In this new section of our newsletter, I (Pastor Peter) am going to do my best to highlight major events in the life of our congregation. I hope to be reporting to you events we can celebrate: births, marriages, milestone anniversaries, and the like. I also want to share difficult news with you. I want to invite you to celebrate together and give thanks to God for good gifts. I also want to invite you to grieve together and pray for one another during difficult times.
So in that spirit, here is some news from this summer. Congratulations to Bob & Sue Thompson and Jerry & Pam Schmitz on 50 years of marriage as of August 4 (these couples were married on the same day)! We are celebrating Jesus’ faithfulness to you and your faithfulness to one another. We also join in with Wolfe and Bev Schneider as they celebrated their son Jeremy’s marriage to Heather in southern CA in July as well as Nancy Caldwell as she celebrated her son Dan’s marriage to Ivy in our church in August. Our hearts also grieve with Jeri Dever, who lost her beloved husband, Jim, on July 16; and Darlene Medley, whose mother and CPC member, Marjorie Bews, died peacefully on August 23. We are standing with you during this difficult season.
Many of you are familiar with Plateau Outreach Ministries’ (POM) work to provide Christ-centered social services to the community on behalf of the local churches on the Plateau. I am very pleased to tell you that I have accepted an invitation to join the board of directors at POM. I am excited to offer my time, gifts and imagination to POM because POM’s values are very similar to our own. First, it is a Christ-centered ministry. Everything POM does flows from their love for Jesus. Second, POM is seeking to transform the community by providing social services. This sounds very much like our church’s mission - “Christ our center - love and service our purpose.” I know a number of you volunteer at POM, and our church regularly provides financial support to POM through our deacons fund. I am excited for the possibility of expanding our partnership with POM as we seek to love and serve Buckley in Jesus’ name.