Christian Education & Mission Committee

 

Eva Clarke, Linda Foster, Diana Pearson (ex-officio, Jan-Apr), Janet Patin, Dennis Toney,

Rev Bill Stevens (ex-officio, Jan-May), Rev Buck Tohill (ex-officio, Sept-Dec)

 

The United Presbyterian Church continued its commitment to growth in our relationship with God and lifetime learning in 2014.   We maintained classes for adults and youth that were well attended, and supported several special projects.

 

The Adult Sunday School (9:30 am) discussed the theology of love, led by Pastor Stevens, then took a summer break after he retired in May.  We then spent twelve weeks discussing Living Fully, Dying Well.   This was followed by a presentation from Kathleen Miller and Dr. Janet Patin about end-of-life planning, including wills, estates, advance directives, and physician orders for life-sustaining

treatment, which was attended by about 30 church and community members.  We discussed the Tabernacle as it travelled through the wilderness with the Israelites during the Exodus, and spent Advent on a Journey to Christmas, which continued into the new year.

 

The children continued to participate in communion on the first Sundays and the dedicated children’s time during worship.  They stay through the whole service on communion Sundays.  Children’s

bulletin subscriptions for ages 7+ were again purchased with endowment funds, and kept them

occupied in a Lectionary- and age-appropriate way.  They continued participating more in the service, carrying the microphone for announcements, greeting, and helping collect the offering.  Dovic Patin continued to help Dennis Toney manage the sound system on Sundays, and was able to

provide this service for Dorothy Winston’s funeral.  Children’s church continued on the second through fifth Sundays, using a previously donated curriculum.  We have been blessed by the

intermittent attendance of the Swifts’ grandchildren Ashley and Brittney, in addition to Elsa and Elias Frakes, and Dovic and Claire Patin, and the Toney’s granddaughter during the holidays.  The

children enjoy crafts, making bird treats, tissue paper stained glass, and pomanders, amongst the favorites.  They are learning about the church

calendar and memorizing Psalms.

 

In other mission, we participate in Presbytery’s five special annual offerings:  One Great Hour of Sharing ($159.01 at Easter for disaster assistance), Pentecost ($60 in May for kids at risk, 40%

local/ 60% GA), Theological Education ($57 in September), Peacemaking ($51 in October for Peace-making & Global Witness 25% local/75% GA), and the Christmas Joy offering (for unmet needs of

pastors and missionaries)  Our church supports the Presbytery’s general mission fund with $3000, Lower Umpqua Ministerial Association with $400, and Christmas In July with $500 annually. Please

remember, special offerings can be given through the church at any time of year, and the office will send it in to Presbytery.

 

We collected cans of food for Project Blessing on Souper Bowl Sunday the first week of February.  We hosted lunch for the 70 or so volunteers for Christmas in July (CIJ), and 3 members (Diane

Essig, Tom & Eva Clarke) were active on the CIJ planning committee.  Also received were

designated gifts for CIJ, disaster relief in Japan, mission in Bolivia, & Project Blessing.  Eva

arranged for the Christmas re-gifting exchange, which was fun for the entire church family.

 

We are again blessed to be able to provide so many opportunities to live out and grow in our faith.  May God bless our continued efforts to learn and grow and reach out, demonstrating the incredible love He has shown to us.  We look forward to new leadership with Buck Tohill and the members and friends of our congregation.

 

Respectfully Submitted:  Janet E. Patin, E&M chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Janet E. Patin, E&M Chair

^“Beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,

whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable,

if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things.”

 

Philippians 4:8

United Presbyterian Church 2014 Annual Report

 

Christmas In July

We completed about 24 projects, with a couple waiting for professional advice.  Some are more

involved than originally thought-like doing work on your own home.  We had a very success full work day, extending into almost all week.  Vic Schaaf’s youth group did a tremendous amount of work, like painting the building at Henderson park.

 

We had a good year of fund-raising, with the spaghetti feed, C.Giles Hunt Grant and personal

donations.  We are able to maintain an emergency fund for off-season needs.  There are always problems that pop up during the year, as all homeowners know.

 

We had many new volunteers this year and added Ron Kreskey and Duane Wisehart to the board of directors.  Jonathan Wright stepped up to do introductions, instructions and welcomes at the “Big Day” breakfast.  A huge thank you to all who were involved, many behind the scenes, like Nada Rose, cooking for the kids for a week.

 

As a purely personal note, I am so very proud to be involved with this organization.  It keeps my

donations within the community and helps many who really need it.  It also brings community

members together for a common goal-to help our neighbors.  I have met many folks I didn’t know who are willing to lend a hand, in the kitchen, doing paperwork or on the day.  Thank you one and all!!

 

Diane Essig

“A church that is indifferent to poverty, or evades responsibility in economic affairs,

or is open to one social class only…

makes a mockery of reconciliation and offers no acceptable worship to God...”

 

PC (U.S.A.) Book of Confessions 9.46