Links to Good Stuff
Sept 27, 2016 
eNews 
The 1stPres Newsletter
#LOVE1st

Blog of the Week

The Book of Hezekiah
Emily Rogers
 
Staff members take turns giving a devotion at our weekly meetings. You're sort of in a position of being 'on stage' and exposed (pretty much a lesser version of writing the weekly blog: there's no ability to fade into the woodwork).
Recently, when being advised it would soon be his turn to give devotions, a coworker said, "Okay, then, I'm going to give my staff devotion on the Book of Hezekiah." Laughter and giggles followed. I looked around, very confused, feeling ashamed that I couldn't understand their laughter. What are they laughing about? I didn't know there was a Book of Hezekiah in the Bible! My heart started beating faster, and my brain raced to think this through: well, there are a lot of lesser books in the Bible; I might have missed that one. Uh oh! Perhaps they're laughing at me since I don't know my Bible as well as I should. Keep your face neutral, Emily, and you can look it up as soon as the staff meeting is over!
 
Announcements

Trunk-Or-Treat Candy Drive
  
If you can't participate in the Trunk-or-Treat Downtown Coeur d'Alene, please help those who do by donating candy to be given out. There have been literally 1,000s of Trick-or-Treaters who stop by the trunks on Halloween, and we need well over 300 lbs of candy to give out at Trunk-Or-Treat!! Throughout the month of October, there will be candy collection boxes at church. Please help our teams out by bringing candy donations to church throughout the month of October.
 
 
Big Moves Forums
  
Videos from the Big Moves Forums are available on our website. The quality of the recordings are not the best, but if you missed a forum and are interested in hearing what was discussed, they are a good resource.
                         
Good Samaritan is Opening Here 
  
Our new tenants in the 501 building (501 Lakeside Ave.) are opening their doors next week on Monday, October 3rd at 10:00am. Good Samaritan is a thrift store operated by the Altar Church. The thrift store is reopening after losing their prior building and all their stock on 4th Street to a fire in early August. Please join us in welcoming them to the neighborhood!
                         
Singers and Musicians Needed for 1stPres Christmas Program
  
This year, we will share the joy, love, and peace of Christmas with our community in a special way. We are teaming with Trinity Lutheran Church to present a Christmas musical event at Schuler Auditorium in NIC's Boswell Hall on Sunday, December 18 at 2pm. We will present the cantata, "Tapestry of Light," a Celtic celebration by Joseph Martin.
The Cantata will feature:
  • handbell choirs
  • the Chordaleers (directed by Rose Dempsey)
  • the joint choirs of 1stPres & Trinity Lutheran
  • an orchestra
  • you!
Singers and musicians are needed! We are extending an invitation for singers from the community as well, so please pass on this information. Practices are starting soon - you don't want to miss the opportunity to be a part of this great Christmas event!

Cantata Practices are as follows:
At First Presbyterian
Thursday nights, 7:45pm-8:30pm, beginning September 29.
Contact Judy Flieger at (208) 660-1639 or judy.flieger@gmail.com if you would like to participate or for more information.

Or at Trinity Lutheran
 Rose Dempsey director. Start date to be determined.
Call Trinity's office at (208) 664-5743 if you would like to participate or for more information.
                         
The Mighty 1stPres Choir is Back!
 
And we want you to join us! We practice on Thursday evenings at 7pm at the church. All singers are welcome and needed - 5th grade and up only, please. We would love for you to join us! If interested, please contact Judy Flieger, Music Director, for more information at (208) 660-1639.
  
DYG is Switching It Up
Hey, everyone! Check out the new fall schedule for DYG!
 
 
AND Meeting on Sundays, too!
Hey, Everyone! Check out the new fall schedule for DYG!
 
