Vacation Bible School
July 23 - July 27, 2007
9:00 –11:30 am

Teach me the way I should go, for to you
I lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:8b)

From July 23rd – 27th, our church will be filled with the sound of children singing and laughing as they learn more about their faith during Vacation Bible School. This year’s theme is Lift Off! Soaring To New Heights with God. We will study the stories of Abraham, Joseph, Mary, Zacchaeus, and Peter, enjoy music, crafts, recreation and more. Rising kindergartners through rising 6th graders are invited to join us from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Each day the children are invited to wear a special color: Monday – yellow (or white), Tuesday – purple, Wednesday – red, Thursday – green, Friday – blue. Get ready to lift off!

The Pastor's Ponderings

Pastor-in-Residence

Take a moment and think back with me to the camps with which you are familiar. There was a time when camp opportunities were church camp or band camp and few other options. Now the selections are rather specialized - space camp, drama, chess, computer, and sports camps. You name it - there’s a camp for you or your child.

As I think back there are names that come to my mind - Camp Judson, Camp Cowen, Bluestone, and Camp Hanover. Those are camps I’ve helped support, worked on clean-up crews to get ready for opening day, or attended presbytery meetings held there. Currently I serve on the Camp Hanover Ministries Board of the Presbytery.

A couple of weeks ago I received a call from the Program Director looking for pastors and/or educators in the presbytery to spend a week at camp to serve as a Pastor/Educator-in-Residence. And then it hit me! After all these years I’ve never been to camp! (If you don’t count attending events at Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina.)

So - I’ll be attending camp from Monday, July 2nd till Saturday, July 7th. I’ll return home on Saturday evening in time for Picnic in the Park and worship on Sunday morning, July 8th.

While at camp I’ll participate in devotional times, help plan evening vespers, sitting in at meals with the campers, leading Bible studies, and be available to the campers and staff to offer pastoral care. In addition to all those activities, I’ll play some games, enjoy the outdoors, and take time for personal spiritual renewal.

Countless stories could be told of the impact camp has had on a person’s life. Maybe your life is one of those stories. In a rustic camp setting  with other young people there is the opportunity to encounter God in a special way. And I feel privileged to assist others in sharing Christ’s love.

Heading off to camp,
Denise

Preschool News and Update

   The end of the school year has been a busy time at our preschool. On May 25th  the four year old class held its graduation program. Afterwards the church treated the 28 graduates, their families and friends to a lunch. Many thanks to all the Presbyterian Women who made the delicious sandwiches!

   Since then our director, Kim Szydlowski, has organized and sorted through 28 years of toys and materials. In addition to clearing out the church basement we made $431.00 at the yard sale on June 23rd. It was a great team effort and thanks go to all the contributors and helpers. The children’s lemonade stand was a real crowd pleaser!

   Now the refurbishing of the preschool and basement areas of the church can begin. Let the church office know if you’d be willing to help with the painting. Your help would be most appreciated and we will provide on-the-job training!
Ellen Kendall,
Preschool Board Chair

CHRISTMAS IN JULY
FOR THE PRESBYTERIAN WEEKDAY SCHOOL

Mission Trip to the Gulf Coast

There will be an organizational meeting on Sunday, July 15th at 4 pm at OPC for all those interested in a mission trip to the Gulf Coast. The emphasis for this trip will be on rebuilding, so knowledge of drywall, painting, carpentry, electrical and plumbing will be most needed. If you are interested and need some training in these areas, we will try to set up some basic training through Home Depot or Lowe’s.

We are planning this trip for sometime in the second half of October.  Please consider your schedule, your interest, your talents…and if your heart is sending you to the Gulf Coast, come to the meeting on the 15th.  For more information, check out the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance web site. (www.pcusa.org/pda/)

Cindy Reid

A Farwell Note From The Tysingers and The Easons

Dear Friends,
Dottie and I are most grateful for the warm and thoughtful send-off you gave the Easons and the Tysingers on Sunday, June 10th. To be recognized in that way was very special, and to be able to share that time with our dear friends the Easons made it all the more memorable.

