​Within a few minutes of reading this verse, I am strengthened and encouraged. It reminds me that, while we do live in a broken world, we also live in a world that is made by, sustained by, and loved by a good and faithful God! I can trust that.

Have a Terrific Tuesday,
Naomi :-)

“So don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. 
 Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  full schedule with many activities and events that I have to be at in a period of time. Or maybe it’s busy in my mind — a long to-do list (that will maybe get done) or the endless emails or scheduling that need to be handled. Or perhaps it’s just the never-ending “I wish I had time for” list that sometimes occupies my head and makes me feel busy. Whatever it might be, sometimes life is really busy.

Lately, I have been noticing my tendency to find chaos in the latter, wishing I had time for things, feeling like I’m lagging in my ability to simply stop and live and enrich my life outside of the necessities. “I wish I had time to bake cookies with my kids, I wish I had time to go for a quiet hike by myself, I wish I had time to sit at the piano and play for pleasure not for work, I wish I wish I wish”. In other words, I create a sense of busyness in my mind out of those things I cannot find time for instead of simply living in the day and time I am in.

Each night I spend a little time with each of my kids before they go to bed. My nine-year-old son, Clark, has a book that I occasionally read from to him, called “The Jesus Storybook Bible”. This particular night I chose to read the chapter entitled, “The Singer” which was all about the Sermon on the Mount. After reading the chapter, we opened his Bible to a few of the passages from Matthew of Jesus preaching this same sermon. I read specifically through Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus talks about worrying and how futile it is to do so. After all, he takes care of the wildflowers and the birds, why wouldn’t he take care of you?

While that whole passage is so wonderful, the one verse that really stuck out to me this time was Verse 34:
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“So don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
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Isn’t that so true?!? I felt like I should probably put that on my wall to read every day!

Life is truly busy, there is no question about that. I wonder though — what would happen if we could set aside our worry and our endless list of things we wish we could do, or feel guilty about not having time for, and focus only on our day and tasks at hand? Would we have a better perspective on being busy?

I wonder if we could take our list of guilts and wishes and turn them into hope. Hope for our future, joy for what may come, and confidence that, as Jesus says, “Tomorrow will worry about itself”.

In His Name, Jenny

As with the members of the early church, fellowship gatherings can occur in different ways - large or small, one-on-one or Bible study groups, conferences, or retreats.

On Friday evening and Saturday, October 4-5, I participated, with a joyful heart, in such a fellowship gathering as over 70 1st Pres women came together at the Women’s Conference. What sights and sounds to behold! The laughter, the joy, the hugs, the love. The conversations, the teachings, the connections.

As Presbyterians, we love communing over a meal and Friday evening didn’t disappoint. After checking in at the registration desk, we gathered in the gym for a pleasant dinner before moving into the sanctuary to open conference with worship, uplifting praise music, and Bonnie Piovesan as the keynote kickoff presenter. She led us on a journey about connecting with landmarks in the Old Testament and New Testament, finishing with … “Is there an OT landmark that resonates with you and why?” Is there a NT landmark that God may be calling you to hold onto?”

We moved into Krueger Hall where we spent time contemplating and discussing Bonnie’s questions. During this “Connection Hour”, we also had fun reading the inspiring “connect” questions with women at our tables and then pinning our answers up on the “Post It” wall to share with the congregation. Connecting with two women at my table who I had seen many times, but never spoken with, was very special. 

Saturday was a day full of learning, sharing, contemplation, prayer, insight, and building friendships. After some participated in the Neighborhood Prayer Walk (one of Yvette’s favorite activities), we shared a great meal and were blessed with a swag bag filled with wonderful treasures like a prayer journal and a delightfully fragrant moisturizer.

Once we all settled down from the excitement of our swag bag treasures (and in some cases swapping items), we gathered in the sanctuary to listen to our keynote speaker, Laurie Short. With many women having read one or more of her books and/or heard her preach at 1st Pres, we were excited to hear Laurie present “The Community God Wants Us to Be”. She did not disappoint! We then spent time discussing key points that would help us better connect as a community.

Afterward, we were introduced to the four “Prayer Stations: Exploring Ways to Pray” set up by Susan Lauer. A detailed brochure helped us move through each thought-inspiring station giving us new, different ways to experience prayer. Thank you, Susan, for this meaningful encounter!

Later in the day, after fun fellowship time over lunch, we moved to our assigned breakout sessions where we explored topics of “Breath Prayer”, “Target of Courage”, and “Faith Like A Web” presented by Yvette Wyatt, Bonnie Piovesan and Kierstie Renninger, respectively. There is not enough space in this blog to describe these thought-provoking, informative sessions. (The presenters would be happy to chat with you about them.)
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To close out the conference each woman chose a prayer partner continuing the idea of connection with the hope of carrying it forward to 2025, in the context of a women’s two-day retreat. (S’mores over the campfire anyone?!)

