Pastor’s Page
Psalm 46
1God is our refuge and strength,
a very presenthelp in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
As we say goodbye to summer and welcome the fall and the new school year, we recognize the shift in activities. From the slowness of summer to the demands of the fall, the change frustrates us as our pace quickens and we wonder how we’ll ever get everything done. Whether it is school activities, church meetings or other responsibilities, take time to be intentional in your busyness.
10“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
11The Lord of hosts is with us;
Find a quiet moment each day to acknowledge your relationship with God. That first cup of coffee with a prayer of thanksgiving for the new day. Sitting down to lunch with your Bible for a devotion as a middle of the day pick me up. Before you head to bed, sit quietly and meditate on the places God has been seen that day. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, but unless we acknowledge God’s presence with us in the midst of our busy changing world, we cannot know the peace that God offers.
Being still can be a challenge, but being still brings balance. Be intentional. “Be still and know that I am God.”
Blessings,
Pastor Dawn
September
Hands & Feet(Formerly known asMissional Connections)
Looking into September, the Hands and Feet Committee will be sponsoring the Annual Soup Supper on Friday night, September 29th. I’ve had several folks in our congregation offer to help that night. I greatly appreciate that and to you we are thankful. If you would like to help serve, make soup, and/or help with the cleanup, please see Kevin Whisman or Laurie Jones. There will be a signup sheet available very soon. Stay tuned for more details.
We will be sending some mission funds to help out the Presbyterian Church USA by purchasing some chickens, some native seeds to plant, a piglet, school supplies, a water filter for a family in need in Flint, and a share of a Garden Well. Look for more information on that soon.
We have been very busy over the summer months with FISH by providing food to those folks in need of some immediate assistance. We also provided for a family whose father works at Creative Foam. One of his children is currently battling cancer and the family needed some help. We provided food and needed diapers to YoungLives of Detroit Metro (regional center). Much thanks to Lisa Harden for ordering all those supplies for YoungLives. We really hope to continue to partner with YoungLives in the months to come.
Blessing of the Backpacks
Sunday, September 10 at the 10:30 am service. Students, Teachers and School Administratorsbring your backpack or other school bag to churchfor a special blessing during the Children’s Sermon.
Christian Education
As summer is winding down, the plans for fall are unfolding, for many of us this takes place at home, work and church as well. As if September 10th (the Sunday following Labor Day), Sunday School classes will resume the 10:00 start time, taking place during our 2nd service. Students will briefly begin worship in the Sanctuary with their families (like we’ve always done) and dismissed to Sunday School following Pastor Dawn’s Children’s Sermon and Sharing of the Peace.
We are ever so Fortunate and ever so Blessed to have all of our Sunday School Teachers retuning againthis Fall! Sharing their time and their talents is a gift for which we cannot thank them enough.
Sunday School Coordinator: Sara Ward
Pre-K - 2nd grade 3rd – 5th grade
Cindy Brandt Stephanie Montague
Sara Ward Karen and Bruce Walker
Gayle Wagner Jake Kirk
Susan Malinowski Kim Lau
We look forward to new learning experiences as well as revisiting previous Sunday School School activities. We will continue with a strong leaning focus supported by music, crafts, video clips, games and interactive hands-on learning.
Come Join the Fun!
~Come share your talents, we are always looking for additional adult and youth helpers. The commitment can be very flexible; as little as 1 time a month or even 1 time a year. The interaction and relationship with a Child is a gift from God!
~Bruce Walker and Donna Ingamells and the Christian Ed. Team
VBS Highlights
VBS at Linden Presbyterian Church was a huge success. Our theme this year was Under the Sea.
The children learned about Jesus wanting us to be “Fishers of Men”, about Jonah and the Whale, and about God’s Promises/Noah’s Ark.
Every morning of VBS began with a short message, puppet shows and Music. (Oh the Music!!!...youtube: Watching Over You/Outback Rock Music Video, to refresh your child’s memory of this-they really got into it.) Each day the kids had; story time, a special craft, a snack and a service project that they worked on. Each day concluded with outdoor games; go fish, clown and balloons, relay races, bubbles, parachute games and much more.
We did walk to The Garage for ice cream one day, and the last day we walked to Caretel to share the bookmarks and potted plants that we made as a service project with the residents there. I wish everyone could have seen the joy on the faces of these folks as the children sang to them, and passed out bookmarks. It was amazing. We also made goodie bags for the children at Carriage Town Ministries as part of our service project.
All of this would not have been possible without all of our volunteers who helped. (especially our youth volunteers who really stepped up to the plate.) We asked, and they came. Thank you, thank you everyone!
Vacation Bible School Committee
Sara Ward, Donna Ingamells, Bruce and Karen Walker
Finance & Stewardship
Building Repairs
Shortly we will be replacing the shingles on the sanctuary and repairing, shingling, and painting the steeple before any further water damage occurs. The sanctuary shingle replacement will cost $9,500 and the steeple repairs will cost an additional $3,300. We have established and fund raiser project to help pay for these unbudgeted costs this year. We have received $3,000 in donations to date. If you can help, please identify your donations to the roof/steeple repair. We will keep you advised including a poster chart in Whitney Hall.
Submitted by elder, Denny Manner
From the Youth Director
Jake Kirk
September 17th - FIRST YOUTH GROUP! Middle school 5:30-6:30pm, high school 6:45-7:45pm, Applebee's after.
September 24th - Youth Group, same times.
Summer Camp Trips
Thank you so much for your support this summer! You helped raise over $6,000 that all went to helping kids go to camp. That money helped send over 25 kids directly go to camp. Without your support kids would have missed the best week of their life, and the Gospel. Thank you!
Fall Weekend
Fall weekend at Timberwolf for all 9-12th graders will be December 8-10. Details to follow.
Winter Weekend
Winter weekend at Timberwolf for all 6-8th graders will be February 2-4. Details to follow.
Fall Fundraisers
-Every last worship Sunday of the month we collect your bottles and cans, you can drop them off by the youth room down stairs.
- We are working on a bake sale this fall which we will need bakers! Details and date will be coming soon.
- Fall clean up. This October if you have leaves, yards, sticks, or need help getting your house or yard ready for winter kids are willing like spring clean up to come over and help get your yard ready for winter!
September Calendar
September 4thOffice Closed in observance of Labor Day
September 9thAlzheimer’s Awareness Group 10:00am @Panera Bread
September 10thBlessing of the Backpacks – 10:30 service
September 13thCommittee Meetings
September 14thBlood Drive 12:00pm – 5:45pm
September 14thDeacons Meeting
September 27thSession Meeting
Worship on Sunday morning is our respite. Sunday morning is one of the places we can come to be in community and slow down and listen together. As we enter worship, allow the music to touch your soul, the word read and preached to challenge you in your everyday life. Listen. Can you hear God speaking to you? Notice that you are not alone. Greet one another with love.