Pastor's Desk. MONDAY MORNING NEWSLETTER News of the People of First Presbyterian Church of Garland

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1 MONDAY MORNING NEWSLETTER News of the People of My dear friends, Just under 2000 years ago, a powerful and ongoing event began: the coming of the Holy Spirit, filling the church with power. It began after the disciples of Jesus had been praying earnestly for several days together. Jesus had ascended into heaven, and they were awaiting the promised Holy Spirit that would empower them to further Jesus' work throughout the world. These years later the gospel work of Jesus has spread around the globe, but it only takes root where the Spirit abides within communities. And for this to happen we must invite the Spirit to forever dwell within us as the source our wisdom and power. For any Christian community to truly do the work of Christ, it must be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. For this reason, I believe the Spirit is calling us to a time of prayer and invitation. Pentecost, the celebration that marks the beginning of this incredible unfolding of the Spirit, is on June 4 th. Beginning at noon on June 3 rd, we will begin holding a vigil of prayer to continue throughout the day and night until worship at 10:50 am. We will open up the chapel and provide a prayer list, candles to light, and other resources for prayer. We will have members keeping the building open the entire time. We invite you to sign up for a 30-minute or 1-hour time slot so that a constant vigil will be kept. Our main purpose in praying will be to prepare our congregation to receive the presence and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, that the Spirit might dwelling in us and overflow into our community and beyond. It is certainly my belief that the Spirit is already working with us and to some degree in us, but my hope is to draw us to greater awareness of the Spirit's movement. This does not necessarily mean we will all speak in tongues or perform miracles (although I would not count it out), but I do believe it will mean we will be filled with God's love that we know in Christ and that God will be able to accomplish anything he so desires within and through us. There will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex, or you can simply send an to office with the time slot you would prefer. Multiple people may sign up in the same time slot. And even if you have not signed up you are free to come as you like. However you choose to go about it, I invite you to pray for this important day, that we may all experience a mighty blowing of the very Breath of God. Yours in the Holy Spirit, Pastor Paul Vision Statement A Caring Congregation Seeking God s Purpose in a Changing World To Equip and to Send Forth Disciples with Christ s Love Through the Power of the Holy Spirit Pastor's Desk Vol. XLVII, Nbr. 10 May 22, 2017 Sunday Worship 8:30 am Contemporary 10:50 am Traditional Sunday School 9:35 am 930 West Avenue B Garland, TX (972) WEEKLY EVENTS Saturdays 8:00-10:00 Fellowship Hall COMMUNITY BREAKFAST Wednesdays 7:00 AM MEN'S BIBLE STUDY 7:30 PM CHANCEL CHOIR REHEARSAL Thursdays 10:30 PASTOR 'S BIBLE STUDY Sundays 5:00 URDU WORSHIP UPCOMING EVENTS J May 25 9:00 Presbytery/Preston Hollow PC May 29 Office Closed--Memorial Day June 3 12:00 PM-June 4,10:50 AM Pentecost Prayer Vigil June 4 Pentecost Confirmation Acolyte Graduation 12:00 Acolyte Party--Stouts' Home June 5 4:00 Staff Meeting June :30-8:00 Vacation Bible School May 22, 2017 Page 1 of 6

2 Just a reminder that we support four agencies a year on a quarterly basis. Camp Gilmont is our Deacons' Fund second quarter agency for Camp Gilmont's mission is to offer Christian-based programs and provide facilities for groups and individuals to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Summer camps, KidQuake, YouthQuake, Men's Retreats and the Women's Retreat are opportunities for our family to enjoy this oasis in East Texas will mark 77 years of their Christian camping ministry. Donations are accepted at any time they are designated for Camp Gilmont. The faithful and generous support of FPC's family is greatly appreciated! "Branching Out" is the theme of Gilmont's 2017 summer camps. Contact Sue Suneson for information if you're not already signed up to go. Note of Thanks and Appreciation: I wish to thank everyone for their prayers, cards, and notes that meant so much to me. Thank you, Traci Truly, for meeting with Joseph, David, and me to prepare for Jeff's memorial service. Special thanks to Margaret Ball, Joan Griffis, Elizabeth Smith, Julie and Andy McClain, Rick Hutchings, Alan Wilson, and others whose help was invaluable. I wish to thank Royanne Ramsey and her special group (too many to name) for the lovely reception. I also include those who set up and cleaned up. God bless all of you at FPC. Phyllis Hock Highlights of the May Session Meeting Reverend Burns has completed his doctoral course work and is now working on his thesis. The Stewardship Committee reported that April offerings exceeded expenses by approximately $2, Year-to-date offerings are lower than expenses by approximately $2, Corrections to be made to benefits calculations should reduce that deficit. John King, Clerk of Session Blood Drive Each blood donation made at FPC's recent blood drive will touch the lives of patients in local hospitals. O negative blood types are the first used in emergency situations, as all patients can receive units from an O negative blood donor. We are grateful for all blood types, though, because it s the unit on the shelf during critical situations that is most valuable. FPC's next blood drive is scheduled for October 8. Recent storms and other tragedies have drawn on supplies of blood and blood products; a full and stable blood supply ensures that we can be there for the unexpected. FPC donors on May 14 were: Ken Campbell, Lee Campbell, Karen Carr, Louie Greenleaf, Alice Hanner, Larry Hanner, Kat Hutchings, Liz Kay, Liz Speer, and Ron Tinney. We thank you for your support! Tonna Buster, Carter BloodCare Stewardship Update Gifts, tithes, and offerings totaled $36,347 during the month of April, while expenses amounted to $34,348, leaving a net margin of $1,999 for that period. Your faithful giving for the year to date through the end of April amounted to $134,793 (31.6% of the total annual budget) vs. expenses of $137,636 (32.6% of the budget). Louis Gold, Stewardship MT May 22, 2017 Page 2 of 6

