* Stuff from the staff : Charlie *

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1 People ministering to people for Christ s sake. Volume 21 Issue My beloved Church Family, 16 August 2018 This is not an easy letter to write, tapping as it does into a basic ambivalence that is pulling at me; finding words is easy, the right words not so much. By the time you read this, I will have informed the Session of my intention to resign as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church and to seek Honorable Retirement from Mission Presbytery, both effective October 31, In Presbytery s instructions provided for retiring pastors, there is prescribed a letter that includes a statement of appreciation for the opportunity to have served How do I do that? How do I tell you how much it has meant to me to serve as your pastor for nearly 28 years? Words like honor and privilege come to mind, but they pale when I consider all that you have accorded me over the years. Perhaps the fact that I, of all people, have trouble putting it into words will best tell you of the depth of feeling I have for the Church Family that gave the Schulers a home. God has done and continues to do an amazing work through you, and I will treasure always that I got to accompany you for a portion of the journey. In accordance with Presbyterian order, I have asked the Session to call a meeting of the Congregation for Sunday, August 26, following the Morning Worship service. At that meeting, you will be asked to concur in my request to dissolve the pastoral relationship, effective October 31, All that will remain then will be for Mission Presbytery to join in concurrence, and to grant Honorably Retired status. Again per Presbyterian order, after the pastoral relationship is dissolved, I will no longer be permitted to provide pastoral services (baptisms, weddings, funerals, hospital calls, counseling, teaching, etc.), so that the congregation can begin to find its identity separate from the former pastor. If you have questions, concerns, or comments, please remember we have two and a half months to talk; I will be waiting to hear from you. I have loved being your Pastor; now I am looking forward to continuing as your friend. Yours in Christ s service, Charlie * Stuff from the staff : Charlie *

2 * Stuff from the staff : More from Charlie * The Church Office will be closed Monday, September 03, in observance of Labor Day. Sunday Mornings, beginning September 09: 9:00 Sunday School (for all ages) 10:30 Worship IN THE SANCTUARY Texts and Topics for September: September 02 Luke 22:24-34 Epilogue September 09 Mark 7:24-37 Disturbed September 16 Mark 8:27-33 Is He Or Is He Not? September 23 Mark 9:30-35 Teaching Disciples September 30 Guest Preacher Fall Sunday School begins! As the school year resumes, so does our Sunday School program, this year featuring classes for all, from Nursery to Adult. Our Elementary (grades 1-5) and Youth Department (grades 6-12) will use curriculum entitled Feasting On The Word, based on the Revised Common Lectionary. Our teachers, Tom Jaggard and Parkie Luce, will be introducing biblical stories in new and creative ways while challenging students to put their faith into action! (See elsewhere in this newsletter for adult Sunday School news!) So come one, come all, bring your friends it all begins on September 09, at 9:00 AM! Which means we have some prep work to do So, on Saturday, September 08, beginning at 9:00 AM, we are having a clean up, set up, put up day to prepare our Sunday School rooms. If there are many hands, the work will not take long! Bring cleaning supplies, tools to assemble furniture and mount some equipment on the walls, strong backs to move tables and chairs and the like, and whatever else you can imagine would be of help. (There might be some breakfast sustenance on hand!) Please come help so our Church will be ready for all our students. Church Officer Nominating Committee: The committee has begun its work of discernment, seeking the will of God regarding those called to serve the church as elders, and your prayers for this work are earnestly requested. Also, your suggestions for nominees would be appreciated. You may offer for the committee s consideration your own name, or that of any other church member you feel may be called by God to serve. Committee members are: Elders Veronika Camehl and Janet Gaskamp; at-large members Mary Hime, Debbie Shedden, and Nikki Yarnall. They will present a slate of 5 nominees to be elected to the Class of 2021 at the Annual Fall Meeting of the Congregation. 2

3 * Stuff from the staff : More from Charlie * Stewardship Notes: You may remember that, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, we suspended last year s Stewardship Season. If you have been paying attention to our financial reporting, you know that while we have done well with our recovery efforts, our operating fund has suffered. We have ample reserves on hand if needed, but they will not last forever. We are also relying heavily on Castaways income to keep afloat, a trend we would like to reverse so that those funds might be available for expanding our mission and ministries. Your Session is grateful for your faithfulness in attendance, participation, and giving. As we look ahead, we will be speaking to you about many things. Of course, we will have to speak of money, since it also takes money to do the things we do in this community. Look for information regarding plans for the coming year, and pray for ways you can be part of bringing those plans to fruition. And, if you would like to be part of our stewardship work, please contact the Church Office; the committee will begin meeting soon! Camp Noah Session 2 Our second week, August 6th-10th, of hosting Camp Noah was a success. The entire church was again used to minister to the children in attendance. Wonderful food and generous amounts of time were donated. Susan O Bryant, Site Coordinator Special thanks to: Lois Atwood Parkie Luce Kay Stanley Veronika Camehl Adelaide Marlatt Sandy Swanson Caren Cobb Jacque Park Janet Gaskamp Michael Henderson Patti Vincent Debbie Jackson Karen Peterson Pamela Roe Larry Cobb Barb Goodlock Katie Henderson Mary Hime Gail Johnston John Marlatt Sally Reynolds Debbie Shedden 3

