C h u r c h S c h o o l : 9 : 1 5 a. m. S u n d a y W o r s h i p : 1 0 : 4 5 a. m. 110 North Adams Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Phone (850) 222-4504 Fax (850) 222-2215 email: office@oldfirstchurch.org w e b s i t e : w w w. o l d fi r s t c h u r c h. o r g www.facebook.com/oldfirstchurch Pastor s Blog: b r a n t c o p e l a n d. c o m CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: 9:00 AM 12:30 PM AND 1:30PM 5:00PM, Monday Friday Mid-Week Adult Enrichment - Gun Violence: Gospel Values Wednesdays, September 12, 19 & 26, and October 3, 2018 5:45 p.m. Dinner begins- 6:30 p.m. Program begins As Presbyterians, we know God s call becomes clear to us only when we are paying careful attention. But paying attention becomes more difficult in times and cultures as complex as ours. The cacophony of messages can drown out God s call on our lives as believers and as a community of faith. Real anxiety about change meets reflexive ideology. Then, too often, slogans replace thought. In this context, the church is called to give steady support to prevention and protection despite political paralysis and powerful interests. We must pay attention as well to those sources that have always fed our understanding of God s calling our biblical and theological tradition, the commitments of people of faith, and the signs of the times. Together, they create a kairos moment when God s time intersects our time and human history is changed. But first we need to pay attention and respond to the call. Using the resource, Gun Violence: Gospel Values, published by the PCUSA as well as local speakers, we will explore our call in response to the violence in our culture. Sept 12: The Call Biblical and Theological Foundations of the denomination s statement on gun violence prevention. Bob Rackleff will talk about the national conversation happening in Washington DC. Sept 19: Gun Violence in a Cultural, Historical and Ethical Context Dr. Michael Nair Collins, philosophy professor at FSU s school of medicine. Dr Nair Collins will guide us through our country s historical reasons for needing guns and the residual affection for weapons that seems embedded in our cultural psyche. Sept 26: SMART: A conversation about kids, safety and guns. Beth DuMond, local SMART trainer, will be with us to explore our own personal response to take steps for safety. This training and conversation will be helpful to everyone but especially directed to those with children or grandchildren in their lives. Beth will also share her reasons for getting involved in SMART training and the other ways people of faith can respond to gun violence. October 3: Local conversations and responses to gun violence. John Dailey, local county commissioner, will share with us what discussions have been had in regard to safety in our city and county. Dinner is catered by St. John s Lively Café at a cost of $6.50 per person; $15 family cap; children under 12 are free. If you plan to join us for dinner please register for each session no later than noon on the Monday before the session. You may register using our Sign-Up Genius using this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e45aca623a2f49-september. Sign-up Genius Meets Mid-Week Enrichment It s super easy to use the link provided in the newsletter to sign up for the Adult Mid-Week Enrichment programs. There is no account or password needed. If you follow the link, it will take you straight to the midweek sign-ups. All you have to do is check the sessions you want to attend and provide your name and email address. Sign-up Genius will automatically send an email confirmation to each participant and create a list we can use the evening of the program. It saves everyone a lot of time; but, if you are uncomfortable using the program, you can still call Lori or send an email to office@oldfirstchurch.org.
