Worship Bulletin
(PDF) for Sunday,
June 29, 2008

Calendar

Sermons

Recent deaths

Volunteer Opps

Congregational Care

Usher Schedule

The Chimes Newsletter

Presbytery News

218th General Assembly

Prayers for Peace, a
free booklet of prayers from around the world collected for the Idlewild congregation by pastor Steve Montgomery, is available at the church. Click here for a PDF version.

Officer Nominations

2008 Officers,
Committees & Staff

2007 Annual Report

PC(USA) News Briefs

Manual of Procedures

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Idlewild Member News

Reyes-Chow elected moderator of 218th General Assembly

Excerpt from article by Jerry L. Van Marter. Photo by Joseph Williams.

The Reverend Bruce Reyes-Chow, 39, an energetic new church development pastor in San Francisco and leader in the “emergent church” movement, was elected moderator of the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Saturday night, June 21.

The new moderator is pastor of Mission Bay Community Church, an innovative new church of San Francisco Presbytery that was recently named winner of a 2007 Sam and Helen Walton Award for outstanding new church development.

Reyes-Chow reiterated over and over his belief that “nothing is too hard or too wondrous for God. If the church steps out in faith rather than clinging to survival, to be more intent on being faithful than on being right, to be together based on our common covenant in Jesus Christ rather than by property or pensions, then we will be able to live into a future in which we are a vital and vibrant presence in the world.”

Reyes-Chow, the grandson of Chinese and Filipino immigrants to California, was raised in Sacramento and Stockton, California. He is a graduate of San Francisco State University and San Francisco Theological Seminary. A prolific writer and blogger, Reyes-Chow describes himself as a “pastor/geek/dad/follower of Christ.”

To read more and see news and photos from GA visit www.pcusa.org/ga218/news/ga08017.htm.

218th General Assembly meets June 21-28, 2008

The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be held June 21-28, 2008, in San Jose, California.

The General Assembly is the highest governing body of the church and is representative of the unity of our congregations, sessions, presbyteries, and synods.

The 2008 theme is “Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Many important issues will be considered by commissioners and advisory delegates as they seek to discern and to represent the will of Christ for the PC(USA).

Visit www.pcusa.org/ga218 to learn more.

Called Congregation Meeting June 29

A Congregational Meeting has been called for Sunday, June 29, following the 11:00 worship service.

We welcome our newest church members

We welcome the newest members to the Idlewild family who joined the church June 15: Milton and Anne Brown, Rachel and Bryan Hallum, Melinda Liles, John McCann, Scott and Deede Sherman, David, Ginny and Peter Zanca.

Pastor Steve is at Montreat

Pastor Steve Montgomery is in Montreat, North Carolina, attending the Worship and Music Conference the first week, the Church Unbound Conference the second week, and then preaching at the Montreat Conference Center on Sunday, July 6.

Summer intern Moses Bushnell is already busy

Moses Bushnell is our summer intern from Rhodes College. Moses has already assisted in vacation Bible school and RBI, and will be involved in a full range of church activities this summer. Moses, who is from Pineville, Louisiana, is studying religious studies at Rhodes, and is a fine musician as well.

Submit Officers Nominations

Member nominations for 2009 deacons and elders are being accepted through August 24, 2008. these men and women will each serve a three year term. To learn more, click here for an Officer Nomination Form (PDF) to print and submit, or pick one up at the church anytime.

This Week @ Idlewild

New Moderator Elected / Special Basketball Camp / Teach Children / Mt. LeConte Trip / Ways to help / Portals of Peace invitations / Pinecrest Camp / Called Congregational Meeting / Summer Chorus / Special Events / Committee Meetings / Notes for next week

Click here to see This Week @ Idlewild e-mail for June 25 , 2008.

Liturgical Arts as Worship

World Communion and Peacemaking Sunday

October 5, 2008

 

PORTALS OF PEACE — beautiful, symbolic works of art in sheer fabric reflecting themes of peace, unity and communion inspired by the creativity of our children — will line the arches of Idlewild’s sanctuary on World Communion and Peacemaking Sunday this fall, opening our worship space experience in graceful and transforming ways.

Creating a World of Prayers

As part of the participatory and inclusive vision for PORTALS OF PEACE, we are asking other faith communities to pray for peace with us on October 5, 2008.

You can help by inviting friends from diverse religious communities, prayer or peacemaking groups to become Prayer Partners in PORTALS OF PEACE.

We would like permission to inscribe the their organization’s name on our hangings, and to enjoin their prayers for peace with those of our congregation's on October 5.

Visit the Portals of Peace web page for more information and for a letter of invitation to send to a friend. The orginations' agreement forms need to be returned to the Idlewild Church office by August 1.

Volunteer update

Thanks to the many volunteers who are working to create the beautiful hangings. All slots have been filled, so no more workers are needed right now.

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities and Collections

You can make More Than a Meal more than ever

More Than a Meal needs your help during the summer. Every Thursday evening from 5:00 to 6:30 Idlewild offers worship and a healthy, hot meal for our guests from the streets of Memphis and neighborhoods around the church. Please come any Thursday evening—bring friends and family—and help make a difference in the lives of people in Midtown Memphis. Contact Margaret Burnett , 726-46861, for more information.

