Koinonia Times

Volume 26, Issue 3

Page 1

The Whale

If you read the front page story of the SF Chronicle on Wednesday, December 14, 2005, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat.

She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her - a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer.

They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around - she thanked them. 

Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate - to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude.

The full story can be found by searching the site at: http://www.sfgate.com/

Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer

Page 2

TRUTH AND FICTION IN THE

DA VINCI CODE

Thursday Night Bible Study Series beginning June 8 at 7 PM in Koinonia Hall

 Join us for a four-week look at "Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code."  Ever since “The Da Vinci Code” has been published, many people have been asking questions about its claims concerning Jesus Christ.  Now that the book has been re-published in paperback and the movie has been released, more people are asking the same questions.  Where does the truth end and the fiction begin?  Is the Jesus of the Bible the Jesus of history?  Come for some interesting discussions concerning the identity of Jesus and what it means for you. 

A careful man I ought to be;
A little fellow follows me;
I do not dare to go astray
For fear he’ll go the self-same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes;
Whate’er he sees me do, he tries —
Like me, he says, he’s going to be,
The little chap who follows me.

He thinks that I am good and fine,
Believes in every word of mine:
The base in me he must not see,
The little chap who follows me.

I must remember as I go,
Through summer’s sun and winter’s snow,
I’m building for the years to be,
For a little fellow follows me.

Author Unknown

****Note to Ushers, Readers

and Communion Assistants:****

A calendar with the schedule for readers, ushers, and communion assistants will be available the last week of June on the Narthex table. If you need a copy sent to you, please call the office at (916) 776-1106, and we’ll be happy to do that. Thanks to all our faithful servers.

Need a Ride to Church?

The Deacons are here to help with everything from rides to church, to the doctor or other medical appointments, and even to send a card to someone who’s not feeling well. Do you know of a need in the community? Give the Deacons a call today!

Calling All Scrap-Bookers! Interest survey for possible fund raising for the church.

 Would you be interested in attending "cropping" sessions of 4 to 5 hours’ duration in order to get your pictures organized and put them into scrapbooks?  We would get together in Koinonia and there would be a $10 fee that would include coffee, drinks/snack.   I have been in touch with two scrap booking stores and Katie's World Busy Scrap booking in Stockton has shown an interest in possibly coming to join us and bringing some supplies and kits, and to give us "how to" ideas.  We all pile up pictures and don't get around to doing something with them.   Some of my worst pictures turn out to be my best when "cropped".  Having a time and place available to deal with them helps to get things done.

Please call the church office at 776-1106, or speak with me if you are interested.  I'd be happy to discuss this further with anyone interested.

Thanks,

Joan Hansen

Page 3

Another Delicious Pancake Breakfast is in the Works for July 4th.

Calling all appetites! We’ll be cooking up those famous pancakes again on Tuesday, July 4th at 7:30 a.m. until around 9:30 a.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12, and kids under five eat for free, so dress up in your favorite July 4th outfit and come join us for breakfast in Koinonia Hall. You’ll be out in plenty of time to watch the Parade that will begin in front of the Fire Station on the west side of the river...only a short walk from the church. That is, unless you run into some long-lost friends or family and visit at the breakfast table for a while.

Time’s running out…

 There is still room in this years’ Summer Camps at Westminster Woods. Camps are available for students grade 3-12. All students going through our church are attending either the week of July 23-29 or July 30 - August 5. Camp has been a wonderful experience for the young people from our church for a number of years. There’s still time for your child to be part of the fun activities, making new friends, and learning more about God and His love. Information and forms are found in the church office.

Youth News

Attention all 5^th to 12^th grade students!

SACRAMENTO MONARCHS

BASKETBALL

Saturday June 10^th, 7PM

Arco Arena

 FREE upper level seats! Limit 20 seats!

Compliments of “The Court of Dreams” Program of Rotary, Kiwanis

and the YMCA

Call the church office for more details.

SCHOLARSHIP

SUNDAY

June 4, 2006

 Each year the Walnut Grove Memorial Scholarship Fund presents scholarships to members of the church and the community who are graduating from High School and preparing for college. This year the scholarships will be presented during the worship service on Sunday, June 4 at the 9:30 a.m. service.

The Baccalaureate Service for the Graduates of Delta High School will be held in our church the evening of Sunday, June 11, time to be announced. The graduation will take place at the High School the following Friday, June 16 at 7 p.m.

Page 4

The Worship and Music Committee has worked out assignments for music during June, July, and August, but there’s always room for more, and we’d love to have some special music to minister to our hearts and souls. Just call Audrey or Pete Mondeel at (916) 776-5759.

June 4, …….Robert James

June 11…….Robert James (Choir Sunday)

June 18…….Debbie Phulps

June 25….....Debbie Phulps

July 2… …...Robert James

July 9….…...Gail Ervin

July 16….….Debbie Phulps

July 30……..Lynn Ortega

August 6…...Audrey Mondeel

August 13…..Lynn Ortega

August 20…..Audrey Mondeel

August 27…..Audrey Mondeel

September 3...Robert James

September 10..Robert James (Kick-Off Sunday)

At a recent elder-deacon retreat, a great deal of discussion centered around the question of how to improve our outreach in the community.  Many suggestions came up:  how about having a service at some other time in addition to the regular Sunday morning one.  This service could be more informal, shorter, possibly to be held in Koinonia or outside at times.  Some other churches have alternative services some other evening, such as Monday or Saturday or Sunday, or early Sunday morning so people could attend before taking off on a day of family activities.  Such a service could be totally contemporary.  The worship committee would really like to have your input and ideas and would greatly appreciate hearing your ideas.  We are concerned about reaching new people and keeping young people bonded with the church.  Talk to me...or any elder....or the Pastor! Audrey Mondeel

Many Came to

Taste the Wine

 -- and stayed to enjoy the music, taste the food, and view the art. May 7^th was a huge success on all levels—even to weather that was just right. Mere words cannot describe the effort put forth by Jan LeRoy and her hotel staff, particularly Chef Dennis, who set a beautiful buffet table and then provided additional hors d’oeuvres after ours disappeared in the first two hours. All of the items donated for the silent auction were sold, some after active bidding, and many of the gallery owners and artists who had private displays reported good sales as well. Music by our favorite band, the New Holland Combine, provided a tuneful background throughout the afternoon.

You may have heard the saying that there is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit. That certainly was true in this case. What at first looked nearly undoable, given the short planning period, became entirely possible with the help of people like Mike Pieretti, Lois Gregg, Nancy and Bill Rutherford, Adrienne Young, Mary Fulster, Betty Werhan, Joan Hansen, Dave LaBahn, and Sandy Waterhouse. Also, Lynn Ortega, who printed the tickets, and Ron Hackett and everyone else who sold them. At the head of the list is Jan LeRoy, whose generosity and energy fueled the project from start to finish.

We spent around $1000 on printing and wineglasses, leaving a net profit of slightly over $4600. This, together with the profit from last November’s steak fry, will provide most of the funding for replacement of windows in the manse. Work will start on this much-needed repair when Larry returns from the Philippines.

Shirley Hobart

Page 5

The First Time

 The bare branches by the driveway produced the tiniest of red blossoms which then turned to little pistachio-colored propellers before opening their umbrella of bright green leaves. The stark round tumbleweed-shaped shrub is a chameleon. It started out orange and redressed to burgundy before deciding on an apple green coat accented by button clusters of purple.  Truly, it has been a rewarding spring observing the changes in my landscape for the first time, not knowing what to expect as each tree and plant comes into bloom. Perhaps, it was the "not knowing" which has made the observations more acute.

  God surrounds us daily with such experiences for discovery. However, how much do we miss because of our pre-conceived notions as to the way things should progress? In our haste to make it through each day, do we stifle the Spirit's creative use of the journey? 

  Soon the church will be on its Summer Schedule, a different path, a different routine. The choirs will be among those groups taking a recess until Labor Day. For some, summer is a time to tune out and recharge. However, during this summer break perhaps our challenge should be to tune in. Tune in to the nature of our surroundings, our church and community, and the opportunities which the Spirit may be placing right before our eyes. Perhaps you have been dormant in God's landscape and your time to leaf-out is at hand; or maybe you have been evergreen and He is ready for you to bloom. Don't make the mistake of assuming to "know".  God may be calling on you to become something totally different through each of the seasons He has planned. Tune in, and listen to Him as if for the first time!  See you on Choir Sunday, June 11th. Debbie Phulps

SUMMER SERMON SERIES

“Living the Game of Life!”

Beginning Sunday, June 18

What does playing games and sports have to teach us about living in the real world? According to the New Testament----a lot! The Bible often uses games and sports as an illustration of some of life’s greatest lessons. Join us this summer for a fun and helpful look at “Living the Game of Life!”

CLARKSBURG COMMUNITY CHURCH VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

June 19-June 23 from 9 – 11:30 AM  Ages 5 – 6^th grade

(7^th and 8^th grade students are invited to be helpers)

please register early so the church can plan for crafts and refreshments.

VBS Registration Form Clarksburg Community Church

Parent/Guardian Name: _________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________

Child(ren)’s Name (s)_______________________ Grade Completed _____

_______________________ Grade Completed _____

_______________________ Grade Completed _____

Phone: (Home) _______________________________________________________

Any known allergies ___________________________________________________

If different from parent, who will be picking up child (ren)? ______________________________________________________________________

Mail to: Clarksburg Community Church VBS, P.O. Box 36, Clarksburg, CA 95612

For more information, call Shari at (916) 744-1215 or Anissa at (916) 684-0383

Page 6

Partners In Christ

Philippines, May 24, 2006. This morning I had the pleasure and honor of delivering greetings from the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) to  the General Assembly the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).  It is being held at the UCCP Church in Digos City in southern Mindanao, the second largest Island of the Philippines.  There are national delegates here from churches in every part of their country as well as delegates and observers from several other countries including Korea, Australia, Canada and the USA.  In my message to the assembly I addressed the theme of "partnership," since I am here representing a partnership between churches in the USA and the Philippines. 