Pastor s Column by Brant S. Copeland I ll call him Brad. He knocked on the church office door at 7:00 a.m. Sunday, as I was working on the prayers for the Lord s Day service. His was a story some version of which I have heard many times. He had been staying at the Kearney Center, but had been banned for 30 days. (He didn t say why, and I didn t ask, but the cause for exclusion is usually fighting with another Kearney Center client.) He seemed to be in his late 20 s, and because he had been sleeping on the streets for a few days, he was dirty, unshaven, and pungent. Brad told me he had discovered a Christian treatment center in Ft. Walton Beach that helped folks like him. It takes in people with addictions and houses them for a full year, helping them to recover from their addictions, whatever they might be. They have a place for me, Brad said. All I need is a way to get down there. I told Brad I would look into it, but I couldn t help him right away. Julia would be arriving soon, and there would be coffee. Also, he d be welcome to join us for Sunday School and worship. Come back at 2:00, I suggested. By then I ll have answer for you. I finished preparations for worship and had a few minutes to spare, so I called the treatment center. Sure enough, they had been talking to Brad; a bed was available. Charlie, the staff person I talked to, said he could pick Brad up from the bus station on Monday morning. Brad did indeed come to worship that morning. He sat toward the front, and during the passing of the peace, I noticed several members greeting him warmly. At several points in the service, I saw someone lean over from one pew behind and help Brad find his place in the bulletin and hymnal. I wonder how Brad felt when he heard Don Winstead read the appointed Epistle Lesson: My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, Have a seat here, please, while to the one who is poor you say, Stand there, or, Sit at my feet, have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?... What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. When the training session for the elders-elect ended, Brad was waiting by the door. I bought his ticket online and gave him the sandwich I didn t have time to eat during the training session. I gave him his ticket and a little money for the journey. We prayed for his safe travel to the treatment center. His last words to me were, From now on, I won t be addicted to anything but Jesus. Amen. Lectionary Readings September 16, 2018 17th Sunday after Pentecost Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38 Our nursery and preschool rooms are staffed by childcare providers from the Heavenly Helpers Agency. These childcare professionals are background checked and trained in infant/ child first aid and CPR. They are present in both rooms from 9:00 a.m. Noon each Sunday. Main Floor Nursery: Our nursery is for infants and toddlers up to two years old. Parents can drop children off beginning at 9:00 a.m. and children will be cared for through the worship hour. There is a sign in sheet for parents to list who will be picking their child up, an emergency phone number and any particular needs the child may have while in the church s care. Children should come with a bottle or sippy cup, preferred snack and diapers. wipes and additional snacks are available. Diaper Preschool Care: Beginning at age two, children go to the third floor preschool room. Drop-off begins at 9:00 a.m. and children are cared for through the worship hour. There is a sign in sheet for parents. Snacks are provided.
Youth Learning About Partnership Last Sunday, Sept 9, our youth baked and stirred and packaged muffins, trail mix and snickerdoodle bars to donate to Calvin s Coffeehouse which is a ministry of our campus UKirk Tallahassee. There was fun, but also learning about what it means to be in partnership with a ministry. Deborah Circle will hold its first meeting of the 2018-19 year on Tuesday evening, September 11, 2018, at 7 PM at the home of Jan Bush, 2206 Woodbine Drive, Tallahassee 32309. New members are always welcome. Please call 443-1271 for more information. Dorcas Circle will meet on Tuesday, September 11 at 10;30 a.m. in the Specialty House at Westminster Oaks. The address is 3927 Meandering Lane. Pat Johnson will lead us in the discussion of Lesson 1 in this year s Bible study, God s Promise; I Am with You. Rebekah Circle will meet on Tuesday, September 11th at 10:00 am. Rochelle Davis will host our meeting and Cissy Adleburg will lead our Bible study. Society of Saints will meet Thursday, September 13 at Westminster Oaks. We'll gather in the Oak Room in the Parry Center at 11:45 AM. We'll have lunch together in the Dining Room and then return to the Oak Room for a brief business meeting and our Bible study. Margy Norman will lead the discussion of Lesson One. Mary and Martha Circle has changed their meetings to the second Tuesday of the month. The first quarter s meeting are: September 11 Hostess-Carol Weissert Helper-Dani Ebaugh Study Leader-Beth Pulliam Hostess-Beth Pulliam October 9 Helper-Barbara Edwards Barbara Busharis Study Leader- November 13 Hostess-Barbara Edwards Helpers-Barbara Busharis and Debbie Gibson Study Leader-Carol Weissert
