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The Opequon Spirit

“Prayerfully Equipping Disciples of All Generations to be Christ’s Hands, Heart and Feet in the World”

August 2018

WORSHIP IN AUGUST

Sunday, August 5th—8:30 & 11:00 am Psalm 143, John 14:15-31 Sermon: “The Presence and Essence of God” CCAP, Communion “Blessing of the Backpacks”

Sunday, August 12th—8:30 & 11:00 am Acts 8:26-39 Sermon: “Why Don’t pastors Speak Up?”

Hymn Sing – 6:30 pm – Memorial Sanctuary

(followed by Ice Cream Social)

Sunday, August 19th—8:30 & 11:00 am Psalm 73, Matthew 7:13-27 Sermon: “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”

Open Door Worship – 6:30 pm – Pitcock Memorial Shelter

(preceded by Southern Country Social)

Sunday, August 26th—8:30 & 11:00 am Christian Education Sunday – Rally Day John 6:56-59, Ephesians 6:10-20 Sermon: “Cane Fu Fighting” Four Cents a Meal, Fair Trade Coffee

COLLECTING FOR CCAP

Canned or Dried Beans

STAFF SCHEDULES THIS MONTH

Cathy Richard ---- August 20-25 Vacation

David Witt --------- August 20-25 Study Leave

BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS Sunday, August 5th

8:30 & 11:00 am Worship

All ages are invited to bring backpacks, tote bags, and carry-ons

to worship to receive a special blessing as a new school year begins. We encourage students, teachers, and administrators of all ages to be present as we include you all in

a circle of blessing.

MINISTRY TEAM NIGHT Tuesday, August 7—Fellowship Hall

Ministry Team Meetings 7:00 pm No Dinner Served

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NOTES FROM THE PASTOR “Learning Something New Each Day”

Dear Friends in Christ,

Since Carole and I returned to the “lower 48” last week, we have been reflecting on our two weeks in Alaska. We had a wonderful time traveling with Bill and Debbie Bender (is that a surprise to anyone?), as we discovered the glorious natural beauty of “The Last Frontier,” its rich native history and culture, and its evolutionary development over the past one hundred years. We saw grizzly bears, moose, caribou, bald eagles, ravens, whales and salmon, along with forget-me-nots, pink fireweed, birch, aspen, and spruce trees, and vast glaciers while they were “calving” (ice chunks breaking off the glacier). We delighted in watching the sled dogs in action and in panning for gold. We gazed at a cloud enshrouded mountain called “Denali” and were amazed by the vibrant colors and enormous size of all the flowers. We laughed when someone shouted “moose” on land or “whale” at sea and moved an entire group of people in a new direction, stopping them from doing anything else. We rejoiced in the privilege and opportunity to meet new people, from around the country and around the world, and celebrated the warm greeting we always received from the people of Alaska. We learned so much each day, through informal conversations with shopkeepers to extensive talks by guides to formal presentations by rangers. We returned to Virginia feeling that we had been given so much, renewed in mind, body, and spirit, filled with grace and gratitude for the experience, for the time, for the relationships.

As I mentioned this past Sunday in worship, I was awestruck by how animals, plants, and humans in Alaska have adapted to both the environment and the culture, to survive and to thrive. They change in both appearance and behavior over time, to weather through the tough winters, dark and cold; to adjust to

recent development and evolving circumstances. Bill and Debbie heard at one lecture (they relayed it to me; somehow, I missed it; don’t know what I was doing?) how male bears will often eat the young cubs but want to avoid human contact. So, the rangers have found that female bears have put their cubs in trees above where rangers are posted to protect them. One photo showed a small cub up a tree with a ranger just below!

All this makes me wonder what we can learn from nature, culture, environment, from one another, and from our living God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer as the Lord shapes us, changes us, adapts us for life today. God is teaching me daily through everything that is going on around me. I pray for openness, that I will be tuned in to God’s voice, to what God is “up to.” I pray I will be continually filled with grace and gratitude. And, I pray for your openness and grace and gratitude, too, as God works with you and through us all, teaching us something new each day.

Together in Christ’s Service,

JUST A SAMPLE OF SEPTEMBER DATES TO SAVE:

✓ September Communion – Sunday, September 2nd

✓ September Ministry Team Night with Dinner returns—Tuesday September 4th

✓ “Turning 21 Party” for LOGOS Staff—Wednesday, September 5th

✓ Covered-Dish Supper & Open Door Worship - Saturday, September 8th, 5:30 pm

✓ Faith Formation Educational Hour Restart – Sunday, September 9th

✓ LOGOS Parents Gathering—Sunday, September 9th

✓ “Happy Birthday Everyone Lunch” – Sunday, September 16th

✓ LOGOS Kick-off – Wednesday, September 19th

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✓ September G.I.F.T. Event – Sunday, September 23rd

✓ “Back to Church Sunday” – Sunday, September 23rd

✓ September Mission Day – Sunday, September 30th

JUST THINKIN’

I have had fun with the topics David gave me in the summer series, “Dear Pastor…Just Askin.’” Of course, some of that fun has been teasing David about giving me the wonky questions. What has surprised me is that the topics have interested some of the congregation to the point that they have asked for more information. One question that really caught my attention came after the sermon on reincarnation and karma.

Dear Pastor, In the Apostle’s Creed we say we believe in the “resurrection of the body.” Is that the same as reincarnation?

Dear Christian, In a word, “no.”

Reincarnation means “returning to the flesh again.” This return is, however in a new body with no memory of past lives. While there are fascinating studies of persons who claim to have been reincarnated and to remember past lives, these memories are not expected to resurface. The reincarnated person lives a new life, working out the karma of past lives without knowledge of what was before.

Some sects believe that the soul can participate in choosing the circumstances of the next reincarnation. This would mean that the memory of past lives is not lost to the soul, but it does not say that the soul will remember past lives once reincarnation has taken effect.

The concept of resurrection of the body pre-dates Christianity. Ancient Egyptians built huge burial structures filled with the implements one would need in the afterlife and spells to haste the person on that passage. Early humans buried their dead with the implements they would need in the afterlife.

Early Christian theology taught that the body must be buried with the feet facing the East so the resurrected Christian would rise facing God. It was also believed that the body must be whole when buried if it was to rise whole. Amputation or loss of a limb required that the limb be saved to be buried with the deceased.

Modern Christianity does not argue about the basic concepts of resurrection of the dead or life eternal, but they do passionately discuss when this will happen.

There is Biblical evidence for resurrection on “Resurrection Day “or “Judgement Day” in both the Old and New Testaments. Another widely held belief is immediate resurrection following death. As soon as we die, we are with God. This, too is supported by Biblical evidence. It seems to me that this particular controversy has more to do with our linear concept of time as opposed to the concept of Kairos time (God’s time).

Whatever happens after death, we live with hope in life eternal and in the assurance that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39). Resources: Wikipedia, What Happens After A Person

Dies UMC

In Christ,

Remember OPC

in Your Will

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THE HOT, HOT DAYS OF SUMMER (Is your pledge up to date?)

With the hot days of summer already here, we are reminded of vacations, picnics, swimming and other relaxing times. BUT, the expenses of Opequon Presbyterian Church still continue even while we are enjoying God’s wonderful creation. Please help us continue to meet expenses by ensuring that your pledge payments and contributions continue through the summer months while we are gone or occasionally miss attending Sunday worship services. Pledges and contributions can always be dropped off at the church office or mailed to the church. You can also use your financial institution’s bill pay option and set up weekly or monthly payments. The Stewardship & Finance Team thanks you for helping keep the activities and mission of OPC going all summer long.

THE LATEST IN LOGOS

You have likely heard the phrase, “It is the calm before the storm.” There is a lot of truth to that phrase and it feels like a fitting phrase to describe this month prior to the onset of our 21st year of LOGOS next month! LOGOS turns 21 during this upcoming year! The Leadership Team is ‘calmly’ working behind the scenes to call a full LOGOS staff with previous staff returning and new LOGOS staff coming on board. We are ‘calmly’ working to create a refreshed YOUTH component for middle and high school young people to include many special events. We are ‘calmly’ preparing to reach out with invitations to our vital LOGOS ministry beyond our church walls. There is much going on, yet it seems calm! Early registration will begin later this month and then as we move into September, there will be a “TURNING 21 PARTY” for all LOGOS staff on Wednesday, September 5, at 5:30 pm and a LOGOS PARENTS GATHERING on Sunday, September 9, at 12:15 pm. The new LOGOS year begins on September 19. The overall theme for our 21st year is “Come Along with

Jesus”. We look forward to showing young people that they REALLY DO MATTER with an action-packed new LOGOS year!

