PCJH Quarterly Newsletter, Summer 2022 VOL 16

PINNACLE

Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole

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Quarterly Newsletter I VolUME no 16 SUMMER 2022

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two friends on a journey pg.4

P e op l e Who Have Influenced Our Faith

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My WOW group pg.9

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BLESSED

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+ get to

know us pg.13

to be a c o m m u n i ty, Rooted in Christ, reaching out in love

Table of Contents Volume NO 16 I summer 2022

People Who Have Influenced Our Faith

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In this summer Pinnacle edition we will be exploring the ways in which relationships with other people can have a significant impact on our spiritual formation. In the following pages our volunteer PCJH authors will be sharing their own experiences with people who have left a significant mark on their lives as a follower of Jesus Christ. Our hope is that you will reflect on the people in your life who have played a transformational role in your discipleship and spiritual formation. Give thanks to God for them. Better yet, if you are able, write them a note and let them know the difference they have made in your life.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” u Proverbs 27:17

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Paul & Timothy: Two Friends on a journey

~ Re v. Ben Pascal

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BLESSED

~ Carol Kellehan

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as a parent

my wow group

~ Aaron Nydam

~ Becky Brewer Kimmel

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~ Lori Dodd

~ Heather Martin

joy of a christian home

get to know us

sprite of a women

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AMMA

~ Larry Van Gendren

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People Who Have Influenced Our Faith

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JULY

JUNE 1~ th

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calendar @pcjh.org/events

AUGUST 1~

Last Take-Out Wednesday's 5-6pm to resume in the fall

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Confirmation Sunday Transition Sunday

PCJH will be accepting Rummage Sale items email office@pcjh.org

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1 ~ ST

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ASCENT BACKPACk TRIP Wind River Range

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THRU .

THRU .

SUMMER STEWARDSHIP

CAMPAIGN

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Father's Day! JOY Summer Camp Begins

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Happy Fourth!

AUG 5~ 6 youth & young adult ongoing Events, details > pcjh.org/events/ < Contact Megan Walker (mwalker@pcjh.org)

Megan Walker

PCJH's new Youth & Young Adult Coordinator!

PCJH Rummage Sale

13th

PCJH Office Closed

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All-Church

Camping Trip @ Colter Bay Group Site

*Serving second term

pcjh.org

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Pau l & T i m ot h y:

Two

Fr i e n d s o n a Jo u r n e y ~ I

am grateful for the people in my life who have played a significant role in my spiritual formation. My parents had me baptized as a child, we attended church regularly as a family, they brought me to Sunday School, and nurtured my faith. My grandfather was an Episcopal priest and a man I looked up to as a leader, a person of inf luence in our community, and someone who was an example of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the way he showed love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. I am grateful for Robert

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Rev. Ben Pascal

and Tanya Graham, Greg Schoch and other adults who poured into my life as a teenager and young adult. I needed encouragement, guidance, and a place I felt like I belonged. They provided that for me. Paul Hayden came alongside me when I moved to Jackson Hole and he mentored me as a pastor and continues to do so to this day. I am also grateful for people who I have had a chance to mentor, people that have invited me to walk alongside them as a guide and pastor. I am incredibly thankful for all the people pouring into my family and my children too. It takes a village.

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Mentoring and mentee relationships are so beautiful. The church is a great place for these kinds of relationships to happen as we live life together. Are you building these kinds of relationships here at PCJH? I would call these Paul and Timothy relationships. We all need a Paul and a Timothy in our lives; spurring one another on in Christ. Let’s take a look at Paul and Timothy’s relationship and see what we can learn from them.

We are introduced to Timothy in Acts 16 as a “disciple” and that the brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. He was a young man, probably in his late teens or early twenties. Paul was in his forties at this time.

Timothy’s mother was a Jew and his father was a Greek. We learn from the book of Second Timothy that Timothy’s mother and grandmother taught him the faith and the Jewish Scriptures. He was raised in the faith. He was also a mixed-race and for whatever reason, even though his mother was a Jew, Timothy was never circumcised, perhaps because his father was a Greek. His father was absent, perhaps dead.

His mother was not only a Jew but also a believer and follower of Jesus. She might very well have come to faith through Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey three years prior.

Paul sees something in Timothy and wants to bring him along on the journey. Here we see that a discipleship relationship starts with a simple invitation. Want to grab coffee? Can we meet sometime? Want to go skiing? Grab a beer? Talk?

But before they go on the journey together Paul encourages Timothy and perhaps requires Timothy to be circumcised. Why? Didn’t the Council in Jerusalem just rule that circumcision wasn’t required for Gentiles (and Timothy’s father was a Gentile). However, his mother was a Jew, so therefore Timothy was a Jew and Jews still required circumcision, even for Christian Jews that was the custom. Paul wanted to break down any barriers of effectiveness as they journeyed through Jewish communities in Asia Minor. Paul always went to the synagogue first to preach and Timothy would be coming with him. Perhaps this would protect Timothy, it would give him credibility and an ability to speak into people’s lives. It wasn’t required for salvation but it was effective for ministry.

