FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH In Contact A Publication of the First Presbyterian Church of Boone Equipping Ordinary People to Lead Extraordinary Lives in Christ Dear Friends, November 16, 2014 Sermon: Tragedy and Triumph Scripture: Psalms 13 John 11:25-44 CELEBRATING 75 YEARS IN MINISTRY For those of you who were unable to be present with us at our Operation Christmas Child Dedication Service this Wednesday, I wanted to let you know what a wonderful and joyous time it was. I realize that FPC has been a faithful participant in the Samaritan s Purse Shoebox ministry for a long time, which is wonderful, but taking the time to acknowledge and share with our children the work that they have helped contribute to is special. There are 10 million children across the world who will receive a shoebox this year and we supported 184 of them as a church family. What a wonderful, yet simple way to share God s love, and to be intentional about allowing our children to participate in God s mission as a family and as a family of faith. We had all the children and adults gather around and lay hands on the boxes, while our children offered prayers to God for the children who will receive them. It was truly amazing to see everyone praying together and especially to see the diversity of ages represented. This is precisely what it means to be the church and to help form a faith that sticks. Thank you First Presbyterian for being intentional in nurturing the faith of our children and for helping them be evangelists in ways that they can participate at such a young age! God is at work in and among us. May we continue to bear witness to God s love as we journey into the season of Advent together. Grace and Peace, November 14, 2014 First Light Service - 8:45AM Sunday School 10:00AM Traditional Service - 11:00AM Please remember in prayer Rev. Jeff Smith, the Session, the Diaconate, our staff, and our congregation in preparation for worship. Children s Bulletins by age are available in the Gathering Space.
Page 2 I Am Chosen calling all women!!! Come out for a fun filled afternoon of fellowship with our youngest daughters of Christ. What: Little Dresses for Africa sewing party Who: Sponsored by the Gigi s and Princesses When: Sunday, November 16th from 3-5 pm Where: Multi-Purpose room Bring your sewing machine, thread, pillowcases and ribbon. (Sewing skill not required!) Little Dresses for Africa is a non-profit 501c3, Christian organization, which provides relief to the children of Africa. Simple dresses are made out of pillow cases, and distributed through the orphanages, churches and schools in Africa to plant in the hearts of little girls that they are worthy! Upcoming Ministry Opportunities... Bradford Park Thanksgiving Meal Packing and Distribution Friday, November 21 st 5:00 pm Packing Saturday, November 22 nd Distribution For more information contact: Harless Wright or Dean Gropper Thanksgiving Feast for our Hospitality House Guests Saturday, November 22 nd 10:30am setup Sunday, November 23 rd 5:00pm -7:30pm welcoming and feeding For more information contact: Diane Huffman First Light Greeter / Ushers November 16 Jeff, Candice, Sullivan & Madelyn Trexler Trent & Caroline Edwards November 23 Mike & Kristal Austin Kim Cooper, Carleen Berndt November 30 Greg & Dianne Huffman THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN Sunday, November 16 8:45 AM First Light 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Service 5:30 PM Youth Monday, November 17 5:30 PM Church Life 6:30 PM ESL Tuesday, November 18 7:00 PM Hispanic Bible Study Wednesday, November 19 6:30 AM Men s Bible Study 2:00 PM Women s Prayer Group 6:15 PM Handbell Practice 7:30 PM Choir Practice Thursday, November 20 6:00 PM First Light Practice Friday, November 21 12:00 PM Friday Club Deadline for articles - noon on Wednesday. Please email article to jennifer@firstpresboone.net.
Page 3 Volume XXII, Issue 41 FPC KIDS CONNECTION These FPC fun fellowship opportunities prepare our hearts for Thanksgiving: GiGi s and Princesses meet for a special mission THIS SUNDAY *Our pink princesses are on a mission to help less fortunate girls in Africa by making and sending pillowcase dresses to Little Dresses for Africa. *Women of the church are invited to join our K-5 th grade girls in their special project from 3-5:00 pm and share the fun. *Bring your portable sewing machines, if you have one, and your enthusiasm. *Call Christy Welch or Jennifer Woods for more information. Sunday School Preview *Our November K-5 th memory verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank Him because you believe in Jesus Christ, and Bible lessons focus on the virtue gratitude. * Little Rockers and Rocking Tots continue a month of thankfulness for all God has created, singing Father, We Thank Thee, and learning their memory verse, Psalm 111:1, I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. * Teachers of 2-3 year olds and 4-5 year olds have Thankful Trees for families to take home. Children s Church Gratitude *Children are learning about the first Thanksgiving this week. Advent Resource for Families * We have a fun, unique resource for families of children 2 years old through 5 th grade to observe Advent this year. * Get your copy of Manger on a Mantle from Candice Trexler this Sunday. Save the afternoon of December 14 th for our multi-generational Christmas Caroling Party! *** Ideas? Send them to Sharon at 264-3906, or Email:sharon@firstpresboone.net ***
Page 4 ANNUAL THANKSGIVING CHURCH FAMILY FELLOWSHIP MEAL Sunday, November 23rd at 5:00pm Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 107:1 Join your church family and friends at 5:00pm on Sunday, November 23rd as we celebrate the first holiday meal of the season. We will have some extra guests from the Hospitality House, so please be sure to bring large side dishes and desserts (turkey will be provided). Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help with the meal by baking turkey and driving the shuttle for our guests! If you are available to stay after the meal, we could use some help with clean up and putting the tables and chairs away. If you have any questions, please contact: Mary Linda Dooley at mdooley999@gmail.com or 828-263-0493 or Sue Newell at alltogether@bellsouth.net or 828-268-4179.
