THE CALL
Fairmont Presbyterian Church THOUGHTS FROM BRIAN Your God is Too Small During the week of June 10-14 our Vacation Bible School will be exploring the ministry of Paul in the city of Athens. The Acts of the Apostles’ chapter seventeen records a snippet of Paul’s sermon on the hill of Ares, next to the Acropolis in Athens. Paul explained to the Athenians that behind all their learned philosophies, science, and sophisticated mythologies lay something bigger, deeper, and more mysterious. Behind all their yearnings for truth was God. Paul understood the Athenians’ spiritual longing to know truth and connect with something more. He could see it in every temple they built. But all their temples and all their idols were merely monuments to human desires and projections. The one true god was beyond all personifications and descriptions. The one true God was not merely another thing that existed. The one true God was the one who made existence itself. Dionysius, one of Paul’s converts in Athens, carried this idea even further. God is always beyond all our ideas about God. Everything we have ever thought or could ever think about God is insufficient and inadequate because God is always and necessarily more than that. All our descriptions and attributes of God are, at best, metaphors for one who is not only beyond all our artistic depictions, but also beyond all our mental constructions. Dionysius called this new way of contemplating a bigger awareness of God, “hidden” theology, except he used the Greek word for hidden and simply called it, “Mystical.” Paul preached, “in God we live and move and have our being.” God is the ground of all being without whom nothing would or could exist. This is a much bigger idea than God as an old man on a cloud with a long white beard. The amazing thing is that this source of all that is, who is so far beyond us, comes for us.
June/July 2019 Volume 74, Issue 5
NOTES FROM KELLEY For our summer preaching focus, Pastor Brian and I will be preaching from the rich, narrative stories of the Old Testament book of Genesis. The Jewish tradition names the first book of the Hebrew scriptures after the first word of the text, Beresheit, meaning in the beginning. The Christian tradition names the first book of the Bible as Genesis, from the Greek translation of the Hebrew, meaning origin or birth. Both traditions mark the beginning or birth of the Bible and the beginning of all of creation. Together we will journey through the stories of creation (did you know there are two creation stories), the garden of Eden, the fall of humankind, Noah and the flood, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers. In God’s story, we find our story. Through the narrative stories of the Bible we find our life stories woven throughout the joy and sorrow, the faithfulness and betrayal, the healing and brokenness of the people of God. These are our stories, and this is our God. The narrative scripture lessons are often longer passages than the Common Revised Lectionary passages from which we usually preach, so we will be reading the scriptures in new ways this summer – children and youth readings, congregational response readings, and readings spread throughout the entire sermon. Come join us for a summer of finding our story in God’s story. Pastor Kelley
WORSHIP AND MUSIC June 2: Sacrament of Communion Lesson: Revelations 21 Sermon: “Choosing to Be Not Dead”
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Kidz Korner
June 9: Lesson: Acts 17: 16-34 Sermon: “In Search of a Bigger God” June 16 Lesson: Genesis 1:1-2:4 Sermon: “A Work of Love”
June 23 Lesson: Genesis 2: 4-25 Sermon: “Garden of Eden” June 30 Lesson: Genesis 3: 1-24 Sermon: “You Would Think We Would Have Learned” July 7: Sacrament of Communion Lesson: Genesis 6: 5-22, 8: 6-12, 9: 8-17 Sermon: “Do-Over” July 14 Lesson: Genesis 12: 1-9, 15: 1-6 Sermon: “Growing Up, Leaving Home” July 21 Lesson: Genesis 18: 1-15, 21: 1-7 Sermon: “Promises, Promises” July 28 Lesson: Genesis 22: 1-14 Sermon: “How Far?” Congregational Meeting: Please join us at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall on June 9th for a brief congregational meeting to elect church officers for the next year. Holy, Holy, Holy! One of the most ancient parts of our communion liturgy is the sanctus, which is simply the Latin word for Holy. The sanctus is simply a tiny hymn of praise to God and God’s holiness. A joyous song of praise always sounds more joyous when sung rather than recited, so we are going to sing Holy, Holy, Holy as party of our communion liturgy from now on. You already know the words and you can find the familiar music at 552 in your hymnal. 2
Vacation Bible School 2019 June 10-14, 9am-11am Athens: Paul’s Dangerous Journey to Share the Truth Join us this summer for Vacation Bible School as we travel back in time to ancient Athens! Participants will get the chance to taste authentic Greek snacks, play in the Olympic games, visit a real Athens marketplace filled with fun activities, and meet the apostle Paul to hear all about his journey to share the truth about God’s great love for us! Register now, because slots fill up fast. Visit www.fairmontchurch.org/ Registration for summer camp 2019 at Kirkmont is now open! Kirkmont - "church on the mountain" - is located in Logan County near Bellefontaine and offers many opportunities for school groups, universities, and adult education. Visit https://www.kirkmontcenter.org/ for more information and online registration, and ask Rachel about how to receive help from Fairmont with camp participation fees.
