Our Vision. September 2017

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September 2017 Our Vision By the grace of Jesus Christ, we will strive to share the Good News with the world, to nurture each other in our faith and to go into the world sharing Christ s love and

5 Pg. 6 Pg. 7 Pg. 8 Editor: Karen Pratt-Paskawych Church Office Hours M-Th 7:30 4:00 F 7:30 Noon Phone 740.373.1800 Fax 740.373.3212 Email: fpcmarietta @sbcglobal.

To kick off the year of learning about God and His Word, the Christian Education Commission invites you and your family to breakfast at 9:15 in the fellowship hall. Everyone is invited.

At 9:15, we ll all sit down together for breakfast and fellowship. We will have information about all of the fall Sunday School classes and activities.

If you re interested in volunteering in our education program as a teacher, helping with youth group, being a substitute, serving on the CE commission, or working on special events, please see

1 September 2017 Our Vision By the grace of Jesus Christ, we will strive to share the Good News with the world, to nurture each other in our faith and to go into the world sharing Christ s love and mercy. Table of Contents Pastor s Letter Birthdays September Worship Youth Director Letter Endowments Scholars on Fourth Calendar Stewardship Interfaith Dialogue Pg. 2 Pg. 2 Pg. 3 Pg. 4 Pg. 5 Pg. 5 Pg. 6 Pg. 7 Pg. 8 Editor: Karen Pratt-Paskawych Church Office Hours M-Th 7:30 4:00 F 7:30 Noon Phone Fax Packet Deadline Third Friday every Month We will celebrate the return of Sunday school and fall programming with Rally Day on September 17. To kick off the year of learning about God and His Word, the Christian Education Commission invites you and your family to breakfast at 9:15 in the fellowship hall. Everyone is invited. Bring a friend!. Come early for a cup of coffee, a glass of juice or hot chocolate while the PresbyPraise children practice in the chapel at 9:00. At 9:15, we ll all sit down together for breakfast and fellowship. We will have information about all of the fall Sunday School classes and activities. Our Youth and Children s Director Brad Thomas and his family will be there. Sunday school classes begins the following week, September 24, for ages preschool through adult. If you re interested in volunteering in our education program as a teacher, helping with youth group, being a substitute, serving on the CE commission, or working on special events, please see commission chair Erlan Wheeler, or talk with Brad. Middle School and High School Youth Gathering Archery Tag and more! Sunday, September 17 5 to 7 Sandhill UMC, Boaz (Williamstown UMC is the rain location) Join with Sandhill UMC, FPC Williamstown, Williamstown UMC, and FPC Marietta for an evening of food, fellowship and games. Our schedule for the evening: We will start with a meal and then worship. Following we will head to the great open space behind Sandhill for Archery Tag and other games. Bring some friends!

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Calvin called the Psalms The anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul. There is praise. There is a remembering of history. There is teaching and wisdom. And there is lament.

Facing our own hatred, grief, and anger, and finding an everlasting source of joy and love is critical for the body of Christ, if we are to be effective witnesses against the hatred and bigotry we

I invite you to read a few psalms this month. Here is a short list.

Grace and Peace, Pastor David Sunday, September 24, 2017 @ 6:00PM FPC Student HS Room Come and join us for a night of trivia!

2 Dear Sisters and Brothers, Calvin called the Psalms The anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul. There is praise. There is a remembering of history. There is teaching and wisdom. And there is lament. The psalms can bring us to tears or cause us to laugh. The wide range of honest emotion, including deep anger that spills out in some psalms, is precisely why this book is so important. Facing our own hatred, grief, and anger, and finding an everlasting source of joy and love is critical for the body of Christ, if we are to be effective witnesses against the hatred and bigotry we see in our culture. The plasms can help us do that. This month we will take brief plunge into this pool. We will sing some psalms in worship and engage them in the sermon moment. I invite you to read a few psalms this month. Here is a short list. These came from a social media site where the author asked for favorites and these were the top ten: Psalm 23, 121, 138, 62, 46, 117, 37, 1, 40, and 84. Grace and Peace, Pastor David Sunday, September 24, 6:00PM FPC Student HS Room Come and join us for a night of trivia! We want to take the time to get to know you better, so bring your entire family and come play a game of trivia for us. There will be questions for all ages and delicious food and drink. Check out our Facebook Event for more information and be sure to like the page while you are there. Nathan Kirkham 9/2 Jared Hammons 9/3 Bailey Smith 9/3 Dan Tietjen 9/6 John Lee 9/7 Amy Lamb 9/9 Taylor Martin 9/9 Emily Rake 9/9 Ron Warner 9/11 Tyler Hartline 9/13 Lori Davis 9/14 Carole Garrison 9/15 Sharon Winfrey Scholl 9/15 Rosalie Alden 9/17 Fred Hunter 9/17 Ann Laing 9/17 Henry Goehring 9/18 Jona Hall 9/18 Virginia Graves 9/19 Benjamin Cooper 9/21 Karen Snow 9/23 Daniel Manning 9/24 Ann Anderson 9/27 Judy Peoples 9/28 Carolyn Barnes 9/29 Susan Unroe 9/29 Susan Butler 9/30

A Note from the Music Director As I write this for the September packet, the summer months are coming to a close. We have had some wonderful special music offered up during our services.

