The Salt Shaker

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Brian

Mark your calendars now to help us prepare for the fall season. All are invited to join us for a Church Clean-up Day, Saturday, August 23, 9:00 a.m.-12 noon.  Questions? Contact Larry Perry at 891-8014.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT this month is Leon Kutz.

Leon Kutz deserves the life-saving award for lawns. As a member of the Buildings and Grounds Ministry crew he was aware of the anemic condition of our turf and assumed the challenge of returning it to good health.

As anyone with a lawn knows, weeding, seeding, feeding and watering is a science. Too little or too much and the results are not good. Leon found the balance and not only is the lawn worthy of the name, but it met the challenge of Vacation Bible School and many little feet.

Thank you Leon for the hours you gave and continue to give so that PPC would have the beautiful, lush and, yes, strong grass we now have.

The Board of Deacons want to get the word out that we will provide delicious home-cooked meals until you can get back on your feet after you come home from the hospital. We'd love to deliver supper to your door, oven, table, or wherever you want it. So please don't hesitate to call Jill Ballou, 746-8769, for coordinating. The kitchen is open and the cooks are standing by! Dietary restrictions will be followed.
-Jill Ballou

Something new has been added. It's an FYI file available to anyone who wishes to take advantage of it. Networking is important whether looking for a job or hiring. The file-marked “FYI”- is located in the hallway with the church mail files. It is a place to put your resume or your help wanted information if you have a position to fill. Gashland Presbyterian Church has a similar system on their website and it has had good results. Check out www.gashland.org/joblink.htm .

Coming Sunday, August 17th: Our morning Worship in the Park (English Landing Park) summer service.

8:30-9:30 a.m. - We'll begin the morning with a pancake/sausage breakfast catered by Chris Cakes. The cost will be $4 per plate/person.

10:00-11:00 a.m. - We will hold our morning worship service in the Park. There will be only one worship service on this day and no Sunday School.

(In case of inclement weather, all will be held at the church, same times.) 

Are you an early riser? We need two or three people to meet the Chris Cakes crew at the park (or church if rainy) at 7:00 a.m. to help unload and set up equipment. If you could help with this, please contact Lisa Fowler (587-4715) as soon as possible!

Please mark your calendars and plan on attending this annual event. Watch for 
additional information and reminders in the weeks to come.
-Janet Walker

Last month we noticed a large increase in the number of children in the households being served. This would seem to indicate a greater need in families when children are not receiving reduced-cost or free school lunches. This month we need pancake mix, syrup, hamburger helper and canned meats. As always cash
donations and checks made out to SPEAC are welcome. Your support is appreciated!
-Ruby Berg

For those who were not able to come to our July 6 Worship Service and Ice Cream Social, you should know that we had a record attendance of 110, a great worship time and fun fellowsheep that elicited much laughter! We hope everyone will be able to join us for our next activity. Watch for additional information and reminders in the weeks to come.
-Janet Walker

Dear Parkville Presbyterian Church,

I would like to thank you again for all of the ways that you have touched my life. During this past year at seminary, I have frequently drawn on experiences I had while being a part of your family. As our seminary President spoke at our graduation ceremony, scenes from my time with you all passed through my head, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for you. From your initial letters through the reception last May, you have encouraged me in my ministry. Thank you! As I seek a call as an associate pastor, I will do so with added confidence and wisdom from my internship. May God bless you and keep you!
-Becky Capps

Note: Becky Capps was our 2001-02 seminary intern. She graduated in May from Princeton Theological Seminary.

I want to thank my Church family for all of the cards, calls, prayers and encouragement the past several months. After many hospital stays and tests, there is still no diagnosis for the internal bleeding. I received a pace-maker June 11, and except for the medication I am doing well. Again I want to thank everyone for their concern and support. A special thank you to Pastors Brian and Matt.
-Mary Lindsay

We would like to thank the Nurture & Stewardship Ministry Group, the staff, and all those who attended for such a wonderful farewell reception. Thank you not only for your presence, but for your generous gifts as well. We have been truly blessed by you, our church family. Thank you so much!
-Scott & Julie Phillips

The Worship Ministry Group is looking for volunteers to serve as worship assistants during the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services. If you would like to serve in this
important role in our church, please call Joyce Allen, 587-8486, by August 6.
-Joyce Allen

The date for the next Highway Cleanup is Saturday, August 16. The cleanup will be from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Those who are interested in participating should contact Rick Heiniger at 505-4310, or email Rick at rheiniger@rhs-inc.com . Rick will provide project details and instructions.

