It is the mission of First Presbyterian Church of Gardner to become the hands and feet of Jesus as we serve Christ in our community and world. We share a variety of projects to encourage care for those who are in need, with a special emphasis on care for the children of the world.
Joy Closet
Volunteer Opportunities
Cashier Assistants are greatly needed!
Duties include:
• Customer greeting, answering questions, assisting as necessary
• Hanger patrol: look for empty hangers or items not hung correctly.
• Tidy shopping area when items are placed incorrectly or moved.
• Mingle with shoppers: Having another person present.
• Light dusting in housewares, jewelry, etc.
• Bag items, especially for larger purchases.
• There is often some down time and this volunteer can be seated.
• Help make the shopping experience a JOY!!
Cashier Assistants: Monday and Wednesday shifts are available all day and Thursday morning shift.
Sorters Needed!
The new store is gradually becoming more organized in our wonderful space and we are blessed with donations. However, we are still in need of more sorters. You will be trained in specific area(s). Come join and be a part of a great group of volunteers!
Contact Cindy or Ginger to sign up for times.
Joy Closet
Now is the time to VOLUNTEER!
All returning and new volunteers need to train. There will be new information at both training sessions.
Cashier Training for all new and returning cashiers
Tuesday Sept. 7th from 10-12 or Wed Sept 8 from 4-7
Cashiers can come and go during the allotted sessions once you are familiar with new credit card machine, the updated cash register buttons, and feel familiar with overall setup of store. Cashiers may optionally attend the volunteer training. While not required, information from the volunteer training will be useful when questions arise once we are operational.
Volunteer Training – All returning and new volunteers need to train
Tuesday, Sept 7th at 4:30, or Thursday, September 9th at 9, or Saturday, Sept. 11th at 10.
Volunteers need to attend one session from beginning to end as the operation will be different.
You are welcome to attend more than once, if desired.
TRAVELING DAY CAMP – JUNE 14-18, 2021
Our enrollment is full! We will plan now for a great week of camp. We will have 6 Heartland staffers, 4 coordinators and 41 campers divided into four family groups.
Please begin to think about what you can do to help. We will need:
breakfast on Tuesday for the staff brought to the church
storytime reader for Monday & Tuesday
individually wrapped afternoon snacks for Wednesday
a counselor for each family group who will assist the Heartland staffer.
If you want to help us or share any ideas, you can talk with any of the camp coordinators. We are sure we can find something for you to do.
If you have any canopies for outside, please let the Liu’s know. We are trying to do most activities outside, so we need some extras.
Coordinators: Marsha Cooper
Robin Tropansky
Karen and Kim Liu
JOY Closet ministry
JOY Closet ministry of First Presbyterian Church will have a new home soon at 975 E. Lincoln Lane. We closed on purchase of the new building on May 20. Thanks be to God for his guidance and care through this process. We are blessed to be able to continue to expand our ministry.
Timeline: Our plan is to be ready to move in late August.
There is work to be done!
Anyone wanting to help with any jobs, please contact: Ron Rushing, Karl Allen, Cindy Rollf, or Ginger Crist. Thank you to so many who have helped in the beginnings of remodeling and clean up in the last two weeks.
Meanwhile at the current location, we still have some ongoing needs.
*Sorters to prepare donations for display.
*People to help clean up and bring in items which are dropped off when the store is not open.
*A person to be available during store hours to help the cashier monitor the display area.
Especially helpful during the 5 – 7 p.m. closing hours.
Please continue to pray for JOY Closet and the families that it serves. We are grateful to all of our volunteers and to those who support us through prayer
Advent Light – by Pastor Kimby
Those of us who work in churches, who talk theology, who read and study about spiritual life and faith, have been planning for Advent for months. Literally – months and months. Even as we did not gather for Easter, I was worrying about Christmas. Early in the summer I started reading articles about thoughts of how to celebrate the season of Advent. I signed up for several webinars and virtual conferences. Usually, we just do what we usually do. But this year… well, nothing is usual. In some ways that opened the door to enormous creativity across the world. What I have seen lately is a desperate call for light, an almost instinctive turning to the Light. Our theme this year is “Light in the Darkness.” This will lead up to Christmas Eve when we will try to fill the night with light. We invite you to add lights to your home – luminaries, lanterns or electric lights. Patterns are in our Advent kits. (If you want a pattern, you may pick one up at church. You may also still pick up an Advent kit.) On Christmas eve, we will light candles on our west lawn – if weather permits. We seek to fill the night with light in the center of Gardner, and witness to the Light of Christ in our world. Throughout the season, witness to the Light of the World, born in Bethlehem, to shine in the darkness and to call us to shine with the love of God in loving others.
Presbyterian Outlook magazine offered this inspiring poem for their Advent series this year.
I Will Light Candles This Christmas By Howard Thurman
I will light candles this Christmas,
Candles of joy despite all the sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all year long.
May we all hear the call this season to light candles in the night, to light candles against the darkness, to light candles of hope and healing, to light candles in witness to the Light of the world. In the season ahead and in the year ahead, may your life be filled with the light of Christ. May you share that light of God in witness in the world shining God’s grace for all to receive.
Joy Closet March 2020
It’s hard to believe, but spring is coming! Wanted: Spring and Summer Clothing We are happy to take all of your donations of clothing, toys, books, jewelry, shoes, and bedding, no matter the season. However, spring is upon us! Please help us fill our racks for the coming season. THANK YOU!
Volunteers Needed It’s never too late to decide how you can help. We have great volunteers…but still have room for YOU! We need: Sorters, cashiers, persons to vacuum, empty bins, clean, dust shelves, and tidy racks. Many of these jobs can be done outside of store hours. Ask about training and schedule a time to work.
Did you know JOY Closet has books?
Adult Hardback Books
$2 Adult Paperback Books
$1 Kids Hardback Books
$1 Kids Paperback Books
$.50 Bibles Mysteries
Dr. Seuss
Cookbooks
Early Readers
Boardbooks
Christian Fiction
Team Spirit – by Pastor Kimby
All of Kansas City has gone Chiefs crazy – and rightly so. This historic trip to the Super Bowl has been long awaited and eagerly anticipated. Next week’s game will be fantastic to watch and the win will be joyfully celebrated. (Not a prophecy, just a fond hope!)
In February, I’m thinking about some other great team work as well – even closer to home. We will have our annual congregational meeting on February 9. This is a wonderful time to celebrate our church team. It’s all about togetherness – worshiping, working and serving God together. The church at our best is about connecting to one another, connecting to God, and connecting other people to God. It’s a winning combination.
That same weekend our wonderful session will be meeting for our annual planning retreat. We have high hopes for another outstanding year. We will be considering several ways of expanding our mission and ministry in the year ahead. As usual, it will take the gifts of everyone – the entire church – to succeed and to move forward in faith.
For now, keep us in your prayers. Please pray this month for your session, your deacons, your volunteers, your members, your guests and the people in Gardner whom we might serve in 2020. As we work together to plan for the future God has for us, session will share ideas and ask for your further input. For now, pray for inspiration and guidance as we continue our planning to live into God’s purpose for First Presbyterian Church of Gardner.
Scripture
Outreach, Mission and Evangelism
Do you have an idea for a mission project you would like to be involved in? Are you looking for opportunities to reach out into the community? Do you want to spread the word about all the great things happening here at First Presbyterian of Gardner? You’re just the people we are looking for!
The mission pillar is looking for people to join our team. We meet the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm.
If social media is your thing or you are a great communicator. The communication team might be a good fit for you. They are a subcommittee of the mission team. They meet the third Thursday of the month at 6:30.
If you are interested in joining either group, reach out to Larry Atwater, Jo Lynn Clark, Karen Elliott, Cindy Rollf or Tracy McCabe.
Joy Closet February 2020
2019 Information from JOY Closet shows that we honored a total of 722 vouchers with $20,909.40 in merchandise. We are humbled at the amazing generosity of our community and the hard work of our faithful volunteers. Thank you!
We are growing and hoping to expand. If you have ideas or opportunities that would help JOY Closet reach the goal of a larger space, please see Kimby, Cindy, or Ginger.
How does volunteering help the community?
Volunteering is important work that benefits others in Gardner and Edgerton, meeting basic needs in the community.
How does volunteering enhance your life?
• It connects you to others.
• It builds confidence and self-esteem.
• It improves your physical health through activity.
• It improves your mental health as it counteracts stress, anxiety, and depression.
• It enhances your job skills through teamwork, problem solving, and organization.
How can I help?
We are in need of a person to help with selling unusual items on Ebay. You can help us reach out and receive the market value. Put your talents to work here on your own schedule. JOY Closet could use more sorters and organizers, especially on our Thursday and Saturday crews! Talk with Cindy or Ginger about helping!
Joy Closet – January 2020
New Year’s Resolutions
The Work of Christmas Begins
As the beautiful season of Advent and Christmas comes to an end, we put away the decorations and enjoy the feeling of renewal. The deep meaning of Christ’s birth brings joy to our lives. Joy brings hope. How can you spread that hope to others? Have a conversation with a JOY Closet volunteer – it may spark an idea of how you could help.
You no doubt have a skill that can be used on a regular or occasional basis.
You will love the feeling of helping.
Do you have experience in: sorting clothing, displaying merchandise, helping customers, working with others, organizing?
We need you during store hours and can use your help even on days we are not open.
Please let Ginger or Cindy know when you are available.
Volunteering is good for your mind and your body!