Ward Church Outreach to Kokomo Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School
VBS proves to be such a valuable experience for all involved each year. Of all of the
great things I can say about VBS, I truly think the relationships that are built and
experienced between campers and volunteers are priceless. The age range of adults
and students is a rare opportunity. I am so thankful for all of the years I have spent
at VBS! - Andrea Williams
The congregation of First EPC has offered Vacation Bible School to our community
for a very long time. Amy Miller and Andrea Williams are two past Christian Education directors that have coordinated
our programs. Amy Miller said, “I always look forward to VBS each year. I love to see the joy on the children’s faces as
they sing worship songs with Lloyd and Laura at the beginning and end of each day of VBS. I think it is wonderful outreach to the community. Many children come that do not have a “home” church and they get to experience Christ’s
love and learn many Bible lessons for one special week in the summer. I hope that they will use what they have learned
as they spend time with their families and friends throughout the rest of the summer.
We are planning for and praying for 150 children to join us for Vacation Bible School this summer. Between June 9th
and 13th we want to lead 4 year olds through 4th graders to knowing that Jesus’ love is one of a kind. Please bring your
children, grandchildren and neighbors to WEIRD ANIMALS, VBS 2014. VBS is a church-wide event and our entire
church family grows in Christ when we participate together. PLEASE JOIN US and help us have a positive impact on our
children. - Lora Hostetler
Ward Church Outreach to Kokomo
We recently hosted two work teams from Ward Church, a sister EPC church, from the Metro-Detroit area. I saw
the beauty, love and grace of our Lord Jesus take place as these teams served during their spring breaks in tornado
damaged areas of our city. Mary, a team member, spent a day of power-washing homes which were still covered in
twigs, mud and insulation scraps. The owners’ of the home expressed immense appreciation for their help since the
husband had a bad back and could not do this type of work. When asked the reason for their service, Dan, the team
leader, replied: “to share God’s love in a practical way.”
I also saw the beauty of the body of Christ through our church family as many of you provided meals and snacks for the
team. The team felt very loved and fed through your hospitality! One team members said, “I often go on mission trips
and lose weight. I doubt that will be the case this year!”
My personal highlight of the first week took place during our Wednesday dinner when we had our regular attenders,
plus the team from Ward. They got to experience the dinner and share a blessing with some from our community as
they gave away the lunch meat they would not be using. It was a win/win for so many. The evening was a joy and I
know it honored our LORD in reflecting His love and grace! Thanks be to God! - Pastor Joyce
Kokomo Great Banquet
The great banquet is a sacred place, a holy ground, a place on earth where sinners and saints gather under the
umbrella of Christian love, servant hood and sacrifice, under the care of those who once partook in this feast. The
great banquet us a safe place, a judgment free zone, where men or women from different backgrounds, cultures,
countries and creeds meet together for three days, to listen, to learn, to talk, to share, to off load, to unburden and to
give out. The great banquet is not a sect, it is not a holy club, it is a body of believers and followers of Jesus Christ,
God’s son, heavens King and this worlds only Savior. The great banquet is a community of believers who have tasted
heaven on earth and having had a glimpse of heaven, through their love and prayers, seek to encourage others to
share in the same experience. May God bless you and God bless America. - Andrew Forson
WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP: Kokomo Hand Bell Festival
The ringers of First EPC experienced the blessing of sharing the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the community wide
Kokomo Hand Bell Festival on March 1, at Bible Baptist Church. We were joined by the Circle City Ringers and the IUK
Diminuendos in lifting musical expressions of praise and love to God. Our offerings were a prayer raised to the God and
Savior we all worship in our various places and ways.
You will have another opportunity to hear Hand Bell Praise as we are led in worship at the annual Ice Cream Social on
Sunday, June 15 at 7pm by our musical guests, the Glad Ringers of First Baptist Church of Columbus, IN. This will be a
great venue for inviting community friends. Watch for details.
Little School Staff Travels to conference...