 
All NEW On-line Children and Family Registration
  
Please help us maintain an up-to-date Family Database and stay in contact with you regarding the ministries to children and families at 1stPres. If your family is new to 1stPres or if any of your family's contact information has changed in the last year, please take a few minutes to fill out the all NEW Children and Family registration form on line. Use the link found at the top of the Children's Ministry page of the 1stPres web site or go to www.1stpresdowntown.org/ministries/children/children-family-registration to update your family information or register your family.
 
Sunday School ARKade
 
Sunday mornings at 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School ARKade takes place every Sunday morning during the 9:00am and 11:00am worship services at 1stPres. Children 3 years and older attend the beginning of the worship service. Following the Children's Moment, 3 year olds to 5th graders are dismissed to Sunday School ARKade classes, which are 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 to Kindergarten; 1stFIVE, 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!
 
Church News & Events

My 1st Last Supper
Friday, September 30
 
An Introductory Communion Experience for Child & Parent(s)
THIS Friday, Sept. 30, 2016; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. To help prepare children and parents to participate in Communion, Ms. Lou and Pastor Craig have put together a special Introductory Communion Experience for children 3rd - 5th grade and their parent(s). This event will prepare children to understand the significance and symbolism of this Sacrament and help parents to be able to share and explore this special faith expression with their child. It will take place at the church on Friday evening, Sept. 30, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. and will include dinner.
Be sure to reserve a place for you and your child by this Wednesday, so we can be sure to have enough supplies and food for everyone. Please call the church office (208) 667-8446 or email office@1stpresdowntown.org and let us know you are coming.
 
World Communion Sunday
Sunday, October 2
 
Sunday, Oct. 2nd is World Communion Sunday, and the 3rd - 5th grade children will remain for the entire worship service and will have the opportunity to participate and to lead various parts of the service as greeters, ushers, and singers with the praise team. They will also participate in Communion with their parents.
 
Family Promise Week
Sunday, October 2-9
 
We will be hosting families next week. Family Promise enables homeless families to stay together as a family while they work towards independence. The families will eat and spend the night in the church. Thank you to the many volunteers from the church who will be working over the coming week to provide for these families and make them feel at home here.
 
Ecumenical Kitchen - Free Community Lunch
Thursday, October 6
 
We will be hosting the Ecumenical Food Kitchen on Thursday, October 6. This is a free lunch for our community. If you can help, signup sheets will be 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. Please signup for salads, casseroles, desserts, or help with serving our guests.
 
Brave Cave - A Parents' Nite Out
Friday, October14
 
Friday, Oct 14, from 5PM to 8PM, we will host Brave Cave. This Parents' Nite Out event is for families of children, infant to grade 5. There will be cave activities and a movie for the kids - they can even invite a friend!
Reservations required by Oct 11!
Call or email the church office: (208) 667-8446, office@1stpresdowntown.org
Drop-off In the Church Gym. Please park and enter from the gravel lot on the west side of the church. And don't forget to bring a sack supper for each child!
 
Dr. Sue Melchiore to Speak at Women's Association Meeting
Tuesday, October 18
 
Inviting all women to join us Tuesday, October 18, 2016, 1pm in the Fireside Room. Our special guest speaker, is Dr. Sue Melchiore,  founder of On Site For Seniors, a faith-based healthcare organization providing quality on-site care to seniors and disabled adults in our area who have limited access to medical services. You can find out more about this wonderful ministry at: http://onsite4seniors.org/ 

Rebecca Circle,  hostess for this meeting.
 
Trunk-Or-Treat Downtown Coeur d'Alene
Monday, October 31
 
Once again, 1stPres will LOVE1st the downtown community through the Downtown Trunk-or-Treat on Halloween, Monday Oct. 31st, from 4 - 6 p.m. at the corner of 6th and Sherman Ave. Plan now to be a part of this "Treat-rific" event. Register yourself or your team to enter a decorated trunk by downloading - click here - and filling out a Trunk-or-Treat registration form and returning it to the church office. Candy will be provided to give out to Trick-or-Treaters and each Trunk will be judged and the name of the winning trunk will be inscribed on the Great Pumpkin perpetual trophy.
 