As we have said to many of you, leaving this community for a new chapter in our lives will be bitter-sweet. We have loved our time at Woodberry Forest,

and we treasure the many relationships that we have developed in Orange - and

most particularly at Orange Presbyterian Church. It was at Orange Presbyterian, in the early 1970’s, that our family first embraced

Presbyterianism. It felt right then, and it still feels right after a third of a century.

The fellowship we have shared while laboring together in God’s vineyard is one of the great blessings of our lives, and we thank each for adding to the richness of that fellowship.

Again, our thanks for our special send-off on Sunday.  May God continue to bless you as he has so richly blessed us with your friendship and support.

New Address: Travis and Dottie Tysinger,
  817 Lammermoor Drive, Staunton, VA  24401

Other Thank You Notes From .

A very special thank you is extended to the Adult Choir, the Youth Choir, the Handbell Choir and the Instrumental Ensemble for your participation and hard work this year. We are so thankful to have you all and your volunteer time and dedication is greatly appreciated. Bless you all and we hope you have a relaxing and well deserved hiatus for the summer and come back in the fall with renewed energy.
Al and Barb Packard, Music Department

Dear Pastor Denise and the Orange Presbyterian Church Congregational Care Committee:
   We both wanted to say thank you for the graduation gifts you gave us during Sunday’s worship service. The journals and pens are lovely and we both really appreciate them. Thank you for all your support. 
Amy and Robin Kendall

This has been quite a year for me!  It was very difficult to receive the news that I had a stage IV cancer which had spread. But God sure blessed me with many, many friends who prayed with and for me. I was overwhelmed with all the cards, phone calls, flowers, gifts, the gorgeous prayer shawl from the knitting circle and other expressions of concern and support I have received over the past year. My doctors now tell me that the cancer is gone. I will be followed very closely over the next few years. God has blessed me to have all of you as my church family and “thank you” just doesn't seem to be enough to say.  But I will say a huge “THANK YOU” from the bottom of my heart. Also thank God for Al who has been so supportive in every way this past year.

We are planning an Open House to take place sometime in September and you are all invited. As the time gets closer, we will be more specific with the date and time.
Barb Packard

Many thanks to all who have volunteered to host our coffee “hour” over the past few years. You have provided delicious refreshments, and an opportunity for a time of fellowship among our church members and visitors. Your willingness to serve the church in this special way is greatly appreciated. Thanks again for all of your help.
Dottie Tysinger

The Sixth Annual Lobster Fest

When: Sunday, August 12, 2007
Where: OPC Fellowship Hall
Time:  6:00 p.m.
Why:    Because It’s Fun & Delicious!

What:  Menu as follows…. Steamed Clams, Corn on the Cob, Cole Slaw, Maine Baked Beans, Chips, Boiled Lobster with Drawn Butter, Rolls, Drinks, Relish Trays, Watermelon, Ice Cream Sandwiches, Hot Dog Plates available for non-seafood appetites.

How Much:     $20.00 Lobster Dinner
                        $6.00 Hot Dog Plate
                        $7.50 Extra Lobster

Lobster, clams and corn transported directly from Boothbay Harbor, Maine on Saturday, August 11th.

All proceeds over cost will be used towards the Piano Restoration Fund.

All orders must be placed through: The Packards (672-3322) by 7/25,or Church Office (672-4240) by 8/8.  Come one, come all, OPC members and friends, and enjoy this wonderful time of Feast and Fellowship!

Treasurer's April Report

Please speak to me if you have any questions.
Gail Chapman, Treasurer

Congratulations to...

• Elaine Gardner – Blue Ribbon winner in the annual Art in Flowers arranging competition at The Arts Center
• Sharon Mohrmann – Orange County Teacher of the Year!
• Martha Clements – All-Jefferson District second team in soccer.
• The proud grandparents, Steve and Normie Sanford and great-grandparents Richard and Thelma, announce the birth of Anna Marie, born on May 29, 2007 to Richard and Nicole Sanford in Christiansburg, Virginia.
• The proud grandparents, Leroy and Nancy Crowder and parents, John and Jill Crowder, announce the arrival of Natalie Mei, born on June 13, 2006, in China.
  • Robin Kendall – Valedictorian for the Class of 2007 at Orange County High School.

