June 29, 2017

the H e ral d
Volume XXXXXIV,
No. 7

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR JULY 2017

July 2
Genesis 22:1-14
Psalm 13*
Romans 6:12-23
Matthew 10:40-42*

July 9
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67*
Psalm 45:10-17* or Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

July 16
Genesis 25:19-34
Psalm 119:105-112
Inside this issue: Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Lants Lines 2 July 23

Christian Educator 3
Genesis 28:10-19a
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Romans 8:12-25
Thank Yous/Book 4
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Club

Calendar 5 July 30
Genesis 29:15-28
Church Happenings 6
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128
Romans 8:26-39*
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
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TRANSITION TIME NEWS KIDS HOPE EXPANDING at

Central Presbyterian
The Mission Study Team submitted the Mission Church! I am excited and
Study to the Session on June 14. The Session prayerfully looking forward to
received the study and approved it with some
continuing the good work of Suzanne Downs, as
edits. The approved Mission Study was sent to
the Presbytery Office and a request was made the new Kids Hope Director between our church
for Committee on Ministry (COM) to approve and Deming Elementary School! I am currently
our election of a Pastor Nomination Commit- taking the six week on-line director training
tee (PNC). course. My goal is to have every family of
Once the approval is made, we can proceed our church be involved in some small or big way
with forming a slate for the PNC and present- with Kids Hope. Thank You for this opportunity
ing it to the congregation for election. If you to continue this important ministry! Blessings,
have any interest in being on the PNC, please Donna Paul-Bonham
let the Nominating Committee know of your
interest (Jim Moles (chair), Kevin Christ, Kay
THANK YOU
Farmer, Barbara Schmitt, and Steve Temple-
ton.) The PNC will need to be as representa-
Astrid Voelker-Buchanan and her family thank you
tive of the congregation as possible so please
for the kind support, prayers, and generosity you
note that not all individuals interested in partici-
expressed at the death of her son, Todd Gaines.
pating may be able to be nominated.
The gifts you gave were donated to a scholarship
fund established in Todds name at his high school.
A senior in the graduating class of 2017 received the
first scholarship from this fund. Thank you again for
your gracious presence in this time of grieving.

The Communications Commission is seeking volunteers for the following activities:

Writers of all ages and skill levels. This activity is particularly appropriate for high school or col-
lege students looking for an opportunity to volunteer on their own schedule. While creativity is
an asset, our primary need is for individuals who can write informative articles or paragraphs for
a variety of venues (e.g., newsletter, web page, Facebook, bulletin boards). Article topics can be
chosen by inspiration or by assignment; you may be asked to interview a fascinating church
member! Your work will be edited before being published.
Facebook guardian/manager/supervisor. The church has a Facebook presence that should be kept
current. If you are a daily or weekly Facebook poster, why not do it for the church? Tweeters
are also welcome.
Writer with marketing and/or PR talents to design brochures, posters, and displays for bulletin
boards and for the projector in Fellowship Hall.
If you would like to play a role in helping the Communications Commission keep church members and
potential church members informed about what the church is doing, please contact Luanne Tilstra
(tilstra@rose-hulman.edu or 812-877-8741). Thanks for your help.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION REPORT - Cheryl Moles, Christian Educator

Summer Sunday School will be two intergenerational classes held on July 31 and
August 20 (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE). The Christian Nurture Commission thought that
our families could use a break from the every Sunday routine, but wanted to provide
some educational opportunities that families (meaning everyone) can enjoy together.
The classes on will provide active learning for preschool through adults at 9:30 am.
Fall Sunday School will kick-off on August 27 with the annual pancake breakfast.

There will be Parents Night Out on July 14. Childcare w ith supper is at the
church from 5:30 9:00 pm. Please notify the church office if your children are at-
tending.

There is NO T3EM in July. Check w ith your commission chair to see if your
group is meeting.

The Blessing of Backpacks will be August 6.

Thank you to those that worked or attended The Jesus Way Vacation Bible
School. I t w as a fun w eek that brought together children, youth and adults
from 4 churches and 14th and Chestnut Community Center. We will follow the exam-
ple of Jesus in feeding, forgiving, loving and serving.

