This Week News and Photos


Saturday: Celebrated with the Finjap family.  Extended family and friends gathered from all over on Saturday to celebrate and bless Cerica upon her High School graduation!  Congratulations, Cerica!

Sunday:  Celebrated Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit and birthday of the Christian Church.  This is one holy day that the culture has not absorbed.  Prepared liturgy for next Sunday.



 Friday, Saturday, Monday (Days Off):  This Spring on my free time, I've been volunteering at AACORN Community Farm scraping, sanding, and painting.  I prepped a small out building and this corn crib.  AACORN Community provides programing in a farm setting for adults living with autism.  They raise goats, chickens and vegetables.  My daughter, Leana, has worked on staff for the past three years.  They just bought 40 acres from Tillers International.  They moved their January 1st and have been settling in to this new home.  The community is invited to an open house fundraiser at the farm this Saturday, June 15, 3 to 7 p.m., located at 6409 34th St. South, Kalamazoo.  They are presently in a capital campaign with goal of raising $80,000 by August 1st to build an new activity building this fall.  Presently they are using facilities at Tillers.  To learn more including a introductory video:  https://aacornfarm.org/ 


Rev. Charlotte Ellison honored
Tuesday:  I attended the Presbytery meeting at the Hesperia Church.  They are a small rural church northwest of Newago.  They just added a new accessible entrance with elevator, and new bathrooms.  A youth worship team from New City Kids lead music at worship.   Rev. Linda Rubingh preached on God's call and reflected on her call after 25 years having co-founded and co-lead New City Kids with her husband Trevor.  God's call is beautiful, inconvenient, and is a pilgrimage.  They had no idea at the beginning what their ministry would look like.  This was God's idea.  New City Kids sites are now at multiple locations in New Jersey and Michigan.  To learn more: https://newcitykids.org/

 Denise Anderson, Presbyterian Mission Agency, Associate for Racial and Intercultural Ministry, introduced our denomination's AntiRacism emphasis, and General Assembly policy on Racism.  Racism is not just a matter of bad behavior by individuals, but also ingrained in institutional policies and procedures.  The PMA now has a website with resources at:  http://facing-racism.pcusa.org/

Bob Poel hoeing potatoes
Wednesday:  I joined Bob Poel and Carol Pratt at our Hope Garden.  I hoed two rows of corn, one row of string beans, and four rows of cabbage.  Then I sent announcements and invitations to neighboring Presbyterian Churches for our Outdoor Worship on Fourth Sundays.  Then published and sent this blog post.

Coming Up:  Happy Anniversary to
Duane & Cathy Antcliff 6/16, and to
Charlie & Lucy Hammond 6/18, their 70th!

 Outdoor Worship:  Fourth Sundays, 10 a.m.
this summer at Hope Garden, 8882 Q. Ave. Kalamazoo:  June 23, July 28, August 25.  Bring your lawn chair(s) and a friend.  The worship theme:  Earth Prayers. 
 

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