Greenwich Presbyterian Church

E-Newsletter

Friday, August 10, 2007

“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”  Jude 20-21

Announcements

Calling all members of the

Greenwich church family!!

Congregational Meeting

Sunday, August 12th

12:15 p.m.

In the Sanctuary

The Session has called a congregational meeting for the purposes of:

1) Electing Eric Beckman as Associate Pastor, and

2) Electing the 2007 Congregational Nominating Committee.

The Associate Pastor Nominating Committee warmly invites the Greenwich church family to “meet and greet”

Eric Beckman, our Associate Pastor candidate, and his family!

Saturday, August 11^th

6:30 – 8:00pm

Fellowship Hall

Eric will be preaching at all three services on Sunday, August 12^th.  At 12:15pm we will hold a congregational meeting in the Sanctuary to elect Eric as our new Associate Pastor!

A Mission Trip at Home

On Saturday, August 11^th, Greenwich Presbyterian Church will host Mary’s Family.  This is an opportunity for you to do some mission work without going far from home. You only have to go as far as the church – it’s like a mission trip coming to you!

Mary’s Family is an organization which provide provides respite care for families with children and adolescence that have disabilities.  The respite care is offered monthly on the second Saturday of each month at area churches.  Some of the other churches that are assisting Mary’s family are Church of the Latter Day Saints (Warrenton), Sudley United Methodist Church (Catharpin) and Grace Church (Casanova).

So what do you do if you volunteer for Mary’s Family?  You have the opportunity to make a new friend.  It could be a child in a wheelchair or one who loves to run.  The child may be happy or he may be sad.  No matter what kind of child he is you will make a friend for the day.  You will also have the opportunity to meet and talk with a most interesting group of parents.  They are people who have been given special challenges in their lives and handle it well.  But they need help.  And you will be there to give it to them. 

So now you’ve decided to join the group of respite volunteers at the church.  What do you do?  First, contact Charlie (703-393-9384) or e-mail ccoe@greenwichpres.org.  He will sign you up and get you a short volunteer application which needs to be completed before the respite.  Then you can prepare yourself for the event.  Martha Toomey, Executive Director of Mary’s Family suggests watching a bit of Mr. Roger’s neighborhood.  “Why?” you ask.  Martha says that it will get you in the tone of the day.  A respite day doesn’t always look like Mr. Roger’s neighborhood but the quiet steady tone of the staff and volunteers keep help to set that mood.

Please come join us in our mission trip at home.  It is your opportunity to give a smile to a child and some needed respite to a parent.  You will surely receive at least one smile in return too!

Angela Knight and Wayne Houk

In Concert!

Saturday, September 1^st

7:00pm

Greenwich Presbyterian Church

Free-will offering will be taken to benefit the Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department

 in Bristow.

NURSERY ATTENDANT OPENING

We are looking for someone to join us in the nursery as we provide care to children during worship services and other church-related events in a manner that ensures child safety, comfort and ease. Care is provided to infants, toddlers and preschoolers on Sunday mornings and at other times during the week, as needed. 

Bring your own children to work with you, and earn extra income while they play with their friends.

For information regarding pay rate and hours, please contact Pamela Quinones at nursery@greenwichpres.org or 703/754-7933 for more information.  Deadline for applications is August 19^th.

Chancel Choir Retreat

Saturday, September 8^th

9:00am to 2:00pm

Trinity Episcopal Church

Upperville, VA

Guest Clinician

Gisele Becker

Childcare provided.

Gisele Becker is one of the Washington area’s leading choral conductors.  The Washington Post says Becker “has molded her group into a well-balanced and responsive ensemble…focused, intelligent music-making…”.  Ms. Becker has been the Music Director of the Cantate Chamber Singers since January 1994.  She is on the faculty of The Catholic University of America as a conducting professor.  She also serves as Director of Choral Activities at The George Washington University where she conducts the University Singers.  For 26 years Ms. Becker served as assistant conductor of The Washington Bach Consort and has also served as Chorus Master for the Cathedral Choral Society. 

GPC Women’s Retreat Registration

September 28-30, 2007

This is your time to relax and be filled with God’s spirit.

Join us for a wonderful, restful weekend !

We are will be ordering books for the retreat the end of August.

If you are planning to attend, please let us know.

For more information please contact:

Mary Ivie  703-754-2923 (mcivie@hotmail.com)

~ ATTENTION ~

Dads and others

not attending the Women’s Retreat

Sunday School Volunteers are needed

for Sunday, September 30.

Please contact Joy Yates by September 16

in person, e-mail (joyyates@greenwichpres.org)

 or call the Church.

Thanks from Farthest Corners

                While it seems like a dream that Austin was here for six weeks and has already been back in Thailand for three, his visit was real and uplifting for the Farthest Corners team as well as the entire Greenwich community. His humility about the work he is doing to bring Christ’s love to the internally displaced people of Burma moved all who heard him speak and those who had an opportunity to visit with him personally.

