The Messenger - May & June edition

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