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Glorify, Build,
REACH
The purpose of St. Peter’s First Community Church is to glorify God, build up the body of Christ, and reach out to those in our community and world to help them become
followers of Christ.
Eva
nge
l
April
2017
Entering New Seasons
Unlike most years, it seems that 2017
has had several false starts toward
spring transitioning into summer. We
experienced very warm weather in
January and February, nothing like the
climate that we are used to here in the
Midwest. Then, as quickly as the warm
temperatures had appeared, they would
disappear in sleet and ice. It always felt
like, “Spring is here!!” “Wait, no it
isn’t.” Even the local flowers and
shrubs were tricked into early budding.
What is the difference between
successful and unsuccessful transitions?
The biggest factor is a widely held,
agreed upon vision consistently being
fleshed out into reality through common
behaviors in word and deed. In his 1999
book, Transitioning: Leading Your
Church Through Change, Dan
Southerland opens with a simple but
compelling anecdote to illustrate this
significant truth:
Travis and Garrett are each
given a block of wood and a
knife. Both boys immediately
begin whittling. Both are
working hard. Both are serious
about their work. Both are
enjoying the task.
When they are finished, the
two boys have quite different
results. Travis has carved a
boat. Garrett has whittled his
wood away into a pile of
shavings.
What was different about the
two boys? Travis had vision -
which meant he could see the
end result. He also understood
transition - how to get from
where he was to where he
wanted to go. He had a
purpose, a target, and a
strategy. Garrett - while
working equally hard - was just
whittling. (Southerland, 13)
St. Peter’s First Community Church is
more like Travis than Garrett. It became
clear during the feedback interviews
that there were two broad outlooks on
what an ideal pastoral transition would
look like and there were three themes
that emerged regarding our desire for
the new minister. Generally speaking,
we measure the success of this
transition in two ways: by how we hang
together in supporting new pastoral
leadership and by identifying a minister
that is a good fit for our congregation’s
needs. Those needs came out as three
general themes: high relational IQ, high
biblical IQ, and a high character
professional. We want a minister that
makes time to be with people while
balancing work and tasks. We want a
minister that challenges us with strong
biblical teaching. Finally, we want a
pastor that walks the talk with high
character and competency for the work
of local church life. As we continue in
this transition together by praying for
the search committee, welcoming the
new minister, and working together in
the coming years we will find ourselves
enjoying the fruitful budding of a new
season of ministry in the long history of
St. Peter’s First Community Church.
If you are unable to volunteer as scheduled, please find a replacement and notify
Megan in the church office of the change as soon as possible.
April 2 April 9
(Palm Sunday)
April 16
(Easter) April 23 April 30
Snacks Harters Velma, Nancy, and
Rose
Easter Sunday -
No Snacks X X
Reader Sally Morrison Jenna Strick Shari Brinneman Jay Rinehart Brandy Kalhoefer
Acolyte Megan Engle Bailey
Baumgardner Jana Krueger Kylie Gamlin Claudia Wilson
Ring Bell Rick Chesterman Bruner Girls Claudia Wilson Baumgardner Kids Foust Kids
Sound System Phil Engle Drew Morrison Brian Royer Mike Lyons David Morrison
Video Tech Ryan Lemon Sandy Hacker Phil Engle Barb Baker Ryan Lemon
Songleaders Barb Derr,
Lisa Harter,
Jim Hildebrand
David Morrison,
Bonnie Hosler,
Becky Lyons
Barb Derr, Adrian
Halverstadt, David
Morrison
Ann Ambler,
Lisa Harter,
Jim Hildebrand
Something Biblical
Open/Close Duty Brian Royer David Morrison Tom Jennings Tom Hosler Mike Lyons
Announcements Brian Royer Jim Ambler David Morrison Adrian Halverstadt Brian Royer
Nursery Helper Drew Morrison Sandy Stephan Kasey Davis Sandy Shoemaker Sandy Stephan
Little Discoverers
Teacher/Helper Dawn Williams Barb Derr Megan Condry
Megan Condry and
Lauren Baker Dawn Williams
Young Explorers
Teacher/Helper
Claudia Wilson and
Shari Brinneman Lauren Baker
Kids Upstairs -
Easter Sunday
Claudia Wilson and
Shari Brinneman
Spring Fun (classes
