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THE JOURNEY HAS BEGUN

The months of planning and preparation have

concluded with Pastor Andy and Shawna now

embarked on a much anticipated sabbatical. We

can track their European journey on a map

located in the sanctuary. The red map pins

denote their itinerary while the separate colored

pin shows their current location. Despite the era

of instant world-wide communication, we won’t

have much contact over the coming weeks as

we encourage the two travelers to totally

immerse themselves in rest, study, old and new

acquaintances, and new adventures. That

doesn’t mean, however, that we won’t be

connected. We will rely on what Pastor Andy

refers to as the “original wireless

communication” called prayer.

As I mentioned during the recent sabbatical

commissioning a few Sundays ago, Pastor Mary

Robinson-Mohr was our last pastor to

participate in a sabbatical. She experienced an

archaeological dig in the Holy Land. But that

was over two decades ago. So as a church, this

is something that we’ve done before. But we

don’t do it often.

The Renewal Team busily prepared for the time

that Pastor Andy will be away. A combination

of invited pastors and our lay leaders will lead

Sunday worship services. Rev. Barbara Rolph

will provide pastoral care with two Rev. Steve

Neuder and Rev. Paul Graves available if

needed.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SANDPOINT, IDAHO

July/August 2017

Members of the Renewal Team will assist

Susan Bristol in the day-to-day activities of

keeping the church running.

But like any journey, Pastor Andy and Shawna

will encounter things that they didn’t expect or

anticipate. The same will happen with us.

During those times we will rely on faith. The

same faith that has sustained this church for

well over a century.

Yes, the journey has begun, not only for

Pastor Andy and Shawna, but for all of us as

well. May God continue to bless each one of

us and our church.

Bill Love, Elder

THE GRAPEVINE

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CHURCH RENEWAL UPDATE WHILE PASTOR ANDY IS ON SABBATICAL

If you have been keeping up and following the articles about this time in the life of our congregation

then you should be well informed. The recap is as follows:

There is a large map in the front corner of the sanctuary, (by the ramp that leads to the fellowship

hall) that illustrates and indicates where Pastor Andy and his wife Shawna will be traveling during

this time. You will also find an Atlas for following the journey more closely. There is also an

itinerary there that allows you to follow where they will be. Be in continued prayer for our pastor and

his wife who are having a well deserved, refreshing renewal.

This will allow our pastor to return to us with experiences to share not only with our church, but also

with the greater community outreach of the North Idaho area.

We as a congregation will continue our Sunday Summer Worship Service at 9:30 a.m. Our church

congregation, family, neighbors, friends and visitors will have the opportunity to meet with Rev.

Paul Graves, Rev. Bob Evans and Dr. Terry Iddins in the July worship services held in the church

sanctuary.

ON Sunday July 23rd make plans for the outdoor CITY BEACH Annual Worship Service at the

pavilion on Lake Pend Oreille followed by a Fellowship Pot Luck. This gives us an oppor tunity to

invite our friends, family and neighbors to join us in one of the most picturesque settings in our area.

COME JOIN US and bring your own blankets or folding lawn chairs. There will be some folding

chairs from the church building there. Ruling Elder Bill Love will be leading the service. Bring your

favorite food dishes to share for a wonderful time together. Drinks will be provided.

Back to the sanctuary July 30th the Rev. Doug Cartwright, Pastor of Post Falls Community

Presbyterian Church, and also with the Committee on Ministry from Presbytery of the Inland

Northwest will be with us.

In August we will be hearing from our own lay leaders Anna Bates, Jim Shirrell and Sharon

Anderson. Put it on your calendar August 13th Rev. Nancy Goodwin from Millwood Community

Presbyterian Church will be preaching outside in the Peace Garden area. There will also be an

Immigrant Choir from the Spokane area to present a program and concert. Watch for more

information in the weekly Twig in the bulletin. Questions call the church office.

May you remain faithful to God this summer, Jim Shirrell

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Library

This month's featured book is “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch Albom. It has

become a classic, and its 20th anniversary was recently celebrated on national

television. As one reviewer put it, “An elegantly simple story about a writer getting a

second chance to discover life through the death of a friend.” The story will grab your

heart and nourish your soul.

Anna Bates, Volunteer Librarian

Welcome to Natalie Miller our new Church Treasurer! Natalie also owns Selkirk Office Services.

She will work from the church office every Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The official

office hours will still only go until 1:00 p.m., giving her some quiet time in addition to the first hour

of communication and availability. If you have vouchers for reimbursement, they will need to be

submitted by noon on Wednesdays if you want prompt payment.

Take note that if you have vouchers for reimbursement, remember that in order for her to process

them, they need to be signed IN ADVANCE by the person who has authority over that area of the

budget. We had relaxed into a looser interpretation of this, but with this transition we need to remind

ourselves of our own system.

Natalie will not issue a check if the voucher is not signed, and the Session Elder of a ministry area

needs to be aware of their budget expenses.

For example, if I buy light bulbs, Chuck Bauer as the Ruling Elder of Buildings and Grounds would

need to sign the voucher to authorize the expense, and then I would submit it to Natalie so she could

issue a reimbursement to me. Each Session elder has an area of responsibility. Mary Sturgis would

sign for the Deacons. Susie Haskins would sign for Presbyterian Women.

Peace,

Pastor Andy

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Thank you from Living Waters for the World

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Longtime Sandpoint resident and member of First Presbyterian Church, Frankie Clouse, was

honored at Worship on Sunday, June 11, 2017 in celebration of her 100th birthday.

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Got some treasure to sell but not enough for your own yard sale? Want to help raise funds for the

community Peace Garden space? Rent a space and table on the lawn for the Saturday, July 22nd

Peace Market on the Lawn. Mark your calendars for the market in the garden! This is going to

be so much fun!

The idea is we “sell” 10 ft. x 10 ft. spaces on the lawn for a $10 donation plus rent a table for

another $10 (if needed) and folks bring in their treasures to sell. It will be kind of like a flea

market with the proceeds going toward the Peace Garden.

We’ll have our own tables with treasures (ahem) and coffee and food tables with sales proceeds

going toward the garden mission.

The Peace Garden and Membership and Outreach committees hope this is a fun way to invite the

community into our space, learn about the Peace Garden and enjoy some time together. We feel

this is a community mixer opportunity to get to know our neighbors and larger community

partners. No agenda other than to sell excess stuff, simplify lives, down-size, recycle and reuse,

but most importantly, spend some enjoyable time together.

Sales will commence on Saturday, July 22, from 9:00 - 1:00. Contact Judy at 208-290-3119 or

moonlabrie@yahoo.com to reserve a space and volunteer to help out. We’ll be staging tables and

sales in the Fellowship Hall during the preceding week.

Sincerely,

Judy Labrie, Ruling Elder on Membership & Outreach & Peace Garden Committees

Glass Garden Totems will be for sale by FPC

Peace Market on the Lawn

Saturday, July 22, 2017

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KIDS ALIVE IN JULY

July 24-27, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Kids Alive Day Camp will take place! This

is a ministry partnership between First Presbyterian Church, First Lutheran Church,

and the United Methodist Church of Sandpoint. The three churches combine

resources and coordinate with a local camp to provide staffing and program. This

year we partner with Camp Lutherhaven, as they send four camp staff to provide

leadership.

Each partner church provides volunteers, snacks, and funding to help kids from

Sandpoint have a great camp experience. Each church will need to have two

volunteers for registration/check-in, older youth and adult volunteers to help the

counselors, snack providers, and two snack preparers/servers for morning and

afternoon snacks. Presbyterians will focus energies on Wednesday, and on that day

will need to provide breakfast at 8:00 a.m. at First Lutheran for the four Lutherhaven

staff, in addition to hosting an evening meal, preferably at a home or someplace

offsite from the church.

Here are some opportunities to serve: small dixie cups for the watering station, otter

pops for afternoon snack, sunscreen, ice cream sandwiches for the closing program,

fruit and popcorn and pretzels for snacks, NO nuts or candy. . . just healthy stuff,

hosting of staff for supper on Wednesday, preparing and serving breakfast for four

camp staff on Wednesday (you have full access to First Lutheran’s kitchen).

Keep this ministry in your prayers as we reach out to kids in our community to share

the love of Christ Jesus. Jim Bellotty. Barbara Rolph, and Mary Sturgis are contact

people if you have any questions.

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July & August Birthdays

July

3 Chuck Scott

7 Alexandra Krames

8 Marian Ruyle

15 Barry Gage

18 Enid Thompson

21 Bob Maricle

25 Anna Bates

31 Chuck Bauer

August

3 Bill Bissell

4 Shelley WogmanBellotty

6 Dan Murphy

7 Samantha Bissell

9 Jill Murphy

10 Darcy Taylor & Peik Wahl

17 Vern Fleisher

22 Terrin Dustman & Susie Haskins

27 Shirley Parker

30 Phyllis Meager

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Calendar Announcements

Sunday Worship—9:30 a.m. Fellowship, following service Adult Sunday School—will resume in the fall

Monday 6:00 p.m. Al-Anon

Tuesday Book Study Group—1:30 p.m. Contemplative Prayer Group—3:00 p.m. Choir Practice—will resume in the fall, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Wednesday 5:30 p.m. Companions in Christ on 1st & 3rd Wednesdays Church Breakfast— will resume in the fall

Thursday 12:00 p.m. Al-Anon 7:00 p.m.—Alcoholics Anonymous

July

23 Service at the City Beach—9:30 a.m.

24-27 Kids Alive Day Camp—9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

26 Phillip Albanese Memorial—1:00 p.m.

27 Peace Market

August

13 Worship on the Lawn—9:30 a.m. &

Immigrant Choir from Spokane

22-25 Bike and Build

Regular Monthly Events

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First Presbyterian Church

Ministers: Members and Friends

Pastor Andy Kennaly

417 North Fourth Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864

208-263-2047 office@fpcsandpoint.org

pastorandy@fpcsandpoint.org

www.fpcsandpoint.org

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