As we gather in September, I hope that you would consider joining the music program. No auditions are required! It would be wonderful if you would!

(Grades 6 and up) is our Middle/Senior choir. We also have a band/combo! We d love to have you be a part of either one. The combo rehearses from 5 to 6 on Wednesdays. First rehearsal is September 6th.

3 A Note from the Music Director As I write this for the September packet, the summer months are coming to a close. We have had some wonderful special music offered up during our services. This has given time for all of our ensembles and directors to have a well-deserved break. We ve been able to rest, relax, refresh and, most importantly, renew! As we gather in September, I hope that you would consider joining the music program. No auditions are required! It would be wonderful if you would! There are several ensembles to choose from: PresbyPraise (Grades K-5) is our youth choir. We practice from 9 to 9:15 in the Chapel. Our first rehearsal is September 17th. Glorify! (Grades 6 and up) is our Middle/Senior choir. We also have a band/combo! We d love to have you be a part of either one. The combo rehearses from 5 to 6 on Wednesdays. First rehearsal is September 6th. Westminster Bells is our adult bell choir. Rehearsals have started. They rehearse from 5 to 6 on Wednesdays. Joyful Hearts is our women s gospel choir group. We rehearse from 6:30 to 7:00 on Wednesday evenings. While rehearsals have already started, we d love to have you come and be a part of our group! Chancel Choir is our adult choral group. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:15. Rehearsals start on September 6th. Thanks Peter September Worship and Music Psalms: The Songs of the Church September 3 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b Amazing History Justine Lorentzson, soloist September 10 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 149:1-5 Incredible Worship September 17 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 103:8-13 Gracious Savior With a Voice of Singing - Chancel Choir September 24 Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. Will Mullins, Chaplain of Muskingum University Write Your Blessed Name - Chancel Choir The Promise of Peace - Chancel Choir

4 Session Summary for August 8, 2017 Motions presented and approved by session: 1. To approve a motion from CE for $300 max. for a portion of expenses for a youth cookout and game night in conjunction with other area churches to be held at Sand Hill UMC September 17 th. Funds to be drawn from the Youth General Special Fund. 2. To approve a request from W&M for $1500 for purchase of music for all ensembles to be used during worship from Sept to May Funds to be drawn from the Noe Endowment. 3. To approve a request from W&M for $1500 to commission a hand bell piece to be composed by Karen Buckwalter to honor the pioneers of the First Presbyterian Church Handbell Choir. Funds to be drawn from the Noe Endowment. 4. To authorize Pastor David to make a decision on who to hire for the children and youth director position. From the New Youth and Children s Director: I am a father, a husband, a rambling storyteller, a tea drinker, a book lover, a crazed bluegrass listener, and I use the word awesome too much. My journey with God has been a unique one, and because of that I do not take spirituality and faith lightly. I am currently finishing my Bachelor s Degree in Anthropology and am looking forward to seminary following my graduation. Born in West Virginia, but I have never been stationary long, and I hope one day to change that and be a permanent fixture in a community so I can be a regular with a usual at a local breakfast spot. My wife, Cristie, is a social justice warrior who inspires me to be better. My sons, Levon Grey and Avett Fox are small replicas of Cristie and I, and their comedic timing is impeccable. I am very excited to get to know this church better, because right now from the outside looking in, there is a light here that is a rare find in today s culture. In the coming months ahead, I hope that we as a church can implement a strong, gospel centered ministry that engages not only the students and children, but their families and the congregation. A strong ministry relies on many parts and with Christ at the center, I know we can find success. It is my hope to implement a curriculum that can be presented on multiple levels and will keep the students and kids on the same page as they progress through our ministries. I hope you will join us on this journey, and if you ever have any questions, feel free to or call me. Bradley Thomas fpcmstudent@gmail.com

5 Sharing Our Legacy Endowments: How Planned Giving Witnesses Against Hatred International terrorism continues to be a threat. In our own country, we have seen the rise of hate groups and a resurgence of racism. How can a gift to endowments be part of the answer to these problems? Endowments have helped the church witness against hate in multiple ways. The Hall Theological Fund supports the next generation of ministers who will preach God s message of peace. Several different funds have been used to provide summer camp scholarships to youth where they can learn what it means to show the love of God. The Effie Dent Spiritual Growth Fund has made possible educational opportunities for the congregation which helped us understand other world views. Even the Greenspace Fund plays a part by supporting the garden, a place of respite and peace. One very important contribution Endowments made this year to combat hatred and prejudice was the generous support of the Three Amigos of Faith program that will be coming to Marietta in November. Our community will be blessed to learn about the friendship of a rabbi, a pastor and an imam. This will help us understand what we share with others who call Abraham Father. If you would like to make a contribution to combat hate to an existing fund or by establishing a new fund, the Endowments committee would be glad to meet with you at home or at the church. You may contact John Miller, committee chairman, or any other committee members including Jennylou Brock, Matt Evans, Susie Evans, Hank Goehring, Richard Murdock, Alan Norris or Gail Reynolds.

