JANUARY, 2017 -  MESSENGER   

GREENFIELD   AVENUE   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH

1455 S. 97^th St., West Allis, WI 53214

Church Office (414) 453-3710     Pastor Kevin G. Tarvid    

Pastor’s Cell Phone for Emergencies   (414) 588-0159

Sunday Morning Worship                 Sunday Church School

9:30 AM       www.gapc-usa.com       10:45 AM

                                                                               Faith    Hope   Love  =          

                                                                  GREENFIELD  AVENUE  PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

                                                                                               

                                                                                           GAPC              

 

Worship Schedule  January 1 – January 29, 2017

 

Sun.  Jan 1 – 9:30 AM           Communion Worship

First Reading:  Psalm 148               New Year’s Day 

Second Reading: Isaiah 63:7-9

Sermon: “Best New Year’s Resolution Ever!”

 

Sun. Jan 8 - 9:30 AM       “Penny Sunday”

First Reading:  Isaiah 42:1-4

Second Reading:  Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon:  “Do the Right Thing!”

 

Sun. Jan 15 – 9:30 AM     

First Reading: John 1:35-42

Second Reading:  Psalm 40:1-9

Sermon:  “Delight to Do God’s Will!”

 

Sun Jan 22 – 9:30 AM     “Penny Sunday”

First Reading: Psalm 27:1, 4-9

Second Reading: 1^st Corinthians 1:10-18

Sermon: “A Little Foolishness”

 

Sun. Jan 29 – 9:30 AM     

First Reading:  Micha 6:1-8

Second Reading:   Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon:  “Blessed … Happy …”

 

 

WE’LL UN-HANG the GREENS following worship on Sunday, January 8.  It can be accomplished quickly, if everyone stays to help!  Thanks in advance!

THE ANNUAL MEETING is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 5, &  we’ll have a VERY special meal – LASAGNA, made by the husband of one of our members!   Session will be providing garden salad & rolls, so it will be a complete & delicious meal.  We’ll plan to have the meal at about 11:00 AM, with the meeting to follow.

ATTENTION, COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS (& others who need to do reports for the Annual Meeting (you know who you are … we THINK …)  Earn hugs & hearty handclasps from your church Administrative Assistant by turning your report in to the church office no later than 9:00 AM on the morning of Wed. January 18.    Note that: there will be a SPECIAL PLACE in HEAVEN (when the time comes …) reserved for those who turn in their reports BEFORE the deadline.

FROM  OUR  PASTOR:   Happy New Year, Beloved!

          As often happens, I’ve got a couple of thoughts passing through my mind, and I wanted to share them with you…

          I’ve been hearing a lot lately about how people are disillusioned with “Organized Religion”.  I get that.  Can’t hardly blame them…

          I have heard some real horror stories lately about where some parts of the tradition share (or impose) their views on people…  judgmental, hypocritical, authoritarian, and (in my humble opinion) not very “Jesusy” views…

          However! My concern is that the lack of “organized religion” is, by definition, dis-organized religion.  Chaos religion can be very dangerous.  People are capable of coming up with all kinds of crazy religious notions when left to our own inventions.  This is where folks like Jim Jones and David Koresh come in.

          Bedrock beliefs of our tradition include that we are, first and foremost, reformed and willing to be reformed… (always trying to be better, and more “Jesusy”), and “Decent and Orderly”.   

          We are constantly guided by the “Law of Love” .  If folks are dismissing us because we are part of the “organized religion” – they don’t know us, and they need to give us a chance!

          Let this be our New Year’s Resolution – that we let the world and everyone we love know that we are not like some parts of the tradition, and that we serve a wonderful purpose – the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

        

  God loves you – me, too!                      

 -    Pastor  Kevin

You’ll want to be sure to be in worship with us on Sunday,  February 19, for we’ll

host the  SOUTHMINSTER P. C.  YOUTH MUSIC MINISTRY!  This year, they’ll be presenting  #GraceWins. The musical is a collection of songs and skits that address the theme of GRACE.  It will show the forgiveness of the Father, victory through Jesus’ sacrifice, and assurance of salvation due to His death … & we’ll learn that Grace Wins!  It’s always such a treat to have these talented young folks lead worship for us; there’s a “special offering” at the conclusion of their performance, which is directed to their summer mission trip.  This is an occasion where we hope you’ll invite family & friends to join us, for you’ll be amazed & inspired by their commitment.

Here’s a “Heads Up”, save-the-date type message … on Sunday, April 30 & Monday, May 1, in Wisconsin Dells, there’s going to be a 4-Presbytery meeting.  John Knox, Winnebago, Northern Waters & the Presbytery of Milwaukee will join as “One in Christ”.   The areas represented are all of Wisconsin, & portions of Iowa & Minnesota.  The keynote speakers are OUTSTANDING … Bruce Reyes Chow, who’s former Moderator of the General Assembly, & Christine Hong, Louisville Seminary’s Assistant Professor of Worship & Evangelism.

