Do you have some news to submit? We want to hear from you! Contact Dorothy Molaskey

at 765-2596, or email at molaskey@tctwest.net by March 25. Send us your favorite religious

humor, inspirational messages, family news, thoughts about our churches' missions, and announcements of coming events we may not have heard about.

7

God created the heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives. Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts, and Satan said, ''You want chocolate with that?" And Man Said, ''Yes!'' and Woman said, "And as long as you're at it, add some sprinkles'" And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled. And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14. So God said, ''try my fresh green salad," and Satan presented Thousand Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast. God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them." Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter, and Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof. God then created a light, fluffy white cake, name it "Angel Food Cake," and said, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food." God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds. Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds. God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then Satan said, ''You want fries with that?" And Man replied, ''Yes! And super size them!" And Satan said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest. God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

·

FATHER ABBOT WOULD LIKE A WORD WITH YOU, BROTHER VALENTINE

from 'The Courier" Newsletter sent to us by Bob Bentley

·

LENT WOURLD BE A GREAT TIME FOR YOU TO RENOUNCE YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN SHOPPERS WITHOUT BORDERS

from Jayful Noiseletter.com ©Ed Sullivan Reprinted with permission

.

February News Letter

Be sure to check out our websites, contact us by email or phone :

www.shellcommunitychurch.com email: shellchurch@tctwest.net

www.greybullpres.com email: firstpresby@tctwest.net

Preaching Texts and Topics for February-March

Beginning of the season of Lent, 40 days plus Sundays leading up to Easter Sunday, March 23. During Lent, Pastor Becky’s messages will follow the theme “Here Comes Jesus!” Each week we will look at someone who encountered Jesus, and experienced new life

Feb. 17 Nicodemus, John 3:1-17

Feb. 24 Pastor Becky on study leave to Richmond , Elder Jerry Ewen preaching both services

Mar. 2 Communion both services; Jairus and his daughter, Matthew 9:18 -26

Mar. 9 Lazarus, Mary and Martha, John 11:1-45

Mar. 16 Palm Sunday; the road to the cross through the eyes of Peter

Maundy Thursday Communion, March 20, 7 p.m. Shell

Good Friday Service, March 21, 7 p.m. Greybull

Mar. 23 Easter Sunday; Shell presents musical, “The Old Rugged Cross Made the Difference” the Resurrection through the eyes of Mary Magdalene.

thank you to…

• All who helped X-Team with Souperbowl Sunday soup lunch. Donations will be sent to the shelter in Sheridan to help with food served there.

• Snow shovel operators during our big storm: Kay Mattis, Patsy King, Kathy Smith, and others that secretly came in and helped!

• All who helped and participated in the baby shower for the Vicencios. Many thanks to you all from Tabi, Juan and baby Vanessa.

• Betty and John Koller and Kay Mattis who took down all the Christmas decorations and redecorated for Valentine’s Day.

Songbooks are in the works for both Shell and Greybull churches. They would contain praise songs, all the songs from the photocopied set “Favorite Hymns” and some seasonal songs that are not in the hymnal. If you have a song that you would like to see included in these songbooks, please email revbecky@tctwest.net, by Mar. 1st. We have permission from CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing Inc.) to reproduce many songs, and a lot of the favorite hymns are no longer under copyright restriction. The songbooks will have both melody line and words, and a piano version of each song will be included in a notebook for piano/organ.

Greybull First Pres. Centennial Update

☺ A pictorial directory has been approved by Session, watch for details later in Feb. You will be able to have your picture taken at church (or at home if you are homebound), or you may submit a picture which will be scanned and returned. The directory will include addresses, phone, birthdays and email as well. A donation of $5 is asked from each family to defray costs and you will get copies of your pictures as well.

☺ We are looking for what is described in a news article as a “book about the history of First Presbyterian Church” which was supposed to be published for the Golden Anniversary in 1958. Also any other materials from that celebration.

☺ Still need pictures, stories, old bulletins, news articles etc.

If you would like to be part of planning the events for the Centennial weekend, July 5-6, 2008 , call Kay Mattis, 765-9667.

Shell News

Shell Community Church will also be putting together a pictorial directory of members and friends of the church with pictures either taken at church or submitted by people themselves, addresses, phone, email and birthdays. Watch for more details in early March.

Kathy Ewen is organizing musicians for the Easter cantata , “The Old Rugged Cross Made the Difference,” to be sung during worship March 23. If you would like to join the choir and be notified about rehearsals, call Kathy 765-2697 .

The Shell Session recently established a Memorial Program , and will be accepting donations, working with donors and identifying special projects in the church that will honor loved ones. Recent memorials received include all those honored by a pew Bible donation, and memorials honoring Ken Jones (Bibles and library bookcase) and Irene Howe (to be determined). We are blessed by the memory of the Saints of God!

Current Adult Education Opportunities:

The Beatitudes, led by Jerry Ewen, Wed. 7 p.m. at Shell Church open to all, Call Jerry for the date that this will resume, 765-2697

“Get Acquainted With Your Bible” led by Pastor Becky ; Wed. 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Greybull First Pres.

Help Needed!

Volunteer Librarian Both Shell and Greybull are in the process of establishing church libraries. Help needed with putting in envelopes and cards, shelving books and checking them in when returned. Work is on your own schedule, probably will take several hours at the beginning and then just a short time every week or so to handle returns and new books/videos. Call Linda Close, 765-2802 or Dorothy Molaskey, 765-2596 if you would like to know more.

Volunteer Custodian There are spaces on the signup list for those who would be willing to clean the church for a month. Sign up today!

