Fishermen's News

Dear Members and Friends,

Many of you are familiar with the architectural terms used for different sections of the sanctuary. The chancel is where the choir, pastor, lector and organist sit, the entryway is the narthex, up in the back is the balcony. Do you remember the term for the area in which the congregation sits, the central part of the church between the narthex and the chancel? That's called the nave. The nave takes its name from the Latin word navis, meaning "ship;" this is the same word from which we derive the English word "navy." Why the nautical term? Well, one reason is that the vaulted roof in many sanctuaries, especially in the cathedrals, looks rather like an inverted keel. The main reason, though, is that the Church itself has been traditionally, liturgically, and theologically thought of as a type of Noah's Ark. The gathered people of God are on board the "ark" of salvation, being rescued from the storms without.

I don't know if you remember hearing that comparison before. In the words of author Frederick Buechner, "It is a resemblance worth thinking about. In both the Ark and the church, just about everything imaginable is aboard ... they are all piled in together, the predators and the prey, the wild and the tame, the sleek and the not-so-sleek, the catty and the piggish and the peacock-proud. There are hawks and there are doves. Some are immovable bears, some changeable as chameleons. Some are wise as owls, some silly as geese; some meek as lambs and others fire-breathing dragons. There are times when they all cackle and grunt and roar and sing as one; there are times you could hear a pin drop. The ride is certainly an adventure, but it is not always enjoyable. The passengers sometimes bite each other, there is a pecking order, there is jostling at the trough. At times there is growling and grousing, clucking and whining. But even at its worst, there is at least one thing that makes it bearable inside, and that is the storm raging outside -- the wild winds and terrible waves and in all the watery waste no help in sight. In both "arks" there is shelter from the blast outside, in both arks there is a sense of somehow heading in the right direction in spite of everything, and, most importantly, in both arks there is the confidence and hope of finding safe harbor at last."

An addition I would add to Mr. Buechner's insight is this: no matter how diverse the passengers on board may be, they have this in common ... as passengers on the same ship, all recognize one Captain ... the same Captain who called and shepherded them on board. The Captain charts the course of the ship and brings the passengers to safe harbor. On the original ark, of course, the captain is Noah; for the church, our captain is our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

There is a little-known legend that after the animals disembarked from the ark, they decided among themselves to figure out to better meet the challenges of colonizing a new world. They decided to organize a School. The animal administration adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming and flying for their new School. To encourage unity, and to ensure a well-rounded education for all, they decreed that all animals must pass all the subjects.

The duck was excellent in swimming; in fact, he was far better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his webbed feet to become badly worn, so that he was only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable, so nobody worried about that -- except the duck.

The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because of so much make-up work in swimming. The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He developed charley horses from overexertion, and so only got a C in climbing and a D in running.

The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing classes he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his own way to get there.

Now, rabbits weren't meant to be good swimmers, nor ducks Olympic runners. Each Ark passenger was uniquely gifted and talented, and each would function best in the new world if their unique individual gifts and talents were encouraged to flourish. There will always be rabbits who wish that others could keep up with their frenetic pace. There will always be soaring eagles who will get impatient with those who cannot share their lofty visions. There will always be industrious, practical beavers who get impatient and exasperated with the visionary eagles.

Our Lord has created each "passenger" of both "arks" uniquely, with unique abilities and talents, and He calls each of us to exercise and develop those unique talents for His greater purposes. Diversity is part and parcel of His creation, and part of God's plan of redemption is to develop us into the individuals we were uniquely created to be. It is our Lord's desire, though, as well as His heartfelt prayer (see John 17), that we may be one, that there be unity in our diversity. The Animal School made the mistake of trying to form unity at the cost of diversity, which in the long run only served to create a lot of frustration, unnecessary pain, and at-best mediocre performances. Unfortunately, that tendency still remains. There is a human tendency to want to make everyone conform to our individual ideal(s), which has led to no small amount of friction in the Church throughout the centuries. However, the Lord Who unifies is so much bigger and greater than those things which make us distinct, the things which may make it hard for us to understand and appreciate each other. From time to time our individual differences do make it hard for us to get along, and it is precisely at those times that we need to stop, look above our at-times petty differences, and focus on Jesus Christ, the Captain at the helm of our ship.

