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FIRST PRESS an online newsletter May, 2013
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What's in a kitchen?
For 25 years, the FPC kitchen has been the scene of many a meal preparation and many a celebratory reception. It has housed the aromas of many a Wednesday supper and has welcomed many a youth into its midst for Sunday evening gatherings that are now part and parcel of the church experience here. Like a dependable best friend, it has served us well. But over time, it has become less and less efficient as the congregation has grown larger around it. What was once a kitchen that ably met our needs is now a space in need of modernization for a new day and a new set of hungry (spiritually and physically!) seekers.
In the coming weeks, your Session will evaluate plans submitted to it for a complete renovation of our kitchen as part of the ongoing capital funds program, which concludes in 2015. While vastly increasing the size of the existing kitchen footprint would be ideal, inherent space limitations remain, but maximizing the efficiency of that space can still be accomplished. To that end, your leaders will be assessing options and moving forward on a plan to make our ability to prepare and serve food at church far more functional.
On Sunday, May 5, you're invited to an informal gathering of interested members to share your dreams for what a new kitchen should contain and how it should be designed. We'll gather at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall along with members of the Session to hear your ideas and requests.
While we can't do everything that everyone wants, we can try our best to produce a new kitchen that will meet the needs of the most people for years to come. I hope you'll join us.
Peace,
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Learning to Take Care of Ourselves
"So...what kind of conference was this? I've just been thinking you were at a spa or something." That's what my child asked when he picked me up at the Memphis airport after the CREDO conference last month. I quickly assured him that going away to spend a week with total strangers (ministers, at that) was not my idea of a spa experience. However, it was restful and renewing, informative and challenging, and despite the fact that I was sad to leave my new friends, I was glad to get back home.
I am very grateful for your prayers while I was away at the Presbyterian CREDO conference at Lake Logan Conference Center in Canton, North Carolina. I hope you felt my prayers for all of you as our church family celebrated the lives of Dot Hayward and Linda Partridge and confirmed our newest members. As much as I wanted to be with you, I knew from the very beginning that I was right where I needed to be.
Presbyterian CREDO is an opportunity for pastors serving congregations to imagine, and realize, new possibilities for growth and change in key areas of their lives - spiritual, vocational, health and financial. When I've attended other conferences with ministers, the conversation tended to center around the churches they served; the latest thing they were doing to attract new members; new curriculum they had tried; programs and problems within the church. CREDO was different. Ministers shared that they sometimes felt more like program directors than spiritual leaders; that tending to the business of the church was stressful on their family life and often made them feel disconnected to family, friends, even God; that sometimes it was hard to remember why they had felt called to ministry in the first place; and that they weren't doing a very good job of maintaining their own spiritual life which made it harder to hear what God was calling them or their congregations to become.
People in caring professions often forget to take care of themselves. I'm sure that's true in many professions. CREDO reminded me what it feels like to take care of myself. Early morning walks, participation in worship, eating healthy food, spending time in prayer, finding support within a new network of friends, time off and listening for God were all part of the week. Maintaining balance is essential for all of us to have healthy and productive lives, but sometimes even the pastor forgets.
This scripture passage from our closing worship summed the week up very well:
"Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth, but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us."
--Colossians 1:9-12
The Message
My prayer for all of us is that God will give us "wise minds and spirits attuned to his will...an understanding of the way God works...strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy."
Take care,
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Our Regular Worship Schedule Continues Through May 19
8:30 am - Worship with weekly communion
9:45 am - Sunday School for all ages
11:00 am - Worship with monthly communion each first Sunday
Mark Your Calendar!
Our Summer worship schedule begins Memorial Day Weekend, May 26
10:00 am - Worship with communion
11:00 am (June 2 only), potluck lunch in Fellowship Hall
No Sunday School (except Alton Bryant)
Nursery Weekly: 9:45-11:15
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Upcoming Events at FPC
Youth Sunday - May 5
Baccalaureate Sunday - May 19, 11:00 am
Pentecost Sunday - May 19
Sanctuary Flower Dates...
...are available for June 30 and the month of July.
If you would like to provide flowers, please contact
Margaret Fancher at fancherm@bellsouth.net or 234-1359.
Lectionary Texts for May
May 5 - Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 21:22 - 22:5; John 14:23-29 or
29 or John 5:1-9
May 12 - Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26
May 19 - Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:14-17 or
Acts 2:1-21; John 14:8-17 (25-27)
May 26 - Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15 |
Summary of the Stated Session Meeting - April 8, 2013
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The Session of First Presbyterian Church met on Monday, April 8, 2013, at 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Fourteen Elders were present.
Ministry Team reports are as follows:
1. Membership and Hospitality
* The next new member class will be held April 28, 2013, at 3:00 pm.
* Church softball will soon begin and a golf tournament for church members is planned for June 15, 2013, at the Ole Miss Golf Course.
2. Children's Christian Education
* Vacation Bible School is scheduled for June 24-28, 2013.
3. Worship
* Over 600 people attended Easter services and all individuals who helped make the services a success were thanked for their time and talents.
4. Mission
* A mission trip to Nashville is being planned for July 11-14, 2013, in conjunction with the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance project based at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
* Interfaith Compassion Ministry seeks two volunteers to work one Friday each month from 10-12 am. Anyone who would like to volunteer is asked to contact Leon McCullough.
* Howard Dudley will soon be ordained and he continues his work with college students and expanding the college student ministry.
5. Property
* Bids to repair the loose shingles on the education building will be obtained and insurance on the annex has been changed to Oxford Insurance Company, at an annual premium of $3,096, a significant savings from the old policy.
* Since no proposals to rent the annex have been received, Elder Bob Joiner will contact John Trezevant about the possibility of advertising the annex property for lease.
6. Finance
* The year to date financial summary through March 2013 was reviewed. It was noted that year to date income is $186,114.50, which is only slightly behind this time last year.
The following requests stood by acclamation:
* Baptism of Philip Arthur Smith, son of Jené and Art Smith, April 14, 2013, 11:00 am.
* Baptism of Lewis Jacobs Yurkow, son of Haley and Andrew Yurkow, April 21, 2013, 11:00 am.
* Baptism of Nashua Whitfield Bolen, son of Whitney and Patrick Bolen, April 28, 2013, 11:00 am.
* Baptism of Bailey Katherine Mize, daughter of Randall and Lee Mize, May 12, 2013, 11:00 am.
* Baptism of Kate Frances McPhail, daughter of Jenny and David McPhail, May 19, 2013, 11:00 am.
The following motion stood by acclamation:
* Motion to receive 12 confirmands into the life and membership of the church on April 14, 2013. Those approved for confirmation were: Baxter Brumfield Abernathy, Gracyn Lee Ashmore, Elizabeth Miller Elliott, Shelby Duke Goza, III, Spencer Rivers Huggins, Daniel Whitmire Kelly, Davis Campbell McCool, III, Cooper Anderson McIntosh, George Franklin Moak, Spencer Gregory Patton, Victoria Claire Stevens and James Maxwell Williams.
The following motions passed unanimously:
* Motion that Session approve the 2012 Annual Statistical Report. * Motion that Session approve a sub-committee of Session to investigate the possibility of a columbarium for First Presbyterian Church.
The next Stated Session meeting will be May 20, 2013, at 5:30 pm in the Session Room. |
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Adult Urban Mission Trip Scheduled July 11-14 in Nashville
You can be a part of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance efforts to help Nashville area residents recover from the May, 2010 floods that destroyed homes and lives by participating in the adult mission trip to Nashville July 11-14, 2013. Varied skills and skill levels are needed to help restore these homes. The cost to participate is $100 per person to cover food and lodging. For more information, or to register for the trip, contact Niles Lovelady at niles662@gmail.com or Ann Kelly at akellyfpc@bellsouth.net.
New Month for Helping at the Pantry!
On Tuesdays in June at the Pantry, volunteers are needed to stock and organize the shelves, unpack boxes, help unload supplies from the truck and package snack bags and fresh vegetables (generally in the morning but sometimes in the afternoons).
On Wednesdays and Thursdays in June - 8:30-11:00 a.m. - volunteers are needed to shop with the clients. Shopping lists will be available.
This is a wonderful mission of our church and we would love to have you anytime - even for an hour. Please contact Lele Gillespie at 662-801-5077 or lelegillespie@hotmail.com.
