during the holidays, giving is at the forefront of our minds. In the brilliant Christmas movie, The Bishop’s Wife, Dudley (played by Cary Grant) writes a sermon for the Bishop (played by David Niven).
It’s easy to remember those less fortunate during the holidays, but we knew in our hearts that this moment in time wasn’t enough. So, as with the one-day Barb McPoland summer clothing giveaway (now the year-round 1st Pres Neighborhood Closet), clearly, feeding families is a year-round need. This thinking brought us to transition the Turkey Fund to a new, year-round program aptly named Feeding Families. The fund will supply food gift cards as before, but they can be used at any time during the year. These food gift cards will help put food on the table for families who visit our 1st Pres Neighborhood Closet and for special situations when the church feels called to help throughout the year. We would like you to think about supporting our Feeding Families fund, specifically during the month of April, but this is something that you can support at any time.
In His Name, Gina & Connie
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summer. There is an awakening of nature. It is a season of hope and growth, as plants and animals come back to life after a period of dormancy. Besides all these obvious physical reasons to love spring, two other things make it very special to me. First, this is a time we honor and reflect on the life of our Savior. It was over two thousand years ago when Christ walked the earth, and we are still in awe of his love, patience, and sacrifice. This season starts with Lent, which is the 40 days we observe before Easter, where we draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus shared a meal with his apostles before His death. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Holy Saturday is the time Jesus laid in his tomb before His resurrection. Perhaps most important is Easter morning when Christ’s resurrection was confirmed. All of these things are undoubtedly familiar to you, but I find it helpful to review and understand their meanings each year. The second thing that makes this spring season special to me involves the Gonzaga Men’s Basketball Team. Historically, I have never been interested in sports. I always celebrate the Super Bowl with my friends, primarily to socialize. Baseball is incredibly boring. When my sister was still alive, I used to try to watch games with her as she was a huge fan. The last game we watched together went into 14 innings before I politely excused myself. So, considering my aversion to sports in general, my story about the Zags is both funny and memorable. I attended Gonzaga many years ago to get my degree as a Nurse Practitioner. Though a lot of the courses were done remotely (course materials delivered by UPS – online learning was not what it is today), a couple of times a week I had to drive to Spokane and attend lectures and labs in person. One day, after completing my classes, I walked out to my car and was surprised to see that I had a flat tire. I had never changed a tire in my life, so I wasn’t sure what to do. After grabbing the spare, I was crouching down inspecting the tire when I noticed two enormous track shoes about a foot away from me. As I looked up, I saw that they were attached to an extremely tall young man who looked concerned. He offered to change the tire and told me where to go to get the damaged one repaired. Once he completed the job, we chatted for a while. I found out that he was also a student at Gonzaga and was on the basketball team. He talked about his passion for the game, his admiration for his fellow players and his coach, Mark Few. We also talked about the fact that Gonzaga was a faith-based school. It was founded in 1887 by Roman Catholic (Jesuit) priests. The university's mission and values are rooted in Jesuit principles emphasizing education of the whole person, leadership, and service to others. This kind, considerate, and talented young man was a lifesaver for me that day and was demonstrating the values of his school as he helped me. His name was Casey Calvary. He was 6’8” tall!!!I promised him I would start following his team and praying for their success. I am proud to say that I have kept my word. So, when it’s March Madness time, it lifts my spirits to think of Casey and know that spring is on its way!
In His Name, Ellen
mother at age 15, this blow floored her, and she ended up recording and album dedicated to her father. In the process of writing the album she was led to include many references and more than just references to the faith she’d been raised in. The one and only solo album she’s recorded was the result. Titled “Mercy,” it’s typically viewed as a Christian album. Despite having no connection to the larger “industry” that Christian music has become, her interview on TrueTunes came to be.
