If you are interested in our church and its membership you are invited to come to the Inquirer’s Gathering on the third Sunday of the month (after the church service).  Rev. Chips, Audrey Winchell and a few Session members will be there to answer questions and give you information about our church and its family.

From your Treasurers

We would like to remind the Snowbirds that are returning, and others, that their 2008 Giving envelopes are in the church office.  Please ask for yours next time you are in church. Storage space is limited.  Thank you!

Organization Committee

There is a committee working, quietly behind the scenes, to organize and reorganize storage areas of the church.  Pastor Chips was in need of more storage, so cabinets were added in the Choir Room.  Another file cabinet was obtained for the choir’s music.  This is really a multipurpose room because it is also used by wedding parties. The old mirror has been replaced with a larger, more attractive one.

            The lower level of the church is our main storage area.  Church records, Christian Education materials, equipment for various Fleazaar items, Christmas decorations, etc. all need room.  The Guild has an area, canoe trip equipment requires a large area and the Quilters are looking for a place to store their materials.  Our focus, now, is to reorganize and assign areas for each group and equip the area to meet their needs.

            Lois must keep back records and they have been stored in make-shift cabinets across from the Guild storage room.  The pastel colored doors on these cabinets always brought a smile to those of us who remember them as former bathroom stall doors.  The men on our committee tore out all of the old cabinets and we now have brand new ones that can be locked.  Lois has plenty of room now and can relieve crowding in her office.

            This reorganization comes with expenses.  Of course we also had to find someone to work with who could visualize our needs, make suggestions and finally build the cabinets and shelving.  Mike and Nancy Patek have been the answer to our prayers. These are large cabinets and Mike built them one at a time, moved them into the church and the fellows on our committee painted them.

            Mike and Nancy are special, hard working people.  After the plans were drawn up they announced to us that they would provide the labor for these first large storage cabinets free of charge.  Nancy and Mike, although not members of our church, feel a closeness to our congregation.  Funerals for both of Nancy’s parents, John and Dorothy Anderlick, were held at our church.  Pastor Scott Paczkowski spent time with John and presided at his funeral.  Pastor Chips conducted Dorothy’s funeral and the Guild provided a luncheon.  Both Nancy and Mike are appreciative of the fact that although the Anderlicks were not members, we were there when they needed us.  Now Mike and Nancy have turned things around.  They are here for us when we are in need.  If you happen to know Nancy and Mike, thank them personally.  It isn’t often that you find such generosity.  Thank you Mike and Nancy Patek!

Respectfully submitted,

Audrey Winchell, Organizational Committee Member

LIFE HAS MAGICAL MOMENTS

            Yesterday, while preparing a meal for supper guests, I put on a musical CD to enjoy while working.  Our friend, who plays supper club piano by ear, and does it extremely well, had recently created this CD.   So here I was – in the kitchen – cleaning veggies - - making pies - - wrapping the chicken breast with dried beef and bacon - - and listening to my friends quiet,

calm and beautifully arranged popular music!  I had not looked at the listings of selections.  As each familiar melody floated from the living room to the kitchen, I delighted in the old melodies, played so well.  My emotional aura was in a “back in my day” mood and atmosphere.  Then it happened!!!

            Now, there are some songs that are very special to each of us - - at least to those of us who love and enjoy and think about music.  I want to admit right up front that in years past when I first became aware of this song, it seemed repetitious, and at some level, it annoyed me.  But many people enjoyed it and it was sung at weddings.

            Our daughter sings beautifully.  She has always been my favorite female vocalist.  The quality of her voice leaves me searching for the adjective that properly describes it.  There is a unique tonal quality that I have heard from no other singer.

            Back in the days when I claimed the title of MOTHER and had not yet gained the status of GREAT-GRANDMOTHER- -  and she claimed the title of DAUGHTER and had not yet gained the status of GRANDMOTHER, we had some good times “doing music” together.  She sang and I accompanied her.  And at this moment a song out of that past was around me.

            On this day of preparing supper for friends, the music started the introduction of my magic moment.  When the song began I had to think a moment to recall the title, and the words.  It was necessary to retreat into long forgotten experiences (not truly forgotten, - for they will never go away - - just not in recent years grabbed onto and hugged).

            Then it all came pouring back – into my heart - into my musical memories - and there we were!!!  I heard our daughter’s voice singing the words very clearly.  The attitude of her presentation, the poise of her body as she sang, and the rapport of the two of us as we presented the music together, was almost real, and fully alive. 

            The supper preparations were forgotten.  I stood still just enjoying “doing this” with our daughter once again.

            There you have it:   A PRECIOUS MAGICAL MOMENT IN MY LIFE.

Back to reality!!  Do I wish we could go back and do it some more?  Of course!  But life is not like that.  Thinking generically now, each of us moves ahead into our own individual lives as they unfold for us.  And sometimes we must help iron out the wrinkles in those unfolding lives.   Have you ever noticed that anything that opens out from a folded position will need a little touching up here and there?  We need to do a little ironing to bring it to its best condition.  And always we are grateful for deeply happy and positive memories.    Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Udell

From our 2007 Annual Report:

We are so pleased to have welcomed 19 new members into our congregation this year.  Five of whom were communicants.  Four active members and two affiliate members passed away.  We have a total of 260.  I am happy to say that we have several prospective members for the new year.  This has been a good year with new members taking an immediate interest in the life of the church.