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Children's and PYF News
Congratulations to the 2013
Confirmation Class upon completion
of their studies April 14:
Baxter Brumfield Abernathy
Gracyn Lee Ashmore
Elizabeth Miller Elliott
Shelby Duke Goza, III
Spencer Rivers Huggins
Daniel Whitmire Kelly
Davis Campbell McCool, III
Cooper Anderson McIntosh
George Franklin Moak
Spencer Gregory Patton
Victoria Claire Stevens
James Maxwell Williams
Thanks also to class organizers and
leaders Mary Sloan Thompson
and Daniel Howie!
Youth Sunday is Sunday, May 5th this year and the Sr. high youth will be leading both services of worship. This is always a meaningful service that the youth work very hard on, so please come join us as our youngest members lead us in worship.
The youth conclude the programming year with their annual "Braveheart" adventure on Sunday, May 26th. This will be our final regularly planned PYF event for the 2012-2013 season. Don't forget that the dates for Montreat are June 9-15 and the mission trip dates are June 30th -July 6th. If you have any questions about these trips, feel free to contact me at the church office. It has been another amazing season serving the youth of this congregation and I can't wait to see all the new faces again next year! 
On Sunday, May 19, our graduating Seniors will be recognized during the annual Baccalaureate service at 11:00 am. They are: Baxter Elliott William Elliott Harleigh Huggins Miles Morgan Sage Morgan Lark Lindley Mary Michael Morrison Congratulations to all and best of luck in the future! 
VBS dates have been set for June 24-28th. Registration is now open! The link to register for this year's VBS program is available on our church website or by clicking here. If you would like to assist with VBS this summer, please contact Daniel Howie. Adult Sunday School Continues Through May 19 Adult Bible Study - Conference Room 101, Sanctuary Building, led by Hale Freeland. The class is using the book The Questions of Jesus by John Dear to illuminate their study of scripture. Alton Bryant Class - Fellowship Hall Parlor, led by Nolan Waller. The class uses The Present Word curriculum, and is studying faith through the lens of the early church using selected texts from Hebrews and the Acts of the Apostles. (class continues thru summer) Men's Bible Class - Session Room, Sanctuary Building, 2nd floor, led by Max Williams is also studying The Present Word curriculum. Men's Bible Class II - Conference Room 102, Sanctuary Building, led by Trey Byars and Goodloe Lewis. Members of the class share the teaching responsibilities and focus on a book of the Bible. 2, 3, 4's (for young adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s) - Beanland Room, Education Building, led by Ann Kelly, Melissa and Matthew Hall. They are using animate, a DVD study of seven basics of Christian beliefs. Wired Word - Fellowship Hall, led by John Semmes. Each week the class considers a news event from a Christian perspective (ends May 12). |
VIPs to Visit Strawberry Plains Audubon Center on May 17
Join the VIPs for a trip to the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center in Holly Springs on Friday, May 17 for this year's native plant sale. Experts will be available to answer plant, garden and wildlife questions. Plants and yard art will be on sale, rain or shine! Only cash and checks are accepted and you will need to bring your own shopping bags for your purchases. The group will leave the church at 9:00 am, attend the sale and eat a Dutch treat lunch at a local restaurant in Holly Springs before returning to the church mid-afternoon. Watch your mail and the Sunday bulletin for more information. Contact the church office to reserve your spot on the bus.
Attention All Golfers!
The FPC Membership and Hospitality Ministry Team has tentative plans for a golf outing on Saturday, June 15. This first annual golf outing for our church will focus on fun and fellowship for all. If you are a golfer and are interested in participating in this event, please call the church office or email Ann Kelly at akellyfpc@bellsouth.net. If enough people show interest by May 15, we will put it on the calendar. Call today if you are interested!
Circles will meet in May as follows:
Alma Shaw Circle will meet Tuesday, May 21 at 9:45 am, Pat Atkinson, 11005 Covington Way.
Barbara Conlee Mize Circle will meet Tuesday, May 14 at 6:00 pm, location TBD.
Carroll Barr Circle will meet Tuesday, May 21, Kay Croom, 1509 Smallwood Drive, time TBD.
Esther Ethridge Circle will meet Thursday, May 16 at 12 noon in Fellowship
Hall.
