CALLING ALL DISCIPLES Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church I was reading in the book of Devotions given to the men of the congregation for Father s Day and this stood out to me. Unplanned Stops Mark 6:34 When he went ashore he saw a great crown, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. No road trip is complete without a few impromptu stops. World s Best Ice Cream Shop. Flat tire. Scenic overlook. Turtle family crossing the road. Motion sickness. There are two kinds of unplanned travel stop: good and not so good. Usually, it s easy to categorize each situation. But, sometimes what you d expect to see in the not so good column surprises you and turns into a positive pit stop. The apostle Paul spent a lot of time on the road and on the water. Paul s journey as a servant for Christ started with a very unexpected stop along the road to Damascus. Jesus interrupted Paul s trip to miraculously change his heart and his mission. Paul went from someone who persecuted Christ s followers to someone who was persecuted for his faith in Christ. Here is a portion of Paul s travel log: Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 2Corinthians 11:25-27 How would you like to travel with him? A flat tire doesn t seem so bad now, does it? Even amidst his unexpected stops, plenty of them in the not so good category, Paul continuously encouraged God s people by reminding them: We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 You can plan on your Savior having plans for your unplanned situations. He may unexpectedly call on you to encourage a struggling co-worker. He may put an unplanned stop in your family life so that you ll be able to serve your community. He may be working good for you, even though you re struggling to survive an illness. Embrace the unplanned stops! Jesus Christ is present in every one of them, working for you and through you, for the glory of God. God is Good! All the Time! 2018 September 1 Calling All Disciples
Communion Sunday will be September 9, 2018 Deacons to prepare the Sacraments are: Sarah Smith and Cathy Kirk First Presbyterian Church 700 N Central Avenue Connersville IN 47331 765-825-4189 CLERK OF SESSION: Carla Beard OFFICE HOURS FOR SECRETARY: Tuesday and Thursday 9 am 2 pm Email and Website: office@connerpres.org www.connerpres.org In This Issue: For October September 21st Note of Interest, p 1 Spread the Word, p 2 This Month at FPC, p 3 Prayer Concerns and More p 4 Session Notes, p 5 Deacon s Notes, p 6 More Church News, p 7 September Calendar, p 8 2018 September 2 Calling All Disciples
Usher/Counter Teams Schedule September 2 John Bohlander and Doug Ross September 9 Lisa Hazelrigg and Don Kirk September 16 Myra King and John Fairchild September 23 Jill Yaryan and Richard Leiter September 30 Kay Bishop and Sarah Smith ======================================= Liturgist for the month of September: Cathy Kirk ============================================== Coffee Hour September 2 Susie Rogers September 9 RALLY DAY Sepember 16 Sondra Miller September 23 Open September 23 Kay Bishop ******************************************************* The Price for altar flowers will continue to be $15.00 this year. September 2 Open September 9 Open September 16 Open September 23 Open September 30 Open Please let the church office know how you want the flowers to be dedicated. ******************************************************* Deacon of the Week - Visitation Schedule Aug. 26 - Sept. 1: Sept. 2 Sept. 8: Sept. 9 Sept. 15: Sept. 16 Sept. 22: Sept. 23 Sept. 29: Sept. 30 Oct. 6: Kay Bishop Cathy Kirk Jill Yaryan Ann Kirschner Sarah Smith Kay Bishop Church and Community Activity Schedule September 2 September 3 September 4 September 5 September 9 September 10 September 12 Septemer 16 September 17 September 19 September 23 September 26 September 30 Worship 10:30am (Rev. Stan Johnson) LABOR DAY Fellowship Hall Reserved Worship, 10:30am-Communion (Rev. Alan Thames) RALLY DAY Bible Study Deacon s Meeting 7:10pm Worship, 10:30am Bible Study Session Meeting, 7:10pm Worship, 10:30am Worship, 10:30am 2018 September 3 Calling All Disciples
PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE WITH ANY CHANGES TO THIS LIST: Shirley Lakes Back Surgery (Friend of Jill Yaryan) Tonya Moryl Husband with pancreatic cancer, stage 4 Tom Yocum Prostate cancer (Mary Swope s brother) Trent Bohlander - Knee surgery (John & Joyce s grandson) Mary Ann McClure Kidney Failure (Gilda McClure Lewis mother) Brooklan Phillips - Bone Cancer in leg Started Chemo (She is Junior in High School) Ron Fox To start dialysis. Continued prayers for Lois & Fred Sess family in the loss of an uncle, James Bennington, recently. Sympathy and prayers to Molly Fairchild and family in the loss of her brother, Chuck Van Hart. ONGOING PRAYERS: Ellen Doty Hospice Nan Rose Bob and Margaret Hurst Dink & Betty Thornberry Molly Fairchild Helen Parvis Beginning September our church secretary will be changing her days in the office. The office will now be open on Tuesday, 9:00 - Noon and Thursday, 9:00 - Noon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Mission Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets. We are collecting for the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. In September we will be collecting the last 2 items needed: Boxes of Saltine Crackers - need 50 Boxes of Stuffing need 25 If you find a good deal feel free to pick up any item on the lists on the table in the back of the sanctuary just be sure to check the expiration dates. We need items that do not expire until after Christmas 2018. In October I will list all the items we have collected as well as what we still need to ensure we have enough for all the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets this year. Items still needed will be written on strips of paper in the back of the sanctuary. Please take a strip and return the item(s) to church. Thanks 2018 September 4 Calling All Disciples
Session met on August 22. In an early meeting, Session voted to call an interim pastor. We have two candidates to consider. Session Session later met with the deacons and introduced Mike Whitfield from Shelbyville and Jon Richwine from Richmond, our liaisons from Presbytery s Report Committee on Ministry; and Dr. Pat Smith from Muncie, our Session moderator until we have a pastor. We heard about the deacon s project to share with nursing home people. This is part of their ongoing ministry. The treasurer reported that income for the month of July was $10, 508.42. Expenses totaled $9,370.57. Elders Don Kirk and Fred Sess reported that they had repaired a valve in the men s restroom and that a Knox box has been installed. The Knox box allows first responders to access the building with a key, so they don t have to break a door down in an emergency. The Fellowship Committee would like to thank everyone who worked on the reception for Pastor Judy s farewell. The all-church birthday party has been postponed. Rally Day will be Sept. 9, and Session will organize it this year. (Save the date!) Elder Lisa Hazelrigg reported that the Mission committee will collect saltine crackers and stuffing in September for our Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. In October she will post what we still need. Elder Hazelrigg also reported on behalf of the Nominating Committee that they are looking for a deacon to replace Art Fitchett, who resigned in July. The committee will also begin its search for officers for 2019. If you d like to serve, please contact her. The Personnel Committee reported that our office secretary, Marilyn Stevens, is changing her days to Tuesday and Thursday. Elder Mary Swope reported that elders assisted Dr. Ronald Naylor in serving communion August 5. She has scheduled pulpit supply pastors through the end of September. Elder Fred Sess reported on attending the Presbytery meeting as our commissioner. He encouraged everyone to log in to the Whitewater Valley Presbytery website (www.whitewatervalley.org) and listen to the presentation by Rev. Ray Jones on Becoming a Sent Church. Elder Sess has support materials if anyone would like to know more. Dr. Smith told us about his background and his current work as an interim pastor in Muncie. The meeting closed with prayer. =========================================================================== September 9 th is our annual Rally Day. Rev. Alan Thames will be joining us and this will also be communion Sunday. Please join our Sunday service and fellowship afterwards. 2018 September 5 Calling All Disciples
Session and Deacons met separately prior to coming together on August 22, 2018. PRESENT: ABSENT: Cathy Kirk, Ann Kirschner, Kay Bishop, Sarah Smith and Jill Yaryan NONE Kay Bishop provided the Devotions titled True Ministry written by Rev. Margaret Minnicks. She felt that this was appropriate to have all of us use our gifts in our ministry especially at this time of searching for an Interim and Pastor. Cathy Kirk will give devotions for the September meeting. Ann Kirschner moved to approve the minutes from the prior meeting. Kay Bishop 2 nd and motion carried. Deacon Business: The cards for birthdays and anniversaries for September were prepared by Kay Bishop and were signed by Deacons. A birthday card for Martha Holtel, Judith Showalter s Mom, was signed to mail on her 103 rd Birthday. A thank you card was