Patuxent Presbyterian Church July/August 2023 eMagazine

ASetbackisanOpportunity

Youmightremembermeoncesharing,inasermon,thestory ofapastornamedZhangRongliangintheHenanProvinceof China.Whileinfragilehealth,Rongliangwasimprisonedfor leadingahousechurch.Missionsorganizationslobbiedhardfor hisearlyrelease,butwithnosuccess.Inaninterviewafterhis release,Rongliangsaid,“Thankyouforyoureffortstogetme outofprisonearly.I’mgladyoufailed.”Bythetimeofhis release—afteralmostsevenyears—everyoneofthe5,000 prisonersincarceratedwithhimhadanopportunitytohear theGospelandmakeadecisionaboutfollowingJesus.Hesaid, “I’mhappythatyouandotherstriedtoarrangeformyrelease, butifyouhadbeensuccessful,therewouldbenochurchin thatprisontoday.”

(https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/sharing-christ-dark-places/)

Ephesians4:11-12:“Andhegavetheapostles,theprophets, theevangelists,theshepherdsandteacherstoequipthe saintsfortheworkofministry,forbuildingupthebodyof Christ…”

Whatanincrediblewayofrespondingtosuchasignificant setback.TheHolySpiritrecentlyremindedmeofZhang’sstory. Afewweeksago,perhapsyouheardourAPNC(Associate PastorNominatingCommittee)Chair,BobHagan,providean update:theyseemedclosetothe“finishline,”butnowthey arebackonthesearchagain.Iwilladmit,thatforme personally,therewasthathonest,humanmomentof“Ugh, wewerealmostthere!Ohwell,backtopraying,waiting,and activelysearching.”ButasGodremindedmeofZhang’sstory, Ithought:howisthisseeming“setback”inoursearchforan AssociatePastoractuallyafantasticopportunity?

Yes,Godiscallingustoseekasecondpastortoserveand leadinministry.Butwefirmlybelievethateverymember ofPatuxentPresbyterianChurchisaministeroftheGospel. WhatgiftsforministryhastheHolySpiritgivenyou? Regardlessofwhetherwehaveonepastorortwo,every dayandeveryseasonofourchurch’slifeisanopportunity toseewhatgifts,skills,time,treasure,andpassionGodis callingyoutogiveinserviceandleadershipinsomeformof ministryatPaxPres.Yes,we’llkeepprayingferventlyfor ourAPNC.ANDatthesametime,weneed“allhandson deck”—everyperson’sgiftsatwork—tokeeppressing forwardinourmissiontomakeandgrowdisciplesofJesus ChristbybuildingbridgesforHisGospel.Iwanttohear backfromyou:wherecanyoutakeanextgrowthstepin servingandleading?

TheGardenClubhadaverysuccessfulPlant Sale(alongwiththeYardSaleonMay20th) andraisedover$400!Thankstoeveryonewho donatedplants,goodies,andtheirtime!

WealsohonoredpastPresidentKenReamywithamemorialdonationofanewbench outsideoftheNarthexarea.WemissKenandhisrelentlessdevotiontotakingcareof ourchurchgrounds!Feelfreetocomeandsitonthebench(especiallyonTuesday morningsinbetweenweedingandtrimming)!Anytimeafter8:30a.m.,we’llbehere! Joinus!

Comingup:

JulyandAugustareexpectedtobeveryhotwithlotsofhumidity(pertheFarmer’s Almanac),thereforewewillkeepaneyeonoursprinklerusagesothegrassis properlywatered(thechurchuseswellwater).Wewillalsomonitortheoutletforthe sprinklersystem,asitfailedseveraltimeslastyear,resultinginalotofdeadgrass.

TheTrusteesareconsideringaddingadditionalsprinklerstothebackareaofchurch toenablegrasstogrowonthewestsideslopedarea,ontheberm,andinthe stormwaterbasinstopreventerosion.

Atyourhome,keepaneyeoutforJapanesebeetlesfrommid-JunethroughearlyJuly. Usingbeetlebagsorsprayingcanmitigatethedamagetheycando,especiallyto rosesandcrepemyrtles.

Eventhoughitmaybehotandhumid,yourdevotedGardenClubmemberswillbe outweeding,trimming,pruning,andtakingcareofthegrounds!Thankyouforyour prayers…andcomesay“Hi!”onTuesdays!QuestionsabouttheGardenClubcanbe directedtoPatsySchumacherat:helopatsy@yahoo.com.

HaveagloriousSummer! “Naturedoesnothurry,yeteverythingisaccomplished.”

ThePaxPresAnnualIndoorYardSalewasresurrectedonSaturday,May20th!

LauraRhodesandBillQuinnheadeduptheYardSaleteamof31volunteers, whoworkedapproximately260hoursforsixdays.Donationsfromourchurch membersandfriendsofPaxPreswereacceptedthroughouttheweek.Before theofficialsale,PaxPresSundaySchool,VacationBibleSchool,Operation ChristmasChild,andHoneyMacCallumwereinvitedto“shop”forfreefor donationitemstohelpsupplementtheseimportantministries.Intotal,the YardSaleraised$5,184.10forOutreachministries!Manythankstothosewho helpedmakethissuchasuccessfulevent-Laura,Bill,andallwhoworked, donated,andpurchaseditems!

