May 2017 Newsletter TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.

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1 May 2017 Newsletter AN EPISTLE FROM PHILIP FAITHFULNESS IN WAITING I don t know about you, but I am not very good at waiting. I want things to happen NOW! I want people to change now! I want conflicts and problems to be resolved NOW! I want the Lord to help me, my family, my friends and neighbors to forgive and forget and move on NOW! As a child I wanted Christmas, vacations, birthdays and other special family and church celebrations to come NOW! I could hardly wait for out of town friends to come, but I wanted them to come NOW! When I get sick, and family and friends as well I want myself, my family, church family and friends to get well NOW not tomorrow nor the next day but NOW!!! My mother said that I got this urgent desire for things to happen immediately from her. My father would often say that my Mother and I fit right in with the theme of the old Pepsi Cola advertisement that spoke of the NOW Generation. My father was right on target in describing my mother and myself as being definitely members of The NOW Generation. We definitely wanted things to happen NOW, and that is still true for me today. I struggle to receive the spiritual gift of patience. I struggle to hear and obey God s Word, and hear the words of wisdom that, All good things come to he who waits. Many of you, whom I have visited in the hospital or who have been sick at home, have heard me use Isaiah 40:31 before having prayer with you. This verse that is so familiar to many of us says, They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount upon wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. I have teased a couple of you in the hospital waiting to heal, as well as other church family members in my previous churches, by asking you this question, Why are those of us who are in the hospital called patients, when we have little patience because we want to be well yesterday not today or tomorrow. It is hard to trust in the Lord isn t. Even though He is always faithful to provide for our daily bread, our daily needs, it is still difficult to trust Him each and every day and in every hour of our day, particularly in those days and times in our lives when things are difficult. Yet it is only by trusting in God that we can then have patience. Waiting, patience and trust go hand in hand. I am reminded of this in one of my favorite verses from Proverbs 3:5-6, (cont. on next pg)

2 May 2017 Newsletter Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make straight your paths. I find in my life, that I have to pray for patience each and every day. In times of crisis, I want a quick answer or resolution to a problem that I am wrestling with, but in which answer(s) or resolution(s) to my problems will only come in God s time and according to His loving will. I have to pray minute by minute, hour by hour to be patient, to wait and trust in God. Trust and patience can only come to us when we do indeed wait upon Him and for His will to be worked out in our lives. I am reminded of another favorite scripture verse for many of us, Romans 8:28, We know that in all things God works together for good, for those who love him, who are called according to His purpose. Life can be wonderful, beautiful and amazing when we trust in Him and wait upon Him to take the most desperate and darkest hours of our lives and turn them into blessings and joys that we could have never imagined. I find it comforting to know that in the dead of winter when the days are dark and dreary, and there is little life to be seen in nature around us that there is always the hope of spring that is to come. This very hope we celebrated at Easter that we serve a Risen Savior, and He Lives! He Lives! You know, I wonder how different and more beautiful our lives would be, and what inner beauty would be revealed by God in our lives if we were to wait upon our Lord to trust in Him. I do believe, if you and I were to make this commitment to the Lord our God to wait and trust in Him that you and I would bloom and blossom for the glory of God. Remember TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Philip

3 Pastor s Report PASTOR S MINISTRY Church Family, here are some of the ways in which I have sought to serve you and our Lord this past month. Led four worship services last month: April 2 nd 23; April 9 th 22; Maundy Thursday 21; April 16 (Easter) 29; April 23 rd 18; Avg. 23 Prepared and led Maundy Thursday Service Ordered Palm Branches Participated in Holy Week services benevolence giving was almost $2500 Working with Carla in having more special music on Sundays Called Ricky Banks to sub for Carla on Maundy Thursday and Easter WE HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED TO HAVE GINA AND RICKY DOING SPECIAL MUSIC FOR OUR WORSHIP SERVICES. Attended Sunday School I have been elected to serve as President of Ministerial alliance Attend Rotary and continue with duties as President I continue to try to coordinate repairs on church (mostly heating, ac. and plumbing) as they arise. I did articles for newsletter Continue to fellowship with some of church family after worship at Molly s. Have had number of phones visits with Heather Beasley about family health concerns Linda and I did Senior Center Devotions. Linda and I continue to do story time with CC and ABC children. Did my rotation as hospital chaplain at BCMC I assisted people with gasoline and food. I have sent s updating congregation on church family prayer concerns. Linda and I took a family out to eat on after worship on Sunday, and through the Ministerial Alliance compassion fund provided them lodging for two nights at the Economy Inn. Thank you for the blessing and joy of serving our Lord and our church family. Philip

4 Jeanne & Murray Claycomb s Anniversary Sunday School David Forrest & Dora Watt s Phyllis & Rick Warner s Anniversary Sunday School Phyllis Warner s Kay Childs Travis s Murray Claycomb s Shelby Johnson s Sunday School CCC Board Meeting 5pm Session Meeting 6pm R.V. (Dick) Warner s Judy & Pete Adam s Anniversary Coleman Horn s Adair Claycomb s Sunday School

5 Announcements ELDER OF THE WEEK May 7 th Fufa Fullerton May 14 th Baker Johnson May 21 st Judy Adams May 28 th Karen Belin TREASURER S REPORTS FEBRUARY Income $ 3, Expenses $15, Net Loss $(-11,170.44) MARCH Income $ 5, Expenses $ 10, Net Loss ($-4,737.32) LITURGISTS May 7 th Murray Claycomb May 14 th Bryan Martin May 21 st Sue Martin May 28th Baker Johnson SESSION MEETING May 6pm ATTENDANCE April 2 nd 23 April 9 th 22 April 13 th 21 (Maundy Thursday) April 16 th 28 April 23 rd 18 Avg. 23 CCC BOARD MEETING May 5pm GIDEON SPEAKER MAY 21 ST RUSTY ROWELL

6 First Presbyterian Church Stated Session Meeting February 27, 2017 The Session of the First Presbyterian Church, Warren, Arkansas met February 27, 2017 at 6:00 pm. Members present were Karen Belin, Jim Cross, Judy Adams, and Baker Johnson. Member excused was Fufa Fullerton. A quorum was declared and devotional and prayer by moderator. Minutes Motion and second to approve the minutes with corrections. Motion approved. Moderator s Report Rev. Faris will be gone March 19, 2017 and Rev. David Richey will fill in. Motion and second to accept the report as information. Motion approved. Committee Report Administration and Finance Motion and second to accept the report as information. Motion approved. Christian Education/FPCCCC Motion and second to accept Jane Harris as new board member. Hospitality Report was received as information Worship - Bob Milton has been filling in while Judy Adams was out after surgery. Report was received as information. House and Grounds- Roofer has been here to check leak. Baker Johnson will assist with committee. Fire Department inspection requires an exit sign in the sanctuary. Motion and second to accept report as information. Motion approved. Personal no report. Old Business none New Business none Next Session meeting will be March 27, 2017 at 6pm. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned with prayer.