Dear First Pres, 

I have a couple of important things to let you know about.  The first is a reminder that World Vision’s Kisongo Trek is in our parking lot RIGHT NOW!  The Kisongo Trek is open for you and anyone to experience.  If you’ve ever wondered how your sponsorship dollars for a World Vision child are being used or if you’ve ever wondered how community development works in Africa this is the perfect experience for you.  And, if you’ve never wondered about those things or thought much about them, it’s also a perfect experience for you.  Of course, there is an opportunity to sponsor a child through World Vision at the end of the experience.  All the children being promoted for sponsor- ship while the Trek is in our parking lot are children from Swaziland.  We’re hoping to generate some renewed interest in the Mahlalini development project which was visited by some of our members in 2011.

I experienced the Kisongo Trek yesterday.  It was fantastic.  And, imagine my surprise when I noticed in the pictures and video a fellow Presbyterian from Seminary.  When you experience the Trek, you’ll have the opportunity to here from Dr. Moses Pulei. Moses was studying at Fuller Theological Seminary while I was there, we were involved together in the Presby- terian fellowship group.  He grew up in Africa as a sponsored World Vision child.  Look for his story on one of the video story monitors toward the end of the Trek.  Also, the Vaccaros chose to sponsor another World Vision child.  We're excited, especially Rebekah, to start sponsoring 7 year old Temacanca from Swaziland. I hope you'll also consider this.

The second thing I want to bring to your attention is a fun opportunity for you to participate in an important change we’re making to our church campus.  One of the things I noticed when I first arrived at our church is that the campus isn’t intuitive for newcomers.  It’s not clear, on a Sunday morning, where kids should go or where classes are meeting.  The Session had already been working on a plan to improve this on our campus, and we’re getting ready to take a few steps.

However, one thing that has become clear is that it is time to rename the Adult Lounge.  We use the Adult Lounge for several different kinds of activities: Session/Deacon meetings, Sunday School classes, prayer meetings, the Kisongo Trek pastors’ preview breakfast, etc.  And, in today’s world, the name Adult Lounge is … well … dated.  So, consider this an official announcement; we are changing the name of the Adult Lounge to _______.  We don’t know yet.  We’d like your help.  We are opening up a contest over the next few weeks to see who can come up with the perfect name for the room currently known as the Adult Lounge.

Please submit your idea via email tostaff@fpcfresno.org.  If we choose your idea, we’ll think of some special prize to award you.  Put on your creative thinking caps Church, and send us your best idea.  And, just in case you were thinking like me, the Session already rejected my suggestion – “The Next to the Sanctuary with Kitchen, Bathroom, Fireplace, Piano, and lots of Brick Room.”   Let the games begin.      

Blessings,