of Rocky River Presbyterian Churchof Rocky River Presbyterian Churchof Rocky River Presbyterian Churchof Rocky River Presbyterian Church

You can still benefit even without being registered

RRPC + more ready to be transformed through The Daniel Plan 115! That’s the final count of how many people registered for The Daniel Plan, our 40-day program for healthier living… and half of the folks who registered are from beyond RRPC! Our leaders are busy making final arrangements as we prepare to launch the program this month. You can still benefit from the “DP” even without being one of “the 115”: � Anyone can read the book “The Daniel Plan” and follow the

program on their own. � A “kick-off event” on Tue., May 9 at 7 p.m. will feature a

Cleveland Clinic nutritionist and health coach. They will make brief presentations, then hold a Q&A session. This event is open to anyone.

� Jon’s sermons during the 40-day program will include in-sight from The Daniel Plan’s “Five Essentials”: Faith, Food, Fitness, Friends and Focus.

� If you didn’t register, all you’ll lack are the free “DP” study guide and biometric screenings, plus the support of a small group including the video presentations.

Starting the week of May 14, let’s all strive to become healthier, stronger, to feel better and to be better equipped to serve God

because of “The Daniel Plan.” —Evangelism & Membership Committee

May 21 worship celebrates music! We’ll do our best to “Make a joyful noise to the Lord” (Ps. 98:4) on Sunday, May 21. That’s when worship will be a Celebration of Music. We get to sing and listen as our staff musicians and our volunteer choirs fill the sanctuary with favorite pieces from the past year and new pieces specially selected for this service. You can show your appreciation through your attendance that day.

Memorial Day May 29

Remember the fallen of our armed services

On Memorial Day at 10:30 a.m. each year the Joint Veterans’ Council of Lakewood & Rocky River stages a Memorial Day parade from Rocky River High School to Lakewood Park Ceme-tery. Our church provides parking spaces and restroom access for parade-goers. The parade is followed at 11 a.m. by a Memorial Tribute Cere-mony at Lakewood Park Cemetery. I encourage you to include these tributes as part of your holiday weekend plans.

—Pastor

Keep it? Try something new?

What activities do you want to see? Your opinion matters!

During the service on Sun., May 7 you’ll have a moment during worship to complete a brief and simple survey regarding activi-ties offered through the church. Our Evangelism and Membership Committee would appreciate your feedback about current annual events, as well as some possible new options for family-friendly activities.

If you cannot take the survey on May 7th, look for an email the following day with the one-page survey. You can print it, com-plete it, and then return it to the church office. E&M Chairperson Sara Gresh welcomes your questions or comments.

-- Evangelism and Membership Committee

Inside this issue:

• From Your Pastor 2

• Birthdays 3

• Christian Ed. & Youth 4

• Presbyterian Women 5

• Healthy Happenings 6

• Library Lingo 7

• Missions 8

• Church Happenings 9

• May Calendar 10

Join RRPC at

Amer. Cancer Society’s

Relay for Life Sat. May 6 4-11 pm

Westlake HS Gym

Freaky Friday

I must say that I wasn’t terribly excited when I saw that this year’s Cleveland

Play House subscription season ended with a new musical adaptation of the movie “Freaky Friday.” I hadn’t seen either the 1976 or 2003 Disney movie versions of the story, nor the 1995 made-for-TV movie adaptation. Frank-ly, the plot always sounded like a movie for pre-teen girls, and I have never qualified for

inclusion in that demographic group.

But this past week Mary and I sat in our seats in Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre and watched the story unfold via clever musi-cal lyrics, popping choreography, and imagi-native staging. And as so often happens, I was surprised and delighted by the humorous, engaging, and (believe it or not!) thought-provoking story: a widowed, overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies just a day before mom’s big wedding. Would they be able to figure out a way back to their normal lives before the

scheduled wedding ceremony?

For twenty-four hours, the harried-and-distracted mother Katherine and “I-love-you-I-hate-you” teenage daughter Ellie found themselves neck-deep in each other’s lives. Ellie-in-Katherine’s-body was having to fi-nalize arrangements for “her” marriage to a man she didn’t want as a step-father. And Katherine-in-Ellie’s-body was thrown back into the realm of high school with all of its hormones-and-insecurity-driven mercurial

emotions.

You can imagine some of the opportuni-ties for comedy as mother-in-daughter’s-body is confronted with high school gossip and the stress of homework, or as daughter-in-mother’s-body is forced to survive in the workplace where her teenaged behavior sticks out like a sore thumb amid the unspo-ken expectations for workplace professional-

ism.

But something else stuck out for me, too.

Through this unsettling, uncertain, and at times scary experience, both the mother Katherine and the daughter Ellie gained a true appreciation for the reality of the strug-gles in the other’s life. For each, their new-found appreciation inspired genuine compas-sion for the other. Katherine was able to re-member the importance of friendships and

romance to a teen struggling to transition into womanhood. And Ellie gained a more mature perspective on the sincerity of parental love

and the challenges of raising children.

T hinking back on the Easter season just past, I wonder how we might be helped if we were to think of Good Friday as a variation on “Freaky Friday”? Think of it: the Son of the Heavenly Father took our place, experiencing the emotional pain of being rejected and abandoned. He experi-enced the physical punishment that can result

from hatred. Jesus became human.

What’s our part? No, we cannot presume to take God’s place. But through the teaching and example of Jesus we are urged to adopt behavior that is not inherently human. Jesus invites us to make Godly compassion and mercy our default mode of relating to others. Jesus asks us to set aside boastfulness and

bluster, self-importance and greed.

I wonder if Jesus envisioned a “Freaky Friday”-like swapping of perspectives when he noted, “The first shall be last, and the last, first.” [Mt. 19:30]. The expression certainly

catches our ear.

He’s alerting us to the truth that God's way of doing things is different from ours. Believe it or not, those at the end of the line will be the first served, and (outrageously!) those at the head of the line will be last. The way we tend to do things is not what God has in mind; God wants us to overcome the divi-sive aspects of our human behavior and

switch things up.

That’s a pretty tall order. But God makes it possible for us to gain a perspective that doesn’t come to us naturally. God does it, of course, through another upending of the way things normally work: by using our imperfec-tions to make us better and our weaknesses to make us stronger. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:19 that he heard the Lord as-suring him, “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your

weakness” [The Message translation].

In her masterpiece novel To Kill a Mockingbird, author Harper Lee had the wise attorney and wiser father Atticus Finch ex-plain the process of gaining compassion this way. He tells his children, “You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” [J.B. Lippincott &

Co., 1960].

That’s not our nature. In my case, for instance, I know that my focus on my sched-

ule and my responsibilities often keeps me from appreciating that others have their own schedules to keep and responsibilities to ful-

fill.

• How could I become a more compas-sionate person if I were to take even a moment to imagine what life is like for

the person checking out my groceries?

• How might it temper my reaction if I were to imagine that a less-courteous-than-me motorist might be driving with a mind overwhelmed by thoughts of a

family squabble that morning?

• How could my compassion grow if I paused to consider how the person with one of “those” bumper stickers is more

than just the sentiment on that sticker?

Beyond simply changing our minds, we can engage our hands to acquire a new per-spective on life. This is the time of the year that we have the chance to sign up to serve at North Presbyterian Church for some Sunday or Thursday in the month of June. Our “Month of Partnership” with that congrega-tion to the homeless of downtown Cleveland gives us a chance to spend time with people we probably would not encounter otherwise. We might learn something from the story of their lives if they volunteer to share it. We might learn something of the struggle of life on the streets if we open our eyes to see the signs. We might gain a greater appreciation

for the lives we lead, by God’s grace.

J esus came into our form and lived our lives. He urges us to adopt attitudes

and behaviors that embody compassion and mercy, acceptance and service. By taking on those Godly characteristics, we can better know our world through God’s eyes and

serve our world in God’s spirit.

See you in church (at 8:30 or 10:30 a.m. later this month!).

From Your Pastor

May Birthdays May Birthdays May Birthdays May Birthdays

May 1 Tom Smanik Julianne Gresh May 3 Audrey Bruggers Forrest Bishop Grace Bennett May 7 Walt King Aileen Busher May 8 David Clash Griffin Roberts May 9 Kay Wallis Rachel DeAtley May 10 Susan Variakojis May 11 Tammy Smanik May 12 Jessica Bohannon Kira Katterle May 14 Kathy Roos Lisa Poole John St. Pierre May 15 Kevin Costello Raymond Bohannon May 16 Susan Pierce May 17 Carol Garibaldi Kendal Purohit May 18 Ellen Schickel Christopher Heierding May 19 Todd Celmar Dean Cashmere May 20 Cher Bourne David St. Pierre Dylan O’Flaherty May 21 Rudy Gulstrand Sue Krizman Jackson Ward May 22 Julie Heald Thomas Matile Stella Schriner May 24 Bill Buettner Allie Sakai Brian Fancher May 25 Chuck Erickson May 26 Judy Bryan Bernie Hisey Melissa Stickney May 27 Joshua Kirchner Jacob Shaver May 29 Patrick Gorman Thomas Stickney May 31 Bill Allport Mike Yezbak

Do you have a charcoal grill to donate? We are looking to replace 2 of the grills we use for our picnic cook-outs. If you have a charcoal grill you aren’t using any longer

we would be glad to take it off your hands. You can drop it off to our custodian Paul Sunday thru Thursday.

