Volume 8, Issue 9 September 2015

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1 Volume 8, Issue 9 September 2015 Dear Friends, About a year ago we had a couple of trees taken down in our yard. Since that me Diane and I have spent countless hours trying to rid our yard of the roots of those trees that were le behind. We are finding these roots to be relentless in making their presence known. Time and me again we have thought that our root digging job was complete. I ve smoothed the dirt and made it ready for replacing the sod. Then, a week later we have found li&le trees sprou ng up from roots that were le behind. We have found that some mes a very small piece of root is able to sprout forth what would be, if le alone to grow, another tree. Just last week we were once again digging and chopping away when Diane called to me from across the yard that these roots reminded her of the effect of sin in our lives. Together we thought a bit about that. I think she is right. Sin has a way of working its way deep into our hearts and doesn t give up easily when we try to excise it from our lives. Even a er we think we have conquered some area of sin, there can be consequences of sin that pop up in unsuspec ng places. The tenacious nature of sin helps us realize that we do not have the will or the power to defeat it in our own strength. It is only through Christ and his work on the cross that we will we be released from the chains of sin that bind us. In thinking about that further, the image of roots is used in a number of ways throughout Scripture. For example, in Deuteronomy there is a solemn warning about turning away from God to worship other things. The Israelites are warned, Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bi&er fruit, (Dt. 29:18). In Isaiah it says of the unrighteous, So their root will be as ro&enness, and their blossom go up like dust, (Is. 5:24 Even though there are a few nega ve images concerning roots in the Bible like the ones I ve just men oned, from what I have been able to discern, most of the biblical images concerning roots are actually posi ve. Paul talks about being rooted and built up in Christ, (Col. 2:7) or being rooted and grounded in love, so that we may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, (Eph. 3:17,18) When it comes to tapping into the wonderful nature of God s love, the tenacious nature of roots is actually appealing. I want the roots of my faith to hold firm. I want to see the outgrowth of my faith reaching out like tentacles and popping up in all the various areas of my life. I gain a bit of comfort knowing that when it comes to my faith, the roots will not be easily overcome. Together with you in Christ s service, PS I m beginning to believe this tree was as much underground as above.

2 Wednesday Bible Study Starting again on September 23 Looking for a way to learn more about the Bible that also provides a chance to get to know some other people from the church? Come out on Wednesday evenings at 6:00PM to an hour-long Bible study. It is open to anyone and our style encourages ques ons and group discussion. Ques ons? Contact Casey Clark. You re invited! Discuss with TPC Book Club on September 9, Virginia Stem Owens And The Trees Clap Their Hands; Faith, Percep on, and the New Physics. Learn how the cosmos bears witness to the Incarna on; how the heavens and nature really do proclaim the glory of God, as the Prophets and Psalmists said. Contact Donna Rudolph for me & loca on. October 13, meet Jeane e Stokes, author of Flying Over Home. Durham writer, long- me advocate for women in the ministry, and graduate of Duke Divinity School, Ms. Stokes takes us on a journey to rediscover her father, who le her life early first through divorce, then a too-soon death. More info? Contact Donna Rudolph, donnakrudolph@gmail.com ALPHA is a prac cal and deeply moving introduc on to the Chris an faith. If you have lingering and unresolved ques ons about Christ and why we believe what we believe, this is the opportunity to discover the answers and draw closer to Christ. The next session of Alpha will begin on September 3 and run through December 3 (with 2 weeks off in October). The course is designed to answer the burning ques ons of life and begin or make stronger, depending on who you are, your rela onship with Christ. Each session includes a scrump ous meal, lively music, and inspira onal lecture, plus me for fellowship and discussion. For more informa on and to register, please contact Ed Milligan at revejmilligan@gmail.com or in this ISSUE Adult Educa on Page 2 Congrega onal Care Page 4 Community Outreach Page 4 Service Opportuni es Page 4 Fellowship Page 5 Finance & Budget Page 5 Stop Hunger Now Page 6 Small Groups Page 7 Children s Ministry Page 8 Youth Ministry Page 10 Celebra ons Page 11 Calendar Page 12 Media Center: Update The Media Center con nues to be under construc on but please feel free to make use of the resources there. We have eliminated many of our books and media that were less helpful to make the space more usable. We have also added some excellent resources for you to borrow! No ce that there is a series of New Testament commentaries by N.T. Wright. They are very accessible and user-friendly. Check one out! 2

