PCJH Quarterly Pinnacle Newsletter Summer 2020

PINNACLE

Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole

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Quarterly Newsletter I VolUME no 8

SUMMER 2020

thriving in our faith pg.7

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thriving through serving

pg.8

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foundations to the way we live pg. 12

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

Table of Contents Volume NO 8 I summer 2020

PINNACLE ˆ

f r o m s u rv i v i n g t o t h r i v i n g

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The 2020 Summer edition of the Pinnacle focuses on the theme of moving from “surviving to thriving”. Since the pandemic of Covid-19, the world has faced real tragedy, hardship, and difficulty. In times of trial, we can draw strength and comfort from our God who gives us empowerment, hope, peace and love through the Spirit’s ever presence. As Christians, we are not immune to pain and struggle. Yet we rely on the promises of Christ who said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.” u John 16:33. May we continue to thrive in the grace of our Lord Jesus.

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04

Thriving in our faith

The Journey from Surviving to ThriVing

~ Re v. Tammy Mitchell

~ Re v. Ben Pascal

10

being A Parent is very different during a Pandemic

12

foundations to the way we live

08

thriving through serving Q & A: christine goodman

~ Re v. Tammy Mitchell get to know us

~ Liz Collins

~ Dylan Wade

cover: God created the sun, moon, and the stars... and the magic of rainbows!

Photo: Beth Ricciardi

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JUNE ~~ ~ ~

cancelled Annual Events

Rummage Sale Peach Sale WyldLife Summer Camp

calendar @pcjh.org/events

JULY 4~

Youth local Mission Weeks

13 16

th Fourth of July Parade *** (Saturday)

PCJH plans on having bus

in parade this year

th

THRU. TH

& 20

th

THRU.

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TH

MONDAYS

“Matriarchs, Missionaries, & Martyrs: Bible Study @ 7-8pm

26TH

wednesdays

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Take-Out Wednesday's @5-6pm Weekley Curbside pick-up or scheduled home delivery

7~ 14 ~ th

th

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21 ~ 22 ~

PCJH Outdoor Service In-Person Worship PCJH Sanctuary @ 10:15 am Small Group Facilitator Training Webinar @ 11:45am-1:30pm

ST

ND

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Father's Day!

5~ ~ th

PCJH Outdoor Service @ 5pm Small Groups Summer Session begins

SMALL GROUPS DISCIPLESHIP

FELLOWSHIP

MINISTRY

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Imani Milele Children’s Choir Concert***

Small Group Sign-Ups begins JOY Summer Camp Begins!

OUtdoor serviceS

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5pm

AUGUST 2~ 21 ~ ND

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PCJH Outdoor Service @ 5pm Last Day of JOY Camp

@PCJH f i r s t su n d ay i n J u n e, July, August *Serving second term

pcjh.org

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W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic started to impact us locally in Jackson Hole of March 2020, I remember two passages of Scripture that I immediately turned to for comfort and guidance in the midst of so much fear and anxiety. I shared these Scriptures with you and even preached a sermon on one of them.

God continues to speak to me through them:

COVID-19:

The Journey from Surviving

to

ThriVing

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~ Rev. Ben Pascal

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” u John 14:27 “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” u Philippians 4:4-6

Chefs Caroline and Patrick Cox preparing Take-Out Thursday meals.

While I have certainly had times of deep peace, joy and hope, I have also had times of fear and anxiety, anger and sadness. I am reminded of an article I read early on by Scott Berinato in the Harvard Business Review entitled That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief. Berinato summarized a conversation he had with grief expert, David Kessler. The article helped me to realize that we have all collectively been going through a time of grief. Kessler contextualized the five stages of grief in light of COVID-19.

“There’s denial, which we saw a lot of early on: This virus won’t affect us.

There’s anger: You’re making me stay home and taking away my activities. There’s bargaining: Okay, if I social distance for two weeks everything will be better, right?

There’s sadness: I don’t know when this will end. And finally there’s acceptance.

This is happening; I have to figure out how to proceed.”

In the midst of grief we can be all over the place with our emotions and, everyone experiences grief differently. I have also found that in the midst of grief we are often simply surviving. We can find ourselves in a fog and not able to envision the future or a way forward.

Kessler suggested a sixth stage of grief: finding meaning. I resonated with this. I have experienced this firsthand as I have journeyed through grief in various forms. Finding meaning is the place we find ourselves in when we begin to move from surviving to thriving. It is a journey. We are all on this journey as unique individuals but we are also on the journey together. We are likely to find ourselves in different places along the journey, with different experiences, challenges, and bright spots.

