The!!!!!!!!!!!Bridgeport Presbyterian Church One John Calvin Drive, Bridgeport, WV 26330-1179 1
Session approved a food drive six weeks of sharing during lent. Session approved Craig and Gail Liebig as Youth Leaders for 2009. NOTES The Session of the Bridgeport Presbyterian Church met for their Stated Meeting on Tuesday evening, January 13, 2009, in the Fellowship Hall.. The meeting was called to order and opened with prayer by Reverend George Spransy. Joe Timms presented the evening s devotions. Highlights of the meeting included: Reverend Spransy shared committee assignments for the year 2009, as follows: Christian Education Leah Trippett, Chair Ruth Allen Congregational Life Rita Friebel, Chair Phil Martin Outreach Drew Tate, Chair Harry Nehrig Resource Management Nancy Atkinson, Chair Rod Jennings Doug Gray Worship Tom Giffen, Chair Joe Timms Reverend Spransy shared nominations made by the Ad Hoc Committee, made up of the retiring class of elders, as follows: Ad Hoc Committee Nominations for 2009 Clerk of Session Naomi Burkhammer Treasurer Nancy Aucremanne Trustee Phil Martin Auditor Barry Ranson Personnel Congregation at-large Teri Laurent Congregation s Nominating Committee Doug Gray, Chair, and Nancy Aucremanne Session approved a Lock-In for the Youth Group in February. Reverend Spransy expressed deepest thanks to those going off Session, namely, Teri Laurent, Penny Ranson, Sue Davis, Bob Allen and Betty Jo Jones Reverend Spransy welcomed the new elders for 2009, Ruth Allen, Doug Gray, Tom Giffen and Phil Pete Martin. They were installed on Sunday, January 18. Naomi Burkhammer, Clerk Resource Management Committee The committee has been working hard this winter to create a budget for 2009. Since we are short on projected income, we are planning for a deficit budget at this time. In order for our Session committees to have money to use for their ongoing programs, we will allot them more money than is currently projected for this year (2009). It is our hope that we will receive more than what is now projected, or that some budgeted expenses will not be required. We thank you for your commitment to our finances. We are attempting to be good stewards with the resources we have, and have cut the budget considerably from the one in 2008. A Spring Work Day is being planned for Saturday, April 4, 2009. This is the day before Palm Sunday. We want the church to sparkle on Easter Sunday. We ll be sending out more information about the jobs we hope to complete on our Work Day. We will meet at 7:30 that morning for breakfast at Bob Evans before starting our day. Hope to see you there. We are recruiting new members for our committee. It is a good way to tithe your time and talent for the benefit of our church. We will be meeting on the third Monday of each month. Next meeting: February 16 at 7pm. 3
other sisters in Christ, as we band together to bring Christ s Light into the world...together! The cost is $22. Please write your checks to the Bridgeport Presbyterian Church because we will write one check. Presbyterian Women 2009 Here we are, the first month of 2009 already gone and we are now in the full swing of things! And that includes the Presbyterian Women. I would first like to give a heartfelt thank you to the officers that have completed their year of service and will continue their leadership with PW: Lori Gray, Betty Jo Jones, Nancy Atkinson and Naomi Burkhammer. We welcome and encourage ALL women to get involved with PW this year. Now, more than ever, we need all hands on deck to do Christ s work in the world. This year already has its challenges, but together in Christ we will accomplish great things together in His name! We also welcome suggestions for studies, activities and mission opportunities. Feel free to talk to any of our 2009 officers. They are: Anna Winansmoderator, Sue Davis - morning circle chair, Lois Withrow-evening circle chair, Barbra Judy-secretary, Caroline Tate-treasurer, Erma Reel-Historian, Carol Whaley, Beth McCaugherty, and Kathy Dodsonnominating committee. There will be plenty of fellowship and study opportunities for women of all ages and schedules! Come and be a part of the work and play of the Presbyterian Women in 2009. Women s Ecumenical Luncheon Excitement is in the Bridgeport air. There is a new women s group forming in our town and we are very honored to be a part of it! Along with 6 other churches in the Bridgeport area, we have formed an ecumenical women s group. Our first meeting among the officers of each church was held at All Saints Catholic Church. We met to discuss our formation, mission and our upcoming luncheon. Our first official meeting will be Saturday February 21 st at Pete Dye Golf Club. We will meet at our church by 11:15am and car pool over. The luncheon begins at 11:30. It will be a time of worship, prayer, laughter and fun. Come and get to know your If you have any questions, please contact Anna Winans. We must have our final count in by February 7 th. Don t miss out on the ground floor of something really special! Menu Citrus Grilled Chicken Breast Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes Country Style Green Beans Fresh Baked Bishop Rolls Triple Chocolate Layer Cake with Butter Cream Icing Cost per person is $22.00 and includes Coffee, Iced Tea, Taxes and Gratuity. One Lord, one faith, one call to serve each other; One heart, one mind, one common ground: We stand all as ONE! Ephesians 4:1-24: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. 16 This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: "If I hear the voice of the LORD my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die." 17 Then the LORD replied to me: "They are right in what they have said. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. 19 Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. 20 But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak-that prophet shall die." 4
