Plastic-Free July







     A world without single-use plastic bags – what a wonderful world that would be!

     Plastic pollution has become a global problem, constituting the majority of marine litter, threatening wildlife, and damaging ecosystems. Among the most common and troublesome categories of marine litter are thin plastic shopping bags, which often evade waste management by floating away in the wind and can entangle or block the digestion of marine animals. Plastic bag bans and fees have emerged as popular policy solutions to address this problem, with >100 countries passing such regulations. Twelve US states and territories have a plastic bag ban and 175 countries are in talks to create the first global plastics treaty.

     Take the Plastic Free challenge and make a few changes. Small steps make a big difference. For more info and to take the Plastic Free July challenge here is the link.

     Please recycle your bulletins/paper, printer ink, toner cartridges, light bulbs, batteries, and corks. First Prez recycles K-cups, but there is a fee. When you are at church ask a Green Team member for a free reusable K-cup container.

From Shepherd to King

     When we were children, many of us heard stories before being tucked into bed at night. In adulthood, we read stories or watch them on media sources. In the book, Leap Over a Wall, Eugene Peterson writes that in the Bible, “Story is the primary way in which the revelation of God is given to us… From beginning to end, our Scriptures are primarily written in the form of story… Moses told stories; Jesus told stories; the four Gospel writers presented their good news in the form of stories... and the Holy Spirit weaves all this storytelling into the vast and holy architecture that reveals God to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the way that he chooses to make himself known.”

 

     We know more about the David story that any other person in Holy Scripture. It has a beginning and end, plot and characters, conflict and resolution. The story invites us into David’s life, and into the context of what it means to deal with God. This is not a polished ideal or model to which we are to aspire, but a rough-edged human story. A reality that embraces the entire range of humanness, from our souls to our imaginations. And David deals with God. He has little wisdom to pass on to us about living successfully. David’s importance is not his mortality or his military prowess but his experience of and witness to God. Every event in his life was a confrontation with God. As John Calvin once wrote, “Let us therefore remember that David is like a mirror, in which God sets before us the continual course of his grace.”

 

     The Scriptures and Sermons on July 13, 20 and 27 will focus on the story of the life of a young shepherd God chose to be the King David of Israel. Throughout the story, we see that God guides, challenges, chastises, disciplines and loves David, and even in the most difficult times, David has a great depth of love for God. This story tells us about God’s love and the depth of God’s grace. Come, hear the story.

Food Need Is Great

     A record was broken on Tuesday, July 1, when 122 households were served at the Center for Lay Ministries food pantry. This has drastically depleted the food supply at the pantry. Considering higher food costs and the state and federal government legislation that reduces the number of families who will get SNAP and Medicaid assistance even more of our neighbors will need help with food.

 

     A food pantry box will be kept in the Atrium. When you get your groceries, please consider picking up just one extra item or the pantry and put it in the box. Staples that are always needed; cereal, peanut butter, spaghetti pasta and sauce, soup, mac & cheese. If we all do a little it adds up to a lot! The pantry welcomes garden produce! Donations are accepted M-F, 9-3:30, 214 E. Maple St. at the side door.