THE LAMB S KIN. Devotion for February. First Presbyterian Church. ife is this simple: we are living. world that is absolutely

Transcription

1 First Presbyterian Church Devotion for February L ife is this simple: we are living in a world that is absolutely transparent, and God is shining through it all the time. This is not just a fable or a nice story. It is true. If we abandon ourselves to God and forget ourselves, we see it sometimes, and we see it maybe frequently. God shows Himself everywhere, in everything in people and in things and in nature and in events...we cannot be without Him. It s impossible. The only thing is, we don t see it. Thomas Merton THE LAMB S KIN February 2016 From our Pastor Bill Proctor 2016 ECO gathering was inspiring for the 15 from FPC who attended T his past Sunday we heard reports from six of those who were able to attend the first-ever stand-alone Synod meeting of ECO the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians which is the new denomination with whom we are now affiliated. Bill and Carolyn Quillen, Yvonne Kappelmann, and Stephen and Ellen Brown each gave a brief report. If you were not in worship here is a brief recap: The Synod meeting was held in the beautiful sanctuary of the three-thousand member St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, CA. Registration was so strong that the enrollment finally had to be cut off at 1,100 persons since that is as many as that large sanctuary can hold. Those who failed to register early were placed on a waiting list, but many were still unable to attend. Our group from San Angelo was 15-people strong making us the largest representation of any church in the new Texas and Louisiana Presbytery. There were so many of us that we caused quite a stir when each one of us stood up to introduce ourselves at the meeting of Presbytery, which was also held concurrently during the Synod meeting. Other members of the Presbytery began to chuckle as person after person stood up to say they were from San Angelo, Texas. Over the course of three days we heard several outstanding, challenging, and encouraging sermons during the worship services that were held each day. In addition, we learned more about what other congregations are doing to fulfill the stated goal of ECO, which is to, Build flourishing churches that make disciples for Jesus Christ. And then there was the music! We heard the 100+ member choir from the St. Andrews Church, along with their magnificent organ and a full orchestra. We heard from the members of their Praise Team, who brought us a wide variety of contemporary hymns, mixed with Gospel and traditional hymns. On our final night, another 100+ member choir, made up of young people from Teen Challenge, rocked us with a full-on Gospel music program. The music was so good and loud and with well over 1,000 voices singing in that packed sanctuary it was quite a time of worship. Continued on P. 2

2 P A G E 2 F E B R U A R Y Continued from P. 1 Service February 10 6:00 p.m. In the Sanctuary All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Ecclesiastes 3:20 In fact, the music was so enthusiastic some of us had to remind ourselves we were in a Presbyterian church! During the conference, which was a part of the Synod meeting, we learned that many more congregations are soon to move into ECO including in Texas First Presbyterian in Midland, First Presbyterian in Wichita Falls, and First Presbyterian in San Antonio. Two other large churches in Houston are in the beginning stages of discernment, as are several smaller congregations across the state. What this means is that the present Texas and Louisiana Presbytery is growing rapidly and may soon split into two more regional bodies. One of the things I found very hopeful is that ECO is not interested in becoming just another denomination. What ECO is striving to be is a movement a movement guided and inspired by Jesus Christ. On a personal note, Lanee and I were very pleased that the Synod meeting was held in Newport Beach not just because Southern California is a nice place to visit in January but also because it gave us the opportunity to visit her mother, sister, and her sister s husband, all of whom live in Irvine not more than ten minutes away from the church. They worship at St. Andrews as well. I had not been out for a visit in many years, so it was great to see Lanee s family again. It continues to be a great joy and privilege to serve as your pastor during these exciting days. God bless you!

3 2/2 Allison Hooker, John Rigdon, Leslie Mackie, Georgia Hart 2/4 James Huffman 2/5 J.D. Cook, Jamie Akin 2/6 Joe Smith, Watt Lasater, Rewk Nagel, Kerbey Johansen 2/7 Dennis Grafa, Rod Winn 2/8 Karys Albert 2/9 Renae Barnett, Kendall Mull, Judith Hirschfeld 2/10 Mikel Doyle 2/11 Galen Akin, Allyson Felps 2/12 Kay Kneisler, Harper Gray, Al Allred, Steve Helbring P A G E 3 2/13 Richard Crisp 2/14 Bob Hamblen 2/15 Penny Roberts, Earlo Smith 2/16 Taylor Winn, Jane Samuelson 2/17 John Cargile, Leslie Lasater 2/18 Julie Doyle, Charlotte Fisher, Chandler Smrkovsky 2/19 Mark Woods 2/20 Julie Quam, Marilyn Mertz 2/21 Don Allison 2/22 Bill Proctor, Drew Darby 2/23 Bruce Baxter, Catherine Palmer, Doran Reynolds 2/24 Barby Easley, Kirby Dahl, Sydney White, Margot Marie Giesecke 2/25 Lillian Smrkovsky, Wes Langerhans 2/26 Greyson Patrick, Graham Zipper, Kasen Mull 2/27 Devin Albert 2/28 Sharon Vickery, Rick Hooker, River Castillo Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat st Anniv. Of FPC 2 9:30 HPM, CR 2:00 Directory Photos February Calendar 3 6:45 MBS :00 Staff mtg 2:00 Directory Photos 5:30 Pray. Eat. Learn., WFH 4 10:30 WID, CR 2:00 Directory Photos 5 2:00 Directory Photos 6 7 9:00 Praise Srv 12:00 Lunch & Linda & Dan Wilson speak :30 Deacons 10 6:45 MBS-210 6:00 Ash Wednesday Srvc 11 10:30 WID, CR 5:15, Stewardship, CR COMMUNION 9:00 Praise Srvc 12:00 Congregation Mtg 15 7:00 Project Graduation Mtg Presidents Day Church Ofc Closed 16 5:15 Session 17 6:45 MBS :00 Staff mtg 5:30 Pray. Eat. Learn., WFH 18 10:30 WID, CR 11:45 3rd Thursday Lunch :00 Praise Srvc 22 9:00 Soup Kitchen :45 MBS-210 5:30 Pray. Eat. Learn., WFH 25 10:30 WID, CR :00 Praise Srvc 29

