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"The Messenger"

November 2010

Amherst Presbyterian Church, Incorporated                                                               Amherst, VA 24521

Church Breakfast hosted by "Mission, Witness, & Christian Education"- November 7 at 9:30 a.m.  Please bring a breakfast dish to share.  There will be a special collection taken for a very special program.  It is called Backpacks for Kids' Sake and the idea is that no student should face a weekend or break from school without food.  This program is sponsored by Amherst Middle School. Over 30% of the students at AMS are "food-insecure" and these students receive a small package of kid-friendly food items to take home with them on Fridays. This program is voluntary and names are strictly confidential.

Stewardship Sunday - November 7.  Your pledge cards will be received and dedicated to the mission and work of this Church.  We ask that you give prayerful consideration to a giving goal that fits you.  The Stewardship Committee thanks you for your continued interest and support of our Church and its finances. Administration of those finances requires some idea of our expected income and your pledge provides us with that information.

Next Panel Discussion - Poverty in Amherst County, November 16^th in the Sanctuary 7:00 p.m.  Amherst Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a series of Panel Discussions on the Third Tuesday of each month. The first Panel, held on October 19^th, considered the Death Penalty. It was well attended, and the audience heard attorney Steve Martin, Del. Vance Wilkins and Judge Lawrence Janow debate the issue.  Our next Panel will consider poverty in Amherst County. Panelists will include Amherst Social Service Director Glenn Sullivan, Amherst Sheriff Jimmy Ayers, and Amherst School Superintendent, Dr. Brian Ratcliff. The latest available U.S. Dept. of Census data for Amherst County will be available on the table at the rear of the Sanctuary.  Please be sure and pick up a copy to see the breakdown.  Please make arrangements to attend the next Panel Discussion.

Thanksgiving Children's Offering - will be collected November 21. This offering has supported four agencies in the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic for over 50 years: The Presbyterian Children's Home of the Highlands; Presbyterian Homes & Family Services; Volunteer Families for Children; and Edmarc Hospice. Your support ensures that children and families in need will be served in a variety of settings, from pediatric hospice care to temporary and long-term residential care, from educational programs to family counseling.

Thanksgiving Community Service - November 23, Amherst Presbyterian Church will host the Amherst Community Thanksgiving Service at 7:00 p.m. Ministers from neighboring churches will help lead the worship. Adam White, the chaplain of Sweet Briar College will bring the evening message.  There will be special music by the adult choir and the Preschool children's choir. Bring a friend and enjoy this special time.

A Prayer for Thanksgiving Day - We give you thanks, O Lord! Not for palaces that wealth has grown, where ease is worshipped, duty dimly known, and pleasure leads her dance the flowery way. We give you thanks, for quiet homes where love abounds, and life is more than baubles, your grace surrounds. And old folks bless us, and dear children play, for these, O Lord, our thanks! This day and every day, we thank you for your bounty given to us and shared with others, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

1^st Advent Sunday - November 28 - In the previous Sunday's bulletin there will a copy of the Advent Calendar for devotion. Devotion booklets will also be available on the table in the rear of the Church.

"Thank you" - Our October Coffee Hour was beautifully hosted by Donna Meeks, Judy Faris and Kathleen Ayau. Thanks to these ladies for giving us this lovely time of fellowship with such delicious refreshments.

Presbyterian Women - Officers are needed for the upcoming year. Please contact Barbara Baker if you are willing to serve.

Our 2^nd Annual Ecumenical Yard Sale - September 25 was a great success.  Emmanuel United Methodist Church and St. Marks Church were very pleased with the results and expressed an interest in joining us again next year. It was a great day of fellowship for all involved.

                  The Fellowship Committee wants to thank everyone that helped out in any way to make this year's yard sale a success. We had the help of the entire preschool staff and many thanks to them for all their time and support. Running a yard sale is such a time consuming endeavor and many hands make the work load some lighter.

                  When it was all over Amherst Presbyterian Church made $726.85.  The Preschool received $250 and the remaining went to the Amherst Food Pantry.