The truth of the matter is that Christians have all been on the journey from surviving to thriving for our entire lives. This is the journey of discipleship, the journey of following Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. It’s a journey of transformation. It’s a journey from being lost to being found; from stumbling in the darkness to walking in the light; from getting stuck in the mud to standing on rock solid ground; from being a plant that withers to being a tree firmly planted by the stream of life. Life is a journey of becoming who God has intended us to be. To be more like Christ. What I am describing is the journey from surviving to thriving.

There was a diagram going around on social media in March that I found convicting and also helpful. It was entitled, Who do I want to be during COVID-19? (see diagram on pg. 6). I found myself all over the map. The fear zone is what I would call the surviving zone. It is a place not only of fear, but of hoarding, numbing, and living in a state of perpetual grumpiness. It is a place where sin easily creeps in.

The next step is to move to the learning zone where you begin to become aware and in-touch with your thoughts and feelings, which help you make better decisions and actions. Ultimately the goal is to live in the growth zone. This is the Christ-like �

p cpjchj .ho. o rg rg

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“ The truth of the matter is that Christians have all been on the journey from surviving to thriving for our entire lives." zone. This is the place of thriving and f lourishing. This is where we are our best selves, living into the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19); living into all that God has called us to be and become in Christ Jesus. That being said, my friends, please don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember, I too have been all over the map when it comes to this diagram and these stages of being. I’m sure you have too. It’s okay. God’s grace abounds and the Lord is patient with us. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

The life of discipleship is a journey. May we ultimately know the destination of our journey, and that is Jesus Christ: to follow him and to allow him to work in and through us so that we love the Lord and others well, which ultimately brings glory to God. This journey is not one we must take alone. It is a journey we take together with God, not by our own strength.

This journey from surviving to thriving in the midst of COVID-19 is not a sprint, but a marathon. It is a lifelong journey of faithfulness to God. In the final years of his life the Apostle Paul wrote to his mentee, Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” This is our calling too. To fight the good fight, to finish the race, to keep the faith.

I think of the others and see how to help hem I make my talents available to those who need them I start to give up what I can’t control I stop compulsively consuming what hurts me, from food to news

I grad food, toilet paper and medications I don’t need

I spread emotions related to fear and anger

Who do I want to be during COVID-19

FEAR ZONE

I am empathetic with myself and others

I identify my emotions

LEARNING ZONE GROWTH ZONE

I complain frequently I forward all messages I receive

I get mad easily

I live in the present and focus on the future

I become aware of the situation and think how to act

I evaluate information before spreading something false I recongnize we are all trying to do our best

I thank and appreciate others

I keep a happy emotional state and spread hope

I look for a way to adapt to new chnages

I practice quietude, patience, relationships and creativity

This pandemic is a great opportunity for us to exercise our faithfulness to God by walking more closely with Jesus; to grow; to face our fears and our sinful ways; and to become sanctified by the Holy Spirit in order to be more and more like Christ Jesus in our words and works.

As I was thinking about this theme: from surviving to thriving, I realized that our vision and mission as the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole is more relevant now than ever.

Our vision is to see lives being transformed in Jesus Christ

Our mission is to be a community, rooted in Christ, reaching out in love

This movement from surviving to thriving is all about being transformed in Jesus Christ. That’s our vision: not only to see other people’s lives being transformed in Christ, but to see our (YOUR) life being transformed in Christ.

How do we do it? Well, ultimately God does it. But there are some things we can do to make ourselves available for God to transform us. Simply put: we can experience transformation in Christ by living out our mission individually and collectively.

To be a community: by gathering for worship (whether that be in-person or livestream), connecting with others for prayer, study or conversation (again, whether that be in-person or through Zoom). To pray for one another, to encourage and serve together, and eventually to eat together and embrace one another.

Rooted in Christ: by spending time with Christ in silence and solitude, in prayer and journaling, in reading Scripture, in worship and song, in the practice of simplicity, meditation on God’s word, fasting, study, and confession.

Reaching out in love: by finding ways to love and serve others. Some ideas include praying for others, checking in with people to see how they are doing, collecting food for the Cupboard, giving financially to PCJH’s mission and ministry or to a non-profit that is filling a need. Be creative!

My point is this: moving from surviving to thriving in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is really the journey of discipleship. It is living into our vision to see lives being transformed in Jesus Christ. It is living out our mission to be a community, rooted in Christ, reaching out in love.

I am humbled and honored to be on the journey with you. ✝

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Thriving

in our

faith

But what does that exactly mean? Furthermore, how are we supposed to thrive in the midst of a pandemic?