PYC Upcoming PYC events: June 27-28: Overnight at Cincinnati Zoo, open to anyone in grades 3-12. Ask Rachel for details!
July 7-13: Senior High trip to Montreat Youth Conference, Montreat, North Carolina
BUDGET AND STEWARDSHIP Thank You! This month we are hosting VBS, our biggest children’s ministry program of the year. Thank you for your prayers, your volunteering, and your financial support that makes this ministry possible. Over the course of this year, ten new infants will be born to Fairmont member families. In addition to all the little ones who are already with us, we are undergoing something of a baby-boom at Fairmont. Your ongoing support and encouragement will be absolutely critical as we seek to nurture these precious children in God’s love. For many years we have prayed for God to bless our congregation with children. God has answered our prayers. Now it is our turn to step up in ministry and form Christ’s disciples who will take the Gospel into the Twenty Second Century. Your prayers, your labors of love, and your generosity will be essential to our ministries. Thank God and thank you!
Youth Sunday 2019
Senior High Trip to Montreat: During the week of July 713, Fairmont’s youth group, with Pastor Kelley and Christian Educator Rachel Boden, will be going to the Presbyterian national retreat center in Montreat, North Carolina to attend the annual Presbyterian Youth Conference. There they will share in worship, learning, and faith with thousands of young people from across the country. Please be in prayer for Rachel Boden, Kelley Shin, Caroline Buchheit, Natalie Gut, Gabby Schalm, Rosalie Martin, and Max Borneman as they travel to Montreat for a week of spiritual growth and exploration. Thank you for your continued love and support of our youth!
WITHIN THE FELLOWSHIP Address Changes Lucille Helker
Adult Education
Pete Schilling
Pastors’ Bible Study is Moving! Starting on June 5, our weekly Pastors’ Bible study will be moving to 2:00 p.m. each Wednesday afternoon in the Upper Room. Join us each week as we examine the texts for worship for the following Sunday. Final Connections Class: Dionysius in Athens—Your God is Way Too Small: On Wednesday June 12 we will hold our final Connections class for the year in conjunction with our Vacation Bible School. While VBS examines Paul’s ministry in Athens we will be considering Paul’s most famous Athenian convert, Dionysius. Dionysius the Areopagite bridged Paul’s theology with the very best in Greek philosophy to produce a new and highly influential synthesis which he called hidden theology because it was not obvious from either tradition alone. The Greek word for hiddenness is mystical. Come and join us as we go much deeper down the rabbit hole and explore how Paul’s sermon on the hill of Ares led to the foundation of Christian mysticism.
Thank You
To my friends at Fairmont, It is with enormous gratitude and love that I am able to share with you that I am scheduled to receive my degree in a week. It has been an incredible experience. I doubt there ever has been another student who enjoyed the delights and challenges of seminary as much as me. Thank you all so much for your prayers, love, and support. Peace,
Susan Brasier 3
4
7pm: Kettering Civic Band (fh)
Office closes at noon
9am-11am: Vacation Bible School
7pm: Kettering Civic Band (fh)
7pm: Kettering Civic Band (fh)
9:45am: Prayer in the Chapel
8:30am: Casual Service 9:45am: Prayer 10:30am: Traditional
8:30am: Casual Service 9:45am: Prayer 10:30am: Traditional Service
30
7pm: Kettering Civic Band (fh)
noon
23 Office closes at
noon
10:30am: Traditional Service
3 12pm: AA (C)
11am: Fit 4 You (fh)
Tuesday
4
6:30pm: Connections (chapel) 7pm: AA (012)
12pm: OA (rc)
6:30pm: Praise Band
7pm: AA (012)
12pm: AA (C)
(fh)
24 11am: Fit 4 You
7pm: Session (Upper Room)
