Dear Friends,

We will conclude our first summer worship series, “Telling Secrets” on Sunday. Our topic will be anxiety. As Julie and I have said throughout, it is often difficult to discuss addiction, grief, depression, or anxiety on their own. We are complex creatures, and these issues are complex as well. These mental health issues often overlap and intertwine.

I had the honor of reading a board book version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with some of our youngest VBS attendees this week. At one point the text says that Aslan—the Christ figure in the story—"is a lion greater than all lions, big and bright like the sun. And he makes you feel safe.”

All of God’s children long to feel loved, welcome, and safe, and I am convinced that God wants that for each and every one of us too. My hope is that we will continue to talk about hard things in a faithful way, and that together we will work for a world where everyone will know that they, too, are loved, welcome, and safe in Christ’s name.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

The board of Memorial Garden would like to welcome back Robert Jolly as manager of Memorial Garden!

Robert was the manager of the garden for many years prior to his departure last November. Robert has agreed to return to his former job as an employee of The Budd Group, the company that currently provides landscape services and materials for the garden. We look forward to working with Robert again.

Following VBS this week the Commons committee will be moving ahead with a thorough cleaning of the room and content refresh. On Tuesday, July 12th we need some ‘muscle’ to move the sofas so the floor can be polished. Any takers? Please email Carrie Myers at csm5620@gmail.com. Additionally we have found a few items in the Commons that are in need of minor repairs. If that is part of your particular skill set, you can be a part of the Commons reboot! We would love to identify someone as our Commons ‘handyperson.’ Again, just email Carrie. Work can be done in July or August. We are excited to be starting work on making the Commons once again available to First Pres and the community

This week during worship, bibles were presented to our 4^th graders: Ryan Jones and Milo Roseman.

Ninety-six children are exploring Narnia this week through art, music, recreation, snack, mission, story time, and prayer. On Monday, we packed cat and dog food for pets of Meals on Wheels clients, sang Kids of the Kingdom, made lion masks, played games, and enjoyed tea with Mr. Tumnus.

Christmas came to Narnia on Tuesday! We decorated swords and shields, sang Peace like a River, filled toiletry bags for Junior Charity League, played with parachutes and a giant "soccer" ball, and enjoyed Christmas cookies during our snack break.

Thank you to the FPC and First Kids staffs, and our dozens of adult and youth volunteers, for helping to make Narnia happen!