Links to Good Stuff
Mar 8, 2016 
eNews 
The 1stPres Newsletter
#LOVE1st

Blog of the Week

A Bigger, Better Plan
Susie Freligh
 
A few months back I received a package in the mail from a Christian radio station. Inside was a letter thanking me for my $450.00 donation and for subscribing to the book club. They were so kind that they even enclosed my first book. After the shock wore off I looked at the address and realized that it was indeed my address but the wrong name on the label. I called the station to find out how to return the book and to inform them that they had the wrong address.
When my turn to do devotions for the staff meeting came I started searching for inspiration. When my eyes landed on the book again, knowing that my attempts to return it hadn't worked, I decided God must want me to have this book so I picked it up and began to read. Now I'm not much of a reader so when it only took me one day to read the entire book I figured that it must have something important in it for me to hear and I that should share what I had gotten out of the book.
Read More 

Announcements

Glory Be is in Need of...
 
Our little friends at Glory Be Learning Center are in need of a few things:

Disposable sippy cups
5oz. paper cups
Plastic spoons
Paper plates
Shaving cream
 
If you can help, please place your item in the boxes underneath the Mission Board, in the hallway between the Hunter Building and the Gym. Thanks!
Offering Envelopes
 
Your personalized offering envelopes will be available to pick up in the Hunter Building this Sunday. If you ordered one - then it's there!
Hosanna! & Hallelujah!
 
Children & Family Ministries invites you to experience Holy Week with Activities, Crafts, & Games on Fri, March 11, 5:30pm to 7:30pm. This event is for families of children, infant to grade 5. Please bring a salad, veggies or dessert - a main entree and drinks will be provided. You are welcome to invite a friend, just be sure everyone makes a reservation by Wednesday, March 9. Email the church, office@1stpresdowntown.org or call the church office, (208) 667-8446. 
Beginners Bell Class
 
Do you love listening to the bells in worship? Do you wish you could have a chance to learn how to play them? Well, now you do. Judy Flieger, 1stPres' talented Music Director, is starting a beginners bells class. Classes will be Saturday mornings at 10am, at the church, beginning in April. The class is free and open to anyone from 5th grade to adult. If you are interested, please call the church office (208) 667-8446 to get your name on the list. Deadline for sign-up is March 11.
 
Lent Afternoon Services
 
During Lent, each Wednesday from 12:15pm until 12:50pm, we will hold lunchtime prayer services in the sanctuary. These are open to the public and are a wonderful time of prayer and meditation. They begin on Ash Wednesday, Feb 10.
 
Youth Director Position  
 
First Presbyterian Church of Coeur d'Alene is currently seeking a dynamic leader with a calling, a passion and a record of success in connecting with teenagers, helping them grow in their faith, and firing their sense of mission. This person will oversee ministry to both Middle School and High School teens (grades 6-12). This part-time, paid position requires 20 hours per week including Sunday mornings. This person will need to be an entrepreneurial, relational and well-organized ministry worker expanding an emerging ministry in a growing church with a strong ministry to children. For a complete job description, click here. Candidates should send a letter of introduction and resume to office@1stpresdowntown.org or mail to: First Presbyterian Church, 521 E. Lakeside Ave. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814. No calls please.
 
Bookkeeper Position
 
Our church has an opening for a Church Bookkeeper. We are seeking an exceptional individual who will be able to work with church staff, ministry teams, and ruling elders to manage the books of our church as well as Glory Be Learning Center. Experience keeping books for a church or non-profit 501c3 is preferred. This is not an entry level position. This is a 30 hour per week position. Salary determined based on experience. To see a complete job description, click here. Candidates should send a letter of introduction and resume to office@1stpresdowntown.org or mail to: First Presbyterian Church, 521 E. Lakeside Ave. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814. No calls please.
 
