PASTOR’S PEN . . .
by Pastor Dave Templin

Here’s a question for you that I discovered in one of my resources: What was Buzz Aldrin’s first food and drink after he and Neil Armstrong touched down on the moon?  Does anyone know the answer?  The correct answer is, communion bread and wine.  Here are Aldrin’s own words:
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by Kurt Imbach

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Lenten dinners and studies.  An attendance of 75-105 throughout the six weeks is astonishing.  And so many people helped in meal planning, preparation, serving, set-up, clean up, and in the covering of expenses.  It was a triumph of personal commitment, hard work, generosity, good planning, and joy of working together in true fellowship.  It was a tremendous encouragement to me, an exciting event for our church, and a healthy stretch for our Life Groups.
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Youth News From Justin . . .
by Justin Ross

What a great time to be a Christian!  Later this month, a movie is going to be released that is going to have the whole country talking about Jesus.  Unfortunately, this movie will not be praised in Christian circles, as “The Passion of the Christ” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” were.  Why?  This movie is going to raise a lot of questions.  Is Jesus Christ really who he said he was?  Are the scriptures true?  Have we all been duped by a hidden conspiracy?  I am sad to tell you that after reading the wildly popular book version of this movie, many Christians have asked these very questions. Which raises a question about questions… are they okay to have? Beyond these, there are tons of questions about Jesus these days… a lot of alleged “scandal.”
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From the Stephen Ministry Corner ...

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10

Pastors will always be the primary caregivers, but there is no way pastors can meet all the needs for care.  God has called ALL of us, not just pastors, to minister to one another.

1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God;  if we love one another , God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ

Stephen Ministry is grounded in Jesus' command to love one another.  It is God's Word becoming "flesh" to a hurting person.  The responsibility of passing on God's love for people is not just for a chosen few, but for all Christians who have been chosen to be God's children...
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Vacation Bible School will be held June 26-30, 9 A.M. to noon.  Children 3 years through 6th grade are welcome.

Helpers are needed for activity centers, leading children, and for short term jobs as registrars, actors, and photographer.

YOU are welcome to the first staff meeting on May 4th, at 11:30 A.M.  Bring a sandwich and get a glimpse of the festivities planned.

Thanks to Nancy Collins, for being willing to serve as Director/Coordinator for the VBS week.  Please direct offers and questions to Anita or the church office.

Don’t Throw It Away!

Give it to us!

What:  All your old stuff! 

Why:  High School Youth Group’s Summer Mission Trip to Anaheim, California 

When:  Saturday, May 20

Where:  Whidbey Pres Parking Lot

We can pick up and deliver!

Start thinking now of items that you can donate to the High School Youth Group’s Yard Sale.  All money raised will benefit the Summer Mission Trip to Anaheim, California.

We will accept almost anything, except clothing.  A receipt can be provided for tax purposes, if you request it.

All donations will be accepted on Sunday, May 14.  Bring your items to church with you, or bring them by in the afternoon.  There will also be teams of parents and teenagers available to pick up yard sale items, with trucks available for large items as well, such as furniture, entertainment centers, etc.  If you need your donation dropped off or picked up at another time, let Justin know and a convenient time can be worked out - email or call 679-3579.

The yard sale is May 20, 7:00 a.m.   Feel free to contact Justin with any questions.
 

The workshop rotation Sunday school has been doing a rotation on the Last Supper:  Learning about the Passover meal, Jesus' last Passover meal with his disciples and Holy Communion. 

As part of our rotation, the workshop on May 7th will include having the kids join the congregation during first service for Communion.
 

May 21, 2:30 p.m.
in the sanctuary
The Evangelism Team invites you
and your neighbors to
an afternoon of heavenly music with our choir,
Praise Team, and more.  
Make a date with yourself to be there.

It’s May, and spring, and our last meeting until September.  On May 18th, we will install our new co-moderators:  Connie Sullivan and Nancy Collins.  Shirley Taft is continuing as secretary and Ruth Lindenstein will continue as treasurer.  Thank you, ladies!

On Thursday, the 18th, Sheila Swetnam will present “A Time to Gather Stones Together,” our closing presentation on time.  In May, we have a salad pot luck luncheon.  Please bring your favorite salad to share; enough for 6 or 8 people works well.  Dessert will be provided by our hostesses, Jo Ernst and Esther Grimshaw.  If you wonder what Presbyterian Women are all about, this is a good meeting to attend.  We start at noon in Heritage Hall and end around 2 or 2:30.

Boutique workshops have begun.  We will meet on May 25th at 10:30 in Heritage Hall.  Bring a sack lunch and a willingness to work and chat.  And again, please save check book boxes for us to fill with goodies.

Our final Bible study, on the last part of Romans, will be on May 4th at 10:30 in the Blue House.  It’s been a good study.  I have a stronger respect for St. Paul; thank you, Kurt!

The evening Bible study will meet May 10th at 6:00 P.M. at Mitzel’s Restaurant for dinner and study at 7:00.                   

                        --Suzanne McCrea
 

On May 9, the speaker will be Elisa LeDesky, who will share with us her experiences throughout the year and including her mission to Guatemala.

On May 23, we invite you to hear an update from the Bells on Indonesia, Sri Lanka, including a report about the continual rebuilding after the tsunami, as well as what is happening at the hospital in Borneo.  Lora Burge may be there to give us an update on her mission plans.

Can you take a moment to imagine what it would be like growing up in a house that had no running water or electricity?

Your mom harvests greens and roots from the forest and near-by stream for food, and some small fish or any animal which has the bad luck to be noticed.  But mostly you eat rice.  Every spring, your dad and other men burn a part of the forest, usually a sunny hillside, and plant what Westerners call dry rice.  Just plunk the seeds in the soil and let it grow by itself.  Of course, the field is only good for one crop.  Sometimes the smoke from burning is so thick, some of the weaker people might die, not being able to breathe.

Some folks have wet paddy fields, some folks grow pepper plants or have a grove of rubber trees.  This takes a lot of work, but these people have some money, as they have something to sell.

All rule and order is in the hands of the village chief.  If your neighbor’s wife commits adultery, maybe the chief passes judgment that she has to present a pig to her husband for restitution (beg-borrow-steal to do so).  Of course, being village chief has its risks, as your “subjects” might revolt and it could be “off with your head!” 

Where would your mother turn if you were suddenly struck down with some mysterious disease?  The village shaman, or what we call a witch doctor, is the only place to turn.  These guys wield much power among the villagers.  In this animist “religion,” demons and demon possession is a reality.

Every little fellow has his own “parang” (westerners might call it a machete).  Your first one is half as tall as you are and it is with you just about all the time.  It helps you hunt and dig tender bamboo shoots to eat. 

Your village may have a head house.  This is where the village keeps the heads of their defeated enemies.  If you treat them right, they will protect the village (eastern logic).

Fast forward 50 years. . . . .Not much has changed.  Head hunting is discouraged by the government and those remoter villages that still maintain their head house do so guardedly, not admitting to it, not admitting strangers.

Most babies are still malnourished.  One must have lots of children with the hope that some might live long enough to take care of you when you are old (the only form of social security).

But, oh, what a difference Jesus makes in the life of these people.  Approaching a village, it is clearly evident if it is Christian, apart from the devil pots and trail gods.  Does it look, well—DARK and dank?  Are the people, well—FILTHY?  Is the look in their eyes a bit disconcerting, a mixture of, well, pain-anger-fear?  Is infant mortality EXTREMELY high?

Or does the village look, well—poor, but kind of healthy?  Most babies live to reach the age of two—a major benchmark which is celebrated with a big feast in each type of village.

Find out a little more about the village church in Semidang, Indonesia on the Island of Borneo.  Check out the May bulletin board in Heritage Hall.

Whidbey Presbyterian Church, through your mission dollars, is helping Semidang Church bring THE LIGHT to many shackled by the chains of darkness; shackled to him whom the Bible calls the Prince of the World (you know, the one Norm McCrea calls “Ol’ Red Legs”).

Pray for them, they pray for us every Sunday.  How blessed they feel that someone so far away cares enough to help them.  It is a great encouragement to them, more than you will ever know!

                                                     —-Joan Bell

Order your tickets now for the Mariners vs. San Francisco Giants game on June 17 at 1:00 P.M.!  Tickets are $18 each.  Reserve as soon as possible, as there is a limited supply.  Deadline is May 14.  Call Pauline Williams to reserve and/or with any questions, 675-8653.
 

If you are interested in learning more about what it means to become a member of Whidbey Presbyterian Church, you will want to attend the  Fellowship 101 class, which will be offered on Saturday, May 20 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in the Blue House.  Lunch will be provided, and child care is available. 

Email Betsy Knight at evengelism@whidbeypres.org or call the  church office, 679-3579, with any questions.  We look forward to welcoming you!