Sunday school, ,Maysville, KY, Aberdeen, Ohio,

Mailing address: PO Box 490, Maysville, KY, 41056.

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“A Job Well Done”

by Pastor Jim Dougans

The purpose of this brief report is to describe the work done by the church’s Interim Steering Committee and to thank the five people who served on this Committee.

The session established the Interim Steering Committee in April

of 2016 and asked its members to prepare the congregational self-study.

The Committee was also given the task of assisting the new pastor to get settled in the church after they arrived. The moderator of the Committee was Barbara Fernandes. Also serving on the Committee were Missy Hendrickson, Ellen Cartmell, David Harnish, and Linda Reed. I served ex-officio.

The Committee met monthly beginning in July 2016. An initial task was to design

the self-study process. The goal of the self-study is to help “create healthy pastor/

congregation relationships.” The study answers the question: “what type of pastoral

leadership can best lead us to our desired future?”

The Committee chose to rely heavily on the Appreciative Inquiry process. This

process assumes in every church at least some things work well (Philipians 4:8-9). In

this process, you focus on the positive aspects. You also assume that what you focus

on becomes reality. Transylvania Presbytery’s Commission on Pastoral Transitions approved the congregational plan for the self-study. With the approval in hand, the Committee set about interviewing members and some non-members. The Committee interviewed 46 people during the fall of 2016 and the winter of 2017.

The Committee also consulted MissionInsite for the latest demographic information

about Maysville and the church’s ministry area. It also incorporated the results of the

US Congregational Life Survey administered in October 2016. And members of the

Committee interviewed five community leaders: mayor, hospital administrator, police

chief, planning director, and school superintendent. The Congregational Self-Study

was completed in April of 2017.

Thank you to Barbara, David, Linda, Ellen, and Missy. You did great work!

Blessings,

Pastor Jim Dougans

What Rain Reveals

Unless you’re a pluviophile (someone who loves rain), a stretch of sunshinefree days can seem drab and dreary. To make South Korea’s long monsoon season more colorful, art students created murals on some Seoul sidewalks with hydrochromic paint. It’s invisible on dry surfaces, but as soon as water hits, vibrant images appear. Rain transforms gray pavement into bright scenes of fish, whales and turtles.

Life’s storms, whether literal or figurative, can dampen our enthusiasm and

even challenge our faith. Yet adversity often reveals God’s true colors - and

ours. No matter what clouds pass overhead, God remains perfect, loving and steadfast. And by praising God “rain or shine,” we, as his artwork, reveal that our Creator and his every brushstroke are trustworthy.

An Encouraging Word

The Bible repeatedly “encourages” Christians to “encourage one another.” How can you tell when someone needs encouragement? The answer is easy, said Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy: if they’re breathing! He quipped, “I get a lot of encouragement, but I never got an overdose.”

Offering encouragement is an easy way to have a big impact. In fact, two esteemed Christian writers call encouragers angelic and godly. George MacDonald said, “If, instead of a gem or even a flower, we could cast the gift of a lovely thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.” And G.K. Chesterton said, “If I can put one touch of rose sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that

I have worked with God.”

Who in your life might need an encouraging word today?

Angels Along Life’s Trail

Weary long-distance hikers sometimes encounter “trail angels” — people who offer food and drink, bandages, shoelaces and even a place to do laundry. Along the Pacific Crest Trail, one home, dubbed Hiker’s Heaven, serves as a mail drop. Trail angels say they find great joy in offering kindness to strangers.

Unexpected kindness — and regular rest stops — make any journey less grueling and more enjoyable. That’s also true on the journey of life as we experience (and bestow) generosity and pause to spend time with God. After all, “It is God to whom and with whom we travel,” said Elisabeth Elliot. “And while he is the end of our journey, he is also at every stopping place.”

The Origin of Father’s Day

One Sunday in 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd listened to a sermon honoring mothers. Her mother has died some years before, so her father has raised her by himself. Dodd wondered why there wasn’t a day to honor fathers, so she arranged a tribute to her father at a church in Spokane, Washington. The date was June 19,1910. Many people believe this was the beginning of Father’s Day.

Another account holds that a West Virginia church held a tribute service for fathers in 1908, following a mine explosion that killed 360 men. Regardless of which story is correct, President Calvin Coolidge was the first president to designate a special day to honor fathers. In 1924, he proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.

