Full steam ahead

Dear friends,

Last month I used the image of a train leaving the station to explain that on the whole our Parkview family was on board with the residency program we plan to start next summer.  Since then the train really has left the station and we made a significant start on realizing our goals.  “Full steam ahead” seems to be the best description of our project at this time.  Now, I believe that this is an expression used mostly for steam ships, so we will have to assume this train I was talking about is “a steam train!” Here are some of the things that are happening:

1. A team of about fifteen members from other congregations in the Presbytery have come to our campus to get to work. So far they have purchased and installed a larger window in one of the rooms in order to meet code for emergency egress, purchased security doors and put the first coat of paint in the Kansha house kitchen. Since they had such a good turn-out they also poured cement and replaced two fence posts, got to work on the replacing walls of the garbage can enclosure, sanded the social hall floor and cleaned the kitchen. All of this out of the goodness of their hearts. They will be back for more!
2. More donations have come in for the Kansha refurbishing fund, including a sizeable amount from one of our angel investors.
3. Brief ads in two national church magazines have been written, sent in and confirmed. They will be spreading the word of our internship program.
4. Titus Toyama has prepared a first draft of a position description which we hope to finalize in the next month. Lori Hart will be creating a special category for it on our website. Bill Nagata has taken photos that will accompany the position description.
5. The Presbytery is finalizing steps to have a scholarship fund for our residency program created so that churches in this region can donate to it starting next year.

Some of you may still wonder whether this residency program is just a tool to reenergize the life of our congregation and bring new ideas and may not be clear how it connects to the general mission of Parkview Presbyterian Church. I plan to address that next month. This is also something that may be discussed during the November 7 exploration group meeting. (By the way, we are still looking for a volunteer to host that meeting).

Again many thanks for the commitment of the Fong family, Eddie’s Crew, our church volunteers and diners that made our breakfast buffet fundraiser successful once again. Remembering the meaning of “kansha (thanks, appreciation, gratitude),” May God’s grace be the steam that propels us forward and may God bless our ministry. Please pray for your church. Aart