Links to Good Stuff
May 10, 2016 
eNews 
The 1stPres Newsletter
#LOVE1st

Blog of the Week

I Love A Mystery
Laura Koepke
 
I love a mystery. Not the everyday kind of mysteries like, "Did the dryer really eat that sock?" and "Where did I put the keys?"  No, I'm talking about the Who Done It.  The smoking gun, butler did it kind of story! My love of murder and mayhem started early when my librarian great aunt sent our family a boxed set of Nancy Drew mysteries.  Most of you will remember books like The Secret of the Old Clock and The Hidden Staircase. I couldn't wait for my birthday or Christmas so I could get another book and have another mystery to solve. Next I graduated to Dame Agatha Christie and read my way through all of her novels and short stories. I feel in love with her characters, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, who always brought the killer to justice and were usually two steps ahead of me.
...  Read More 

Announcements

Noisy Offering - Results
 
Thank you to everyone who gave so generously to the Noisy Offering this past Sunday.  Almost $550 was collected! The money given for this Noisy Offering will be used to pay for children from UGM and other children in need to attend Downtown Church Day Camp this summer at 1stPres.
Glory Be News
  
Thanks
We want to thank everyone who helped out with making our playground look great!

Looking for A Talented Volunteer
We are looking for someone who could make us a water proof library box for the playground. (Bird house style maybe.)
 
Always in need of...
Paper Plates
Liquid Hand Soap
5oz. Paper Cups

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.
 
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Your generosity is so appreciated!

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

Potluck in the Park 
Friday, May 13
 
This Potluck is for families of children, infant thru grade 5. Hot dogs and lemonade will be provided. Families are asked to bring another picnic food item. Reservations required by May 11. Call or email the church office: office@1stpresdowntown.org, (208) 667-8446. Potluck is Friday, May 13, 5:30pm to 7:30pm, McEuen Park, CDA.
The Breakfast Bunch are Back!
Sunday, May 15

Sunday, May 15, between services (9:45am-11am), the Breakfast Bunch will be serving a delicious all-church breakfast. Stay after first service or arrive early for second service. Proceeds from the free will donation go towards purchasing a new drill and lawn mower for the church.
 
Come Hungry Leave Full!

Opera-tunities 2016
Sunday, May 15

There will be a free performance of Little Red Riding Hood by Opera CDA on Sunday, May 15, 2pm, in the gym.

Blessing of the Bikes
Sunday, May 22
 
Sunday, May 22, 2016; Phippeny Park/Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes/Snake Pit
Families and Friends of 1st Presbyterian Church and Trinity Lutheran Church will gather together on Sunday, May 22 at 1:00pm at Phippeny Park (7th Street & Montana) for a Blessing of the Bikes. Bring your bike to be Blessed by Pastors Craig and Dan, and receive a special BLESSED bike license plate. At 1:30pm everyone who wants to will travel in personal vehicles to the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and ride from the Snake Pit to Cataldo and back to the Snake Pit where all who want may enjoy ice cream or other treats. Please note: Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Be sure to bring a bike, bike helmet, water bottle, sunscreen/hat, and money for treats at the snake pit (optional).  If you need transportation for people and/or bikes, please contact Lou by Sunday, May 15 to reserve a space. If you are providing your own transportation, there is no need to RSVP. 
 
Sunday School ARKade Park Play Day
Sunday, May 29
 
On Sunday, May 29th we will celebrate the end of the Sunday School ARKade year with a Sunday School ARKade Park Play Day. After the Children's Moment in the worship service at both 9 & 11:00 all 3year olds - 5th graders and Sunday School teachers will walk to McEuen Park to play and enjoy a special snack before returning to the church to meet parents at the end of the worship service.
 
1stPres Family Worship
Sunday, June 5
 
On Sunday, June 5th all ages of the 1stPresFamily will worship together at both 9 & 11:00. Children 3 years old - 5th grade will remain for the entire worship service and have the opportunity to serve as greeters, ushers, and to sing with the praise team. Children will share with the congregation what they have learned throughout the year in the S.S.ARKade; and all Children's Sunday school teachers, High school and college graduates will be recognized. This will be a special day in the life of the 1stPres family!
 
Summer Sundays ARKade
Sundays | June 12 - August 28
 
Two different Summer Sundays ARKade classes will be offered throughout the summer during both the 9:00 & 11:00 worship services beginning on Sunday,  June 12th. This year the Summer Sundays ARKade theme will be Parables: Simple Stories Jesus Told.
 
Elementary ARKade - Parable Productions   
Incoming 2nd - 6th graders will hear and act out the weekly Parable, then hear a modern day parable that illustrates the same important spiritual lesson. Each week the children can get to Know-A Parable and Bible verse at home to prepare for the Sunday lesson. These children will conclude the hour in the ARKade game room for fun& games, animal crackers & lemonade.
 
