The Newsletter of the Kelso First Presbyterian Church

Published at 215 Academy Street, Kelso, Washington

Online Newsletter

 If you would like to receive a newsletter in the mail and are not on our current mailing list, please call or email our office and we would be happy to send you one.

PENTECOST NEWS 2011

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship…?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 8:35-39

From Pastor Hanna Peterson...

My father, Rev. Robin K. Peterson, went home to heaven on May 17^th.  He battled Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for 6 years.  He underwent a stem-cell transplant in January and died of complications with Graft vs. Host Disease as well as para-influenza III and pneumonia in both lungs.  He fought the good fight and did his best to overcome the scourge of cancer.  Even in his death, he desired to glorify God.  His last words to us were, “Tell the kids I love them.  Tell the church I love them…all to the glory of God!” 

As you all know, losing those you love is never easy.  We shake our fists at heaven and ask, “Why God?”  My father wasn’t a perfect man.  But he was a good man.  He loved Jesus with all his heart and dedicated his life to sharing Christ with all those he met.  He wanted nothing more than to share the hope and joy he had found in Christ with everyone, all over the world; in Africa, Latin America, Europe and the US.

This passage from Romans 8 was one of my father’s favorite Bible verses.  He loved the idea of not only surviving the difficulties we face on earth, but being more than a conqueror.  He called it “sur-thriving”.  My father did not survive his battle with cancer, but in many ways he “sur-thrived” it.  During his illness, he wrote blogs and touched thousands of people with his words of hope and comfort. 

And now he is with the Lord, hearing those words we all desire one day to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have run the race and received the prize of eternal life.”

I performed the burial service for my dad on May 27^th and my Uncle Tom’s Memorial Service on May 28^th.  It has been a busy and sad time for my family.  I will lead the Memorial for my father on Sunday, July 3^rd inCollege Place.  Please keep my family in your prayers through this difficult time of transition. 

Thank you,      

  Pastor Hanna

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

 Son Light Island

Monday, July 11^th – Friday, July 15^th

9:00 a.m. to noon

VBS this year will be fun in the Son!  Register your kiddos and their friends and sign up to help too!  Join us on our island adventure to “find the treasure” of God’s great love.

 Friday, July 15^th at 6pm, Family Celebration Luau!

Wed Night Program

MOMsters Summer Schedule

June 1             BBQ at church

17         Set-up for Rummage Sale 3:30 pm

18         Rummage Sale at Kelso Pres.  7am      

22         Picnic at LakeSacajawea (Martin’s Dock) 6pm

July 6   BBQ at church

10         Relay for Life Auction 4pm

11-15   Vacation Bible School 9am-noon

Aug 3   Dinner and a Movie 6pm at church

13-14    Relay for Life 10am Sat-10am Sun

17         Picnic at the Park (Martin’s Dock)

Sept 7  BBQ at Pastor Hanna’s house

       21 Wed Night Program begins at 6pm

Relay for Life Team

Our Wed Night MOMs group is heading up our Kelso Presbyterian Church Team for the Relay for Life August 13-14!  This event raises funds for cancer research and provides opportunity to remember those we have lost to cancer and celebrate those who have won the battle with this devastating disease.

Relay for Life Auction Sunday July 10th

Unable to join the team for walking but would still like to give your support in this fight against cancer?  July 10^th we have a Variety Auction at 4pm in Laurie Hall.  Come enjoy baked potato and buy dessert!

To join the team:  http://main.acsevents.org

Relay for LifeCowlitzCounty

Pastor Peterson team

FISH days for 2011 are:

July 14-15,

Sept 13-14,

Nov 29-30.

Thank you for feeding the hungry in our community.

Habitat for Humanity

Work days every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at 107 18^th Ave in Longview.

To recieve a copy of our Newsletter in the mail, please email office@kelsofpc.org.