Ministy Update 8/28

From Jay

The power of the past

Humorous. Cynical. Sarcastic. These are the first three words that come to mind when I think about my late Grandmother Doris.

Quiet. Sad. Strength under the surface. This comes to mind when I think of my late Grandfather Virgil.
I only knew them as a small child and a few vacations back to Florida, but even from that time a basic impression was imprinted on my mind and on my soul of who they were and how they interacted with one another.

Our families are the single most powerful force in shaping who we are today; and not just our own parents, but their parents and their parents. When it comes to sin being passed down, Exodus says I am feeling the effects today in my life from three generations before me!! And the choices I make TODAY will affect my daughter’s grandchildren.

Working at a church a phrase I often hear is we don’t want to just grow wide, we want to grow deep. The problem and the reality of this statement is a church will only grow as deep as the individuals that make up that body.

I am learning that the best change I can bring to a church is a changed me, a deeper me. And it’s the best thing you can bring as well. And sometimes understanding ourselves means looking back at our family dynamics and really analyzing them and how they might be affecting us today. Here is a shortened version of a list of questions to ponder about your family from a book called “The Emotionally Healthy Church” by Peter Scazzero. (pg 95)
- How was conflict handled in your family? Anger? Tension?
- How well did your family talk about feelings?
- Were there family “secrets”?
- Were their “losers” and “winners” in your family? What determined that?
- How was spirituality expressed?

The reality is my ability to love others can be severely hindered and handicapped by my past, and I don’t even know it if I’m not open to the reality of the past.

Together we praise, together we love, together we serve. To grow in loving one another this year, it starts with me and it starts with you. Are you willing to look and pray about what might hinder you today from being a fully loving person in your family and community? It is scary tough work, but it can change us to a place where we become deep and wide.

Seasons of Service Fall 2009 is ready to kickoff!

First immediate needs are:

1) This Sunday is the last Sunday to bring your schools supplies.

2) The first Sunday of each month throughout the year we will be having a FOOD DRIVE. Because Sept 6th is a holiday weekend we will make Sunday September 13th the Helping Hands Food Drive. Bring canned fruit, boxed cereal, canned meat or fish, skillet meals, soups and stews, toilet paper.

NOW…. I would like to introduce to you ESL, one of the longest and most important outreaches Sunset has……

Sunset ESL is gearing up for fall session. This small but effective ministry reaches the local community personally and ministers to families’ most basic needs – the ability to communicate in order to find employment, feed hungry children, maintain fair housing, understand children’s teachers and navigate a complex culture. Sometimes, an ESL Volunteer is the most effective advocate a student has, someone who can help them make a phone call about immunizations or find a market for goods and services.

Sunset ESL in a nutshell:
- ESL means “English for Speakers of other Languages”
- 100 adults study English at Sunset Presbyterian Church every week.
- 50+ kids have a safe place to learn and play on Saturday mornings.
- Students may have advanced university degrees or lack even elementary education
- 10% of students attend Sunset Presbyterian Church regularly, and 40% attend a local church.
- 30% of students feel Christ’s love and compassion at Sunset ESL, but don’t know Him personally.
- Half of ESL Volunteers help OUTSIDE the classroom.
- NO LANGUAGE other than English is necessary to Volunteer with Sunset ESL.
- 45 Volunteers are needed each quarter. Are you ready to join the team?

Sunset ESL needs you! Can you fill out a form? Can you cut a muffin into quarters? Please join us on September 19 to help register students in the morning, followed by lunch for interested volunteers. The afternoon is devoted to training and information to help you cross cultures and languages.

For more contact information, please click here. Our ESL Ministry Director, Nanci Leiton will be available to answer your questions or help you sign up after services on Sunday mornings, Sept. 7th & 14th and at our evening service on Sept. 14th.

Blessings,
Ken Mulder
Minister of Outreach

Opportunities To Serve

Join Sunset Choir
If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. We start the fall and Christmas season with rehearsal on September 9th. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact Jill Hofer, jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

Production/Tech Team Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for people to fill the following roles:
· Service Director
· Lighting
· Graphics
· FOH Camera Op Week
· Message Slide Designer

In addition we have a new volunteer role: Video production. We'd like to find some video editors in our midst. Are you or do you know someone who could do simple projects for us? (i.e. this week, we have white text (provided) on black screen and need someone to edit.) The level of the projects will depend on who we discover. The content is generally available a couple weeks in advance of the deadline. If you have this skill or know someone at Sunset who does, please email me janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
September 13 – Fall Kick-off Sunday, choir & orchestra, and Ron’s Sunset Road song
September 13 – All church picnic (details in the bulletin)
September 20 & 27 – Pathways & Connections
September 27 – Praise Night
October 11 – Infant Baptism and Dedication, church-wide Pancake Breakfast
October 16 – FUN Family Unity Night