June Session Highlights

• Heard update on Piano Restoration Fund.
• Approved closing LOGOS checking account and moving the funds and those for the Mission Trip to the Merrill-Lynch money market account.
• Approved dividing Duxbury & Bierne bequests ($3000) per Endowment Funds Policy: $1350 to Benevolence Endowment; $1350 to Building & Property Endowment; $300 to Hebrance Scholarship Endowment.
• Approved using $1000 from Benevolence Endowment for Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church.
• Approved 9-1 using $500 from Benevolence Endowment to Presbyterian Disaster Fund for relief to Waynesboro, Kansas tornado victims.
• Approved using up to $2000 from Capital Improvements Endowment for Presbyterian Weekday School improvements.
• Reaffirmed unanimously the 1989 church’s relationship statement with Presbyterian Weekday School by publishing it in the newsletter.
• Approved holding “Christmas in July” fundraiser for Presbyterian Weekday School.
• Approved August Communion administration by intinction.
• Gave pastor permission to administer Communion to shut-ins and nursing home residents and to report those occasions to the Worship committee.
• Approved using $200 for Vacation Bible School from LOGOS funds.
• Heard report from Elder Commissioners Clements and Graves on the June 9th Presbytery of the James meeting, Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, Richmond.
• Heard Pastor will be away July 2nd-7th to serve as Pastor in Residence at Camp Hanover.
• Heard Pastor will be on vacation August 15th-21st.
• Heard prayer concerns for members of the congregation.

Respectfully submitted,
Marc A. Hogan, Clerk

Needs at Love Outreach Food Pantry

The Love Outreach Food Pantry, is trying to help with the needy. Each month they are collecting different items.  Items can be bought to the narthex of the church and will be taken periodically to the Food Pantry. Look for a basket to place your items.  The items for the rest of the year are: 

• July:  paper towels
• August:  flour
• September:  sugar
• October:  cooking oil
• November:  body soap
• December:  cake mix and frosting.

 Thanks in advance for your generous support of this important ministry!

Fred and Winnie Higgins

Louise Whitaker

Lavinia Phillips

If you are unable to help on the day assigned, you are expected to obtain your own substitute and call the church office so that the correct information will appear in the Bulletin each Sunday.
If you are unable to serve on your scheduled Sunday, please secure your own substitute.
Thank you for sharing in our common ministry.

Letter From Our Missionaries

Dear Friends,
 We have some other good news. The land cruiser that many of you helped us purchase has finally arrived! It sat in the port city of Matadi DR Congo for 15 months, and with the help of a trusted Congolese friend, we were finally able to work through the red tape and get it released and shipped to us. This vehicle will enable us now to visit the remote “bush hospitals” where we and our Congolese partners can finally launch the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Children, and Healthy Communities Project. With transportation, we will be able to train rural physicians on site on fistula repair techniques, or transport fistula patients to Good Shepherd Hospital where we have better surgical facilities. It will also allow us to better engage; particularly in the community based agricultural projects, development work and the Moringa tree project that have all been so successful in reducing malnutrition and improving living conditions locally. We have attached a picture of the car in front of our house in Tshikaji.

We will be returning to the states on July 4th for Mike’s next post cancer evaluation. He is feeling well, so we are looking forward to good reports and the opportunity to return to Congo as soon as we can book passage and after spending some precious time with our soon-to-be first grandchildren! Our son Ben and his wife Molly are due to have their first baby in July, and our daughter Lisa and her husband Bert in August. Both pregnancies are going well, and our family is feeling profoundly blessed with all the many miracles that God has bestowed upon us!  

         We thank all of you once again for the opportunity to serve our Lord and to make a difference for so many of His children who are living on the margins.
     Dr. Mike and Nancy Haninger