October Calvin s Corner Continued Finance Report 03 Children s Ministry 04 Girlfriends Event! 05 Missions 06.

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1 In This Issue 02 Calvin s Corner Continued Finance Report 03 Children s Ministry 04 Girlfriends Event! 05 Missions 06 October Birthdays Church Announcements 07 Calendar of Events 08 Calendar of Events Officers Pastoral Care S AN P E D R O P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H October 2018 S H A R I N G T H E P R O M I S E OF P E A C E IN C H R I S T Dear Friends, Calvin s Corner What do the authors Sidney Sheldon and James Michener have in common? They were despised by the critics, and yet, loved by the people. And they continued to roll on, producing their works for the people, though the critics rant and rave about their efforts. I find it refreshing to see someone push forward with his or her work, though the experts say they have no talent. How often many of us have quit because someone thought that we were not talented enough, or not smart enough. It is my belief that many of us do not reach our full potential because we listen too much to the critics. And the critics could be dressed in many shapes and forms. There are social critics, academic critics, economic critics and self-proclaimed critics. There are critics of our lifestyle. There are critics of our social graces. There are critics of our professions. There are critics of how we perform in our profession. There are critics of our theological views and of our faith commitment. Critics are everywhere. Sometimes they can be helpful, but we are not to believe them without self-examination and prayer. Who makes them the expert? Who says that they are right? You have to discover what is right. You have to seek your own path in life. And many critics along the way may disagree. Strength is seen in making a decision and sticking to it, though your critics say you are wrong. But it must not be out of stubbornness. It must be out of the conviction that it is right. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, One asks, what will happen to me? Another asks, what is right? And this is the difference between the slave and the free man. We are called to be free, not slaves, no matter how difficult that may become. *Continued on Page 2 -> 1

2 How, then, do you know whether you are on the right path? It comes through your study of the Word and constant prayer. For the only critic who knows what is right for you in any given situation is God. One might say, Yes, but it is not that simple. It is simple, and yet, it is not. It is not simple, because God does not answer in the same way that our earthly critics answer. Sometimes it is hard to hear his voice. Sometimes it is difficult to see his purpose, but that does not mean that he is not speaking, nor that he is not showing. He simply is on another time plain. Maybe this is why we so quickly turn to our outside critics. God doesn t move fast enough. Patience is the name of the game, for character is often what God is building. Another possible reason could be that we don t like what we are hearing or seeing. We hear his voice, but do not want to listen. We see his direction, but do not want to look. It is our rebellious spirit which says no to God s direction. But sometimes it is a spiritual weakness. Our prayer life has been so sporadic or non-existent that we need hearing-aids to hear or spectacles to see God s message. Our spiritual life has not been growing as it should, thus we are unable to receive clearly his answers. Jesus was not loved by the critics. And the critics built up an opposition which eventually sent him to the cross, BUT he knew what God wanted him to do. Nothing was to deter him. The disciples also had many critics, for they were uneducated men. They had no power or influence. And yet, with God s message in their hearts, they wrote a few religious documents and sent several simple letters to friends which helped light the fire in the hearts of believers far beyond their life time. If Jesus had listened to the critics, he would have saved his life, but we would have lost ours. If the disciples had listened to their critics, they would have run back to their nets and never would have become fishers of men. The only critic who counts is God. Let your heart be open to his guidance, not the many critics who surround you in your daily life. If you live your life according to those critics, then you are truly limiting yourselves. And you will never stand for anything of any worth. Listen to critics for advice, but don t buy everything they say. Test their thoughts with your inner heart s desires. Seek God s wisdom and courage. Do what you believe is right after much prayer and study. Do not simply give in to the critics, otherwise you might miss out on a grand opportunity for life. It is simple. It is called trust. Trusting in yourself, because God is your guide. Serving Him, Financial Report Gene Trevino, Financial Management Deacon For the month ending August 31, 2018 Income $49, Expenses $65, Net Income ($15,404.79) Year to Date Income $614, Expenses $600, Net Income $14,