CONFIRMATION INFORMATION

With the beginning of a new school year yet upon us, so many things begin anew at OPC. One of these beginnings is a new Confirmation Class that embarks on a journey through nine months of class sessions as well as additional enriching experiences. Confirmation is typically for 8th graders and runs September through May. The invitation to participate in the confirmation experience is open to any 8th grader or OLDER youth. Parents and prospective students are invited to a Confirmation Orientation on Sunday, August 19, 9:45 am in the Fellowship Hall. Highlights of the confirmation experience and beneficial information will be outlined for you. Leaders of the Confirmation Class this year are Carole Witt, Pam Bayliss and Joel Witt along with mentors of the students. We look forward to meeting with families at the Confirmation Orientation.

TIME CHANGE

Summer Adult Education Hour Faith Formation Class for Adults will meet in the Bageant Room

at 9:45 am beginning Sunday, August 5th All are welcome!!!!!

MEN OF OPEQUON THIS MONTH

The Men of Opequon (MOO) will have a picnic on Monday, August 13th at the Pitcock Memorial Shelter at 6:00 pm. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided, along with the rolls, potato chips, condiments, and drinks. Please bring a side dish or a dessert to share. Let’s enjoy summer-time fun together. All men are invited!

MOO!

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God-Loving Opequon Women

GLOW is Opequon’s multi-aged women’s group that meets monthly to build

friendships and enjoy heart-warming activities together. The time together brings much laughter and we leave feeling “lighter!” This month Opequon women will be combining our efforts to create “TEACHER TREAT BASKETS” filled with assorted items that will be given to teachers at Orchard View Elementary School to show them support as they begin a new year with classrooms full of children. Come join OPC women on Tuesday, August 14, 7:00 pm in the Bageant Room. Items needed for this project include: colorful, fun pens, cube tissue boxes, cute sticky notes/notepads, small hand sanitizers, coffee packs, printer paper, and chocolates. All women are invited to contribute items from the list. You can drop items in the “ABC-1-2-3” basket in the Gathering Area. On August 14, at GLOW, we will create the Teacher Treat Baskets for each grade level. The time spent at GLOW is sure to lift your spirits and put a smile on your face. Treat yourself to an evening with the ladies.

OLDER ADULT HAPPENINGS

May none of us ever lose our sense of WONDER! There is so much to wonder about, be curious and inquisitive about which keeps our minds going each day. Wonder what is going on in our Older Adult Ministry this month? The Older Adult Ministry Team will meet on Monday, August 6, 9:30 am in the Bageant Room for their monthly time of planning and fellowship. The meeting is open to any older adults who would like to come. The conversation is always great fun, and treats are provided as the team makes plans for the Older Adult Ministry at Opequon. The Happy Days fellowship gathering is Wednesday, August 8, beginning at Noon in

the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite covered dish item to add to all the others for a delicious pot luck lunch. Following lunch together, guest speaker, Heather Foreman from KIDS CLUB will share a presentation on the work of this organization in our community. A trip to Sight-n-Sound for the show “JESUS” is scheduled for Tuesday, August 28. Those who have secured a spot on this trip are asked to meet at church by 7:15 am. It will be a full day with great entertainment and fellowship as we travel. Happy Days participants have been so good in donating rolls of paper towels that are offered to people in the community through our Motel Ministry. We have been asked to change our donation to ROLLS of TOILET PAPER. Thank you for cooperating with this switch as this is a much-needed item. Come on out and enjoy the great fellowship of Happy Days!

LIFE GOES ON

"Life Goes On" is a small support group of people whose lives are undergoing change as

the result of the death of a spouse. For some it is a recent loss, for others more time has passed, but for all it is a major change in our lives. We invite you to join us at Firefly Cafe at 1:00 pm on Friday, August 24th. Come and share conversation and lunch. Contact Martha Fulton, 540-542-6161 or fultonmartha@gmail.com with questions.

PYC NEWS

Friday, August 3, 6:00 pm-1:00 am—Summer Midnight Gladness is for all upcoming youth in grades 6-12. You are invited to meet at church in the Fellowship Hall for a night of fun! We will start with dinner before doing a variety of activities, games, contemporary worship, and shopping for Orchard View School supplies. End the summer

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by hanging out with other youth and participating in this service opportunity! Bring a snack to share. If you have not previously filled out a youth permission form or have questions, please contact Rebekah Witt at wittrc@dukes.jmu.edu.