Page 3 The Pulse

**If your birthday is missing from our birthday list, please con-tact Office Administrator Crystal Duffield at: info@riverpres.org or (440) 333-4888.

Sanctuary Flowers

Do you have a loved one you would like to honor for a birthday or anniversary. Would you like to memorialize that special per-son who has passed away? By signing up for a Sunday to pro-vide our sanctuary with flowers you can do this. The cost is only $30.00 and you may take the flowers with you after our 10:30 a.m. worship service. Your “in honor of” or “in memory” attrib-ution will be listed in our bulletin announcements as well as on the card with the flowers. The sign-up sheet is located on the bulletin board by the Parlor. Please contact Crystal in the church office if you have any questions.

Of course you can do it!

Be a “guest preacher” in 2017

It’s been said that everyone has at least one “sermon” in them—a personal perspective on faith that they’d like to share with others. Have you been mulling over the idea of being a lay preacher at RRPC on a Sunday when Jon’s not in the pulpit because of vaca-tion or study leave? Many RRPC-ers have done it across the years—why not you? Our fellow church members really enjoy hearing from “one of their own”... and they are a kind and gentle audience!

To learn more about it, simply speak with Jon Fancher or any member of the Worship Committee (Dawn Fuller, Jim Pierce, Bill Knoble, Sara Gresh, Ellen Schickel, Dan McKenzie, Carol Jen-

kins, Kathy Hartzell, Melissa Stickney).

Page 4 The Pulse

High School? Trade School? University? Grad School?

Graduate Recognition Sunday June 4

If you or someone in your family will be graduating from high school, college or graduate school this spring please give the church office a call with the details and supply a picture if you are able. We would like to honor the graduates during our worship service on Sunday, June 4.

Spring is here and VBS is just around the corner! Mark your calendars now for June 12-16—this year’s Vacation Bible School experience. This program is open to all children age four through 5th grade, and will run from 9-11:30 a.m. each day. Look for registration forms to be available in early April. RIGHT NOW…we are putting together the planning team that makes this incredible week happen- regular meetings have begun. We are looking for adults and teens who are willing to help out in a variety of areas: worship, snacks, recreation, mission, music, crafts and shepherding. If you would like to be involved in this week of fun, faith and fellowship, you can get more information in the Christian education office. Don’t miss it!

Reserve a seat for your child today!

Youth head out on mission trip July 16-22

Are you looking for a meaningful way for your teen to get involved in a mission project this summer? Consider signing them up for our youth mission trip. During the week of July 16-22, a group from our church will be heading to East Moline, Illinois to participate in a Group® Workcamp. They will be in-volved in home repair for families in that area.

Group® runs very organized trips that are open to youth from a variety of denominations from anywhere in the US. Our group will have a chance to work with and get to know youth and adults from other areas of the country. The trip is open to any youth who has completed 6th-12th grade. Cost for the trip is $449 per participant, but we will be hosting several fund-raisers (Spaghetti Dinner, Pancake Supper, Car Wash) to help defray that cost. We have reserved 8 spots for youth, and have the potential to reserve additional spots if desired. If you are interested in having your teen join in, please contact Lisa Watts to reserve a spot. All we need at this point is a $50 deposit to reserve a space. You can get more information from Lisa or you can visit the Group website to learn more at www.groupmissiontrips.com .

Join Adult Education class on June 4th

for “Oils of Ancient Scripture”

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels* of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus, 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin** of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil.” Exodus 30:22-25

Essential oils were highly esteemed in Biblical times. There are hundreds of direct references and many more that inferred the use of essential oils. These texts speak of oils being used in healing, as medicine, in food, for gifts and during religious rites and ceremonies.

We will discuss 10 of these oils and have the opportunity to smell each one. A handout with Biblical references will be pro-vided for participants’ personal study. The class will be taught by Victoria Yannie.

*Any of several ancient units of weight, especially a Hebrew unit equal to about a half ounce.

**A unit of liquid measure used by the ancient Hebrews, equal to about

five liters.

Summer camp information available through the church

Are you starting to plan your summer, even though it is still cold and gray? We have information on several excellent Christian camping opportunities for kids of all ages. For more information or to pick up camp flyers, see Lisa Watts.

Semi-Circle

Semi-Circle will meet on Monday, May 8th at 12:00 p.m. in the West Room. Bring your brown bag lunch, dessert will be provided. If you have questions you may contact Carolyn Watilo 440-799-4779 or Nancy McGillicud-dy 440-724-1738. New members are always welcome!

