Prayer List

Peggy Grogan, Mary Agnes Girner, Mario Bobo, Betty Carpenter, Jennifer McBride, Calvin Patton, Jr., Maleria Taylor, the family of Arthur J. Wells, the family of Gladys Hopper, the family of Frances Meurrier, Lindsey Cannon, Adam Burkes (Iraq), Linda Schockley (Marty Snellgrove's sister), Angela Perkins (Gail Corr's daughter), Jeb Neel (Iraq), Peggie Robertson, Pat Hendren, Betty Darby Cole, Jennifer Myers, Norman Scott, Jimbo Carr, Bobbie Jean Pounders, Bob Norris, Dudley Beall, Sarah Cummins, John Cody Dalrymple, Olivia Fitch, Sybil Jackson, Bobby Jones, Donna Magee, Charles Tindall, Mary Lou Mitchell, Jeff Nichols, Frances Paulk (Dixie Gladney's sister), Tony Ray (Beverly Patton's brother), Georgia Seale, Buddy Young

Centering Prayer Road Trip 8/4

Members of our newly-formed Centering Prayer group will travel to Holy Communion Episcopal Church in Memphis On Saturday, August 4th for a morning of prayer.

If you are interested in finding out about this kind of prayer, an informative session will begin at 9:00 a.m. The morning will consist of prayer with coffee breaks in between sessions. We should finish around noon.

We will meet at the church at 7:30 a.m. or you may travel on your own. Contact Susanne VanDyke at 662-563-2971 for more information.

Interim Pastor Search Continues

By: Bill Mundroff, Paulette Norman and Laurie Monteith

As a follow up from last week’s newsletter, the committee wants to share with everyone the list of desired skills and characteristics that were listed in the submitted forms. As part the process we assessed “Where we are today as a congregation? and Where we are going?” The Mission Statement grounds us in our purpose and values, while the current statistics of growth, demographics, and current fellowship represent the pulse of a healthy congregation. With this information, the committee developed the following list as benchmarks for our evaluation of a good fit Interim Pastor.

· Ability to serve the congregation in a very enthusiastic and energetic manner.

· Display a level of maturity that is suited and well matched with the congregation and helps maintain a positive and healthy attitude.

· Ability to interact with the young adults in the church ensuring they remain active and engaged.

· Ability to retain and attract new church members through involvement, fellowship, and spiritual development.

· Ability to help the church facilitate the planning and renovation of the existing church facilities with the eye on the long term building plans.

· Ability to minister to the sick and shut in within the congregation and extended church family in their time of spiritual need.

This list demonstrates some of the more important characteristic and desired skills we are looking for in our next Interim Pastor. The committee welcomes everyone’s feedback and comments. Additional updates and communications will come as we move through the search process. Please continue to be in prayer for the committee as we work diligently in our search for the best matched Interim Pastor.

Worship Leaders 8/5/07

• Nursery - Beth Garner, Andrea Staten
  
• Wee Worship - Brad and Colleen Clark
  
• 9:00 A.M. Usher - Al Welshans
  
• 11:00 A.M. Ushers -Chris Ware, Kevin Henry, Scott Honnoll, Bill Mundroff
  
• 11:00 A.M. Greeters - Lucille Monk, Paulette Norman, Missy and Gaines Baker
  
• Acolytes - Emily Appleton, Sullie Woods
  

Interim Pastor Search Committee

By: Bill Mundroff, Paulette Norman and Laurie Monteith

The Interim Committee is off and running. We have met several times in the past 2 weeks and used email daily to keep everyone informed, as well as keeping the process moving expeditiously.

One of the key things accomplished has been a revisit to our mission statement:

Batesville Presbyterian Church is called to be a faithful and all inclusive congregation that enthusiastically glorifies God in our worship, education, nurture, and service through the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In addition, we have filled out the required Church Information Forms (CIF) Part 1 and Part 2. The primary sections required for the interim include information such as the roles and responsibilities, desired skills and competencies, and our mission statement. The Session has reviewed and approved these forms.