I Love to Tell the Story finally made its way across the ocean when the hymn was published in an American songbook in 1869. The popularity of the song in America grew through the evangelism of Dwight L. Moody and his song leader, Ira Sankey. I pray that we all embrace the stories of Jesus during this 2009 Lenten season and reflect upon the gift God gave us so long ago. With the Lenten and Easter season ahead, most of us get caught up in Jesus sacrifice for us His death on the cross. But His three years of ministry on this earth should be our focus. In that short interval, Jesus taught us more about how we should live than any schoolroom or parent ever could. Arabella Katherine Hankey recognized this fact and wrote a hundred stanza poem in tribute to Jesus ministry. She called it The Old, Old Story, and at least two hymns were born from it. One was called Tell Me the Old, Old Story, and the other, a more famous version was I Love to Tell the Story. Arabella Hankey was born in a south section of London know as Claphan in 1834. The Claphan area was well-known as the region from where Wilbur Wilberforce, Christian statesman and abolitionist, had lad his campaign to abolish the English slave trade. Naturally, with the history of the area, Arabella would find herself embracing a religious lifestyle and work. She worked as a Sunday school teacher and later organized Bible studies for girls who worked in the factories in the area. Her passion for mission work was fueled by a trip to Africa to bring home her seriously ill brother. Later, after establishing her writing career, she contributed a large portion of her earnings to foreign missionary work. In the winter of 1865-1866, Arabella became ill and had to spend her days in bed. It was during this time that she wrote the poem mentioned above. A year later, parts of this poem found their way to Major General Russell. The sermon that he gave to the international meeting of the Young Men s Christian Association ended with it. Composer, William Doane had been in the audience and was so inspired by the poem that he set a part of it to music. This was the birth of Tell Me the Old, Old Story. The result of this was that another composer, William G. Fisher, set another section of the poem to music; henceforth, I Love to Tell the Story was born. Respectfully submitted, Lynne A. Davis Music Director INTRODUCING ONE OF OUR NEWEST ELDERS Phil Martin is NOT a new member however. He is one of the charter members of our church and has served either 6 or 7 prior terms as an elder here as well as one and a third terms at First Church in Clarksburg. He has served on many committees through the years including (but not limited to) Building, Nominating, Interim Pastor Search and Communications. Communications is his favorite committee. Phil s best memory is the complete and total dedication and willingness to "get 'er done" shown by every single person in the church, young and old, during the first years of the church. Phil s free time is nonexistent since he fills his free time easily. Geologic consulting occupies most of time. But, he and his fishing buddy wife of 55 years, Jakie, enjoying small ship cruising of the inland waterways as well as fishing of any type. He is involved with genealogy and his family. Phil and Jakie have one daughter Ann Wanstreet. Ann is another Charter member but is now a member of All Saints Catholic in Clarksburg with her family. Her neat husband Mark, and their two children Tyler, a senior at WVU, and Kerry, a freshman at WVU are the ideal family if there ever was one. 5
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YOU! OPPORTUNITY! SERVE! NOW! YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME TO SERVE YOUR FELLOW CHURCH MEMBERS RIGHT NOW! JOIN THE CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMITTEE And get in on all the good stuff! Contact Rita Friebel or Pete Martin Now is the time to serve your church! We need a few good men and women to donate their time to the church. Come help us paint, mow, clean and care for our church and manse. Meetings are every third Monday at 7pm. Contact elders Nancy Atkinson, Rod Jennings and Doug Gray. SIGN UP AND SERVE!! The Resource Management Committee WANTS YOU! 7
Your Outreach Committee will be meeting on Monday February 2 nd. Yep that s Groundhog Day. If You are interested in mission, communications or want to learn more about the Missional Church Concept, see you at 7PM February 2 nd. Six Weeks of Sharing The Outreach Committee is again asking your help in helping others. We are going to use the period of Lent, February 25 - April 12 as a time of caring and sharing with others. The local food pantries have indicated that they frequently are running low on food supplies. Meat is one of their biggest needs. Therefore, we are asking that you generously donate as you have in the past. The following is a suggested guideline: March 1 --Beef Stew March 8 --Tuna March 15 -Chicken March 22 -Ham March 29 -Chili April 5 - Spaghetti Sauce (cans not jars due to breakage) Bon Voyage to the RHINO Delegation On February 8, Rod Jennings, Craig Liebig, Sarah, Matt, and Mike Wilson will be joining the West Virginia Gulf Coast Work Camp team to start the mission trip to New Orleans to work on RHINO. Jeanne and Ken Pote will travel from Colorado to join the team in New Orleans. The Work Camp team, organized by the WV Presbytery, includes fourteen others from West Virginia. Return date is February 16. RHINO (Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans) is an outreach ministry of St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church organized in response to Hurricane Katrina. The church hosts volunteer groups from around the country and coordinates their work throughout their visits. RHINO has hosted almost 3,000 volunteers since November 2005 from over 30 different states. These volunteers have cleared out and gutted 200 homes and are now building new homes, partnering with Habitat for Humanity, providing volunteer labor and a donation for the materials. Habitat for Humanity provides knowledgeable staff to organize the work. If you would like to donate money for the materials, checks should be made out to: St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, memo line: RHINO donation, and may be delivered to the church office for forwarding. We wish our delegation a safe and rewarding trip! The Mountaineer Food Bank of WV is doing a good job of keeping up with the demand for bulk foods such as pasta and beans, but the meat shortage is evident. The foods collected will be distributed by the Harrison County Food Chain to the pantries in Harrison County who have the biggest need. Psalm 111:1-10 Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2 Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the LORD is gracious and merciful. 5 He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. 8 They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever. 8