New Moderator:  It's Bolbach in four

By Leslie Scanlon, Outlook national reporter

MINNEAPOLIS - After four rounds of voting and some worry about technical difficulties with the electronic voting keypads, the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) elected as its moderator Cynthia Bolbach, a lawyer and the only elder in a six-person field.

            Bolbach - tall, plain-spoken, with a crisp sense of humor - brings to the office decades of experience in church life, from the congregational to the national levels of the denomination.

            She has served as a deacon and clerk of session for her congregation, as well as moderator of National Capital Presbytery, chair of the presbytery's Committee on Ministry and its interim general presbyter. She also serves as co-moderator of the Form of Government Task Force, which is bringing to this assembly a proposal - four years in the making - to streamline and make more flexible the denomination's Form of Government section of the Book of Order.

            After the fourth-ballot, the candidate with the second-highest number of votes was Julia Leeth, a pastor from California, who earlier in the evening said she guessed she might be the most conservative of the candidates.

 In that final ballot, Bolbach received 325 votes (51 percent) and Leeth 148 votes (23 percent), out of a six-person field. But Bolbach led from the start, winning 149 votes (30 percent) in the first ballot - with things splitting neatly from there, with four of the other five candidates drawing from 71 to 76 votes apiece that time around.

            Before her election, Bolbach used a biblical analogy - drawn from the New Testament story of the friends who raised up a paralyzed friend, cut a hole in the roof of a building where Jesus was inside, and dropped their friend down into the room with Jesus.

            The PC(USA) is paralyzed by uncertainty and fear about how to proclaim the gospel in the 21st century, Bolbach said. "You and I are the friends who can help our paralyzed denomination see Jesus," and be healed.

OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS

Church members who support their church regularly and sacrificially report having several surprises: 

Ciudad de Los Ninos Orphanage Choir Comes July 25th
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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LIFE OF THE CHURCH

In Memoriam – Elsie Bidgood – June 29, 2010

WE WELCOME our own Emma Lou Diemer, Organist Emeritus, who will be providing organ music during Nelson Huber’s vacation time.

PRAYER AFTER WORSHIP - Those desiring prayer after the close of the service are invited to go to the Chapel. An elder or staff person will be ready and available to share in this ministry with you .

THE FLOWERS today are dedicated by Dorothy Beverly in loving memory of Robert Beverly. The Deacons will take the flowers to those unable to attend worship with us.

RETURN TO ADDIS ABABA.  John and Anne Wheeler-Waddell returned to Ethiopia in early June to teach the “Gospel and Culture” course at the graduate school of theology in Ethiopia’s capital city.  In July they will be at the New Wilmington Mission Conference in Pennsylvania, sharing with high school students and also teaching about the care of people in mission.  To contact John and Anne: Annejohnet@earthlink.ne t

SUMMER ADULT EDUCATION – Sundays July 11, 18, 24 and August I, 8, 15 will be led by Noni Patchell. She will teaching from the 2010-2011 Horizons Bible Study which is entitled Journeys Through Revelation, Apocalyptic Hope for Today by Dr. Barbara R. Rossing, Professor of New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

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 are for sale following 9 & 10:30 a.m. worship on the 2 n d and 4 t h Sunday of each month.

PARISH NURSE SUNDAY— Check out the health resources information on the patio and have your blood pressure checked in the Parish Nurse office #305 .

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:

·  Missionary Jane Holslag in Lithuani a

·  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: 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

·  Kyle Lauth, (grandson of Dolores Crisp) has returned safely from service in the Middle East and has been discharged

·  Presbytery of Santa Barbara IMPACT Mission Teams and Director Breanne Bouma and our own Alexa Hur serving in Uganda in July

·  Retired Minister Richard Wardlaw of Crescent City

THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sunday, July 11 – 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; 12 noon Sunday Circle in Anderson Lounge (bring your lunch)

Tues., July 13 – 7:30 a.m. Men’s Bible Breakfast in Anderson Lounge

Wednesday, July 14 – 7:00 p.m. APNC in Anderson Lounge

Friday, July 16 – 10 a.m. Senior Activities Program in Garden Roo m ; 6:30 p.m. Presbycamp Variety Show in the CFC (see insert)

Saturday, July 17 – 10:00 a.m. Memorial Service for Bobbi Revis

Sunday, July 18 – 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