VBS Planning Team What will our summer program for children and teens look like this year? Last year we had almost 50 children and young teens involved in the Shell and Greybull VBS programs. There are lots more kids out there that we haven’t even touched yet! Help plan VBS and other summer events, contact Pastor Becky 765-4449.

From the Greybull Deacons: New officers were elected recently: Moderator Claudia Trumbull, Secretary Deb Coronado, and Treasurer Betty Koller. The Deacons want to remind everyone that the last Sunday of each month is a special Deacons’ Offering which helps with their work caring for church members and beyond. The Deacons also provided the cake celebrating our Centennial Birthday on Jan. 27th. If you know of someone in need of a little TLC, contact any of the deacons or the church officer 765-2208.

Greybull and Shell walking teams

Walking to Mazatlan ( for the Greybull Parks and Recreation winter walking promotional). These two teams, one each from Shell and Greybull churches, have each chosen to walk as far as (960 miles), and possibly on to Mazatlan (1200). No, they are not actually walking to Mexico , but they are counting their steps and logging them on pedometers. Teams participating will enjoy a Fiesta at the Center at the end of the six week "race." The Shell team have based their experience on Romans 6:4, "Walk in the newness of life", and call themselves the "New Life Walkers". Members of the team are Patty Tyrrell, Lee Leavitt, Sara Pittenger, Dan and Linda Close, and team captain Kathy Ewen, with Charlene Collingwood and Irene Spencer as alternates. The team from the Greybull Church will be known as the "Footprints", being inspired by the poem "Footprints in the Sand". Team members include Claudia and Brad Trumbull, Kathy Smith, Deb and Dave Coronado, and team captain Kay Mattis. Congrats to all these walkers who combine their steps to achieve their goal, and get healthier besides.

Shell walkers can go to the Shell Hall, M-W-F 8-10 a.m. where they can walk inside (no excuses due to snow and ice!) .

X-treme for Jesus Christ! Meets Wed. 3:30-5 p.m. at Greybull Church , cosponsored by Greybull and Shell. No meeting on any day when there is no school or early dismissal due to weather.

Remember to Recycle those aluminum cans to help with Heifer Project- They may be left behind church or in fellowship hall bins.

Read to Feed Begins Feb. 1 Children in X-Team will be asking friends and church family to pledge per book read between Feb. 1 and Mar. 19, collecting the money based on the results after Mar. 19th. This is a major fundraiser toward the water buffalo ($250) project for Heifer International. If you would like to pledge and haven’t been contacted by one of the X-Team, call Pastor Becky 765-4449. Several adults will also be helping in this project.

Per Capita Each PCUSA church is billed a set amount for its portion of the operations of their presbytery, synod and General Assembly. The Session of Greybull First Pres. invites members to consider a special gift to the church to offset this cost. Per capita is billed per member, not per family, so for every active member on the rolls as of Dec. 31, 2006 , we have been billed $34.39 for a total of $1,650.72. If you would like to help defray these costs, thus allowing the budget to be directed toward other program and mission work, please send or leave a check at the church with the memo “per capita.” Thank you to those who have already given this gift.

If you would like weekly donation envelopes, please contact Financial Secretary Norma Schulz 765-2397. We appreciate the sacrificial and generous giving of this congregation!

SESSION NEWS

Greybull Session met January 10 at 7:00 p.m.

• Approved November and December minutes, received treasurer's report and discussed financing of the lift, withdrawal of investment funds (see note with Treas. report)
• Approved relieving deacons of expense of lawn mowing and janitorial & kitchen supplies.
• Removed the name of Gene Schreiber from the roll at his request.
• Approved Pastor's request for study leave February 19 to 26.
• Voted to continue holding communion the first Sunday of each month, with special communion on Ash Wednesday, February 6, and Maundy Thursday, March 20.
• Approved Pastor's service of Communion at the Retirement center, Bonnie Bluejacket Nursing Home, and to shut-ins at home. with the assistance of an elder.
• Approved X-team's hosting of "Souperbowl Sunday" lunch after church on February 3, with the hunger program selected to receive funds collected to be at the discretion of the X-team members.
• Learned the initial meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes led by Dave Coronado is scheduled for February 15.
• Heard that installation of dry wall for the lift project is proceeding; discussed possibilities for raising funds for the lift project.
• Received Deacon's report, noting new officers (as listed under church officers, p.1) and noting plans for sale of potted grass plantings as fundraiser for Heifer Project.
• Discussed centennial planning, including approval of purchase of software to produce a church directory and plan to invite former pastors to participate in church services beginning May 1.
• Reelected church clerk, treasurer, and financial secretary.
• Approved preparation of statistical report by Clerk of Session.
• Elected Dave Mattis commissioner to February Presbytery.
• Waived examination of newly elected officers due to previous experience; Scott Mattis will present them to the congregation for installation.

SHELL NOTES

Shell Church had their Annual Congregational Meeting January 20^th at which Pastor Becky presented a slide show of the congregation and activities throughout the year. Linda Close was elected to act as the Financial Secretary, along with serving as the Clerk of Session.

Please note on your calendars that directly after the service on Sunday, February 17^th , there will be a short meeting to brainstorm remodeling ideas for the back room of the Shell Church . Bring any thoughts, ideas and proposals so we can be sure to get as much input as possible.

Do you have some news to submit? We want to hear from you! Contact Dorothy Molaskey at 765-2596, or email at molaskey@tctwest.net by March 25. Send us your favorite religious humor, inspirational messages, family news, thoughts about our churches' missions, and announcements of coming events we may not have heard about.