MAY 2015 THE NEWSLETTER OF BOULEVARD PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Senior Pastor Search Session Makes Recommendation By Jon Recker, Elder During the last few weeks the search committee reviewed and ranked our top four candidates, each of whom had gone through at least two rounds of phone interviews. All of these men are excellent pastors, so in order to tighten our focus the committee created a standardized "score sheet" to rank each candidate's strengths and weaknesses. The categories we evaluated were those listed in the job description drafted by the Session (preaching, teaching, shepherding, administration, etc.) Members of the search committee individually scored each of the four pastors, then we all met to compare our assessments. This process revealed two men who clearly stood out as our top candidates, so the committee asked each of them to participate in a third interview focused primarily on theology. We quizzed them on their personal theological beliefs, their thoughts on the doctrine and practices of Boulevard Park, and how they would approach numerous hot-button subjects in the modern church. These were the longest and most intense interviews to date, and the committee came away with a very solid understanding of each pastor’s theology. While both men are outstanding pastors, the committee concluded that one candidate would clearly be a better fit for Boulevard Park. Although he is currently serving on the mission field, God had providentially arranged for him to be in the Seattle area during April, and even to be guest-preaching at a local church. The full committee was therefore able to hear him preach in person and to spend time meeting with him and his wife. So after two intense months of investigation, discussion, and prayer, the committee decided to recommend this candidate to the Session. After reviewing his application materials, past sermons, and several glowing letters of recommendation, the Session invited him to an in-person interview on April 22. After a wide-ranging interview of nearly three hours, the full Session voted unanimously to recommend Pastor Bud Diener as the next Senior Pastor at Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church. Bud, his wife Teresa, and their five children have a long history in the northwest. He joined the staff of Overlake Christian Church as a pastoral intern in 1983, became the youth pastor in 1985, and then in 1989 planted Evergreen Church in Sammamish. Pastor Bud served as the senior pastor at Evergreen for 18 years, during which time he also led multiple short-term mission trips focused on training pastors overseas. In 2007 God called Bud to move to South Africa to train pastors, teach, preach, and share the Gospel. Due to changes in South African immigration law his ministry there will soon be coming to a close, and both the search committee and the Session believe that God has called him to Boulevard Park at just the right time. According to our Constitution, the final step in calling a pastor is approval by the congregation. The Session has invited Pastor Bud to preach during the worship service on June 7, and a congregational meeting will follow. If approved by the congregation, we expect Bud to join us full-time in early fall. It will take a few months for him to wrap up affairs in South Africa and move back to Washington, but we expect a smooth transition and will be in communication with him during the summer. The search committee and Session thank you for your continued prayers. Please join us in giving praise to God who has proven Himself “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine!” (Eph. 3:20). To hear a recent sermon that Pastor Bud preached at Christ’s Church in Federal Way, go to CCFW.org and find the sermon tab. Select Audio Only and look for Bud Diener on April 12. Other Resources: www.analogiascriptura.com (blog) twitter.com/BudDiener (twitter) mattersoftruth.org (South Africa Mission) The Session has invited Pastor Bud Diener to preach during the worship service on Sunday, June 7. Marc's Remarks Jars of Clay By Pastor Marc Boulevard Park Press May 2015 Published Monthly by Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church 1822 S 128th Street Burien, Washington 98168-2903 Phone:206-243-2600 E-mail:[email protected] Website:http://www.bppc.org Pastor: Marc Gronholz Worship Service: Sunday at 10:15 a.m. Press Staff Editor: Eva Lee Henderson