4 COMMITTEE REPORTS : Program Committee Nursery Birth to Pre-K - Room 203 Pre-K/Kinder Room 204: PW Sewing Room Stairs /Exit MAP OF 2ND FLOOR: 2018 IMPORTANT NOTE: For security purposes all doors on this floor are locked except on Sunday. Contact the Church Office if you need Balcony Room 202 Locked Except on Bell Tower / Arts & Crafts Room S T A I R S / Hand Bell Choir Practice Hall Room 205 Music Library Chancel Choir Practice & Robe Storage Room Costume/Props Room Presby. Men & Women Castaways Storage Room 201 Grades 6 thru 12 E X I t Room 206 Elementary Class Grades 1 thru 5 Sunday School: 9:00am to 10:00am 1st FLOOR PARLOR Sunday School Workday: In order to get ready for Sunday School Classes we need YOUR help! September 8th at 9 a.m. Bring your tools, cleaning supplies, and brute strength! We need help mounting things on walls, putting furniture together, and decluttering some storage areas! 4

5 Adult Sunday School Reminder: Adult Sunday School will Resume September 9 th at 9 a.m. in the Cafe. Scott and Mary will be teaching from a book entitled Ruth Diamonds in the Darkness by Dr. Bo Wagner. Come join them for fellowship and learning! Feasting on the Word Grades 1-5 With Tom Jaggard Come join us in our newly furnished classroom for lessons pulled from the Feasting on the Word curriculum. Tom will be teaching our children lessons that tell them You are welcome here! and You belong to God and to this church family. They will learn the many ways a Christian life can shape their life choices. 5

6 Worship Committee September 2: 10:00 AM - LAST Service in the Fellowship Hall September 9: Worship in the Sanctuary resumes at 10:30 AM Many thanks to our August Head Ushers: Jacque Park and Pati Vincent Our thanks to those who read Scripture: August 5: August 19: Tom Jaggard Charlie Schuler August 12: August 26: TatianaJaggard Veronika Camehl USHERS : Kathy Green and Veronika Camehl More Worship Committee : The Music Department Notes From the Music Director, Yvonne Jaggard A Note concerning the Hand Bell Choir... Begins its Wednesday night rehearsals on September 12 in the upstairs Hand Bell Choir rehearsal room at 5:00 pm. Chancel Choir... Resumed Wednesday night rehearsals on August 22 at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. August Special Music August 5 The Chancel Choir August 12 Tom Jaggard and Dwight Edens August 19 Merlene Flournoy August 26 Yvonne and John Jackson A SPECIAL thank you to the Chancel Choir for participating in the Harvey Relief Concert at Parkway Presbyterian on August 26th. 6

7 Operations Committee Treasurer s Report July 31, 2018 Year to Date 7/31/18 7/31/ Budget Income $178,310 $189,942 $189,042 Expenses $228,902 $208,894 $220,626 Kay Stanley, Treasurer Fellowship Committee 2nd Sunday Fellowship lunch is A Date: September 9 2. Theme : Potluck 3. Dish to share: Any covered dish 4. Where: Youth Center 5. When: At the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 7

8 News from Presbyterian Women Women, these are opportunities during September 2018 for growth and service, and a time to have fellowship with other women in the church. Please mark your calendars for the following experiences. 1. PW will meet Tuesday, September 4 at 10am in the Cafe. This is the first meeting after summer. There is much to discuss. All women of the First Presbyterian family are cordially invited to attend. 2. Circle Bible Study will meet Tuesday, September 25 at 10am in the Cafe. Bring your lunch and join us! We will be digging further into the great texts about God s assuring promise, I AM WITH YOU! God s Promise I Am With You by Amy Poling Sutherlunis the study Pastor Charlie based his summer sermon series on. Join us for this year s study your soul will love you for it! Booklets are in the church office. 3. Quilters will meet Tuesday, September 18, at 9am in the upstairs Sewing & Quilting Room to make Prayer Comforters. 4. Castaways: A. FPC s shift days are every Monday, 8:00am to 3:00pm, when we staff and manage the store and Thursdays, 8am to 11am, when we do the marking. There is plenty to do either day and the jobs are easy to learn! We need more helpers - even if you can only spare an hour Please join us!!! Also, Please donate on the days we are at the store. 5. Good Samaritans is looking for help. If you are available, contact Janet Gaskamp or just go by and offer your help. Remember Good Sam s Sunday is the first Sunday of each month to bring food items or cash. Ministering to Men ATTENTIon Presbyterian MEN!!! Our next Breakfast Fellowship will be Wednesday, September 19, at 7:00 AM in the Café. The only thing better than the food is the fellowship! Come join us, and bring a friend. 8