The family prayer group meets on Mondays at 11:00 am at the church. Childcare is
provided. Please park in the parking garage.

YOU

In the Book of Genesis, the first word God speaks to a human being is you (Genesis 2:15),
and in the Book of Revelation, the last word a human being speaks in effect to God is Come,
Lord Jesus! which is to say Come, you! (Revelation 22:20).

It is possible that the whole miracle of Creation is to bridge the immeasurable distance be-
tween Creator and Creature with that one small word, and every time human beings use it to
bridge the immeasurable distances between one another, something of that miracle happens
again.

Taken from Frederick Buechners book, Whistling in the Dark

Notes from Session, July 2017 Herald
During its June meeting, session reviewed reports from commissions and committee and transacted routine business.

Bob Guell gave an update on the capital campaign and presented information about counting procedures from the
finance commission.
The capital campaign shows pledges of $653,501, of which we have received $390,302. We have drawn $230,071
to date from investments and secured a loan for up to $500,000, from which we have drawn $275,000. If
there are no surprises, we may not need to draw any further into the loan. We may be able to repay the loan
by the end of 2019. We will need to rebuild our investment balances quickly as we have been told that the
next phase of major roof repair is coming five years earlier than planned.
A financial review of 2013 and 2014 was conducted this year and several procedures for vouchers will be revised.
Session approved a motion to change the post-service counting procedures using the finance commission to de-
termine those who are to count and their schedule.
Treasurers Report
The May treasurers report was received. As noted last month, our wealth is dropping as we expense the repairs.

Operating Fund Sum-

Month of May Balance Sheet Summary 05/31/17
mary
Beginning of Month $69,691.27 Current Assets $834,346
Income $20,193.89 Fixed Assets $2,980,000
Expenses $24,418.01 Total Liabilities $2108
End of Month $65,467.15 Net Worth (Fund Balance) $3,537,239

Reports and Action Items from Committees and Commissions

Church Life-Church Action: the commission fed 36 participants in this years Bike and Build. As always, the group
was extremely appreciative of our hospitality.

Communication: Luanne Tilstra reported that significant progress is being made on updates to the Handbook and
changes to make the Herald more robust are coming. Holypalooza will encompass service work on Saturday, Sep-
tember 16, joint worship here on the 17th, and a joint sale on September 30.

Facilities: the windows are done and will be returned soon. The commission will put scheduling a work day on the
agenda for their next meeting. The sidewalk on the north side of the church needs attention.

Mission: Session approved the contributions proposed by the committee:

$1500 from local benevolence to 14th and Chestnut Community Center
$400 from local benevolence to purchase ethnic food for immigrant families during the June 16-17 mission trip.
allocate our portion of the Pentecost offering to support for the youth mission trip
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Personnel: the committee reviewed and session approved Kevin Buchanans transitional pas-
tor contract for the next 12 months. Donna Paul-Bonham was approved as the new Kids Hope
direction, effective June 15. The committee is asked to establish a policy of employee service on
church boards for consideration at the July session meeting.

New Business

Session reviewed the joint report submitted by the mission self-study team and the strategic
planning review task force, noting
Information on why Lant Davis resigned should be added
We have, over the years, tied goals to the number of members. Recently, we have not set
numerical targets but have said that if we are faithful to our call, what follows will fol-
low. When demographics are considered, we are a rousing success. Membership
growth could be more explicit in our position description. What message do we send in
this changing culture?
We have an asset in the building and can provide a central resource.
The report was extremely interesting and well done.
Session voted to approve the report. The presbytery will be informed so that next steps can
begin.
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CPC Remodel Update June 28, 2017

The Sanctuary renovation and restoration project has seen lots of progress and discoveries over the
last several weeks. These included interior plastering of the walls, recovering of the pews, raising the
roof and finding and repairing a damaged support column. Overall, the project has progressed very
well and the hope is to be back in a completed sanctuary sometime in August. The pictures below
outline some of the activities happening both at the church and offsite location.

Picture taken in Batesville, Indiana at the We-

berdings Carving Shop, Inc. where the pews
are being refurbished.

The picture shows how all the old coverings

have been removed and replaced with new
burlap and two layers of foam.

The next picture taken at Weberdings

shows the press used to hold the foam and
burlap in place as the new pew covers are
attached. Once the covers are completed
they are re-attached to the wooden pews.
The lower pictures show how the north and south walls in the sanctuary have had the wainscot re-
moved and the plasterers preparing the walls for a new look and new color paint. Also notice the
window frames have been installed and ready for the stain glass installation after the plastering is
completed. Each window will be trimmed after the plaster is completed. The plaster company is
from West Terre Haute and we were lucky to get them to help on our project.

One of the major issues in the project was the need to reinforce the connection of the southeast
interior trusses to the top of the walls. This involved using a crane to raise the roof over 2 to re-
place the wooded plates that the trusses rested on with steel plates and additional wooded support.
The picture below shows the workers prepared to install the plates as the roof was raised.
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Last Sunday we moved out of Fellowship Hall and over to

the ISU Recital Hall for morning worship services. The rea-
son was the discovery of northeast columns starting to
compress and crack. Calls were made to both Forensic and
Structural Engineers to develop a plan to restore the col-
umns integrity and get back on track for completion. We
would not have found the problem if the wainscot had not
been removed as part of the remodel. Once repaired the
column will be plastered over and painted to match the
rest of the wall finishes. Additional support work was done
around the steel beam that was directly below the column
just off the pre-school room. This was filled in with ce-
ment grout for additional support and stability.

The next two weeks should include the installation of the

stain glass and window trimming. After that the caulking
will be done in anticipation of paint. The carpet is already
here and ready to be installed once the painting is com-
plete. You should also know that the womens restroom is
being remodeled with the wall paper already gone and a
new vanity being purchased for installation.
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His name is Kwesi Brown. He guides our pronunciation, Kway-sih and thenBrown. His skin is
clear dark chocolate and his countenance is firm, committed love. When the missionaries came to
Ghana, many families that became Christian took the Western name as a symbol of changed life.
Thats where the Brown comes from.

We were sitting in the conference room at the Immigrant Welcome Center in Indianapolis. There
were ten of us from CPC, four volunteers who work with Kwesi, a beautiful woman from Nigeria,
and Kwesi. Wed gone around the table introducing ourselves. We had each given our name, our
occupation, and why we were at the IWC. In typical, expected American style, we were direct and to
the point. But in Ghanaas in many cultures on the African continentcommunication is less di-
rect. In Ghana folks are inclined to tell a story; it is assumed that the listener is clever enough to dis-
cern the point of the story on their own. Kwesi paid us a tremendous compliment; he told us his
story.

He told us how he had grown up at a mission. The house was full of musical instruments and when
he was not in school, he was practicing on instruments. His father required him to spend all his free
time practicing. Kwesi would have liked to join his cousins at his grandmothers house where they
played, ate traditional foods, and told stories. But Kwesis grandmother was a priestess for a religion
we would call Voo-doo-ism. Kwesi was not allowed to visit his grandmother.