Rev. Tammy Mitchell

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v e r yo n e is wa n ti n g to t h r iv e in one way or another. But what does that exactly mean?

Furthermore, how are we supposed to thrive in the midst of a pandemic, when people around us are sick, dying, grieving, unemployed, or dealing with a myriad of other trials? Many of us are just trying to survive. Survive working from home while homeschooling children; survive by trying to make ends meet on less income; survive by staying away from people we love. It's probably pretty audacious to talk about thriving.

Yet, I believe thriving is not just reserved for the good times; when the economy is going well, when all our relationships and schedules are in order, or when our "to do" lists are checked off. In fact, it may be that precisely in the time of trial and difficulty, we thrive in ways we may not even have previously thought. To me, thriving is not necessarily circumstantial. It's more an inner orientation. It's a spiritual pursuit.

As a Christian, thriving means that we are living into our created purpose which we only receive from God. The scriptures tell us right from the beginning we are created in the very image of God, the imago Dei. We were created on purpose with a purpose - to know and be known by the Lord God. I recently read two excellent articles about thriving from Dr. Pamela King, Associate Professor of Applied Developmental Science at Fuller Theological Seminary. She describes thriving as the following, “Thriving is best understood as a journey of transformation toward our telos [purpose/end goal]. In other words, thriving occurs on our way toward our unique telos through the ups and downs of life...As much as humans are captivated with vigorous growth and vitality, it’s important to ask, “Which direction is one growing?” For example, to grow in habits of addiction or cheating is not thriving. Telos provides a lens through which to view what is true thriving—growing toward (my emphasis) what God intended—and to evaluate what promotes thriving.”

Dr. King affirms we can thrive because we are on a journey that has a direction (not a destination). The Apostle Paul describes it this way, in Ephesians 4, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received....Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Thriving is not just a personal endeavor to become a better or nicer person. Rather we are drawn into something much larger than ourselves. We are drawn into the grand story of God's plan for all—we are drawn into God's kingdom.

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Dr. King put it best when she wrote, “Distinguishing thriving from surviving is having an orientation beyond yourself.” A surviving orientation is about me and mine. A thriving orientation, on the other hand, is about us and ours, yours and theirs. Having an orientation beyond the self involves a guiding source of hope, meaning, and strength bigger than ourselves that continues to direct our lives in attitude and action beyond ourselves… However, disruption brings disorientation. These days—which seem to be “undergirded” by the never-ending, sonic change, and are now filled with mounting pressure and panic—it is all the more important that we stay oriented and directed beyond ourselves. Keeping connected to our ideals through practices and the relationships that ground us is imperative.”

How are we thriving in Christ? Which direction are we growing? Again, I quote Dr. King. “Practice makes purpose, not perfect.” What are some practices that help us in our purpose?

What practices are hindering our purpose? Perhaps now is an opportunity to revisit the spiritual disciplines: prayer, solitude, daily scripture reading, journaling, or fasting. Fuller Seminary has some wonderful resources. Check out the podcasts at fullerstudio.fuller.edu/series/fuller-curate. Perhaps close the day with the prayer of examine: fullerstudio.fuller.edu/prayer-of-examen.

Being a disciple of Christ means we are on the journey of transformation. Let us thrive in Jesus, who gives us abundant life. ✝

p cpjchj .ho. o rg rg

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Q & A

Interview with Lissa Hunter & Kyle ?

thriving through serving ~ Re v Tammy Mitchell

Left to Right: Christine Goodman, with volunteers Alicia Netherly and Robyn Reed

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fter five years of serving as our kitchen coordinator, Chef Christine Goodman decided to leave the position in April to focus on her new marriage and next adventures. I had the privilege of speaking with Christine, highlighting her incredible love of God, PCJH and the Jackson community—is an example of thriving though serving.

Thank you for meeting with me. Some of our readers may not know much about you... Can you give us a little bit of your background?

Christine Goodman: I moved to Jackson in 1982 and started a culinary profession in catering. I had always wanted to take my passion and turn it into my work. I expanded into my first small restaurant on Village Road. I built the restaurant from the ground up and had it for 6 years.

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It ended up being a very successful business which I sold when I became pregnant with my daughter, Erin. For the next 14 years, I worked as a house painter and wallpaper hanger. As my daughter was about to enter high school, I became very focused that I had no money to send her to college in four years. I decided to go back into catering full time in order to afford tuition. While looking for a place to create a commercial kitchen, I was divinely guided to an old, deserted restaurant in Star Valley. Upon seeing the beautiful dining room, in one instant I knew I was supposed to create a new restaurant! On the heels of my first successful restaurant, my own culinary column in the JH News, and having published two cookbooks, I had a strong following and opened immediately to success. It was an extraordinary time in my life, my Camelot, as they say.