3 Please pray for: MILITARY: Andrew Brazier, Philip Coldwell, Chip Collins, David Collins, Scott Collins, James Drake, Jordan Henderson, Victor Lange, Matt McCormick, Ben Nelson, Austin Ramsey, Jacob Ramsey, Scott Shelton MISSION WORKERS: Steve and Margie Doty, Thailand; Karla Koll, Costa Rica; Mark Adams, Mexico; Dennis Smith Brazil nnect ions/dennis-maribel-smith / Doris Barker David and Cheryl Clark Stephen Cottingham Bettye Davis James Dunlap Robert and Marilyn Durbin Arlis Erwin Debbie Garvin Barbara Hart Phyllis Hock Dona Howard Patricia Jubera Julie McClain Eralee Morphis Bobbie Morrison Carl Peavy Jackie Peterson Carol Pollock Twila Smalley Kimbell Smith Peggy Smith Bloyce Tarpley Rondi Arbter (daughter of Ron and Linda Tinney) Dorothea Atkerson (sister-in-law of William and Aurelia Drake) Lindsay Barlow (daughter-in-law of Rick and Kat Hutchings) The Black Family (friends of the Wetzels) Marilyn Catterton (mother of Britton Peavy) Kelsey Cearly (Jeannie Henderson's niece) Eloise Delaval (sister of Dennis Pollock) Fran Edwards (friend of Kay Flowers) Josie Edwards (Teri Urff's granddaughter) Carol Fox (friend of Charlcy Wess) Deantin O. Guerra (Annette Renaud's father) Family of Dennis and Nancy Gray Dorothy Gwin (Sandra Smith's mother) Morgan Henley (friend of Allan Wilson) Alice Jay (friend of FPC) Tony Jones (husband of Donna King-Jones) Nonie Kirk Painter (friend of Joan Griffis) Debbie Lykes (sister-in-law of Lee Campbell) Cyndy Matthews (mother of Donna Bailey) Reverend Linda McCormick (friend of FPC) Lou McCoy (mother of Cheryl Clark) Jackie Ouellette (friend of FPC Scouts) Ron Paul (friend of Jane Cottingham) Roland Rocha (brother of Diana Williams) Savannah Rocha (niece of Diana Williams) Katy Schmidt (friend of the Burns family) Richard Styles (friend of Jack Tilbury) Tinsley Thompson (cousin of Jeannie Henderson) Cole Tilbury (grandson of Mary Tilbury) Patrick Tinney (friend of Aurelia Drake) Donna Williams (Bob Williams' mother) Christian sympathy is extended to Anne Hébert, whose husband, David, passed away April 26. Italicized names on the Prayer List need to be updated. Names are bold type if they are on the list for the first time. The resolution of this photo is not the best, but it's sufficient to picture the large group of proud mothers who were present during the Urdu worship service on Mother's Day. May 22, 2017 Page 3 of 6

4 2017 Dunlap Scholarship essays will be printed in the next few issues of Monday Morning. The following essay was written by Hunter Williams. Here is the prompt given the youth for their essays: "Please write a personal reflection on what the church is for you. Does this match up to what you think it should be? Can you provide specific examples? Be honest! You may have both positive and negative views. We genuinely want to hear your ideas." Dunlap Scholarship Essay The church has been an integral part of my life since joining the many years ago. Growing up at FPC Garland has been a constant and incredibly significant part of my life up to this point. The church has served as a place of refuge and has always provided me with a loving community, and has taught me what it means to be a good Christian and good human being. However, there have been instances where I have seen our church sacrifice what is best for our congregation in exchange for what is more comfortable or more in line with tradition. Ever since my family joined the congregation of FPC Garland in 2003, I have had an extended community and family that extends far beyond blood relatives. Even in my times of troubles or faith struggles, I always look forward to going to church on Sunday and seeing my church family. The unconditional love among the congregation that I have witnessed has shaped me to be who I am today. In the church community, I have a place where I know I am accepted, welcomed, and deeply loved, regardless of my flaws. Being a part of FPC Garland has also connected me to the wonderful extended world of the Presbytery youth. Over the past few years, I have had the unique privileges of attending absolutely fantastic conferences, getting to be on conference planning committees, and of course, being involved with PULSE. Additionally, it has led to the truly amazing experience of being on Synod Planning Team Some of my best friends I have are Presbyterian youth that I have met and gotten to know over the years. This lesson of love I have received from the congregation has been reinforced by our church s mission work. For years, I have had the privilege to serve at the Community Breakfast, and it has been absolutely transformative. I have witnessed a profound sense of love among this extended church community, and have met members of the Garland community that have become like family. The dedication and passionate work done by the people that work week after week at the breakfast reflect what it truly means to be Christ-like. Additionally, getting to go on youth mission trips has enlightened me to the struggles of people far beyond our community. The Heifer Ranch Mission Trip taught us about struggles of people across the globe, and in New Orleans, we had the privilege of learning first-hand the unique hardships of people affected by Hurricane Katrina. The church has provided me with numerous opportunities to learn about the world and how to live as a Christian in a world that is hurting. While our church has been a constant and delightful part of my life, there have been times where I have been disappointed in the actions of our church. We have been forward thinking on some issues, while falling behind on others. The church has sometimes steered in the direction of comfort, following the classic Presbyterian mantra that We ve always done it this way. For example, the contemporary style of worship, while welcomed by a good portion of the congregation, has often been rejected as something that is too different or out of line with tradition. While I admire and enjoy the rich traditions and styles of worship employed by our church, the reality is that the Presbyterian Church as well as the church in general is shrinking. We cannot remain totally steeped in our ways; we must be open to change in order to bring in new members. While many of our members enjoy the traditional styles of worship alone, the reality is that young churchgoers are flocking to the mega-churches, and other places modern styles of worship thrive. (cont'd. on p. 5) May 22, 2017 Page 4 of 6

5 Dunlap Scholarship Essay -----Hunter Williams (cont'd. from p. 4) Now, I will not deny the fact that our church has taken many steps in the right direction. We have welcomed diversity and new ideas, and through our first Sunday service, which I personally love, we have the chance to celebrate the rich and diverse worship styles of our congregation. But as our small Contemporary service sits in deadlock at 8:30 AM with no significant progress having been made over eight years, I do hope to see an embrace of these styles of worship at some point in the near future. In the Presbyterian Church as a whole, we have a unique opportunity to welcome more people in, as we are a denomination that promotes questioning, diversity of heritage and ideas, and other tenets that reflect the changing world around us. The question is, will our own church follow suit? News from Noah's Neighborhood As the Endowment Team asks for ideas on how to distribute this year s funds, it is a good time to thank you all for the distributions that have supported the Noah s Neighborhood ministry. Many of you may not know where our 4-7 year-olds go each Sunday after the Children s Sermon. They are led to our Worship Room upstairs in the Education Building. where we continue worship in a more hands-on manner using the Godly Play Curriculum. Wooden figures are included that help us to tell the stories of the Bible. The children have time to respond with artwork followed by prayer, song, and blessing. Funds from Endowment have covered the purchase of the figures and supplies and helped us to add 9 New Testament stories this year. Many thanks to Endowment and to the teachers and door greeters who have dedicated years to this ministry: Charlotte Fishpaw, Candy Gold, Mercy Kuja, Juliette Mofor, Sandra Smith, Jennifer Stout (recently retired), Sue Suneson, Heather Warren, and Diana and Bob Williams! Come visit us anytime, but be sure to take your shoes off before entering our holy ground. Donna Bailey VBS 2017 Come step back in time with the apostle Paul and experience what life was like in first-century Rome! Monday, June 12 - Thursday, June 15 5:30-8:30 PM Sue Suneson has registration forms Our preparations for VBS are going well! You have donated many of our needed supplies! We only need a few more items: of sturdy wire 200 rubber bands, medium sized 1 bag of unpopped popcorn kernels Thank you for your support! May 22, 2017 Page 5 of 6

6 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 930 W. AVENUE B GARLAND, TX (972) May 22, 2017 May is Mission Month Name: Yes, I can help!! (Check one or as many as you want! Be sure to include your name and then place this into the offering plate.) Physically: I am interested in going with the team to: Mexico (Faith Ministry June 18th June 25th ) Community Breakfast Guatemala (no trip this year.) Sack Lunch Financially: I would like to make a donation to the adult mission scholarship fund. Donations may be placed in the offering plate or mailed to the church. Please mark "Adult Mission Trip Mexico OR Guatemala" OR "Sack Lunch" OR "Community Breakfast" on your check. Faithfully: I commit to daily prayer for the team(s) traveling to or working with: Mexico Guatemala Community Breakfast Sack Lunch Ministry May 22, 2017 Page 6 of 6