First Presbyterian Church Sweetwater, Texas June 2015 The mission of our church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ Our vision is to be an oasis of God s love. 1311 McCaulley Office hours: M ~ F, 9:00 am ~12:00pm website: www.fpcsweetwater.org P. O. Box 956, Sweetwater, Texas 79556 325-235-5491 email: secfpc@att.net Pastor Rev. Kary Fry email: kary.fry@att.net Clerk of Session: Paula Carmichael Elder of the Month: Stephanie Wiele Dear Everybody, From the Pastor s Pen I have been doing some reading, praying and listening on the subject of church growth. There is a lot of information to suggest possibilities for growth within church communities. A finding that is of particular interest to me and that is relatively new is that church growth is in direct relation to outreach ministry. We are invited to take seriously our baptism vows, To go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We used to consider that it would be enough to have a loving, praying, friendly, hardworking congregation where faith in Jesus Christ is actively experienced. The church would naturally grow. But new findings among young adults suggests that outreach ministry is crucial. Our Session voted in May on several exciting outreach ministries, most of them to children. I hope you will feel a personal call and commitment to volunteer your time, talent, gifts and service: -Volunteer to be a part of the Feed the Children Mission of Sweetwater. -Volunteer to help with VBS with Highland Methodist Church on July 18. -Put August 23 rd on your calendar to be blessed by Elliott Powell s Music Ministry in Sunday school and Worship. He will kick off our Fall Sunday School. Invite a friend! -We are working to have a missionary speaker very soon. We will keep you posted! Opportunities for mission and service abound. Do not miss out on these exciting calls for the Kingdom of Christ in our midst. Loving Him.and you, Kary
Dates to Remember 3 Family Swim Party~ 6pm-7:30pm Sweetwater County Club 4 Kary Ann s Clan~11:15am~Blackland s Roscoe Meet at Church 7 Hoyt Place Worship ~ 9:00am-9:30am Sunday school ~ 9:30am Worship ~ 10:45am ~ Reverse Offering Communion Class of 2017 11 Kary Ann s Clan~11:30am~ Amole s 14 Sunday school ~ 9:30am Worship ~ 10:45am 17 Little Ones & IBKs~6pm-7pm~Meet at Church 18 Kary Ann s Clan ~ 11:30am~ Skeet s 21 Sunday school~9:30am Worship~ 10:45am ~Little Ones and IBKs Sing June 21-26 Youth Celebration at Mo Ranch 24 Little Ones and IBKs~6pm-7pm~Newman Park 25 Kary Ann s Clan ~ 11:30am~ Schlotzsky s 28 Sunday school~9:30am Worship~ 10:45am~ Noisy Offering Children s Church MS & HS Youth~ 4:00pm~Art with Residents at Hoyt Place 29-July 3 Feed Our Kids~ 11am-1pm Birthdays 1 Dayla Graham Tatum Maxwell 8 Kirsten Elliott Burson Amanda Wilburn Fullwood 10 Brandie Gee 11 Jody Moody 13 Shelby Cason 14 Lloyd Rasco 16 Anne Wilson 17 Hilary Brennan 19 Paula Carmichael Doloras Berryhill Ryan Moore 20 Doug Richards 21 Guy Bond Michelle Boswell 23 Jo Thompson 26 Morris Hinshaw 28 Benita Crain 29 Matt Gesin 30 Peggy Elliott Tiffany Rotan Sophia Collins 7 Patty Gesin and Richard Gesin 14 Mike Fry and Keith Brock 21 Doug Richards and Ann Shirley 28 Paula Carmichael and Alan Carmichael Greeters needed! If anyone is interested in greeting on Sunday mornings, please call the church office. Thank you! Hoyt Place We are excited to lead worship every first Sunday of the month at Hoyt Place, from 9:00-9:30 a.m. We will sing, hear the Word of God, and share Communion. Come join us in this wonderful Ministry of fellowship.
Feed Our Kids Program Areas churches are participating in a program to feed the children during the summer who qualify for reduced lunch at school. The program will run 11 weeks beginning the week of June 8. The schedule is Monday-Friday, 11am-1pm. Our church has signed up to volunteer for the week of June 29-July 3. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the church office: 235-5491 or secfpc@att.net. There will be Sunday School Classes each Sunday for all youth. All Youth June 3 Wednesday School s Out Family Swim Party at the Sweetwater Country Club 6:00-7:30. This is for all kids (babies through high school). Bring friends, too! June - Little Ones and IBKs June 17 Wednesday - Make Father s Day gifts from 6:00-7:00 June 21 Sunday- Little Ones and IBKs will sing during worship. Highland Heights Methodist Church has invited us to join them in Vacation Bible School this year. It will be on Saturday, July 18 th from 10am-3pm at their church. It will be A Day in Galilee themed program. The more volunteers there are, the more booths and activities they can plan. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the church office: 235-5491 or secfpc@att.net. June 24 Wednesday - Picnic at Newman Park from 6:00-7:00 June 28 Sunday- Children s Church after the Noisy Offering Lou Ann and Stephanie June MS & HS YOUTH Sun., June 21 st through Fri, June 26 th Mo Ranch Celebration, Hunt, TX Sun., June 28 th Art with the residents at Hoyt House, 4:00 PM Mon., June 29 th through Fri., July 3 rd Food for Kids, (more details to follow). Ruth Ann
Session Minutes Stewardship and Finance: Financial Report which was unanimously approved. Property Committee: Gary Brown made a motion to hire Lone star Landscape to treat the grounds. We will pay per application. Dale McCreight has donated an organ from the Old Sweetwater Christian School to our church. It will be moved into the chapel. Renovation Committee: Two contractors will turn in bids for the upstairs renovation. Mission and Outreach: FPC will volunteer for a week to help with the Summer Feeding Program, which will be located at the old Sweetwater Christian School. We will fix and serve lunch, lead a devotional and help with a craft the week from June 29-July 3. If you are visiting First Presbyterian Church, we warmly welcome you in the name of Jesus Christ! If you want to join in this journey of faith, you are invited to join by: -letter of transfer from another church; -The Sacrament of Holy Baptism; or -Reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Kary and the Session elders are always happy to meet with you. We celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion every first Sunday of the month. Because this is the Lord s Supper, we invite all in Christ to share the blessings of this Sacrament. Christian Education: During Summer the youth Sunday school class will be multi-age. Kiara Collins and Blake Cumbie will be accompanied by Ruth Ann Campbell to Youth Celebration at Mo Ranch. Ruth Ann Campbell was going to check into joining with Highland Heights on July 18 th for a Vacation Bible School from 10am-3pm. Worship Committee: Communion dates are June 7, July 5, and August 2. Special Business: It was approved to allow Tatum Maxwell to use the church for her wedding on June 4, 2016. The Session will not meet in June, and will determine at a later date if a July meeting is needed. *NOTICE* During worship, all doors will be locked except the front door to the sanctuary. The push bar exits have been installed on both glass doors. The front door will remain unlocked during worship. Report: Gary Brown reported on the Palo Duro Presbytery meeting held in Dumas. Gary Brown attended a May 9 th meeting at Buffalo Gap Presbyterian Encampment. They are getting ready for summer camps. The staff arrives June 7 th. The camps will run from June through July.
Our Youth going into the Military Kiara Collins and Caleb Reed Entertain the Residents Of Hoyt Place Nick Nemir, Kathleen Campbell, Tyler Wilson Sam Nemir, Max Nemir Graduating Seniors 2015 Blake Cumbie, Ty Crain Caroline Brennan and Wesley Maxwell with Rev. Kary Fry