Preschool Press I have several heartfelt thank yous to express to the members and friends of First Presbyterian Church. First, thank you so much to the many Presbyterian Women of FPC who gave so generously to the Back-to-School school supplies appeal for First Presbyterian Preschool. The donations of crayons, markers, paper, glue and so much more gave the teachers and the children a wonderful array of new supplies for the new school year. Thank you. And secondly, thank you to the Friends of the Preschool who have given to our Back-to-School Friends Campaign 2018. Your donations go to the Belinda Kelly Way Scholarship Fund. This money is used throughout the school year to award partial tuition scholarships to several Preschool families. If you would like to donate to the Scholarship Fund, you can find Preschool Board members after worship on Sunday September 16 to make a gift in person. Or you can mail a check to: First Presbyterian Preschool, 110 N. Adams Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Thank you. Over the past many weeks there have been church members who reached out to volunteer at First Presbyterian Preschool. Your loving hearts, supportive comments and willing hands have helped the Preschool teachers so much. The Preschool teachers join me in expressing our thanks for the many ways we are supported by the congregation of First Presbyterian Church. Please contact me if you need any more information about the Preschool. *** Andra Copeland, Director 850.222.4587 Visitation Ministry Are you able to visit with members who cannot attend worship, either for a short time (such as when a member is recovering from an injury) or long-term? Do you know a member who would appreciate some extra contact with our church family? Please let the Care and Outreach team know by contacting Ann DelRossi, chair, at adelrossi@fsu.edu. Fellowship Presbyterian Church invites you to view and discuss the 2018 documentary, Won't You Be My Neighbor, about the life and guiding philosophy of Fred Rogers, Monday, Sept. 17, 12 2 p.m. EDT, or Tuesday, Sept. 18, 6 8 p.m. EDT. Bring your own lunch or dinner (depending on the time and date you attend), and also perhaps some tissues. Please contact the church in advance if you will need childcare. The deadline for submission of an article is noon on the publication date; but, you may always submit earlier; just specify the date or dates you wish the article to appear. Submit items for publication to: newsletter@oldfirstchurch.org
September 16, 2018 9:15 a.m. ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES Adult Bible Study Class Calvin Room (across from the church office) Some Reflections on 45 Years of Worship and Music at First Presbyterian Church As I ponder the notion that on September 16 of the year 1973 I played my first service as Organist of First Presbyterian Church, Tallahassee, the reality begins to sink in that on September 16 of this year 2018 I will have been doing this for 45 years! There are still a few of us who will remember that at that time Buddy Enniss was pastor, Joe Harvard was Assistant Pastor, and Ray Kickliter was Director of Music. The choir and organ were in the front of the church; the organ was a second-hand Æolian-Skinner built in 1937 and purchased in 1964 from St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Whitemarsh, PA. In 1977 Bruce Robertson was called as Pastor; in that same year Ray Kickliter retired as Music Director in order to lighten his already tooheavy load as music educator at Leon High and in Leon County. At that juncture I offered to take over Ray s duties and became Organist & Choirmaster. Plans were being formulated for a rehabilitation of the Sanctuary building, and in 1984, as part of the process designed and executed by architect Albert Trull, the organ was sold to St. Paul s Episcopal Church of Long Island, NY, and the choir was moved to its present position at the rear of the church, with the hope of purchasing a new organ a few years later. From that position the choir is able to lead congregational song from within the congregation, rather than singing at the assembly from the front. In the meantime, the church borrowed the Jingle Bells Organ from the School of Music, FSU. That little organ, built in 1837-38, has a long and fascinating history which led it from London to several Savannah churches and eventually to the School of Music, to Old First, and now to Carter Chapel at St. John s Episcopal Church. In 1985 an Organ Committee was formed to explore the possibility of purchasing a new organ. In July of that year the renovation was finished, and organbuilder George Taylor was called to make significant repairs to the Jingle Bells