Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church

1. Expectations - Session Approved

   1. Masks: Currently, MASKS ARE OPTIONAL FOR THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED; ALL OTHERS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS. 

   2. Physical Distance: We expect 6’ distance from anyone who is not in your household.

   3. Bulletins: We will have bulletins in worship. 

   4. Offering: Will be collected as you enter and leave the sanctuary in a “Church Box”

2. Other Worship Opportunities: 

   1. Online: LiveStream and recorded on YouTube. Please send Rev. Jones an email (revjones96@gmail.com) and share how the LiveStream or YouTube production worked or call 608-205-7428.

Printed Resources: Printed bulletin, sermon notes, and Friday Notes will be mailed to those who want to continue to receive them.

Join Us for Lemonade and Iced Tea after the September 19th Service in the backyard of the church.

September 19th Bulletin

September 19th Worship Service

Service Opportunities: 

1. Liturgist: If you’d like to serve as a liturgist contact Elder Sue Smith. We have a schedule through October but if you are interested in November or December.

2. Greeters/Ushers: There is a sign up at the back of the sanctuary or contact Elder Mark Brodaczynski.

Cleaning Crew: Again, a sign-up in the sanctuary or stay after worship to help. It is helpful to know in advance if possible.

• Pastor Emeritus 

The session consulted with the Commission of Transitional Ministry and Rev. Dr. Kevin Tarvid: concerning the wisdom of this relationship for the peace of the church. After consultation, Session voted unanimously to bring a motion to the congregation at a regularly called congregational meeting to elect the former pastor, Rev. Dr. Tarvid as pastor emeritus without honorarium, but with no pastoral authority or duty. This action shall be subject to the approval of the presbytery. If the congregation concurs we will have a special worship service with Pastor Kevin and officially bestow the title with a celebration to follow.

Our group will be meeting again starting Saturday, July 17th and meeting 

again on the third Saturday of each month. We would love one and all to come and join the fun.

We meet in the Jack Reichart Hall in the basement of the church.

Commission on Transitional Ministry (CTM) for the Presbytery of Milwaukee

On July 27th, I will be meeting the CTM to provide a report on how the transitional time is going. If you have any thoughts you’d like CTM to know please contact an elder or myself so we can provide valuable information to CTM as they guide all congregations in transition.

Don’t worry, this is a normal process and I don’t feel like I’m being summoned to the principal's office. It’s been a challenging year and we’ve not done some of the normal interim tasks (Mission/Vision Statements, election of Pastor Nominating Committee [PNC], and reviewing our history). I’m confident as we continue to meet in person, we will accomplish many things to prepare you for your next called and installed pastor. 

If you’d like to help with writing the Mission/Vision Statements from our Mission Study Report or serve on the Nominating Committee to select the PNC, please contact your friendly neighborhood elder or myself.  These are important tasks and every member can help in this transitional process.

Bruce

Interim Ministry

Jeri-Lynne Bouterse, a transitional pastor in Ohio wrote an article for The Presbyterian Outlook - “The in-between time: Interim ministry as sacred space” in 2019. 

Leading Change

Some of the most important work in interim ministry, though, is introducing change — even at the exact time when many congregants may feel that too much change has already happened. “I think the most important thing a transitional pastor does is to get the congregation to the understanding that things are changing. And to help them see into a future that is different from their recent past. Sometimes this is made extremely difficult because the pastor is beloved or is still physically in the area. It is even more important for the transitional pastor to help the congregation understand the ‘end of an era,’ whether positive or negative,” said Brenda Barnes, the interim pastor of NuValley Presbyterian Church in Rural Valley, Pennsylvania.

The interim must lead the congregation through “change at a rate they can absorb,” as a former congregant often reminded me. Effecting change is not easy! My colleague Brian Harroff describes this well. He formerly served as a transitional pastor before accepting a call as pastor of Royster Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, Virginia.

“You can’t do the job without ruffling feathers,” he said. “But if you make them hate you, they stop working with you.” Some of these changes are going to be “heavy lifting.” It seems the heaviest lifting addresses problems in staffing that church leadership has been afraid to touch. Pastors following interims report that this task is too often left undone. Interims admit that staffing issues are predictable during transitions and they are also the most difficult, but the most necessary, to resolve.

Skilled interim ministers fill the in-between time not with a space holder, but an intentional space filler. After I share these insights with sessions, instead of asking why they need an interim pastor they ask, “How long will all this take?” I simply hold back a sigh and say: “I don’t know. God’s timing is God’s timing.”

One of today’s most prolific composers of organ music for church service is Charles Callahan. His version of “Jesus Loves Me” is the perfect opening for our welcome home for young Eva Lukong. 

“Bonse Aba”, our special music, translates to: “All that sing have the right to be called children of God.” When we emerged from our mother’s womb all of us entered a new world just as Eva experiences a new world here in America. That world--for us and for Eva, is exciting and scary and full of challenges. As children of God let’s walk together with her on this new journey!

Our postlude is a golden oldie by Paul Manz--”God of Grace and God of Glory”. You will recognize it from the past but it cried out to be played today along with its presentation in the hymn version early in this weekend’s service. Its nickname is the Hallelujah Chorus for the organ because a ritornello (refrain) returns throughout the piece that sounds like Handel’s gem.

Rev. Jones’ Schedule 

• Sunday, September 19th - Worship - Celebrating with the Lukong family. 

• Monday, September 20th - Working from home.

• Tuesday, September 21th  - begin Medical Leave - you desire pastoral care during this time contact Elder Lori Johnson or Deacon Sandy Reichert and they will connect with with a neighboring pastor who will be on call while Rev. Jones recovers from surgery.

God Needs You

I found this image on the internet. I did find a couple of different verses with this image which reminds me of Uncle Sam Needs You! Ephesians 4:16 NIV

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” 

God invites us as a faith community to support the Body of Christ with our gifts and talents. At GAPC, God is looking for Christians (you) to serve. 

1. We are still searching for 2 people to serve on the Nominating Committee. This short term commitment includes 3 meetings and a few phone calls. The Nominating Committee will present a slate of officers to serve as Elders and Deacons. This Committee will meet 3 more times this year to present a slate of members ready to serve on the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) to find our new GAPC pastor. 

2. The next step in our Mission Study will be to take the results of our survey and craft Mission and Vision Statements. If you would like to help with this Contact Rev. Jones who will coordinate the process. revjones96@gmail.com or 608-205-7428.

3. Continue to find ways to serve our Lord through the events and activities of GAPC.

God gives us talents to share supporting the growth and building up of the family of God. God wants you to do your part. Christianity is not a spectator sport, God wants you to be active in living your faith through service to others. 

Grace and Peace,  

Bruce

Click on the link below to open the PDF to show the list of retailers that participate in our scrip program at GAPC.

https://shop.shopwithscrip.com › Shop › Product

We accept scrip orders the second Sunday of each month.  There are order forms on a table at the back of the sanctuary along with a printed list of retailers.  Simply fill out an order form along with your check made out to "GAPC" and place them in the box on the same table. If you wish to mail in your order with your check, it must be received no later than the Saturday before the second Sunday of each month.

Scrip cards will be availabe for distribution to participants the third Sunday each month.  If you wish to have your scrip mailed to your home, please indicate that information on the order form.