3 Sunday School for San Pedro Kids is underway! Class is from 9:45-10:45. We have two classes this fall: PreK 3s & 4s, Kinder, and 1 st graders meet in the Purple Room, Arnold C101, for a unit on Jesus is the Savior. Teachers are Shelly Buschfort, Faye Davis, Erin Heinze, and Lydia Saro. 2 nd through 5 th graders meet in the Yellow Room, Arnold C104, for a unit on Loving Jesus. Teachers are Jennifer Dowe, Griffin Gaedke, Linda Page, and Lyndsey Watson. Wednesday Night Kids is back! We meet from 5:30 7:00 pm each week. We have been traveling through God s Word on Route 66, a journey through all 66 books of the Bible. This year, we will be in every New Testament book! Our goal is for the kids to become familiar with their Bibles. Having a handle on what s in the Bible gives children a greater understanding of who God is and how much He loves them. It also increases their confidence in using the Bible at home and in church services. I m sure by now you ve seen this! We start with memorizing the 66 books of the Bible in order, but that is just the springboard. As we travel on Route 66, we recognize which books are Bible history, law, gospels, or letters. We learn a key lesson from every book. The older kids even look up a scripture and highlight it in our classroom Bibles! We always want the kids to leave with the truth that God is FOR them and wants to be in relationship with all of us. This is the over-arching message of God s word. In addition to learning about our Bibles, the WNKs have playground time, dinner, and later, music instruction from Miss PJ, our Children s Music Director. These experiences grow the kids in friendship with one another. Each week, we also provide a pizza dinner. Donations are welcome to help offset dinner costs (feeding a group of people each week adds up!) Please consider a $3 donation per child each week. Donations for dinner are purely voluntary and always appreciated! We also ask that families sign up to donate a fruit side dish one week this fall. How can I make the most of WNK? Ask your kids about the book the heard about or the verse they highlighted. Memorize the books of the Bible with them and review them regularly! Being Bible literate is a great step toward spiritual maturity for ALL ages, us grownups included. Take advantage of it! Also, don t miss our WNK page on the church website: - there are pictures, videos and great resources, including all the books of the Bible songs! One more thing: For safety reasons, please do not drop off your children sooner than 5:30. We have about 20 kids in attendance each week and I am usually not staffed until 5:30! We want to make sure the kids are safe and cared for! There is NO WNK on October 3. Please bring your families to the National Night Out event in our parking lot the Tuesday before, October 2. It is going to be a great family event! See the graphic below for all the dates you ll need this fall! If you have any questions, please contact Dawn Reiss, Director of Children s Ministry, at kids@sppcsa.com. It s going to be a great year as all the San Pedro Kids continue to grow in godliness! 3

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5 Mission Spotlight: Thank you to all who donated to our Supplies for SAMM drive throughout September. Please keep them in mind as you decide future charitable donations. The Mission s Committee is pleased to introduce our new MLF point of contact, Diane Redin! Please look at your calendar to see if you can VOLUNTEER for MLF Mobile Loaves & Fishes. There are two ways to sign up: MLF folder at volunteer desk or Sign Up Genius OR Contact Diane Redin (MLF Coordinator) Home: ; Cell: ; dianeredin@gmail.com Our church is a missionary church! We have been giving to MLF program for many years. Our church needs to provide 6 prep volunteers 3pm to 4:30pm & 6 delivery volunteers 4:30 to 6:30pm every month. If you can make a PBJ sandwich or Turkey & cheese sandwich or hand out a bag of food you are perfect for the job! 2018 dates for the each month: October 19, November 16, & December 21. 5

6 Sarah Burkhart, 10/1 Sean Casbeer, 10/1 Debra Johnson, 10/1 Landon Hockley, 10/4 Janet Leach, 10/4 Geoff Morgan, 10/4 James Davidson, 10/6 Karley Gilson, 10/6 Diana Grippi, 10/6 Mary Moreno, 10/6 Peter Pederson, 10/6 Nancy Bridgers, 10/8 Karen Hill, 10/10 Leah-Celeste Espinoza, 10/11 Kevin Heinze, 10/11 Jennifer Pederson, 10/11 Braden Warns, 10/12 Dee Knudsen, 10/14 Vi Pace, 10/14 Joe Harsh, 10/15 Alicia Jeffrey, 10/16 Elizabeth Wright, 10/16 Maggie Wilson, 10/17 Charles Knudsen, 10/20 Don Marshall, 10/20 Joanne Peele, 10/20 Clark Wilson, 10/20 Linda Gibson, 10/21 Norann Marshall, 10/21 Haylee Palmer, 10/22 Christopher Watson, 10/22 Lillian Davis, 10/23 Judy Reeves, 10/23 Dave Reiss, 10/23 Darrell Glasscock, 10/24 Dana Harsh, 10/24 Kenneth Pederson, 10/24 Miles Smith, 10/25 Mary Ann Tolar, 10/26 Lindsey Woodhaven, 10/26 Rick Bridgers, 10/27 Mabrie Casbeer, 10/28 Lloyd Roecker, 10/28 Danetta Powell, 10/29 Milton King, 10/30 Velma Deats, 10/31 Sunday, October 14, 2018 will be SPPC Choir s Annual Spiritual Sunday Come pray and worship with us on this special Sunday! A Note from Mrs. Betty Hayes Anniversary tiles are in the Narthex. Please take one for your home and for your children who grew up in SPPC. Visitors please take one also. - Crossroads Crosses The Vet TRIIP veterans who come on Mondays have said how much the crosses mean to them. Many have not been to church in years but now seeing the crosswalk have meant so much. They have been invited to put a cross!!!! Everyone needs to put one for your family. Give the cross to Betty or leave it in the office. - Many thanks to the ladies who have hosted our recent funerals. The families have been so grateful for your care and concern. And...the food has been great! Thank you all. SPPC ANNUAL ALTERNATIVE GIFT MARKET It s already that time of year. Have you started your Christmas shopping? Do you need a few stocking stuffers? What do you buy for that person on your list who has everything? Make your life easier by coming to our Annual Alternative Gift Market. You may get much of your shopping done in ONE day! There will be many booths where you can buy items or make donations to local and/or international ministries in a friend or family member s name. What a great way to show your loved ones you care while supporting very worthy causes in our community or that of another s. WHEN: Sunday, November 11 TIME: 9 a.m. 12:30 p.m. WHERE: SPPC s Fellowship Hall 6 There will be forms located in the Narthex for WREATHS across AMERICA for the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. For information or questions please contact Betty Hayes at Mark your calendars and please invite family, friends and co-workers to come out and shop!