Reporter: Ellyn Roe Photography: Celeste Christensen Proofreader: Peggie Recker The Press is available in color on the church website. June Deadline: May 15 Phone 206-988-3918 E-mail: [email protected] does extraordinary things in and through an I’ve had the privilege of officiating at three ordinary clay pot, God gets the glory. memorial services over the past month, inPaul goes on: 8“We are hard pressed on cluding the service for my sister Melanie who finally succumbed to complications from the every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not West Nile Virus that she contracted about six in despair; struck down, but not destroyed.” years ago. I’ve been impressed all over again Life feels like that sometimes. We are “hard with how both incredible and fragile our pressed” but “not crushed” because we know bodies are. We have the God-given ability to that “God is our refuge and strength, a very do so many things, yet are so susceptible to present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). We become devastating micro-organisms. We are indeed “perplexed,” often asking, “Why, God?” “fearfully and wonderfully made.” But “not despairing” because we know that On top of that, “Christ dwells in (our) “in all things God works together for good…” hearts through faith” (Eph. 3:17) and “through (Rom. 8:28). And sometimes we are “struck us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the down” – by disease, by death, by persecution knowledge of Him” (2 Cor. 2:14). So God uses (as evident with ISIS) – but “not destroyed” these fragile creations of His to communicate because we look forward to heaven and His love and His grace and His glory “among eternity. those who are perishing” (2 Cor. 2:15). This “16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though prompts the Apostle Paul to then write this in outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we 2 Cor. 4:7-18): are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light 7 “ But we have this treasure in jars of clay and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” to show that this all-surpassing power is from My sister experienced that. There were times God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on when she felt hard pressed with pain and every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in 9 bleakness. There despair; persecuted, were times when but not abandoned; struck down, but not When God does extraordinary things she was perplexed, “Why, God?” destroyed...” in and through an ordinary clay pot, asking She was certainly He says, “we God gets the glory. struck down – have this treasure confined to a bed in jars of clay.” What and motorized is this treasure? wheel chair and at the mercy of her care givers. The treasure is nothing less than Jesus Christ But she didn’t lose heart. She experienced Himself. “But we have this treasure in jars of God’s love and grace and mercy each day. clay…” This treasure of Jesus and his transMelanie knew that these “light and momentary forming power and the privilege of sharing the troubles were achieving for (her) an eternal glory gospel is wrapped up in these bodies of flesh that far outweighs them all.” She’s experiencing and bones which are “jars of clay” – they are that “eternal glory” right now. fragile, and they break easily, and certainly So how is your “jar of clay”? Don’t forget they are not much to look at – more true for it contains a “treasure” – Jesus Himself. And some than others. Why would God put such God calls us to share this treasure, wrapped a valuable treasure in such delicate containin these jars of clay, with a world that is ers? Paul says, “to show that this all-surpassing “perishing” so that He gets the glory – even power is from God and not from us.” You see, when we are hard pressed, perplexed and if this treasure were in a Ming Dynasty vase struck down. These things we are going (pronounced “vause”), the focus and attention through result in “eternal glory”. So do not would be on the vase itself – not the treasure lose heart. inside. The vase gets the glory. But when God 2 May 2015 Boulevard Park Press Tending the Flock Encouragement and Exhortation By Siggi Finnsson, Elder We as a church have just gone through an assessment led by Dr. Gordon Penfold from Fresh Start Ministries and assisted by Pastor Tom Schiave from Gateway Church in Portland, Oregon. We appreciate the fact that about half the