This is what the Protestant church worldwide seeks to do in the universal observance of the Lord's Supper; World Communion Sunday October 1 ... to look above our diverse and, yes, glorious differences for a time and to focus on the Body and Blood of the one Lord we worship, to celebrate the communion of saints. The Host of the Table is the One who unites us, Who shepherded us all on board His ship, and Whose heart's desire is that we may be one ... in Spirit and in Truth.

Stephen L. Clark, Pastor

From Our Missionaries

(Received from Dr. Kurtz after informing him of the Deacons' decision; unfortunately, the initial e-mails weren't saved.)

Dear Stephen,

This is excellent news: God bless you and the Board of Deacons! Please pass on to them my thanks. I was hesitant to even ask - you do so much for Jasmin already! But, this issue is so needed - thank you! God will provide all the rest. Please let us know by e-mail when the transfer takes place so that we can watch for it (banks here do not publish statements - we have to ask specifically if funds have been transferred in).

Again, many, many thanks!

Grace and peace, Steven

Dear Stephen,

This is great news! Sorry it was difficult, but thank you for your persistence and finally, for our success. It is a wonder that Greenwood works so hard after already having done so much for us here! Please pass on our sincere and joyous gratitude to the deacons. May the Lord bless you for the kindness you have shown to people here.

Grace and peace,

Steven

(July 2000)

Dear Friends,

In the Chogoria area, we have two rainy seasons, which peak in April and November respectively. This year's April rainfall was less than one-fourth the normal amount. This menacing pattern is seen, even to a worse degree, in all parts of Kenya. In a word, drought is upon us and famine likely will follow.

Water is absent at the taps in many town outlets. Moreover, the water in the large hydroelectric reservoirs is so low that electricity must be rationed, not only in provincial towns, but in the capital (Nairobi) as well.

Although lack of food is the major manifestation of a drought, the entire farming/herding economy of the Kenyan people is in peril. The reduced livelihood of rural people extends to nearby small merchants and tradesmen, then to wholesale suppliers, then to people who cannot pay school expenses and finally to people who fall sick and cannot afford to come promptly for medical care. (The subsidized daily charge for a bed and three meals in our hospital is only about $4, but many cannot even pay that.) Poor people usually are the sickest, and they are the hardest hit by dips in the economy. Chogoria, like many other medical institutions, is facing lower numbers of patients and thus lower hospital income. Consequently we have not been able to pay nurses their full salaries the past four months. When will it end?

To prepare for the worst - severe drought and major famine - we have filled every possible cistern for water storage. We have set up a nutrition surveillance system to assess the status of preschool children (the most sensitive indicator group) in several particularly hard-hit areas. This information is to be relayed to the government and to international food donors such as the World Food Program. And we pray for relief.

The disaster has not reached its zenith; the worst is yet to come. Yet maybe, just maybe, He will hear our prayers and send rain.

Please pray for rain in Kenya.

Richard and Judith Brown

Remember to fill out your child's Registration Card for this year's Sunday School records. See your child's teacher or the Superintendent if you haven't filled out a card for this year.

Nancy Merritt, our Choir Director, will be introducing a Music Component to the Sunday School classes, which will need approximately 20 minutes at the beginning of class on the following Sundays: 9/24, 10/22, and 11/19 for rehearsal. Plans are also under development for a Sunday School Cantata and Play.

The Youth Program participants will have a chance to learn some leadership skills this year, as the PYF-ers will have an opportunity to get involved in working with the younger (King's Kids) group. After the experience of traveling and working with other groups this past summer, PYF will be able to share these challenges and accomplishments with King's Kids.

The Adult Christian Education Classes also began on September 10^th, with the presentation of the Series, Dust to Glory, by Dr. R. C. Sproul. Pastor Clark is leading this series. In addition to the regular Sunday classes, special "electives" will be offered. Dr. Lloyd Dean and Nancy Merritt will also teach some classes. So keep watching for these special classes coming later in the year.

Confirmation Classes are being scheduled. Pastor Clark estimates that there will be a dozen or more participants. A letter and schedule of the first class will soon be mailed to the potential confirmands.

