Hello, friends and members of First Presbyterian Church of Tolono!
I have several items and events I want to clue you in on-and ask that you'll spread the word to others!
1 We will be worshiping together at the farm of Greg and Autumne Fisher (and their family!) on Sunday, August 29th at our normal time-10:30am.
Here are some details: The Fishers' farm is near Sidney. If you would like to go with a group of folks from church, we will be leaving the parking lot around 10:00am. Rides can be provided with those who are driving in this little "caravan". Please let me know if you'd like a ride. Call me at 485-5263 or at the church office 485-3725.
There will be a potluck lunch afterward. I believe that we are also ordering fried chicken to compliment everything else that will be served.
Please bring a lawn chair. And please invite a friend to join us.
The Fishers are also providing a couple of horses for rides and some recreation activities like volleyball. So please dress casually and stick around for lots of fun and fellowship. Be sure to invite a friend to join us.
2 The Softball Team is back in action this Sunday (8/22) at 5:00pm at the Tolono Diamond at the West Side Park. We will be playing our friends from Philo Presbyterian. This will be the first game that we will be sporting our new team t-shirts. (If you are a player, you can pick up your shirt from me at the manse this week, or I'll bring the boxful of shirts to the game on Sunday.) So far, every single game of our season has gone into extra innings! Our players have been valiant, even suffering a few nasty injuries for the team. I'm very proud of them! Please come join us-to play or to root!
3 If you would like to be in this year's Whodunit Mystery play "The Mysterious Case of the Purloined Paintings from the Parlor", there is a sing-up sheet in the narthex-or just give me a call or e-mail. The performance takes place on Sunday October 24th. Once again, the Membership Committee will be providing a delicious meal prior to the performance. Dessert is served during intermission.
The play itself is Reader's Theater style, so memorization is not necessary. Neither is experience. We already have folks of all age ranges signed up. The more the merrier! Rehearsals will begin shortly after Labor Day.
This will be a fund-raiser for the 2011 PTYG Mission Trip, so we're hoping that youth group members will either be in the play or will help serve the meal on 10/24. Again, contact me if you're interested.
Well, that's enough for now. The September newsletter will come out in a couple of weeks.
Peace,
Rev. Kerry Bean, Designated Pastor
Church Softball League Returns! Break Out Your Mitts!
Church Softball League starts again on Sunday August 1st. This season’s games will run on Sunday afternoons through August and into September, skipping the Labor Day holiday. The schedule is posted at the end of this article.
Everyone high school age and older is invited to participate. This is a co-ed league. In fact, league rules require teams to field equal numbers of men and women. Last year we had a great mix of youth and more “seasoned” players, and we hope that’s the case again this year.
There is a sign-up list in the narthex of the church, but if you have not yet signed-up, you can also leave a message at the church (485-3725) or e-mail Kerry at tolonopres@yahoo.com Kerry is again coaching the team, which involves filling out the line-up, bringing Gatorade, and avoiding foul balls. He would love to have help making sure equipment is ready and that all interested players are contacted about the schedule.
There will be a practice at the Tolono diamond at 4:00 p.m. on August 1st. This is just prior to the first game of the season, which begins around 5:00 p.m.
One of the great features of this year’s schedule is that almost all of our games will be played at the Tolono diamond (West Side Park). That means that even if you don’t feel like donning a cap and glove, you can come and cheer on our team. What a great way to represent our church to the community!
Here is the schedule for Summer 2010:
August 1 5:00pm at Tolono Diamond vs. Villa Grove United Methodist Church
August 8 5:00pm at Tolono Diamond vs. Villa Grove Christian Church (we're home team)
August 15 6:30pm at Villa Grove High School Diamond vs. Victory Church #2 (we're home team)
August 22 5:00pm at Tolono Diamond vs. Philo Presbyterian Church
Labor Day (no games)
Sept. 12-26 Tournament: Schedule to be announced
Helpers (Still) needed to Record Worship Services
The web page is ready and the equipment has been purchased. We are getting closer and closer to being able to record church events and our Sunday worship services and then posting them on tolonopresbyterian.org. What we need now is to interface our church's sound system with our video camcorder and get a crew of folks who will take turns recording.
Kerry is just beginning to work his way through the operating manual for the camcorder. Once he does, he will be happy to train whoever's interested in learning to use the equipment. Just give him a call at the church or at the manse or drop him an email. Also, please brainstorm ideas for how we can use this new equipment to better share and promote our ministries.
Please note that the Session did not meet in July. Notes and financial overviews for the August meeting
will appear in the September issue of
Tolono Pres News . . .
Looking Forward. . .
Wednesday Youth Night will be starting back up in the fall. Be sure to contact a Christian Education Committee Member (Jeannette Hulick, Bonnie Woolard, and Susie Fisher) to indicate your interest in helping out.
Another Murder in the Fellowship Hall will be performed in the Fellowship Hall sometime in October. If you would like to be in the cast, let Kerry know by 8/22. It’s Reader’s Theatre and no experience is necessary. An excerpt from the script will appear on tolonopresbyterian.org soon!
Anyone who has read at least a portion of Martha Grace Reese's Unbinding the Gospel is invited to a planning session on August 30th at the manse- 7pm. The topic: what does this book challenge us to do regarding evangelism by our church? Help us take our next steps towards spreading the Word
Please Contribute!
If you have articles, reports, letters, or announcements that you'd like included in the Tolono Pres News, please don't hesitate to contact our office at 485-3725 or at tolonopres@yahoo.com.
The deadline for submissions to the September newsletter will be Sunday, August 29.
Also, please take lots of photos of church events and send them into the office. We'll publish some of them into the newsletter and archive them all in the office for future use! Some will also appear on our web site: tolonopresybterian.org.
DEACON DOINGS:
Please remember in your prayers our friends- June Gardner, Charlotte Steele, Anna Jane Bretzlaff, Wanda Ferguson, Blanche Krumm, Mary Gilfillan, Deanie Fisher, Bert Blair, Jan Shoop, and Will Jonson.
Jack Hart is facing surgery this month and both he and his mother need our prayers also.
Remember those facing danger all over the world and those rebuilding after earthquakes and oil spills.
Pray also for the leadership of our church and guide us all to help God’s kingdom come on earth.
WORDS OF THANKS
As always, there are folks who deserve our thanks for their good service to the church and community.
This month we thank the teachers, support folk, and coordinators who made our ReNew!VBS a great success. More than 40 children attended the "Green VBS” every day during the week of July 19-23. (I’m hoping we’ll have a full blown article with pictures in the September issue.) VBS is a great way to spread the gospel and grow the church for the future!
Also, thanks are in order to the good folks of Philo Presbyterian Church who invited us to join them for an outdoor worship on 7/25. Check out the article here.
Finally, thanks to the building and grounds folks who keep the lawns and shrubs around the church so well manicured!
August Anniversaries
- 8/8 - Ralph and Wilma Lee Woolard
- 8/22 - John and Nancy Reifsteck
- 8/25 - Jeff and Susie Fisher
August Birthdays
- 8/5 - Jordan Fisher
- 8/11 - Katherine Bretzlaff
- 8/18 - Stephanie Seiler
- 8/20 - June Little
- 8/24 - Sue Payne
- 8/30 - Laura Seiler
- 8/31 - June Gardner
| August 1, 2010 | Bonnie Woolard |
| August 8, 2010 | Jeff Fisher |
| August 15, 2010 | Susie Fisher |
| August 22, 2010 | Jeannette Hulick |
| August 29, 2010 | Linda Smith |
If you would lke to help lead worship on a Sunday morning, just let Kerry know. We're always looking for fresh faces!
August Calendar Items
| August 23, 2010 | Friends of the Church Buffet Lunch | |
| August 30, 2010 | unbinding the Gospel | 7:00 p.m. at the Manse |
Got a calendar event? Contact the office to be included on next month's calendar at 485-3725.