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“... all the wonderful friends I have made here, has brought great joy into my life.

I sold it after four and a half years while Erin was a senior in high school. And, as you know, my life dramatically changed when my daughter was called home to heaven. (Erin died in an automobile accident the summer after her first year of college. There is a student scholarship set up in her memory, through the Community Foundation entitled “Erin’s Fund.”)

How were you first acquainted with PCJH? CG: I was working as a ski host when I met Deb Kopp.

We would have wonderful, spiritual conversations. When I met Deb, I considered myself spiritual, as opposed to religious. One day she said, “you might want to come check out the Presbyterian Church.” I came and Ricky Emlyn was preaching. He spoke “outside the box” of what I was used to, which spoke right to my heart. Then I came back and Ben preached and I loved him as well. I loved how the scripture or topic to which anyone was speaking, resonated with my own beliefs and understanding. So basically I found my church. I was alone and PCJH gave me a real sense of community and a sense of belonging.

How did you become the Kitchen Coordinator/Chef at PCJH? CG: Deb was the one who told me about the opening. I was looking for another source of income. I interviewed and was selected. It was wonderful for me because I really missed cooking for people.

In this role what were some of the highlights?

CG: First, like I said, I love cooking for others. That is my joy. Second, the fact that everybody appreciated the food so much. It was a wonderful combination of bringing my joy of cooking for people and they appreciated it. Third, the volunteers. They were amazing to work with.

How have you grown as a person by being involved in the kitchen ministry?

CG: This year, I’ve gone through all kinds of changes. I have a wonderful new relationship in my life. (Christine married Richard Muzzy this past November.) Transitioning from being single to being married, I found myself conflicted each week needing to be at PCJH. As being the

chef was my responsibility, I had to persevere to finish out this school year. I will say leaving the position was a very hard decision to make. I felt like I was letting you [PCJH] down. I have really enjoyed cooking for PCJH and the community these past five years. It was something I looked forward to every week. I was able to be with my church family and spend the day cooking, which I love; and sharing it with everybody, which was something I also loved. None of that changed. Once I was there, I was in my element. Yet I have found myself in a new season of life, that I needed to step fully into, and to let this go.

Tell me about “Take Out Thursdays”?

CG: I can’t really tell if it was my idea or Ben’s but it came out of a conversation we had. After the coronavirus broke out, I assumed that we couldn’t do the dinners any more.

Ben suggested that maybe we could, but not in the same way. So I said, “you mean that we could prepare dinners for take out like the restaurants were doing?”

Can you share how many meals you prepared for delivery and handouts?

CG: The first week, we prepared 164 but had too many left over. The second week, we shot for 100, and ended up having 124. The third week, I shot for 100 and ended up with 117.

(Since then, the number of meals prepared have increased.

At the time of this article, PCJH served 210 meals.)

How have you grown in your faith in Christ through this experience?

CG: I am tremendously grateful that I was blessed to become a member of PCJH, and to serve the church and the community through the Wednesday dinners. For most of my adult life I have had a very strong and faithful relationship with God. What I am very thankful for from these past five years is that I have come to know and have a relationship with Jesus. Knowing Jesus in my heart has brought me a deeper sense of peace and greatly enriched my life. This enrichment, and all the wonderful friends I have made here, has brought great joy into my life. I just want to say that I love PCJH. I love the family. I love all you staff and I love all the parishioners. I have felt very loved there and very appreciated. Thank you. ✝

p cpjchj .ho. o rg rg

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being A Parent is very different during a Pandemic ~ Dylan Wade

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y 7 year old daughter, Charlotte shouts “D a a a a a a a a a d d d d d d y y y y y ” , at a volume heard throughout the house. “It’s nine o’clock! I need to start my Zoom call!” Several months ago, I never would have thought I would hear those words coming out of Charlotte’s mouth. Now getting kids on Zoom is just another item on the to-do list, right alongside brushing your teeth. Being a parent is very different during a pandemic. When tasked with writing about how our families have not just survived this stayat-home ordinance, but thrived in spite of the difficulties, I was skeptical I would find much. In my own family examples of thriving seemed difficult to identify, yet as I interviewed other families, thriving has indeed happened. To me thriving in a time of a pandemic means moving past the fear and spending time learning and growing in the midst of challenges. I discovered many PCJH families are indeed thriving during COVID-19.