congregation participated by completing a survey and many took time to be interviewed by Gordon and Tom. Pastor Gordon preached on Christ’s vision which included “Seeking and Saving the Lost” (Luke 19:1-10); “Serving and Giving His Life a Ransom” (Mark 10:45); His objective – “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10); and the eternal consequences – “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Pray (Philippians 2:9-11). Pastor Gordon then shared his findings. There was encouragement and exhortation: We as a congregation place a high value on the Word of God; we love our church and have a passion to reach the world and community with the gospel; we are a welcoming and caring people who have a strong commitment to volunteerism. But like the majority of churches in America (80-85%), our attendance and membership are declining. We are getting older and the younger generation is not well represented. Communication within our body needs to be improved. There is, however, great hope and we as elders feel very encouraged and excited about what the future holds. In particular this will include prayer, and we ask everyone to join us in that. We as a congregation need to discuss the findings, and with that in mind we are planning opportunities such as round table discussions. Be expecting invitations and further communication along those lines. Meet Your Elder Siggi Finnsson was born in Iceland and by the age of ten, had lived in Denmark, Switzerland and Iceland. He has a couple of engineering degrees and has worked for two different companies in his career. He’s currently in his 20th year with Digital Control, an electronics engineering and manufacturing company which is involved in underground utility construction. Siggi has been married for twenty-six years to Lisa, a faculty member in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program of Green River Community College. They have three children, Karl who is a senior at WSU studying Computer Science, Emma, a freshman at WSU focusing on Mechanical Engineering and Tomas, a sophomore at Decatur High School. Siggi has been at BPPC since 1996 and has been an elder since 2009. This is his second term on Session where his specific responsibility is serving on the business committee. Siggi enjoys reading history and biographies and enjoys traveling. He still continues to play football of the round ball variety which he has done for most of his life. with us Gracious God, Our Heavenly Father, Our hearts cry out to You in pain for persecuted Christians around the world. The images of Your followers being killed because they love You are chilling, yet we are inclined toward forgetfulness and complacency because such severe persecution has not yet happened in America. Quicken our hearts to pray consistently for your Church to be strong in the persecution You told us we should expect. We ask for Your perfect and complete comfort for the loved ones of those martyred. We ask these things in the name of Your Son, Whose Name will be proclaimed in every nation. Amen. If you would like to share a brief prayer that we can pray as a congregation, please contact the Press editor. Prayer-Walking the Talk By Gail James Since filling out the questionnaire in early April from Fresh Start Ministries and then hearing what was said by Dr. Gordon Penfold, I have been praying and asking the Lord what more He wants me to be doing at BPPC and in the surrounding community. It was pressed upon my heart to offer to others what I am currently doing in my own neighborhood. I am taking the Perspectives Class and have been led to pray walk in my Fourth Avenue South neighborhood. The Lord has started opening doors and opportunities and I’ve had some talks, which have been very interesting to say the least. It is exciting for me to be used by God to spread His love in my own little community. If you are interested in pray walking your own neighborhood, I would be happy to join you. Please give me a call at 206-935-1710 and let’s go win our neighbors for Christ. Boulevard Park Press May 2015 3 Youth Update Missionaries on the Move! To All Parents and Friends of Youth! On April 23, 2015, BPPC New Tribes missionaries Noe and Lisa Martinez with daughters Naya and Jocie moved into the Tigak tribe in Papua New Guinea. Their life work there will be translation, church planting and discipleship. 