Welcome to Shannon and Sophia Payne!
  On Sunday, June 14, GIPC welcomed into membership Shannon Payne and her daughter Sophia. Shannon is a graduate of the University of Michigan. She is employed as a nurse practitioner at Oakwood Hospital and teaches nursing part-time at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Sophia will be a tenth-grader at Grosse Ile High School where she participates in archery, swimming, marching band and plays the cello and the flute.
  The Paynes have been active in GIPC programs and activities since coming to the church two years ago, so they are familiar to many at GIPC. In addition to regular worship attendance and participation in Sunday school classes, Shannon, Sophia and younger sister Ella (5th grade) have been volunteers for Christnet, helped with youth events and mission trips, and supported last year's Women's Advent Tea, where Sophia decorated a table.
   Please welcome Shannon, Sophia, and Ella to GIPC. We're glad you're here!
 
Welcome to the Van Noord Family
   Sunday, June 14, 2015, was a busy day for the Van Noord family. Surrounded by family and friends, Raelene and Craig Van Noord were introduced to the congregation and became members of GIPC. They were accompanied by their sons, Reid, age four, and Cole, eight months. Cole was baptized later in the same service.
  Raelene, a native of Michigan, is a pediatric oncology researcher at the University of Michigan. Craig, originally from Florida, is employed as an IT consultant with Secure 24. Raelene and Craig and their boys have been regular attendees in worship and active in GIPC programs, including Wednesday night dinners, so they are familiar to many in the congregation. They are residents of Grosse Ile.
   Please say hello and welcome the Van Noords when you see them.  It is so nice to have you and your sons with us, Raelene and Craig!

Tips For Seniors

Nostalgia: sharing lost moments...
   When I was a young lad, my family spent its summers at our rustic cottage in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. There were no expressways then. Though "Camp" was a meagre, one hundred miles from Boston, the trip took us four long hours in Dad's old Oldsmobile. Kids growing up in the 40's enjoyed unimaginable freedom: the dress code was cut-offs, with rope belt and shoes were optional. I roamed barefoot in the woods for hours, ingesting the marvels of nature. I swam in the lake until my skin pruned, my lips purpled and my teeth chattered. "I'm not c'cold, M'mom." I drove our ancient Evinrude-propelled rowboat, without life jacket or operator's permit. I fished for sunfish, caught bullfrogs, sailed homemade boats and fashioned pipes and whistles from acorns. A captured chipmunk, a ground hog and a turtle, named Pete were my pets for the duration of the long, hot summer. At bedtime, while waiting for sleep, the raucous refrains of cicadas repeatedly invaded the stillness of the coal black nights and, peering at the pine knots in the rafters above my bed, I imagined each to be a frightening visage. In contrast, few things today rival the wonder and elation I felt, waking to the eerie call of loons, at twilight. They were returning to the lake but where had they been during my dreamy diversion?
   Fourth of July weekend was, by far, the highlight of summer. A cookout with neighbors included fire-grilled burgers and hot dogs, an array of salads, main dishes and desserts, followed by flaming marshmallows. Soon after, came the report of Dad's Big-Bang Carbide Cannon, followed by Chinese firecrackers, three-inch salutes and cherry bombs. At dusk, we pranced about with sparklers and shot off roman candles, anticipating the stunning fireworks show about to spring from the long, cardboard box Dad had ordered from Ohio. My memories of "Camp," without indoor plumbing, television, microwave oven or electronic devices yield magical images I covet and treasure to this day. I often long to return to that simple, carefree existence of yore.                            

                                                        - Chief Runamuck 

Yoga: "Feeling Fit" Class will resume at 10:30am on Thursday, July 16th.  Class meets for 45 minutes.  All levels are welcome, $5 drop in fee.
 
Game Day: Come play a friendly game of euchre, bridge or Mexican Trains dominoes every Wednesday starting at 2:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. All adults are welcome!

   Over the past few months, there have been a couple major events in my life that I rejoice every day and wish to share with everyone that will hear it.  The first is that, as of June 23, 2015, I have been approved to move on in the ordination process to the candidacy phase.  What this means is that I can now move on to taking the ordination exams, which must be passed before I can make another step (or so I understand).  Once those are passed and any other necessary steps are made, I can begin to seek out my first call as a teaching elder and move towards ordination itself. I however will not be able to take a call until at least June of 2016. This gives me the invaluable opportunity to do a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) in New Orleans (the second major event) starting in late August. While there, I will be living with other YAVs serving in New Orleans. I personally will be working as an assistant to the chaplain at the Touro Infirmary. This entails visiting patients, but also recruiting and training clergy to be on-call, as I and the current chaplain will only be there during "regular business hours" Monday through Friday. Another part of this is raising $3,000 for a personal fund and contributing to a house fund (approximately another $3,000). By the generous donations of GIPC, three other churches, and the donations of individuals, I have made a start toward completing my personal fund. Though I have only received donations so far, money could also be raised by doing odd jobs. Once I am in New Orleans, I plan to write a nightly blog at the website: revelationonthebayou.wordpress.com.
                                                                - Bradley Rito