Of the five families I interviewed, no family adapted or thrived in the exact same way; however, I identified five major trends that seem common to all.

Developing New Routines All families, including my own, shared how developing new routines was crucial to getting life back on track. Families depend on a routine: school, extra curricular activities, parents’ work schedule. Routine is ingrained deep in our being and keeps the family operating like a fine-tuned machine. When something upends that routine, such as a sick child or snow storm, it throws the whole thing off. In this case, a global pandemic takes it to extremes and throws off everything! Each family has had to recalibrate their beloved routines. Let me say, this was not the most fun experience. Many families talked about simplifying their routines. One parent described it as “pruning back the lesser important things” and resetting their daily expectations. Another parent described the new family rule of no alarm clocks during their shelter-inplace time. Instead of schlepping kids from one activity to another after school, parents are now working at home while making sure their children are doing their school work. Several parents said new routines helped them with their sanity and self care. Thriving is happening through newly established routines.

Finding New Passions (or rediscovering old ones) A second trend was discovering new passions, or in some cases, rediscovering old ones. I love woodworking and the weekends give me time to practice those skills. Other passions mentioned were baking (no wonder the baking aisle is empty), exercising (either alone or as a family) biking, trampolining, runs, and walks. One family even adopted a puppy. Several families shared they spent more time in the Bible. One parent described it as “seasoning the household with the Bible.” For me, the first week of shelter-in-place left me fearful with little hope for a healthy future.

Yet after listening to Ben’s first sermon, I went for a run (a passion of mine) and I felt ready to make a difference again. Thriving happens when we find new, or rediscover old, passions.

Becoming Better Parents If there is one major benefit from this whole shelter-in-place ordeal for parents, it would be learning more about being a good parent. Pre-COVID-19,

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parents maybe have had to parent 3-4 hours per normal weekday at most. Teachers, aides, coaches, neighbors, babysitters, etc. did all the rest. Now, parenting time increased to about 12 hours a day. Thriving parents are tending to use this extra time positively. Many said they have a much better understanding of their children. They know what excites and motivates their kids; and even better, know what doesn’t.

As parents become pseudo-school teachers, they are learning how their kids learn. Robby needs to work on his handwriting, while Charlotte needs a nice, neat area to do her work. Math is way different than when I was in school! One parent said their family has really bonded with each other through the stress of this pandemic. Bonding leads to thriving.

Taking Advantage of the Good Days Each family I spoke with was thriving during this pandemic, but not every day. Everyone described plenty of bad days and times of high stress with little thriving going on at all. But all stated that when the good days did come, they took advantage of them. Perhaps that meant baking more bread, family bike rides, or as one parent stated, “Going out and watching the cows in the pasture next door with their newborn calves.”

When the good days came, they tried to be aware of them, soak them in, and share the joy with others.

Many expressed thankfulness for these opportunities.

Thriving is being thankful.

Doing Good for Others I learned when families were thriving, it couldn’t be contained. Their focus grew to helping others. One family baked bread for all their neighbors on their cul de sac, while another painted river rocks with inspiring messages and left them on their neighbors’ doorsteps. Families creatively found ways to uplift others while respecting social distancing. The Keenan family told a great story when Sally and her neighbor Nell, with their parents' help, made a few fliers, taped a few pieces of sidewalk chalk to it, and went door to door sharing their idea of a neighborhood sidewalk challenge. To their surprise, everyone participated, creating some amazing art. A few days later Sally and Nell “judged” each piece of sidewalk art and awarded left-over Easter candy to the winners. Sally’s mom, Deb, shared this experience which had such a positive impact on everyone and created a memory all will cherish. Thriving creates good memories.

Thriving is hard for a family in the best of times, but it is also possible during the worst of times. I hope that these trends found in thriving families give you the confidence and hope to learn and grow no matter what is going on in the world. ✝

p cpjchj .ho. o rg rg

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foundations

to the

way we live

Spending time together is vital not only to our faith,

~ Liz Collins

but to our wellbeing.

O

of my friends recently told me she’s taken up meditating. I was happy to hear it was helpful to her. I was also interested – she felt like she needed something more, something centering, during these times. It got me thinking about how each of us have found ways to hold on to things that are important to us, and maybe even find some new ways to manage our lives in COVID-19.

This was a college friend of mine. A group of us have been meeting on Zoom on Friday nights. And we aren’t the only ones – a quick Google search shows, “7 tips for good virtual meetings,” “Securing your virtual classroom,” “Zoom party with your friends and family,” and “How to host a virtual happy hour.”

