The Salt Shaker
“You are the salt of the earth.”
— Jesus (Matthew 5:13)
J U L Y
OUR MISSION
Parkville Presbyterian
Church is a community
of believers following
Jesus Christ
by sharing God’s Word,
serving and welcoming
all.
2 0 1 5
Kids, you don’t want to miss this!
Parents and friends: we still need your help!
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE:
Pastoral Visit
2
Responding to
3
Worship Feedback
Musical Apprentice
4
Program Launches
Pictures from an
5
Exhibition
VBS Needs YOU!
7
Adult Education
9
Mon - Fri July 27 - 31, 9:00 - 11:30am & Sun, August 2—11:00am
God’s love is Incredible! God’s love is Faithful!
God’s love is Invincible! God’s love is Unconditional!
God’s love is Real!
And God’s love will be experienced in VBS starting July 27. Join us!
YAV: Round 2 in NYC 9
Session and Finances
4
10
Fourth of July Parkville Parade
Enjoy fellowship and watch the parade as it goes by
on Main Street. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and
come when you can - but remember that Main Street
closes at 9:45! Parade begins at 10:00. Please park
in the north or south lots to keep the street
open. Questions? Contact Melissa Jones @
[email protected]
Pastoral Visit
A
t the beginning of the year,
the session set three big goals
for Parkville Presbyterian in 2015.
They were: to initiate a new major
mission activity, double the number of congregants participating in activities of spiritual
formation, and
achieve a net
gain of 10% in
membership.
This month, I’d
like to let you
know how
things are going, and tell you how
you can plug in—so that you can
help God’s light shine all over
Parkville, the Northland, and beyond!
won’t do it alone, because Pine
Ridge Presbyterian would like to
partner with us to provide volunteer support. In fact, we just
learned that on the week of July 5th,
Family Promise has a gap week,
where they don’t have a host
church to provide the usual services. That week, one of their current host churches will provide
space, but they’re hoping other
churches will step forward to provide volunteer support. Parkville
and Pine Ridge are exploring that
possibility together.
figuring out who they are as a
group. A few of the groups have
open spaces and it’s not too late to
sign up for them! But we also plan
to relaunch the groups in the fall
and give more people a chance to
be a part of something new.
For the third goal, the Radical
Hospitality ministry team has been
working on a plan to help people
make the transition from ‘firsttime visitor’ to ‘active congregant.’
The plan includes: after the first
visit, knocking on their front door
and offering visitors a small gift
If this ministry sounds intriguing and words of welcome. We’d also
to you and you’d like to know
like to begin connecting visitors
more, let me know!
with ‘trail guides,’ people in the
For the second goal, some defini- church who know the lay of the
tion is in order. Spirituality is eve- land and can help them connect
with ministries outside of Sunday
rything we do, every day. Every
morning worship.
For the first goal, the session has choice we make—about where to
been exploring the process of beshop, who to vote for, where to
If you’re interested in being a
coming a host church for Family
volunteer, how we drive, and how door-knocker or a trail guide,
Promise. Family Promise is a min- we treat others—is an expression of please let me know. We’d like to
istry with a national network that
our spiritualiget this plan up
has a local chapter in northland
ty. Activities of
and running in
Kansas City. Like Hillcrest, they
spiritual forfull form by
provide transitional housing for
mation shape
August, bepeople who are moving out of
and form our
cause many
homelessness—along with budget spirits, so that
people visit
counseling and job training, to help when the rubchurches for
folks get back on their feet.
ber meets the
the first time in
road and spirituality begins, we
August and September.
Unlike Hillcrest, they do not
maintain a set of stand-alone apart- make good choices.
