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 To access the monthly newsletter click on the following link ChurchChat June/July 2008.  Please be patient while it loads. You might try counting your blessings!

Whitelick Youth Sunday Programs for 2008-2009

The school year is quickly approaching! Labor Day is just around the corner. Here is what Whitelick’s Youth Disciple Ministry Team (YDMT) will be offering youth in 2008-2009.

Family Worship is held the second Sunday of each month. During the 10:30 a.m.

Family Worship Service we ask children, tweens and high school youth to volunteer as greeters and acolytes.

The 2008-2009 Youth Sunday programs will kick-off on Sunday, September 21 during the 10:30 a.m. service. This year Whitelick will offer the following programs:

 Nursery – infants through age 3
 Children – ages 4 through grade 3
 Tweens – grades 4 through 8
 Snak-N-Yak – grades 9 through 12

The children’s program is a Bible story based program called Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith. The program is interactive and helps children develop a personal relationship with Jesus. The program includes activities, Bible time, songs and prayer. The program includes a website for parents and children to explore together during the week.

The Youth Disciple Ministry Team (YDMT) is pleased to announce a Tweens program this year. Rock Solid for the tweens in transition program will be used. The program is interactive, includes Bible time and Bible word games and puzzles. The program includes Faithzine, a tween magazine containing thought provoking and timely articles in a contemporary format.

The Snak-N-Yak program will utilize discussion questions on such topics as: Who am I?, Where is God When Life Gets Rough?, How to be Faithful and Still Be Cool, Values, How to Manage My Time, Rights and Responsibilities, and much, much more! The teens will review a list of many topics and select the ones they are most interested in discussing. Each topic is divided into two or three sessions. In order to have a successful youth program, we need volunteers. The YDMT has prepared detailed teacher guides that include scripted lessons, activities, copies of the song lyrics and prayer. Preparation time is estimated to be about 20 minutes per lesson. A signup sheet is posted on the children’s bulletin board along with a sample guide. Each teacher will be given a folder for his/her assigned lesson containing all the materials needed. Volunteers may pick up his/her folder prior to the lesson. The Snak-N-Yak program requires a discussion facilitator. The facilitator will receive the discussion topic and suggested questions via email. Very little preparation is required. However, the facilitator will be asked to provide a 2-liter bottle of cola and a snack for about eight teens.

There will be a Teacher Orientation meeting for all interested volunteers on Sunday, August 10 immediately following second service. We will meet in the Choir Room. The meeting will last approximately 45 minutes. Handouts will be provided. Come prepared to ask questions and volunteer for one or more lessons during the 2008-2009 program years. Adults of all ages are encouraged to volunteer.

Get Real Ministries for middle school and high school youth throughout Hendricks County will resume when school is back in session. Contact Kendra Mallory for details.

Watch/listen for more about youth events and activities for 2008-2009 in future issues of Church Chat, Minutes for Mission and on the youth bulletin boards in the hallway.

Please feel free to contact Beth McGuire at 837-8666 or beth688@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions or would like additional information.

Adult Discipleship Opportunities

2008 Summer Offerings Adult Discipleship

Sunday Morning Coffee  Conversations
Continuing our journey as lifelong learners of Jesus

August Coffee Conversations

August 3rd - Where does my recycling go? What happens after the curbside pick up of your recycled materials? What do they do with it? Is it worth my time to save all this trash?

August 10 - Farming in the 21st Century - This is not Grandpa’s farm. Modern technology and farming practices emphasize good land stewardship while keeping the American farmer the most productive in the world. How do they do it? Devon Jackson serves as discussion leader. Devon shares how he takes advantage of good land management principles to keep his farmland productive and protect the environment.

August 17 -Challenges of Compression - Do our historical business and economic practices render us incompetent to cope with 21st century problems? We have discussed this issues all summer. Dr. Robert "Doc" Hall directs this session as we turn our attention to what new work organizations - and we - can do about it. The challenge: As an advanced industrial society - can we use less than half the global energy, half the virgin raw materials, and zero toxic releases yet maintain our quality of life?

August 24th Creating an Environmental Credo—Part 1 A look at the PCUSA policies on our environment as reaffirmed by the 218th General Assembly. The Presbyterian Church has been actively involved in environmental issues going back into the 1980s. Our summer VBS study booklet was produced by Presbyterians for Restoring Creation. What direction can PCUSA provide to WPC as we consider our next steps as God’s stewards?

August 31st We are God’s Stewards.Creating an Environmental Credo—Part 2 This open group discussion will bring together all of the issues we have discussed this summer. Which have direct application and can be implemented by us? As a class we will challenge each other and the WPC congregation to become better stewards by creating an environmental stewardship credo. It is our hope that everyone will be able to commit to at least one new action tohelp protect God’s World.

September Coffee Conversations

Sept. 7:  We are God’s Stewards. 

This group discussion will bring together all of the issues we have discussed this summer.  As a class we will challenge each other and the WPC congregation through creating an environmental stewardship credo.  It is our hope that everyone will be able to commit to at least one new action to help protect God’s World.