Ghana is a matriarchal society. While it is true that men take care of the family, the honor is given to
the mothers. Traditionally, mothers will give all they have for their children, and thenthe children
repay by giving all they can to their mothers. This was Kwesis experience. When he was young
man, his mother sold all her valuables so he could go to Europe to further his education. Kwesi
knew what was expected; he would get a job and send money back to his family in Ghana. The edu-
cation part went well (he has two Masters and a doctorate), the rest didnt go so well. Kwesi was
living on the streets in Germany, unable to get a job because his papers werent up to date and he
didnt have the money to get them updated. He didnt want to go home until he was a success, until
he could present his mother with all she deserved. Talking to his mother was a complicated thing;
she had to walk a good distance to the nearest telephone andbecause of connectivity limitations
the call had to be made at a pre-arranged time. Kwesi told of missing one of these appointments be-
cause he was in jail (having been arrested for jay-walking). Time went on and things did not improve.
He told of a conversation with his mother in which she begged him to come home. She told him her
health was not so good. Kwesi said he could not come home yet. He had nothing to give her. She
begged him to come home anyway. He said no. That evening, Kwesis mother died. As he spoke, it
was clear that Kwesi was reliving the sorrow of that moment.
Kwesi still lives with the guilt of not honoring his mother and the sorrow of putting pride before love.
The work he does now as Program Coordinator for the Immigrant Welcome Center (IWC) is all
about helping as many immigrants as possible. The IWC serves as an information clearinghouse; the
help and information goes both directions . The IWC helps immigrants learn what they need to
know to live in Americas society and guides them to resources that best match their immediate
needs. In addition, the IWC helps donors, both individuals and organizations, identify what is most
necessary and useful for the immigrants. Kwesis brain seems to be limitless. He maintains an aware-
ness of specific families needs and which individual or organization is able to provide. He puts people
with questions in contact with people with answers.
The IWC was established in 2005 by former First Lady Amy Minick Peterson; it is a source of infor-
mation about resources available for immigrants. They do not provide English language classes, but
they maintain a database of ESL (English as a Second Language) class locations and schedules. They do
not provide transportation, but they help newcomers interpret the bus schedule. They provide infor-
mation on healthcare, dental care, housing, and employment opportunities. They provide information
sessions on important cultural differences such as how to enroll children in school, how to interact
with police, and how taxes work. The information goes both ways as city officials learn about behav-
ioral norms in the immigrants home countries. The IWC also maintain a list of professionals
dentists, attorneys, restaurant ownerswho are willing and able to help immigrants with all kinds of
challenges.

The IWC depends on donations (Eli Lilley and Cummins are two major corporate donors) and on
volunteers. Volunteers who share a language, an experience, and/or culture with a particular group
are in a position to be particularly helpful. Many of these individuals go through a training program
and become Natural Helpers. The four volunteers around the table in the conference room are
were Natural Helpers: one American-born woman with a need to make a difference, two women
who had emigrated from Syria years ago and a father of sevenfluent in Arabicwhose parents had
been missionaries in the Middle East. The training addresses attitude (cultural competence is not as-
sumed) and acceptable action. The IWC has trained Natural Helpers from 43 countries; among the
group they speak 66 different languages.
The IWC connected our group from CPC with an organization established to help Eritrean immi-
grants. The founders name is Esther which sounds like the Eritrean word for star, hence the
groups organizations name is Star for a Star. While there, we facilitated the distribution of
goods donated by CPC members: toiletries, cleaning supplies, cooking supplies, and diapers.
Items were distributed to 24 families. They thanked us by conducting a coffee ceremony. Raw
beans were roasted on a burner, their aroma was shared as the preparer walked the hot pan
around the room. The beans were added to hot water. The coffee was poured over a generous
portion of sugar in a small cup. It was like coffee-flavored candy in liquid form hot liquid.

Our next stop was an international food market owned by an immigrant from Congo. Our goal
was to purchase traditional foods for several families recently arrived from Congo. Kwesi select-
ed items that would facilitate meal preparation for a family of five for about three weeks: palm
oil, cassava flour, ground peanuts, cassava leaves, and fish. Okay, so the fish wouldnt last for
three weeks, but the other elements were staples for folks from Congo. Although Kwesi tried
to explain how these elements made a meal, his description was as meaningful to me as a box of
macaroni and cheese would be to a woman from Congo. That evening, while we were resting,
Kwesi delivered the assembled groceries to 30 families.