Circumcision would have been painful for Timothy and perhaps a difficult decision. Paul encouraged him.

Sometimes our mentors encourage us to do things that aren’t easy, that are difficult. We need someone like Paul in our life to say “I know this is a hard thing for you to do, and maybe even painful, but it is best and right for you to do it in order to be effective in your life and ministry.”

This was the beginning of Paul and Timothy’s relationship. Timothy would travel with Paul throughout his second and third missionary journeys. Paul often used Timothy as his messenger to the churches around modern day Turkey and Greece. Eventually Paul stationed Timothy in Ephesus to oversee the churches there. Timothy was likely with him on his journey to Rome and they stayed in touch for the rest of their lives through visits and letters.

The New Testament contains two letters Paul wrote to Timothy. These letters were authentically written by Paul and they are often called the pastoral letters in which Paul not only wrote to Timothy but also to Titus.

Second Timothy was written by Paul while in prison in Rome under Emperor Nero, awaiting execution. It was the end of his life and he knew his death was imminent.

These words from Paul to Timothy are Paul’s last words.

Whenever we gather around a loved one who is dying we often listen intently to their last words. These are Paul’s famous last words to his disciple, his colleague, his mentee, his friend, his son… Timothy.

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of �

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me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. – 2 Timothy 1:1-10 Paul and Timothy’s relationship is what I would call a discipleship relationship. It’s not just about having fun together: skiing, golfing, fishing and drinking some beers and watching the football game. It’s centered around Jesus Christ and Christ’s calling for us to be set apart and on mission to share God’s love with others. It’s a journey taken together; living life together; allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our lives.

Timothy had been thrust into leadership in Ephesus at a young age and he was timid and people looked down on him because he was a young leader. Timothy needed Paul’s encouragement to lead and be a man of courage, power, love and self-discipline for the sake of the gospel.

There are many dynamics to a discipleship relationship so let’s see what we can learn from Paul and Timothy in regards to what this type of relationship looks like.

First, a discipleship relationship involves regular communication and time together. Paul and Timothy spent time on the road together, living life together, doing ministry together, and working together. Paul wrote to Timothy and stayed in communication with him. A discipleship relationship involves picking up the phone, writing an email, sending a short text, being in communication, spending time, showing up, and being present in each other’s life.

In verse one Paul calls himself an apostle (remembering his call from Christ) and declares the promise of God in Christ. In a way, he is reminding Timothy of who Paul is, his call, his good God who not only offers life but also promises life. It is something Paul would have taken solace in as he awaits execution.

Paul was perhaps one of the most important men in the early church (an apostle) and he had a mentee in Timothy. This is a good reminder that you are never too important or too busy to have a mentee.

Paul calls Timothy his dear son and bestows the grace, mercy and peace of Christ on him. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul says that he has no one else like Timothy in his life. His relationship with Timothy is a close intimate relationship. Timothy is like family to Paul. That’s what a discipleship relationship is like, like family.

In verse 3 Paul thanks God for Timothy as he remembers him in his prayers. Paul prays for Timothy. Not only is this kind of relationship something to be thankful for, but notice that Paul constantly remembers Timothy in his prayers: day and night. A discipleship relationship holds one another in gratitude and prayer, daily.

At this point in their journey they have parted ways and Paul misses Timothy, which brings him to tears. A discipleship relationship is one where it is safe to cry together, to share the hard stuff, to share our emotions, to be able to say “I love you.”

In verse 4 Paul alludes to the fact that he would be filled with joy if he could be with Timothy. Joy comes with being together! Mentorship goes both ways. Paul needed Timothy as much as Timothy needed Paul. A discipleship relationship is one that brings joy and laughter.

Paul affirms Timothy’s sincere faith and his upbringing. Later in the letter Paul remarks how Timothy had grown up knowing the Jewish Scriptures since he was an infant. Paul knew Timothy’s story. Paul knew Timothy’s mother and grandmother by name. Paul and Timothy’s relationship was an intimate relationship connected to the extended family. A discipleship relationship is even more inf luential when we partner family and congregation.

It’s also a reminder that discipleship happens in the family too. But notice it is Timothy’s mother and grandmother who were formational in Timothy’s walk with God. What about his dad? He may have been dead, we don’t know… but dads… if you are not dead… your kids need you to be alive spiritually and they need you to guide them in their faith and to model what it means to be a

“Here we see that a discipleship relationship starts with a simple invitation. Want to grab coffee? Can we meet sometime? Want to go skiing? Grab a beer? Talk?"