signed for John McCann to let him know we appreciate the picture of Jesus surrounded with children and adults that he donated. Presently, it is on an easel in the Deacons meeting room. Soon it will be hung on a wall to be seen by all. Deacons will visit Hickory Creek Nursing Home, September 11 th. Ann brought a cute Fall Miniature Scarecrow she suggested we take to the residents in lieu of food. Cathy Kirk will include Fall poems. We will meet at the nursing home at 2:00 pm for anyone that wants and is able to join us. Communion Set-up: Deacon of the Week: September 9 th - Sarah Smith and Cathy Kirk Rally Day October 7 th - Jill Yaryan November 4 th - Kay Bishop and Ann Kirschner Aug 26 - Sept 1 Kay Bishop Sept 2 - Sept 8 Cathy Kirk Sept 9 - Sept 15 Jill Yaryan Sept 16 Sept 22 Ann Kirschner Sept 23 - Sept 29 Sarah Smith Sept 30 Oct 6 Kay Bishop Sarah Smith moved to adjourn. Ann Kirschner 2 nd and motion carried. The Session joined the Deacons. Clerk, Carla Beard, introduced Mike Whitfield and John Ridgewine that will be helping answer any questions and will support us through finding our Interim Pastor and hopefully shorten the time it takes. Carla introduced Dr. Pat Smith who is now serving as Moderator. Dr. Smith called the joint meeting to order with a welcome and reassurance of how pleased he is to be with us. He also spoke very highly of both Mike and John and told us that they will be good support. The Elders signed the cards prepared by Deacon Bishop. The Session docket and 2 sets of minutes and the Treasurer s report were all approved. Carla gave a short devotion and prayer. Before dismissing the Deacons, it was decided that we would not be joining in the Sept. 16 th Day of Caring Project spreading through Presbytery at this time. Deacons expressed that our visit to the Nursing Home is a community caring project we have started and wish to continue and improve upon. Cathy Kirk mentioned that we could also help Lisa Hazelrigg on a Sunday to complete filling of Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets which we also feel helps out the community. Everyone likes the idea of having a Sunday or day of caring; but, felt at this time we don t have enough people or time to include a new event. The Deacons were then dismissed and the Session continued with their business meeting. Respectfully submitted, Jill Yaryan Next meeting: September 12, 2018-7:10 p.m. 2018 September 6 Calling All Disciples
Church Choir Notes It is that time of year again and our Church Choir season is about to begin. If you have thought you might like to join the choir, but have not given it a try, this is your opportunity to be part of this fun group.and yes we do have fun.and we enhance the worship service with music. Practice is once a week on Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. and will begin on September 5 th and we will sing for the first time this year on Rally Day, September 9 th. We all have times when we cannot sing on a Sunday or come to a practice on Wednesday and that is certainly acceptable. Come give us a try and see how you can be part of this special group. ============================================================================================== The Worship Committee would like to thank everyone who has helped make our worship services special this summer. Special thanks to Carla Beard and Ann Kirschner who have filled the pulpit and shared their faith with us as they led worship, to those who have served as liturgist, ushers, musicians, and to our visiting pastors who have inspired us to look inward, serve outward, love the Lord and all His children and to grow in our faith. September will bring more special guests with inspiration for us, we will share the Lord s Supper on Rally Day as our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Alan Thames joins us to fill our pulpit and he will stay for fellowship as we share in out Rally Day pitch-in luncheon. We hope many of you will be able to join us on September 9 th as our Choir returns that day as well. ======================================================================================================= The Connersville Ministerial Association will be holding 9/11 Services at Western Avenue Baptist Church at 2800 Western Avenue at 6:00pm on September 11 th, 2018. The offering this year will go to the Crisis Incident Stress Management Team which serves our local first responders. After the service they will be breaking out into teams to visit our local first responder stations to deliver baked goods, cards (if you would wish to write cards-much appreciated), and to pray for those first responders who are on duty. 2018 September 7 Calling All Disciples