

THE MESSENGER
VIENNA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | MAY 2024

HOPE'S HEART
AfewyearsagoImanagedtoconvincemywholefamily (husband,kids,andmymother)thatweneededtogoona two-weekRVtriptoseeabunchoftheNationalParksout west.Thebiggestsellingpointwasthatwewouldhavea “houseonwheels!”Thisseemedwaymorepalatablethan havingtopackandunpackasuitcaseeverydayortwoand itgavethisextendedtripawayfromourhouseamore home-yfeel.
Thereweredefinitelysomechallenges,tobesure.Six peoplesharingonebathroomthesizeofatoddler’s shoebox,loudsnoringincloseproximity,foldingand unfoldingbedseverymorningandevening.Buttherewere alsowonderfulsurpriseslikethemorningIopenedtheRV
doorinMontanaandfoundmyselfface-to-facewithalocalmoose!OrwhenthesnowfellinJulyintheTetons.
Everytimewepulledintoacampandhadtosetthewheels,I’dthinkabouthowthepeopleintheOld TestamentalwayscarriedthedwellingplaceoftheLordwiththem---thetentthatprecededthetabernacle.It wasn’ttheeasiestofundertakingsandmovingfromplace-to-placeisarhythmthatisalittledifferently-paced thantherhythmofrepetitioninthesameplace.Buteachsettingupandtakingdownandmovingwithoffered freshopportunitiesforthepeopletobeinthepresenceoftheLivingGod.
OnSunday,June9th,ourentirechurchfamilyismovingintotheFellowshipHallforworshipasweundertakea majorrenovationinourmainsanctuarythissummer.Therearemoredetailsonthisavailableinthisnewsletter andinourweeklye-news.Foraseasonwe’llexperienceworshipthathastheessentialsofhome,inawaythatis goingtofeelalittleclosertoourancientancestorswhomadeadwellingplacefortheLordwherevertheyfound themselves.IimaginethatbeingintheFellowshipHallwillrequireusalltobeopentosomedifferentrhythms–thingslikebeingawareofwhomightneedaspacetosit,pitchingintograbextrachairs,shiftingthetimethat weattendservices,singingpraiseswithoutinstrumentsthatwearesousedtohaving.Ikeepthinkingabout whatsurprisingjoysmightcropupbehindmyback,outthehugewindow,asIampreachingonSunday morningsandlifebustlesbyoutside---perhapswehavealocalmooseinVienna!Oneofmygreatesthopesis thatthesesmallchangesinrhythms,causedbyamuch-neededrenovation,willopenoureyesandheartsto freshexperiencesoftheHolySpiritandlife-givingwaysofsimplybeingthepresenceofGod.
IcouldneverhaveconvincedmyfamilytoliveinanRVforever,butIamsogratefulfortheexperienceswehad inthatbrieftimeandthenewwaysoflivingandbeingthatcameaboutasaresultofit.I’mjustasexcitedtosee howthisbriefchangewillimpactourlivestogetherhereatVPCasweworshipandmakememoriestogether thissummerthathavethepotentialtolastalifetime! Lookingforwardtoseeingyouinworship!
IntheGripofGrace,

