THE WINDOW. A publication of First Presbyterian Church Hendersonville, TN. February Dear Friends,

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1 THE WINDOW A publication of First Presbyterian Church Hendersonville, TN February 2016 Dear Friends, Worship is one of the most important parts of our Christian faith. God is glorified each Sunday we gather together to worship. Author Herb Miller once said, two thousand years, a church s most powerful program is still its worship service. I am sure you have heard complaints about worship. I didn t recognize any of the hymns today. That liturgy sounded Catholic. It is too noisy before worship. The music was played too loud. The service went over again. His microphone is still not working. That is too Episcopalian, Lutheran, Baptist. Maybe you heard the story of the preacher who was delivering his sermon when a man sitting on the back pew hollered, Louder! The preacher raised his voice. The man yelled once again, Louder! The preacher raised his volume even more. The man repeated his request. Finally a woman in the front pew turned around and said, What s the matter, can t you hear back there? No, said the man. She responded, Is there room for me back there? What is Presbyterian worship? In an article in Presbyterians Today David Gambrell said, It seems to me that we re (Presbyterians) better at saying what Presbyterian/Reformed worship is not than we are at saying what it is. In his article he highlights the top eight parts of worship. Presbyterian worship is ecumenical, Wordcentered, Spirit-filled, communal, evangelical, sacramental, missional, and always being reformed. I want to focus on the evangelical part of worship. The whole worship service is about proclaiming the good news of God s love in Jesus Christ. Our singing, reciting a confession or affirmation, reading the Bible, listening to the sermon (even from the back pew) all tell the Gospel story. The Gospel comforts us and challenges us. When we receive God s love, it always calls for a response in our lives. Even our order of service has titles that show a progression towards God and a response Preparation, Gathering, Proclaiming the Word, and Responding to the Word. We are moving towards God with confession, receive His grace and then respond with gratitude. Then we are sent out into the world with the charge, The God who lives in you and me wants to do something through us. Believe that and go in His grace and power. The good news of great joy flows in us and through us. People see God s grace in us because we have been in the presence of the Lord. Rev. Paul Gibson was a president of Ridley Hall College in Cambridge. At his retirement a portrait was unveiled. In his speech he thanked the artist. He said that in the future he believed people looking at the picture would ask not, Who was this man? but rather Who painted that portrait? Each time we worship God our lives are enriched with Christ s love. People will ask not who we are but rather who is influencing our lives. Love and Prayers,

2 Responding to God s love and grace, our vision is to serve Christ through service to others. The Downtown Presbyterian Homeless Breakfast Ministry started in a church Sunday school class with doughnuts and coffee. As more homeless began to come to the breakfast, the church expanded the breakfast by making cinnamon toast, grits, pastries and coffee. In the beginning they could handle the crowd with two or three volunteers; but as the crowd increased, it was obvious that there was a need for more volunteers. They made an announcement at Presbytery for more volunteers and that is how various groups became involved. Since its inception the Sunday morning breakfast has been served faithfully never missing a Sunday. It is estimated that over 120,000 meals have been served with an average of about 230 guests each Sunday. Last year 19 different groups volunteered. Some of those groups were Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist, Jewish, Methodist, Unitarian, 7 th Day Adventists, non-denominational groups, non-church individuals and the Boy Scouts. Our church got involved in September of 2008 as a mission opportunity for the high school youth group. John and Susan Martin got involved and took over coordination in early Our church serves regularly the second Sunday of each month, and we have filled in other Sundays as needed. Jim Barr, a member of DPC, coordinates the breakfast each Sunday and does a great job of making sure we have the food and volunteers. It is very well organized. We will usually have 8-10 volunteers; and each volunteer has a role in food preparation, serving and cleanup. Hendersonville Publix provides bread and pastries. Our congregation also provides donations of fresh fruit and coffee. Many thanks to those of you who serve this ministry with your donations of fruit and coffee. The ministry will be 13 years old when Lent starts this year. The mission is simply serving the least of these. For those of us who participate it is a rewarding experience. It is evident that those we serve appreciate what is done for them. Habitat for Humanity Award Michael accepted the Church of the Year Award from Habitat for Humanity. First Presbyterian Church received this recognition for its contributions to Habitat for Humanity in Our church participated in an Apostle s Build and contributed money. Also, Lauren Duke won a contest and designated the money to Habitat.