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“Christ wants to fan into flame the gift God has given us. Christ wants us to be courageous, to rely on his power, and his love." godly man following Jesus Christ. If you are a parent, remind yourself of the profound effect a Christian home will have on your child. Also notice that faith usually begins in the family and then someone like Paul comes alongside an individual when they are in their teens or twenties and can mentor them further in the faith. It’s an intergenerational dynamic.

In verse 6 Paul encourages Timothy to rekindle the gift of God that is within him. Fan it into flame! Paul reminds Timothy that he has a gift from God. A discipleship relationship is one of encouragement and spurring one another on.

Paul reminds Timothy of his call and ordination, the laying on of hands. This shows Paul’s belief and confidence in Timothy to be a leader. This legacy must have felt good for Paul as he was hoping the next generation was going to continue the work. A discipleship relationship is one of confidence and empowerment.

In verse 7 Paul gives Timothy four encouragements to live into his gift: courage, power, love, and self-discipline. He reminds Timothy that he has a gift but he must use it! He must be courageous with it. The same is true for us. When we are brave with our gifts we will be amazed at God’s power when He uses it for his glory! We must use our gift for love. We must have self-discipline to further refine and develop our gift. A discipleship relationship is one of encouragement and challenge in using our unique God-given gifts.

Paul encourages Timothy not to be ashamed to testify to the Lord but to share in his suffering. To live a holy life. The power of death has been destroyed. There is life and light! We must continue to rely on and point people to God’s grace that has always been and continues to be and was revealed through Jesus Christ. Our discipleship relationship is not an end of itself, it is a means to the end. It’s not just about each other but about God and sharing the gospel of Christ with others. A discipleship relationship is about loving God and loving others.

Timothy and Paul encourage one another to be faithful to the end. What a beautiful and powerful relationship Paul and Timothy had! Do you have a relationship like this in your life? It’s a rare and special thing, but it is not impossible. If you already have this relationship, thank God for that person. Write a

letter to that person like Paul wrote a letter to Timothy. Or perhaps you need to reach out to that person because you have lost touch with them. Reach out to them. Or perhaps you don’t have this kind of relationship in your life. Pray and ask God to lead you to this person, whether it be a Paul or a Timothy or both. We all need a Paul and we all need a Timothy in our life.

I believe PCJH is a place where we can have discipleship relationships. These relationships are often formed through small groups, ministry groups, mission groups, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and through families together partnering home and congregation.

Discipleship relationships take time, investment, commitment, being engaged, willing to risk being known and knowing others, opening the scriptures together, doing life together, praying together, encouraging each other, and challenging each other.

Church isn’t just about coming to worship on Sundays, or even going to a class. It’s about living life together centered in Jesus Christ. Crying together, laughing together, encouraging one another to live out the good news of Jesus in our lives and in our world.

Discipleship relationships are where we see real transformation happen because it is ultimately encouraging people to have a discipleship relationship with Jesus Christ.

Think about it: Jesus Christ calls each of us a child of God, someone who is dearly loved. Christ always remembers us and intercedes for us. Christ longs to spend time with us. Christ weeps with us. Christ takes delight in us. Christ knows us and our upbringing (the good and the bad). Christ wants to fan into flame the gift God has given us. Christ wants us to be courageous, to rely on his power, and his love. Christ wants us to practice obedience and self-discipline. Christ doesn’t want us to be ashamed of Him or His good news of salvation but to be people of faith, hope and love.

Paul and Timothy were two friends on a journey.

Do you have friends to journey with in Christ? Are you on the journey with Jesus Christ? Spend time with him… in prayer… with others… in his Word… serving alongside him in the world. It is a blessed journey and we aren’t meant to travel alone. ✝

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I believe the faith journey is truly a journey. It is our u r i n g t h e s e r v ic e a t P C J H a f e w weeks ago I turned to look down the row to check on life journey threading through the collective fabric of society. my children. As a parent in church I often find myself From our earliest memories, this journey is the formation of attempting to balance the pulls of parenting and worship- our identity shaped by a progression of increasing complex ing. Managing behavior and singing. Leah and I strive to be questions: Am I loved? Who am I? Who are they? How do I fit? mindful of our family’s impact on the service while also being How do I make sense of this life full of peace and violence, joy and anger? Our children are aska part of the service. We also are parents who care deeply ing these questions. And, about the spiritual growth of you and I are the SOMEour children. These balancing ONE giving them answers. acts raise important questions Not only am I a parent, for all of us to consider: How do I am also serving as the Inwe, as a community, share the terim Children’s Ministry love of God? How do we open Coordinator. I pray that space for the Holy Spirit? How God will work through me, do our children experience PCJH and each member of God’s love with worship and this community to reveal to reverence? How do we do that our children that God made without falling into a culture of them beautiful, loves them compliance, consequence and and wants to know them. fear? How do we influence the And, together as a commufaith journey of our children? nity of SOMEONES, we Prompted with this Pinnaare together equipped with cle's theme of those who influthe Holy Spirit to share enced our faith journey, I can't our lives with children in a help but reflect through the lens manner that reveals God’s of an adult and a parent: When truths: We are created in did I first feel the love of God? the image of our heavenly When will my children? When Father who has an unenddid I feel a sense of belonging ing love for each of us. What in the church? When will my There’s no magic formula we can see reveals a Crechildren? When was I overcome or specific prayer... ator we cannot see. We can with the grace of God? When trust God even when life will my children? When did I doesn’t make sense. God’s begin to comprehend the salSpirit is transforming each vation offered us on the cross? of our unique and imperfect When will my children?

In each memory there is SOMEONE there with me lives into the character of Jesus. Our response to God’s word leading me, holding me, supporting me. There is my mother shapes how we see God’s story of redemption at work. God beside me. There is a coach on a field praying for strength and designed each of us to participate in restoring a broken world. courage, youth leaders on a mission trip helping us process Our faith in Christ is revealed by our compassion and care for inequality, a pastor behind a pulpit sharing the grace of God. others. And, we choose to live in the complexities of family and There is my life-long friend on his knees crying and even a community because God values them.

When I looked down the row during our service, my chilstranger on a curbside offering me a ride home. Who will be dren were not in their seats. They were out in the middle of that SOMEONE for my children? the center aisle. My immediate cortisol stress response quickly abated, and for the first time ever, I witnessed them singing Aaron nydam and his wife Leah work and their hearts out. I witnessed them worshiping. play here in Jackson Hole with their three Thank you to this community and the SOMEONES influchildren. Currently Aaron is serving as PCJH's encing my children! ✝ Interim Children’s Ministry Coordinator.

AS a Parent

~ Aaron Nydam

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my

WOW GROUP

Women of the Word. They are wise and patient...

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y p a r e n t s , o f co u r s e . Th e y raised me in a Presbyterian home. Mom taught Sunday school for 66 years. My dad was the Clerk of Session for our church, at least until his work moved our family from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There was a small Presbyterian Church in Tottenham Ontario that we attended after leaving Pennsylvania. My father died three years later and I wandered through the wilderness for 20 years afterwards, blaming God for “taking my dad away from me.” I was 17 when he died and nearly 40 years old before finding my way back to the Christian church. Sandy Casey-Martus was instrumental in my returning home. She is an Episcopal priest and at one time worked in Alta, WY. Sandy attempted to build a retreat center inspired by Thomas Keating’s work in Snowmass, CO on the contemplative prayer traditions. The Holy Spirit spoke to me in that week-long silent retreat. I realized that Buddhism and other faith traditions were not filling the God-shaped hole inside of me.

After that week-long retreat, I began a crash course in Christianity, even though I had been baptized and confirmed in the church. I credit a group of women who invited me to join them in weekly covenant prayer and study 15 years ago.

We are still meeting today, and even though so many of our members have moved out of Jackson Hole, we are enjoying the benefits offered by technology. We stay in touch by email, do a weekly Zoom call and a deep dive study two times per year. I love my WOW group; Women of the Word. They are wise and patient and have taught me so much.

I’m also inspired by our professional pastors and other teachers at PCJH. I’m a sponge. I try to attend several book studies per year at the Presbyterian Church, as well as other studies that have been offered, including Deborah Buckingham’s women’s bible studies. I appreciate that her work crosses denominational lines and I learn so much from my other sisters in Christ. Our women’s retreats have also been transformational. I miss those opportunities, and I know it’s a lot of work to organize. I fondly recall the long drive with Barb Huhn and a car full of women to make it around a forest fire to a weekend retreat center at Fremont Lake. That was in 2018.

I am an avid student, always reading, joining those studies that work in my schedule. I loved the ‘Color of

~ Becky Brewer Kimmel

Compromise’ book study recently taught by both Pastors Ben and Tammy via Zoom; and I’m now enrolled in the “New Catechumenate; Discipleship Journey” with the Whitworth Office of Church Engagement. I was so impressed with Philip Yancy’s “Vanishing Grace”, class.

So yes, daily bible reading, listening to podcasts, watching my favorite teachers on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. I often do housework with headphones while I’m listening to so many influential pastors, hearing the word, praying without ceasing. I use the NIV Life Application Study bible, often reading the notes. I visited the Holy Land.

I’ve been twice, most recently in 2010 with Paul and Terri Hayden. If it is possible for anyone to make that trip, go and walk where Jesus walked. I give myself a Sabbath day of rest. I am slowing down. The other spiritual disciplines are getting easier as I am aging. I love to pray while I walk, and listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

And of course, I worship with our church family. I missed being together in worship during Covid, but I loved that our church was able to offer online live streaming. I have for years played catch-up with our sermons which is great, however, when we cannot be together in corporate worship, live streaming is the next best thing. ✝ Becky Brewer Kimmel is currently serving as the Worship Elder on the Session of PCJH. She humbly looks forward to serving in this capacity for the coming three years.

