July Pastor s Notes July 2017

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1 July 2017 A Publication of FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 211 S. Avenue G Clifton, Texas phone (254) Church Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Rev. Clint Schofield, Pastor Brenda Robinson, Church Secretary office@fpcclifton.com Pastor s Notes July 2017 So, how busy has your day been? Answers to that question will range from not being busy at all to having more to do than you can keep up with. Over our lifetime we ve experienced those moments and all that is between. The side that seems to be more prevalent these days is being busier than we can manage. Many retirees tell me they are busier now than when they worked full time. Their level of helpful involvement across the community speaks clearly this is the case. In those times when we seem to meet ourselves coming and going our stress levels can rise, anxiety levels can rise and our temperament may be altered. It s just not healthy to live with this pressure day after day. Obviously, it is good to be productive. However, when productivity begins to decline as ones blood pressure and heart rate steadily increase good health can certainly be at risk. How good are you with being still? Yes, just being still and quite so to let go of yesterday s unfinished business, today s to-do list and tomorrow s worries. Being still is an age old practice that can make a difference in your life. The Psalmists have written about doing so in our relationship with God. Psalm 37:7, Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God. Being still and waiting patiently are not attributes that most of us come by naturally. However, they can be cultivated, nurtured, and brought to a level of existence that blesses us with peace of soul and peace of mind. So give it a try. Set aside a few minutes each day to just sit in silence. Let all the stuff of life leave you and be enveloped in God s calming presence. You must arrange your days so that you are experiencing total contentment, joy, and confidence in your everyday life with God that and that alone is what makes a soul healthy. (Dallas Willard, Quoted in Soul Keeping by Rev. John Ortberg.) Grace and Peace, Clint

2 JULY MEETINGS 03 VBS 9-12:00 pm 04 VBS 9-12:00 pm 04 Weekly Prayer Group 1:00 pm 05 VBS 9-12:00 pm 06 VBS 9-12:00 pm 07 VBS 9-12:00 pm 11 Weekly Prayer Group 1:00 pm 12 Morning Bible Study 10:00 am 12 Birthday/Anniversary Luncheon at Johnny s 12:00 pm 13 Food Bank Work Day 9:00-12:00 pm 18 Weekly Prayer Group 1:00 pm 19 Morning Bible Study 10:00 am 23 Goodall Witcher Worship 1:30 pm 25 Weekly Prayer Group 1:00 pm 25 Session Meeting 5:30 pm 26 Morning Bible Study 10:00 am LEADING WORSHIP IN JULY JULY GREETERS 02 Mullens Family 09 George & Jenny Walker 16 Kay Gebhardt & Ann Wilan 23 Laura & Driscoll Jenkins 30 Carla & Vern Sigler JULY LITURGIST 02 Shayne Embry 09 Sue Fielden 16 Punky Penberthy 23 Sherrod Fielden 30 Debra Embry JULY ELDER OF THE DAY 02 Bryan Davis 09 Carla Sigler 16 Jim Lemons 23 Elisabeth Montgomery 30 Driscoll Jenkins Scholarship Program The response from the congregation in supporting our College Scholarship Fund is greatly appreciated! Currently we have 8 students receiving scholarships. Your support will make a big difference in the future of these young people. Thank You! REMINDER!! Continue saving box tops and soup can labels!! Year to Date Financials thru May Offerings received in May $13,568 Offerings received thru May $63,772 Expenses thru May $70,560 Budgeted exp. through May $78,155 THE FOOD DRIVE BOX WILL BE IN THE NARTHEX Sunday, July 9th Our work day is the 13 th

3 Vacation Bible School will be held July 3-7 from 9:00 to 12:00. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Tam Mullens, Elisabeth Montgomery or the church office. Registration forms are in the church office. The Chancel Choir The choir will be taking a much deserved rest during July each year. We are fortunate to have many church members who can lead in worship with solos and ensembles during the four Sundays of this month. The choir will resume rehearsals August 2, and there is room for all who feel God s call to serve through the music ministry. The church opens around 6:45pm on Wednesdays. Rehearsals typically last from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Rehearsals for Christmas music begin in mid-september and can run a little later. Several of our choir members go to a cooler climate until the fall, and elect to rehearse their Christmas music by CD until they return to Texas. Just let Karen know if you need a CD and music.

4 Truths of life Written by a 90 year old This is something we should all read at least once a week! Make sure you read to the end. Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio. "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more: 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short, enjoy it. 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself. 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the future. 12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways. 18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger It's never too late to be happy. But it's all up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?' 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. 31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need 42. The best is yet to come No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 44. Yield. 45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

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8 SESSION MEMBERS Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Joe Borden Driscoll Jenkins Laura Baughman Bryan Davis, Clerk Jim Lemon Brian Haenisch Deb Phinney Carla Sigler Elisabeth Montgomery TREASURER Shayne Embry TRUSTEES PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN Linda Bracken Linda Bracken, Moderator Brian Gillaspie Joy Williamson, Vice-Moderator Steve Robertson Frances Seljos, Secretary-Treasurer Linda Bracken, Historian Ann Wiland, Least Coin Laura Jenkins & Joy Williamson, Coordinators for NH parties Sunday School Bible Study All Ages 9:30 a.m.; Fellowship 10:30 10:50 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. Sunday (Communion on 1 st Sunday of month) Presbyterian Women 2 nd Monday of month 12:00 p.m., location announced (Sept.-May) Session Meets 4 th Tuesday of month, 5:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall Adult Choir Practice Wednesday evenings 7:00 p.m. First Presbyterian Church 211 South Avenue G Clifton, Texas 76634