Peter's Message
Dear Friends,

June 20 through July 8 I’ll be in Chicago for my three-week residency for Year 3 of my Doctor of Ministry Program. I look forward to being in the classroom -- even as one of the gray-haired members of my class. (You can teach an old dog new tricks, or so it seems.)

The program is focused on preaching, as you know. This summer’s classes focus on Preaching as Social Transformation and Twentieth Century Preaching: Theory and Practice (yes, Twentieth century – we all talk enough in our classes about preaching in the twenty-first century). I’ll also be in a colloquy for third-year students focusing on sharpening our thesis proposals. I’ll tell you more about my thesis topic when I get back. Incidentally, if I look heavier in July than I did in June, it’s the Chicago-style deep-dish pizza’s fault; it’s not my fault.

I’m often asked when I’m graduating. My response: in June, 2011, God willing. In other words, I have a year – and writing a thesis – to go.

I do hope you enjoy the guest preachers during my absence: Judith Muller, of course. Also Dan Stevens, formerly of Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Ventura, and, more recently, Lifewater International. Also Jan Armstrong, Executive Presbyter of Santa Barbara Presbytery, and (new FPC member) Debbie’s husband. I’m so pleased these three fine preachers said Yes to sharing with you.

Last but not least, please go out of your way on Sunday mornings to greet one person you do not already know, either a church guest or a fellow member. If you can commit that person’s name to memory, all the better. Know that your hospitality makes all the difference.

Grace and peace,

Peter

Grateful Acknowledgment of a Bequest
We are most grateful to have received a bequest from the Estate of Mary Delmer Tooker. In accordance with the policy set by session, the funds will be placed in the 1869 Memorial Fund, as they were not restricted to a specific purpose. Through the generosity of members, we are able to grow our funds and provide for the needs of the church. We are very thankful!

PresbyFolks Activity for June Was a Tour of the SB Botanical Gardens
On Saturday, June 12, the PresbyFolks enjoyed a docent-led tour of the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens. A big thanks to Bob and Eleanor Wennberg for organizing the event! For information on how you can participate in the July PresbyFolks event, please contact Juleine.
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More Youth News! Three New Confirmation Class Graduates
Three amazing students will be completing their confirmation and will be formally joining the First Presbyterian Church family this month.  Jimmy Kerman, Amanda Hur, and Matt Sims have all completed a confirmation process that included visiting other churches, various workshops given by Pastor Peter, Pastor Judith, and Chuck Curtis, service projects, and a "five talents" exercise. In this exercise students were given $5 to "invest";  taken from the Parable of Talents found in Matthew 25:14-30 and in Luke 19:12-27.  Each student was paired up with an adult mentor from the church.  The First Pres. family gives much thanks to Gene Schaefer, Susan Slattery, and Chris Martinich for taking the time and effort to invest in the lives of the these three wonderful young people and the future of First Presbyterian Church.

THANKS from NELSON
Dear FPC Friends,
Here are the comments I would like to have shared with you at today's party (held after church on May 23). Thank you all so very much for the wonderful post-Pentecost party, created by Lynn Handloser and the Worship Committee.
You know, playing the organ on the chancel can be lonely work: work well suited to an introvert like me. So today's party allowed me to meet you, speak to you, listen to you, and share cake with you. I have learned so much since coming to FPC. Eight years ago, "Decently & In good order" seemed to be only a catch-phrase. Now, I have learned that it is a means to Grace. Thank you for providing that wonderful organ, and the lovely Chancel Choir with which to create music to inspire the worship of God. But, most of all, thank you for forgiving so many initial blunders, seeing the potential when presented with the irritating, and for developing my institutional potential. To tell you that I love you is hard for me. I hope you can feel it in the music. We are together because God has willed it, and I give thanks.
Sincerely, Nelson
Nelson C. Huber
Director of Music & Organist

On Sunday, July 25th, 37 youth ranging in age from 6 to 23, from the Ciudad de Los Ninos Orphanage Choir, will sing at First Presbyterian Church's 10:30 Service.  Father Pedro Gutierrez Farias and their music teacher will accompany the children.  La Ciudad de Los Ninos “City of the Children,” was built in Salamanca, Mexico, with assistance from then governor of the state of Guanajuato, Vicente Fox.  The facility was opened to homeless and orphaned children in September of that same year.  Father Pedro has been the director since the beginning and is assisted by a devoted staff of nuns and young priests.

Father Pedro and his staff currently care for and oversee the upbringing of 304 children ranging in age from newborn to 25 years old.  The children are given a vocational education and those who wish to pursue higher education are given scholarships by local and state institutions of higher learning.

President Vicente Fox has followed and assisted Father Pedro since the establishment of the orphanage in 1977.  President Fox has shown a strong desire to care for and support children born in less fortunate situations.  This is highlighted by the fact that his three children are adopted.  Additionally, Mrs. Fox continues to support the City of the Children with food staples on a monthly basis.

The City of the Children Choir was formed in 1997 and has performed throughout Mexico.  This will be their 3rd visit to the United States.  The money they earn from donations helps to pay for their trip expenses and to support the orphanage.

You are invited to meet and to have lunch with the Choir in the CFC following the service. 
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News about Near East School of Theology and Synod of Syria-Lebanon & Iraq from Ms. Carol Dolezal-Ng

Greetings Friends of the Near East School of Theology (N.E.S.T.),

Presbyterian News Service has just released news of the latest seminar for Iraqi Presbyterian Women held at the N.E.S.T.