It was great to attend the Indiana AEYC conference again. There were many workshops and sessions to choose from,
covering a variety of subjects. I felt that several of the sessions validated what we are doing here at Little School, but
in other sessions it was good to hear some new ideas. I attended the session about National Accreditation, and it was
very informative. I do believe that we are currently meeting several of the standards on the list. I really enjoyed the
session I attended with Jim Gill, and the keynote sessions that he led. He gave me several new ideas of music that I
want to use in my classroom. I also really enjoyed the keynote address by Tina Powell. I am very grateful for the
opportunity to attend the AEYC conference and learn some new ideas to use in my classroom. - Kathy Wiley
This was my first experience at the IAEYC conference and I had an enjoyable time. The session that impacted me the
most was on positive classroom management. She validated the way Little School handles conflicts and reminded me
of some things I tend to overlook by this time in the school year. How we as teachers respond to behavior impacts the
outcome greatly. Conflict is very natural and if we remember to handle these situations in a calm manner the behavior
will change. These are her four powerful phrases, I’m sorry, I understand, probably so, and never the less. Using these
we validate what the child is feeling and can calmly address the situation. I enjoyed her enthusiasm and for supporting
the things we do and giving me a couple more tools to use in the classroom. “Kids don’t care about why you know,
until they know you care.” - Jill Dougherty. - Terri Brown
I was privileged to be able to attend the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children Conference this past
weekend. One of the highlights from the weekend was hearing from children’s author, Tina Powell and a well-known
children’s musician, Jim Gill. While they spoke on different subjects, their underlying message was the same: Children
learn and grow when they realize that the adults in their life really care about them.
Tina shared how her 3rd grade teacher encouraged her by listening and responding in appreciation to the stories that
Tina wrote in class. She showed us the report card comments written by the older teacher that spoke to Tina’s
giftedness in writing and sharing her stories. Thinking back to my teachers and mentors, I can also recall specific things
that others identified about me that made a huge impact on the person I am today. It reminded me how God has
gifted each of my students in unique ways and encouraged me to be more persistent in identifying an speaking to
those areas. Tina also shared the background of how she came to write the book about 9/11 events, If You Could See
What I See…, which was illustrated by children. Quite simply, the idea for this book came after Tina took the time to
listen to what her own child was feeling after seeing the events of 9/11 on the news. Tina simply took time in her day
to listen and respond to her child and then inspired other parents to listen to their children as they reflected on the
9/11 events.
Jim Gill was a phenomenal speaker and performed at the conference. He has the rare ability to write and perform
songs and rhymes that entertain children while also relying on his knowledge of child development to apply those
songs to learning. I learned many songs that I anxious to teach my preschool classes. What stood out to me, however,
were the multiple times that Jim reminded the early childhood educators in attendance that his songs alone would not
accomplish learning goals. Instead, it was only when children see an adult they care about interacting with the
material that children become interested in the songs themselves. In that shared experience, children will appreciate
the fun and learning that accompanies his music. Reflecting on my experiences, I can attest to the truth in what Jim
shared. While children may play educational games or watch educational shows, the times of learning that children
remember and retell all involve instances of involvement from an adult they care about, whether that is a parent,
friend or teacher.
I was great inspired by both of these fine speakers. I have been reminded that is is my goal to inspire the children in
my care to love learning by first interacting and experiencing that learning alongside of them. Another goal of mine is
to be an avid observer of my children so that I may encourage them to grow in the giftedness that God has specifically
given them.
- Heather Bonds
First Evangelical Presbyterian Church
2000 W Jefferson
Kokomo, IN 46901
Lenten Season Reflections
Before the Lenten season began, I prayed that I would feel God’s presence during my daily devotions and activities. I had
just returned from Israel and was on a “trip of a lifetime high” and earnestly wanted it to continue. God blessed me and
answered my prayers. During our Wednesday Lenten studies at church, I had the privilege of working with children. The
discussions after the videos in the sanctuary and the crafts they produced were a spiritual gift to me and that is why I love
teaching. The kids led me closer to Christ during Lent. - Lora Hostetler
My journey to the cross this Lent was very insightful with my trip to Israel so fresh in my memories. I can envision places
involved in Jesus’ final week and that makes His story all the more real. Reading my Bible now is like reading a 3-D book!