MTAM baseball tickets: Donate unused or extra Redbirds tickets to More Than A Meal. Tickets are collected then traded in for future games so our guests and their children can attend. If you don’t have tickets but would like to help, how about sponsoring a family? Contact Earle Donelson, 274-6663.

MTAM book donations: The Paul Harlan Library for More Than a Meal guests can always use more books. Mysteries, thrillers, biographies, spiritual books and Bibles are always welcome. Contact Earle Donelson at 274-6663, or bring books to the church in a box marked “MTAM.”

RBI needs baseball equipment ASAP

Idlewild's Revive Baseball in the Inner-City (RBI) summer camp began June 2 with more than 175 children. If you have equipment to donate — especially baseball gloves — please bring it to the church office or call 725-4165. This vibrant summer ministry serves urban boys and girls with team spirit, Christian values, fun and food.

Can You Dig It? McMerton Neighborhood Garden

The McMerton Neighborhood Garden in Binghamton offers area residents a place to dig, plant and grow while making friends. The organic garden was started last year and quickly grew to several sights. It is located at the corner of McMerton and McAdoo. Contact: Carl Awsumb, 278-2552 or cawsumb@bellsouth.net.

Donations for victims of Arkansas tornadoes, Myanmar cyclone, China earthquakes

If you would like to support those struggling to recover from the Arkansas tornados and  the cyclone in Myanmar, please write checks to Idlewild Presbyterian Church with “tornado” or “cyclone” or "earthquake" on the memo line. Funds will be distributed thru the Presbyterian Disaster Relief Fund.

For more on PC"USA) efforts in Myanmar please visit www.pcusa.org/pda/response/asia/myanmarburma-index.htm.

MIFA Meals Delivery

Each Thursday morning (beginning August 14) from 9:30 to 11:30, an Idlewild staff member and a lay member deliver nutritious meals and warm smiles to homebound seniors. If you are interested in helping with meal deliveries please contact Margaret Burnett at margaret@idlewildchurch.org. Sign up for once a month, or to be called when there is a need. (Weekly deliveries will begin in mid-August. Summer meals are delivered by Idlewild Children’s Center day-camp children.)

Adopt-A-School Tutoring

This year, more than 100 elementary students will spend an hour or two each week with dozens of Idlewild members who are tutoring through our Adopt-A-School program. More are signed up to read to preschool classes each week. Many thanks to all the tutors who came to training, who make time in their schedules, and who love these precious children. Please contact Toni Baer or Margaret Burnett to see how you can get involved in our exciting Adopt-A-School programs.

Help Improve Public Education — Right Here!

The Idlewild Learning Center, on the first floor of the Jones Building, is a Memphis City Schools alternative elementary classroom. By donating the space, supplementing supplies and offering support the church as a whole is encouraging the children. Contact Idlewild member Joan Allison at jallison@commercialappeal.com if you can help by donating supplies or by volunteering.  Read more about the Idlewild Learning Center at www.idlewildchurch.org/outreach.html. 

Volunteers needed: The Learning Center is starting a speaker program. If you would like to talk to the students about a mission trip or work here in Memphis, such as with More Than a Meal, contact Joan Allison. This is a way to show these children how they can help out in their community. 

Idlewild Church-Idlewild Court Mentoring

Through the new Idlewild Church-Idlewild Court Mentors ministry, church members will be paired by MIFA with families living at Idlewild Court (IC). In the coming months, mentors will meet with their families to help with basic life skills such as budgeting, bookkeeping, menu planning, and parenting. If you are interested in becoming an IC mentor please contact Idlewild member John Pekar.

Donate Paperbacks for Our Troops Overseas

Idlewild's elementary-age mission group Micah’s Missionaries (MMs) are collecting gently-used paperback books to be shipped to American troops overseas. The children are collecting and sending books in conjunction with Operation Paperback, a non-profit, grassroots program which receives thanks from troops every week. There are collection boxes at the church for your paperback book donations. Learn more and see what types of books are most requested (no romance novels, please) at www.operationpaperback.org.

Congregational Care and Support

Please let the church office know...

If you or someone you know in the church is having difficulty because of illness, loss of job, bereavement or immobility, please contact the church office at 726-4681. There are volunteers ready to offer rides, meals and their time.

Share your culinary talents with members in need

Prepare a meal or two of your favorite recipe for members of the congregation who are recovering from illness or who have experienced a death in their family. Deliver your prepared meals in disposable containers —with cooking instructions—to the church, where it will be put in the church freezer. Meals are delivered as needed. For additional information contact Anne Covington at 274-5864.

The Idlewild Prayer Chain

Confidential prayer requests can be made by calling the prayer chain at 683-6578 or by filling out the cards in the pew racks on Sunday.

Our Flower Ministry is more than just a pretty face

The flower ministry does more than beautify the church on Sundays. Each Monday morning the arrangements are made into bouquets and delivered to hospital patients and shut-ins. If you would like to give flowers in memory or in honor of someone special, or simply donate to the flower fund, call Betsy Earp at 324-1688.

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updated 6.26.08

© 2005-2008 Idlewild Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tennessee

Idlewild Presbyterian Church (USA)
1750 Union Avenue
Memphis TN 38104
901.726.4681