THE CHURCH FAMILY Presenting Everyone Complete in Christ

Transcription

1 Vol. XLII, No. 1 January 7, 2015 THE CHURCH FAMILY Presenting Everyone Complete in Christ FROM YOUR PASTOR by Dan King Making your way in the world today Takes everything you've got; Taking a break from all your worries Sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name, And they're always glad you came; You want to be where you can see, Our troubles are all the same; You want to be where everybody knows your name. The creators of Cheers! came up with a great concept for their show. And how perfectly the song writers carried it into the opening theme! It s a tough world out there. Worried and burdened by the cares of life, we re all longing for a little relief. How great to have a place where people know you, are glad to see you, accept you, don t mind sharing life s nitty-gritty with you. They ve tapped into something, these clever sit-com writers. It s man s fundamental hunger for belonging, for fellowship, for what the Bible calls koinonia. I thought about it as I watched people cram into Times Square on New Year s Eve. That very human need for relationship, for being certain you go through life with someone. It s powerful stuff. Powerful enough to put people outdoors at midnight in winter wearing funny hats. Powerful enough to put others into corner bars where camaraderie just seems to come easier after a couple of drinks. Ephesians 5:18 says, Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. That verse and its context tell us that the fellowship we crave comes not out of a bottle but out of heaven. It comes when God s Spirit binds us together in a spiritual community -- a thankful, worshipping community gathered around Jesus. It comes when the church becomes what she was designed to be. I long for that here at FPC, and pray that 2015 will be a year in which we move closer to that design than ever before. It s time now to register for the Understanding Your Teenager Spring Conference with Gary Chapman March 3 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Stop by the bulletin board across from the church office or call the church office to register!

2 If God is for us who can be against us? Paul wrote these words almost 2,000 years ago under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They are just as mind-blowing today as they were then. The embedded answer to Paul s question is no one. No one can stand against those God sustains. God, by nature, is infinitely powerful, wise, and good. He is sovereign. Nothing can withstand or alter His will. So when He sets His eternal favor upon a people in Christ, those people shall be eternally preserved no if s, and s, or but s. What a blessed Truth to begin the New Year! God s favor, love, protection, provision, etc., will be given to all those who are in Christ Jesus by faith. I m not sure what 2015 holds for any of us (God does), but no matter what the devil or life throws our way, God will keep us, by faith, in His good graces. So don t expect earthly peace, ease, or affluence because they might not be God s will for us. However, God will give us what we need most Himself (along with every spiritual blessing). God bless and keep you in the coming year. Grace and Peace, FAMILY GATHERING by Scott Deneen UPCOMING EVENTS 1. Sunday Night Youth resumes this Sunday, Jan. 11 th at 6 PM. 2. Wednesday Night Youth resumes this Wednesday, Jan. 14 th at 6:30 PM. NOTES FOR THE NEW YEAR The New Year brings on many changes in personnel with the election of new officers on our Deacon and Elders boards as well as changes in the WIC Council and circle leaders. Due to these changes, we are working to reassign some of the mailboxes. Please pay special attention to the mailbox name(s) when you are putting mail in or taking mail out. Another project for the New Year is publishing an updated Church Directory. Please verify your information in the current directory. If there are any changes or corrections to be made, please notify the church office by phone ( ) or (info@fpcstanley.org) as soon as possible. Look for updated directories on the Literature Display by the end of January. Our 2015 Budget has been finalized. Please pick up a copy from the Literature Display. 2

3 WITH OUR MISSIONARY FAMILY Ken and Lynn Cross have a new grandson, David Michael, who has been diagnosed with an underdeveloped esophagus and struggles for breath. His parents have to hold him while he sleeps. The doctor said he will grow out of it in a year, but meanwhile they ask for prayer for strength and wisdom. Garry and Anita Chambers hosted a total of 20 teams in Belize during Many projects were completed but more importantly much spiritual ministry was accomplished. Continue to pray for the growth of the church in Belize. Aaron and Leticia Zapata are working with several Spanish speaking Bible study groups in El Paso. They ask that we join them in praying for the salvation of those attending and their families. Andres and Ruth Garza ask that we pray for their daughter Lisette who is in London studying for a degree and making serious decisions about her future and for daughter Priscilla who is in her last year of college and looking for what to do when she finishes. They also request continued prayer for the church planting effort in northern Mexico. ATTN: PALMER HOME MISSION TEAM MEMBERS The Palmer Home Mission Team will have a planning meeting/lunch on Sunday, January 18 following the 11:00 worship service. Lunch will be provided so all you have to do is show up. Please make plans to attend IS HERE! NEW YEAR! NEW OPPORTUNITIES! FIND YOUR PLACE AND GET PLUGGED IN Youth, Image Bearers and Care Groups start back Sunday, January 11. Additional Care Group meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Youth will also meet on Wednesdays. Women's circles kicked off this week. With the addition of a new circle, we now have 4 circles meeting on Monday nights. SOAR kicks off the new year with Youth Volleyball registration this Saturday, January 10. Volunteer opportunities are still available. Contact Chris Baity for more information. 3

