First Presbyterian Church Sweetwater, Texas

Transcription

1 First Presbyterian Church Sweetwater, Texas September 2018 The mission of our church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ Our vision is to be an oasis of God s love McCaulley Office hours: M ~ F, 9:00 am ~12:00pm website: P. O. Box 956, Sweetwater, Texas secfpc@att.net Pastor: Rev. Marie Mickey mmickey290@gmail.com Clerk of Session: Paula Carmichael Elder of the Month: Paul Scott September is traditionally ushered in with the traditional Labor Day celebration that was first celebrated in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The first celebrations were organized by the labor unions as a way to give tribute to contributions of workers to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. In 1894 the day became a federal holiday. Over the years, Labor Day has come to be the day that marks the end of summer, the beginning of football season, the day after which wearing white accessories was taboo, and a day to begin the preparations for the fall and winter months. For many this is a time of anxiousness as we take stock of where we are in the year and all the things we had hoped to accomplish by this time. If that is not enough, we only have to look to all that might be required of us in the coming months filled with major holidays, family gatherings, school schedules, and a whole host of obligations that seem to multiply as the pages of the calendar fall like the leaves from trees. This year, make Labor Day the time to stop, breathe, and step back from all that worries you. In Matthew 6 Jesus offers worthwhile instructions: Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these (vv ). Again, in verse 25: do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing. Jesus is using examples from nature to help us learn to deal with anxiety. Don t be anxious about what you can t control. Rather, it is time for each of us to take a break and re-center ourselves in Jesus Christ in whom we have life, in whom we have hope and security. In Jesus we know God s promise to care for us, be present with us, and in whom we have worth. As in the words of that great gospel hymn, God Will Take Care of You, sung by Aretha Franklin, No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you! Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you! Through every day all of the way God will take care of you. Pastor Marie 2 Karen Brown and Gary Brown 9 Keith Brock 16 Donella Parker 23 Doug Richards 30 Lou Ann Cumbie and Dennis Cumbie Hoyt Place We are excited to lead worship every first Sunday of the month at Hoyt Place, from 9:00-9:30 a.m. We will sing, and hear the Word of God. Come join us in this wonderful Ministry of fellowship.

2 Dates to Remember 2 Hoyt Place Worship ~ 9:00am-9:30am Sunday School~ 9:30am Worship~ 10:45am Reverse Offering Communion Class of Labor Day Holiday~ Church Office Closed 5 Plarning~ 1:00pm-3:00pm Presbyterian Women~ 5:15pm 6 Over the Hill Bunch~11:30am~Whataburger 9 Sunday School ~ 9:30am Worship ~ 10:45am Youth~ 5:00pm-6:00pm 12 Plarning~ 1:00pm-3:00pm Committee Meetings~ 5:30pm 13 Over the Hill Bunch ~11:30am~ Schlotzsky s Choir Practice~5:30pm 16 Sunday School~ 9:30am Worship~ 10:45am Little Ones & IBK s~ 5:00pm-6:00pm 20 Plarning~ 1:00pm-3:00pm Session~ 5:30pm 20 Over the Hill Bunch ~ 11:30am~Great Wall Choir Practice~5:30pm 23 Sunday School~9:30am Worship~ 10:45am Youth~ 5:00pm-6:00pm 26 Plarning~ 1:00pm-3:00pm 27 Over the Hill Bunch ~11:30am~ Golden Chick Choir Practice~5:30pm 30 Sunday School~9:30am Worship~ 10:45am~ Noisy Offering Little Ones & IBK s~ 5:00pm-6:00pm 1 Janice Gesin 5 Alma Green Cathy Reed 7 Jarrod Gee Bill Stroman 8 Arleen Kennedy 10 Paula Huckabee Dorothy Stroman 11 Ty Crain 12 Landyn Rotan Mollie Bennett Larry Ludlum 13 Emily Hammit 25 Cayley Scott Gary Brown 26 DeeAnne McFarland 28 Tripp Maxwell 29 Keith Brock 30 LaVynda Montgomery We will begin our year Wednesday, September 5th at 5:15pm. We will continue our study, Noah Built His Ark In the Sunshine. Finger Foods will be served. If you have your study book, bring it. If you need a book, we will take a count and order more. All Women are invited!! We Need You! Everyone is back to school, and we hope you have had a great start! Summer sure flew by in a hurry. 'Summer Fun' activities were lots of fun with all of you. We will now return to our weekly schedules, alternating weeks from 5:00-6:00. September 9: Youth September 16: Little Ones and IBKS September 23: Youth September 30: Little Ones and IBKs Lou Ann and Dorian