4 P A G E 4 F E B R U A R Y VBS 2016 Volunteers needed to make this the best VBS ever! Call Colette at church FMI, VBS will take place the evening of June 5 (Family Fun Kick- Off Party) and then June 6-9 from 9:00 a.m. till noon. Youth and their sponsors enjoy annual ski trip T he youth had an amazing time in Vail, CO on their annual High School youth ski trip. Jumping aboard the Polar Express in Lubbock and then riding the train to the "North Pole" to meet up with Santa and his elves was first on the agenda for the long 14 hour drive to Colorado. They enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate, and making new friends with the Polar Express staff and Santa s elves! We appreciate the prayers from our church family that went with us to Colorado. Amy Hill Director of Youth & Family Ministry

5 Thankful Hearts Dear Bill, Joel & the FPC church family, Thank you so much for the prayers and visits for Terry Albert. It is not easy seeing a family member go through such a tough ordeal like he through. But with church family providing prayer and support, all is good and he is doing much better. Thank you again. The Albert family FPC, Thanks for your shoe box gifts. You have brought great joy and love to many children. We collected 5,487 boxes in our area and that was a 7.8% increase from Fred Koehn OCC Area Coordinator December 17, st Presbyterian Church, Thank you for the very good cookies and snacks that you baked and delivered to the SAPD last week, they were awesome and thoroughly enjoyed by all, have a Merry Christmas, by the way you have a very daring man in your congregation which dares to make a difference at the SAPD, Lt. Pucci is a great representor of your church and our department. Thank you, Robert P. Martinez Assistant Chief of Police SAPD Youth P A G E 5 T he Deacons will pack the Valentine s college boxes on Tuesday, February 9. If you would like to contribute treats to share with our college students, please bring your items to the church office by noon on Tuesday, February 9. This is the time of the year where chocolate may be included in the boxes! Call Gabriela at the church office FMI, Hymnal dedications continue to come in we are thankful W e Would Like to thank the following for placing hymnals in the Sanctuary, dedicated to the Glory of God and in memory or honor of a friend or loved one: Kay & Dale Bates, Nancy & John Cargile, Susan & Dwain Gober, Sande Vincent Harrison, Ellen & Steve Helbing, Claudia Hulse, Chris & Milt Johnson, Linda Knightstep, Glenda & Carl Kunath and Rachel, Jasper McClellan & family, Steve Miller, Morgan & Joel Moore, Kathy Newman, Sheila Patteson, Lanee & Bill Proctor & family, Gloria Risher, Suzi & Doran Reynolds, Shirley Sherrill, Angela & Ryan Smrkovsky, Gabriela Spraggins and Merrill S. Varien. If you would like to honor or memorialize a friend or loved one simply submit $15 per hymnal and indicate who you are honoring or remembering and we will see that a bookplate is placed in a hymnal for you. Our next round of Wednesday programming begins 5:30 p.m. in the Wood Fellowship Hall. The evening meal will be served at that time and the bible study will start in the 5:45 p.m. Bill will lead a six week study over the seven churches found in the book of Revelation. There will not be a meal or class on Ash Wednesday, 2/10/16. There will be an Ash Wednesday 6:00 p.m. The classes will wrap up on 3/16/16. Please call the church office to make your meal reservation. There is a suggested donation of $5/person for the meal or a family maximum of $20. Childcare is available, and reservations are requested.

6 To Kay & Richard Duerksen & family on the loss of Kay s father, Elmer Lawrence Cole, Jr., who passed into eternal life on 12/31/15 And to Kay Kennemer, Donna & Richard Crisp & family on the loss of Kay & Donna s mother, Mary Kennemer, who passed into eternal life on 1/25/16 And to The family & friends of Dan Duke, who passed into eternal life on 1/28/16. Congratulations to Jean & Brad Heare, parents, & Ginger & Bruce Heare grandparents on the birth of Kyla Jean Heare, born 12/29/15 Food for the month of February Tuna, chicken, Vienna Sausage, Spam, etc., peanut butter, and crackers Project Dignidad is an ecumenical ministry providing food to individuals and families in emergency situations since Please place your donations in the basket in the Commons. Third Thursday lunch February 18, :45 a.m. in the Commons Make your reservation by noon on Wednesday, February 17 by calling, The Lamb s Kin is published monthly for the members and friends of First Presbyterian Church. Church office: Website: fpcsanangelo.org Send any news items or thank you letters by the 25th of each month to: programs.director@fpcsanangelo.org Or to: FPC* 32 N. Irving St., San Angelo, TX February 7 9:00 a.m. Carolyn & Troy Bradley, Gabriela Spraggins, Evalie & Neal Grigg 11:00 a.m. Susan & Bub Williams, Polly Brooks, Beth & Jay Uherik February 14 9:00 a.m. Ronny Hooker, Susan Woods, Steve Stephens, Joy & Bill Morehead 11:00 a.m. Cybee & Bob Hamblen, Colette Tschumi, Tom Granaghan, Doran Reynolds February 28 9:00 a.m. Suzanne & Richard Dorris, Gabriela Spraggins, Noma Perrine, Hayley Perrine 11:00 a.m. Carolyn & Bill Quillen, Renee & Rod Winn, Sheila Patteson