The next day, our group joined volunteers from around Indianapolis to distribute clothes, toys,
and kitchen items to immigrants refugees living in an apartment complex in southeast Indianapo-
lis. We sorted and spread the donations on the grass under trees. Watching children cuddle
baby dolls, roll trucks in the grass, and pull a wagon of wooden blocks reminded me that a smile
is a smile in every language.
It is the goal of the IWC that every immigrant be self-sustaining, independent, and able to make a
positive contribution to their newly adopted country; the challenge is attended by the need to avoid
unintended consequences. There are two other organizations in Indianapolis with the purpose of
helping refugees. Immigrants refer to anyone who has come to live in a new country. Refugees are
individuals who have left their home country to escape war, persecution or natural disaster. It is
very difficult to be granted official refugee status in the United States. Organizations that receive
federal funding are allowed to help immigrants with refugee status. It is typical for these organiza-
tions to help the refugee families for their first three months in the country; their intent is to pro-
vide resources until the refugees can get settled. We were told the story of a family of refugees; an
organization (not IWC) found the father and son jobs as auto-mechanics and placed the family in a
nice apartment. The rent was paid by the organization for the first three months, then the family
was to take over. While this sounds reasonable, the apartments rent is $1200 a month; the family
cannot afford it. But to get out of the lease, they must pay $1800; the family cannot afford that ei-
ther. The family received short-term assistance that is now causing significant problems.
Back at the meeting in the conference room of the IWC, the beautiful woman from Nigeria intro-
duced herself as Pere right before Kwesi told his story. Carefully enunciated words revealed a Brit-
ish education and suggested thatalthough fluent in Englishit is her second language. She took
cues from her audience and kept her message brief and to the point. She spoke calmly as she told
us she had arrived three months ago with her three children, and that she had come to the IWC
seeking assistance. Kwesi told us the rest of her story. Pere had immigrated to Indianapolis because
she had a sponsor. When she arrived, she learned that while her sponsor was able to help her, he
was not able to help her and her children. The IWC will do everything they can to help her be inde-
pendent; and she willlike Kwesi and many of the Natural Helpersgive back and help others.
In a thank you message, Kwesi quoted David Starr Jordan Wisdom is knowing what to do next; vir-
tue is doing it. Over a two-day period, we provided a bit of support for over 300 refugees and im-
migrants. God grant that we continue to be both wise and virtuous.
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July 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 Worship 10:30 3 Family Prayer 4 Office closed. 5 Deacons 5:30 6 Womens Book Club 7 8
Group 11:00 at church 7:00

Travis Rubey, Katie

Jack Darke, Matthew Carol Cook, Megan
Salmeron, Michael
Mardis Rader
Shaw Cheryl Moles

9 Worship 10:30 10 Family Prayer 11 12 Session 7:00 13 14 15

Group 11:00

Steve Templeton Susan Hoffman Andrew Green Carla Bailey

16 Worship 10:30 17 Family Prayer 18 Commission/ 19 20 Blueberry Festi- 21 22

Group 11:00 Committee meetings val 11:00 am7:00 pm

Mary Horneker,
Donna Paul-Bonham,
Enzo Woodruff, Mia Suzanne Downs,
Connor Scanlon

23 Worship 10:30 24 Family Prayer 25 26 Personnel 12:30 27 28 29

Group 11:00

Bob Horneker,
Kirsten Ford, Steve Douglas Shaw, Fred
Kathy Hogan, Leanne Mimi Templeton,
Mead Weber
Holder Harrison Whitaker

30 Sunday school 31 Family Prayer

9:30 Group 11:00
Worship 10:30

Ethan Kershaw
Central Presbyterian Church Central Presbyterian Church
125 North Seventh Street
Terre Haute, IN 47807 Sunday School for all ages 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.

Phone: 812-232-5049 Rev. Kevin Buchanan, Interim Pastor

Fax: 812-232-5040 Scott Paul-Bonham, Parish Associate
Email: CPCOffice @thcpc.org
Cheryl Moles, Christian Educator
Sarah Kelsheimer, Church Secretary

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Church Happenings

Womens Book Club CL-CA will be spon-

Womens Bible Study
The Womens Book Club soring the annual
The Womens Bible "Books, Bakery,
will be meeting on July 6 at Study has completed its
Next Herald 7:00 at the church. The study on Mary Magda-
and Bargains" sale
book, Last Mile by David lene by Liz Curtis Higgs. early this year
Deadline Baldacci will be discussed. Selection is being made on Sept. 30 in con-
now for the Bible study junction with all other
July 24, 2017 to begin again in Septem- churches participating
ber. Watch for more in Holypalooza.
information.
Please start saving
your books and stuff
today!