Presby Post A Publication of First Presbyterian Church, Maryville, MO

Transcription

1 Presby Post 2016 A Publication of First Presbyterian Church, Maryville, MO Fall Schedules September is a month of settling into regular fall schedules. There is a rhythm to school, football games, and meetings that returns in September. It has been wonderful to see the Facebook pictures of students on their first day of school. The kids look great and ready for a new school year. It is also a sign that the odd schedule of summer is over and routine is returning. By this time, many have a fall calendar on the refrigerator. Undoubtedly, it is jam packed, but it is regular. School happens five days a week. Football games are on Fridays and Saturdays. Meetings happen at their normal days and times. Once everything is penciled onto the calendar, we can take a deep breath and feel like we are returning to regular customs. We know that the things on our calendars are not set in stone. Changes will happen. Things will be rescheduled. And we will have to adjust. This can be irritating, but it is manageable. The desire for a regular schedule is not a new phenomenon. I think people through the centuries have desired a certain degree of predictability in their schedules. People in the Bible even had this desire. They had a calendar with a regular work schedule, meetings and family events. Granted, their calendar wasn t on Google, but people had a way of keeping track of when they had to be where. A number of people in the Bible had to do some significant rescheduling. Their entire lives were interrupted by an experience with God. A few examples are worthy of note. After fleeing Egypt, Moses had a pretty good life tending sheep in Midian with his father in law Jethro. It was a nice, predictable life. Then he stumbled upon this burning bush. I think you know the story. God spoke through the bush with a new plan for Moses. He would return to Egypt and free God s people from slavery. That was not on Moses calendar. After negotiating a bit, Moses moved things around on the schedule and followed God s call. Peter, Andrew, James and John had a regular schedule. They got up at the crack of dawn six days a week, went fishing, and then took the catch to the market. By then, it was the end of a long day. They spent some time with their families, went to bed and did the same thing again the next day. It was a nice, predictable life. One day a Rabbi happened by and called them to fish for people. As the story goes, these fishermen literally dropped everything and followed Jesus. It was a huge interruption in their life. But they wholeheartedly embraced it. Their schedule changed dramatically, and the results were fantastic. Saul (Paul) had a good and regular routine as well. As a Pharisee he spent much of his time studying and interpreting the law. He had a passion to snuff out a group of Jews who were causing trouble. These followers of Jesus needed to be stopped. Saul put this mission on his calendar and went to work. As he was heading toward Damascus with arrest warrants in hand, Saul experienced a huge interruption. He had an encounter with Jesus that turned his mission and calendar in the opposite direction. Instead of being the church s greatest persecutor, he became the church s greatest missionary. A meeting with Jesus was not on Saul s calendar. As we put the final touches on our fall schedules, we should be ready for some interruptions. They are inevitable. And who knows, one of those interruptions may come from God. Likely, it will be more subtle than those experienced by folks in the Bible. However, the results will be fantastic. This September, let s anticipate some interruptions from God, reschedule some things, and expect great outcomes. Pastor Jonathan

2 2 Lectionary Readings First Presbyterian Church 211 South Main Maryville, MO :00 AM Sunday School for All Ages 10:30 AM Sunday Worship Church Web Page: September 4 Jer. 18:1-11; Ps. 139:1-6, 13-18; Philem. 1-21; Luke 14:25-33 September 11 Jer. 4:11-12, 22-28; Ps. 14; 1 Tim. 1: 12-17; Luke 15:1-10 September 18 Jer. 8:18-9:1; Ps. 79:1-9; 1 Tim. 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13 September 25 Jer. 32:1-3a, 6-15; Ps. 91:1-6, 14-16; 1 Tim. 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31 Youth Web Page: Youth Facebook: First Presbyterian Facebook: firstpresbyterianchurchmaryvil lemo Church Staff Hours Rev. Jonathan Mitchell, Pastor 8:00 AM-Noon Monday Thursday Vicki Wainscott, Administrative Assistant 8:00 AM noon Monday Thursday Larry Mannasmith, Music Dir. Cayla Maynes, Youth Leader Merlin Atkins, Custodial Care Stephanie Crabtree, Nursery Coordinator Inside This Issue Pastor Jonathan s Message...1 Lectionary...2 September Schedules. 3 Sunday school Audio available on the web Finance Session.7 Youth..8 Kid s Page.9-10 Cartoon

