“Serving the King” was the theme for the 2011 vacation Bible school in June. Coordinator Virginia Johnson inspired teachers Sandra Wyss, Mara Orr, Wendi Lemmon, Brenda Newcomb, Holly Harris, Fran McElhinney, Terri Hutcheson, and Kathy Baird through a week of teaching the gospel to 40 children. Others who helped were Chris Robb (crafts), Judy Baird (refreshments), Derreck Wallace and Dalton Shadle (recess and general assistants), and Jared Shadle (puppeteer).

The summer monthly psalm sing with the Washington, Iowa, RPC has been scheduled through September.

The Iowa Family Camp will be held Aug. 1–5. This year’s theme is, “Stumbling Under the Cross—Facing Disillusionment In Our Christian Journey,” with guest speaker Pastor Barry York.

The women’s Bible study group has completed studies on the Patriarchs and the book of Isaiah. They are currently studying The Life Ready Woman.

The congregation will have five college students attending classes this fall: Emily Pilling at Geneva College; Caleb Robb at Iowa State University’s school of veterinary science, Noah Robb and Jordan Hutcheson at Iowa State University, and Samantha McElhinney at the University of Northern Iowa. Samantha spent the summer studying in Nica, Chile, at the University of Tara Paca.

The congregation is grateful for the 18 godly men who have filled the pulpit throughout the past year. Pray that the church would be blessed with a full-time minister in the near future. In order to accommodate the schedules of visiting ministers, the Sabbath evening service has been changed to a weekly afternoon service.

The social committee served farewell meals for Joel and Stacy Weyrick, who moved to Indiana, and for Ginny Good, who moved to Wisconsin. They will be missed by the congregation. Other social dinners included a welcome to missionaries Hans and Gretchen Deutchman, the Christmas meal, the annual congregational meeting, and numerous meals between the Sabbath worship services. Joe and Kathy Baird hosted a New Year’s Eve game night in their new home.

The Lord took two congregants home with Him during the past year. Alvin Lambert passed away in August and Debbie Good went to be with the Lord in January. Please visit the congregation’s web site at www.sharonrpc.org

—Terri Hutcheson, correspondent