Camp Spalding Registration - Update
 
This summer 1stPres children and youth have the opportunity to attend summer camps at Camp Spalding. Summer camp provides a chance for children and youth to get away from the daily routine, to spend a week with fun, mature, Christian role models, and to experience God and His creation in a way that is unlike any other. Thousands of young lives have been eternally changed during summer camp experiences at Camp Spalding! This year 1stPres children and youth are encouraged to attend the following camps at Camp Spalding
 
Juniors II       July 24 - 30    for incoming 5th and 6th graders
Jr. High II       Aug. 7 - 13     for incoming 7th and 8th graders
High School students may choose from
Leadership Camp, Sr. High Camp, or Clearwater Arts Camp
 
1stPres campers will receive a discount when they register through the church.
A registration code is required to register and to receive this discount. Each registration code is church and camper specific and can only be used once. Registration is currently open on-line at www.campspalding.org. You must request your camper specific registration code(s) from the church BEFORE registering your camper on-line.  To request a code and receive detailed Registration Instructions or if you have questions regarding summer camp, please contact Lou Pennebaker: call (208) 667 8446 or email Lou@1stpresdowntown.org
 
Additional financial assistance is also available from the church for those who submit a scholarship application. Scholarship Applications are currently available at the church.
 
Have A Grad? 

Graduation is lurking around the corner and will be here before we know it! Is there a senior student in your family? If you know a senior in high school OR college, who will be graduating this spring, please let our team know. Thank you and good luck to all seniors in their final semester, and all of our students as they begin spring semester! 
-The DYG Youth Team

Please email names to Kierstie at kierstie@1stpresdowntown.org 
Church News & Events

Women's Association
Tuesday, March 15

Esther Circle invites women of the church to the monthly meeting of First Presbyterian's Women's Association, Tuesday, March 15, 1:00pm in the Fireplace Room. Katie Saylor will be our speaker, with a book review of, "All the Light You Cannot See". Please join us for a great afternoon.


Donkey Day - Palm Sunday
Sunday, March 20
 
This year, 1stPres will celebrate Palm Sunday in a very special way...a Children's mini Palm Pageant and Pony Rides will make for a memorable Donkey Day!

The children (3 years - 5th grades) will attend worship as usual and be dismissed to a special large group Sunday school where they will hear the story of Little Colt's Palm Sunday and prepare a mini Palm Pageant to be presented in the Sanctuary at the end of the morning worship services. All children will have the opportunity to participate in the pageant and will go home with their own copy of Little Colt's Palm Sunday.

In between services during the coffee fellowship time, outside on the grass area between the gravel parking lot and the gym/family center, there will be a real live donkey for children of all ages to pet, feed, and pose with for pictures. Also on the grass area there will be FREE Pony Rides (limited to children under 70lbs).  
Special Lent Services
Thursday, March 24 & Friday March 25

Stations of the Cross
A beautiful and moving services that uses a series of images to depict the various events that took place on the day of Jesus' crucifixion. Each person who attends has an opportunity to contemplate and pray quietly as each event unfolds.
Thursday, March 24 | Noon
Friday, March 25 | Noon

Song of the Shadows - A Tenebrae Service
A service depicting the days of Christ prior to the Crucifixion, presented in darkness using Scripture, candles and music. Featuring the Chancel Choir & Community Orchestra - Judy Flieger, Director.
Thursday, March 24 | 7:00pm
Friday, March 25 | 7:00pm

 
Easter Sunday Child Egg-perience
Sunday, March 27
 
On Easter Sunday, March 27, children will attend worship and remain a little longer than usual so that they can experience more of the awe and wonder of the Easter Worship Service. After a special Easter Children's Message the children will be dismissed from the service for a large group Easter Sunday School Egg-perience. 
 
Easter Flower Cross
Sunday, March 27
 
"Full of beauty, fragrance and life that breaks forth from a lifeless bulb or seed, spring flowers are a wonderful reminder and symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who broke forth from the grave on the first Easter, conquering death so that all who believe in Him might also have new life."   
  
In celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter Sunday worshippers are invited to bring fresh flowers of any color or size, cut from the garden or purchased at the store. These flowers will be placed on a wire wrapped cross during the Easter morning worship services. The flowered cross is a beautiful symbol and reminder of the transformation and new life of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Downtown Church Day Camp Registration Information
Summer
 
Day Camp Dates: Mon. July 11 - Fri. July 15, 2016
Day Camp Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm (with the option of am/pm extended care)
Day Camp Ages: incoming 1st - 6th graders
 
Downtown Church Day Camp will be a Wet N' Wild week. Mornings will be spent at the church and include skits, lessons, small group activities, large group worship and singing, crafts, and games. Each afternoon we walk downtown and enjoy activities at different locations, like McEuen Park, Tubbs Hill, Sanders Beach, City Park, City Beach and the NIC Campus. This year's Downtown Church Day Camp theme is Wet N' Wild. The daily Bible story lessons and activities will focus on a different Wet N' Wild Bible story.
 
