Presbyterian Church. September 2014 Newsletter

Transcription

1 JJ White Memorial Presbyterian Church September 2014 Newsletter Type to enter text... love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Roman 12: 10-13

2 a word from our pastor... word from our pastor... The Reverend Bob Phelps What Makes Your Heart Sing? I know that everyone doesn t respond to music as I do. Betty Penick reminds me of that every time we sing a hymn she doesn t know or like. As much as she d argue with me, I suspect there is some music that touches even her maybe not what we sing in church, but surely there is some of kind of music that gets her knitter s fingers clicking! Music has always been a source of joy and inspiration for me. To begin with, I m a child of the 60 s, and we all know that our generation s music is the best there s ever been. I grew up in a family that knew mostly about country and western music and the hymns of the church. Sometimes they overlapped. But there was always music in the house. When I went to school I learned about kinds of music I had never known. The church taught me even more. Now I m one of those people who always has music in the car and most other places where I am. I have an I-Pod that I listen to when I walk (which is not often enough these days, but that s another whole column). Deanna tells me I don t ever have to worry about losing it because no one else would want the crazy variety of music that I have stored on it everything from Aretha Franklin to Roseanne Cash to Scottish funeral hymns and some Russian chamber music thrown in just for fun. Music is one of the things that makes my heart sing. Working in the dirt is another one of those things. You can t tell it from the way our yard looks right now, but, with or without my I-Pod cranking out music in my ears while I work, playing in the dirt and nurturing plants is a source of joy for me. Hopefully you ll see some result of that when you drive by in another season. There are several other things and a handful of people who make my heart sing. While they may not be the same as mine, I hope each of you has something or several somethings that do the same for you. Whatever it is that makes your heart sing, find it and do it. Your heart needs to sing, and you need the benefit it brings. The wise writer of Proverbs says (17:22), A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. I ve been both of those places, just as you have. But I get to go to choir practice this week, and I ve got a stack of CD s I can get a dose of good medicine from whenever I want. When it cools off a little, I ve got a yard crying out for attention. My bones are in no danger of drying up. My heart sings, and I m thankful. I hope yours does, and you are, too. Grace and Peace, Bob

3 Rejoice with those who rejoice...romans 12:15a Baptism Steven Cassels Allred Steven Allred was baptized on Sunday, August 10, by the Reverend Bob Phelps. Steven s family and the congregants participated in this joyful event. Steven is the son/stepson of Howard and Alison Allred. He is beginning his sophomore year at Enterprise Attendance Center and enjoys being outdoors - especially hunting and fishing. Of course, when indoors he likes video games. Steven recently completed the confirmation class led by Rev. Phelps. It s great to have Steven in our JJ White MPC church family! Birth Elizabeth Love Rawlings Elizabeth Bess Love Rawlings was born on Sunday, August 10, 2014, to Sara Love and James Whitney Rawlings of Washington D.C. She is the granddaughter of Carol and Whitney Rawlings. Bess has been welcomed home by her big sister, Mary Linley (2), and all are doing well. Who can resist saying ahhhh... when seeing this adorable picture? Congratulations to the Rawlings family!

4 A Blessing for the School Year On a recent Sunday morning students, teachers, and the congregation had parts to read during the annual blessing of the backpacks for the new school year. As stated by the congregation in the liturgy:...know that God is with you at school just as surely as here at church. Be aware of God s presence and give thanks for it every day... Amen All JJWMPC kids and teachers - have a great school year! JJ White MPC Welcomes New Members Pictured l.to r. are Rustin, Alleigh, and Heidi, with their mom Amanda Lewis. Also pictured (l.-r.) are Charlie and Britt with their mom Stacy White; Rev. Phelps at right. What a joyous event to welcome new members Amanda Lewis and Stacy White and their children! They have already been an active part of our church family, and now we have made it official. Itʼs great to have all of you at JJ White!

5 Summer Music at JJ White Pictured above are Becky Rials (l), Robbie Cox, and Steve Cox performing a medley of songs about water as related to faith. Their music was lovely as always, and we appreciate having them share their unique style with our congregation. They attend First Christian right down the street. During the worship service on August 17, Gene Clayton (photo at right) sang He Didnʼt Throw the Clay Away a song with a beautiful message. We also enjoyed having our friends Reverend Dick Swayze and his wife Bibby with us for a Sunday. It is always a pleasure when they can come our way. At left, Mary Ann Ratcliff, JJ White MPC choir member, sings on Sunday, August 24. Her solo was a song she has learned in working at nursing homes through the years - I Call It Home - a favorite of her friends in that community. Thanks to Mary Ann for adding so much to our service. We have had wonderful music this summer, but we look forward to having our own chancel choir back with us very soon after a well-deserved summer break!

