Hi Parkway People -- 

And just like that, school is out, summer is here, and we're shifting into a new gear for a new season. I know for our family, the sprint to the end of the school year runs at 100 miles per hour in lots of different directions at once — if that's been the case for you, I hope that landing in summer gives you and your family a chance to exhale, and relax.

As usual, Parkway is ramping up for VBS, Kids Adventures, and more. Take a look below at what we've been working on, where you can plug in, and what we're excited about in the summer ahead!

Before events, I want to take a minute to write about a financial transparency matter.

Last month I announced in-person on a Sunday morning that the Parkway board had approved a bid to replace one of our two industrial chillers that provide air conditioning to the Ministry Center building. For the last year or so, the older unit has been broken and unrepairable — we've been running on a single unit. We've been able to make it work, but it is sort of like walking a tight rope with no safety net. Replacing the broken unit makes it so that one unit does not have to run at 100% capacity in the hottest summer months, and makes it so if something were to break, we have a safety net that can keep the building cool.

This project is essential and expensive. The total cost with parts, labor, and warranty is around $220,000.The Board chose this bid because, although it was slightly more than another competing bid, this company has a year long track record of good work at Parkway and is able to get the new unit to us before the worst heat of the summer versus in August. As of this week, we are only waiting on new water pumps to arrive and then work will begin to install the new unit.

Let's just say this plainly — this is not a way of spending $220,000 that gets people excited — but we all know that we must have reliable air conditioning through the summer. Thanks to the ways you have supported Parkway in the past, we are in a position to be able to spend this out of our dedicated capital maintenance fund without asking you to give any additional money towards this project.

Thank you for the ways you support Parkway with your money so that we can handle both the boring, important behind the scenes costs of our community, as well as the out-front ministry and work of the church. 

I know that as we step into summer, this is a season where many of us travel and are in and out of town. Remember, the goal of faith is not perfect attendance here, it is doing what we practice out there! I look forward to seeing you when I see you through the summer! I ask that you consider continuing to give to and supporting Parkway through the summer so that we can continue to move forward in our work, service, and ministry to the community.

Summer Book Club starts this Wednesday, June 3rd!

The book for this summer is Hunting Magic Eels by Richard Beck — a book that helps bring together the miracles and mysteries of Scripture and modern skepticism about whether any of this really happened or not. It will be a great time to ask tough questions and grow as readers of Scripture

Summer Book Club will meet in Rms. 126/128 on the first floor of the Ministry Center building on Wednesdays from 6.30 - 7.30. Childcare is available, but dinner will not be provided like during the school year — send snacks!



This first meeting will be an intro session — so whether you've bought a copy and read ahead, or you just want to check out the group, all are welcome!

VBS is NEXT Week

Becky and her crew are hard at work getting ready for a fun, chaotic-in-the-best-way week of VBS, starting on Monday, June 8 and running through to Friday, June 12th. I'll preach on VBS verses before and after so all across our community we'll be speaking the same language. 

We're expecting over 300 people to be running around Parkway all next week!

Set-up for VBS will happen this Thursday and Sunday after the 10.30 service. 

If you're able to help Becky and her crew set up this Thursday, June 4th, they'll be in the Ministry Center from 9am - 2pm, and 6pm - 8:30pm! They'd love your help setting up pipe and drape in the chapel, rectangle tables and chairs in the atrium, the craft room, decorating the halls, and putting name stickers on pick up cards! No need to sign up or RSVP, you can just show up!

This Sunday we will pray for VBS, the kids, our volunteers, and the work of the week ahead. The Sunday after VBS (June 14th) we'll invite our VBS kids and their families to come to Parkway. The kids will lead some of their songs from the week, and we'll get a chance to be the warm, welcoming community we strive to be. 

An Ask: Will you make some kind of cookie, brownie, etc. and bring them to share after church on the Sunday that our VBS families are invited back (June 14th)?

No sign up needed, just bring some kind of treat to share as we celebrate another big, successful week of VBS.

Garden Walks on Sundays in June

You've probably noticed that Parkway has put a lot of time and work into reclaiming the Gardens as a beautiful, usable space for prayer and reflection — and we're not done yet. On Sundays in June, after the 10.30 service, I'll lead brief, informal walks through the gardens to speak about the work we've done and why we've done it, as well as look ahead to the next phase of the garden project: new irrigation, planting shade trees, and more. Come be a part of this next phase of the Parkway Gardens as we reimagine the space, raise funds to complete the project, and look ahead to a new chapter of life for the beautiful gardens.

No sign ups or registration needed, just meet me at the garden gate after the 10.30 service.

See you there!

Pastor Justin