2018 or later will likely be their first furlough back to the US. They would love to hear from you! (A Lot!) To mail cards or packages to PNG, contact Ellyn Roe [email protected] 206-242-2571 (turn page sideways for email and social media options) Youth and leaders are still gathering regularly on Sundays at 6 p.m. for Youth Group. If you know a junior high or high school student who may be looking for some Christian community, please invite them to Youth Group! We plan to continue gathering during the summer months (likely Wednesday evenings) for things like barbecues, bon-fires, local adventures, music, small-group discussion, storytelling and more. Obviously we want students to invest their summer with an eternal perspective in mind – not waste it. If you'd like to receive my emails about youth activities and opportunities, please email me at [email protected]. By Craig Hall How you can be praying for us: [email protected]; [email protected]; (Lisa) [email protected], https://www.facebook.com/groups/noeandlisa/ https://www.facebook.com/lisa.martinez.10441?fref=ts http://shecanlaugh31.blogspot.com/ (Lisa’s Blog) The majority of Boulevard's young disciples are in 7th, 8th and 10th grade. Please pray for wisdom that we might understand which experiences or ministries will most clearly and contextually point them to Jesus. A few of us are planning to join Young Life for a High School Discipleship weekend at their Malibu property in B.C. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would transform young hearts with a desire to love and trust Jesus and to not conform to the spirt of this world. We also plan to travel across the mountains for an all-youth group camping trip. Not scheduled until July, we still have many things to plan and friends to invite! Lastly, please be in prayer for those who are preparing for a trip to serve this summer for a week with Mexico Caravan Ministries. Please pray both for the lives of those we will help, and also that our own perspectives would be changed so that through this experience many more would be emboldened to leave their comfortable bubbles and engage the lost for Christ. Ed. Note: Please note information on page 8 regarding plans for graduation at BPPC. Sorting Things Out Spring Fling! By Becca Cantrell Come one, come all for our Spring Fling on Saturday, June 6, from 1–3 p.m.! With activities and games for families and kids both young and old, this outdoor event is a perfect opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors for some fellowship and fun. Gospel presentations will be scattered throughout the afternoon so that all who come can encounter the great story of Jesus’ love. If this sounds like something up your alley, we’re looking for volunteers to help make this outreach event a success! Contact Becca Cantrell at 480-250-6542 or becca. [email protected] for more information. 4 May 2015 Boulevard Park Press By Kathy Rainey Our church housekeepers do a superb job of keeping our kitchens well-stocked, clean and organized. We need to do our part intentionally by sorting food scraps from general garbage whenever we use the kitchens. There is a clearly-labeled container for food scraps. Please use it to dispose of all items listed below. None of those items is to be placed in the garbage cans. The housekeepers appreciate your attention to this important detail. Food Scraps Are Yard Waste, Not Garbage fruits vegetables bread pasta grains eggshells nutshells fish meat dairy shells bones tea bags coffee grounds coffee filters Care Net It’s Almost Baby Bottle Time! Milestones By Ellyn Roe Dedicated Mariners’ fans (not mentioning any names like…uh…Marc) know that $13.95 buys two Seattle Mariners Baby Bottles. Wow! Dedicated Care Net Pregnancy Resource Centers fans (names too numerous to mention!) know that on Mother’s Day, May 10, there will be a bit of a scramble for FREE Care Net Baby Bottle banks, available in the MPR before and (maybe) after the morning service. These bottle-banks can be returned on Father’s Day, June 21, with ANY amount in coins, bills and checks, all of which will enable Care Net of Puget Sound to continue providing life-affirming support to anyone who finds herself in an unplanned pregnancy, hurting from a previous abortion, needing parenting support or seeking sexual and relational guidance. Long after the baseball season ends, Care Net will continue bringing year-round support to women and their families in all areas of their lives by serving their