Click here for a link to the story by Jerry Van Mater

Also, this November 5-19 is an exciting opportunity to travel to Syria and Lebanon for a mission trip. If you haven't heard yet, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has a new mission network!  The Syria-Lebanon Network held a formation meeting last September, 2009.   Prior to that in October, 2008, the Iraq Network convened a Consultation and Encounter near Damascus with Presbyterians from the five churches in Iraq.  That Iraq Network Consultation provided understanding of the needs and the opportunity for several leadership training seminars held at the Near East School of Theology for the Iraqi Presbyterians. The mission trip this 2010 is a joint venture is organized through the Syria-Lebanon and Iraq Mission Networks of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and sponsored and facilitated by The Outreach Foundation. After arrival and getting settled in the region, the trip will begin with a 3-day consultation at the N.E.S.T.  We will then travel throughout the region to "encounter, in their context, the vital presence and ministries of the Churches of the Synod of Syria-Lebanon."  We hope for representation throughout the PC(USA) to come and learn more about how we may walk together as Christians!  One does not need to be a member of either the Syria-Lebanon Mission Network, or the Iraq Partnership Network, to take part in this gathering. Anyone with an interest in the life of the Church in those areas, and how all of us in the Middle East and in the US can be of mutual benefit in building up the Body of Christ, are most welcome to participate!

LIFE OF THE CHURCH

FOR INFORMATION ON the PCUSA 219th General Assembly (2010) go to “www.thepresbyterianleader.com”. Doug (and Carol) DuCharme of our congregation will be attending and representing our Presbytery this July 3-10, 2010.

MINISTERING TO JAIL INMATES  Dave Bazinet continues to grow in his ministry to the men kept inside the SB County Jail.  Ted Baehr will soon be joining him in the ministry.  The County Jail has 6,000 male inmates, some of whom are ready to be transformed by Jesus Christ so they can start a new life.  Dave visits twice a week.  He asks you to support him with your prayers.

TAI CHI FOR ARTHRITIS – All are welcome to join us Tuesday for a relaxing class of Tai Chi. This free class meets in the Garden Room from 1-2pm. Great for stress reduction and gentle on the joints!!

DO YOU KNOW that Fair Trade Caffeinated Coffee is served every Sunday? Support this worthwhile cause by donating to the coffee basket. Fair Trade Coffee, Tea & Chocolate is for sale following 9 & 10:30 a.m. worship on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.

CONNECTING ALL CAREGIVERS – Join us in the Garden Room on Tuesday, June 22 from 2-3PM. Do you currently care for a loved one? This support group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month. The goal is to connect people that have common interests, to share knowledge, to be a resource to each other, to pray for one another, and to take a little time for self – nourishment. Call Sharon Troll (687-0754 x 103).

Adult Education

Sunday Mornings in Anderson Lounge

June 20, 27     God in the White House

Prof. Kathleen Moore;

Dept. of Religious Studies, UCSB

A three part series designed to spark discussion and thought about how faith has shaped the American presidency and electoral politics, this series will explore these questions:

How did we get from JFK's eloquent appeal to voters in 1960 to ignore a candidate's faith when entering the voting booth, to presidential candidate George W. Bush's declaration in 2000 that Jesus is his favorite philosopher? And what do we make of President Obama's inaugural appeal to dig deep into our souls to find the better angels of our nature?

Presidential politics and religion over the course of the past four decades has taken some interesting twists and turns. What do we, as thoughtful American Christians, make of the "religionization" of politics? Come join this opportunity for significant discussion.

Kathleen Moore, Professor of Religious Studies at UCSB, earned her doctorate in political science and law degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her expertise is on the legal and political aspects of Muslim communities and contemporary Islam in western societies. Her most recent book, Unfamiliar Abode: Islamic Law in the United States and Britain, has just been published by Oxford Univ. Press.

THE PRAYER CHAIN is available to pray for your needs. In the Narthex and Fireside Lounge are Prayer Boxes provided by the Congregational Care Ministry. Please place a request form in the box, call Chuck at: 687-0754 x 102 or email: ccurtis@fpcsb.org. Requests are kept confidential.

PRAYER AND INTERCESSION

Pray for:

· Missionaries Sandy Hess & team serving Transition House each month

· God’s presence & guidance for our Assoc. Pastor Nom. Committee

· Those who are sick, hospitalized or recovering and need our support

· Our military personnel serving in the Middle East: Kyle Lauth, (grandson of Dolores Crisp); Erich Johnson (grandson of Beverly Smaniotto); Nicolas Jones (grandson of Allen & Ann Braithwaite); Andrew Gaston (brother of Leah Gaston); the people of the Middle East, the pastors and people of the churches and for all those working for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world

· Minister members at large James Witty of Texas, Kent Meads of Auburn, CA and Paul Coppock of Oregon

THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sunday, June 20 – 8:30 a.m. Contemplative Worship in the Chapel;    9 a.m. Informal Worship in CFC; 9 a.m. Adult Ed in Anderson Lounge; 10:30 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary

Tuesday, June 22 – 7:30 a.m. Men’s Bible Breakfast in Anderson Lounge; 1:00 p.m. Tai Chi for Arthritis in Garden Room; 2:00 p.m. Caregiver Support Group in Garden Room

Wednesday, June 23 – 7:00 p.m. High School Group in the Youth Lounge (Josh, 279-2391); 7:00 p.m. APNC in Anderson Lounge

Friday, June 25 – 10 a.m. Senior Activities Program in Garden Room; 6:00 p.m. Jr. Hi. Youth Group in the Youth Lounge (Josh, 279-2391)

Sunday, June 27 – 8:30 a.m. Contemplative Worship in the Chapel;    9 a.m. Informal Worship in CFC; 9 a.m. Adult Ed in Anderson Lounge; 10:30 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary