Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church THE INN-FORMER OCTOBER 31, 2018 PRAYER CONCERNS Jeanette Creswell (Amanda Bell s grandmother) Mike Dowd (809 N. Weston Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644) Louise Penn & Cindy Clemmer (the loss of Louise s brother-in-law and Cindy s uncle) Sara Looney (brother s surgery & recovery) Nolan Stewart (Susie Stewart s cousin) ONGOING CONCERNS Lib Fowler (705 N. Main St., Fountain Inn 29644) Sara Fowler (208 Tall Pines Road, Fountain Inn 29644) Tony Hannon (father) Lorraine Paxton (mother) Tracy Ricard (his mother) Edna Trip (103 Quillen Avenue, Fountain Inn 29644) Bill Tumblin RESIDENTIAL CARE John Harless (Jane Bailey s father, The Pearl at Five Forks in Simpsonville) Dr. Alan Elmore (Daniel s father, Presbyterian Communities in Easley) Elsie Goerke (655-H, Fairview Road, PBM 343, Simpsonville, 29680)

2 Sullivan Mayfield (Son of Shea & Charlie Mayfield, brother of Rebekah & Torre Mayfield) ~ stationed in Japan Tony Hannon Please remember Tony and all the professional men and women who serve our community and put themselves in harms-way for each of us every day. On behalf of the Minister, Session and Congregation, we extend a heart-felt welcome to Lindy Scott to our pulpit today. Lindy received her BA degree from Erskine College and Master s Degree in Student Personnel and Counseling from Clemson University. She began her professional career at Thornwell in 1977 as a campus Social Worker, and in 2002 became the Director of Training and Social Work. Lindy now serves as the Executive Vice President and considers it a privilege to be a ministry leader to the children and staff on Thornwell s campus. She has lived in Clinton, SC for 28-years and is an Elder at Bethany Presbyterian Church. When asked, after 30 years of service, what keeps Lindy motivated to care for Thornwell s kids, she said, It really is my calling. I ve watched hundreds of kids arrive on this campus feeling heartbroken and hopeless. But something remarkable happens, and usually within a short period of time. I begin to see something in their eyes that may not have ever been there before hope. Having the privilege to watch children s lives being transformed on a daily basis; that s my motivation. Founded as a Presbyterian ministry in 1875, Thornwell is a full service, 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization committed to providing the most innovative and effective solutions to help children and families in need. We provide Christian love and support to hundreds of children and families throughout Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Our mission involves a complete continuum of care that enables us to fully support the child and the family wherever they are in their journey to wholeness and healing.

3 Thornwell Home for Children began as a dream in the heart of a young Presbyterian minister in Clinton, SC. Following the devastation of the Civil War, William Plumer Jacobs, of First Presbyterian Church in Clinton, wanted to build an orphanage. Dr. Jacobs dream was energized when 10-year-old Willie Anderson of a nearby community gave Reverend Jacobs fifty cents and said, This is to help build your orphanage. Dr. Jacobs named the orphanage after a mentoring theological professor, and Thornwell opened its doors on October 1, 1875, to 10 orphaned children. Dr. Jacobs belief that God so willed and would, therefore, support the endeavor, carried him and his beloved orphanage through the post-war years until his death in Dr. Jacobs documented the progress and struggles of the fledgling orphanage in his diary. Many find his recorded words inspirational for their demonstrations of his reliance upon the Lord for provisions for his children. Further, Dr. Jacobs diary catalogs the answers that God provided. Those answers were often exactly what Dr. Jacobs needed and came at just the right time. The Home of Peace was the residence of Dr. William Plumer Jacobs, the visionary who heard the call of God to begin a home for children orphaned by the Civil War. In his home, Dr. Jacobs and his wife, Mary, welcomed the first children to find a refuge at Thornwell. In times past the Mayes-Dowdle House was the Baby Cottage where Thornwell s youngest residents lived. Now beautifully restored, the Mayes-Dowdle House is the headquarters of the Thornwell Alumni Association. NOVEMBER 4 ~ CALLED CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ~ 11:00 a.m. With Session approval, there will be a Called Congregational Meeting on Sunday, November 4 th, for the purpose of hearing a report from the Nominating Committee regard the slate of Elders for Class of 21 and 19. Serving FIPC ~ November 4 Ringing the Hour ~ Camryn McGeachie Acolyte & Children s Usher ~ Mack Rambo Nursery ~ Shea Mayfield & Glenn Campbell Ushers ~ NBA Elder at Door and Care Team: Doug Bowen & Becky Loe November Liturgist: Penny Moore Session Devotional ~ November 18 ~ Penny Moore