3 Tim Bish was raised in Madison and moved to Hendersonville during elementary school. Hendersonville is a great community to raise a family and live. He is a sales representative for Riddell/All-American Sports. Tim enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, and smoking cigars. He likes the small, close knit, family feeling of our church. He is excited about serving as an elder and believes this is where God wants him in his journey of faith. Janet Covington was born in Ardara, PA, lived in DuBois, PA and Russellville, KY and moved to Nashville for nursing school. She has lived in Hendersonville since Janet likes the small town feeling with the benefits of city life that Hendersonville offers. She was a registered nurse. Her favorite hobbies are reading and gardening. She describes our church as a small church with great people. The Day School brought her and Ed to the church. She feels called to serve God as an elder. Sherry Tarbutton was raised in Cordova, TN and has lived in Hendersonville for about 36 years. She likes the people, the religious community, and lifestyles of the Hendersonville community. Sherry was a Director of Human Resources. She likes to cook and read. She is excited about the mission of our church and describes it as a sweet congregation. She looks forward to giving back to the church as an elder. Carl Scott was raised in West Nashville and has lived in Hendersonville since He and Karen moved to Hendersonville because it was close to his work. They like the school system for their children and grandchildren. He is presently the Director with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. His hobby is golf. He enjoys the nice people in our church, along with singing the old hymns out of the hymnal and the relevant sermons. He feels honored to serve as an elder.

4 Save the Date: Our Annual Chili Supper, Talent Show and Dessert Auction will be held on Sunday, February 21st, starting at 5:00 p.m. This event helps raise much needed funds to enhance the Presbyterian Day School program. Look for sign up sheets soon in the church bulletin. **************************************************************************************** Evening Book Club News The Evening Book Club meets the second Monday monthly. Join us in February for a discussion of The Spirit Catches You and We All Fall Down recommended by Conn McConnell. Please join us on Monday, February 8th, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 205 for discussion. Future selections include: A Man Named Ove by Fredrik Bachman; April The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah. *************************** Women s Bible and Lunch We meet on the second Tuesday monthly. We are studying Parables of Jesus, Our Teacher. In February, we are ready for Lesson 6: Count the Cost. Don t hesitate to join this study; study material is still available. Please make plans to join us Tuesday morning, February 9th, at 10:00 a.m. Also plan on joining us for lunch at a local restaurant to be determined by the group. If you would like a ride, please call Jackie Decker at **************************************************************************************** Congratulations to Tommy & Jenny Decker on the birth of their daughter, Lynnlee Jane, born on January 22nd (just before the winter storm). She weighed 9 lbs, 6 oz. Proud grandparents, Paul & Jackie Decker, welcomed their second granddaughter. Great grandmother, Jane Watts, is honored to welcome her namesake. **************************************************************************************** Dear Church Family, Thank you for all of the cards and gifts and other expressions of love you have shown me for my tenth anniversary at First Presbyterian Church. Your love and support means so much to me. I have told many of my organist colleagues that I feel more like a member of the church than an employee. I look forward to many more years of service. - Tony Williams ******************************* Dear Church Family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your kind words, love, support, cards, letters, and visits over the last past year. It is difficult to be Homebound and I miss getting to see each of you at church on Sundays and I miss Pastor Michael s uplifting sermons each week. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. Blessings Peggy Lloyd

5 Hudson Walker having a big laugh during the musical squirt gun game! When the music stops and you have the sprayer, you can spray the person on your right or left! Kid s Club being silly, which is very easy for them!