Standing and walking close to where Jesus carried and hung on the cross for my sins, that is amazing. It further builds my
confidence and expectation of His promises fulfilled in the past, and my ability to trust Him in the future. I also had great
joy in sharing this journey with others from the community, and for this I am very grateful! Shalom! - Pastor Joyce
This Lenten season refreshed my memory, not just of who Jesus is, but also of who I am. Going through each of those
scenes reminded me of how I am a part of each of those events that caused Jesus’ suffering and made me say, “Lord, I’m
sorry I put You through this pain and I don’t want to cause You any suffering.” It also helped me see Easter as more than an
event in which God vindicated Jesus by raising Him from death. It is an ongoing statement of what takes place in our lives
when we are raised from death by baptism and given a new beginning and a growing relationship with our Creator.
- Lloyd Swartzendruber
This year, the Lenten series was a challenge for me. The daily devotions enhanced my walk, but it was more what God was
revealing in the story. I was amazed by looking at the story and God kept revealing layers upon layers of depth that I didn’t
see before. I am praying that God continues to do that in my life and in the life of our church. - Matt Hartke
I read recently that if we pay attention, that we can’t help but notice God’s gestures of love for us. He showers us with
love and blessings and waits patiently for us to take notice. My problem is that I get so busy doing the day to day things,
that I don’t pay attention. The Lenten devotions helped me stay focused on the sacrifice made on the cross and have been
a fresh reminder of how personally and intimately God loves me even when I am not paying attention. - Karen Dikeman
F IRST E VANGELICAL P RESBYTERIAN C HURCH
F AITH & L IFE Q UARTERLY
M AY 1, 2014
Think.Live.Love
A Sermon Series on the Parables
Of Jesus on the Kingdom of God
As we come out of the Lenten and Easter Season we enter
a period of growth represented by the color green in the
Liturgical colors. It is a season where we focus on living
out our faith as Jesus taught. We seek to live as God desires in loving Him with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. In certain situations some people might
ask what would Jesus do (WWJD)? But I ask the question,
“How can you know what Jesus would do unless you know
what Jesus did (HCYKWJWDUYKWJD)?” How’s that for an
acronym? So our next series will be looking at some of
Jesus’ teachings, specifically His parables that speak of the
Kingdom of God. Parables are word pictures painted by
Jesus. He was a master at doing this and getting the point
across very clearly. The Kingdom of God Parables instruct
us how Jesus wants us to think, live and love others. If we
apply His parables in our lives we have a much greater
chance of pleasing God. Please join me in our study of the
parables of Jesus in our sermon series we just began on
April 27th.
- Pastor Jerry
O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
When we started the 24 Hours That Changed the World on
Ash Wednesday March 5th, my hope was that focusing on Jesus’ last
day on earth would draw me closer to Him and that is exactly what
our reflections have done for me. This is the first time that I
focused so much of my time on such a short time of Jesus’ life. It is
also the first time I looked in detail at each person involved in the
crucifixion and asked “would I have been like or acted like each of
these people?” The sad truth is that indeed I could see a little of
myself in each person. The reality is that like each of them, I am a
sinner. Like each of them, I need a Savior who will not only cleanse
me of my sin, but also enable me to live my life with an increasing
desire to be like Jesus. Jesus died not only for the ones in the
crucifixion scene, He also died for me. I saw myself in the story.
I identified in a greater way that I in fact was redeemed by Jesus’s
death on the cross that was verified by His resurrection and
ascension into heaven. The journey to the cross has once again
deepened my love and devotion to Jesus Christ. I believe in the
love with which the Heavenly Father has loved me by sending His
Son Jesus Christ that I might have eternal life. This same truth is
true for you as well. I hope you also have grown in your love and
devotion to Jesus during this Lenten season. - Pastor Jerry
Passion Conference Reflections
“Passion helped me identify a new part to my
story of redemption. I was also blown away and
inspired by the passion for the needy that was
shown in our group.”
- Louisa Bingham (Freshman, IWU)
“At Passion 2014 I was able to worship with
20,000 of my peers, which I have been missing
for the last 8 months. I also learned many ways
to grow my relationship with God, and how to
reflect that relationship to others.”
- David Haigh (Sophomore, AU, D65 drummer)
“I loved the lineup of artists and speakers. Pretty
much everything.”
-Ryan Johnson (Senior, Northwestern)
“Passion help changed my perspective on a lot of
things and reignited my love. The Spirit of God
was beyond measure and watching God work on
the lives there was something to see and experience. Passion 2015…it is happening.”
- Matt Hartke (Youth Director, First EPC)

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