According to the UPS tracking website the yard signs for this years VBS will arrive at the church today. We’ll start handing them out tomorrow, or you can just wait and pick one up this coming Sunday. For various reasons, I think this is one of the most effective means of advertising not only VBS, but the church as a whole. I’m looking forward to seeing them all around town.
The Pews Have Entered the Building
Today we picked up the pews from the Caney Assembly of God Church. The plan is to have them stripped and refinished and attach new pew ends that better match the empire style of the sanctuary. It was a very full day’s work. Thanks to Dave Larimore, Brian Walker, Larry Traxson, Gail Traxson (moral support), Jeff Allen, Heather Allen (moral support), Jared Dobbins, Amanda Allen (moral support) and Tregor Wiziarde.
Voice of the Day: Ellen Charry
Via The Drama of Doctrine by Keven Vanhoozer:
“To become a Christian is to be taken up into the drama of God’s plan for Creation.”
— Ellen Charrey, By the Renewing of Your Minds.
Online VBS Registration
If you prefer to register for Vacation Bible School (VBS) online that option is available here. Click on “Participant Registation” on the left side of the page.
Link: http://www.cokesburyvbs.com/galactic-blast/CoffeyvilleFirst
VBS Letter and Registration
In 2009, 74 kids had a great time at Camp E.D.G.E. (Experience & Discover God Everywhere). We’re looking forward to another God centered, educational, and fun-filled week of V.B.S. this Summer on July 12-16, 2010. We’ll be using Cokesbury’s Galactic Blast curriculum. There will be Bible stories, songs, skits, crafts, snacks, recreation, science, and more. The letter to parents, guardians, and grandparents and a registration form are available for download in .pdf format from the downloads page.
Sunday Dinner
The UMW is sponsoring a Chicken Noodle Dinner this Sunday, June 27, 2010 following the 10:50 worship service. Everyone is invited and donations to missions will be accepted and appreciated.
We're Back
We forgot to announce this when it was more timely, but when the appointments were fixed at Annual Conference, Jenny and I were again appointed to Coffeyville First. Needless to say, we’re glad to be back.
Funeral Services for Cornelia Davis
Funeral Services for Cornelia Davis Will be held at 2 pm tomorrow (Monday, June 21, 2010) in the Penwell-Gabel Chapel.
Voice of the Day: Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
Via Sojourners:
Prayer is no panacea, no substitute for action. It is, rather, like a beam thrown from a flashlight before us into the darkness. It is in this light that we who grope, stumble, and climb, discover where we stand, what surrounds us, and the course which we should choose.
— Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, from his book Man’s Quest for God
Sanctuary Pews
At last Wednesday’s meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of solid oak pews from the Assembly of God Church (AOG) in Caney. They will be refinished and fitted with new ends custom made to resemble those of the original pews. Once complete they will replace the theater seats in the lower level of the sanctuary.
The trustees discussed several issues regarding the installation of pews:
- Many of the current theater seats are badly in need of repair.
- The cost of purchasing and refinishing the pews from the Caney AOG will be approximately half that of buying new pews while providing substantial environmental benefits.
- Pews are safer and more comfortable for small children.
- The aisle layout will be retained, but made wider.
- Spaces for wheelchairs we be provided throughout.
- Seat cushions will be available.
A Possible Example for the West Lot
I was really happy to have the Coffeyville Public Library use the west lot for the kick-off of their summer reading program. I was also happy to see students from CCC using it this evening (or at least I assume they were CCC students). It turns out that Ottawa Trinity United Methodist Church (pictured above) has also been working to provide a more inviting space for their community. The conference website has the story.
We continue to discuss possible names for the west lot. It seems that “Memorial Park” has connotations of a cemetary and the Memorial Day holiday. Another possibility that has been raised is “Wesley Park.” Let us know if you have any thoughts.
Summer Reading Thank You's
We received not one, but two thank you cards from the Coffeyville Public Library thanking us for the use of the west lot for the summer reading program kick-off party. The first from Janie Hearson:
Thank you very much for your contribution to the Coffeyville Public Library’s Summer Reading Program — Make a Splash – Read! it is very much appreciated!
The second was from Jennifer Dalton, Library Director:
Thank you for allowing the Coffeyville Public Library to use your [west lot] for our Summer Reading Kick-Off Party. Our theme this year is Make a Splash … Read!
The children had a wonderful time getting wet as they played water games on the hot summer day.
We had over 100 children sign-up for summer reading at the party.
Thank you for making this successful event possible.