Early in, host John J Thompson asked her about the influence her parents had on her. Musically, they were supportive. They were great parents. When John specified her religious upbringing, she said, “I had a non-denominational upbringing. I mean, we were a part of the Christian faith, but my parents were very free and loving in their beliefs.” Ouch. The conversation went on, but that sentiment hit my heart. Growing up in the 90s and 2000s, she seems to perceive “free and loving” as something unusual in Christianity. And she says that BEING a Christian. I know, with this congregation, love is hardly rare, but I consider myself greatly blessed to have landed in this church. I’ve always taken my faith quite seriously, but I couldn’t always stomach the company of my brothers and sisters in Christ. And if I’m honest, I myself have been guilty of not being known for my love. "They'll Know We Are Christians" by Father Peter Scholtes, written shortly after the Vatican II Council, based on John 13:35, was a standard in youth group when I was growing up. That’s sadly ironic, as I’m sure the song would have been banned had the grownups known it was written by a Catholic priest. Jesus, in Matthew 24:12, tells us that, “because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” I’ve started to think that this isn’t just talking about the world, it’s in the church. When I look at the context and see that it’s a result of falling away and false prophets, I feel pretty certain it’s a warning about what could happen to us. Lately I’ve been drawn to verses about standing firm in faith. I feel the times are growing darker and fear that my own faith isn’t as strong as it should be. In looking over the many passages about holding the faith, I think my favorite is 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. “Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” I think the secret to strength in these times will be being known for our love. In His Name, Mikal
When we arrived at KCH, 20 children from ages 9 to 19 greeted us with friendly smiles. This is a relatively quiet time in the KCH history, as they are licensed for 50 children and have had up to 70 living there in the past! Since its beginning, KCH has cared for hundreds of children who were victims of abuse and neglect, removed from their homes by the Belizean court system, and cared for by a loving and selfless staff.
With 20 kids, we got to engage with them and get to know them on an individual level. Each of us was assigned to a group of kids for the week. Our days began at 5:30 AM, joining the children for their morning devotions before breakfast. They would sing and pray and recite memory verses. We didn't do any evangelizing, as it was clear that our Heavenly Father had adopted these kids into His family long before we arrived! On Sunday, we spent the afternoon swimming and horseback riding with the children as a special gift from the congregation of 1st Pres. After breakfast, the children went off to school while we 1st Pressers got to work. The facility was clean and well-cared for but worn by time and use. The windows had no mosquito screens (having been kicked in by errant soccer balls), railings were falling down, paint was dirty and chipping, doors were splintering, and their internet service was unreliable. We had plenty of work to do to make this home safer and more comfortable for these amazing kids. Each day, we worked in the hot sun (between torrential downpours), enjoying the camaraderie. We built relationships within our team and with the KCH staff. Each of us had our roles on the team that came so naturally. Sometimes, in the afternoons, we'd travel around the local area meeting amazing people and seeing their ministries at work. With the Gotz Mission Grant, our church has supported First Stone Church in opening a church-based preschool. This is preparing to open this coming fall, with plans for an entire K-12 system over the next few years. We met ladies who teach sewing courses for free, giving women the means to support their families. We spent an afternoon working with a church group from Ohio to build a home for the elderly in the Valley of Peace. We met teachers who care for El Salvadoran and Guatemalan refugee children. We were witnesses to God’s hand working around Belize. God protected our travels around the country, but we had a few hiccups: getting stuck in the mud and replacing a flat tire on the highway. But each evening, we got back to KCH safely to have devotions with the kids again and stuffed ourselves with delicious Belizean dinners before our own group prayers and devotions! At the end of the week, when all was said and done, KCH looked fresher. The girls were delighted to have doors for their bedrooms and bathrooms that worked. The dining room and "cool-down" room had new paint and looked so much brighter. The main building with all the common areas had mosquito screens again. The WIFI system had been improved and extended to cover the whole living area. After a week we were proud of the work we had done, but we were more impacted by the time we spent with the KCH kids and staff. It was tough to say our goodbyes to such wonderful people. We took some time to explore a Mayan ruin and took a boat trip out to the islands and reefs to fish and snorkel. The rest of the evening, we debriefed and prayed. Then we packed our bags and began the journey home. We're still processing the trip, and God had different lessons for each of us. We trust that God has used our time there to bless our new friends in Belize and grow us individually. Thank you for your prayers and continued support for this exciting mission of a new relationship with the King’s Children’s Home. We can't wait to see where He leads our congregation next! In His Name, Paul |