6 Do Not Forget the Lord As Moses prepared to die and be gathered to his fathers, the Lord appeared to him with the message that the Israelites whom He had delivered from bondage and protected through the desert, would forsake their God, break their covenant with Him, turn from Him and worship other gods. For this, God said, they would suffer many hardships and punishments. Knowing that he was about to leave his nation in Joshua s hands, Moses repeatedly warned them Do not forget the Lord, your God and all that He has done for you. The story of the Exodus tells us that it did not take long for the Israelites to do just that. In times of trouble and testing their whining and doubt often caused them to question God and even to worship other gods. Beginning on March 13, an adult Bible entitled With All Your Heart will lead participants into the world of the Hebrews so that we can apply the message of the Bible to our own lives and come to a better understanding of God s purpose in Jesus life and in our own lives. We will travel through the Sinai, to the Egyptian mining center at Timnah; and we will build the Tabernacle in order to make a space for God. We will discover what God means when He talks about leadership. Join us at 9:00 am on March 13 in Room 205 for this study by Ray Vander Laan. Be sure to bring your Bible for the journey. Questions about this study should be directed to Gloria Deaner. ********************************************************************************************** Are you interested in developing a daily habit of spending time with God? Michael will be leading a group of people interested in creating daily space for devotion time with the Lord. It will last 100 days with only 4 Saturday morning meetings. The participants will communicate weekly by , texting, or blogging. There is an orientation meeting on Sunday, February 21 st in the sanctuary after worship. ********************************************************************************************** February 7 What brings change to our lives, 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (Communion) February 10 Ash Wednesday February 14 Using God s bounty for His praise, Deuteronomy 26:1-11 February 21 Dealing with fear, Psalm 27 February 28 Making good investments with our lives, Isaiah 55:1-9 Have you noticed the Adult Choir lately? There are several new faces in the choir. I think they re sounding great and the chancel is getting full. But the choral director in me says that there is always room for more. So, once again, here s my challenge. However, this time I m directing it more towards the men of the church, but ladies, you are not excluded. You may have noticed a more powerful sound coming from the choir, especially the men. We have added some new basses to the choir as well as sopranos and altos. But, we have not added to the tenor section which means that Tom and John have to work harder to balance the rest of the choir. Two or three more tenors will actually help the tenors not work so hard. If you think the choir sounds good now (and they do), just think of how it would sound with the addition of a few new tenors. So, gentlemen, and ladies too, why not try out the choir at least during Lent and Easter. If you don t like it, you don t have to stay. And if you do, you will be a part of a great group of people. We do have fun in our rehearsals as not only do we work on our music, we laugh and joke and tease each other. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Now here s a challenge specifically to the men of the church. Have you noticed that when we have a women s choir for the Gift of Women Sunday, we have a very full chancel? This year, when we celebrate Gift of Men Sunday this June, why not have the chancel full of men for a men s ensemble. Gentlemen, I know we can do it. If you have any questions, please let me know. And, I ll see you in the choir. Tony Williams

7 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday February :00 am Women s Book Group 6:15 pm Local Missions 11:00 am Staff 6:30 am Men s Bible 6:15 pm Worship Committee 7:00 pm Adult Choir 7:00 pm Ephesians Bible 7:30 pm NA in MH :00 am Sunday School 9:00 am Serving from the Heart Class 10:00 am Worship- Communion 11:00 am Handbell Choir Rehearsal 11:00 am Bldg./Grounds 6:30 pm Book Club 10:00 am Women s Bible Kids Club Roller Skating 6:30 am Men s Bible 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday Service 8:00 pm Budget & Finance 5:30 pm Women s Bible 7:00 pm Ephesians Bible 7:30 pm NA in MH :00 am Downtown Ministrshine 10:30 am Sun- 6:30 am Men s 7:30 pm NA Ministry Bible in MH 9:00 am Sunday School 9:00 am Serving from the Heart Class 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Handbell Choir Rehearsal 11:00 am Education 5:30 pm Membership 7:00 pm Session 7:00 pm Adult Choir Window Deadline 7:00 pm Ephesians Bible :00 am Sunday School 9:00 am Serving from the Heart Class 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Handbell Choir Rehearsal 5:00 pm Chili Supper, Talent Show & Dessert Auction :00 am Sunday School 9:00 am Serving from the Heart Class 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Handbell Choir Rehearsal Vacation-Michael Vacation- Michael Vacation- Michael 6:30 am Men s Bible 7:00 pm Adult Choir Vacation-Michael ***Note*** NA s on Mondays & Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in Martin Hall Vacation- Michael 7:30 pm NA in MH Handbell Festival Vacation-Michael Presbytery FPC Cookville 6:30 pm Adult Fellowship Carrier s Handbell Festival Vacation- Michael

8 CHURCH STAFF Michael Davis, Pastor Dr. Anthony Williams, Organist/Choir Director Linda Agee, Church Administrator Chuck Adamson, Building Maintenance Amy Bleich, Nursery Attendant Gloria, Braswell, P.D.S. Director First Presbyterian Church 172 W. Main St. Hendersonville, TN (615) ; Fax (615) Website: linda@hendersonvillefpc.org Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:00 a.m. 1 - Ryan Estepp 6 - Laura Brooks 7 - Jane Watts 9 - Richard Wallis Mike Smith 10 - Kaitlynn Edmonson 11 - Jackie Decker 12 - Emma Wells 13 - Ethan Minor 14 - Susan Keen 15 - Jim Lacy 17 - Sprigg Ebbert 18 - Ben Dye Clint Young 20 - Debra Obrock 25 - Cathy Lind 27 - Anna Belle Say 28 - Kelly Horton