NOVEMBER DEACON OF THE MONTH Renee Lacombe (360) 980

November 2014
Published Monthly
NOVEMBER
DEACON OF
THE MONTH
Renee Lacombe
(360) 980-0317
FISH FOOD
Soups, Stews, Chili
As you enjoy reading this
month’s Bell, try to find
the hidden cross.
Volume 37, No 11
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and
praise his name.” Psalm 100:4
As we look back over 2014, we truly have much for which to be thankful. Now
that we have completed our new sanctuary, we are learning how to live in our new
space. While our previous sanctuary served us well for many years, it has been such a
joy to experience worship in an open, expansive space, where Cascades’ musical gifts
truly unfold. I continue to be amazed at the kind generosity of so many people who
helped make this dream a reality. Thank you!
Not only have we been enjoying our new space, but so have new people who
have joined us along the way. Many in our Orchards neighborhood mention how the
lighted cross provides them with the constant reassurance that God’s love through Jesus
Christ is with them. In July we hosted the Journey Theater Arts Group Youth Summer
Camp Route 66. In August we had a youth group lock in with nearly thirty youth attending. And in October we hosted the St. Andrew’s Choir Group from Moscow, Idaho.
Each event drew new families to the church that had yet to experience the gifts
that we have to offer. Feedback from all was “Wow, what a beautiful place!” More and
more we hope to use our space for such events, providing our church with more and
more exposure to the broader community. This is one aspect of stewardship that your
Session continues to prayerfully consider.
While this is all very much a great opportunity to meet new people, it is also a
tremendous responsibility. We must ensure that we provide a safe place where
people of all ages can worship, learn and grow in their discipleship of Jesus Christ. I
hate to admit it but with increased exposure also is increased vulnerability. Even Jesus
encouraged his disciples to be as “wise as serpents and as innocent as doves” with their
growing communal presence.
To make sure that Cascades does its due diligence, we are updating our Safe
Church Policies formally known as Cascades’ Child Protection and Sexual Misconduct
Policies. These policies and procedures will help us protect all people who make
Cascades’ their spiritual home but most especially the children, youth, and vulnerable
adults among us. This new policy will provide definitions for the kind of abuses that we
need to vigilant of as well as policies for screening, training, supervising, mandatory
reporting, and necessary accountability.
Though this may not have been your typical stewardship letter as Thanksgiving
approaches, it is entirely necessary. God calls us to be good stewards of all that God
has graciously provided. Money, facilities, and relationships. Thank you for your
generous support for our ministry over the year. May God bless you richly in return
this season as you too prayerfully consider your own stewardship!
In Christ,
Rev. Chris Montovino, Pastor
THE CHURCH BELL
Page 2
Volume 37, No 11
PREPARING FOR ADVENT
daily
Devotion
Join with the Worship Arts Committee after 11am service on
November 16 as they prepare decorations for this Advent Season.
YOU ARE INVITED!
YOUTH GROUP PIZZA AND MOVIE NIGHT
November 22, 2014 @ 6:00pm-10:00pm. Join Cascades’ Youth Group for
Pizza and movie night on Saturday . We will be watching and discussing
the movie God’s Not Dead, a story about a young
college student who is challenged by his Philosophy
professor to defend his faith and prove to the class
that God’s Not Dead. And we may have a surprise
following!
HANGING OF THE GREENS
Saturday, November 29th at 6:00pm
It's that wonderful time of year. Time to celebrate family,
faith and food and not necessarily in that order! Please
plan on joining us for the Hanging of the Greens as
we begin with fellowship during the soup 'n' bread
potluck. Then at 7:00pm we decorate our sanctuary
as we worship the Lord and the coming Advent
season. It's one of our beautiful traditions here at
Cascades. See you there!
THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP SERVICE
Wednesday November 26, 2014 @ 7pm. here at Cascades. Join with
other Presbyterians in Clark County for a time of worship and communion
as we give thanks to God for the many blessings we have received. Bring
canned goods to help resupply the Clark County Food Bank. If possible
bring some tasty treats to enjoy after the worship service and stay and
visit with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Cookies can brought
that evening or put in the freezer ahead of time.
CIRCLE OF HOPE
The fourth Sunday in Advent when the candle of peace is lit, Pastor Chris
and Cascades' Stephen Ministers will conduct a special service, "Circle
of Hope". This will be a time of worship, prayer, singing and meditation
at 11am on December 21st.
STEPHEN MINISTRY
A Stephen Minister is a safe person with who you can
share your burdens. Everything is confidential and will not
be shared. To connect with a Stephen Minister, call the
church office at 360.892.6613.