 Sept. 14: Call for Action.  We will put the finishing touches on the draft developed last week and discuss strategies for implementation within the congregation.

 Sept. 21: Kick off Sunday

Stewardship in Action:  Peace Corps

It is the world’s most vulnerable population—children, elderly, and those living in poverty—who face the physical impacts of changing social, economic and environmental conditions.  What is our Christian responsibility?.  Dee Johnston talks about one option—joining the Peace Corps.

Sept. 28: Where is our Passion?

What social, economic, and environmental justice issues are we passionate about?  Which ones impact who we vote for? Glenn Santner leads this discussion session to set the topics for exploring the candidates’ positions during October. 

October Coffee Conversations Preview

How can the church promote social righteousness in a society that is not always interested in what the church has to say and does not always notice what the church does?

from PCUSA “The Great Ends of the Church”, study paper.

Living God’s Word in the Political System.

A look at the candidates from the perspectives of their faith and their approach to the social, economic and environmental issues that are important to us at WPC.

To learn about current adult discipleship opportunities at Whitelick Presbyterian Church, check for announcements:

• Sunday church bulletin

• Monthly Church Chat newsletter

• Adult Discipleship bulletin board in the hallway

GREAT BANQUET INFORMATION

You are invited to be a guest at the Great Banquet given by God and to feast on His goodness and love.

What is The Great Banquet? The focus of the Great Banquet is to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and to make Him known. The Great Banquet is a 72-hour experience, beginning on Thursday evening and ending on Sunday evening. For three days, guests live and study together in a worshipful time of singing, prayer and discussion. During each of fifteen talks given by laity and clergy, the theme of God’s grace is presented. Guests participate in the daily celebration of Holy Communion and examine more fully the presence of Christ in His body of believers. They personally experience His grace through the prayers and acts of a loving, Christian support community. Who should attend the Great Banquet?

This weekend experience is for anyone who:
1. Wishes to strengthen his/her own spiritual life;
2. Wants to have a better understanding of prayer, the sacraments, study and Christian action;
3. Strives to live a Christian life that bears fruit for God;
4. Seeks to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and to make Him known:
5. Willingness to participate in monthly 4th Sunday Community prayers at Whitelick.

Sponsorship Contacts If you would like more information or would like to attend, please contact any of the following: Mary Mitchell, Mat Bryant, Beth Laycock, Beth McGuire, Amy Chambliss, Diane Buxton, John Eichinger or Ginny Sheets.

Fall Dates
Men’s Great Banquets:
Connection Point Christian Church, Brownsburg: September 18-21 Zionsville Presbyterian: October 2-5
Second Presbyterian, Indianapolis: October 30-November 2
New Hope Presbyterian, Fishers: November 6-9

Women’s Great Banquets:
Connection Point Christian Church, Brownsburg: October 2-5Zonsville Presbyterian: October 16-19
Second Presbyterian, Indianapolis: November 13-16
New Hope Presbyterian, Fishers: November 20-23

 Campanions in Christ

One of the core curriculum courses for WPC Adult Discipleship Ministry is Companions in Christ.  Companions in Christ affords a small group experience in spiritual formation.  This course is produced by Upper Room Ministries and consists of five separate modules.  Module #1 Embracing the Journey: The Way of Christ is being offered as a Lenten study.  Other modules will follow later in the year as requested by participants. 

Companions in Christ is for spiritually hungry persons who seek a deeper experience of God in company with others in the Christian community.  It is a study for people who want to explore afresh the basic disciplines of faith and the pathways of lifelong growth in Christ.  Companions assumes participants have a basic familiarity with the Bible, however, it is for persons willing to hear scripture in new ways, experience prayer in different dimensions and reflect on Christ’s call in your life. 

Sign up in the Adult Discipleship Room 1.

Presbyterian Women also studying Genesis
In the Beginning: Perspectives on Genesis is the year long study for PW. Less intensive than either of the Disciple classes, each lesson centers on a segment of scripture around a particular topic. All women are invited to participate in PW which meets at 7:00 p.m. the third Monday of every month. Bring your favorite Bible to accompany the study guide which can be obtained from Beth Harmon or Diana Kirby.


Bible and Book Studies: Short duration studies of your choice
Have you always wanted to study a certain book of the Bible? There are a variety of excellent study guides available at any Christian bookstore. Is there a particular book or Christian author that would provide excellent discussion material? Bring your ideas and suggestions.
 

Church Activities

Adult Discipleship Ministry Team
Could Use Your Help
Our offerings for adult education continue to grow. In the Wildwood Café the team has posted a banner highlighting the areas where the team has chosen to serve: Faith Forming; Disciple Making; Ministry/Mission Moving; Tools for Daily Living; Developing Leaders and Teachers; and, Serving Special Needs.

Come join the team as we can use more help to develop the offerings of interest to you. You don’t need to teach a class, but be willing to contribute time and ideas.  If you are currently not a member of another ministry team, here is your chance to become active and get to know other adults at WLPC. Need more information? Contact Ginny Sheets at 852-5514 or e-mail chief1946vas@msn. com.