6 Music Notes from Deanna Phelps, Music Director After a summer of wonderful music from friends from across our community and some gifted folks within our own family, we re happy to have the choir returning to the loft this month. I ve picked out some fun and inspiring pieces for us to sing this fall. We d love to have newcomers join us as we prepare them. We ll also be preparing for a Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent on December 14. It ll be here before we know it! We rehearse in the choir room shortly after 6:30 each Wednesday. Our music is an important part of our worship each week. If your gifts are not singing or playing, you can always pray for those of us who work hard to prepare each week. We are grateful for your prayers and for your encouraging words. We look forward to praising God with you in the weeks ahead. Deanna Session Report from August Meeting The Session held its regular meeting for August on the 10 th at 6:30 pm in the Ewell Martin Room. Elders Bill Jones, Billie Nance, and Randy White were excused. All other members of the Session were present. Items discussed and actions taken include: approval of minutes and financial statements. thanksgiving for the faithful giving of our congregation through the summer. removal of Dianne Solomon s name from our roll. She has joined West Mccomb Baptist Church. heard reports from the Christian Education, Mission, Property, and Worship Committees. approved the SPARK curriculum resource for Children s Sunday School. noted that Alison Allred, Melisa DeCoux, and Sara Beth Williams will coordinate this year s Shoebox drive for Samaritan s Purse. Details will follow. the Mission Committee will survey the congregation to ascertain interest in a 2015 Mission Trip. gave thanks that the roof replacement work is finished and was completed at less expense than expected. The Session will meet again on September 14. Please continue to pray for this group as it guides the ministry of our congregation.

7 Worship Committee Report - Noggin Wild, Chair The Worship Committee met 08/07/14 at 4:30 PM, in the New Fellowship Hall of JJWMPC to discuss plans for the Fall music program. The chancel choir will resume weekly practice sessions beginning Wednesday, 08/27/14, at 6:30 PM, immediately following evening fellowship and Bible study. The choir will return to the loft 09/07/14. Choir leader, Deanna, has put together a selection of beautiful music to take the us through year-end. We hope our anthems will bless your worship experience each week. As in past years, the choir will provide special Christmas music that is scheduled this year for 12/14. In lieu of a cantata, the choir will perform a selection entitled Lessons and Carols. The choir will kick off the new season with a party at the home of Beth and Noggin Wild on Sunday afternoon, 08/31 at 5:30 PM. All active and prospective members are invited, along with the musicians who faithfully and skillfully bless the choir and congregation with their talents. So if you like to sing, we have a place for you in choir and at the party. Please consider joining us. In addition to the chancel choir, Deanna will spearhead a children s choir consisting of grades K through elementary school children. However, any interested children outside of this age group will also be welcome. Practice dates and times will be determined at a later date. This year s Hanging of the Green service is s c h e d u l e d d u r i n g r e g u l a r services on the first Sunday of Advent, 11/30/14. Kathy Parker will chair decorating the church, and Bill Mitchell will put up the tree. Volunteers will be asked to assist the children with hanging ornaments. Please let us know if you are interested in participating in these, or any other of the church s worship activities. Help is always welcome, and you ll be blessed with fun and fellowship in the process. Wednesday Night The regular Wednesday Night schedule has resumed as of August 27. Supper is at 5:30 p.m. (Your Wednesday Night supper is supported by the donations you drop in the basket near the serving line, so don t forget. This support is needed for the Wednesday meal to continue. Thanks!) At 6:00 there are activities for all ages. Adults will study a recent book by Don McKim called Presbyterian Faith That Lives Today. (The book is available to order online from thethoughtfulchristian.com and as Kindle ebook) Choir rehearsal follows the Bible study. Another Weekday Bible Study Opportunity Each Thursday morning, a group gathers in the second floor classroom next to the Library to study the Gospel of Matthew. We are about half way through the Gospel, and the discussion is always lively. Everyone s welcome. We meet at 10:30 am each Thursday.