9 MINISTERING TO THE COMMUNITY through the use of our facilities The Community Table September s serving schedule FPC Coordinators 11 Holy Cross Lutheran Church Pati Vincent 25 Holy Cross Lutheran Church Sally Reynolds STATS for August s meals: 14: BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, potato chips Dessert: Ice cream or cookies Number: 92 Honored Guests and 32 Volunteers Host: Lions Club 24: TBD Dessert: TBD Number: TBD Host: Lions Club Odds and Ends. A Note From Bruce Goodlock of the Castaways Board: Castaways WILL be open Labor Day! Our thanks go out to the volunteers who will be working the store that day! We wish Godspeed to those volunteers who will be elsewhere. Sanctuary Flowers: Spots are still open for September Sanctuary Flowers. If you d like to honor a birthday, anniversary, or celebration you can sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board! 9

10 Odds and Ends... Gold Star Mother s Day Ceremony Saturday September 29th at 10:00 am Sherill Park, 222 S. Shoreline Dr, Corpus Christi Gold Star Mother s Day is observed on the last Sunday in September which will be Sunday, September 30, 2018 this year. Gold Star Mother s Day is intended to recognize and honor those mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces. Each year there are events and meetings to publicly express love, sorrow and reverence toward Gold Star Mothers and their families. Flags are also mandated to be displayed on government buildings on this day. Army.mil says Gold Star Mother s Day is intended to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces. SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS 2 Robert Holland 4 Debbie Jackson 5 Pam Stanley 11 Dayne Luce 12 B.J. Edens 13 Scott Hime Kathy Green 17 Kay Stanley 19 Joan Dickson 20 Tatiana Jaggard Marilyn Johnson 22 Darline Yeoman 24 Bob Shellenbergar 25 Faye Scott 27 Ed Fegley 29 Mimi Braniff 30 Dr. Charles Cruser If your birthday is not listed, send details to The Church Lady at fpc.churchlady@yahoo.com. 10

11 Odds and Ends. By popular demand. A monthly Activity Calendar will be added to the Pres-By-Lines. This calendar is current at the time of publishing on 8/24/18. This calendar can change frequently, so for an updated look, please go to our website. 11

12 Pres-by-lines DESCRIPTION TABLE OF CONTENTS STUFF FROM THE STAFF: CHARLIE LETTER FROM THE PASTO 1 NEW SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE, TEXTS & TOPICS, ADULT CLASS 2 CHURCH OFFICER NOMINATING, STEWARDSHIP NOTES 3 COMMITTEE REPORTS PROGRAM COMMITTEE CAMP NOAH SESSION 2 THANK YOUS, Susan O Bryant 3 MAP OF 2ND FLOOR WITH CLASSROOM LOCATIONS 4 SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK DAY 4 INFORMATION ON SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES 5 WORSHIP COMMITTEE THANK YOU AUGUST VOLUNTEERS & SEPTEMBER STUFF, Kimberly Durkee 6 NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR, Yvonne Jaggard 6 OPERATIONS COMMITTEE TREASURER S REPORT, Kay Stanley 7 FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE - SEPTEMBER LUNCH DETAILS 7 PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN FYI S FOR SEPTEMBER, Janet Gaskamo & Adelaide Marlatt 8 PRESBYTERIAN MEN MEN S BREAKFAST MEETING, Charlie Schuler 8 MINISTERING TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE USE OF OUR FACILITIES THE COMMUNITY TABLE - FYI S & August Stats 9 ODDS AND ENDS CASTAWAYS LABOR DAY, SANCTUARY FLOWERS 9 GOLD STAR MOTHERS DAY, SEPTEMBER S BIRTHDAYS 10 SEPTEMBER ACTIVITY CALENDAR 11 PAGE PRESBYLINES is published monthly by: First Presbyterian Church 301 Hwy 35 North - Rockport, TX Phone No. (361) ; Fax No. (361) fpc.churchlady@yahoo.com 12