practical, emotional and spiritual needs. Services are provided free of charge at seven pregnancy centers throughout Pierce and King counties, as well as through various programs. Care Net of Puget Sound is a volunteer-led ministry, receiving no federal or state funding, and relying solely Births Lance Jacob Peterson March 22, 2015 Parents: Erik & Katie Peterson Grandparents: Patrick & Jo Ann Peterson Engagement Chloe Hudson has become engaged to Eric Lamb. An August 2016 wedding is planned. Parents: Brian and Susie Hudson Grandparents: Bob and Lou Huff Deaths on private donations such as, you guessed it, those made in the Baby Bottle Campaign. The Mariners bring us a lot of fun and excitement, so here’s hoping for a great season, M’s! The Care Net Baby Bottle campaign brings fun and the excitement of investing in a Christ-centered local ministry. Here’s hoping you might be able to contribute generously again this season. Questions? Contact Ellyn Roe, Care Net Liaison to BPPC ([email protected]). Awana Wraps Up the Year by Larry Rice On the Awana front, we have a lot going on in May as we bring this year to a close. (See the adjacent box for detailed information). Tuesday, May 12, will be an extra special night as there are five graduating seniors who have earned their Citation awards as well as Linda Rice, my mom! To receive a Citation award, each person will have had to complete ten years of book work and to memorize over 800 verses, read the entire Bible and make a report on each book. (Ed. note: WOW!) Sandy and I have resigned as the Awana commanders at BPPC so this will be our last year. We will still be involved with the Awana program here but not as the commanders. Bill and Kris Turner will be taking over. Awana Events in May Tuesday, May 5 6:30 - 8: 30 p.m. Awana Awards Night for Cubbies (two years through pre-school) and Sparks (kindergarten through 2nd grade) Tuesday, May 12 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Awana Awards Night for 3rd grade through high school June Kriskovic April 1, 2015 mother of Tom Kriskovic Where in the World is Anna? Anna Dubnow is on a journey to 11 countries in 11 months, serving the body of Christ. In early April, Anna shared this on her blog: “Goodbye to Asia for now. I will try to come back somehow, but I still have four months to go, and now I go forward into the unknown. Thanks to my supporters for all of your help. I really thank you and appreciate all that you’ve done. It’s because of you that I’ve gone where I’ve gone.” Her next stop is Swaziland, Africa! Please check out Anna’s blog at annadubnow.theworldrace.org for a “rap” update of her travels. Send her an encouraging email at: [email protected] Ed. Note: We will be featuring the Awana leadership at BPPC in the June issue of the Press. Boulevard Park Press May 2015 5 May 2015 Sun MonTue WedThu Fri Sat 12 National Day of Prayer 10:00am Outriggers Outing 1:30pm Parade of Hats Women’s Event (MPR) Thursday, May 7, 2015 7:00pm Celebrate Recovery national day COMMUNION SUNDAY 3456789 of prayer 9:00am Sunday School 9:30am 6:00am 10:45am 8:30am WM Branch Ldrs (157) Men’s Huddle 10:15am Worship Service 11:30am Risk Mgmt (306) 6:00pm Youth Group Sweet Hour of Prayer (157) MOPS Leadership 9:00am 8:00am WOW 6:00pm 6:30pm 6:30pm Schooners' Hike Deaconess (431) 12:00pm Perspectives Class Deacons (306) Potluck Fellowship Friends in the Word 7:00pm 6:00pm 1:30pm CR Men’s Step Study (MPR) Business Comm. (306) (157) Mission Prayer (435) 6:30pm 7:00pm (QR) 7:00pm 7:30pm 7:00pm Awana – Cubbies & CR Women’s Step Celebrate Recovery Choir Rehearsal (151) Grief Share (157) Sparks Award Night Study (QR) press articles due mother’s day 10111213141516 6:00 am 9:00am Sunday School 11:00am Launch Worship Service 1:30pm 10:15am No Youth Group Ladies Fellowship Circle (Outing) Mission Prayer (435) 7:00pm Grief Share (157) Men’s Huddle (431) 9:00am MOPS WOW 9:30am 7:00pm MOMS Connection (139) 6:00pm Session 6:30pm MEN’S MINISTRY SPRING FISHING TRIP ( thru sunday) 9:00am 7:00pm CR Women’s Step Awana – Trek & Journey Award Night Study (QR) CR Men’s Step Study 6:00pm (QR) CR Potluck 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 7:00pm Celebrate Recovery CHURCH OFFICE 17181920212223 CLOSED 6:00am 9:00am Sunday School 1:30pm 10:15am Worship Service Men’s Huddle Mission Prayer (435) 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm Youth Group WOW 6:00pm Trustees (306) 6:00pm 9:00am CR Women’s