Hospital calls, prayers appreciated
Speaking from experience the past couple months, I found that just knowing that folks in our church family were praying for me was encouraging and comforting. Hospital visits by Pastor Dave and St. Pat’s hospital chaplain Henry Littlehales, phone calls, notes, cards and offers to assist with various chores were appreciated. The church’s prayer line certainly plays a vital role in communicating. If you aren’t on the prayer line and wish to be advised of prayer requests, let church secretary Laurie know and she’ll notify the appropriate persons to add your name to the prayer list.

Special thanks to Pastor Dave for providing a ride to Missoula on short notice.

Deacons, among their many duties, also call on folks in hospitals and rest homes and prepare receptions for weddings, funerals, etc. – PF

 Paul Fugelberg

Officers are elected

At the Jan. 8 congregational meeting, new officers were elected. Newly elected Elder is Chris Tucker; Deacons-elect are Candy Yeater, Tricia Campbell and Marilyn

Coffee. Serving on the Nominating Committee are Kaye Stam, Keran Moderie, Marilyn Coffee and Dick Christopher.

Carryover officers are: Elders – Bessie Argo, Carolyn Heinz, Matt Seeley, Brian Campbell, Joanna Shelton, and Clerk of the Session, Don Patterson; Deacons –

Jan Campbell, Jane Bronson, Kim Sheesley, Butch Shostak, Janice Lindsey, with

Keran Moderie taking over Adell Hansen’s place.

Dimes still needed

If you’re still collecting dimes for the church’s missionaries in the Congo, the coins are still needed. They may be turned in with the weekly offering and tithes, left in the office for Financial Secretary Dick Kintz, who can also provide donors with news plastic containers for the dimes.

Get On Board!

Children in our Sunday school are on board ‘This Train Is Bound for Glory’! Each Sunday they board a different train car to learn about the values of Christian living. Just what are they learning every Sunday morning from 10:30 to 12:00?

· The Engine -- The Power of God. ‘With God all things are      possible.’ Matthew 19:26

· The Fuel car -- Jesus and the Holy Spirit. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:13

· The Passenger car -- ‘Our Life’s A Puzzle’. All things work    together for good to those who love God who are called          according to his purpose.’ Romans 8:28

· The Dining car -- Serving Others -- ‘Serve one another in love.’ Galatians: 5:3

· The Baggage car -- Fear Not. ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

· The Caboose -- The Great Commission. ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.’ Matthew 28:19-20

This experience is possible through the dedicated volunteer who lead each class: Tana Seeley, Greg Hobbs, Amber Tucker, the whole Dupuis family, John and Carol Cummings, Marsha Anson and Carolyn Heinz. Thank you for your gift of service to our children.

Our April edition of the Parish Pulse will be the last.  

Beginning in May of 2012 the Monday Morning News will be our regular newsletter for the Flathead Lake Parish.  Our Monthly Calendar will go out with the last Monday Morning News of each month.  If you are not receiving the Monday Morning News, either by e-mail or in the US Mail, please let us know so that we can add you to the appropriate list.  There are three ways you can let us know:

   1. Send an e-mail to office@polsonpresbyterian.org

   2. Call us at (406) 883-5807

   3. Write us at 301 Fourth Ave, East; Polson, MT 59860

   Pastor Dave’s regular weekly Bible Study in John’s Gospel resumes in Dayton on Tuesday, January 31st from 10:00 to 11:30 and in Polson on Wednesday, February 1st from 9:30 to 11:00. 

Looking for inspiration? Visit the church library in the Fries Room. You’ll find a good selection bibles, commentaries, study guides; tapes and CDs; fiction and non-fiction titles. Among them are “Six Hours One Friday – Anchoring to the Cross” and “In the Grip of Grace,” by Max Lucado; “Always Daddy’s Girl,” by Norman Wright; “Angels,” by Billy Graham; “The Hiding Place,” by Carrie ten Boom; “Beyond Ourselves,” by Catherine Marshall; “The Quest for Character,” by Charles Swindoll; “Emotions: Can You Trust Them?” by James Dobson. There are also several annual volumes of Daily Guideposts.

Max Lucado, incidentally, has a writing style similar to that of the late Paul Harvey. He grabs the reader’s interest at the start and keeps it to the end of the book – and then some. Each chapter is followed by a study guide that’s ideal for small group discussions or personal devotions. In Six Hours One Friday he poses topics for discussion or individual meditation on “Mind Anchors, Soul Anchors, and Life Anchors.” Over the past several years two adult Sunday school classes in our church have held six-week sessions on this book.

If you haven’t turned in your offering pledges for 2012, please do so as soon as possible. Pledge cards should be mailed to Dick Kintz at the church: 301 4^th Ave, East, Polson, MT 59860. Boxes of offering envelopes are on a table in Fellowship Hall in case you haven’t picked up yours yet.

Presbyterian men’s breakfast, is the first Saturday in February, 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Dick Christopher always puts together a great program that all men are invited to join. It’s a great time of good food and fellowship with the men in our church and community.  Please come, you won’t be disappointed.               

Watch your Sunday bulletin for an announcement of a Lenten study series which will begin the week of Ash Wednesday.

Filling in for Pastor Dave in the pulpit Jan. 15 and 22, respectively, were Joanna Shelton Erb and Matt Seeley. Joanna, incidentally, is teaching a six-week course on “America’s Role in the World Economy” at the University of Montana’s Continuing Adult Studies program. Perhaps some of the politicians and candidates should listen in!

Bell choir director Marilyn Coffee reports that Bells will ring again on Sunday, Jan. 29. Songs will be “Canto de Esperanza and In the Bleak Midwinter. If interested in joining the bell choir, let Marilyn know. The chancel choir also welcomes new members. Singers are invited to let choir director Arlene Kintz know of their interest.

Our church provides the Community Dinner the second Friday of each month. Helping prepare and serve the Jan. 13 dinner were Dick Erb, Gen Clairmont, Sue McCormick, Marilyn Coffee, Marsha Anson, and Candy Yeater. Jane Bronson, who was in charge of organizing the dinner, said she appreciated the volunteers who brought salads and Jell-o. The next dinner will be Feb. 10. Volunteers are always needed for greeting, serving and cleanup. Helpers may sign up during the after-church coffee hour in Fellowship Hall or by notifying Jane Bronson.

The Board of Deacons wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to June Hommas for her excellent guidance as Chairperson for the year past.  Her enthusiasm and excellence were a delight and inspiration to us all.  Also, many thanks to outgoing Susan Stuber for her practical ideas, including her massive reorganization of the kitchen as well as making sure the shelves were stocked for coffee hours.

     Please welcome our new Chairperson, Jane Bronson, who will lend us her kindness and hands-on approach to caring for others.  Also joining the board are Marilyn Coffee, Keran Moderie, Tricia Campbell, and Candy Yeater.  Marilyn graciously agreed to a second term and Keran is filling in the remainder of Adell Hansen's term.  Thank you to all! It should be a wonderful year.

     Coffee hour hosts for February are Marilyn Coffee & Kim Sheesley.  Please don't forget to tell your deacons if there is anyone who needs some extra TLC.

Terms of Call approved

Also at the annual meeting, Pastor Dave Anson’s terms of call for 2012 were approved as follows:
Salary: $35,483.52, an increase of one percent.
Housing allowance: $14,000, which included the one percent of housing. He also received one percent in 2011 which was added to housing.
Car allowance: $6,500, 55 cents a mile, same as last year.
Pension: Fully funded an increase of $.75%, for a total increase of $1,005.46. It was fully funded in 2011, too.
Study leave: $600, same as last year, can accumulate over three years.
Vacation: 30 days including four Sundays, same as last year.
Total: $56,583.52, compared to $56,093.58 in 2011. Of the total, Dayton church will pay 24%.

Secretary Laurie Miller’s salary was increased 40 cents per hour to $11 per hour.

Here are a few Bible verses that help give direction in life: Memorize them …
read your Bible and find more:
Isaiah 43:5 – Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Mark 9:23 – Anything is possible if you have faith.
Matthew 7:7 – Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.
Jeremiah 19:13 – You will search for me, God declared, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. I will let you find me.

Finance and Stewardship

A financial review was conducted of the Polson Presbyterian Church. We reprint here the key portion of the report to the Session:
“A committee consisting of Don Patterson and Joanna Shelton Erb examined the financial statements and accounting records of the First Presbyterian Church of Polson for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010.

“The examination was made in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards. The examination included review, on a selective basis, [of] evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and accounting records. In connection with the examination, review of accounting records included reconciliation of accounts, confirmation of bank balances, and expense vouchers supporting disbursements. During the review, we found the financial and accounting records very well organized and easy to follow.”

Members of the congregation can rest assured that the funds they contribute to the church are in good hands. We thank our Financial Secretary, Dick Kintz, and our Treasurer, Kaye Stam, for their continued dedication in these important jobs.

The new church directory is being prepared. Sample copies are available in  theFellowship Hall. Be sure to check your names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail listings are correct. Several people are using only cell phones now and some e-mail addresses have been changed during the past year. If additions and/or changes are necessary please call the church office, 883-5807, or leave a note on the office desk or e-mail the church at office@polsonpresbyterian.org