Abundant Life
Nov 1
Nov 2
Psalm 34:1-10
John 15:13-15
Experiencing God in National Parks
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
3
4
5
6
7
8
Psalm 103:8-12
Isaiah 40:28-31
Romans 8:28-31
Psalm 46
Psalm 84
Exodus 3:1-5
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Faithful Daily Service
Philippians 3:13-4:1
Luke 14:12-24
Psalm 146
Luke 15:1-10
James 1:1-15
James1:16-27
Luke 16:10-17
The Holy Spirit Through the Arts
Psalm 100
James 2:14-26
Exodus 28:1-5
Jeremiah 18:1-6
Hebrews 13:1-4
Mark 4:1-9
1 Timothy 4:6-16
A Week of Thanksgiving
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
1 John 4:7-21
Psalm 16:5-11
Mark 12:28-38
Psalm 22:25-31
Isaiah 55:6-13
Psalm 136
Everyday Life in God’s Presence
Nov 30
Isaiah 64: 1-9
Page 3
THE CHURCH BELL
Volume 37, No 11
ADVENT DEVOTIONAL GUIDES ARE IN!
First come, first serve. These devotional resources will be handed out at The Hanging of the Greens in time for our
preparations for Christmas. Supplies are limited, so don’t miss out!
Wait For the Lord was written by Henri Nouwen who was one of the most popular spiritual writers of the last
century. As one who struggled with waiting yet sought his Savior over a lifetime, Henri Nouwen offers insights that
add depth and self-discovery to our spiritual journey as we await the birth of Jesus Christ.
What Child is This? A Seek and Find Book for Advent. This is a creative and fun guide for young
families. Parents will enjoy the devotions while kids will enjoy looking for all the clues in the picture books as they
count down to celebrating Christmas.
CHRISTMAS COOKIE CARE PACKAGES FOR CHAPLAIN JON NEIL
Please help us care for Lt. Jon Neil and his troops are they are on deployment in
Asia for jungle warfare training in extreme cold weather conditions. Jon is the only
chaplain for 1,000 Marines and serves as a pastor, friend, confidant, comforter, and
counselor. Jon asks that we keep his troops in prayer. As we’ve done before, we will
sending Christmas cookie care packages to Jon to share with his troops. Please bring
beef jerky, pepperoni sticks, Christmas cookies, brownies, granola/energy bars,
microwave popcorn, hot chocolate packets, chap stick, halls cough drops, pocket
sized Kleenex, pocket size wet wipes, games, jigsaw puzzles, or playing cards to the
church by Monday November 24, 2014 and we will package them to be shipped
off. No perishable items please!
MISSION AND PEACE
Samaritan's Purse International Relief
Mission: To glorify God and bring the lost to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Franklin Graham, President
Operation Christmas Child
Pack a shoebox and turn into our church by November 7th. When you pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child,
you may be surprised how much you can fit in. But that's nothing compared with what God can bring out of your
box. This is the eternal impact--souls saved, churches planted, and the Gospel shining into some of the darkest
corners of our world. There are still a few more boxes available at church to fill.
Pray… For the people of Liberia and West Africa who face the awful threat of Ebola every day.
Give… a gift to enable Samaritan's Purse to operate community care centers and continue public awareness
campaigns. For $135 they can provide protective clothing and other essentials for home-based interventions.
For just $8 per family, they can supply hygiene kits to help prevent infections.
W.H.O. (Winter Housing Overflow)
We still need volunteers to be a host for overnight winter housing coordinated by SHARE at St. Paul's Lutheran
Church in Vancouver. Cascade's nights to help are Novemer 6, 7 and 8th. Each night 2 or 3 volunteers from our
church are the hosts from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next morning. All volunteers will receive an information packet
ahead of time along with orientation by a SHARE staff member when they arrive. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin
board in the Narthex. Any questions please call Janet Van Fleet at 360-606-8356 or talk to Chris.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to make a difference in future Cascades Bells.
Page 4
THE CHURCH BELL
Volume 37, No 11
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
To our dear Cascades familyThank you so much for your generous support as we embarked on our
journey across the country to Princeton Theological Seminary. We have felt
encouraged and propelled by your prayers and contributions to our studies.
God has been reminding us of His presence every step of the way and
helping us to grow both individually and as a family. We are starting to settle
in here. All the leaves are turning, and I think we're in for a beautiful fall. Jon
is getting into a rhythm with classes. He has found a part-time side job at a
restaurant, has started a men's small group with some other new students
and is both inspired and challenged by what he is learning. Valerie just
launched her website for birth classes and is hoping to start teaching in
November. Hudson is happy wherever he is, so long as he has people with
whom he can interact. Graham is making some new friends, but he talks
about you all and "his church" a lot. Your continued prayers are greatly
appreciated! With love in Christ, The Brewers
501 Farber Rd. #305, Princeton, NJ 08540
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Opening devotional was on Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine. Talked about how roles often reverse between
host and guest and what we can do to pursue more contact with our neighbors where we live. Welcomed Joan Smith
and Kitty Fredrickson as new members. Approved transfer of Charlene Steele to East Woods Presbyterian Church.