3 Stewardship - The Necessity of Giving In speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us see that you also excel in this grace of giving. Paul loved the church in Corinth as a parent loves a child. He witnessed the outpouring of God s gifts upon the whole believing community. They had been given salvation in Christ, an articulate testimony, knowledge, faith, and spiritual gifts that continued to enrich the community. It seems they lacked nothing. Even in the area of material and physical needs, the Corinthian community was very comfortable. Yet, just as any loving and committed parent would, Paul continued to lead, teach, and advise the community at Corinth. In his second letter to the church, Paul encourages the believers to identify themselves with the greater ministry of the early Christian church. Paul recognizes their past support and yet admonishes them to continue to support the ministry going on in Jerusalem. He encourages them that their practice of generosity should match the same standard of excellence they demonstrate in other areas of their walk with Jesus. Specifically, they should count God as the owner of all they possess and give from that posture. An individual who does not truly count God as the owner of all they have can never be truly generous. Generosity flows from a posture that sees everything as owned by God. Who owns your life, possessions, and wealth? First Presbyterian Church Financial Report 2018 Budget $145, Needed Monthly $ 12, Month Plate & Pledge Expenses January $7, $11, February $7, $ 8, March $ 8, $ 7, April $17, $10, May $15, $ 8, June $17, $ 7, July $ 8, $11, Received Year to Date $ 83, Over (Under) Budget $ (1,891.00) Noisy Offering Noisy Offering is designated toward the Ministerial Alliance January $ February $ March $ April $ May $ June $ July $ Received Year to Date $ Food Pantry Food Pantry contributions are designated to the Nolan County Food Pantry January $ March $ April $ May $ July $ Received Year to Date $ Session Minutes Stewardship and Finance: Financial Report was unanimously approved. Church charter is being renewed. October Campaign is being planned. Building and Grounds: The session voted to accept Kenneth Kidd as contractor for work in fellowship hall. Bid will be accepted to have supplemental bid subject to include electrical work and revision in cost due to donation of drywall. Christian Education: Family activities are being planned for the future. Mission and Outreach: Summer work at The SHOP was successful. Ad for football program was approved. Worship Committee: Bibles will be presented to 4 th Graders. New Business: Presbytery Meeting will be Sept , 2018 at First Church Graham. Reverend Mickey s Report: Rev. Mickey will be gone Sept. 23, Oct, 14, 21, 28. Marie has been attending all events and will attend ordination for George Records in Vernon. She has completed some in-service and has continued to do outreach to elderly.

4 Trip to WASP Museum Swim Party at Richard and Patty Gesin s Home Peyton Gee, Rev. Marie Mickey, Emily Hammit, Brynlee Scott, Harper Gee, Kallen Moody, Lou Ann Cumbie Ange Mekogue, Harper Gee, Brynlee Scott, Peyton Gee, Caden Wilburn and friends. Scarlett Whitteker, Richard Gesin, Robert Whitteker, Jim Gesin, Rev. Marie Mickey Peggy Elliott, Tracy Wilburn Lou Ann Cumbie, Ruth Ann Campbell,

5 DeeAnne McFarland and Evalyn Bates Arleen Kennedy and Tres Campbell Blessings for School Year Dennis Cumbie and David Scott Dorian Westacott gave a blessing. The Lord bless you and protect you, The Lord make his face shine on You and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his face to you and grant you peace. Brandie Gee and Cayley Scott Numbers 6:24-26

6 Kallen Moody was the candle lighter. Kallen Moody and Peyton Gee were presented Bibles. The children collected the offering. Doug Richards, Ashton Moody, Jody Moody, Betty Richard, Averi Moody, Kallen Moody

7 Games in the Garden Harper Gee, Peyton Gee, Jarod Gee, Brandie Gee Jodie and Jack Aycock at the luncheon.