6:30pm: Connections (chapel)
12pm: OA (rc)
11:30am: Men’s Group (offsite)
7pm: AA (012)
6:30pm: Connections (chapel)
6:30pm: Praise Band
9am-11am: Vacation Bible School
6:30pm: Praise Band
25
18
11
7pm: AA (012)
6:30pm: Connections
6:30pm: Praise Band
7pm: NA (012)
9am-11am: Vacation Bible School
7pm: NA (012)
6pm: NA Banquet (fh)
Thursday
7pm: NA (012)
Group
7
9am-11am: Vacation Bible School
12pm: OA (rc)
(fh)
28
5pm: Theology on Tap (off site)
12pm: OA (rc)
(fh)
21
14
5pm: Theology on Tap (off site)
12pm: OA (rc)
11am: Fit 4 You (fh)
20 11am: Fit 4 You
13
6
Friday
26 1pm: Rug Hooking 27 11am: Fit 4 You
7pm: NA (012)
Crafters
19 1pm: Creative
12
5
Wednesday
12pm: AA (C)
(fh)
7pm: Trustees, B&G, Finance
9am-11am: Vacation Bible School
17 11am: Fit 4 You
10
7pm: Team Meetings
12pm: OA (rc) 6:30pm: WOF Coordinating Team (ur) 6:30pm: Judy’s Recital (cr)
Office closes at noon
16 Office closes at
9
2
Monday
8:30am: Casual Service
10:30am: Traditional Service
10am: Cong. Meeting
9:45am: Prayer in the Chapel
8:30am: Casual Service
10:30am: Traditional Service
9:45am: Prayer in the Chapel
8:30am: Casual Service
Sunday
June
9:30am: Kinship Group (chapel, fh)
Saturday
29
22
15
8
1
5
8:30am: Casual Service 9:45am: Prayer 10:30am: Traditional Service
7pm: Kettering Civic Band (fh)
noon
28 Office closes at
7pm: Kettering Civic Band (fh)
9:45am: Prayer in the Chapel
10:30am: Traditional Service
noon
21 Office closes at
7pm: Kettering Civic Band (fh)
noon
8:30am: Casual Service
10:30am: Traditional Service
9:45am: Prayer in the Chapel
8:30am: Casual Service
14 Office closes at
7pm: Kettering Civic Band (fh)
PYC in Montreat
7pm: Kettering Civic Band (fh)
9:45am: Prayer in the Chapel
10:30am: Traditional Service
1
Tuesday 12pm: AA (C)
11am: Fit 4 You (fh)
12pm: OA (rc)
12pm: AA (C)
(fh)
29 11am: Fit 4 You
7pm: Deacons (ur)
12pm: OA (rc)
12pm: AA (C)
(fh)
22 11am: Fit 4 You
7pm: Session (Upper Room)
30
7pm: AA (012)
6:30pm: Praise Band
7pm: AA (012)
6:30pm: Praise Band
7pm: AA (012)
12pm: OA (rc)
11:30am: Men’s Group (offsite)
6:30pm: Praise Band
23
16
12pm: AA (C)
(fh)
7pm: AA (012)
7pm: Trustees, B&G, Finance
PYC in Montreat
7pm: AA (012)
6:30pm: Praise Band
9
2
Thursday 7pm: NA (012)
Independence Day—Office Closed
31
7pm: NA (012)
Group
5
19
12pm: OA (rc)
(fh)
26
5pm: Theology on Tap (off site)
12pm: OA (rc)
(fh)
18 11am: Fit 4 You
12pm: OA (rc)
11am: Fit 4 You (fh)
Saturday
12 PYC in Montreat
5pm: Theology on Tap (off site)
12pm: OA (rc)
11 PYC in Montreat
4
Friday 11am: Fit 4 You (fh)
24 1pm: Rug Hooking 25 11am: Fit 4 You
7pm: NA (012)
Crafters
17 1pm: Creative
7pm: NA (012)
10 PYC in Montreat
3
Wednesday 6:30pm: Praise Band
11am: Fit 4 You (fh)
PYC in Montreat
15 11am: Fit 4 You
8
12pm: OA (rc) 6:30pm: WOF Coordinating Team (ur) 7pm: Team Meetings
Office closes at noon
7
Monday
Office closes at noon
8:30am: Casual Service
PYC in Montreat
Sunday
July
27
20
13
6
WOMEN OF FAIRMONT Circle Meetings: Most Circles take a break for the summer months; please check with other members if you aren't sure about plans. The following information was available when this issue of the Call was finalized: Circle 1 will meet at Wynn Adam’s home on June 10 at 6pm. Circle 7 will not meet in June. At our Spring Gathering, we enjoyed a talk by Kristy Matheson, an experienced hiker and certified health minister, who shared her faith journey with us. We installed Women of Fairmont Coordinating Team members, thanked Donna Ginader for her service as Moderator, and welcomed Lisa Shearer as our next leader. Brunch was fabulous, as always! Box Meal (TEXAS SHEET CAKE ALERT) Look for the order form in the bulletin June 2, pick-up date is June 9: Sloppy Joe Sandwich, Aunt Martha's pickles, potato chips, Chinese Cole slaw, and Texas sheet cake. YUM! We are taking a break in July and August, so be sure to order this June Box Meal!
