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First Presbyterian Church
PresbyNews
October, 2014
First Presbyterian Church
Fall Retreat
“Sabbath: A Day to Disconnect!”
South Carolina Inn at Montreat, NC
Friday, November 14 –
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Do you ever feel like you and/or your families are on a continuous roller coaster
that never stops? Do you ever feel “If I just had a little time to rest and think,
things would be better?” In our 24/7, twenty-first century world, life often feels
impossibly full, what with work demands, to-do lists, kid activities, chores, and
errands. The ideas of Sabbath-keeping seem quaint and impossible to accomplish.
If this is you – then why don’t you consider joining us for a weekend of rest and
study as we look at how we can disconnect from our hectic lives and spend time
learning how to set aside time for ourselves and our families.
Accommodations in the House: $85.00 per adult $45.00 per child (10 & under)
Accommodations in the Apartments (minimum of 2 adults in each apartment):
$90.00 per adult $45.00 per child Children 3 and under free. (No charge for
additional children after first two for House and Apartments) Registrations need to
be in with deposit by October 22nd. Please contact Mac if you are interested in
going.
Dear Friends:
October
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September was quite a month for all! Early on, Penny and I moved
into the manse and made it “home.” We are thankful for the
gracious welcome that awaited our arrival in Cheraw. We are
convinced that God has work for all of us to do together here in this
wonderful town. We are putting names with faces while learning
the patterns of fellowship and service that make FPC distinctive.
This move and embarkation upon a ministry with you is a blessing
to us; we pray it will be for you as well.
We all have commenced autumn activities: new schedules of work
and play even while the warmth of summer lingers, interspersed
with occasional cool nights and the promise of cooler days. This is a
welcome change for many – the promise of football weather to go
with the season. Plus the community’s jazz festival is coming!
There is so much to be thankful for in this community.
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And, of course, we are blessed with divine things, God’s love for us
being the crucial instance. This love comes to us in so many ways as
we go through our days and weeks. Each encounter is a call to let
the nature of Christ guide our words and decisions. In God’s
wisdom, our very being with one another furthers the divine plan as
we build up Christ’s being within ourselves as well as in our
neighbors. Each chance meeting holds the opening for a blessing.
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So, into October we go. Go with Christ and go well!
Grace and Peace!
Alan
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5:15
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8:30
12:00
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3:00
5:30
6:45
7:15
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10:00
11:00
5:15
MMO
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8:30 MMO
Fun Program
5:30 Curriculum Comm
Talent Night
6:00 Friendship Comm
Communion
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5:30 SM Supv.
Coffee/Fellowship
6:00 SM Cont. Ed.
Church School
22
8:30 MMO
Worship
3:00 Fun Program
Bells
5:30 BBQ Fundraiser
Youth
6:45 Prayer Meeting
MMO
7:15 Adult Choir
At Ease Deadline
26 9:30 Coffee/Fellowship
CE
10:00 Church School
Mission Comm. Outreach
11:00 Worship
At Ease
5:15 Bells
At Ease Committee
6:00 Youth
PWCT
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8:30 MMO
Stephen Ministry Supv.
12:00 News deadline
MMO
29 8:30 MMO
Fun Program
3:00 Fun Program
Friendship Meal
5:30 Friendship Meal
Adult Choir
6:45 Prayer Meeting
Coffee/Fellowship
7:15 Adult Choir
Church School
30 10:00 Newsletter Assy.
Worship
Bells
Youth
Deacons
MMO
Dates to note:
Session Packet Deadline October 8 – 6:45 prayer meeting
PW Fall Gathering
October 12 – 12:15 worship ministry
MMO
October 19 – 6:00 youth
Fun Program
Friendship Meal
Prayer Meeting
Adult Choir
Session
Coffee/Fellowship
Church School
Worship
Bells
October Birthdays
2-Joe Witherspoon; 3-Catherine Henderson, Emma Hamden, Avery
Dickson; 5-Susie Ingram; 6-John Long; 12-Janie Taylor, Chuck
Norman, Dan Tillman, III; 16-Julie Box; 17-Robert Angle; 23-Artha
Sompayrac; 24-Peggy Norman; 25-Brian Brown; 29-Mark Ingram;
30-Tammy Joyce
Pray ‘N Play Schedule
Oct. 5- Tracie Phillips and family
Oct. 12- Kelli Beck and family
Oct. 19- Christie McLeod and family
Oct. 26- Mary Jane and Katelyn Evans
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Congratulations to……
David & Shelley Morgan on the birth of their daughter, Ella
Louise Morgan. Ella was born Tuesday, September 23rd
weighing 8 lbs.
COOKBOOKS ARE ALMOST GONE!!!
