The Bell and the Well

Transcription

1 The Bell and the Well October 2016 Volume 50 Number 8 On the Same Page It should not be some pleasant accident or coincidence. Pastor and people need to be on the same page, intentionally. I am confident that when it comes to the Bible, we are on the same page. Many of you, not all of you, but many of you are biblically literate. You are in the Bible often, and not just to find some obscure crossword puzzle word, either. You read scripture as you would exercise. You want to stay fit, spiritually. You want to stretch yourself, spiritually. You want to stay in shape, spiritually, because you want to know more and more about the God Who has created You and Who desires to know all about your life. There is no substitute for reading scripture, but our biblical knowledge can be complemented by reading the works of other Christians. One of my favorite ways to complement my biblical knowledge is to read books that expand my spiritual life. And one of my favorite authors is Henri Nouwen, who was one of my seminary professors. I want us to read Henri as we make our approach to Advent, as we prepare to step into Christmas. The book I want you to buy and begin to read is Reaching Out. It comes in paperback. It is available at a book store or on-line. Henri, who died in 1996, was from Holland. He taught at Yale and Harvard, served in Chile as a missionary, and he ended up in his last years in Toronto, Ontario, living in a residential home for the severely handicapped. Henri writes with profound simplicity. He has a way of bringing us, the reader, back to the basics, the essentials of the Christian faith and the truths the Bible points to about God revealed in Jesus and made present through Holy Spirit. His words are gentle and kind and winsome. Here s something Henri once wrote: The real spiritual guide is the one who, instead of advising us what to do or to whom to go, offers us a chance to stay alone and take the risk of entering into our own experience. S/he makes us see that pouring little bits of water on our dry land does not help, but that we will find a living well if we reach deep enough under the surface of our complaints. Recalling that Advent is a time to get ready to receive Christ anew, in fresh and deeper ways, reading Henri Nouwen will prove helpful. He will guard us from a holiday season that seeks to empty us of our vitality for knowing and loving God, for celebrating the God-with-us event of Christmas. He will point out why seasons such as Advent and Christmas are far too important to be merely commercialized by culture and custom. For the first OASIS in October, let s commence our Advent pilgrimage by reading Henri Nouwen s Reaching Out. There are three sections and 9 chapters. We will discuss the first chapter after OASIS dinner on Oct. 5. Faithfully, Gus Succop, Pastor Blessing of the Animals Sunday, Oct. 2 at 3 p.m. (south campus)

2 News, Events, & Happenings in and around October 2016 Church School Church School meets 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the Youth Room. We ll dig into more Messy Stories of the Old Testament and find out how a loving God embraces in Christ a weird group of people through whom salvation for the whole world has come. Wow! Upcoming Events: October 5 Food & Fellowship, 6-7 pm, Firehouse Subs, 4732 South Blvd. (near Woodlawn Road) October 12, 19, 26 Dinner at 6 pm - Oasis dinner is $5 Holla from 6:30-7:30 pm Communication Quail Hollow Youth leadership is continuing to gather contact information for our youth and their parents. If you have a rising 6th-12th grader, please be in touch with Becky Aelick (beckya@earthlink.net or ) to be added to the Holla communications lists: weekly s, Holla Facebook, and Remind text blasts. Yearly Forms Have you filled out your parental consent form for this year? If not, please download it from the QHPC.org website and bring it to the next event. If your student has graduated and s/he (or you) should be removed, please let her know. If you are interested in serving with the Youth, please send an to Adam Stricker (ws56309@yahoo.com) to discuss the opportunities available.