What are our next steps?

• We need to submit these forms CIF 1-2 to the Presbytery.
• Presbytery Executive will match candidates with our desires.
• Committee will review applications and interview best fit candidates· Administration Committee will negotiate a contract (usually a 6 month with renewable terms and 30 days out clause)
• Call a Congregational meeting to approve the calling of an Interim Pastor.

Next week we will review in greater detail the desired skills and competencies the committee will be using as a guide. Please continue to be in pray for the committee as we search for the best matched Interim Pastor.

Summer Sunday School

July 29

• 3,4,5 year olds - Susan Hardy
• 1st - 4th grade - Suzan Graves
• 5th - 6th grade - Missy Baker

August 5th

• 3,4,5 year olds - Sara Helen and Chris Ware
• 1st - 4th grade - Beth Garner
• 5th - 6th grade - Nancy Spencer
  

August 12th

• 3,4,5 year olds - Mandy and Kevin Henry
• 1st - 4th grade - Beth Garner
• 5th - 6th grade - Allison and Steve McCord

August 19th

• 3,4,5 year olds - Suzan Graves
• 1st - 4th grade - Beth Garner
• 5th - 6th grade - Meg Woods

August 26th

• 3,4,5 year olds - Mandy and Kevin Henry
• 1st - 4th grade - Beth Garner
• 5th - 6th grade - Meg Woods

Marvelous Monday Concludes 7/30

On Monday, July 30th from 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 noon, the children are invited to a swimming party at the home of Adam and Mona Pittman at 115 Redbud Drive. Snacks will be provided. Meg Woods is in charge. This will conclude Marvelous Monday for the year. A lifeguard will be on duty. All children 6 and under must be accompanied by a parent, other adult or a babysitter. In the event of rain, the activity will be cancelled.

PYF News

On Sunday July 28, PYF will be meet at the church immediately following the 11:00 worship service and have lunch at Café Ole. We will be back around 2:00 P.M. PYF will not meet again that evening.

On Sunday, August 4, at 6:00 P.M., PYF will gather at the church and ‘head out’ to the home of Mrs. Susie VanDyke for an outdoor "Back to School" cookout.

Welcome, Mike Goree

We welcome Elder Mike Goree to the pulpit this Sunday, July 29th. He will preach at the 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. worship services. He is a professor at the School of Business at Mississippi State and is an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Starkville.

Thank you, Connie Waldrup

Our thanks to Connie Waldrup who has volunteered to maintain the "Printed in the Press" bulletin board in the church hallway.

We still have a need for a few camera enthusiasts to record our church events in pictures. If several members would collaborate on this, it would not be such a huge task as it might be for one individual. The church will supply the ink to print your photos.

PW Fall Cluster Meeting

You are invited!
What: Fall Cluster Meeting for A and B
Where: First Presbyterian Church
Oxford, Mississippi
When: Saturday, August 11th
Time: 9:00 A.M.

9:00 - 10:00 Registration and Coffee
10:00 - 12:00 Program in Sanctuary
12:00 Lunch in Fellowship Hall
Cost -- $7.00
RSVP: 662-234-1757 by August 7th

Make your plans to join us for fun, food and fellowship.
Get to know your fellow Presbyterian Women.

Birth Announcement

Congratulations to Reggie and Jennifer Myers Garner on the birth of their new son, Greer Roberts Garner. He was born on July 13th in Memphis and weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 inches long. He is welcomed by David and Teresa Myers, the very proud grandparents.

Presbyterian Women's Annual Report 2006/2007

We have completed another year of the Presbyterian Women's calendar. It has been a great year that began in September, 2006.

Our first notice for donations to pay for study material and other needed items brought good results of $383.00

In October, we sent "treats" to our college students. A special thanks to Dot Smith and her committee for coordinating this event.

Our Harvest Dinner in November was a huge success, thanks to Susanne Van Dyke and the Evening Circle.

In December, we had our joint meeting. It was a well-attended, lovely luncheon. Our thanks to Valerie Campbell and Bess Darby and their committee for a job well done. Also in December, Margaret Nix and her committee handled the "Joy Gift" program. We received $182 in donations and it was a great program. In addition, during December, we sponsored the "Shoebox Christmas" boxes. Susanne and the Evening Circle did a great job organizing this ministry once again.

January and February were very light months; poor weather caused some problems with meetings. But in March, we were hostesses for the community-wide "World Day of Prayer" service. Billie Breedlove and her committee did their usual stellar job.

Next, in April, we sponsored a brunch for our three high school graduates at the home of Briggs and Dot Smith. Our thanks to Dot and her committee for their efforts in this delightful brunch.

Finally, in June, after being postponed several times, we had our annual Birthday Celebration. We offer our thanks to Sarah Dell Gray and her committee for an excellent job organizing that event. We presented a Life Membership in PW USA to Margie Lightsey.

Now we have a new year to look forward to. We must all do our part if we are to keep the flames burning in our church and our community. Our new year will begin soon. The Presbyterian Women's Fall Cluster meeting will take place on August 11th, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church in Oxford at 9:00 A.M. I hope to see you there! God bless each of you.

Ruth Kelly
PW Moderator

Prayer List

Betty Carpenter, Jennifer McBride, Calvin Patton, Jr., Maleria Taylor, the family of Arthur J. Wells, the family of Gladys Hopper, the family of Frances Meurrier, Lindsey Cannon, Adam Burkes (Iraq), Linda Schockley (Marty Snellgrove's sister), Angela Perkins (Gail Corr's daughter), Jeb Neel (Iraq), Peggie Robertson, Pat Hendren, Betty Darby Cole, Jennifer Myers, Norman Scott, Jimbo Carr, Bobbie Jean Pounders, Bob Norris, Dudley Beall, Sarah Cummins, John Cody Dalrymple, Olivia Fitch, Sybil Jackson, Bobby Jones, Donna Magee, Charles Tindall, Mary Lou Mitchell, Jeff Nichols, Frances Paulk (Dixie Gladney's sister), Tony Ray (Beverly Patton's brother), Georgia Seale, Buddy Young

Welcome to Rev. Barbara McKee

We warmly welcome Rev. Barbara McKee to Batesville Presbyterian Church Sunday, July 22nd. She will preach at the 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. worship services. Rev. McKee is a retired minister of the Osborn Presbyterian Church in Starkville.

Youth News by Zack Hardy

First of all, I would like to thank the church, and all who made it possible, in helping the PYF go to Montreat. We had a great time in the beautiful mountains of Montreat, NC. The youth made my first experience at Montreat a wonderfully memorable one.

We had a great keynote speaker, Scott Phillips, in the mornings; there was a talented music leader, Colby Logan; and we enjoyed the enthusiastic, encouraging pastor, Rodger Nishioka in the evening worship services. The theme for the week was “turning the page,” and it focused on the fact that our lives are stories, and that we must listen to others’ stories, as well as share ours. Our back home group times at night allowed us to open up and to hear and share feedback among each other about our day. It was, and is, a blessing to see God working in each of the youth in different ways.

We also had a great white water rafting adventure (another first time for me) that went very well, thanks to the cooperation of the youth and the trained river guides. We had a fun, exciting time, and no one was hurt, and that's always a good thing. It was a great time to escape the busy life, away from distractions, and spend time in a place of "rest" and hear from God.

I will leave you with something to think about that pastor Rodger shared. “…too many times I think that people miss the big picture when they look at this young generation and say ‘you are the church of tomorrow.’ Yes, you are that, but you are also the church of today!” See, I truly believe that the youth are not merely the future, but they are also the present. I thank God and this church for this opportunity to be a part of their lives on this spiritual journey.

Thank You from the Lewis Family

Dear Friends,

The love and support you have shown since my mother’s death have been very comforting. My family and I are very blessed to have such wonderful church friends. Thank you so much.

Cooper Lewis and family

Thank You From Jon Burnham

Dear church family and friends of the church,

Thank you for the lovely reception last Sunday in honor of my family and me. As I looked around the room at the familiar faces of the large crowd of gathered folks, I thought to myself, "Wow, the stories I could tell." I especially appreciate the effort put into organizing the reception by Billie Garner, Claire Sanders and Mary Tom Vance.

The love offering you gave us was an incredible display of your affection and respect for the work we have done in your midst. That money will be well spent in setting up our house in Houston. Thank you for this last display of your generosity to us which has been so evident to us from the day when we arrived here 8 years ago.

We will be in Houston on Wednesday and Thursday looking for a house. Then I will be away at a centering prayer retreat north of New Orleans from July 20-27. After that, we will be back in Batesville preparing for the move to Houston. I will begin work at St. John's on August 15.

Please keep us in your prayers as we make the move to Houston, as I begin a new ministry, and as the kids start school there. We already know they will be in an excellent public school located 5 minutes from the church.

Our time here has been incredibly rich. For that, I am deeply grateful to each of you. I invite you to keep in touch. My email address shall remain burjon@gmail.com. You can phone me at (713) 965-6712. Keep in touch.

Peace,
Jon B.

Birth Announcement

Congratulations to Jim and Libby Monteith Minor of Birmingham on the birth of their son, John Alexander Minor. He was born on July 12 and weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces. Welcoming John Alexander are his grandparents, Dick and Laurie Monteith and his great-grandmother, Mrs. Celeste Monteith.

Shutterbugs Needed

With our resident photographers, Jon and Jana, moving to Houston, we have a need for a camera enthusiast to record our church events in pictures. The church will supply the photo paper and ink to print your snapshots to be posted on the bulletin board in the hall.

We also need a volunteer to continue the "Printed in the Press" bulletin board which Jana so faithfully maintained. For more information, please call the church office.

Invitation to Celebration

Dear church family and friends of the church,

I hope you will come to worship this Sunday if you are able. I would like for us to celebrate the completion of our 8 years of ministry together. Our time together has been rich and fruitful. The church has literally been transformed during this time.

The majority of the membership is now under 50 years of age. We have strong programs for children and youth. Many young adults have joined the church, and the nurseries are full. For the past couple of years the membership has increased by 5% each year.

The congregation has acquired two properties adjacent to the main church building, so that we are no longer land locked. The Endowment and Trusts Committee has expanded our college scholarship program.

I contributed to the Presbytery by creating Tapestry, an annual training event that organizes 30 classes and has trained several hundred leaders in the presbytery.

I enjoyed working with the Black Jack and Independence Churches. We used a grant from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance as leverage to secure funds from the state which led to the installation of several storm shelters around the county.

I have enjoyed working with the church staff. Susanne Spencer VanDyke is the only church staff member who was serving when I came here and who will still be serving when I leave. Especially, I applaud her. The choir has been outstanding throughout my tenure.

One of the first things I did when I began here was to start a weekly church newsletter. In the past few years I expanded on the church newsletter by starting a blog and an email newsletter. Communication has significantly increased and giving is up as well.

One of the things I am most excited about is the new centering prayer group. I hope it will continue and grow. This spiritual practice has transformed my life. I challenge you to explore the power of an intimate relationship with God through centering prayer.

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your pastor. It has been a richly rewarding experience for me. I am truly grateful to you for letting me into your lives.

Peace,

Jon Burnham

Birth Announcement

We welcome Cooper Mason Gunn, son of Jason and Angel White Gunn, who was born on July 9, 2007, in Memphis, at 11:23 A.M., 8 pounds 4 ounces, 19 1/2 inches long. John and Pam White are the proud grandparents.