combined)
Kids Ignite
Teacher/Helper Megan Condry Megan Condry
Kids Upstairs -
Easter Sunday Megan Condry
Spring Fun (classes
combined)
Greeter-Wm St Jennifer Braun Shari Brinneman Mike Ward Ben and Kasey
Davis
Kevin and Sandy
Shoemaker
Ushers & Greeters
- West
Mike & Sandy
Hacker Meyer Family
Vern and Theda
Neel
Mike and Sandy
Hacker
Jay and Karen
Rinehart
Usher & Greeters -
East Claudia Wilson Geoffrey Guy Brett Evans Brett Evans Brett Evans
Usher - Center Tracy Blocker and
Terry Rodgers
Kenny Foust and
Tom Jennings
Tracy Blocker and
Terry Rodgers
Adam Myers and
Phil Engle
Rick Chesterman
and Rick Baker
Birthdays
04/01, Jay Rinehart
04/02, Sally Morrison
04/03, Jennifer Haneline
Satin Lemon
04/04, Kylie Gamlin
Shirla Eisberg
04/08, Barry Jarvis
04/12, Robin Baker
04/16, Geoffrey Guy
04/17, Arthur Kalhoefer
Ryan Lemon
04/20, Leah Campbell
04/21, Jeff Baumgardner
Kenzie Gamlin
Megan Anderson
04/22, Jim Hildebrand
Cindy Yeiter
04/26, Libby Davison
04/27, Maddox Baker
Bernie Bingham
04/28, Sherry Baker
Anniversaries
04/03, Joshua & Claire Moudy
04/06, JR & Maureen Flynn
04/08, Don & Anne Malone
04/15, Terry & Dorothy
Rodgers
04/16, Ben & Kasey Davis
04/20, Efford & Sara Hamilton
4/22, Bill & Arlene Switzer
TEAM UPDATES
Finance Team:
February 2017
Income: Unified Budget Giving $ 8,521
Trust Income $ 1,298
Miscellaneous Income $ 180
Expenses: $ 14,313
Youth and Children’s Ministry:
Please see the children and youth page for updates.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Please continue to pray for:
All those facing financial, emotional, spiritual, and health stresses.
*If you would like to be added to the email prayer chain and receive prayer
requests throughout the week, please contact Megan Engle at
[email protected] to let her know.*
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A Called Congregational Meeting will take place Sunday, April 23 after worship
to learn about an upcoming restoration project of tuck pointing and painting. Photos will
be shared on the big screen showing areas of concern with the brick and mortar, as well
as areas that need painted. Details about financing this project will also be provided.
This project was one of the items listed in our 2012 Solidifying the Foundation and we
would like to revisit this project with the congregation.
Save the Date: The Property Team will be holding a work day at SPFCC on May 6th, if
it rains the make up date with be May 20th. If you are available, your time spent helping
clean up the church on these dates would be much appreciated!
SPFCC Office Hours: The SPFCC office will be open Monday through Thursday from
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. while Megan Engle is on maternity leave, approximately February 20th through May 8th.
ATTENTION! St. Peter's First Community "Lunch Bunch"! Please make plans to attend a great time of
fellowship AND delicious food on Tuesday, April 18.
Save the date for Mary’s Garden Tea and Basket Party set to take place at SPFCC on April 29, 2017!
Themed baskets for the event are needed and must be turned in by April 9th. A wrapping party will be held
on April 9th at 4 pm. If you are interested in helping with the event or donating a basket, please see Katie
Schilling.
Tickets for Mary’s Garden Tea and Basket Party are now available for $5 each. Please see Katie
Schilling after church or stop at the church office to pick up your tickets! The Tea is set to take place at
SPFCC on Saturday, April 29, 2017.
SPFCC will be offering a brief time of weekly prayer Sunday mornings at 8:45 am for 15-20 minutes to
pray for the pastoral transition. Please join us in a time of focused prayer together.
ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thank you to all who provided meals to Phil, Megan, & Eloise Engle through Share a Meal. They greatly
appreciated your support and generosity as they welcome baby Emmitt into their family. Your delicious
meals were such a blessing!
Easter Bags! We will be delivering Easter bags to our shut-ins the week between Palm Sunday and Easter.
If you would like your cards or small goodies to be included in the bags, please have them at the church by
April 2nd. Easter bags will be delivered to 20 shut-in friends listed below. If you are interested in helping
deliver please see Sally Morrison or Ann Ambler. Thank you!