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Blessed I have been blessed with so many incredible Christian role models during my life.

Carol Kelleghan

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f a l l t ho u gh , I ’ d s a y m y m o t h e r was the greatest mentor and role model. She was born in the mountains of northern Alabama in 1916 and had lived through an era when there were no women’s rights. Women even had to wait to come to the table to eat after all the working men had been fed! Her father wouldn’t let her accept a college scholarship because she had to stay home to nurse sick siblings during a diphtheria epidemic. She lived through the Great Depression, and WWII. Her father sent her to Detroit to work in Cadillac Motors manufacturing airplanes for the war. She was one of many “Rosie the Riveters.” Of course, she was expected to send money back home.

There were so many changes in her lifetime and few decisions she could make on her own that it makes me feel like a real complainer when I lament about all the changes that have come in my life during Covid Times. Through it all, she maintained a joyful and grateful love of Jesus. She encouraged a positive and hope-filled attitude that was full of love, joy, peace, patience and faithfulness that was so real that any one who knew her would say “whatever she’s got, I’ll have some of that.” (A lot like our own wonderful Cindy Dahlin!)

Carol Kelleghan and her husband have been full time residents in Jackson for 10 years and feel greatly blessed to worship at PCJH.

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When my first husband died at 42, and I had 2 children under 5 yrs old, my mother put her hand on my shoulder and assured me, “we won’t know why now, but for sure we will know when we join Jesus.” She confidently reminded me that Jesus wasn’t just watching us, he was beside us crying and hurting with us. Her depth of assurance and faith in God is what helped me to keep my faith.

But she passed away 27 years ago and I got old, achy, forgetful, and weary with retirement and so many changes in this world. Then God lead me to the perfect setting for my faith recharge.

The Tuesday women’s prayer group!! How could I ever express how incredible it has been to learn from women like Meta Sternberg and Yvonne Henze, always mentoring us all to never let an opportunity to help someone else and be useful pass unnoticed. They encouraged me to continue to find new strength to move forward with God. Joanie Shipman is the perfect prototype Deacon, always considering what is the right thing to do, always finding ways to care for others, and help others. Kay Brockermeyer searching the Bible and never letting Bible study be forgotten. Caryn Hamon shows us all how strong, commitment can be to read, study and serve others. So many AMAZING WOMEN who have kept us motivated. These women have enriched my Christian life.

They’ve shown me exactly what my mother meant when she said, “life is hard work, but you’ll have the best of it if you do it with God.” ✝

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sprite of

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She was a consummate volunteer, which spoke to me on

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so many different levels.

vonne Henze, a tiny sprite of a woman, barreled into my life right after I joined PCJH and luckily became fully imbedded in my heart. How did I meet Yvonne? She asked me to join a group that was going to breakfast at the Virginian after church, I soon learned that was so Yvonne. She was always trying to make everyone feel welcome and included. Once Yvonne took you under her wing, she never let you go. So, for five years I knew I would be getting an invitation for whichever holiday was coming up. What’s a little funny, I was lucky enough to have family in town, but I never turned her down, because I didn’t want Yvonne to be alone on a holiday either.

She was a consummate volunteer, which spoke to me on so many different levels. One day I walked into the library and Yvonne was there. I asked her if she was getting a book and she said it was just another place she volunteered. I used to joke with her that I wanted to be just like her when I grew up! She would just laugh at me. I knew if I ever had questions about recycling, Yvonne was the person to ask and she always had the correct answer for me!

We always sat at the same table for the Wednesday Community dinners. She had the habit of saying – “why don’t you grab that person and invite them to sit with us?” Soon we had another member to add to “Yvonne’s group.” When the pandemic hit, Yvonne and I worked together helping package carry out dinners for the community. We would share stories with each other and wow, did Yvonne have stories. Stories about when she worked for the National Parks, all her hikes, the wildf lowers and wildlife she saw, her cross-country skiing. She was so active – which really blew me away!

Yvonne didn’t have it easy, she had a plethora of allergies, but she never complained. Once she told me that her main food group was pretzels (because they didn’t affect her allergies.) She shared that if she ate something too often, she’d suddenly develop an allergy to that food. Every once and a while she’d look at something we were having and say “oh, I used to love that” but never in a negative way.

One Christmas I made home-made body butter as gifts.

Yvonne took a lavender one (after I had told her what was in it.) She later told me it was the only cream she had found that didn’t irritate her skin. I told Yvonne whenever she ran out just to let me know and I would make her some more. It was such a small thing to do for someone who gave so much to me and others.

A couple of lessons I learned from Yvonne: • Love the Lord. Yvonne had a great love and relationship with both Jesus and God the Father. Because of this steadfast relationship she had no fear of death, she knew

where she was going! I only hope that I can exit this world with the grace that Yvonne did everything.