Partnership exists on many levels. There is a partnership between denominations, such as the UCCP and the PCUSA; there are partnerships between regional groups such as the Presbytery of Sacramento and NESTCON, a UCCP conference in the area just south-east of Manila; there are partnerships among churches, such as we hope to establish soon between our church in Walnut Grove and a church in the UCCP.  In these different partnerships we share common concerns.  Some deal with "ecclesiastical issues" involving the national policies and programs of the church, some deal with ministry issues such as Christian Education, Worship and Pastoral care; some deal with issues of social justice since the church has been called by Jesus Christ to be concerned with the welfare of the poor and oppressed.  Partnership in all these different areas and on all levels of the church from the highest office to the smallest local church is important.  But, as I told the delegates this morning, I have found after working for several years now with the Philippines Partnership of Sacramento Presbytery, that the most important partnerships is the one between people. 

For all the good organized structures of the church can do, nothing is more essential to the life of the church, and indeed all of human life, than the partnerships we develop with one another. The greatest partnerships we can establish are those that are handshake-to-handshake, eyes to eye, heart to heart.  I have had the great privilege of establishing partnerships with many ministers and layperson alike in the Philippines and count several of these partners among my greatest friends.  But one does not need to travel across the entire world to be in partnership with another person.  Sometimes all we need to do is go down the street, around the corner... or the other side of the pew.  Walnut Grove Community Church is known as a friendly church.  It hasn't always had that reputation, but has acquired it in recent years.  Yet, there are times I see un-greeted people during the church service, and people sitting alone during the coffee hour.   Are we aware of the people around us? Are we aware of the needs for human interaction that we all have?  Other times I feel that while people are friendly at the service, there may be little connection the rest of the week. I am aware of several groups within the church who are close, but there are several not included and many of these connections tend to be based on "geography" rather than a true partnerships of the heart. I would like to challenge our congregation.  Not to give more money…though that is always needed!  Not to become officers in the church.. though we can always use the help!  Not to teach Sunday school or sing in the choir... though we could use more teachers and voices!

The greatest challenge is to be aware of those around you who are lonely, shy or afraid.  To reach and to say hello. To talk even to those who you seem to have little in common with on the outside.  Before the service, during the service, after the service, on the streets and in the stores.  That is the first challenge, to be aware of those people who come to the church who seem disconnected from others, and draw them in with warmth of heart.  The second challenge is to go the extra step and to draw them into the church family by inviting them to  church events such as the Bible study, or even for times of personal interaction in your homes or public places like Mel’s and Wimpy’s. To become a "partner in the faith" as the Apostle Paul describes church members in one of his letters, is a goal we are all to have as followers of Christ.  As we face our own fears and reach out in honesty and openness to others, we will find they will open up to us.  And together we all be what God created the church and human life to be.

Pastor Larry Emery

Page 7

Session:

Class of 2006 Class of 2007 Class of 2008

Shirley Hobart 776-2828 Audrey Mondeel 777-5759 David LaBahn 776-2598

Fellowship, Personnel Clerk of Session, Worship/Music Treasurer, Memorials

Pan van Loben Sels 775-1941 Malcolm McCormack 776-1347 Bill Rutherford 776-9221

Missions Financial Operation Outreach

Lynn Ortega 776-1980 —Vacant—

Christian Education Facilities

Deacons:

Class of 2006 Class of 2007 Class of 2008

Adrienne Young 776-1865 Maria Robinson 776-4166 Dawn White

Pat Horn 776-4217 Nancy Rutherford 776-9221 Kathleen Stevans

Lois Gregg 776-1155 Joan Hansen 776-4996 —Vacant—

Mary Fulster 776-1281 Sandy Waterhouse 776-2167

Betsy Jenkins 776– 4528

Calendar of Events:

Mark your calendars:

Communion Sunday, June 4, July 2, and Aug. 6

at the 9:30 Service

Scholarship Sunday Sunday, June 4 at the 9:30 Service

Bible Study Series Begins Thursday, June 8 at 7 p.m.

Choir Sunday Sunday, June 11 at 9:30 a.m.

Christian Ed. Meeting Sunday, June 11 after the Service

Delta High School Sunday, June 11

Baccalaureate (time to be announced)

Summer Sermon Series Sunday, June 18

Personnel Meeting: Monday, June 12, and Aug. 14 at 5 p.m.

Session Meeting Monday, June 12, July 10, and Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.

Sunday School on Recess June 18 - Sept. 11, (Last day of Sunday School is June 11)

Fourth of July Pancake Tuesday, July 4 at 7:30 a.m. in Koinonia Hall

Breakfast