3 PAGE 3 PW@QHPC NEWS The PW Officers for are: Moderator - Georgene Sherer Treasurer - Phyllis Brown Secretary - Cheryl Mims Missions Coordinator- Mary Hice Search - Carol Crumbley Morning Circle Leader - Peggy Warstler Morning Bible Moderator - Grace Mitchell Evening Circle Leader and Bible Moderator The Evening Circle The QHPW began a new year of Bible Study on Tuesday, September 13. Our Morning Circle meets at 10:00 am and the Evening Circle meets at 7:00 pm. Both groups meet in the Betty Lambeth Parlor. This year's Bible Study is entitled, "Who is Jesus, What a Difference a Lens Makes," written by Judy Yates Siker. As part of our PW Mission, items were purchased and delivered to the Health Unit at Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School. For the month of October, the PW will bring individually wrapped snacks for families of patients at the Hospice Unit at Southminster. SAVE THE DATE PW Joy Gift Luncheon and Silent Auction - Saturday, December 3, 11:00 am The PW Council will provide dessert. Bring a salad to share and if you wish, an item or two for the Silent Auction. We are excited to welcome back to Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church, Katarina Whitley as our special guest speaker. Bring a guest!

4 PAGE 4 October Scripture Lessons The Bible is alive -- it speaks to me; it has feet it runs after me; it has hands it lays hold on me. (Martin Luther) October 2, 20 th Sunday in Pentecost: Psalm 137 Pastor Succop preaching: Why We Remember October 9, 21 st Sunday in Pentecost: Jeremiah 29: 1, 4-7 Pastor Succop preaching: Life to the Fullest October 16, 22 nd Sunday in Pentecost: Luke Witte preaching: October 23, 23 rd Sunday in Pentecost: Joel 2: Pastor Succop preaching: THE Catastrophe October 30, 24th Sunday in Pentecost: Habakkuk 1: 1-4; 2: 1-4 Pastor Succop preaching: Faithfully Flummoxed Fall Beautification Day Blessing of the Animals Sunday, October 2, 3 p.m. South Campus Join us Saturday, October 15, at 9 a.m. if you like to plant flowers and work in the yard. We ll spread pine needles, generally spruce up the grounds and clean out the garage. Lunch will be provided around 12 noon. We d love to have you join us even if only for an hour... many hands make light work! Donations of dog/cat food and/or a pet toy will be taken to the Humane Society by Sue & Ron Hawkins.

5 PAGE 5 Our annual Fall Craft Fair to benefit the Live Nativity will be held on Saturday, Oct 29, 10-3 p.m. Funds are running a bit low for Nativity 16, and WE CAN HELP BY BAKING! Shoppers and vendors alike LOVE our homemade baked goods! We sold out too quickly in the spring, and we need to DOUBLE the amount given this fall! Your cookies or cake might help to raise our profits by $ ! Please SAVE THE DATE NOW to drop off your baked goods, pre packaged, to the Johnston Hall kitchen by 10/29 at 9 am. We need shoppers, too; so, come start your holiday shopping, and remind your friends and neighbors! We have new vendors and old friends (the candle guy is BACK!), plus BSA Troop 256 will be offering a car wash and Van's Famous BBQ. GOOD TIMES FOR ALL SUPPORT OUR LIVE NATIVITY! Questions? Contact Barbara Navarro at navarrobw@gmail.com or Sunday, October 30th Decorate your trunk, bring treats to share with other families and park in the designated area near the preschool on October 30 from 4-6 pm. Be sure to sign the Trunk or Treat sign-up sheet on the bulletin board near the choir room to let us know who is coming. Questions? Contact Erin Gillis (preschool@qhpc.org).

6 PAGE 6 Our New School Year The start of the school year has gone very well! This year we have welcomed 3 new teachers: Karla Hollowell, Ivanna Campbell and Angela Angelo. We are blessed to have you! Beginning in October, our students will be settled in, and will begin to enjoy all the enrichment we offer at QHPS such as Chapel Time, Storyteller, Music and My Gym! They have already been busy bees in the classroom brightening up our hallways with beautiful artwork. Don't for get to join us on Sunday, October 30th for Trunk or Treat! Don't Miss An Opportunity to Serve! Erin Gillis, Preschool Director Trunk or Treat Preschool Staff

7 PAGE 7 Holy Land Pilgrimage Jan , 2017 Is the Lord calling you to participate? If the Lord is calling to participate on the January 2017 Holy Land pilgrimage, the deposit deadline is Oct. 4. In previous years, a number of Quail Hollow members and friends have participated. The January pilgrimage will include Peggy & Tom Currie, former Dean of Charlotte s Union Presbyterian Seminary. Brochures are available in the Narthex and church office, and a DVD overview is available. If you are considering making your pilgrimage and have questions about the itinerary, food, lodging, safety, etc., please speak soon with Pastor Succop. OASIS, our Wednesday mid-week meal-and-class ministry, has resumed! Martha Rand is our leader along with other faithful servants. Please fill out a reservation card found in the pew rack. Are you willing to serve? Speak with Martha ( ). NEXT Community Conversation - October 2 Rich Bonnell & Joel Aelick, Co-Clerks of the Session What is a Community Conversation? A Community Conversation is a Session convened conversation. The Session holds Community Conversations to facilitate faithful, transparent and effective communication between the Elders and congregation. Virgil Adkins and the Southminster Task Force will present to the congregation a proposed letter of intent to sell a parcel of land to Southminster Retirement Community. The congregation will be informed about the specifics of the parcel of land and the prosed transaction. A Congregational Meeting will be held on October 23rd for a vote on the proposed letter of intent. The last Community Conversation for 2016 is December 18.

8 PAGE 8 Operation Christmas Child Yes, it s already here! Soon you will see empty shoeboxes ready for you to take home and fill. Once again, the congregation and Preschool are partnering with Operation Christmas Child (OCC) to fill shoeboxes for needy children around the world. Together, we will bring joy to many through shoe boxes filled with small gifts and with the spirit of Christ. For many, it will be the first time they will hear the Good News. The Tuesday Night Women s Group is spearheading OCC. They are already busy wrapping the boxes. So, begin shopping! Snap up those marked-down school items, small toys, hard candy, socks, hygiene items such as toothpaste, soap, washcloths, tee shirts, etc. Remember: NO liquids, glass or other breakables, chocolate or food items, or military related items, including anything cam. Otherwise, use your imagination! The ones most needed are boxes for ages 10 14, especially for boys. Please consider doing a box for that age group. Other age categories include boys and girls, ages 2 4 and 5 9. The flyers you will receive with your box will give all the details. The collection dates are Nov 13 & 20 th. During that week, the boxes will be in the church to allow our Preschoolers to learn about sharing with children around the world in their Chapel lesson. You ll be hearing more about this soon! So stay tuned. Thank you to the Worship Committee! After worship on September 25, the Worship Committee and members of the choral and handbell choirs hosted a reception for our new Director of Music, Dr. Randy Haldeman. Randy holds a Ph.D. from Florida State University. He is the Director of Choral Studies at UNCC. The congregation expressed gratitude to the Lord for calling Randy to serve with us. Express your welcome to Randy and to his wife, Joann, and son, August. Sing a joyful song unto the LORD!

9 PAGE 9 If you have made a 2016 pledge, please honor your pledge. Quail Hollow relies on your pledge of giving to carry out the mission to which we, as a church, have been called by the Lord. The summer was an unusually slow summer, financially speaking; however, as summers are also traditionally busy times as well, please heed this reminder to bring your pledge upto-date. If you are unsure of where you stand in your giving, please contact Carol (carol@qhpc.org or ) in the church office for an update. Thanks so much! Sunday October 23, 2016, after Worship A Congregational Meeting will be held on October 23, 2016, after worship to vote on the proposed letter of intent to sell a parcel of land to Southminster Retirement Community. All active members are asked to attend. From the Stewardship Committee: Stewardship 2017 The Stewardship Committee is leading us so we will be prepared to begin a new year of being the church of Jesus Christ on the corner of Park & Smithfield Church Roads. The campaign for Stewardship 2017 begins on Sunday, Oct. 9. Stewardship Chair, Jim Hudson, will provide the information we will need to respond. Another Stewardship minute will be provided on Oct. 23. Dedication Sunday is Nov. 6. Giving Cards will be mailed out in early October, and may be returned before or on Dedication Sunday. God loves a cheerful giver. (II Cor. 9: 7)