3 The Illustrated Bible Facilitator: Casey Clark Loca on: Fellowship Hall A Fellowship Class: Is Hollywood Discipling You? Facilitator: Jeannie Phelps, Loca on: Fellowship Hall B Every day we re surrounded by messages from Hollywood: from the characters lifestyles on TV shows to the moral standards communicated through movies to the supposedly real-life accounts of realty TV. Come and discuss how to engage with this culture, while seeing more clearly the way to live that God has shown us in his word. The Fellowship Class is a group that values conversa on and offers hospitality as they gather to study God's word. Come join this always-welcoming class as they con nue to study prayer. Come learn some of the big pictures of the Bible with pictures. We ll trace several themes of God s work among his people, as well as see the overall intent of several books, as we use short videos that vividly capture what the Bible is about. SALT Class: Women of the Old Testament Facilitator: Donna Frank Loca on: Room 101 Study 12 women of the Old Testament to see the way God used them to do extraordinary things. Their openness and obedience are examples for us today as we con nue to serve the same faithful God. HomeBuilders: All The Places to Go.How Will You Know! Facilitator: Lesley McAdams, Loca on: Room 100 Very rarely in the Bible does God command someone to Stay. He opens a door, and then he invites us to walk through it into the unknown. And how we choose to respond will ul mately determine the life we will lead and the person we will become. In fact, to fail to embrace the open door is to miss the work God has made for us to do. In All the Places to Go...How Will You Know?, bestselling author John Ortberg opens our eyes to the countless doors God places before us every day, teaches us how to recognize them, and gives us the encouragement to step out in faith and embrace all of the extraordinary opportuni es that await. So go ahead walk through that door. You just might do something that lasts for eternity. 3

4 Caregiver Support Group The Caregiver Support Group Sessions start back up in August. Sessions are held in Room 206 at 3pm. Below are upcoming topics. Sponsored by: Chris ans Helping Aging People at TPC. Contact Diane Albert with ques ons: Food Bank Peanut Bu er In addi on to dona ng your items, you are also able to donate cash and checks! Look for the Campbell s Soup cans a er service the first Sunday of each month. Upcoming: October Canned Fruit November Mac & Cheese December Baby Formula & Cereal 9/13 Should Mom and Dad Move In with Me? 9/27 Other Housing Op ons for Mom and Dad 10/11 Nursing Homes: When and Where? Christmas in...september? It's not Christmas yet, but it pays to look ahead. There are lots of Back to School sales now and it is a great me to stock up on school supplies for your Opera on Christmas Child shoeboxes! Journey Bag Volunteers Needed Thank you again to everyone who donated items and funds for our Journey Bag offering to benefit local foster children and their new foster families. We collected enough funds and in kind dona ons to be able to put together 100 journey bags!! Sixty of these bags have been delivered to foster care agencies in Wake and Durham coun es, and we need volunteers to compile the remaining 40 bags and help distribute them to other local agencies. This is a family-friendly project so please contact Lesley Woodall at lesley@westandwoodall.com if you are interested in helping to organize and distribute these journey bags. 5K/10K Race for Safe Motherhood On September 26, 519Church in Cary and Family Health Ministries are teaming up with local sponsors to offer a sanc oned 5K & 10K Run/Walk along the beau ful American Tobacco Trail in Cary, NC. In its 4th year, this race is quickly becoming a local favorite. Your entry fee supports the work of Family Health Ministries to open a women s hospital and birthing center in the mountains Hai (in Tome Gato) the Carmelle Voitaire Women s Health Center. To register for the race visit race registra on and info: 4

5 PAT H WAY S G R O U P : A u g u s t Ev e n t s! Pathways: a Chris an journey through life. Pathways is a place where anyone is welcome. Con nue to look for specific informa on in the newsle er and bulle n. September 11 - Friday - game night at 7 pm - watch s for loca on September 14 - Monday - volleyball at 6:30 pm in the FLC September 20 - Sunday - volleyball at 1:30 pm in the FLC September 27 - Sunday - brunch following late service about 12:45 at Town Hall Burger If there are any ques ons or you would like to be added to the Pathways , please contact Kelley Crabtree kelleycrabtree@nc.rr.com or call the church office at July Budget Report Pledges Budget Contribu ons Expenses Net Gain/Loss $95,878 $100,243 $88,981 $114,415 (-$25,434) Year to Date Pledges Budget Contribu ons Expenses Net Gain/Loss $671,147 $701,700 $630,649 $666,513 (-$35,864) As you can see, we are running at quite a large deficit as we close out summer. Many of you have been away and we hope you will soon catch up with your giving. We will be sending out your YTD contribu on statements in September. Remember, you can always use online bill pay or simply mail your check to the church office if you know you are going to be away. Complete the Pass! It s that me of year...fall is quickly approaching, kids are back in school and it s me for football! TPC has a football season too.the fall stewardship campaign. We will start off the season with a pre-game breakfast on Sunday, October 11 at 10:00AM in the Family Life Center. Hope to see you all there. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7. 5