Weekday evening Bible Study Classes will be offered on Tuesdays at the home of Greg and Nancy Blasdell. Please contact either Greg or Nancy for the details.

Yours in the Lord, Glenn Fairbairn, Christian Ed Chair

The first mission project for the year will be a drive to raise funds for World Relief. This project replaced our drive for UNICEF last year. There will be information about World Relief available on the Sunday School Mission Bulletin Board and pamphlets will be sent home through the Sunday School. We will be having two bake sales, and a box will be sent home to use for a pledge or a door-to-door drive on Halloween -- your choice.

Christian Education Sunday will be on October 15^th. Congratulations

to the following third grade students who will each receive a Bible:

Also, our teachers will be dedicated on that day. We have a great group of teachers with us again this year and are fortunate to have all of last year's teachers back:

Please put a big circle around DECEMBER 17^th. Nancy Merritt and a wonderful group of parents, friends, and teachers are working hard already to plan a musical with all the children of the Sunday School participating. We are very excited about this offering. Watch for more details to come.

In closing, I am reminded of a song we used to sing in my Sunday School way back when,

"Everybody ought to come to Sunday School, the men and the women and the boys and the girls,

Hope to see you there! -- Lynn Kramer, Superintendent

Believe it or not, it's already that time of year again. The Mission Committee has started to organize this year's Angel Tree ministry. You may remember that we started with a commitment to sponsor 35 children last year and because of your generosity, we increased the number to 55 children. Due to the outstanding response from last year, the committee has determined that Greenwood Church will be able to sponsor 60 children this year.

For anyone who is new to Greenwood Church this year and not familiar with the Angel Tree ministry: Angel Tree is a ministry of Prison Fellowship which strives to provide Christmas gifts for the children of prisoners, using information provided by the parents. Volunteers contact the children's at-home parents or guardians to determine what the children want for Christmas. The volunteers then let the church members and friends know the gift wishes of the children by placing two paper angels for each child as decorations on a Christmas tree. (One angel would indicate a toy, and the second angel would indicate an article of clothing - it is up to you whether you want to buy only one gift for the child or both, the toy and article of clothing.

Our tree will be set up on the stage in Fellowship Hall and be available for members and friends to select an angel(s). You may either purchase the child's gift request or provide a donation so that volunteers can purchase the gift(s). In addition, a basket will be available each Sunday under the tree to accept cash donations which will be used to help with the purchase of a gift. The price of each gift should be approximately $20. If you wish to make a donation and have a volunteer purchase the gift, simply make your check out to Greenwood Community Church and indicate "Angel Tree" in the memo section of the check.

Committee member Nancy Soave and I will be co-leading the Angel Tree program this year. Please contact either of us if you would be able to volunteer your time in helping make a difference in the lives of these children. Our Presbyterian Youth Fellowship group (PYF) has again agreed to volunteer their time and talents along with adult leadership in planning and coordinating this program. They will serve as gift buyers, wrappers, etc. PYF will also plan and give a Christmas party in December to distribute the gifts to the children, as well as tell the biblical story of Christmas to children who may never have heard the true meaning of Christmas. The children will also receive an age-appropriate booklet that gives the Gospel message. Volunteers will need to deliver the remaining gifts to the homes of those children who could not attend the party.

The Christmas tree will be in Fellowship Hall in early November to allow everyone ample time to participate in the Angel Tree ministry. Please prayerfully consider making this part of your charitable giving during the upcoming Christmas Season.

Tom Miller, for the Mission Committee

A MESSAGE FROM STEWARDSHIP

What do you think of when you see that word? Many of us, probably most of us, think immediately of money. We recall this time in our congregation's life when we are asked to make a financial commitment for the coming year. At some level, however, we must be aware that stewardship is more than money.

Stewardship is how we live out our calling as followers of Christ. Stewardship is what we do after we say we believe.

Stewardship is how we use our God-given gifts; it is how we use our talents, our time and our treasure. Stewardship is the way we use all our resources to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world.

This is the time of the year when we pause and reflect upon what Christ and the Greenwood Church community means to us, and what our response will be financially and otherwise.