Approved serving communion at the Thanksgiving Eve Service Wednesday November 26 and Stephen Ministers’ Circle
of Hope Service at 11am December 21, 2014. Reviewed and discussed 2015 budgets and stewardship campaign.
Plan to begin Spring 2015 Capital Campaign toward building debt retirement. New blinds for new sanctuary have
been donated saving several thousands of dollars. Discussed costs and need of A/C for new sanctuary. Also looking
into use of solar energy to offset increased electrical expense. All Church Retreat was a big success. Great
opportunities for multi-generations to fellowship together. Plan to schedule for next year at same location, same time
of year. How can we encourage more people to attend? Passed out current Sexual Misconduct Policy to read. Will
update and review at next session meeting.
LIBRARY CORNER BY MARY OSWALT
Missional : Joining God in the Neighborhood, by Alex J. Roxburgh
This book looks at the concept of missional churches/ministry in the context of the books of Luke and Acts, with a
particular focus on Luke 10:1-12. The author likens Luke’s audience—first-century Gentile Christians—to present-day
Christians like us. It is highly recommended that you read the passage from Luke 10 for yourself, but I will summarize
it here. It is the story of Jesus' sending seventy of his followers to the cities and towns that he would be visiting soon.
He instructs them to take nothing for the journey, to stay in one place in whatever town they are visiting, and to eat
whatever is set before them.
The lessons that Roxburgh draws from Luke 10 are as follows: We cannot see what God is doing in our communities
until we shed our baggage, which consists of preconceived notions about the types of programs we as a church should
offer; how we should worship; and what we already think our neighbors need. We should become planted in our
neighborhoods and stay long enough to get truly involved. In addition, we should learn to listen in a way that
encourages people to talk so we can learn to really know them.
The one lesson from this book that really stuck with me is that we need to give up any ideas about how we think we
should do ministry and open ourselves up to the way that God wants us to do ministry. For a more complete explanation of the above ideas, please ask Pastor Chris to loan you his copy of the book.
THE CHURCH BELL
Page 5
Volume 37, No 11
CALENDAR
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
3
7
8
9
10
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
11
17
20
21
28
30
Jared Beeks
Thelma Doyle
Jill Clifford
Rhyan Montovino
Cassy Holcomb
Melissa Honey-Sieveking
Rosan Alvey
Linda Beck
Sofia Montovino
Bill Gibson
Nola Cook
Chris Montovino
Nov 2
Nov 4
Nov 5
Nov 8
Nov 9
Nov 11
Nov 12
Nov 16
Nov 18
Nov 19
Nov 25
Mr. & Mrs. Balkoski
If your Birthday or Anniversary is not
included in our monthly listing, please
contact Michelle in the office.
FINANCE & STEWARDSHIP
September
Income
Expenses
Total
$15,784.34
$15,538.52
$
245.82
Year to Date 2014
($11,469.26)
Nov 20
Nov 22
Nov 23
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
25
26
27
29
30
9:00am
10:15 am
11:00am
9:00am
6:30pm
7:00pm
5:30pm
9:00am
10:15am
11:00am
9:00am
6:30pm
9:00am
10:15am
11:00am
9:00am
6:30pm
7:00pm
9:30am
6:00pm
9:00am
10:15am
11:00am
9:00am
7:00pm
6:00pm
9:00am
10:15am
11:00am
Worship Service (Contemporary)
Pancake Breakfast
Worship Service (Traditional)
Quilt Ministry
Youth Group
Stephen Ministry
Game Night
Worship Service (Contemporary)
Sunday School (all ages)
Worship Service (Traditional)
Quilt Ministry
Youth Group
Worship Service (Contemporary)
Sunday School (all ages)
Worship Service (Traditional)
Quilting
Youth Group
Stephen Ministry
Ruth’s Circle
Youth Group Pizza & Movie Night
Worship Service (Contemporary)
Sunday School (all ages)
Worship Service (Traditional)
Quilting
Thanksgiving Eve Service
Thanksgiving Day—Office Closed
Hanging of the Greens
Worship Service (Contemporary)
Sunday School (all ages)
Worship Service (Traditional)
PLEASE
PLACE
STAMP
HERE
R ETURN S ERVICE
R EQUESTED
9503 NE 86th St
Vancouver, WA 98662
(360) 892-6613
[email protected]
www.caspres.org
SUNDAY WORSHIP SUMMER SCHEDULE
9:00am
10:15am
11:00am
Contemporary Service
Sunday School (All Ages)
Traditional Service
YOUTH GROUP PIZZA & MOVIE NIGHT
November 22 6:00-10:00pm
THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE
November 26 7:00pm
HANGING OF THE GREENS
November 29
6:00pm Soup Potluck
7:00pm Service