August 10, 2020

Dear Kirk family and friends,
 
Have you ever tried to buy a box of crayons in mid-August? 
 
How about a three ring binder? 
 
Or a composition notebook?
 
In any other year, the month leading up to school makes for slim pickings in the “school supply” section of your favorite department store. This year, though, the stock is so ample that the stores are marking things down.
 
It is just one more change in the pattern of life brought on by this unsettling pandemic.
 
What are other patterns that have been disrupted for you?
 
I know, for me, it has been especially difficult to maintain a pattern of intentionally worshipful sabbath. This might be true for you too since we have been unable to meet in person at the Kirk as we are accustomed to do. 
Pastor Jasmine drew our attention to the practice of “sabbath” this week, ending her sermon saying, “by caring for ourselves, we can reach out and care for our community.” Sometimes we skip over this chapter, or just skim it, as we read and write our lives of faith in our book of life.
It is on this account that we have gone to great lengths to create an online space for our worship services. Each week our worship services have almost a thousand total views on Facebook and five hundred or so on our webpage. We also make the service available to a thousand residents at Kirk West (Fox Run) through their televisions and another fifty thousand in the surrounding area through our radio broadcast. This is on top of the nearly one hundred worshippers that sit together (socially distanced!) in the garden every Sunday at 10 am. We even shared in the Lord’s Supper (individually prepackaged) on Sunday!
As we continue to shape what sabbath practice looks like at the Kirk in Corona-time, we look forward to opening the doors of the Kirk campus on Sunday mornings in the next few weeks. Registration for the August 23 Garden Service will include the option to reserve seating in the garden, sanctuary, or the refectory. 
The service will be simulcast on screens to both indoor locations for those that want or need to be inside. We will only be allowing each space to be filled to 10% capacity, seating will be socially distanced, and facemasks are required for the duration of the service. We will use this “whole campus” (garden, sanctuary, refectory) model of gathering for August, September, and October and see this as a first, and very cautious, step toward regathering inside. Click HERE to register for our 10:00 a.m. Garden Service for Sunday, August 16!
As Pastor Jasmine pointed out in her sermon, we practice sabbath for our own well-being, but, also, so that we can contribute to the well-being of others. This continues to be a hallmark of how we are living out our faith at the Kirk.
This week Pastor Kelsey Sorge arrived as our Associate Pastor for Youth and, immediately began contributing to the well-being of others. She jumped right in to a service project organized by Julie Walker with a local girls’ soccer team at Lighthouse’s (Pontiac) food pantry. Kelsey is developing and sharing plans to impact the well-being of all the youth in the Kirk. She has created an end-of-summer calendar with opportunities to participate in person and at home. This week, she will be in the Kirk East Parking lot near the entrance of Heritage Hall at two different times: 
 
Monday, August 10th from 3-5pm 
Thursday, August 13th from 5-7pm 
 
During either of these times stop by with your family (wearing masks please!) and introduce yourself! You can start to get to know one another, you can sign up for an upcoming mission opportunity and you will receive a schedule and “mission map” for youth ministry! 
Adam Devlin led some of the Kirk’s young adults on service project of their own at Reining Liberty Ranch in Traverse City this week. This farm operates as a therapy space to contribute to the well-being of soldiers and others who have experienced trauma. The therapeutic work of the ranch comes through horse-human relationships and equine related learning. Our young adults contributed to the upkeep of the farm and the creation of a beautiful entry garden.
Several groups of adults got in on the action this week too. Wendy Myers, Ann Manning, & Midge Barrow helped at the Lighthouse warehouse this past Thursday breaking down boxes, making boxes and delivering food! The Kirk Rocked the Block with Habitat for Humanity this past weekend, helping homeowners spruce up their street appeal with landscaping, painting, gutter and porch repairs.
Our weekly carillon concerts continue to contribute to the well-being of our local community. While we may never again boast the 300-plus cars we had at the beginning of the pandemic, we saw eighty-five cars in the lot last week. Don’t miss this week! “A Classic Car Carillon Concert,” will be presented by Dennis Curry on Saturday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m.  This weekend would have been the annual Woodward Dream Cruise, so the concert will be a tribute to the car culture of Detroit. The concert will last one half hour; classic cars and persons of all ages are welcome. 
Finally, we have been so blessed to have Pastor Fernando and Kecelyn contribute to the well-being of the Kirk community and the well-being of all of our mission partners. This Sunday, he will preach his final sermon as our Associate Pastor for Mission and the service will be followed by a congregational meeting at 10:45 (live in the garden and through zoom HERE.) to wish his family well as he leaves for the Presbytery of Denver to be the Associate Executive Presbyter.

Let us continue in the good work that Fernando and our sabbath practices encourage us to engage! Perhaps, for you, that means CONTRIBUTING to the medical debt relief for the city of Pontiac online or by sending a check to the church with “debt” in the subject line. Or maybe that means volunteering to serve with the Lighthouse Food ministry, attending the Accent Pontiac Block Party, or donating school supplies to the Pontiac Backpack Rally (details below).
 
Rumor has it that the stores have plenty of stock!
 
Stay warm,
 
Pastor Nate
Relational Mission Opportunities

Accent Pontiac Block Party
 
Accent Pontiac is hosting AP Block Party, a virtual benefit concert, on September 11 at 7:00 p.m. The virtual concert will feature performances by Accent Pontiac students and professional guest musicians including Thornetta Davis, Stormy Chromer and more! Suggested donation is $25 per guest and all proceeds benefit Accent Pontiac's social change through music programs in Pontiac. Visit www.accentpontiac.org/apblockparty for more information and to RSVP.”
Lighthouse Food Ministry

Join Julie Walker to pack food boxes and/or deliver food for those dealing with food insecurity. Help is needed every Thursday during August between 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
 
Social distancing guidelines are in place, everyone is required to wear a mask, and no more than 6 people are in the packing area at one time.
 
For more information click the sign-up link here or contact Julie Walker.
Pontiac Backpack Rally
 
Even with the uncertainty of this time, children will have school and they need school supplies.
 
Please help us collect any of the items listed below and drop them off through the month of August at the Kirk Welcome Center between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on weekdays or on Sundays at the Garden Service
 
Crayons 24–pack
Washable markers
No. 2 pencils
Colored pencils
Mechanical pencils
Pencil sharpeners
Highlighters
Zippered pencil pouches
Spiral notebooks (wide–ruled)
Loose leaf paper
Two–pocket folders
Note cards (white & color)
Three–ring binders
Glue sticks
Scissors (blunt)
Scissors (pointed)
Pink erasers
Rulers
Flash cards: math & reading
 
Yoga By the Lake
Wednesdays
6:45–8:00 p.m.
 
Back by popular demand! Class begins at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome—beginners and experienced! Bring a mat, blanket or towel, and a water bottle.

Each participant will select a socially distanced spot on the lawn in the garden behind the church. We are asking that a donation be made to our yoga instructors who are so graciously giving of their time to help them financially while their yoga studio is closed due to the pandemic. A donation basket will be made available.
Registration will open at 2:00 p.m. every Thursday for the following Wednesday.
 
COVID and weather permitting • Spots are limited, so please SIGN UP today!
We envision a world where every heart experiences
God's transforming love.