• You are never too old to try something new. I have never been a skier; I took some very basic lessons as a youth minister when I took a group of teens skiing decades ago.

But I decided very quickly that I enjoyed sitting by a roaring fire and reading a book much better than falling in the snow.

Yvonne was always talking about cross country skiing and how much fun it was. She said if I wanted to come out with her it would be great because she wasn’t moving very fast, which would be perfect for me as a beginner. I’m sorry to say, Yvonne and I never got to go skiing, but she did encourage me to get out and try cross country skiing and I hope to get better. When I get out there next, I will think of Yvonne and say I’m doing this in honor of you!

• Be a better recycler. I like to think I do a good job at recycling… but I know I have a long way to go. My goal for the remainder of 2022 will to be a better steward of the planet that God gifted us with. I can do more and will do more, thank you for your education, Yvonne.

When you move across the country, to a new place where the only person you know is your brother, it’s a little daunting. PCJH and Yvonne made my move so much easier, I hope your latest move was just as easy and joyous Yvonne. ✝ LORI DODD has served as a PCJH Deacon for several years, as well sings in the PCJH choir.

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AMMA Without her, I can confidently say my faith would be nonexistent.

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rowing up, the grandkids always referred to my grandma on my mother's side as Amma (Uh-muh) which is simply the Icelandic word for grandma. I have always felt very connected to Amma and I think one part of that has been having an old soul from a young age, but another huge reason is the fact that she has guided me, encouraged me, and inspired me throughout my faith journey.

Without her, I can confidently say my faith would be nonexistent.

Amma, along with my mother, were the only adults within my family who were believers that I could look up to and learn from in that way.

I am very thankful that God has placed her in my life.

Amma has been able to shape me and help me grow through the years.

When I was younger it was shown in her way of popping peppermints and Werther’s caramel candies out of her purse in the middle of a church service and offering us a dollar for the offering on Sundays. But as I got older, she was reading scripture in the kitchen during visits from Illinois where she lived and buying me my Bibles that I have asked for over the years.

Heather Martin has been with Little Lambs Preschool and JOY Summer Camp for five years now. She will be pursuing other adventures outside of Jackson in the next months, and we will miss her dearly.

12

~ Heather Martin

Every child wants to be known and seen and heard. Amma and I have had a strong connection since I was a young girl and I have received all of these things from her throughout my life and have truly felt the love of Jesus because of this. The joy that she has simply by hearing my voice on the other end of the phone makes me feel so special and wanted, and that’s the way we are seen by our Heavenly Father. Her passion to know the Bible and to share that knowledge with others, like the Bible studies she used to lead is only one example that has inspired me to strengthen my own knowledge and passion to grow in my faith. With her guidance and inf luence in my life I have been able to know the Lord and have a relationship with Him. Recently Amma has been diagnosed with Dementia. Whenever I call her, the conversation usually ends up going in circles as she asks the same questions over and over again. The one thing that never changes and is never forgotten is her love for me as well as her love for the Lord. I am very grateful to have her in my life and to have her not only be a large reason I came to know the Lord, but for also continuously being someone I can look up to and hope to emulate the way that she has shown me God’s love. She has strongly impacted my faith journey from childhood to now. I know she is always praying for me and shows me what a solid relationship with the Lord looks like. She speaks scripture over me and is an overall solid reminder of the strong faith I strive for in my everyday life. ✝

People Who Have Influenced Our Faith

~

SUMME R 2 0 2 2

joy of a

christian home

~ Larry Van Genderen

I

have been privileged to be cradled life-long by Christian love, beginning with parents, grandparents, relatives, siblings, cousins, teachers, classmates and friends. I hardly knew of any other kind.

This blessing and joy of a Christian home, church and school was mine as far back as I can remember.

In addition to praying parents, who were always there to support and nurture me, there were grandparents. One was a grandfather we grandchildren called “Detroity”.

This was our version of the name of his residence when we were in grade-school. During each visit, he would carve out special time to be with his Denver grandchildren and go on “adventures”. Most of these trips included watching trains go by and playing in parks, but it was mainly to enjoy each other’s company away from parents. He also made an effort to talk with us.

My grandmother was filled with love and stoically bore all the difficulties of life that passed her way. It was she who taught me to recite the 42nd Psalm in Dutch and how to gather eggs out from under disapproving laying hens.

We also liked to sit with her in church, on one of two special wooden chairs provided to give some comfort to her disabled, crippled back.

A professional mentor helped me first encounter the mysteries of medicine, disease, injury, treatment and recovery. I knew from an early age that, if I were afforded the opportunity, the healing arts would be the life that I hoped to follow. I would be willing to set aside all else for that.

I had so many mentors who cared for me, one who even permitted me to watch my brother’s appendectomy. Countless others invested in me during medical school, externship, internship, residency and fellowship. Over the decades, many of my colleagues have given me the privilege of learning the art and science of caring and providing.

