Living: The Good News First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) of Rogers, AR JANUARY 2019

Transcription

1 Living: The Good News First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) of Rogers, AR Dear Saints, 1 FROM OUR PASTOR JANUARY 2019 Our Advent and Christmas season has been wonderful and adventuress! We started by joining with four other churches at St. Vincent de Paul Church for A Festival Service of 9 Lessons and Carols. It was a very moving worship time as each church choir shared a musical piece and then all joined together for Personent hodie - 15 th century carol and a special arrangement of We Three Kings. The night s donations benefitted the Northwest Arkansas Children s Shelter. Then it was on to the Rogers Christmas Parade. With lots of prayer and help from many people, the decorated FROG car, a truck and an army of Christmas Caroling Croaker Choir rolled through the downtown streets singing (with the Rogers High School band) and passing out candy and frog cards to spectators. The weather cooperated; the coffee trailer was passing out free hot chocolate right behind us and never before had an army of 30 plus frogs with googly eyes met the public with so much love and enthusiasm. It is rumored that the Croakers Choir may reappear next year as the Angelic Amphibians. Stay tuned and keep those frog hats handy! As we look forward to studies for the New Year, make time for the following: Tuesdays, 10:00am, starting January 8, Library Discerning the Voice of God Do you feel like you can hear the voice of God? Or is that only for other people and not for you? Is it only for people in biblical times? The God who loves you enough to die for you, loves you enough to talk to you. And wherever you are on your walk with God, God will find a way to speak to you so you can understand. Hear from some of the most wellknown Christians in history about how God speaks to them- and discover for yourself how you can discern the voice of God. Join leader Linda Yount as we hear from God. $12 donation for study guide for 6 week study including DVD teachings. Wednesdays: Supper & Study, 5:00-7:00 pm starting January 16 Washburn Hall Come join us as we gather for a lite supper ($10 donation) and then finish our last Half-Truth Lesson on Hate the Sin, Not the Sinner and move on to Soul Keeping is a six-session small group Bible study by John Ortberg why and how to care for the deepest part of us -- our souls. Ortberg shows how to care for your soul so that it contributes to the depth and beauty of our relationship with both God and others. Leader: Valerie Bell and DVD teachings from John Ortberg will guide the study and discussions. Current serving Elders and Deacons are invited to participate in the Vital Congregation Study. Sunday mornings, starting January 13, 9:00-10:00, Washburn Hall. This is an opportunity for the officers of the church to study the life cycle of a worshiping community, assess our church, learn of the 7 Marks of Vital Congregations and how to apply them to First Presbyterian Church, Rogers. For 9 Sundays, we will make a commitment to study, share and plan for the future of our church, together. Discovery Sunday School Class, 9:00-10:00 am, Library starting Sunday, January 6, Parables From the Backside offers a new understanding of twelve of Jesus parables by viewing them through the eyes of a minor or unsympathetic character. Chapter titles: When the Good Samaritan is Bad News, God Called a Party, but Nobody Came, The Timid Soul, The Season of the Soil, The Sad Story of the Embarrassed Farmers, Love Always Wins Sometimes, Why Doesn t God Like Religious People?, Pardon My Insistence, The Prodigal Who Stayed at Home, The Case of the Unhired Hand, Moses and the Fig Tree, I Could Sell You More. Come discover these parables from a fresh new perspective. (Continued on page 9)

2 Those Who Serve JANUARY 2019 Greeters On Sundays in January we have Liz Leitch, Beverley Garside and/or Ken & Kathleen Garvin available to greet members and guests. January 6 January 13 January 20 January 27 Worship Leaders Linda Yount Pete Leer Linda Thompson Jim Gooding Sound Board During January you may find one of the following members controlling the Sanctuary sound system. David Webb, Scott Garrett, Gregg Robbins or Duane Westbrook. Chancel Guild January JoAnne Collier Communion Dates: January 6 Those interested in Home Communion Please phone or text Gwen Blue Prayer List A.A. Rozell Martha Daniel Tom Bate Sally Galion Jerry Rice Sharon Washburn Jan Chalupnik Naomi Pulliam Claire Sode Lyell Sandford Duane Westbrook Buck Collier Rodney Westerlund David Webb Margot Savage January Scripture Readings 6: Psalm 72:1-7,10-14 First Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6 Second scripture: Ephesians 3:1-12 Third Scripture: Matthew 2: : Psalm 29 First Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7 Second : Acts 8:14-17 Third: Luke 3:15-17, Psalm 36:5-10 First: Isaiah 62:1-5 Second: I Corinthians 12:1-11 Third: John 2: : Psalm 19 First: Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10 Second: I Corinthians 12:12-31a Third: Luke 4: Members in Nursing Homes or Retirement centers Mary Kay Sparks Wayne Clark Jane Barger Marilyn Rust Jerry & Miriam Rice Nancy Savage A.A. & Jackie Rozell Dorothy Quelle Attendance November th -53, 11th 74, 18th 62, 25th Lunch Bunch will be going to Chili s in Rogers. at 12:15 on January 3 All are Welcome. Call Gwen for more info We give thanks for God and green bean casserole December Session Snippets 2