                  We hope you will join us again next year and remember - it is not too early to start saving your "stuff".                                                                                                                                                      -- Sharon Shrader

November Volunteers

Ushers - Kurt Ayau & Bill Seay

Greeter - Sharon Shrader

Building & Grounds - Bob Wimer & Johnny Wimer

December Volunteers

Ushers - Rodney Taylor & Bill Tucker

Greeter - Claudia Tucker

Building & Grounds - Mitch Heishman & LeRoy Yancey

Please be sure to contact a replacement in your absence

Pastor's Page - For a long time, I have been praying the 23^rd Psalm because I have felt so lonely and surrounded by illness. The following is a meditation on the 23^rd Psalm:

                  In "pastures green"?  Not always; sometimes He who knows me best, in kindness leads me in weary ways, where heavy shadows be.

                  And by "still waters"?  No, not always so; oft times the heavy tempests round me blow, and o'er my soul the waves and billows go.

                  But when the storm beats loudest, and I cry aloud for help, the Master stands by me, and whispers to my soul, "Lo, It is I."

                  So where he leads me, I can safely go, and in the blest hereafter I shall know, why, in his wisdom, he has led me so.

                  To all who are working too hard, struggling with life, worried about relationships, frightened by the forecasts ahead, wrestling with losses, and ill in body and mind, there is hope, for Christ is walking with us through this vale.

-- Shalom, De

"The Messenger"

October 2010

Amherst Presbyterian Church, Incorporated                                           Amherst, VA 24521

Congregational Gathering - On October 17 a congregational follow-up gathering will take place to continue the discussion on the survey results.  The gathering is from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Series of Panel Discussions -  Our church will be presenting a series of panel discussions on current issues of general interest. Our objective is to have a civil dialog on some of the controversial issues of our day. These meetings will take place on the third Thursday of the month in our sanctuary, starting on October 19 at 7:00 p.m.

             Our first panel discussion will consider capital punishment.

             General Assembly of Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA 2010, which met in Minneapolis this July, called for an immediate moratorium on all executions in all jurisdictions that impose capital punishment.

             Virginia is about to execute Teresa Lewis, the first woman in Virginia to be executed since 1912. Where do you stand on this issue?

             A distinguished panel including Judge Lawrence Janow, Moderator, Vance Wilkins, presenting the case for the death penalty, Steven Martin, Esq., presenting the case against, and Ned Kable, providing context, will explore the arguments for and against capital punishment. We encourage you to come and invite your friends to this community event.

Members in the News - Russell Mikenas was initiated/voted into the Natural Bridge Fire Department's Junior Crew. As a junior crew member he will work on fund raising projects. Russell was also recently featured on a radio commercial for the Special Olympics.  Congratulations, Russell!!!

             Ed Mikenas's retirement is going well. He "aced" his welding mid-term.  Way to go, Ed!!

World Communion & Peacemaking Offering Sunday  -  October 3 the Peacemaking Offering will be collected. This year 25% of the offering will go to "Lynchburg Grows". This is an urban farm that takes a hands-in-the-dirt approach to teaching others how sustainable food production promotes a healthy planet. Seeded in 2003, the non-profit's mission is centered on giving people with special needs a space to share their talents and skills while acquiring new ones. They are on 6.8 acres in historic Lynchburg with two of those areas spread among 9 greenhouses.

"Thank you" - A really BIG "THANK YOU!" to Janet Steven for being the leader of the September Coffee Hour. She and her committee of Bev Kryspin, Carol O'Brien, Cheryl Steele and Gina Fell did a wonderful job of starting autumn off right.

"In Appreciation" - "I want to thank everyone for their kind words, gestures, prayers, and cards following my mom's passing in late August. These acts of love were like an embrace from God."                                                                                                   -- Pam Althouse

Daily Bread  - The next scheduled Daily Bread is November 6. Volunteers are asked to be at the church at 9:15 a.m.

Fellowship Breakfast  - November 7 at 9:30 a.m. the Fellowship Committee will sponsor a breakfast.  Please remember to bring a breakfast "goodie" to share.

Nominations  - On September 19 at our congregational meeting, Jack Faris, Gina Fell and Janet Steven were chosen to serve on the nominating committee to elect officers for the Class of 2013.

"Preschool News" Preschool is off to a wonderful start! The classes are near full capacity with only one spot available in the 2 year old class and one in the 3 year old class. The children are full of life and so enthusiastic each day. We are excited to see our program growing and we have a wonderful staff this year that seems to be as excited as the children.     

             Last week our 4 year old class had an opportunity to visit the Amherst Museum. It was a wonderful experience for the children seeing the Tyler School House and the museum's new "hands-on" room for young people. I believe a good time was had by all !

             The fall brings not only cooler weather, but a very busy schedule for us, such as field trips scheduled for the fire station, Drumheller's Orchard and our Annual Harvest Festival.        

             We are looking forward to working with Amherst Presbyterian Church again this year with the Ecumenical Yard Sale and at the Preschool's Annual Chili Cook-off February 18, 2011.

             As always, please feel free to come by and visit with us. We'd love to see you.                                                                                                                     -- Kimberly Maddox, Director

October Volunteers

Ushers - Tom Clark & LeRoy Yancey

Greeter - Jane Clark

Building & Grounds - Jim Bost & William Plail

November Volunteers

Ushers - Kurt Ayau & Bill Seay

Greeter - Sharon Shrader

Building & Grounds - Bob Wimer & John Wimer

December Volunteers

Ushers - Rodney Taylor & Bill Tucker

Greeter - Claudia Tucker

Building & Grounds - Mitch Heishman & LeRoy Yancey

Please be sure to contact a replacement in your absence.

Pastor's Corner - There were still great woods when I was growing up. Playing Daniel Boone, or J. J. Audubon, gave me the excuse to pry into strange places. One day, I lay down on the edge of a glade, warmed by the sun and lulled by the murmurs of the forest, I drifted into sleep.  Suddenly there was commotion and outcry in the clearing. On a branch, sat a crow with a red and featherless nestling in his beak. The outraged parents flew helplessly about the open space. The crow was indifferent to them. He gulped, cleaned his beak on the branch, and sat still. This was the usual pattern of life and death in the forest.

             Then out of all the areas of the woods, came a soft sound of complaint. A multitude of small birds of many varieties had been drawn into the edges of the glade by the anguish of the parents of that nestling. No one dared attack the crow. But they were there in a shared grief, the bereaved and the unbereaved. The air was filled with their rustling and their cries. Their wings seemed to point the finger of accusation at the murderer. He was the bird of death. He did not care.

             The little birds grew silent. In the midst of protest, they forgot the violence. At the edge of the clearing a sparrow, lifted a crystal note. Another took the song, and then another, the song passing from one bird to another.

             'Till suddenly they took heart and sang from many throats joyously together as only birds can do. They sang because life is sweet and sunlight beautiful. They sang under the black shadow of the crow. The song birds forgot the bringer of death, for they were singers of life.

             Can we join the birds, and sing the Lord's song?                                

Shalom, De

"The Messenger"

July & August 2010

Amherst Presbyterian Church, Incorporated                                           Amherst, VA 24521

"Daily Bread" Saturday, July 3, volunteers for Daily Bread should arrive at the church at 9:15 a.m.  If you are interested in helping with this important ministry, please show up and a rewarding experience is guaranteed.

"Annual Church Picnic" - July 11, the Augustine family will host the church picnic.  The fun will start at 4:00 p.m. with lots of fun, fellowship, food, swimming and games.  Please bring your favorite side dish to share.  Also, bring a swimsuit, a lawn chair, and any lawn or pool games.  A good time will be had by all, so mark your calendar - July 11 at 4:00 p.m.

"Thank you" - Thank you to the ladies of the Church for such a nice Coffee Hour on Father's Day. Thank you to Pam Althouse, Sharon Shrader, LuAnn Mikenas and a special "thanks" to Bev and Ed Kryspin for always being so helpful.  As is the custom, there will be NO scheduled coffee hours for the months of July and August. However, there will be lemonade served in the fellowship hall directly after service on the second Sunday in July & August, so come with your fellow parishioners and enjoy!

