The Redbud Tree INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Monthly Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church May, 2015 From under... The Redbud Tree INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pastor s Letter 1 Pastor s letter cont.. 2 May Lay Readers Birthdays & Anniversaries Serving in worship for May Ushers for May Cookies at Gate A-4 3 New Members Pentecost Sunday Thank You Church Chuckles 4 Thank You May Special Dates Session Highlights 5 Health & Wellness Financials 6 Crossword Puzzle 7 Calendar 8 Last Page 9 Dear Church Family and Friends, This month will mark the day we celebrate as Mother s Day each year. Traditionally the second Sunday in May, mothers throughout the country are showered with flowers, served breakfast in bed, lovingly honored, or in some cases appropriately ignored. It will be especially hard for office staff, on this Mother s Day, as Carolyn played such an important roll in our office and became an adopted Mother to us all..certainly a bittersweet paradoxical day. For most, it is a time to reminisce about the days when Mom was there to support, love and protect us. It can be a sad day, though, when the mother who once loved us is no longer living. Then, there are those who weren t blessed with a loving mother. In some cases, she just wasn t around. In others, Mom was neglectful or even abusive. For children in that category, Mother s Day is sometimes even painful. Another category to which Mom s Day is not so joyful are the many young women who would love to have a child, but aren t able to conceive. Year after year they struggle as friends all around them bear children. It somehow doesn t seem fair to be deprived of something so easy for so many. And, tragically, Mother s Day is almost unbearable for those who have lost a child....continued next page 1

Continued from page 1 So, I have mixed feelings when I am preparing my sermon and prayers for Mother s Day Sunday. I want to honor all of those women who have lavished love on their children but I want to be sensitive to those for whom the day is one of loss and pain. In my own case, I mark the passing of my own mother who died several years ago, but I rejoice and revel in the gift of my own precious daughter. And, I look ahead to the day when grandchildren will come into my life. 2 Maurice & Nancy Sheehy 5 Milt & Donna Gamelin 13 Robert & Susan Kearns 31 Bill & Kathryn Templin 31 Fred & Norma Taylor May God bless all those women who nurture us and help us grow, Your Pastor, Nancy Taylor 3rd & 10th - Wayne Faust 17th & 24th - Phil & Ellen Jordan 31st - Gale & Janet Newman 3 Marian Coffman 3 Blakely Jordan 5 John Bolland 6 Gordon Buenger 9 Mike Hasty 11 Barb Hough 14 Dick Johnson 20 Deborah Lively 25 Richard Holmes 28 Gary Adler IF YOU DON T SEE YOUR BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE SO WE CAN GET YOU STORED IN OUR RECORDS!! THE SAME GOES FOR ANY MISTAKES YOU MAY SEE!! (we can t fix it...if we don t know it s broke!) FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 3rd - Gary Adler 10th - Don Crapnell 17th - Chuck Beall 24th - Sissy Wells 31st - Sarah Kelly MAY COMMUNION SERVERS GARY ADLER, DON CRAPNELL, KAREN GILLESPIE, RALPH GILLESPIE GALE NEWMAN, JANET NEWMAN, FRED REED, SUZANNE SMYTH, WANA THACKER 2

Cookies At Gate A-4 I was wandering around the Albuquerque airport. My flight had been delayed, and I heard an announcement: If anyone near Gate A-4 understands Arabic, please come to the gate immediately. Gate A-4 was my own gate. I went there. An older woman was crumpled on the floor, wailing. In her traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, she reminded me of my grandmother. Talk to her, urged the gate agent. We told her the flight was going to be late, and she did this. I stooped to put my arm around the woman and spoke haltingly. Shu-dow-a, shu-bid-uck, habibti? Stani schway, min fadlick, shu-bit-se-wee? She stopped crying. She thought the flight had been canceled. She needed to be in El Paso for a medical treatment the next day. I said, You ll get there, just late. Who is picking you up? Let s call him. We called her son. In English, I told him that I would stay with his mother until we got on the plane. She talked with him. Then we called her other sons just for fun. Then we called my dad, and they spoke for a while in Arabic and found out that they had ten shared friends. After that, I called some Palestinian poets I know and let them chat with her. She was laughing a lot by then, patting my knee, answering questions. She pulled a sack of homemade mamool cookies - little crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and nuts and topped with sugar - from her bag and offered them to the women at the gate. To my amazement, no one declined. It was like a sacrament. The traveler from Argentina, the mom from California, the lovely woman from Laredo - we were all smiling, covered with the same sugar. I looked around that gate and thought, This is the world I want to live in. One with no apprehension. This can still happen anywhere, I thought. Not everything is lost. By Naomi Shihab Nye From the book Honeybee If you really want to do something, you ll find a way. If you don t, you ll find an excuse. Jim Rohn, Motivational speaker Thank you, thank you for the dozens and dozens of cards and telephone calls and visits. It has been months of recovery. Thanks also for the visits at the Re-hab and at home. God Bless, Verneda Hinzmann On Pentecost Sunday, May 24th, the Mission Committee will host a pot luck following the church service. Please bring your favorite dish or dessert to share w i t h o t h e r s. Drinks and table service will be provided. Mike & Barbara Pedraza Were welcomed into Membership on Sunday, April 26, 2015 Please be sure to give a Personal welcome to The Pedrazas to let them know how glad we are that they are part of our Church family!! 3