Likewise, a handful of PCJH youth and young adult groups have been meeting virtually.

So much has been altered in the lives of young people. I’ve talked to students who are dealing with the loss of spring sports, social structures, club competitions, long-anticipated summer camps and more.

Young adults I know have dealt with changing careers, moving, and graduating from college programs without their normal support systems around.

For us Christians, being in community is foundational to the way we live. Spending time together is vital not only to our faith, but to our wellbeing. And so meeting, even virtually, has seemed to serve in a few ways for those who have made it a priority.

But don’t take it from me – let’s go straight to the source to empathize a little more some of these folks. We hear from Gannon Castle (young adult), Lucy Webb (8th grade), and Lucia McGee (6th grade), on what their lives are like these days and how they’re managing.

Tell us about your work situation?

Gannon Castle: Like many in Jackson my summer work, as wildlife tour guide, depends on tourism: no travel restrictions, open businesses like hotels, open national parks, open facilities, and a sense of security (both in terms of health and the economy) to encourage travel. This pandemic has affected everything that my job depends on. Most of my work happens in a vehicle, an enclosed space, with people from all over the country. But just because I could go back to work, should I?

What have been your biggest struggles?

GC: Two things have saddened me. One, the inability to connect with friends and family has been really hard. I want so badly to go home, travel around California, hug my parents, and hold my baby nephew who will born in the coming days. I want to road trip and grab dinner out with friends. Two, I have really struggled with the sense of limbo and uncertainty. It’s one thing to give up visiting family for a while but it’s another thing to not know when you can safely see them again. Nothing is certain so it is very difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Is it a challenge to stay connected to God? GC: Similar to before the pandemic, I have my ups and downs when it comes to connecting with God. I am trying to read the Bible more and I am definitely praying more.

I am listening to church sermon podcasts. Staying connected to my brothers and sisters in Christ has become even more important, which I try to do by texting and calling friends, attending Zoom meetings like our weekly Ascent session. They provide not only a chance to discuss the Word, but also motivation to spend time in the Word.

These meetings have provided a sense of normalcy and a chance to hang out, laugh, and pray with friends.

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How have your parents and teachers helped you?

Lucia McGee: My mom makes me breakfast and tea in the morning. It makes it so that I can get to my classes on time and not be hurried like, “ah!” My teachers all have office hours.

I went to my history teacher’s office hours one day, and at the end he asked, “Is there anything I can do to make the class better?” Most teachers make the second class of the week optional so we can get work done. I asked him to do that, and he did.

What has been the most challenging thing about this time?

LM: Not being able to see my friends. They make stuff fun. I’m Zoom calling and chatting them. I am doing everything in my power to talk to them. I am doing well, but it’s hard because I have to do homework first. It helps me keep in touch and not lose them altogether.

One thing we’re doing is this art challenge group.

Have you been able to connect to God during these times, and what is our 6th grade Zoom meeting like for you?

LM: I feel like whenever I’m outside, because it’s like being out in nature – it makes me feel connected to God. It’s nice to be able to get with other people, that aren’t my best friends, and we have the same struggles. It’s nice to get together and do stuff. ✝

How have your family and teachers been supportive?

Lucy Webb: My mom helps me a lot because we are all stuck in our home. So she gives us some slack where we slip. She is very understanding of all of the things we all have to do and she gives us much love! Most of my teachers always say, “I know that these times are hard, so if you ever need someone to talk to, I am always here for you guys.” It makes me realize that they care about us very much, and they will do anything to keep us happy.

What is it like connecting to God in this time?

LW: I think it’s not that big of a difference to stay connected to God during this time. Right now to stay better connected to God I am praying a bit more... and doing CONFERMATION CLASS!!!!

The online experience has been a bit different, obviously, but I like it. It’s just a time to relax and talk about God. Confirmation online isn’t that bad, I don’t really know what to compare it to because I haven’t ever done it in person, but I think that we are really getting somewhere. The group meetings have allowed me to open up about more things, because we all know that it’s a safe place where we can share everything.

p cpjchj .ho. o rg rg

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Pinnacle

13

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PCJ h B i r t h d ay s / a n n i v e r s a r i e s

JUNE

06 Mary Walton

01 Larry Huhn Alex Maher

June Nystrom Danny Weber Bonnie Johnston

08

03 Melissa Tuttle

Duane and Nancy

11 Jan Benz Cleo Eshelman Steve Iobst

Schneider (44) 04 Aaron Bilotta 05 Pam Mettler 06 Daniel Primich 07 Paul Boillot Linda Walker 08 Greg Buckingham Steve Poole 09 Jeff and Sarah Hanson (36) 12

