The Mission of First Presbyterian

Church: Vital Worship…

Dynamic Growth…

Faithful Service

Deadline for the Mid-August 2015

Newsletter is July 22

Deadline for articles or information for News & Notes is to be turned into the office for the following

month’s publication by the nineteenth of each month.

You are invited to email bryanpres@firstpresbryan.org

or fax 419-636-8252 as well as submit in written form!

Summer Sunday Morning Worship Schedule

9:00 am Contemporary Service

10:30 am Traditional Service

See you in church!!

NEWS & NOTES First Presbyterian Church, Bryan Ohio

June/July 2015

Remember our church in your will

This summer we will continue to hold two dis-

tinct worship services. We will follow the pat-

tern of previous years and have:

9am Contemporary Worship in the courtyard

10:30am Traditional Worship in the chapel

This will allow those who attend the second

service to get out a bit earlier! We will still offer

KREW (Kids Radically Experiencing Worship)

at the 9am worship hour. The 9am worship will

move to the courtyard on May 31 with a com-

bined service for our celebration with our grad-

uates. The next week (June 7)we start with the

summer schedule of 9am and 10:30am. See you

in worship this summer.

June 7 (A Communion Sunday)

Living Life Well

series with: “Unplug, Slow Down, Rest

and Relax.

June 14

June 21

One service today at 9:00 am, the fo-

cus is on VBS and the theme of “Life is

Messy—Clean It Up.”

June 28

“The Poetry of God!”

July 5

“Independence vs Dependence.”

July 12 (A Communion Sunday)

“Greater Things than These!”

July 19

“Does Faith Make a Difference?”

July 26

“Defining Moments!”

Session Summary from May 11, 2015

meeting:

Approved Summer Worship schedule to

consist of a 9am Contemporary service in

the Courtyard, and 10:30 am Traditional

service in the Chapel.

Approved one service to be held on June

21, 2015 at 9:00am. It will be led by VBS

leadership

Approved the purchase of a replacement

freezer.

Session will provide and serve the VBS

meal on Wednesday, June 24

Updated on youth position; Christian Ed-

ucation is in the process of interviewing 2

applicants.

There will only be two summer newsletters this year – we will pub-lish this combined June/July and the Au-gust edition will be sent out near the be-ginning of August and

that deadline will be Wednesday, July 22. This is a change from past years so that the infor-mation that you need to be in the congrega-tions hands for fall is gotten to them on a more timely basis. Please make your plans accord-ingly so that this kick-off for fall is successful!

American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Williams County

June 19-20, 2015 at the Williams County Fairgrounds

What is Relay for Life?

June/July 2015

I am the chairperson for the Presbytery Commissioned Ruling

Elder Committee. We oversee the work of the Commissioned

Lay Preachers, like Mike Pennington and Ric Beals. We train

new people to become Commissioned Lay Preachers (now called

Commissioned Ruling Elders). This fall we are beginning a new pro-

gram for all church leaders and members called: “So You Think You

Can’t Preach?” It is a year-long program to train people to preach in their local congrega-

tion and other churches in the Presbytery. Each student will be placed in a “teaching

congregations” (ours is going to be a teaching congregation) and mentored by a local pas-

tor. Each will learn about preaching, how to interpret biblical passages and how to write

and preach a sermon. At the end of this year-long course each student will have four ser-

mons that they have written and preached and share with other congregations. See the

enclosed brochure for further details.

I am excited about this program! What a wonderful opportunity to grow and be used

by God in a mighty way. I hope a few of our own people will decide to take this course

and grow in their ability to share the Word of God with a world in need of God’s truth!

See me if you are interested. The cost is $25 plus the cost of books—a real bargain if you

ask me!

Just think how many people you can influence for God’s Kingdom by being trained to

preach. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. Seek God’s leading on this

and sign up today!

Have a delightful June and July!!

Peace,

Barry

CHURCH STAFF SCHEDULES This is a reminder regarding times our staff will be in the church and available to you:

Barry Sweet, Pastor : usually available most mornings in the office. Fr iday is his day off. Contact via phone, email or Face-book. (barry506@firstpresbryan.org)

Joanne Israel, Administrative Assistant: Monday through Fr iday 9:30-5:00 (bryanpres@firstpresbryan.org)

Mary Ann Peters, Financial Secretary: available on Monday and Thursday 8:00-2:00 or you can contact her via email or leave a phone message in the church office. (finsec@firstpresbryan.org)

Robert Smith, Custodian: Monday, Tuesday, Thur sday 6:30-2:30, Friday 6:30-10:30 (he is not here on Wednesdays).