6 Family Service Project Opportuni es Stop Hunger Now Event Saturday, November 14 Please mark your calendar now for our 2 nd Annual Triangle Community Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging Event on Saturday, November 14 th. This is a wonderful family service project for ages 4 and above as volunteers work together to combine rice, soy protein, dried veggies, and vitamins into meal packages to ship to children and families in need in other countries. These meals are distributed to orphanages, schools, medical clinics and other similar loca ons in desperate need of these meals. This project is both a fundraising and a hands-on volunteer project so our focus for September will be on collec ng dona ons to purchase these meals. We need to donate 29 cents per meal, and our goal is to raise $14,500 in order to be able to package 50,000 meals! The deadline for all dona ons is October 1. There will be opportuni es to donate through the Sunday offering each week in September, and there will be collec on jars in each of the children s Sunday Bible Clubs classrooms so the children can par cipate in providing dona ons as well. Online dona ons can be made at h p://events.stophungernow.org/ TrianglePresbyterian. You can also use this link to register for your preferred volunteer shi. Please invite family and friends as this event is open to everyone!!! For more informa on, please visit h p:// as well as our Triangle Stop Hunger Now Event Facebook page. For ques ons, please contact Lesley Woodall at lesley@westandwoodall.com. 6

7 Why should I join a small group? Small groups are a great source of spiritual growth for the members of the TPC body and a catalyst for Chris an love and service in our community. A small group is like a church within a church - it is a smaller, more in mate gathering of people who encourage one another, hold each other accountable, and share together in their Chris an walk. Consider the ways you can be further rooted and grounded in the love of Christ by sharing life together with other Chris ans. Contact Rachel Clark about joining one of the small groups at TPC. Mom s Small Group The Wednesday evening small group for moms will kick off again for the fall on the first day of clubs: September 23rd. We meet in the media center from 5-6:30 pm every Wednesday (5-6 pm on Ministry Team Nights). Please join us for study, prayer and fellowship and feel free to invite a friend! Please contact Rachel Clark if you would like to be added to the reminder list for this group. Tuesday Evening Ladies Small Group Join this Bible study for women from 6-7:30 on Tuesday nights in room 100. All ladies are welcome and we will be beginning a new study on the book of Acts beginning in September. Please join us for study, prayer and fellowship! For more information and to reserve a book, contact Rachel Clark. Recommended Resources: A Life Well-Lived: An In-Depth Study of Ecclesiastes by Tommy Nelson A 12-week study with videos available for streaming on Right Now John from the LifeChange Series by the Navigators A book with 22 sessions with great background informa on and discussion ques ons about the Gospel of John The Life You ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg A six-week video study with helpful and accessible advice for prac cing spiritual disciplines (available on Right Now) 7

8 Wednesday Clubs for Kids: Register NOW! September 23 (Register through September 16) Explorers (Kindergarten-1st Grade) 4:30-6:30PM $35 Kids Club (2nd-3rd Grade) 4:30-7:30PM $50 Youth Club (4th-5th Grade) 4:30-7:30PM $50 Recrea on Bible study Dinner Musical Prepara on Community Service projects and More!!!! Pick up forms for your kids and the neighbors kids too from the Welcome Center desk or register on our website. Registra on is completed upon receipt of the registra on fee for 10 weeks of clubs program. Dinner is prepared and served each week by parents under the direc on of our meals team. Each par cipa ng family helps with one week s meal. Contact Nancy with ques ons or to volunteer to help. Sigh ng Children s Ministries Volunteers around TPC! Did you know it takes a community of faith to provide Chris an educa on for kids and adults? Look at some of the volunteers in ac on spo ed this month! Consider whether you might be able to donate a couple of hours per month to help with these or similar ac vi es. Contact Nancy with your ideas, your ques ons or to volunteer. 18 Sunday Bible Clubs teachers and assistants were busily planning, preparing and praying for new and familiar class friends. TPC and TPPK staff spruced up our children s classrooms in appealing ways in prepara on for a new church and school program year. TPPK staff members are Alana Sco, Director; Administra ve Assistant, Jane Mitchell and teachers, Julie Anderson, Tara Carew, Cate Caroon, Bobbie Jaeger, Kathy Ramsey, and Linda Sheer. Class assistants are Karen Early, Amy Rhoads, Linda Routh and Julie Walston. Please pray for our TPPK staff as they begin a new year of ministry to families. 8