To the First Presbyterian Church Congregation Thank you for your kind & thoughtful acknowledgement of me on Administrative Professionals Day! You certainly make me feel special! Connie McLaurin, Secretary Hanging up with my 90-year-old mother, I sighed, then said to my 96-year-old uncle, She s so stubborn. He shook his head sympathetically and warned. You re going to have trouble with her when she gets old. Angie Kiem, Irwin, Iowa MAY SPECIAL DATES May 7th May 10th May 14th May 16th May 24th May 25th May 31st National Day of Prayer Mother s Day Ascension of the Lord Armed Forces Day Pentecost Memorial Day Trinity Sunday I was working in Army security when a VIP from another base called to ask to whom he should address an important letter. Knowing my tough-to-spell last name would give him fits, I said, Just put down Sergeant Gary, as my last name is too hard. The next day, I received a letter addressed to Sgt. Gary Toohard. ADVICE FOR GRADS The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. Ralph Waldo Emerson Thanks to all my church family for all the cards, phone calls and prayers in the death of my sister, Donna Mae. A special thanks to Marilyn Seel for taking me to the airport. And thanks to Pastor Nancy spending time with me when Donna Mae passed away. Joycelyn Johnson If at first you don t succeed, do it like your mother told you. 4

Session Highlights Deacons Carolyn Saul & Yvonne Kilpatrick continue in their recovery process from their health issues & we welcome them back as they are able to resume their duties. The deacons are making personal contact with church members & church friends to meet the needs of our congregation. Our Commissioned Ruling Elder, Gary Adler continues to be an exceptional asset to our pastoral staff. He serves communion to our shut-ins, makes home visits, and assists Pastor Nancy & Pastor Cindy as needed. In an effort to relieve some of the congestion in the narthex prior to the beginning of Sunday services, the Worship committee is experimenting with reducing Sunday morning greeters assignments except for special events such as: Christmas Eve, Easter, & Special Services. Lay readers, ushers, & communion servers for May have been selected. Food donations for the Food Basket totaled 211 pounds, which included both food purchased from money collected from the copper kettle and food donations from the congregation. A potluck dinner is being planned for Pentecost Sunday after church services on May 24 th. Pastor Nancy will celebrate the 20 th anniversary of her ordination in August and the Mission committee is in discussion on how to celebrate this occasion. Sixty-five meals were served to the Christian Clinic staff in March. The Garden Getaway Party Women s Retreat was a great success with thoughts of repeating something similar next year. Work is proceeding to adopt another local family on a short -term basis. As their needs are assessed, we will determine how best we might assist this family. More information will be coming soon. The session joyfully approved the request of Michael & Barbara Pedraza to become members of the church. Their introduction & presentation to the congregation was Sunday, April 26th. Please greet them & introduce yourselves. WHY HOSPITALS ARE EMBRACING COPPER Hospital-bed railings can transmit infection-causing bacteria to patients, but in a trial at three U.S hospitals, introducing handrails made with copper which naturally kills bacteria, yeasts, and viruses lowered infection rates by 58 percent. The trial hospitals and others are considering switching more surfaces to copper. An Iowa hospital, for example, has already installed everything from copper light-switch plates to toilet flushers. FOODS MAKING YOU FORGETFUL A known heart threat, trans fat found in foods like margarine and cookies may also mess with memory. In a recent study presented at an American Heart Association meeting, researchers evaluated the trans fat consumption of about 1,000 healthy men and gave them memory tests. Each additional gram of trans fat eaten per day was linked to poorer performance on the test. A Summer Special Music sign-up sheet: is located on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Please sign up or talk to Marilyn Seel for a Sunday during June/July/August that you would like to provide us with your special music. Pick a date to share your voice or musical instrument. PLEASE NO TAP DANCERS OR YODELERS! 5

