“RAKE ‘EM UP” FALL CLEAN-UP
Saturday, December 11
Beginning at 9:00am
On Saturday, December 11, we are planning to spruce up the church grounds. We need volunteers to supply the muscle and skill! The work will involve leaf raking and removal. We will start work at 9:00am and plan to finish no later than 12:00noon – so, come whenever you can and stay as long as you can. We will provide some breakfast snacks (no lunch this year due to COVID-19). Please bring leaf rakes, leaf blowers, tarps, large garbage cans, gloves and pick-up trucks. Contact Rich Goodwin (509-780-3410) or richg@congopres.org with questions.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Tuesday, December 28
12:00noon – 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall
Our church is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive. Anyone wishing to donate will need to go online to schedule a donation time at www.RedCrossBlood.org. Navigate to the blood drive scheduled for our church on that date and then pick an open time you wish to donate. Plan on 30-45 minutes for your donation, and we will have refreshments for you following your donation.
Please be assured that every precaution will be taken through the implementation of strict Covid-19 protocols.
Covid-19 has presented some real challenges this year for the Red Cross and blood donations. The Red Cross remains very much in need of whole blood. Your thoughtful donation at this time will be very much appreciated. If you have any questions regarding the blood drive please contact Jim Schroeder at (208) 553-1112. Thank you!
COVID-19 Operational Plan Update
August 11, 2021
Dear Church Family,
In May of this year, the Board of our church approved the following COVID-19 Operational Plan:
1. Wearing a mask is optional in worship and at all church activities. Masks and hand-sanitizer will be available in the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall.
2. In Worship, we will serve communion (with a few tweaks to enhance health and safety) and offer Young Disciples’ Time. We will continue our practice of not having materials in the pew racks, and we will not pass the offering plate. Offerings can be placed in the Offering Boxes at the rear of the Sanctuary.
3. Fellowship Time after worship will take place in Fellowship Hall with food and beverages offered by masked and gloved servers at the kitchen counter.
At their meeting last night, the Board decided to continue our current Operational Plan. In addition, some of our ministry programs that normally begin in September will be put “on hold” for the time being, and one-time in-person events will be postponed.
We encourage everyone who would like to wear a mask in worship or while participating in a ministry activity to do so, and the livestreaming of our worship services will continue.
This Operational Plan complies with the current “Stage 4 of the State of Idaho and Department of Health and Welfare Stay Healthy Guidelines.” Should State guidelines change, we will amend our plan accordingly.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Steve
Programs
Programs marked with an ** have been put “on hold” for the time being
Senior Exercise – Welcomes everyone on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, 9:00-9:45am in Fellowship Hall for low-impact exercise according to the “Fit and Fall Proof” method.
Women’s Association – We meet the second Monday of the month, 10am-12noon in Fellowship Hall. All women of the church are invited for fellowship, refreshments, a devotion led by one of our ladies, and a study on the Parables of Jesus led by Pastor Steve Wilbraham.
Monday Evening Women’s Bible Study – This study meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, 6:45-7:45pm downstairs in the Administration Building. Our current study is “The Fruit of the Spirit.”
Deep Roots: Theology for Today – Join Pastor McLane on Tuesdays at 3:00pm in the Chapel for a reading of important Christian texts aimed at enriching our lives today. Questions? Contact Pastor McLane at mclanes@congopres.org
Wednesday Men’s Bible Study – Meets weekly with Pastor Steve in Fellowship Hall, 6:45 – 7:45am. Join us for good fellowship around God’s Word as we study the book of Romans, and enjoy coffee and donuts.
**Wednesday in the Word – Join us every Wednesday with Pastor Steve, 12:00-1:00pm in the Chapel, as he leads our discussion of the coming Sunday’s scripture passage.
**MidWeek – Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00pm meeting in Fellowship Hall. Pastors Steve and McLane are teaching a Wednesday evening series on “Important Themes for Understanding and Reading Scripture” including such topics as Generosity, the Tree of Life, Justice, and the Day of the Lord.
Friday Morning Women’s Bible Study – We meet weekly on Fridays, 10-11am in the Chapel. All women are welcome to join. Jean Allen, 208.746.0557, coordinates this study.
**DivorceCare – Sundays, 3:00-4:30pm meeting in Fellowship Hall. DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone. For additional information, contact Loa Vornholt at 509-295-3930; www.divorcecare.org.
Food Bank Sunday – On the third Sunday of each month we invite our congregation to bring food to Fellowship Hall and place it in the shopping cart. The food is delivered to the Lewiston “Community Action Food Bank” located at 124 New Sixth Street where those in need can go and be served.
Pastor Steve’s Annual Report Letter for 2020
Dear Church Family,
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” The opening line of Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities, seems an apt summary of this past year, easily the most unusual of my forty years in ministry. It was the best of times because, as a church, we ministered with one another in new and innovative ways without losing the foundational strength of who we are as the people of God who seek to love him and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It was the worst of times because the reality of COVID-19 kept us from being able to come together as we have in the past, limiting our interactions with each other and, for some, eliminating person-to-person contact altogether.
We learned about live stream and social distancing. We wore masks and practiced hygienic precautions. We stopped meeting, for a while, and then slowly and carefully found ways to be together, albeit with limits. And, through it all, we looked to the Lord to guide and encourage us along the way, and he blessed us as a congregation.
I want to thank the staff of our church for their faithful and caring stewardship of our life together during this difficult year. Associate Pastor McLane Stone took the lead on all things technical. He spearheaded the research and implementation of our live stream worship capability, learned the intricacies of video editing software, and did the work of providing weekly worship service recordings for our congregation. Beth Katzenberger guided our music ministry, blessing us with her vocal and instrumental leadership. Kelly Paynter showed us how to safely do ministry with our children, creating fun and innovative learning environments for our young ones.
Kathy Johnson, our Administrator, retired in April after serving our church for more than 25 years. This brought Lisa Huddleston onto our staff, and she has guided the finances of our church ably and effectively during these uncertain times. Also leaving our staff this past year was Jim McCracken, our Director of Senior Adult Ministry, when he took a position with Union Gospel Mission in Spokane. The job was more than ably filled by Mike Gabby as he returned to his former position of leading the ministry with our seniors. Rich Goodwin, our Facility Manager, continued his steady and insightful work on the maintenance and renovation of our church buildings and vehicles.
Our two secretaries, Anna Bruce and Bobbi Jo Sinner, also experienced significant changes to the way in which they did their work of supporting the ministries of our church, as did our custodian, Rich Kaiser. While office routines were altered and ministry needs changed, they remained flexible and always willing to do their very best for the church.
Leading our church during this complex year were the committed women and men of our Board. Dedicated to the ministry of our church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ who alone is Head of the Church, they guided us through the various stages of COVID-19 restrictions, making decisions for how best to provide ministry and service to our congregation and community, while maintaining high standards for health and safety. Often difficult decisions were made after prayerful and respectful discussions as they sought to “be the church” while they did the work of the church.
I am encouraged as I look to the coming year. We are a congregation of faithful, caring people who truly enjoy ministering together. Our church has a strong spiritual foundation on which God is building: we honor and study the Word of God, we practice prayer in our daily lives, we consider mission and outreach a priority, and we are committed to supporting all in our church – from the youngest to the oldest. While we may not know what the year will hold, we do know that our lives are in God’s hands. I am glad you are a part of our church family!
Yours in Christ, Pastor Steve