First Presbyterian Church                     July  2023

                           


         Information Overload

 

I have moved quite a few times in my life, yet I have never liked the process of moving.  I am a bit of pack rat, and I do not like getting rid of the things that I “just might need someday.”  Of course if I am helping someone else move, then my perspective is very different.  With other people’s things I tend to use the phrase “when in doubt throw it out”, since I am the one carrying their stuff.  My perception of needs and wants is very different when the shoe is on the other foot. 

 

I tell you this because I helped the staff of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley move out of their office this week.  I fortunately did not have to do any heavy lifting, but I did a great deal of organizing of files and paperwork.  In one morning, our team of volunteers filled three trash barrels with paper recycling, and there was another few barrels worth of old financial information that needed to be shredded.  Some things from that office did need to be saved, but the amount of outdated and useless information was a wonder to behold.

 

On the other hand, what we were handling represented countless hours that good people of faith had spent on church programs and projects.  Perhaps I did not have to know how much money was spent on a youth retreat twenty years ago, but at the time somebody had to figure out how to feed those teenagers.  Angels and imps are in the details of our lives as much as the mountain top experiences of faith.

 

This of course leads to the questions of providence, predestination verses free will and all that.  Those are ultimately mysteries, though I read an interesting Bible commentary in this week’s Presbyterian Outlook about them by Reverend Gina Bairby.  I’ll let her have the last word about God being in the details of our lives. 

 

“I remember a clarifying moment back in my seminary Greek class when we learned that there are two grammatically valid translations of Paul’s enigmatic phrase, pisteos Christou. Depending on who’s translating, Paul either proclaims that we are saved by “faith in Christ” or “the faithfulness of Christ.” (For the Greek nerds out there, it’s the objective genitive v. subjective genitive.)  I had a little epiphany when I heard that second translation — the faithfulness of Christ. It is so much more consistent with both my lived experience and Reformed theology to trust that our salvation depends upon God’s gracious action rather than on what we do – or don’t – believe.”

 

 

Rev. Walter Stuber 

First Presbyterian Church 

11988 W. Main St., Wolcott, NY   14590

585-217-6030  stuberman1@yahoo.com

www.wolcottpresbyterian.com   

 

        

           

 

 

 

         Message from Sue Mitchell


Dear Friends,

 

My decision to retire as choir director was a very difficult one to make.  There were many factors to consider but the overriding one is my need to attend church with my husband Allan.

 

Choral music has been a part of my life since I was a young child.  It has been a privilege to sing in our choir for over 50 years and to have also directed the junior choir for the first 15 and, subsequently, the senior choir for the last 32 years.

 

I want to express my deep appreciation for all those who participated down through the years.  A choir can only exist if there are dedicated members.  Likewise success rests in the hands of a skillful and supportive accompanist as well as a receptive congregation.

My thanks to you all.

 

       Chicken BBQ

 

Thank you everyone who helped.  We made $1,072.

 

 

           Golf Tournament

 

The Golf Tournament will be on Saturday, August 26th.   For more information or questions, please contact Mike and Linda Douglass at 315-594-1284 or Mary Lou.  

Sign–up sheets are on the table outside the sanctuary.

         

                       

          Congratulations to Our High School Graduates! 

 

Congratulations and best wishes to Olivia Thompson and Marissa Vezzose on their high school graduation.

 

 

       Vacation Bible School

 

The Council of Churches Vacation Bible School will be held on Sunday thru Thursday, July 9th – 13th at the Wolcott Baptist Church beginning at 6 p.m.

 

 

      Financial  Report

 

As of June 1, 2023:Year to date income:     $34,161      

Year to date expenses: $39,839

A difference of:      $ -5,678

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

  July Anniversaries

 

Bob and Terri Fitzmaurice7/11

Jon and Karen Merrell7/4

Allan and Sue Mitchell7/6

Bill and Daryl  Rothaug7/10

 

                           

    July Birthdays

 

Don Bierer7/23

Pat Campbell7/5

Mark Eddy7/14

Marti Ann Gillette7/30

Carol Kephart7/12

Eliana Lockwood7/12

Karen Merrell7/15

John Ray7/14

Sidney Thompson7/10

Michelle VanCuyck  7/23          

 

 

 

      From the Facebook group – “Remembering Wolcott and Vicinity”

                        From the Lake Shore News November 1908

“CHURCH DEDICATION”

“Impressive Services Were Held at

  North Rose on Tuesday”

“A large number from Wolcott went to North Rose on Tuesday afternoon to attend the dedicatory exercises at the Presbyterian church, just finished there.  One of the memorial windows had been given by the Gurley class of the Wolcott Presbyterian church and several members were present at the services.”

 

From the Lake Shore News October 11, 1917

“GREAT AUDIENCE TURNED OUT TO GREET CRABILL”

“The Wolcott Presbyterian church was filled, upstairs and down, last Thursday night to welcome Evangelist Ernest G. Crabill, who conducted a great campaign here for five weeks after Jan. 20, 1911, which resulted in 417 professions of religion, most of the converts joining the local churches.”