MARKYOURCALENDARforthePaxPresNeighborhood

Picnics:Saturday,October14thatnoon!Interestedinhostingone ofthepicnicsatyourhome?PleaseseeCherieCresciniformore informationoremail:crescini@verizon.net.

YOUTHMINISTRY

VisionforYouthGroup: YouthGroupisaplaceforteenstogrow thefoundationoftheirrelationshipwith Christandtodevelopacommunity ofChristianFellowship.

TheYouthGroupyearwrappedupwithaBonfire andSeniorSend-Offforthegraduates.Saying goodbyeisalwaysamomenttoreflectandwe talkedabouthowGod’sFlashlight(ALampUnto OurFeet)ofHisWordwillalwayshelpusexamine ourfoundationandjudgeourpath.

Duringthelastseveralmonths,weplayedgames, participatedinBiblestudy,andhadagoodtime! EachweekweplayedHungerGamesDodgeball orMurderintheDark.Wealsodiscussedmany scriptureversesinJames1and1Corinthiansand hadsomesignificanttakeaways:testingofour faithshowsthequalityofourfoundation;asking Godforwisdomisagoodidea;temptationtakes usawayfromGod—Hedoesn’ttemptus,instead Hewantstoseeusthroughthetemptation;trials bringusclosertoGodandshowushowourfaith strengthensus(likeexercise).

Thehighschoolersreturnedfromtheirawesome summerretreattoCrossingsatSkycroftwith leadersAmandaMcKinley,CindyJohnson,Robbie Romano,andTomSchumacher.Themiddle schoolerswillheadtoTheGreatEscapefrom August1st-5thwithLeadersAmandaMcKinley andPeterSchumacher.Weaskforyourprayers fortheyouthandLeadersontheretreats.

Ifyouaren’treceivingtheYouthGroup emailsorhavequestions/concerns, pleasefeelfreetocontactme,oranyof theotherYouthLeaders.Welook forwardtoseeingyouatYouthevents andgettingtoknowyouryouth!

TomSchumacher,SeniorYouthLeader youthdirector@paxpres.org

YouthGroupwillstartupagaininthefallwith regularmeetingsonSaturdaysfrom6:30-8:30 p.m.Westartoffbyplayingagamefollowedby aBiblemessageanddiscussion.Onceamonth, wehaveaspecialhappeningsuchasabonfire,a shoeboxpackingparty(forOperationChristmas Child),oradinner.Youthareaskedtodressfor physicalactivityandtobringaBible(orApp).

AYOUTH-LEDEVENTFOR OTHERYOUTH!

OUTREACH

TheWARMcommitteewillmeettodiscuss 2024churchassignmentsandpolicies.

Thursday,July13that5:00p.m.

ChurchoftheAscension

21641GreatMillsRoad LexingtonPark,MD20653

ALLwelcome!

K-cupsCollectionfortheSt.Mary’sHospice House!We’recollectingKCupstoprovide drinksforfamiliesvisitingtheirlovedones. TheHospiceHouseprovidesresidentialcare andsupportforterminallyillpatientsin St.Mary’sCounty.Pleaseplacedonationsin thebasketintheNarthexthroughJuly23rd. ContactJeannetteWolterat:301-904-9241.

Lookingforawaytolendyourtime andtalenttoourPaxPresChurch family?Lovespendingtimewithour littlestdisciples?Wearelookingfor teens/tweenstoserveasvolunteers duringChildren’sChurcheachSunday. Wearealsolookingforteen/tween volunteerstoassistourNursery Supervisoreachweek.Pleasecontact: TinaWatts301-862-4775or linker@md.metrocast.net.

AshleySmalleyistherecipientofthe PaxPres2023BonnieClarkMemorial ScholarshipforAcademicExcellence andOutstandingServicetoOthers. SheexcelledinherrigorousAPclasses atGreatMillsHighSchoolwhilealso completingthenationalandstate certificationneededasanEMT.She ranover400hoursofcallswiththe LexingtonParkVolunteerRescue

Squad,andexpressedherappreciationforthewayGodhasusedhertohelpotherson theirworstday.SheplanstoattendWestVirginiaUniversityinthefalltostudy BiomedicalEngineeringwithaPre-Medpathway.Congratulations,Ashley!

BlessingoftheBackpacks

Sunday,August20th

Let'scelebratethenewschoolyear! OurPaxPresfamilywouldlovetobless andprayoverstudentsofallages. Studentsareinvitedtobringtheir backpackstothe9:30a.m.worship service.Theywillreceiveanew keychainfortheupcomingschoolyear!

Foreverylessonyou'veprepared, theloveofGodhasbeenshared.