SEWING BEE FOR BAJA#2

Have you heard the buzzzzzz? The first Bee for Baja was such a flying success, there is going to bee another one. The ladies who went to Baja asked that we make Chic Nail Aprons for them to use and extras to sell to earn $$$ to go toward Baja expenses in 2019. Come join the fun! When: August 4, 10:00 am-2:00 pm. Come when you can, leave when you must Where: OPC Fellowship Hall What: Chic nail aprons and dresses for little girls Bring: Brown bag lunch and a snack to share sewing machine, if you have one, needle, bobbins Provided: fabric, pins, scissors, tracing paper and marking tool, tape measures, patterns, thread, drinks, paper goods and utensils Volunteers needed: 9:00-10:30 am for setup and 2:00-3:00 for clean up Contact: Susanna Shade (540)550-7150 call or text shadesathome@aol.com

COMMUNITY GARDEN

The garden is truly a sight to behold. Green, lush and fully alive - we’ve harvested more than 150 pounds of vegetables for the food pantry. About sixteen members from The Shenandoah University Theology Institute helped us mulch pathways to make it easier to water the gardens. Special thanks to Phil Hunter for his dedication to keeping the weeds under control and also to Al Owens for weed eating the sunflower gardens and putting

together a toolkit for us. If you’re able to lend a hand, please go to the church website and look for the sign-up genius icon. Once you’re on the Sign-Up Genius platform, you'll see the available weeks where we need help with watering the gardens. With this heat, the vegetables remain very thirsty. If you’d like to partner up with someone to do this, let us know. For more information, contact one of the gardeners on call: Robin Owens - robinowensopcsession@gmail.com, Joelle Cafaro - drhealer@gmail.com, or Dana Kelly - davedana@comcast.net.

REASONS TO JOIN THE CHOIR

➢ You never have to worry about what to

wear on Sunday mornings.

➢ You have excellent seats AND a

reserved seat on all major holidays—

including Christmas and Easter!

➢ From your advantageous seat you can

see who’s sleeping in the congregation

during the sermon.

➢ The minister is nearly always looking the

other way.

➢ No auditions or solos required!

➢ People who are involved in music live

longer and are healthier.

➢ Serving the Lord—making a joyful

noise—considering all He does for us,

it’s just a little giving back to Him!

Join us Wednesday evenings beginning August 22nd at 6:30 pm for choir (moves to 7:30 pm beginning Wednesday, September 19). We rehearse every Wednesday in the Sanctuary. We sing for worship every Sunday at 8:30, 11:00 am or both! New members are always welcomed! Join the choir…science shows it will make you feel better. For more information contact Susan Homan srh1305@verizon.net or 540-664-8781.

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We express our Christian love and sympathy to… Barbara Agregaard upon the death of her mother, Margaret Dearth, on June 28 “I am the resurrection and the life,” says the Lord. “Those who believe in me shall live, even though they die; and those who live and believe in me shall never die.” John 11:24-25

Meredith Butler and Wayne “Austin” German were married on June 23 in Martinsburg, at the McFarland House. Susan Cooper and Joel Witt were married in Opequon’s Sanctuary on June 30 by Pastors David and Tracie.

WE’VE MOVED!

Sandi Pulizzi 1464 Ashland DR Charlottesville VA 22911 703-477-6170

Austin & Meredith German 3000 Hood Cir., Apt. 309 Martinsburg WV 25403 Ross & Lauren Metheny 11319 Cicero DR Alpharetta GA 30022

THROUGH THE WATERS OF BAPTISM

On Sunday, July 29, we welcomed Sierra Violet McGunnigle into the baptized membership of Opequon. Sierra is the daughter of Larry and Melissa McGunnigle and the younger sister of Logan and Aubrey. May God’s Spirit rest upon Sierra and may we, as her church family, nurture and love her.

NOTES OF GRATITUDE

In moments of sorrow, it’s family and friends who bring love and peace. Thank you so much for your kindness following Margaret Dearth’s passing.

Love, Barb & Hank Agregaard

Thanks to all of you for your prayers, cards, visits and phone calls while I was recuperating from surgery. Thanks also to the Tuesday Morning Mission and Happy Days for the tasty meals.

Nancy Rodgers

Thank you for bringing food items to your Lifetouch Directory photo shoot. Collectively we provided 182 pounds of food to the Highland Food Pantry. Also, Lifetouch donated $250 to our church for our participation.