3 In addition to hearing routine reports and business at the stated meeting on December 2, the Session: Approved the following dates for stated meetings in 2019: January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 8, October 6, November 3, December 1, and January 5, Approved the hiring of Amy Mitchell as Bright Horizons floater, effective November 12. Approved the 2019 Bright Horizons budget. Adopted the 2019 church budget of $230,661, including a 2.8% salary increase for employees. Examined elders- and deacons-elect, and ordered ordination and installation to take place on January 6. Set the annual congregational meeting date for February 17. Session Clerk: Jane Web Our church participation in the Rogers Christmas parade was a huge success and so much fun followed by a gathering at John & Linda Yount s home. All this came about when I suggested to Val that maybe Bright Horizons would like to have a float in the parade to promote itself. Bright Horizons said it would be too late for the little kids. Val started getting the congregation interested in taking part and the first thing I knew it became a reality that was happening. So many members gave their support, money, time and enthusiasm to help make it happen. Thanks to everyone. A special thanks to those in the parade and those who helped in other ways. They were Liz Letsch, Ron & Annette Willams, Gwen Blue, Joan Broshuis, John & Linda Yount, Jim & Jean Gooding, June & Chuck Nesbitt, Barbara Allen, Laura Thompson, Caroline & Dick Smith, Bill Hesse, Anne & Pete Leer, Glennis & Doug Treptow, Val Bell, Carol Graham, Joe & Jimmie Huber, Jo Ann Collier, Greg & Theresa Brue, Larry & Susan Goodsell, Tom Cobb, Mark & Cindy Maddox, Vi Crabb, Bill & Carolyn Lay, Deborah Robbins and all other church members who gave their encouragement. It became an all out church effort. Jimmie Huber It was a cold, cold, night in December. Church members install a new sign 3 Rogers Christmas Parade

4 Church members at work Preparing for the rogers parade 4

5 putting lights on the f.r.o.g. car Friday evening December 7, 2018 Rogers AR Christmas Parade. First Presbyterian Church of Rogers members participating in the parade with their F. R. O. G. theme. 5

6 The Rogers Christmas Parade Participants 6

7 Rev Bell s F. R. O. G. car 7

8 Beverley Garside (addendum from last month) Prairie Creek Home Owners Association, Rogers Historical Museum, Rogers Library s Board and Friendly Book Store, as well as the Presbyterian Church. She served on the First Presbyterian Foundation Board for many years. She has handled Memorial Gift Acknowledgments and the Birthday Card program for the Foundation. She was instrumental in developing the Memorial Garden Program and worked with the Foundation Board to insure it was completed. Her husband Ernie was involved in an automobile accident that took his life. He is buried in the Memorial Garden. Beverley was born in Detroit, Michigan four years prior to the stock market crash of She spent summers with her sister and mother in northern Michigan at their lakeside cabin and her father would join them for the weekends. Detroit was a booming economy at that time and upon graduation from high school she went to work there. Later she met her husband Ernie who had just returned from service in the Air Force during World War Two. Ernie was a Financial Analyst for Chrysler Corporation. As his career progressed, he began working as the Finance Manager for overseas start up operations for Chrysler. He and Beverley traveled the world opening up Chrysler Offices in Europe and the Middle East. They had not had children which meant they were always available for overseas assignments. Several assignments were in dangerous geographical locations overseas. When Ernie retired they traveled around looking for a place to put down roots state side. They looked at many areas but, decided to relocate to Rogers because of the four season weather and Beaver Lake which had recently opened up. They bought a house in 1985 in the Crows Nest Subdivision overlooking Beaver Lake. Beverley got involved in several local organizations. She served in positions in the Beverley loved to sew and worked at several fabric shops in downtown Rogers. She made many of the new patterns that were displayed in the shops. In addition, she worked with Robert Skaggs on the Church Banners that hang in the sanctuary and narthex of First Presbyterian Church. At 94, she still lives alone and drives her beloved Red P.T. Cruiser to Church every week to Proof Read the Weekly Bulletins and help put them together for the Sunday Worship. She has been an active member of the Adult Sunday School Class and has kept weekly attendance and managed any funds the class generated for special projects around the church. She had to give up bowling a few years ago because her knee was bothering her. She still plays Bridge in the local Bridge Club and hosts several of the ladies of the church at her home on Fridays for sewing and lunch. She is an inspiration to us all! Debbie & Tom Cobb 8

