In this E-pistle:

ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD!
STAYING (TOO) IN TOUCH
THE REPORT CARD IS IN

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world– Who doesn’t know the story of Joshua Vannoy, the Beaver Falls High School student who wore the Broncos jersey to school last Friday? A Google news search shows 250 stories about Joshua and his teacher John Kelly in the past five days. Click here for the Denver Post’s take on it all. John Elway is no PR dummy! Whatever you think of Joshua’s decision to wear his blue and orange #7 last week, the fact of the matter is that Mr. Kelly got it wrong. Maybe Mr. Kelly should have been at Park Presbyterian Church last Sunday, and maybe he should have come up front to sit with the kids during the children sermon. He would have learned that Jesus loves all the children of the world, blue and orange, black and gold, even Seahawk blue, whatever that is.

Staying (too) in touch– Last week I mentioned the adult Bible studies available to you this new year -- our ABC classes and a fascinating study of Hebrews led by Jack Walker and Doris Thompson on Sunday mornings (now meeting in the church library). And, of course, there’s the GROW class and the Men’s Bible Class. Still not interested? How about “Rx for Overload,” a great course for those trying to cope with a world that simply comes at us too fast. This week the class will look at ways to build boundaries in a world of instant communication. (How do YOU feel when someone answers their cell phone in the middle of what you thought was an important conversation? And do you have trouble going to bed without checking the e-mail just one more time?) This is a wonderfully practical course with a strong biblical basis! Why not come and see! 9:30 in the Worship/Learning Center.

The report card is in-- You may have heard about the NCD survey taken by a representative group of Park People. This instrument from Natural Church Development has been used by well over 4,000 congregations worldwide and helps churches chart a course toward greater health. Well, our results arrived in the mail today. What are our strengths and weaknesses? Leadership, gift-based ministry, passionate spirituality, organization, worship, small groups, evangelism, loving relationship? Our elders will find out soon and so will you! Stay tuned.

In the meantime, our Annual Report is something of a report card, as well. One number not reported in the report but forwarded in our statistical summary to the denomination is this: in 2005, we distributed $118,956 toward mission outside the walls of Park Church, and that does not include any of our “in kind” gifts of Thanksgiving Food, Christmas gifts, back to school supplies or monthly CAST donations. It does mean that 23% of our total regular contributions are leaving the church and being shared with the world. And we can and will do even better!

Finally, how does “Just a Little Out of Their Minds” sound as a new motto for Park Church? Come Sunday to learn more!