Priscilla Circle

Priscilla Circle will be meeting on Thursday, May 18th at 7:00 p.m. in the West Room. All are welcome! If you have any questions you may contact Gretchen Koch or Sara Gresh through the Church Office.

Expressions of Faith

Our group will meet Tuesday, May 9th at 9:30 a.m. in the D-3 and on Tuesday, May 23rd. We welcome anyone who knits or just enjoys a cup of coffee with friends. For more

information contact Mary Murphy (440-785-8614).

Women of Grace

Women of Grace will meet on Monday, May 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in D-3,4 if you have any questions please contact Lee Sabolich or Lisa Watts.

Koinonia

Join us Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Parlor for Koinonia Prayer & Study Group . Our prayer time is personal and confidential within the group, with no obligation to pray aloud.

Questions may be directed to Jane Doughman, Nancy Clash, Jo Naretto, Mary Murphy, or Carolyn Watilo.

Friday, May 12 7:30 p.m. Artist Concert Series presents a “bonus concert”

BlueWater Chamber Orchestra BlueWater Chamber Orchestra BlueWater Chamber Orchestra BlueWater Chamber Orchestra

BlueWater Chamber Orchestra makes its debut at

RRPC as it

spreads its wings with mu-

sic of Respighi

(The Birds), Haydn (The "Hen" Sympho-ny) and Mozart. Amitai Vardi,

BlueWater’s

popular clari-

netist, plays

Mozart’s gift to the instrument. Don’t miss the color of

Respighi, the humor of Haydn and the beauty of Mo-zart!

—Nancy McGillicuddy, Artistic Director RRPC’s Artist Concert Series

Dear RRPC friends,

Thank you for all your support and prayers during a very anxious heath issue, I appreciate all the kind things that were said and done to ease my situation, and for being there for me.

~ Nancy McGillicuddy

Thank you for all the cards and hugs. Your prayers for guidance and support have certainly been felt. Any flashes of light you might see or feel is Tom in his bright shoes, taking Jesus to the

Senior Men’s Breakfast.

Love & Grace, Barbara Kirsop & Family including 3 “bashful children”

Page 5 The Pulse

PRESBYTERIAN

WOMEN

Coffee Hour seeking volunteers

The Deacons’ Coffee Hour Committee is currently seeking volunteers to help out the 3rd Sunday of the month. We are also in need of substitutes who would be able to fill in occa-sionally. Contact Deb Furry debfurry@northerntitle.com or 440-336-5114 for further information and/or questions.

Healthy Happenings . . . Notes from the Parish Nurse

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings! May is National Stroke Month. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain is interrupted or reduced. This de-prives your brain of oxygen and nutrients, which can cause your brain cells to die. A stroke may be caused by a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or the leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Some people may experience only a temporary disruption of blood flow to their brain (transient ischemic attack, or TIA). Time is of the essence when someone is having a stroke so it’s important to know the signs and symptoms. Take note when these signs and symptoms begin because the length of time they have been present may guide treatment decisions:

• Trouble with speaking and understanding—you may be confused, slur your words or have difficulty understanding speech.

• Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg—you may develop sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis in your face, arm or leg, especially on one side of your body. Also, one side of your mouth may droop when you try to smile.

• Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes—you may suddenly have blurred, blackened or double vision in one or both eyes.

• Headache. You may have a sudden, severe headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting or dizziness.

• Trouble with walking. You may stumble or experience sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination.

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any signs or symptoms of a stroke, even if they seem to fluctuate or disappear.

Think "FAST" and do the following:

• Face. Ask the per son to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

• Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm dr ift downward? Or is one arm unable to raise up?

• Speech. Ask the person to repeat this simple phrase. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Is their speech slurred or strange?

• Time. If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.

Many factors can increase your risk of a stroke. Some are treatable by making lifestyle changes but others may require medical inter-vention. If you have a family history of strokes you will need to be monitored because you will be at a higher risker for having a stroke. Also some stroke risks can also increase your chances of having a heart attack.

Lifestyle risk factors:

• Being overweight, obese or prone to physical inactivity.

• Heavy or binge drinking or using illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines.

• Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.

Medical risk factors:

• High blood pressure; the risk of stroke begins to increase at blood pressure readings higher than 120/80. Please speak to your physician to decide on a target blood pressure based on your age.

• Diabetes.

• Obstructive sleep apnea which is a sleep disorder in which the oxygen level intermittently drops during the night.

• Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart defects, heart infection or abnormal heart rhythm.

• Women may have some risk from some birth control pills or hormone therapies that include estrogen

Inherited risk factors:

• Personal or family history of stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attack.

• Being age 55 or older.

• Race; African-Americans have a higher risk of stroke than do people of other races.