9 å (FROM OUR PASTOR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) Start the New Year out right! Join a learning opportunity or two or three and grow in your faith life, strengthen your church family ties and have fun all at the same time. Make a commitment to God that this is the year, you (we all) become more consistent in our devotion to our Bible Studies and getting to know God in a deeper way. Blessings, Pastor Val Sunday December 2 nd service RESTORATION VILLAGE We have been blessed by the support of First Presbyterian Church of Rogers for over 20 years. Thanks to Barbara Allen and Pastor Valerie Bell and the giving hearts of 1st Presbyterian all of our moms will be given gift cards to provide gifts for themselves and each of their children under the Christmas tree in Christmas morning. That gift bag was literally filled full of gift cards. It is unbelievable how generous this precious congregation is each year. NEW CREATION DANCE COMPANY PARTICIPATED IN OUR CHURCH SERVICE ON SUNDAY DEC. 2 ND. 9

10 Our choir members practice with other church members for a concert at Rogers St. Vincent Catholic Church in December 10

11 Choir News The Rogers Lessons and Carols was held on Tuesday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church. Our choir was one of six sharing the Christmas message as we continue this Advent tradition. A freewill offering will benefit the NWA Children s Shelter Again, the fellowship will be strong. (SEE REV. BELL S COMMENT ON PAGE 1) Dates to remember: Men s Weekly Wednesday Lunch A different restaurant is chosen each week. Contact John Women s Lunch Bunch The first Thursday following group sewing the women pick a local restaurant for lunch. Contact Gwen Blue Worship 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Night Super and Study Starts again on January 16 5:30 p.m. Personent hodie in the 1582 edition of Piae Cantiones, image combined from two pages of the source text. 11 Church Staff Pastor: Rev. Dr. Valerie Bell Office Administrator: Joan Broshuis Financial Secretary: Wayne Williams Bldg. Superintendent: Johnny Dark Bright Horizons Director: Andrea Baird Choir Director: Bill Hesse Accompanist: Ryan Ransdell Custodian: Liz Letsch Newsletter coeditors: Joan Broshuis and Herb Garrett Deacons Fellowship Luncheon January 20, 2019 Following Church Service The deadline for the February Good News newsletter is: Monday January 21, 2019

12 Jean Melrose, Rosemary Bassham & Vi Crabb enjoy the December Rogers Garden Club Auction & Lunch at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Rogers, Arkansas.\ December News From your Deacons Members of the congregation who need Congregational Care are receiving home visits. The next Deacon s luncheon is scheduled for January 20, The Membership Committee has something special planned to make this a fun potluck luncheon. Beginning this month t he Deacons will take on the responsibility of sending birthday wishes to members of our church family. Based on the informal survey taken in July, the deacons voted to change the monthly luncheon schedule to bimonthly (every two months), beginning in January. Thank you from your Deacons: Anne, June, Margot, Gwen, Diane, Liz, & Linda 12

13 The F.R.O.G. Army of First Presbyterian Church, "Presbyterian Croakers.December

14 First Presbyterian Church 1901 S. 26 th Street Rogers AR January If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, please contact the church office. Upcoming Events For the month of January 2019 Deacon s Meeting January 2 PW Project Day January 3 Yoga January 3,8,10,15,17,22,24,29,31 Communion January 6 Session Meeting January 6 Worship/Music Committee-January 13 Membership Committee TBA Christian Ed Committee January 17 Finance Committee January 23 Bright Horizons Board January 28 Intergenerational Sunday School -9:15 AM Worship Service 10:30 AM Pastor: Rev. Dr. Valerie Bell Office Administrator: Joan Broshuis Office phone: secretary@fpcrogers.com pastorvaleriebell@gmail.com Web site: 14

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