The Presbyterian Church, 123 West Hill Street, Wabash, IN 46992-3049

www.wabashpresbyterian.com | office@wabashpresbyterian.com | 260-563-8881

How do you spell koinonia?

That's what Karthik Nemmani needed to know in order to win the 91st Scripps National Spelling Bee last month.

The 14-year-old from Texas nailed it, completing his triumph over 514 other contestants, the largest group ever to compete in the world's most famous spell-off. Well done, Karthik.

Now for the hard part: how do we get millions of people who belong to spiritual communities to experience the true meaning of koinonia? The Greek word, which appears 19 times in the New Testament, is usually translated "fellowship." But that English word has fallen on hard times. These days "fellowship" often means little more than hanging out with friends, playing cornhole in the backyard, or sharing a few burgers on the grill.

Koinonia describes a profoundly deeper reality: the willingness of people, because of their mutual trust in God, to risk getting close to each other. It connotes authenticity, vulnerability, and not a small dose of courage.

Koinonia, in other words, is the antidote to the superficiality of modern social culture.

PASTOR’S DESK

How Do You Spell Koinonia?

Birthdays & Anniversaries Serve

Announcements

Church Calendar Worship & Connect

Community and Missions Children’s and Family

Ministries News

July 2018

By Pastor Jonathan Cornell

In the book of Acts it talks about members of the early church bringing all that they had, and sharing it in common. We sometimes cringe when we hear this, and immediately think of an authoritarian-imposed collectivism.

Of course, Acts was talking about material resources, but I also believe it means so much more than that. Sharing everything with one another can also mean sharing life, sharing joy and celebration, sharing heartache and grief. In short, Koinonia is when people are vulnerable enough to share all they have because of a deeper trust that God is the one who is forming and giving our lives.

You have shared your life with us, as we have shared all of what life has for our family with you. You have encouraged us with meals, laundry, bathrooms cleaned, countless letters, and hugs at every turn.

This has reinforced the beauty of small community, of a group of people who live life together. People who are not afraid to walk through the fire with each other. And this is where not only koinonia, but a life shaped by and in Jesus Christ happens.

You know the spelling, but more importantly you know the meaning. Keep it up!

Pastor Jonathan Email: jonathan@wabashpresbyterian.com

Page 2

Birthdays:

1st – Pat Plummer

6th – Sue Henderson

8th – Lola Glazier

11th – Lois Smith

15th – Barb Maggart

15th – Bella Gouvan

18th – Jonathan Walts

20th – Mary Jane Garrison

24th – Bob Yaggi

27th – Steven Foust

31st – Finn Sparling

Anniversaries:

4th – Jim & Shari Kaltenmark

4th – Jonathan & Amy Cornell

14th – Adam & Andrea Zwiebel

21st – Rick & Cindy Elliott

People I want to connect with

this month (i.e., card/call,

coffee/lunch, prayer, Bible study):

____________________________

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Community Meals will NOT take place in the months of July or August due to the Fellowship hall being under construction. Meals will resume

September 5th.

NOW ENROLLING! – The Presbyterian School is now enrolling for our 2018-2019 school year. Please contact the church office for

more information.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Softball Season is right around the corner. Games at the Field of Dreams will begin Monday, July 16th at 6pm.

Games will take place each Monday, and most will be at 6pm. There is still room on the squad for more players. If you would like to join please drop Pastor Jonathan an email (jonathan@wabashpresbyterian.com) or call 563-8881.

Page 3

July Church Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Worship (10am) &

Fellowship Hour

(11am)

2

Monday Bible

Study (1pm)

3 4

5

Jessica

Out of Office

6

Friday Book

Study (11am)

First Friday!

7

Arts Camp

Walts/Owen

Wedding

8 9

Monday Bible

Study (1pm)

10

ROMEO Men’s

Lunch (12:30pm)

11

12

13

Friday Book

Study (11am)

14

Arts Camp

15

Worship (10am) &

Fellowship Hour

(11am)

16

Monday Bible

Study (1pm)

17

Jonathan

Out of Office

18

Jonathan

Out of Office

19

Session (7pm)

Jonathan

Out of Office

20

Jonathan

Out of Office

21

Arts Camp

22

Worship (10am) &

Fellowship Hour

(11am)

Mark Perry

Preaching

Jonathan

Out of Office

(all week)

23

Monday Bible

Study (1pm)

Helping Hands

Ministry

24 25

26

27

28

Arts Camp

29

Worship (10am) &

Fellowship Hour

(11am)

Mark Perry

Preaching

Jonathan

Out of Office

(all week)

30

Monday Bible

Study (1pm)

31

JULIET

Women’s

Breakfast (8am

@ Fried Egg)

Congratulations on the Marriage of Audrey Walts and Lane Owen

July 7th, 2018

Page 4

Loving people

with the heart of Christ

in the heart of Wabash

Feed Our

Community You are always

encouraged to bring

canned/dry goods for the

F.I.S.H. food pantry

and drop them off in any

of the boxes throughout

the church. This month, we

are collecting brownie mix

and canned fruit

WPC MISSION

PARTNERS

Peabody Retirement

Community

Kemmerer Village

Meals on Wheels

City of Refuge (Ghana)

Thammavongsa Family

Mission

Wabash Ministerial

Association’s Assistance

Program

Wabash Habitat for

Humanity

White’s Residential and

Family Services

Winchester Community

Center

85 Hope

Arc of Wabash County

The Access

Campus Life

F.I.S.H.

Character Building of

Wabash County

Church Construction in Placetas, Cuba

Located in the center of Cuba, Placetas is home to a vibrant Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba congregation that was founded in 1908. The original church building, which anchors a wide intersection in this peaceful town, began to collapse in 2008, and the congregation was able to move into an old house across the street where they have met for more than a decade. The limited funds which they could raise for a new structure allowed them to rough out the exterior walls and roof, but

that is as far as their resources would take them.

The pastor, Rev. Jésus Oscar Rodríquez, like his wife, Marielys, is a second career pastor. Both were busy in other fields when they felt a call to become lay pastors for nearby congregations. Between the two of them they serve 4 congregations. In Placetas their ministry includes meals to the elderly, clothing ministry that washes clothes for those without access. Prayer houses that reach the children to share the good news.

The Impact Completion of the main section of the church will provide space to welcome neighbors and expand the congregation’s Christ-centered care. Rev. Jesus reflects: “This local church looks at the construction of its building as a work of faith and an opportunity to witness the message of salvation of Jesus Christ to the community of Placetas.”

Team Members from Wabash Presbyterian February 2017

Page 5

Business Notes

Financial Report

May Total 2018

Income: $30,907 $148,725

Expenses: 31,499 159,385

Balance: -$592 -$10,660

*We pulled $10,000 from the Endowment Account this

month to cover our expenses.

Give online. Use our secure site to set up recurring

gifts (like pledges) or for one-time gifts (like paying for

a Bible study book or supporting our Mission Partners).

June Session Minutes

June Session was CANCELLED.

Partnering with the Church in Cuba

We would like to encourage you to consider encountering the Church in Cuba with The Outreach Foundation. The trip is Sept 6-14, 2018. Contact Jonathan if you have questions or are interested.

LOOKING FOR A WAY

TO GET INVOLVED?

We are looking for a few new volunteers to serve on our Ushering team for Sunday Mornings. Contact the office or Pastor Jonathan.

Nursery Teacher Position Available

We have a position open as a Nursery Teacher to share in the joyful ministry of equipping children (ages 0-4), parents, and childcare workers to serve as disciples of Jesus Christ. Hours would be 8:30-11:30am each Sunday, with additional hours available during special events or services. Contact office for more information.

Page 6

Prayer List

Have a prayer request?

If you have a prayer request,

please email Jessica Broyles at

office@wabashpresbyterian.com.

Please respect the privacy of

others and share their concerns

only with their permission. You can

also email Jessica if you’d like to

receive the weekly prayer list via

email.

Brett Maggart

Don Maggart

Betty Randol

Elizabeth Macinata

Butch Randol

John Schultheiss

John Hughes

Joe & Eileen Strickland

Susan Keffeber

Jane Barlow

Ari Halderman

Christine Murphy

Mike Philip

Stan Williams

Carl Willmert

Tammi Lake

Lindsey Morris

Maggie Wimberly’s Father

Meredith James

Lee Ann George

Jan Kirby

Amy Cornell

Deni Yaggi’s Mother

Sam Horner

Brad

Candy Olson

Allison McAllister

Thammonvongsa Family

Hoover Family

Martin & Virginia Duffy

Hope Unger

Carolyn Biltz

Judy Waggoner

Kay Caudill

Tina Easterday

Jennifer Maxwell

Judy Lovellette

Heather Houlihan

Kevin Gerhart

Jack Francis

Mary Jane Garrison

Lois Smith

Nancy Chowning

Lois Dickinson

Mildred Paullus

Elmer Myers

Faith Rider

Mary Leland

July and August Preaching Schedule

July 8 -- Luke 9:1-6 Rev. Jonathan Cornell July 15 – Luke 9:10-17 Rev. Jonathan Cornell July 22 – Luke 9:18-25 Dr. Mark Perry July 29 – Luke 10:25-37 Dr. Mark Perry August 5 – Luke 10:38-42 Dr. Mark Perry August 12 – Ms. Laura Helm August 19 – Dr. Bud Bence (Emeritus Professor of Church History Wesley Seminary, Marion IN)

The Cornell’s Summer Schedule

Amy and Pastor Jonathan will be traveling back to Bethesda, MD to the National Institute of Health on July 17th. On July 20th, Amy will begin her treatment, which includes chemo therapy, Lymphocyte infusion, and Interleuken 2 therapy. The Cornell’s will be residents of the NIH for approximately 4 weeks.

Amy’s address, while in Maryland will be:

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Patient: Amy Cornell, 3NW 10 Center Dr Bethesda, MD 20814

Want to Volunteer?

There are many ways to get involved at WPC. We’d love to help you get plugged in to an area of service that fits your skills, interests, and gifts!

Miss a Sunday?

You can listen and read sermon

transcripts online at http://wabashpresbyterian.com/sermons/

Page 7

Basically, I am a

prayerful listener. "To be

listened to is to be

loved." That’s what

spiritual direction is all

about.

While I’ll certainly be incorporating these beliefs

and principles into my work through Godly Play, I’d

love the opportunity to meet with your child in

smaller settings—perhaps meeting with them

during their lunch hour at school, or pulling them

aside for a few minutes on Sunday mornings, or

getting together outside just for an extended time

of talking together.

And parents, know that I am praying for you. I know

that raising kids can be difficult at times. I know it

can be exhausting. I know sometimes you just want

some time on your own. Yet God has graciously

given us little ones to raise. Let’s enjoy them. Let’s

linger with them. Let’s imagine with them. Let’s

listen to them. Because they can give us glimpses of

God we might otherwise miss.

Coming Up in Children’s Ministries:

1. Summer in Psalms (Summer Godly Play)

Sundays, 10am

2. Arts Camp

Saturdays in July, 9:00-11:30am

3. Girls Summer Mentoring (“Girls Club”)

Thursday, July 19th, 3:30-5:00pm

Children spend time with God differently than we

do as adults. That’s why I love Rebecca Nye’s

definition of children’s spirituality: “God’s ways of

being with children and children’s ways of being

with God.”

Godly Play is a great foundation for these kids to

learn to play with God and experience Him in ways

that are natural for children—art, imaginative play,

asking questions. This summer, I’m excited to be

able to learn more about how to come alongside

kids not just on Sunday mornings at Godly Play, but

now through spiritual direction.

Spiritual direction is… well, let me see if I can

describe it below based on some of my beliefs:

I BELIEVE God loves children and is eager to

bless them. Whereas some people may push

children to the margins, Jesus welcomed them onto

His lap and blessed them. In spiritual direction, I

want my fully attentive presence to demonstrate to

children that God loves them and they are valued

by Him. They matter!

I BELIEVE that children already experience God.

Spiritual direction is about exploring how they

experience Him and learning to recognize His

movements in their lives. In other words, we try to

detect His fingerprints.

I BELIEVE the Holy Spirit leads children into all

truth, just as He leads us adults. Therefore, spiritual

direction is not about giving advice, fixing things, or

sharing the answers, but about helping to ask the

right questions, seeking God's wisdom together

with the kids, and trusting Him to lead them and

speak in a way they know and understand.

CHILDREN’S & FAMILY MINISTRIES

By Kari Bartkus

Kari Bartkus Director of Children’s & Family Ministries Email: kari@wabashpresbyterian.com

Wabash Presbyterian Church 123 West Hill Street

Wabash, IN 46992

Phone: 260-563-8881

Office Hours: Mondays-Fridays

8:30am-12:30pm

Email:

office@wabashpresbyterian.com

Website:

www.wabashpresbyterian.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/

wabashpresbyterian

Loving people with the heart of Christ in the

heart of Wabash

Wabash Presbyterian Church

123 West Hill Street

Wabash, IN 46992

SHOP FOR THE CAUSE

Support Amy’s campaign with a handcrafted mug or band. 50% of every purchase will help the Cornell family with expenses.

Raise awareness at home and on the go!

With something as common and uninspiring as mud, Mudlove creates little reminders of hope and possibility and love. These bracelets it seems are everywhere, and have sparked so many conversations connecting us to others through the cords we wear around our wrists. Mudlove offers their products in the form of fundraisers to help support families facing unexpected financial challenges. If you would like to purchase a bracelet or mug, a portion of the proceeds go to support Amy’s treatment. If you’d like to learn more about Mudlove, or get your Team Amy bracelet, checkout their site.

https://www.mudlove.com/collections/fundraiser-marketplace/products/team-amy