Step Study (QR) Grief Share (157) Women@Work (151) CR Men’s Step Study (QR) 7:00pm Celebrate Recovery YOUTH TRIP (may 23-26) memorial day – 24252627282930 CHURCH OFFICE 6:00 CLOSED 9:00am Sunday School am Men’s Huddle 10:15am 3:00pm Launch Worship Service 7:00pm No Youth Group YOUTH TRI P TO MALIBU, BC (may 23-26) 31 9:00am Reveal Breakfast Sunday School 10:15am Worship Service 6:00pm Psst! Secret Friend Reveal Breakfast for Children’s Sunday School and Seniors on Sunday, May 31, at 9 a.m. Youth Group 6 May 2015 Boulevard Park Press CR Women’s Step Study (QR) 7:00pm Celebrate Recovery Awana Leader’s Dinner (MPR) s t a H of Get Out Your Hats and Wear Them! Parade •View decades of hat fashions from the showcase collection of Seattle Children’s Hospital. •Special speaker will be Katy Lynch. Early June Birthdays Saturday, May 2, 2015 ras! r came s! u o y g Brin nt hat differe l e d o M ng All you part in k ill ta e girls w t parade. a ha May Birthdays 1 6 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 25 29 31 – from floppy to formal! $5 per for (or $15 person 3 or more) of family Celebrations! at 1:30 p.m. in the MPR •Ladies from five years of age and up are invited to attend and enjoy a special dessert. •Childcare will be provided for children up to four years of age. •Check with the church office to see if tickets are still available. Grief Share GriefShare continues to meet on Monday evenings from 7- 9 p.m. in Room 157. If you are grieving the death of someone close, please know that you are welcome to come on any Monday to find support and information to help you through this difficult time. Grief Share is facilitated by Lynda Eck and Katy Lynch. 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 Noah Harder William McCreary Nancy Lindquist Brian Jamison Virginia Samples Pat Peterson Don Hartley Glenn Kimes Laci Jamison Eugene Prince Melissa Will Nona Linden Ellyn Roe Jim Cowin Fred Volkers Josh Burt Mark James Mallory Kent Jim Shoe Steve Whitbeck Marlon Hovland Richard Jordan Jon Recker Kim Fabrizio Eva Lee Henderson Larry Gray Dick Frederick Hope MacDonald Kris Sybouts Rae Weller Luke Nelson Lisa Siedenburg Norma Chapman Stephan Pearson Kian Conroy Gene Deda Ian Faulkner Matthew Will Lisa Jones Larry Rice Madelyn Siedenburg Cora Miller Nathan Recker If your birthday is not listed, please contact the church office. Boulevard Park Press May 2015 7 Return Service Requested Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Reaching Our World for Christ Permit No. 7375 Seattle, WA 1822 S 128th Street Burien, Washington 98168-2903 Inside Session Makes Pastor Recommendation (page 1) Jars of Clay (page 2) Missionaries on the Move (page 4) Spring Fling (page 4) Awana Wrap-Up (page 5) Attention: Class of 2015 By Peggie Recker and Kathy Rainey Our high school graduates will be honored during the worship service on Sunday, June 14. Craig Hall will preach, Luke Pettengill will return to lead the worship and the celebration will continue after the service with a reception in the Multipurpose Room. Seeing our precious young people seated together and wearing their caps and gowns is a special blessing for those of us who have watched them grow up, taught them in Sunday School and Awana, sung with them, and gone with them on mission trips and retreats. Please be in prayer for these young people in their new endeavors. Submit your grad info to appear in the bulletin Graduates, including high school, college and graduate school, will be listed in the bulletin so please notify the church office with your information at least a week ahead. Include the name of the grad, name of the high school or college from which he or she is graduating, college or graduate degree earned and future plans (name of college to be attended? Military? Job?) Construction Update Enjoy the New Entry By Kathy Rainey The inside construction work is finished and we are nearing completion of our new entry. The window sunshades are now installed, and in June we are expecting the stained glass window to be finished. Furniture will be selected – specifically a small couch, an upholstered chair and a side table. Contractors are being interviewed for the work outside still to be done. Steps need to be installed from the parking lot leading to the new entry way. Several garden pots and a couple of benches will also be added. Please enjoy all that has been done!
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