"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