Amy Laws is our office assistant and will soon celebrate her first anniversary at Parkville Presbyterian Church. There are those who believe a prerequisite for the job is to have a voice that sounds like Peggy Pape's on the phone. (How many of you have been fooled?) Amy works 9:30-1:30, Tuesday through Friday.

Amy is originally from Wichita, Kansas, but is no stranger to Kansas City having lived here a total of 11 years. She and her husband, Cord, a Kansas City police officer, returned to the area a year ago after a five-year absence.

The center of the Laws' household is 3-year-old Lucas who "never stops talking," his mother says with a laugh. When time permits, Amy said she pretends she is a gardener. She is working hard at achieving the “green thumb” designation. Scrapbooking and reading are other interests and -many will relate to this-sitting, but has little time to indulge herself (Think about it: Have you ever wanted time to just "sit for a spell"?).

If you have not met Amy, drop by. She is in the office adjacent to Peggy's.
-Marte Zirschky

The 20s and 30s Group plans to study the book of Esther for the remainder of the summer during their Tuesday night Bible Study.  The group meets at 7:30 on Tuesday nights at various group members' homes.  Please contact either Britt Miller (584-9720, ksjhwkfan@hotmail.com) or Heather Reeves (468-1231, hatr77@hotmail.com ) if you are interested in the Bible Study or any future activities, or if you have any questions.  We hope to see you!
-Britt Miller

Office Manager Peggy Pape will be on vacation July 21 through August 1, returning to the office on Monday, August 4. The church office will be staffed during her absence by Amy Laws and Sylvia Gault. 

Pastor Ellison will be on vacation August 5-11, and on study leave August 12-17. Pastor Reeves will be available for all pastoral needs. 

Can you believe how fast the summer is going?! It's almost time for youth group to get started again. We have a few opportunities for service and fun planned as summer draws to a close.

First of all, all youth are invited to join in the Highway Cleanup scheduled for 
Saturday, August 16 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (I know it's early, but it should still be cool at that time!) This is a great chance to serve our community, and also to join with other people from the church. Call Rick Heiniger at 505-4310 for more information, or to let him know you're coming!

We will have Kickoff Pool Parties on Sunday, August 24:

Middle School will meet at the home of Russ & Dona Jones from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. for fun, snacks, games, and a good time together. See whether Sammie, Steven, or Pastor Poison will be restored to croquet greatness, and-more importantly-join in thinking about the year ahead for middle school ministry. All new 6th-graders are invited to attend!

Senior high will meet at the home of Jill Ballou from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. for dinner, swimming, and leisurely hanging out. Come see if Pastor Brian will again split his head open on the corner of Jill's cabana, and help us think about the year ahead for senior high. All new 9th-graders are invited!

Have fun going back to school! If you have any questions, or if you ever want to talk or hang out, give Pastor Brian a call at the church, 741-1641. 

Come Home Sunday, September 7
- Special worship, with the return of the chancel choir, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
- "Rally Day", the kickoff of the Church School year, 9:30 a.m.
- Lunch after church with fun musical surprises! Invite your friends, and plan now to join us in our annual celebration of being a place to call home!

Confirmation begins September 7
Please remember that even as church school continues all summer for K-8 students, we return to graded classes on September 7. This year, confirmation will begin September 7 and be offered during the church school hour every Sunday through April.  Students entering the eighth grade, and those who are older but have not yet been confirmed, will receive information soon. If you have questions, or have not received information by August 1, please contact Pastor Brian at the church. 