Beforeweknowit,SundaySchoolwill beuponusandweneedyourhelp. Thisupcomingyear,weareaskingfora setofteachersforeachseasonduring SundaySchoolforKids(SS4K)-fall, winter,andspring.Thiswillallowour past,present,andNEWteachersthe opportunitytoattendaSundaySchool forAdults(SS4A)classduringaseason

whentheyarenotteachingourdelightfulPaxPreschildren.Beblessedbybeinga blessingtoourbeautifulchildren!

TheSundaySchoolKick-offwilltakeplaceonSeptember10that11:00a.m.; classeswillbeginonSeptember17that11:00a.m.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutour SS4K,pleaseemailJaniceDixonat: sundayschool@paxpres.org

WORSHIP

Thisfirststained-glasswindowinourseriesis titled“TheBlessingoftheChildren”and depictsJesuswelcomingbabiesandyoung childrenintoHisarms.Thiswindowisoneof thenineinourSanctuary;combinedwiththe othereighttitled:“TheMinistryofChrist.”

“TheBlessingoftheChildren”windowwas originallydonatedtoTheFirstPresbyterian ChurchofSt.Mary’sCountyinTownCreek,in memoryofMarionR.Capps,1896-1984andin memoryofJohnE.Capps,1893-1971.

MarionCappswasresponsibleforthefact thatwehaveaPresbyterianChurchin St.Mary’sCounty,whichwasestablished in1956.Sheandherhusbanddonatedfive acresoflandonwhichthechurchinTown Creekwasbuilt.Sheservedaspresidentof theoriginalWomen’sAssociation.

JohnCappsservedasoneoftheoriginal EldersinTownCreek.

TherearemanyBibleversesthattalkaboutJesus’loveforchildrenandHiswillingnessto devotetimetothem:

Luke18:15-17–Nowtheywerebringingeveninfantstohimthathemighttouchthem;and whenthedisciplessawit,theyrebukedthem.ButJesuscalledthemtohim,saying“Letthe childrencometomeanddonothinderthem;fortosuchbelongsthekingdomofGod.Truly, Isaytoyou,whoeverdoesnotreceivethekingdomofGodlikeachildshallnotenterit.”

Mark9:36-37–Andhetookachild,andputhiminthemidstofthem;andtakinghiminhis arms,hesaidtothem,“Whoeverreceivesonesuchchildinmynamereceivesme,and whoeverreceivesme,receivesnotmebuthimwhosentme.”

Astheschoolyearcomestoaclose,letusprayforallchildrentohaveasafesummer,a wonderfulexperienceatSTELLARVBS,andtoreturninthefalltoschoolandtoSunday SchoolwitharenewedloveofGodandtheworldHecreatedforallofus.

WORSHIP

TimeforYoungDisciples(TFYD)

Asweenterthesummermonths,wewouldlike tothankyouforyourwillingnesstoliftupour youngestdisciples.Yourtimeandprayerful presentationsaredeeplyappreciated.

InJune,weheldaninformationsessionfornew andpotentialTFYDpresenters.Whilewedidn't haveasmanyaswehadhoped,wearethankful forthosewhoattended(andsomehavealready signeduptopresent).PraiseGod!

Theinfographic(right)isdesignedtohelpyou planandimplementyourTFYDpresentation.

Ifyouknowofanyonewhomayhaveaninterest injoiningtheteam,pleasecontactSarahLorek at:edwardandsarah2010@gmail.com.Wewould lovetoseemoreteensandyoungadultsjointhe team,aswell!

Todistributetheworkload,weencourageour volunteerstomakeeveryefforttosignuponce perquarter.July,August&Septembercanbe foundhere.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcerns,please email:edwardandsarah2010@gmail.com.

FINANCE

PerCapitaisanamountofmoneythateachchurchpaystothePresbytery,SynodandGeneral Assemblyforeachactivememberofitschurch.The2023PerCapitadonationforPresbyterian(USA) is$47.13permemberapportionedasfollows:GeneralAssembly$9.85+Synod$1.15+National CapitalPresbytery$36.13.GivingEnvelopesincludeaspecialenvelopeforPerCapitadonation.For thosegivingbyACHorCreditCard,youcansendacheckmarked“PerCapita”totheChurchOfficeor placeitintheofferingplate.YoucanalsomakeyourPerCapitadonationonlinethroughourwebsite at:www.paxpres.com/online-givingoryoucanemailMarieHankinsonat:Treasurer@paxpres.org toincreaseyourACHallotmenttoincludePerCapita.

Reminder:Ifyouincreasedyourpledgefor2023andaresignedupforACH,pleasefilloutandturn inanewACHformreflectingyournewpledgeamount.Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupportto PaxPresaswecontinuetomeettheneedsfortheChurchandcommunity.

IfyouwouldliketousemonthlyautomatedgivingthroughACHorCreditCardwithdrawal,youmay fillouttheautomatedgivingformtoinitiatethesetypesofcontributions.Theformsareavailablein theNarthexorat:www.paxpres.com/online-giving.Ifyouhaveanyquestionspleasecontactthe ChurchTreasurer,MarieHankinsonat:301-863-2033orTreasurer@paxpres.org.

LetuswalkandworktogetherasweseektospreadtheGospelofJesusChrist athome,abroad,andtotheendsoftheearth!