Reyes-Chow describes himself as : “1/5 pastor & chaplain, ½ preacher & speaker, 1/5 consultant & coach, 1/5 blogger & author, & 2/5 stay at home dad (you see the problem here …) I live in San Francisco, & I have opinions about race, sports, politics & faith, coffee, pop culture, & lots of other stuff …”

ANYONE who’s interested is invited to attend this meeting.  We can promise it will be absorbing, relevant, intellectually & spiritually stimulating -- & FUN!  Please speak with Pastor Kevin, for additional details.

 

GAPC  DOES  MAKE  A  DIFFERENCE !  Our Peace & Justice Committee makes a financial contribution to “Repairers of the Breach”.  This money is gathered from our Pancake Breakfast & our Soup & Sandwich Luncheon.  One of the many services that are offered is a warming room.  This room is open to provide safe harbor against the elements when temperatures reach 10 degrees or below.  Last winter the Warming Room was open 51 nights.  Over the winter of 2016, Repairers of the Breach gave shelter & food to 1,082 homeless men & women.

 

Don’t forget to help us as we continue our support of WILSON SCHOOL! This fall, we began our 4^th year helping provide donations of back packs & school supplies; we’ve already delivered a generous amount to the school.  Here’s the thing:  THE NEED FOR THESE SUPPLIES IS ONGOING – it doesn’t stop once the school year is underway --- so we need KEEP DOING WHAT WE DO, TO HELP SUPPORT THESE CHILDREN!  This WAWM elementary school, (like so many others in the area) has a significant number of students whose parents, through no fault of their own, cannot afford the necessary school supplies.  Teachers & administrators often dig deep into their own pockets to provide for these children, whom they care about so deeply.   We applaud them, and we want to offer as much assistance as we’re able, also.  There’s a LIST of needed items taped to the collection box in the narthex; please jot down a few of the items, watch for sales, & pick up some to bring to church. Helping to get kids off to the best possible educational start is one of the most loving acts that we, as Christians, can perform, & we’re thankful to have the opportunity to help.  Let’s see how much we can collect, before the next box (or boxes) filled with supplies are ready to be delivered.  THANKS!

 

We support GOOD SAMARITAN OUTREACH CENTER’S FOOD  PANTRY, & each month, we suggest a CHALLENGE  ITEM  for you to donate,  as generously as possible.  Remember, you may donate ANY non-perishable food items at ANY time!  Good Samaritan reminds us that:  “Your contribution of food is more significant because it enables Good Sam’s to provide greater variation in the food that we distribute.  We tend to provide our community members with a somewhat routine menu of food, & we are delighted to be able to surprise them with different foods.”  For January, the suggested item is  SOUP. 

 

               

The Guest House asks:  Did YOU ever wonder when you’d eat next, or   find a place to shower, or where you’d sleep tonight?”  Most of the people the Guest House serves asked these questions on a daily basis, before coming there.  Their web page states: “Since 1982, the Guest house has provided #OneWarmBed  to people in our community in need of shelter – but providing one warm bed is not all we do.  The Guest House is more than shelter – we provide permanent housing, job training, access to addiction & mental health counseling, & much more.  We know that in order to overcome homelessness, providing one warm bed is only one piece of the puzzle.  Visit us at guesthouseofmilwaukee.org .

 

PLEASE NOTE:  If “the  weather outside is frightful”, & you think Sunday worship may be

canceled, tune in to Channel 12.  We’ll let them know, VERY early on Sunday morning, if we WON’T have services.  Then you’ll know you can stay home by a fireplace that’s “so delightful” (provided you have one …)  Remember:  Don’t take a chance.  If you think the roads will be unsafe, be wise, & stay home.  

 

On Sunday, February 5, we’ll take part in this special collection of funds, to help those who “do not have so much as a bowl of soup to eat”.

In 2016,  a total of 6,865 groups across the country participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring.  They collected $10,484,575 in cash & food items, 100% of which was donated to charities in their areas.

Please be present with us in worship that morning, to show your support for this effort to feed the hungry.

 

JANUARY  2017

CALENDAR

 

 

 

Sun Jan 1          8:15 AM – Choir Practice; 9:30 AM Communion worhip    

Mon Jan 2        Church offices are CLOSED, as our  Staff Celebrates the Legal Holiday

Sun Jan 8          8:45 AM – Choir practice *

Tues Jan 10      7:00 PM – Resources Committee

Tues Jan 17      7:00 PM – Session meets

Wed Jan 18      9:00 AM – DEADLINE for  Annual Reports to be turned in to the church office

 

 

                          

Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.

                                                                                                   -   Charles Swindoll