  Last Year's Winners
The Glory Be Buzz

We're Getting Excited for Autumn!

 

Grand Stand for Schools is Back!
 
Campbell's have made things much easier for you to support Glory Be. Simply go to this link and enter Glory Be for a chance to win $10,000 for our school!

 
Needs of the Week
 
Our little friends at Glory Be Learning Center send their thanks for all the supplies you dropped off for them. With school starting, they are always in need of:
  • Paper plates
  • 5oz paper cups
  • dry snack foods, like crackers
  • liquid hand soap
  • canned fruit
If you can help, please place your item(s) in the boxes underneath the Mission Board, in the hallway between the Hunter Building and the Gym. Thank you!
 
 
Peel Those Labels!!!
 
The Campbell's Labels for Education program is ending next year, so please bring your Campbell's product label, package or UPC code and leave it in the Glory Be box underneath the Mission Board, in the hallway between the Hunter Building and the Gym. For a complete list of participating products (you'll be surprised what's on it!) http://www.labelsforeducation.com/earn-points/participating-products Thank-you!
 
Volunteer Opportunities

Helpers Needed for Family Promise
 
Family Promise enables homeless families to stay together as a family while they work towards independence. The families eat and sleep in the church. It takes a lot of volunteers to make this work. Here are two video links that provide a good overview of what family promise is all about:


If you are interested in helping please contact the church office at (208) 667-8446.
  
Helpers Needed for Children & Families Events
 
CHILDCARE GIVERS needed for the Parents' Nite Out program. You would be part of a 3-person team working with infants to 3 year olds. The first event is Oct. 14, 5-8pm. For questions and more information, please contact Jane Penney at 208-769-4216.

HELPERS NEEDED: If you love children, doing crafts, playing games, helping with food service, set-up and decorating, we need you to be part of our team of volunteers for the Friday Families program, Parents' Nite Out and Family Potluck. These events happen once a month and volunteers can work as little or as much as they would like. Please call the church office (208-667-8446) or sign up in the Hunter Bldg. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Jane Penney at 208-769-4216.
 
House Sitters Available
 
Wendy Wilson has some missionary friends serving in Serbia that will be on home assignment in Cda mid-Nov to mid-Feb and are wondering about any snowbirds that may need a house-sitter for that time. Do you know of anyone? Wendy would be happy to meet with them and make the introduction. Paul and Jody Hovda have a teenage son and are a sweet family.

Contact Wendy or the church office at (208) 667-8446.
 
Groups & Gatherings

Saturday Morning Men's Group
 
 The Saturday Morning Men's Group is starting back up after taking a summer break. We will be meeting this Saturday morning, October 1st, at 7am at Bakery By the Lake at 601 Front Ave. CDA. All men are welcome to attend.

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

Thursday Men's Group
 
The Iron Horse Lunchtime Men's Group is meeting again after taking a break for summer.  We meet at The Iron Horse on Sherman Ave. CDA at noon. Currently we are reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. All men are welcome to attend.
Contact the church for info (208) 667-8446.
  
Women's Circles
  
Our Women's Circles now have an evening group that will meet on the first Tuesday of each month to accommodate those who are unable to attend during the day. If you have any questions or would like to participate, please call Judy Hays at
(208) 660-4083.
 
Women's Circles are small groups of women that meet (generally in each other's homes) on the first Tuesday of each month. Each meeting includes light refreshments, devotions, and lively conversation. If you have questions about the Circles, or are interested in joining one, please contact the church office at (208) 667-8446.
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 getting 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!  Give Karen Huber a call (208-667-6525), 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. Contact:  Bev Turner (208) 659-9415, or
Judy Hays (208) 660-4083 for more info or to sign up.
     
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 Madie Pray at (208) 292-4778 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.  Come join us!