Many of my adult relationships proved to be more maturing, as well as thought and deed-provoking. College presidents, faculty and peers had profound inf luences on my life. The woman who became my wife and life provided an all-encompassing and profound union. She brought out the best of me by merely being her dear, sweet self. Together, we were able to enjoy the most meaningful life imaginable. Now, even though separated in a physical sense, we still share a deep and meaningful presence together.

I have been blessed to have it all, marry the love of my life, raise a family together, follow the professional discipline I was created for and carry on that practice in a meaningful and satisfying way. ✝ LARRY Van Genderen and his late wife, Barbara, have raise their four children and grandchildren in the valley. They have been involved in PCJH since its inception and included in its original charter membership.

pcjh.org

~

Pinnacle

13

JUNE

JULY

august

01 Larry Huhn Alex Maher June Nystrom Danny Weber

01 Blake & Donna Clark (34)

01 Alex & Macye Maher (21)

03

Duane and Nancy Schneider (46) 05 Pam Mettler 06

Daniel Primich

07 Paul Boillot Linda Walker 08

Steve Poole

Lance & Christine Windey (27) 03 Melissa Snider

Bill & Eileen Blackwell (57) 06 Mary Walton 08

12

Jeff Crabtree

Scott & Diane McGee (18) 13

Ponteir Sackrey

16

Bob & Deb Kopp (44) Ken & Bobbie Thomasma (66)

18 Tina Edwards

David &Eunice Conine (56 ) 19 Ted Kimmel 20 Cheri Hauser Mary Ann Tapp 22

Robert Carr

25 Buffy Allen

Trent & Traci Doyle (28) 26 Judy Swann

Jim & Sally Byrne (62) 27 Jenny Pascal

Bob & Bonnie Lewis (41) Tom & Jan Segerstrom (29) 28 Gregg Ward

Jeff & Lana Crabtree (42) Ray & Meg Womack (47) 29

Matt & Julie Faupel (20)

02

Vickie Jones William Schoen 03 Bobbi Thomasma

Jeff & Julie Huot (48)

Mike & Carol Marshall (55) 09 Stan & Becky Zaist (39) 11 Jan Benz Steve Iobst 12 Amy Boillot

09 Jeff and Sarah Hanson (37)

Dean & Carol Lewis (44)

Jane Lavino

Clara McGee Sayre Jorgenson

John & Joanie Shipman (36) 14

Cathy Wikoff

04 05

Ron Miller

Ken & Cathy Blount (28) Alan & Nancy Brumsted (45) Brian & Maddy Remlinger (17) 07

Mel Orchard

17

Steve Weber

08

Paul & Jean Bruun (13)

18 Stan Steiner

09

Eric VanGenderen Lance Windey

20 Annie Mueller

Tom & Becky Jordan (54) 21 Irene Lund Suzanne VanHatten Steve Fralin Julie Whitlock

Jeff & Cindy Dahlin (32) 22 Stan Pugmire 23 Ed Scott Marc Calder

Ted & Becky Kimmel (34) 24 Lana Crabtree 25 Katie Robertson

Mel & Brandie Orchard (27) 27 Paul & Terri Hayden (19) 29 Alan Lund Gaylyn Frantz 30 Kay Brockermeyer Jim Hamilton

11

Ben Pascal

12

Joanie Shipman Nancy Stockhouse

Dan & Julie Matzke (50) Dylan & Catherine Wade (16) 15 Julie Winthers 17 Dave Dunlap Claudia Gillette Ray Womack Phil Stevenson

Bill & Karen Fox (37) Jim & Jessica Miller (9) 19

Sue Unruh

20

Randy Reed Josh Ziolkowski

23 Karen Terra 24

Jack & Jan Larimer (56) 31 Jennifer Wolf

Jason & Melissa Snider (13)

Ed Cheramy

Will & Laura Soltau (9)

26 Bonnie Lewis

Ally Kiefer Communications Coordinator

26 Joy Steiner Michael Schrotz

29 Larry Jorgenson

Warren & Martha VanGenderen

(63)

Program Staff Laura Huckin Worship & Music Coordinator

huckin@silverstar.net x123

alack@pcjh.org x111

Aaron Nydam anydam@pcjh.org Interim Children’s Ministry Coordinator x103 Megan Walker mwalker@pcjh.org Youth & Young Adult Ministry Coordinator x124