A Father’s Legacy

For Joseph Dodson, the pressures and responsibilities of parenthood felt compounded

when he and his wife adopted a son. Dodson, a Bible professor, wonders

if Jesus’ earthly father also struggled with doubts and fears.

Scripture doesn’t say much about Joseph, but he clearly left Jesus “a significant legacy,” Dodson writes in Bible Study Magazine. Joseph obeyed God — despite the risk to his reputation — by marrying a pregnant woman. Joseph, a son of David, raised the Son of David as his very own. To protect his family he fled to Egypt, foreshadowing the “new exodus” of Jesus’ saving ministry. And Joseph heard neighbors mock Jesus as “the carpenter’s son.”

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The Session will meet on

Monday, June 24 at 5:30 p.m.

Our facebook site is: www.facebook.com/maysvillepcusa.org/

The “Daily Bible Reading Schedule for One Year” cards are on the back table in the sanctuary.

Church mailing address is P O Box 490, Maysville, KY 41056.

The post office will not deliver if addressed to 21 W. 3rd St. Thank you!

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Pentecost Offering

We will be collecting the Pentecost Offering on Sunday, June 9th. The Pentecost Offering is one of the four special offerings to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Gifts to the Pentecost Offering help bring God’s transforming, redeeming love to children at risk, guide and nurture young people’s growing faith and provide opportunities for young adults to become spiritual leaders — all in the name of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God was poured out on believers on the Day of Pentecost. The Spirit is still God’s gift to believers. The Spirit empowers old and young alike to accomplish God’s purposes in this world. God still sends forth the Spirit through us in order to bring life and to heal broken lives, to equip people for ministry and to nurture faith.

Forty percent (40%) stays with our congregation; twenty-five percent (25%) supports Young Adult Volunteers; twenty-five percent (25%) goes to Ministries with Youth; and ten percent (10%) advocates for at-risk children. There will be envelopes placed in your bulletins for your checks. Please write PentecostOffering on the memo line of your check. Thank you.

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Maysville Academy Summer Concert will be held Friday, June 7th at 5:00 p.m. in the sanctuary .

Pentecost Offering is Sunday, June 9th.

Baby Shower! The women of the church are having a baby shower for Pastor Jim and Jennifer’s daughter Katie Flora, on Sunday, June 9th at 2:00 p.m. Katie is having a little girl. To find out what items Katie needs go to: https://www.babylist.com/baby-reg-katie-flora

Safety & Security Committee will meet on Thursday, June 13th at 5:30 p.m.

Ohio River Sweep: The Ohio River Sweep is Saturday, June 15th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Please contact Dan Crum if you wish to participate in the cleanup.

Food Bank: The Mason County Food Bank is in need of donations. On March 5, 2019, we sent them a check for $279 from money collected this year. You may mail a check directly to Mason County Food Bank, 1679 Forest Ave., Maysville, KY 41056 or you may write a check to the church. Please write “Food Bank” on the memo line of your check. Items needed are: canned fruits & vegetables; boxed macaroni & cheese; canned pastas; dried pastas; pasta sauce (preferably canned, not jars); canned soup; peanut butter; saltine crackers; cereal; oatmeal; cornbread mix; dried beans; and canned beans. Questions call (606) 375-6863. Thank you!

Classic Closet: When cleaning out your closets, consider donating to the Classic Closet. The consignment number for the church is 1731. After receiving a check, we will then send a check to the Women’s Crisis Center. Clothing should be consigned (on hangers) on Tuesday and Thursday. They are now receiving summer clothing. Classic Closet is located at 17 E. 2nd St. Phone number is (606) 563-0090.

Mini Old Car Show: On Sunday, June 16th, Frank Day, Kenny Ross, and Ernie Siders are having a mini old car show at “Bellside”, the home of Bruce & LuAnne Bellingham and Ernie & Jo Anne Siders. You may view the cars from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All members and family of the church are welcome. You can also enjoy Ernie’s “Man Cave”. Their home is located at 4158 Clarks Run Rd., Maysville.

Green Dot Maysville’s Race For the Rest of Us

Race/Walk/ Crawl will be held on June 8th on 2nd and Market Streets. Pre-registration is $20. VIP ride is $30. Day of Race is $25. The race begins at 3:00 p.m. with registration at 2:00 p.m. You may register at: https://tinyurl.com/Y3MUXA2E