First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM February 2016

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Daniela Watkins
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1 First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM February 2016

2 Haspels Alex Burr John and Gwenn Haspels, long time African missionaries whom we have partially supported for years, will visit us Sunday, February 14. We are very fortunate to be able John Haspels visited the church in 2014 John Haspels talking to some from our congregation in 2008 to have them here. They will talk to the adult Sunday School class of Blaine Gross at 9 AM. Everybody is urged to attend. They will also speak in the library after the fellowship time at somewhat after 11:30. The Haspels are now officially retired after serving in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Ethiopia again since Both John and Gwenn were raised in Africa, attended high school in Alexandria, Egypt and graduated from Sterling College in Kansas. John graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary, and Gwenn is a trained nurse. Most recently, they have been working in Ethiopia at the invitation of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). Their missionary work has been filled with unusual events, difficulties overcame, and exciting memories. At one time it took them four years to get a work permit from Ethiopia. John was held captive by a rebel group for 16 days. Just before they were to return home they were attacked and shot by a robber while driving to pick-up 2

some nails to finish a house (the local hardware store was out.) They were seriously injured. They spent two months in a hospital in South Africa and one month in a rehab center.

These events may seem unusual and exciting to readers but the Haspels will tell you that the most satisfying memories are of the roads, houses, and churches built and the hundreds of people baptized.

3 some nails to finish a house (the local hardware store was out.) They were seriously injured. They spent two months in a hospital in South Africa and one month in a rehab center. They then returned to their home church in Kansas and are still undergoing repair surgeries. These events may seem unusual and exciting to readers but the Haspels will tell you that the most satisfying memories are of the roads, houses, and churches built and the hundreds of people baptized. As an indication of the impact they have had on the church in Ethiopia one should note that after John drove himself and Gwenn several hours to a hospital in Amom, more than 200 people gathered to offer support. When thy later flew from Addis Ababa to Johannesburg almost 1000 people showed up to say good-bye. Even after his retirement and while still undergoing medical treatment, John has gone back to Ethiopia for a John Haspels as he visited our time to help finish the house church in 2004 they were building and to help perform hundreds of baptisms. February 14 is truly a rare opportunity to hear some true missionary stories. Be sure to come to one or both of the Sunday meetings. Per Capita The church is sending to Presbytery the annual per-capita contribution which is assessed every year. This assessment is made each year by the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly for their operating expenses. The total amount this year is $26.25 for each member. Of this amount $7.07 goes to the national church and the remainder is divided between the Synod and Presbytery. This amount is like a yearly dues in other organizations. It is not a payment toward missions work but is designed to support the operating costs of the organization. Our church would appreciate it if the members would send a contribution to cover this per-member cost. 3

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5 In-Betweeners The In-Betweeners met on the fourth Friday (January 23) as usual for a planned pot luck dinner and to hear a presentation on some unusual photographs by Wayne Suggs, of Las Cruces. Wayne is a prize-winning photographer specializing in night or low light photography. His photographs have won many prizes and have appeared on the cover of New Mexico Magazine and in other publications. The In-Betweeners gathering to see Wayne Suggs photographs His photographs were unusual and beautiful. His skies featured the Milky Way as a long clear band, densely populated with stars. His camera is particularly light-sensitive and has very high resolution; but some of the effects Wayne photographs are only possible because he works unusually hard to light parts of his photographs Wayne has hundreds more stunning photographs which you can see on his web site at 5

6 The Cover The cover features a Coptic cross which is part of the wood carving on the stairs leading up to the pulpit in the most famous Coptic church in Cairo. The whole pulpit is shown here. The cross is at the center of the panel just below the head of the stairs to the pulpit. The significance of the various features of the church are being explained to the tourists seated by the pulpit. The Coptic cross is being used this month because we are being visited by the Haspels from Ethiopia where the Coptic church there has close ties to Egypt. Photographs provided by Alex Burr First Presbyterian Church 200 East Boutz Road Las Cruces, NM Tel (575) linda@fpc.lc Web URL Rev. Dr. Norman Story, Pastor The The Lantern Lantern is a monthly is a monthly publication publication of First of First Pres- Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM. NM. Articles and and photos, photos, preferably are in welcome, computer and readable will be used form at are the welcome, discretion will be of the used publisher. at the discretion For further of the information publisher. call For fur- and ther information send call (575) to linda@fpc.lc or send This, and to back aburr@aol.com. issues, are available on the Internet at lantern.qzxservices.com. Editor: Alex Burr Editor: Production: Alex Burr, Linda Production: Ramirez Linda Ramirez 6

7 The Lantern Febuary 2016 P FIRST E S B Y T E R I A N 200 E. Boutz Rd. Las Cruces, NM Super Bowl Sub Sandwich Sale February 7 Mission Vision Statement Statement for To be a To place emulate where the Christian work, the love word, is modeled and the way of Jesus Christ in ministering to the needs of members and preparing them for Christian outreach to people within and outside the Church of Jesus Christ. Mission Statement To be Our a place Vision where Christian Objectives love is modeled for through: are: 1. Understanding, celebrating, and sharing God s Word. To create spiritual leaders from within our congregation to recognize and minister to members in need. 2. Following obediently where God is leading us 3. Leading, nurturing, and serving our community for Christ To develop and maintain specific ways for members to reach out and draw the community into our fellowship. To create a God-centered atmosphere for worship that will attract and bind individuals, families and youth to our church. 7

First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM July 2016

First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM July 2016 Garage Sale Jamie Gill Our outstanding youth group had a yard sale Saturday June 4. It was a huge success. Watkins Hall was filled to the brim with tables