Clerk of Session: Ken Blount

Ruling Elders Class of 2022

2023

2024

Laura Soltau* Mission

Caryn Haman Adult Ministry

Wes Lucas* Stewardship

Ryan Allen Children’s Ministry

Josh Ziolkowski Young Adult Ministry

Susan Conner Congregational Life

Alan Lund Personnel

Steve Iobst* Buildings, Grounds & Vehicles

John Scott Finance

Patty McDonald Assimilation & Nomination

Marian Meyers Youth Ministry Becky Kimmel Worship

Teaching Elders: Rev. Ben Pascal & Rev. Tamara Mitchell

Deacons Class of 2022 Bill Klyn* Dorothy Neckels Catherine Wade Sierra Fulton

30 Kenlyn Long 31 Ken & Caroline Taylor (54)

14

akiefer@pcjh.org x102

Marcia Taylor

Mack & Katie Mendenhall (15) 27

tmitchell@pcjh.org x 104

Bill Blackwell

Bill & Kenlyn Long (42) 25

Rev. Tammy Mitchell Associate Pastor

Amanda Lack Little Lambs Director

Ed & Jane Lavino (36) 10

bpascal@pcjh.org x 101

Cindy Dahlin cdahlin@pcjh.org Church Administrator

x109

06 Jeff Huot Cynthia Nigro

Becky Zaist

Rev. Ben Pascal Senior Pastor

Office Staff

Bob Lewis Dan Matzke

15 Mills Halpin Jay Kemmerer

19

Pastoral Staff

People Who Have Influenced Our Faith

~

SUMME R 2 0 2 2

Class of 2023 Michael Schrotz* Ponteir Sackery Brian Bultima Sandra Guido Fernandez

Class of 2024 Lori Dodd* Brad Herman* Joy Steiner* Tom Segerstrom

~

get to know US

Aaron Nydam / interim childen's ministry Cooridnator Aaron Nydam serves PCJH as the interim Children’s Ministry Coordinator. Born and raised in Colorado, Aaron moved here in 2005 now lives here in Jackson with wife Leah and three children: Greta, Nora and Samuel. Aaron carries a deep passion for education and nature which brought him to Teton Science Schools were he helped build Journeys School while teaching high school science and math. He moved through the organization eventually directing their Graduate Program in Place-based Education. Prior, Aaron taught primary school in Kenya and spent many summers working for Colorado Outward Bound School. Currently, Aaron is pursuing a Doctorate in Education at the University of Wyoming between bike rides and washing dishes.

IN HIS WORDS I am excited to help support PCJH as our Children's Ministry Team looks for new leadership. Personally, it is an incredible blessing to re-engage our faith community and connect my children to the church. I am incredibly grateful for all the work that Dylan Wade accomplished through his years. It is a strong foundation to build upon into the future.

Nancy Fauntleroy & Roby hurley / New Members Nancy Fauntleroy and Roby Hurley, Jackson transplants from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, joined the PCJH congregation in March of this year. Nancy was baptized, and raised in the Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania and Roby in the Lutheran Church, also in Pennsylvania.

They moved to Jackson eight years ago after visiting the area for twenty fall seasons. Roby is retired from a career in natural resource planning and continues to volunteer in several non-profit associations, including the Board of Supervisors for the Teton County Conservation District, the Wildlife Foundation and Trout Unlimited. He loves being out in nature in every way, although his true passion is fly fishing. You may encounter him on the Snake River with rod in hand as he declared it as his new office upon retirement! His wife, Nancy, comes to PCJH after a career, as both a clinical and administrative social worker. She enjoys hiking, biking, animals, traveling, knitting and most of all, taking care of her great nephew who is 14 months old one day a week and is pure joy! You may see her in one of Belle Cose’s many Jackson locations as she enjoys working a couple of days a week with them. Both are looking forward to being active in the PCJH church after a lengthy search for a local church home. PCJH won their hearts after attending for several months. “We loved the 10:15 service, the message, the music, and the outreach to both local and global communities, not to mention Pastors Ben and Tammy!”

DARLA Jackson / Nursery coordinator I am sorry to inform you that after 36 years in Jackson and almost that many years here at PCJH my husband, Michael and I are leaving the valley. I have been faithful servant here at church but mainly as the Head Director of our beloved nursery. What a blessing it has been to see you all blossom and grow! It’s funny what a bag of goldfish and juice boxes will do! Michael and I decided on our 35th anniversary to start a new adventure. We will be heading to the Colorado area near Fort Collins. Our son and daughter-in-law reside in Denver and hopefully there will be little ones on the way, and what is better than having grandparents close by? Jackson will always be our home, as our youngest Corey is still here in the valley. I’m sure I will be finding any reason to come get a squeeze from him and his cute girlfriend. You know that if I am in Jackson, I will certainly make my way into the church to see how many hugs I can get to tide me over until my next visit. I want to thank each and every one of you for all of the love my family has received over the years. You’ve helped my children know the Lord and blessed my husband and me in too many ways to count. This is not a goodbye, just a “see you later!”

pcjh.org

~

Pinnacle

15

Address Service Requested Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit # 189 Jackson, WY 83002

S P iRiT

1251 South Park Loop Road, P.O. Box 7530, Jackson, WY 83002 I pcjh.org I 307 - 734 - 0388

sightings

You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. u Psalm 18:28 Fireside Worship and s'mores at the PCJH All-Church Colter Bay Camp Out in 2021