The Spire. April Pastor s Page. Dear Central Presbyterian Church Family,

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1 The Spire April 08 Pastor s Page Dear Central Presbyterian Church Family, You all gave me such an outstanding welcome! I am so thankful to be here among such great people! Thank you for such a kind and generous welcome! Thank you for wearing name tags! Don t feel badly about reminding me of your name - I want to learn them all, but it will take some time. I have started meeting with you in groups like session and deacons and some committees, and over lunches and dinners. It has been wonderful getting to know you, seeing where you live, and coming to understand and appreciate more about you as individuals. I have figured out that you all love to complain about Arkansas weather. Now I know why, at least in part. Yesterday started near 80 and ended in the 0 s; crazy. With Holy Week it has been a bit of a whirlwind, but a good one, from my perspective. Now I am starting to meet with committees about what we can do going forward. My first priority is to be your pastor - and that means a lot; getting to know you, providing for worship, being available for conversations, and Christian Education. I want to connect with you, and I want you to feel connected to each other. I have met with the Care Committee and the Deacons, and I have been impressed with how thoughtfully you care for each other. Your list of concerns is also very helpful - I hope you sign up for it if you do not receive it already. It helps to know whom to pray for. And your habit of gathering after church for food and fellowship is so important! I hope you all stay for that, and that you make a special effort to circulate around so you get to know your church family. The New Beginnings analysis found a gap in your practices of meeting together, and you have filled it with this new practice in an important way. It is not just about food and light conversation; it is about getting to know each other, which is always the first step in loving each other. I do not believe the church is a club; it is a family - but not a blood family. So we have to intentionally work on our relationships, until we love as families love - unconditionally. You all are well along; good for you! My next priority is to help us to connect with our community - which you are already doing in so many significant ways! I have gotten to see and participate in the Second Sunday Suppers. Your New Beginnings report envisioned community events on the lawn, which I think is exactly right. The Boy Scouts already do their big cookout on April st. The following Day, Sunday the nd is Earth Day, so we will revive the Blessing of the Animals that afternoon, weather permitting. I believe we need more of these kinds of community events. We need to make sure our community feels welcome and invited. We need to spread the word that we are a radically hospitable, radically inclusive church, just as Jesus was. So, we will be finding more ways to connect with our neighbors. I have a new phone number: Feel free to text or call; when I cannot talk I take responsibility for switching it off or silencing it, so you do not have to worry. Many blessings, Pastor Steven

2 Care Committee Every rd Tuesday of the month, a group of caring individuals meet at Williamsburg Kitchen at :00. Over lunch, we discuss visiting the shut-ins of our church. We team up and then go to visit those who aren t able to come to church. Please join this important mission of our church. We hope to see you on April 7th. April Birthdays 04/0 Gwen Hammersley Andrea Beckman Jan Whitt David King Kristy Rockford Gloriette Miles 04- Alexandra Weindel 04-6 Debbie Hardgrave 04- Galen Hunter 04-4 David Harp 04-4 Jill Weindel 04-6 Suzanne Bethell 04-7 Joetta Kastel 04-0 Stanhope Wilkinson Coffee Host April - Team -Cowans April 8- Team 4-Gourley/Jones April 5- Team 5-Hale April - Team 6-Hunter April 9- Team 7-Moore/Guerra Listing of Staff and Church Leaders 07-08: David Whitt (Clerk) Stanhope Wilkinson Gale Beckman Floyd Pence Carl Rose Chris McRae David Harp Linda Riley Debbie Gordon Clifford Lyon Deacon Members: Suzanne Bethell (Moderator) Margaret Sparkman Betty McSwain Church Staff: Roberta Elliott Karen McGee Pastor - Rev. Steven Kurtz Music Director- Sheila Mann John Hale Organist Barbara Jetton Brother Alexander Church/Financial Sec. Reba Alda Rae Epperson Peters Kathryn Rice Custodian Elvia Reyna Jim Moody CDC Director- Rose Osborne Galen Hunter Blake Bulger April 08 Care Cart Barbara Clark, Peggie Sabbs Money Counters Roberta Elliott and Suzanne Bethell Liturgist Chris Hlavin Coffee Host April : The Family of Gwen Hammersly April 8: Kyong Roy April 5: Kyong Roy April : Charles & Renda Cook April 9: Sook J Choi Trustees: Joe Barron Jackie Franklin Renda Cook Treasurer: Suzanne Bethell