Financial News INCOME & EXPENSE SUMMARY Ending April 23, 2015 REVENUE CURRENT MONTH ACTUAL ACTUAL YR. TO DATE YTD Last Year Pledges $7,669.00 $40,133.00 $46,833.00 Initial Offering 10.00 195.00 635.00 Investment/Interest Income 7,377.45 4,491.75 1,461.97 Miscellaneous 0.00 130.00 20.00 Loose Offerings 396.00 1,359.00 1,833.24 Sunday School 10.00 71.00 130.00 Fellowship Hall 250.00 250.00 50.00 Total Revenue $15,712.45 $46,629.75 $50,963.21 EXPENSES Personnel 3,911.36 35,646.12 $44,510.36 Administration 970.49 3,841.62 5,289.46 Building & Grounds 1,524.33 13,855.64 13,070.43 Worship & Planning 27.07 589.72 810.89 Missions 166.89 426.74 581.50 Ministry 55.89 273.91 226.18 TOTAL EXPENSES $6,656.03 $54,633.75 $64,488.82 NET INCOME (LOSS) $9,056.42 ($8,004.00) (13,525.61) Naming First Presbyterian Church in your estate plan allows this mission and the values to which you dedicate your life to continue. Making a gift to First Presbyterian Church through your Will, Trust, insurance policy, retirement fund, or deferred gift reflects your commitment to our church and to the church at large. Transform your good intentions into action by remembering your church First. The peace of mind that comes when your plans are in place is a wonderful expression of faith. Note: Investment/Interest Income also includes income from Texas Presbyterian Foundation. 6

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REDBUD CALENDAR MAY, 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat I ve learned so much from my mistakes. I m thinking of making a few more! 3 9am - Adult Sunday School 10am Worship Service & Communion 11am - Coffee hosted by Building & Grounds Deacons Offering 4 9 am - Counters 10:00 am - Worship Meeting 5 1pm - Ladies Circles 1, 3 & 4 All welcome - Marty Hasty, hostess and Dee Crapnell, Leader 6 10:00 a.m. - Bible Study 1 pm - Mission Meeting 7 9-10:00 a.m. Alleluia Ringers 1:30 p.m. - Choir practice 1 2 C L O S E D 8 9 C L O S E D 10 9am - Adult Sunday School 10am Worship Service 11am - Coffee hosted by Deacons Copper Kettle Offering Mother s Day 11 9 am - Counters 12 13 10 am - Bible Study 14 9-10:00 a.m. Alleluia Ringers 1:30 p.m. - Choir 15 16 C L O S E D 17 9am - Adult Sunday School 10 am Worship Service 11 am Coffee Hosted by Ladies Circle #4 18 9 am - Counters 10 am - Deacons Mtg. 11:30 a.m. - Men of the Church 19 1:00 p.m. Ministry Meeting 3:00 p.m. - Session 20 10 am - Bible Study LAST BIBLE STUDY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 21 9-10:00 a.m. Alleluia Ringers 1:30 p.m. - Choir 22 C L O S E D 23 24 PENTECOST SUNDAY POT LUCK following service 25 OFFICE CLOSED 26 27 28 9-10:00 a.m. Alleluia Ringers 1:30 p.m. - Choir 29 30 31 Publication Deadlines Weekly bulletin - Wednesday afternoon by 2:00 pm Newsletter - Tuesday, May 26th Please submit all articles in writing. You may drop them off at the office or email to Connie McLaurin: fpcmh@centurytel.net Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please verify committee meetings with the chairperson as days/times are subject to change! 8

Church Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday Church Mailing Address 1106 Spring Street Mountain Home, AR 72653 870-425-3799 fpcmh@centurytel.net Website: www.fpcmh.net Rev. Nancy Taylor, Pastor Rev. Cindy Saul, Parish Associate Mr. Gary Adler, Lay Pastor Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m. Secretary: Connie McLaurin Support Staff: Sharon Adler & Marilyn Wheat First Presbyterian Church 1106 Spring Street Mountain Home, AR 72653 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 9