Mention the words "mission trip" around Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church and you immediately spark discussions of Mountain T.O.P., The Pittsburgh Project, Mexico, Miami, New Mexico, post-Katrina New Orleans and others. The tradition of mission is strong at GIPC. It reflects our vision of reaching out to help our neighbors everywhere.
   The Middlers of GIPC continued this mission tradition the week of June 20, 2016. Originally planned as a joint mission with youth from other Downriver churches (to be called "Downriver Disciples"), it became solely a GIPC mission when other churches couldn't make the necessary arrangements. The "Downriver Disciples" name was still appropriate and the idea of joint involvement will be pursued in future planning.
   Housed at GIPC, our youth traveled to various community parks in nearby Lincoln Park where they cleared litter and removed weeds and sod from playgrounds in preparation for mulching. Faced with an unanticipated issue of numerous graffiti on the plastic playground equipment, a number of Middlers decided that removing the graffiti should be one of their priorities - a way they could make the play areas more child-friendly. At the end of the week, in all four parks where the Downriver Disciples worked, they had met a goal of removing most of the graffiti.
   Lincoln Park officials were complimentary of our youth and the visible improvement that was made in each of the four parks. This experience can serve as a valuable model for future Middler missions.
   The Middlers experienced very full days over the course of their mission. Breakfast and morning devotions preceded a workday of 5-6 hours. Then came free time, dinner, evening worship hour and recreation. There was always something to keep them busy, to challenge them and to make them reflect on the difference they were making.
   Mission trips require a lot of "behind-the-scenes" support. We want to recognize members of our church family who prepared and served breakfasts, dinners and snacks, who accompanied musically during evening worship, and who led recreational activities. This was truly a church-wide mission.

'Home of the brave, land of the free...'   

                                          - The US National  Anthem

   Not simply a day to picnic and enjoy fireworks, the Fourth of July was established in 1870 to recognize the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, a bold move by the Continental Congress to free the then, defenseless colonies from the abuses of King George III. In doing so, they put themselves in imminent peril of reprisal by the mighty British Empire. This same defiant attitude is apparent today, in New Hampshire, where the motto "Live free or die" is proudly displayed on automobile license plates to remind citizens of their heritage.
   America's hard won independence elucidated freedoms such as the freedom to practice individual religious beliefs. This is guaranteed by her Constitution and its Bill of Rights but, if exercising that right interferes with the fundamental, legal rights of others, we then become morally bound to re-think our actions. Antebellum Southerners validated slavery and later, racial segregation by claiming they were established by decree of Almighty God and sanctioned in both Testaments of the Bible. If we followed this tradition today, town clerks could legally refuse to issue marriage licenses to divorced individuals because Jesus spoke against divorce. Better yet, imagine sanctioning the stoning of rebellious children, as it is in Deuteronomy... Taken literally, passages from the Bible (and the Koran) have potential of undermining our basic freedoms and the Rule of Law. Church and State were declared separate because our wise Founding Fathers believed government should be guided by a balance of morality and reason, not by blind, religious faith.                                             - Chief Runamuck

July 1st (TODAY!) at 2 pm: Friday Flix: "Concussion".
July 10th at 10:30 am: "Third Thirty" presentation. "What should we be doing for the"third thirty" of our lives, ages 60 and over?" This Brunch and Learn event will be held in the Fireside Room. Fruit, yogurt and bagels will be served.
September 25th at 11:30 am: Remember those Life Files that the York Connection carefully compiled and presented to us some time ago? Well, dust them off and bring them with you and have brunch while we learn how to make better use of them! Watch for further details.

Coney Boys: GIPC men and friends meet for lunch, Tuesdays at 1 pm at Lloyd's. No dues, no agenda, just fellowship. Why don't you join them?
    
Lunch Ladies meet at Lloyd's for lunch on Thursdays at noon.  No agenda, just lunch with new and old friends.   

Yoga "Feeling Fit" Class on Thursdays, at 10:30 am.

Open to men and women. All levels are welcome. $5 drop in fee. No class on July 7th.
 
Game Day: Come play a friendly game of euchre, bridge or dominoes on Wednesdays. Call Bill Jambeau for the schedule of groups. All adults welcome.