Pastor Jeff Schulz

Membership Luncheon
Sundays, September 5^th and 12th

12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

The upcoming membership class is a great opportunity to learn more about the church, more deeply engage in its life and ministry, and consider the possibility of becoming a member. On Sundays, September 5^th and 12th, you are invited to join Pastor Jeff Schulz and members of the Seattle First leadership team to explore our history and theology, our mission and covenant, what it means to be a “member minister,” and to answer any questions you might have.

The membership luncheon is always an enjoyable and energetic conversation. Whether you are ready to become a member, just thinking about it, or just want to learn more about the church and its mission, the luncheon is a great opportunity to learn and grow together.

Please let us know at your soonest convenience if you plan to participate so that we may adequately prepare for you, by contacting Evan Ishwayudi at 206-624-0644 or evani@firstpres.org.

Pastor Jeff Schulz

Pastor Jeff Schulz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRO6H8puHF8&feature=fvw

Jill VandeWal

Location: Seattle First Presbyterian Church Nursery

Tome: Every Wednesday from 10:00-12:00
Parking: Available in lot at 8th and Madison. Enter through main entrance door on 8^th

For more information contact Jill VanderWal at jvanderwal@firstpres.org

August 8 – September 6, 2010

Need a miracle? Jesus performed more than a few of them, from calming a storm and walking on water to giving healing to the sick and sight to the blind. What are “miracles,” anyway? What is their purpose? When and how do they happen, and what if they don’t know matter how much we pray? Join us as we explore five miracles in the Gospels, and what they mean, both then and now.

August 8
Calming a Storm
Matthew 8:23-27

August 15
A Huge Catch of Fish
Luke 5:1-11

August 22
Curing a Blind Man
John 9: 1-12

August 29
Healing a Bleeding Woman
Mark 5: 21-34

September 5
Curing a Paralytic
Luke 5: 17-26

Paul Edwards

Pastor Jeff Schulz

Proverbs (Selections)

Pastor Jeff Schulz

Proverbs 24: 30-34; 28: 19-20

Jill VanderWal

All my life, my given name, “Gretchen,” has been hard for me.  As a child when I was in trouble I would never hear the lecture my parents were giving; I would just pray they wouldn’t say “Gretchen” out loud because just saying it made them angrier.  It was like a dirty word.  As a teenager, I often had panic attacks, but didn’t know that that is what they were.  To my family, this was just who I was—the stressed out kid who freaked out at others when she snapped.  Thus the term “pulling a Gretchen” became a standard part of my family’s vocabulary.  As I named my own son, my mom confessed that she had never wanted “Gretchen” to be my name, but that it was a mis-communication between her and my dad and he named me when she was asleep.  Since becoming an adult, I have struggled to not have these panic attacks define me, but even in my own mind, “Gretchen” would always be the one who caused stress in others’ lives when it poured over into her own.

In February, a little thought popped into my head (Jesus giving me a nudge) “What if I had another name?  Then could I be free?”  A few days later, the same thing, and I let it go again.  But the following week I was watching a video with my husband, Nathan, where the speaker talked a bit about how important names are to God—both His own names depending on the situation, and humans’ names as their lives changed.  This time I was gripped by the idea, and asked Nathan to pause the movie while I told him this crazy idea.  I was a little nervous when he took a while to respond, so I nudged him, and he looked straight at me and said, “It makes perfect sense.”

Now I knew I wanted to do it—to change my name—but how would I choose it?  I thought through those in scripture whose names were changed: Abram to Abraham, a promise to not just become a father, but a father of nations; Saul to Paul, from a borrowed identity to restoration and humility; Simon to Peter, a foreshadowing of the rock he would become.

I have been blessed to be a guinea pig for our church’s training on Prayer Healing the past 6 months or so, and when I next met with the prayer team, I mentioned my decision to go ahead with the change, but still not knowing what name I wanted.  Frecia’s (the instructor’s) response?  “Well, just ask Jesus, then.  See what He wants your name to be.”  Simple.  We went to prayer and I just asked Jesus.  And with all clarity, He spoke saying “I want you to have JOY, Gretchen.  I want your life to be overflowing with joy, and I want you to allow yourself to experience joy.  You have seen through your healing prayer sessions the past couple months how you have been afraid to accept the joy I have for you, as though you don’t believe you deserve it.  I want you to see the joy you are beginning to experience is just a piece of what I have in store for you.”

And I looked up at the team, knowing that my name was now “Joy.”  Not because I am all giggles and peace yet, but because this is the Lord’s promise to me that it is what He is doing in me every day and who I am becoming.

Epilogue:

Many people have asked how my parents have responded to this.  My mom lost a battle with cancer a few years ago, but I have a hunch that she’s excited about the new name.  I waited to do the legal piece of the change until I could share in person with my dad.  He was empathetic and compassionate, and though it is hard for a father to have a child give up the name he gave her, he gave me his blessing with tenderness and understanding.  People around me regularly who have known me for years can see the difference in me (even my Mother-in-Law!), and people who have known me for a short while say it is almost a relief that my name is now “Joy”, because “Gretchen” never fit the person they know!

I do have one dear family member for whom this name change has been the last straw.  They have not had the chance to see the difference and freedom in me, and still see me as the one “pulling a Gretchen.”  I sometimes think of it as the thorn in my side that I have lost this precious relationship, but even through the tears, I can see that God has given me this regular reminder of how completely I have been transformed.  And every time someone calls me “Joy,” I smile and know the Lord is reminding me to live into this new identity.

We are blessed with a beautiful campus and with trees and shrubs that just keep growing. Come out and help beautify our campus by helping with some light pruning, trimming and gardening. Lunch will be served and tools are provided – all we need is you!

Event Details
Saturday, June 26, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tools provided, bring gloves if you have them
Lunch provided
For more information, contact Deacon Patience Martin at 206-283-3382 or peacebewithyou_1@netzero.com.