3 Collegiate Care Packages Please join the knitters and the crocheters in Central's library the 4th Tuesday of each month! (April 4) The Deacons are preparing Care Packages for our college students. Please call the church office with contact information for your college students. There is a box set up in the hallway for non -perishable and non-melting snacks. All Presbyterian Women are invited to come and help!! Tuesday, April 9:am or when ever you get there - We will continue with housekeeping duties and break at 0:am for a short meeting and go back to cleaning! :am - Those who can will go pack backpacks at the Clearinghouse and then lunch. Senior Recognition Day Sunday, May PW Collection Items for April are for Children s Emergency Shelter (Fort Smith). From Sam s bags of assorted chips, General Mills big boxes cereal, heavy duty paper plates, paper towels, plastic silverware or money towards #0 size cans of diced fruit in light syrup.. Underwear for children ages 6-7. Collegiate Care Packages The Deacons are preparing Care Packages for our college students. Please call the church Contacting Church Staff Office Hours 9 am- pm (Mon.-Thurs.) Office Phone Number (479) Website: Rev. Steven Kurtz, Pastor, (5) , stevendkurtz@gmail.com Rev. Young Doo Kim, Korean Congregation Pastor, (8) 75-60, youngdook@msn.com Reba Peters, Church / Financial Secretary, office@centralfortsmith.org; financials@centralfortsmith.org

4 April 08 The P.L.A.C.E. * The Changing Face of the Church *The Presbytery Leadership Academy for Congregational Enrichment First United Presbyterian Church, 695 East Calvin Street, Fayetteville, AR April 7, 08, 9 am pm. The Care Cart makes its journey down our aisle each week during the offertory. The Care Cart is where we place our NON-Perishable Grocery offerings. Please no bread or other products which mold or require refrigeration. These items are given to the Clearinghouse Food Pantry when the cart is full. Receipts: $66,45.5 Financial Report (YTD ending --8) Disbursements: $6,5.40 Difference: $,074. Offered by the Mission of the Church Ministry Area of the Presbytery of Arkansas Keynote Address, The Changing Face of the Church by Stewart Smith, General Presbyter, the Presbytery of Arkansas. Second Sunday Supper Sunday, April 8 :00-5:00 cooking & prep Day of Week Week of 4- Week of 4- Week of 4- Week 4- Monday Carl Rose Carl Rose Carl Rose Carl Rose Mercy Tuesday Chris McRae Chris McRae Chris McRae Chris McRae Wednesday David Harp David Harp David Harp David Harp Thursday Linda Riley Linda Riley Linda Riley Linda Riley Friday Debbie Gordon Debbie Gordon Debbie Gordon Debbie Gordon Day of Week Week of 4- Week of 4- Week of 4- Week of 4- Monday Clifford Lyon Clifford Lyon Clifford Lyon Clifford Lyon Sparks Tuesday David Whitt David Whitt David Whitt David Whitt Wednesday Stanhope W Stanhope W Stanhope W Stanhope W Thursday Gale Beckman Gale Beckman Gale Beckman Gale Beckman Friday Floyd Pence Floyd Pence Floyd Pence Floyd Pence 4

5 April 08 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Back Pack Sunday Easter Sunday 0:0 AM Worship 8 6:00 PM Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), Session Room 9 0:00 AM PW General 0 5:0 PM Korean Worship 8:0 AM Merry Muffin Makers 4 0:00 AM Hannah :00 PM Cluster 6 0:0 AM Worship Circle ship meeting :00 PM Worship Committee 5:0 PM Esther Circle :00 PM nd Sunday Supper :00 PM Care Com- am Memori- 0:0 AM Worship mittee ship al for 0:45 AM Book Club Hazel Ann Oliver 6:00 PM Session Meet- am- pm Boy ing Scout BBQ :0 PM Knitting 0:0 AM Worship Group ship :00 PM Outreach Committee :0 AM Worship 0:00 AM PW General 5:0 PM Korean Worship 8:0 AM Merry Muffin Makers 5