Our 2001 Stewardship campaign begins with a hope that our congregation will demonstrate a faithfulness that will sustain Greenwood Community Church, Presbyterian and its 2001 budget. Even a weekly 2 dollar increase per pledge (less than 2 cups of coffee or a Big Mac) can generate an approximate $26,000 annual increase that can help sustain the church's ministry and mission.

Our theme, "Faithfulness Sustains Greenwood Church," challenges us to "Step-up" a level in our giving. The Stewardship Committee has prepared a chart showing the current levels of pledging and the corresponding Step-up levels. A copy of this chart will be mailed to you, and a poster size version will be on display in Fellowship Hall. Please note that approx. 11% (27 pledges) of the total number of pledges provided over 48% of the pledged income. The 2000 budget, as was indicated in last year's campaign, would have required a weekly offering of $19.20 per pledge if equally shared throughout the congregation.

On Sundays, October 29 and November 5, 2000, the Session asks each member to prayerfully consider his or her 2001 pledge of financial support for the work of our Lord Jesus Christ here at Greenwood Church. We ask that you pick up your personal offering card in Fellowship Hall, indicate your pledge and offer it during the worship service.

If you cannot attend either of these church services, please contact the church office for a mailed pledge card or a member of our Stewardship team will arrange for a personal follow-up visit to your home.

Yours in Christ, Your Stewardship Committee

A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS BAZAAR WISH LIST:

We need some special items that are new or unused or that are antique or collectible.

1. Small decorative figurines, cups, plates, etc.
2. Stationery items (paper, pads, pens, pencils, etc.)
3. School items (crayons, scissors, construction paper, etc.)
4. Word Search books
5. Current novels
6. Baby items
7. Small gardening tools

We need items for the Silent Auction.

Contact Lynda Gudmundson if you have something to donate.

WARWICK SHELTER

Warwick Shelter needs volunteers (Mon-Fri) from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to assist in preparing, serving and cleaning up after lunch. Volunteers can work as many days a week or month as suits their schedule. Please call the Shelter at 739-8987 if you are interested.

Our first all member gathering will be our PotLuck Supper on October 3^rd. Angie D'Albora and myself will present the program as we revisit the National P.W. Gathering in Louisville, Kentucky in July. Our second all member gathering will be our Christmas Dinner and program on December 5^th. Stu Mason will cook our dinner and our speaker will be Jan Carlsberg, a well-known speaker, who will present a special Christmas Program.

Our "Jubilee Woman" this month is my co-moderator, Jean Martin. Jean was the D.C.E. here at Greenwood for many years. She is the mother of two boys and grandmother of a boy and a girl. Jean is on the board of the Warwick Public Library and on a Presbytery Committee. She has been a Circle Leader, a Deacon and Elder and has chaired both the Bazaar and May Breakfast. We celebrate Jean!

Bazaar time is getting close. We hope your hands are busy creating! Please check our "Wish List" to see if you have any materials that some of our creators need.

Thanks! Peggy Phillips for the Coordinating Team

CIRCLE I will meet in the church parlor at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11^th. Experienced Child Care is provided for the little ones. Their project is the "Silent Auction."

CIRCLE II will meet at church on Tuesday, October 10^th at 9:30 a.m. They are not telling about their special project. This circle co-hosts the Pot Luck on October 3^rd.

CIRCLE III will also meet at church this month at 7:00 p.m. on October 10^th for bazaar projects.

CIRCLE IV meets in the church parlor at 7:30 p.m. on October 10^th. This circle seems to be the visitor's favorite!

CIRCLE V will meet on Wednesday, October 4^th to host the MS Key Club and also to plan for Bazaar 2000! They get together around 10:30 a.m. with a bag lunch.

CIRCLE VI meets in the church parlor at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10^th, for dessert and coffee and then on to bazaar planning.

CIRCLE VII meets at the home of Lynda Baker for a special project on Tuesday, October 10^th at 7:00 p.m. This circle is also a co-hostess for the Pot Luck.

We only have two meetings to work on the Bazaar, i.e. October and November, and so we plan to do projects together for these two months. We do hope you will come and visit. Even in October, we are a fun-loving group and hardly ever spooky. If you have questions, I'll try to find answers - please call . . . . . .

Circle Coordinator, Angie D'Albora