7 Monday, October 1 9:00 AM Vet TRIIP Tuesday, October 2 6:00 PM National Night Out 7:00 PM Scout Committee Meeting Wednesday, October 3 Thursday, October 4 8:00 AM Community Bible Study 7:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal 8:00 PM AA Friday, October 5 Saturday, October 6 9:00 AM Private Event Fellowship Hall Sunday, October 7 World Communion Sunday! 8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 1:00 PM Enlace Cristiano Spanish Service Monday, October 8 Tuesday, October 9 10:00 AM Needlework 7:00 PM Session Meeting 7:00 PM Stephen Ministry Wednesday, October 10 5:30 PM Wednesday Night Kids! Thursday, October 11 8:00 AM Community Bible Study 7:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal 8:00 PM AA Friday, October 12 Saturday, October 13 9:00 AM Men s Bible Study Sunday, October 14 Spiritual Sunday! 8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 1:00 PM Enlace Cristiano Spanish Service Monday, October 15 9:00 AM Vet TRIIP 7:00 PM Lit N Lattes Tuesday, October 16 Wednesday, October 17 9:00 AM NSARTA 5:30 PM Wednesday Night Kids! Thursday, October 18 8:00 AM Community Bible Study 7:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal 8:00 PM AA Friday, October 19 3:00 PM Mobile Loaves & Fishes Saturday, October 20 1:00 PM SA Poets Association 2:00 PM Girlfriends Event! Sunday, October 21 *Newsletter Deadline* 8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 1:00 PM Enlace Cristiano Spanish Service Monday, October 22 9:00 AM Vet TRIIP Tuesday, October 23 10:00 AM Mary Martha Circle 7:00 PM Stephen Ministry Wednesday, October 24 5:30 PM Wednesday Night Kids! Thursday, October 25 8:00 AM Community Bible Study 7:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal 8:00 PM AA Friday, October 26 5:00 PM VIPs Saturday, October 27 9:00 AM Men s Bible Study 6:00 PM Boomers Halloween Party Sunday, October 28 Youth BBQ Fundraiser! 8:30 AM Worship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 12:00 PM Deacons Meeting 1:00 PM Enlace Cristiano Spanish Service Monday, October 29 9:00 AM Vet TRIIP Tuesday, October 30 7:00 PM Scout Masters Meeting Wednesday, October 31 Happy Halloween!! 7

8 14900 San Pedro Avenue San Antonio, TX Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Phone: Fax: sppchurch@sppcsa.com Website: SAN PEDRO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF Rev. Dr. C. Calvin Reynolds, Jr. - Senior Pastor Rev. Paul R. Gaedke - Associate Pastor Mark Twehues Director of Music Katarina McAnelly Associate Director of Music, Organist Dave Reiss Director of Youth and Adult Ministries Dawn Reiss Director of Children s Ministry Patricia J. Waite Director of Children s Music Kelly Hager Childcare Coordinator/Temporary Office Manager Mabrie Casbeer Office Manager/Treasurer (Maternity Leave) Jesse Ramirez Sexton Jason Hatch Sound Engineer Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit #2666 San Antonio, Texas RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 8 Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Jim Horacek Diana Grippi Dan Blankenhorn Eric Mapes Jim Potyka Dan Gostylo Chair, Board of Deacons Christian Education Fellowship Financial Development Financial Management Marketing & Outreach Member Care Missions Property Worship SESSION BOARD OF DEACONS Bob Kilgore Cindy Mapes (Youth) Ellyce Warns (Children) Mark Tapley (Adult) Kathryn Sturtz Bob Gibson Gene Trevino Andrea Anthony Becky Hooper Linda Tutko Harvey Juarez Andrew Smith The Rock is a monthly newsletter published by San Pedro Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Texas. Its purpose is to inform congregation members of news and events within the church community. All SPPC members are welcome to contribute items for publication subject to minimal editing and space limitations. All SPPC members receive The Rock automatically. If you are not receiving issues regularly, please call the Church Office to ensure future delivery. For more information, contact the Church Office at PASTORAL CARE & COMMUNION Any church member who is unable to attend communion services may request that Communion be distributed in his/her home by calling the Church Office at Also, if you, or a member you know, will be hospitalized, please call the Church Office so the pastors can visit and minister to you. In order to ensure that you receive all church communications, please make sure you have provided your address. Please send that information to the Church Office at sppchurch@sppcsa.com or CROSSROADS This is a good time of the year to give yourself a gift of a cross for the cross wall. We have many on the wall now but we want one from every family in our congregation. It is your "footprint" in the church always to remember your faith base. For more information please contact Betty Hayes at For more information please visit our website: