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Samrat Kodavatikanti, son of Joseph Kodavatikanti (K Joseph), regularly sends me pictures and messages and I recently asked him for a more detailed update on their current situation. A little background: When I went to India in 2017 with the group from First Pres, K Joseph was still alive, and our trip was focused on the missions and projects of IERF particularly. Joseph died from covid in March of 2020, leaving Samrat as the head of the organization. Many of Samrat’s pictures show another organization name, Good News Ministry. So, I asked him the relationship between these organizations and what the current focus is. Here is his letter, I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to share the heart and vision behind our ministries in India, which serve some of the most vulnerable populations. In the year 2004 God has given me a vision for inmates, untouchables, blind children and children care homes. So, I started doing these ministries from 2004 [this is the ministry is named Good News Ministry] and IERF serves orphanage, school and church plantings. After my dad died, now I am in charge of both organizations and they have become one now. We still run the orphanage that offers shelter, food, bible teachings and emotional support to children who have lost their families. Our aim is to create a loving and secure home where they can feel valued and nurtured. We also manage a school that prioritizes inclusive education, ensuring that children from all backgrounds, including those from marginalized communities, have access to quality learning experiences. We are still conducting Pastors conferences once in a year to equip them proving valuable and advanced teachings of Christ. Our outreach to untouchables and leprosy-affected individuals focuses on breaking societal barriers and providing essential services, including healthcare. We strive to promote dignity and respect for these often-overlooked communities. On Average we build 2 churches in a year. It’s very hard getting support to build the churches. We need a church planting organization or a group who can support us doing the will of God. We assign a pastor for church and those church members will look after the pastor. I specially thank you for having the heart for us in showing Gods love. “A Good heart is better than all the heads in the world.” Thank you for your help and contributions to make a difference. Samrat In addition to the ministries mentioned, they have a school for blind, they did VBS this summer, they recently had a women’s retreat. Christians in India are under increasing persecution. India ranks at 11 on the World Watch List 2024, listing the countries where Christians face the most persecution for their faith … There has been no positive change in how religious minorities are treated in India; instead, persecution has escalated to new heights. Religious minorities are not safe in India. There is always a cloud of fear hovering around the minorities. In the past 10 years, Hindu extremists have openly threatened to eliminate Christianity and other minority religions in India. There have been open statements of hatred and threats against Christians. Pastors, leaders and other Christians have been killed and attacked brutally in broad daylight and the accused are allowed to go free, without any punishment. (source: https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/india-christians-persecution/ ) When I have asked Samrat about this, he agreed that the persecution has worsened, because the current president is Hindu and against Christianity, making it more difficult to show the love of Jesus. Samarat invites us to come. He said he would love to have us come every year. He is on Facebook and is happy to converse through messenger. Just search Samrat Kodavatikanti. Even without going to India, you can continue to pray for them and their ministry.

In 2 Corinthians 8: 1-7, Paul writes to the church of Corinth of how three very poor congregations in Macedonia collected money to give to the Jerusalem church who was in desperate need. Paul tells them that the Gentile churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, even though they were poor congregations and also suffering tremendously from a famine, gave above and beyond to help the Christians in Jerusalem. And what was so astonishing about the Macedonian churches was that upon hearing the difficulty of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, they urgently pleaded with Paul for the privilege of sharing what they had. The Christians in Macedonia exemplified what it means to engage in the grace of giving. When we talk about Christian giving and stewardship, what are the takeaways that we can appropriate for ourselves from this scripture text? What are the faith lessons that can help us as growing believers? I would suggest two takeaways, two faith lessons and I want to give credit to Mike Hays for his writings on this. * First, the Macedonian Christians gave themselves first to the Lord. We find this in verse 5. Without first submitting ourselves to the lordship of Jesus and possessing a desire to follow in his steps, we will never become a person with a joyous generous spirit and lifestyle. The goal is not to give of our resources, but to give ourselves, the totality of who we are and all that we have for the use of the Lord’s glory. Secondly, the joyous generosity of the Macedonians, was a work of divine grace. Hays again writes that “because of their understanding of Jesus’ grace demonstrated for them, they wanted to demonstrate that same grace in their relationship with others. As it was then, so it remains today, joyous generosity is a work of divine grace. We may very well be generous from time to time of our own accord, but without the Holy Spirit working in our life we will never become a person of joyous generosity.” ** This is a start, then, that in order to experience the grace of giving, we first give ourselves to the Lord, and then through the Holy Spirit, we are able to demonstrate grace to others. *Mike Hays, “A Recipe for Generosity: 2 Corinthians 8: 1-9,” https://www.brittonchurch.com/a-recipe-for-generosity-2-corinthians-81-9/ . **Hays.

My name is Alaina Quinn, and I am the new Children and Family Ministry Coordinator (CFMC). I want to thank you for welcoming me into your community and trusting me to help grow and nurture a love for the Lord within your youth. Since I can remember, I’ve always held a strong desire to help the youth. At six years old, I attended Awanas, where I was told the stories of the prophets night after night; Cain and Able gave up the best of their crops and herds, Noah gave up the world he knew and his pride in being humbled as his friends made fun of him and his family for building the ark, Job gave himself to God after everything had been taken from him. Abraham was asked to sacrifice many of his prized animals and, later, his only son! There were many more, but the main concept I took from these stories as a six-year-old was, “If I want to become a prophet of the Lord, spread the word of His good works, and help bring people to Him, I must be willing to give up the thing I love the most.” Growing up, I had a favorite stuffed animal. It was a little white moose with red antlers. So before I went to sleep one night, I laid down a pillow in the corner of my bed and put some flowers and sticks I had found outside around the edges. Then, in a ball of tears, I laid my dear, sweet Moosey down in the middle of this beautiful mess I had created, and I fought through my tears to pray, “God, please take my Moosey and make me into your prophet. I want to help show people how much you love them and what your love can do for them. Please take my Moosey, but please take good care of him, and turn me into someone who you can speak through to others. Amen.” And then I cried myself to sleep, knowing my beloved moose would be taken and gone by morning. Waking up the next morning, I quickly looked with glee to the end of my bed to see an empty nest of twigs, but I was sorely disappointed to find my toy still lying there. I thought to myself with the greatest sadness, “God must not want me as one of his prophets.” As I got older, the calling to help youth became more and more clear. In 2021, I took over my instructor's Karate class, and I now teach kids of all ages how to defend themselves through the works of our Savior, how to grow in the Lord's path, and how the Bible relates to karate and life in every aspect. I also started a non-profit to create more youth-based activities in Delta County last year and am working vigorously to get that off the ground and running. As the CFMC, my goal is to teach children how to have a relationship with Christ by learning about the Bible and creating strong bonds with their peers and mentors. Though I am a very busy woman, I take pride in this opportunity God has given me to reach out to the youth here, and I will do my Job with a prayer in my heart that the children will not hear my words, but the words of the Father as He speaks through me. John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Nearly everyone enjoys celebrations. So, on Sunday, September 15th, after the worship service, we will have our 2nd Annual All-Church Fall Kick-Off Event and Celebration. Everything starts right after the worship service. We celebrate because we want to affirm and give thanks that we are “learning to live God’s love in community.” This gathering will have food, fun, and fellowship for all ages. This year, the band that will be providing our music entertainment will be the all-female band Mama Lingua, based out of Paonia, Colorado. They are a known and well-loved band in the Western Slope, and we are delighted to have them as our featured band. You can find out more about them here: https://mamalinguamusic.com . This is a great event to invite your friends and neighbors. We will add to this fun with prizes! This celebration reminds us, in an enjoyable way, that as a body of Christ we are better together! If you are like me, you are wondering what happened to summer. It went by so fast! But let’s look forward, and let us say goodbye to summer and hello to fall. So, save this date and look for future announcements of what to bring. We are looking for help setting and cleaning up, so contact the church office (970.249.4732 or office@fpcmontrose.com) if you can help. Again, I encourage you to invite your friends and neighbors. Let us invest in some cool, smile-producing memories together! Warmly in Christ, Pastor Jesse

You may have been hearing about how Session has committed to three strategic goals for First Presbyterian Church – Montrose. One of the goals is to enhance our worship and one of the ways we decided to make that a reality was to hire Adele Creasey as our Worship Coordinator. I am pleased to present her to you: Adele Creasey loves to share the joy of music and hopes it inspires others in their walk with Jesus. Worship is central to her love of music. She was a worship leader in a local church for 15 years and has been a pianist in several other churches over the past 12 years. She also teaches piano, beginning guitar, and music exploration for younger children.  Her 32 years of experience as an elementary school educator is valuable when it comes to teaching. She loves playing for weddings, retreats, and special events.   One of her favorite musical experiences was playing at the True Grit in Ridgeway for the tourists. In addition, she has had the privilege of attending several piano retreats in Michigan and taking lessons from the best ragtime pianist in the country, Bob Milne. Adele lives in Cedaredge, CO, with her husband, James. They have seven grandchildren and enjoy spending time with their family. They also have a Border Collie Heeler and an Aussie Shepherd who love to run and play on their 15 acres nestled by the Grand Mesa.  Adele enjoys gardening, reading, photography, and journaling. She and her husband are also passionate about sharing the history of our nation through the “Patriot Academy.” Adele came to know Jesus at the age of 14 after a friend from “Youth for Christ” introduced her to the Lord. Part of her testimony involves being snowed in during a Wyoming blizzard. She loves to share Christ with others, so ask her to share the story. She is a follower of Christ. Her gifts of the Holy Spirit include hospitality, faith, prayer, teaching, and worship through music. She is very happy to be part of the staff at First Presbyterian Church. Please let her know what music inspires you in your walk with Jesus.

Beer, conversation, and God. Bryan Berghoef, pastor, writer, and theologian, calls these three words the “perfect little trifecta.” Early in Pastor Berghoef’s ministerial career, he and his wife started a different kind of faith community that, at the outset, was open to listening and learning from one another. What grew from this intentional approach was a hunger for depth and diversity that led them to discover other ways to think about God, other ways to experience worship, and other historic traditions within the broad swath of Christianity. Eventually, this small but growing faith community began to dream and think outside the box and wondered if this approach to listening and learning would have appeal beyond their own footprint. They wanted to engage the diverse population around them and were excited about the possibilities. What eventually was launched was an informal gathering of people meeting at a pub on a regular basis. They figured out that the likelihood of people checking them out at their space was less likely than the potential of meeting people where they were already and enthusiastically gathering. They called this ministry Pub Theology. As it turns out, the Gospels are full of stories of Jesus meeting people on their “turf.” Jesus and the wedding at Cana. Jesus and the woman at the well. Jesus and the fishermen by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus and Zacchaeus. I am pleased to announce that First Pres Montrose will launch its own Pub Theology, but we will call it Brewery Theology. We, too, want to engage the diverse and growing population that is unfolding in our community. We will meet every Thursday at 7 pm for eight consecutive weeks at Silver Basin Brewing (147 N. 1st Street). Our first meeting is Thursday, July 11th, and our last meeting will be Thursday, August 29th. The format could not be more simple: beer, conversation, and God. We want to be among the people of our community engaged in open and honest conversations about all the really important matters of life. We want to “set the table” in a way that values listening, invites a variety of perspectives, and is non-judgmental. So, I invite you to bring a friend, bring your questions, and pull up a chair. There is nothing to prepare. Be open and ready to have fascinating conversations with people from a variety of faiths and religious beliefs, life journeys, and philosophical viewpoints. My hope is that our conversations will be rich, interesting, and also a learning experience. My deep hope is that we will meet new friends along the way. Intrigued? Join us, but do bring a friend. Questions? Please contact me at jesse@fpcmontrose.com. Warmly in Christ, Jesse

Many years ago, a ruling elder taught me the difference between being nice and being kind. She served on the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery and was the chairperson of that committee. She had to deal with and navigate some sticky and hard situations involving pastors and congregants. Being nice would mean that one would avoid telling the truth in order not to offend a person or group or cut them some slack when an individual had previously been granted that grace. Being kind, on the other hand, is telling the truth and telling the truth unvarnished. It does not beat around the bush and instead invites people to be responsible for their actions and to accept the consequences. Do you in your life have friends or family members like that? Do you have fellow travelers in this adventure we call the Christian life who know you and know you well and that they know the difference between being nice and being kind to you? If you do, bless them greatly and do everything you can to keep them. They will speak truth to you whether you receive it well or not. They will speak truth to you at the cost of their friendship or relationship with you. They will speak truth to you when others around you will not. If you do not have friends or family members like that, cultivate and pursue them. Do everything you can to surround yourself with such people. They will serve you well, and your life as a Christ follower will be enriched and better for it. Warmly in Christ, Pastor Jesse

When you think of the word “counterculture,” what images pop into your mind? I suspect that many of you will think of the time in the 1960s and early 1970s, in which there was an upheaval in our social and political norms. The counterculture movement was a broad-ranging movement in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe that rejected conventional mores and traditional authorities and whose members variously advocated peace, love, social justice, and revolution.* You may be surprised to know that this counterculture movement had already been introduced over two thousand years ago. It was introduced by Jesus of Nazareth at the beginning of his preaching ministry when he taught on a mountainside (Matthew 5: 1) to a crowd of day laborers, poor farmers, and people on the margins. The writing team of The BibleProject has described his sermon in this way: Jesus delivered this sermon 2,000 years ago, and the implications of these words are still shockingly relevant and meaningful. Emphasizing humility, forgiveness, and generous care for our neighbors, Jesus encourages people to choose God’s way of love, which will eventually renew all of creation. He calls this restored world God’s Kingdom. This is a realm in which Heaven and Earth are inseparably combined, a place where life flourishes and is free from injustice, suffering, and death. [This] sermon contains some of the most rigorous ethical demands in the Bible. It has wild ideas like “blessed are the peacemakers,” “love your enemies,” and “pray for people who persecute you.” ** For our next sermon series, we are going to unpack what is now known as the Sermon on the Mount. As we drill down into these passages in the Gospel of Matthew, we will discover for ourselves the meaning and implications of what Jesus was saying. Starting on Sunday, May 12th, I will also be teaching a class on this subject at 8:30 a.m. in Classroom 7 at the church. I invite you to join us as we explore these radical teachings of Jesus. Warmly in Christ, Pastor Jesse * https://www.britannica.com/topic/1960s-counterculture ** https://bibleproject.com/articles/what-is-the-sermon-on-the-mount/