If you haven't purchased a church cookbook yet, NOW is the
time!! We have only 9 copies in the church office.....$15 each. Need
a wedding, birthday or an early start on a Christmas gift....a church
cookbook is great for that!! Thanks for all your support in this
project.
One Call Now Continues
The Diaconate has entrusted the ongoing responsibility to send out
messages about church life to David Morgan. In the coming months,
if you have a message to send out through the OneCallNow system,
please contact David Morgan. His email is
mrmorgan_chs@me.com. His phone number is 843-3379231. Thank you David for agreeing to serve!
Meanwhile, if you are not signed up for this communication service,
please contact David about ways you can receive messages.
At Ease
At Ease will meet on October 7th at 12:00. Please join us for a time
of fellowship and a delicious meal.
Newsletter Deadline for November, 2014
Deadline for the November Edition of the PresbyNews will be
Monday, October 27, 2014.
Fall Gathering
Tuesday, October 14, 6:00 p.m.
The Presbyterian Women will meet on Tuesday, October 14th at 6:00
p.m. in the Fellowship Building for the annual Fall Gathering. Please
join them for some delicious soup and dessert. All women of the
church are invited to attend.
Acolytes
October 5 Deacons to light
October 12 Elizabeth Hydrick and Maylen Harris
October 19 Andy Beck and Caden Cauthen
October 26 Alice McLeod and Emily Beck
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Sympathy to…..
James Kendall and his family upon the death of his brother,
Rufus Bowen of Cheraw SC. Mr. Bowen died September 25,
2014;
Dinah Funderburk and her family upon the death of her
mother, Virginia Johns of Wallace, SC. Mrs. Johns died
September 27, 2014.
September Session Highlights
Our new Interim Pastor, Rev. Dr. Alan Arnold, served as
Moderator.
All Sunday School teachers were approved for 2014-15.
This year’s Stewardship Theme is “Fearless Generosity” and a
letter will be sent to the congregation discussing the plans for
Stewardship Season.
A letter and sign up form for the fall Church Retreat in Montreat
on November 14th-16th will be sent to the congregation.
Mr. Avery Dickson will serve as our church’s elder commissioner
at the stated meeting of the Presbytery of New Harmony on
October 14th.
Information on the Presbytery of New Harmony’s Middle School
Retreat to be held at Camp Pee Dee on November 7th-9th was
received. It was noted that five youth from our church, along with
youth from other churches in the presbytery, have participated in
the planning for this retreat.
The Interim Pastor Search Committee was dissolved and
commended on the excellence of its work. This committee will
continue to serve as a support team for our Interim Pastor.
Habitat for Humanity
FPC members are volunteering again at a Habitat House in Pageland
on Saturday, November 8th. We will leave the church around 8:00
am and are scheduled to paint doors and trim work. If you are
interested in participating, please fill out the sign-up sheet in front of
the Church's office.
Save the Date
December 14, 2014 - 2-4 p.m. Christmas Goodies at the Manse
PRESBYTERY MIDDLE SCHOOL RETREAT
CAMP PEE DEE – NOVEMBER 7-9, 2014
The Presbytery is
planning a Middle
School Retreat at Camp Pee Dee for the weekend of November 7
– 9, 2014. The cost will be $40.00 per person. The church will
be paying the other half for the kids. The theme is: Who Are
You: I Am a Child of God. Mac needs all registrations in to
him by Sunday, October 12th.
We would like to let everyone know that we have 5 of our High
School Youth who are on the Presbytery Planning Team for this
event. They are: Katelyn Evans, Jackson Goddard, Michael
Hammer, Jack McLeod, and Sallie McLeod. They are serving
with other High School Youth from around the Presbytery to
make this Retreat Event possible.
PRESCHOOL – 5TH GRADE TEACHING SCHEDULE
OCTOBER, 2014
PRESCHOOL – 1ST GRADE
October 5th
Kelli Beck
October 12th
Barbara Dickson
th
October 19
Karen Tillman
October 26th
Heather Tucker
2ND GRADE – 5TH GRADE
October 5th
Mary Jane Evans
October 12th
Christie McLeod
th
October 19
Gina Goddard
October 26th
Tammy Joyce
Prayer List
Iraqi and Afghanistan situations, Kaitlyn and François Gatimu (Louise
Carpenter’s great niece and husband), April Chappell (granddaughter of
Teresa Adams’ uncle), Stephen Ministry, Colena Richardson, Rebie
Harrison (Sue Cutchin’s mother), Kenneth Nunn (grandson of Teresa
Adams’ friend), Elizabeth Goins (relative of Kim Brabham), Gladys
Sweeney (community), Pat Chavis (community), Joe Marsh (community),
Lynn Tweed (community), Bhree Barrett (Louise Carpenter’s great niece),
Steve Childers, Nancy Walters (Sloan Baker’s sister), Frank Andrews
(community), Gerry Rogers, Brad Hurley (Peggy Stewart’s brother-inlaw), Rev. Pete Cooper (former rector of St. David’s), Watt Baker, Helen
Hamden, Frank Chipman (former member), Jim Sellers (Peggy Norman’s
uncle), Woodie Hamden, Tina Hodge (Claudia Brown’s neice), Edna Moot
(wife of Libby Knight’s friend), Shirley Coker Haire (friend of Peggy
Norman’s sister), Rev. Stuart Nickles, Jim Powell (Sally Powell’s brotherin-law), Larry Gaddy, Charles Teal (community), Mike Shuler
(community), Rose Via (Tammy Joyce’s mother), Chad Hamden, Barbara
Anderson (community), Joey Moore, Ken Yates (husband of Teresa
Adams’ friend), Lynn Smith, David Brock (Shirley Brocks brother-in-law),
Lilly Hallock (grand-daughter of Buddy & Reba Brooks).