4 To our Christian Family, Jerry and I would like to thank you for your prayers, cards, visits and food. We really appreciated everything. Because of your prayers, I am healing ahead of schedule. With love, Tom and Jerry Barton Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for the basket of goodies, cookies, fruit, candy and more. I enjoyed meeting Johnny Smith during his brief visit. It was a very pleasant surprise. It is great to be remembered especially this time of year. Love, Eloise Murphy You re invited to an OPEN HOUSE at the CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER OF GASTON COUNTY 700 Robinson Road, Gastonia SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 TH 1:00-3:00 PM For more information, contact the center at or Chuck and Alice Jessen at

5 WITH OUR CHURCH FAMILY Double tragedy befell our church family this week. Twenty-four-year old Rebecca Williams, wife of our member Daniel Williams, was killed in an automobile crash Tuesday morning. She was within two weeks of term in her pregnancy. The couple s son, Riley Andrew Williams, was delivered by emergency C-section at Caromont Regional Medical Center and died several hours later at Carolinas Medical Center s Levine Children s Hospital. Our deepest sympathies are extended to Daniel, Jamie, Dustin and all the family. These losses come only five weeks after the death of Daniel s father, Jan Williams. Sincere sympathies are extended to Marianne and James Magill, Michelle and Matthew in the death of Marianne s mother. Mrs. Josephine Hofweimer suffered a fatal stroke at her home in the south of Sweden December 24. Marianne has two sisters in Sweden who also survive. Some may remember Mrs. Hofweimer s visit to Stanley and to FPC a few years ago. Mike and Judy Dixon were honored in a family gathering during the holidays on the occasion of their 50 th wedding anniversary. We wish them every blessing as they continue on through life together. The Dixons have two children, Michelle Rush and Geoffrey Dixon, and three grandchildren. After several days in the hospital, Ailene Friday is now a resident at the Stanley Total Living Center. An advanced case of osteoporosis has led to Ailene s numerous spinal fractures, and she needed continuing nursing care and rehabilitation in her effort to heal. Melissa Smith is recovering after out-patient surgery on her spine. We hope to see her back in church where we can enjoy her lovely singing again soon. Congratulations to Rob McMinn who was appointed this week to membership on the Stanley Town Council. The vote by other Council members was unanimous. Rob was selected to fill the two-year unexpired term of our beloved member Jan Williams who died on December 1. HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE CDC! We are blessed with many children in our preschool and afterschool programs. Our afterschool program currently has a need for some computers. We enjoyed a few good years with the last computers donated to the center but they recently crashed. The children use the computers to play educational games while in our care. If you have a computer you would like to donate, please contact Debbie Smith at GOT MAIL? Please check the P-Mail boxes now located at the back of the sanctuary for cards mailed to you. It s not too late to enjoy special greetings sent by your FPC friends! Missionary Prayer Letters have been added this week. 5

6 16 Ryan Abernathy 17 Betty Ann Abernathy Robert Billings Cookie Wilkinson 18 Anna Lewis Danny Wallace 19 Leon Lineberger David White 20 Sarah Jane Griffin Wendy Ham 21 Vicky Gamage Carol King Matthew Magill 22 Jamie Revels 23 Debbie Friday Don Sapp 24 Trevor Burgess Kim Johnson 25 Kaleigh Smith 27 Marsha Skidmore Jamie Stewart 28 Rhoda Davis 30 Renee Abernathy Scott Burgess Kathryn Cavin 31 Nathanael Prather The Church Family is a twice-monthly publication of First Presbyterian Church 512 Old. Mt. Holly Rd., Stanley, NC Phone Fax info@fpcstanley.org web site: Senior Pastor, Dan King Associate Pastor, Scott Deneen Worship 8:30 and 11:00 AM Sunday School 9:45 AM Bulk Rate U. S. Postage Paid Permit No. 12 Stanley, NC RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED