Birthdays &
Anniversaries
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If we don't have
your birthday or anniversary date, or if it is incorrect,
please call the office,
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3 Val Chandler
4 Bruce Towle
Marcia Grzybowski
5 Michael Hibbs
7 Sandi Hepworth
Shane Chandler
9 Sharon McConnell
10 Bob Shuell
11 Mike Anderson
Rachon Hanson
12 Megan DeMoss
19 Kimmy Kelly
22 Gus Jeffries
Zona Rueppel
Shawn Templet
27 Rick Wuitschick
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10 Tim & Kimmy Kelly
18 Cody & Beth Jeffries
24 Shawn & Kristin Templet
25 Mick & Betsy Hemphill
26 Bob & Wendee Shuell
30 Jim & Janice Tooley
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SPC Patrick Walker
Army
Fort Carson, CO
SPC Gus Jeffries
National Guard
Deployed
1st LT Tom Roller
Air Force
has been deployed
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Dear Church,
I wanted to let you know about worship for my remaining time with you. I’ve thought quite a bit about what I want to share with you before I depart. These transitions can be very rich times, and I feel compelled to take advantage of the opportunity.
On May 30, I want to share with you 5 Quintessential Orchards Moments. These are experiences I have had with you that have shown me who you are at your core. I am humbled and amazed at this list of experiences.
On June 6, I’ll share my final Communion with you. On that Sunday, I want to talk to you about the Mission Field. As we are slowly emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, new challenges to our community are also emerging. What is the Church’s role in this next era?
On June 13, I want to share with you what your Mission as a congregation has meant to me. I wasn’t the one who came up with Love God, Love People, Serve Both. But I have been sent on a better path of faith as a result. Perhaps you can see yourselves a bit more clearly through how your Mission has changed
me.
June 20 is my final Sunday with you. I’ll share a brief farewell address. While I still don’t want to leave, I also feel great anticipation for this particular message. It’s not all complete, by any means. But I know what the essence will be, and I look forward to sharing with you.
June 27 will feature a guest preacher. We’ll share more information with you as that date gets closer.
Rev. Jessie Conner will begin as your new pastor July 1 with July 4 being her first Sunday with you.
As a pastor, I have always relied on the prayerfulness of the congregation. I ask that you continue this as our family prepares to leave. Also, please begin praying for Pastor Jessie and her husband Thomas as they are preparing to arrive.
I look forward to worshiping with you these final few weeks.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Christopher
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Dear Orchards Family,
I need to inform you of an situation that is becoming more serious as the year progresses. It has to do with church finances.
For the budget for 2021 we planned on significant reductions due to the effect of the Covid pandemic. We really are grateful for everything that you have been able to contribute during these trying times. However we are running short of our projections so far for this year creating a shortage for our income to operate the church. Also as we prepare to welcome our new pastor, there are additional expenses we did not originally plan on for the relocation.
The church budget has two sides that we look at. The Operating Budget and the Balance Sheet which details Designated Giving. We have a healthy amount of funds in the Balance Sheet, but these funds can only be used for their designated purposes in most cases. It is in our Operating budget that we are seeing the effect of the shortfall in planned giving. This is the budget that pays for the ongoing expenses such as salaries, benefits, office expenses, utilities and maintenance for the parsonage, annex and the church as well as funds for our programs. If we have to make more cuts, then it is the maintenance funds and programs that will be affected. Even with making more cuts to these areas, we are looking at needing additional funds to break even for the year. I expect that could be at least $12,000 by the end of the year.
So what I am asking is that if you are in a position to give a little more over the rest of the year, it would be appreciated. We don't want to stress your family budgets, family comes first, but if there is a chance you can donate a little more in your ongoing pledges it will make a difference. There have been conversations about selling the parsonage, but that decision won't really be a factor for the rest of this year. So it is up to us to find a way to met our regular expenses.
Again, thank you for everything you have already have given. This is not easy news to tell, but I think it is my obligation to keep you informed of the financial status of the church.
Your servant,
Mike Anderson
Finance
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Tuesday Evening Centering Prayer Life Group
Our Tuesday Evening Life Group continues to meet via Zoom on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Starting on June 1st and running through August 3rd, we’ll be using Richard Rohr’s book Immortal Diamond: The Search for Our True Self for conversation starters. Immortal Diamond is available here.
What is Centering Prayer?
Very simply, in Centering Prayer our intention is to consent to God’s presence and action within us. To do this, we sit in silence, and we choose a word to help remind ourselves of our intention. And when thoughts or distractions come up, and they always do, we silently repeat our word internally as a reminder of our intention to consent to God being present within us and working within us. When we find that we’ve become distracted or wandered off into our thoughts again, and we always do, we silently repeat our word to bring ourselves back to our intention. It’s like saying to a friend, “Oh – where were we?” after being distracted in a conversation. In this prayer we are intentionally opening ourselves up to God. It’s a prayer of intention.
I like Centering Prayer because I don’t have to think of what to say to God. I just keep opening myself up to God’s presence and action within me. Centering Prayer gives us a way to take a step back from our constant mental commentary – our thoughts and distractions, and to be present with God who is always present right here within us, right now.
Our Tuesday Evening Life Group keeps a focus on Centering Prayer. However, Centering Prayer is something you can do whether you participate in a Life Group or not. For more information on Centering Prayer come join us for an evening, or check it out at https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-method/
Tuesday Life Group
Please consider giving our Tuesday Evening Life Group a try even if you’re just curious and don’t want to commit to attending regularly. You can easily join in the conversation without the book at any time, even if you can only attend once or occasionally. We have some great conversations.
If you’d like to receive the Zoom link, please email me at rodallen42@gmail.com or give me a call at 360 609-7832.
Thanks!
Rod Allen
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Dear Church Family,
Thank you so much for all the help you have given me this past year! -- Wendy Lawson
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As things open and change, please keep an eye on your email for the latest updates from the church.
I will do my best to set up Sign-Ups for in person Worship as well as ZOOM worship a month at a time so you can use one link all month long.
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- We also have applications and information flyers located on the bulletin board in the office lobby.
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