Heritage of Huntington: Heritage Pointe (Warren):
Maribelle Bechstein Joan Diffenbaugh
John Hacker Betty Henderson
Jean Ann Heiney Mary Alice Shideler
Ada Ulrich
Home: Miller’s in Markle:
Melvin Cox Jerry Baker
Edna Gamble
Mary Gelzleichter
Dan Kimmel
Madeline Lee
Freda Martin
Betty Moldenhauer
Virginia Oden
Russell Poehler
Marland Sell
Frances Shuff
Maxine Spicer
Children’s Update
*The kids in the Young Explorers
and Kids Ignite classes had fun
preparing and serving snacks
recently. They did a great job
working together to provide
yummy treats for all to enjoy!
*April 9th is Palm Sunday and the
kids will once again be helping with the Palm Parade. For
Easter Sunday, April 16th, children 6 years of age and older
will be worshipping upstairs as we celebrate our Savior’s
resurrection. Children’s classes will be available for
children 5 years of age and younger during the service.
Celebration Moment: I am always impressed with how well
the kids do when they host snacks. They are so eager to
serve and help and do a great job working together!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Homework Help Update
*The program is for Middle & High School students and
meets Mondays – Thursdays from 3:00-5:30 pm.
*Homework Help will not be meeting April 3-6 while
HCCSC is on spring break
*Thank you to all who brought in brownies and sheet cake
for the United Way Thank You Luncheon. Your delicious
desserts were a hit! Thanks for your continued support of
the Homework Help program.
Celebration Moment: Recently several students have had
aha moments! It is always great to see students grasp a
concept. It’s encouraging to see students understanding that
when they work hard and turn in their assignments on time,
their grades improve. It’s great to celebrate these
accomplishments with the students!
Youth Update
*Youth group meets on Wednesday evenings from
7-8:30 pm. All middle and high school students are
welcome to attend.
*We kicked off the Lenten season by attending an Ash
Wednesday service. The youth enjoyed participating in the
service and had many great questions afterwards.
Celebration Moment: I am encouraged by how much the
students enjoy attending our weekly youth group gatherings.
Often I hear that Wednesday evenings are the highlight of
their week! The youth are connecting with one another,
sharing with the adults who care deeply about them, and
growing in their relationship with Jesus.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HKC Update
*HKC meets on Monday evenings
from 6:30-8:30 pm for kids in
2nd-6th grade (or ages 8-12). If
interested in joining, see the
brochures in the William St. foyer.
*We are looking for additional
volunteers to help on Monday
evenings. If you would be
interested in building relationships
with students, sharing Jesus, and
having fun, see Megan for more
details.
Celebration Moment: It’s great to see the kids and the
volunteers connecting and growing deeper in their
relationships. I love that when a volunteer walks into the
room, several kids run over to them and share hugs and
stories. I’m encouraged by the impact these adult volunteers
are making on the lives of the kids who attend.
Please continue to pray for all the children & youth involved in these activities.
Pray for the volunteers who interact with them each week.
Real Rest
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest” (Matthew 11:28-30,
The Message).
Every time I hear these words I find myself saying, yes,
this sounds so beautiful. I am tired and worn out.
Recovering my life and experiencing real rest sounds
amazing. I want that! Yet for some reason, I forget that
these words are meant for me and this kind of life is
possible.
I have been known to say the phrase, “I don’t rest well,”
more often than not. I struggle to truly rest and to not be
doing some sort of activity. I am often held captive to “the
list” or in my case many lists. I can’t rest because there is
always something to be done. This is probably why, despite
the fact that I know it really isn’t possible, I still try to
multitask so much of the time. I can’t let myself just “be”
because I feel guilty, like I need to be doing something.
Often I find myself extremely restless when I am seeking to
rest.
Why is rest so difficult? Why does real rest seem to be so
elusive? We live in a world where our productivity reigns
and rest at times appears to be only for the weak. I am so
thankful that God sees things differently. God cares about
the whole of who we are, knows our need for rest, and calls
us to a more full life when we take time to get away with
Him. Rest isn’t only important but it is an essential part of
our existence. The heart of rest according to Matthew 11 is
getting away with God. We have to get away from our lives,
the chaos, the busyness, and the tasks to truly find our lives.
“To practice Sabbath is to practice a stillness that brings
clarity to our lives” (Rest, 29).
Stillness brings clarity. When we quiet ourselves and
rest, something happens. Slowing down helps us to see more
clearly. Resting allows us to search deeper within ourselves
and allow the one who made us to reveal more of who He is
into our lives. When I’m too busy, I’m just running from
one thing to the next, marking things off the list, often not
giving real thought to the things and people around me. It’s
when I rest that I am able to step outside myself and truly see
others, see their situations, see their needs, and be refueled to
continue on with them. When I allow Jesus to help me find
“real rest” I find that I am more rooted, focused, and present.