These three goals are all, of
ments. Instead, they rely on
Activities of spiritual formation
course, part of one larger goal: alchurches, asking congregations to include Bible studies, small groups, lowing ourselves to be shaped by
devote up to four rooms for four
God into a people fit for the
Sunday School, women’s circles,
families for four weeks out of the
and any activity in which we learn Lord’s service. By devoting ouryear (one week each quarter). Host more about how to be spiritual.
selves to more, spiritual formation,
churches are asked to provide
and outreach, we give God the opIn regard to this goal, our major
meals and at least one overnight
portunity to make and remake us,
host to stay at the church with the initiative has been small groups.
more and more, in God’s image—
Five small groups have been
family. Families undergo backand we let our light shine from
formed from those who signed up
ground checks and have to meet
Main Street Parkville as far as
established criteria as part of their for them earlier this year, and they we’re willing to let it
are now having their first meetings,
admission to the program.
go. Amen.
choosing something to study, and
If we become a host church, we
THE
SALT
SHAKER
PAGE
3
From Pastor Steve: Responding to June’s Worship Feedback
In last month’s Salt Shaker, I asked you to talk with
Paul Erickson and me about your experience of worship at
ParkPres.
Some of
you
came to
us in
one-onone
conversations,
while
others attended one of the four potluck lunches held
after the 11:00 service in June. This month, I’d like to
tell you about some
of the things we heard and some of the ways we
responded.
folks told us they couldn’t see the words on the wall
during the Affirmation of Faith. We had been printing
the Affirmation in the large-print bulletins for those
who might have this issue, but (unbeknownst to me)
we were also running out of large-print bulletins, as
people who needed them for this one part were picking them up.
Response: We increased the size of the projection on
the wall and began printing more large-print bulletins.
We heard many affirming things about the worship
experience this month. Several congregants went out
of their way to praise the sermons, confess their appreciation of the prayer of confession, and sing the
praises of the music program.
Paul and I both continue to have an open door for
feedback about worship, and we invite you to continFeedback: Over the past couple of months, folks have ue to be a part of shaping the Sunday morning experiasked for less variation between the verses on congre- ence at ParkPres.
gational songs.
Response: Over the past couple of months, Paul has
Picnic at Weatherby Lake last Wednesday
been arranging the
hymns with less variation between verses.
There will always be
some variation, because the music of
the hymn should enhance its message
and its place in the
service, but our goal
is to help everyone in
the congregation join
in the song, and for
music to be a meaningful way for folks
to connect with God.
Feedback: One longtime member spoke
to Paul and asked if
he would dress more
formally on Sunday
mornings.
Response: Paul began
wearing a sport coat.
Feedback: Several
THE
SALT
SHAKER
PPC Musical Apprentice Program
It’s my joy to introduce you to Parkville Presbyterian’s brand-new Musical Apprentice Program. This
program takes an informal ministry of the church—
where our music director had been offering music
lessons to young people, and then integrating them
into the life of the church—and makes it more official
and more inclusive.
friends. Churches like ours, which don’t have enough
teenagers for a traditional youth program, are called
to reach outside of their comfort zones in order to
build relationships with young people. This program
uses a strength of the church to do just that.
If you have any questions about this or anything
else, please call me at the church office or e-mail me @
Through this program, four students from Park Hill [email protected]. And if you’d
High School or Park Hill South will receive two half- like to be involved in the program, as an official menhour vocal lessons each week, and coaching and actor who helps introduce these apprentices to the widcompaniment for school-based music contests. They
er church, let me know.
will participate in Wednesday evening choir rehearsMost importantly, when you see these folks on Sunals and offer their musical gifts in worship on Sunday
day mornings in the fall (or on weekdays during the
mornings. Participants will receive a small stipend of
summer, since some of them are rehearsing already,
$75 a month to help pay for travel costs— and to
even though the program hasn’t even started yet),
make up for the sacrifice of part-time job opportuniwelcome them warmly—and let them know how glad
ties.
you are that they’re a part of the church community.
This ministry is a great chance for the church to develop new relationships with people in high school
and those in their networks, including parents and
Master Malcolm “styling” and
enjoying the “sun and surf” at
PPC Old Pike pool party Sunday
(photo courtesy Russell Dickison)
THE
SALT
SHAKER
PAGE
5
Retrospective: “Pictures from an Exhibition”
Final Friday Community Concert, June 26
"New Pictures at an Exhibition with visual artist, Kelly Yarborough". Modest
Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” has been a concert favorite since its
premier in 1874. Program included the
familiar sound images of "the Gnome,"
"the Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks,"
"the Catacombs" and the "Great Gate of
Kiev" played by Director of Music and
Arts, Paul Erickson. This virtuosic masterwork has inspired a new collection of
artworks from the evocative mind of
Kelly Yarborough — a sampling of which
are shared below with her permission.
Above: Market at Limoges
Below: The Tuileries
Above: Great Gate of Kiev Below: 2 Jews—One rich, One Poor
Ima
Ima
Ima
Ima
Ima
Sec
Ima
Ima
Ima
Ima
Ima
July 11 is Faith and Family
Day at Kauffman
Stadium!
First pitch for the Royals’
game is at 1:10 p.m. Lauri
Robertson-Ortiz, of the Radical Hospitality ministry team,
is planning to reserve a
block of tickets and organize a trip!
You can e-mail her at
[email protected] for more information
or to reserve a space.
Plan to come, and invite
your friends!
“I am apt to believe
that (Independence
Day) will be celebrated by succeeding generations as
the great anniversary festival. It
ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn
acts of devotion to God Almighty.
It ought to be solemnized with pomp and
parade, with shows, games, sports . . . and
illuminations, from one end of this
continent to the other, from this time forward
forever more.”
Letter from John Adams to wife, Abigail
Intergenerational Handbells at C-Point
THE
SALT
SHAKER
More about Vacation Bible School —
PAGE
7
VBS is coming to PPC, July 27th - July 31
with a worship celebration at
the 11:00 service on August 2.
A picnic lunch will follow the celebration.
We will Blast to the Past and learn that God’s
love was, is and continues to be incredible,
faithful, invincible, unconditional and real! The elevator will be transformed into a Time Machine where children
will move between the Timeless Truth Tent, The Backtrack Bazaar, Discovery Ruins, and the Mission Cave.
There’s still time to volunteer to be part of this transformative week. We can use both
adult and youth volunteers for any day or combination of days. Right now, we need
the following:
 4 assistant crew leaders,
 someone to staff our nursery for volunteer moms (we have two children ages
2 and 2 1/2)
 a photographer to record the fun!
Please register your children, grandchildren and neighbors early so we can plan
accordingly. You can register online at http://www.vacationbibleschool.com/
ParkvillePresby/ or on
Sunday mornings.
Watch the weekly update
for our VBS workdays and
a list of items we need or
wish to borrow for the
week.
Contact Janet Geary with
any questions or if you
wish to be a part of the
team.
816.716.9527 or
[email protected]
Mon - Fri July 27 - 31
9:00 - 11:30am
Sun, August 2—11:00am
God’s love is Incredible! God’s love is Faithful!
God’s love is Invincible!
God’s love is Unconditional!
God’s love is Real!
Hillcrest Ministries A huge thank you to all PPC members and friends for helping to make
our Hillcrest apartment a warm and
welcoming home for our new resident, who moved in June 19th. Your
time, skills, purchases, painting,
cleaning, food, and monetary contributions are greatly appreciated.
Funding for a new set of bunk beds is
now complete due to your generosity. ~ Mission Team
July
Food
Pantry
Needs
Thank you for all you do
to bless our neighbors!
And, speaking of Hillcrest —
Place shared items in
the grocery cart outside
the Sanctuary. Special
needs at this time are:








Many years ago Parkville Presbyterian adopted a Hillcrest Transitional
Housing apartment providing a
home for those who need a hand-UP
in life. In the ensuing years the apartment has provided relief on a temporary basis to many people—singles
and families alike—as they complete
the Hillcrest program that teaches
self-sufficiency.
Herb and Linda Tillinghast have
coordinated the efforts to maintain,
furnish and stock the apartment for
the occupants. With a cadre of church
volunteers they have painted,
cleaned and filled the pantry many
times. Their reward? Seeing those
mired in homelessness, debt, and
sometimes, hopelessness, get a new
lease on life.
Thank you, Linda and Herb, for the
hours devoted to this mission. And
thanks to the many church members
who have contributed to this ongoing
program.
Pudding
Ketchup
Bath soap
Toothpaste
Dry beans
Sugar
Syrup
Kleenex
Cash donations are
always helpful—make
checks to SPEAC
Food Pantry
Little Dresses
for Africa
Our sewing ministry
group will gather on
Friday, July 3 from
1pm - 5pm in Whipple Hall. All
skill levels invited and encouraged!
THE
SALT
SHAKER
From our Facebook Page -
The small groups folks signed up for a
few weeks ago are having their first
meetings, figuring out what they want
to study, and getting to know God and
each other more deeply. This group,
plus one more guy, meets once a month
on Thursday evenings, and they’d love
to have you join them next time! Four
other groups are meeting at other times
throughout the week, and all are welcome to join! Send a message to the Facebook page, or contact Pastor Steve, to
find out more. If you’re not connected
with the PPC Facebook page, friend the
site @
https://www.facebook.com/parkvillepresby
Platte County Back to
School Fair
The Platte County Back to School Fair
is scheduled for Thursday, July 30th. Deodorant sticks are still being
collected in the narthex
(and at last count, we
still need more than 200
more to
meet our goal). Contact Linda Tillinghast
at 816-741-4841 if you
are interested in volunteering to distribute
calculators or hygiene
bags at the Back to
School Fair.
PAGE
9
Adult Education in July—The Little Flowers of St. Francis
Some will recall that last fall we
started a class to study Francis of
Assisi. That class was interrupted
when the facilitator was called away
on a family matter. It’s about time
for a "redo", don’t ya’ think?
Francis of Assisi lived a very long
time ago. . .
He was the son of a wealthy man.
He could have had it easy. But, life
was more complicated than that. . .
sickness and spiritual crisis led him
to follow the teachings of Jesus. . .
He took Matthew 10: 5-10 to heart.
People began to notice a change in
Francis and they began to follow
him and listen to him. Many people
still do. . . a little over 800 years later.
This class, led by Mike Vaughn, will
look at the man, the folklore and the
legacy of Francis of Assisi and the
nature of those that choose to follow
Christ. Join us beginning July 5th at
9:40 a.m.
Faith and Family Class
Our class continues to study the book 99 Ways to Raise Spiritually Healthy Children by Kathleen Long Bostrom. We will read about three “ways” each week and
each family will experiment with one of these during that week. The following
week we will discuss our experiences. Sundays—9:40 a.m.
Greetings to PPC . . . from YAV Emily Powers
I am so very excited to being back at church with
you all in just a few weeks. This past year in
Washington, DC has been one full of faithful
transformation and as a result has led me to
some wonderful opportunities. As some of you
may know I have officially accepted a position
in New York as a second year Young Adult Volunteer. I will be working for Presbyterian Senior
Services. A non-profit supported by PC (USA)
and partnered with the Presbyterian Ministry at
the United Nations. The organization works directly with grandparents in the city who need
extra support while raising their grandchildren.
I will get to work directly with families, as well
gain support for them throughout the NYC Burroughs. I’m very excited for this opportunity to
expand my call to youth ministry and passion
for expanding valuable missions in local neighborhoods. This second YAV year does require
me to again fundraise for my time in NY. Last
year I was overwhelmed by the generosity and
love I received from Parkville Presbyterian
Church. You have all been my number one supporters this year. I wish I could be there to truly
express how much your support has actively
helped me this year.
I am again required to raise
at least $3000. If you feel able
to donate to my second YAV
year, you can give a check to
PPC and notate “Emily Powers.” I want to thank all of
you who have sent your
prayers, thoughts, and kind
donations to me this past
year. It has been a true blessing to me. All my love,
Emily Powers
From the Clerk of the Session: DOING THE CHURCH’S BUSINESS
Depending on how you view things,
the local church is either the most
important body of the Church or the
least. At this moment in history, I’m
thinking that it’s the most important.
We can rightfully ask... Is it the local/regional church that controls
things or is it the national Church
and the General Assembly? The
question has been asked since the
beginnings of American Presbyterianism. As it turns out, the church
(all levels of it) are us... The General
Assembly is made up of equal parts
Teaching Elders (Pastors from local
congregations) and Ruling Elders
(from local congregations). My
friends, I repeat... the Church (at all
of its levels)...is us.
So ...bearing that in mind... one helpful understanding is that power in
the church ultimately (we believe by
God’s will) resides in the local
church. So then, who is it that decides things in local Presbyterian
churches? Well, that’s us too.. Ruling Elders are called by God and
elected by congregations to serve
three year terms and Teaching Elders
(Pastors) are called by God and the
congregation to serve as long as God
wills it.
Now in Parkville Presbyterian
Church the Session is composed of
12 Ruling Elders all elected by the
congregation... that’s you. The Presbyterian Book of Order (our constitution and the set of rules we’ve imposed on ourselves so that we do
things “decently, and in order”) defines Ruling Elder as follows…
G-2.0301 Ruling Elder Defined
As there were in Old Testament
times elders for the government of the
people, so the New Testament church
provided persons with particular gifts to
share in discernment of God’s Spirit and
governance of God’s people. Accordingly,
congregations should elect persons of
wisdom and maturity of faith, having
THE
SALT
demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders
are so named not because they “lord it
over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but
because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity
to the Word of God, and to strengthen and
nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders,
together with teaching elders, exercise
leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well
as the whole church, including ecumenical
relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as
members of the session. When elected as
commissioners to higher councils, ruling
elders participate and vote with the same
authority as teaching elders, and they are
eligible for any office.
congregation has been understandably concerned about many things.
So... for a while now, one of the primary tasks of the Session has been to
listen and to listen carefully. In fact,
in it’s June 2015 meeting the Session
heard from 4 members (2 in person
and 2 by letter) regarding their concerns for the church in this time. I
believe that members of the Session
would testify that they have heard
and that some things will change.
However, the congregation needs to
remember that things change slowly
in Presbyterian churches. It’s part of
our nature, it seems. So, hang in
there and look for the adjustments
as we move ahead together. For it’s
part, the Session will continue to lisSo there we are... Ruling Elders and ten and more importantly they will
strive to listen for God’s voice,
Teaching Elders are the Session...
above all, and to discern God’s inThey’re our friends really, and
tention for His church in this place.
they’re running the church. Scary,
ain’t it? And it’s my guess that most That is after all what we’ve asked
members of the Session would prob- them to do and that is what they will
ably say it’s not as easy as it sounds. do with God’s help. Grace and
But here’s the thing... the Elders be- Peace to you!
Mike Vaughn ~ Clerk of Session
lieve (and the congregation does
too, really) that
God is running
the Church. In
the end it’s all
about trust... The
Congregation
trusts, the Session
trusts, the Pastor
trusts, the Presbytery trusts, the
General Assembly trusts. We all
trust one another
and all of us...
trust God... completely.