Jeff Crabtree

Scott & Diane McGee (16) 13 Ponteir Sackrey 16

Bob & Deb Kopp (42) Ken & Bobbie Thomasma (65)

18

Janie Massie

David & Eunice Conine (54 ) Merrill & Nanette Ritter (58) 19 Tina Edwards Ted Kimmel 22 Robert Carr Connie Jarvie

Bob & Annabelle Lerch (63) 23 Ed Brenegar 25 Buffy Allen 26

Judy Swann

Jim & Sally Byrne (60) 27 Bob & Bonnie Lewis (40)

Tom & Jan Segerstrom (28) 28 Gregg Ward

Jeff & Lana Crabtree (40) Ray & Meg Womack (45) 29

Matt & Julie Faupel (18)

Jane Lavino Mike & Carol Marshall (53)

01 Blake & Donna Clark (32)

Lance & Christine Windey (25)

10 Margaret Jones

12 Amy Boillot

05

Mark Barron & RuthAnn Petroff (17 )

bpascal@pcjh.org

x 101

05 Bob Lewis Dan Matzke

Rev. Tammy Mitchell Associate Pastor

tmitchell@pcjh.org

x 104

06

Office Staff

Jeff Huot

Ken & Cathy Blount (26) Alan & Nancy Brumsted (43) Brian & Maddy Remlinger (15)

15 Mills Halpin

Jay Kemmerer

Carla Herman

Paul & Jean Bruun (11)

Program Staff

07

Mel Orchard

18 Annabelle Lerch Stan Steiner

09 Eric VanGenderen Lance Windey

08

Ed & Jane Lavino (34)

19 Becky Zaist 10

Ed Cheramy

Will & Laura Soltau (7)

Tom & Becky Jordan (52) 21 Irene Lund Suzanne VanHatten Steve Fralin

Julie Whitlock

Jeff & Cindy Dahlin (30) 22 Stan Pugmire Sharon Fralin 23 Ed Scott Deborah Buckingham

Ted & Becky Kimmel (32) 24 Lana Crabtree

11 Ben Pascal 12

26 Bonnie Lewis

Chip & Ginger Jones (51) 27 Paul & Terri Hayden (17)

15 Erin Abel

Julie Winthers Matt Coyne 17 Dave Dunlap Claudia Gillette Phil Stevenson

Ray Womack

Bill & Karen Fox (35) Jim & Jessica Miller (7) 19

Mel & Brandie Orchard (25) 30

Kay Brockermeyer Jim Hamilton

31

Jennifer Wolf

Peter & Susan Ordway (55) Jason & Melissa Snider (11)

august 01 Alex & Macye Maher (19)

20

Sue Unruh Randy Reedy Jim Stockhouse

Bryan & Tina Korpi (19)

28 Chas Baki 29 Alan Lund Gaylyn Frantz

Joanie Shipman Nancy Stockhouse

Dan & Julie Matzke (48)

25 Katie Robertson

23 Karen Terra 24

Bill Blackwell

Bill & Kenlyn Long (40) 25

26

Mack & Katie Mendenhall (13) Joy Steiner

29 Larry Jorgenson

Warren & Martha

VanGenderen (61)

30 Kenlyn Long Sue Myers 31 Ken & Caroline Taylor (52)

14

from Surviving to ThriVing

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akiefer@pcjh.org x102

Laura Huckin huckin@silverstar.net Worship & Music Coordinator x123 Amanda Lack Little Lambs Director

alack@pcjh.org

x111

Dylan Wade

Children’s Ministry Coordinator

dwade@pcjh.org

x103

Liz Collins lcollins@pcjh.org Youth & Young Adult Ministry Coordinator x124

Ruling Elders Class of 2020

2021

2022

Kathy Robertson Vision

Steve Iobst Buildings & Grounds

Laura Soltau* Mission

Caryn Haman Personnel

Cathy Ward Worship

Ryan Allen Children’s Ministry

Ken Blount* Clerk of Session Adult Ministries

Wes Lucas Stewardship

Susan Conner Congregational Life

Tom Segerstrom Nominating & Assimilation

Barb Andrews* Youth Ministry

John Scott Finance

Marcia Taylor

27 Michael Schrotz

Cindy Dahlin cdahlin@pcjh.org Church Administrator

x109 Ally Kiefer

Communications Coordinator

17 Jack Soper Steve Weber Chip Jones

20 Annie Mueller

Pastoral Staff Rev. Ben Pascal

Senior Pastor

04 Ron Miller Paul Scott

John & Joanie Shipman (34)