Organ just prior to the church s first Sunday service back in the renovated building. In October of 1985 Brant Copeland was called as pastor of Old First; his first Sunday in the pulpit was October 20, 1985-- we soon celebrate the 33 rd anniversary of his and Andra s ministries at this church. The connection with George Taylor led, in December of 1986, to the congregation s signing a contract with his firm, Taylor & Boody Organbuilders of Staunton, VA, for a new organ, which was delivered nearly seven years later in September of 1992, and celebrated and dedicated in January of 1993 with organ recitals and a hymn festival. It was always remarkable to me that this costly organ was paid-for by the congregation as a whole, and not by one or two single donors, as is often the case. As it turns out, the organ has been a truly sound investment (pun intended), returning years and years of beautiful music with artistic beauty and reliability (it even plays when the electricity goes out!). On Sunday, September 16, I have taken the liberty of a personal musical reminiscence of that 1973 Sunday in our morning worship. The opening voluntary was played as the Offertory then; both hymns from that day (only two of them, then!) we will sing as our opening: "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise, and at Communion: Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life. The opening voluntary from that day I will play as the closing voluntary this Sunday; I invite those who wish to sit and listen to do so. --Michael Corzine, Organist & Choirmaster The Adult Bible Class is continuing with our study of the Book of Acts the story of the birth of the church. Each Sunday we read the Bible selection and discuss its meaning for us today. This Sunday we will be reading Acts, chapters 5-6. Visitors are always welcome! Hearing the Word Room 205 This class meets to discuss articles, books, and essays of the class members choosing that relate to faith experiences and serving in the world. Inquirers Class Westminster Room, #208 September 16, 2018 This Sunday the Inquirers will continue with week two of our three-week series of discussions centering on First Presbyterian s civil rights bus tour to Alabama this summer. This week Cay Hohmeister, Donna Barber and Carla Connors will share their thoughts and experiences (and hopefully pictures) from the trip. September 23, 2018 This Sunday will mark the end of the Inquirers three-week series of discussions centering on First Presbyterian s civil rights bus tour to Alabama this summer as we welcome Walter and Marian Moore, who will share their unique perspective on the trip. We will also be joined by a representative of the Tallahassee Remembrance Project who will discuss local efforts to establish a memorial to the four documented lynching victims in Leon County.
First Presbyterian Church Calendar for September 2018 Date Time Event Location Comments Sunday Schedule 9:00 A.M. Nursery Opens Education Building Care for children last through the worship hour 10:45 A.M. Lord's Day Service Sanctuary All are welcome Wednesdays 7:30 P.M. Choir Practice FPC Choir Room The Adult Choir meets each Wednesday Wednesday, 12th 5:45 P.M. Midweek Program Sunday, 16th Baptism of Aria Hodges-Willis Westminster Room Sanctuary Noon Session Meeting 206 Gun Violence: Gospel Values Reception following Worship in the Westminster Room Wednesday, 19th 5:45 P.M. Midweek Program Westminster Gun Violence: Gospel Values Monday, 24th 6:00 P.M. PW Meeting Calvin Room Wednesday, 26th 5:45 P.M. Midweek Program Westminster Gun Violence: Gospel Values September 28th - 30th Family Retreat Dogwood Acres Join Us In A Thin Space @ Dogwood Acres Visit oldfirstchurch.org for brochure PLEASE SIGN UP THIS WEEK YOUTH GROUP Church Family Retreat at September 28-30, 2018 Young or old, mark your calendars for our Fall Church Family Retreat! Last year we filled the camp to the brim with folks from age 2-92! Really!! This year we hope to have more time for fun, relaxation, enjoyment of God s good creation and one another s company. Visit oldfirstchurch.org for brochure. September 16th 850-Tally-Ho Youth Event at Christ Presbyterian Church 2:00 5:00 p.m. Meet at Christ Presbyterian Church for an afternoon of service and fun. There will be a speaker from Hope Community and we will participate in two projects for that community while also going through 6 other centers of games and fun as we get to know our PCUSA friends in the Tallahassee area. If you need transportation to Christ Presbyterian, please contact: Christy@oldfirstchurch.org by Weds.
Looking Forward to October 2018 Wednesday, October 3rd -- Midweek Program 5:45 P.M. Sunday, October 7th -- Extended Communion October 8th - 11th -- Montreat Conference Wednesday, October 17th -- Midweek Program 5:45 P.M. Sunday, October 21st -- Ordination & Installation of Elders / Session Meeting Wednesday, October 24th -- Mid-week Program Tallahassee Ecumenical Prayer Service