We hope all women of the church consider joining a Circle this fall. As well as fellowship and study, we work to provide thousands of mission dollars each year to support special causes that our members choose. This spring, we made the following donations totaling $5,500: Care Walk: $1,000; Femme Aid Collaborative: $500; Hannah’s Treasure Chest: $1,000; Kettering Fairmont H.S. Personal Care Product Fund: $500; Salvation Army: $500; Shoes 4 the Shoeless: $1000; Saville Elementary School Running Club: $500, and the Victory Project: $500. Women of Fairmont Volunteer Opportunity: Do you have a few hours a month to help share WoF news? We need a WoF member to serve as Publicity Chair. Contact Robin Stevens, Sally Kaskocsak, or Lisa Shearer if you are interested. (Sally Athmer can give you templates to make it easy.) 6
Presbyterian Women Summer Opportunity: The Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Covenant will hold a 2019 Gathering July 12-13 at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Columbus, OH. This year's theme is "What Does the Lord Require of You?" This is an opportunity to expand your involvement with the PW of our Synod, which we lend support to with a pledge each year. Speakers include Eugenia Gamble, author of the 2019-20 Horizons Bible Study, Diane Moffett, Presbyterian Mission Agency president and executive director, and Carol Winkler, former Moderator of Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Learn more about national initiatives and opportunities at presbyterianwomen.org.
MISSION BEYOND THE CONGREGATION Helping Hands, Helping Hearts
NEW! Kinship Support Ministry: A new mission ministry of Fairmont, the Kinship Support ministry, was awarded a $5,000 Northminster Mission grant from the Presbytery of the Miami Valley. The Kinship Support ministry is a support group for non-custodial relatives or close friends who are raising children who can no longer remain in the care of their parents. This critical ministry is at the heart of our calling to bring Christ’s love to children and youth in our community. House of Bread: The next days to work are Aug. 7 and Nov. 7. On these days, we are sending a team to slice, dice, mix and serve lunch for more than 200 hungry folks. There are jobs that can be completed while sitting. Join us from 9:00 2:00 for this valuable service to the hungry in our community. We can carpool if you would like! Sign up on the Mission Team bulletin board. How Else Can You Serve as a Disciple? We continue to collect assorted items at the top of the stairs: soda can tabs (Ronald McDonald House) Box Tops (J.F. Kennedy Elementary) and men’s belts (House of Bread). Remember to bring items for the food pantry!
BUILDING AND GROUNDS Renovations! As we approach summer, the committee is scheduling a few major renovation projects. We will be removing and replacing the rear concrete sidewalk, painting the exterior trim on the building, replacing sanctuary windows, and hopefully renovating the fellowship hall (including new paint, carpet, and window treatments). We would ask you all to be aware of these ongoing projects and to be very careful coming and going as we proceed. Thank you!
ANNOUNCEMENTS August 16 Cookout at the Valley Vineyards: Join us for a cookout at Valley Vineyards August 16 6:30pm. This is a cook your own steak, share a bottle of wine or craft beer, wine tasting of 2-3 different wines before you choose what you want. Singles get 2 glasses of wine. Dinner buffet includes 2 salads, sides of green beans, rice pilaf, baked potato and hopefully corn if the farmers can get into the fields. The enormous grills are outside and you will grill your own steak and put on any seasoning you might want. There is also salmon to grill. Please contact Carolyn Wimer or Marilyn Dickey for more information or to reserve a spot We will carpool from church and it takes approximately 45 min. to get there. Located in Morrow, Ohio. VBS Volunteer Orientation: There will be a brief orientation for Vacation Bible School volunteers on Wednesday, June 5th, at 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall. We will go through a basic overview of the week (when to arrive, what to expect, etc.) and you will receive a packet of important information (such as group rosters, allergies, emergency information, etc.) and a packet of instructions specific to the activity you are leading or assisting with. It is very important for ALL volunteers to attend this orientation – both new and veteran volunteers! In the meantime, please feel free to contact Rachel Boden with any questions or concerns you have. Thank you again for your support of our children’s ministry and our largest community outreach for children! Fourth Friday Family Pizza Dinners will take a break in June and July. Keep an eye out for information on the next gettogether! The Fairmont Men’s Group will meet at MCL cafeteria on June 19th at 11am.
Theology on Tap: For the month of June, Theology on Tap will be meeting on June 7th and June 21st (1st and 3rd Fridays) at Eudora Brewery at 5:00 p.m. Eudora is located at 3022 Wilmington Pike. July Theology on Tap will be at Fairmont! Theology on Tap during the month of July will be held on the Fairmont Presbyterian Church patio! Please join us from 5:00-6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 5th and Friday, July 19th for drinks, snacks, and fellowship. Soda, light snacks, and good conversation will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own wine or beer with you. Childcare will be provided. If it rains, we'll gather in Fellowship Hall. We hope to see you!
2020 Fairmont Israel Trip: Have you ever wanted to walk where Jesus walked, dip your toes in the Sea of Galilee or the Jordan River, or wander through the remnants of the temple in Jerusalem? Now is your chance! On February 10 -20, 2020, Pastor Brian will be leading a pilgrimage trip to the Holy Land. You are invited to come along. This will be Brian’s tenth trip to Israel/Palestine. He regularly leads groups focusing on Biblical history for United Theological Seminary and for the Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. A brochure containing all pertinent information is available at the church office. Come and see! The team of the Art, Craft and Antique Show have been hard at work! We are looking for items for the vintage room. Please don't be afraid of giving us your things to sell—it is all going to a great cause helping feed hungry people in our area, and what we don't use or sell goes to the Salvation Army. Contact Carolyn Wimer with any questions! Making Music with Acoustic Grace: We continue our monthly gathering in Fellowship Hall to play and sing for about 50 minutes starting at 9:30am on June 16 and July 21. Song/chord sheets are provided. All skill levels welcome!
PRESCHOOL CORNER Registration for Preschool for the 2019-2020 school year is now open. Registration forms may be found under the Preschool tab on the church website. We still have a few spaces left in our 3 year old room and 6 left in the 4 year old room for preschool. Please contact the church or Tracy di7 rectly 937-657-4808 for tours and information!
Fairmont Presbyterian Church 3705 Far Hills Avenue Dayton, OH 45429 937-299-3539
Website: www.fairmontchurch.org Facebook: Fairmont Presbyterian Church - Kettering, OH Twitter: @FairmontChurch Instagram: fairmontpresbyterianchurch
STAFF Pastor/Head of Staff: Brian Maguire Associate Pastor: Kelley Wehmeyer Shin Director of Christian Education: Rachel Boden Director of Music Ministries: Vicki Ramga Organist: Judy Bede Praise & Worship Leader: Jerry Mahn
Preschool Director: Tracy Landgren Preschool Teacher: Amber Reshad Preschool Aide: Liz Lewis Administrative Assistant: Jennifer Mason Bookkeeper: Martha Keil Custodian: Louis Weyrauch
June/July Birthdays Marilyn Dickey
06/01
James Runkle
06/19
Lois Thomas
07/08
Pete Schilling
07/26
Brench Boden II
06/01
Jim Miles
06/19
Richard Burnett
07/08
Verne Dodson
07/27
Jim Webster
06/02
Kelli Fromm
06/20
Jeff Jordan
07/09
Jayne Hood
07/27
06/21
David Hamilton
07/11
Charles Mann
07/27
06/21
David Keenan
07/11
Charles Chamberlain Jr.
07/28
06/21
William Whitesell
07/13
Sue Daley
07/28
07/15
Nancy Crichton
07/29
Sally Athmer Rachel Boden Kimberly Ludwig
06/02 06/03 06/04
Pauline Flory Gary Lamb Jeff Lewis
Marian Owens
06/05
Lisa Shearer
06/25
Sally Bruggemann
Wendy Ernst
06/07
F. Paul Fiden
06/26
Helen Kanis
07/15
Brenda Kolb
07/29
Charlie Koons
06/07
Lauren Luther
06/27
Doris Olt
07/18
Betty Jean Schwinn
07/30
Richard Sherwood
06/08
Monica Mantia
06/28
Louis Weyrauch
07/19
William Stager
07/30
George Kemp Jr
06/10
Koneta Schneider
06/29
Jane Heywood
07/20
Thomas Rose
07/31
Jack Yoder
06/12
Linda Hammond
07/01
Dinah Miller
07/20
Joyce Keenan
06/16
Candace Kurtz
07/01
Michael Vickroy
07/20
Charles Ellis
06/16
Richard Scharrer
07/02
Justin Miles
07/20
Aaron Fromm
06/16
Janet Runkle
07/03
Jean Kirby
07/22
Karen Hisel
06/17
Elizabeth Lewis
07/05
Kenneth Ginader
07/22
Michael Rothenberger
06/17
Mike Porter
07/23
Gaynard Gross
07/24
Jerry Draut
07/24
Peggy Van Deursen 06/18 Annette Sakada
06/19
DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT CALL The deadline for the next Call is Friday, July 26, 2019. Please submit articles to: rboden@fairmontchurch.org. 8