Summer S.P.L.A.S.H. Preschool Pond - Once Upon a Parable
3 year olds - Incoming 1st graders will experience Songs, prayers, and Lessons that focus on the weekly Parable. They will end the hour with snack, a coloring page and free-play in the Preschool Pond classroom.

 
Downtown Church Day Camp
July 11 - July 15
 
Day Camp Dates: Mon. July 11 - Fri. July 15, 2016
Day Camp Times: 9:00am  - 4:00pm (with the option of a.m./p.m. 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.
 
Registration is now open to the public and is first come first serve, whenever we reach capacity, registrations will be put on a waitlist. The registration deadline is Wed, June 1, 2016, but we anticipate we will reach capacity soon! Everyone who registers will receive an email confirming that your registration has been received and if your child is registered or has been placed on a wait list. If you register on line and do not receive a confirmation email, please contact the church office to be sure that your child is registered.
 
Camp Spalding Registration 
 
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 by phone at (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.
 
Groups & Gatherings

Widows & Widowers - WW2
   
According to Pastor Craig's sermon series on "Living Well, and Dying Well", I am adding "Going On Well"!  If you have become a "single" through death, and are desiring to become part of a social group with the same challenges as you, consider joining Widows and Widowers Too (WWII).  This is a brand new program trying to get started to provide a social outlet for members and non-members who are tired of being a fifth-wheel in a foursome!  You will be getting in on the ground floor of this program and can have some say in how it is going to work!  Sign up on the list at the Welcome Desk or give Karen Huber a call (667-6525), e-mail (khube828@aol.com) and tell her you're interested!  We have lots of ideas and want to hear yours!!!!!          

Beyond the Broken Heart
   
Are you grieving the loss of a loved one? Then you may want to come and be a part of our new grief support group. The group is starting Monday, May 9, at 1pm, in the Conference Room. Contact:  Bev Turner (208) 659-9415, or
Judy Hays (208) 660-4083 for more info or to sign up.
     
Saturday Morning Men's Group
  
The Saturday Morning Men's Group meets every other Saturday morning at Bakery by the Lake at 7am.  They will be starting a new study with the book "The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows" by James Bryan Smith.

Contact Steve Balas (208) 667-8446 for details.

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. This group will continue to meet in the summer. Come join us! 
 
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 Spring!
 
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

Basketball Dudes
 
The Basketball Dudes are taking the summer off. See you in the Fall!
 
Community Events

The Village at
Orchard Ridge

ESTATE/MOVING SALE SERVICES are available through dedicated Orchard Ridge volunteers. They will organize and facilitate your entire sale. Get help with this often huge task and have a portion of the proceeds benefit our charitable care. Call Shirley (661-1930) or Vivian (691-9262) for more information.


Family Promise Golf & Walk
 
Family Promise of North Idaho is holding their 5th Annual Golf and Walk Event at the Links Golf Course Friday May 13 with a shotgun start at 1:00pm. You can register for the golf or walk and donate to your favorite golfer or walker by going to
www.familypromiseni.org and click on the event button and then choose register or donate. Contact Andrea at apanda13@juno.com or Teri at riverburch1@gmail.com for more information.
 
Presbytery Office Job Opening
New Communication Coordinator Position Opening
Our administrative assistant, Joyce Bippes, will be retiring in August.  We are shifting the position to a communications coordinator.  This part time position will be 24 hours/week during the school year and 18 hours/week during the summer.  Please see the link to the job description.  Resumes and cover letters may be sent to Sandy Riebe, chair of search team, sandy@hamblenpres.org Please call Executive Presbyter Sheryl Kinder Pyle with questions (509) 993-8796.  We will be accepting applications until May 20, 2016.  If you would like to be a part of a close knit team serving at the regional PCUSA office or if you know of a qualified candidate please contact us! For the job description, click here.

Summer Science Exploratory Camp
 
This summer, one-week science camps will be offered to students going into third, fourth, fifth, or sixth grades. At a private home near the Silver Lake Mall, young scientists will explore a variety of earth, life, and physical science concepts through dialogue and hands-on experimentation.
Bill Burch is a graduate of the University of Idaho, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a science emphasis. His education includes the entire battery of Project Wild courses sponsored by the Idaho Fish and Game department. He is also a former participant in NASA's Educator Workshop. He currently teachers fourth grade in north Idaho.
The camp will run from 9:00 am to 11:30 am Monday through Friday. Cost will be $80.00 per scientist, and each session will be limited to twelve participants.
This is a private endeavor not affiliated with any school or institution.
These one-week camps are offered during the weeks of July 11th and July 25th, 2016. To reserve your spot, call Bill Burch at (208)-755-5925.