I have taken care of myself, found my identity in Christ, and
am able to move throughout my day rested and rooted in
Him. This “real rest” enables me to know who I am and then
to see those around me more clearly. “Stopping gives us a
great gift, especially if in that stopping, we respond to the
divine invitation: come to me. We get a chance to be our
true selves – fully loved children of God who share that love
with others. We realize that we are beloved lovers” (Rest, 30
-31).
More and more I’m finding that rest is essential to my
well-being. For too long I’ve made rest more difficult than it
needs to be and I’ve carried around a lot of guilt about it.
I’ve decided to set down the lies that needing rest makes me
weak and instead embrace the words of Jesus that say, rest
brings life! “My soul finds rest in God alone” (Psalm 62:1).
Real rest is found when I rest in God. It’s the deep kind of
rest that fills my soul and gives me the strength to continue
in life and relationships. Real rest allows me to see myself
and others differently. When I rest well, I find that I’m more
likely to enjoy other forms of rest and relaxing activities. I
am more prepared and energized for the day ahead and more
focused on God and what He is saying to me.
I’m slowly trying to create space in my life for this kind
of real rest. It’s a challenge to forgo the to-do list, to set
aside tasks, to fight the lies of guilt and perfectionism, and to
just be present with God. When I do this, it’s a beautiful
experience. On a recent Saturday morning, I got away and
sat with a good book, my journal, and a warm cup of coffee.
I had no time limit, no place to be, and I just allowed myself
to be. A few hours seemed to go by quickly and yet the time
did not feel rushed at all. I felt a peace and calm come over
me as I asked Jesus to help me find real rest and recover my
life. A few months ago I went on a prayer retreat in the
morning and I remember feeling so rested, free, and
energized throughout the rest of the day.
“It’s a gift, but we can’t receive it if we don’t stop to open
it. Once we do, we realize that stopping, rest, is actually the
secret to getting more done, to understanding and living our
true priorities, to enjoying our lives, and to experiencing the
presence of God” (Rest, 30). Rest is a gift! Jesus freely
offers us to find real rest in Him. Will we take Jesus up on
his offer? What do we want to give the people around us?
Do we want to live a life where we just keep running, doing
and striving and miss out on real and fulfilling rest? Where
can you create space in your life for real rest? It’s a gift;
receive it. You’ll be so glad that you did!
A Letter from Megan Condry
SPFCC April Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2 9:30 am Worship
3
6 pm Something Biblical practice
6:30 pm HKC
4 6:30 pm Community Prayer Service - New Hope
5 6:30 pm Choir 7 pm Youth Group
6 6:30 pm God Speed
7
8
9 8:30 am Fellowship Team Meeting
9:30 am Worship-Palm Sunday
1 - 5 pm FH Rental
10 6-8 pm Girl Scouts 6:30 pm HKC HH
11
SeniorPak Prep
6 pm YSB Parenting Class
6:30 pm Women’s Team Meeting
7 pm Circle
HH
12
6:30 pm Choir
7 pm Youth Group
HH
13
Maundy Thursday
6:30 pm God Speed
HH
14 Good Friday
15
16
8 am Men’s Breakfast
8:30 am Children’s Team Meeting
9:30 am Worship-Easter Sunday
17
6-8 pm Girl Scouts
6 pm Something Biblical practice
6:30 pm HKC
HH
18
12 pm Senior Luncheon 6:30 pm Council HH
19
10 am-12 pm Cooking with Love 6:30 pm Choir 7 pm Youth Group HH
20
6:30 pm God Speed HH
21
22
23
9:30 am Worship Congregational Meeting
24
5:30 pm Worship Team Meeting
6-8 pm Girl Scouts
6:30 pm HKC
HH
25
SeniorPak Prep 6:30 pm Property Team Meeting HH
26 6:30 pm Choir 7 pm Youth Group HH
27 6:30 pm God Speed
28 Ladies Tea Prep
29 9-11 am Ladies Tea
*HH denotes Homework Help program, which runs from 3 - 5:30 p.m.
30
9:30 am Worship
A Note From the Ministry Coordinator:
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.”
Psalm 55:22
“You’re doing it,” the nurses told me as I delivered my
precious baby boy. And, I was doing it, even as I was telling
them, “I can’t do it!”