Page 5 Greening of the Church Yes it is that time once again to hear sleigh bells ringing, carols singing, feet crunching through freshly fallen snow, and to decorate the church for the coming Christmas season. If you would like to participate in the greening of the church, please contact Anna Lehman at 828-964-9055 as there will be several opportunities to decorate the gathering space and sanctuary in the days to come. You can help for just an hour or longer if you have the time. Any assistance is appreciated! This year if you would like to contribute to the greening of our church and the purchase of poinsettias to decorate it, we are doing things a little bit differently. We invite you to contribute any amount that you would like in honor or memory of someone (forms will be available in the Gathering Space or in the Sunday bulletin). The money donated will go to cover the cost of several large poinsettias to decorate the gathering area and sanctuary. You can donate money in honor or memory up until Sunday November 30, 2014. Names of those for whom money is contributed will be listed in a bulletin during the Advent season. Thank you for participating in making our church beautiful to celebrate the birth of our Christ Jesus! Blessings, Anna Lehman 2014 Angel Sharing Tree This Christmas season, our church family has adopted 65 children through Watauga County schools. The cold weather brings many hardships for struggling parents, especially during the holidays. How can you help? The Angel Sharing Tree will be up this Sunday, November 16, 2014. Hanging on the tree will be gift tags containing each child s information (age, gender, needs and wants, and code). Come by the table outside of the sanctuary and choose your child. Please be sure to sign the sheet with your name and phone number beside the child s code found on the gift tag. Return the wrapped gifts to the church no later than Sunday, December 7 th so that we may begin the organization process and deliveries back to the appropriate schools. It will be extremely helpful if you can put your gifts in one bag with the gift tag prominently displayed and secured on the bag to make the delivery process easier. Thank you for considering your participation in this important mission opportunity. Blessings, Bob Smith
Stewardship Update: I am pleased to say that we have received 85 pledges to date, which includes 14 new pledging units from last year. Thank you! According to last year s giving, we only had 81 total pledges for 2014. It s possible that you missed our Dedication Sunday and have not yet offered your pledge and turned in your time and talent form. The good news is, it s not too late! For us to be the people our Lord is calling us to be and for us to be the church God is calling us to be, we need to move beyond ourselves and join in Christ s work together. Every member s support is needed. If you have not yet pledged to be part of God s work here in 2015, please pledge online by clicking on the Responding to God s Faithfulness 2015 link on our homepage: www.firstpresboone.org. Together as the Body of Christ we can make a difference for the Kingdom in the ways in which we support the mission of the church! Jeff Smith Page 6 FAIR TRADE CHRISTMAS MARKET Do your Christmas shopping with us and change the life of an artisan and his family. Our sale will be held on Saturday, December 6 from 9:30-3:30 and Sunday, December 7, from 9:30-1:00 as well as from 6:00-9:00. Our gifts are all Fair Trade items. Available will be jewelry, ornaments, creche's, home goods, scarves, bags, children's instruments, chocolate and food. We will also have Heifer gift cards and Boone Hospitality House Christmas Honor cards (cards are donated by NC artist William Mangnum) so all proceeds go to our local Hospitality House. Support this ministry of our church, these are all gifts that give twice. Help is still needed during sale times. Arlene Steeves 828-297-9212, arlene@thesteeves.org FRIDAY CLUB will meet at noon on Friday, November 22 at Mike s Inland Seafood. (174 Jefferson Road). The Friday Club is a group of friends, mostly retired seniors, who meet monthly to fellowship and eat at various restaurants in the community. Everyone is welcome! Mark Your Calendars Our Annual Moravian Christmas Lovefeast Sunday, December 7 th 6:30 PM. When the weather outside is frightful If there is inclement weather and you wonder if church services are being held, please check www.ncweatherclosings.com www.firstpresboone.org Facebook or call the church at 264-3906 (if the message on the machine has not been changed, services are on a normal schedule) The decision should be made by 7:00 am and a notice posted on the website to let you know what has been decided. In any case, please use your best judgment on venturing out.