ROBERT’S REFLECTION
Beforewegettothe"summerofflexibility"(aswe arestartingtocallit),wewillhavetwoSundayswith oneserviceat9:00am.OnMay26wewillworship togetherat9:00aminordertodismissbefore streetsgetblockedoffforViva!Vienna.TheMay26 servicewillbepredominantlyledmusicallybyour contemporaryband.
ThefollowingSunday,June2,wewillalsoworship togetherat9:00amandthemusicwillbeledbyour choir.Communionwillbeserved.Followingthe serviceswewillthenmovetotheTownGreenfora church-widesummerkick-offcelebrationwithfood, fun,music,andmore!Wehopeyouwillcomeoutto bothandenjoytheseservicesasagreatopportunity toworshipwithfolkswhomaynormallyworshipata differentservicetimethanyou.~PastorRobert
SummerofFlexibilityataGlance
Sunday,May26
9:00amworship,Sanctuary(oneservice).Headover toViva!Viennaafterchurch.
Sunday,June2
9:00amworship,Sanctuary(oneservice). 10:00am-1:00pmSummerKick-OffCelebrationon theTownGreen.
Tuesday,June4
Sanctuaryrenovationbegins.
Sunday,June9
WorshipinFellowshipHall,8:30amcontemporary, 9:45amcontemporary,11:00amtraditional.
Sunday,June16
Fellowshipandfoodbeginsfrom9:30am-11:15amin theLowerLevel.
Change of Scenery this Summer
SanctuaryUpgrades
Overthepast26years,ourbelovedSanctuaryhasservedasaplaceforustogathertogethereachSundayto worshipourLord,butthespaceisinneedofsomeessentialmaintenanceandupgradestoensureitslongevityand functionality.YoumayrecallweupgradedthesoundsystemandreplacedmostofthewindowsintheSanctuary severalyearsago.NowourfailingSanctuarylightingsystemneedstobeupgraded.Thisprovidesusanopportunity toalsoconverttomoreenergy-efficientLEDlighting. Thisenhancementtoourchurchwillprovidelong-term benefitsintermsofenergyefficiency,costsavings,andimprovedlightingquality.Additionally,theSanctuaryis longoverdueforafreshcoatofpaint,havingnotbeenfullypaintedsinceitwasbuiltin1998.
ThankstothegenerosityofourchurchandproceedsreceivedfromthesaleofthecondoonParkStreet,weare fortunateenoughtobeabletoembarkonthissignificantworkthissummer.Duetothelargescopeofthese projects,itisnecessaryforustotemporarilyclosethesanctuarythissummerandrelocateourworshipservicesto FellowshipHall.
SummerWorshipSchedule
StartingJune9,worshipserviceswillbeheldinFellowshipHall.Takingintoconsiderationthesizeofour congregation,theaverageattendanceateachofourcurrentservicesandthelimitedseatinginFellowshipHall (200-250),wewillofferthreeservices-twocontemporaryservicesat8:30amand9:45am(toaccommodatetypical attendance)andonetraditionalserviceat11am. ChildcarewillbeofferedforinfantsthroughPre-Kduringthe 8:30,9:45,and11:00amworshipservices.SundayschoolforKthrough5thgradewillbeofferedduringthe8:30 and9:45amworshipservices.
BeginningJune16,wewillgathertogetherforfellowshipandfoodinthelowerlevelfrom9:30am-11:15am.Our hopeisthissummerschedulewillprovideyouwithampleflexibilityinchoosingyourworshipandfellowshiptimes.
GROUP LIFE AT VPC

WeeWorship
InMarch,WeeWorshiplaunched,invitingparentswith theirchildren,infants–pre-K,tojoinusinthe childcarewingtolearnsimpleBiblesongstogether. Onemomwhoattendedmentionedshewasexcitedto haveamommyandmeexperiencewithhertoddler. April7,oursecondWeeWorshipwelcomedmore familiestoourgroup,includingtwonewfamilieswho cameuptoChildcarespecificallyforWeeWorship. JoinusforournextWeeWorship,May5at10:10!
MusicandMotion
Music&Motionisnowavailableduringthe10:10am hourinchildcareforinfantsthroughPre-K.During Music&Motion,childrenlearnsimpleBiblesongswith theirteachers,correlatingwiththeWeeWorship songs.

NotYourAverageSundaySchool
WhenkidsleavetheserviceaftertheChildren’s MessageonSundays,theyheadupstairsforSunday School.ButitmaynotlookliketheSundaySchool manyofusgrewupwith.Westillhearstoriesfromthe BibleandlearntruthsaboutGod,butit’smorethan that.Webuildrelationshipsandcreateasafespace forkidstobecurious.WeexploreGod’sstorythrough games,songs,experiments,crafts,andwonder.We inviteourkidstowonderaboutGod,Jesus,theHoly Spirit,theBible,andhowtheyfitin.Ourkidsare encounteringGodandaskinggreatquestions.Here arejustafewofthethingstheyarecuriousabout: “WhomadeGod?”“DidGodmakelifeonother planets”?“WhatdoesGoddoonadailybasis?”“How didJesuscomebacktolife?”“HowdidJesusgoupto Heaven?””HowwasGodkindtopeoplewhenthey mockedhim?”“HowdoesHeloveeverybody?Ican’t doit.Canyou?”
CongratulationsConfirmands
Itwasourjoytowelcometwelvenewmembers intothechurchfamilyonConfirmationSunday. Theseyouthspenteightweeksandoneweekend wrestlingwithandconfirmingtheirbeliefinJesus Christandlearningwhatitlooksliketobea discipleandactivememberofthechurch.They concludedtheircoursebymemorizingthebooks oftheBibleandtheApostles’Creedandbygoing beforeourchurchSessionwheretheysharedtheir personalstatementsoffaithandpublicly professedtheirfaith.

81 ADULTS PARTICIPATE IN CASKET EMPTY
JALentendevotionalintheformofacuriousgoldenboxfound itswaytomanyofyourhomesthisLent.Thankyoufor “worshippingoutofthebox”withus! WepraiseGodforwhatHe isdoinginyourlives!
TheBibleisoneredemptivestorywithJesusatthecenter!ThispastMarch,81adultsexploredanoverviewof theNewTestamentattheCASKETEMPTYBibleconference,makingconnectionstotheOldTestamentand deepeningtheirunderstandingofhowthewholeBiblefitstogether.Here’swhatsomeone hadtosay:


ALentendevotionalintheformofacurious goldenboxfounditswaytomanyofyourhomes thisLent.Thankyoufor“worshippingoutofthe box”withus! WepraiseGodforwhatHeisdoing inyourlives!
Before this, I’m not sure that I completely understood that the Bible was a redemptive story from start to finish. I perhaps knew that on a high level, but this enabled me to look at the connections between the Old and New Testaments in a whole new way.”

Oursecondannual Be Our Guest Promforfriendswith specialneedswasasmashsuccess!70guestswerejoined by49buddiesandtheirparentsandcaregiversforanight tocelebratewhotheyareandhowmuchGodlovesthem! ParentsandCaregiversweretreatedtoawonderfulmeal andappreciatedtherespiteandtheservicethatour Deaconsprovided.Itwasabeautifulevening,andwe thankthehundredsofvolunteersthathelpedsetup,run andcleanupafterthiswonderfulevening.
CONNIE’S CORNER
Ilostmypurse.Re-tracingmystepsthroughvariouserrands,IfoundmyselfthinkingthroughwhatIwouldlikely havetoreplace:mydriver’slicense,creditcards,healthinsurancecard…stoppaymentontheblankcheckin mywallet.
IpulledintotheGiantparkinglot,walkeduptotheservicedesk,andexplainedmypredicament.Hadanyone turnedinanaquamarinebluepurse?
HowkindofGodtohavesparedme!HowverykindofKennywhohadfoundmyforgottenpurseatthebottom oftheshoppingcartandturneditin.
Randomactsofkindness.It’sallthebuzz.AnythingdistinctiveaboutChrist-likekindness?Kindness.Itisafruit oftheHolySpirit.(Galatians5:22-23)Itis hesed inHebrewandmeansthelovingkindnessofGod.Paultakesitto thefinishline:“GodissorichinkindnessandgracethathepurchasedourfreedomwiththebloodofhisSon andforgaveoursins.Hehasshoweredhiskindnessonus.”(Ephesians1:7-8)
Fictitious,aspirationalconversationoverheardatalocalcoffeeshop: “Hey,we’renewtotheareaandarelookingforachurchhome.Whatdoyouhearaboutthatbigwhitechurch onthecornerofChurchandPark?Whataretheirmemberslike?”
“Oh!Thatchurch?They’rereallykind.Theycareabouteachother.Itgoesbeyondthat.Theyalsogooutintothe community.I’dgivethematryifIwereyou.”
Lord,shapeusevenmoreintothekindandCaringFellowshipYOUwouldhaveusbe.
Interested in Becoming a Member of VPC?
New Member Class Come Explore!

Wearemakingiteasier.WeareofferingaONESESSION NewMemberClassonSunday,May19from12:15to4:00 pm.
Details:
Weareprovidinglunchforall(adultsandkids) Weareofferingbothchildcareandministryfor childrenfortheentiretime
TheSessionwillformallyreceiveyouintomembership thatafternoon
WeDOneedyoutopre-registerifyouareinterested
Interested?PleasecontactLaraFerreira,Assistantfor CongregationalCareandFellowship lara.ferreira@viennapres.org,orPastorConnieat connie.jordan-haas@viennapres.org.
www.viennapres.org/