There is a story of a young boy who wanted to show his dad how good he was with a bow and arrow. So, he invited his dad to the side of their barn where he was practicing. When his dad arrived, he saw six arrows and six round targets which were in red. Each of the arrows was a bullseye, smack dab in the middle of each red target. His dad was very impressed and asked how he got so good since he knew that his son had just started using the bow and arrow a few days ago. “Oh, that was easy,” the boy replied. “I just shot the arrows on the side of the barn and then painted the red targets around each one!” Unlike the William Tell wannabe young boy, focusing on targeted outcomes or goals is not easy. In the life and ministry of First Presbyterian Church, the Session participated in a strategic planning retreat to help us think and plan for a way forward. We used the experience and skill of an outside facilitator who helped and guided us in this process. Here is an excerpt from her written summary of our time together: “Strategic planning is the process of connecting Point A to Point B. The vision for success is Point B, when the organization can say, “We’ve arrived.” Point A is the current assessment of the starting point. The mode of travel, what you will do, is the mission that moves you from Point A to Point B. How you will travel is characterized by the values chosen.” In this day-long strategic planning retreat, the Session arrived at three “critical success factors.” We are committed to marshaling resources and energy in these areas: community outreach, worship, and children’s ministry. One calendar year (March 31, 2025) is the timeline in which we hope to arrive at a “desired state of success.” As your Session, we wanted to communicate with you the roadmap we have set for ourselves. There will be more to come in keeping you up to date on the progress of our strategic plan. Please keep all of us in your prayers. Warmly in Christ, Jesse

Easter Sunday Scriptures: John 20: 10-18; Luke 24: 13-35; Matthew 28: 1-10 Hold your head high, Christ has risen. Rejoice and shout, Christ has come calling us home. Home to the heart of God, Home to God’s living presence, Home to God’s banquet feast. Hold your head high, Christ has risen. Death has been conquered, Christ has come calling us home. All that was broken has been made whole, All that was dislocated has been set right, All that was oppressed has been set free. Hold your head high, Christ has risen, Bringing God’s healing, Christ has come calling us home. Redemption is complete, God’s eternal world has begun, Love reigns overall, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Christ has risen calling us home. written by Christine Sine, and posted on Godspace

Scripture: Romans 8: 1-11 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you. Today's Meditation: Paul argues that there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ because we now have life through the Holy Spirit. We are free. The old standard expectation that was codified in the Old Testament could not and was not the means to free human beings from sin and death. In order to set all of humanity free and have life everlasting, God sent his own Son to be a sin offering, which sent in motion our pathway and approach to God as free people. Reflect: How does your freedom in Jesus Christ affect your attitude and approach to life? Prayer: Loving God, you initiated the real meaning of freedom. Because of Jesus and his life and death and resurrection, I am now free to live into the person you created me to be. May my life and service to you be always of gratitude to this gift. Amen. Jesse G. Mabanglo

Scripture: 1 Peter 1: 10 – 20 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. Be Holy 13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a] 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Today's Meditation: One phrase in these Bible verses jolted me to pay more attention to what I was reading. It was all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. (1 Peter 1: 12) Prophets of old, inspired by the Holy Spirit, foretold God’s people of their need for salvation, which would be fulfilled in Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection even though they would not see it with their own eyes. We have the blessed gift of knowing the true source of our redemption. We were dead to our sins, and now our forgiveness of those sins is complete through Jesus. Angels have not experienced the mercy of forgiveness. These heavenly beings have not been separated from God, with the exception of the fallen angel, Satan, and his cohorts. Throughout history, angels have been bending down, watching intently with curiosity to observe how God has been orchestrating his redemptive story with His people on earth. Let us be amazed at the inquisitiveness of the angels in their desire to watch God’s plan unfold for the salvation of his people, created in his image. Prayer: Wonderful Savior, Salvation is so precious. Give us thankful hearts each day because we are your children saved by grace. Encourage us to intently study your Word to draw ever closer to you, our Creator. Keep us in the palm of your hand. Amen Joyce Baker