“You’re doing it,” are words that have continued to
echo in my mind throughout the first month of Emmitt’s
life. “You’re doing it,” is what I told myself when I was
discharged from the hospital and went home two days after
Emmitt was born while he stayed at the hospital in the
NICU for four more days. Leaving him there was not easy,
and although we went to sit with him and take care of him
during the day while he stayed in the hospital, our twenty-
three-month-old daughter needed us to be with her at home
in the evenings. Thankfully, I was often reassured by the
nurses that they were taking good care of Emmitt while he
remained in the hospital, and I was confident he was being
taken care of well. “You’re doing it,” is what I told myself
as I made it through my first day home alone with a toddler
and a newborn, even when the toddler had to be reminded
every other minute to be more gentle with the baby, and
even when she didn’t quite yet understand that I couldn’t
hold only her any longer, but had to hold the baby
sometimes, too. I have yet to venture out of the house on
my own with a toddler and a newborn, but I will do that,
too, and we will likely all come through it just fine!
God has also been reminding me, “You’re doing it,”
when I wonder whether I’m enjoying this journey enough,
whether I’m really soaking it all in and cherishing the
moments as I feel like I should be. Some days, I know I
look more forward to nap time than Eloise does, so then I
will have only one crying child who wants to be held. I try
to sit and play with Eloise when she asks me to do so, and I
try to feed Emmitt as soon as he gets hungry, but some days
it seems like too much to enjoy. How can I possibly enjoy it
when all I do is rush from the toddler’s need to the infant’s
need and back again without a moment to even think?
When I bring these questions to God, he reminds me that
these are the times I’m doing it only because He is
sustaining me. Sometimes I try so hard to get it all done,
and try to force myself to enjoy it, that it’s not possible to
be present in the moment. Even in the midst of the chaos,
when I take a step back, God helps me realize that although
both the toddler and the newborn are screaming, their
overall needs are being met. God is taking care of them, and
He is taking care of me. If I let go just a little bit, I realize
God is doing it. He is sustaining me.
When I focus so intently on being present, enjoying the
moment, and cherishing these times, I’m not able to do so,
but when I instead surrender and trust that God is doing it,
that is when I am able to just live. When I let go of the
pressure to be more than I am able to be on my own, then I
can soak in the sweet baby smell as I hold my newborn
without feeling like I need to hold him all day in order to
fully cherish these moments, and I can laugh or cry when
both kids are screaming at once, and I can let someone else
watch the kids so that I can take a break from the screaming
and go to the grocery store without feeling guilty about it.
God is teaching me that it is okay not to enjoy every minute,
and that this doesn’t mean I’m doing something wrong, that
I’m a bad mom, or that I don’t love my kids. I can trust
God…to take care of my kids
when I’m not there. I can trust
God…to continue to mold and
shape me to be the mom my kids
need me to be. I can trust God…
to carry my burdens when I
bring them to Him. When things
are far different than I
anticipated they would be, when
I’m unable to cherish the
moment, or even when things do
go exactly as I’ve planned, I can trust that God is doing “it,”
whatever the “it” may be on that given day. And, that is
what I want my children to see and to learn anyway…not
self-reliance, but God-reliance. God is always up to
something, and He will work in our lives in amazing ways
when we lay our burdens down before Him.
What burdens do you bear? What are you trusting God
to do in your life? What do you need to surrender to Him in
order to let go of the pressures weighing you down? I pray
each of us will reflect on what we need to let go in order for
God to mold and shape us into the men and women He has
called us to be. May you lay your burdens down at the foot
of the cross and live freely in Christ Jesus. ~Megan Engle
Eva
ng
el
ST. PETER’S FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH 206 ETNA AVENUE HUNTINGTON, IN 46750
Worship 9:30 am Conversation and Refreshments
10:45am
Glorify, Build,
REACH
The purpose of St. Peter’s First Community Church is to glorify God, build up the body of
Christ, and reach out to those in our community and world to help them become followers of
Christ.
ST. PETER’S FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH
phone: 260.356.7728
fax: 260.356.7514
email: [email protected]
web: www.spfcc.org
https://www.facebook.com/StPetersFirstCommunityChurch
Megan Engle, Ministry Coordinator
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8 am-4 pm
Richard Strick, Pastor
260.224.2146
Becky Lyons, Financial Secretary
Megan Condry, Youth & Children’s Director
419.733.1272
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11