As all of you
know, the last
few years have
been a complicated period for the
church and the
SHAKER
Parkville Presbyterian Church
July 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
6:45 p.m. InterGenerational Handbells
7:00 p.m. Right Side of
the Tracks/Room 206 &
208
CHURCH OFFICE
CLOSED
8
9
10
11
9:30 a.m. Small
Group/Room 311
1:10 p.m. PPC
Royals Baseball
Game
10:00 a.m. Small Group
Meeting, Room 311
6:00 p.m. Ministry
Teams light-meal
6:30 p.m. Worship
7:00 p.m. Ministry Team
Meetings
17
18
24
25
8:00 a.m. Morning
Prayers
1:00 p.m. Little
Dresses for Africa
10:00 a.m. Small Group
Meeting, Room 311
5 6th Sunday after
Pentecost /Lord’s
Supper/Food Pantry
8:30 a.m. Worship
9:45 a.m. Church
School
11:00 a.m. Worship
No Youth Group
12 7th Sunday after
Pentecost
8:30 a.m. Worship
9:45 a.m. Church
School
11:00 a.m. Worship
4:00 p.m. Upper
Elementary & Middle
School Youth Group,
Youth floor
6
7
No Bible Study
1-3:00 p.m. Home
School Co-op Art class
6:00 p.m. Cubs/rooms
205/206/208
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
Whipple Hall
6:30 Cubs
205/206/208215
13
6:00 p.m. Bible Study,
Room 307
6:00 p.m. Cubs/rooms
205/206/208
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts/
Whipple Hall
19 8th Sunday after 20
Pentecost
8:30 a.m. Worship
9:45 a.m. Church
School
11:00 a.m. Worship
4:00 p.m. Upper
Elementary & Middle
School Youth Group,
Youth floor
26 9th Sunday after
Pentecost
8:30 a.m. Worship
9:45 a.m. Church
School
11:00 a.m. Worship
4:00 p.m. Upper
Elementary & Middle
School Youth Group
Youth floor
8:00 a.m. Morning
Prayers
7:00 p.m. Right Side of
the Tracks/Room 208
14
15
1-3:00 p.m. Home
School Co-op Art class
2:00 p.m. SPEAC Board
Meeting
10:00 a.m. Small Group
Meeting, Room 311
8:00 a.m. Morning
Prayers
6:30 p.m. Cubs/rooms
205/206/208/215
6:45 p.m. InterGenerational Handbells
21
22
8:00 a.m. Morning
Prayers
16
9:30 a.m. Small
Group/Room 311
6:30 p.m. Small Group
Meeting, Room 311
7:00 p.m. Right Side of
the Tracks/Room 208
23
9:30 a.m. Small
Group/Room 311
No Small Group Meeting
6:00 p.m. Bible Study,
Room 307
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts
205/206/208
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
Whipple Hall
6:30 p.m. Cubs,/rooms
205/206/208/215
27
28
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Vacation Bible School
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Vacation Bible School
6:00 p.m. Bible Study,
Room 307
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts
205/206/208
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
Whipple Hall
6:45 p.m. InterGenerational Handbells
7:00 p.m. Coordinating
Committee/Room 308
7:00 p.m. Right Side of
the Tracks/Room 208
29
8:00 a.m. Morning
Prayers
30
31
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Vacation Bible School
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Vacation Bible
School
9:30 a.m. Small
Group/Room 311
7:00 p.m. Right Side of
the Tracks/Room 208
7:00 p.m. Final
Friday Community
Concert
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Vacation Bible School
10:00 a.m. Small Group
Meeting, Room 311
6:30 p.m. Cub Pack
Meeting, off site
6:45 p.m. InterGenerational Handbells
9:00 a.m. Worship
Team, Room 307
Parkville Presbyterian Church
819 Main Street
Parkville, MO 64152-3630
Office: 816.741.1641
Fax: 816.741.1744
E-mail [email protected]
www.parkvillepresby.org
PPC has a Facebook page! “Like” us at “Parkville
Presbyterian Church”
Forward the Salt Shaker to a Friend
VBS is coming to PPC, July 27 - July 31
with a worship celebration at
the 11:00 service on August 2.
A picnic lunch will follow the celebration.
Plan to be a part of this special week!
Sunday Worship 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Church School: 9:45 a.m.
Wednesday Morning Prayers: 7:30 a.m.
Church Office: 816-741-1641
Church Fax: 816-741-1644
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.parkvillepresby.org
Salt Shaker published monthly by
Parkville Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Steven Andrews, Pastor
Paul Erickson, Director of Music and Arts & Organist
Peggy Pape, Office Manager
News Deadline is NOON — Last Sunday of Month