Marjorie Lewis Circle will met Monday, May 20 at 2:30 pm in Fellowship Hall.
Gerry Duvall Circle will meet Tuesday, May 21 at 12 noon in Fellowship Hall.
Lula Gregory Circle will meet Tuesday, May 21 at 9:45 am, Glynna McKendree, 112 Quail Creek Drive.
PW Coordinating Council will meet Thursday, May 9 at 6:00 pm, Dororth Lou Aldridge, 132 Lakeway Drive.
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 News from the Pews
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We extend sympathy to:
The family of Keith Hayward, whose mother, "Dot" Hayward, died April 5, 2013 in Oxford, MS.
The family of Linda Partridge, who died April 8, 2013 in Oxford, MS.
Wendy Carmean, whose sister, Lesley Chambers, died April 18, 2013 in Denver. CO.
We extend congratulations to:
Mary and Sam Haskell, whose grandson, Samuel B. Haskell, V, was born April 19, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA.
Caroline Gillespie and Frances Sullivan-Gonzalez, who were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Ole Miss last month.
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Troop 45 News
Three weeks ago, approximately thirty scouts from Troop 45 attended two different Yocona Area Council Camporees, one at Camp Toby Tubby in Oxford and one at Bay Springs reservoir on the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway.
At Bay Springs, the scouts joined approximately 80 other scouts from north Mississippi. A 10-event competition between the troops was held over a 4-mile long wilderness course. Events included first aid, fire building, tomahawk throwing, water rescue, rope climbing, etc. Troop 45 won the blue ribbon in the competition as well as special recognition for "Leave No Trace" environmental preservation. Congratulations, scouts!
At Toby Tubby, the scouts joined approximately 40 other area scouts and participated in events to promote team building and basic outdoor skills and participated in the dedication of the new Bob Dunlap Pavilion just constructed on the property. All scouts had a wonderful time and enjoyed the outdoors.
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Memorials and Honoraria
~ with gratitude for contributions to First Presbyterian Church ~
In Memory of:
"Dot" Hayward
Bobbie & Syd Shaw
Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Kirk
Pamela & Cullen Reeves, Jr.
Bettye & James Butler
Ruthann Ray & Rex Deloach
Mr. & Mrs. Mel Chrestman
Dewey Hickman and Family
Kay & Larry Tyler
Carol & Dennis Craig
Marcia & John Mixon
Nancy & Bob McGuire
Linda Partridge
June & Duke Goza
Louise & Morris Sneed
Bettye & James Butler
Kathryn M. Rucker
Ruthann Ray & Rex Deloach
Linda & Lent Thomas
Dewey Hickman & Family
Gail & Richard Hercules
Sally & Michael Featherstone
Kay & Larry Tyler
Martha Jackson
Julia & Robert Aubrey
Anne & Robert Gowdy
Mary & Walter Matthews
Beryl & Andrew Fox
Lynda & Joe Huggins
Mr. & Mrs. Tommy Marshall
Tricia & Marc Showalter
Anne Percy
Darri & Keith Mansel
Elizabeth Bollman Galloway
Adalene & Ben Pettis
Anne & Robert Gowdy
June & Duke Goza
Phyllis Pace
J. J. Jones
Darri & Keith Mansel
Jackie Houston
Adalene & Ben Pettis
Anne & Robert Gowdy
Tim Crawford
Anne & Robert Gowdy
In Honor of:
Al Ling
Lydia & Andrew Moak |
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May Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays
1 - Debbie Dykes
2 - Olivia Williams
4 - Hassell Wilkinson, Jr., Lucy Bartlett, Stuart Simpson
5 - Mary Michael Morrison, Scott Manley
6 - Ellen Everett, Lolly Pilkington, Alisa Elliott, Stephanie Coghlan, Mack Schuesselin