George Woodward was born October 18, 1819, in Gardiner, Maine. After his graduation from Bowdoin College in 1844, he taught school at Winchester, Pennsylvania, and there became a theology student of Dr. John Crowell. He came west as a missionary of the American Home Missionary Society and was ordained by the New School Presbytery of Missouri in 1849. In April of that year, he was sent to Weston, but he also began preaching at Parkville and soon concluded that he was most needed here. Organized four years earlier, the church no longer had anyone to preach and only three members remained. Although he continued to preach part-time in Weston, in November, he and his wife Cordelia moved to Parkville. 

After spending the winter with George and Eliza Park, the Woodwards moved into Parkville, but rents were considered excessive-as much as $100 annually, even for inferior accommodations. After moving three times during the next year, the decision was made to build a manse. It was to be of brick, the choice of building material recently used in the new school house, which was being shared as a place of worship by the Presbyterians and Methodists. Mr. Woodward dug the cellar and helped quarry the stone for its construction, and he also did all the painting. They had lived in their new home but a few months when Cordelia died in June of 1852, leaving him bereft and totally unprepared to care for their two children, two year old Mary Ella and five month old Roderick. A year later, he married Eliza Tylee, a widow from Weston, and they later had a daughter Emma.

George Woodward was installed as pastor here in December of 1852. While he considered himself blessed in many ways, no other pastor in the church's history endured more hardship and uncertainty in the course of their tenure. In addition to facing the same problems of frontier life that earlier missionaries encountered, he was witness to one of the most difficult periods in Parkville's history. Church membership increased significantly under his leadership, and he soon joined in Mr. Park's plans to establish a college here, but the community was in such a constant state of change that it was difficult to sustain their efforts. Death claimed many, and the lure of gold and land in the far west took away many others; but it was the opening of land for settlement in Kansas that caused the most turmoil and the most danger to him and to others. His life, already narrowly spared at least twice, once from illness and once from a riding accident, was threatened once again by the mob which threw Mr. Park's press in the river in April of 1855. Two days after this incident, he was to lose his daughter Mary Ella. Even though he was often without adequate support, he somehow managed to continue his ministry here for several more years. He eventually found it necessary to move his family to Leavenworth, and there he became pastor of First Presbyterian Church in 1863. He remained there until 1867, when problems with his throat caused him to give up preaching and he entered the insurance business. He followed that profession until his death at Leavenworth on April 1, 1892. 

Mr. Woodward had managed to carry on only limited work at Parkville after 1861, but he kept the church records with him until 1867 when he called together a small remnant of the church and urged them to make efforts to call a new pastor. It was also at that time that he finally asked for repayment of funds he had advanced for the building of the manse, which Mr. Park paid him. This debt eventually had some unexpected consequences, but that is another story. 
-Sylvia Gault

• Adult Bible Study, Mondays, August 11, 18 & 25  6:30 p.m.

Boards and Ministry Groups

You are invited to serve on any ministry group. For information, contact the moderator listed below.

• Session, Monday, August 4, 7:00p.m.

• Coordinating Committee, Wednesday, August 20, 6:15p.m.

• Building & Grounds Ministry Group, Tuesday, August 5, 7:00p.m., Larry Perry, 891-8617

• Christian Education Ministry Group, Tuesday, August 5, 6:00p.m., Lance Miller, 880-9701

• Nurture & Stewardship Ministry Group, Tuesday, August 12, 6:00p.m., Janet Walker, 741-4855

• Outreach Ministry Group, Tuesday, August 12, 7:00p.m., Warren Dudley, 505-9865

• Strategic Planning & Finance Ministry Group, Wednesday, August 13, 6:30p.m. Todd Jones, 505-7889

• Worship Ministry Group, Wednesday, August 6, 6:00p.m., Joyce Allen, 587-8486

Sunday Worship 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Church School: 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday Morning Prayers: 7:00 a.m.
Church Office: 816-741-1641/Fax: 816-741-1644
E-Mail: church@parkvillepresby.org

Salt Shaker published monthly by
Parkville Presbyterian Church
Peggy Pape, Editor
The Rev. Brian D. Ellison, Pastor
Deadline for next publication August 25, 4:00 p.m.

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