4 Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting ~ November 13, Eastminster Presbyterian ~ Commissioner, Sommer Johnson Alternate, Stephen Harshbarger STEWARDSHIP AND COMMITMENT We are all called to engage our time, talents, and treasures in fulfilling God s mission for our church. We will have the opportunity to make a commitment of our finances to enable us to reach out to those within our own congregation, our community, our nation, and the world, and to impact the culture with the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Each of you has received a letter and pledge card with self-addressed envelope to submit your pledge which needs to be back to the church office by November 11. Please prayerfully consider how God wants to engage you in enabling Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church to fulfill our goals. NOVEMBER 6 ~ Morning Circle #1, 10:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall of FIPC ~ study being Gods Promise Evening Circle #2, 7:00 p.m. meeting at Shortfields Restaurant in Simpsonville WEDNESDAY CONVERSATIONS ~ NEW STUDY All are welcome to attend a study on Wednesdays at 6:00. We will be studying the Prodigal Son story in Luke 15, using Kenneth Bailey s book, The Cross and the Prodigal: Luke 15 Through the Eyes of Middle Eastern Peasants, as the text. The cost of the study book is $15 and payable upon receiving the text or you can order directly from Amazon. ***NO STUDY ON OCTOBER 31 ST. RESUME ON NOVEMBER 6 DISCOVERY CAFÉ ~ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 AT 6:00 P.M. You are invited to join us for Discovery Café where a catered meal will be served then followed by round-table dialogue and questions about our future life together at Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church. YOU each bring a unique vantage point to the discussion! We need your perspective, ideas and questions in the conversation to help us explore and discover different possibilities for us as we continue to worship, serve, learn and share in fellowship and ministry together. This event is being hosted and sponsored by the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) as they develop our church s resume as they discern and search for our next minister.

5 The following data was shared with the Session this past week and as you will read, we can all be involved and active in this out-reach effort by inviting friends to join us at FIPC for shared Christian growth, mission service and fellowship. As we contemplate how we are going to grow our church, please see the data below from churchgrowth.org. HOW DO PEOPLE START ATTENDING CHURCH A friend invited me ~ 86% Organized Visitation ~ 6% Invited by the Pastor ~ 6% Advertisement ~ 2% CHRIST GIVING MARKET ~ NOVEMBER 18 ~ 9:00 A.M. ~ 10:45 On November 18, you will have the opportunity to purchase the perfect size & perfect gift for people you love. During the annual Christ-Giving Market, you will be able to do special Christmas shopping amongst the ten agencies being represented. The shopping list that you receive indicates the items to be purchases for each agency; purchases range from $5 to whatever you wish to spend. Upon submitting your shopping list and money at the check-out table, you will receive lovely holiday cards to be mailed to whomever your purchase is honoring. CHRIST-GIVING MARKET ~ PART II During the same hours and in the same place, there will be three mission stations for children and teens to prepare gifts that will be given to three mission projects ~ 1 st Aid Kits for Thornwell, jars of hot cocoa mix for FIPC shut-ins and Safe Harbor residents and Christmas stocking for clients at Center for Community Services. Please refer to the bulletin insert for the particulars of donations needed for the stockings to be stuffed; all the other materials will be provided.

6 FIPC ANNUAL NATIVITY PROGRAM DECEMBER 2 ~ 5:00-7:00 P.M. On Sunday, December 2, the Children and Youth of Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church will present their annual Nativity program. The community of Fountain Inn is invited to receive this gift from our church. Following the Nativity program, there will be a mission meal in the CFC and concluding with some family-friendly-fun games. Mark your calendar to being your Advent season in this special time of worship and fellowship. FOUNTAIN INN ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE ~ DECEMBER 5 ~ 5:00-6:30 p.m. Children s Division will sponsor a float and will need children participating in this annual holiday event; details will be forthcoming but mark your calendar. DECEMBER 16 th ~ CHRISTMAS GIFT WRAPPING PAPER DONATIONS NEEDED In the coming weeks there will be bins around the church campus to receive your donation of Christmas giftwrapping supplies (full or partial rolls of wrapping paper, ribbon/bows, and name tags). As is their annual tradition, the youth of FIPC will be Santa helpers by wrapping gifts for the children of Thornwell. Adults are welcome to join in the holiday magic on December 16 th. Following worship, the volunteers will get lunch in Clinton and then go to Thornwell to being an afternoon of gift wrapping.

7 BIRTHDAYS Patrick Lane ~ 11/1 Harriet Bagwell ~ 11/4 Drew Hollingsworth ~11/5 Stephen Hayes ~ 11/7 Samuel Harshbarger ~ 11/8 Janet Price ~11/9 David Wiggins ~ 11/10 Sommer Johnson ~ 11/11 Ryan Conti ~11/11 Dot Dowd ~11/12 Robert Holland ~ 11/15 Elizabeth Johnson ~11/20 Blanton Phillips ~11/22 Jennifer Masters ~11/22 Becky Brewer ~11/25 Shannon Weinel ~11/29 Reid Weinel ~ 11/30

8 NOVEMBER 4 ~ Dr. Lindy Scott of Thornwell Home for Children ~ 11:00 service NOVEMBER 4 ~ All Saints Communion Service November 4 ~ Congregational Called Meeting to receive report from Nominating Committee NOVEMBER 6 ~ Presbyterian Women s Circle Day NOVEMBER 7 ~ PYC Spirit Night restaurant dinner; details forthcoming but mark your calendar NOVEMBER 14 ~ DISCOVERY CAFÉ hosted by the Pastor Nominating Committee NOVEMBER 18 ~ Christ-Giving Mission Event 1 st Sunday of ADVENT ~ DECEMBER 2 ~ Nativity Program evening DECEMBER 5 ~ Fountain Inn City Christmas Parade DECEMBER 16 ~ PYC Gift-wrapping project at Thornwell; all welcome to help