October 2018 Newsletter AN EPISTLE FROM PHILIP - IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE? Are you ready for a change? I don t know about you, but I find at times that I feel stuck in a rut. I feel like the actor Bill Murray in the movie Ground Hog Day where the same day is repeated over and over again. Have you ever felt that way? I especially feel that way at the end of the summer hot months, which seem so long, I can s wait for Fall to get here. By October I am really ready for the crisp fall temperatures. I also really look forward to the football games. But most of all I really look forward to the changing of the leaves. Growing up in Texas, I never truly experienced fall until I went to school in Louisville, Kentucky. It was like God had taken a paint brush and painted all the leaves of the trees various colors. My favorite leaves are those of the Maple trees and their glorious red-orange leaves, and the beautiful golden yellow leaves and the white trunks of the Aspen Trees found mostly in Colorado. Yes, the changing of the leaves does truly inspire us with God s wondrous and beautiful creation that is constantly changing. Is your life changing each and every day of your life? If we faithfully love and serve Jesus Christ, then your life and mine should be in constant change as we live our lives for Christ each and every day. We are constantly in change as we encounter and fulfill Jesus call to faithful discipleship loving and serving Him by opening our eyes each day and seeing the wonderful opportunities He gives us to change our lives, by leading and helping our neighbor to be transformed and changed by the saving grace and love of our Lord and Savior. Our lives and the lives of our neighbors are truly transformed and changed by confessing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Our lives through Jesus become as beautiful and ever changing as a beautiful fall day with crisp temperatures and the glorious colors of God s creation.
October 2018 Newsletter AN EPISTLE FROM PHILIP - IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE? Remember Jesus teaching using the metaphor of the wineskins? He says that new wine cannot be put in old wineskins lest they burst and spill the wine, and then it is spoiled and dries up. The same is true for our lives. If we do not change, if we are like the old wineskins into which Jesus pours the new wine of His gifts of love, saving grace, joy, peace and hope then our old unchanged bodies and spirit will not be able to contain Jesus priceless gifts He so wants to give us. Jesus loving Spirit cannot change us if we stubbornly hold on to our old lives. Being a faithful disciple of Jesus is all about change and each day renewing our faith in Him, being transformed, so that we become more like Him each and every day of our lives. Let us never forget the words of the Apostle Paul in II Corinthians chapter five verses 17 that I use every Sunday in the Declaration of Pardon, So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: Everything old has passed away; See everything has become new. My Friends in Christ, may we each day of our lives be forever changing into new creation as we walk with Jesus, seeking to glorify our Heaven Father forever and ever. May the peace of Jesus Christ that comes with His transforming and glorious change be with us all, all the days of our lives. PHILIP
Betty Fleming s Louise Scott s MacKenzie Selby s Cliff Morgan s Judy Adcock s Jayleigh Jones s
OCTOBER ANNOUNCEMENTS ELDER OF THE WEEK Oct. 7 th Jane Harris Oct. 14 th Fufa Fullerton Oct. 21 st Baker Johnson Oct. 28 th Maribeth Frazer Nov. 4 th Judy Adams Nov.11 th Carrie Johnson Nov.18 th Fufa Fullerton Nov.25 th Baker Johnson OCTOBER LITURGISTS Oct. 7 th Baker Johnson Oct. 14 th Bob Milton Oct. 21 st Murray Claycomb Oct. 28 th Carrie Johnson Nov. 4 th Linda Faris Nov 11th Bryan Martin Nov.18 th Sue Martin Nov. 25 th Bob Milton ATTENDANCE AUG. 12 TH 23; AUG. 19 TH 29; AUG. 26 TH 28; SEPT. 2 ND 17; SEPT. 9 TH 29; SEPT. 16 TH 20; SEPT. 23 RD 20; Sept. 30 th 20; AVG. 23 TREASURER S REPORT Income $11,084.10 Expenses $24,895.10 Net Loss $13,811.00
PHILIP S PASTORAL CARE & MINISTRY TO THE CHURCH FAMILY Church family, here is how I served our Lord and our church family in September and attendance in July, August and September. Worship Attendance: AUG. 12 TH 23; AUG. 19 TH 29; AUG. 26 TH 28; SEPT. 2 ND 17; SEPT. 9 TH 29; SEPT. 16 TH 20; SEPT. 23 RD 20; Sept. 30 th 20; AVG. 23 I prepared newsletter Linda and I do devotions at Senior Center Having devotions on Wednesdays at Human Develop Center Did my rotation as hospital chaplain at BCMC Attended B.C. Ministerial Alliance and will preach at Community Thanksgiving Service on November Sunday November 18th Linda and I continue to have story time with CCC children. Visited Willie Belle at Grand Manor Visited Buddy three times in hospital here and in Little Rock Visited Marty and Carla at BCMC I assisted people with gasoline and food and some utility expenses Continue to serve those in need through our compassion fund. (Editor s note: Due to surgery the Pastor s pastoral care ministry was limited.)
First Presbyterian Child Care Center Announcements - This month the Fire Truck and Firefighters will come to visit and talk to us about Fire Safety - Please don t forget to clock your child in and out everyday. - Parent Teacher Conferences will be held Monday, Oct 22nd & Tuesday, Oct 23rd from 2pm 3:45 - October 24th the Bradley County Health Department will provide Flu Shots. Please make sure to ask your child s teacher for paper work in advance if you want your child to receive a shot. - October 31st will be our Halloween parties. Please check with your child s teacher for more information.
First Presbyterian Church Stated Session Meeting Session Room July 22, 2018 The Session of First Presbyterian Church of Warren, AR met in the Session Room following common worship. Elders present were: Fullerton, Adams, C. Johnson, B. Johnson, Harris and Frazer. Also attending were Moderator Rev. Philip Faris. A quorum was declared, and the meeting was opened with prayer by Moderator Faris. Minutes The motion was made by Elder Johnson and seconded and approved to adopt the agenda. Elder Harris made the motion to approve the minutes from the May 20th Session meeting. The motion was seconded and approved. Moderator s Report the Moderator s report was received as information Communications no report Committee Reports Administration and Finance Treasurer s Report no report Christian Education/CCC Elder Johnson reported that Sue Martin was appointed to the CCC, and will be working with the director to address concerns of the CCC and Session. Compassion Ministry Elder Adams reported sending 7 sympathy cards and 5 birthday cards Hospitality Elder Harris announced that the Fifth Sunday Pot Luck Lunch is set for July Worship Elder C Johnson noted the upcoming Mother s Day and Father s Day when recognition will be made House and Grounds No report Personnel No report Old Business Rev. Faris gave an update on the church directory New Business Holycowconsultants.blog was mentioned for later discussion. Plans for fulfilling pastoral duties next year will be discussed in the team meeting. The following request were made and Elder Adams made the motion, which was seconded and approved for: Karen Belin to use the fellowship hall on August 10th Carla McDougald to us the fellowship hall on September 22nd Carla McDougald to borrow chairs to be used in her home on December 1st Rev Faris announced that he had an appointment at the Heart Hospital with Dr. Nolan Adjournment There being no further business, the motion by Elder Frazer was seconded and approved to adjourn with prayer