9 What is/are Sunday Clubs? We have heard that question floating around TPC recently, so here s some information! Sunday clubs (formerly Sunday School) are age and grade based groups who study God s Word together, pray together and play together! Dedicated teachers and assistants prepare for each class, pray for the kids, and become good friends as they encourage one another to live for Jesus each day. Class time is from 10:00-11:00AM. What a great way to develop church friendships within your peer group, and be reminded that JESUS IS LORD! All children s groups use study materials that are Bible based, kid friendly and developmentally appropriate curriculum, approved by our Session. Parents, this opportunity to develop friendships with other Christians applies to you, too! Check out one of the great offerings in Adult Sunday School! And yes, we do call it Sunday School when talking to adults! But it s still interactive, meaningful and encouraging! Sunday Clubs Offering As we live our lives for Jesus, our money is His too! Encourage your child to bring a portion of their income to Sunday Clubs to put in the class offering can or special container. The Session recently approved the children s Sunday Clubs offerings to be used to help a different ministry each year, chosen from one of the ministries that TPC already supports. This year we are collecting funds to help purchase food packets for the STOP HUNGER NOW event that TPC is hosting on Saturday, November 14. Our goal is to put together 50,000 food packets. TPC Basketball Camp 2015 Wrap Up Children's Ministries Team wishes to thank all the planners, coaches, and helpers for the wonderful job you did in providing a memorable experience for the 42 kids who attended TPC Basketball Camp August 2-6. Several parents said, Thank you for providing such a wonderful experience for my child! and We ll see you next year! Others specifically commented on the encouraging coaches and drill instructors, and the importance of the nightly team devotions. Special thanks to the Hoops Camp leadership team: Director Matt McLaughlin and Administrator, Teresa Meriwether! 9

10 MLY Major League Youth Middle Schoolers hang out every Sunday night from 4:00-5:30PM at TPC. We always have a blast come join us! Varsity High School Youth High Schoolers meet up every Sunday night from 6:30-8:00PM at TPC. We d love for you to come and join in! If you re looking to learn some more stop by our high school Bible study on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30 PM at the church. Contact Pastor Jeff for more info on youth activities. jeffspainhour@trianglepc.org. Fall Kick Off Pool Party! September :00-8:00PM Ministry Team dinner & mee ng 9 6:30-7:30PM Varsity Small Group 13 1:00 3:00PM MLY Snacks & Swim (bring a friend) 3:00 5:00PM Varsity Cook out & Swim (bring a friend) 16 6:30 7:30PM Varsity Small Group 20 12:30PM 8th Grade Lunch 20 4:00 5:30PM MLY 6:30 8:00PM Varsity 23 6:30 7:30PM Varsity Small Group 25 4:00PM Freshman/Sophomore Mixer 27 12:30PM Parent Mee ng a er Church (MLY & V) 27 4:00 5:30PM MLY 6:30 8:00PM Varsity 30 6:30 7:30PM Varsity Small Group MLY 1:00-3:00PM (Snacks) Varsity 3:00-5:30PM (Cookout) Bring a Friend! 10

11 1 Susan Ailman Brad Barnes 3 Donna McBrite Howard Plemmons John Watson 4 Steve Christopher Phil Ficks Reagan Roeber 5 Kevin Paramore Ted Pease Jeff Spainhour Arles Taylor 6 Dusty Ellington 7 Reid Mario Jose Monzon 9 Neal Anglin 10 Lee Marks 11 Bobby Charlton Lindsay Jane Cole 12 Bailey Shadoan 13 Deanna Hamilton 14 Ann Nickodem Keith Norwood Jus n Riley 15 Brent Hetland Haley Paramore Bob Schumann 16 John Chaney Adam Eigenrauch Ginna Messer Tracy Wang Roger Yunker 17 Xavier Idriss Ashley Marx David Walmer 18 Kathy Tapp 19 Craig Kornegay Russ Savre 20 Theresa Marie Rhyne 21 Grant Gibble Hannah Harvey Bri Lewis AJ Pease 22 Turner Sipe Ben Yunker 24 Lisa Henninger Tim Shafer Roberta Vandalen 25 Kathy Hill Logan Sumrow 28 Chip Hill Allan Ward 29 Jill Pafford 30 Bri ney Hahn Sarah Krantz 4 Lesa Hall & Chris Fraser 5 Robert & Ken Vandalen 6 Susan & Roger Ailman 7 Mihsong & Won-Kyoo Lee 8 Linda & Bobby Charlton 9 Meredith & Detlelv Riedel 10 Ginna & Aaron Messer 12 Mindy & Bill Myers 15 Pat & Newton McQuay Donna & Jerry Rudolph 19 Susan & Phil Ficks 20 Amie & Jon Palmer Connie & Walter Storholt 21 Kelly & Sau Lum 23 Amy & Andy Leatherwood Tracey & Joe Trask 25 Ernie & Jess Uzzell 29 Donna & Leland Myers 11

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