3 3 Birthdays Michelle Pettlon Sam Wallinga Chris Brown Rev. Bob Ceperley Pat Mozingo Sheryl Buholt Margaret Funston Anniversaries Bill and Pat Mozingo Coffee Hour Returns Starting Sunday, September 11, we will again have coffee time after worship. However, we are not going to call it Coffee Hour because coffee is not the point. We are going to call it Fellowship Time because connecting and conversing is the emphasis. To keep things simple, we will only serve coffee, water and juice. If people want to bring treats for celebrations such as anniversaries, birthdays or special events, that will be fantastic. No one would want to go without the goodies that remain after the Chocolate Festival. We will still have coffee available upstairs in the hallway at 10:00 a.m. between Sunday school and church. Shepherd's Kitchen Crew Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Karla Rusco, Karen Pfost, David Wooten and Lois Dawson Diane and Ron Brown, Richard Fulton, Ron and Pam Petersen Emergency Preparedness Club Carole and Jeff Funston, Frances and Floyd Hook, Sharon and Marlin Slagle Ron and Diane Brown, Kay and Merlin Atkins, Barb Snyder Lois Dawson and David Wooten (sub for the Funstons) August Attendance Ushers Al and Pat Turner Marlin and Sharon Slagle

4 4 The Providence of God The seed was sown long months ago, And through the winter s cold and snow, We trusted that God s care would bring The green and tender blade in spring, Which cherished by the sun and rain Of summer, now has yielded grain In autumn, when the reaper leaves His cot to cut and bind the sheaves So God s great mercies thus abound; His love still brings the seasons round; His blessings fill our happy fields, And all our land its increase yields: So if we serve him as we should, Our Lord will give us all things good; And he who doth the ravens feed Much more will give us all we need! Author unknown Sunday School begins Sept 11 Pre-school Children (Grades 1-6) Youth (Grades 7-12) Feasting on the Word (Adult) Women s Path (Adult Women) Bible Survey -Luke (Adult) FALL Kickoff Sunday, Sept. 11, 6:00-8:00 Bounce House, Volleyball, Games, Free Ice Cream and Cookies. Everyone is invited!

5 Come walk Women s Path 5 Women s Path is open to all women of the Church. Like the Appalachian Trail, it curves, it climbs mountains, it pauses in valleys and it stops and starts. It is guided by Karen Fulton, but its curriculum is crated by the members attending. It meets in 3 or 4 week pods with a week rest in between. All pods are focused on women's spirituality, the approach is freewheeling. Our first meeting is traditional on Mary and Martha; we will also build our first unit. Come join us. You are always welcome at Womens s Path. Starts 9 AM, September 11 in the God s Story Room. See you there. Audio sermons are now available online via the Church s web page at Currently we have the audio for the past week s sermon only. We are working on having a collection of audio files from several weeks of sermons. Go to the web page and click on the topic Audio Sermons. From there click the forward arrow and the sermon will begin. I hope you enjoy hearing the sermon again or hearing it for the first time if you missed worship for a Sunday. Christian Symbol+ Ship The Christian church has long been symbolized by a ship. While the Old Testament tells of Noah s ark preserving righteous people during the flood, the New Testament recounts Jesus calming the storm that battered the disciples fishing boat. St. Ambrose described the church as a ship with the cross as its mast, and others have compared salvation to being drawn out of the sea of death into the safety of the church (ship). Indeed, many large churches are constructed to represent a big boat, with the main worship space called the nave Latin for ship.