Day Camp Pre-Registration for 1stPres families will take place during the month of April. Day Camp registration will be opened to the public on May 1, 2016. Registration is first come first serve, whenever we reach capacity, registrations will be put on a wait list. The registration Deadline is Wed, June 1, 2016.
 
Volunteer Opportunities

Family Promise Needs Helpers
 
We are hosting Family Promise the week of March 13 to March 19. We need volunteers to help with hosting the dinners and/or the overnight hosting. Please contact Eric Fehr (208) 929-0046, Jack Higens (208) 771-0471, or the church office to sign up.
 
Groups & Gatherings

Knitting for Warmth
 
Please join the Knitting for Warmth knitters every Friday morning from 10:00am to 11:30am in the Conference Room. This is an open, community knitting time for anyone who would like to create a prayer shawl. Your shawl will be given as a gift of love, hope, and comfort to someone who is critically ill or in crisis. Knitting instruction will be available if this is your first project, and materials will be provided for FREE. Contact Betty Cheeley at (208) 664-2612 if you have questions, or if you know of someone who could really use the gift of a shawl at this time in their life.
 
Basketball Dudes
 
Anyone interested in playing pick-up basketball can join us in the gym at the church Wednesday nights. We meet from 6:30pm-8pm. Call David Johnson for details (208) 651-0319.
 
Thursday Men's Group
 
The Men's Group Iron Horse lunch continues their study of C. S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity." We're covering one chapter each week, and anyone is welcome to enjoy lunch and participate in the discussion (or not). This is a great time to join us!

The Iron Horse has accommodated this group with a Thursday noon special soup added to the menu, and with scintillating and erudite conversation, how could any guy resist?  Meets Thursdays at noon at the Iron Horse on Sherman. Contact the church for info (208) 667-8446.
 
Sunday School ARKade - Children's Program
 
The Sunday School ARKade takes place on Sunday mornings during the 9:00am and 11:00am worship services. Children 3 years and older attend the beginning of the worship service. Following the Children's Moment, 3 year olds - 5th graders are dismissed to Sunday School ARKade classes located on the 2nd floor of the Hunter Building. Parents may accompany their children to class, but are not required to do so. The Sunday School ARKade includes SPLASH!, an Early Childhood class for 3 year olds - Kindergarten; First Five, a class for 1st & 2nd graders; and Bible Learning Ports, for elementary children to play and learn as they explore the Books of the Bible; Memorize Bible Verses; and become Scripture Sleuths finding God's answers to life's questions in the Bible. Children must be picked up and signed out at the end of the worship service by a parent/guardian. Don't miss the boat, come aboard the S.S.ARKade, Sundays at 1stPres CDA!  

Youth - Join Us This Winter!
 
DYG 2.0 meets SUNDAYS 10:30am - 12:15pm
 
Downstairs in the DYG (Downtown Youth Group) Room
Come hang out, jam out, and chill out as we dive into a relevant series asking questions about God, others, and ourselves!
 
Questions?
Contact Kierstie | Youth Leader | kierstie@1stpresdowntown.org
Mission Partners

The Village at Orchard Ridge
  
OPEN HOUSE:  You've heard about us; now CHECK US OUT! Come visit The Garden (former Coeur d'Alene Homes) Assisted Living and Memory Care. See our beautiful home and the fruits of the wonderful faith partnership between your church and our organization.  Staff members will be available to answer your questions and offer tours. Delectable light refreshments made by our very own chef will be served. 
  
WHEN:  Thursday, March 31  from 4:00-5:30pm
WHERE:  The Village at Orchard Ridge (The Garden/Assisted Living)
  624 W. Harrison Avenue, Coeur d'Alene