Choice of: (Pollo) grilled spicy chicken, seasoned beef, or (Carnitas) slow roasted pork shoulder; soft corn tortillas, Spanish styled rice and black beans, Pico De Gallo, fresh toppings on the salad bar. Salsa and Chips. Green salad service. Dessert.

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September 25

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We hope you find this weekly newsletter informative on the many happenings at The First Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg.

We hope each day, you will learn the power of grace to transform lives, families and communities.

We invite you not only to worship with us on Sunday as we seek to learn more the glory, joy and Word of God, but also to serve with us around our city and around the world.

-The First Presbyterian Church of Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Grace Transforms
From Dr. Sean Michael Lucas, Senior Minister

My dear friends:

This coming Sunday night, Four Corners Cafe starts up for the school year. I know that I've mentioned this before, but you may not realize how important and innovative Four Corners is, how significant it is to the mission of our church and the advancement of the Kingdom.

For those of you who are new, Four Corners Cafe runs from mid-September through the end of April (with a break in December for Christmas programs). It is geared to four years old to fourth grade (fifth and sixth graders assist Mrs. Kathy with the youngers) and its aim is to expose our covenant children to the profound diversity of God's world, the deep needs of God's people, and the advancement of God's Kingdom through those who serve him around the world.

And so, you can understand how important this program is for the advancement of God's work. Our Mission to the World office in Atlanta estimates that over the next ten years, over 150 full-time PCA missionaries will be retiring. Men and women who responded to the call to missions in the 1980s (First Pres Jackson and Briarwood were major sending churches during this period) are now leaving the field; who will go to reach the nations with the Gospel? Four Corners Cafe is strategic in raising that question with our children.

But the program is extremely innovative in the way this happens. Kathy and her team choose various countries in the world where we have missions investment. Children learn about the country, taste some of their food, hear some of their language, but also find out about missionaries that we support who serve in those places. This creates a further bond so that our kids likely know our missionaries better than our adults do! In addition, our students learn that they have a responsibility for God's mission and that they don't have to wait until they're adults to do it--they can start participating now and preparing to go.

That's why it thrills my heart to hear our children want to be missionary doctors and nurses or church planters, to work with street children and to care for those who have no access to water. They are learning that these occupations build bridges for the Word ministry of the Gospel, the declaration that Jesus Christ is the only Way to God's presence and to the new world to come. I trust that you recognize the importance of all of this and are talking up Four Corners with your children. The Kingdom of God uses things like this in its advance.

In the grip of God's grace,

Sean

Who Is Peter?
From Debra Baird, Night Circle Leader

Simon Peter and his brother Andrew are some of the first to follow Jesus. They immediately leave their nets on the shore to become disciples. Jesus not only changes Simon's name but also his life - drastically. Peter's life demonstrates many acts of faith as well as many failures.

On Monday, Sept. 19, the Women's Ministry Night Circle will begin study on the Life of Peter. Please join us at 6pm in the Loft of Currie Hall as we look at Mark 1 & John 1 to see how Jesus calls Peter and changes his life.

4 Corners Cafe
From Kathy Young, Children's Ministry Director

4 Corners Caf� returns this Sunday evening during worship service. Children in the four year old through sixth grade classes are encouraged to be here as we kick off another exciting season of missions education.

Lessons & Carols Rehearsals
From Dr. Larry Smith, Sanctuary Choir Director

Lessons and Carols rehearsals begin Sunday night, September 18, 2016 at 7:15 pm in the choir room. Christmas singers please join us for this rehearsal. Come join us for great fellowship and Christian service through the beautiful Christmas anthems of Lessons and Carols.

The annual service of Lessons and Carols is Sunday night, December 11, 2016 at 6 pm.

2016 FPC Christmas Choir Rehearsal Schedule

Sunday, September 18 7:15-8:45 p.m.

Sunday, October 2 7:15-8:45 p.m.

Sunday, October 16 7:15-8:45 p.m.

Sunday, November 6 7:15-8:45 p.m.

Sunday, November 13 7:15-8:45 p.m.

Sunday, December 4 7:15-8:45 p.m.

Sunday, December 10 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon

Sunday, December 11 4:00 p.m. dress rehearsal/photo

6:00 p.m. Lessons & Carols Service

Bookclub
From Loleeta Rhett, Arts & Discipleship Coordinator

Opportunities abound for this fall! On Tuesday, September 20th, we will meet at noon in the parlor to discuss Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta (many have read this and asked for a discussion)! Laura Lee Peaster Nelson will be joining us for a little question/answer time, as the plantation house that is so prominent in this book was owned by her grand-grandmother. And if you want to know even more after our meeting, the author (Richard Grant) will be speaking at the downtown library at 6:00 p.m. on October 6th.

For October 24th, we will read Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. John Grisham says of this book, "Not since Atticus Finch has a fearless and committed lawyer made such a difference in the American South. Though larger than life, Atticus exists only in fiction. Bryan Stevenson, however, is very much alive and doing God's work fighting for the poor, the oppressed, the voiceless, the vulnerable, the outcast, and those with no hope. Just Mercy is his inspiring and powerful story." Again, an extra opportunity exists for this book - the author will speak at USM's Honors Forum on Tuesday, October at 18th at 6:30 p.m. in Bennett Auditorium. His topic will be American Injustice: Mercy, Humanity and Making a Difference.

And last (but CERTAINLY not least), we have chosen the delightful book, Right Ho, Jeeves for our November 15th meeting. Truly English humor at its finest.

So join us for the book discussions, the "field trips" or both! Please let Loleeta know if you are interested in hearing either of the authors speak - or if you have any questions.

Hope For Hattiesburg 5K - Online registration available

From Bobby Blass

Please mark your calendars to participate in the H4H "Run For Literacy" on October 15 at the Longleaf Trace Gateway at USM. Proceeds from this event will benefit the literacy program at Grace Christian Elementary School (HPSD).

See HopeForHattiesburg.org/run for more details including online or mail in registration
Please register early and help spread the word!
Business sponsors and event day volunteers are needed. Contact Bobby Blass at 770-315-2356 or rlblass@gmail.com

Missionaries in Focus

From Missions Committee

Steve and Marion Spencer serve at the African Bible College in Malawi where Steve is Academic Dean and Marion serves as campus hostess, events organizer and maintenance coordinator. They have served with ABC Malawi since 1989. In addition to the College they also have a Medical Clinic, an Aids ministry, a prison and an orphanage which they supervise, as well as the ABC Christian Academy, an international Christian School with over 200 students. They also have a new Television station which expands their radio ministries. Last year they had a visiting team from a California church which visited the prison, passed our soap and Bibles, build metal beds and provided mattresses; in another village they taught the Bible and did crafts with hundreds of children and showed the Jesus Film in a predominately Muslim area. You will remember that the southern part of Malawi had some 70,000 people displaced by flooding when they received a month's worth of rain in 24 hours. The College responded by sending the clinic's mobile medical team along with ABC staff and students distributed blankets, maize and water buckets to the flood victims, but much of the rest of the country was experiencing drought. So now, due to the drought they are are experiencing famine. Be praying for the Spencers and the people of Malawi who are suffering. Also be praying for the students who are starting another school year.

Pecans 2016
From Dr. Larry Smith, Sanctuary Choir Director

It's time to order pecans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. You may email your order to Dr. Smith at 2016pecans@gmail.com.

1 lb bags $11.25

3 lb bags $32.50

5 lb bags $53.00

DEADLINE: Monday, October 17, 2016

Thank You Note

The family of Robert M. Barlow would like to express their appreciation to the First Presbyterian Church family for all of their love, prayers, cards, visits, and expressions of sympathy extended to us during Robert's illness and passing. Please continue to pray for our family

With love and deep appreciation,

The family of Robert M. Barlow Jr.

Newborn

We congratulate Brandon & Allison McKenzie on the birth of their daughter, Tatum Elise McKenzie, who was born on Sunday, September 11, 2016, weighing 7 lbs 2 oz and measuring 19.5" long. Tatum is also welcomed by her sisters, Anya (6) and Chloe (4).

Upcoming Birthdays

September 18 - Knox Baird, Mary Curry

September 19 - Michelle Woodruff, Patti Purser, Davis Woodward, Mandy Bailey, Jennifer Satcher, Jack Boyd, Mac Walley

September 20 - John Turner, Charles Greer, Rick Domergue, Martin Acord

September 21 - Camden Russell

September 22 - Carl Huebner, Rosalie Schoell, Turner Ames, Kaitlyn Caulfield, Sarah Lane Rester

September 23 - Desi Ratcliffe

September 24 - Liliana Wicht

The First Presbyterian Church

The First Presbyterian Church proclaims and practices the Gospel of God's transforming grace for God's glory alone. We invite you to join us on Sunday mornings in seeking truth from the Word in Sunday School at 9:45 and in worship at 8:30 and 11:00.

The First Presbyterian Church
4901 Hardy Street
Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39402
Office: 601-268-0303

Fax: 601-268-0778