Live Generously Practicing Hospitality For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

7 Live Generously Practicing Hospitality For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9) There is more to generosity than money. As a virtue and a practice, generosity has to do with the way we use our skills and the manner in which we share ideas, practice hospitality, offer encouragement, make connections, and use our time to address the needs of others. The above Bible verse and the quote from the Ecumenical Stewardship Center offer rich sources of discussion about generosity. This month, we wil focus on the idea of practicing hospitality. Being welcoming of others, no matter who they are is one of the implications of the gospel. Just as Christ welcomed all, so we too should be welcoming. The verse from 2 Corinthians teaches us something very important about how we offer hospitality. Christian hospitality is always generous, but never done to impress. It takes note of the situations of those we invite without judgment. Hospitality is a witness against hatred and bigotry. Hospitality tears down barriers and invites those who are different than we are to come and join in God s kingdom. Consider an adult who gets down on one knee, speaks softly, and uses age appropriate language to communicate with a child. The adult may ask questions about interests or ask the child to show how to do something. In this way, the adult seeks to learn who the child is before making assumptions. So how can you practice a generous hospitality? Here are some guidelines and suggestions. Slow down your pace. Take moments to observe those around you. When the temptation to judge arises, ask the Holy Spirit to help you move past that and see what you have in common with others. Judgments can arise out of our failings rather than out of an honest assessment of others. Ask questions of your friends, coworkers, family members, and those you meet by chance. Consider in advance open ended questions that could be asked of someone without being intrusive. Really listen as that person speaks. Be thoughtful and try to follow up with questions or actions that show an attempt to connect. Open your home to others. Purposely move outside your normal social circles when doing this. As you plan for guests, consider what the guests might enjoy. Simple gatherings that allow for conversation or focus on a fun activity can be very meaningful. Stretch your boundaries. We all tend to pull back from certain types of people and certain settings. But when we encounter those emotional boundaries, it can be an invitation to risk and cross them. We may find we have more in common with others than we realized. We may encounter resistance. Resistance is not a sign we shouldn t be trying. The gospel calls us to go to uncomfortable places again and again. Set aside judgments and speak to the stranger God has brought to your life. Paul wrote that doing this may lead to entertaining angels. Consider our church. What do we offer here that people in your life would enjoy? While they might appreciate an invitation to worship, where else could you invite them to participate? Where could we as a church offer hospitality to others that we are not doing right now? How could you be the one to make that happen?

First Presbyterian Church 501 Fourth Street Marietta, OH 45750 Pastor David Smith Sunday School 9:00 am Worship Service 10:15 am (740) 373-1800 Fax (740) 373-3212 E-Mail fpcmarietta @sbcglobal.

It promises to be an eye-opening and hope-filled journey. As we look forward to the visit from the Interfaith Amigos (November 10-12), please consider some other ways to grow in respect for others.

8 First Presbyterian Church 501 Fourth Street Marietta, OH Pastor David Smith Sunday School 9:00 am Worship Service 10:15 am (740) Fax (740) Web: Interfaith Dialogue: Finding Common Ground Judaism, Christianity, and Islam You are invited to participate in local initiatives to foster interfaith dialogue. It promises to be an eye-opening and hope-filled journey. As we look forward to the visit from the Interfaith Amigos (November 10-12), please consider some other ways to grow in respect for others. One opportunity is a course entitled Interfaith Dialogue: Finding Common Ground Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which is being offered by the Institute for Learning in Retirement at Marietta College. The 8- week course that meets on Mondays (September 11 October 30) from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Hall (Room 124) is open to the public and costs $30. For on-line registration, log onto Free parking passes are provided to all students enrolled in the class. You may also be interested in other interfaith events, such as a trip to the Arab American Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, interfaith book discussions, ongoing dialogues, and interfaith projects. For more information, please contact Chair of the Interfaith Dialogue Planning Group, George Banziger at or gbanz42@suddenlink.net.

Graduation Breakfast May 27 at 9am. May Join us for a delicious lunch after church on May 6 th. Our Vision

Graduation Breakfast May 27 at 9am. May Join us for a delicious lunch after church on May 6 th. Our Vision May 2018 Our Vision By the grace of Jesus Christ, we will strive to share the Good News with the world, to nurture each other in our faith and to go into the world sharing Christ s love and mercy. Join