Baptism Sunday

Herron Walker Williams, son of Jay and Haley Williams, will be baptized this Sunday, July 15, 2007, during the 11:00 A.M. worship service.

Interim Pastor Search Committee

During their meeting on July 8, 2007, the Session appointed the following Elders to the Interim Pastor Search Committee: Bill Mundroff (Moderator), Laurie Monteith, and Paulette Norman. They will work with our Presbytery Executive, Dr. Greg Goodwiller, to quickly find an Interim Pastor to serve the church.

Pastoral Search Process Described

The pastoral search process for our church is described in a document now available on the table in the hallway. The document is called "Steps in the Vacancy Process: Guiding Sessions, PNCs, and Laisons through the Vacancy Process." Feel free to take a copy home with you and learn how our Presbyterian call system works.

Reception Honoring Burnham Family

The Batesville Presbyterian Church family will honor the Jon Burnham family with a reception to be held Sunday, July 15^th at 10:15 a.m. in the recreation room at the church. This will be a time for our entire church family to extend our love and best wishes to the Burnhams as they travel on in their faith journey.

All members of the congregation are invited and encouraged to join in this event as we bid farewell to Jon and his family.

Prayer List

Jacob Gowen (son of Jodie and Greg Gowen), Maleria Taylor, the family of Arthur J. Wells, the family of Gladys Hopper, the family of Frances Meurrier, Ann Maddux White, David Lutz (friend of Ira Gail White), Lindsey Cannon, Adam Burkes (Iraq), Sara Graves, Linda Schockley (Marty Snellgrove's sister), Angela Perkins (Gail Corr's daughter), Jeb Neel, Peggie Robertson, Pat Hendren, Betty Darby Cole, Jennifer Myers, Norman Scott, Jimbo Carr, Bobbie Jean Pounders, Bob Norris, Dudley Beall, Bubba Bryan, Sarah Cummins, John Cody Dalrymple, Olivia Fitch, Sybil Jackson, Bobby Jones, Donna Magee, Charles Tindall, Mary Lou Mitchell, Jeff Nichols, Frances Paulk (Dixie Gladney's sister), Tony Ray (Beverly Patton's brother), Georgia Seale, the family of Johnny Walters (Teresa Brasell's brother), Buddy Young

Worship Leaders 7/15/07

• Nursery - Ann Avery, Amanda Lee
  
• Wee Worship - Mandy Henry, Karen Cole
  
• 9:00 A.M. Usher - Janey Ginn
  
• 11:00 A.M. Ushers -Margaret Nix, Kenny Hopper, Taylor Riddick, Debi Honnell
  
• 11:00 A.M. Greeters - Ben & Suzan Graves, Billie Garner, Bill Mundroff
  
• Acolytes - Harris Cole, Russ Lewis
  

Christian Sympathy

Our Christian sympathy is with the family of Cooper Lewis upon the death of his mother on July 8, 2007. Visitation is on Tuesday, July 10, from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. at Dickins Funeral Home. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, July 11, at 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church of Sardis.

Congregational Meeting

The Session has called a congregational meeting during the 11:00 A.M. worship service on Sunday, July 15, 2007, for the purpose of dissolving the pastoral relationship between Dr. Jon Burnham and Batesville Presbyterian Church effective August 15, 2007. Dr. Burnham will make arrangements for worship and pastoral care while on vacation from July 15 through August 15. The worship services on July 15 will be Dr. Burnham's last ones in the pulpit as pastor of this church.

The Session will work with Dr. Greg Goodwiller, our Presbytery
Executive, to secure a competent Interim Pastor as soon as possible. Then the process for finding a new installed pastor will begin in earnest.

Summer Preaching Schedule

Here is the Summer, 2007, preaching schedule:

• July 22 Rev. Barbara McKee; 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  

• July 29 Elder Mike Goree; 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  

• August 5 Elder John White; 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

• August 12 Rev. Dr. Greg Goodwiller; 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time