HAPPENINGS AROUND VPC in May and June
WelcometoVPC!Thelifeofourchurchisveryactive. Wehavemanypaths tohelpyougetconnected,learnmore aboutGod,andserveothersregardlessofyourage.AtVPC,youwillmakefriends,findencouragement,and receivecareandsupport.Weencourageeveryonetofindasmallgroup,aclass,aBiblestudy,achoir,amom’s grouporotherlifegroups.
YouthSunday
May5|9:00am&11:15am
Theteenswillleadthislivelyworshipatbothservices throughmusic,prayer,andamessage.At10:10amjoin themintheLowerLevelforcoffeeandrefreshments.
WeeWorship
May5|10:10am
InterestedinlearningsimpleBiblesongswithyour child?Parentsjoinuswithyourkids,infantsthroughPK.SecondFloor,ChildcareWing.
PlaygroundPlaydates
May10&18|10:00-11:00am
Atimeforparentsandtheirchildren,infantstoage5 andexpectingparentstoenjoytimetogetheronthe VPCplayground.Formoreinformation,contact HeatherBoehmatheather.boehm@viennapres.org
FamilyFiesta
May10|6:00-7:30pm
Enjoyaneveningoffellowshipandfun.We’llprovidea tacobar,enjoygamesandhavealotoffunforthe entirefamily.
DementiaCareMinistry
May13&June10|11:00am-12:30pm
Thisministryisdesignedforboththosecaringand thosesuffering.Ourtimeisdividedbetweenthoughtful wholegrouptimeandabreak-outsession.Lunch included.Pleasepre-register: lara.ferreira@viennapres.org.Meetsmonthly.
60sPlusFellowship&Lunch
May14|11:30am-1:00pm
Atimeoffellowshipforourmembersandfriendsover 60 togatheratthismonth‘scateredlunch,devotional andamonthlyprogram.RSVPto lara.ferreira@viennapres.org
6KWaterWalk
May18|9:00am
Jointhousandsofpeopleacrosstheglobeinour missiontobringlife-changingcleanwaterandfullness oflifetochildrenincommunitiesaroundtheworld. Each$50registrationprovideslastingcleanwaterto onechild.Register:viennapres.org
EstatePlanningSeminar
May19|10:10am
Joinusforafreeestate-planningseminarpresentedby FinancialPlanningMinistry.Afterattending,youwill havetheopportunitytomeetone-on-onewitha qualifiedestateconsultanttoprepareyourestateplan atnocosttoyou.
Pentecost Sunday
May 19 | 9:00 & 11:15 am
Pentecost Sunday, long considered the “birthday of the church” we recognize the giving of the Holy Spirit, traditionally represented by the color red. Everyone is invited to wear red in recognition of this very special day at both worship services.
Serbia Mission Trip Interest Meeting
May 19 | 10:10 am
Interested in participating in a mission trip to Serbia this Fall? Find out more at an informational session. Room 314.
CLUB (4th & 5th Graders)
May 19 | 5:00 - 7:00 pm
This is our last CLUB before summer break. Kids are invited for pizza, games, and a message.
June 2 | 9:00 am
High School Senior Recognition
We are so excited about your graduation this Spring and all that the Lord is doing in your lives! We would like to recognize you at church. Please register at viennapres.org to let us know you will be there!
June 2 | 10:00 am
Summer Kick-Off Celebration
Dress casually and join us for a summer kick-off celebration on the Town Green after the 9:00 am worship service. We will have music, games, food, fun and fellowship! Please bring a chair or blanket.
June 13 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
CRUD Day
Kick off the summer with VPCYouth at our CRUD Day! All rising 6th graders are welcome. Spend time getting messy while having fun together. Contact Vicki.Sumner@viennapres.org with questions.
June 17 - 21 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Vacation Bible School
Through interactive stations such as crafts, music, drama, snack and recreation, kids at Scuba VBS will be immersed in the Word and discover what living water is really all about! For children rising kindergarten – rising 3rd grade. Register: viennapres.org
June 22 -29
Fun in the Son Youth Conference
All rising 9th graders through completed 12th graders can join us for Fun where you can leisurely enjoy the beach, compete in sports and games and grow in your faith, spend time in worship, and build relationships with other high schoolers from VPC. For more information, contact Vicki.Sumner@viennapres.org.
www.viennapres.org/calendar
Fifty Years
Don Seiler
Forty-Five Years
Doris Cooper
Forty Years
Sharon Jurentkuff
Thirty-Five Years
Stacy Hamblen
Sue Hamblen
Bob Kovarik
Celia Kovarik
Beth Webster
Rick Webster
Jennifer Zicht
Thirty Years
Katie Balberchak
Bruce Knight
Julie Knight
Amy MacDonald
Tom MacDonald
Sherry Moseley
Julia Smith
Twenty-Five Years
Thomas Rohrback
Bradley Clark
Linda Lyon
FINANCIAL UPDATE THROUGH FIRST QUARTER
UnifiedGiving
$1,033,707UnifiedExpenses$912,020