10 PAGE 10 Robert Smith October 3 Gwen Stefani October 3 Dawn Bellamy October 4 Hong Bae October 10 Cole Gillis October 10 Paul Kurani October 10 Bobby Maloney October 12 Martha Rand October 12 Jackie Guiton October 14 Thomas Mims October 16 Steve Nelson October 16 Dick Ridley October 19 Chuck Pinckney October 20 Jack Dillard October 22 Aiden Stricker October 22 Sarah Baker October 24 Debbie Ferguson October 25 Brian Washam October 26 Isaiah Ngala October 27 Bill Gates October 28 Ryan Hice October 28 Mary Scarborough October 29 World Communion is celebrated on October 2. November Newsletter Articles & Information Deadline: Friday, October 14th. Submit your articles to qhpcnewsletter@gmail.com Oct. 2 Oct. 2 Oct. 5 Oct. 15 Oct. 19 Oct. 23 Oct.29 Oct.30 Community Conversation Blessing of the Animals Mission Dinner Beautification Day Mission Dinner Congregational Meeting Craft Fair Trunk & Treat QHPC Members & Friends Copies of the current The Bell & The Well are available on our website ( and in the Narthex. If you prefer to have the newsletter mailed to you, please call the church office ( ). Are you receiving the Weekly Update? If not, call Debby Coles (church office) to be put on the distribution list.

11 PAGE 11 Gifts were received from the following members & friends of QHPC: October Ushers Nancy Geiter Grace Mitchell Jack & Martha Rand Jim & Georgene Sherer Ed & Lynn Boger Elton & Helen Parker Cheryl Mims in memory of Virginia King Usher Coordinators: Allen Smith & Steve Nelson August 2016 Financial Report August Tithes and Offerings YTD Tithes and Offerings YTD Budget for Tithes & Offerings: YTD Actual Tithes & Offerings vs. Budget $20,142 $199,509 $215,137 -$15,628 YTD Total Church & Preschool Actual Revenues (offerings + other revenues) versus Expenses: + $30,662 Debt Retirement Update Outstanding Loan balance: $295,684 Remember: If a portion of your giving is meant specifically for Debt Retirement, please indicate your intent on your check. Cheryl Mims in memory of Myrtle Ellington the church website: New address? New mailing address? New phone number? Please notify Debby Coles (debra@qhpc.org; ) of your changes Giving Update 2015 Pledges 2016 Pledges to date 102 Pledges Pledge Total: $278, Pledges Pledge Total: $268,165 Christ calls us to be the church, and we respond by being and remaining a giving-congregation. That s the only way we can make a difference in and through our mission and witness. Submit cheerfully a 2016 Giving Card. In returning a Giving Card, we say, Y es to the Lord and No to evil! Giving cards are available in the Narthex and church office.

12 Class of 2016 Session Class of 2017 Loving God...loving neighbor Class of 2018 Marybet Hudson Scott Kusel Pettus Lilliott Grace Mitchell Joel Aelick, Co-Clerk Rich Bonnell, Co-Clerk Bill Navarro Linda Patterson Virgil Adkins Fay Miller Moderator: Gus Succop, Pastor VISIT US ON THE WEB! Visit us on Facebook! CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday: 9:00 to 12:30 p.m. Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church (USA) Learning Hour: 9:45 a.m. Worship: 11 a.m. Church Office: Preschool: Office Fax: Newsletter published monthly from Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church 8801 Park Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28210