                The Farthest Corners Board of Directors would like to thank every person who contributed in any way to make Austin‘s furlough meaningful and rewarding. A few special groups need to be recognized: the Church staff who met Austin’s needs for equipment and printing for presentations; the nine families who hosted Austin’s forums – he said  they were the highlight of his trip; the Congregational Life team that arranged the farewell picnic/birthday celebration; to Dale and Lisa House for organizing the barbecue as well as the many ladies in the Circles who baked desserts for the event; and the  people who invited him for meals or just friendly conversation. We are also grateful to the many folks who made donations to Farthest Corners, making it possible for Austin to take care of some immediate needs for the people on his return to Thailand. This is in addition to projects already funded through the FC budget.

                At our Board meeting August 6, we had a wonderful telephone conversation with Austin. He is well, preparing for a trip inside to determine immediate needs and to plan for mission outreach for next year. He expressed his joy at the time he was able to spend here with his family and the Greenwich family. He specifically asked that we request your prayers for the humanitarian relief needs of the Burmese people, particularly medicine and rice. We continue to solicit your prayers for continued good health and strength for Austin and for travel mercies during the coming weeks while he is personally delivering aid to the people whom God has chosen him to serve and love.

Greenwich is a powerful “Sending” church. Pastor Meeks’ sermons throughout July reminded us all of the responsibility God places on us to be in mission. Because Austin has made us acutely aware of the pain and suffering of the Burmese people, we now know and are called to respond. We ask your continued prayers for this ministry to which God has called us. He has blessed us in many ways. We continue to seek His wisdom and invite you to join us in praying for and supporting this outreach from Greenwich to the farthest corners of the world.

                In His service,

Becky Whitelock for the Farthest Corners Board of Directors

Opportunities for Study, Service and Fellowship

Welcome! — This Sunday, we welcome Eric Beckman to the pulpit this morning as our Associate Pastor candidate.  Eric, his wife Becky, and sons Ryan and Eli, have been living in North Carolina while Eric completed his Master of Divinity degree. 

Family Movie Night — Join us for our 1st family movie night on the big screen!  Friday, August 24th.  Doors open at 6:30pm, and the movie begins at 6:45pm.  We’ll be watching the Chronicles of Narnia (rated pg).  Bring your blankets, pillows, and lawn chairs.  We’ll provide the popcorn and beverages.  Admission is free.

No Jr. Church Sunday— We have put together Wee Worship Kits for the kids to use.  These are located in the back of the sanctuary.  Please return these to the back of the sanctuary, so they’ll be there for the next service.  Wee Church for children ages 2-preK will continue year round.

In Concert — Angela Knight and Wayne Houk will be performing in concert at Greenwich on Saturday, September 1st, at 7:00pm.  Admission is free, but a free-will offering will be taken to benefit the Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department.

All Youth!!! — All Jr. and Sr. Highs are invited to join us for youth group next Sunday, August 19th, at 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall.  Dinner is provided.  Please contact Chasity Spittle at youth@greenwichpres.org for more information. 

                5:00pm Youth Band Practice

                5:30pm Youth Choir Practice

                6:00pm Youth Group 

Youth Group Kick Off Party!  - Join us on Sunday, September 9th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.  All youth — grades 6 to 12.  Dinner will be provided.

Youth Group Save the Date — Our youth retreat (Jr. and Sr. Highs) will take place on October 19th to 21st at Camp Meadowkirk.  More information will follow.

Congratulations! — Congratulations to Keith and Jodi Lindley on the birth of twins, Savannah Grace and Sidney Robert on August 2nd.

Second Saturday — The Second Saturday group will not meet in August.  Our next get-together will take place on September 8th, at 6:00pm, in Fellowship Hall.

Special Music — This Sunday we welcome Chris Keller on violin.

Chancel Choir — Chancel Choir rehearsals resume Wednesday, September 5th, at 7:15pm.  All are welcome to join! 

Chancel Choir Retreat — All are invited to attend our Chancel Choir Retreat on Saturday, September 8th, from 9:00am to 2:00pm.  We’ll be “retreating” to Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville.  Our guest clinician is Gisele Becker.  Childcare will be provided.  For more information, contact Lon Quinones at music@greenwichpres.org or 703.754.7933.

Men’s Fellowship — Please join us each Friday from 6:30 to 7:30am in Fellowship Hall for bible study and fellowship.  For more information, contact Paul Ruby at 703.753.1492.

Green Thumb?  — Would you like to be part of an ongoing gardening crew at Greenwich?  We need a few volunteers to help us weed and plant occasionally.  If interested, please sign up on the volunteer bulletin board outside the front office, or contact Paula Cooper at volunteers@greenwichpres.org.

August Mission Collection — This month we are collecting for the Fauquier Family Shelter.  The items requested this month are:  healthy snack items for kids, and juice boxes.  As always, they will accept any food donations. 

Plant-A-Row — The collection for Plant-A-Row for the Hungry has begun and will run through mid-October.  Please bring your vegetables and fruit to church.  There will be a collection cart out in front of the sanctuary.

Women’s Retreat — We’re continuing to sign up ladies who would like to attend.  If you’d like to find out more, see our registration table in Fellowship Hall.

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“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."  James 1:23-24

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