More than any other event I’ve participated in during my nearly five years here, the Centennial

Celebration generated more emails, calls, stops on the street, recalls of fond memories and

echoes of thanks. What fun to hear the stories! What fun to learn a little bit more of the rich

history! What fun to walk the Gray children around the manse and hear of their growing up years!

From the history lesson to the feast of food, the celebration was a delight. And the best part of the celebration is that it was done in the way church works best – together. I may have convened a

committee and made a few check-in phone calls, but many, many others stepped out and contributed

to the day. The clear work of the body of Christ working well, across miles and meetings and different

ideas, is the great gift of the Holy Spirit among us. Thank you to each of you who listened to the

voice of God in your life and joined in our day of pausing and giving glory to God. May we continue to

pause, listen, follow, and give glory to God!

Hear the celebration continue through this email from Carl Gray I received a few days after April 27:

Sunday was very special, so well planned and executed and full of appreciation

and praise for what God has and will do at FPC Philipsburg. Thanks again to you

and to the wonderful congregation. We could not be more pleased with the way

you have honored and remembered our father and mother, the portrait, the

dedication of patio and parlor, the worship, and the wonderful food and fellowship.

Well done good and faithful servants.

Carl

Yes! Well done, indeed!

P.S. If you would like a recap of the day, or want to pass it on to someone who couldn’t attend,

the church is taking orders for a 2-hour DVD Gary Barnett graciously filmed and edited as a

gifted videographer. Please contact the church to place an order for $20 per DVD.

NOTE: If this newsletter has been passed to you by one of our members as an

introduction to our church, we welcome the opportunity to get to know you

better through coming to worship with us. Our Sunday worship service begins

every Sunday at 10:30 AM, with Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 AM. Our

church is located on Presqueisle Street between 5^th and 6^th Streets, with parking

behind the building or on the street.

 

 

JOIN US!

If you are interested in joining the church in June,

please contact Pastor Tracie for more information.

May winds up the school year and tends to accelerate family life, but several volunteers

still find time to step forward to help at the church. To the Presbyterian Women and

volunteers who do the Spring flower sales … thanks! To Marty Bullis, Jim Gearhart,

Bob Branstetter, Don Blake and the men who organized the Mother-Child banquet … thanks!

To the youth of our church who led worship May 18 … thanks! To Jen Starner and the Sunday School,

who made sure every woman in church had a gift on Mother’s Day … thanks! To the Deacons,

who celebrated the Sonshine Bell Ringers with the gift of a DelGrosso day … thanks!

To Bill Moore for preaching May 4 … thanks! To Holly Kithcart and Barb Little, who took on

the Kitchen Fund Pasta Dinner … thanks!

Total Offering and Income to the General Fund $ 8,616.99

Total Expenses from the General Fund $10,922.80

Deficit for April $ (2,305.81)

1) Earmarked $100.00 for the Sonshine Ringers’ trip to DelGrosso

2) Centennial Celebration was discussed with everyone in agreement that the day was so wonderful. A big thank you went out to everyone who was involved in any way. We were especially happy that the Gray children could be with us to share in the special dedication in honor of their parents, Rev. Carl & Betty Gray.

3) $100.00 went to the kitchen committee for the Celebration meal.

4) Will make a contribution to Korean eye surgery.

5) May 15-Mother/Child Banquet at 6 p.m.

6) May 18 - Youth Sunday Luncheon

7) May 22 - Kitchen fundraiser/Spaghetti dinner (eat in or take out) Adults $5 or 2 children for $5

8) June 8 - Woody World picnic

9) Heritage Days - May have a booth to sell the tickets for Joy Branstetter’s print and Mary Kay lotion

10) Raffle tickets are presently being sold for the Philipsburg print by Joy Branstetter,

funds will go toward the kitchen fund.

• Paid for sanctuary carpet cleaning.
• DVD’s of Church Celebration for sale at $20 each. Profit goes into Kitchen Fund.
• Other Kitchen fundraisers: Painting raffle, name plate sale, and Mary Kay lotion set.
• Organ and Piano in sanctuary need maintenance work done.
• Investigating Church copier needs and costs involved.
• Reviewed current Trusts, investments, and budget concerns.

OFFICER MEETINGS for JUNE (in the parlor)

Deacons: Tuesday, June 3^rd @ 7:00 p.m.

Session: Tuesday, June 10^th @ 7:00 p.m.

Trustees: Tuesday, June 17^th @ 7:00 p.m.

PW: To Be Announced

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

1 – Madelen Bullis 24 – Todd Reed

5 – Robert Viehdorfer 24 – Edward K. Good

10 – Lisa Coble 24 – Pat Milsom

13 – Nathan Lesko 25 – Colleen Viehdorfer

18 – Dylan Viehdorfer 26 – David Moore

18 – Susan Millward 26 – Todd Jeffries

21 – Ed Jones 27 – Bonnie Rodgers

23 – Mary Shirey 28 Matthew Bordas

23 – John Freeman 28 – Ilo Warg

 

 

9^th – David and Sally Laux – 24 years

11^th – Dave and Jackie Houser – 31 years

11^th – Walt and Lisa Chorle – 20 years

17^th – Lynn and Mary Gilham – 30 years

24^th – Tom and Gigi Sayers – 35 years

29^th – Richard and Karen Wood – 34 years

SUMMER CHILDREN’S CHURCH

Our Children’s Church held during the Summer Worship Service

for infants to children entering kindergarten will be faithfully held

all summer long. We ask for two adult volunteers to sign up for

just one week over the summer to offer this ministry to families.

This summer, the children will be learning in a fun way through

Veggie Tale videos. Please sign up on the church bulletin board

or speak with Susan Harris.

 

For 4 years now, the congregation has given the titles of favorite hymns.

From this list, summer hymns will be selected so we can enjoy a variety of favorites.

SUMMER KICK-OFF PICNIC

The Deacons are holding our Summer Kick-Off Picnic at Dick and Karen Wood’s house in Gearhartville on Sunday, June 8 at Noon. All are welcome and asked to bring a covered dish. Hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided. After lunch, the pool and baseball fields will be open for fun and play all afternoon. If you plan to attend, please sign up at the church or call the church office (342-0812).

Women of the church are seeking to reciprocate

for the lovely Mother’s Dinner given by several men

of the church by hosting a Men and Children breakfast

on Saturday, June 14 at 7:30 AM. Please sign up in church

or call the church office to make your reservation.

While our church is not sponsoring a Relay team this year, we are supporting the event

in our community through a donation and inviting you to support other Relay for Life teams and

visit the Relay on Saturday, June 23.

PASTOR’S VACATION

Pastor Tracie and her family will be away visiting Tracie’s family on the West Coast June 18-27. Please refer pastoral care needs to Jeff Eyet, Clerk of Session (342-0317).

 

As a church, we covenant to nurture our children in the faith, and part of that is our sponsorship to

children to go to Krislund Camp. Please pray for these children and their summer camp experience:

Main Camper for June 22-28 is Kayla McCreadie.

Main Campers for July 6-13 include Eliot and Ethan Reed, Noah Jeffries, and Skylar Moore.

Mini Campers for July 27-29 include Hunter Ammerman, Ryker and Madelen Bullis, Gretchen Little,

and Todd Reed.

In addition, our church gave two camper scholarships to children who wanted to go, but could not afford it.

SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL BREAK

For July and August, Sunday School will take a break, while our worship service time will move to 9:30 AM on Sundays. The Children’s Church ministry during worship WILL continue to be offered for worship ministry to our families with children entering Kindergarten and younger.

 

Several adults are volunteering at Krislund for all or parts of the week of July 13-19.

This is a great week of fun and friendship while serving children. If you would like to

join this group, contact Darrell or Helen Hollis (342-3376).

Our church has been given the opportunity to adopt

a Krislund Summer Staff Counselor for the summer as

a local church support. If you are willing to email, pray for,

or prepare a care package for our Counselor, please contact Pastor Tracie.

Eric and Danielle Schwarz graduated this May from Penn State University with Eric earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Danielle earned a PhD in Nuclear Engineering, which adds to her Masters of Science in Nuclear Engineering and Bachelor of Arts in Math and Physics. Well done!

KITCHEN FUND

The Kitchen Fund is approaching the halfway mark with $14,381.72 in the fund, as of May 15, 2008. Any donation of any amount is welcome. The Kitchen Committee has just completed a pasta dinner fundraiser and offering Centennial Celebration DVDs for $20 each. Plus, they are still offering Memorial/Honorary Name Plates for $250 each. Other fundraising efforts will be planned this summer to carry out in the Fall. Thank you for your support of this project!