juLY 2019 1 The Crossroads From The PasTor’s desk As you know, Gilbert Presbyterian Church is going through that in-between time where it remembers the way things used to be, assesses the way things are now, and claims its identity in ministry and mission going into the future. GPC needs to be clear about what it will be asking of the next called pastor. Members, deacons, and ruling elders need to be clear about doing their part in the life of this church with the gifts God has given them. I am thankful to be with you in this process. The interim pastor is not supposed to initiate this within the first few months of arriving, so as to get to know the session, other leadership, and the congregation first. Now we begin. Below is a tentative timeline of our denominational process as it applies to GPC. It will also be in some of the Sunday bulletins. I hope you will join in the summer church socials as able, complete surveys as requested, and continue to pray for your church as we seek God’s will together for GPC. June Transition Team is selected by pastor and affirmed by the session by the end of the month. (these team members are not eligible to serve on the Pastor Nominating Committee). Pastor contacts Presbytery of Grand Canyon about new Commission on Ministry liaison. July Transition Team meets and begins assessment and data gathering for the mission study. Session meets to assess communications, denominational connections, leadership development, different ways of thinking about ministry for rest of the year. August – September Complete data gathering; report to congregation. The Mission Study is in process, which needs to be approved by the session. Session sets guidelines for membership on Pastor Nominating Committee. Gilbert Presbyterian Church is called to be a Christ-centered covenant family, nurtured by the Holy Spirit, to worship God and share God’s love with EVERYONE. ABOVE: Thomas Lemme, Roland and Sharon Dendy, Epping Family, Pastor Judy
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juLY 2019 1
The Crossroads
From The PasTor’s desk
As you know, Gilbert Presbyterian Church is going
through that in-between time where it remembers
the way things used to be, assesses the way things
are now, and claims its identity in ministry and
mission going into the future. GPC needs to be clear
about what it will be asking of the next called pastor.
Members, deacons, and ruling elders need to be
clear about doing their part in the life of this church
with the gifts God has given them. I am thankful to
be with you in this process.
The interim pastor is not supposed to initiate this
within the first few months of arriving, so as to get to
know the session, other leadership, and the
congregation first. Now we begin. Below is a
tentative timeline of our denominational process as it
applies to GPC. It will also be in some of the Sunday
bulletins. I hope you will join in the summer church
socials as able, complete surveys as requested, and
continue to pray for your church as we seek God’s
will together for GPC.
June
Transition Team is selected by pastor and
affirmed by the session by the end of the month.
(these team members are not eligible to serve on
the Pastor Nominating Committee).
Pastor contacts Presbytery of Grand Canyon
about new Commission on Ministry liaison.
July
Transition Team meets and begins assessment
and data gathering for the mission study.
Session meets to assess communications,
denominational connections, leadership
development, different ways of thinking about
ministry for rest of the year.
August – September
Complete data gathering; report to congregation.
The Mission Study is in process, which needs to
be approved by the session.
Session sets guidelines for membership on Pastor
Nominating Committee.
Gilbert Presbyterian Church is called to be a Christ-centered
covenant family, nurtured by the Holy Spirit, to worship God and
share God’s love with EVERYONE.
ABOVE: Thomas Lemme, Roland and Sharon Dendy, Epping Family, Pastor Judy
Ann Bernal, Gaill Blackburn, Mike Gallagher, Ken Hassen, Thomas Lemme, Rocky Mackey, Rob Nagy, John Paterson, John Stover, Judy Sullivan, Judy Walmsley, Cheryl Williams
CLERK OF SESSION
Rochelle “Rocky” Mackey
BOARD OF DEACONS
Debbie Andree, Bret Blackburn, Carole Blake, Lynn Clapper, Lisa Ewoldt, Linda Gibbons, Ginny Goodbar, Liz Hansen, David Nape, Cheri Peterson, Mary Sumner, Betty Walford
The Crossroads is published monthly; submission deadline is the 20th of the month prior to publication. Submit news and information via email to [email protected] or hand in hard copy to the church office.
Proofreaders: Gaill Blackburn, Carole Blake, Rocky Mackey, Liz Nelson and Judy Sullivan
Designer, Reporter and Editor: Barbara Zubler
Production and Circulation: Liz Nelson
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
October – November
Complete Mission study; to be approved by session
10/15 or before 11/19.
Mission Study approved by Commission on Ministry
(COM) on 10/22 or 11/19.
Congregation elects Pastor Nominating Committee
(PNC) after COM approval of Mission Study.
December – Mid January
PNC works with COM liaison to prepare Ministry
Information Form (MIF) from Mission Study.
PNC advertises position.
PNC receives Personal Information Forms (PIFs)
and works with COM liaison to review.
January 2020
Presbytery COM liaison works with PNC to develop
procedures.
PNC reports its progress to congregation.
Interim Pastor continues pastoral responsibilities
with congregation.
Pastor Judy
We truly need volunteers to provide
nursery care during Sunday worship and
are praying heartily that, after three
months of asking (with no new
volunteers), you will be the answer to our
prayers!
There is a sign up sheet on the door of the
nursery; please print your name on the
Sunday you can cover. No volunteers
means no nursery service during worship.
Nursery help
juLY 2019 3
Montlure day camp Did you know? If you were unable to attend Pastor Judy’s
three-part Presbyterian Confirmation /
Enquirer / Member review in June, you
can view the lessons online at:
http://www.theoacademy.com/lessons-for-
new-members
To be Presbyterian is to join a way of life
informed by a particular rhythm: God calls
us in grace and love; we respond in
gratitude.
GPC hosted a successful week of
Montlure Traveling Day Camp this
summer. We were joined by Mesa
First, Chandler, University, Mission del
Sol, and Guadalupe Presbyterian
churches in offering a camp that was
enjoyed by 60 young campers. We
would like to extend a big thank you to
the following volunteers who
contributed to the success of the
camp:
Britney Blackburn, Sammi Martinez,
Dorothy Smith, Ginny Goodbar,
Shelley Randall, Jan Palmer, Cheri
Workman, and Judy Sullivan.
HAPPY CAMPER
SCHOLARSHIP
THANK YOU to all of the generous donors
who gave to the Happy Camper Fund.
Your contributions enabled us to sponsor
two children from Guadalupe Presbyterian
Church, who would otherwise have been
unable to attend the Montlure Traveling
Day Camp program this summer.
4 Gilbert Presbyterian Church
At the June Stated Meeting, the GPC session approved a motion from the Finance Committee to make another payment of $50,000 to pay down the principle of the PILP loan of $200,000. The loan was taken out so that our various facilities upgrade could begin before funds committed in the Capital Campaign could be received. Treasurer John Paterson reported that making this second $50,000 payment lessens the interest we will pay over the life of the loan.
The Personnel Committee presented two motions for time away from the church for Pastor Judy Wellington. The first is for Study Leave, July 22 – 28, and the second for vacation, September 9 – 15. She will assist the committee in securing pulpit supply for the Sundays she will be away—July 28 and September 15.
After a second reading, proposed changes were approved for the Bylaws for the Session of GPC. The first reading took place in May.
The next regularly scheduled session meeting would be July 16. The session has agreed to expand the time of the meeting and instead of a business meeting will discuss several topics related to the eventual identification of our next installed pastor.
August 20 will be the next Stated Meeting of the session. Anyone with business to present to the session or subjects they would like to call to session’s attention, should contact Interim Pastor Judy Wellington in the week prior to the meeting to obtain a place on the agenda.
Local Mission ....................................... $ 221.00
Per Capita ........................................... $ 397.75
April and May per capita and mission pledges have NOT been paid to the presbytery and they were notified; $5,000 moved to savings to cover summer month expenses.
- John Paterson, GPC Treasurer
2019 PER CAPITA is $36.25 per member
Finance update As we approach the end of the second quarter, we are pleased to say that our account balances continue to improve.
The Finance Committee is looking forward to the next six months’ operations with a more positive outlook. While we anticipate that our income for the next few months will continue to be at the lower end of the spectrum, we believe that with the increased giving by all the members and of the congregation and by our many guests during the past 3 months, we shall be able to move forward during the next 3- 4 months and meet our fixed obligations.
Finally, we anticipate that with the return of our winter visitors in the 4th quarter of the year, our normal monthly income shall return to levels that will allow us to meet both our fixed expenses and other non-essential but desirable expenses that will be occurring during the final few months of the year.
Of course, we shall continue to review all our purchases and oversee our other obligations to assure that we only spend our funds on necessary items. Again, we thank each and every one of you for your continued generosity and support.