NEW PARLOR CLASS STUDY BEGINS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12TH
The Parlor Class will begin a new study on Sunday, October 12th
entitled Soul Keeping: Caring for The Most Important Part of
You by John Ortberg. The study is about how we can
rediscover our soul – which is the best connection to God that
we have – and why neglecting it can set us back spiritually.
This study will be six sessions and will consist of:
1. What is the Soul?
2. The Struggle of the Soul
3. What the Soul Needs
4. The Practice of Grace
5. The Practice of Gratitude
6. The Practice of Growth
We hope that you will join us on Sunday mornings in the Parlor
for this wonderful time of fellowship and study.
Nursing Home residents (away): Gloria Overstreet (Judy White’s mother),
Sybil Trulove (Shirley Huggins’ mother)
Residents at Presbyterian Communities
Ruth Leggett (Columbia), Betty Dickson (Florence – Avery’s mother)
FUN PROGRAM MEETING/REFRESHMENT SCHEDULE
OCTOBER, 2014
Wednesday, October 1st
MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH SCHEDULE
FOR OCTOBER, 2014
Sunday, October 5th
Sunday, October 12th
Sunday, October 19th
Sunday, October 26th
6:00 pm
Regular Meeting – John
Anderson has program on his time in
South Africa
6:00 pm
Regular Meeting – Boy
Scouts on Biking Trip to Virginia
Fun Activity – The Time and place
will be announced later
6:00 pm
Regular Meeting – Jack
McLeod and Jacob Goddard have the
program
3:00 pm – Refreshments –
Tracie Phillips
th
Wednesday, October 8
3:00 pm – Refreshments –
Tracie Phillips
Sunday, October 12th – Practice with Tim – 9:45 am
Wednesday, October 15th – NO MEETING – Mac on Continuing
Ed./Lindsay – Jazz Festival
Sunday, October 19th – Kids will sing in Worship – Practice in
Sanctuary 9:30 am
Wednesday, October 22nd 3:00 pm – Refreshments –
Robert & Penny Angle
th
Wednesday, October 29 3:00 pm – Refreshments –
Robert & Penny Angle
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS WITH ALL OF THESE DATES
AND TIMES.
FELLOWSHIP CLASS WILL BEGIN A NEW STUDY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12TH
NEWSLETTER TO GO ONLINE
The Fellowship Class will finish up their study on Forgiveness by
Adam Hamilton this coming Sunday and will begin a new study on
Sunday, October 12th by Laura Mendenhall, entitled: Enough, God’s
Blessings in Abundance.
Beginning with our November, 2014 Newsletter, we will suspend
mailing out hard copies to every household. The reason for this is
because the Post Office will stop taking bulk mailings from
organizations. Therefore, due to this change, we will begin putting
our newsletter online for all those with access to a computer.
Most of us think we do not have enough – of just about everything!
We live every day with this reality. Yet, this study will challenge us
to rethink this impulse. We will be led to look at what is really most
important to have in life – God’s blessings, which are in abundance.
The class will explore dimensions of what it means to have enough.
The myth that more is better is not a guide to live by! Instead we
should be guided by the knowledge that God’s blessings are truly
enough for us.
For those members and friends who do not have a computer in their
home (which some of our older adults do not have), we will mail a
newsletter to your home by regular mail. The church office needs to
know those adults who do not have the capability to view the
newsletter online. Please call the church office and let Carolyn or
Mac know so we can be sure that you will receive a newsletter. We
hope to mail those Newsletters so those who do not have computer
capabilities will have it at their home by the first of each month.
Please join us on Sunday mornings in the Fellowship Building for
this time of study.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but we have no
choice according to the Post Office. If you have any questions or
concerns – please let Carolyn or Mac know. Thanks so much!
Stephen Ministry Upcoming Events
The Stephen Ministry of First Presbyterian Church will be getting
2015 off to an exciting start with the following events:
Shoes for Paws N Claws
Shoe collection is an on-going project for Paws N Claws. Bring them
to the church or call Shirley Brock at 537-4707 and arrange for her
to pick them up.
“A Taste of Stephen Ministry” – January 4, 2015
Stephen Ministry Book Club, beginning February 17, 2015
More information will be coming soon in the November and January
Newsletter and Sunday Bulletins.
Stephen Ministry provides Christian spiritual care to its members
and the community at large. Our trained Stephen Ministers will share
the love of Christ, one on one, to those in need of a confidential and
accepting presence by listening and walking with them on life’s
journey.
Upcoming Events
November 2 – Stewardship Dedication Sunday
November 9 – Guest Speaker, Elliott Smith (Thornwell)
November 23 – Community Thanksgiving Service
November 30 – Hanging of the Greens
First General Assembly Forum – John Calvin Presbyterian
On Saturday, September 13, the first of two General Assembly
Forums was held at John Calvin Presbyterian
Church. Approximately 40 persons attended. The forum was led
by the Presbytery of New Harmony Commissioners to the General
Assembly and Executive Presbytery/Stated Clerk, Bruce
Ford. The forum began with a presentation of General Assembly
information on four items: divestment, marriage, the good you
did not hear, and Presbyterianism and disagreement. The
information section was followed by a time for small group
discussions around tables, reporting back to the whole group,
and questions and answers.
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The following are highlights of points made concerning the four
items of General Assembly information
Divestment
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This was not divestment from Israel or a vote for Hamas,
or other terrorist organizations.
In 2012 the General Assembly chose to do positive
investment to promote the level of living in Palestine and
still maintains millions of dollars in investment in
companies that do business with Israel plus Israeli
companies.
The General Assembly has been working with the three
companies (Motorola, Caterpillar, and Hewlett Packard) for
several years about actions that violate human
rights. Many of these human rights violations have been
against Palestinian Christians, who have brought them to
the attention of the PCUSA.
Marriage
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There were two actions of the General Assembly. One
was an Authoritative Interpretation, which is an action
that becomes effective immediately. The other was to
Amend the Book of Order, which requires the concurring
vote of a majority of the presbyteries in the PCUSA.
The Authoritative Interpretation stated that, in states
where it is civically legal, pastors and session can (but are
not required to) perform and host marriage between
persons of the same sex. The Assembly Committee on
the Constitution originally advised that the Authoritative
Interpretation was in conflict with the Constitution (the
Book of Confessions and Book of Order). However, when
pressed in the Assembly, the Advisory Committee on the
Constitution determined the General Assembly could pass
the Authoritative Interpretation. It then passed.
A remedial case has been filed with the General Assembly
Permanent Judicial Commission contending that the advice
from the General Assembly Committee on the Constitution
was incorrect and that the Authoritative Interpretation is
in conflict with the Constitution of the PCUSA and should
be reversed. That case is pending.
The Amendment to the Book of Order Directory for
Worship, which would change the definition of marriage
from "a man and a woman" to "two persons," will be
voted on by the Presbyteries of the PCUSA. This vote will
take place in the Presbytery of New Harmony at its
February meeting. If it passes a majority of the
presbyteries, it will become the language of the Book of
Order and the Authoritative Interpretation will not be
needed.
Good News from the General Assembly
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Scope and depth of the business of the General Assembly
is overwhelming.
The process includes disagreement, reflection, and a
deepening of faith.
Ruling Elder Heath Rada's election as moderator brings a
hope for his long-time church experience and experience
as Director of the Red Cross can bring new direction to the
church.
The theme "Abounding Hope" was visible throughout the
week.
Our ecumenical work with members of other
denominations focused, not on what makes us different,
but our similarities.
Leaving and withholding are not the best options.
Young Adult Volunteers. This year more YAVs were
commissioned to service than in any other year of the
program.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
248 new worshipping communities have been established
and the PCUSA is ahead of the schedule for the 1001 new
worshipping communities initiative.
Presbyterianism and Disagreement
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One of the founding principles of the PCUSA is that "God
alone is Lord of the conscience." As long as we hold to
this principle, we will have faithful disagreement in the
church. It is part of who we are.
After the presentations, participants had the opportunity to speak
to the issues in table groups. From the reports back to the
plenary it was obvious that they felt free to voice their opinions
on the various subjects. The opinions varied, the tone was
cordial, and participants left with more information than they had
before the forum.
The second General Assembly Forum will be held October
6, 6-8 pm, at Celebration Presbyterian Church, 2300
Carolina Forest Blvd., Myrtle Beach.