The Messenger - February 19, 2009

Pastor's Ponderings
by Rev. Neal Neuenchwander

February 19, 2009

"Five Reasons I believe in the First Presbyterian Church"

Reason #3: An Excellent Staff

One of the great blessings of serving this congregation is the opportunity that I have to work with such a talented staff. Allan Petker brings such energy and beauty to our worship through his leadership of the choir. Sandy DeLossa picks good praise music, and Rob Klopfenstien brings such life to those songs. Johannes Muller Stosch creates exciting organ music every single week, and Lesley Sirianni coordinates all of these efforts. On special weeks, we get to hear Nan Robert's lovely handbells play, and it's always fun to see the new children that Emily Anderson draws to our choirs. Finally, I've never seen children's musicals in any other church that match the quality Lesley Sirianni has established here.

Due to the nature of their work in worship, each of these staff members plays a very public role, but those "behind the scenes" are no less vital. In fact, their work is crucial to Christ's mission in our church. Shirley Snow has run our office smoothly for over 30 years, and she continues to compile our monthly "Fisherman" for free. Martha Bodlovich has cut checks, entered payments, and kept our records straight for for 19 years. As a commissioned lay pastor in the last 15 years, Rupert Loyd has touched the lives of countless families who have struggled with chronic illness or with grief. Finally, Dolores Teuber has loved the infants in our nursery for decades!

In addition to these long-tenured servants, several newer staff members do great work at our church. Randi Bender and Todd Walter make such a difference to our teens! They teach classes, chaperone trips, plan fund-raisers and organize service projects. And they bless teens throughout our community at "hang out" in the church basement almost every Friday night. Sharon McLachlan staffs our toddler room with gentleness and love. And Sue Headley has done an awesome job organizing our ministry to children in the church. She teaches devotionals, cleans out closets, refurbishes classrooms, coordinates camps, and organizes VBS. What's more? She's a "energizer bunny" for new projects and ideas.

Four of the staff members I've listed donate their time for free: Emily Anderson, Nan Roberts, Dolores Tueber, and Rupert Loyd. And all of them are assisted by a great host of volunteers, just some of whom I mentioned last week. If you get a chance this week, why don't you send a note of encouragement to just one member of our staff who has touched your life in some way? You may never know how very important this sort of encouragement might be.

Calendar
Week of February 12, 2009

• Friday

  8:30 am
  Tennis breakfast at Carrows

• Sunday

  8:30 - 9:30 am
  Adult Sunday School
• 9:30 am
  Worship (Pastor Neal/Paul Purdy); Children and Youth Sunday School (Sue Headley)

• Monday

  6:30 pm
  Youth Praise Band (Tim Gray)
• 7:00 pm
  Women's Bible Study (Kim Neuenschwander)

• Wednesday

  7:00 am
  Breakfast Club Bible Study at Carrow's (Bob Erbacker)
• 1:00 pm
  Women's Bible Study (Kim Neuenschwander)
• 2:30 pm
  Beachcomber Beta Group
• 4:30 pm
  Cherub Choir (Emily Anderson)
• 4:30 pm
  Gospel Gang (Lesley Sirianni)
• 5:30 pm
  Kings Chorus (Lesley Sirianni)
• 6:30 pm
  SonLight Singers (Lesley Sirianni)
• 6:30 pm
  Jr. High Fellowship (Todd Bender)
• 7:00 pm
  Prayer Group
• 7:00 pm
  Chapel Bells (Nan Roberts)

• Thursday

  11:30 am
  Forever Young Luncheon
• 7:30 pm
  Chancel Choir

Looking Ahead

• February 27
  Chancel Choir Retreat

Editor's Corner

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