"Congratulations" to Bill & Darlene Sirois Seay  - They were married on June 6. We are so happy for them as they enter into a new and wondrous time of life together. They are living Nelson County.    Bill, a graduate of Virginia Tech, retired from the Cooperative Extension Service at the end June. He has provided care for farmers and growers in Bedford, Campbell, Appomattox, Nelson and Amherst Counties and Lynchburg City for more than 30 years. He taught 4-H groups, preparing young people for work in agriculture. We thank Bill for his faithfulness and service to our community.

A "Special Note" of Thanks

"Dear Friends of Amherst Presbyterian Church,

Thank you for the Amherst Presbyterian Church Cookbook.  I look forward to trying out the tasty recipes. I will think of you all each time I use it. Thank you so much.

Warmly,

Sarah Strapp"

Pulpit Supply - On July 18, The Reverend George Goodman, will be the guest pastor.  George will be retiring as the Associate Presbyter of Peaks Presbytery.  Dr. James Price will be the guest pastor on July 25.  James is a retired Lynchburg College professor and Presbyterian minister.

Committee Meeting & Session - Session committees and Session will resume meeting in August.  Refer to the August calendar for dates and times. Circles will resume in September.

Preschool News - On Monday, August 16, Preschool will start the 2010 - 2011 school year. The Preschool staff will return on August 9.  Enrollment is looking very good at this time with 28 students enrolled.  The session approved, if the need is there, to offer extended hours to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Preschool "Open House" will be Friday, August 13, from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Back-to-School" Night will be August 26 at 7:00 p.m. 

From the "Fellowship & Membership" Committee - Please save the date, September 25, for our Church Annual Yard Sale.  Since it was such a success last year, we are planning another one this year. We ask that you please start saving "stuff" you would like to donate to the yard sale.  Remember - "one man's junk, is another man's treasure". We had such a great day of hard work and fellowship last year, that we hope you will be able to help us make this a great success again. All donations will be greatly appreciated. All proceeds from the yard sale go to a charity in great need.  If you have any questions, please contact a member of the committee - Joanne Baldock, Anne Wilkins, Donna Meeks, Grant Massie, Sharon Shrader, Janice Augustine or Carol O'Brien.

July & August Volunteers

July: Building & Grounds - Bill Drummond & Grant Massie; Greeter - Ruth Joy;

Ushers - Grant Massie & William Plail

August: Building & Grounds - Ken Althouse &  ?; Greeter - Bev Kryspin;

Ushers - Ed Kryspin & Joe LeBlanc

Communion Schedule

July 4 

Servers - Class of 2010

Preparers -- Wimers

August 1

 Servers - Class of 2012

Preparers -- Bakers

Some "thoughts to think" about......

 *         Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

  *         Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

  *         Drive carefully.  It's not only cars that can be "recalled" by their maker.

  *         If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

  *         If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

  *         It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

  *         Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

  *         Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

  *         The second mouse gets the cheese.

  *         Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance like nobody is watching.

  *         When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

  *         Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

  *         You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

  *         Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

  *         We could learn a lot from crayons...some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all live in the same box.

Pastor's Corner -- As a boy, I would ride my bike down to Tuscarora Creek and then up the path to the gate where fences kept cows out of Kilmer's Springs. The water was cold even on the warmest summer's day, and the embedded pebbles stood out in prefect clarity through the ripples of the flow.

             By standing perfectly still almost forever, my waiting would be rewarded with the flicker of a crawdad tail beneath a rock, the shadow of a water bug gliding along, and finally the treat of treats, the small trout hidden under the overhang, darting out to snatch a bit to eat.

             The ever-flowing stream would open new vistas, new worlds of discovery for a boy, who waited for the Lord to stir creation. But let that same boy be distracted by the mosquito practicing its landing on his arm, or turn to listen to the cows stretching for the next bite of greenery, and everything changed. Life would be hidden from view.

             When we wait upon the Lord, instead of demanding life be on our terms, there are wonders to be seen, marvels to be enjoyed, and healings of the heart to be received, and new visions for our souls. This summer, wherever you go, wherever you are, be still and enjoy what the Lord has in store for you.

God's Peace,

De