It’s hard to express the moments of vulnerability, thoughtfulness, joy, friendship, and, of course, connection I saw during the conference…seeing several women sitting quietly in the youth room praying while listening to soft music (“Contemplative Centering Prayer Station”) or asking each other the “Get To Know You” questions and hearing some surprising answers or small touches like scripture trivia cards on the tables as conversation starters.

It was such a pleasure to be part of the planning team and attend this event with the beautiful, faithful women of 1st Pres. May we stay connected every day and throughout the years to come. Blessings and Prayers!

P.S. It was gratifying and encouraging to receive positive verbal and written feedback about the amount of work put into this event and appreciation for the level of professionalism, imagination, and thought put toward organizing it all. The Planning Team was touched by these expressions of appreciation!

In His Name, Cheryl
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Much Thanks & Gratitude to:
The Planning Committee - Ann Smart, Bonnie Piovesan, Kierstie Renninger, Naomi White, Susan Lauer, Teri Burch & Yvette Wyatt; Janet Starkey for creative, timely marketing & promotion materials; amazing volunteers (too many to name!) for set up/tear down, meal prep, registration, & more; generous sponsors - Adult Discipleship Committee, Deacons, Presbyterian Women & Session; photographer - Justeen Moran; & swag bag donors - Karyn Smyth (handmade bags) & Sue Lauer (Just Like Jane tallow whip); for helping make this such a wonderful event.

​most pressing challenges for families. The evening began with a keynote address by Tyson Durbin, who shared valuable perspectives on how social media impacts children’s development and family dynamics.

Following the address, a panel of experts, Tyson – Therapist at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, Katie Simmons – Director of the ICARE Parenting Program at St Vincent de Paul, and Rosa Mettler – COO of Canopy Village, discussed practical strategies for guiding children through the complexities of online life while fostering healthy boundaries and values rooted in faith. Topics ranged from managing screen time to promoting open communication and nurturing spiritual growth in a digital age.  We are so blessed to have such gifted professionals in our community who are willing to share their wisdom.

Next, meet Jan Morris, our Lead Shopper. Jan directs our shoppers to scour the community and online stores for the best clothing deals our dollars can buy.  She instructs them in all the details of styles, sizes, and the number of items to purchase.  Jan shared her experience with the Closet, “The Shoppers have been busy filling in inventory holes as clients, the children, excitedly gather their back-to-school clothes, outerwear, and footwear.  I love shopping for these kids; we are definitely doing God’s work in helping these children feel equal to their schoolmates with new, fresh, and necessary clothing and personal items.  We often get clients who have never been shopping in their lives, and to see their faces light up while hand-picking items to their heart’s desire always makes me feel warm.  They often have very tough lives to live, but liking how they look fills a necessary place in their hearts.  The Closet is simply an amazing experience.”

Megan Marvel, along with many other volunteers, arrives at the assigned time of the shopping appointment and takes on the role of the personal shoppers (closeteers) for the children and their families. She assists with the selection of clothing in the right sizes and the choice of age-appropriate hygiene and laundry products — a week’s worth of each. But, most importantly she engages children and family members in open-ended conversations demonstrating our true interest of serving others while getting to know the families. “I am deeply blessed to be able to serve in the 1st Pres Neighborhood Closet.  I feel a witness to the Holy Spirit with each family served in that bright, happy basement. Often times shoppers arrive a bit reserved or unsure of what they are about to experience and, as their shopping trip unfolds, you literally see shoulders drop and relax, and smiles frequently appearing on the their faces. I know I am biased, but I truly feel families leave our church with expectations met far above and beyond what they hoped.”

As Co-chairs, Connie Boni and I, do the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep this ministry going year to year.  We opened our doors in October 2022 and are now heading into October 2024 continuing to serve at-risk children and families in our community.   We have had 148 families set up appointments. Those families brought 232 children to the Closet.  Connie remarked, “I have been so fortunate to have worked as a shopper, a closeteer (personal shopper) and now as a Co-chair with Gina. It has been so rewarding to witness how much our church continually supports this mission. I have enjoyed meeting with CDA School District counselors and personnel, and many nonprofit organizations to inform them of what we can provide to children and families in need. It touches my heart every single time I've worked with the children and seen how happy they are to receive their new clothes.”  I replied, “The gift our Heavenly Father has given me the opportunity to lead in this Ministry. It has taught me so much about the human aspect of multi-generations coming together to serve our community in a very respectful and dignified way.  Together we are learning how to invite people into relationships built on our LOVE 1st philosophy!”

There are many more people who support this Ministry through volunteering, monetary donations, and prayers, but they could not possibly be named individually. We apologize and wish to express our deepest thanks for your continued support.

You are showing Christ’s grace through your service of care.

Blessing to all,
Gina