8 Sunday School for Everyone at JJ White! Our Sunday School offers Bible study and fellowship opportunities for children, youth, and adults. Being a Bible scholar is not a requirement for attending, but you might become one if you get in the habit of coming! Here are some of the things going on in Sunday School this fall: Two Classes for Children: Lee Williams leads a group for kids in kindergarten through grade 2. Andrea DeCoux leads kids in grades 3-5. Both these groups are using a new resource this fall called SPARK. The SPARK resource guides our kids through Bible stories they need to know. This fall, they ll be learning about Creation, Noah s Ark, Abraham and Sarah, the Exodus, the Ten Commandments,, The Battle of Jericho, Ruth and Naomi, David and Goliath, Elijah, and Jonah and the Big Fish. Most of us learned these stories in Sunday School. Remember to pray for our children and their leaders as they learn them. A Class for Youth. Kennon Singley and some helpers lead our youth in grades 6 through 12 on Sunday mornings. They meet in the room on the third floor they recently redecorated. They ll be using a new resource this fall, too. If you know youth who need to be part of this group, invite them to join us each Sunday at 9:30 am Three Options for Adults The Covenant Life Class meets in a second floor classroom and uses The Present Word as a study resource. This fall, they ll be studying about Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Job, Ezekiel, and Isaiah from the Old Testament. Newcomers are welcome to join. The Seekers Class will begin conversation about a new book in mid-september. The book is titled The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. It s by Timothy Keller, a Presbyterian pastor in New York. The book is available from online booksellers. Newcomers are welcome anytime. Our Young Adult group will make another run at getting started this week. We ll meet with Bob beginning on Sunday, September 14 in the room next door to the library on the second floor. The age distinction is not hard and fast, so anyone s welcome to join us. JJ White MPC This PW Bible Study group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of JJWMPC for lunch and Bible study. The current study is based on 2 Corinthians - Reconciling Paul. The women also support various mission projects. All women are welcome to attend! The next meeting is on September 9. If you are interested in organizing an evening PW circle just let the church office know, and we will be glad to help you get started.

9 September Schedules and Lists ELDER of the MONTH: Bill Mitchell CHILDREN S CHURCH 7 Susan White, India Warshauer 14 Linda Miller, Carol Rawlings 21 Billie Nance, Meredith Singley 28 Melisa DeCoux, Marissa Nance MEN S INTERDENOMINATIONAL BREAKFAST GROUP 3 Jimmy Carroll Robertson, Whitney Rawlings 10 Bill Mitchell, Jim Alford 17 Randy Burris, Tommy Ratcliff 24 John Drummond, Randy White SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST 7 Linda Miller 14 Bill Mitchell 21 Melisa, Sara Beth, Alison 28 Sharon White USHERS/GREETERS Tommy Ratcliff, Captain Robbie DeCoux John Drummond Stacey Moak Mark Statham Johnny Nance Phil Terrell FLOWERS 7 Trudy and Mark Statham 14 Janell Herring 21 Margy Wicker 28 Lee and Stephen Williams September October 1 Noggin Wild Lily Estes 3 Margy Wicker Stephen Williams 4 Andrew DeCoux 5 Gracie Senner Ben Thomas 6 (Patti Brabham) Sara Beth Williams 10 Darrell Smith 13 Mary Ann Ratcliff 16 Rose Ann Johnson 19 Wayne Hutchison Shep Ray 20 Blake Phelps Carolyn S. McKay 27 Barbara Hebert 28 Dottie Burt Stacey Moak 2 Evan Parker 4 India Warshauer 5 Brandy Dyess Bill Mitchell Johnny Nance Whit Williams 7 Heidi Lewis 8 Melisa DeCoux 9 Carson Simmons 11 Kya Cotton Burke Williams 13 Bryan Harbour 14 Maxine Brock 15 Anna Roberts Susan White 22 Robbie DeCoux 25 Rusty Brill Whitney Rawlings Charlie White 28 Milton McKay 29 Kent Williford 31 Joanna Barr David Feldman

10 September 2014 "By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer s best of weather and autumn s best of cheer." - Helen Hunt Jackson, September, Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Labor Day (Church office closed.) 7 9:00 Breakfast 9:30 SundaySchool 10:30: Worship Communion 8 9 PW Noon Bible Study Circle 11: :15 am Men s Breakfast 5:30 supper ; adult and children s activities choir practice 11 Bible Study with Rev. Phelps 10:30 am Knutty Knitters 7:00 PM PW Fall Gathering First Presbyterian Natchez 14 9:00 Breakfast 9:30 SundaySchool 10:30: Worship 6:00 Session :15 am Men s Breakfast 5:30 supper ; adult and children s activities choir practice 18 Bible Study with Rev. Phelps 10:30 am Knutty Knitters 7:00 PM :00 Breakfast 9:30 SundaySchool 10:30: Worship 22 Fall Equinox :15 am Men s Breakfast 5:30 supper ; adult and children s activities choir practice 25 Bible Study with Rev. Phelps 10:30 am Knutty Knitters 7:00 PM :00 Breakfast 9:30 SundaySchool 10:30: Worship MICA 29 30