• Gender; men have a higher risk of stroke than women. Women are usually older when they have strokes, and they're more likely to die of strokes than are men. Women may have some risk from pregnancy and childbirth.

If you're with someone you suspect is having a stroke, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Don't wait to see if symp-toms go away. Every minute counts. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability. Watch the person carefully while waiting for emergency assistance and report the signs and symptoms you observed and what time they started. “In the day of my trouble I will call on You, for You will answer me.” —Psalm 86:7 Catherine A. Patton RN, BSN (440) 333-4888 ext: 105 Parishnurse@riverpres.org

Page 6 The Pulse

MAY 2017 LIBRARY LINGO

Mary Schulz, Librarian

DISPLAYS: Mother’s Day books for adults and children New books for adults and children

It was wonderful to see so many of you visiting the library during our Open House. I hope that you discovered something

you wanted to read, or that you feel like you want to come back another time. Congratulations to the winners of our Mal-

ley’s chocolate giveaway: Melissa Stickney and Caleb Flynn!

NEW ITEMS FOR TEENS:

Fiction books: Does My Head Look Big in This? TEEN FIC ABD Amal, an Australian-Palestinian girl decides to wear the Muslim hijab head scarf full time. In spite of the ostracizing that is sure to come from the other kids, her decision springs from a deep sense of faith. Amal is sassy, intelligent, sensitive, and hilarious, and her journey of faith will take readers down an unexpected and entertaining path.

Nonfiction books: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens TEEN 158.08 COV Entertaining and accessible, this step-by-step guide helps teens focus on their journey toward self-discovery by improving their self-image, building friendships, resisting peer pressure, achieving goals, getting along with parents, and much more. It is stuffed with car-toons, clever ideas, great quotes, and incredible stories about real teens around the world

Stories for a Teen’s Heart: Book 1 TEEN 242.63 GRA Here are inspiring stories that will touch the heart of any teen. Whether looking for a story about love, need a good laugh, or just want an encouraging word, you’ll find it in this captivating collection of treasures. Teens ages 14-17 helped the editor make the selections for this book.

365 More Meditations 4 Teens TEEN 242.63 SHA If you are like most teens, you are busy. But spending just a few minutes alone with God each day will enrich your life more than anything else. God wants a relationship with you. He wants to encourage you, hear about your challenges, your hurts, your joys. Here is a short reading for each day of the year, with questions to think or talk about with other teens.

Organizing from the Inside Out for Teens: The Foolproof System for Organizing Your Room, Your Time, and Your Life TEEN 646.7 MOR

NEW ITEMS FOR ADULTS:

Fiction books: Leaving North Haven: the Further Adventures of a Small-Town Pastor FIC LIN Over the 10 years Rev. Battles and his family have been in North Haven (see book Good News from North Haven: A Y ear in the Life of a Small Town in our library), they have come to know that the movements of life are more easily observed in a small place. These sermon-like tales cover a year in the life of a Presbyterian minister in a small Minnesota town.

Nonfiction books: Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife 202.3 MIL The author draws on history and popular culture, biblical research, and everyday beliefs to offer a new understanding of our visions of the afterlife. She also reveals how the notion of heaven has been used for manipulation, as inspiration for selfless behavior, and as justification for mass murder. The desire for a celestial afterlife is universal.

Back to the Well: Women’s Encounters with Jesus in the Gospels 226.06 GEN Exploring six Gospel texts in which women encounter Jesus, the author encourages us to view these stories anew. Summarizing and mak-ing accessible the work of a diversity of feminist scholars, she challenges and enriches everyone’s understanding of the Scriptures.

HAPPY READING!!

(All descriptions have been taken from book jacket, title page verso, or review article)

PULSE Page 7

"Is RRPC closed?" Our church is on the iAlert system. In the unlikely event that

we have to close for evening events or Sunday services (because of weather, utility disruption, etc.) you can find that message on Channel 3 WKYC, or listen to WCLV-FM 104.9, WMJI-FM 105.7, WTAM-AM 1100, or check the Channel 3 WKYC web-site. (Our weekday nursery school has its own separate listing

on iAlert, so note whether the notification is for the church or the nursery school.)

June is “North Church Month!”

June is our North Church Month. That means that RRPC provides 4 to 6 workers each Sunday morning and the last 2 Thursdays of the month to prepare and serve dinner plus clean up after dinner. On Sunday mornings we worship with the congregation of North Church. Our duties include assisting their cook by cutting vegeta-bles, stirring pots, pouring drinks, serving the meal, greeting and talking with the men, women, and children seeking a good meal. Then we clean up. On Sundays the shifts are from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. On Thursdays the shift is 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sometimes people divide the Thursday shift up by working 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Remember; the health dept. requires that you wear closed-toed, tie shoes to work—no sandals or Crocs. Many families from our church have found the Sunday shift is a good way to involve children in the work of the church. You will be surprised how help-ful they are! North Church carries out an active ministry to its local community. It seeks to build a vibrant worship community and reach out to the homeless and street people, some of whom are experiencing mental illness or suffering from addictions. They bring healing to people in body, mind and spirit. They attempt to find housing, employment, and connect people with needed services. The financial situation at North Church is always quite precarious, like those who are the congregation of North Church. To help sup-port the Ministry of North Church we will have a SPECIAL OFFER-ING collection each Sunday in June. Please use the Special Offering envelopes or one of the envelopes in the pews noting on the enve-lope “SPECIAL OFFERING, NORTH CHURCH” You will find the sign up poster on the bulletin board by the Parlor. List every family member who will be working. If you want to split a shift on Thursday, please indicate that.

Padded seat with armrests once/month? Join our “soundboard team”!

An easy but important way to help out at your church would be to join our “Soundboard Team.” Yes, it may look and sound complicated, but in reality it’s pretty simple: basically, knowing when to start a recording device, occasionally adjusting a volume level… that sort of thing. We would like to have a rotation so you would serve about monthly. Want to learn more without obligation? Speak to Bob Davis at the soundboard before or after worship some Sunday. ~ Board of Deacons

Overseas mission trips now available

We now have the opportunity to participate in short, foreign mis-sion trips. John Knox Presbyterian Church in North Olmsted has invited interested members of our church to join them in 2018.

John Knox offers two “hand’s-on” trips overseas. Each April there’s a Medical Mission Trip to Guatemala. You do not have to be a medical professional to join. The second trip is in June to Nicaragua. Its mission focus is on construction and offering Bible school.

The annual planning for the 2018 trips will occur in late Septem-ber/early October, 2017. The Guatemala Trip is led by Tim Mac-Millan (Rev. Tom Macmillan’s father) and the Nicaragua Trip is led by Rev. Tom MacMillan, pastor at John Knox.

The cost of each of the two Central American trips is about $1,500 including airfare, food, and lodging. The mission trips are usually 7-10 days long.

If you are interested in hearing more, there will be a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board in May to express your interest. Please make sure to leave a contact phone, or e-mail where you can be reached. Tim MacMillan has offered to speak at an infor-

mal meeting in July to interested mem-bers. —Rudy Gulstrand, Chair,

Mission Committee

Page 8 The Pulse

Mark your calendars, brush off those sneakers. . . . “Cancer free.” Some of us can only imagine how a person who experienced cancer feels when the medical staff tells them they are cancer free, but it must feel great. If you or a loved one has lived with or died from cancer this is your chance to make a difference. Relay for Life is a major fundraising effort for the American Can-cer Society.

Our church has participated in Relay for Life for many years. We’ve walked laps around stadium tracks, sold luminaries, and raised funds selling all sorts of stuff. Would you like to see a cure for cancer? Would you be willing to help?

RRPC Deacon Dave Carney (dave_carney_48104@yahoo.com) is heading up the event for the church this year and there is much that anyone can do: fund-raising, sponsoring RRPC participants, stopping by to attend part of the event itself. Please volunteer to assist him. The 2017 Westshore Relay for Life will be held on May 6, indoors at Westlake High School, 27830 Hilliard Blvd. in Westlake.

— Dianne Russell, Moderator Board of Deacons

"Is RRPC closed?" Our church is on the iAlert system. In the unlikely event that

we have to close for evening events or Sunday services (because of weather, utility disruption, etc.) you can find that message on Channel 3 WKYC, or listen to WCLV-FM 104.9, WMJI-FM 105.7, WTAM-AM 1100, or check the Channel 3 WKYC web-site. (Our weekday nursery school has its own separate listing

on iAlert, so note whether the notification is for the church or the nursery school.)

April’s Session highlights

April’s meeting began with devotions led by Marc Hustek sharing a reading from a book he uses for his daily devotions.

• Finance Committee received Session approval to adopt an Operating Fund budget for 2017. Projected income was lower than what had been anticipated during the Stewardship Cam-paign. The congregation responded to the appeal at January’s Annual Meeting by increasing pledges or making one-time spe-cial gifts that yielded an additional $8,000 in in income. But that was only about one-half of the amount needed. The Property Committee volunteered to reduced its budget by about $8,000 in order to balance the budget.

• Property Committee repor ted that it ar ranges for flower beds to be mulched and the parking lot to be sealed and striped in alternating years; this was to be the year for mulching. De-spite the $8,000 reduction in their budget, an anonymous special gift will still allow us to have mulch delivered but not the crew to spread it; we will need to spread it. The committee will seek to schedule an “All Hands Work Day” at the church to spread mulch and other helpful outdoor tasks in May or June.

• Christian Education Committee received approval for an update to the church’s “Child Protection Policy” which dictates the steps we take to assure the safety of children in our worship, education, fellowship and mission-related events. (A consultant told us that our policy is a model that other churches should use.) —Moderator of Session

Since you love this church, share it with those you love!

Accompany your friends to our Seekers’ classes Wed., May 17, 24, 31 Don’t keep it a secret any longer—share the church you love with the people you love!

⇒ Why not ask them to join you for Sunday worship? (And take them out for lunch afterward!)

⇒ Tell them about our “no-obligation” Seekers classes to learn more about the Christian faith and the Presbyterian Church (USA). The pastor is offering another series of Seekers classes on three Wednesday nights, May 17, 24, 31 from 6:45-

8:00 p.m. These informal, enjoyable classes are informative without putting people on the spot. Free childcare is available with advance notice.

⇒ Even better, offer to come with them to the Seekers’ classes! Don’t wait a single day longer—invite your friends to experience RRPC with you! —Evangelism & Membership Committee

Never forget your offering again!

Make offerings using “EFT”

With your tax return still fresh in your mind, why not save yourself the time of writing your offering check every month or week. Our Financial Secretary can assist you with setting up a monthly Elec-tronic Fund Transfer from your bank account directly to the church. It’s secure, easy and free:

⇒ Only one simple form to fill out

⇒ No fees to pay

⇒ You can adjust or stop the EFT at any time. For information, just email or call our Financial Secretary Dave Wolfe at (440) 333-4888 or dwolfe@riverpres.org.

—Stewardship Committee

An “earlier worship option” to enjoy the summertime

“Early Worship” returns to Walker Chapel on Memorial Day Weekend

“It’s the same service… but it’s a different kind of worship experience!” That’s what we frequently hear from folks who try “Early Worship,” our summertime worship option. From Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend, Early Worship at 8:30 a.m. in Walker Chapel joins our customary worship service at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanc-tuary. The services are the same, though Early Worship is slightly abbreviated—it usually lasts about 35 minutes. That means that shortly after 9 a.m. you can be on your way to the ballpark or golf course, the boat or garden… and you didn’t have to give up the fel-lowship and inspiration of Sunday worship. Come as you are when you check out Early Worship in Walker Chapel starting May 28 at 8:30 a.m. —Worship Committee Are you looking to devote a few hours monthly to a great cause?

The One World “Fair Trade” shop here in Rocky River is inviting you to consider joining our Volunteer Team.

Begun by Presbyterian women 38 years ago, our shop has meant fair wages for thousands of artisans and farmers who then are able to provide adequate housing, education and dignity for their families. Our fair trade shop models a transformed economy – one based not solely on profit, but on valuing persons and the health of our planet. We have a message to share as well as products to sell.

As a volunteer, you will play a vital role in the communication of our mission: as a clerk you are our “front line” contact with custom-ers. Through your conversation with customers, they learn the hu-man stories behind our products.

If what our fair trade business cares about and what you care about match, we invite you to be part of creating a more humane future for all of God’s children.

Please contact me by email with your interest and/or questions. We will then invite you to a “coffee” where details will be shared (a vol-unteer typically works two four-hour shifts a month, but all is nego-

tiable!). Thanks for your consid-eration.

Charline Watts, Member, Board of Directors

Page 9 The Pulse

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1

5:00 p.m. Board of E

lections S

et-up 7:00 p.m

. CE Com

mittee M

tg. 7:00 p.m

. Wom

en’s AA Mtg.

2 Election D

ay

7:00 a.m. Voting begins

6:00 p.m. PW Spring

Gathering-W

est Room

7:30 p.m

. Alanon/A

lateen Mtg.

3

10:00 a.m. Koinonia P

rayer

11:30 a.m. R

RPP Staff Lunch

5:00 p.m. RRPP Ice C

ream

Social / A

rt Show

6:30 p.m. W

orship Mtg.

7:30 p.m. M

en’s AA Mtg.

4

6:15 p.m. Bell C

hoir rehearsal

7:30 p.m. Chancel C

hoir

5

7:00 a.m. Friday m

orning

Men’s G

roup (RR Starbuck’s)

6

7:00 p.m. A

ltered Attitudes

7 C

ommunion/F

ood

Sund

ay/K

ISS

9:00 a.m. Adult E

ducation 10:30 a.m

. Worship S

ervice 10:30 a.m

. Nursery / K

ISS

11:30 a.m. RRPP Scholastic B

ook F

air ends 11:35 a.m

. Time of F

ellowship

11:35 a.m. Children &

Youth C

hoir 11:45 a.m

. New Officer O

rientation 2 7:00 p.m

. Middle/H

igh School M

tg.

8

10:00 a.m. HR Com

mittee M

tg. 12:00 p.m

. PW Sem

i-Circle M

tg. 7:00 p.m

. Deacons M

tg. 7:00 p.m

. Wom

en’s AA Mtg.

9

9:30 a.m. Expressions of F

aith

9:30 a.m. RRPP Board M

tg.

7:00 p.m. Daniel P

lan Kick-off

7:30 p.m. Alanon/A

lateen Mtg.

10

10:00 a.m. RRPC Staff M

tg

10:00 a.m. Koinonia P

rayer

& Bible S

tudy

7:30 p.m. M

en’s AA Mtg.

11

8:30 a.m. Senior M

en’s Bible

Study &

Breakfast

6:15 p.m. Bell C

hoir rehearsal

7:30 p.m. Chancel C

hoir

12

7:00 a.m. Friday m

orning

Men’s G

roup (RR Starbuck’s)

7:30 p.m. A

CS presents

“Blue W

ater Cham

ber

Orchestra”

13

8:00 a.m. D

aniel Plan

Bio-M

etric Screening

11:00 ACS Steering

Com

mittee M

tg.

7:00 p.m. A

ltered Attitudes

14 M

other’s D

ay

9:00 a.m. Adult E

ducation 10:30 a.m

. Worship S

ervice 10:30 a.m

. Nursery / K

ISS

11:35 a.m. Time of F

ellowship

11:35 a.m. E&M Com

mittee M

tg. 11:35 a.m

. Children &

Youth C

hoir 7:00 p.m

. Middle/H

igh School M

tg.

15

6:30 p.m. Stew

ardship Mtg.

7:00 p.m. W

omen’s A

A Mtg.

7:30 p.m. Session M

tg.

16

7:30 p.m. Alanon/A

lateen Mtg.

17

6:45 Seekers C

lass #1

7:30 p.m. M

en’s AA Mtg.

18

4:00 p.m. Girl S

cout Flow

er

Sale pick-up (south lot)

6:15 p.m. Bell C

hoir rehearsal

7:00 p.m. PW Priscilla C

ircle

7:30 p.m. Chancel C

hoir

19

7:00 a.m. Friday m

orning

Men’s G

roup (RR Starbuck’s)

20

7:00 p.m. A

ltered Attitudes

21 M

usic Sund

ay

9:00 a.m. Adult E

ducation 10:30 a.m

. Worship S

ervice 10:30 a.m

. Nursery / K

ISS

11:35 a.m. Time of F

ellowship

11:35 a.m. C

hildren & Youth C

hoir 11:40 a.m

. PW Coordinating T

eam

7:00 p.m. M

iddle/High S

chool Mtg.

22

5:00 p.m. Anniversary D

inner W

omen’s A

A Mtg.

7:00 p.m. PW Wom

en of Grace

23

9:30 a.m. Expressions of F

aith

7:30 p.m. Alanon/A

lateen Mtg.

24

10:00 a.m. RRPC Staff M

tg

10:00 a.m. Koinonia P

rayer

& Bible S

tudy

6:45 p.m. Seekers C

lass #2

7:30 p.m. M

en’s AA Mtg.

25

8:30 a.m. Senior M

en’s Bible

Study &

Breakfast

26

7:00 a.m. Friday m

orning

Men’s G

roup (RR Starbuck’s)

27

7:00 p.m. A

ltered Attitudes

28 E

arly

Service

s begin

8:30 a.m

. Early W

orship begins 9:00 a.m

. Adult E

ducation 10:30 a.m

. Worship S

ervice 10:30 a.m

. Nursery / K

ISS

11:35 a.m. Time of F

ellowship

11:35 a.m. C

hildren & Youth C

hoir 7:00 p.m

. Middle/H

igh School M

tg.

29

7:00 p.m. W

omen’s A

A Mtg.

30

7:30 p.m. Alanon/A

lateen Mtg.

31

10:00 a.m. Koinonia P

rayer

& Bible S

tudy

6:45 p.m. Seekers C

lass #3

7:30 p.m. M

en’s AA Mtg.

Rocky River Presbyterian ChurchRocky River Presbyterian ChurchRocky River Presbyterian ChurchRocky River Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Jon M. Fancher, Pastor

21750 Detroit Road

Rocky River, OH 44116-2220

(440) 333-4888 www.riverpres.org

“The Pulse”

the monthly newsletter of

Rocky River Presbyterian Church

Rocky River Presbyterian Church

Rocky River Presbyterian Church

Rocky River Presbyterian Church

MAY 2017

MAY 2017

MAY 2017

MAY 2017