6 July Income Total Donations $ Day Camp Donation $ Per Capita Individual Payments $ Pledges $ 8, Interest $ 0.93 Total $ 9, $ 9, Expenses Advertising $ (15.00) Christian Education Children and Youth Programs $ (35.00) Fellowship and Outreach Maintenance/Repairs Insurance $ (509.00) Misc. Lion's Flag $ (45.00) Missions Ministry Center $ (100.00) Camp Quality $ (100.00) Office Computer, software, equipment $ (9.99) Copier $ (157.03) Postage and Delivery $ (11.56) Supplies - Janitorial $ (32.25) Utilities Electric $ (782.36) Gas $ (74.63) Telephone $ (78.34) Trash $ (21.00) Water $ (32.10) Wages and Salaries $ (8,601.72) Worship Flowers $ (45.00) Total Expeneses $ (10,649.98) $ (10,649.98) Designated Funds Balance Date Choclate Festival $ 4, /31/2016 Hospitality Fund $ 1, /31/2016 Youth Fund $ /31/2016 Library Fund $ 1, /31/2016 Checking - Citizens Bank $ 9, /30/2016 $ 7, /31/2016 Income $ 9, Total Expenses $ (10,649.98) Total $ (1,333.05)

7 7 Session Highlights August 2016 Trustees: Sermons are now available on-line. Go to: and click audio sermons. Trustees made some minor repairs around the building. The annual insurance audit is complete. The fall work day will be in October Trustees discussed improvements in classrooms. A subcommittee has been established for this. The members are Frances Hook, Ann Rowlette and Rita Wallinga. Trustees discussed a few other repairs that need to be made, including planting grass seed in the west lawn. Session: Christian Education Traveling Day Camp and the Worlds of Fun trip were a huge success. Thank you goes to all who volunteered! The start of Sunday school and the Fall Kick-off event have been moved to Sept. 11. The committee discussed a number of curriculum options. The committee will meet again on 8/24. Memorial Committee The Fields Scholarships were awarded worship on July 31. There has been positive feedback about doing this in worship. Plans are to award the scholarship(s) during worship again next year. Mission Committee Christmas in the Summertime Program was a success. Thank you goes to everyone who brought a gift and/or helped with the process. Outreach and Fellowship 2 ideas are under discussion for the Advent Season: an organ crawl after the city wide Christmas Parade and a celebration with the folks at the Children and Family Center. In the New Year, the committee is considering the formation of formal prayer groups. Details TBA. Worship The committee meets on September 13. Stewardship The stewardship and pledge drive will happen for 3 Sundays in October. During this time, we will roll out the electronic giving program.

8 8 Nominating The committee is working with a short list of names to fill the vacant deacon spot. New Business Session has decided to have a fellowship hour again following worship. This will be a very informal time to sit and enjoy each other s company. Coffee, water and juice will be the only things served. If people want to celebrate an anniversary, birthday or other special event, they are free to do so and provide the treats. Session will endeavor to do some visioning for the future and make specific plans Youth Events for August and September August 28th, Youth & Parent Welcome Back Parents and youth are invited for food, celebration, splatter-ball and a review of the upcoming School Year. We will discuss; Sunday Night Gatherings, Service Opportunities, Wow 2017, Mission Trips for 2017 and 2018, fundraising, along with the vision for our youth and the program. Hope you can join us. September 4th. Labor Day Weekend No Youth September 11th Fun Night Bonfire and Kickoff at First Presbyterian Church 6-8pm. Volleyball, games, and fun. Sunday Night Youth Gatherings Sept 18th & 25th Middle School: will meet in the Fellowship hall from 5:30-6:30pm for songs, games and faith talks. Sr. High: will meet at the Komorech house from 7:17-8:30pm, we'll eat, play, spend time in fellowship and study the Bible th Street, Maryville Mo, Middle School Getaway to Wilderness Retreat Center Saturday 17th meet at Church 1:00pm- Return Sunday Afternoon 3:00pm. Bring Sleeping Bag, toiletries, bible and be prepared for a Fall adventure. Cost is $45.00 (Looking for 2 or 3 adults who can participate as well)

9 Kids Page September Puzzle answers are on the next page..

10 Answer key to puzzle on previous page. 10

11 11 Sunday, September 11, 9:00 AM