Becky Proctor

SERVANTS IN MINISTRY

Bell Ringers 8:30 Mo Mohler

Hospitality 5 Debbie & Bill Bender 12 Lisa & Bill Frye 19 Ina & Robert Walker 26 Betty Chicklo, June Malone

11:00 5 Vicky Astorino, Kirsta Weber 12 Martha Fulton, Betty Ganoe 19 Debi Hodgson, Annemarie Matthews

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26 Jack Drumheller, Marj Praml

Livestream 5 Susan Witt 12 Rebekah Witt 19 Bud Proctor 26 Susan Ritter

Nametags Week 1 Pat deButts Week 2 Dulcie Reed Week 3 Martha Fulton Week 4 Kail Barbe Week 5 Dulcie Reed

Ushers (Head Usher in Bold)

8:30

5 Vicki Schmidt Crites, Dulcie Reed, Graham Taylor 12 Alyce Callahan, Al Owens, Jim Youngblood 19 Terry Hartman, Heide Mohler 26 Mike Butler, John Winn

11:00 5 Jim Butler, Annemarie Matthews 12 Jason Hathaway, Kyle Homan, Bill Robinson 19 Andy Homan, Joel Witt 26 Curt Budny, Joe Seaton, Bill Hopeck

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SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT June 2018

Net

Expenses

Net Expenses

Budget Balance

EXPENSES 2018 Budget Current Month Year to Date Remaining

Administrative Ministry 405,427 33,032 210,787 194,641 Christian Education Ministry 13,550 1,318 2,455 11,095 Congregational Care Ministry 1,400 0 515 885 Evangelism Ministry 2,250 0 488 1,762 Fellowship Ministry 3,500 -27 985 2,515 Mission Ministry 50,200 6,533 24,383 25,817 Worship Ministry 7,700 336 4,289 3,411 Capital Expenses 115,000 9,584 57,503 57,497

Total Budget 599,027 50,776 301,405 297,622

INCOME Current

Month Year to Date Envelope Offerings 66,681 285,274 Loose 328 2,732

Total Operating Income from Offerings 67,009 288,006

Adjustments to Income Checking Account Interest 5 43 Room/Facility Usage 0 650 Wedding Fees 0 0 Manse Rental Income (Net) 532 4,336

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Unplanned Facilities Maintenance (EXP) -16,012 -28,316 Operating Income After Adjustments 51,534 264,719

Operating Expenses 50,776 301,405

2018 Operating Balance as of June 30 758 -36,686

A ‘GIFT’ EVENT for RALLY DAY!

A favorite day in the life of the church is often RALLY DAY. Come see for yourself why this is true!

Sunday, August 26, 9:45 am when we celebrate with the theme- BREAKFAST WITH JESUS.

Children, youth, adults will be sharing in one fantastic time-

*A breakfast of homemade bread and fish-shaped fried eggs *Making ‘fishing-pole’ treats.

*Experiencing the story of Jesus serving breakfast to his disciples on the beach.

*Table conversations and blessings. *Old Fashioned game of “GO FISH.”

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Opequon Presbyterian Church 217 Opequon Church Lane Winchester, VA 22602-2421

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED “The Opequon Spirit” is the monthly newsletter of: Opequon Presbyterian Church 217 Opequon Church Lane Winchester, VA 22602-2421 Phone: 540-662-1843 www.opequonchurch.org Newsletter deadline is the Wednesday after the Stated Session Meeting. Sunday Worship at 8:30 and 11:00 am Faith Formation Educational Hour at 9:45 am David Witt -------------------------------------------------------------- Pastor Tracie Martin --------------------------------------------- Parish Associate Laurie Carver ----------------------------------------- Nursery Supervisor William Heavner ---------------------------------------------------- Organist Susan Homan -------------------------------------------- Director of Music Patty Klinefelter --------------------------------- Faith Community Nurse Catherine Richard ----------------------------------- Office Administrator Robert Sydnor --------------------------------------------------------- Sexton Carole Witt ------------------------------ Director of Christian Education Rebekah Witt ----------------------- Director of Youth & Young Adults

NONPROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE PAID

WINCHESTER VA PERMIT 85

Inside This Issue

Anniversaries .................................... p. 8 Birthdays ........................................... p. 7 Calendar ......................................... p. 11 Christian Education .......................... p. 4 Congregational Care ..................... Insert Fellowship ......................................... p. 4 Just Thinkin’ ...................................... p. 3 Kids' Page ...................................... Insert Mission Ministry ................................ p. 6 Pastor’s Notes .................................. p. 2 PYC .................................................. p. 5 Servants in Ministry .......................... p. 8 Stewardship/Finance ................... p.4, 10 Worship ......................................... p. 1, 6

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