Links to Good Stuff
May 24, 2016 
eNews 
The 1stPres Newsletter
#LOVE1st

Blog of the Week

The Lord Works in Strange and Mysterious Ways...
Rob Felten
 
I lived in the Chicago suburbs for most of my life and that is where I met and married my wife and raised our two boys. While there I owned my own business for ten years and then worked for a family-owned financial firm for another ten years, positions which built my financial skills. My love of fishing had brought me to Coeur d'Alene many times where I have family so we were very familiar with the area's great resources. It was a natural choice for us to relocate here when the time was right. When I first arrived in 2012, I looked for work in the financial field but did not find anything so I worked "under the radar" as a real estate agent, handyman, drift boat refurbisher and fly fishing guide, as well as stints at Home Depot and Black Sheep.
...  Read More 

Announcements

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!

Church News & Events

Blessing of the Bikes Rescheduled
Sunday | May 29 
 
RESCHEDULED - Sunday, May 29; Phippeny Park/Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes/Snake Pit - this event was originally scheduled for May 22 but was rescheduled to May 29 because of rain. 

Due to a cold, wet and windy day last Sunday the Blessings of the Bikes was postponed one week. Families and Friends of 1st Presbyterian and Trinity Lutheran Churches will try again this Sunday, May 29 at 1:00pm at Phippeny Park (7th Street & Montana) for a Blessing of the Bikes. Bring your bike to be Blessed 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, or a rain poncho might be more appropriate and money for treats at the snake pit (optional).  If you need transportation for people and/or bikes, please contact Lou by Thursday, May 26 to reserve a spot. Email lou@1stpresdowntown.org or call (208) 667-8446. If you are providing your own transportation. there is not need to RSVP. 
 
 
Sunday School ARKade Park Play Day
Sunday, May 29
 
This Sunday, May 29 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. In case of rain, the children will remain at church and play games in the Gym. 
 
Church Office Closed 
Monday, May 30
 
We will be closed for Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. Have a great holiday everyone!
 
Ecumenical Lunch - June 2
Thursday, June 2
 
We will be hosting the Ecumenical Food Kitchen on Thursday, June 2. This is a free meal for our community. We need help with food and serving. Signup sheets are available on the hallway bulletin board by the kitchen and in the Hunter Building. If you have questions, please call Bev Rasor at (208) 765-3410. All help is needed and appreciated.
 
Newcomer Reception
Friday, June 3
 
Newcomers, let's get to know each other better! You are invited to a fun Meet & Greet event on Friday, June 3, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at Seasons Fresh Grill, 209 Lakeside Ave., Downtown CDA. There will be sparkling chit-chat and delicious hors d'oeuvres to snack on as you get to know other newcomers and church leaders. Please RSVP to the church office at (208) 667-8446.
 
1stPres Family Worship & Graduation Sunday 
Sunday, June 5
 
On Sunday, June 5 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!

Youth are also encouraged to celebrate with their peers. There will be no regular youth group as we celebrate our Grads! 
 
Newcomer Orientation Class
Sunday, June 12
 
This short class will be held in the Fireside Room between services (about 10:15am) on Sunday, June 12. It is a great overview of the history, mission and vision of the church. Taught by Pastor Craig. Contact Steve at the church with questions (208) 667-8446.
 
Youth
Wednesday, June 15
 
Come hungry for FOOD and FUN! The Downtown Youth Group is going to celebrate the end of the school year with burgers, shakes, and fries! ALL youth are invited to join us on WEDNESDAY, June 15, from 6 to 8 pm! You don't want to miss this... bring a friend! Questions? Contact Kierstie at kierstie@1stpresdowntown.org.

1stPres 101
Saturday, June 18
 
This is a one-day class held on Saturday, June 18 from 9am to 2pm. It is a great way to find out more about the church and the Christian faith, and it will cover all the material necessary to prepare newcomers for membership. Taught by Pastor Craig. Lunch and a children's program (with prior registration) will be provided. Please RSVP to the church (208) 667-8446.
 
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 12. 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.
 
 
Summer Sundays ARKade Vounteers Needed 

During the summer, our faithful and loving Sunday School ARKade volunteers who teach throughout the year are given time off to rest and relax. In their place we need other volunteers to help maintain the Summer Sundays ARKade at both 9:00 and 11:00 throughout the summer! This summer we will have one, full-time Whitworth Ministry Fellow working with Children & Family ministries. She will be working with Lou to coordinate and lead children's Summer Sunday ARKade. Additional volunteers will be need each week at each hour. If you are interested please contact Lou or simply sign up on Sunday morning. We would love to have you be a part of the fun & games, parables, animal crackers & lemonade of Summer Sundays ARKade!
 
Downtown Church Day Camp
July 11 - July 15
 
Day Camp Dates: Mon. July 11 - Fri. July 15. 
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 began meeting May 9. Next meeting is June 7 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 - On Summer Break
 
The Iron Horse Lunchtime Men's Group is taking the summer off. Check back with us in the Fall.  Contact the church for info (208) 667-8446.
 
Community Events

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.