favorite snacks
Respectfully submitted,
Terrie Shockey
PERSONNEL & NOMINATING
The Deacon and Elder assignments have been made.
DEACONS
Class of 2015
Tom Clayville
Linda Culley
Janel Martin
Class of 2016
Gary Hollinger
Sharon Napier
Class of 2017
Paul Pugh
Chris Scott
ELDERS
Class of 2015
Erika Wittman
Kathy Poulton
Class of 2016
Kristi Pugh
George McGee
THANK YOU for volunteering!
Respectfully submitted,
Erika Wittman
Class of 2017
Carleen Clayville
Larry Mulholland
“By this everyone will know that
you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:35
Committee Reports
Finance Report
MISSIONS, EVANGELISM & OUTREACH
Our Boy Scout Troop 678 is having a pancake
supper on Shrove Tuesday, the 17th of
February serving from 5 to 7 P.M.
The first 2-Day KAIROS Mini Retreat in 2015
will be Saturday, February 14 and Sunday,
February 15.
We are looking forward to The One Great Hour
of Sharing offering this Easter. Your generosity
reflects your commitment to serving Christ.
Thank you for your continuing cheerful
generosity.
Please contact George McGee at 208-312
3874 if you are interested in working on the
Missions and Outreach committee.
Respectfully submitted,
George McGee
Per Capita
The new Per Capita apportionment for 2015 remains at $43.00
again this year. The 2015 Per Capita will support the operating
budget of the Kendall Presbytery ($30.76), the Synod of the
Pacific ($5.22), and the General Assembly ($7.02. If you can
pay this amount separately from your pledge, it would be
awesome! Total cost to the church for 2015 is $3096. If paid
early it is $3060. 95% of this money comes back to the
Presbytery to support local mission, small churches, new
church development, and lay pastors, other Presbyterian
churches in our own presbytery and across the country. We
are a connectional church and per capita helps make that
happen. Most of the monies we pledge to “presbytery/synod
basic mission support” are returned to the presbytery for
mission, which helps us support Camp Sawtooth, struggling
and new churches in our presbytery, youth events, our fall
retreat and our presbytery administrator and staff. Per Capita
is a vital part of keeping the Kendall Presbytery solvent If you
pay your per capita you are allowing for more of your tithing
going to local church support. The Session is committed to
pay per capita. Please consider paying an extra $43.00 above
your committed pledge for 2015.
In Christ’s Service
Your Finance Team
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
No changes. Various classes continue to
run smoothly.
Respectfully submitted,
Erika Wittman
Many stories about the origin of Valentine’s Day
have come down through the centuries. There’s no
definitive story, but most revolve around the
imprisonment of Valentinus (St. Valentine) for his
disregard of Roman laws.
Many legends are also associated with Valentine’s
Day. For example, because birds seemed to arrive and
mate in some countries in mid-February, human
couples came to be called “love birds.”
In 1667, the first recorded Valentine card was
printed. Today, people will give their sweethearts
countless millions of cards and acres of heart-shaped
boxes filled with candy. But why wait for Valentine’s
Day to share love with others? Remember Jesus’
words in John 13:34 “I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another.”
Pastor: Rev. Josyph A. Andrews
Pastor’s office hours: Tues—Thurs 9am—3pm
(also available after hours by appointment)
First Presbyterian Church (USA)
2100 Burton Avenue
Burley ID 83318
Josyph’s E-mail: [email protected]
Josyph’s cell: 312-9373
Visit us on the web at:
www.burleypres.org
Clerk of Session: Kathy Poulton
Office Administrator: Barbra Moore
Office Hours M—F 9am—1pm
Office phone: 678-5131
Office email: [email protected]
Director of Music: Dr. Paul Pugh
Organist: Mayna McGill
Pianist: Susan McGee
Custodian: Linda Kicklighter
Prayer Chain: Gay Neiwert 678-2760
Service Times:
Sunday School 9:30 am
Worship 10:45 am
Return Service Requested
PRAYER
The Presbyterian Messenger and
The Lord’s Day Bulletin are published by
The First Presbyterian Church of Burley, Idaho.
Please submit your Newsletter items by the
15th of the month and Bulleting items by Wednesday.
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
Healing, Strength and Encouragement for: Leanna (5 year old burned in fire), Donna Moore.
Anna Hindman, Elaine Victor, Judy Meyer, Billie (Hazel Vegwert’s sister-in-law, Lewisa
(Josyph & Jean Andrew’s daughter), Laura Ziulkowski, Vance Matthews. Those who are sick
or injured. Kairos prison ministry. All who have lost jobs. Those facing financial uncertainties,
Wisdom for those making difficult decisions. Pastor Saeed Abidini-imprisoned in Iraq.
We encourage you to join other congregations in praying for Church of the Tetons in Driggs
*This is a new effort put forth by the Church Relations Committee. One church will be the
focus each month.
• Our Church Leaders: Elder s Kathy Poulton, Kr isti Pugh, Lar r y Mulholland, Car leen
Clayville, and George McGee. Deacons Paul Pugh, Gary Hollinger, Linda Culley, Janell
Martin, Sharon Napier, and Tom Clayville
• Pastor Josyph and Jean Andrews as they shepherd our flock
• World unrest
• Wisdom for our National and Local Leaders
• Service Men & Women around the world.
• Our Church family; strength & wisdom and to keep our eyes on Jesus
—James 1:2-4 “consider it all joy…”
February
2015