Chris Combs, Children and Family Ministr ies Coordinator : Monday 8:00-4:00, Wednesdays 2:30-7:30 and Thursday from home. (familycc@firstpresbryan.org)

Tyson Horton, Technology Coordinator : no church office hours—contact via email (techie@firstpresbryan.ort) or phone

June Webster and Hyla Sharrock, Music Depar tment—No set office hours, contact via phone

From

Me to

You

Congratulations

to the Class of 2015

High School and College

We celebrated with graduates at a combined worship service on May 31. We worshipped together and shared future plans, and had a reception in their honor. Below are the names of

those who have graduated from high school and college this year.

Lane Azzarello Daughter of Patrick and Amy Azzarello

Graduating from Bryan High School on May 31 Attending University of Toledo

Majoring in Engineering

Peyton Spiess Daughter of Lyndon and Dee Spiess

Graduating from Bryan High School on May 31 Attending the Kent State University

Majoring in Parks and Recreation Management

Anna Ritchey-Moore Daughter of Ron and Dorothy Ritchey-Moore

Graduating from Bryan High School on May 31 Attending University of Findlay

Majoring in Occupational Therapy

Kailyn Robinson Son of Mike and Linda Robinson

Graduating from Bryan High School on May 31 Attending University of Cincinnati

Majoring in Marketing

Haley Thompson Daughter of Ken and Amy Thompson

Graduating from Bryan High School on May 31 4 Cty Career Center Commercial /Graphic Arts

Plans on working and travelling to Germany while deciding plans for the future.

Kerstin Ann Vaughn

Graduating from Norton High School, Norton OH On May 26

Attending University of Mount Union, Alliance OH Majoring in Theater/Communications

Information about our

college graduates is below.

Zoë and Erin Benedict

Daughters of the late Greg and Rita Benedict Graduated from Bowling Green

State University on May 9th Zoë and Erin both received degrees

in Liberal Studies

Jessie Nichols Daughter of Charlie and Mary Lou Nichols

Graduated from Northwest State Community College on May 9th

As a Registered Nurse

Taylor Zedaker

Daughter of Ken and Yvette Zedaker Graduated from Northwest State Community College on May 9th

With an Associate of Applied Business in Office Administrative Services

Natalie Carroll

Daughter of Mike and Julie Spangler Graduated from Texas Christian University

Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences With a Masters Degree of Science in

Speech-Language Pathology

Congratulations to our graduates

Job well done!

From our Children and Families Coordinator:

The KREW is going to keep going through the

summer even though Sunday School is taking a

break. KREW is all about Kids Radically Expe-

riencing Worship and K-5th grade kids are wel-

come to join us during first service. This month

is going to be about Summer

Break and Live Messy.

Then, after June, we will be

starting the series

“A Roller Coaster Life.”

Deuteronomy 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to

your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your

house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie

down, and when you rise.

Prayer Partners, Don’t forget to keep

praying for your Pray-

er Partner. We are try-

ing to get a display

with slots for a mail-

box that the prayer

partners can share.

Many things have

been going on with

many changes happen-

ing which is making

some things slow. Remember that the main

focus of this is on the power of prayer and

how you can make a difference in their life

by praying for their school, home, and social

life. And, to take an active role in speaking

life into these kids because the best way for

them to know Jesus is to know someone who

knows Jesus. Thank you to all who are pray-

ing for the next generation.

Summer Break is coming!! This is going to be like no other VBS we have done before.

This series will show kids that life gets messy! But God is always there, and always

has a plan for our lives no matter how crazy the mess is around us! It all happens

June 22nd-25th with our Summer Break Take Over happening on June 21st. We will

be messing up your usual Sunday programming for a Summer Break Preview. Ser-

vices that day will start at 9 am in the Courtyard.

Sunday June 21st –9:00 am Summer Break Service

Monday-Thursday June 22-25:

5:15-6:00 Messy Meal. Dinner is served.

6:00-8:30 Summer Break: Live Messy

Summer Speaker

Series Is Back!

Starting Tuesday, June 2, you are invited to come at 10:00am to the gathering area for coffee and fellow-ship followed by a talk from some very interesting people. Georgetta Harman Kuhman loves history! She will kick off our series telling us how wives of the Ohio

presidents influenced the spiritual life of our coun-try. The speaker series will be every Tuesday morn-ing at 10:00 am during June and July. Come and bring a friend. The schedule of speakers is as follows:

June 2 Georgetta Hartman Kuhman “Women of Faith”

June 9 Emily Eschhofen “Lord of the Dance”

June 16 Dr. Austin Kleman, veterinarian “Man’s Best Friend”

June 23 Carol Eschhofen “Art for the King”

June 30 Jon Ely “Youth and the Courts”

July 7 Carol Nowak “Mold Me, Make Me”

July 14 Jeremy Viers “NARC Squad in Action”

July 21 Cathy Leu

“Teaching HIGH School”

July 28 Michelle Kleinhen “For the Beauty of the Earth”

PROPOSED

BYLAW

CHANGES!

The Session is CONSID-

ERING a change to the

bylaws that would allow the Nominating Com-

mittee to nominate the members of the Fel-

lowship Committee to 3 year term positions.

At present, we have a 12 member committee

with only 7 people serving. This committee

puts on the Christmas Dinner, Easter Break-

fast, Graduation Receptions, monthly Sunday

Coffee hour and special events. Most of the

time only 5 people come to the committee

meetings. This is NOT enough to do the work/

events they are asked to do. We have tried

other ways to fill this committee to no avail. If

we want to continue to have these events

which connect us together as a church family

we need to find a way to make this committee

function better. If you have suggestions or

ideas or comments on the possible proposal

to have the Nominating Committee fill this

committee see Barry or an Elder that is cur-

rently on Session. Thank you for your input!

Please join us in celebrating the

Golden Wedding Anniversary

Of Jane and Fred Nott

On Sunday, July 5

For an Open House

from 12 to 3 pm

At 609 Noble Drive, Bryan

—Mardi and Mary Nott

and Katie Blackwell Nott

New Prayer Experience Oppor-tunity!

We are trying something

new! We want you to ex-

perience as many ways to

connect with God as pos-

sible! Sometimes worship

can move things in us, or God

speaks to us, or after worship we

know we need to connect to God in someway.

We are going to provide 2 opportunities to

connect with God through prayer after each

worship service. There will be a “kneeler”

bench positioned at he base of the cross that

we place prayer requests on. After the wor-

ship service is over you may come forward,

kneel on that kneeler (if your knees allow it!)

and talk to God. You also may pray with an

elder who will be available to pray with you

if you like this. We are going to try both a

male and female elder as sometimes is easier

to pray with someone —male to male, female

to female— depending on our issues. or

Thank You:

We would like to thank the following people for help around the church lately:

David Lash who has taken oversight of the court-

yard garden. He’s already done a lot of work

The Property Committee for cleaning up the court-

yard garden and adding in new mulch.

Cheryl Schlachter, Gene Andres, Steve Bird, Barry

Sweet, June Webster, Hyla Sharrock, Judy Sweet,

Connie Tipton and various men from the Men’s Group for teaching adult classes this year.

The Chancel Choir and Sine Nomine Bells for an-

other season of praising God through music. All

your hard work, dedication and musical talent is

appreciated.

Jennifer Sampson, Amber Combs, Diana Esch-

hofen and Beth Hollabaugh for providing child care

during Carpenter’s Workshop.

Jane Miller, Judy Karnes, Craig Buell, Gene An-

dres, Linda Robinson, Tami Smith, Pat Goshorn,

Dee Spiess, Carolyn Harrison, Steve Bird, Angie Schreder, Carol Rowan, Bonnie Spurgeon, Judy

Sweet, Don Shrider, Amber Combs, Pam Lash,

Millie Orendorff, Lori Bird, Joanne Israel and the

many others who came and helped for providing food for Carpenter’s Workshop.

Thank you for allowing our service (former

members of Trinity Episcopal Church) this af-

ternoon in your Presbyterian chapel, setting it

up to make the day so special. The Orrs (former

minister at Episcopal church) made our lives

more meaningful. We miss them.

Sincerely, Rachel Donohue

I would like to thank the Elders for bringing

home communion to those of us who cannot get

out to make it to church on Sunday morning.

—Betty Robbins

ACTIVE ELDERS:

Rev. Barry Sweet .............. 419-636-1071

Lori Bird ........................... 419-636-2014

Bob Chrismer .................... 419-682-1231

Steve Collins ..................... 419-636-9873

Diana Moore Eschhofen .... 419-636-9214

Pat Goshorn ...................... 419-485-5007

Jim Hall ............................ 419-636-3067

David Meuleman ............... 419-782-4811

Fred Nott ........................... 419-636-6231

Don Shrider ....................... 419-551-0882

Tom Sprow ........................ 419-636-3962

Tom Tilton ......................... 419-636-6602

Yvette Zedaker .................. 419-630-5038

NEWS & NOTES is published 11 times a year by the Fir st Presbyter ian Church, ▪ 506 Oxford Drive, Bryan, OH 43506. ▪ Tele .# 419-636-4208. ▪ Fax # 419-636-8252.

▪ E-mail: bryanpres@firstpresbryan.org, ▪ Web site: www.firstpresbryan.org ▪ Staff: Rev. Barry Sweet, Pastor (barry506@firstpresbryan.org); Chris Combs, Children and Family Ministries Coordinator

(familycc@firstpresbryan.org); June Webster, Director of Music and Arts; Hyla Sharrock, Organist; Joanne Israel, Office Administrator; Mary Ann Peters, Financial Secretary (finsec@firstpresbryan.org); Robert Smith, Custodian.

June 1 – Tom Sprow 2 – Shirley Mikesell 5 – Jordan Spiess 6 – Ralph Beerbower 6 – Greyson Spangler 7 – Dee Brickel 7 – Lowell Frederick 8 – Jon Ely 15 – Neal Bever 16 – Taylor Zedaker 17 – Kathryn Martinez 18 – Josie Azzarello 19 – Casey Dwyer

20 – Janis Montgomery 21 – Anna Yahraus 22 – Julie Spangler 23 – Don Cravens 26 – Marjorie Culbertson 26 – Cameron Davies 28 – Tyler Hollabaugh 28 – Ryan Jones 30 – Patrick Azzarello

July 2 – Tyler Roushia

3 – Denny Winzeler 4 – Peyton Spiess 7 – Cliff Israel 7 – Jody Montgomery 7 – Nathan Sutter 9 – Sara Schaper 10 – Marty Killgallon 10 – Rhonda Shrider 14 – Michael Bird 16 – Joel Dwyer 21 – Morgan Killgallon 21 – Linda Robinson 26 – Dina Culler 26 – Jim Lowe Jr. 27 – Alex Lowe

28 – David Swanson 29 – Mel Clark

JJUNE-JULY BIRTHDAYS

JUNE –JULY ANNIVERSARIES

June 7 – Robert & Ann Harlow 7 – Randy & Linda Jewell 9 – Don & Sharon Patten 11 – Jon & Lori Ely 15 – Bob & Hyla Sharrock 17 – Jim and Fran Hall 24 – Stan and Connie Tipton 27 – Chris and Amber Combs 27 – Lowell & Betty Frederick 28 – Tim & Beth Hollabaugh 28 – Tyson and Jana Horton 30 – Tom and Jenella Tilton

July

4 – Cliff & Joanne Israel 5 – Robert & Cheryl Schlachter 11 – Harry & Marilyn Dalby 22 – Bill & Judy Shilling 23 – Mike & Julie Spangler 25 – Craig & Marjorie Buell 26 – Jody & Janis Montgomery 27 – Blake & Kathryn Rockey 27 – Don & Rhonda Shrider 27 – Lyndon & Dee Spiess 31 – Don & Carol Cravens 31 – Neal & Karen Murray-Bever

Please put these events on your calendar so you can plan to attend!

June 22-25 ---------------------VBS July 10-12 ----------------------Girl’s Awakening

July 17-19 ----------------------Boy’s Awakening August 31 ----------------------Committee Night for September September 10-13 ------------Men’s Great Banquet September 17-20 ------------Women’s Great Banquet September 28 -----------------Committee Night for October October 25 ---------------------Mission Sunday—

One worship service at 10:30am with Dessert Auction November 22 ------------------Community Thanksgiving service held here at First Presbyterian December 13 ------------------Christmas Program and dinner