8 - Roger Kuhnle, Bill Mayo, Nolton Rawl
10 - Mary Jack Mullen, Evelyn Carmean, Jane Reeves Carmean, Pat Atkinson, Christopher Rousseau
11 - Jane Lyle Byars, Blair Hobbs
12 - Harriman Abernathy
14 - Case Embry
15 - Lewis Smith, David Robinson
17 - Gabrielle Chiniche, Ashley Johnson
18 - Lynda Huggins
19 - Anna Claire Franklin, Jennifer Flechas, Matt Simpson
21 - Kathy Neff, Kathryn Grace Burton
22 - Beth Ann Fennelly, Mary Shields Craft
24 - Linda Jennings, Barbara Robinson
25 - Lauren Goodwiller
26 - Allen Elliott, Jeff Butler
27 - Harrison Atkinson, Alan Eads, Betsy Spencer, Kevin Christian
28 - Madison Hartwell
29 - Christopher Newman
30 - Martha Elkins, Duval Flautt, Chauncey Davis-Mauney, Paul Hester
31 - Alan Kuhnle, Walker Atkinson, Shae Orrell, Lilly Catherine Bass, Bill Webb
Anniversaries
3 - Amanda & Brian Hyneman
8 - Diane & Dick Scruggs
9 - Anne & Will Rogers
10 - Jacquelyn & Robert Gage
12 - Tina and Tony Montgomery
16 - Jennifer & Jaime Flechas
19 - Martha & Lucius Brock
21 - Chris & Trey Cobb, Melba & Bill Bowlin
23 - Carlisle & Billy Wood
24 - Shelley & Tommy Cribbs, Beth Ann Fennelly & Tom Franklin
28 - Nancy & Don Giles, Sharon & Al Fenger, June & Duke Goza
29 - Stephanie & Ken Coghlan, Randall & Lee Mize, Beth and Bobby Kennedy
30 - Teresa & David Flautt, Molly & Griffin Tanner
31 - Anne & Robert Gowdy
A special "Happy Birthday" to Martha Elkins, FPC's oldest member, who turns 98 this month!
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First Dates
The Men's Breakfast Group meets Tuesdays at 6:45 am.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet Monday, May 6 at 1:00 pm in Conference Room 101.
The Diaconate will meet Tuesday, May 7 at 5:45 pm.
Piecemakers meet Wednesdays at 9:00 am and Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 pm in Fellowship Hall.
The Session will meet Monday, May 20, at 5:30 pm in the Session Room.
The Book Club will meet Tuesday, May 14 at 1:30 pm in Conference Room 101. This month's book is "Walking Across Egypt," by Clyde Edgerton.
The Membership and Hospitality Ministry team will meet Tuesday, May 28 at 5:30 pm.
The Grief Support Group will meet Tuesday, May 28 at 10:00 am at the home of Fannie Elliott. |
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Your Church Staff
Ministers
The Congregation
Pastor
John M. Semmes
jsemmesfpc@bellsouth.net
513-3363
Associate Pastor
Ann H. Kelly
akellyfpc@bellsouth.net
816-8542
Parish Associate
David R. Freeman
dfreemanfpc@bellsouth.net
236-2507
Music Director/Organist
Joseph W. Garrison
jgarrisonfpc@bellsouth.net
234-3552
Director of Children's
Christian Education
Daniel S. Howie
dhowiefpc@bellsouth.net
832-0020
Office Manager
Frances Saralvarez
fsaralvarezfpc@bellsouth.net
Secretaries
Suzan Clark
sclarkfpc@bellsouth.net
Carnice Woods
cwoodsfpc@bellsouth.net
Property Manager
Wade Simpson
wsimpsonfpc@bellsouth.net
Nursery Coordinator
Diane Lindley
dlindleyfpc@bellsouth.net
236-1624
The Session
CLASS of 2013
Jon Crawford, Cheryl Hayward, Martha Kelley,
Ben Pettis, Ruthann Ray
CLASS of 2014
Jay Chain, Mary Haskell, Bob Joiner,
Al Ling, Jennifer Watts
CLASS OF 2015
David Flautt, Jr., Carole Haney, Niles Lovelady,
Kathy Neff, Jennifer Williams
The Diaconate
CLASS of 2013
Fannie Elliott, Lele Gillespie, Ferriday McClatchy,
Tad Wilkes, Monte Wood
CLASS OF 2014
Winn Hutchcraft, Scott Paul Manley,
Jennifer Parker, Kay Tyler, Billy Wood
CLASS OF 2015
Carmille Hovious, Margie McLeod, Lee Mullen,
Shae Orrell, Chuck Sherman |
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