03 Melissa Snider

Bill & Eileen Blackwell (55) Mark & Melissa Tuttle (10)

Jeff & Julie Huot (46) Eric & Julie Winthers (11)

09 Stan & Becky Zaist (37)

Jack & Jan Larimer (54)

JULY

02 Vickie Jones William Schoen Bobbi Thomasma

Deacons Class of 2020 Nancy Brumsted* Jackie Montgomery* Carol Poole* Michael Schrotz Claudia Schrotz George Scarlett

Class of 2021 Jen Baki* Erin Rosenberg* Jim Byrne Brad Herman Joy Steiner Lori Dodd Ed Scott *Serving second term

SUMME R 2 0 2 0

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

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get to know US

Laura Huckin / staff Worship Laura Huckin is new to the PCJH family, joining in worship through music. Laura has been conducting choirs, teaching music, and directing musical theater in Jackson for the past 16 years.

Her first love was classical piano as a child, but developed an affinity for ensemble singing at a young age. Harmony is her cup of tea! Laura is honored to have an opportunity to uplift others through song as part of the Sunday music worship team and directing the PCJH choir. She and her husband, Neil, live south of Jackson in Alpine with their two children, Samantha (7) and Seth (3). They love making s’mores, hiking, and rafting on the river whenever possible.

In her words I am heartbroken that we are unable to worship and sing praises together in person.

The connectedness of gathering feeds my soul! But I’ve cherished the sweet moments the Pandemic has given me – more time with my children, opportunities to practice more patience, long walks, and time to reflect upon myself and how to be a better Me. Assisting with the music for the Good Friday video was also a very moving experience. For the first time, I felt the gravity of those events and moments which in turn make the celebration of Easter even more joyful.

John Scott / ELDER Finance John Scott serves as the Finance Elder on Session. He is originally from eastern Ohio, but he and his wife Amy lived in North Carolina for 30 years, where they raised two children: a married daughter who now lives in Denver, and a son who currently resides in Boston. Although his background is in accounting and investing, John has spent a considerable amount of time as a volunteer. He has served on a variety of non-profit boards, and coached boys’ baseball and girls’ fast pitch softball, from youth levels and travel teams through high school. He and his wife moved to Jackson in 2015, and now split time between Jackson and their cattle ranch south of Pinedale.

In HIS words In these uncertain times, unprecedented for all of us, it can be difficult to maintain a positive outlook and remember our faith. I’m reminded of a particular line from the movie “Man on Fire,” which has stuck with me for a long time: a nun asks the character played by Denzel Washington, “Do you see the hand of God in what you do?” At one time, I wondered if the hand of God existed in my field of finance. Under these difficult circumstances, I now think that—if we wisely use our generously donated offerings to maintain a vibrant and inspiring church community, and are able to offer vital support for those in need—I can, in fact, see the hand of God in what I do.

Claudia & Michael SCHROTZ / Deacons Mission Claudia and Michael view their lives as an unbroken circle. They met and were married in Duluth, Minnesota, where Michael was stationed for his U.S.D.A. Forest Service career. Together they moved to Manchester Center, Vermont for Michael’s career, where Claudia taught middle school; then from Manchester Center to Jackson for the Forest Service. Their “plan” was to live here for two to three years…that was in 1996…they see that God had a hand in changing that plan. As a couple they are frequently together serving the public. Volunteering is their way to give back to others, to stay engaged in their community; it brings fun, excitement, and great opportunities to meet families, visitors, and other volunteers. Claudia and Michael have 1 daughter, 2 sons, and 4 grandchildren, living either on the east or west coasts.

In THEIR wordS Seeing Christ in the Midst of Corona: Because of our long-time participation in volunteering…planning, organizing, scheduling, budgeting, executing, and, of course, cleaning up…we see the fruits of past experiences coming together, as a community, as need has become greater than any one organization could handle. Rather than each group focusing on its own purpose or special interest, each group and individual has found single purpose and is focused on their small part in contributing toward helping the combined larger community. We see Jesus in this coming together.

Medical, service providers, grocers, suppliers, bankers, all working together to protect our health, and those who are not working - providing masks, sanitizers, food, childcare, schooling, cheering on the community to help each person through these new-normal times.

pcjh.org

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Pinnacle

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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

The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid? u Psalm 27:1 Photo: One of the Stacey Lane community chalk art creations